The King of Black Fog

"Rest assured, Second Master," Liu De said, bowing as he took his leave.

Li Changzhou did not go out. He instructed the servant that anyone who came to see him must be announced, no matter their status.

News of Second Master Li's assassination attempt should have been spread through the streets by the newsboys. If there were any Black Card players who recognized him, they might come knocking on his door.

Occupying the identity of Second Master Li, he wasn't afraid of exposing his White Card identity. During his time in the 'Identity Purchase' shop in the waiting hall, he had seen this level of identity for purchase—not a specific name, but titles like 'Core Mission Character.'

The only issue was that the price felt like paying with a pound of one's own flesh.

It wasn't just the money that was required for the purchase rights, but also intelligence, and most importantly, charm had to meet the standard, at the very least not less than the historical original character.

A person with a charm of only 5, even if they used one million Game Coins, still could not purchase the identity of Pan An.

Everything has two sides; those with too much charm, spending one million Game Coins, also couldn't purchase some identities that weren't as good-looking.

Strangely, the whole day passed and yet no one came to seek him out.

Was it because there were no people who recognized him, or did the Black Cards believe that interacting with a character at the core was too risky?

No Black Cards came to his door, nor did any White Cards come to protect him.

The White Cards' mission was to ensure that Commander Li and Li Bichang died, and that he, Li Changzhou, took control of the Li Clan's warlords.

As long as Commander Li and Li Bichang were killed, and Li Changzhou did not die, he would naturally take power. Logically speaking, the level of protection for him should not be low.

But these three missions were like a math problem; doing part of it would yield points (evaluation), such as if Commander Li and Li Bichang died, then the White Cards would be considered to have completed a part of the mission.

Getting the answer wrong would not yield points, nor would it deduct points. For instance, if Commander Li and Li Bichang were killed, but Li Changzhou was also taken out, it would not affect the point the White Cards obtained (for Commander Li and Li Bichang's deaths), while the Black Cards could also score a point (because Li Changzhou wouldn't inherit power).

Based on the reaction from the first day, could it be that both Black Cards and White Cards had given up on the third mission?

Could it be that the Black Cards reasoned—

"Well, Li Changzhou is one of our own (if they recognized him), so not inheriting power is a sure thing. Better to protect Commander Li and Li Bichang. As long as one of them is alive, two missions can be accomplished."

Meanwhile, the White Cards might think—

"Ensuring Li Changzhou inherits military power is way easier and simpler than assassinating Commander Li and Li Bichang—Li Changzhou certainly won't commit suicide; later we can just force him to claim the military power (it doesn't matter if he's dead)."

Of course, these are just the players who are content with low maintenance; those with ambition will still strategically plan for the first mission (deploy troops to fight the Song Clan warlords).

That evening, Li Qianxia came again and told him the news about Yang Qinglan.

"I didn't expect to get news about her so quickly," Li Changzhou felt relieved.

"Heh heh, I met her first in reality as well. In 1928, I also met her first. I feel that my connection with her is deeper than yours and hers," Li Qianxia teased.

"How can it not be deep? She's my sister-in-law."

"Wow, brother, if you dare to say that in front of her, she would have become my sister-in-law long ago!"

"Sooner or later it's going to happen. I'm in no rush, why are you?" Li Changzhou said calmly.

"Oh, right, Qing Lan wants you to go to the Pear Garden tomorrow. Remember to see her; she said she has something to discuss with us," Li Qianxia suddenly remembered the pressing matter.

"Hmm," Li Changzhou responded.

"Brother," Li Qianxia smiled.

"You want money again?"

"No, that's not it, well, yes, but let's not talk about that now. Qing Lan also asked me to pass on a message to you."

"What message?"

"Do not commit evil, however small."

Li Changzhou nodded without much reaction.

Li Qianxia found it hard to imagine that anyone could fail to understand such a simple truth, but just to be safe, he pretended not to know and asked:

"Brother, what do you think that means?"

"What's there not to understand?" Li Changzhou was puzzled. "It simply tells me—even though the characters here are fictitious, one should not commit evils lightly or disregard human life."

On April 27, 1928, during a warm spring night, Li Qianxia learned her brother's second habit—she bit the flesh on the right side of her mouth.

She suddenly realized that Yang Qinglan's inability to haggle, in front of her brother's emotional intelligence, was charmingly naive, like a young golden gradient kitten.