602: fool

That evening.

Shen Bei returned to his small courtyard.

Fu Jian secretly hurried over.

After the two sat down, Shen Bei went straight to the point: "Ren Chuan suggested taking credit today. This matter cannot wait, but I don't want to waste this opportunity. We need to speed up with Zhen Li. I want to use this to leave the Night Watcher and do my own things."

Although Fu Jian didn't know what Shen Bei was going to do, he had already done enough in the Imperial City. Just the position he had gained, if it were reported back to earth's surface, would shock all the Da Laos.

Fu Jian spoke quickly: "If there are no surprises, we will get the news tomorrow. Our people have already disguised themselves as Demonic Path Practitioners and are preparing to ambush Zhen Li."

Shen Bei nodded with satisfaction. This was a good idea.

It just so happened that the Night Watcher had made the Demonic Path Practitioners restless. It was logical for the Demonic Path Practitioners to target Your Highness Wei's confidant as an outlet for their anger.

And for Your Highness Wei to lose Zhen Li, he could also vent his anger on himself, providing more reasons for him to be exiled to One-Blade Gorge.

Brilliant!

Shen Bei continued: "After I leave, it's very likely I won't come back, or if I do, it will be in secret. This Team Leader position definitely won't be mine. From now on, how far you can go in the Night Watcher depends on your own ability."

Fu Jian smiled silently, saying with a hint of defiance, "I don't think I'm any worse than you."

"Then if you become the Emperor, I'll benefit from your light," Shen Bei rolled his eyes.

Fu Jian: ...

...

The next day.

After leaving his residence, Shen Bei went directly to the Night Watcher.

He waited patiently in the room.

When it was time for the Night Watcher to start duty, Fu Jian subtly gave an OK gesture.

Shen Bei was delighted, it worked!

Zhen Li was eliminated!

Shen Bei hastily presided over the Night Watcher's work, then turned and left, heading straight for Your Highness Wei.

However, when he arrived at Your Highness Wei's hiding place, he was stopped by the guards at the entrance, "Stop!"

Shen Bei said indifferently, "What, you don't recognize me anymore?"

The guard quickly and respectfully said, "We certainly recognize Team Leader Shen..."

Shen Bei grinned: "Since you recognize me, why are you stopping me? I'm here to see Your Highness Wei. Move aside quickly."

"Team Leader Shen, please wait a moment."

The guard said helplessly, "Your Highness Wei is currently speaking with an honored guest and has instructed that no one is allowed to enter. Please wait outside for a while."

"Honored guest?"

Shen Bei raised an eyebrow. He was supposed to be in hiding for now, so why was he seeing people?

"This old man is still seeing people at this time? What kind of shady business is he up to?"

He simply walked forward, striding past the guard's obstruction, and entered the hall.

Shen Bei quietly entered the hall and peeked out from behind a screen.

In the hall, besides Your Highness Wei, there was another old man, sitting and drinking tea and chatting with Your Highness Wei.

Shen Bei recognized at a glance that this old man, dressed in official robes with white hair and beard, was Da Lao Pei, one of the three great Da Laos.

"Your Highness Wei, this time your Night Watcher has gone a bit too far, haven't you?"

Da Lao Pei narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Slaying devils in the Imperial City, such a major event, why didn't you report it to Your Majesty beforehand, and ask for the opinions of Your Majesty and the various ministers before deciding whether to proceed?"

"Over the course of last night, the entire Imperial City was thrown into chaos by your Night Watcher, causing widespread panic. The residences of various clans, aristocratic families, and civil and military officials were all forcibly broken into by your Night Watcher."

"While it is true that your devil-slaying operation achieved remarkable results, such actions, which disregard rules and disdain laws, are absolutely not to be condoned!"

"If everyone were to act like your Night Watcher, what order would there be left in this Imperial City?!"

Facing Da Lao Pei's stern rebuke, Your Highness Wei remained seated, motionless and silent, with his eyelids drooping and his head bowed.

Your Highness Wei didn't listen at all.

If it weren't for Da Lao Pei's high status, Your Highness Wei would have ignored him.

But Your Highness Wei had his own concerns.

He had just received news that Zhen Li had been assassinated!

And it was an assassination carried out by Demonic Path Practitioners for revenge!

Undoubtedly, the Demonic Path Practitioners were coming for him, but couldn't find him, so they took their anger out on Zhen Li.

He had been careless.

If only he had kept Zhen Li by his side!

Now everything was ruined.

Who else at One-Blade Gorge could undertake the mission of entering the Hidden Sea Secret Lord's barrier?

Damn it!

The more Your Highness Wei thought about it, the angrier he got. If Shen Bei hadn't caused such a huge commotion, the Demonic Path Practitioners couldn't have done anything to Shen Bei and himself, so they would have definitely targeted Zhen Li!

Your Highness Wei was extremely annoyed.

At this moment, Da Lao Pei, seeing that he had spoken at length without getting any response, couldn't help but tap his index and middle fingers on the table in front of Your Highness Wei, making a "thump, thump, thump" sound.

He knew Your Highness Wei was hiding here, and originally thought Your Highness Wei would avoid him when he arrived, but he didn't expect Your Highness Wei to not avoid him at all. Heh heh, is this what you meant by being sick? You found this excuse, but you're not even pretending a little?!

"Your Highness Wei, did you hear what this old man said?"

"Ah?"

Your Highness Wei's annoyed thoughts were interrupted. He opened his eyes, and then suddenly realized he had a guest.

Yawning lazily, looking as if he had just woken from a long dream, Your Highness Wei said sleepily, "Da Lao Pei is absolutely right."

"Our Night Watcher is still the same, no opinion, you can do whatever you want."

Da Lao Pei was so angry that he gritted his teeth, "Your Highness Wei, did you not understand what I meant?"

"Last night's devil-slaying operation has already provoked public outrage, including the imperial relatives, civil and military officials, and prestigious families, all of whom are extremely annoyed and full of complaints."

"For the stability of the nation's rivers and mountains, and to ensure that public support is not lost, please have the Night Watcher put forward one person to take responsibility and give an explanation to the people of the Imperial City!"

"Oh—"

Your Highness Wei pondered meaningfully for a moment, then nodded solemnly: "Da Lao Pei wants to take responsibility, and this old man supports it."

"You can go with peace of mind. This old man will help you raise your wife and daughter."

"What responsibility am I taking?!"

Da Lao Pei almost spat out a mouthful of old blood in anger. In his fury, he had no choice but to lay out his cards, "Your Highness Wei, as far as I know, this devil-slaying operation was organized solely by Team Leader Shen Bei of your Night Watcher."

"Those Night Watchers who trespassed into residences and disturbed civil and military officials also claimed to be acting on Shen Bei's orders."

"Please, Your Highness Wei, hand over Team Leader Shen so that he can publicly apologize to the entire Imperial City and be dismissed from his position as Team Leader. Only then can public anger and resentment be quelled!"

"Oh—"

Your Highness Wei nodded, and said cheerfully, "This Shen Bei, he is indeed a talent."

"You don't know, his fishing skills are superb, and the bait he makes is incredibly effective."

"A few days ago, this old man went fishing with him and even saw him catch a ten-pound bigmouth!"

Da Lao Pei: "..."

Behind the screen, Shen Bei suddenly burst into silent laughter, almost unable to hold it in.

In life-and-death struggles, what is the most powerful Move? Opinions vary and cannot be definitively decided.

However, in the imperial court, the most powerful Move in playing Tai Chi and passing the buck, must be feigning ignorance.

Your Highness Wei was the foremost master of feigning ignorance, both inside and outside the court, in the entire country.

Firstly, his seniority and prestige were high enough that even if he pretended to be crazy, no one dared to say anything.

Secondly, his acting skills were so vivid that his portrayal of senile dementia was indistinguishable from the real thing.

With this skill of deliberately misinterpreting, even old foxes like the three great Da Laos, who had experienced many major situations, could only suffer in silence every time, completely helpless.