Peerless ( Meng Xi Shi )

What sort of city is Qiemo?

It was on top of a rampart, without any villages or stalls near it. The City of Six Crafts is the closest to it, but it still took at least two days to reach there. Of course, the Imperial Court holds the intention to reclaim the city and return its place on the map, so they sent Gao Yi to imply their intention in the future, so that once they want to embark on reclaiming it, it would be more convenient. Who would expect that Gao Yi was such a coward, allowing Xing Mao and Duan Qigu to claim half the city for themselves and he dared not even utter a word, passing every day with his head in his shell and hoping that Duan Qigu and Xing Mao's fights would not involve himself.

Feng Xiao and his company of four came here originally to proceed to the Sanmi Mountains that lies even further ahead to meet up with Khan Apa, to convince him to turn his heart towards the Sui Empire, but in the end, after they arrived in Qiemo, the head of the Zuoyue Bureau Master Daoist Cui, Cui Buqu, could not refrain himself from once again creating trouble.

Small scenes do not catch his eyes, once he made a scene, he would go all out, preparing to take down the entire Qiemo that the Imperial Court could not even reclaim at the moment, to make it officially a county that was under the governance of the Sui Empire.

Even though Feng Xiao was neither afraid of the Heavens nor the Earth, there was no one in this world who would willingly lay explosives for themselves, he was also incredibly frustrated that he almost burst.

"You certainly have a huge appetite!"

If this was said by a general, or someone with incredible martial art skills, it could still be considered an ordinary sight, but the problem lies in Cui Buqu being practically ill on a regular basis, looking as if today was his last night alive, yet he still bore heroic endeavours on his chest.

Cui Buqu said plainly, "Commander Feng, are you afraid?"

Feng Xiao smiled, "All my life I have never known how to write the word 'afraid', but something like this cannot be achieved with you alone. Are you thinking of dragging me into this pit?"

Cui Buqu asked curiously, "Could this be considered dragging you down? We obviously agreed to share paradise together. If this succeeds, it is also a huge achievement. Aren't you thinking of accumulating your achievements every single day? This quest does not only include convincing Khan Apa to turn his heart towards the Sui Empire, but also includes expanding the territory of the Sui Empire. At present, although Qiemo has its own magistrate, yet the place does not belong to the Emperor of my country, if we can take it, this conquest would be of a greater degree than reclaiming an old land."

Of course Feng Xiao knew that these conquests were very valuable, but the risk is also huge.

Xing Mao and Duan Qigu are not people that are easily pushed around, they would not yield their territory so easily.

Feng Xiao, "What have you prepared?"

Cui Buqu, "The three powers originally shared an awkward relationship. The party's incident would definitely leave a thorn in their hearts. Although Duan Qigu hasn't said anything, in his heart he is already convinced that Xing Mao ordered the third in charge to turn him into a dead man, and after he failed that he killed the third in charge."

Feng Xiao, "With how Duan Qigu spent the last decade tolling winds and storms, he might actually make the first move for an advantage and annihilate Xing Mao. On the other hand, Xing Mao would also be worried about this fact, so he might also try to make the first move."

Cui Buqu, "That is correct. So this is our chance. If only we can move Gao Yi, once one side has weakened, we catch them off guard, then reorganize our manpower and take down the other side. Since after one side is down, the other won't be a threat."

Feng Xiao, "All Gao Yi does is be his own little monk, sitting in his manor and chiming his own bells to pass the day. How would he risk allying with you to go against Duan Qigu and Xing Mao?"

Cui Buqu smiled in a secretive way, "Everyone has their own weakness. I have already thought of a way to convince Gao Yi. But with only Gao Yi's men, it is not enough."

Feng Xiao "…."

"Ah, it is indeed a little late. We should shower, then get dressed for bed and turn in early!" He suddenly stood up and was prepared to leave the room, but his sleeve was tugged by someone.

"The sun hasn't sank down the horizon yet, there is no need to be in a hurry." Cui Buqu said, "Why don't we chat for a little more?"

Feng Xiao gave him an expressionless look, "I am afraid that if I continue speaking to you, you would have dug up all my deepest and darkest secrets!"

Cui Buqu smiled, "There is an army in the City of Six Crafts. Gao Yi's rank is too low to command them, but I know, Commander Feng you hold the title of the Zhenxi General, you hold the Commander's Seal that was gifted by the Emperor himself. With that, you can commander soldiers of any kind, perhaps one thousand exemplary soldiers would not pose a problem?"

Feng Xiao, "Did you have all these planned out since we were in the City of Six Crafts?"

Cui Buqu said innocently, "How could that be? I am not a seer who could see the future, how would I know that something like this would happen in the party?"

Feng Xiao smiled in a mocking way—which means that he refuse to believe a word of it.

Feng Xiao, "Give me your seal, then owe me a favour."

Cui Buqu rejected it, "I cannot give you my seal, but I can owe you a favour. After this case is done, I will propose a collaboration with the Jiejian Bureau in other cases. Additionally, you would also have a hand in the achievements in this case."

"Achievements?" Feng Xiao retorted frustratingly, "Although I have the authority to deploy those soldiers, however, if your plan failed, then I am the one who would have to endure the consequences since the seal is mine! Your thoughts are over the clouds!"

Without enough benefits, don't even think of convincing me!

Cui Buqu sighed a breath, and took put a small seal from inside his sleeves, "This is my personal seal. I will place it as collateral at your side. Once this matter is done, you can return it to me. Will this suffice?"

Feng Xiao took the personal seal and turned around. On top of it were four words: Seal of Cui Buqu.

"Your name really is Cui Buqu?" He was a little bit curious.

All these time he thought that Cui Buqu is a fake name, or an alias, but since his personal seal also used the name 'Cui Buqu', then it was proof that his real name was Cui Buqu.

Cui Buqu, "Of course. Ever since I was ten, I have been using that name."

Feng Xiao, "Then what did you use before you were ten?"

Cui Buqu replied him lightly, "I've forgotten it."

Feng Xiao smiled, but did not press on and drop the personal seal into his sleeve.

"So be it. Since you are completely sincere, then I will agree to it. From the City of Six Crafts to this city, even if I rode hard and fast, it would take at least two days. However, if I left for these two days and you people are discovered by Fo Er, with the three of you alone, you would not stand a chance against him."

This is indeed a problem, so Cui Buqu smiled, "I have an idea."

Feng Xiao, "I refuse."

Cui Buqu, "I have not even said it, how can you know it won't work?"

Feng Xiao, "There is no need for you to say, and I already know it won't work. You would let Qiao Xian take my seal and travel to the City of Six Crafts to bring those soldiers."

Cui Buqu, "Qiao Xian is trustworthy."

Feng Xiao, "For you, perhaps, but not for me."

Both of them glared daggers at each other without speaking a word.

Cui Buqu did not feel saddened at Feng Xiao's straightforwardness. If his heart has been so fragile, then let alone being the Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau, he would not have even been welcomed to the gates of the Zuoyue Bureau.

Between him and Feng Xiao, although they are currently allies on the same boat, it was only temporary. Even when the Emperor and Empress are famous for being a lovely couple, if Empress Dugu placed her trust completely in thinking that the Emperor would not betray her, then there was no need for her to establish a Zuoyue Bureau of her own. So between Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu, although they were getting along well at the moment, and that Feng Xiao was even protecting Cui Buqu as he journeyed to Göktürk as an ambassador, a little while ago they were enemies who wanted to push the other down the pits they've dug.

Feng Xiao refused to believe that Cui Buqu would completely forget the case of the Naihe drug.

Cui Buqu smiled suddenly and said playfully, "With me as Commander Feng's hostage, would Qiao Xian run away with the seal?"

Feng Xiao, "You are someone who is cruel to others, but even crueller to yourself. In order to obtain my trust, you were even willing to make yourself take the Naihe drug, let alone a Commander's seal."

Cui Buqu could not help but rolled his eyes, "I would only invest in matters that I gave a good enough grasp for a guaranteed success. I am not a fool who does not use his brain. To be honest, have you fallen in my pits so many times now that you have grown afraid?"

Feng Xiao, abruptly, "Yes."

Cui Buqu: '...'

Feng Xiao, "I will give my seal to one of my own spies, and allow him to travel with Qiao Xian to the City of Six Crafts to command the army."

He had finally took a step back, and allowed some space and flexibility between them.

Cui Buqu immediately agreed to it, "Done."

But Feng Xiao was still very curious as to what Cui Buqu intend to use to convince Gao Yi. That man is as cowardly as a rat and simply wanted to be safe in his nest. Unless it was something he could not make a decision of, otherwise Gao Yi would not have been included in this.

"Are you confident in convincing Gao Yi?"

Cui Buqu raised three fingers, "Against Gao Yi, I have the best plan, the moderate plan, and the worst plan."

Feng Xiao, "The worst one first, please."

Cui Buqu, "We immediately go to his doors, proclaim our true identities, then press a blade to his neck and force him into submission."

Feng Xiao shook his head, "You cannot confirm whether Xing Mao and Duan Qigu would initiate a fight, even if you forced Gao Yi into submission, there is not much use. His manpower is the weakest among all three. What's the moderate plan?"

Cui Buqu, "You give Duan Qigu and Xing Mao some Naihe drug, let them cry and beg, then we can refrain from using our manpower at all."

Feng Xiao: ...

He looked closely at Cui Buqu for a moment, as if a flower had bloomed on the other man's face.

"Do you spend all you time thinking about how you can pit me?"

Cui Buqu, "Is Commander Feng really such a fool, that he'd fall into my pits all the time?"

Feng Xiao snorted, "Do you think that the Naihe drug is sold all over the streets like common pastries? To be bought with one coin each, and as many as you like? That thing is extremely rare. I've only brought a small bottle with me, even in the Jiejian Bureau, they might not have it now."

That means that that small bottle was already used on Cui Buqu.

Cui Buqu waved his hand, "Then there is only the best plan."

The moment Cui Buqu finished speaking about all his plans, Feng Xiao let out a deep sigh.

He did not think that Cui Buqu's plans aren't efficient, it's only because he felt that Cui Buqu was incredibly skilled at reaching to the depths of the hearts of men and could change depending on any situation. So all those people's weaknesses would be utilized by Cui Buqu to achieve his goal.

It was a pity that Cui Buqu was unable to train in martial arts, otherwise, no one in this world could have supressed him, and there would be nothing that he couldn't do.

Feng Xiao signed a breath and felt that it was a pity.

He felt pity in place of Cui Buqu.

He saw him as his rival, and some people would wish for their rival to be weaker than themselves, yet he always hoped for his rival to be even better than himself.

Only in this way, there would be meaning in life.

It was night.

Everywhere was quiet.

Although Qiemo was the place of gathering from people of all eight directions, at this moment everyone was asleep. Even for those who went out to have fun at night, to look for women and music, they were also spending their time in places such as brothels. It's past 11pm, so other than the gengfu on the streets, it was empty. Occasionally there would be a few voices coming from afar. Every house has killed their fire, and doused in sweet dreams.

Feng Xiao was also sleeping.

Although his skills as a martial artist was excellent, he wasn't a deity and he'd still needed rest.

But he wasn't having a good sleep, because a martial artist's hearing abilities were incredibly good, once something moves they would hear it clearly.

At that moment, someone was disturbing his peace. A sound from the outside.

Save me...Please, save me...I beg you...Help...

It sounded like a woman's voice filled with despair and hatred, but once one heard clearly, it was as if they could hear a hint of wailing of someone being framed.

Although it is Autumn, the night is clear and cold, but this voice can make one's bone radiate a sense of coldness.

In the middle of the night, who would wail outside like this?

Who was it that wailed but refused to go to the bureau, instead ran to the well behind the inn?

So it was very obvious that it wasn't a person, but a ghost.

Feng Xiao sighed. He could not sleep, so he sat up.

Who was it that disrupted his sleep, he would want to beat them up until they couldn't even morph into a ghost.

But before he did that...

He patted the person who slept next to him on the shoulder.

"Wake up, there is a ghost."

If he wasn't able to sleep, then everyone shouldn't be able to sleep.

Cui Buqu's response was to his body around, with his back facing towards Feng Xiao, pulling the covers up, he brought it up over his head.

He has ways to wake him up, but Feng Xiao knew that Cui Buqu hated being woken up when he was asleep the most. That would also put him in a very bad mood. Once the other is in a bad mood, he would love to dig pits for Feng Xiao to fall into.

Feng Xiao wasn't afraid of being pitted, contrarily, he loved battling with Cui Buqu with their wits. However, since he's just won one round that morning and had the other's personal seal in possession, also allowing the Zuoyue Bureau to owe him a favour, Feng Xiao decided that it was enough, he wouldn't try to push further, and decided to let them both have some peace for a few days.

So he thought of another strategy to wake up Cui Buqu.

Feng Xiao walked to wooden stand where they hung their clothes and heaved the bucket of water that he used to wash his legs before he slept, walking over to the place where the voice was coming from, he poured the water down to the direction of the well, pinching his throat he shouted in a sharp, ear-piercing, lady-like voice saying—

"Who the hell is wailing like a ghost and howling in the middle of the night, you've disturbed this woman's beauty dream!"

Neither afraid of the Heavens nor the Earth: It means that Feng Xiao is dauntless.

Zhenxi General: 'Zhen' means Town, and 'Xi' means 'East'. This title is among one of the Four Zhen Generals (North, South, East, West).

Commander's Tally:

Seal: