The Mysterious Card Maker: Starting with Zhang Jiao's Deification

"What do you mean!" Lin Fan said calmly, but his heart sank suddenly.

How did she find out?! I clearly restored my phone to its original state before.

Su Wanqing didn't answer, but instead opened her phone and swiped lightly across the screen.

The next second, a line of inconspicuous gray text appeared on the screen: [02:37 AM, abnormal unlocking once]

Lin Fan's pupils contracted slightly.

Su Wanqing raised her head and continued, "I'm used to installing security recording software on my phone. It will automatically record anything that I don't do."

She paused for a moment, then slowly added, "Besides, there was blood on the edge of the phone. I don't remember ever smearing blood on my phone."

Her gaze fell on Lin Fan's right hand, where there were still some dried dark red bloodstains, which were from when she checked the bloodstains at the entrance of the secret realm.

Lin Fan was silent for two seconds, then suddenly laughed. Since he had been discovered, there was no point in arguing. "You're quite cautious."

"Those who are not careful will not live long," Su Wanqing said calmly.

Da Niu, standing to the side, glanced at the two of them, completely baffled by their cryptic exchange.

He scratched his head, looking completely bewildered, and asked, "What are you guys talking about? It sounds like you're exchanging secret codes?"

Su Wanqing glanced at Lin Fan, and seeing that he didn't intend to speak, she turned to Da Niu: "Da Niu, go to the side first, Mr. Lin and I have something to discuss."

"oh."

Da Niu responded, then suddenly seemed to remember something, and took out a card from his pocket and handed it over.

"By the way, this is the card that dropped money. I wouldn't dare keep anything from the All Souls Guild."

Su Wanqing took the card, while Da Niu wisely stepped back a bit, though he would occasionally glance over.

Su Wanqing glanced at Da Niu, then pulled Lin Fan a few steps further away. Once she was sure Da Niu couldn't hear her, she spoke, "You should know about the relationship between the New World and the All Souls Society by now!"

"Okay!" Lin Fan nodded.

"So, will you accept my proposal? You'll keep my secret, and I'll keep your identity a secret in return!"

While he was talking to her, Lin Fan clearly felt that his suppressed mental energy had been restored.

A slight smile crept onto his lips. "Don't you think my so-called livestreaming identity is utterly insignificant compared to your relationship with the All Souls Society?"

Su Wanqing's expression changed slightly. She remained silent for a moment, then suddenly said in a low voice:

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

Looking at her feigned fierceness, Lin Fan suddenly found it somewhat amusing. "If you really wanted to fight, would you have been standing here explaining to me for so long?"

Su Wanqing was taken aback, a slightly unnatural expression appearing on her face. "So what do you plan to do? Tell the Card Association, or do you want to use this to get something in return?"

Lin Fan did not answer immediately. His hand had already quietly landed on [Soul Reaper - White Impermanence]. As long as Su Wanqing made any unusual move, White Impermanence would appear in the next second.

"I just want to know what exactly happened between you and the All Souls Society. Since you were in a subordinate relationship, why did you turn against each other?"

Su Wanqing remained silent for a long time before answering in a low voice, "I don't actually know much."

"The New World Foundation was initially established with the support of the All Souls' Church; to put it bluntly, it was the All Souls' Church's money bag."

Lin Fan's gaze flickered slightly, but he did not interrupt.

Su Wanqing continued, "Over the years, the New World has gradually developed and accumulated its own power, but recently, it seems that the All Souls Society is preparing to completely take over the Foundation."

"They started interfering in the foundation's internal affairs, and many people were replaced by All Souls Church members."

Lin Fan spoke up, "So Zhao Zhong wants to rebel?"

"Mm." Su Wanqing nodded and continued.

"My uncle could not be willing to give up everything he had built up over the years. He had thought of this day when he first came into contact with the All Souls Society, but he could not come up with the card 'He Jin' to deal with them."

Lin Fan was taken aback.

"Wait, you just said Zhao Zhong is your uncle?"

"Yeah, so what?" Su Wanqing looked at him with some curiosity.

Lin Fan's lips twitched slightly, and he quickly said, "It's nothing."

Su Wanqing frowned, giving Lin Fan a strange look, but didn't press for details: "That's about all I know. Now, can you keep it a secret for me?"

Lin Fan remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Since you also want to deal with the All-Spirits Society, then I don't need to tell the Card Association about what happened between you."

Su Wanqing visibly relaxed. "You know the All-Spirit Society wants to get back at you, right?"

"Um!"

But the next second, he suddenly realized something, and his eyes changed slightly. The New World was still nominally an affiliated force of the All Souls Society.

Since the All Souls Society wants to deal with me, what about the New World...?

Lin Fan raised his head and stared at Su Wanqing. "Did Wanling send you to deal with me?"

Su Wanqing also noticed the change in Lin Fan's expression. Without hiding it, she nodded directly, "Mm."

Lin Fan's gaze gradually turned cold. "If that's the case, why did you still come to me to make cards? Aren't you afraid of being discovered by the All-Spirit Society?"

Su Wanqing looked at Lin Fan and suddenly smiled, "Because the enemy of my enemy is my friend."

She paused, then continued, "The All-Spirit Society wants to get rid of you, and we don't want to continue being controlled by them. Since we share the same goal, why can't we cooperate?"

"Most importantly, you are the most likely person to create 'He Jin' so far." Su Wanqing didn't hide anything from him and said it directly.

Lin Fan wasn't too surprised by this, but he felt a bit more favorably disposed towards Su Wanqing's honesty.

Su Wanqing also noticed the change in Lin Fan's eyes, and shrugged lightly, "Don't look at me like that. After all, cooperation is only meaningful if we both know some of the details."

"Moreover, the sooner you produce 'He Jin,' the safer we will be."

"The All Souls Society has been making more and more moves lately. My uncle suspects that they are preparing to completely break ties."

Lin Fan narrowed his eyes. "Is He Jin really that important?"

Su Wanqing nodded. "Yes, after all, 'He Jin' is a card that can rival the Ten Attendants."

She simply exhaled softly, then, as if remembering something, her gaze suddenly drifted towards the large cow in the distance.

"Da Niu and the others..." she paused, "...don't tell them about the relationship between the New World and the All Souls Society."

Lin Fan looked over as well. "They don't know yet?"

Su Wanqing said softly, "They have always hated the All Souls Society. If they knew that I had actually been working for the All Souls Society all along, they might not be able to accept it."

Lin Fan recalled the look of gritted teeth on Da Niu's face when he mentioned the All Souls Society. If he really knew about this, he might just collapse.

Seeing that the two of them were looking at him, Da Niu immediately stood up and walked towards them. "Are you done talking? If you are, let's hurry back."

He touched his rumbling belly and looked at the two of them.

Su Wanqing didn't speak, her gaze fixed on Lin Fan, waiting for his reply.

Lin Fan didn't hesitate for long and immediately agreed. Keeping this a secret from them seemed like the best option. "Okay, I agree."

Upon hearing this, Su Wanqing's tense body finally relaxed.