Embers of Sword

Chapter 347 Struggle
"Brother Qian, thank you for your hard work."

Xie Xuanyi came to Qian San's room. The storm was over and the door was no longer locked. With a gentle push, the wooden door opened naturally.

"It's just killing some minions, why is it so hard?"

Qian San shook his head, looking somewhat helpless.

The gentleman told him to keep his whereabouts secret until the end.

According to the plan.

He was supposed to be the last line of defense against an ambush by the Imperial City Division.

Unfortunately.

Xie Zhen's methods are even more cruel than you imagined.

He was a dignified Yinshen late stage, and in this incident, he only dealt with some miscellaneous matters in the Imperial City Bureau... The strongest was just a special envoy who had reached the perfect level of Cave Heaven.

"When the Yang God gets angry, blood will flow everywhere."

Xie Xuanyi said in a deep voice: "Brother Qian knows the risks and is willing to step forward. No matter what, I owe you a favor."

Behind Yuan Jimo is the Holy Queen and the entire Da Chu Imperial City.

If Wu Zexian had been angry just now, he would have started killing people regardless of the consequences.

Then Qian San...will most likely die.

"A scholar dies for a confidant."

Qian San smiled lightly and said, "Brother Xie, you don't owe me anything... The reason I am willing to come here is that I owe my life to the Book House and to the Master."

The library has planted many secret agents and maintained many favors over the years.

Xie Xuanyi knew... these hidden players must have been placed by Chen Jingxuan for the overall situation of the imperial city!
This time, when he was on a diplomatic mission outside the country, Chen Jingxuan did not hesitate to use "Qian San", a hidden chess piece, to ensure his own safety. The price was indeed quite high.

This is a person in the later stage of Yin Shen!
Even if the layout of the library is sophisticated, there are only two or three such hidden pieces at most.

"After the assassination in Qujiang this time, your identity has been exposed."

Xie Xuanyi said seriously: "You can't go back to Liguo."

"Yes."

Qian San smiled and said, "I wasn't planning to go back. I came to Qujiang this time with the intention of dying... Now that I'm alive, it's a pleasant surprise. The teacher said that if I could survive, I would stay at the border of Chu State. Master Xie should go to Li State to pick up a very important person next, right?"

Xie Xuanyi's expression froze.

"good."

He nodded.

After crossing Qujiang River, another hundred miles away is Yuanzhou, the capital of Liguo.

Now that the assassination attempt by the Imperial City Bureau has been put down, the next diplomatic mission should be smooth sailing. Once the delegation arrives safely in Yuanzhou, Xie Xuanyi will be able to take back the "Chu Fruit".

"Sir, leave me here to take care of the response."

Qian San smiled and said, "Due to my special status, I can no longer return to the border of Li State after the Qujiang Incident. During this period of time, the Purple and Blue Treasure Ship will stop at the lowest reaches of the Qujiang River. If Master Xie has any orders, he can send a message at any time through the Ruyi Order."

Fangyuanfang seems peaceful, but in fact, there is a struggle within.

A person like Qian San, who has been lurking in the country for many years and holds a high position, knows too many secrets that he should not know.

Once exposed, he would never appear in Nalan Xuance's sight again.

"I'm a little curious..."

Xie Xuanyi rubbed his brows and asked seriously, "I want to know what kind of people are Nalan Xuance, who has been hiding behind the scenes for many years, and Chen Chong, who has been in the limelight recently in the country?"

When he heard these two names, Qian San's expression changed slightly.

He stayed outside the country for many years. Serving the emperor was like living with a tiger, and it could be said that he was walking on thin ice at every step.

Although Fangyuanfang is the largest business house in the world, it is also the most dangerous one. After Yan Xin abdicated, he handed over half of Fangyuan in Chu State to Chen Jingxuan. The young national teacher is as gentle as jade, and his behavior is flawless. His style of doing things is kind and tolerant. Most of the Fangyuanfang spies living in Chu State live well.

Leaving the country is just the opposite.

The king is ill, the imperial power is in turmoil, the ten states are in turmoil, Nalan Xuance is ambitious and uses monstrous means to stir up trouble in the country...

"Nalan Xuance... is an ambitious man who will do anything to achieve his goal."

Qian San's eyes were a little complicated, perhaps thinking of some not-so-good memories. He slowly exhaled and said, "Compared to you, Nalan Xuance's methods are more sinister. Xuanwei Island's 'String Control Technique' is extremely strange. In order to achieve his goals, he can make many sacrifices. This guy is even more evil than the evil cultivators in Southern Xinjiang."

Several years ago, Nalan Xuance had already become famous.

Xie Xuanyi had heard of it a long time ago.

In his previous life, he had no chance to meet this descendant of Xuanwei Island, and Nalan Xuance was also very tactful and did not bring bad luck to him...

Think about it now.

At that time, Nalan Xuance should have been busy consolidating power and had no time to care about too many things.

Back then, he was just a wandering gangster roaming around the border of the country. Killing him would be of no benefit and would also cause trouble for the Dasui Sword Palace.

"Where's Chen Chong?"

Xie Xuanyi continued to ask.

"Chen Chong is a hero."

Qian San said sincerely: "It only took him ten years to go from having nothing to being above ten thousand people. I met him once. Compared with Yuan Jimo, there is a huge gap..."

It’s also a counterattack.

Yuan Jimo's counterattack was due to the Holy Queen.

And Chen Chong personally held the destiny in his hands.

Yuan Jimo could only live in darkness and loneliness in the imperial city. In the final analysis, he was just a plaything, while Chen Chong stood beside Nalan Xuance and was on equal footing with the Lord of Xuanwei Island.

“Is this guy so powerful?”

Xie Xuanyi raised his eyebrows.

"Little Master Xie, don't underestimate Chen Chong!" Qian San said solemnly, "I have met this man once. He is very patient. Whether in terms of qualifications or realm, he is a rare talent. Looking at the Great Chu Dynasty, the only one who can fight him in the Yinshen realm should be Tang Fengshu, the master of the Taoist Tianxia Zhai... It is hard to imagine that Chen Chong has such strength, but he could swallow his anger in the last great world, without saying a word, and without any luck."

"..."

Xie Xuanyi's expression became serious.

In the last era, Chen Chong was not even on the list of geniuses!

When I went to Li Country to ask for sword skills and challenged people everywhere, I had never heard of a person like Chen Chong!
This guy... is he deliberately avoiding me because he knows he has no hope of winning?
"It won't be long before Chen Chong will be able to break through."

Qian San sighed and said slowly: "According to this trend, he is destined to have a place among the top ten heroes in the world... I have something to say, but I don't know if I should say it."

Xie Xuanyi smiled casually: "Just say it."

"In the last great age, heroes were as numerous as crucian carp crossing the river... Little Master Xie's master, the Xuanyi Sword Immortal, was the best and most outstanding, there is no doubt about that."

Qian San paused and murmured, "But with the fall of Beihai, the luck and grace of this former sword master seemed to have gradually shifted to Chen Chong's hands. Chen Chong is now the leader of the three states' iron cavalry and the youngest senior general in the history of Li State. There is nothing more he can be given, and nothing more he can be rewarded..."

Xie Xuanyi was silent. There was nothing to be given a title, and nothing to be rewarded.

This really looks like myself back then.

"I heard that Xuanwei Island has the art of 'Dou Zhuan Xing Yi'. Unfortunately, I have fought for Nalan Xuance for so many years, but I still haven't gained his true trust..." Qian San laughed at himself and said, "I'm not afraid of being laughed at by Master Xie. I once suspected that it was Nalan Xuance who used evil magic to transfer the luck of Xuanyi Sword Immortal to Chen Chong, which led to the emergence of this new hero with a heavenly appearance."

"The destiny of the world is like a mighty river, flowing endlessly."

Xie Xuanyi smiled and said, "Even if Xie Xuanyi was the leader back then, there would always be newcomers who would replace him... Similarly, Chen Chong is very powerful now, but he may not be able to stop the new generation of young people from rising to prominence."

"Little Master Xie actually has such an opinion?"

Qian San was surprised and sighed, "As expected of you, he is the disciple of Xuanyi Sword Immortal and the leader of the new generation of geniuses. I am too narrow-minded."

He originally thought that Xie Zhen, as Xie Xuanyi's disciple, would mind such a statement.

Unexpectedly, Xie Zhen didn't care at all.

"but……"

Qian San asked curiously, "Little Master Xie, why are you asking about these two?"

"The country of Li is in turmoil right now. I'm sure Brother Qian is well aware that... Chen Chong and Nalan Xuance are working together to 'destroy Buddhism'."

Xie Xuanyi raised his eyebrows and looked out the window.

The purple treasure ship is about to dock.

The monks in the delegation were busy moving out boxes of scriptures and leading out the horses.

"I see."

Qian San nodded. Although he was a hidden man planted by Chen Jingxuan, he had just returned from abroad and did not know much about what happened in Da Chu. He only had a vague idea of what was going on. In order to avoid the surveillance of the Imperial City Bureau, he had not had the opportunity to communicate with the delegation...

Now Qian San understood.

He lowered his voice and said slowly: "Do you know why Nalan Xuance and Chen Chong joined forces to target the Fanyin Temple?"

"Why?"

Xie Xuanyi asked this question, but Miaozhen didn't explain it clearly.

"The ruler of Li State will not live long."

Qian San said calmly, "In the past few years, he has been staying behind the scenes and not caring about government affairs. Except for a few maids who have served him for many years, no one has been able to see him. I heard that he is relying on natural talents and treasures to barely survive... This king has many children, and the imperial power is unstable because of this."

The ruler of Li State was also a powerful ruler in his time, and he fought against Da Chu on equal terms for a hundred years.

Unfortunately.

Time urges people to grow old.

Even if you hold tremendous power, you cannot escape the words life and death.

"what do you mean……"

Xie Xuanyi's heart trembled.

"This king seems to be selecting a new 'crown prince' in recent years."

Qian San sneered, "In fact, the Li Kingdom shouldn't have so much turmoil nowadays... Nalan Xuance has assisted the Crown Prince of Li Kingdom for many years. The Crown Prince's position is stable and he is gradually gaining strength. Logically, he should have taken over the throne smoothly. However, in recent years, the King has suddenly begun to favor the youngest Ninth Prince, and this Ninth Prince happens to have an indelible fate with the Fanyin Temple."

Xie Xuanyi has never paid much attention to the government affairs of the Li Kingdom, so he didn't think about it in this regard.

But Qian San pointed out the relationship in one sentence.

"In this world, there is no struggle without reason..."

Qian Sanfeng said calmly, "To destroy Buddhism is to fight for power. The reason why Nalan Xuance and Chen Chong stand together is because they have always been staunch supporters of the Prince of Liguo."

Xie Xuanyi lowered his eyes.

I see……

There are some things Miaozhen didn't tell herself.

The reason why Chen Chong and Nalan Xuance wanted to "destroy Buddhism" was because the Fanyin Temple stood on the opposite side of them. If Qian San hadn't pointed it out, he might have been kept in the dark about the fight between the Crown Prince of Li and the Ninth Prince...

Xie Xuanyi raised his head and asked: "What is the relationship between the Ninth Prince and the Fanyin Temple?"

"The Ninth Prince was once received by the Zen Master."

Qian San only said one sentence.

Xie Xuanyi was a little dumbfounded: "That's it... that's it?"

"Gone."

Qian San smiled helplessly and said, "It sounds absurd, but if you think about it carefully, it is actually very reasonable. In the past hundred years, so many people have wanted to meet the Zen master, but the Zen master refused to meet them on the grounds that it was inconvenient to meet. But he met the Ninth Prince at a time when the country was in turmoil. Isn't this enough to prove the relationship between the two?"

"And after that, the Lord of Li State particularly favored and even 'spoiled' the Ninth Prince."

Qian San sighed: "This time, no matter how I explain, it's useless. Everyone thinks that Fanyin Temple has made a bet in this struggle, and they chose the Ninth Prince..."

This is the struggle for imperial power… There are more than just black and white in the world, but once the struggle begins, there are only two colors.

Enemies, friends.

The friend of the enemy is the enemy.

There was no need for Qian San to say more, Xie Xuanyi could guess that facing the suspicion of the world, the Ninth Prince would never explain a single word.

Fanyin Temple cannot explain this situation.

No one knows what the Zen master thinks, and no one is qualified to interpret his thoughts.

Xie Xuanyi asked, "Brother Qian is working for Nalan Xuance in Fangyuanfang. Do you have any more detailed information?"

"It's really gone."

Qian San shook his head and said seriously: "Although Fangyuanfang has great connections, there are some places that it cannot penetrate. For example, Dasui Sword Palace and Fanyin Temple. Nalan Xuance has also wanted to find out the relationship between the Ninth Prince and Buddhism over the years, but he has been investigating for a long time and still can't find anything."

"This matter... is beyond my understanding..."

Xie Xuanyi rubbed his brows and said in distress: "It's just a power grab. Even if the Ninth Prince and the Brahma Sound Temple are on good terms, why would Nalan Xuance risk provoking the Zen Master and go to great lengths to destroy Buddhism?"

"The best way to seize power is to simply eliminate the other party."

Qian San raised his eyebrows and smiled, "About seven or eight years ago, I heard that Nalan Xuance tried to kill the Ninth Prince himself... But now the Ninth Prince is still alive and well, which shows that the assassination attempt ultimately ended in failure."

"I don't know what happened..."

"Since that incident, the owner of Xuanwei Island has gone crazy and targeted Fanyin Temple."

"More than 30% of the spies in Fangyuanfang, Liguo, were stationed near the Liguo Buddhist Temple..."

"A map of the distribution of Buddhism, and all the places outside the main sect of the Brahma Sound Temple, has been drawn."

Qian San sighed, "After all, the opponent is a Buddhist sect with a thousand years of accumulated heritage. Nalan Xuance is alone, which is far from enough. However, after all these years of preparation, Chen Chong finally succeeded in taking the position and became the leader of the three states' iron cavalry. Now Yuanzhou is in a turbulent time. I think Nalan Xuance's plan to 'destroy Buddhism' will soon be implemented..."

(End of this chapter)