Chapter 96: The Bureaucratic Circle Is Truly Chaotic

If one says Lu Xingzhou is hunting a deer, certainly no one would think it refers to vying for the throne; this divination would fit Shen Tang much better.

Of course, if one speaks of husband and wife as one body, then interpreting the divination this way poses no problem.

Speaking solely of Lu Xingzhou, Sheng Yuanyao's first reaction was his bone-deep hatred toward the Huo family, a desire for revenge that seemed an inevitable action no one could stop; her expression grew somewhat grim: "Is the risk great? If we do not give it up, will disaster truly strike?"

"There is crisis and risk, yet it does not mean inevitable failure; ultimately, matters depend on human effort." Ye Tinglan glanced at Sheng Yuanyao and laughed: "Yuanyao... are you very concerned about him?"

That is probably not as concerned as your disciple is about him.

Sheng Yuanyao internally retorted, though she did not truly believe Du Gu Qingli and Lu Xingzhou had any private affair; she was merely cautious: "After all, he is a friend; if there is danger, one simply cannot be indifferent."

"Hunting a deer without a guide is merely due to a lack of a guide. What if there were one?" Ye Tinglan smiled: "A divination is merely a direction, allowing one to have a general reference in mind; one must never treat it as established fact. There is no fixed future in the world; the future lies beneath your feet."

Sheng Yuanyao thought to herself that this was like saying nothing at all, yet dared not argue, so she could only smile awkwardly: "The Imperial Preceptor's teaching is correct."

How could Ye Tinglan not see that this girl's words did not match her heart? He did not mind, smiling: "Yuanyao is familiar with this... Lu Xingzhou? Can you speak of his situation?"

Sheng Yuanyao had thought the Imperial Preceptor summoned her to ask about Shen Tang and Du Gu Qingli; she did not expect every sentence to be about Lu Xingzhou, which made her feel somewhat strange. After thinking for a moment, she replied truthfully: "Lu Xingzhou acts in a sinister manner, but is actually a righteous man... um, one should say so; at least he is not truly evil."

Ye Tinglan smiled: "Even if he slaughtered so many people of the Huo family?"

Sheng Yuanyao fell silent for a moment, then changed her angle: "If he were truly evil, Princess Zhao Huang would not have entrusted him with a heavy responsibility, nor would Miss Du Gu have associated with him for so long."

In fact, part of the reason Ye Tinglan asked about Lu Xingzhou was worry that his disciple, who knew little of the world, might be deceived by a man; although with Qingli's level of cultivation, this possibility was nearly zero, a master inevitably had to pay some attention. Seeing that Sheng Yuanyao also felt this person was at least not evil, Ye Tinglan felt slightly relieved: "Anything else?"

"He is a formidable strategist. Every action he takes has multiple intentions; one might think he only moves one step, yet he has actually set up several steps ahead. The current atmosphere of the Tianxing Sword Sect can be said to be his own doing."

"So the Yanluo Hall... truly owes its power to him." Ye Tinglan murmured to himself.

Sheng Yuanyao was stunned for a moment; she had heard the Imperial Preceptor attached special importance to the Yanluo Hall, and seeing this, it was indeed so, even twisting this back to the Yanluo Hall. So why did she ask about Lu Xingzhou? Was it for Shen Tang or for Yuan Muyu?

Ye Tinglan seemed to snap back to reality, smiling: "This person looks somewhat interesting; if there is an opportunity, this seat will also meet him personally. Hmm... what is the current state of Princess Zhao Huang? Is her health good?"

"Everything else is fine, it's just that her legs haven't been healed yet; I think she intentionally refuses treatment."

"Hmm." Ye Tinglan fell into deep thought again, remaining silent for a long while.

Sheng Yuanyao wanted to speak but held back.

Ye Tinglan looked at her and smiled: "Does Yuanyao have anything she wishes to say?"

Sheng Yuanyao mustered her courage: "I wish to ask the Imperial Preceptor to perform a divination."

"Oh? What aspect do you wish to divine?"

"Marriage."

Ye Tinglan smiled gently: "It seems Yuanyao has reached the age, caring about this after all."

Sheng Yuanyao sighed; how was it because she had reached the age? She had never had such thoughts at all! It was just that some little brat had tricked her with a sentence back then, and until today she still tossed and turned uneasily; encountering a top-tier Imperial Preceptor in this field, how could she not take the chance to ask for peace of mind?

Ye Tinglan took no offense and actually divined for her, smiling: "Rest assured, your marriage is one you chose yourself... Eh?"

Sheng Yuanyao grew tense: "What?"

"Oh, nothing." Ye Tinglan smiled: "It feels somewhat like a political marriage, but Yuanyao's temperament does not seem like one who would accept a political marriage, hence the strangeness. But as just said, a divination is merely a reference; the final outcome still lies beneath your feet."

Sheng Yuanyao breathed a sigh of relief; it was good that there wasn't a crowd of sisters. Political marriages were not rare for families like theirs; if she didn't accept it now, who knew how she would feel later? If she could truly choose someone she liked, that would be a setting quite fitting for her future.

Indeed, that stinky kid was lying; besides having a good face to rub, he was good for nothing.

Her spirits instantly filled up; she clasped her hands in a bow: "If the Imperial Preceptor has no other orders, may Yuanyao take her leave?"

Ye Tinglan said: "You have just been dispatched externally for two months, solving two major demon cases in a row; your ability and luck are both strong. Will you truly stay in the capital forever and never go out? That would be truly a pity."

Sheng Yuanyao pressed her lips together, looking somewhat dispirited: "Let's talk about it later. Who knows, maybe after playing for two years I'll get tired and want to do something?"

Ye Tinglan spoke with deep meaning: "This merit is enough for you to rise two or three ranks... First, endure and build seniority in the Capital Office; if you wish to do something in the future, feel free to come and speak to this seat."

Sheng Yuanyao suddenly raised her head, looking at Ye Tinglan's beautiful and profound gaze; she suddenly realized something, took a deep breath: "Understood; at that time I will certainly seek the Imperial Preceptor's guidance."

Seeing Sheng Yuanyao's figure stride away, Ye Tinglan sighed softly.

A good girl with ideals and a pure heart, how could she share a husband with someone... To say she is a concubine doesn't quite fit; counting it up, it seems she knew that man first...

The bureaucratic circle is truly chaotic.

My own disciple is better; cold and indifferent, no need to worry about this.

If Lu Xingzhou knew of Ye Tinglan's divination, he would probably think it referred to Pei Chuyun.

Currently, if speaking of hunting a deer, what is more direct than Pei Chuyun hunting him, Lu?

But if this divination were heard by Yuan Muyu, she would probably interpret not only Lu but also Yu as her fish, then fly into a rage.

So divination is the art Lu Xingzhou least likes to learn among all cultivation arts, because the answers are too vague; most of the time it only brings self-inflicted trouble. Moreover, one cannot divine oneself or opponents with higher cultivation than oneself; what use is that... Yuan Muyu learned it very well; she divined that there was an immortal pill at Danxia Mountain, and then? Ten years passed and she found nothing.

Only A Nuo thought it was fun, learning a little bit from Yuan Muyu; ultimately, because her master did not quite value this thing, she never refined it deeply, just playing around.

Lu Xingzhou still felt that truly mastering information of knowing oneself and the enemy was far more meaningful than what divination yielded. This time, failing to catch Pei Chuyun, he immediately summoned his old subordinates: "Return the money."

Assassin: "?"

"I told you to watch Pei Chuyun's movements, yet you found nothing. That is one thing; I understand that with her strength and acting alone, her whereabouts are hard to track. But you still have no news on how many escape techniques she knows; did I waste my money?"

"Actually, you didn't need to pay us... never mind." The assassin was very helpless: "Escape techniques involve saving one's life; such information is private even within the Chana Nü Hehuan Sect; we truly cannot obtain it."

"I don't believe no one inside the Chana Nü Hehuan Sect knows these things. Go bribe them; someone must know. Not just escape techniques, but any other special ultimate skills, and exactly what her situation is within the Chana Nü Hehuan Sect; any information is needed. Report to me for reimbursement on how much it costs; just be careful not to get seduced away yourself."

The assassin could only say: "We will try our best."

Shen Tang, with a stern face, watched the assassin leave, then suddenly extended her slender hand: "Hand it over."

"Ah?" Lu Xingzhou was stunned: "What?"

"The shoes." Shen Tang grabbed his collar: "What do you plan to do with the demoness's shoes? Smell them?"

Lu Xingzhou could neither laugh nor cry: "No, this is useful. As long as her personal item is with me, I can sense her approach; this is a common tracking method of the Yanluo Hall. What else could I take from her then? Rip her clothes?"

Shen Tang had no words left; she puffed her cheeks and turned her head away: "Did you enjoy touching it very much?"

Lu Xingzhou finally embraced her: "She doesn't have yours big; what is there to enjoy touching..."

"Get lost." Shen Tang pressed down his large hand, glanced quickly at A Nuo squatting to the side eating melon, and rapidly changed the subject: "What did you say to Director Chen? I saw you looking distracted after leaving the Chen family."

Speaking of this matter, Lu Xingzhou immediately became serious, speaking in a low voice: "If I go to the Capital Alchemy Academy, what do you think?"

Shen Tang's heart gave a violent thump; she widened her eyes and fell silent for a moment.

The two were in the throes of their love affair, truly reluctant to part even for an instant. But Shen Tang soon understood what Lu Xingzhou meant.

If he returned from advanced studies at the Alchemy Academy, this official Golden Body would be gilded, and a proper proposal might even have a chance. At least half of the obstacles he had previously dared not cross could be removed.

At the very least, he had taken a major step forward on the path of openly marrying her.

The Tianxing Sword Sect was now very stable; everything was waiting for the sect disciples to break through and settle down broadly. Even the alchemy matters Lu Xingzhou had previously been responsible for were now shared, as some of the captured Alchemy Masters from the Incense-Burning Pavilion had submitted, so he no longer had to toil alone in alchemy.

If Lu Xingzhou stayed here, there was truly nothing else to do but cultivate in seclusion. No matter how one thought about it, he should be supported in doing what he ought to do; how could he waste time in a land of tenderness?

It was just... so hard to let go...

She, Shen Tang, could not accompany him... perhaps going to other prefectures would be fine, but going to the Capital was impossible; her father's reaction was unpredictable, adding unnecessary complications.

Shen Tang choked up, unable to say a word; she simply wrapped her arms around his waist, buried her head in his embrace, and remained motionless for a long time.

Lu Xingzhou patted her head: "It won't be that fast. Chen Zhangsi must first seize power over the prefecture before he can recommend me. During this time, I also need to settle down first; otherwise, going to the Capital only to be rejected would be ridiculous... The Alchemy Academy's recruitment seems to be in summer, right? That leaves two or three months."

Hearing that two or three months meant he wouldn't leave immediately, Shen Tang's mood improved slightly. She raised her head and pecked his cheek: "Then you aren't allowed to go anywhere today; you may only stay with me."

(End of this chapter)