Peerless ( Meng Xi Shi )

The man in white looked a little taken aback.

From the way he saw it, with Fo Er's determination and skills, even if it was not sufficient to kill Feng Xiao tonight, it would still be enough to hold him down. Who knew that the number one fighter of Göktürk was only an empty name? It had not even been two hours, and Feng Xiao had already caught up.

"Lord Feng, your martial arts are par with excellence, but you have indeed surpassed my expectations."

Feng Xiao, "It was never your intention to go far in the first place. Tonight, of all the people that came, your background is yet a mystery. Would you not consider introducing yourself before you leave?"

The man in white, "Names are but only something to be called by. After a hundred years, all return to dust and earth. Lord Feng, there is no reason for you to be so persistent."

Feng Xiao, "The more people speak that way, the more they care about dignity. You wear white all over, but beneath you undoubtedly are someone who picks faults with others and themselves. How could you be similar to the elegance and grace that you show on the outside?"

The man in white, "I am not interested in your judgement of my character. What I am interested in is that you have poisoned Master Cui and imprisoned him by your side, yet why is it that he still hopes for your rescue? Could it be possible that there are people in this world who enjoy being tortured?"

Cui Buqu responded coldly, "I do not like to be tortured, but I know that I am better off in Feng Xiao's hands compared to yours."

The man in white felt strange, "Other than being rough when I took you away, when have I not treated you with care?"

Cui Buqu replied, "When he does things, he knows his boundaries and his goals; yet as for you, you do not value the lives of others."

"QuQu, it's so rare to hear you complimenting me in front of others, my heart, truly, is astonished— "

When the world 'truly' was spoken, Feng Xiao's shadow immediately disappeared, dashing towards them.

The man in white's reflexes was quick. He quickly held Cui Buqu and moved backwards, going as far as pushing Cui Buqu in front of him slightly, intending to use him to block Feng Xiao's attacks.

Who knew that Feng Xiao had no intention to hit his vital spots in the first place; instead, he extended his hand and swept the top of his head.

The man in white was taken by surprise. He could not hold his hat even if he wanted to when it flew off. His head was bare, the cold winds surging above it.

Cui Buqu coughed twice, not caring to veil his laugh.

Feng Xiao laughed even louder than him. "It would seem even monks nowadays are so dishonest. Instead of staying in their temples, they came here to fight for a jade. Who is your master? Let me enlighten him with the ways of Daoism!"

The moon reflected its light on the man in white's bald, shiny head. Feng Xiao could not help but think of an egg, especially hard-boiled eggs without its shell.

As Cui Buqu coughed, Feng Xiao cast him a glance and realized that Cui Buqu was actually trying to hide his giggle. He could not help feeling that this sickly man and he were actually quite in sync.

Upon being exposed, an angry look flashed across the face of the man in white, but it was very quickly replaced with calmness.

"I am a wanderer with no master or host."

Feng Xiao responded with an 'Oh', "So you are but a wild monk, then you cannot call yourself a man of the cloth. Who knows whether or not you are faking your identity as a monk? I am in the mood to bring you back for questioning."

As he spoke, he reached out to grab the man in white, yet the latter was incredibly cautious. He moved backwards, covering the distance of about ten steps or more the moment the other opened his mouth.

But Feng Xiao did not stop; he leapt into the air, seemingly not willing to give up unless he had caught the man.

The man in white furrowed his brows. He was not opposed to fighting with Feng Xiao, but he did not want to waste his time, and he was even more unwilling to use his skills in case he was recognized, so he was relentless and pushed Cui Buqu forward and towards Feng Xiao, before leaping into the air, intending to leave.

Who knew that at that moment, a black shadow descended from the sky; his sword, long and clanking, drifting towards him.

The moonlight was bright, and the clouds faint, it was enough for the man in white to see his face.

It was the man who was held hostage by Gao Ning just before, Pei Jingzhe!

Feng Xiao alone was already challenging enough to fight; now Pei Jingzhe was joining the battle. Even if the latter was not strong enough for him to consider an opponent; having a fly continually buzzing by his ear and being an annoyance was enough to make him leave. The man in white knew that today, he would not be able to take something back to his master. Just as he avoided the sword, using a branch as his stepping stone, he bounced off onto the roof and left. Pei Jingzhe wanted to give chase, but he was already gone.

"Let him go." Feng Xiao said.

Pei Jingzhe descended from the tree and said guiltily, "My apologies, it was my mistake that Gao Ning was not captured."

Feng Xiao, "His martial arts are above you. You saved me the trouble of rescuing you when you escaped from him. I should be thanking you."

Pei Jingzhe could not tell whether his lord was praising him or ridiculing him, but after a while, he responded, "I… I… thank my lord for your praise?"

Cui Buqu, "He is ridiculing you. Did you think he was praising you?"

Pei Jingzhe, "..."

Feng Xiao, "This kid is a little silly, my apologies."

Cui Buqu, "I'm accustomed to it."

Pei Jingzhe kept shut, his mouth twitching, but he still asked, "My Lord, that monk just now, do you need us to investigate his identity?"

Feng Xiao turned towards Cui Buqu, "Master Cui should already know who he is."

Cui Buqu, "I have my guess, but I do not know if it is him."

Feng Xiao, "Speak and let us see."

Cui Buqu, "The Monk, Yu Xiu."

Who was that?

Pei Jingzhe felt a little lost, in his mind, he searched for that name, but he knew no one from Jianghu that went by that alias.

Cui Buqu, "This is a master of intellect. He seldom roams the Jianghu, so he is not considered a man of Jianghu. Most of the time, he serves royalty, remaining behind to strategize and devise plans."

As he heard the two words 'royalty', Pei Jingzhe felt as if something clicked in him, but he dared not open his mouth to ask.

But Feng Xiao already spoke, "Prince Jin."

It was not a question; it was an answer.

Cui Buqu, "That is correct."

Prince Jin, Yang Guang, was the second son of the current Emperor. He and the Crown Prince Yang Yong shared the same mother: Empress Dugu, but he was even more bubbly and proactive than the Crown Prince. Similar to the fact that children who cried would often be given candy, compared to his elder brother who was silent; Yan Guang earned his parent's favour more than his brother. This was no secret among the imperial court.

Pei Jingzhe had even heard that the Emperor intended to unite the Northern and Southern dynasty and were appointing capable men to be its Commander. The Empress held the intention of making Prince Jin the second in power, following the first in command on this journey. If this fell into his hands, who would still dare to say that Prince Jin, who was spoiled rotten by the Emperor and Empress when he was young, was only a naughty child? Prince Jin would only be accumulating his conquests on the battlefield, surpassing even the Crown Prince.

To be a strategist for someone like this, Yu Xiu would naturally become a future minister of the country.

Pei Jingzhe inhaled sharply.

He was not afraid of Yu Xiu, but the man behind Yu Xiu.

"As someone of Prince Jin's house, did he not know about the Jiejian Bureau? Why would he send someone to do shady work?"

Feng Xiao, "Naturally, it was because he wants the jade."

Pei Jingzhe, "He took it for…. for his master, Prince Jin?"

Feng Xiao responded with an 'En', "This time the loss of the jade is because the Jiejian Bureau has failed its duty. Whoever can lay their hands on the Jade is the one with the achievement in the Emperor and Empress' eyes. The reason Prince Jin wanted to interfere is not strange at all. Even Master Cui's Zuoyue Bureau could not resist and had to interfere, had it not?"

Cui Buqu, "I have no idea what you are saying."

Feng Xiao, "You are not lying convincingly enough."

Cui Buqu, "Then I will act better next time."

After saying that, he made a slightly shocked expression, "What are you saying? What Zuoyue Bureau? I do not understand."

Feng Xiao nodded his head, "Your tone is still out of place, but your expression is better now."

Pei Jingzhe, "…"

Suddenly, there was a sound that broke the awkward silence.

Cui Buqu abruptly said, "I'm hungry."