Chapter 270

“For now, are those barbarian tribes hard to deal with?” Lu Fang asked.

Shen Kangbo shook his head. “According to intelligence, the ancient barbarians released so far remain under control, but if this continues, it may cause unnecessary trouble.”

“But His Majesty has taken notice and won’t allow the demon and barbarian tribes to act recklessly. The Ruins Region’s Luo Sha Nation and Great Zhou are allied states; the sealing sites are mostly there. Sending a large army to suppress them is enough.”

“That’s good.” Lu Fang exhaled in relief.

The demon and barbarian tribes are already a major problem; if a large number of ancient barbarians emerged, the world would plunge into chaos—something disastrous for him and everyone else.

Yet he suddenly remembered something.

If Great Zhou truly stationing a large army in the Ruins Region, it would also be detrimental to the development of his Invincible Army.

As Lu Fang sank into thought, Shen Kangbo suddenly asked: “Lord Wenguan, have you ever considered this? You wrote ‘Journey to the West’ in elegant prose. What if one day someone awakens the path to immortality from your book?”

Awaken the path to immortality?

Lu Fang jolted, his heart pounding violently—who in this world doesn’t desire immortality?

This is a world of mystery and countless transcendent powers.

Awakening immortality from elegant prose sounds absurd, but theoretically, it might be possible.

Suddenly, Lu Fang understood why writing elegant prose before hadn’t drawn such severe heavenly restrictions, yet writing ‘Journey to the West’ made every character agonizingly difficult.

‘Journey to the West’ contains too many powers that defy heaven.

Anyone who awakens even one would become a being that defies heaven itself.

“I—I—I never thought elegant prose could grant transcendent power. Even the sages discovered it through gradual trial and error; there must be limits, otherwise it would be unthinkable.”

Lu Fang spoke uncertainly.

Shen Kangbo nodded. “I agree with your view. By the way, Lord Wenguan, why are you here? I heard you went to the Ruins Region to cultivate.”

Lu Fang replied honestly: “Last time, I met the Heavenly Mechanism Daoist in the Ruins Region and discussed heavenly restrictions.”

“You probably know that writing this elegant prose, ‘Journey to the West,’ has bound me tightly by heaven—every character I write is excruciatingly hard.”

“Moreover, as my realm advances, heaven has imposed stricter limits on my cultivation, growing ever more oppressive. So I asked the Heavenly Mechanism Daoist for methods to deceive heaven.”

Shen Kangbo suddenly understood. “So Lord Wenguan, you’re here because you’re traveling through Great Zhou? I thought you came to find Scholar Li Yu.”

“Oh?” Lu Fang caught the implication.

Shen Kangbo didn’t hide it. “I heard Scholar Li Yu is also traveling. A month ago, she passed through Beiyai City and briefly met Lady Bai Yu, daughter of Viscount Bai Feng.”

“I didn’t know that,” Lu Fang said, distracted.

Seeing Lu Fang’s demeanor, Shen Kangbo shook his head. He didn’t ask whether Lu Fang wanted to investigate Scholar Li Yu’s whereabouts.

If Lu Fang wished, he could obtain information from the Shen family himself.

Since Lu Fang didn’t speak, Shen Kangbo wouldn’t ask.

“Lord Wenguan, I’ll take my leave. Please tell Bai Yu I’m rushing to Luo Sha Nation to help her father transform into a ghost cultivator. I’ll have someone inform her of further developments.” Shen Kangbo vanished on the spot.

Lu Fang stood motionless for a long time, unaware as Bai Yu hurried over.

“Lord Wenguan, where’s Uncle Shen?”

Bai Yu asked, puzzled.

Lu Fang snapped back, forcing a faint smile. “He’s rushing to Luo Sha Nation to help your father transform into a ghost cultivator. He asked me to tell you—he’ll have someone update you on what comes next.”

“Mm.” Bai Yu nodded, cautiously probing: “Lord Wenguan, are you alright? Did you get injured earlier?”

“No.” Lu Fang shook his head, hesitated, then finally asked: “I heard you met Scholar Li Yu last month?”

Bai Yu smiled and nodded. “Yes! Lord Wenguan, you know Scholar Li Yu? Of course—you’re both famous literati from the Capital. It’d be strange if you didn’t know each other.”

“My name and hers both have ‘Yu.’ We got along instantly. At my invitation, she stayed in Beiyai City for a while.”

“Do you know who the faithless one is?”

Bai Yu suddenly asked.

“Faithless one?” Lu Fang choked on his saliva, coughing. He forced a laugh. “What faithless one? I don’t understand.”

Bai Yu clenched her fist, furious. “If I find out who this faithless one is that Li Yu-sister talks about, I’ll beat him senseless—what an ungrateful scoundrel!”

“Such a wonderful person, and he dares not cherish her.”

“Lord Wenguan, do you know? Sister said she loves your elegant prose. That’s why we got along so well—we share the same views on all your works.”

“She even said she admires your talent!”

Bai Yu spoke excitedly, unaware of the situation.

“Oh, really?” Lu Fang awkwardly rubbed his nose. He was never one to overthink, but he guessed—the faithless one Bai Yu meant was probably him.

But how was he a faithless one?

She ran off without even listening to his explanation!

“Does Li Yu really like that… faithless one?” Lu Fang already knew the answer, yet he couldn’t help asking.

In matters of emotion, he was far less confident than he’d imagined.

When Li Yu left, he’d thought endlessly, recalling every moment between them. The more he thought, the more he feared he was the only one heated—perhaps she’d only ever admired him.

That’s why he chose to let it fade.

Bai Yu paused, then said seriously: “She must really like him. Otherwise, why leave the Capital and wander all over Great Zhou? When she spoke of him, her expression seemed happy, fond.”

“But her tone was full of disdain, so I’m not sure.”

“Lord Wenguan, could it be that prince? Didn’t I hear a prince once wanted to marry Li Yu-sister?”

“No!” Lu Fang said firmly.

Bai Yu was sharp. Seeing Lu Fang’s instant certainty, she immediately sensed the truth and probed carefully: “Lord Wenguan… could the faithless one Li Yu mentioned be you?”

Lu Fang made no denial, no confirmation.