Chapter 80: God Sword Mountain Villa's First Sword!

Zhou Ke is the younger brother of the current emperor, Zhou Wenhuang, and the only prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty; in the whole of Bei Du and even the Heaven Peace Continent, he can be described as one hand covering the sky.

Although Zhou Ke is a court official, he is passionate about martial world affairs; over the years, he has secretly recruited many martial world experts, gradually forming his own martial world influence.

No one under heaven knows what he is doing it for, yet many believe he harbors greater ambition and vision than his brother, Emperor Zhou Wenhuang, and is more suited to be emperor.

Zhou Ke and Zhang Gonggong are respectively the left and right hands of Emperor Zhou Wenhuang.

Zhang Gonggong commands the West Factory, Zhou Ke has the Prince's mansion; each has capable subordinates—for example, Zhang Gonggong's West Factory Eighteen Riders and the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Ten Deputy Generals, while Zhou Ke has his trusted aides Situ Qing, Ye Wuming, and others.

They have divided court affairs for many years, with constant struggle above and below the court, and over these years the outcome remains undecided.

Zhou Ke has long harbored resentment; as a noble prince, how could he contend for power and influence with a lowly eunuch?

Chen Yi He sized up Zhou Ke with an unabashed gaze, knowing that since Zhou Ke had saved him, it showed he had value in Zhou Ke's eyes. What surprised Chen Yi He was that neither Situ Qing nor Ye Wuming warned him about his rudeness.

Zhou Ke, seated on the high hall, watched Chen Yi He examine him from head to toe before asking, "Are you Chen Yi He?"

"Hmm." Chen Yi He knew he needed to be on his guard.

"Relax."

"Why did you save me?" Chen Yi He asked proactively.

"Good question." Zhou Ke was amused by Chen Yi He's frankness, "Because I don't get along with Zhang Huayu."

"Zhang Gonggong?" Chen Yi He frowned; this person he could already call a bone-deep hatred. Zhou Ke and Zhang Gonggong are at odds—saving him solely for that reason doesn't quite make sense.

In the martial world, what has always been emphasized is profit.

Actually, Chen Yi He knew that from the moment Situ Qing rescued him, he had become linked to Zhou Ke's interest group.

But one wandering the martial world can't simply accept help, pat one's butt, and leave; the consequence would be worse than being hunted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Zhou Ke nodded, pointing at the two people beside Chen Yi He, and changed the subject: "You should know these two, right? Situ Qing and Ye Wuming are my left and right hands."

"I've seen them before." Chen Yi He gave Ye Wuming an annoyed glance.

Ye Wuming threw a provocative glance at Chen Yi He; amid his silver-white beard and hair lurked ill intent. Chen Yi He dared not underestimate him and Situ Qing.

"You wouldn't have saved me for no reason—just speak plainly! Be straightforward!"

Zhou Ke rose from his throne, clapping his hands as he walked toward Chen Yi He, saying with appreciation, "Hahaha! Indeed, to return alive from the Thousandfold Gate and be capable of beating Xiao Feng into a cripple—what a capable hand! Moreover, you're frank and swift; I like that!"

"You saved me—aren't you afraid Zhang Gonggong will report to the emperor?"

"You have nothing to worry about in my presence." Zhou Ke approached Chen Yi He and continued, "I saved you, but I merely wish to make a deal with you."

Chen Yi He is blunt and to the point; Zhou Ke gets straight to the point.

Chen Yi He's goodwill toward Zhou Ke vanished instantly, but thinking it over, this was inevitable—"What deal?"

"If we succeed, your debt to me will be canceled, and I can personally step in to resolve your conflict with the West Factory—how does that sound?" Zhou Ke laid out his terms.

"What do you want me to do?" Chen Yi He asked.

"Help me obtain a sword." Zhou Ke replied.

"Obtain a sword?" Chen Yi He glanced at Ye Wuming, then Situ Qing, and said, "Your subordinates are countless, and there are plenty stronger than me—no need to drag this little nobody into a suicide mission."

"Unfortunately, I have no swordsmen among my retinue; to be frank, this sword has not yet appeared in the world."

"Oh?"

"The Purple Tempered Sword on your back is the third divine sword of God Sword Mountain Villa. The second divine sword is the villa's mountain‑protecting treasure, the Orthodox Venerable Sword." Zhou Ke laughed, patted Chen Yi He's shoulder, gestured for him to sit, and then sat himself down opposite Chen Yi He.

"The Orthodox Venerable Sword?"

"No, it is the first divine sword about to appear from God Sword Mountain Villa," Zhou Ke paused, whether intentionally or not, "the Heavenly Mechanism Sword."

"The Heavenly Mechanism Sword!?" Upon hearing that name, Chen Yi He felt this sword was no ordinary item—definitely high‑end, grandiose, and top‑tier!

"I have confidence in you; I believe you can do it." Zhou Ke smiled at Chen Yi He. "In three months, this sword will appear at God Sword Mountain Villa. The divine sword possesses a spirit; only a swordsman with affinity can obtain it."

Chen Yi He took a sip of wine and said to Zhou Ke, "There are so many swordsmen in the martial world; surely you, Prince, could find someone stronger than me? Betting the chips on me is unstable. Moreover, there are many fated persons; it need not be me."

"I believe in you." Zhou Ke looked very confident.

"Do I really have to go?" Chen Yi He probed.

The reply to Chen Yi He came not from Zhou Ke but from Situ Qing, who coldly said, "Otherwise, as soon as you leave the Prince's mansion, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will shoot you down with a barrage of arrows."

"Is there still any royal law!?"

"Strength is the law." Zhou Ke laughed, saying, "Young man, only I can save you."

Chen Yi He was speechless; he had thus been dragged onto Zhou Ke's pirate ship—indeed, there's no free lunch in this world! Heavenly Mechanism Sword, just what kind of holy thing is it?

"God Sword Mountain Villa has a thousand‑year history, famed worldwide for its superb sword‑forging art. Although the villa master Huang Zong's strength is only medium‑upper, his forging technique is the strongest in the villa's history. This time he declared that the Heavenly Mechanism Sword will be the strongest sword in God Sword Mountain Villa's history."

Zhou Ke also took a drink and continued, "This sword cannot be controlled by God Sword Mountain Villa, yet its sword spirit has formed; its emergence is inevitable, unstoppable by anyone. Huang Zong also declared that everyone has a chance to obtain the sword, but it is not people choosing the sword—it is the sword choosing its wielder."

"All right." Chen Yi He could only agree, "Just…"

"Just that you seized their third divine sword?" Zhou Ke knew what Chen Yi He wanted to ask.

Chen Yi He blushed and nodded; the Purple Tempered Sword at his back, after all this time together, had become his partner—"Yeah."

"You needn't worry about this; Huang Zong has already said his son was simply outmatched, and he won't bully the young with his age. You can rest easy. Moreover, God Sword Mountain Villa couldn't possibly take action against you under everyone's eyes."

Chen Yi He always felt Zhou Ke was hiding something from him, but he didn't press further—just going with the flow. If they truly couldn't get the Heavenly Mechanism Sword, they wouldn't easily find fault with him.

Chen Yi He also wanted to use the Prince's mansion's power to rid himself of the trouble caused by the West Factory.

Moreover, he also wanted to go out and broaden his horizons, to see what kind of holy thing the Heavenly Mechanism Sword is.