[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-205":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Eternal Green Immortal Sovereign",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2270213,4432,"Chapter 205: Undercurrents","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-205",205,"\u003Cp>Thud. Thud. Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui knocked on He Shan’s door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When He Shan saw Li Rui standing outside, his face lit up with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui paused, clasped his fists in congratulations:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother He, congratulations on your wedding—truly, joy brightens the brow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smile upon opening the door is common for others, but coming from He Shan, it was unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had served together for a long time, yet even he had rarely seen He Shan smile, let alone laugh like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan led Li Rui into the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother He, that day Jiang Daoren issued an urgent order requiring me to leave the city, so I couldn’t attend your wedding banquet. I truly apologize.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he pulled another purple sandalwood box from his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan hurried to stop him: “Brother Li, I already received your wedding gift—how can you spend again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui chuckled: “This isn’t for you. I heard your wife is frail—this is a special tonic I sought out. Take it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a flicker of hesitation crossed He Shan’s eyes—if it were for him, no matter how precious, he would refuse; but since it concerned his wife, he hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could decide, the box was already in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a bitter laugh:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li, thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re brothers—what’s there to thank for? By the way, how is your wife feeling?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already heard from Yang Yong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan’s wife had been ill; after the wedding, she had appeared only once to thank guests, and He Shan claimed she was unwell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan called for tea while apologizing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My wife is unwell and cannot come out to greet you, I’m truly sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no perverse taste for other men’s wives—seeing her or not made no difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his level of cultivation, beauty was but a skeleton.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never thought you’d finally wake up and marry, Brother He. Didn’t you once swear you’d never take a wife?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui teased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan chuckled: “Back when I was a blade-for-hire, I had too many enemies. I thought: if I married and had children, they’d be killed by my enemies—too great a loss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So why isn’t it a loss now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Lan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A softness flashed in He Lan’s eyes: “If I die, she lives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, he had resolved to fight to the death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui laughed harder—he had never imagined a hardened warrior would fall for tender love, and He Lan had actually fallen for pure affection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan’s behavior made him even more curious: “How did you two meet? Where is your wife from?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she were from Qinghe, he likely knew her parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lan: “My wife’s family suffered disaster. She fled into the mountains, fell into a valley, and lost her memory. I found her there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This plot—utterly hard to describe. In his past life, it would’ve been a clichéd soap opera, rated one star with ten thousand negative reviews.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it had actually happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he knew He Shan loved wandering in the mountains—he had once joined him on such trips when they both served in the Armory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Picked up a wife?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was family business. Though strange, he didn’t press further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After chatting awhile, Li Rui found an excuse to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Li Rui departed,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan stepped out of the main hall and saw a graceful figure gliding toward him, smiling gently: “Lan’er, why are you out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lan blinked her beautiful large eyes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband, who was that old man just now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Rui, patrol captain of the Running Tiger Cavalry. He used to manage grain in the Armory—he’s my close friend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl fell into thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the main chamber of the He family residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rustling of clothing filled the air; a figure stood silently beside the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan lay with eyes closed, breathing evenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lan stared for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, she had slipped poison into He Shan’s tea. If all went as planned, when he awoke, she would already be gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, she stepped out of the room with quiet, light footsteps, making not a single sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, she possessed martial skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was no sickly invalid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She walked out of Anning Guard without much resistance—being He Shan’s wife, and claiming she was buying wine for her husband, no one stopped her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the military camp,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>moments later she reached a secluded alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voluptuous, alluring woman stood at its center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lan bit her lip:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jiaoniang’s slender, slanted phoenix eyes narrowed, filled with mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am No. Nine, not ‘Little Lan.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lan’s frail body trembled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jiaoniang sneered: “Good. I almost thought sleeping with a man had stolen your soul.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jiaoniang snorted coldly: “Good that you remember—I really thought climbing into a man’s bed had stolen your soul.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jiaoniang’s eyes glinted with danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lan—more accurately, No. Nine—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>was her charm slave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such charm slaves were women she had specially scoured from brothels, each stunningly beautiful, trained in seduction arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What “chance encounter in the mountains”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What “love at first sight”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just tricks to lure men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No. Nine’s appearance was no accident—it was carefully planned to plant a spy in Anning Guard and help her find spiritual energy. Though she excelled in disguise, Jiang Lin’s methods eluded her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Jiang Lin discovered her, she would die and her Dao would be shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So sending a charm slave was the safest method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah. Men.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you really think he’d still fall for you if he knew you were a whore for ten thousand men?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crush that foolish fantasy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jiaoniang sneered coldly—she excelled at manipulating women’s hearts, as if she could see straight into No. Nine’s soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No. Nine trembled more violently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I dare not, Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the effect, Liu Jiaoniang’s crimson lips curled upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak. What happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+book_bar\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>=9+book_bar\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No. 9 stammered, “Master, the Immortal-Seeking Stone you gave me has reacted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jiaoniang immediately perked up and urged:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak quickly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s an official named Li Rui—he came to the He family, and the Immortal-Seeking Stone lit up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lit up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jiaoniang’s eyes narrowed slightly: “Li Rui.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had never told No. 9 that what she sought in Anning Guard was immortal qi; instead, she had given her the Immortal-Seeking Stone to find someone who could make it glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That person was the one hiding in Anning Guard, possessing immortal qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No. 9 went to Anning Guard, and the Immortal-Seeking Stone went dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly seven or eight days passed before it finally reacted again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No. 9 said, “I’ve inquired. Li Rui recently went to Huaqing Sect—he only returned the day before yesterday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jiaoniang’s eyes flashed with sharp light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything fit perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Find an opportunity to lure Li Rui out and make him swallow this bottle of medicine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jiaoniang pulled a vial from her bosom and tossed it to No. 9.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No. 9’s eyes flickered with hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, this medicine—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew too well that, given her status, the only way to draw Li Rui out was through He Shan—but poisoning was never precise; the safe way was to poison everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, she didn’t want to see He Shan die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jiaoniang sneered, “It’s a sleeping draught—it won’t kill anyone. I want the object, not the corpses of two imperial officials—that would only bring me trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No. 9’s heart leapt with relief:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching No. 9 leave, Liu Jiaoniang’s smile widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zui Xian Pavilion, private room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother He, is this how you treat your guests?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You send someone at the last minute to give me a time and place—neither coming nor not coming is acceptable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui stepped into the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He complained to He Shan—but it was only playful teasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near the hour of You, one of He Shan’s maids came to his door, saying He Shan wished to treat him to wine; he had to abandon his meal mid-way and hurry over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it had been anyone else,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui might not have come—but He Shan was an honest man, newly married, and this courtesy had to be honored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During their time as colleagues in the Dingzi-sized arms depot, he’d already seen that He Shan merely disliked social pretense, but had a good heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, he might still need to rely on the arms depot in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worth cultivating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan offered a hint of apology: “Today we went out for a stroll. When we returned, my wife felt remorseful for having missed seeing Brother Li last night, so she insisted on this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui then turned to the stunning woman leaning against He Shan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a dazzling beauty, but delicate as a white rabbit—making every man feel pity at the sight of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beautiful she was, but not to Li Rui’s taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan raised his cup: “Brother Li, let me apologize first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui waved him off: “Between brothers, no need for words—drink!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both tilted their heads back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two taels of wine vanished down their throats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui commented, “Brother He, did someone cheat you? This wine is truly awful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan scratched his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That can’t be right—I ordered the finest wine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui turned to He Lan: “Sister, could you ask the innkeeper to bring a jar of the wine I left here? Tell him my name—he’ll know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Brother Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lan rose gently and stepped out of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui didn’t refuse the wine just because it was bad; the two drank cup after cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CLATTER—the wine cup slipped from his hand and shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared wide-eyed at the wine pot: “It’s poisoned!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Shan was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried to rise, but dizziness surged—he saw black, his neck slumped, and he collapsed unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lan returned to the room. She held no wine from Li Rui—she stared at Li Rui and He Shan lying sprawled on the floor, her expression complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind her, Liu Jiaoniang’s voice spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, pitying your lover?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“N-no, Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lan quickly stepped aside, retreating to the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jiaoniang entered the private room, glanced at the two men inside, then at the Immortal-Seeking Stone in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Immortal qi…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought of finally completing Blood Shadow Ancestor’s task sent a thrill through her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nudged Li Rui’s body over with her toe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she searched him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, she pulled a small wooden box from his bosom and opened the lid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside lay a thin strand of pale green qi, as fine as a hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jiaoniang felt her breath quicken:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is immortal qi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1806,"2026-06-19T22:01:11.003Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","85348d752df2003cbe5f96ecd2b67056cd525598b652207becd8218adfbcbebd","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-206","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-204",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]