Chapter 55

Chapter 55

By the third day, Li Chaofeng and Ji Bingyan remained at the King of Kucha’s camp.

Technically, they were hostages—but only in name. Their treatment remained courteous, almost as honored guests.

This time, there was no publicized death of a princess. Instead, someone seemingly unrelated to them—Chu Liuxiang—had been secretly captured.

The official reason given for their stay was the king’s concern that Hu Tiehua might flee with the treasure.

This treasure, if Hu Tiehua were still the cowardly man he once was, might justify such suspicion. But Hu Tiehua had already proven himself. He wouldn’t abandon his honor for mere wealth. Even without Li and Ji as hostages, the idea of Hu Tiehua betraying his principles was as absurd as suspecting Peng Yi Hu of stealing cargo mid-escort.

Hu Tiehua had already departed with the ransom and the Kucha palace guards. Yet Li Chaofeng remained troubled. Stone Guanyin was still here, impersonating the Queen of Kucha. This meant Hu Tiehua wouldn’t face her—but someone far weaker.

Even combined, Qu Wurong and Liu Wumei were no match for Hu Tiehua. Stone Guanyin, of course, understood this perfectly.

For Li Chaofeng, this realization was like staring into darkness—uncertain and ominous.

The Pipa Princess had vanished. Li Chaofeng sensed it clearly. She must have followed Hu Tiehua to the exchange site. After all, trusting even the most honorable man paled next to trusting oneself.

“Her Highness invites Snake Xiaogui.”

Mayisha appeared again at the tent’s entrance, her voice polite but firm. Li Chaofeng exchanged a glance with Ji Bingyan, who nodded slightly.

It seemed the moment had finally arrived.

Li Chaofeng had never hidden his extraordinary perception, and Ji Bingyan had gleaned much from it—enough to form countless theories. But theories were just theories. The real question lingered: Why had their enemies gone to such lengths?

Though they’d been driven here like pawns, they’d walked into this trap willingly. Now, they knew Stone Guanyin’s secret—the Queen of Kucha was no one but her. But their enemies couldn’t know they’d uncovered this truth.

Few would believe someone like Li Chaofeng existed—his perception so sharp that Ji Bingyan, upon first meeting him, had doubted his allegiance, suspecting him to be a spy.

Yet the more she’d tested him, the more she’d realized: Such a gift was wasted on deception. It was like bringing a warhammer to a knife fight—overkill, and pointlessly cruel.

“May I accompany you to meet Her Highness?” Ji Bingyan asked.

Though Li Chaofeng had defeated Sun Kong and earned the title of Martial Master, Ji Bingyan still hesitated to leave him alone with Stone Guanyin.

Mayisha hesitated, blinking. “I cannot decide. But the king did say Master Ji may move freely.”

Ji Bingyan nodded. They were not prisoners. They had every right to visit the king and queen.

Following Mayisha to the queen’s tent, they heard the frail cough of the Queen of Kucha echoing within. Yet this “weakness” only tightened Ji Bingyan’s expression.

Li Chaofeng gave a slight nod—confirmation that the “frail” woman inside was still the invincible Stone Guanyin.

Pushing aside the tent flap, Ji Bingyan bowed respectfully. Li Chaofeng, however, fixed his gaze on Stone Guanyin. Her eyes held that same mocking glint.

“Master Ji, I have matters to discuss with Snake Xiaogui. Might I trouble you to wait outside?”

Stone Guanyin had no interest in games with Ji Bingyan. She’d summoned Li Chaofeng to control the board.

Ji Bingyan paused, then nodded. “I’ll wait.”

As Ji Bingyan exited, Stone Guanyin dismissed her attendants. Reclining seductively on her couch, she gestured to Li Chaofeng.

“Won’t you come closer, Snake Xiaogui?”

Li Chaofeng had entered the desert seeking martial masters’ duels, not entanglements with Stone Guanyin.

Besides, the King of Kucha lurked in the tent’s shadows like a turtle in its shell. This fake couple played their roles well.

Shaking his head, Li Chaofeng declined firmly. “A gentleman does not exploit others in secret. Nor should men and women engage in impropriety. Your Highness must show restraint.”

Stone Guanyin stifled a laugh. She disdained his martial prowess, but over these days, she’d come to see him as a proud, principled youth. Unmoved by the Pipa Princess’s charms, he was a rare breed—possessing the skills of a first-tier martial artist yet fearing his own power might force him to kill.

If the King of Kucha couldn’t trust such a man, she’d have no choice but to extract secrets through more… persuasive methods.

More importantly, the king’s own suspicions about Li Chaofeng’s identity would only reinforce his belief that this “Snake” sought no treasure.

“Pfft!”

Stone Guanyin’s laughter blossomed. “Your Majesty, can you trust him now?”

“Of course! I’ve trusted Snake Xiaogui from the start!”

The king chuckled, stepping from the shadows. He lowered his voice, almost apologetically. “But… ‘snake’ sounds unkind. Might I call you Dragon Xiaogui instead?”

Li Chaofeng studied their exchange, noting the king’s submissive tone. His wariness spiked.

Stone Guanyin, a woman who killed on a whim, and the king—a man who’d earned the nickname Lyb—were both players in this game.

Changing “snake” to “dragon”… Did it matter to the king? Even if he knew Li Chaofeng’s true identity—Yao Long—his ranking as tenth on the Weapons Chart meant little. What could this man possibly offer?

Narrowing his eyes, Li Chaofeng neither confirmed nor denied. “I fail to see the distinction. Does ‘dragon’ or ‘snake’ change anything?”

The king stiffened, then stammered, “No distinction! If Snake Xiaogui prefers ‘snake,’ then Snake Xiaogui it is!”

Suddenly, Stone Guanyin spoke rapid Kuchean. Li Chaofeng’s eyes widened, his face darkening.

“Your Highness still misunderstands the meaning of ‘a gentleman does not exploit others in secret’?”

The king flinched, realizing his mistake. Among the three present, only Li Chaofeng couldn’t understand Kuchean. Whispering aside was a blatant insult.

“My apologies! The queen merely reminded me of my purpose in summoning Snake Xiaogui.”

Li Chaofeng’s brow twitched.

“Your Majesty, I’ll take my leave now.”

Stone Guanyin knew her presence would keep the king silent about the Paradise Star secret. Her role here was done—verifying Li Chaofeng’s integrity.

Once she departed, the king and Li Chaofeng faced each other in silence.

Yes, the king had performed well—but not for Li Chaofeng. His act was for Stone Guanyin, for everyone around him.

Now, the king’s camp held only a token guard. He appeared utterly desperate, clinging to Li Chaofeng like a lifeline—a young man who might be a central plains noble.

But in truth, the king’s plea for aid had already been sent. From a god’s-eye view, one might see Kucha’s city gates stirring with movement.

Li Chaofeng exhaled sharply.

“Your Majesty… Do you intend to sit here all day?”

The king blinked. “Ah… Snake Xiaogui, would you care for refreshments?”

Li Chaofeng’s expression hardened. “You summoned me for a reason, I presume?”

The king flinched. “This humble king dares not—”

Li Chaofeng considered strangling him.

But his nose—his cursed perception—warned him otherwise. The king no longer eavesdropped, but others did.

Outside the tent, Stone Guanyin listened, puzzled. She’d pushed events to this point, yet the king remained maddeningly composed. Did he truly believe Li Chaofeng—a noble traveling for leisure—was unworthy of his secrets?

But watching the king’s timid demeanor alone with Li Chaofeng, Stone Guanyin knew: It was time for phase two.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end