"This is bad!"
A murderous aura filled Prince Qian's Mansion, and Huang Xiujin's expression changed drastically. The killing intent was coming from Li Yaozu!
Li Yaozu—a man who perennially wore a sour expression and seldom smiled in public—straightened his robes. His face softened, suddenly warm and gentle.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness," he said. "This humble one shall take his leave."
With a slight bow, Li Yaozu brushed past Huang Xiujin.
It took the span of two finger-snaps before Huang Xiujin finally shook off his daze and hurried after him. As he followed Li Yaozu out of Prince Qian's Mansion and looked up at the cultivators from the three great powers of Duravia Trade Prefecture hovering on their swords above, he lowered his gaze to his palm. It was slick with sweat.
"Young Master Yaozu..."
Only after they had left the city did Huang Xiujin finally wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
Li Yaozu's face was shrouded in gloom. "He wanted to provoke me," he said.
Hearing this, Huang Xiujin nodded gravely. "There were many cultivators outside Prince Qian's Mansion. If you had made a move just now, Young Master Yaozu, those cultivators from the three great powers would have attacked as well."
"Yes. Before Father sent me to probe his intentions, he warned me to avoid making a move at all costs. Now I understand what he meant."
Li Yaozu said in a deep voice, "The world is in great chaos; everyone wants to proclaim themselves king. Any of these with the Human Emperor's bloodline could become the next Prince Qian. In the Duravia Trade Prefecture, Prince Qian controls the mortal population. He has already amassed his troops, intending to become a formidable warlord in this chaotic age and contend for the throne of the Human Emperor."
"But if he wants to rebel, his own troops are not enough. He needs true masters, and those are in the hands of the three great powers. Prince Qian may want to contend for the throne, but the three great powers are detached from worldly affairs. They don't necessarily share his ambitions; it's just as likely they wish only to look after themselves and stay out of the conflict."
Seeing Li Yaozu's expression, Huang Xiujin had actually realized something was amiss long ago.
"That's why he provoked you, Young Master Yaozu," he said. "That letter, too—it was all meant to anger us. Had we agreed to the marriage alliance, Prince Qian would have gained a powerful ally. And if you had flown into a rage, Young Master Yaozu, a great battle would have erupted right then and there. The disciples of the three great powers would have been forced to intervene, and the situation would have become irreversible!"
Back in the day, Huang Xiujin had seen Li Yaozu as nothing more than a sharp sword for the Li family, a natural-born killer. But the Li Yaozu before him now was unexpectedly composed.
Recalling the tense encounter in Prince Qian's Mansion, Huang Xiujin's voice turned grave.
"Quite a character, that Prince Qian. He acts so brazenly because he knows he's protected. By provoking Young Master Yaozu today, he has also bought himself a protective talisman."
"From this day forward," he continued, "if our Li family makes any move and the slightest harm comes to Prince Qian, the three great powers will immediately suspect us."
As he finished speaking, the two exchanged a glance, and both smiled.
Li Yaozu said, "He thinks too highly of himself. Mister Huang, when we get back, I need you to do something for me. I want to send people to discuss the matter of the marriage alliance with Prince Qian again."
....
Prince Qian's Mansion.
Prince Qian dismissed the cultivators from the three great powers who had come for his protection. His expression dark, he stared into the distance.
"Rumor has it the Sword Venerable, Li Yaozu, has been a killer since childhood," he mused, "and that he values his family's reputation above all else. It seems I overestimated him. After such a grave insult to the women of his clan, all he did was leave with a few laughable threats."
"The 'Sword Venerable'," he sneered, "is nothing special after all."
As his words faded, from behind a screen in the main hall, a figure emerged.
If any of the Lis had been there, they would have certainly recognized him. This was the man who ranked highest on the Li family's kill list!
The figure slowly emerged, clad in Daoist robes and holding a horsetail brush.
He had the white hair of a crane but the youthful face of a child, and an air of immortal transcendence. Beside him was a handsome but utterly crestfallen young man, moving like a walking corpse.
Venerable Elder Baimei and Ah Xiu!
"You are mistaken, Your Highness," Venerable Elder Baimei said.
"Even Tian Xing himself fell at the hands of the Li family. Li Yaozu may have been reckless in the past, but he fought Tian Xing for many years, both in the open and in the shadows. Now he has become the Sword-Bearer of Eternal Sun Prefecture. He has matured."
Venerable Elder Baimei's voice grew grave. "I fear he saw through your plans long ago. Do not underestimate the Li family. They are not what they once were; by killing Tian Xing, they have become even more terrifying than he ever was."
Ordinary men might have been enraged by such words. Prince Qian, however, merely cast Venerable Elder Baimei a brief glance and replied calmly, "What Senior says is true. But the future is long. With your aid, Senior, this Prince will surely bring peace to this chaotic age."
With that said, Prince Qian summoned his subordinates and headed for the three great powers.
Venerable Elder Baimei gazed after Prince Qian's retreating figure, his brow furrowing slightly. In the past, he would never have dared to set foot in the Azure Dynasty's territory. But now, with the world in chaos and the Imperial Dynasty's decrees going unheeded, every faction was eager to win over an expert like him.
Chaotic times give rise to formidable warlords—and they are also a paradise for cultivators.
Since acting on Prince Qian's behalf, Baimei's first impressions had deepened into a measure of genuine admiration.
He murmured to himself, "He truly is prime material for the Human Emperor's throne. If he can truly swallow the Li family, then I should assist him in earnest. One day, he might even stand on equal footing with Lin Jiu and Min Youguo."
Just as Baimei was lost in thought, Ah Xiu—whose eyes had gone vacant—cried out and clutched his head in agony.
"My head!" he screamed. "Those eyes… I saw those eyes again!"
Seeing Ah Xiu in such pain made Baimei sigh deeply.
"Come, Ah Xiu," he said. "Let Master help you ease the pain. You must remember to guard your true mind. All that inhuman torment Tian Xing's avatars endured has already tempered your divine soul, making it resilient enough. Endure this, master those eyes, and you will become even stronger than Tian Xing!"
"AHHH!!!"
Veins bulged across Ah Xiu's body, and his eyes turned bloodshot.
He screamed until his voice was hoarse, "You old bastard, why don't you do it yourself?!! My head hurts so much! You deranged old mutt!!!"
Watching his disciple curse in agony, Baimei could only shake his head with a pained sigh.
"My good disciple," he said softly, "one day you will understand your master's painstaking efforts. You are the only disciple I have left."
In the main hall, the benevolent old man looked on with pity as the tormented young man rolled on the floor, tears and snot streaming down his face.
---
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