Chapter 106 - 10: Do You Really Understand How to Use This Talent? Let Me Use It

"The hidden moves left by the late emperor are truly extraordinary."

Another sigh of admiration.

Lv Lan still believed that the person behind the Southern Garrison Commander’s Office was the late emperor, currently in seclusion.

But Ye Liuyun didn’t see it that way.

Of course, without any evidence, Ye Liuyun didn’t bring it up either.

Anyway, when the other side really wants to act,

whatever’s supposed to be exposed will come to light; there’s absolutely no need to rush.

He glanced in the direction of the courtyard wall.

Sure enough, the Shadow who’d been tailing him was still hidden there.

"So cautious, huh?"

Shadow wanted to eavesdrop, but if he got too close he’d risk being discovered by Ye Liuyun; stay too far and Ye Liuyun’s inner strength formed a faint barrier all around him, isolating Shadow and blocking his attempts to listen in.

Lv Lan sensed Ye Liuyun’s inner strength rippling, but didn’t pay it much mind.

"It’s getting late. How about we eat together before heading back?"

Ye Liuyun naturally looked at the pensive Lv Lan before him.

"Hm? Sure!"

Lv Lan was stunned at first, but after a quick thought agreed without any intention of refusing.

",,,,"

You really don’t get the idea of polite small talk, do you?

Ye Liuyun simply felt Lv Lan always spoke coldly, so he was just being polite, assuming she’d turn him down; then he could say something courteous and send her away.

He didn’t expect her to actually nod in agreement.

"Then let’s go!"

Fine, whatever. Let’s just eat. It’s not like I’m hurting for a meal.

Saying this, he led Lv Lan away.

As for the Shadow lurking in the dark,

after hesitating a while, he decided to leave for now, not keeping up the tail, planning to first report the situation to Qi Yuanliang.

,,,

"As expected, he got himself involved with the young emperor."

On Qi Yuanliang’s side, after receiving Shadow’s report, a thoughtful look flickered in his eyes.

Qi Yuanliang clearly knew of Lv Lan.

And also knew she was a female guard trusted by Emperor Yan Shuzhu.

Ye Liuyun meeting with Lv Lan was, essentially, no different from meeting Yan Shuzhu himself; whatever Lv Lan conveyed must be Yan Shuzhu’s wishes.

"Our Emperor just can’t settle for being a puppet, huh."

He’d known that for some time.

So Qi Yuanliang simply remarked with a playful tone, not letting it bother him.

While Qi Yuanliang considered if he should keep suppressing Ye Liuyun to make him more obedient,

Shadow hesitated and then spoke up.

"Sir, I think I may have been discovered."

"Hm? Did he try something on you?"

Qi Yuanliang was stunned, looking at Shadow in surprise.

He was very aware of Shadow’s concealing breath skills; sometimes, if Shadow didn’t speak, even Qi Yuanliang couldn’t sense him lurking nearby. Could Ye Liuyun’s abilities really surpass his own?

Even if they were both at Innate Perfection, there are degrees within that realm.

"No, not that."

Shadow shook his head.

"Maybe his intuition is just sharp; he sensed he was being tailed, but I don’t think he pegged my exact presence."

Let’s put it this way—Shadow still believed Ye Liuyun was just more instinctively sensitive.

Concealing breath was something Shadow took pride in.

If he’d really been discovered, he’d find that pretty humiliating.

Yeah!

He hadn’t actually been found out, just that the other’s intuition was keener.

"Good."

Hearing that Shadow hadn’t been completely exposed, Qi Yuanliang relaxed a lot.

"Just keep a respectful distance in the future, but for now, keep watching him closely."

"Understood!"

Shadow inclined his head in acknowledgment and said no more.

As for the tracking job, Shadow had followed plenty of people and was perfectly at ease with it.

Qi Yuanliang’s original plan changed because of this conversation.

Let’s just say...

The strength and talent Ye Liuyun was showing far surpassed Qi Yuanliang’s expectations.

If he kept on suppressing him, it might actually backfire; thinking this through, Qi Yuanliang felt it was time to throw Ye Liuyun a bone.

Just to show him, too.

Following Emperor Yan Shuzhu, even if you’re promised benefits, you may not actually get them.

But if you side with me, real rewards will be delivered right into your hands.

With this in mind,

a smile crept up on Qi Yuanliang’s lips.

Everything was within his grasp.

,,,

So.

On just the second day, Ye Liuyun was hanging out in the Imperial Prison.

Word came that a prisoner with a special talent had arrived; Xiao Yongning, who managed the prison, knew Ye Liuyun liked watching such cases play out.

So first thing in the morning, as soon as Ye Liuyun checked in at the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Xiao Yongning sent someone with the news.

It turned out...

Hm, it really was a somewhat unusual talent.

"Talent Entry: Thousand Skills (Blue),"

"Thousand Skills (Blue): Your hands are very nimble, and you possess outstanding talent at cheating in gambling."

It might not directly boost strength, but, still, it was a rather unique talent.

"Sir!"

Beside him, Xiao Yongning was still acting as obsequious as ever.

"Sir, this prisoner was just caught last night; I heard he won at a dozen gambling houses in a row, and because he won too much, he was arrested and thrown in my Imperial Prison."

Won too much?

Ye Liuyun was surprised.

"Wasn’t he arrested for cheating?"

"Cheating? Did he cheat?"

Hearing Ye Liuyun’s question, even Xiao Yongning looked puzzled.