An assassin broke into the imperial palace at night, disturbing the entire imperial city.
The emperor's personal guards scoured the streets, searching from house to house, as if they were digging three feet into the ground. Tian Hao looked at Cen Yu, who was lying unconscious in a haystack, and his gaze fell on the box Cen Yu was holding. Was the palace making such a huge fuss for this box?
"He's badly injured, but still alive. My lord, shall we take him back?"
"Take him back," Tian Hao pondered for a moment, then instructed, "Make sure to have the guards outside withdrawn, and someone to treat him. Don't let him die."
"Yes, my lord."
The next time Cen Yu woke up, he was in an unfamiliar room, his entire body aching as if he had been run over by a carriage. However, his first reaction was to search for the box he had brought out.
"Where's my box?"
"It's here." Tian Hao gestured to the box placed on the table. Cen Yu struggled to sit up, but his injuries were too severe, and he couldn't manage it.
"Give it to me."
Tian Hao remained seated. "You snuck into the imperial palace and nearly lost your life, all for this thing?"
"So what if I did? Give me the box," Cen Yu said excitedly, wincing in pain as he moved his wound.
Tian Hao placed the box by the bedside. Cen Yu immediately clutched it to his chest, as if only then could he feel at ease.
"Do you know what's inside?" Tian Hao asked with interest.
"Haven't you already seen it?" Cen Yu replied calmly. He thought of Tian Hao as a cunning villain, someone with whom no martial ethics could be discussed, as he had no bottom line, only personal gain. He wondered how Feng Mo Ran managed to recruit such a person. In his opinion, such individuals were highly capable but also a double-edged sword, capable of betraying you at any moment.
Tian Hao chuckled. "The treasure map of the Former Qin treasury has already been revealed. The puzzle box is now useless."
"If it's useless, why would Xiao Man try every means to get it back?" Cen Yu sneered. "If it's useless, why would you save me? It shows that the puzzle box is still useful to you, and quite useful at that."
Tian Hao did not deny it. His master had always said that Cen Yu was cunning and should not be underestimated. Furthermore, this man had a face that seemed to gain favor, appearing harmless and innocent despite his cruel heart. Xiao Man's repeated failures against him were likely due to being deceived by his appearance.
"Can you unlock the secret of the puzzle box?" Tian Hao inquired. Now that the puzzle box was in hand, the question was how to decipher its contents. Without deciphering them, they wouldn't know if the published treasure map was true or false. Moreover, Xiao Man seemed to be waiting to reap the benefits, and watching her had been futile.
Cen Yu opened the puzzle box and took out one of the pieces. "You should know that Xiao Man once lost a puzzle box to Wen Mo Han, and Wen Mo Han was very interested in the puzzle boxes, consulting numerous ancient texts in an attempt to unlock their secrets."
"So, you know how to decipher the puzzle box."
Cen Yu remained silent, but skillfully opened the puzzle box in his hand, transforming it into a small map. Tian Hao's eyes widened with greed, and just as he was about to snatch it, Cen Yu's fingers moved, quickly rearranging the map before restoring the puzzle box back to its original small form.
Tian Hao immediately understood that Cen Yu wanted to use this as a bargaining chip. "What do you want?"
Cen Yu lowered his gaze. "I am a man who has lost everything, what else could I possibly want?"
Tian Hao narrowed his eyes. "What, are you seeking revenge for Wen Mo Han?"
"The envoy probably forgot, Wen Mo Han and I have long since broken off ties. He wanted to kill me for a woman, and now he has died by a woman's hand, so he has met his just deserts," Cen Yu paused for a moment. "Xiao Man took everything from me, so naturally, I will retaliate and make her lose everything!"
"Truly a man who holds grudges," Tian Hao said with amusement. "If that is your wish, then it is not difficult to achieve."
"She is now the Empress of Blue Moon, and has secretly recruited Yun Qi, cooperating with Nangong Yu to divide this land. I am but an unknown nobody, how could I possibly make her lose everything?"
"Former Qin was also very powerful, wasn't it? Many capable individuals emerged from Former Qin, yet it was ultimately destroyed," Tian Hao said faintly. "As long as that person makes a move, Xiao Man and Nangong Yu are nothing but ants."
Cen Yu did not believe him. "Don't tell me your master merely tolerates Xiao Man's recklessness. She has become a public enemy now, how could he possibly have the ability to kill Xiao Man and Nangong Yu?"
Tian Hao glanced at Cen Yu. "Ignorant people are truly fortunate."
"What do you mean?"
"Assemble the correct treasure map, and we will make Xiao Man lose everything."
"How can I trust you?" Cen Yu asked softly. If he revealed the treasure map now, he would likely be killed by Tian Hao immediately. He wasn't stupid.
"You have no choice but to trust us."
"I never entrust my fate into the hands of others," Cen Yu stated resolutely. "I want to see Feng Mo Ran."
"How dare you utter my master's name so casually!" Tian Hao rebuked.
Cen Yu's expression remained cool, entirely unfazed by Tian Hao's anger. "What I want, you cannot provide, and your promises are not binding. I want to talk to Feng Mo Ran personally. Now that Blue Moon and Yun Qi, your forces, have been systematically dismantled, you should at least show me what capabilities you have to challenge Xiao Man, so I can decide whether or not to cooperate with you."
A cunning fox! Tian Hao cursed inwardly. As a merchant, Cen Yu was inherently a calculative person, and he was now applying that calculation to the fullest. He trusted no one but himself. Unless they could present a trump card that would earn Cen Yu's trust, they had no way of knowing if Cen Yu would double-cross them.
"What will it take for you to trust us?"
"I want to see Feng Mo Ran, I want to talk to him personally!" Cen Yu said slowly and firmly, playing with the puzzle box. "You have been secretly searching for items from Former Qin, and I assume there are things within the Former Qin treasury that you desperately desire. Feng Mo Ran has spent years amassing wealth abroad; he doesn't lack money. Therefore, what he desires is not money, but the true location of the treasure, which lies within this puzzle box."
Tian Hao did not deny it. Cen Yu was too sharp; lying to him would be futile. "We are interested in certain items within the Former Qin treasury. We can give you all the gold and jewels."
"I am now a man with nothing. Gold and jewels are of no use to me. As I said, I only want Xiao Man to pay for her actions. I want her to lose everything and die a painful death!"