Chapter 136: Who Asks the Ultimate

The reason Lü Zhenduan surrendered to Zhang Gui's lewd power after all his subordinates were gone was not simply because he was afraid of death.

But in this world where success or failure is the only measure of a hero, death is death, but if one is alive.

Then no matter how sufficient the reason for his failure was, he would only become a laughingstock for a lifetime, and life would be worse than death from then on.

So when Zhang Gui used the 'Fate Meets Gray-Black' Divine Cluster to secretly kill all the Longhu Shogunate officers who betrayed him, and then appeared in front of Lü Zhenduan.

And clearly told him that he would not move a hair of his.

And was willing to offer half of the income from the opening of Zhihai Town to serve as military funds for Prince Zhen.

Lü Zhenduan, who prided himself on being a 'true scholar', convinced himself with the four words 'overall situation is paramount'.

The next day, he appeared on the training ground of Zhihai Town with Zhang Gui.

But what was awkward was that, although he had convinced himself to endure humiliation and bear the burden, Lü Zhenduan often put on a 'scholar's integrity' that he was unwilling to submit, which was disgusting.

Fortunately, Zhang Gui had always been able to bend and stretch when the situation was stronger than the person.

Since for a while, whether from the perspective of personal martial power or the military power of the camp, whether overt or covert, he couldn't beat Prince Zhen.

And Lü Zhenduan, for his own selfish future, was willing to help fool Prince Zhen.

Then what did it matter if he was said a few strange words.

"Zaicheng Lü, what are you saying? How could I want to harm you?

But this summer heat was indeed my negligence; please forgive me, forgive me."

As he spoke, Zhang Gui first waved his hand to release a slight steam with the Main Divine Cluster 'Water-Fire Harmony'.

Then he exerted the ability of 'Embers' to instantly lower the temperature.

"It's cool now, right?

Zaicheng Lü, look at our Zhihai Town sea area; merchant ships are like weaving, and two and a half percent of them are transporting grain to Xianrong Island.

And it is said that in the entire Eastern Yue Province, except for the ports opened by the three great ancient 'Commandery Powerful' families of Liang, Chen, and Chu, the rest have all been interfered with by Prince Zhen.

So impatient, what exactly does His Highness want to do?"

Lü Zhenduan remained silent with a gloomy face upon hearing this.

He just took out a cloth to wipe the sweat from his forehead and asked Zhang Gui back:

"Is this ability to turn summer heat into ice a Divine Cluster ability of the Pingyang Zhang Family?"

"Half is, and the other half is a little trick I evolved myself."

"Relying solely on ancient bloodline inheritance, Longhu can also be called a top-tier figure."

Lü Zhenduan gave Zhang Gui a rare good look.

"As long as you don't take a wrong step, it is not a delusion to truly be enfeoffed as a marquis or prime minister in the future."

Zhang Gui laughed heartily.

"Zaicheng Lü, you want me to submit to Prince Zhen, right? I don't know if you have read yesterday's official gazette..."

"Are you talking about Prince Zhen's older brother, Prince Kui, entering the Jinling Capital Region, and Prince Huai establishing a temporary residence in Minzhen?"

Zhang Gui nodded, "Zaicheng Lü is indeed well-informed.

Previously, Prince Feng in the Western Yue Sea, Prince Zhan in Jingchu, and Prince Kang in Exiang had all established temporary residences.

Now there are two more princes patrolling the Southern Kingdom.

Not to mention Prince Huai, just talk about Prince Kui; he is the eldest son of the 'Current Emperor', and born of the former Empress.

Although the territory he occupies does not directly border the sea, the Jinling Capital Region leans against a thousand-li long river, has millions of acres of fertile land, is densely populated, and has been hiding wealth among the people since ancient times.

Do you really think Prince Zhen, relying on a momentary fluke, defeated the partial army of the Yuanshan partial army.

And occupied a circuit in the small island nation of Xianrong.

Can he suppress all the princes and compete for the throne in the future?"

"Naturally not.

But Caiyang Longhu, will Prince Kui, whom you admire, definitely ascend the throne in the future?

Or rather, compared to his other brothers who left the capital, what does Prince Zhen lack?

If he doesn't lack anything, then why do you have to seek far and wide?"

Zhang Gui's face darkened immediately.

"Prince Zhen indeed doesn't lack anything, but he looks down on me, a barbarian general who rose by flattery.

He established a 'temporary residence' in my fief for several days, and didn't see me even once..."

"Longhu, do you think Prince Zhen looks down on you, and other princes will look up to you?"

This remark was simply a slap in the face, but Zhang Gui was not a person who pretended to be confused while knowing the truth, so he had to droop his face and stop talking.

Lü Zhenduan thought his glib tongue had worked, his spirit was lifted, and his attitude toward Zhang Gui became more solemn, even respectful.

"The General is a person of great talent, it's just that when you first met Prince Zhen, because you didn't show your sharpness, the Prince misjudged you..."

"Zaicheng, stop, someone is coming."

Zhang Gui suddenly stopped Lü Zhenduan's performance and pointed to a white cloud flying in the sky outside the crystal window.

"Is this move a divine ability of one of Prince Zhen's subordinates?"

Lü Zhenduan identified it carefully for a few times and answered affirmatively:

"Longhu, the person coming is the White Porcelain Exiled Immortal Shen Shijing of the Qingdou Academy."

Zhang Gui had received a letter left by Zhang Jiujiang and knew that the people of the Qingdou Academy had left Zhihai Town on the day Prince Zhen stepped onto Xianrong Island.

They rushed back to the academy in a hurry.

After all, the elder brother of the Qingdou Academy Head, Mr. Huaihe, was a veteran of three dynasties in the Ming Song court, the 'Crane Village Lord' highly relied upon by the 'Current Emperor' Hezheng.

In this sensitive timing, it was really not good for the Qingdou teachers and students traveling abroad to get too deeply involved with Prince Zhen.

As a result, he didn't expect that the female teacher Shen Shijing would reappear in Zhihai.

Zhang Gui couldn't figure it out for a while.

But even for the sake of his little friend Zhang Jiujiang's days in the Qingdou Academy, he would not neglect Shen Shijing.

He nodded and said: "So it is Mr. Shen of the Qingdou Academy; I have met her a few times.

Coming so magnificently, let's go down and meet her."

Seeing the confusion in his eyes, Lü Zhenduan said while following Zhang Gui down the lighthouse:

"Longhu doesn't know that this 'White Porcelain Exiled Immortal' has become a close friend of Prince Zhen.

She is planning for the revival of the Hanli state?"

"She is from the Qingdou Academy, hey, she is acting in a private capacity for Prince Zhen, right?"

Zhang Gui asked back, stunned:

"Does this Exiled Immortal Shen have any connection with the Hanli royal family?"

Seeing that there was no way to pretend in front of Zhang Gui, but instead being directly pointed out by him,

Lü Zhenduan sincerely praised:

"Longhu truly sees the subtle and knows the manifest; what a delicate mind."

"Shen Shijing is indeed the granddaughter of the former Hanli King; later, her father failed in the succession struggle, went far to the Eastern Continent, and after many twists and turns, stayed at Qingdou.

But she still hides considerable power on Xianrong Island.

Originally, she didn't care about power.

But unfortunately, the state left by her ancestors was overturned by rebels, so she had to..."

Seeing this hypocrite Lü Zaicheng, who was quite selfish but loved to pretend to be loyal, voluntarily defending Shen Shijing without any benefit.

He had to describe her as not loving power, but just participating in the national struggle for the sake of her ancestors' foundation, like a white lotus.

Zhang Gui laughed secretly, thinking in his heart:

"Oh my, without the baptism of many pure-style internet celebrity young ladies in my previous life, and without the influence of green-tea-style white lotus heroine TV dramas.

Lü Zhenduan's cultivation is not good enough."

Down the lighthouse.

Just as the two stepped onto the flat stone road of the Zhihai Town pier, a white cloud descended from the sky.

When it was more than a zhang from the ground, the cloud turned into countless strands of snow-white air, revealing Shen Shijing's posture like a fairy descending to earth.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 137 =====