Sword Among Us

If Kuo Zhong went to Eunuch Yang’s Warehouse, there was no reason for the players to be excluded from the main plot of the story.

Happy’s hand paused for a moment in the motion of bringing the wine cup to his lips. He cast another glance at the unfamiliar player before he calmly downed his wine. He knew that he had already found one of the most crucial keys to clearing the quest, and many scenarios as well as possibilities flashed in his mind. Then, he slowly categorized them before he formed a general plan in his heart.

At that moment, a commotion suddenly began in the pleasure boat. Happy could vaguely hear that the people seemed to have noticed where Kuo Zhong was, along with words of a well and Eunuch Yang, as well as other word fragments.

Happy was stunned.

Then, he saw the evil cultists, along with Empress Yin, stand up without hesitation and quickly leave the hall.

It instantly became much emptier, but the people from the righteous path, imperial court members, and some others did not move. They did not care about Eunuch Yang’s Warehouse at all!

Xu Zhiling’s expression changed slightly.

Shi Feixuan and Li Shimin stood up together. The generals on the tables beside them got up like springs to stand behind Li Shimin.

“Brother Happy, are you interested in witnessing the legendary Eunuch Yang’s Warehouse?”

“Eunuch Yang’s Warehouse?”

Happy was slightly stunned. He then cast a glance at the smiling Li Shimin and the quiet Xu Zhiling. He also smiled and shook his head. “My goal this time was to meet Artisan Shi so that I can see her performance at a close distance. I’m already very satisfied with this situation. I’m not really interested in things like Eunuch Yang’s Warehouse.”

“If that’s the case, I will not force you. If we have the chance in the future, please come to Heaven’s Scheme Mansion. I will be waiting for you.”

A hint of regret and disappointment shone in Li Shimin’s eyes. But soon, he recovered, wrapped his fist in his palm, and bid farewell to Happy.

“I won’t be sending you off.” Happy quickly got up.

Li Shimin led his people out. At that moment, Shi Feixuan’s beautiful face, which was like an orchid in the valley, was reflected in Happy’s eyes. Her pleasant voice traveled into his ears calmly.

“There are too many parties involved in Eunuch Yang’s Warehouse, and I cannot stand by and watch. I’m afraid I won’t be able to accompany you, Young Master Happy.”

Once she curtsied, she left with light footsteps while Happy watched.

Another group of people walked away from the hall.

The space beside Happy instantly became empty. Only Xu Zhiling was left.

The two people had different thoughts in their minds, and they did not speak to each other.

The atmosphere was rather awkward.

Happy decidedly ignored everything else and calmed down to listen to Artisan Shi’s performance while she stayed behind the curtain.

For a period of time, he was at ease and relaxed, which gave him a unique charm.

He sat like that for half an hour.

The people in the front hall were all immersed in the performance.

Happy also seemed to have completely forgotten about Eunuch Yang’s Warehouse. Then, Shi Qingxuan’s cold voice could be heard. “It is late now. Let us end here today. My dear audience, please go back. I will now rest.”

“Sorry to bother you.”

The people in the hall got up and left their seats.

At that moment, Xu Zhiling asked Happy to stay back. “Brother Happy, please stay… I have a request.”

“Hmm?”

Happy was originally a little disappointed. He thought that he had an opportunity with the quest, but nothing happened, so he did not expect that Xu Zhiling would speak up at the very end. He immediately stopped and turned around in surprise.

“Please, speak.”

Xu Zhiling did not immediately speak. Instead, he turned around and stared at the entrance of the hall in deep contemplation.

Happy did not urge him to speak.

The duo waited until everyone had left, and Xu Zhiling spoke to the player behind him. “Help me keep a lookout at the entrance.”

That person might not have been Xu Zhiling’s disciple, but he had received guidance from Xu Zhiling. He cast a glance at Happy, but did not dare to hesitate. He quickly went outside.

At that moment, only Happy and Xu Zhiling were left in the hall.

Happy also noticed that Shi Qingxuan did not say anything from behind the curtain and did not ask them to leave. Her relationship with Xu Zhiling seemed to be closer than in the original story.

“What is it that you need to be so mysterious?” Happy asked in a semi-joking tone.

A hint of solemnity rose to Xu Zhiling’s face. He looked straight at Happy, and his tone was serious.

“Brother Happy, even though this is the first time we met, you are a chivalrous person who does not care about fame and benefits. So I have an unreasonable request I would like to ask of you.”

‘He sure is straightforward.’ Happy was stunned for a while.

“Zhiling, you think of me too highly, I cannot live up to your expectations. If this is just a small matter, I can help you, but if it’s something great, I will have to think about it.”

Happy did not reject him too thoroughly.

There were quite a number of Myth Realm monsters in Yangzhou City, and if he provoked any one of them, he would be in great trouble!

“I want you to protect this pleasure boat.”

Xu Zhiling’s words baffled Happy.

The pleasure boat was guarded pretty tightly, and no Myth Realm monster had come over out of the blue to rob it.

But when Happy thought about it in depth, he frowned slightly and put on a solemn expression.

“You’re guarding the boat, so would there be any rascal who would target it?”

Naturally, Happy had already guessed that Zhiling would not be able to stay in the boat, but he needed to hear it to be sure.

Just as he expected, Xu Zhiling looked at him with a troubled expression. “I won’t hide it from you. I simply can’t sit still and do nothing while so many people go after Kuo Zhong.

“I will not be able to stay on the boat, but trouble has been brewing in Yangzhou City lately, and there are plenty of powerful people here. I am worried about Qingxuan staying alone in the boat without an elite guarding her. I don’t want her to be in danger, so I’m hoping that you can stay here and take care of her.”

Happy did not answer right away.

Who ever said that Xu Zhiling was not a calculative person? At that moment, Happy could sense the scheme behind his quest.

If Happy agreed to it, he could leave the boat. Then, Xu Zhiling would take the player who was serving as a guard at the entrance and leave for their quest.

If he rejected the request, it would be the perfect time for Xu Zhiling to ask him to leave the pleasure boat. There would no longer be a reason for him to stay.

Xu Zhiling would then think of another way to carry out his quest in a manner that no one would notice. After all, Happy’s appearance and choice could not stop the progress of the main plot.

‘It’s an amazing plan!’

“I have always admired Artisan Shi’s skills. If someone bothers the boat, I will be the first to disagree with it. I can accept your request, but how will you leave?”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I have prepared a wetsuit that will allow me to leave underwater in a manner that no one will notice.” When Xu Zhiling heard Happy agree, joy bloomed on his face, and he brought out a human skin mask. “But I will have to trouble you. If someone tries to get on the boat, please appear in my image to fight against those enemies and make them retreat.”

When Happy heard Xu Zhiling’s subsequent request, he finally released a breath of relief. At the very least, Xu Zhiling did not intend to completely exclude him from the main plot.

With Xu Zhiling’s human skin mask, he could position himself firmly in the quest.

A thought bloomed in Happy’s mind. He rubbed the human skin mask in his hand and pondered for a moment before raising a question. “I can wear the mask, but our martial arts are different. If I attack, I will definitely expose myself… What should we do about it?”