At that moment, the black-robed man stood on the roof of a building, overlooking the bustling streets below. A wave of anger surged through him.

He had intended to sit back and watch the Mu and Gongsun families tear each other apart, but somehow, he had become the scapegoat, the supposed killer of Gongsun Zan.

And the Gongsun family had even corroborated the story. That was what infuriated him the most.

Mu Zhi’an had killed their third son!

Why would they cover for him?

The black-robed man’s eyes narrowed, his mind racing.

When two enemies suddenly became allies, there could only be one explanation.

They had a common enemy.

And who was that common enemy?

The answer was obvious.

“That little bastard played me,” the black-robed man growled, his face darkening.

This wasn’t good. If the Mu and Gongsun families joined forces, it would complicate his plans.

His gaze fell upon the back entrance of a manor.

A voluptuous woman emerged from the manor, followed by a man. The man placed his hand on her backside, and they whispered to each other, their bodies pressed close.

Bai Yuanfeng.

The black-robed man watched them, a sinister smile spreading across his face.

…

“Why is this young lady still agonizing over whether to run away from home?”

Mu Zhi’an leaned back in his chair, unfolding the paper crane that had just flown through his window. He examined the elegant handwriting, a sigh escaping his lips.

Ever since he’d first replied to the crane’s owner a few days ago, he had received a response almost every day.

The messages were always similar, filled with declarations of wanting to break free from her family’s constraints, of needing to escape and experience the world.

However, whenever he asked where she was, the answer was always the same:

“I haven’t left yet.”

Mu Zhi’an: “…”

She was all talk and no action.

But it didn’t matter to him.

He had realized his role was to be a listener, to offer a sympathetic ear.

He didn’t mind spending time replying to her messages.

It was a harmless way to pass the time.

Even though he still didn’t know who she was or where she was from.

He finished writing his reply, folded the paper into a crane, and tossed it out the window.

Then, a thought struck him. He turned to Wei Mengrou. “Mengrou, do you know where that crane flies to every time?”

The tall, aloof beauty stood silently in the shadows of the study, her long, black hair cascading down her back, a single strand framing her delicate face, lending her an air of alluring elegance.

She looked in the direction the crane had flown, then shook her head.

“It’s impossible to determine its destination based on direction alone.”

“Then perhaps, when we have some free time, we could take a walk and follow the crane?” Mu Zhi’an suggested.

“Just say you want me to investigate its origin. There’s no need to beat around the bush,” Wei Mengrou replied, her voice cool and indifferent.

Mu Zhi’an shook his head. “That’s not the same. Investigating the crane is just a bonus. We could stroll together, chat, strengthen our bond as master and servant… What do you say?”

Wei Mengrou hesitated, then nodded slightly. “Perhaps another time.”

She seemed eager to change the subject. “Your prediction was correct. Public opinion shifted this morning,” she said.

“People are seeing you in a different light now. They believe you’re well, still obsessed with women, but also a righteous man.”

“You could use this opportunity to further improve your image in the eyes of the citizens.”

She couldn’t help but feel a sense of disbelief.

Mu Zhi’an had done so many terrible things… While not unforgivable, his reputation had been abysmal.

Yet, simply by preventing Gongsun Zan from assaulting the young lady from the Chen Manor, his past misdeeds seemed to have been forgotten. A new, shining image had been erected in their place.

In the past, people had avoided him on the streets. Now, they whispered amongst themselves, praising his actions.

If he continued performing good deeds, he might even shed his label as a “wastrel.”

Mu Zhi’an shook his head. “There’s no need to go out of my way to do good deeds or change people’s perception of me.”

Wei Mengrou raised an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t it be nice to be liked, to have a good reputation?”

“It would be nice, but not entirely nice,” Mu Zhi’an replied, quoting a famous line from a Mao Dun Literature Prize-winning novel.

Wei Mengrou stared at him, confused.

“In every era, people love to create idols,” Mu Zhi’an explained. “But there are no true idols in this world. They might worship you today, see you as a beacon of hope, praise you to the heavens. But the moment they discover a flaw, even a minor one, they’ll tear down the facade and turn on you.”

“The moment you become a public figure, your flaws are magnified tenfold, even a hundredfold.”

“That’s why I hate being praised. I don’t need people labeling me as a hero.”

He was just a simple man with simple desires, particularly for Wei Mengrou and Bai Ruoxi… Building a perfect image in the eyes of others was pointless. He might be a hero today, but a minor slip-up could turn him into a villain tomorrow.

“Take you, for example, Mengrou. Let’s say you’re suddenly declared the most beautiful woman in Tianxuan City. Everyone loves you, admires you. Then, one day, a rumor spreads that you’re having an affair with your master. Whether it’s true or not, people will start gossiping.”

Wei Mengrou lowered her gaze, pondering his words.

“Is this what you meant yesterday? That people only seek entertainment and don’t care about the truth?”

Mu Zhi’an nodded, smiling.

“The Gongsun family confirmed your story today. They announced that you didn’t kill Gongsun Zan, that it was the black-robed man,” Wei Mengrou said suddenly.

“I know,” Mu Zhi’an replied.

Wei Mengrou opened her mouth to speak, then hesitated.

Mu Zhi’an looked at her, his lips curving into a smile. “You’re wondering why they would do that, aren’t you, Mengrou?”

Wei Mengrou nodded hesitantly.

“Gongsun Xiong is helping himself,” Mu Zhi’an explained.

“He’s the reason the Gongsun family is so powerful in Tianxuan City.”

“He’s a smart man. And smart people know when to play dumb.”

Gongsun Xiong might have suspected that Mu Zhi’an was responsible for his son’s death. No, he probably knew the truth.

But he chose to turn a blind eye.

After all, money and immediate gains were insignificant compared to the future of the Gongsun family.

The black-robed man was the true enemy.

Suddenly, Wei Mengrou fell silent. She concealed her presence, melting into the shadows near the bookshelf by the window.

Before Mu Zhi’an could ask what was wrong, a wave of killing intent washed over him from outside.

The next moment, a man in plain robes and a wide-brimmed hat entered the study.

His height, build, and the sinister aura surrounding him revealed his identity. It was the black-robed man who wanted Ye Yu.

He’s not even wearing his black robes anymore… Mu Zhi’an thought to himself, stifling a laugh as he studied the man.

He cleared his throat, feigning seriousness. “Why are you here so early? Didn’t we agree that you’d give me three days to deal with the Gongsun family?”

“You certainly know how to shift blame, Young Master Mu,” the black-robed man growled, his voice laced with anger. “You’ve pinned everything on me, leaving yourself free and clear.”

Mu Zhi’an’s expression remained unchanged. He met the man’s gaze calmly.

The black-robed man was furious, but the fact that he hadn’t attacked meant he still understood the importance of their deal. Ye Yu must be incredibly important to him… Mu Zhi’an thought to himself.

He smiled pleasantly. “Calm down. I would have preferred a better solution, but this was the only way to resolve the situation quickly.”

“Blaming everything on me is your solution?” the black-robed man spat, his eyes narrowed dangerously.

If Mu Zhi’an didn’t offer a satisfactory explanation, he couldn’t guarantee what he might do.

“Since you’re an outsider, you shouldn’t care about what the citizens of Tianxuan City think, right?” Mu Zhi’an asked with a smile.

“We’re partners. I’m giving you Ye Yu. Surely you can take a little bit of blame for me.”

The black-robed man snorted, his eyes flickering.

Mu Zhi’an was right. He didn’t care about being the scapegoat.

But it still infuriated him. However, he needed Mu Zhi’an’s cooperation, so he had no choice but to swallow his anger and accept the blame.

“When are you taking Ye Yu to the Dragon Head Forest?” he asked, his voice low and menacing.

Mu Zhi’an considered this for a moment. “Security will be tight in the city for the next few days. Let’s say two days from now.”

The black-robed man’s expression softened slightly. “Since we’re partners, Young Master Mu, I’ll share some information with you.”

Why do you have so much information… And how did those pathetic villains in those stories ever lose to the “protagonist” with all this intel… Mu Zhi’an thought to himself, his gaze fixed on the black-robed man, waiting for him to continue.

“The Bai and Gongsun families are not enemies,” the black-robed man said.

Mu Zhi’an stared at him, his jaw dropping in surprise.

The Gongsun family had been relentlessly targeting the Bai family. And now he was saying they weren’t enemies?

“The Bai family matriarch just visited the Gongsun Manor,” the black-robed man added.

That simple statement contained a wealth of information. Mu Zhi’an was stunned.

Then, a strange look crossed his face.

He had a suspicion… a rather audacious one.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay