fifth form

Chapter 3459 Nagato Attends the Banquet
Zhang Xuezhou left Chang'an City alone, but returned with three people.

The imprint of Zhu Jiuyin's Great Wilderness Creation Scripture was still in his brain, so Zhang Xuezhou didn't cause any trouble to avoid being spied on by Zhu Jiuyin.

Being able to see some information was secondary; what worried him more was that the nature of this mark, which was currently judged to be benign, might change and be expelled by the Curse Avoidance Technique. After all, although Zhu Jiuyin's realm was high, he was not weak either. If Zhu Jiuyin were to erode his body and do evil, this mark might be gone.

He stayed away from the potentially high-risk area of ​​the Xieluoschuan Holy Land, and did not put himself in danger. He did not recklessly fly to Huainan to find Jin Chang.

Even though there were still some things to do, Zhang Xuezhou didn't run around aimlessly.

He temporarily placed Zhou Bugui in Zheng Wukong's house and chose to stay at home, waiting for the end of this time travel cycle.

He rarely had such ample free time. If it weren't for the fact that the national war was currently taking place and it wasn't a good time to be ostentatious, Zhang Xuezhou might have invited some people to enjoy free meals at the palace.

Even so, he joined the eating group, consuming more food than Kong Ning every day to replenish his long-term fasting needs. He also wandered around Chang'an City from time to time, looking at A Qiao and Dongfang Jia, and searching for a suitable body for Ren Anran to take on.

"By the way, where did that Sai Xishi I bought last time go?"

Zhang Xuezhou contacted many people, but he vaguely felt that he was missing someone to investigate. After thinking for a while, he remembered the courtesan he had exchanged for with White Deer Coins.

"It seems it was sold back to Si Lanfang, and then Guo Jie bought it!"

No one in the mansion responded. After a while, it was Wei Shao'er, who often sang in brothels, who told Sai Xishi where she was.

Who is Guo Jie?

"I've heard that Guo Jie is the nephew of Xu Fu, the Marquis of Mingci Pavilion, and a successor of the Xiang family!"

"People from the Xiang family?"

Zhang Xuezhou exclaimed in surprise.

The Xiangmen sect has more than just the Hongku branch. Even though the Yin-Yang School only had two commanders left, it could still gather hundreds of Yin-Yang School branch cultivators in the Great Han Dynasty. Zhang Xuezhou was not surprised that there were still people from the Xiangmen sect in the Great Han Dynasty, but he was somewhat surprised that this faction had become a marquis in the Great Han Dynasty.

This means that the Han Dynasty lifted its crackdown on the Xiangmen sect a long time ago, and even once heavily relied on Xiangmen cultivators. Subsequent crackdowns on various major sects did not target the Xiangmen sect.

"If Master Hongku knew about this, he would probably be kicking himself!"

Hongku was a cultivator from the Xiangmen sect who fled to Beiju Luzhou. If Hongku had lived a good life, that would have been fine, but he suffered the loss of his family and loved ones over the past few decades.

If Hongku knew he didn't need to flee, he would probably regret making the decision to escape.

"Do you want to cause trouble for this Guo Jie?" Wei Shao'er asked excitedly, "I could kill him without any problem!"

"No no no!"

"The courtesan you bought was bought by Guo Jie, aren't you even a little bit angry?"

"Why should I be angry!"

Zhang Xuezhou made a comment.

His purpose in buying Sai Xishi was simply to unlock the magic power that was sealed in his body. If Yi Shuo could unlock the magic power without needing Sai Xishi, Zhang Xuezhou would not need these women who served as 'human medicine', nor would he care who bought Sai Xishi.

“You bought Sai Xishi back to your mansion, but she was bought by someone else…”

"I heard Huo Zhongru got married and had children, but I didn't see you go and stab him to death!"

When Wei Shao'er still pestered him to repay the favor of treating her illness, Zhang Xuezhou decided to put Wei Shao'er in her place.

His words made Wei Shao'er feel heartbroken. She cursed him as a "scumbag" several times, and then sullenly chose a wooden dummy to practice her sword.

"cut!"

Zhang Xuezhou shrugged and clinked bowls of rice wine with the carefree Kong Ning.

"Lord Dongfang, His Majesty the Great Nagato requests your presence!"

Amidst the clinking of glasses, Zhang Xuezhou heard a messenger guard rush in from the main gate of the mansion, announcing an imperial edict from about ten meters away. "Changmen Garden?"

Zhang Xuezhou's expression changed slightly.

Changmen Garden is very close to the East Sima Gate and also very close to his residence. Zhang Xuezhou can enter Changmen Garden by walking only a few hundred meters.

Changmen Garden was nothing special in the past, but later it was used to display the Demon-Revealing Mirror.

Zhang Xuezhou had the authority to go to Changmen Garden, but he rarely went there. After all, he possessed demonic power and was quite wary of the Demon-Revealing Mirror, fearing it might cause trouble.

Zhang Xuezhou pondered the new emperor's invitation for a few seconds.

If I'm not mistaken, the new emperor is likely to take action against Dou Tai in order to seize power from Huang Laodao. After all, the new emperor was in an extremely awkward position when facing Daojun, as his protective talismans were not only depleted, but he also almost lost his life.

Under these circumstances, it was impossible for the new emperor to continue entrusting the management of the Huang-Lao Daoist priests who made talismans to Princess Dou.

While the promotion and demotion of court officials can be adjusted based on merit and loss, adjustments within the royal family are not so easy. A new emperor who wants to seize power is likely to lack a legitimate reason, which is why he would make such an invitation.

"His Majesty is inviting me to do something underhanded!"

The new emperor would only summon Zhang Xuezhou when faced with some troublesome and difficult problems; otherwise, he rarely asked Zhang Xuezhou to do anything.

After complaining, Zhang Xuezhou had no choice but to get up and help. After all, he was in cahoots with the new emperor, and the other party owed him a bunch of talismans. He couldn't repay them without controlling Huang Laodao.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Changmen Garden was practically within reach. Zhang Xuezhou had only taken a few dozen steps in flight when he saw the new emperor and Princess Dou hosting a banquet in a side hall of Changmen Garden.

"Why are you so far away? Come over here quickly!"

Zhang Xuezhou stopped fifty meters away from the side hall of Changmen Garden. His distant shouts conveying a message gave the new emperor a headache, and he immediately realized that Zhang Xuezhou wasn't confident he could help.

"I heard you drink and eat meat at home every day. I just happened to hunt a few wild boars, so I specially prepared this wild boar feast to invite my family and close advisors to share!"

The new emperor waved repeatedly, and Zhu Fuyan's slightly troubled face peeked out from the palace, while he also waved to Zhang Xuezhou from time to time.

Even Zhu Fuyan, who was known for coming up with terrible ideas, was having a headache, so finding something to hold against Dou Taizhu would undoubtedly be very difficult.

"This wild boar is delicious! Lord Dongfang, come over quickly, I still have an empty seat here!"

Master Yen chuckled in agreement, and then Zhang Xuezhou cautiously stepped forward.

"Dongfang Shuo is too cunning. Why is he so cautious? No wonder his promotion is so slow!"

Although he wore a smile, Zhu Fuyan couldn't help but think that Zhang Xuezhou was cautiously advancing step by step, and that the other party looked exactly like someone who was going to a treacherous banquet.

The distance was only a hundred steps, but Zhang Xuezhou took a full ninety seconds to walk it. His leisurely pace surprised everyone at the banquet, and many people looked at him.

"Ha...haha~"

Zhang Xuezhou could only manage a series of dry laughs.

If you glance at this side hall a few times, you'll see a round, ancient jade statue that's ten feet tall.

Like a wall, the demon-revealing mirror stands in this side hall.

The closer Zhang Xuezhou got, the more he felt a thorn in his back, as if a demon-revealing mirror would unleash its power at any moment.

The Nine Cauldrons Technique, which shielded Kong Ning's aura, seemed to be useless. Zhang Xuezhou felt that at such a close distance, this technique, which was enough to protect Kong Ning, had lost its effect.

Zhang Xuezhou felt that he would have no problem at all if the new emperor changed the venue for the banquet.

The banquet was for wild boar, but Zhang Xuezhou felt that after entering the palace, he might become the new wild boar.