Chapter 39: Dragon Seen in the Field

Lu Xingzhou fell into deep thought and said nothing.

Under the Son of Heaven's feet, the likelihood that the Emperor did it himself is quite high.

If his brothers did it, they probably wouldn't just strike your leg... The Emperor, however, is very likely to do so.

No wonder Shen Tang felt moved when she saw my feelings for A'nuo; that touch was indeed hard to describe... It wasn't just about the previous night; she must have felt it in her heart long ago.

People's likes and dislikes always have their reasons.

Shen Tang continued: "In any case, whoever did it, this act of kin killing kin caused the Grand Preceptor extreme dissatisfaction, so he sent Miss Qingli to escort me away and protect me personally."

"So Miss Qingli is the Grand Preceptor's disciple, a direct heir of the Sacred Land?"

"Yes," Shen Tang said. "Miss Qingli is somewhat similar to me; she cultivated bitterly in the Frozen Moon Cold River since childhood and rarely contacted outsiders. However, it was due to the cultivation method she practices... Originally, she should have reached fourth grade before leaving the mountain to walk the world and seek the upper three grades. Coinciding with my situation, the Grand Preceptor let her come out early."

Lu Xingzhou sighed: "Your two backgrounds could flip Xiazhou over a hundred times and roll it into a ball. Xiazhou is just a county town; how can it accommodate two such great Buddhas like you?"

Shen Tang laughed: "Actually, Xiazhou is a bit special. It is rare for a county town to be called a 'Zhou'; that is because in early years, the Zhou and Jun administrative seats were both here. Later, the spiritual energy here thinned, the Zhou seat moved, and it became a large county in scale."

"I heard that when I was young. Is there a story behind it?"

"Whether there is a story or not, perhaps it is a subject we can explore," Shen Tang said. "The Grand Preceptor guided the wind rising in Xiazhou; I think there must be a reason... The events before were already considered a storm of wind and clouds for ordinary people, but for us, it seems not quite enough."

Lu Xingzhou nodded: "Continue talking about your matter. The Grand Preceptor helps you, and then what?"

"My matter, if it was Father Emperor himself who did it, the situation would be simpler; he deposing me would be enough. There is truly no need to wipe us out completely, ruining his reputation and provoking the Sacred Land's dissatisfaction. For this, he would also restrain my younger brothers from acting recklessly."

"Does the Sacred Land restrict imperial power so much?"

"It is mutual dependence; the Sacred Land cannot completely overshadow the royal family... But the royal family would never be willing to break with the Sacred Land. Being considered by the Sacred Land to be acting against the way of heaven is no good thing."

Lu Xingzhou interjected: "Then if it was those brothers of yours who did it, under the pressure of the Sacred Land, he would mostly have to make an explanation, at least putting forward a batch of scapegoats. Once this case ends, you can actually openly reveal yourself as the Tianxing Sword Sect, provided you continue to play the role of a cripple safely. With no threat, they won't come to openly harm you again; at most, there might be sneak attacks or suppression under the guise of gang struggles."

"Correct, so even if I heal, I will continue to pretend to be a cripple and show it to him."

Lu Xingzhou felt a slight movement in his heart and thought that if he healed, he could indeed continue to pretend to be a cripple...

Shen Tang suddenly changed the subject: "Xingzhou, do you know that when we first met, one unintentional sentence of yours moved me deeply."

Lu Xingzhou was stunned: "Which sentence?"

"You said, making people regret losing us is something women like to use..." Shen Tang spoke softly, as if to herself: "I originally just wanted to stay far away, watching them brothers kill each other and father and son distrust each other, eventually regretting it. Heaven knows how much I thought when I suddenly heard such a sentence. My mother, my uncle, the blood of countless innocent disciples of the Sword Sect—all actually flowed because of me. If I really just retreated and watched, who could I face?"

She paused, looking into Lu Xingzhou's eyes, her gaze shining: "In short, now I just want them to be like Liu Qingcang... to bitterly regret because of failure."

Lu Xingzhou laughed with a "Ha": "I didn't expect the story of me and the Danxia Gang to have some other meaning under your observation..."

"So you and I really have a great fate," Shen Tang said, her eyes flowing with emotion. "Getting involved in such matters, will you retreat?"

"Your matters are troublesome; I expected that long ago," Lu Xingzhou smiled. "Since I dared to accept your jade token, I will not easily give up, Sect Master."

Shen Tang bit her lower lip: "Then... when can you take your hand off my leg?"

Lu Xingzhou moved his hand away as if struck by lightning.

I was lost in thought listening to the story, not doing it on purpose, really!

Shen Tang looked at him with a half-smile for a while, said nothing, and just asked: "Then what development advice do you give me now?"

Lu Xingzhou stroked his chin and thought: "Wait for a change first, then make a decision."

"The case closing in the Capital?"

"No, see who the new City Lord is. For this period, focus on healing the leg first; this is more important than anything."

At this moment, the Capital was boiling over two matters.

One was the extermination of the Tianxing Sword Sect a few days ago.

Most people did not know the Tianxing Sword Sect was an imperial merchant, nor did they know about the "Princess missing" incident; previously, Lu Xingzhou knowing this had surprised Shen Tang greatly, and later she naturally guessed that Lu Xingzhou had been using the Yanluo Hall's intelligence network behind the scenes.

However, the Tianxing Sword Sect was a Righteous Path sect; its Sect Master, Shen Shen Chaoqun, was a third-grade sword cultivator, ranking in a relatively strong tier among third grades, listed at number one hundred and three on the Great Qian "List of Heroes," and quite famous. The overall strength of the Tianxing Sword Sect was also considered mid-to-upper level; its sudden extermination indeed shocked the world.

Especially since Shen Shen Chaoqun was killed under the Son of Heaven's feet, outside the Capital, it was a major case.

The Emperor flew into a rage and issued an edict for a thorough investigation.

After a month of chaos and turmoil in the Capital, a conclusion was finally reached recently.

The Third Imperial Prince, Prince Qi Gu Yiheng, committed murder and intercepted goods out of greed for wealth; the evidence was conclusive. He was demoted to commoner status and confined to his residence, forbidden from leaving. The subordinate forces of Prince Qi involved in this case were beheaded in droves, terrifying the Capital.

This was the explanation the Emperor gave to the Sacred Land...

As for whether it was truly Prince Qi who did it, or if Prince Qi encountered trouble in other struggles and was used as a scapegoat in this way, no one knows.

At the same time, the Emperor also issued an edict to support the remnants of the Tianxing Sword Sect and not to bully them because of their decline.

"Is the Grand Preceptor safe now?" Gu Zhanting slowly paced up to the Star-Gazing Platform, looking at the figure shrouded in swirling mist in the center of the high platform.

His vision could naturally penetrate the layers of mist, seeing the figure's indescribable grace, sitting cross-legged, calm and composed.

The master of the Tianyao Sacred Land, concurrently the Grand Preceptor of Great Qian, number one on the Great Qian "List of Heroes," True Person Tinglan.

Unfortunately, she wore a veil, so her face could not be seen through.

But there was no need to see; when she was young, Gu Zhanting had seen her, and he knew that back then she was not a "True Person" and used her real name, Ye Tinglan... That might have been the most beautiful woman Gu Zhanting had ever seen in his life.

Unfortunately, such a woman could absolutely not marry into the inner palace; he could not harbor such desires...

Hidden monsters cannot be counted; the royal family itself has a bunch of old monsters, and the Sacred Land has even more; the List of Heroes cannot list them all. The two of them were the only two Super-grade figures active on the surface of Great Qian, seemingly matched in rank. But he knew he could not defeat Ye Tinglan; after being injured in the battle against the Demon Emperor and not yet healed, he was even less comparable.

In the end, on the List of Heroes, the dignified Emperor ranked second.

Ye Tinglan would not look favorably on a man with low strength; or rather, there could be no male-female love in her eyes at all... Her eyes contained only the path to immortality; even her interest in the Yan Lord was greater than for others.

Third in the world... The Yan Lord of Yanluo Hall, number one below Super-grade, invincible among peers at First Grade.

However, the reason the Sacred Land is the Sacred Land is that they do not hide from the world; at least they still speak of justice and restrain the ship of Great Qian from easily deviating from its course.

"That is your own daughter; you ask me if I am safe?" Ye Tinglan slowly opened her eyes, her beautiful eyes devoid of sorrow or joy: "You might as well ask yourself, is your heart at peace?"

Her voice was calm and magnetic, just as pleasant as back then.

It seemed time had never left any trace on her.

Gu Zhanting was silent for a moment: "Tang has high martial arts talent and has her own forces; unfortunately, she is a woman. For the sake of Jiangshan's future plans, I had to do it."

"You are not even as enlightened as your ancestors."

"In fact, several former Empresses... all acted quite absurdly. The historians merely held their pens with restraint, leaving them a shred of face."

"They indeed performed poorly." Ye Tinglan's voice carried a faint mockery: "But you, a seven-foot man, have performed so well?"

Gu Zhanting spoke with solemn composure: "I have resisted demons and monsters from without and soothed the people's livelihood from within, never resting a single day, and I am worthy of my ancestors."

Ye Tinglan said indifferently: "What fault did the Heavenly Walking Sword Sect have, to be slaughtered by the Son of Heaven without cause, leaving all sects under heaven in panic? Is that what you call 'performing well'? Those who know the inside story also know of a father killing his daughter and framing his own son; indeed, that is 'well done'."

Gu Zhanting fell silent.

Ye Tinglan added: "Yesterday I heard a message that the Lord of Xiazhou secretly nurtured demons and fed them blood offerings... If this had not been discovered in time, and the day of Xiazhou's suffering truly arrived, would that be what Your Majesty calls 'well done'?"

Gu Zhanting had an answer for this: "That was merely a local official breaking the law; such things have existed since ancient times. How can you blame me?"

"Similar cases have doubled in recent years compared to previous years. When officials are involved, if Your Majesty, as the Son of Heaven, refuses responsibility, should the common people bear it instead? Setting other matters aside, why does Xu Bingkun, a swordsman who knows only cultivation and breakthroughs, have the qualification to serve as city lord? Surely I did not appoint him."

Gu Zhanting fell silent once more.

Xu Bingkun was the person recommended by Grand Tutor Huo, and the Huo family was one he trusted.

Yet Ye Tinglan seemed to know what he was thinking and added another sentence: "The Huo family has treated the countryside like fish and meat, filling the land with complaints. The Son of Heaven uses them as his arms and legs. If this is not the Son of Heaven's fault, could it be mine?"

Gu Zhanting, a proper Emperor, had not come to be lectured; finally, he could no longer hold his composure and said coldly: "Has the Imperial Preceptor overstepped?"

Ye Tinglan chuckled lightly: "Xiazhou is considered good... throughout Jiangshan, sects, bureaucrats, and families... bully the weak, let beasts devour men, worse than demons. If the day of collapse truly arrives, I hope Your Majesty can say those words: 'I am worthy of my ancestors'."

Gu Zhanting snorted, swept his sleeve, and left; the conversation ended in discord.

Ye Tinglan watched Gu Zhanting depart coldly; her slender fingers suddenly lightly formed a magical seal, performing a simple calculation.

"Qian, line nine in the second place: 'The dragon appears in the field; it is favorable to see the great man.'" Ye Tinglan was slightly startled: "How could this be the hexagram? The host and guest do not match... I calculated for Yitang. Who is the great man?"

(End of this chapter)