Chapter 298: Chapter 21 Where There Are So Many Traitors and Rebels
Jiang Li initially did not suspect any association between the Fourth Prince and Zong Hai, because the man in black who met with Zong Hai had even ordered to secretly deploy someone to surveil the Fourth Prince.
It was not until Jiang Li discovered the Three Corpses God Dao Fruit on the Fourth Prince that he suddenly realized the Fourth Prince’s tactics.
It seemed that Zong Hai and the Fourth Prince were unrelated, but in fact, Zong Hai’s unwillingness to remain idle probably had the Fourth Prince’s doing behind it.
By utilizing the Three Corpses God Dao Fruit to stimulate Zong Hai’s ambition, making him yearn for power beyond his reach, and then through the overtures from the Southern Heavenly Department. As a major power institution of Great Zhou, directly managed by the Princess, renowned throughout the court and field, how could Zong Hai refuse its recruitment?
Thus, it appeared that Zong Hai was not subordinate to the Fourth Prince, even he himself might not know that he had become one of the Fourth Prince’s men.
There were also other Taoists who had contact with the Fourth Prince, among them there were certainly those who received the same treatment.
The confidential letter from Zong Hai mentioned those Taoists who had contact with the Fourth Prince; they were, in fact, the very people that the Southern Heavenly Department would subsequently endeavor to recruit. Unknowingly, he had passed the list on.
And Zong Hai himself was completely unaware, with the Fourth Prince not having intervened at any stage.
Even if an investigation was carried out by the Southern Heavenly Department, it would be difficult to trace it directly back to the Fourth Prince.
Unfortunately for the Fourth Prince, he encountered Jiang Li, a man who played by no one’s rules.
Simply because of their enmity, Jiang Li plotted an assassination, using the most straightforward and also the most brutal method, stripping away the Fourth Prince’s disguise. Even now, he continues to trip up the Fourth Prince.
He revealed the tactics used by the Fourth Prince on the Iron Pillar Temple Taoists, and then slowly asked, "An Iron Pillar Temple can only recruit so many, but what if the same were done in Divine Capital?"
Greed, anger, and ignorance, the three poisons of humanity, stir these three, and the plots one can devise become numerous.
Those who could not be bought with benefits before, can now be swayed.
Those who could not be seduced by beauty, can now be seduced.
If targeting someone, provoking another’s anger can become a means to kill by proxy.
Just the tactics the Second Prince could think of numbered over a hundred.
"I’m not disappointed after all."
At this moment, the Second Prince wore a completely expressionless face, which also signified that his heart was in turmoil, to the extent that he could no longer maintain his composure and could only remain expressionless.
"Little brother, oh little brother, you really have given me a surprise, but it’s a pity that you exposed yourself too early," the Second Prince said with a trace of cold sneer.
Attacking a member of the Jiang family was, after all, a serious transgression.
Even though the actual relationship between the two clans was as incompatible as water and fire, in public, the status of the Jiang family was still second only to the Ji Family. If there was to be another royal family set up outside the Royal Family, the Jiang family would certainly be the only choice.
The Fourth Prince with the Three Corpses God Dao Fruit on him could not escape this error no matter what.
Even if he did not personally participate in the clan’s destruction due to oaths, it was in vain.
It would become an excellent point for criticism.
But before that...
"Lawless Freedom, who exactly are you?" the Second Prince looked towards the blurred figure providing the information.
In just one night, this person’s reputation had spread throughout Divine Capital; everyone was wondering who had such audacity to dare to assassinate a Prince.
"I’m just a good Samaritan passing by," Jiang Li said with a light laugh, "Like the Second Prince, I am kind-hearted and cannot bear to see others manipulated by the Three Corpse Gods."
"Good Samaritan?" The Second Prince had a hint of a cold sneer, "I think you seem more like a rebel and traitor trying to stir up strife."
The actions of the Fourth Prince in the shadows certainly deserved attention, but this individual before him was also on the Second Prince’s alert list.
He dared to assassinate the Fourth Prince, and just as well might dare to assassinate other Princes.
"Ha," Jiang Li laughed heartily, "Where are there so many rebels and traitors, eh? Isn’t it all just your own family’s infighting?"
The Second Prince, the Fourth Prince, and Jiang Li, the Affiliated Son-in-law yet to join the Gongsun Family rounded up, wasn’t it just a family infighting?
But it seems the Second Prince didn’t believe it.
Accompanied by the stare, the Qi outside the carriage sharp as swords became even more acute. Inside and out, two streams of Qi simultaneously targeted Jiang Li.
But unfortunately – it was just a stream of True Qi.
As the two sources locked on, a touch of dark color gradually appeared within the gray haze. The gray deepened, the True Qi was continuously extinguished, and it was irreversible.
In just a brief moment, the human figure disintegrated, annihilated into nothing.
Using the Five Vile Qi to dissolve the Essence Qi internally, with a mere thought, Jiang Li could completely disperse this stream of Qi, ensuring it leaves no trace to be captured.
At the same time, the sharpness outside seemed to sense the disappearance of Jiang Li, and gradually receded.
The carriage continued on its steady pace forward, but those inside and outside were no longer calm.
"Gao Kan, what do you think, is what he said true?" the Second Prince opened the carriage window, looking at the passing crowd outside, and asked.
The person outside did not reply.
The topic was too sensitive, and even as someone close to the Second Prince, he dared not participate.
"The infighting of one family..." Unable to get a response, the Second Prince muttered to himself, "Lawless Freedom, huh, more like Lawless Madman. Not once did he address ’His Highness,’ only ’Prince,’ clearly this person has no reverence for the Royal Family, how could he ever submit to anyone else within the Royal Family?"
"The Jiazi period is approaching, indeed every demon, ghost, and monster is jumping out."
The Second Prince watched the comings and goings outside the carriage window, a Blue Butterfly fluttering by, looking at the bustling scene, slowly clenched his fist, "The Ji Family’s world cannot be shaken by the likes of you."
"Let’s return to the palace," said the Second Prince.
"Yes."
"Also, send someone to check on Shen Kefa in the outer city, see if he really is as kindhearted as he claims."
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The Blue Butterfly danced leisurely yet swiftly, weaving through the streets, flitting over eaves, and entering an open window of a tavern to land on a crystal-clear fingertip.
"Snap—"
"Speaking of last night, various people entered the Iron Pillar Temple with their own agendas, searching for Jiang Li of the Dinghu Sect..."
The sound of a startled strike echoed from below, followed by someone recounting the events at the Iron Pillar Temple the night before, with the flair of a storyteller, as if reliving the scene.
Of course, the retelling wasn’t without artistic embellishments intended to add a bit of interest, not to mention reworking the unsightly retreat of the Young Master Wang into a noble defeat.
With that, the news spread like wildfire.
By the end, the story inevitably brought up Jiang Li’s disappearance amidst the Thunder and Fire, leaving his whereabouts a mystery, sparking widespread speculation among the crowd on the ground floor.
Some claimed that Jiang Li had sustained injuries and was now secretly healing.
Others believed that Jiang Li wished to avoid further disturbance and was preparing for battle elsewhere.
However, there was one consensus—that whether injured or merely disturbed, Jiang Li had chosen to seek refuge elsewhere, undoubtedly losing his edge and momentum, casting doubt on the duel set for the first day of the ninth lunar month.
This was also due to the fact that even with his demonstration of strength at the Five Finger Mountain, Jiang Li’s fame didn’t match Yuan Zhen’s, largely because of the lack of an audience for that battle. In the views of most, Jiang Li was at a disadvantage, and the current event only solidified that perception.
Sitting in a private room on the second floor, Jiang Li listened with amusement to the discussions below, glad to be underestimated, hoping even Yuan Zhen would believe he was injured.
Unexpected to Jiang Li, while he didn’t mind, someone else did care.
"Hmph! What narrow-minded fools!"
This murmur of dissatisfaction, almost inaudible amidst the chaos of voices, likely reached no one’s ears but Jiang Li’s.
He even detected a hint of familiarity in the voice.
With a flick of his finger, the Dream Butterfly took flight, turning invisible, moving through tables and floors to reach the first floor, just in time to see a figure in a hemp garment exit the tavern.
In the Divine Capital, where everyone valued their appearance, the hemp clothes were too conspicuous. The Dream Butterfly instantly noticed him and confirmed his identity.
Mo Sect’s Yan Hanqing.
And he was an acquaintance.
Having witnessed Jiang Li’s capabilities first-hand and after Jiang Li won the Sword Discussion Conference for the Mo Sect, the Mo Sect as a whole held Jiang Li in high esteem, naturally discontent with the tavern’s ongoing narrative. Thus, the earlier expression of dissatisfaction.
’The Mo Sect hurried away, only to arrive in the Divine Capital.’ Jiang Li was surprised to notice Yan Hanqing’s figure.
Leaving behind their wrangling with the Retro Party, the Mo Sect hastily departed from the Dinghu Sect. According to them, the Taiping Sect might revolt, and the Mo Sect wanted to prepare in various places in advance.
But different from what had been said, the Mo Sect’s people had come to the Divine Capital.
What were they planning to do?
Curiosity piqued, Jiang Li was about to stand up and follow.
"Don’t go."
A soft, jade-like hand appeared on his shoulder, its slender smoothness palpable even through his clothes, and the familiar fragrance that wafted to his nose brought an invisible thrill.
In that instant, Jiang Li’s heart throbbed erratically.
Well... certainly startled by this sudden intervention.
"Don’t go."
Tianxuan silently appeared behind Jiang Li, her veiled, beautiful face showing earnestness, "The Mo Sect Master has also come to the Divine Capital, and if you follow, you’ll surely be noticed."
With Tianxuan’s attention on him, it was almost impossible for Jiang Li to die even if he wanted to, but if he encountered a third-grade opponent, he doubted he would last long enough for his master’s help.
"The Mo Sect Master?"
"Yes. Had I not seen that Mo Sect disciple, I wouldn’t have noticed the Mo Sect Master either."
Tianxuan’s eyes glittered like stars as she spoke solemnly, "The Mo Sect’s target this time might not be the Taiping Sect in different places..."
Jiang Li felt a chill in his heart.
Not the Taiping Sect, coupled with the mentioning of different places... Could it be Zhang Zhixuan?
"This might actually be a good thing."
What startled Jiang Li even more was Tianxuan’s attitude.
"Has something happened on Zhang Zhixuan’s side?" he asked in a low voice.
"Zhang Zhixuan..."
Tianxuan hesitated for a moment, then whispered close to Jiang Li’s ear, "Within the Divine Capital, Zhang Zhixuan has met with the Emperor three times, delighting in their conversations. This time, his trip to the Divine Capital might allow him a peaceful return... Besides, you’d best not mention the Emperor while in the Divine Capital."
It was evident that Tianxuan was wary of mentioning the Emperor’s name, as if the Emperor might be listening nearby.
And the way she spoke... was a bit too close.
At the same time, Jiang Li sadly realized that while he had become accustomed to his senior sister’s touch, he still got nervous from his master’s touch.
How pitiful as a ’Child Body’...