Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 263 A Blend of Coaxing and Deception (Part 1)

When Zhao Boheng asked him a question, Gu Jingnian didn't say what he wanted to do, but instead brought up what Zhao Boheng wanted to do first.

"Coincidentally, my purpose is roughly the same as yours."

"Does Marquis Chengye also want to restore the Yue Kingdom?" Zhao Boheng deliberately misinterpreted Gu Jingnian's meaning and asked.

Gu Jingnian said, "Isn't the prerequisite for restoring the Yue Kingdom killing Emperor Rui?"

The Zhao people, being weak, had long sought cooperation with Gu Jingnian. Therefore, Zhao Boheng sent Miao Chunniang to Gu Jingnian's side. Now that he saw that Gu Jingnian was truly interested in cooperation, Zhao Boheng no longer concealed his intentions and his tone became much more straightforward.

"Oh? Marquis Chengye only wanted to mind his own business before, but has he changed his mind now?"

"When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. In this corrupt world, who can remain unscathed?" Gu Jingnian was also very sincere, speaking from the bottom of his heart: "I have found out that my elder sister is still in Ruiting's hands."

Zhao Boheng feigned surprise and said, "Ruiting made a solemn promise to you before, but in the end, he went back on his word?"

"I've figured it out. Relying on them to keep their word is not as good as becoming strong ourselves. From now on, I'll fight and grab with my own hands, by any means necessary."

"It seems that Marquis Chengye has finally come to his senses."

"If that's the case, you don't need to hide it from me anymore," Gu Jingnian said. "The red pills you gave me before were different from the ones you gave to others?"

"Yes."

Zhao Boheng finally admitted, sighing slightly, "Actually, the elixirs I gave to the civil and military officials of Yong were all refined from the blood of extraordinary individuals of the same kind. Only in this way could they be so effective and win over the people of Yong. We, the remnants of the fallen dynasty, are living under the roof of others, our power has waned, so this was a helpless measure. Before, seeing that you were averse to refining the elixirs, I dared not speak frankly, wanting to proceed gradually..."

"Taking it step by step, controlling me with elixirs?"

"To say 'control' is too strong a word; 'win over' and 'befriend' would be more appropriate."

“In any case, you have achieved your goal,” Gu Jingnian said. “From now on, you can refine medicine for me, but not using the previous method, but the method of Liu Yuchuan.”

Zhao Boheng did not immediately agree, but just stared blankly at Gu Jingnian.

He is a very tactful person. There's a saying he always has on his lips, which he knows he shouldn't say, but he still says it anyway.

"May I ask, Marquis Chengye, on what grounds? Do you intend to imprison me and force me to concoct medicine for you?"

“I prefer enticement to coercion,” Gu Jingnian said.

Zhao Boheng also preferred to be lured by benefits and waited for what was to come, but Gu Jingnian stopped talking and scrutinized him, as if considering how much value he had.

It was obvious that Zhao Boheng could sense a great change in Gu Jingnian during his coma.

Where did this change come from? And what gives Gu Jingnian the confidence to believe he can entice him?

After starting to speculate, he quickly asked a question.

"You didn't...go to the border, did you?"

Gu Jingnian smiled slightly and said, "Smart."

Zhao Boheng immediately asked, "After I fell unconscious, did you continue to examine Longxushui's memories?"

"Why don't you tell me what you want to do in this world? I'll see if I can help you."

Gu Jingnian's words were still a test, but his attitude and tone were so confident that Zhao Boheng could not resist and couldn't help but reveal his secret.

Anyway, it's not exactly a secret.

“If the Yue Kingdom wants to restore its kingdom, the hope of doing so through ordinary means is slim,” Zhao Boheng said. “If there is a way to rely on the people of the Realm or to obtain superhuman strength from the Realm, the possibility of restoring the kingdom will be greater.”

Gu Jingnian said, "The people of the realm never leave the realm. What do you think you can rely on them for? As for gaining strength from the realm, no one has ever left the realm before this time. You are being far too wishful."

This statement convinced Zhao Boheng that Gu Jingnian had a good understanding of the boundary, so he revealed more details.

“This time is different. With Longxushui dead, the realm needs to bring in someone. If I can enter the realm, the Yue Kingdom will have a chance.”

Gu Jingnian asked, "Are you very strong?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Boheng, despite his weakened state, couldn't help but laugh and sighed, "I've never made a move in front of you before, and the first time I did, I encountered that old man."

"I'm not being sarcastic, I'm just asking how strong you are?"

"As for my strength, I can survive in Zhongzhou without any problem." Zhao Boheng refused to be direct and said, "But I am skilled in alchemy, and there is always the possibility of me entering the realm of immortality."

“It’s impossible now,” Gu Jingnian said. “There are already new people from the Realm.”

"Liu Yuchuan?"

Gu Jingnian shook his head and said, "When selecting people in the realm, people like to see if their intentions are pure. How could Liu Yuchuan possibly enter the realm?"

Zhao Boheng was taken aback. He first thought that if that were the case, he wouldn't be able to enter the realm. Then, his brows furrowed, and he asked, "Then it wouldn't be... Ying Yao?"

Gu Jingnian asked, "Can you keep it a secret?" When Zhao Boheng saw that he did not deny it, he knew that Ying Yao had entered the realm. He couldn't help but feel a sense of awe towards Gu Jingnian. He thought to himself that Gu Jingnian now had a powerful backer and a person from the realm as his support. He should not offend him easily.

"Don't worry, I will keep my mouth shut."

"I ask you, how did you know about the Dragon Beard Water?"

At this point, Gu Jingnian's subsequent questions carried a different weight than before.

Zhao Boheng's expression became more solemn as he replied, "Most of the generals of Yong Kingdom have a very good relationship with me and Qu Jizhi. Among them, five people saw the shadow of the Jie people... or rather, the shadow. How should I describe it?"

"once."

"what?"

"I saw the past of the Jieren," Gu Jingnian said, "the remnants left in the world."

Zhao Boheng nodded involuntarily, finding the statement apt, and said, "It seems that Marquis Chengye knows what's going on."

"You go on."

"The afterimage was a young man with a very aloof temperament. He claimed to have the ambition to rule the Central Plains and made the supernatural beings follow his lead. Then he talked about the Dragon Beard Water's death in battle after it left the border and asked the powerful supernatural beings to go find him."

This was the same as what Qu Jizhi said, and it also matched what Zi Cang had done. Gu Jingnian then knew that Zhao Boheng had not lied to him.

Now it's his turn to shine.

Gu Jingnian took out a small dagger made of human bone and waved it in front of Zhao Boheng.

"This is the token of the deity."

"God?"

Zhao Boheng was stunned for a moment.

This "god-king" was just something Gu Jingnian made up on the spot. No matter how powerful Zi Cang was, he was actually a bandit who had displayed extraordinary strength in the realm. He was definitely not a god. But when it comes to fooling people, the more exaggerated the praise, the better.

These two simple, even somewhat superstitious, words actually fooled the old fox Zhao Boheng.

Fear arises from a lack of understanding.

He was unaware of the rules of the realm, but he had already conceived a scenario in his mind.

The deity, having attained unparalleled supernatural powers, harbored a desire to rule the Central Plains. Thus, after Longxushui's death, he summoned extraordinary individuals from all over the world to enter the realm for his selection. In the end, he chose Yingyao, and Gu Jingnian became a favorite of the deity, being sent to oversee the affairs of the Central Plains.

As if he had received an imperial edict, Zhao Boheng sat up from the bed, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. He was not yet a subject of the deity, but this was already a great show of respect.

“The God knows you,” Gu Jingnian said. “The medicine that saved you was bestowed by the God.”

"Thank you, Divine Lord!"

Zhao Boheng was filled with respect and felt that it was somewhat disrespectful to sit on the couch like this. He struggled to stand up, but he couldn't stand up. He felt that kneeling in front of Gu Jingnian so early would be a bit beneath him.

He simply pretended to be exhausted, knelt down on the ground, and weakly gasped for breath.

"No wonder, I've been thinking about the medicine that Marquis Chengye gave me..."

“Don’t call me Marquis Chengye,” Gu Jingnian interrupted directly.

Zhao Boheng was taken aback.

He was always shrewd and calculating, but today he was drawn into a completely unfamiliar conversation.

“Wing King,” Gu Jingnian said, “this is the reward bestowed upon me by the God.”

Since he was just making up a name on the spot and couldn't think of anything else, he decided to call himself Wing King since he had fire wings.

Before Zhao Boheng could recover from his daze, he was startled again.

Seeing his expression, Gu Jingnian said with slight displeasure, "Don't think that I am just a figurehead with the title of Wing King. The fiefdom that the God Venerable gave me is a realm, a world of its own, vast and boundless."

The concept of boundaries is somewhat complicated. Gu Jingnian gave a brief description, which made Zhao Boheng yearn for it.

Even if the Yue Kingdom cannot be restored in the Central Plains, it can still have a place in the border region where it can recuperate, multiply its population, and live on, which can be considered as living up to the expectations of its ancestors.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Zhao Boheng bowed and said, "Greetings, Prince Yi!"

“Alright, let’s just call it out in private,” Gu Jingnian said. “The Divine Lord has not set foot in the Central Plains for over a thousand years. He has only just begun to show his intention to leave the mountain, and he has few supporters yet. My purpose in coming here is to help the Divine Lord recruit virtuous and talented people. There is no need to make a fuss about it before it is accomplished.”

"Yes, Your Majesty, rest assured."

Gu Jingnian glanced at Zhao Boheng again and said, "The Divine Lord originally intended to make the Wei family the King of Yue after ruling the Central Plains. But now the Yue family wants to be the Empress of Yong. Is it because they are unwilling to submit to the Divine Lord?"

(End of this chapter)