Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1394 - 1390: Storm

Xiao Ruoling said, "Master, after finding Senior Sister Meng, is the next step to settle accounts with Li Huo Palace?"

"Even if we don’t settle accounts with Li Huo Palace, they will with us," Qin Ruolan said. "After all, they’ve lost a disciple."

"He deserved it!" Shen Hanyue snorted. "Died well!"

"In their eyes, Yunyin’s words are utter nonsense, twisting the truth. Yunyin is venomous, harming others and then falsely accusing them of being innocent."

"Our disciples from Profound Yin Palace would never do such things!" Shen Hanyue snorted. "They assume that since they would do such things, others must as well."

Qin Ruolan nodded lightly.

"Master, it seems that Li Huo Palace has a pretty good reputation," Xiao Ruoling said.

Qin Ruolan said, "Their reputation is even better than ours."

Shen Hanyue immediately curled her lips in disdain, thinking the world must be blind.

They’re a bunch of fools who can’t see the true nature of things.

Qin Ruolan said, "We’ve always been aloof and uninterested in associating with other sects, while Li Huo Palace has ties with many sects, supporting each other and thus building a reputation."

Shen Hanyue looked at Xiao Ruoling. "Senior Sister, could they have external allies?"

"Hard to say," Xiao Ruoling nodded slightly. "If someone sees us as no match for Li Huo Palace, they might jump in to exploit the situation."

"That’s courting death!" Shen Hanyue snorted.

Qin Ruolan said, "What Ruoling said is something we cannot ignore, ... actually, avoiding a war with Li Huo Palace is the best."

"They won’t give up, will they?" Xiao Ruoling asked.

Shen Hanyue said, "All the disciples have returned to the palace, so they won’t have an opportunity even if they want to fight."

Xiao Ruoling said, "What about the Outer Realm Battlefield?"

"They won’t find us in the Outer Realm," Qin Ruolan shook her head lightly. "It’s difficult to find disciples of Profound Yin Palace there."

"It’s best not to start a war," Qin Ruolan said. "If we really fight, neither side will gain anything, and even if we win, it will be a pyrrhic victory... They would be the same, even if they win, it would be a costly victory."

Xiao Ruoling shook her head. "If we show weakness, other sects will think we’re scared, believe we’ve declined, and will seize the opportunity."

Shen Hanyue said, "Then will they help Li Huo Palace fight us?"

"There’s that possibility, right?" Xiao Ruoling looked toward Qin Ruolan.

Qin Ruolan sighed. "There’s that possibility."

Xiao Ruoling said, "Master, did Li Huo Palace’s disciples dare to ambush Senior Sister Meng, thinking we’ve declined and could be wiped out in a war?"

Qin Ruolan paused, shook her head, and said, "Could they be that arrogant?"

"Impossible to be that arrogant?" Shen Hanyue.

Profound Yin Palace has deep foundations; even if we were defeated, we wouldn’t be wiped out.

For so many years, Profound Yin Palace has never been exterminated, for good reason.

Li Huo Palace, no matter how arrogant, couldn’t think that?

Xiao Ruoling said, "I think we should still be cautious about them teaming up with other sects."

Qin Ruolan said, "Is this from Zhiyuan?"

Xiao Ruoling nodded lightly. "My husband has this concern."

...

Chu Zhiyuan left the Heaven-Reaching Sect’s main hall and returned to the Imperial City of Biyuan Heaven, arriving at the Heavenly Sword Branch.

Upon his return, he felt a vague sense of unfamiliarity, as if he had been away for a long time.

In fact, it had only been about ten days.

He hadn’t returned during this period.

This was his first return in ten days.

As soon as he appeared, the dean of the Heavenly Sword Branch, Gu Junqi, quickly came to knock on the door.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped forward to open the door, greeting him with clasped fists and inviting him to sit by the stone table.

Gu Junqi’s expression was solemn as he said gravely, "Zhiyuan, don’t go out yet, something big has happened."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "What’s the matter?"

Seeing Gu Junqi’s expression, he knew it wasn’t an ordinary matter.

Gu Junqi said, "The Princely Heir of Prince Ying’s Mansion was assassinated."

Chu Zhiyuan was taken aback. "The Princely Heir? From Prince Ying’s Mansion?"

"Yes." Gu Junqi said, "Something that’s never happened before has occurred."

Chu Zhiyuan’s expression turned serious. "Who did it?"

Gu Junqi shook his head.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned. "You don’t know who? Haven’t found the assassin?"

"The assassin is already dead; they committed suicide on the spot," Gu Junqi said. "The trail was cut off directly."

"Such an event..." Chu Zhiyuan said. "The Princely Heir’s protection shouldn’t have had such a large gap."

"It shouldn’t have, but that night was too coincidental. Also, it’s partly the guards’ fault for being careless." Gu Junqi shook his head. "But now it’s too late to say anything; their suicide in atonement can’t bring back Prince Ying’s Princely Heir."

"When did this happen?"

"Three nights ago, in the second half of the night, when the Princely Heir of Prince Ying was returning to the mansion, he was ambushed on the way back."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Isn’t there a Divine Artifact? Can’t it track down the mastermind behind it?"

Gu Junqi shook his head.

Chu Zhiyuan’s expression grew heavy.

Gu Junqi said gravely, "Zhiyuan, it’s best if you don’t go out; stay out of this matter."

"Understood." Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly. "It seems a storm is about to rise."

The Princely Heir of Biyuan Heaven holds a far more esteemed status than the Princely Heirs of Little Outer Heaven.

The Princely Heir of Little Outer Heaven is merely a Princely Heir, whereas the Princely Heir of Biyuan Heaven is akin to a Prince.

And being the heir to Prince Ying’s position, he stands as one of the four most powerful figures in the future of Biyuan Heaven.

To be assassinated.

To die in such a humiliating manner, it’s unacceptable to Prince Ying’s Mansion, and the other three princely mansions as well.

Soon they will exhaust all means to trace the mastermind behind the murderer.

Gu Junqi said, "At this time, if anyone is identified as the murderer, the Court won’t let it go."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Even if they risk killing the wrong person, they won’t let go?"

"That’s the fear." Gu Junqi sighed. "The death of a Princely Heir won’t be taken lightly, and who knows how many will die."

Chu Zhiyuan said slowly, "I understand; tell others I’m in seclusion."

"That would be best!" Gu Junqi quickly nodded. "You’ve been too prominent recently; I’m afraid someone will see an opportunity to falsely accuse you, leaving no chance for rebuttal."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded solemnly.

It’s not impossible.

Moreover, that possibility is significant.

This is an excellent opportunity to eliminate him, using the fervor of the Court to do so.

At this moment, the Court’s atmosphere is taut, the executioner’s blade raised high, leaving no room for failing to find a perpetrator.

If they can’t find the real perpetrator, they will find a likely one.

Once the blade is drawn, it must shed blood; if the Princely Heir’s death cannot be avenged, what authority, what deterrence does the Court have?

And there are three other Princely Heirs remaining.

Just then, there was another knock at the door outside.

"Who?!"

The sound of a clear report came from outside, "Dean, Director Huang of the Evil Extermination Department has sent people over again."

"Tell them Zhiyuan isn’t here."

"Understood."

Chu Zhiyuan looked at him.

Gu Junqi shook his head. "At this time, it’s hard to care about Director Huang as well; Director Huang is also under immense pressure, possibly seeking your help."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Uncle, I need to see Brother Huang."

"You must be extremely careful." Gu Junqi said, "Especially, don’t get dragged into this vortex. If Director Huang seeks your help..."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "I will be careful. I’ll meet Brother Huang and then act as the situation requires."

"Be cautious." Gu Junqi cautioned uneasily.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile.

He clasped his hands together briefly before disappearing in a flash.

The next moment, he appeared in the small courtyard of Huang Zhengyang.

Huang Zhengyang’s small courtyard was clean and tidy, clearly still his current residence.

Standing in the center of the courtyard with his hands behind his back, Chu Zhiyuan looked up at the sky.

Super Sense had already covered the entire Evil Extermination Department, observing that Huang Zhengyang was sitting behind a desk in a somber mood, engrossed in reviewing documents.

Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he glanced up in the direction of his own small courtyard, put down the documents, and, with hands behind his back, walked out of the hall toward the courtyard.