Chapter 58: The Great Zhou Secret Spies

Fu Qiwén may be right—the jianghu really does need a thorough cleansing.

Li Musheng, of course, was perfectly content with this.

But it didn't have to be him who bore the full responsibility.

He was naturally carefree and had no ambitions, yet the world was never short of those with ambition.

Whether in Da Li or other dynasties, there were no shortage of old men like Emperor Yuanwu—ambitious, energetic, and eager to act; letting them lead the charge was perfectly fitting.

As Li Musheng pondered this, his frown gradually eased, and he glanced at Fu Qiwén and said:

"It's clear that Lord Fu is a man who hates evil with a passion."

Speaking, Li Musheng paused a moment, then said calmly:

"Then choose an auspicious day, and we'll pay a visit to Luoshen Peak."

Upon hearing this, Fu Qiwén fell silent, narrowing his eyes as he studied Li Musheng:

"Your Highness is certain you'll accept my request?"

"What else did you think?"

Li Musheng raised an eyebrow, then stood up, clapped Fu Qiwén on the shoulder, and leaned close beside him, whispering:

"I know such a major matter is beyond your own resolve—why not ask His Majesty himself?"

Saying this, Li Musheng's voice grew slightly colder as he continued:

"And there's only one chance: after it's done, Shengzhou Tianjinwei is mine, and His Majesty must also agree to one additional condition of mine."

Fu Qiwén turned his head, staring at Li Musheng's young, handsome face, his gaze filled with disbelief.

He had explained the stakes clearly to this man, yet the man remained unmoved—and still appeared utterly casual.

As if, in this man's eyes, Luoshen Peak—one of the four great sects dominating the martial world—was nothing but a bunch of minor fish and shrimp, utterly unworthy of mention.

At that moment, Li Musheng noticed the man staring unblinkingly at him and frowned.

Obviously, this fellow was jealous of his looks!

"Lord Fu, think it over carefully."

Li Musheng rubbed his chin, then turned to Yu Jin, whose face was still filled with shock, and said:

"Commandant Yu, show me around—let me get familiar with the Shengzhou Tianjinwei headquarters."

Hearing this, Commander Yu Jin snapped back from his daze, his expression shifting rapidly.

Was this… really something he was meant to hear?

Though he had always known Tianjinwei had plans against martial world factions, he had never before heard from Fu Qiwén's own lips such a clear plan to eradicate Luoshen Peak—one of the four great sects.

But that wasn't the worst of it.

More astonishing still: this newly confirmed Eighth Imperial Prince had just volunteered to lead the destruction of Luoshen Peak?

Yu Jin even wondered if he'd misheard.

Immediately, he stole a glance at Fu Qiwén, who ignored him entirely, his expression strangely altered; Yu Jin could only turn to Li Musheng and say:

"Your Highness, please follow me."

Saying this, he suppressed his shock and confusion, leading Li Musheng out through the corridor beside the hall's side door.

In an instant, the hall was left with only Fu Qiwén alone; he turned to gaze at the direction Li Musheng had departed, lost in thought, murmuring:

"Is he merely a bold youth unaware of danger—or does he have some hidden advantage?"

At that moment, Han Li and Sun Changyu entered the hall, wearing bamboo hats and rain capes.

"My lord, the five assassins' bodies have been retrieved, and our people have been left to handle the aftermath."

Hearing this, Fu Qiwén turned back, his expression returning to normal, and asked:

"Any findings?"

"There are some."

The gaunt-faced Han Li nodded slightly and said:

"After a cursory examination of the five corpses, aside from the three men with the iron-bamboo staffs, I discovered hidden tattoos on the other two—they are likely secret assassins from Da Zhou."

Fu Qiwén gave a slight nod, seemingly unsurprised.

Da Zhou and Da Li had been locked in constant border warfare; unlike the other three dynasties, Da Zhou and Da Li harbored an irreconcilable mortal hatred—so it was no surprise the enemy had sent assassins after Li Musheng.

At this, Fu Qiwén paused briefly, then asked:

"What do you think of the assassin's strength?"

Hearing this, Han Li pondered, then bowed and said:

"If the assassin were a half-step Heaven-and-Mortal Realm cultivator, he could likely handle five Wudaoda Sect masters—but to kill all five so effortlessly? That would be impossible."

"Therefore, I believe the assassin must be a practitioner of the Heaven-and-Mortal Realm."

Fu Qiwén narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, then gave orders:

"Hand the two Da Zhou assassins over to the Hidden Spy Division; the fact that they knew precisely where Sun Eunuch and the others were headed means there's a mole in Guangguang Pavilion—this matter is yours to…"

Saying this, he paused slightly, then his gaze shifted and he said:

"Go find the Eighth Imperial Prince. Ask him to assist you in investigating this. I must return to the palace."

Saying this, a flash of sharp light passed through Fu Qiwén's eyes as he turned and left the hall.

"The Eighth Imperial Prince?"

Han Li and Sun Changyu exchanged glances, both staring at each other in stunned silence.

…

Meanwhile, Emperor Yuanwu's decree recognizing Li Musheng as the Eighth Imperial Prince was issued from the palace and announced to the realm.

Though the skies above Shangyang City remained turbulent with wind and rain, from palace concubines and imperial princes to court ministers, martial world gangs, and street vendors alike, the news spread like wildfire throughout the capital.

Tiangong Palace.

On either side of the bamboo curtain, Commander of the Tianjin Guard Fu Qiwen stood with a bowed posture, while Emperor Yuanwu sat in silence.

After hearing Fu Qiwen's report of going and returning, and learning that Li Musheng had taken on the matter of eradicating Luoshen Peak the moment he arrived, Emperor Yuanwu was rendered utterly silent, not speaking for a full half an incense stick's worth of time.

Finally, Emperor Yuanwu slowly opened his mouth and asked:

"What does Qiwen think?"

Fu Qiwen gently shook his head and said:

"This minister believes that even though there are Heaven-and-Mortal Realm experts behind the Eighth Imperial Prince, before a behemoth of the martial world like Luoshen Peak, it is utterly insignificant."

"Then why did you rush to see Us in such a hurry?"

Hearing this, Fu Qiwen's expression hesitated for a moment, then he said solemnly:

"This minister merely feels that since we have decided to strike against those jianghu forces, rather than wait for an opportunity whose arrival is unknown, it would be better to act now."

"The longer time drags on, the larger the jianghu forces will grow, and the so-called opportunity will become all the more remote."

"Previously this minister dared not act because of looking ahead and behind; taking advantage of the Eighth Imperial Prince as an opportunity this time, it has instead made this minister want to stake everything on a single throw and give it a try!"

Emperor Yuanwu gazed at Fu Qiwen through the bamboo curtain without speaking, and only after a while opened his mouth indifferently:

"Do you know what consequences you would have to bear if this matter fails?"

Fu Qiwen's body stirred slightly, but the deep furrows on his brow eased, and he calmly lowered his head:

"This minister knows. This minister is at any time willing to die for the Great Li as atonement!"

(End of this chapter)