Sima Changkong鈥檚 residence:
Sima Changkong held his hands behind his back, showing a sullen expression.
鈥淗ave they already entered the Three Pure Ones Hall?鈥?Sima Changkong asked.
鈥淵es, Milord. They have already entered the Three Pure Ones Hall. However, this lowly official does not understand how Gu Hai will investigate. There are no clues at all. There鈥檚 no place to start from. Even the ordinary spies in Borderless Heavenly Capital do not know about that spy鈥檚 existence. The spy is only in contact with us. Where is Gu Hai going to get clues?鈥?that official frowned.
Sima Changkong shook his head. 鈥淚 do not know, either. Gu Hai is brilliant, capable of creating something out of nothing. He can manipulate a person鈥檚 heart. However, how will he create evidence and clues out of nothing?鈥?
That official shook his head.
鈥淣evertheless, Gu Hai must be prepared since he sought out the eight. I hope he will not be too fast. Hopefully, he takes at least five days,鈥?Sima Changkong said with a complicated expression.
鈥淢ilord, there鈥檚 no need to worry. Gu Hai will not find the spy so easily. No. He can鈥檛 even find the spy. As long as the spy does not admit it, it will always be a mystery,鈥?that official said respectfully.
Sima Changkong nodded.
However, Sima Changkong still felt worried. After all, he had seen Gu Hai at work many times before.
------
Three Pure Ones Hall, Borderless Heavenly Capital:
Gu Hai looked at the eight. He had censured them all earlier. Now, they looked at him, awaiting his judgment.
Who is the spy? Does His Reverence suspect me? It can鈥檛 be me. Who is it?
鈥淲e have already said what we should say. We cannot tell who the spy is among you,鈥?Gu Hai said indifferently.
鈥淗uh?鈥?The eight felt slightly startled.
His Reverence does not know?
鈥淛ust because we can鈥檛 tell now does not mean we can鈥檛 later. Who does everyone think will win between the Han Nation and Wu Nation?鈥?Gu Hai asked indifferently.
鈥淣aturally, my Han Imperial Dynasty!鈥?Meng Tai immediately declared.
Gu Hai smiled coldly.
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鈥淲e will not declare the results for now. However, the spy cannot be allowed to take part in this war. We cannot leak any secrets,鈥?Gu Hai said seriously.
Everyone turned solemn. How would Gu Hai isolate the spy and prevent him from participating in the war without knowing who the spy was?
鈥淲e trust everyone here, so we do not want to go overboard with our questioning. Let鈥檚 stop while it is appropriate. Since we cannot tell who the spy is, we shall wait and see. Time will tell us everything,鈥?Gu Hai said indifferently.
鈥淭ime?鈥?Gu Qin felt startled.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 right. Time. The truth will come to light after we destroy the Wu Imperial Dynasty,鈥?Gu Hai said indifferently.
鈥淎h? How long will it take?鈥?Ao Shun exclaimed.
鈥淧erhaps a year. One year will be sufficient for us鈥擥u Hai鈥攖o destroy the Wu Imperial Dynasty,鈥?Gu Hai said.
Everyone appeared shocked.
鈥淵our Reverence, are you saying that the eight of us will not take part in the war against the Wu Nation?鈥?Mo Yike asked in shock as he narrowed his eyes.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 right. You don鈥檛 have to take part. We can deal with it,鈥?Gu Hai said indifferently.
Everyone frowned heavily.
鈥淪tarting now, you will remain in here for a year. You won鈥檛 be bored, as you will keep an eye on each other. We have set up a barrier outside. No information can go in or out,鈥?Gu Hai said seriously.
The eight鈥檚 faces sank.
However, no one objected for the sake of finding the spy. Perhaps entering closed-door cultivation for a year would be enough.
鈥淎s for the spy, think about it carefully. Just because we trust you does not mean you can do as you please. When we find you鈥? Humph!鈥?Gu Hai snorted coldly.
Everyone鈥檚 face sank.
鈥淎lright. We will come and bring you out after destroying the Wu Imperial Dynasty,鈥?Gu Hai said as he stood up.
Everyone watched Gu Hai as he stepped out of the Three Pure Ones Hall.
Creak!
The instant Gu Hai stepped out of the Three Pure Ones Hall, the doors closed.
The remaining eight showed complicated expressions.
Remain locked up for a year? This would be impossible for others. These eight were unyielding people. Who could lock them up for a year? However, Gu Hai could.
Since Gu Hai told them to wait for a year, then a year it was.
One year?
The eight exchanged looks but said nothing. They got up from their seats and went to the various corners of the hall. Then, they sat cross-legged to wait patiently for the year to pass.
Sima Changkong had promised the spy results in five days, so the spy waited patiently, not daring to expose himself.
Gu Hai鈥檚 current strength could already suppress everyone. No one dared to entertain thoughts of flight. Of course, fleeing now would be admitting to being the spy.
Everyone waited patiently. At the same time, they mentally kept track of the time.
Five days passed in a flash. However, the Three Pure Ones Hall鈥檚 doors did not open. The spy immediately felt frustrated.
Does this mean Sima Changkong鈥檚 plan failed?
I still clearly remember what His Reverence said to me. He already expressed dissatisfaction with me. If he finds out it is me, won鈥檛 I鈥?
No. I cannot expose myself until the last moment.
There is no need to scare myself. Only a few know my identity. Furthermore, I can still sense the Wu Imperial Dynasty鈥檚 blessings. The Wu Imperial Dynasty has not fallen yet.
Five days鈥en days鈥?The hall鈥檚 doors remained tightly shut.
Those with clear consciences grew calmer, while those with guilty consciences grew more flustered.
Twenty days鈥ne month鈥wo months鈥?
As time passed, the people with guilty consciences felt utterly disconcerted, each passing day feeling like a year.
Will I be exposed?
How will Gu Hai deal with me after he exposes me?
I tried to kill the important officials that Gu Hai favored the most. Will he let me off? But what about that final icy glare he showed before he left?
What should I do? What should I do?
There鈥檚 no need to worry! There鈥檚 no need to worry! He cannot scare me. I have the Wu Imperial Dynasty鈥檚 luck. As long as the Wu Imperial Dynasty does not get destroyed, I will not be exposed. I will be fine!
The days passed.
Gu Hai truly ignored the people in the hall and faced the Wu Imperial Dynasty alone?
Sima Changkong said to wait for five days. However, he has not appeared yet. Could he have failed? He must have failed. The Wu Imperial Dynasty failed. Then鈥?
As the days passed, the spy found the wait increasingly unbearable, his frustration accumulating. What should I do now?
It has been six months!
It has been seven months!
It has been eight months!
It has been nine months!
The spy persisted. He did not get physically exhausted, but there was a mind-numbing frustration.
It has been nine months? What is happening outside?
Gu Hai is so powerful. Even Sect Master Heavenly Access cannot match him. He is also extremely good at scheming. There are also the Mosquito Daoist and five hundred thousand Divine Demon Army soldiers?
No one has come. Is the Wu Nation really going to lose?
Creak!
Just as the spy was at his most frustrated, the doors opened.
The eight simultaneously opened their eyes.
Those with clear consciences appeared confused. Those with guilty consciences put on confused expressions despite their hearts pounding heavily.
If Gu Hai had not censured them nine months ago, intentionally making the spy guess he might have been exposed, the spy would not have suffered great distress over the past nine months.
Although the spy appeared fine on the surface, he was mentally jumpy after these nine months, like a bird startled by a bow.
The doors opened slowly, and light entered.
Everyone saw Gu Hai enter, clad in imperial robes. He wore different clothes from nine months ago, but there was not much of a change to his appearance, merely looking slightly thinner. However, his eyes had a bright gleam, apparently joyful and high-spirited.
Victory?
His Reverence would show such an expression only when he was victorious. However, I still can feel the Wu Imperial Dynasty鈥檚 blessings. The Wu Imperial Dynasty has not fallen yet?
Gu Hai strolled into the hall. A man wrapped in white robes followed Gu Hai in, accompanying him to the center.
鈥淵our Reverence, has the Wu Imperial Dynasty fallen?鈥?Mo Yike asked in anticipation.
鈥淣ot yet,鈥?Gu Hai replied indifferently.
鈥淥h?鈥?
鈥淗owever, it will be soon, as we have received a harvest even greater than destroying the Wu Imperial Dynasty.鈥?Gu Hai smiled.
鈥淎 greater harvest? Could it be you can find the spy with this harvest?鈥?Chen Tianshan鈥檚 eyes lit up.
Meng Tai also appeared slightly excited. That鈥檚 right! His Reverence intended to open the doors only after finding the spy!
The spy is about to be revealed?
鈥淵our Reverence, who is the spy?鈥?Kong Xuan snarled.
Gu Hai looked at the eight. 鈥淒on鈥檛 you want to hear what our greatest harvest is?鈥?
鈥淥h?鈥?Everyone looked at Gu Hai.
鈥淭he Wu Imperial Dynasty has a Mister Sima who excels at managing the situation. After making a few wagers with him, we finally emerged victorious. Many thanks to Mister Sima for joining the Han Imperial Dynasty!鈥?Gu Hai grinned widely as he looked at the white-robed man.
鈥淢ister Sima?鈥?Everyone felt slightly startled.
After all, the expert managing the situation in the Wu Imperial Dynasty had been a mystery. No one knew who it was until Gu Hai mentioned Mister Sima. Only then did Mo Yike鈥檚 expression change, as he had guessed something.
The white-robed man slowly pulled his hood back, revealing an extremely haggard face.
鈥淵our Reverence鈥檚 praise is too much!鈥?The white-robed man smiled wryly as he bowed to Gu Hai.
鈥淪ima Changkong?鈥?Chen Tianshan glared in shock.
鈥淚t鈥檚 you?鈥?Gu Qin exclaimed in shock.
鈥淪ima Changkong is that expert behind the scenes? You schemed everything? It鈥檚 you?!鈥?Shangguan Hen glared.
Now that Gu Hai had walked into the Three Pure Ones Hall, its opened doors were like a gaping egress. This encirclement from all sides seemed to have breached, leaving an escape route.
Boom!
Just then, a beam of azure light shot out from among the eight, rushing headlong out of the doors of the Three Pure Ones Hall in an attempt to flee.
There was a viable escape route.
[TL Note: The expression for this viable escape route literally translates to surround on three sides and leave one side open. This is a strategy in warfare. The belief is that fully surrounding the enemy would push the enemy to desperation and lead to them taking drastic action, which could cause severe damage. Therefore, one should always leave a path of retreat for the enemy to reduce casualties.]
The spy had been feeling frustrated for nine months. When he saw Sima Changkong, he knew things were bad. Sima Changkong had defected. That meant the spy was in danger.
The shock in his heart prevented the spy from thinking further, and he immediately fled.
鈥淎o Shun?鈥?Nearly all the faces of those present sank.
Gu Hai鈥檚 expression turned stony. 鈥淜ong Xuan, Shangguan Hen, capture him!鈥?
鈥淵es!鈥?Kong Xuan and Shangguan Hen answered as they prepared to rush out.
Boom!
A loud report rang out as an immense force outside knocked Ao Shun back. Shangguan Hen and Kong Xuan immediately pounced on him.
鈥淕u Hai, you tricked me! You tricked me! It has not been nine months outside. It has not been nine months at all! It was just half a day? Why did only half a day pass outside?鈥?Ao Shun roared.
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