Gamers Are Fierce

"I think it's alright," Li Ang spread his hands. The features on his face visibly shrunk, enlarged, moved, and rotated at a noticeable speed, just like the characters in Picasso's abstract paintings.

Damn.

Wanli Fengdao and Xing Hechou looked horrified. Even Liu Wu Dai raised his eyebrows a bit.

"Anyway," Li Ang cleared his throat, his facial features settled back into place, the movement appearing slow but happening quickly. "According to the intelligence I've gathered, the Annam Diplomatic Corps that will arrive in Lvzhou City in two days will be stationed and resting at Yongling Temple in the east of the city. The Corps is huge and has a special mission, making it unsuitable to stay in places like post houses or inns."

"Yongling Temple?" Wanli Fengdao smacked his lips. "Does the head monk there have Mana?"

Li Ang said, "The monks of Yongling Temple are quite active. Every year, they hold the grand and sacred event of the Shuilu Dojo to feed hundreds of monks, set up the Altar, recite scriptures, release Specters, and pray to the heavens. Beneath, ten thousand devout men and women kowtow in the midst of fluttering flowers and echoing chanting. It's a grand and magnificent scene, a sight of Lvzhou. Those monks definitely possess some Mana—at the very least, they can create illusions and transmit voices through the air."

"This is troublesome." Wanli Fengdao frowned and thought for a moment. "Seems like the Annam Diplomatic Corps has a background in Zen Buddhism?"

"Yes," Li Ang nodded. "The entire Annam nation worships Buddha. Even the King is a devout believer, and monks hold a very high status there. They also frequently engage in cross-border exchanges with the Zen Buddhism of the Central Plains. Intelligence indicates that among the Corps, there is a team of Annam monks. They guard the Auspicious Beast around the clock, twenty-four hours a day, never leaving its side for even a moment and chanting scriptures constantly. Unfortunately, the Auspicious Beast is always locked in a cage, covered with several layers of dense silk fabric, so its specific appearance is not visible. But it must be some kind of living creature, as the Corps' monks bring all sorts of fruits and vegetables every night, stuffing them into the cage through the gaps in the silk fabric."

Wanli Fengdao furrowed his brows. "So cautious? It's like a couple in an online relationship who die if exposed to light. Well… thinking about it, the Auspicious Beast either can't be exposed to light, or it's so shockingly ugly that it can't be accepted by the public. Or it even goes completely against the concepts of Zen Buddhism—like a dual-gender Heavenly Demon in the form of a cute girl who also has a penis."

"It's possible it's just plain ugly," Li Ang quipped, then seriously added, "Apart from the forces of Zen Buddhism, the Annam Diplomatic Corps is also covertly protected by two other groups: the Wude Guards and the internal court organization, the Xijishi Factory."

"The Xijishi Factory, or simply the West Factory, is just like the secret service agencies in real-world history. The heads of the West Factory are Eunuchs responsible for scouting the words and deeds of court officials for the Emperor. They hold the privilege to arrest citizens arbitrarily without due process. From high-ranking officials to ordinary civilians, anyone deemed a threat by the West Factory could be arrested, imprisoned, and tortured without oversight. Originally, in this world, the West Factory was also created by the Emperor to control bickering court officials and Eunuchs. As the central government weakened and local Fan Towns carved out their territories, the West Factory, the East Factory, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard gradually became the Emperor's key sources of intelligence outside the capital. The Operatives serving as the factory's claws were equipped with gear even more luxurious than that of the Wude Guard soldiers dedicated to slaying demons and monsters."

Wanli Fengdao rolled his eyes. "Damn, even eunuchs are getting in on the action. It's like an all-star battle royale."

Li Ang spread his hands. "Their involvement is probably the Emperor's doing. Special task forces are always more trusted by the Emperor than other departments. Furthermore, rumors claim the Annam Auspicious Beast possesses mysterious abilities to divine good and bad fortunes and extend people's lives. Having West Factory Operatives quietly protect the delegation also helps prevent them from being annihilated without a trace by Military Warlords disguised as Bandits on their way, who would then snatch away the Auspicious Beast."

"Hmm...." Wanli Fengdao frowned. "The delegation has guards patrolling outside, soldiers for protection, Cultivators stationed within, and once they reach Lvzhou City, monks from Yongling Temple will receive them. It's not that easy to find an opportunity to take action."

"There's still a chance." Li Ang smiled. "The Shu King, who is based in Lvzhou, is the Emperor's own younger brother. This fellow is infatuated with beauty, indulges in food and pleasure daily, has a bloated body, is fat-headed and paunchy, and utterly mediocre. Of course, that mediocrity could just be an act. According to intelligence, the Shu King will hold a banquet in his mansion to welcome the Annam Diplomatic Corps, inviting various notables from Lvzhou City. That will be the best opportunity to make our move."

Xing Hechou mused, "Other powers..."

"Those with designs on the Auspicious Beast will probably take their chance on that day too," Li Ang said nonchalantly. "Whether it's an open conspiracy, a hidden trap, or just a decoy strategy to lure someone into the jar, we can't just skip it, right?"

"That's true." Xing Hechou nodded. "So now we should..."

"Gather intelligence and wait and see." Li Ang said, "By the way, West Factory Operatives have already arrived in Lvzhou City and are currently collecting information on foreign 'players' in secret. For the next two days, it's best to conceal our movements and operate covertly. Like this."

Before he finished speaking, Li Ang produced a white banner from nowhere, with a couplet written on it.

The first line read, "Decipher Yin and Yang, master the five elements, observe the sun and moon within one's palm."

The second line, "Analyze Fengshui, survey the six directions, control the universe within one's sleeve."

The horizontal inscription was "The Divine Mathematician."

SNAP.

Li Ang flicked the white banner, casually pulled out a pair of sunglasses, and placed them on his nose, boasting, "How's that? The highest realm of subtle disguise is to hide in plain sight."

"No, I don't think this is subtle at all," Little Brother Dao commented emotionlessly. "This era doesn't even have sunglasses, right? Even if it did, if you wear pink, heart-shaped, jewel-encrusted sunglasses, nobody's going to come to you for Divination!"

"Eh, is it the sunglasses?" Li Ang nodded, took out a pair of 3D glasses with blue and red lenses, put them on, and said proudly, "How about now? Better, right? One blue, one red, to see both the Yin and Yang realms, a true Yin Yang Master."

"How is that any better? It looks even more out of place!" Wanli Fengdao covered his forehead, groaning in frustration. "Why are the frames made of cheap, yellowish-brown cardboard? No, how did you even bring this kind of stuff into the script world? Don't tell me you stuffed a ninety-nine cent bargain store into your inventory."