I am the villain in the book

“Young Master, yesterday at Shen Shi, the Qian Hui army began a full-scale attack on the city.”

A moment later, when Wei Changtian met Chu Xianping, this was the first thing the latter said to him.

“From Shen Shi to this morning, in just eight short hours, they have already charged onto Fengyuan's city walls several times.”

This was the second thing.

“At the current rate, Fengyuan City will inevitably fall within ten days.”

This was the third thing.

“Young Master, we must do something.”

This was the fourth thing.

In the first four sentences after their meeting, Chu Xianping spoke of how precarious the situation in Xin Feng was.

If Wei Changtian hadn't known about the words he had spoken to Yan Huaiqing, he might not have suspected anything at this moment.

After all, these things were definitely true, and Chu Xianping was just reporting with a slight hint of “personal subjective emotion”.

But now...

“Brother Chu, don't worry, I have the Xin Feng battle situation well in hand.”

Smiling, Wei Changtian gestured for Chu Xianping to sit down first, then turned to the desk to retrieve a letter.

The morning sunlight streamed in through the window, and he placed the letter in front of Chu Xianping, saying with a smile:

“I was originally thinking of looking for you, but it just so happens that you came.”

“Perfect, I have another important matter to discuss with you.”

“Another matter?”

Chu Xianping glanced at the envelope on the table and said solemnly, “Please speak, Young Master.”

“Of course, I know that a great battle is imminent, and you must be worried about the battle here.”

“However, I have already planned for reinforcements to Xin Feng, and with the help of Li Zimu and Du Chang, I believe there will be no surprises in this battle.”

“So you can rest assured and go find these four swords first.”

“…”

In Chu Xianping's increasingly surprised gaze, Wei Changtian calmly finished speaking, never hesitating because of the former's reaction.

He didn't even ask Chu Xianping “if he was willing” at the end, and even though his tone was peaceful, it was undoubtedly a direct order.

As for Chu Xianping's reaction to this...

“Young Master, it should be sufficient to entrust this matter to the Xuanjing Si and the Gongjuhui.”

Clearly, even though Wei Changtian said that the matter of finding the swords was equally important, Chu Xianping didn't want to go find those four swords.

But he didn't directly refuse, but instead tried to persuade Wei Changtian to give this task to someone else.

However, how could Wei Changtian, who had already made up his mind, grant his wish?

“Brother Chu, I just said, I don't trust anyone else to handle this matter.”

His expression remained unchanged, and he even picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for Chu Xianping.

Watching the clear tea water pour from the spout into the cup, Wei Changtian said calmly:

“Just take a trip, anyway, if it's fast, you'll be back in at most two or three months.”

“Oh, right, the information on those four swords is in this letter. It's written very clearly where they are now, or who has them...”

Pushing the envelope forward, the meaning represented by Wei Changtian's action was already more than obvious.

Chu Xianping, however, blankly held down the envelope, not picking it up.

He looked up at Wei Changtian, seemingly having guessed something, his tone becoming somewhat strained.

“Young Master, but now is wartime, and there is a lot of intelligence coming and going. I'm afraid the Tianji Yuan...”

“This matter is even simpler.”

Before Chu Xianping could finish speaking, Wei Changtian interrupted with a smile:

“Just temporarily hand over the Tianji Yuan to Zhang San to manage.”

“…”

Handing over the Tianji Yuan to Zhang San to be responsible.

Although Wei Changtian said “temporarily”, whether or not he would return this power to Chu Xianping in the future, both of them were probably very clear in their hearts.

“Brother Chu, what's wrong?”

Wei Changtian smiled, glancing at Chu Xianping, who was looking down and silent.

“You don't have to worry about Zhang San not being able to fulfill this role. He has the ability to remember everything he sees, you know that.”

“Or do you have other concerns?”

“It's okay, if you have concerns, just say them all together, and we can discuss how to solve them.”

“…”

“Nothing.”

Taking a deep breath, Chu Xianping's answer was a bit slow.

He didn't find any more reasons to decline the “sword-seeking” mission, nor did he say anything else.

Reaching out to pick up the envelope, he stood up and cupped his fist at Wei Changtian.

“Young Master, since that's the case, then I will go and hand over the various matters of the Tianji Yuan to Zhang San, and then pack up and set off immediately to find the swords.”

“Yes, go.”

“Yes.”

“…”

A sentence of “Go,” a sentence of “Yes.”

With the opening and closing of the door, the conversation between the two came to an end.

And this whole process can be said to be overly simple.

It was as if Wei Changtian hadn't intended to deliberately hide his suspicion of Chu Xianping at all, and directly kicked the latter out of the Xin Feng battle in the most straightforward way, and also seized his power to control the Tianji Yuan.

Yes.

Wei Changtian's purpose today was only two.

First, to exclude Chu Xianping from the Battle of Xin Feng.

Second, to take the most critical intelligence hub back into his own hands.

As for why he didn't choose to use a more subtle, or more concealed, method to achieve these two goals, but was so straightforward...

Because he wanted to give Chu Xianping another chance.

In this conversation just now, Chu Xianping must have been able to hear the strangeness in it.

To put it bluntly, Chu Xianping must have guessed that he was already wary of him.

In this situation, if Chu Xianping chose to tell all the things truthfully, then Wei Changtian might reconsider his next actions.

But unfortunately, Chu Xianping didn't say anything.

“…”

Looking at the closed door, Wei Changtian shook his head, his expression very complicated.

At the same moment, Chu Xianping, who had already walked to the end of the corridor outside the house, slowly stopped.

For safety reasons, Wei Changtian's room was on the second floor of the inn, so he had to walk up a flight of stairs.

“Going upstairs” when he came, “going downstairs” when he left.

At this moment, these two ordinary actions had some other meaning in Chu Xianping's eyes.

Looking back at that door, there seemed to be many emotions in his eyes.

Unwillingness, doubt, struggle, loneliness.

Judging from his gaze alone, even if Li Zimu or Tang Chen came, it would be impossible to tell whether he was a friend or foe.

Even Chu Xianping himself seemed unclear about this matter.

“Sigh.”

Sighing softly, he withdrew his gaze, stepped forward, and slowly walked down the stairs, out of the inn.

“Peach blossom cake ~ Peach blossom cake ~ Delicious and not expensive!”

“Scallion pancakes! Wide and thin fresh noodles! Meat porridge and vegetable porridge! Guests, come in and try it!”

“Excuse me, excuse me! Don't bump into the young ladies!”

“Wah! I don't want to go to school!!”

“…”

The streets in the early morning were bustling with noise, and Chu Xianping's figure seemed a bit lonely in the crowded crowd.

As he walked to the corner of the street, a woman in a white dress, walking in a hurry, brushed past him.

Chu Xianping didn't pay attention to this person, but the woman looked back at him, seemingly finding this elegantly dressed young man a bit strange.

But soon, the woman shook her head and put the matter behind her.

“Hoo.”

Taking a deep breath, the woman in the white dress looked up at the inn not far away with all the windows tightly closed, and hesitated in place for a long time.

Then, as if she had made a huge decision, she gritted her teeth and took a step, walking towards the inn.