Chapter 613: Wutong Crisis, First Time Participating Personally!

Zhang Yuanlai's expression was one of regret; such an opportunity to meet the Second Prince had slipped through his fingers.

A person's life offers only one or two such opportunities; once missed, they rarely come again.

Opportunity knocks but once!

He sighed softly: "Lord Xie, Prince Feng was renowned for his virtue in his youth and holds great prestige in court. Though His Majesty is young, his health declines day by day."

"The one who shall one day inherit the Great Qi throne is among the strongest contenders—Prince Feng."

The current Emperor has already granted four princedoms; the Crown Prince's position remains undetermined. Among these four princes, the Yan, Tang, Han, and Qian princes stand out, with the Yan Prince holding the highest status.

The reason is simple: historically, the title of Yan Prince was held by Lu Shenzhou.

The Second Prince is the Tang Prince—a true five-jewel prince—but he dislikes being called "Tang Prince." It is said he desires the title of Yan Prince, yet his sixth younger brother claimed it first; thus, in Bianjing, he is commonly known as Prince Feng.

Li Xiangjun also stepped forward, lifting her gaze to you.

"Lord Xie, did you already know Prince Feng's identity?"

What you just said? "The dragon appears in the field, auspicious for meeting great men. Long have I held lofty ambitions; a true man must act decisively. Though the time is not ripe, even a butcher's knife may be tested."

Now, combined with the Second Prince's identity, these words carry profound meaning.

Prince Feng stands but one step from the throne; it is fitting to reveal his sharp edge.

You merely shook your head. "It was merely the meaning of the painting."

Li Xiangjun found this hard to believe; your final refusal to Prince Feng—"to win a beauty's smile"—held unspoken implications.

Rumors in the West Wing Pavilion say Prince Feng favors Su Shishi, the top courtesan of Qiyi Chunfang. The folk say he is a man of deep passion, once declaring: "I love the empire more than beauty—but I would rather keep beauty in a golden chamber."

Your words just now seemed to strike right at his soft spot; otherwise, he would not have ended it so easily.

Zhang Yuanlai regretted it, but Li Xiangjun held a different view: after this, the Second Prince will likely value you even more.

Youthful yet mature, endowed with extraordinary innate wisdom, brilliant in talent, poised in action—no wonder Miss Yunzhi praised you so highly.

Li Xiangjun's gaze turned to the painting carefully held by Zhou Yuner.

After the Gathering of Beauties, with the Second Prince's reputation behind it, this painting of "unattainable longing," paired with your words "the dragon appears in the field," will surely bring you immense renown.

As long as she holds this painting, so long as the Second Prince remains unshaken, she will possess a golden seal of approval—and her status will rise accordingly.

Li Xiangjun could not help but feel a pang of envy.

Jia Yu and the others had not left; since the Second Prince had already rendered judgment on the contest's outcome, they dared not object.

Jia Yu's expression grew somber; losing to another in his own domain was a heavy blow.

He wondered how you had acquired such astonishing painting skills!

Zhang Yuanlai could no longer contain his curiosity and asked quickly: "Lord Xie, we never saw you paint in the courtyard—where did you learn such mastery?"

The divine quality in your painting comes from the "spirit within the brush" talent, combined with the spiritual essence of the dragon you depicted in Ze Lake—hence the dragon's head in the painting.

You were about to speak—

When the drumbeats from the Sifang stage rose, all eyes turned to the theater.

The Gathering of Beauties had begun!

The hosts stepped onto the stage, announcing the grand feast's opening.

Everyone waited eagerly to see the courtesans' grace; the entire venue buzzed with excitement, even the common folk along the riverbanks cheered.

You stared at the stage when suddenly, familiar footsteps approached. Sensing their breath through your spiritual sense, you turned—and frowned.

A towering figure walked toward you—it was Sima Pan!

Today, the Sima family's carriage had not come to fetch you from Xie Fu; this was unusual.

His sudden appearance now deepened your suspicion—what was his purpose?

"Brother Sima!" you greeted with a smile.

All were absorbed in the stage's performance and noticed nothing of Sima Pan's arrival.

Sima Pan approached slowly. "Lord Xie, you made me search hard—I didn't find you in Section B."

"The master left in haste today and forgot to arrange a carriage for you. Please forgive the oversight."

You smiled in reply: "No matter."

Sima Pan continued: "The master awaits you at Zi Xiao Pavilion. Please come with me."

After gesturing for you to follow, Zhou Yuner and the others—though focused on the stage—noticed the disturbance and the imposing aura of this giant.

You studied Sima Pan's expression carefully, paused a moment, then smiled and said: "Forgive me, General Sima—I have friends nearby and cannot leave at once."

Li Xiangjun heard "General Sima" and instantly recalled the Second Prince's mention of Sima Tingshi, the Military Governor.

She was secretly astonished: your associates were clearly no ordinary people.

Sima Pan's face remained unchanged. After a pause, he spoke slowly: "The master commands—Lord Xie must come."

You merely shook your head, saying nothing.

Others were puzzled: why would you refuse an invitation from the Military Governor?

You stared at Sima Pan's blank, wooden face, lost in thought.

At this moment!

The lights on the Sifang stage seemed to flow, brilliant and radiant, illuminating the entire stage.

A woman in blue silk robes stepped onto the stage. Music began. Under the mingling moonlight and lantern glow, she danced—spinning lightly like swirling snow, moving with the grace of a coiling dragon, breathtaking to behold.

Her song halted the clouds; her dance made the snow whirl.

Someone in the crowd gasped: "That's Nihuang of Yuehua Pavilion!"

"One dance of the Nishang, stirring all of Bianjing."

Many around the stage rose to their feet, faces alight with joy.

"How many years since we last saw this Nishang dance? They say Lady Nihuang danced it for the Third Master—we're truly blessed to witness it today."

Someone glanced behind them toward Yaoxian Tower and noticed the top floor, the fourth level, now lit—two figures sat facing each other.

The railings of the three lower levels of Yaoxian Tower were packed with spectators, all watching the stage.

The Gathering of Beauties is open!

Sima Pan, standing motionless for a moment, slowly reached into his chest and pulled out a jade hairpin adorned with a flower.

Your eyes narrowed, your face turned cold.

Zhou Yuner, though watching the dance, felt a sudden chill in the air.

Zhang Yuanlai had never seen you look so icy.

"Lord Xie, what's wrong?"

Your expression returned to normal.

Your gaze locked onto Sima Pan—the jade hairpin was given to Wu Tong by your mother. She always kept it carefully locked in her cabinet.

Only on occasions like today's Gathering of Beauties would she wear it in her hair. It could never have been given to another.

Yet here it was in Sima Pan's hand. A dread stirred in your chest.

You had sent her to follow Xie Family's Fourth Miss, Xie Ying, who arrived with Sima Tingshi.

Is Wu Tong in danger?

And this man knew of your bond with Wu Tong. The situation is grave—Wu Tong may already be in peril.

You studied Sima Pan's puppet-like expression. His blood qi still flowed, his breath steady, his steps light.

You had studied the Yin Fu Jing's Seven Arts—the "Five Dragon Cultivation of Spirit" method—and could sense a person's fate.

When a person dies, their fate vanishes.

This man before you—though outwardly unchanged—was dead. Only his body remained: a living corpse.

A chilling thought.

Sima Pan was a mid-third-rank martial cultivator—and yet he had been controlled like this.

The Military Governor himself had met with misfortune—yet this happened during the Gathering of Beauties, with scholars and court officials present.

If a Military Governor were compromised, it would cause an uproar. Who dared such a thing?

And why go to such lengths for you—a mere illegitimate son of the Xie family?

Sima Pan spoke again, slowly: "Lord Xie, please come."

The Nishang dance had ended. The woman on stage, radiant as spring blossoms, bowed gracefully toward the fourth floor of Yaoxian Tower.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Faced with this… you decide.

1. Follow Sima Pan. (Hint: May face life-or-death danger.)

2. Refuse Sima Pan. (Hint: Wu Tong may be in danger; further life-or-death danger may follow.)

3. Ignore it. (Hint: Wu Tong may be in danger; further life-or-death danger may follow.)

4. Agree to Sima Pan's request, then follow Sima Tingshi later. (Hint: May face life-or-death danger.)

5. Participate personally. (0/3) (Hint: May benefit your future.)

The four-legged great tripod rang.

"Dong—"

The heavy, ancient tripod exuded chaotic energy. The carvings of flowers, fish, insects, mountains, and rivers upon it slowly drifted, releasing myriad rays of radiant light.

The characters upon it settled into stillness.

Yu Ke observed the unusual change in the "Kunxu Ding" after this new choice appeared.

The ding's aura seemed even more vast and primordial.

"A Ding, have you advanced again?"

Yu Ke studied the five options carefully.

From the hints, the first four options all involve potential life-or-death crises.

Only the last option, "Participate Personally," suggests a favorable outcome for the future.

In his previous life, Lu Chen used all three "Participate Personally" options.

He maximally interfered with the development of the Kunxu Cauldron's inner world and reaped abundant rewards.

Now, in this life, Xie Guan has never used "Participate Personally" even once.

Yu Ke looked at the options above and did not hesitate—he selected directly.

5. Participate Personally. (0/3) (Hint: May be favorable for the future.)

Yu Ke slowly closed his eyes, drawing on the experience of his three prior "Participate Personally" instances.

Each "Participate Personally" felt like a "parachute jump," always accompanied by a period of weightlessness.

Now!

The Kunxu Cauldron awoke from slumber, trembling violently.

An invisible cauldron shadow, like a profound vortex, quietly expanded and slowly drew Yu Ke into itself.

Yu Ke instantly felt as if he had stepped once more into the chaotic void; the surrounding space spun wildly, stars shifted, and heaven and earth slowly inverted.

The previous two times, a pair of vertical eyes had appeared, staring fixedly at him.

There was also that indescribable dizziness that unsettled his spirit, rendering the world before him chaotic and disordered.

During his third "Participate Personally" in his previous life, he had seen a different scene: in a phantom realm, a boy read beneath a phoenix tree.

Yu Ke closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Ready!

The great cauldron grew even more ancient and solemn, emitting a deafening, chaotic and hazy roar.

The sensation of weightlessness returned!

In an instant, his body grew warm, as if basking under the sun.

This "Participate Personally" seemed free of the previous "discomfort."

Yu Ke slowly opened his eyes.

In the void, he saw yet another different scene.

A child with messy hair lay comfortably atop a stack of rice straw, hands clasped behind his head, gazing at the brilliant stars of the night sky.

The child's face was youthful, yet his eyes held an ancient weariness, as if he had endured wind, frost, snow, and rain; a stalk of dogtail grass dangled from his lips.

The child smiled faintly: "Fighting against men is meaningless. Fighting against heaven is where true joy lies."

The scene shattered!

When Yu Ke looked again, it was gone.

The great cauldron rang once more!

It sounded as if it came from ancient times, yet also from a distant future.

Amid this heart-shaking sound!

Yu Ke felt his mind grow hazy, and once more he heard that deep, resonant voice say:

"Heaven and earth, all directions—this is Yu. Past and present—this is Zhou."

Yu Ke opened his eyes calmly.

The scene before him had changed completely.

As if swapping worlds, shifting heaven and earth.

Though he had experienced this three times already, it still seemed unbelievable.

Yu Ke lifted his gaze slightly!

Before him lay a place ablaze with lantern light, filled with laughter and bustling activity.

Around him rang joyful chatter; figures moved before his eyes.

"Young Master Xie, what's wrong?"

Yu Ke caught a whiff of fragrance.

A soft feminine voice whispered gently, as if near him—he felt warmth against his arm.

Yu Ke turned his head and saw a strikingly beautiful woman dressed boldly, her face filled with concern; below, a vast expanse of dazzling white.

Indeed, when he looked down, he saw no toes—she was a peerless beauty.

Seeing that Yu Ke did not respond, she whispered again: "Young Master Xie, why were you just spacing out?"

～

～

Great Qi, Bianjing.

The bright moon cast its light, but a dark cloud obscured its glow.

In a mansion on Changning Street, not far from the Xie Fu.

Behind the mansion, beneath the shadows, lay a dim ancestral hall.

The hall was pitch-black, lit only by a few candles flickering in the wind, as if about to be snuffed out.

The cold wind outside not only bent the candles low but also made the red ropes and white silk hanging before the hall flutter gently.

"Creeeak—"

A grating sound echoed.

A withered hand slowly pushed aside the coffin lid, from within came a hoarse, withered voice.

"Built seven hundred years ago… the Jingshen Array."

"Yaoxian Tower… summoning immortals."

(End of Chapter)