Chapter Eighty-Eight: Preparations, Part Two

That made sense.

Zituo Feng looked at Tu Lu for a long moment.

“A frost-attributed magical treasure is rare, but it is nothing remarkable in the Vast Void Prefecture. How about this: give me two days?”

“Many thanks, Young Master Zi.”

Zituo Feng smiled faintly to show it was no trouble, then spoke with Tu Lu a little longer about the Ninefold Saint-Fetus Mark and offered him a few more reminders.

With Zituo Feng’s matter settled, Tu Lu returned to his side room. Only when he passed Feng Ru’s room did he pause.

Feng Ru had been the same as him—perhaps even more unusual—but in essence there had been no difference. It was precisely Feng Ru’s death that had made him more cautious toward the Blood-Jade Soul Pact.

“Caution, is it...”

He shook his head.

Two days later, Zituo Feng delivered the magical treasure as promised.

It was a pair of frost-attributed long swords, top-grade treasures.

Tu Lu examined the twin swords carefully, nodded in satisfaction, and then took out the ancient inscription manual Xu Feng had given him.

Within it were three sets of runes, and one of them was exceedingly rare, called the Shift Mark.

“Thanks to this, stealing Zi Ling’s primal essence blood finally has a lead.”

Tu Lu let out a quiet sigh.

At Zhen Ling’s birthday banquet, he would present the twin frost swords in Zituo Feng’s name. Then, when Zhen Ling refined them, he would shift away the primal essence blood used in the refining process—that was his plan.

It was hardly an exaggeration to call it snatching food from a tiger’s jaws, but with Zituo Feng left to take the blame, he could at least sleep soundly.

“I never expected to run into Zhen Ling’s birthday...”

He felt a little fortunate.

Although it was a plan set long ago, if this matter had not come along, success would have been far more difficult.

After all, giving such a treasure without cause would have lacked justification. Whether it would even reach Zhen Ling’s hands was uncertain, much less the fact that, even if it did, it would arouse suspicion.

But if it were a birthday gift for the lord of the manor, then there would be no problem.

And with Zituo Feng being Zhen Ling’s nominal husband, presenting it in his name would be perfectly proper on the surface. By the rules, Zhen Ling would have to accept it.

Of course, given Zhang Cheng and the other two men’s status and standing, it would probably be no issue for them to give such a thing either.

But first, he could not explain it on his end; second, once the blood essence was stolen, chaos would surely break out. No matter the reason, Zhang Cheng and the others had treated him well, and he did not want to drag them into harm’s way.

Thinking of this, he set down the frost swords, closed his eyes, and went over the plan once more in his mind.

“Giving the swords and plotting for the saint embryo—these two things cannot be mixed up.

Stealing the blood essence will cause chaos. I’ll definitely be suspected by Zituo Feng, so the move against the saint embryo must happen before he grows suspicious of me...”

“That means the gift of the swords has to come after the plan for the saint embryo...”

“But that won’t work either. After plotting for the saint embryo, how could I possibly use his name to give the swords?”

“In that case, the swords must be given before the plan for the saint embryo, while the theft of the blood essence must happen after the plan for the saint embryo!”

“Breaking the soul pact, gifting the swords, plotting for the saint embryo, stealing the blood essence—we have to proceed in this order. That makes the soul pact manageable, but the theft of the blood essence becomes troublesome.

What if Zhen Ling refines the swords on the spot after receiving them?”

“I need a way.”

Tu Lu pressed a hand to his brow and fell into thought.

Meanwhile, his Water Lotus clone was not idle either, continuing to gather intelligence in the vicinity.

His current plan seemed feasible, but only on the assumption that his present intelligence and judgment were correct. If there was even one thing he did not know, all his prior efforts would be wasted.

Thus three days passed.

Three days later, the entire Vast Void Prefecture was buzzing with excitement.

News of Zhen Ling’s birthday had gradually spread, and nearly half of the prefecture had taken on a faintly festive air.

Tu Lu did notice, however, that from time to time there were also people hurrying about with anxious expressions, coming and going frequently from the prefectural residence.

“Brother Zhang, do you know what has happened?”

Inside the Like-Moon Inn, Tu Lu asked.

“Them?” Zhang Cheng shook his head. “What else could it be? The Azure Profound Residence side has fallen into chaos, and they’ve come here seeking aid.”