201: Chapter 201 Cooperation

The next day, at noon.

In the Heaven-class private room on the second floor of Zuixian Restaurant.

As on the previous day, Chen Shanzhi arrived at the door on time as usual.

However, this time when he pushed the door open and entered, the expression on his face was vastly different from yesterday's.

Yesterday, Chen Shanzhi's face had been guarded.

Today, although Chen Shanzhi still appeared somewhat impatient,

an uncontrollable wild joy was written between his brows. He even pushed the door with a bit more force, causing the two wooden doors to slam against the wall with a loud clang.

"Your medicine from yesterday really worked!"

As soon as he entered, Chen Shanzhi could not wait to shout, his eyes staring straight at the middle-aged man sitting inside.

In the private room, the middle-aged man was dressed in a blue robe, still looking simple and low-key.

Seeing Chen Shanzhi's impatient appearance, the smile on his face grew so thick it almost overflowed, and a flash of smugness crossed his eyes.

"This humble one has long said that the power behind this humble one would never disappoint the His Highness the Heir."

The middle-aged man stood up, bowed slightly, and spoke with a touch more warmth in his tone:

"I knew the His Highness the Heir would definitely arrive on time today.

It seems that starting from today, this humble one and the His Highness the Heir will become true friends."

"Cut the pleasantries!"

Chen Shanzhi slapped the table and sat impatiently in yesterday's seat.

He did not even glance at the food and wine on the table. His handsome face was filled with eagerness and greed, and his body leaned almost right in front of the middle-aged man:

"This Heir took that pill after returning, and it really worked!

Last night, the stinging pain in This Heir's chest, which is usually bitten by the Child Gu, actually completely disappeared for three whole hours!

Even the true essence flowing within This Heir's body ran several times smoother!"

Chen Shanzhi stared intently at the middle-aged man, his breathing somewhat hurried:

"Speak! What exactly do you want This Heir to cooperate with you on?

As long as you can give me the real antidote to completely rid me of this damned Gu,

whatever you need This Heir to do, just speak!"

Every movement, every micro-expression of Chen Shanzhi's

perfectly matched the image of someone grasping at a straw, desperate to escape the clutches of the Demonic Sect.

The middle-aged man slowly lifted the teapot and poured Chen Shanzhi a cup of hot tea.

"His Highness the Heir, do not be in a hurry. Let us eat and talk. This humble one specifically ordered the kitchen to prepare the signature dishes of Zuixian Restaurant today."

He gestured for Chen Shanzhi to sit more comfortably.

An annoyed expression of lost patience appeared on Chen Shanzhi's face. He gritted his teeth in resentment, but in the end, he suppressed his anger and sat heavily back into his chair.

However, he did not pick up his chopsticks, but simply stared unblinkingly at the middle-aged man.

Seeing that Chen Shanzhi was completely under his control, the last trace of doubt in the middle-aged man's mind vanished completely.

A smile of being in complete control flashed in his eyes. He slowly picked up his teacup, took a leisurely sip, and then spoke unhurriedly:

"His Highness the Heir, this humble one asks you."

The man's gaze focused slightly, and he lowered his voice, asking inquisitively, "After Jiang Yingrao used the Child Gu to control you, what exactly did she need you to do?"

Hearing this question, Chen Shanzhi's brows furrowed tightly.

He shook his head, a look of both irritation and helplessness appearing on his face, and he even slammed his fist on the table in frustration:

"That damned witch guards against This Heir as if guarding against a thief! She did not tell me the entire plan at all!"

He said with an annoyed look, "She only demanded that This Heir, by whatever means necessary, must obtain the qualification to enter the Sihai Academy Secret Realm!

As for what exactly she wants This Heir to do for her after entering that Secret Realm, she didn't mention a single word!

She only said that when the time comes, she will naturally explain the subsequent matters to me!"

Speaking of this, Chen Shanzhi spat resentfully:

"If not for this damned Child Gu, This Heir, the grand heir of the Marquis of Zhenguo,"

"would never have to go to Four Seas Academy, endure the attitudes of those old scholars, and even risk my life in that rubbish Secret Realm!

Wouldn't it be much more comfortable to eat meat and drink with courtesans every day."

After hearing Chen Shanzhi's words, the middle-aged man's hand holding the teacup instantly froze in mid-air.

The private room instantly fell into a strange, dead silence.

The middle-aged man lowered his eyelids slightly, and a terrifyingly sharp light suddenly flashed in his ordinary, mediocre eyes.

He did not speak again, but his heart was in a state of utter turmoil:

"The Four Seas Academy's Secret Realm..."

"The Saintess and the Cult Leader went through so much trouble to plant the Child Gu in Chen Shanzhi, and their true purpose is indeed the Four Seas Academy's Secret Realm!"

The middle-aged man calculated rapidly in his mind.

What on earth is inside this Secret Realm?

To make the Cult Leader disregard the protests of so many people within the cult and forcibly direct most of the cult's resources to this capital city.

However, the only certainty is that if the Cult Leader's plan succeeds,

the Grand Elder's position within the cult will be in jeopardy.

The middle-aged man stared at the tea leaves slowly floating and rotating in his cup, his expression becoming increasingly sinister.

"Cut the crap! How exactly do we cure it?"

Seeing that the middle-aged man remained silent, Chen Shanzhi slapped the table directly, causing tea to splash everywhere.

The middle-aged man was in no hurry. He unhurriedly lifted the teapot, refilled Chen Shanzhi's empty cup, and smiled slightly:

"His Highness the Heir, do not lose your composure. Since you and I are now sitting at the same table, we can be considered allies. This humble one will naturally protect an ally's life."

"Protect? Protect it with your mouth?" Chen Shanzhi gritted his teeth and sneered. "What This Heir wants is the antidote! An antidote that can completely kill that damned insect!"

"The antidote, of course, exists."

The middle-aged man set down the teapot and lightly tapped his finger on the tabletop.

"However, since we are allies, there must be some give and take.

The master behind this humble one also has some minor matters that require the His Highness the Heir's assistance."

Chen Shanzhi's gaze darkened, and he snorted, "This Heir knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Speak, what do you want?"

The middle-aged man leaned forward slightly, a grim light flashing in his eyes.

"It is very simple. As long as the His Highness the Heir takes action inside the Academy Secret Realm to disrupt that witch Jiang Yingrao's plan,

this humble one will present the medicine to completely rid you of the Gu with both hands."

Hearing this, Chen Shanzhi's somewhat impatient expression actually began to calm down slowly.

He did not agree immediately. Instead, he stared at the middle-aged man with a scrutinizing gaze, a sneer tugging at the corner of his mouth:

"Disrupt Jiang Yingrao's plan? Do you take This Heir for a three-year-old child?

Once I disrupt the plan inside, your goal will be achieved.

When I come out, if you just pat your buttocks and leave, who is This Heir supposed to go cry to?"

The middle-aged man chuckled, seemingly having expected Chen Shanzhi to ask this long ago.