Chapter 530: Chapter 171 Nan Batian: Chen 94, you TM sabotaged me!_5

Was Guild Leader Nan going to tip off the Zoroastrian Sect?

Yelu shook his head and said, “Impossible, though Nan Batian is certainly ambitious, he’s not a fool. How could he be so stupid as to collude with the Zoroastrian Sect?”

“No, wait, it’s not entirely impossible. That old fox has always been plotting independence. If it weren’t for White Tiger Hall scheming to keep him in check, he might have long since broken away and grown powerful. Turning against me by allying with the Zoroastrian Sect could be possible.”

“But even if he did ally with the Zoroastrian Sect, how could the sending of a signal result in such a serious blunder, allowing Qimu Ge to catch him red-handed? Could he have been framed?”

“However, it’s also possible that an emergency occurred, and he had no choice but to take the risk…”

As Yelu quickly assessed the situation in his head, although he didn’t believe Nan Batian would be foolish enough to make such a mistake, the seed of doubt had been planted.

And once the seed of doubt was sown, their relationship could never revert to what it once was.

It’s like a flawless bowl that suddenly develops a crack; though still usable, it can never be the same bowl it once was.

And that was exactly what Chen Jie needed.

Xiao Hu was right that day, as long as Yelu still supported Nan Batian, it would be difficult for Chen Jie to bring down Nan Batian.

To truly bring down Nan Batian, the best strategy was to make Yelu completely lose trust in him.

And the first step to losing trust was suspicion.

Exchanging a piece that had been painstakingly placed within Nan Batian’s guard after more than half a year of careful work for Yelu’s suspicion was undoubtedly a bargain for Chen Jie.

Once suspicion arisen, it would never disappear–it grows like a sapling, never to vanish.

In this game, Chen Jie was playing with ‘human nature!’

“Sun Tiechui pays his respects to Lord Yelu.”

Sun Tiechui quickly entered the room and paid his respects to Yelu.

Yelu smiled as he saw him and said, “Old Sun, there’s no need to be so formal. We’re old acquaintances. If you hadn’t sought me out first, I wouldn’t have known how to establish a foothold in Mianshui. I owe you a favor.”

Sun Tiechui hurriedly responded with a clasped fist, “Lord, you flatter me too much.”

Yelu walked over with a smile and said, “I know all about your troubles. You have been wronged.”

“Lord, I…”

Sun Tiechui seemed somewhat at a loss for words, and Yelu said, “Sigh, you and I are old friends, and I know your character. Whoever is colluding with the Zoroastrian Sect, it couldn’t be you. But now that this has happened, you are one of the suspects. I thought surely you couldn’t be involved. Plus, you are my man. Investigating you first will appease others and allow us to investigate anyone else. Do you understand what I mean?”

“I do understand!”

Sun Tiechui said, “As a man of Lord Yelu, my being investigated first means no one else can object when others are examined.”

“Ah, that’s right, Old Sun. I’m glad you see it that way.”

“However, you have indeed been wronged in this affair, and your blacksmith shop has suffered losses as well. Qimu Ge!”

“Your subordinate is here.”

“Let Jiu Si come in.”

“Yes.”

With that, Qimu Ge let Chen Jiusi in. Chen Jiusi immediately clasped his fists and said, “Lord Yelu.”

Yelu frowned and said, “Jiu Si, you’ve gone too far this time. It’s no wonder Manager Sun has complaints. Come here and apologize to Manager Sun.”

Me?

Chen Jie had known this would happen but still feigned surprise. Yelu quickly gave him a look, signaling to follow the arrangement.

Seizing the cue, Chen Jie promptly clasped his fists and said, “Yes, Master Sun, I admit my mistake in today’s matter. I offer you an apology!”

Chen Jie bowed deeply in a gesture of respect.

Sun Tiechui scoffed in response with a “Hmph.”

Seeing this, Yelu laughed and said, “Haha, alright, alright. You’re both invaluable to me. Let’s not let a small matter upset us. For my sake, let it go.”

After Yelu finished speaking, Chen Jie and Sun Tiechui exchanged glances, both sharing a joy in the success of their plan–at least for the moment they had deceived Yelu.

“Lord Yelu, since things have come to this, I can’t be ungracious. I’ll act as if this incident never happened.”

Sun Tiechui, looking at Yelu, spoke, and hearing this, Yelu said, “Good, Old Sun still knows right from wrong. Jiu Si!”

Yelu looked towards Chen Jie, who promptly clasped his fists and said, “Lord Yelu.”

“Give Manager Sun two thousand taels of silver to show my goodwill.”

“Yes.”

Chen Jie responded, playing along with Yelu’s words.

After this was done, Yelu said, “Alright, today’s matters are nearly settled, so I won’t keep you for dinner. You may leave now.”

Chen Jie and Zhao Tiechui both bowed to Yelu and left the room. They caught a glimpse of Nan Batian entering just as they were leaving. A hint of a smile flashed across Chen Jie’s face, fleeting but caught by Nan Batian.

Nan Batian’s brow furrowed instantaneously, a bad premonition washing over him.

But Chen Jie didn’t speak to him, only leaving him a look that wished him luck before turning and leaving Yelu’s house.

Yelu, meanwhile, stood with his hands clasped behind him, gazing out the window. As Nan Batian came in, he immediately clasped his fists and said, “I pay my respects to Lord Yelu.”

With his back to Nan Batian, Yelu neither looked at him nor acknowledged him.

Nan Batian stood there with his heart pounding, unheeded, and felt compelled to bow again, “Your subordinate Nan Batian greets Lord Yelu.”

Only then did Yelu turn around and scrutinize Nan Batian. “Guild Leader Nan, we have known each other for ten years now, haven’t we?”

Nan Batian replied, “A full decade.”

“How have I treated you?”

Nan Batian answered, “Your favor towers above the heavens.”

“Then why would you betray me?”