Chapter 4: Do Your Best and Leave the Rest to Fate

Unlike the solemnity of the others, Shangguan Jun remained leaning lazily after hearing these words, the smile on his lips undiminished.

He had not missed what Jun Liuyi had just said; saying something was "tricky" did not mean there was no way to handle it.

The four Great Hall Masters and six Elders who were familiar with him all remained silent. They knew well that the Young Master's lack of concern meant he certainly did not yet view this matter as an urgent crisis.

Sure enough, his half-closed eyes slowly opened, and his handsome phoenix eyes curved upward even more as he raised his gaze.

"Do any of you have other insights?" Finally willing to move his back away from the chair, Shangguan Jun sat upright and swept his eyes across those below.

To the lower left, the First Elder Gu Bing frowned deeply. After a long silence, he nodded and asked, "In my humble opinion, prevention is the best policy. It is said that one other person possesses a Frost Jade Pillow."

"I disagree with the First Elder's words." The Third Elder Gu Lin, sitting below him, was the first to speak. Although she was nearly sixty, she possessed the complexion of a youth, and even her voice carried a childlike tone.

With a look of disapproval, she vetoed: "Aside from our Spirit Control Sect possessing a Frost Jade Pillow, the whereabouts of the other one are nothing but rumors in the martial world, making it impossible to determine. Furthermore, it is already too late for prevention; simply tracking the rumored location of the Frost Jade Pillow is as difficult as ascending to the heavens."

Her words served as a timely reminder to everyone present: even if the rumors were true, obtaining the Frost Jade Pillow would not be easy.

Yu Xin'er, being impatient, could not restrain herself and said, "It is one thing for the Phantom Thief Old Man to be spoken of as a god-like figure, but this other Frost Jade Pillow is also shrouded in rumors. Whether it is in the hands of the missing Princess Yueying of the fallen kingdom or in the hands of the Gu Saint of the Weird Gu Alliance, it is equally impossible to make a move. Since that is the case, why not just take a gamble!"

Amidst the silence, the Fourth Elder Chou Yuanran stroked his beard and spoke slowly, "Hall Master Yu, there is no need to rush. You must know that haste makes waste."

The Second Elder Wu Su'an was a bellicose person by nature. Hearing that this matter could no longer be suppressed, he said with excitement, "What is there to fear? I also think Hall Master Yu has a point. The Gu Saint's status in the martial world is not low, but is our Spirit Control Sect not the same? Since it concerns the Sect Leader's safety, if we cannot request it, we shall simply seize it."

"I fear you would become the Gu Saint's puppet before you even make a move." The Fourth Elder Chou Yuanran shook his head in disapproval. "The Gu Saint's ability to use Gu is unparalleled. If one is struck by his Gu, I fear even the Ghost Doctor would be unable to save them."

The Fifth Elder, who had been keeping his lips pressed shut in silence, finally showed a crack in his paralyzed expression. His face, covered in scars, looked even more ferocious due to the furrowing of his brows.

"Fighting is not an option, and defending is dangerous. We must come up with an idea quickly." Suddenly standing up, he bowed toward Shangguan Jun in the main seat and said, "Zi Long can go to the Weird Gu Alliance. I presume that while the Saintess may not be able to dispel the Gu Saint's Gu, she might have a way to ensure that if I am tainted by the Gu poison, I will die instantly."

The Fifth Elder paused, then continued, "I remember the Saintess saying that every profession has its specialties; someone skilled in Gu poison is not necessarily skilled in general poisons."

Hearing this, a pleasant curve appeared at the corner of Jun Liuyi's mouth, and her smiling eyes showed her approval.

"What the Fifth Elder said is exactly what Liuyi wanted to say."

With Jun Liuyi's voice, the room fell into silence once more.

"It is just that Liuyi feels that seizing the Frost Jade Pillow only treats the symptoms, not the root cause." She nodded slightly toward the Fifth Elder and said, "However, to do our utmost, the Fifth Elder's idea must naturally be considered, but there is no need for the Fifth Elder to make any useless sacrifices."

Looking at her confident smile, everyone's hearts felt an inexplicable sense of stability.

"You thought of it too?" Shangguan Jun asked with a smile.

"Does the Young Master not already have a countermeasure in mind?" Jun Liuyi winked at Shangguan Jun with a hint of mischief, a faint smile playing on her lips.

The two shared a look, their eyes filled with mutual understanding.

Shangguan Jun suddenly stood up and said, "A combination of offense and defense is the best strategy. We must naturally go to the Weird Gu Alliance. However, under what pretext we go and how we retreat unscathed are matters that require detailed planning."

"Only by knowing oneself and the enemy can one remain invincible. What does the Young Master think?" Jun Liuyi gave a low laugh. "It is just that time is running short."

"Pass down the order: the disciples of the Spirit Control Sect must report back to me on the circumstances of the Phantom Thief Old Man's thefts in the shortest time possible." Shangguan Jun withdrew his smile, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly. "Those who fail to meet the requirement will be dealt with according to sect rules."

"Yes!" Upon hearing this, the six Great Elders and four Hall Masters immediately rose and departed.

As the crowd dispersed, only Jun Liuyi and Shangguan Jun remained in the vast hall.

Shangguan Jun suddenly stood up and curled his lips into a smile toward Jun Liuyi. "Shall we chat while we walk?"

"I thought the Young Master would be too lazy to move." Jun Liuyi let out a low laugh. She had witnessed Shangguan Jun's habitual laziness; whether it was during meetings or other matters, if he could lean back comfortably, he would never sit upright properly.

"I am lazy to move, not a pig," Shangguan Jun teased her, shedding the wicked and ruthless aura he maintained in front of others.

Jun Liuyi pouted in mock disappointment and said, "If the Young Master were like this both in public and in private, I wonder if people would still be as terrified of you as cats are of mice."

"That would require me to watch them be as relaxed and carefree as you are," Shangguan Jun replied half-jokingly.

"Does the Young Master still have the mind to joke at a time like this?" Raising her willow brows slightly, Jun Liuyi sighed and said, "Actually, the Young Master knows that this so-called combination of offense and defense actually means both sides have only a fifty percent chance of success."

Shangguan Jun took the first step out of the hall. As he turned to enter the corridor, a flash of disappointment passed through his eyes for an instant.

Jun Liuyi followed him, walking side by side.

"What are your thoughts on the Fifth Elder's proposal?"

"Using poison to control Gu," Jun Liuyi mused. "Mutual destruction is the most unprofitable outcome. Moreover, unless it is absolutely necessary, we should avoid conflict with the Weird Gu Alliance."

"Indeed," Shangguan Jun agreed. "Using poison to control Gu would only work on an upright person like the Gu Saint. If it were anyone else, it would be hard to say."

Jun Liuyi nodded and said, "That is why I said that only by knowing oneself and the enemy can one remain invincible. The Gu Saint's temperament saves us from the loss of mutual destruction, but his principle is 'do not provoke me unless I provoke you.' If we fail to obtain the Frost Jade Pillow and resort to force, the Spirit Control Sect will inevitably face a retaliation from the Weird Gu Alliance."

"The best course of action to treat the root cause would be to settle the heart of the Phantom Thief Old Man." Jun Liuyi's red lips were pressed tight, appearing worried.

As they walked into the courtyard on the right side of the corridor, Shangguan Jun, having sat down peacefully, happened to see her worried expression.

"Is 'doing our utmost and leaving the rest to fate' not the tacit understanding we both share? Liuyi, what are you worried about?" Looking at her expression, Shangguan Jun asked in confusion.