Chapter 19

The words were only two short sentences.

Yet within them lay endless slaughter and bloodshed!

But as Ying Zheng's confidant,

he would not hesitate for a moment!

Great Ming, Protecting Dragon Shanzhuang.

Zhu Wushi, clad in a python robe, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, fixedly staring at the Heavenly Dao Golden List.

His eyes flickered continuously.

As if calculating something.

After a long while,

he finally withdrew his gaze.

"Send my secret order: swiftly dispatch messengers to contact Gusu Murong Longcheng."

"If he asks, say I can aid him in restoring his kingdom!"

That's right!

He could wait no longer!

With each successive revelation of the Heavenly Dao Golden List,

he had come to deeply understand how many dragons and tigers lurked across the Nine Provinces.

He had also recognized his own insignificance.

If he truly followed his original plan step by step,

he might never achieve his goal in a lifetime.

He naturally refused to accept such a fate!

And to change this situation,

aside from sheer luck and gaining an earth-shattering opportunity,

he had no choice but to recruit or ally with reclusive elder masters!

And Gusu Murong Longcheng, just revealed on the Heavenly Dao Golden List, was precisely such a potential ally!

Of course,

he was well aware within his heart,

that allying with such a master was no different from bargaining with a tiger.

Therefore, he would not neglect his own cultivation and strength!

Yet what he did not know was,

far away in the imperial palace,

the Ming Emperor Zhu Houzhao — whom he had long viewed as a thorn in his eye and a splinter in his flesh —

was at that very moment also fixing his gaze upon Gusu Murong Longcheng.

He held a brush in hand, writing calligraphy with swift, soaring strokes, and asked aloud,

"Old Wei, what do you think of Gusu Murong Longcheng?"

"Your Majesty wishes to recruit him?" Wei Jinzhong coughed twice.

"Precisely!"

Zhu Houzhao nodded without hesitation, then began explaining his reasoning.

"We must still strive to win over Zhang Zhenren."

"But I believe Gusu Murong Longcheng may be easier to recruit."

"People fear most having nothing to desire; once they have a desire, recruitment becomes twice as effective."

For this remark,

Wei Jinzhong did agree.

Especially with the prospect of restoring a kingdom.

But he did not rush to conclude.

Instead, he asked in return,

"Yet does Your Majesty not fear that, once out of the wolf's den, you may walk straight into the tiger's lair?"

"After all, whether allying or recruiting, it must be built upon equal strength."

"Unless it is someone like Zhang Zhenren."

Zhu Houzhao paused slightly.

The risk of using one beast to devour another was clear to him.

But what if he failed to win over Zhang Zhenren?

Could he simply watch helplessly as Zhu Wushi, such a traitor, overthrew Great Ming?

Though a last resort, it was still a viable backup plan.

Wei Jinzhong, who had seen the same truth,

fell silent for a moment, then sighed deeply.

The atmosphere in the room grew heavy.

Great Sui, imperial palace.

After dismissing his ministers and generals,

Yang Guang, who had moments before seemed drowsy, instantly shed his earlier lethargy.

He strode back into his chamber, a flash of sharp brilliance in his eyes.

"Where is the attendant officer?"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The words had barely fallen.

Four figures appeared out of thin air.

Half-kneeling before Yang Guang.

"Your subordinate is here. What are Your Majesty's orders?"

"Secretly send someone to make contact with Gusu Murong Longcheng."

"If possible, it would be best to have him enter the palace for a chat."

Yang Guang gave the order coolly.

"As you command!"

The four replied in unison.

Then.

At Yang Guang's wave of dismissal, they vanished once more from within the room.

As if everything just now had never happened at all.

015-Bai Zhantang Tells Tales, Eastern Undefeated Bravely Confesses! (Begging for flowers, begging for tips)

Great Ming, Seven Heroes Town.

An old road paved with bluestone slabs, under the glow of the setting sun, three figures slowly came along accompanied by the crisp, clear ringing of a bell.

They were none other than Ximen Wudi and Jiang Yuyan, who had come down from Green Dragon Shanzhuang.

As for the third figure.

It was the mount Jiang Yuyan had just acquired—a small donkey, black and white in color.

Hanging on the donkey's neck was a bell tied with a red cord.

Entering the town.

From the street where figures came and went, the occasional cry of a vendor drifted over.

After walking a while longer.

The two people and one donkey came to a halt before an inn's door.

"Tongfu Inn?"

Gazing at the plaque above the gate.