Legend Management Bureau Chapter 90

[ … words ]

“What’s the plan now?” Zhan Qisheng asked. “Are you going back to take a look?”

“No can do. I can’t leave you alone with Yingning. You’ll bully her.”

“Boring,” Zhan Qisheng muttered, shooting him a glance. “Do I look like that kind of person?”

“Yingning, come back,” Du Yu coaxed, waving his hand at her. “We don’t play with bad guys.”

Obediently, Yingning walked back to Du Yu and vanished into the brush.

“Old Zhan, I was just lending Yingning to you for a moment, so don’t get the wrong idea,” Du Yu said, curling his lip. “Our previous agreement still stands.”

Zhan Qisheng let out a cold snort. “Until Yingning chooses to come with me of her own volition, I absolutely will not force her.”

“Haha, glad to hear it,” Du Yu said. “By the way, did you need something when you tried to come to my room earlier?”

“Oh, right. It wasn’t anything major. It’s just that the cultivation sects are mostly established now. Isn’t it time for the next step?” Zhan Qisheng asked. “When exactly does Zhang Jian become the Jade Emperor?”

“Then you must use everything at your disposal and accompany him. The method you used to injure me the other day, you can use it again tomorrow.”

“Wait…” Du Yu paused, confused. “I’m not following. Isn’t this just a ‘handover ceremony’? Why does it sound like you expect a fight?”

Zhan Qisheng stared at Du Yu. “Are you actually smart, or just plain stupid? Do you really think tomorrow will go smoothly?”

“What are you getting at?”

“If the Director could find a way to order me to kill Zhang Jian, why would he pass up such a golden opportunity tomorrow?”

A golden opportunity?

Realization suddenly dawned on Du Yu. Although no one in this current timeline knew what was going to happen tomorrow, the future He Suoyi knew it perfectly well.

Zhang Jian and Zhang Youren would swap identities tomorrow. One would become the true Jade Emperor, and the other would become the Great Emperor of Mount Tai. Even though their status would be supreme, their magical powers were currently still weak, making them incredibly easy targets. If He Suoyi wanted to execute his ‘Purge the Immortal Realm’ plan, tomorrow was the absolute best time.

“I’m an idiot,” Du Yu admitted. “If you hadn’t warned me, I would have just swaggered over there tomorrow without a care in the world.”

“Ordinary thugs couldn’t hurt you anyway, right?” Zhan Qisheng remarked. “Even if a fight breaks out, it shouldn’t be a problem for you. I just wanted to give you a heads-up.”

“No… it’s different now…” Du Yu muttered. He knew that Zhongli Chun had fallen into a deep slumber. Right now, he was no different from an ordinary mortal.

“Oh? Did something happen?” Zhan Qisheng asked.

“Uh…” Du Yu looked troubled. He wasn’t sure if Zhan Qisheng would try to snatch Yingning away if he knew he had lost all his combat power. “Nothing’s wrong… I just need to think about it.”

“Think about it?” Zhan Qisheng didn’t understand what was going on with Du Yu; he just looked like he had spaced out.

Du Yu hurried back to Zhang Jian’s quarters and knocked on the door.

“Sir?”

This was the third time Zhang Jian had seen Du Yu tonight. He had a feeling he wouldn’t be getting any sleep.

“Is there something you need?”

“Boss, I need to discuss something with you!” Du Yu hastily slipped inside, turning to shut the door behind him.

Seeing Du Yu looking even more anxious than before, Zhang Jian’s own sleepiness completely vanished.

“Whatever it is, please speak freely, Sir.”

“Boss, that time you agreed upon with Zhang Youren… is there any way to change it?” Du Yu asked.

“Change it?” Zhang Jian turned to look out the window at the setting moon. “It’s almost dawn. Even if I agree with you, I have no way of notifying Youren. How could we possibly change the time?”

“That’s…” Du Yu realized his request was a bit abrupt. “Boss, to be honest with you, I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be dangerous.”

“Dangerous?” Zhang Jian frowned in confusion. “Why do you say that, Sir?”

“Boss, I told you earlier that someone wanted me to take your life. Do you remember?”

“I remember.”

“That person is despicable, shameless, and utterly sinister. He threatened me to take your life. Fortunately, that issue has already been resolved by ‘you,’ but I’m worried he won’t stop there. Or rather, he might have already arranged for other people. The moment you and Zhang Youren show up tomorrow, the assassins lying in ambush will directly take both your lives.”

“This…” Zhang Jian still didn’t quite understand. “Sir, it’s not that I don’t believe you. It’s just that I’ve never made any enemies, and Youren rarely even interacts with anyone. Why would someone want to kill the two of us?”

“Boss, the people this person wants to kill aren’t ‘Zhang Jian’ and ‘Zhang Youren.’ They are the ‘Jade Emperor’ and the ‘Great Emperor of Mount Tai.’ You two just happen to be those individuals,” Du Yu explained. “Just like how Zhang Qian wanted to kill you a few days ago—he wanted your position, not you personally.”

Hearing this, Zhang Jian fell silent for a moment. Then, he looked up at Du Yu. “Sir, I understand your reasoning. It’s just…”

Suddenly, Zhang Jian dropped to his knees and offered Du Yu a deep, formal bow.

“Boss! What are you doing?!” Du Yu hurriedly pulled Zhang Jian back up.

“Sir, this meeting is of the utmost importance to me. If I hadn’t promised Senior Jiang Ziya beforehand, I naturally wouldn’t place such weight on it, but this time is different. Furthermore… if I don’t go, Youren will be in even greater danger. Emotionally and logically, I cannot break my promise for tomorrow’s meeting. I have seen your extraordinary skills, Sir, and your cultivation is far above mine. So, I beseech you to protect me and keep me safe…”

Du Yu’s brain worked rapidly. “Boss, do you really trust Zhang Youren that much?”

“I do. Youren is my confidant and my closest friend.”

Du Yu had confirmed this several times already. He knew Zhang Jian wasn’t an ordinary person, so someone who could earn Zhang Jian’s deep trust must have their own extraordinary merits.

He helped Zhang Jian to a seat nearby, his mind racing to form a plan.

“Boss, let me ask you this. How many people in this world know that you and Zhang Youren currently share the exact same face?”

“Huh?” Zhang Jian struggled a bit to follow Du Yu’s train of thought, but he considered it carefully. “On the day of the deity investiture, I followed Senior Jiang Ziya’s instructions and didn’t show my face. So, even though many people saw Youren’s appearance, not many know that he and I look identical. I suppose the only ones who know are me, Senior Jiang Ziya, and you, Sir.”

“That’s perfect!” Du Yu said. “Boss, I have a plan. It might just resolve our current predicament.”

…

Du Yu and Zhang Jian set out bright and early. Du Yu had said his goodbyes to Zhan Qisheng in advance, though the manner of his farewell was a bit strange.

He told Zhan Qisheng that they might meet again very soon, or they might never cross paths again in this lifetime.

Zhan Qisheng naturally knew that Du Yu’s thought process was erratic, so he didn’t press the matter.

After walking for several hours, the two finally arrived at the foot of the mountain where the Investiture Altar was located.

The journey had been quite peaceful. They hadn’t noticed anyone following them, but Du Yu still remained on high alert.

“Boss, are you ready?” Du Yu asked.

“Yes. I will follow your arrangements, Sir.”

Du Yu and Zhang Jian exchanged a glance before simultaneously pulling black veils from their robes to cover their faces.

Today, they wore matching clothes and had their hair styled exactly the same. With their faces obscured by the black veils, they slowly began their ascent up the mountain.

“Boss, I don’t have absolute confidence in this plan. Whether it works or not depends entirely on our luck.”

“It matters not. Ever since you appeared, Sir, you have spared no effort to help me. Regardless of whether we succeed today, I will remember your kindness.”

“Sigh…” Du Yu shook his head. “I always feel like I’m gambling with my life in this line of work. If I lose even once, I’m completely screwed.”

The two walked anxiously toward the Investiture Altar. Du Yu could clearly sense rustling in their surroundings, as if people were tailing them. He wasn’t sure if these pursuers were biding their time or simply couldn’t tell him and Zhang Jian apart, opting to follow from a distance instead of approaching.

“Sir, it seems there are quite a few people hiding nearby,” Zhang Jian observed coldly. “If you hadn’t warned me beforehand, I fear I would have come alone completely unprepared.”

Hearing Zhang Jian’s words, Du Yu couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

It seemed that this time, He Suoyi had only sent word to some ordinary mountain spirits or rogue immortals. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be such a large crowd.

For someone with Zhan Qisheng’s level of cultivation, just one or two would be enough to claim both their lives. There would be no need for such a grand spectacle.

“Boss, what was the agreed-upon time?”

“Exactly at noon.” Zhang Jian looked up at the sun. “It should be just about time.”

The two had already reached the Investiture Altar. Standing on the vast, empty platform, Du Yu tightly gripped a green brush in his hand. This was his final trump card, though he wasn’t entirely sure if Yingning would give her all to help him.

Zhang Jian’s expression was similarly solemn as he gazed quietly at the sky.

Minutes and seconds ticked by, and Du Yu cursed inwardly. It would be one thing if these people attacked early, but they kept watching from the shadows. They clearly intended to catch Zhang Jian and Zhang Youren all at once. At this rate, Zhang Youren and Zhang Jian wouldn’t be able to swap identities at all without defeating them first.

“Boss,” Du Yu whispered from behind Zhang Jian. “Don’t turn around. Just listen to me quietly.”

Zhang Jian stiffened slightly but gave a subtle nod.

“Just wearing veils isn’t enough. Since these thugs refuse to show themselves, my plan needs a slight adjustment. In a little while, I’ll need you and Zhang Youren to fake a flaw in your defense…”

After another forty-five minutes had passed, a black speck appeared in the distant sky.

The speck drifted closer, growing steadily larger. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a white jade dragon-horse. Radiating golden light, it pulled a chariot crafted from pure jade. On the chariot stood two figures, one large and one small, speeding toward the Investiture Altar across billowing white clouds.

“They’re here!” Zhang Jian declared, his face lighting up with joy.

“But why are there two people?!” Du Yu stared in shock. There were clearly two silhouettes on that chariot.

“Third Prince Nezha… why exactly did you insist on tagging along?” the figure dressed in gold asked from atop the chariot.

“Jade Emperor, please don’t call me Third Prince anymore. Just call me Nezha.” The small, slender figure chuckled. “I’m just here to protect the Jade Emperor.”

“Protect me?” The figure in gold shook his head. “Do you think I don’t know your personality? If there wasn’t something fun going on, what could possibly have lured you here?”

“Hehe…” The small figure rubbed his head, caught in the act. “Oh, come on, don’t be so blunt about it. I just heard that a few ‘magic-learning sects’ suddenly popped up on a couple of mountains over the last few days. It sounds super interesting! I have to go check it out.”

The figure in gold shook his head in sheer helplessness. Now that he was stuck with this little troublemaker, what was he going to do about his swap plan with Zhang Jian?