Lin Feng’s plan was indeed very detailed, almost too deliberately so.
Every detail regarding time, location, character roles, and contingency plans was interconnected, forming a perfect closed loop.
Lin Feng had been preparing for this plan for a long time. He invited Zhang Ze merely to check for any missing links and refine the plan further.
Lin Feng never expected Zhang Ze to completely reject it, and so thoroughly at that.
Who was Lin Feng? He was the same Lin Feng who believed in the saying, "thirty years of prosperity and thirty years of decline," and "do not underestimate the young and poor."
So naturally, Lin Feng felt somewhat displeased.
But the barrage of questions from Zhang Ze left him speechless.
Lin Feng’s plan was indeed exhaustive, but it was overly so. Every lie required another lie to cover for it, and if even one aspect went wrong, Lin Feng’s result would be nothing short of exposure.
"The Demon Path may indeed be insane, but they aren’t all fools.
Your plan is too perfect; if even a single part goes awry, you lose everything.
Even if you successfully infiltrate the stronghold, if Song Qingpao is as meticulous as you say, he’d piece everything together if he detects the slightest hint.
And the most crucial mistake lies here: although you’ve crafted a series of coincidences, you are the common factor in all of them, and you are the sole beneficiary of these coincidences!
This is too contrived.
Moreover, Brother Feng, although you have the demeanor down, your lack of experience shows. Those in the Demon Path guard against their own more than against the Righteous Path.
Why are you revealing your entire background in your plan? And this backstory is false.
The Demon Path won’t find you sincere; they’ll only find you suspicious."
After Zhang Ze finished speaking, he sighed, feeling frustrated.
"Didn’t I previously teach you what the highest realm of infiltration is?"
Lin Feng opened his mouth, "The best disguise is disfigurement."
"Wrong!" Zhang Ze adopted the posture of a pyramid scheme leader.
"That’s just superficial. The highest realm of infiltration is making the enemy fill in the gaps themselves!"
"It’s making them assume you are what they think you are. You don’t need to prove yourself to be problematic; instead, let them prove themselves that there’s nothing wrong with you."
"Senior Brother, what’s this gap-filling?" asked Chen Qin, who was listening intently.
"It’s... never mind, I can’t explain it." Zhang Ze sat back down, "Once you hear my plan, you’ll naturally understand what filling in the gaps means."
Zhang Ze asked the Sword Spirit Senior to stop pacing and brought him over.
"First, we’ll do this, then... Chen Qin, you... Lin Feng, don’t move... Sword Spirit Senior, you are pivotal."
After Zhang Ze finished explaining his plan, Chen Qin admired him immensely yet felt a bit shy.
The Sword Spirit only felt relieved, thankful that this young man was a disciple of the Righteous Path, for if he fell into the Demon Path, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Lin Feng felt somewhat displeased, but couldn’t argue, "So, I don’t have to do anything?"
"Yes, you do nothing. You just need to play the role of a silent, cold-faced assassin, maintaining that killer aura."
"Then just wait for him to come to you himself," Zhang Ze said.
"What if Song Qingpao doesn’t fall for it?"
Zhang Ze pointed at the Sword Spirit, "Then the Senior will take care of him directly. That’s still better than you throwing your life away and achieving nothing."
"There are plenty of strongholds, just switch to another and deceive again...
"In short, tomorrow, watch my performance.
"Junior Sister, do you have confidence?"
"Yes," Chen Qin’s face reddened a bit more.
The next day, Yangguan Road, South City Market.
Song Qingpao held a cup of hot tea, sitting in front of his own shop.
The winery was located in a remote area, with few people passing by. Listening to the bustling noise of the distant market, he thought about when he might kill a few people for sport.
He had endured for a long time, so long that he was getting annoyed.
A few months ago, the Blood Lion Ancestor, the Helm Leader, commanded them to stay quiet and avoid causing trouble, to prevent exposing the stronghold.
But at the same time, they were to recruit extensively to expand the Demon Path’s influence.
He was even required to cooperate with the espionage sent from the Main Helm to investigate the Spiritual Snake Helm’s demise.
He didn’t like these contradictory orders at all.
Despite being only at the mid-period Foundation Establishment, he could become the head of a stronghold, overseeing dozens of Demon Cultivators. Song Qingpao had always had his own plans.
He had indeed taken a liking to some Loose Cultivators who recently gained infamy in the Jianghu.
He also had some plans concerning the investigation into the Spiritual Snake Helm’s demise.
Yet, he still felt he should wait a bit longer until he could clarify his thoughts before deciding.
But the Ancestor seemed impatient, often urging him to act sooner.
Song Qingpao was too lazy to explain because he knew that no matter how much he explained, the Blood Lion Ancestor wouldn’t listen.
Earlier today, a Sound Transmission from the helm said the messenger would come anytime, asking them to prepare early.
Just as Song Qingpao was feeling vexed, someone blocked the sun above his head.
A tall, slender scholar, followed by a petite and charming woman.
"Hello, is there anything you would like to see?" Song Qingpao asked with a friendly smile.
The man also replied with a friendly smile, "I’d like to take a look inside the stronghold."
Song Qingpao’s smile froze.
"Your smile froze, so you’ve been exposed."
"Is this how that old Blood Lion teaches you? Expose yourself? Or fight with your life?"
The middle-aged scholar no longer spared Song Qingpao a glance and stepped into the shop with the woman.
The two were none other than the disguised Zhang Ze and Chen Qin.
"Husband, that man is interesting," Chen Qin said sweetly.
Zhang Ze almost couldn’t maintain his composure, feeling that his Junior Sister was acting a bit too convincingly.
Song Qingpao’s eyes revealed a murderous gleam. He discreetly closed the shop door and activated the shop’s array.
"Not bad, you have some demonic bones; I’m very satisfied." Zhang Ze released the aura of the Golden Core Realm, with an icy bloodthirsty aura spreading around him.
"What? Not going to make a move?"
The Golden Core Realm aura emanated from the Sword Spirit Senior hidden on Zhang Ze, while the demonic effect was the latest creation from Lily, not yet on sale.
Zhang Ze turned, waiting for Song Qingpao to act.
Chen Qin, however, didn’t even glance at Song Qingpao, instead examining the shop’s decorations,
"Boring, husband, let’s go. I find this place dull."
"I want to see other places; we have enough manpower; this fool won’t make a difference," she said while shaking Zhang Ze’s arm.
Song Qingpao’s emotions fluctuated. He had roughly guessed the cultivator’s identity in front of him, likely someone from the Main Helm, but...
"I am just a mere Loose Cultivator, living hidden in the mundane world to earn a living."
"I don’t understand what Senior means, please...," finished Song Qingpao, bowing deeply.
"Heh, caution is also a merit, what a pity." With that, Zhang Ze didn’t hesitate for a moment, directly taking Chen Qin towards the door.
Just as Zhang Ze reached the door and was almost going to lose his composure, intending to have the Sword Spirit Senior act,
Song Qingpao’s voice sounded behind him, "Would Senior please show the Blood Lion Ancestor’s token?"
Bingo, he took the bait.
"I don’t have it," Zhang Ze said flatly.
Before Song Qingpao could exclaim, Zhang Ze continued,
"I didn’t go to see him because I think he’s stupid, that red-haired dog can do nothing but yap."
This struck a chord with Song Qingpao; he felt the same way.
The red-haired dog only had cultivation, but when it came to intellect, he couldn’t match Song Qingpao at all.
"What, do you need me to take you to the helm to verify with the Blood Lion?"
Zhang Ze sighed inwardly.
"It’s a pity; if we could slip in directly, we could blow up the Blood Lion Helm right away."
Zhang Ze casually pulled out a Beast Head Ghost Head token from his bosom.
"Do you recognize this?"