Chapter 13: Fishing

“Startled me.”

Er Leng’s tense expression relaxed as he sheathed the Inviting Moon dagger and bent down to sit. “Your Highness, have you thought of a plan?”

One of my teachers once said, no matter how tightly you clamp it, you can’t stop a spear if its wielder is determined to strike,” Ren Ye licked his cracked lips, his eyes bright. “Someone is trying to harm me with poison insects, and there must be a traitor aiding them. So, we have to take the initiative, turning the tables from defense to offense.”

Er Leng, puzzled for a moment, stretched his neck and asked, “I understand the latter part, but your teacher’s saying is too cryptic. What is meant by ‘tightly clamped,’ and what is the ‘spear’?”

Ren Ye waved him off lazily. “Let me gather my thoughts. After I went to the princess’s chamber, someone tried to poison me. Considering the timing, it’s hard for anyone other than the eunuchs and maids close to me to do it. That means there are two possibilities: first, a traitor helping an outsider to harm me; second, no outsider at all—the controller of the poison insects is right beside me.”

Er Leng nodded thoughtfully. “Your Highness’s reasoning makes sense.”

“From what you’ve observed, raising poison insects is very troublesome. The maids and eunuchs I have live closely together in cramped quarters. If they kept the insects for a long time, someone would surely notice,” Ren Ye frowned, pausing. “So I conclude the real poison master is not among my immediate attendants. It’s very likely a traitor working behind the scenes.”

“Your Highness’s wisdom truly impresses…”

“Don’t flatter me,” Ren Ye waved his hand repeatedly. “The timing isn’t right; hold your tongue for now.”

“?” Er Leng looked at Ren Ye with wide eyes, sensing something odd in his words lately.

“Er Leng, we need to release a false piece of information—one that the enemy will believe is very important.”

Er Leng pondered briefly and excitedly asked, “You mean, use a false message to lure the poison controller into acting again, so we can catch them for good?”

“You’re getting much smarter…” Ren Ye’s eyes brightened.

“Heh, after following Your Highness for so long, I’ve naturally become sharp,” Er Leng said honestly. Though straightforward, his skill in flattery and combat were equally excellent—whenever opportunity arose, he didn’t hesitate to give praise.

“Hah, but your guess is wrong.” Ren Ye shook his head teasingly.

Er Leng’s face instantly fell, feeling toyed with.

“The poisoning attempt failed, and both sides got startled,” Ren Ye said decisively. “If the enemy isn’t an idiot, they won’t act rashly again.”

“?” Er Leng was confused. “Then you mean…?”

“I’ll use the traitor to make them believe the false message is important.” Ren Ye rubbed his palms. “At first light tomorrow, you’ll distribute the gold and silver treasures we catalogued in the secret chamber. Then we’ll put on a show…”

Er Leng listened obediently, nodding from time to time as Ren Ye gave instructions.

Half an hour later, after finishing the plan, Ren Ye reminded, “Remember, the information must not be too direct or blunt. They should feel it’s something they’ve discovered because they were trusted…”

“Understood.” Er Leng showed his teeth in a crooked smile, exchanging a conspiratorial glance with Ren Ye.

The long night passed. After plotting with Er Leng, Ren Ye didn’t sleep but stared blankly at the dark ceiling.

Even now, it felt like a dream. Just a day ago, he was locked in the prison lit year-round, watching all kinds of criminals. Now… he had to fight for his life in an unknown world.

There was fear, excitement, and curiosity about the legacy of this star gate, but no sleepiness. Exhausted yet mentally alert.

Forget it, no sleep. Ren Ye lay on the bed, replaying the plan in his mind, trying to find and fix any flaws.

A full day had passed since entering the star gate. He was slowly adapting to this environment and realized this massive role-playing star gate was more about intellectual battles. Tools and supernatural powers were merely aids…

—

The next day, dawn broke and the world awoke.

After washing, Ren Ye sat in the sunlit study alone, reading a diary.

This diary was given to him by Huang Wei and did not violate star gate rules, so he could bring it in.

He had skimmed it before but not carefully. Now, waiting for the “fishing” result tonight, he could kill time this way.

Opening the first page revealed a long introduction.

“All intelligent beings within the star gate are collectively called Gate Spirits. This includes humans, animals, ghosts, spirits, and so forth.

Gate Spirits are divided into two types: one is the Enlightened, also known as the Starborn. They are born inside the star gate’s world, with no traceable origin. Their wisdom equals or surpasses humans.

Enlightened beings have a tiny chance to become players, transformed by the star gate’s legacy, gaining supernatural powers.

The second type is Residual Souls, whose thinking is rigid. They mainly serve various player missions, such as fierce ghosts, fairies, aliens in certain scenarios, functioning like NPCs.

Residual Souls, after countless repeated missions, may occasionally become Enlightened.

—

In some very special star gates, there’s a third kind called the Gate Eye.

Gate Eyes are incarnations of the star gate’s laws, responsible for overseeing the world’s evolution and ensuring no deviations…”

Ren Ye sat on a wooden chair, reading carefully and murmured, “That means Er Leng is probably a Gate Spirit—an innocent, clear but foolish Enlightened? Worth cultivating. I wonder if I can bring him to the real world…”

—

In the corridor of the Meditation Hall.

Twenty-four maids and eighteen eunuchs stood in neat rows.

These were all Zhu Ziguai’s loyal retainers in the manor—either frail women or eunuchs.

Er Leng stood before them, sword at his side, back to the side chamber, shouting, “The Prince’s manor faces troubled times, but the Prince has always treated you well. I hope you all understand… understand…”

He was tongue-tied, having read only a few days of classical texts. Halfway through his speech, he forgot his prepared lines and tried hard to recall the famous loyalty idiom but failed.

He kept saying “understand” for a while but couldn’t finish the sentence.

At this moment, a maid who often played cards with Zhu Ziguai, standing beside Lian’er, rolled her eyes and said, “Sergeant Hong, we understand the big principles. The Prince often talks with us weak women late into the night, sharing intimate words that bring us much sorrow. We would never collude with the court’s dogs…!”

“Yes, Sergeant Hong’s words are a waste of breath…”

“Is Sergeant Hong implying someone among us is spying for the court’s dogs?”

“…!”

The eunuchs and maids retorted sharply.

But it wasn’t personal against Er Leng, just that they found his words useless. With the manor’s recent undercurrents stirring fear, their attitudes were dismissive.

Since Lian’er was the head maid of the Prince’s chamber, they had little reason to curry favor with Er Leng.

Seeing the scene slipping out of control, Er Leng realized they might have misunderstood him.

Forget it, I’m bad at talking—time for action!

Waving his hand with a smile, Er Leng said, “Alright, everyone, please follow me inside.”

He turned and pushed open the side chamber door, stepping aside.

In an instant, golden and silver light dazzled the maids and eunuchs’ eyes.

In half of the chamber, many antiques, paintings, ceramics, and collectibles were displayed, along with piles of silver and gold bars. These worldly treasures were what Ren Ye and Er Leng had found yesterday in the secret chamber.

Huh?!

What does this mean?

Everyone was stunned, goosebumps rising all over.

“His Highness said, given his situation, if you’re willing to swear loyalty unto death, there will be rewards. All the gold and silver in this chamber will be divided equally.” Er Leng grinned and shouted, “Do you understand the Prince’s intentions?”

At this, more than forty people knelt in unison, the laziness and impatience wiped away.

“We swear to follow Prince Huai to death!”

“To give our lives and bodies without regret!”

“Even if the Prince uses that lamp oil thing tonight, we will die to support him!”

“…!”

No more words needed. When true gold and silver is laid before them, these poor servants finally felt the Prince still “remembered” them. Their dissatisfaction and anxiety vanished instantly.

Er Leng was pleased with their reaction and, together with Lian’er, handed out rewards according to the list.

At the end, he noticed a maid using a three-inch iron rod to pick a wooden box lock and suddenly recalled Ren Ye’s earlier saying: no matter how tight the clamp, you can’t stop a spear determined to strike…

One simple act unlocked his understanding.

“Indeed! His Highness is truly clever, his words rival those of great scholars. Vivid and fascinating!”

—

After a full day, Ren Ye had read most of the diary and learned much about the star gate’s basic rules.

At nightfall, after the hour of the Dog, he went to the princess’s chamber.

At that time, a little eunuch who had attended the gold distribution earlier arrived at Chunxiang Garden in the outer courtyard.

This was the manor’s place for leisure and sightseeing, but Zhu Ziguai disliked it, so few came here.

The little eunuch stood under an ancient tree in darkness, anxiously waiting.

Birds and beasts cried nearby. After a moment, Liu Ling’er appeared from the night, dressed in black robes and a black veil.

Her face was completely covered by the veil, her voice cold: “Why are you so eager to see me?”

“Reporting, Master, this morning, Sergeant Hong Jia Di gathered all the palace servants to the Meditation Hall and rewarded them with much gold and silver to win their loyalty.” The little eunuch bowed respectfully. “Afterward, he ordered us to increase night patrols in the Prince’s chamber, assigning tasks as if expecting an enemy.”

Liu Ling’er interrupted impatiently, “We failed the poison attempt yesterday. It’s normal for them to strengthen defenses today.”

“Heh heh,” the little eunuch smiled slyly, then added, “But it’s not normal. The Prince and Er Leng have increased guards openly, but the female officer Lian’er secretly went to the Meditation Hall this afternoon. I followed her secretly and saw her preparing an empty room and setting many hidden crossbows in the corridors…”

Upon hearing this, Liu Ling’er immediately understood. “You mean the increased defenses at the chamber are just a cover?”

“Exactly. Yesterday’s poisoning alerted the useless Prince. He won’t stay in the chamber tonight but will sneak to the Meditation Hall. Besides Hong Jia Di and Lian’er, no one else will be informed; otherwise, the cover would be pointless.” The little eunuch bowed again. “So I believe this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Master. If another attempt is made when the Prince is isolated, success is guaranteed.”

Under the moonlight, Liu Ling’er suddenly scanned the surroundings, her face grim. “What excuse did you use to meet me?”

“I wasn’t on duty tonight. I told the eunuchs I live with that I was going out to relieve myself,” the little eunuch said, looking for credit, then excitedly proposed, “I ask for nothing in return except that Master restore my manhood and share an intimate moment with me…”

Liu Ling’er ignored the request and slowly looked at him. “Did you meet anyone when you came out?”

“No, Master…”

“Why did Lian’er’s secret visit to the Meditation Hall happen to be seen by you?”

“I swear loyalty to Master and watch the Prince’s every move. Rest assured, when I followed Lian’er, she found nothing.” The little eunuch explained quickly.

Liu Ling’er looked at him and beckoned with her hand. “Good performance. Come here.”

Overjoyed, the little eunuch stepped forward. “Master, I have admired you for a long time. If you restore my manhood, I would thank my ancestors forever…”

“You know what? You useless wretch have completely exposed me!” Suddenly, Liu Ling’er’s voice turned icy as she stared at the eunuch nearby.

The little eunuch froze.

“Pfft!”

A flash of cold light, and blood spurted from his neck. He staggered back three steps, eyes wide.

Liu Ling’er’s right hand suddenly grasped a dagger. She stepped forward swiftly, grabbed the eunuch’s hair, and pulled left, exposing his neck.

“Pfft!”

The dagger pierced through his neck, skewering him completely.

“Idiot! No brains!” Liu Ling’er cursed angrily, releasing his hair. He collapsed stiffly.

Beneath the moonlight, a grave expression showed on her delicate face as she looked toward the woods.

Her eyes held no mercy or guilt, only the seriousness of facing a great enemy.

Ruthless, decisive, and quick to react!

Whether in the real world or the star gate world, she was clearly no soft-hearted woman. Crossing society’s bottom line was her way of survival…

“Whoosh!”

A figure emerged from the forest.

He was burly, holding a sheathed single saber, standing under the moonlight with a simple face and a stern voice: “Drop the knife, or you will die.”