An Open Scheme

"There’s news about that bastard Bai Liuli. He’s in trouble. Look, hehehe~~~"

Big White handed over the latest newspaper. Wu Xin took it, and his expression changed drastically. When Gu Xuanwu came in and leaned over to look, his face turned ugly as well.

"Shirakawa Trading Company… Wen County… Great luck and prosperity, an auspicious day to open the mine… That Shirakawa Rin, what a bastard~"

Gu Xuanwu tore the newspaper away and threw it to the ground, then stomped on it several times.

"What on earth does this say?" Li Yueya, who was illiterate and couldn’t understand the newspaper, hurriedly asked Wu Xin.

"Hehehe~~~ Bai Liuli is in trouble. He’s going to be used as a sacrifice."

The fox demon Big White laughed first, then said to Li Yueya, "It says that the Shirakawa Trading Company in Wen County is preparing to enter the mines outside Wen County and start mining. Then it says something about fearing that they might encounter something unclean—anyway, it’s just a pile of confusing nonsense. In the end, it says they’ve prepared some sacrifices, including a Supreme Spiritual Chicken, and have specially invited people from all walks of life to actively participate in their ceremony.

"The Supreme Spiritual Chicken… That bastard Bai Liuli is really doomed this time. Most likely, Shirakawa Rin had no way to separate him from the White Chicken he was keeping, so in a fit of rage, he decided to eat him first and worry about the rest later."

"Enough~"

Wu Xin rarely lost his temper. "Big White, I know you argue with Bai Liuli all the time, but he’s in danger now, and it’s because of me. I hope you’ll stop saying things like that, all right? If you’re willing to help, you’re welcome. If you don’t want to help, the door’s right there. You can leave."

"Oh, look at you, Wu Xin! As the saying goes, one day as husband and wife means a hundred days of devotion. We were together for a while, at least! Is this how you talk to me? Sure enough, not a single man is any good. And you, neither human nor demon nor ghost nor monster, are even worse! Now that you’ve got someone new, you’re kicking your old flame aside!"

The fox demon Big White refused to accept it. "I’m telling you, I’m not leaving today. I won’t help you either. Even if you beg me, it won’t do any good. I’m here to make trouble for you."

"You—"

Wu Xin was about to flare up, but Li Yueya hurriedly stopped him. "Wu Xin! Don’t~"

"If you’re willing to stay, I have nothing to say. But don’t cause trouble for me."

Wu Xin flung his sleeve and refused to keep arguing with Big White.

"Wu Xin, what should we do now?"

Gu Xuanwu discussed it with Wu Xin. "The Marshal values us, but that bastard Zhang Xianzong has already joined Marshal Wu in the capital. The Marshal has fewer troops than Marshal Wu, so we can’t launch an attack on Wen County."

"I’ll save Bai Liuli no matter what~"

That was all Wu Xin said. He frowned deeply as he stared at the blurry black-and-white photograph in the newspaper. Bai Liuli’s wings and two chicken legs had been tied with rope, and he had been hung on a rack. His blurry eyes were filled with humiliation.

"I know, but we need to consider this carefully! Think about it. Wen County is Zhang Xianzong’s base. Ever since the Arsenal was built, Marshal Wu and several other marshals have been paying close attention to it. Marshal Wu even specially promoted Zhang Xianzong to commander of the Provisional Mixed Division. His current forces are stronger than those of most marshals. Even if I brought my brigade there, they could wipe us out with a few cannon blasts."

"Then what do you suggest we do? Are we supposed to just watch Bai Liuli die?"

Wu Xin grew anxious and shouted outright.

"Hehe~"

After laughing, the fox demon Big White said, "It’s been hundreds of years, yet you haven’t improved at all. They’re obviously targeting you. Let me ask you: is your Centennial Slumber about to arrive?"

"Centennial Slumber? What is that~"

Li Yueya sensed that something was wrong and nervously looked at Big White.

"Wu Xin falls asleep once every hundred years. After waking up, he forgets the memories of the hundred years he lived before."

Big White’s words left Li Yueya and Gu Xuanwu shocked, with traces of unease in their eyes. "In the past, whenever his Centennial Slumber approached, he would write down the things he treasured from that hundred-year life and entrust them to Bai Liuli. When he woke up again, Bai Liuli would return them to him so he could deal with them himself. But now that Bai Liuli has been captured, he could…"

"Even more troubling is who leaked this information. Only a few of Wu Xin’s closest people knew about it. Those still alive are basically no longer human. There are Bai Liuli and me, and perhaps some other demons or ghosts, but I’m not sure. At present, the only ones I can confirm are Bai Liuli and me. I’m here, while Bai Liuli…"

Although the fox demon Big White did not say it outright, her implication was clear: Bai Liuli might have betrayed Wu Xin.

"No, Bai Liuli wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t~"

Wu Xin found it hard to believe. He couldn’t understand how his greatest secret had been discovered. Once he was sealed while sleeping, he would have no way to escape after losing his memories. That seal might last for all eternity, through countless centuries.

Big White continued, "Don’t forget that you were the one who caused Bai Liuli to lose his entire fortune back then, and then cost him his life. Shirakawa Rin is, after all, his disciple’s disciple and has a connection of shared lineage with him. It’s possible the two of them got together!"

"Wu Xin~ Wu Xin, come out~~"

At that moment, someone called from outside the door again. After Gu Xuanwu went out, he brought several people inside. Among them were Fang Yun and Huang Feng, who had once tried to cause trouble at Zhang Xianzong’s wedding banquet, as well as Chuchenzi from Qingyun Temple.

"Daoist priest, weren’t you at Qingyun Temple? How did you end up coming to Tianjin?"

Wu Xin asked curiously, though he was also somewhat puzzled. Had someone arranged this on purpose? Why was everyone showing up at his door one after another?

"It’s all because of Zhang Xianzong!"

Chuchenzi said irritably, "Zhang Xianzong discovered a Gold Mine in Wen County. One of the mine tunnels isn’t far from my Qingyun Mountain, so he brought soldiers and drove me out. Wu Xin, I know you have a good relationship with the marshals in Tianjin. You have to help me with this!"

"What happened with you two?"

Gu Xuanwu looked at Fang Yun and Huang Feng. He had some impression of them. They had defected to him when they were being hunted down. Later, when he lost power, they had been at Command Headquarters. They should have already become Zhang Xianzong’s men.

Fang Yun put on a sycophantic expression and pulled a blueprint from his robes. "Commander, Zhang Xianzong actually joined forces with the Japanese. We couldn’t stand it, so we quit working for him. We even stole the Gold Mine Map and brought it here to present to the Marshal—uh, no, to you, Commander~"

"It’s really a Gold Mine!"

Gu Xuanwu was overjoyed after looking at it. He paced back and forth with the blueprint in hand. "There really is a Gold Mine in Wen County. That bastard Zhang Xianzong wasn’t lying to me. If that’s the case, then he…"

"Commander, something like a Gold Mine can only be taken by those with virtue. Zhang Xianzong joined forces with the Japanese, making him utterly devoid of virtue. He has no right to lay a finger on it~"

Fang Yun spoke again. "I hear the Marshal intends to expand his forces. Wen County can’t be touched, but taking a single mine tunnel should be a piece of cake, shouldn’t it?"

"That’s right~ Wu Xin, I’ve got it~"

Gu Xuanwu suddenly understood. After calling out to Wu Xin, he rushed out of the room.