Xue Mu desperately wanted to tell her she had hit the nail right on the head.
“If I said yes, would the Sect Master slaughter me?” “It’s not every day I come across a man as fascinating as you.
I couldn’t bear to kill you,” Xue Qingqiu replied lazily.
She had been sitting perfectly upright, but her posture sloped into a languid lounge.
Leaning back against her cushions, she unreservedly flaunted the flawless, exquisite curves of her body.
Her tone carried an intense, seductive undertone, stopping just short of explicitly asking him if he wanted a taste.
“Truth be told, my cultivation is already complete.
I don’t have to worry about any of the restrictions holding Xiaochan back…” Xue Mu stole a brief glance at her before quickly casting his eyes downward, refusing to look any further.
Seeing him avoid her gaze, Xue Qingqiu deliberately pushed further.
Her eyes brimmed with a sharp allure, and her voice turned smooth and captivating.
“Why, if that’s truly what you’re after, why do you suddenly lack the courage to look at me?” Xue Mu replied indifferently, “The Sect Master’s presence is extraordinary.
I fear that looking too long will disrupt my peace of mind and cloud my clear judgment.
After all, you summoned me here to consult on a matter of grand strategy, not to endlessly indulge in personal banter.” A flicker of surprise crossed Xue Qingqiu’s face.
Her playful facade slowly melted away, and she studied Xue Mu with a newfound seriousness before sitting upright once more.
Suddenly, she began to understand why her disciple—despite the unorthodox upbringing she had received since childhood—had still found her mind preoccupied by this man.
He truly was remarkably different…
At the very least, possessing this level of ironclad logic and composure was an incredibly rare and precious trait.
If he had begun practicing martial arts at an early age, he would have likely made a massive name for himself in the wider world long ago.
Xue Mu continued, “Furthermore, since the Sect Master prioritizes results over sentiment, putting on this performance is merely because you find me amusing.
However, I didn’t come here to act as a toy; I have no desire to play games.
Ultimately, a man must first prove his actual worth before he can have the confidence to negotiate anything else.” Xue Qingqiu offered a faint smile.
“Well said.
I only hope you are more than just talk…
So, regarding our current situation, what is your analysis?” Xue Mu let out a slow breath, organizing his thoughts before speaking deliberately.
“The various sects of the demonic path have moved from operating entirely in the shadows to standing out in the open.
On the surface, this appears to be because the Sect Master possesses world-ending might, or perhaps because certain sects have built extensive connections and secured powerful backers.
In reality, I believe the true driver is entirely different.
The demonic path is enjoying the silent permission and backing of the Imperial Court—purely to serve as a counterbalance to check the righteous factions.” He paused slightly, locking eyes with her.
“Your seemingly provocative actions toward The Six Gates—entering their facilities and reclaiming your members—were carefully calculated to avoid causing actual casualties.
You avoided crossing a point of no return.
This exact restraint represents the baseline of your unspoken understanding with the authorities.
Within this baseline, The Six Gates will grant the Star-Moon Sect a certain degree of leeway without forcing a lethal confrontation.
In other words, you actually share a covert partnership.” Xue Qingqiu listened with rapt attention.
Her eyes remained locked onto Xue Mu without a single blink.
The moment he finished speaking, she suddenly raised a hand and made a sweeping gesture.
A complete tea set floated smoothly through the air as if carried by an invisible servant, landing perfectly on the table right between them.
Xue Qingqiu elegantly brewed the leaves, pouring a cup for Xue Mu.
“Reflecting on it now…
when I initially thought of making you a simple accountant, I truly lacked discernment.” He wasn’t meant to be an accountant, nor was his utility limited to managing a brothel or executing a prison break to rescue Yinye.
Xue Mu analyzed the world from a much more macro, strategic perspective.
The shift in the Imperial Court’s stance toward the demonic path reflected a fundamental change in the empire’s grand martial strategy.
Xue Qingqiu was already aware of this, which was why she maintained a carefully measured understanding with The Six Gates.
However, she only understood the Emperor’s true intent because she had once held a secret meeting with him.
To this day, countless martial artists across both the righteous and demonic paths remained entirely blind to the truth; most assumed the demonic path was simply experiencing a natural resurgence, while others cursed the Emperor for being weak and incompetent.
Even within the Star-Moon Sect, most disciples attribute their current influence entirely to their Sect Master’s brilliant leadership.
Those capable of actual insight were few and far between.
Xue Qingqiu knew Xue Mu had access to practically zero intelligence.
He had deduced the entire geopolitical landscape simply by observing subtle clues over the past two days and engaging in a few brief conversations with Yue Xiaochan.
His analysis was entirely flawless, leaving her deeply shaken.
Regardless of the era or culture, people always held profound respect for true strategists, irrespective of whether their prowess lay in literature or martial arts.
No one capable of reaching the pinnacle of the martial path was a muscle-brained fool; many were figures of grand vision.
“Xue Mu possessed absolutely zero martial strength, yet in this exact moment, he seemed to radiate infinite power in Xue Qingqiu’s eyes.
This intellectual capability was a form of power no less critical than raw martial force.
The demonic path respected the strong, and Xue Mu’s genius fell squarely into that category.
Her personally pouring tea for him was a clear sign that he had officially earned her respect.” Since arriving in this world, Xue Mu’s relentless observation and strategic calculation had finally borne fruit.
He was like a sharp awl tucked inside a fabric pouch—it was only a matter of time before he broke through and commanded attention.
Xue Mu accepted the cup, taking a gentle sip.
The tea leaves were raw and unroasted, steeped simply in boiled water, and the beverage had already cooled.
Yet, it was far from flavorless.
Instead, a remarkably unique, crisp fragrance lingered across his palate, clearing his mind.
Even more fascinating was how instantly it quenched the thirst built up from their long conversation, leaving a refreshing sweetness in his mouth.
“Excellent tea,” Xue Mu praised, though he felt a slight pang of regret deep down.
It seemed the tea culture in this world had yet to fully evolve, given that they were still using unroasted leaves.
However, in a setting that defied physics, the natural vegetation carried its own mystical properties.
This unique fragrance completely outperformed any premium roasted tea from his previous life.
Even if he were to “invent” modern tea-roasting techniques here, it would likely yield no significant advantage—there went a potentially lucrative business venture.
Wait…
that’s not necessarily true, he corrected himself internally.
At the very least, the ritual of brewing kung fu tea looks incredibly sophisticated.
It could easily become a massive trend among the elite classes who love to show off.
Besides, what if roasting the unique tea leaves of this world actually elevates their flavor even further?
I should definitely give it a shot when I get the chance…
Seeing Xue Mu sink into deep thought, Xue Qingqiu cleared her throat to remind him, “Regarding Yinye’s situation…” Xue Mu set his teacup down, pondering for a moment.
“I have a rough concept.
Xiahou Di arrested Yinye to assert her authority, which directly contradicts your covert partnership with the authorities.
Technically, she is the one in the wrong.
Your sudden display of rage and frontal assault on her facility was likely an attempt to pressure the upper echelons of the government.
For instance…
someone close to the Emperor?” Xue Qingqiu narrowed her eyes.
A long silence filled the room before she spoke.
“What makes you believe we have an asset close to the Emperor?” “Given that your intelligence network managed to discover the Emperor’s impotence, you must have an operative inside the imperial palace at the very least.
Furthermore, since the Emperor is covertly colluding with the demonic path, there must be a high-ranking intermediary acting as a bridge between both sides.” In that exact moment, Xue Qingqiu felt a sudden wave of relief that their adversaries didn’t possess a strategist of his caliber.
If they did, many of her operations would have likely collapsed long ago.
Feeling an unexpected touch of exhaustion, she let out a near-silent sigh.
“Your deduction is flawless, Master Xue.
Please continue.” “The only reason the Sect Master still wishes to consult me for a better strategy is due to certain political constraints.
You do not wish to contact that particular imperial asset too frequently, nor do you want the Emperor’s pro-demonic inclinations to become too glaringly obvious.
Consequently, you are hoping I can provide an alternative method to break the deadlock.” Xue Qingqiu chose not to reply this time, simply pouring another cup of tea for him.
Xue Mu mused, “In truth, we can achieve a direct breakthrough by targeting Xiahou Di herself.” Xue Qingqiu finally found an opportunity to counter his point.
“Xiahou Di possesses an iron clad resolve.
Once her mind is made up, it is exceptionally difficult to sway her.” “Xiahou Di possesses a highly distinct, burning desire.
As long as a person has a desire, a transaction can be made.” “What desire?” “The desire to elevate the authority of The Six Gates.
To put it bluntly, that is the exact reason she arrested Yinye.
However, deep down, she must also realize it wasn’t a brilliant strategy—it was actually rather foolish.
Openly feuding with the Star-Moon Sect is far from her ideal scenario, which is precisely why she tolerated your extreme insults today without retaliating.
If we can present her with a far superior method to achieve her goal, I am confident it will suffice to make her release Yinye.” Xue Qingqiu nodded in agreement.
Truthfully, she had never anticipated The Six Gates would refuse to release her people; burning bridges with the Star-Moon Sect brought absolutely zero benefits to the government, and she had no idea what kind of madness had possessed Xiahou Di to take such a risk.
“What is this superior method you speak of?” Xue Mu shook his head.
“It would be best if I could sit down and speak with Xiahou Di directly.
I need to understand a few critical operational details before I can devise a proper strategy.
Otherwise, it’s just idle fantasy.” Xue Qingqiu’s beautiful eyes locked onto him for a long moment.
“You must be aware that elevating The Six Gates’s authority effectively strengthens the central government’s control over the realm.
This is something the Imperial Court has desperately tried—and failed—to achieve for over a thousand years.” Xue Mu replied indifferently, “Even a prominent demonic sect is secretly colluding with The Six Gates.
If something that couldn’t be accomplished for a thousand years is already undergoing a shift right now, adding one more impossible change to the list won’t hurt.” “Very well.
We will meet with Xiahou Di once more tonight.
I truly hope you can find a way to smash through this deadlock,” Xue Qingqiu declared, making a decisive call.
Immediately after, a brilliant, seductive smile graced her lips, radiating an intense charm.
“If this operation succeeds, there will be a spectacular reward for you.” In that split second, she effortlessly reverted to her persona as a terrifying, soul-captivating empress of the demonic path.
Xue Mu let out a bitter laugh deep down.
The prize couldn’t possibly be you anyway, so why bother throwing such sultry winks my way…
She’s constantly testing my willpower.
Can’t a guy’s lower half get a single moment of rest?