Jason Ji was momentarily taken aback by Livia Dong's cryptic words. However, upon noticing her scrutinizing gaze and slight smirk, realization dawned on him.
"Oh no… she saw me use Dragon's Reach!"
Jason took a deep breath, cursing himself for focusing solely on Sarah Long and neglecting to watch for Livia's sharp eyes. Now he was left wondering how to handle the situation.
Raymond Dong, meanwhile, stroked his chin with a stern expression and chided, "Son-in-law, you can't just be getting handsy with any woman! Remember, besides being the Immortal Slayer Sword Master, you're also my son-in-law in the Dong family!"
What? Jason was momentarily speechless, amused at how oblivious Raymond Dong seemed. Clearly, he hadn't yet realized the true nature of his daughter, who was several steps ahead in her schemes.
"Oh well, I'll leave you two to chat," Raymond Dong said abruptly. "I'll go prepare a room for Henry Hong." With a nod, he left, taking Henry Hong with him, giving Jason and Livia time alone as he had intended.
"So… don't you have anything you want to say?" Livia asked, her expression one of amusement as she looked at him, her lips curved in a teasing smile.
"Not really," Jason replied with a shrug before adding, "But I do have something to ask you. Why did you want me to attend Sarah Long's birthday?"
Livia took a sip of her wine, her tone casual as she replied, "Didn't you ask what our first step should be? This is it."
Jason frowned, confused. "Could you be a bit more specific?"
A deeper smile crossed Livia's face. "You know of the Lingyan Pavilion in the Sacred Tang Empire, don't you?"
Jason nodded. The Lingyan Pavilion was widely known, built to honor the twenty-four founding generals of the Sacred Tang. Livia had famously destroyed it at the age of ten, catapulting her to infamy.
"Do you know why I smashed the Lingyan Pavilion at ten?" she asked, a glint of mystery in her eyes.
"Because there was something inside that you wanted," Jason replied. With her, everything had a purpose, and there was no way she would have targeted such a symbolic site without a reason.
"Correct! I can tell you now—there's something in the Lingyan Pavilion that we both want," Livia continued, her voice light but her gaze intense.
Jason's mind raced through the plot of Defying the Evil God, trying to recall any details about the Pavilion's contents. Nothing came to mind, as the original novel had left this detail ambiguous.
"Inside the Pavilion lies the Immortal Slayer Sheath and the founding emperor's treasure map," Livia revealed.
Jason's eyes widened. The Immortal Slayer Sheath! When he'd received the sword, there had been no accompanying sheath. It was highly plausible that the sheath was necessary to unlock the sword's next seal. If it was indeed in the Lingyan Pavilion, he would have to find a way to obtain it, no matter the risk.
Livia observed his reaction with satisfaction. "So, what do you think? You get the Immortal Slayer Sheath, and I get the treasure map. A win-win partnership."
Jason nodded slowly. "Let's hear your plan. Judging from your actions earlier, I assume we'll need to leverage Sarah Long?"
Livia's smile deepened as she nodded. She appreciated how quickly Jason grasped her intentions, saving her time and explanations.
"The Lingyan Pavilion is within the imperial palace, guarded by both the palace soldiers and eight legendary warriors collectively known as the Winds and Rains of the Eight Directions," she explained. "Additionally, there's a formation outside the Pavilion that will alert the entire palace if breached. So, barging in is out of the question. We need to use Sarah Long's birthday to enter the palace without suspicion."
Jason nodded again, recognizing the formidable difficulty of bypassing the palace guards and the elite Winds and Rains warriors. Charging in head-on was impractical and would only draw unnecessary attention.
"And after we're inside?" he asked, knowing that entering the palace was only the beginning.
"After that," Livia said, her smile becoming mischievous, "I need you to… seduce Princess Changle, Sarah Long."
Jason nearly choked, coughing in shock. "You want me to… seduce her?"
Livia rolled her eyes at his reaction. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, almost amused by his disbelief. "There are only four people in the palace who possess the entry token to the Lingyan Pavilion, and Sarah Long is one of them. Get close to her, gain her trust, and then, like you did with her pendant, steal the token. Simple."
Jason exhaled in exasperation. Of course, Livia had seen him take Sarah's dragon pendant and now intended to use his thieving skills for her plan.
"And then what?" Jason asked, still incredulous. "After I 'seduce' her and take the token, what's my next move? Am I supposed to just walk out of the banquet hall and make my way to the Pavilion?"
Livia shook her head. "Once you have the token, I'll create a distraction. I'll make sure everyone's attention is on me, giving you the opportunity to act without being noticed."
Jason considered her plan. With her beauty and knack for causing a scene, he had no doubt that she could divert the crowd's focus if she put her mind to it. Livia Dong had a natural talent for drawing attention and creating chaos.
"So, what do you say? Will you, do it?" Livia asked, her face glowing with a radiant smile that could dazzle anyone.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Jason replied confidently. He trusted Livia's intentions; the treasure map was as important to her as the Immortal Slayer Sheath was to him. With the map, she could gain an unimaginable fortune, expanding her power tenfold, and further her ambition of overthrowing the Sacred Tang to eventually wage war against the Empire of Immortal Qin.
"I knew you'd agree," Livia said, her smile serene as moonlight. She seemed genuinely pleased with his decision.
With their first step decided, Jason and Livia had forged an alliance that would intertwine their destinies as they set their sights on the Pavilion and the powerful treasures it concealed.
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