Wandering the Martial World [Complete] - 5

Chapter Twenty-Three: Pity My Lily

They encountered no further trouble on their journey and arrived in the capital city without incident. Jinling, the land of six dynasties, was now the capital, and its prosperity was beyond question.

Xiao Tianci and his group were in a restaurant in the city, named Yingbin, presumably to welcome guests from all directions. Looking at the bustling scene on the street, Xiao Tianci recalled An Ling's words about wanting to visit, but now he didn't know where she was, or even if she was alive or dead. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.

"Brother Zhang, I heard Miss Lily saw you yesterday?" A few people at a nearby table were talking, and their conversation caught Xiao Tianci's attention.

"Yes, I had the honor of hearing Miss Baihe play the zither yesterday. Her music was truly wondrous. I just wonder when I'll have the chance to hear her play for me again."

"Brother Zhang, one should know how to be content. Miss Baihe doesn't play for others easily. I'm not fortunate enough to have that privilege."

"Brother Xiao, what are you listening to? Are you interested in that Baihe?" Lan Tianfeng asked in a low voice. "Hanxiang hasn't forgiven you yet. You don't want to add fuel to the fire, do you?"

"Brother Lan, could you please find out about that Baihe for me? Don't worry, it's not what you think. It might be helpful to our situation." Xiao Tianci transmitted his voice to Lan Tianfeng, not daring to let Hanxiang hear.

"What are you two talking about in secret?" Hanxiang glared at Xiao Tianci.

"Nothing. I'm asking Brother Lan to scout out the area. We're new here and unfamiliar with everything, so things aren't very convenient." Xiao Tianci quickly replied. Xiao Tianci was heartbroken. He had thought that Hanxiang and Qian'er would only be angry with him for a few days at most, but Qian'er only got over it in a few days, while Hanxiang hadn't let him touch her for almost a month.

**************************************

Baihe was a courtesan at Baihualou, known as the number one actress in Jinling. Her specialty was the zither. It was said that many young masters and nobles in the capital would spend a fortune to hear her play a song. However, Baihe only played one song a day, and it wasn't just about having money; she decided who she would see based entirely on her own preferences. So even spending a fortune didn't guarantee a chance to hear her play.

This was the information Lan Tianfeng had gathered.

"Baihualou? Baihe? Could it really be her?" Xiao Tianci murmured.

"You really know her?" Lan Tianfeng thought he was lying, but now it seemed unlikely.

"Maybe I know her, but I'm not sure. I have to go see her to find out. But if I go and it's not her, I'm doomed. I'm afraid Hanxiang will never speak to me again." Xiao Tianci was full of worry.

"Serves you right! Who told you to do something like that? If I were Hanxiang, I would have been with someone else long ago. Hey, hey, a gentleman uses words, not fists. Don't hit me!" Xiao Tianci was annoyed by his gloating look and knocked on his head a few times.

"You help me think of a way to see Baihe first, or I'll continue to take action." Xiao Tianci threatened him.

"I can't think of any way. The best way is for you to honestly tell Hanxiang."

"That's right." Xiao Tianci actually took it seriously and was about to go find Hanxiang.

"You, you, you really want to tell her?" Lan Tianfeng was just joking.

"Of course I'm serious. I think if I honestly tell Hanxiang the reason, she won't blame me." Xiao Tianci's serious expression showed no sign of joking.

Xiao Tianci arrived at Hanxiang's door and knocked.

"Who is it?"

"Xiang'er, it's me." Xiao Tianci spoke like a prisoner.

"What are you doing here? If you want to find someone, go find Qian'er, don't come looking for me." Hanxiang was still the same as before.

"Xiang'er, I have something to discuss with you."

"What is it? Tell me."

"Open the door and let me in."

The door opened, revealing Hanxiang's beautiful face.

"Say what it is quickly, or don't blame me for being impolite." Hanxiang looked at this person with a mixture of love and anger.

"I need to go to Baihualou, can you come with me?"

"Baihualou? What's that place?" Hanxiang had never heard of it.

"Don't get angry yet. Baihualou is a brothel. You, you should listen to me first, then you can get angry." Xiao Tianci saw that Hanxiang's expression was not right and quickly said.

"You actually want me to go to a brothel with you? Go by yourself if you want to." Hanxiang's face turned green with anger. Could this guy really be a pervert?

"Listen to me first. There's a woman named Baihe at Baihualou. I suspect she's someone I know, and given her status, she shouldn't be a prostitute, so I think maybe she has some other purpose here. I just want to confirm if she is that person. If she is, maybe she can help me find Sister Yuya." Xiao Tianci quickly finished speaking in one breath.

"Are you telling the truth?" Hanxiang's expression softened.

"Really. I was afraid you wouldn't believe me, so I asked you to come with me." Xiao Tianci quickly explained.

"Then go ahead, but I'm not going. What kind of image would a girl have going to a brothel? If you dare to lie to me, you know what the consequences will be."

"How could I dare to lie to you? I would lie to anyone but you, Xiang'er." Xiao Tianci quickly assured her, then leaned closer to Hanxiang and asked in a half-pleading tone, "Xiang'er, when will you stop being angry with me?"

"Let's talk about it when you come back from the brothel." Hanxiang still wouldn't budge.

At midnight.

A figure darted out of the Yingbin Inn, dressed in a black outfit, heading towards the Baihua Tower.

It was Xiao Tianci. According to Lan Tianfeng's account, it seemed difficult for him to see Baihe openly, and even if he could, it might take many days. He didn't have that much time, so he decided to go directly to Baihe's room that night.

Xiao Tianci was now standing near the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. He had been here during the day, surveying the terrain. He took a deep breath and pounced towards Baihe's room like a roc.

Baihe's room was on the second floor. Xiao Tianci slipped through the window, and before he could even stand still, he felt a sword aura slash towards him, accompanied by a soft, delicate shout, "Who's there?"

Xiao Tianci dodged the attack. "Sister Baihe, it's me." Xiao Tianci recognized the woman as the one he had imagined.

"Sister Baihe, don't you recognize me?" Xiao Tianci saw Baihe stop attacking, but she stared at him blankly.

"Am I dreaming? You really came." Baihe suddenly threw herself into his arms, murmuring to herself.

"Sister Baihe, it really is me, you're not dreaming." Xiao Tianci hugged her tightly.

“I heard you were coming here, but I didn’t expect you to actually come to see me. I’m so happy.” Baihe left his embrace and pulled him to sit on the edge of the bed. “Sit down for a while, I’ll make you some tea.”

“No need, Sister Baihe.” Xiao Tianci pulled her to sit beside him. “Is there no one to serve you?”

“Xiao Hong and the others are outside. They won’t come in without my permission,” Baihe explained softly.

“What are you doing in the capital? Why didn’t Miss Nangong come with you?” It seemed Baihe didn’t quite understand Xiao Tianci’s situation.

Xiao Tianci told her why he came here, and Baihe listened silently. “How can I help you?”

“Sister Baihe, why are you performing here?” Tianci didn’t answer, but asked the question he had always wanted to ask.

“I’ll tell you later. Don’t worry, I’m just playing the zither.”

"I'm not familiar with the palace at all. Sister Baihe, do you have any way to get a map of the palace or something?"

"Wait a few days. I'll draw a map and send it to you. Where are you staying now?" Baihe didn't hesitate at all, as if a map was nothing to her.

"I'm staying in Room Number One of the Heavenly Class at the Yingbin Inn. Sister Baihe, I'll go back now." Xiao Tianci said, turning to leave.

"Aren't you going to stay with me?" Baihe's eyes were full of tenderness. ...

***********************************

Xiao Tianci returned to the inn at noon the next day. He had finally stayed at Baihua Tower last night and hadn't returned. He felt too much guilt towards Baihe and the others, and he had no reason to refuse her. Back at the inn, Qian'er sympathetically gestured towards Hanxiang's room.

Hanxiang was furious. She had intended to forgive him after he returned yesterday, but he hadn't come back all night. When Xiao Tianci pushed open the door, she ignored him, sulking there.

"Xiang'er, don't be angry. Let me tell you what happened, okay?" Xiao Tianci was afraid that Hanxiang would ignore him if she saw that Hanxiang was angry.

Baihua Palace was a very special place. The sect was full of women, and most of them were orphans. There were too many poor people in this world. Many people simply couldn't support their children. Coupled with the preference for sons over daughters, every day there were cases of baby girls being abandoned in the wilderness. Baihua Palace would take in these women, raise them, and then find them suitable families to marry into. Two years ago, a great disaster caused even more baby girls to be abandoned. Although Baihua Palace took them in, it didn't have much income, and it simply couldn't support so many baby girls. But they couldn't just ignore them, because it was the rule of Baihua Palace—abandoned baby girls must be adopted. Just when they were at their wits' end, Nangong Xiaoyu somehow got the news and solved their problem. She also set harsh conditions, and in the end, Palace Mistress Hua Yumei, Baihe, Mudan, Shaoyao, Yulan, and the Twelve Beauties became sacrifices for Xiao Tianci's training.

"You've gotten all the benefits, and now you expect me to forgive you?" Hanxiang said irritably after hearing him finish.

"It's not like I wanted this. Xiang'er, please don't blame me, okay? I'm really afraid of losing you, I'm really afraid. We don't know what's going on with Sister Yuya, and Ling'er is missing. If you ignore me too, I'm afraid I won't be able to bear it," Xiao Tianci murmured.

"Sigh, maybe we owed you something in our past lives," Hanxiang sighed. Xiao Tianci was overjoyed; he knew Hanxiang had forgiven him.

The next day, Xiao Tianci didn't get up until late morning, still holding Hanxiang tightly, unwilling to let go. He was becoming increasingly infatuated with her. Two days later,

Baihe

delivered a map—a very detailed one. Xiao Tianci and his group studied it for a long time and decided to sneak into the palace the following night.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Palace Turmoil,

A Dark and Windy Night for Murder. Starless and moonless, several dark figures slipped out of the Yingbin Inn and quickly disappeared into the night.

According to their plan, they would split into two groups tonight: Hanxiang and Xiao Tianci would go directly to the Crown Prince's residence, while Qian'er, Gu Feng, and Lan Tianfeng would be responsible for causing trouble at the palace.

For the first time, Xiao Tianci realized what constituted a large house. When he drew it on the map, he only thought there were so many houses in the palace. Now, being there in person, he understood that the palace was indeed the palace. Before, at Jianhu Manor, he thought that manor was large enough; compared to this, it was practically a sparrow's nest. Xiao Tianci was lost in thought when Hanxiang pinched him hard. "Are you trying to kill yourself? Still spacing out here? Don't you even know where you are? Let's go."

"According to the map, the Crown Prince's residence is just ahead." The two lay on the rooftop, Hanxiang pointing to a mansion ahead. They hadn't encountered many people on the road ahead, only some palace maids and eunuchs, and occasionally imperial guards patrolling, but with their skills, they weren't easily spotted. However, they noticed that the Crown Prince's residence was heavily guarded, clearly different from the ones ahead.

"Xiang'er, you stay here for now, I'll go scout ahead." Xiao Tianci thought for a moment and said, unsure of the strength of the palace guards and not daring to be careless.

"No, I'll go with you." Hanxiang refused.

"Listen to me, Xiang'er. That way, if something happens to me, you can save me. We have no idea if there's an ambush, it'll be dangerous if we both get caught."

"Who's there?" someone shouted. The two looked at each other and shook their heads, not expecting to be discovered before they even moved.

"Grandma, I'm just here to have some fun, what's the big deal?" A girl's voice rang out, and the two breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out they hadn't been discovered. But who else was here in the palace like them?

A girl in black stood in the open space in front of the Crown Prince's residence, surrounded by a man and a woman. Many guards surrounded her, and more imperial guards kept arriving after hearing the commotion. Xiao Tianci couldn't help but secretly groan. He wondered what this girl was up to, and now that so many people had been alerted, it probably wouldn't be so easy for him to get in.

"You audacious girl, how dare you cause trouble in the palace?" A shrill female voice rang out. The woman speaking was probably an old woman, and her voice was very unpleasant.

"Aren't you two the Yin-Yang Duo? What are you doing here guarding the gate?" The girl showed no sign of panic.

"You brat, who are your parents? What are you doing here? Tell the truth, or people will say I'm bullying a child." The man also spoke up.

"The Yin-Yang Duo have been missing from the martial arts world for thirty years. I never expected them to end up in the imperial palace," Hanxiang transmitted to Tianci. "They killed countless people in the past, making them numerous enemies. I never imagined they would seek refuge here."

"My father said you two are quite ugly. I came here specifically to see if you were really that ugly. Now I see, it's true. My father didn't lie to me this time." The girl's words infuriated the Yin-Yang Duo.

"You brat, you're asking for death!" Yinsha raised his palm, creating a gust of yin wind that swept towards the girl.

"Senior brothers and sisters, save us!" the girl cried out, floating towards where Xiao Tianci and Hanxiang were hiding.

"So you have accomplices." Xiao Tianci and Hanxiang had no choice but to reveal themselves, cursing the girl countless times in their hearts.

"Senior brothers and sisters, you hold them off. I'm going back first." The girl made a face at Xiao Tianci, which was quite cute, but Xiao Tianci found it utterly detestable. What was even more infuriating was that the girl actually ran away, leaving Xiao Tianci and Hanxiang behind.

"You're just going to leave like that, aren't you looking down on us?" The girl didn't escape so easily and was stopped.

"You damned eunuch, a good dog doesn't block the road, what are you doing standing in front of me?" the girl said fiercely.

"Little girl, do you know how your father was injured back then? He was just as rude to me as you are." The newcomer was dressed in brocade robes, and although he was a eunuch, his status was clearly extraordinary.

"You're that Liu, Liu Jing?" The girl seemed a little scared.

"It's good that you know it's me. If you surrender now, maybe I'll spare your life." Liu Jing said coldly.

"Hmph, I'm not afraid of you." Although he said he wasn't afraid, he stepped back and actually stood with Xiao Tianci and the others.

"You two look unfamiliar, may I ask which experts you are?" Liu Jing acted entirely in the manner of the martial arts world and turned to ask Xiao Tianci.

“Your Excellency is of noble status and is the top martial arts master in the Imperial Palace. You are virtually unmatched even in the martial arts world. Naturally, you wouldn’t know us nobodies.” Knowing Liu Jing’s prowess, Hanxiang quickly spoke up to prevent Xiao Tianci from making any rash remarks.

"Young lady, you have a sweet tongue, but with your skills, how could you be nobody? Although I'm getting on in years, I'm not so old that my eyesight is failing." Everyone likes to hear flattery, and Liu Jing was no exception, so his tone softened considerably.

"Your Excellency has excellent judgment; these two are indeed very famous." Two more people arrived, one of whom was none other than Ling Xiaofang, and the other was a middle-aged man with a dignified appearance, clearly not an ordinary person. It was the middle-aged man who spoke.

"Oh? Does Lord Guo perhaps know their identities?" It seemed that Liu Jing's relationship with this Guo was not very good.

"I just learned it from this young hero. This is the contemporary martial arts prodigy, the young master of Tianya Haijiao, Ling Xiaofang. Young hero Ling, this is the top expert in the palace, the emperor's favorite, Eunuch Liu Jing."

"He should be Guo Aotian, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard," Hanxiang said softly.

"Sister, you're so clever! You guessed right, I know this person." The girl seemed to be trying to curry favor with Hanxiang. Hanxiang smiled but didn't reply, while Xiao Tianci glared at her fiercely.

"As for these two, the girl is Princess Hanxiang of the Demonic Sect, and the man is her lover, Xiao Tianci." Guo Aotian turned to Xiao Tianci and the girl.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's Note: I'm sorry, I've been busy again these past few days, so updates will be much slower. Many readers are curious about what happens next, so here's a little spoiler: Xiao Yuya is actually under house arrest, and the Crown Prince is indeed Xiao Tianci's rival in love. However, the Crown Prince's involvement doesn't preclude a possibility between Xiao Tianci and Xiao Yuya. The palace has always been a place of fierce competition, and the Crown Prince's position is not secure. The intervention of martial arts forces forces the Crown Prince to seek help from them, while Xiao Tianci has gained considerable benefits by exploiting the palace's factional struggles… Xiao Tianci himself isn't entirely clear about his own power, but it was already established a year ago… “

It seems things aren't going well today. Let's retreat first and come back another time,” Hanxiang transmitted to Xiao Tianci.

“Alright. I'll inform Qian'er and the others to prepare to retreat.” Xiao Tianci sighed helplessly. He hadn't wanted to leave so soon; seeing Ling Xiaofang here would have been a good opportunity to inquire about An Ling's whereabouts. However, more and more imperial guards were arriving, making it unrealistic to force his way in today. He'd have to wait for another time.

Suddenly, Hanxiang smiled, and at the same time, Xiao Tianci launched a firework, streaking across the sky, exceptionally bright in the night. Many imperial guards were mesmerized by Hanxiang's smile—it was too beautiful. They were momentarily stunned, and Xiao Tianci and his group retreated hastily.

"Be careful, that's the Heavenly Demon's Smile!" Liu Jing shouted, snapping everyone back to reality.

"You truly deserve to be called the number one expert in the imperial guards. Hanxiang will take her leave now, and will visit you again when she has time," Hanxiang's charming laughter drifted from afar. "

Tell Zhu Zheng I'll come back to find him," Xiao Tianci's voice also drifted over.

"You two are truly useless! This old lady will come to see you two old monsters again when she has time." "That black-clad girl's voice could infuriate a whole bunch of people," came the voice.

"My lord, assassins have been spotted at the Emperor's side." A guard rushed over to report to Guo Aotian.

"What? How is the Emperor now?" Guo Aotian was shocked.

"The assassins have left, only a few guards were injured."

"Useless. Everyone go after those few people first." Guo Aotian ordered his men in a fit of rage, "I'll go see the Emperor first."

"Lord Guo, do you think you can still catch them?" Liu Jing said coldly.

"Do you really think we're just going to let them get away like this?"

"With your numbers, even if you catch them, you'll just be sending them to their deaths. I think you should report to the Emperor first and discuss it further. I'll go report to the Crown Prince first." Liu Jing and Guo Aotian's relationship was indeed not good.

***

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Inside the Crown Prince's residence, Liu Jing bowed to a young man with an imposing presence, dressed in brocade robes and a jade crown. "

No need for formalities, Eunuch. I heard there were assassins attempting to kill the Emperor. Do you know the details?"

"Does Your Highness know that someone also tried to assassinate you?"

"Yes, but they escaped." Zhu Zheng was quite polite to Liu Jing.

"In my opinion, the assassins who tried to kill the Emperor and the Crown Prince were actually working together. They must have come looking for you."

"Oh? To assassinate me? Could it be...?"

"One of the men is named Xiao Tianci..."

"Ah!" A gasp came from the doorway, followed by a thud. A stunningly beautiful woman collapsed to the ground.

Zhu Zheng was shocked and rushed over to help her up. "Miss Yuya, are you alright?" The woman was Xiao Yuya.

"Quickly, call the imperial physician." "

***

Your Highness, this young lady is alright, but because she is pregnant, she is quite weak and depressed. It seems she fainted temporarily due to some kind of shock. She will recover after a short rest," the imperial physician reported after his diagnosis.

"What? You said she is pregnant?" Zhu Zheng was clearly surprised.

"Yes, almost three months along."

"I see, no wonder..." Zhu Zheng didn't finish his sentence, but simply waved his hand, "You may leave now."

"Eunuch, is there anything you want to tell me?" After the imperial physician left, Liu Jing was still following behind Zhu Zheng.

"This servant is unsure whether I should say

something?" "Eunuch, please speak freely."

"Your Highness, this servant believes that tonight's assassins are related to this young lady."

"Does Eunuch believe that she sent people to kill me?"

"Your Highness misunderstands. This servant believes they were looking for this young lady. And this young lady must have fainted after hearing the name Xiao Tianci." "Liu Jing's insight is extraordinary."

"Your Highness, I have something else to report to you." Seeing that Zhu Zheng hadn't spoken for a while, Liu Jing continued.

"Please speak, Eunuch."

"Guo Aotian just brought in a martial arts master from the Jianghu named Ling Xiaofang, who has considerable influence in the Jianghu. I'm afraid they might harm Your Highness."

"You mean my second brother might try to win him over?"

"Your Highness, as you know, although I am the top martial artist in the palace, I rarely travel the Jianghu and have few friends there. Guo Aotian, on the other hand, has connections with many sects in the Jianghu, and he is also one of the Second Prince's men. So I think it's best if we take precautions sooner rather than later." "

Hmph, Zhu Yun relies on Father Emperor's favor towards Consort Yun. Now he's increasingly disregarding me." Zhu Zheng said resentfully.

"Your Highness, we now have an opportunity to befriend a force that opposes them, but I don't know if Your Highness is willing to give it up."

"Willing to give up what?" Zhu Zheng didn't quite understand.

"It depends on whether His Highness is willing to part with this young lady."

"You mean to use her?"

"We can use her relationship with Xiao Tianci. Xiao Tianci is exceptionally skilled, and his lover, Hanxiang, is virtually unmatched in the martial arts world. And judging from what we saw tonight, they likely have other accomplices. Therefore, I think if we can win them over, we won't have to worry about the Second Prince and Guo Aotian."

"Let me think about it first. Please investigate this Xiao Tianci, Eunuch." Zhu Zhengliang finally spoke after a long pause.

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Empire and the Beauty

"You brat, who are you? Why did you frame us?" Xiao Tianci was furious at the girl.

"Why are you being so fierce? What do you care who I am?" she said, running to Hanxiang's side. "Sister, he bullied me, you have to help me!" She didn't understand why Hanxiang would help her.

"Xiao Lang, let's go back to the inn first. We can talk about it later," Hanxiang said softly. They had just left the palace, and Xiao Tianci was angry to see the girl in black following them.

"I'll settle the score with you later," Xiao Tianci glared at the girl. She didn't back down either, wrinkling her nose and snorting, showing no fear of him.

************

"Brother Xiao, have you found Miss Xiao?" They met at the inn.

"No," Xiao Tianci said sullenly. "It's all this girl's fault." He glared at the girl again, but she ignored him completely and went to befriend Qian'er. "Sister, your hairpin is so pretty."

"Brother Xiao, what's going on? And who is this little girl?" Lan Tianfeng was completely confused.

"I don't know where this wild girl came from. She caused us to be discovered before we even entered the Crown Prince's residence." He then recounted what happened in the palace.

"Let me tell you, I'm not a wild girl. I'm the famous young lady of the Kongkong Sect, the number one beautiful thief in the martial arts world, Sikong Hanxing." The girl expressed her dissatisfaction, but her introduction sounded familiar, like Panpan.

"And let me tell you, you should thank me for saving you, otherwise you wouldn't be able to get out of there now." She hadn't even finished speaking.

"There are many archers surrounding the Crown Prince's residence. If you go in, you'll probably be riddled with arrows. Humph, you're biting the hand that feeds you." She then turned to Qian'er, "Sister, where did you buy your hairpin?"

Xiao Tianci was speechless; she didn't give him a chance to speak. The others were also amused and exasperated. This Sikong Hanxing was quite something; she had ruined someone else's plans but acted as if she had done something good.

"Miss Sikong, is your father Sikong Benyue?" Lan Tianfeng asked cautiously.

"Yes, it seems you're quite knowledgeable, unlike some people who just know how to scare girls." Sikong Hanxing looked at him with admiration.

"Sister Hanxing, how did you find us?" Hanxiang had never understood this question. Sikong Hanxing's martial arts weren't very high, yet she had found her and Xiao Tianci's hiding place so easily.

"Sister Hanxiang, let me tell you what happened." Then she whispered something in her ear, and glanced at Xiao Tianci, "I'm not telling you."

"Xiang'er, how did she find us?" Xiao Tianci was starting to doubt his own martial arts skills.

Hanxiang explained, and everyone finally understood that it was the fragrance on her body that caused the problem. This Miss Sikong wasn't very good at martial arts, but she had an exceptionally keen sense of smell, and Hanxiang's fragrance was quite unique, which she was able to detect. It was the first time Hanxiang had discovered that her fragrance could also be a disadvantage.

##***********

The Imperial

Palace. The Crown Prince's Residence.

Xiao Yuya sat by the window, lost in thought, seemingly pondering something.

"Miss Yuya, what are you thinking about so intently?"

Xiao Yuya was startled and quickly stood up and bowed, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"I told you you don't need to be so formal." Zhu Zheng sighed.

"I have some questions for Miss Yuya, and I hope you won't hide anything from me."

"Your Highness, please ask. Yuya will answer everything she knows." Xiao Yuya said softly, her head bowed.

"Is the child in your belly Xiao Tianci's?" Zhu Zheng hesitated for a moment before finally asking.

"Yes." Yu Ya was startled, but still admitted it.

"Do you love him very much?" Yu Ya nodded again.

"How did he know you were here?" Zhu Zheng didn't understand how anyone knew.

"Yu Ya doesn't know either, I didn't spread the news."

"I heard your father doesn't approve of your marriage to Xiao Tianci, is that right?"

"Yes. But I think my father will agree."

"I think your father will never agree. Do you know that Xiao Tianci has offended the entire righteous martial arts world and has been expelled from his sect by your father?" This was the information Zhu Zheng had just received about Xiao Tianci from Liu Jing.

"Ah," Xiao Yu Ya was clearly not expected and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"If I'm willing to help you, I wonder if Yu Ya would be willing to help me?" Zhu Zheng slowly approached the main point.

"Yuya doesn't quite understand Your Highness's meaning." Xiao Yuya didn't know what Zhu Zheng was planning. He had saved her and then half-forced her to the palace. She wanted to escape, but discovered she was pregnant. Given the palace's tight security, it was almost impossible for her to escape with her martial arts skills. She knew Zhu Zheng wanted her, but now her heart couldn't possibly hold anyone else. Now he actually said he would help her; she truly didn't understand.

"If I can help you and Xiao Tianci become a couple, I wonder if Yuya could do me a favor?" Zhu Zheng seemed to have made a great decision before speaking.

"Your Highness, are you serious?" Xiao Yuya hadn't expected the Crown Prince to offer to help her be with Xiao Tianci.

"Miss Yuya, do you think someone of my status would joke with you like this?"

"No, no. Yuya misspoke; please forgive me, Your Highness." Seeing Yuya's happy expression, Zhu Zheng felt uneasy.

"I wonder if there's anything Your Highness can do for Yuya?" Xiao Yuya, though happy, realized she didn't seem to have anything she could do to help him.

"I only need you to convince Xiao Tianci to agree to one thing. And I can guarantee it won't harm you." Zhu Zheng thought for a moment but still didn't specify what it was.

"But I don't know if Tianci will listen to me?" Xiao Yuya was a little uneasy.

"Don't worry, since Xiao Tianci dared to break into the palace for you, he naturally loves you very much. Besides, you're carrying his child now. Even if you wanted the stars in the sky, I think he would pluck them for you." Zhu Zheng said calmly, "Miss Yuya, get some rest. I'll take you to see Xiao Tianci tomorrow."

That night, Xiao Yuya couldn't sleep again, but unlike before, this time she couldn't sleep because she was too happy.

Early in the morning, Xiao Tianci was awakened by a knock on the door.

The door opened, and there she was.

"Sister Yuya!" Xiao Tianci couldn't contain his joy and reached out to pull the beauty in front of him into his arms. Ignoring whether there were other people around, the two kissed passionately.

"Cough cough," two untimely coughs rang out.

Yu Ya gently pushed Xiao Tianci away and said softly, "There are other guests. Let me introduce you."

"This must be Young Hero Xiao." A clear voice reached Xiao Tianci's ears. He reluctantly raised his eyes, and upon seeing him, he quickly pulled Xiao Yu Ya behind him, secretly becoming wary.

"Young Hero Xiao, why are you so nervous? If we wanted to harm you, would we be dressed like this and come alone?" The newcomer saw through his thoughts.

The newcomers were none other than Liu Jing, whom Xiao Tianci recognized. As for the other one... Xiao Tianci already had a rough idea of who it was.

"You must be His Highness the Crown Prince?" Despite his ordinary clothes, he exuded an air of nobility, and with Liu Jing guarding him closely, and him appearing with Xiao Yuya, Xiao Tianci wasn't stupid; he could easily guess who he was.

"Insolence! You don't even bow to His Highness the Crown Prince?" Liu Jing shouted.

"No need. Since you're a member of the martial world, there's no need for such formalities," Zhu Zheng waved his hand.

"I wonder what brings His Highness here? If it's just to reunite Yuya with me, I would be extremely grateful," Xiao Tianci said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Young Master Xiao is straightforward, so I won't beat around the bush either. I've come to discuss a deal, or rather, to cooperate with you," Zhu Zheng stated bluntly.

"I knew you wouldn't return Yuya to me so easily. State your conditions," Xiao Tianci couldn't help but sneer.

“Young Master Xiao, you’ve misunderstood. We can discuss the details privately. Would you mind asking your friends to step aside for a moment?” The others had already been disturbed, and Hanxiang was already inside.

“Sister Yuya, you and Xiang’er go next door. Brother Lan, you and Qian’er keep an eye out for outsiders.”

“Tianci, don’t do things you don’t want to do for me.” Yuya whispered in Xiao Tianci’s ear.

“Don’t worry, Sister Yuya. I know what I’m doing.” Xiao Tianci gently comforted her.

****************

“Your Highness, can you tell me what you need to say now?” Now it was just the three of them.

"First, I want to tell Brother Xiao something. Although bringing Miss Yuya to the capital caused you to be separated for a long time, I think you should know that if I hadn't saved Miss Yuya, her current situation would be something you wouldn't want to see. During this time, aside from slightly restricting her freedom, I treated her very well, and I didn't do anything disrespectful to her. So, Brother Xiao, there's no need for such hostility towards me." Zhu Zheng had never spoken so humbly to an ordinary person before. "What Your

Highness says is indeed true, but I still don't understand Your Highness's purpose." Xiao Tianci had to admit that, given the current situation, Xiao Yuya was indeed better off in Zhu Zheng's hands than in Liang Qisong's. "

I think Brother Xiao probably doesn't know that Miss Yuya is already pregnant with your child, right?" Zhu Zheng's words were like a bombshell, hitting Xiao Tianci's heart.

"Is it true? Sister Yuya is carrying my child?" This was the second time today that Xiao Tianci had encountered something that made him happy, and he couldn't help but show his joy.

“I know that Miss Yuya’s father doesn’t approve of Brother Xiao’s marriage to Miss Yuya, and Brother Xiao’s reputation in the martial arts world doesn’t seem to be very good right now. If Brother Xiao is willing to cooperate with me, I can arrange for Miss Yuya to marry you openly and legitimately.” Zhu Zheng pressed his advantage, revealing his true intentions at this moment.

“Alright, how do you want to cooperate?” Xiao Tianci was still unsettled.

“So Brother Xiao has already agreed?” Zhu Zheng seemed surprised by the smooth progress and asked in surprise.

“His Highness hasn’t said what the specifics are, so how can I agree?” Xiao Tianci finally came to his senses.

“If Young Master Xiao doesn’t agree first, His Highness can’t tell you what the specifics are.” Liu Jing interjected from the side.

“Then if I agree, how will I know what conditions you will propose?” What is all this about?

“Young Master Xiao, please rest assured, it will absolutely not cause you any harm.” Liu Jing continued to explain.

"Alright. If you can truly help Sister Yuya marry me openly and without any objections, I'll agree to cooperate. However, let me make this clear: if the conditions are too unreasonable, I won't agree." Xiao Tianci considered for a long time before finally making his decision. "

Brother Xiao is indeed a man of great loyalty. Since you've agreed, I won't hide anything from you. What I need from you is actually quite simple. I hope you can use your influence in the martial arts world to help me eliminate some dissidents within the palace. I think with you and your friends, doing this will be a piece of cake."

"There are some specific details that Eunuch Liu will explain to you. We'll assist you in marrying Miss Yuya first. I imagine you don't want Miss Yuya to have a child out of wedlock, right? We shouldn't stay out of the palace for too long. Let's return first, and Eunuch Liu will naturally inform you of our next plan." Zhu Zheng finished speaking and got up to take his leave. Since he had already achieved his goal, he didn't want to waste any more time; waiting might lead to unforeseen changes.

"Your Highness, do you think Xiao Tianci can help us?" In the palace, Zhu Zheng still seemed somewhat uneasy.

"Your Highness, rest assured. Xiao Tianci's martial arts are absolutely top-notch, and everyone around him is exceptionally skilled. Moreover, Xiao Tianci is our best choice. Most reputable sects in the martial arts world are unwilling to get involved with the government, and Xiao Tianci is currently at odds with the righteous martial arts world. Joining us would benefit him. Furthermore, Your Highness should be able to see that Xiao Tianci cares deeply for Xiao Yuya. If we help him marry Xiao Yuya, he will definitely be grateful to Your Highness." Liu Jing analyzed logically.

"I hope it's as you say, Your Highness. Although I don't entirely trust Xiao Tianci, I trust you, Your Highness. It's just that I'm sorry to trouble you."

"Your Highness is too kind. It is my honor to serve Your Highness." Liu Jing said respectfully.

*************

"Young Master, Miss wishes to see you." Qian'er whispered to Xiao Tianci.

"What? Why is Xiaoyu here?"

"Miss asked you to bring Hanxiang." Qian'er didn't explain why Nangong Xiaoyu was here, but instead made another request.

"I really don't understand what she's up to." Xiao Tianci muttered to himself.

Led by Qian'er, Xiao Tianci arrived at a large mansion. Qian'er went straight in, and Xiao Tianci and Hanxiang followed behind, going through floor after floor until they finally arrived at a large hall. The people inside made Xiao Tianci want to run away. My God, why are they all here? Xiao Tianci groaned inwardly. The hall was filled with stunningly beautiful women. Nangong Xiaoyu, Hua Wuying, Dongfang Xuanji, and Ye Bingying were all there, and even the people from Mingyue Palace and Baihua Palace were almost all there, except for Yue Xiaomin.

"Tianci, come sit here with me." Hua Wuying called him gently, and Xiao Tianci had no choice but to bite the bullet and go over.

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Metamorphosis of the Heart

"Sister Wuying, why, why are you all here?" Xiao Tianci asked Hua Wuying in a low voice.

“Let me tell you about this,” Nangong Xiaoyu said from the side.

“Tianci, do you know how old I am this year?” Nangong Xiaoyu’s tone was strange.

“21 years old, what’s wrong?” Xiao Tianci found it strange.

“I’ve been exceptionally intelligent since I was little, and what I’m most interested in are calendars, arithmetic, the Five Elements, the Eight Trigrams, and the Book of Changes. Two years ago, when my cousin brought you to see me, I deduced that you were the man destined for me in this life, so I’ve wholeheartedly started helping you ever since. Although you don’t appreciate it, I’ve never regretted it.” Nangong Xiaoyu’s tone was slow, and her voice sounded distant.

“You mean you’re not actually in love with me?” Xiao Tianci couldn’t help but ask.

“Do you think you’re Pan An reincarnated or Song Yu reborn? That Miss would fall in love with you just because she saw you?” Qiao’er was never as gentle as Qian’er. She spoke sarcastically to him at this moment.

"Qiao'er is right. I couldn't say I was in love with you back then; I just believed in fate. Of course, things are different now." Nangong Xiaoyu paused, then continued, "Actually, do you know that being too clever in life is a mistake? I've never had any friends since I was little because I was too smart. There aren't many people in this world who can do everything without hiding anything from others, so not many people want to be friends with someone who might find out your secrets at any time.

"Over the past year, I've gone to great lengths to make you a martial arts master. I ask Wuxia, Yumei, and all the sisters to forgive me."

"Xiaoyu, do we still need to talk about forgiveness now?" "Xiao Tianci hadn't seen Yue Wuxia since she left a year ago. She's here today too. Yue Wuxia's voice is always the same, devoid of any emotion. She hasn't changed her clothes either; her long, silver-white dress trails on the ground. Her hair isn't long, just reaching her shoulders. Individually, her features aren't particularly beautiful, but together they create a perfect harmony.

"Wuxia is right. We're all family now. Don't dwell on the past," Hua Yumei chimed in. Hua Yumei's face was very pale, but not in a sickly way; it radiated a luminous glow. What others didn't know was that Hua Yumei's entire body was this peculiar white. Xiao Tianci had asked her why, only to be kicked off the bed and ignored for three days.

"Xiaoyu has gone off on a tangent. Tianci, I'm here today to tell you that from today onwards, we will no longer concern ourselves with the affairs of the martial world. From now on, everything related to us will be in your hands." Nangong Xiaoyu's words stunned Xiao Tianci.

"You mean none of you will be involved in matters of the martial world anymore? And all the things you used to manage will be mine to manage from now on?" "Xiao Tianci asked cautiously, thinking he might have misunderstood, but Nangong Xiaoyu's nod confirmed that it was indeed the case.

##############

"Actually, it's nothing much, just some matters concerning Mingyue Palace and Baihua Palace. A year ago, we united Mingyue Palace and Baihua Palace to form a new organization, and you can decide the name of the organization. You can establish a new sect in your name, and the original Mingyue Palace and Baihua Palace will be subordinate to you. However, we have also united these sisters together to form 'Phoenix Palace.' From now on, you will be managing the affairs of the current Baihua Palace and Mingyue Palace. However, what you don't know is that the current Mingyue Palace and Baihua Palace are the largest intelligence organizations in the martial arts world. There are Mingyue Tavern and Baihua Pavilion in almost every place. Taverns and brothels have always been the best places to gather information, and they are also the easiest places to make money. So, what we can provide you from now on is a powerful intelligence network and financial support. As for the rest, you'll have to rely on yourself." "

We've found a place, a place of beautiful mountains and clear waters, like a paradise. We'll go there tomorrow. This is the place I prepared for you. I'm tired of these years and don't want to wade in the murky waters of the martial world anymore. However, there are some things I have to do, so I'm entrusting them to you. Don't disagree. You must know that you are our husband now, and you have this responsibility."

Looking at the empty hall, recalling Nangong Xiaoyu's words, Xiao Tianci's mind was in turmoil. Nangong Xiaoyu had actually left without a word. Not only her, but Qian'er, Hanxiang, and all the other women in the room were gone.

"Tianci," a gentle voice rang out in the hall.

"Sister Xuan, would you stay and keep me company?" Xiao Tianci rushed over and hugged Dongfang Xuanji, asking urgently.

"Tianci, how can you bear to see your sister scheming and plotting in the martial world all day long?" "Dongfang Xuanji shook her head. "Tianci, you're an adult now. No matter what you've done before, from now on, you must shoulder everything a real man should bear, for yourself and for us."

"Sister Xuan, please stay! I really don't know what to do. Please help me." Xiao Tianci pleaded in a low voice. "Sister Xuan, why don't you marry me? I'm going to marry Sister Yuya. Will you marry me too?" "

Tianci, no. I have to leave. I'll leave Xiaoqin and the other three to help you. Panpan and you have always gotten along very well. I'll have her serve you from now on." Dongfang Xuanji hardened her heart, pushed Xiao Tianci away, and slowly walked out.

"Sister Xuan, why are you all leaving? Don't you want to marry me?" Xiao Tianci murmured.

"Tianci, I'm willing to marry you, but I won't. Actually, in my heart, you're already my husband. We don't need to be bound by these formalities." "Dongfang Xuanji had already gone far away, but Xiao Tianci could still hear her voice.

Outside the hall, five girls were waiting for Xiao Tianci.

#####################

"Brother Lan, could something have happened to Tianci? Why hasn't he come back yet?" Xiao Yuya was anxiously waiting for Xiao Tianci in the inn.

"Don't worry, Sister Xiao, that guy definitely won't die. Look, he's back." Sikong Hanxing had been hanging out with this group, and these past few days she had become very close with the others, but she and Xiao Tianci seemed to be natural enemies, always glaring at each other whenever they met.

"Sister Yuya, I'm back." Xiao Tianci walked in with a heavy heart, followed by five girls.

"Sister Xiao, I told you he wouldn't die, look, he's out having fun." Sikong Hanxing seized the opportunity.

"Brother Xiao, where are Hanxiang and Qian'er?" Lan Tianfeng seemed to sense something was wrong. "

They're all gone," Xiao Tianci replied listlessly, turning and heading into the inner room, closing the door behind him.

"Young Master might have some things to consider; please don't disturb him," Dongfang Qin stopped the others from following him in.

For a full day and night, Xiao Tianci remained in his room. Xiao Yuya tried several times to break down the door, but Dongfang Qin stopped her each time. In the end, even Dongfang Qin became worried; the only one among them who wasn't concerned was Miss Sikong.

"Miss Qin, do you think something might have happened to Brother Xiao? Shouldn't we go in and check on him?" Lan Tianfeng asked Dongfang Qin in a questioning tone.

"I think Young Master should be alright; let's wait a little longer," Dongfang Qin said, now uncertain whether Xiao Tianci would be alright. After all, she had personally witnessed the entire group of young ladies leaving; she couldn't guarantee Xiao Tianci could withstand it.

"Tianci, are you alright?" Just as everyone was filled with anxiety, the door finally opened, and Xiao Tianci walked out. Xiao Yuya quickly rushed over to him.

"Sister Yuya, I'm fine. I'm sorry to have worried you." Xiao Tianci gently hugged Xiao Yuya.

"Tianci, why do I feel like you're a little different?" Xiao Yuya asked softly.

"Sister Yuya, how am I different?" he said, kissing her.

"I don't know how you're different, but you seem to be getting naughtier and naughtier." Xiao Yuya blushed.

"Brother Lan, Sister Qin, you should go and rest first. You don't look like you've slept." "Xiao Tianci does look different now. He looks slightly tired, and his eyes are a little red, probably from not resting for a day and a night. However, his eyes are very clear, bright, and spirited, and his whole demeanor is different from before. The Xiao Tianci of the past was the kind who blended into a crowd and was indistinguishable from everyone else, but now he has a special, indescribable aura. People who know him well can recognize him just by his presence, even without seeing his face. " "How come this guy looks like a human now? He's changed so much in just one day and night, it's too fast! "

Lan Tianfeng muttered to himself.

The next day, Xiao Tianci led everyone to the residence that Nangong Xiaoyu had left him.

"Sister Yuya, this will be our home from now on, and you will be its mistress. I've decided to immediately announce to the martial arts world that I will formally marry you on the 18th of next month." After settling in, Xiao Tianci said affectionately to Xiao Yuya.

"But, Tianci, I haven't asked my father yet?" Xiao Yuya asked anxiously.

"Your father will agree. I'll go to the palace later and ask Zhu Zheng to be our witness. With Zhu Zheng's status, I believe your father won't stop us." Xiao Tianci seemed confident.

"But…"

Xiao Yuya wanted to say something more. "Sister Yuya, don't worry about that. Our child is about to be born, and I don't want you to be ridiculed. So I will definitely marry you, and no one can stop me." Xiao Tianci's voice held an undeniable power.

Xiao Yuya didn't speak again. Thinking of her child, she could only accept Xiao Tianci's arrangement. In fact, for a woman, the most important person is often not her father or her husband, but her child.

*********

It was the same hall again, but this time the people were different.

"Brother Lan, Brother Gu, and Sister Qin, Sister Qi, Sister Shu, Sister Hua, I have something I want to discuss with you." Xiao Tianci invited everyone to the hall.

"Brother Xiao, just say what you need to say, no need to be so polite." Lan Tianfeng was still as lazy as ever.

"Actually, almost everyone here is one of us, so I don't want to hide anything from you. Of course, if any outsiders say anything inappropriate, don't blame me for being impolite in the future." As he spoke, Xiao Tianci glanced at Sikong Hanxing, clearly referring to her as an outsider.

"Hey, what do you mean?" Sikong Hanxing glared at Xiao Tianci.

"Don't you understand what I mean? If you want to stay here, I don't want to kick you out, but if you say something you shouldn't in the future, don't blame me." Xiao Tianci didn't seem afraid of her at all now.

"I want to establish a new sect, and I've already thought of a name: the Free and Unfettered Sect. I prefer a free and unrestrained life, and the martial art I practice is also named Free and Unfettered, so I'll name it that. I'd like to ask Brother Lan and Brother Gu for your help in establishing this sect." Xiao Tianci ignored Sikong Hanxing and calmly stated his idea.

"Brother Xiao, establishing a sect requires a lot of manpower, financial resources, and materials. Are you really going to do this?" Lan Tianfeng's first thought was that this kid was crazy.

"Of course I understand all that. What we lack right now is manpower, so I need the help of you two brothers and Sister Qin."

"You're not serious, are you?" Lan Tianfeng thought this guy was joking.

"Although I, Xiao Tianci, am not exactly a great person or anything, do you think I'm joking?" Xiao Tianci smiled slightly.

"Young Master Lan, my young master is serious." Dongfang Qin also confirmed from the side.

"Great! Great! Establishing a new sect, I like it!" Sikong Hanxing cheered.

"It's none of your business." Xiao Tianci glanced at her coldly.

"Since Brother Xiao has made up his mind, of course we'll help you, Brother Gu, don't you think?" Lan Tianfeng glanced at Gu Feng.

"That's right, that's right, but you have to remember to pay me back the wine you owe me as soon as possible." Gu Feng usually didn't talk much, but when he did, it was all about wine.

"Tianci, are you really going to establish that Xiaoyao Sect?" Xiao Yuya, who had been standing next to Xiao Tianci without saying a word, asked softly.

"Sister Yuya, if I had had a power like Baiyulou a long time ago, do you think your father would have objected if I wanted to marry you? I don't like martial arts, I don't like the struggles in the martial world, I want to live a carefree life, but now I finally understand that in the martial world, unless you have enough power to make others not dare to offend you, you can never be carefree, you can't do what you want to do, and you can't walk the path you want to walk. Therefore, I have decided to establish the Xiaoyao Sect, not to compete in the martial world, but to live a carefree life in the martial world." Although Xiao Tianci was speaking to Xiao Yuya, his voice could be heard by everyone in the hall.

"Quite ambitious, huh?" Sikong Hanxing muttered.

"Good, interesting, Brother Xiao, I support you." Lan Tianfeng was also interested.

"Young Master, if you've made up your mind, we will definitely support you." Dongfang Qin always spoke on behalf of the four of them.

"Since that's the case, then from today onwards, the Xiaoyao Sect is officially established, and tomorrow we will issue a notice to the martial arts world. I will serve as the sect leader (Sikong Hanxing thought to himself: shameless), Brother Lan and Brother Gu will serve as protectors, Sister Qin will be in charge of law enforcement, Sister Qi will be in charge of sect personnel, Sister Shu will be in charge of sect funds, and Sister Hua will be in charge of intelligence work. That's the arrangement for now."

"What about me?" Dongfang Panpan was unhappy that she wasn't included.

"You? Oh, you'll be Sister Yuya's maid."

"What? You look down on me." Dongfang Panpan muttered, already deciding to cause trouble for Xiao Tianci.

"Hey, what about me?" Sikong Hanxing wasn't going to be left out either.

"You? This is none of your business. You should go back to being the young lady of your Kongkong Sect." Xiao Tianci said irritably.

"No way, I want to join the Xiaoyao Sect too." Sikong Hanxing didn't know what she was thinking.

"That's fine then. You'll be Yuya's maid, just like Panpan."

"What? I'm the young lady of the Kongkong Sect, and you want me to be your wife's maid?" Sikong Hanxing was about to explode. "

Do it if you want. If you want to join the Xiaoyao Sect, this is your only choice. Yuya is the sect leader's wife, so it's not a big deal for you to be her maid." Xiao Tianci finally had a chance to mess with her.

Submitting to Xiao Tianci's tyranny, Sikong Hanxing agreed, but like Panpan, she was already scheming against Xiao Tianci in her heart. (Let us observe three seconds of silence for Xiao Tianci.)

"Now that we are all fellow disciples, I think it's better for everyone to know some things. The Xiaoyao Sect is actually divided into three palaces and one hall, but what we have established now is only one hall. Externally, we are the Xiaoyao Sect; internally, we are the Azure Dragon Hall. The three palaces are the Phoenix Palace, the Bright Moon Palace, and the Hundred Flowers Palace. However, the people in the Phoenix Palace don't concern themselves with sect affairs, and the Bright Moon Palace and the Hundred Flowers Palace only provide us with intelligence and money. So, in reality, we still only have the people we have now."

It took Xiao Tianci six full hours to explain most of the sect's affairs. Sikong Hanxing and Lan Tianfeng were secretly alarmed, as they hadn't expected so many people behind the scenes. Although Xiao Tianci didn't reveal who exactly was in the Phoenix Palace, the Bright Moon Palace and the Hundred Flowers Palace alone were not to be underestimated.

That night, Xiao Tianci went to the palace to meet Zhu Zheng. The next day, news of the Xiaoyao Sect's establishment began to spread, and Xiao Tianci's wedding invitations were also sent to various sects in the martial arts world. On the third day, Xiao Tianci began his seclusion. Before his seclusion, he finally received news that An Ling had returned home. Gu Feng went to the palace to protect Zhu Zheng as a guard. Xiao Tianci would emerge from seclusion three days before the wedding. All affairs of the Xiaoyao Sect had officially begun to operate, and an unknown force had once again swept into the vast martial world…

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Hunt in the Capital

A phrase suddenly circulated in the martial world: "The Divine Strategist has returned, and the martial world reigns supreme. The Purple Dragon Token has appeared, and none dare disobey." This phrase seemed to spread throughout the country overnight without any warning. It seemed that no one knew what it meant, but less than three days after the phrase spread, all the sects in the martial world mobilized, with a surprisingly consistent goal: to ride straight to the capital.

Zhenyuan Escort Agency, hailed as the number one escort agency in the world, is headed by Fang Zhenyuan, a mere 22 years old. No one knows who Fang Zhenyuan learned his martial arts from; all that is known is that his father, Fang Ming, was only a second-rate escort, whose skills were far beyond what Fang Zhenyuan could have achieved. However, those familiar with Fang Zhenyuan know that he never left the agency before the age of 18. He took over the agency immediately upon entering the business and, in just two years, made it the number one escort agency in the world. Yet, this agency is now facing an inescapable trouble.

Three days ago, an ordinary person delivered an ordinary box. The reason Zhenyuan Escort Agency quickly became the top agency was because they accepted all kinds of escort missions without ever failing. Naturally, they wouldn't refuse this box. However, this very box has plunged Zhenyuan Escort Agency into an unprecedented crisis.

The person's initial delivery was rather strange, as he didn't ask Zhenyuan Escort Agency to deliver the goods to a specific location. Instead, he asked them to keep the box for a month, stating that he would personally come to collect it after that. However, on the third day after the box arrived, Fang Zhenyuan noticed that many martial arts masters had suddenly appeared near the escort agency, and they all seemed to be monitoring the agency.

The increasing number of martial arts masters in the capital naturally alarmed those in the imperial palace. Liu Jing had visited Xiao Tianci once, worried that these people might pose a threat to the Crown Prince. However, Xiao Tianci was in seclusion. Liu Jing's visit, however, also made the Xiaoyao Sect take the matter seriously, and information from various places was continuously sent to

Dongfang Hua… While Xiao Tianci was still in seclusion, Nangong Xiaoyu had crammed a lot of knowledge into him over the past year. Before this, because Nangong Xiaoyu had arranged everything for him, he had developed a dependence on her and had become too lazy to care. Now that they were gone, Xiao Tianci had to calm down and spend some time properly digesting what he had learned.

Xiao Tianci was busy processing what was happening inside, completely unaware of the changes outside. Zhu Zheng, in the palace, was somewhat uneasy. According to Liu Jing's inquiries, his younger brother seemed to be frequently contacting martial arts figures lately. Although Gu Feng was protecting him, Zhu Zheng didn't seem to trust Gu Feng's abilities. He had seen Gu Feng spending his days drinking in the palace, and how could he not worry about entrusting his life to a drunkard? Now, he could only hope that nothing bad would happen to Xiao Tianci before he emerged from seclusion. He just couldn't understand why Zhu Zheng trusted Xiao Tianci so much.

July 15th, three days before Xiao Tianci's wedding, it seemed that no one had come to offer their congratulations yet. Xiao Tianci should be emerging from seclusion today.

Except for Gu Feng, everyone from the Xiaoyao Sect waited for Xiao Tianci to emerge from his seclusion. At noon, Xiao Tianci finally opened the door and slowly walked out.

"So everyone missed me that much?" Xiao Tianci said half-jokingly, seeing so many people at the door.

"Who misses you? You're just being presumptuous." Sikong Hanxing was a little lonely, having had no one to banter with for a long time.

"Whoever responds to me is the one who misses me." Xiao Tianci had become much more composed and seemed to have no temper, instead teasing Sikong Hanxing instead. This time, Sikong Hanxing could only suffer in silence, obediently shutting her mouth.

"Sister Yuya, have you missed me?" Xiao Tianci picked up Xiao Yuya and whispered in her ear.

"Put me down, of course I missed you." Xiao Yuya was becoming increasingly shy for some reason, her face flushed, and her voice barely audible.

"Young Master, I have something to report to you." Dongfang Hua spoke up.

"Alright then. Let's all go to the main hall." He said, leading the way without putting Xiao Yuya down, unaware that Panpan was making a fierce face at him from behind.

************

Xiao Tianci arrived at the palace gate. Zhu Zheng had given him a token for his convenience, so he could pass without hindrance.

"Greetings, Your Highness. Greetings, Eunuch Liu." Xiao Tianci met Zhu Zheng smoothly. Liu Jing was also there, and his spirits lifted upon seeing Xiao Tianci.

"Young Master Xiao, you've finally arrived. His Highness has been waiting for you for a long time." Liu Jing was quite polite to Xiao Tianci.

"Brother Xiao, it seems your seclusion was very successful." Gu Feng suddenly appeared, carrying a gourd of wine, and took another gulp.

"Brother Gu, you've had a good time these past few days. The palace wine must have been enough for you." Xiao Tianci smiled slightly.

"The wine is good, but no one's challenged me to a fight. Why hasn't anyone come to assassinate the Crown Prince? Really." Gu Feng complained, unaware that Liu Jing wanted to beat him up; in his mind, he was hoping someone would assassinate Zhu Zheng.

"Young Master Xiao, His Highness has some matters to discuss with you." Liu Jing interrupted them.

"Oh, alright. I also have some matters to report to His Highness." Xiao Tianci seemed much more polite than before.

“Brother Xiao, you go first.” Zhu Zheng finally spoke up. He had been observing Xiao Tianci and noticed that Xiao Tianci seemed to have changed a lot, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what was different. He was just going by a feeling.

"Your Highness and Eunuch Liu are probably aware that many martial arts masters have arrived in the capital. However, Your Highness can rest assured that they are not targeting Your Highness or the court. According to our investigation, the Second Prince has been in frequent contact with several martial arts figures recently, primarily from two factions. One of them, Eunuch Liu, met with Ling Xiaofang from Tianya Haijiao last time. However, Ling Xiaofang is no longer alone; at least ten masters have arrived from Tianya Haijiao, and his fiancée, Crystal, and some of Crystal Palace's subordinates are also with them. The other is Lou Wai Lou. On the surface, Lou Wai Lou appears to be both righteous and evil in the martial arts world, but according to our investigation, they are actually an assassin organization, so we must be especially careful with them." Xiao Tianci paused after speaking. "This is some information I have gathered. Does Eunuch Liu have any further information?" He then turned to Liu Jing. "Young Master Xiao

, to be honest, I'm ashamed to say that even with the combined resources of the Eastern and Western Depots, the information I've obtained is not as comprehensive as yours," Liu Jing said, somewhat embarrassed, and secretly astonished.

"Your Highness, as far as I know, given the current situation, although the Emperor favors the Second Prince, Your Highness enjoys greater support from court officials. Therefore, as long as Your Highness doesn't make any major mistakes, the Emperor won't depose you and appoint another Crown Prince. So Your Highness's position should be relatively secure. I've also heard that the Emperor's health has been poor recently, so the Second Prince might be forced to resort to a final measure. Is what I've said true?" Xiao Tianci spoke slowly.

"Indeed, it seems Brother Xiao has indeed put a lot of thought into this matter. I think Brother Xiao must already have a plan. I thank you in advance." Although Zhu Zheng was surprised, he didn't show it on his face.

"As for a plan, it's actually quite simple. Generally speaking, there are two types: proactive and reactive. Proactive means we strike first and eliminate any forces that threaten Your Highness. Reactive means we wait for them to come to us." Xiao Tianci spoke eloquently.

"Then, Young Master Xiao, which method do you think we should take?" Liu Jing asked.

"Actually, neither method is quite suitable for our current situation. If we take the initiative, we need enough manpower." He glanced at Liu Jing as he spoke, "Please forgive my rudeness, but apart from you, few people in the East and West Factories can be considered top-notch in terms of skill. And our Xiaoyao Sect has only been established for less than a month, with too few people, so it's unrealistic for us to wipe them out in one fell swoop."

"But if we just keep waiting for them to come to us, aren't we being too passive?" Liu Jing was clearly a little unconvinced that Xiao Tianci had called his men useless.

“Your Excellency is right. If we simply wait here for them to make their move, it will cause His Highness a lot of inconvenience. After all, His Highness cannot stay in the Crown Prince's residence forever. Once he goes out, the enemy is in the shadows while we are in the open. It will be difficult for us to know when someone will come out to assassinate His Highness. In that case, we will need more manpower to defend him.”

“Then what does Brother Xiao think we should do?” Zhu Zheng finally spoke up. After listening for so long, he was still confused and didn’t understand how Xiao Tianci was planning to deal with the situation.

"We can actually combine two methods simultaneously. On one hand, we can proactively attack their hideout; on the other hand, we can protect His Highness and wait for them to come to us. Although the eunuch's men might not be a match for those martial arts masters in one-on-one combat, they are more than capable of protecting His Highness within the Crown Prince's residence. Our proactive attack will only make them think that someone is targeting them, so they won't dare to act rashly because they won't know who would want to harm them. Therefore, we must conceal our identities when we attack them and retreat after a single blow. Our goal is not to kill them, but to serve as a deterrent."

"Brother Xiao, I have a question. How can we conceal our identities? Generally speaking, our martial arts are quite unique, and someone should be able to recognize us." Gu Feng asked, voicing his doubts.

"Of course, if you go, you will indeed be recognized, but if I go, that won't happen. Few people in the martial arts world know what my martial arts are like. Even you, Brother Gu, don't know. Do you think Ling Xiaofang and the people from Lou Wai Lou would know?" Xiao Tianci said calmly.

"You mean, you're going alone?" Gu Feng began to doubt his ears.

"That's right, it's just me. Only if I act can I guarantee they won't suspect us. Besides, many people know I'm getting married soon, so no one will think I'd attack them at this time. And I dare say, in their eyes, I'm not a difficult opponent. I believe they won't even take me seriously."

"But isn't that a bit too risky?" After all, they were all in the same boat now, and Liu Jing was still somewhat concerned about Xiao Tianci's safety.

"Don't worry, I don't want anything to happen at this time. I'm not even married yet," Xiao Tianci said half-jokingly.

"I think Brother Xiao must have his reasons for making this decision. I wish you success in advance, and I will definitely attend your wedding in person." Zhu Zheng was also good at winning people over, and began to address Xiao Tianci as a brother.

"Since that's the case, then I won't disturb Your Highness any longer. Your Highness, please prepare to await my good news. Also, I hope Your Highness and the Eunuch can deliberately make an appearance in front of the Second Prince tonight. Tianci will take his leave now."

"Brother Xiao, take care, I won't see you off." Zhu Zheng's voice came from behind.

**********

"Young Master Gu, do you feel that Young Master Xiao has changed a lot?" After Xiao Tianci left, Liu Jing asked Gu Feng.

"I can no longer sense any martial arts aura from him. Not only that, he is also very calm in handling matters now. It seems that a month of seclusion has really changed him a lot." Gu Feng's voice was low and slow.

"It seems that I really found the right person." Zhu Zheng also sighed.

*********

"Young Master, it's so late, where are you going?" That night, around midnight, Xiao Tianci put on his night clothes and was about to go out when Dongfang Qin blocked him at the door.

"Sister Qin, it's so late, haven't you rested yet?" Xiao Tianci cursed inwardly. How come he was discovered before he even left the house?

"I heard from Xiao Hua that you asked her to give you Ling Xiaofang and Lou Wai Lou a place to stay. I wonder

what you're here for, young master?" Dongfang Qin pressed aggressively. "Sister Qin, please don't interfere in what I do, okay?" Xiao Tianci finally realized that Dongfang Hua had betrayed him.

"You think I want to interfere? I wouldn't bother with you if it weren't for Miss. Who do you think you are? Taking on so many people all by yourself." Xiao Tianci dodged and covered Dongfang Qin's mouth. "Shh, Sister Qin, keep your voice down. Don't let Sister Yuya hear you." It turned out that Dongfang Qin's voice had naturally become louder in her anger.

"Sister Qin, don't worry, I'll be fine. I'm leaving, you get some sleep." After saying that, he pressed Dongfang Qin's pressure points, rendering her unable to move, then placed her on his bed, covered her with the blanket, and slipped out the door, disappearing into the vast night.

A beauty rolls up the beaded curtain, sitting deep within, her brows furrowed.

Only tear stains are seen, but who knows whom she hates in her heart?

The entire courtyard behind the Four Seas Inn was booked by Ling Xiaofang and his group. Shuiyun and Crystal were also there. In fact, Shuiyun basically followed Crystal wherever she went, because she knew that her master loved her junior sister the most, and to repay her master's years of nurturing, she naturally had to protect Crystal.

Tonight, she sat by the window again, looking at herself in the mirror. It was past midnight, and she still couldn't fall asleep. Thinking of that hateful man, she secretly regretted not being able to do it back then, which made her think about him so often now.

"Who's there?" A deep shout startled her awake. She quickly got up and went to the next room, where Crystal was.

"Senior sister, what's wrong?" Crystal asked sleepily.

"I don't know, it seems someone has sneaked in. Let's go see." Shuiyun didn't know either.

"Ah~~~~" A scream rang out. Someone must have been injured. They rushed to the courtyard and saw a man in black being attacked by Ling Xiaofang and his group, but he showed no signs of defeat.

"Senior sister, let's go help." Seeing her crush getting involved, Crystal naturally wanted to lend a hand.

"Oh, okay, alright." Shuiyun seemed a little distracted.

URL 1:http://localhost:909/htmlBlog/14694.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=14694&aspx=1

Previous Page : Wandering the Martial World [Complete] - 6

Next Page : Wandering the Martial World [Complete] - 7

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

Wandering the Martial World [Complete] - 5

comment Open a new window to view comments