Chapter 125

This time, he specifically came to greet me and even had an attendant make him a cup of tea.

It was strangely abrupt.

Although Cheng Guang was puzzled, he didn’t say anything and just nodded, “Yes, I have a mission.”

Qiu Zhiman smiled, “It’s good to have a mission, which means Cheng Zhihai has already started cultivating you, Princely Heir. He is deliberately nurturing you to gradually take control of the Bureau of the Lamp.”

His voice was gentle like a stream, flowing slowly, yet it was crystal clear to the listener.

Such a voice seemed to possess a magical power that could soothe the restlessness and anxiety in one’s heart, leading to an unprecedented sense of tranquility and serenity.

Qiu Zhiman’s demeanor was affable and approachable, as if he was always warm and polite to everyone.

His manner was filled with wisdom and grace, giving people a feeling of being respected and understood.

He was so approachable.

Yet to Cheng Guang, it felt too fake.

This Old Man, acting like a weasel paying New Year’s respects to a chicken, clearly harboring no good intentions.

Cheng Guang knew there would be unexpected events at this martial arts competition, and he looked at everyone around him with suspicion.

He naturally became cautious around Qiu Zhiman as well.

“Hehe.”

Cheng Guang responded to the other party with a forced smile, offering no rebuttal.

Qiu Zhiman smiled and looked at Bai Shuxuan who was by Cheng Guang’s side, feigning surprise in his expression.

“Princely Heir, who is this lady?”

Cheng Guang looked up at Qiu Zhiman.

He instantly wanted to retort, what does it matter to you who she is?

Isn’t it a bit presumptuous to ask such a question?

But not knowing Qiu Zhiman’s purpose yet, Cheng Guang decided to play along for now, to see what Qiu Zhiman was up to.

“An attendant, what about it?”

“Attendant.”

Qiu Zhiman murmured, then quietly glanced at Cheng Guang and looking at him, said,

“Since she is an attendant of the Princely Heir, I won’t inquire further.”

“Princely Heir, this tea is excellent for calming the mind. You should drink more of it. I must preside over the martial competition, and His Majesty as well as the Queen of Great Wei are watching. I cannot neglect my duty, so I must excuse myself.”

After saying this, Qiu Zhiman left with a smile.

Before leaving, his eyes swept over Bai Shuxuan in a way that was subtle yet discernible, his brow furrowing ever so slightly as he casually closed the door.

Up until the door shut, his expression remained as cordial and friendly as could be.

However, as soon as the door was shut, Cheng Guang slowly furrowed his brow.

There was something definitely off about Qiu Zhiman.

Cheng Guang eyed the cup of tea that Qiu Zhiman had sent over, and just when he was about to pour it out, Bai Shuxuan suddenly spoke,

“Princely Heir, there seems to be something dirty in this tea.”

Dirty?

Did this Old Man Qiu Zhiman secretly poison me?

Cheng Guang’s eyes widened slightly as he carefully inspected the tea cup.

He couldn’t see anything wrong with it.

Bai Shuxuan nodded slightly, a glimmer of light in her eyes. With a gentle tap of her finger, she drew out a nearly invisible tiny bug from the hot Bishui Qingliang Tea inside the cup.

The bug’s form looked like a liquid, transparent and nearly invisible.

If it was hidden in this tea cup, Cheng Guang probably wouldn’t have noticed the bug without Bai Shuxuan’s earlier warning.

Cheng Guang’s expression turned dark, thinking, damn it.

This Old Man is a pure wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Qiu Zhiman, the headmaster of Great Zhou’s Martial Academy.

The strongest and most stable defense on the island lay with both academy headmasters overseeing it; no mishaps should occur.

But now, Qiu Zhiman had shown his true colors.

The other headmaster of Great Wei’s Martial Academy might have problems as well.

Cheng Guang felt he was really screwed.

Qiu Zhiman was a Ninth-order Martial Emperor Realm powerhouse, only one step away from the Heavenly Human Realm. It wasn’t just him, a lowly card player, even if Qian Siyuan himself were here, they wouldn’t be able to defeat him.

If it were not for the seals being activated and the Qi being blocked, Qiu Zhiman’s strength probably couldn’t be fully utilized, and even with Qian Siyuan’s protection, Cheng Guang might still not survive an encounter with Qiu Zhiman.

Phew…

Cheng Guang slowly exhaled a breath, a sheen of sweat forming on his forehead.

If Qiu Zhiman had wanted to attack him just now, he probably would have been dead by now.

But thankfully, it seemed that Qiu Zhiman intended to kill two birds with one stone, aiming to get rid of him while also disrupting the competition.

He hadn’t made a move.

Cheng Guang’s mouth twitched slightly. Old Man, after all this time of pretense and deep concealment.

You’ve finally shown your true colors!

If I hadn’t known in advance there was going to be trouble at this martial competition, I might have really thought you were a good person.

Cheng Guang ascended a tall building, surveying the entirety of the island, examining the students with blindfolds being led by one Martial Academy teacher after another to designated spots.

This time, watching others fight while being the judge felt pretty good.

The only regret was that his role as a judge was nominal; his main job was to loaf around, and his side gig, while loafing, was to give those hidden in the shadows in black robes a shock.

“Princely Heir, what do we do now…?”

Bai Shuxuan looked at Cheng Guang with what seemed like concern.

The pressure from Qiu Zhiman was simply too great.

The fleeting glance he had cast over her had made her feel an incredibly terrifying pressure.

Moreover…

Bai Shuxuan oddly felt that Qiu Zhiman gave her a strange sense of familiarity.

As if she had seen him somewhere before.

But her head ached slightly, and she couldn’t remember anything.