CUI BUQU GAZED at the Jade of Heaven Lake, and Fan Yun looked at him.
"Buqu, you're very talented. To die at such a young age, after only living a few short years—will this not be a pity? Your ambitions, your aspirations, stretch far beyond your current position. Everyone believes leading the Zuoyue Bureau at your age is already a difficult and lofty achievement, but to you, it's hardly worth mentioning. You and I are the same. We use people as chess pieces. Attitudes, trends, situations, events—these are things for us to play with. Perhaps you care nothing for fame and reputation, but without your life, what can you achieve?"
Fan Yun coaxed him along, pleasant yet tireless. It was the same tone with which he'd taught Cui Buqu in the past. This student had always been quick on the uptake, only needing to see one case to understand three. He believed this time would be no different. Cui Buqu was sure to make the wisest choice.
But Cui Buqu remained silent. Fan Yun waited patiently. To turn traitor and plot a rebellion against one's sovereign was not a decision to be made lightly. Most would be terrified out of their wits at merely hearing such an idea. Cui Buqu was an extraordinary man, but even so, Fan Yun and Yuan Sansi would have found it suspicious if he agreed too readily.
At length, Cui Buqu said, "I want to see Feng Xiao."
Fan Yun showed no surprise at his request. He smiled. "Surely you've already guessed how the jade came to be here. Are you so certain of Feng Xiao? Or are you unable to accept your own deductions?"
Cui Buqu's face was indifferent. "Words are easily spoken. I'll trust the evidence of my eyes."
Fan Yun sighed. "Do you not understand? He has joined the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai. Will you refuse to give up until the truth is staring you in the face? I've never seen you this concerned over someone else's loyalties. Whether he betrayed Yang Jian and joined the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai—is this so important to you?"
"It's very important."
Fan Yun nodded. "Very well." He turned to Yuan Sansi. "I must trouble Yuan-xiong. Please summon the deputy leader."
Yuan Sansi turned and left.
"Deputy leader?" asked Cui Buqu.
"I know the Zuoyue Bureau has done their due diligence investigating the Thirteen Floors, but I don't imagine you know that our pavilion leader—Yi-xiansheng—appoints two deputy leaders. These deputies have great authority. They need only give the word, and they can mobilize all connections and resources belonging to floors two through twelve regardless of location. No one would dare disobey."
All connections and resources, regardless of location. Cui Buqu turned these words over in his mind, and his expression grew thoughtful. "Then I was right. Lin Yong of Yandang Mountain Estate. Ning Shewo, leader of the Jinhuan Guild. Both are members of the Thirteen Floors."
Fan Yun smiled but said nothing: a tacit confirmation.
"You hatched your plan long before Duan Qihu's death. The letter on his corpse wasn't a clue regarding a secret meeting of members of the Thirteen Floors. It was bait you deliberately left. Upon reading the letter, I'd almost certainly attempt to decrypt it, and even if I didn't go myself, I'd send Qiao Xian and others to investigate its contents. The Zuoyue Bureau needed to leave someone to oversee matters in the capital, while also dispatching someone for the investigation—me. Without any other support, after running into Yuan Sansi, I'd be sure to ask Feng Xiao for his cooperation. Feng Xiao was already one of yours, and so your trap was sprung. Even if I were to sprout wings, I couldn't escape the Thirteen Floors' machinations. Incredible, Xiansheng. As expected of an old hand; I'm not your match."
Fan Yun's smile was reserved. "I know you're mistrustful by nature. The letter, Yuan Sansi, Feng Xiao. Had any one of them turned up alone, you would have been suspicious. But confronted with all three at once, you became distracted, your judgment muddled. On top of that, while in Boling, you had to deal with the Cui family's mess. Buqu, even if you have wisdom on par with the gods, you're merely a man. It's impossible for every calculation you make to be flawless."
The sound of footsteps came from outside. They were sure and steady, the footfalls of a powerful martial artist who had no intention of moving silently. Cui Buqu could hear every step clearly.
Two beautiful maids entered carrying a wooden tray. On the tray, fragrant wine rippled within a white jade saucer. The maid who stepped forward was clad in white robes of fine gauze, her complexion fair and her hair dark. Her steps were light and graceful. When she bent to set the saucer before them, the curve of her chest swelled beneath the loose drape of her clothing, and the faint scent of her perfume seemed to seep into one's heart.
Cui Buqu was no monk oblivious to the vanities of the mundane world. From the moment he'd entered the room—though it was a mere corner within a damp cave—he had seen that every inch of it was lavishly furnished. Leaving aside the night pearls embedded in the stone walls, even the cattail cushion on which he sat was embroidered with gold and silver thread, covered in silk and stuffed with soft cotton and cattail reeds. It was obviously an item of luxury. Nor had he failed to notice that, concealed within this chamber, there were quite a few entrances and exits all leading to different areas. The room was both hidden and accessible—an ideal gathering place.
Whatever else the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai might want for, they certainly had no lack of wealth.
The maid cast him a flirtatious glance, but found Cui Buqu stonily indifferent, his eyes downcast. She set down the saucer of wine and silently withdrew. Fan Yun watched the exchange with a silent smile. He took a single sip from the saucer.
Since antiquity, those meant for greatness had been men possessed of extraordinary restraint. Even if those lovely women were to strip naked and dance before them, Fan Yun would not be moved. If Cui Buqu had been so easily swayed by their seductions, he'd have held this disciple of his in contempt.
Shortly after the maids departed, two men entered. The first approached on slow steps and stopped in front of Cui Buqu. His boots were black, in a common style, but their quality was unmatched. Feng Xiao was so fussy; even his boots were required to be outstanding. Cui Buqu recognized them at a glance.
He raised his head and met Feng Xiao's eyes.
The two gazed at each other, the silence stretching between them. Yuan Sansi smiled. "You've only been apart a short while. Why do you look at each other like it's been a lifetime since you last met?"
Cui Buqu looked up at Feng Xiao. "I would like to hear it from Deputy Chief Feng's mouth. Is it true?"
Feng Xiao's expression was one of apathy—there was no smile, no mockery, no malicious glee. His gaze on Cui Buqu was flat with disinterest. The frivolousness with which he'd teased him was gone, as was the enthusiasm with which he'd admired his own reflection. In their place was a serene indifference, as if Cui Buqu was merely a stranger passing by, unworthy of a second glance. When he finally spoke, he said one word: "Yes."
"Before arriving in Boling, you were already with them?"
"Yes."
"The night of the revolt in Qingli Garden, when you insisted on climbing into my carriage. You coincidentally clashed with Yuan Sansi, saving my life. Even then?"
"Yes."
"I was your trial," said Cui Buqu. "What did they offer you? Something the deputy chief of the Jiejian Bureau would be willing to join the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai for. Surely it must be extraordinary."
Feng Xiao's expression finally flickered ever so slightly. Cui Buqu noticed a fleeting look of pity—pity for a loser who had been deceived.
An itch came into Cui Buqu's throat; he couldn't suppress a cough. Feng Xiao kept his voice very low, but it still echoed through the chamber. "There are presently three demonic sects. Hehuan Sect, Huanyue Sect, and Fajing Sect, the last of which I lead. Many years ago, they were a single, unified sect. Their leader was Cui Youwang, the strongest martial artist not just among the demonic sects, but in all in the world," Feng Xiao said.
Cui Buqu's expression remained placid; he nodded slightly. "I've heard of this, yes."
He'd been betrayed, surrounded by enemies on all sides. But still he retained his composure, at least on the surface. Fan Yun looked at his pupil and sighed to himself. If he had any choice, he wouldn't have used this method to coerce Cui Buqu's cooperation. Alas, Cui Buqu was a brilliant man, and not the type to readily admit defeat. Only something unexpected and overwhelming, something so shocking it left him too stunned to react, would do. Without such an opportunity to convince him, it'd be nigh impossible to persuade Cui Buqu to join the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai.
Of course, it would be far easier to kill him. But a mind like his was rare. The addition of Cui Buqu to their organization would be akin to gifting wings to a tiger. Fan Yun wished to offer up Cui Buqu's talent to the master he served, not merely kill him to eliminate an obstacle.
"Before Cui Youwang's death," Feng Xiao continued, "he left behind a technique capable of transferring one's blood and soul, as well as recasting their meridians, called Refining Jade. However, this technique vanished with his death, and no records of it remain. In the past, my master had three disciples. Besides Guang Lingsan and myself, we also had a shimei. A few years ago, she was gravely injured. Even the best physicians and medicines had no effect; only the Refining Jade technique could save her. It was to seek this technique that I joined the Jiejian Bureau."
Here, Yuan Sansi took up the story. "By coincidence, the pavilion leader has collected many ancient martial texts from around the world. The lost Refining Jade technique was among them. This technique was recorded in two separate volumes. After obtaining the first, Deputy Chief Feng tried it on his shimei. Her condition immediately improved."
By this point, Cui Buqu had guessed the rest. He nodded. "So in order to obtain the second volume, you betrayed me. That was your trial for joining the Thirteen Floors. If I weren't the pitiable fool duped by your schemes, your deep and earnest feelings would surely have moved me, Deputy Chief Feng."
"Look at your current predicament—without my help, you have no way out. They doubted my sincerity, so they used you as the trial. If I could sell out even you, they could rest at ease."
"I didn't expect I was so important to Deputy Chief Feng." Cui Buqu's mouth twisted with mockery.
Feng Xiao crouched down so their eyes were level. "You're wrong. You're not important. The position of Zuoyue Bureau chief that you hold—that's what's important. Honestly, even I was surprised it went so smoothly. I thought for sure you'd bring more people, at least Qiao Xian or Zhangsun. If you had, perhaps I'd have had a much harder time. Yet you only brought two Zuoyue guards—no better than errand runners—and left the capital with me, completely unconcerned. Could it be that you already trusted me to the point that you were willing to put your life in my hands?"
Cui Buqu didn't speak. He only coughed, his hands supporting his weight on the cushion becoming colder and whiter. His back was as straight as a pine, but there was a brittleness to it, as if it might snap at the first gust of wind. He was used to coughing, but now he couldn't stop; his lungs burned like fire, filling his chest with waves of scorching pain. The colder his body grew, the hotter they burned. From his heart to his meridians, it spread like a wildfire licking up withered grass, turning an expanse of soft green into fluttering gray ash. The flames engulfed everything—the creatures and the land, all hearts and their passion.
He didn't need to reply. Feng Xiao understood. He laughed and grabbed Cui Buqu's chin, forcing him to meet his gaze. "Fan-xiansheng said you're cold on the outside yet hot on the inside. An icy exterior that conceals a heart full of passion. I didn't believe him before. Now I do." He sneered. "How unfortunate that you placed your precious trust in the wrong person, Lord Chief."