[Location: Lin'an City · Six Doors Yamen · Mirror of Clarity Suspended in Hall Pavilion]
[Time: Tianwu Year 4, October 6th, First Quarter of the Si Hour]
[Character: Chen Siming]
[In this moment, you finally truly understood the terrifying nature of Cui Jianxing and Chen Wujiu, who sat high behind the desk within this screen!]
[What did it mean to kill two birds with one stone?]
[What did it mean to lure the snake out of its hole?]
[Now, you finally knew.]
[However, even so, your face still maintained that foolish and silly state.]
[Your eyes remained blank and dazed.]
[Yet, your answer instantly made Cui Jianxing and Chen Wujiu excited.]
[A white-clothed woman?]
[Someone from the White Lotus lineage? The White Lotus lineage of Changle Palace was the true core among the core!]
[However, Cui Jianxing was not in a hurry to continue questioning. Instead, he looked at Li Taohong to the side and then coughed lightly:]
["Fairy Li, is what Siming said true? Did you exchange blows with a white-clothed woman that night?"]
[As soon as these words were spoken, Li Taohong's brows furrowed slightly. Although there was some repulsion in the depths of her eyes, she glanced at you and ultimately still nodded: "En."]
[Cui Jianxing immediately breathed a sigh of relief, then continued to ask:]
["Siming, since that is the case, do you now know the location of that white-clothed woman?"]
[Facing his pressing questions, you decided...]
[This time, you directly shook your head:] (Option 2)
["Don't know... That night, I was taken away by her. When leaving, it was also through the alleys, couldn't tell... the exact direction... don't know..."]
[As soon as these words were spoken, you could visibly see that Cui Jianxing's face was completely filled with disappointment.]
[However, besides disappointment, you also finally saw that there was no longer the slightest bit of suspicion toward you on the face of the Cui Jianxing before you. He even seemed to finally heave a long sigh of relief.]
[System Prompt: Cui Jianxing's Favorability toward you +10, current Favorability: 80 (Willing to Die for a Friend)]
[He ultimately pondered slightly, exhaled a breath, and asked the last question that posed a considerable threat to you:]
["Siming, since that is the case, why did you return from the eastern direction yesterday?"]
[Facing this obviously more dangerous question, you did not overthink it in the slightest. You were merely slightly dazed and very quickly said:]
["Practicing... practicing martial arts... practicing cultivation..."]
["Practicing martial arts?"]
[Cui Jianxing stared blankly for a moment. It seemed he had never expected this answer no matter what.]
[Facing his astonishment and doubt, you decided...]
[Your face still had that same appearance, still just as foolish and dazed.]
[However, in this moment, you still quickly followed up and said:] (Custom Speech)
["Practicing saber... saber intent, Wave-Cleaving Saber... comprehending by the seaside, practicing sword... sword art comprehension, Mr. Cui, Poetry and Calligraphy Sword Art, Clerical Script comprehension..."]
[As soon as these words were spoken, the room, which originally still had some sounds of the wind, suddenly became incomparably quiet at this moment.]
[It was as if something had directly pressed the pause button at this moment.]
[Cui Jianxing opened his mouth, originally seeming to want to continue questioning, but he froze in place at this moment.]
[The brows of the others raised, and most revealed a touch of astonishment in the depths of their eyes. However, it was clear that at this time, everyone could also hear something strange from your words. After looking at you, they looked at Cui Jianxing sitting at the head.]
[Cui Jianxing's mouth opened again. He finally asked subconsciously:]
["Poetry and Calligraphy Sword Art... You've gained comprehension again?"]
["Yes... Clerical Script comprehension, Ancient Clerical Script Concealed Point... Earth-grade, separated by a single thread, this time's comprehension... successfully advanced... to show Mr. Cui..."] (Custom Speech)
[When this sentence was spoken, this time, everyone finally understood what exactly this meant.]
[Although you had no way to turn your head, at this moment, you could also hear an undisguised 'Tch' sound coming from Junior Martial Aunt Li behind you.]
[For some unknown reason, you could even mentally fill in the appearance of Li Taohong sneering while disdainfully rolling her eyes right at this moment in your mind.]
[However, you didn't even need to turn your head, didn't need to turn around to see what the expressions and appearances of the other people were like. Just as this single sentence fell, even Chen Wujiu, who was originally sitting together with Cui Jianxing, frowned fiercely. His deep purple gaze flickered slightly as he glanced at Cui Jianxing from the corner of his eye.]
[System Prompt: Long Wuxie's Favorability toward you +4 points, current Favorability: 39 points (Feel Like Old Friends at First Sight)]
[System Prompt: Long Qingyu's Favorability toward you +1 point, current Favorability: 96 points (Share Weal and Woe)]
[System Prompt: Li Wanchun's Favorability toward you +1 point, current Favorability: 96 points (Treat as One's Own Child)]
[System Prompt: Chen Wujiu's Favorability toward you +29 points, current Favorability: 69 points (Heart-to-Heart)]
Hm?
Seeing this, Chen Xuan's brows raised slightly. The increase in favorability from the others, even including the massive traitor Long Wuxie, was within your expectations.
This Chen Wujiu, why was his able to increase? And increase by so much?
This grand eunuch was narrow-minded and incredibly shrewd. It didn't make sense for it to be like this, right?
Good heavens, could it be that just as Defying the Heavens and Changing Fate had provided feedback, this grand eunuch truly valued those who "value friendship and loyalty"?
Chen Xuan's heart stirred slightly.
[The changes in Favorability left you somewhat unexpected, especially Chen Wujiu's.]
[However, in hindsight, you somewhat understood.] (Comprehension ≥ 7 points)
[For a group like eunuchs, who had no parents and no descendants, the things they valued most were nothing more than three things!]
[Loyalty to the Imperial Court and the Emperor. The power and existential value of a eunuch came from imperial power itself. Therefore, loyalty was the first priority.]
[And the second was loyalty and righteousness. Groups like eunuchs had no other relationships they could attach themselves to. Therefore, within their faction, as long as it didn't involve their vital personal interests and the word 'loyalty', groups like eunuchs—also known as the 'Eunuch Party'—would absolutely and unconditionally protect their own people.]
[The third, naturally, was money. This went without saying.]
[Of course, in this Jianghu, you also knew that besides loyalty, righteousness, and wealth, eunuchs equally needed to value strength and power.]
[Having figured this out, you somewhat understood why Chen Wujiu would increase his Favorability by such a huge amount.]
[However, right at this moment, before you could think much more, suddenly, a strange sound abruptly rang out at this moment.]
[You subconsciously looked over, and then your heart leaped.]
[You only saw Cui Jianxing's face suddenly turn completely snow-white at this moment. Then, under circumstances no one had expected, he violently spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood.]
[You were stunned.]
[No, is the power of this single sentence that huge?]