Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 39 Seeing the dragon in the field
Lu Xingzhou fell into deep thought and said nothing.

Under the feet of the emperor, there is a high chance that the emperor will do it himself.

If it was done by a brother, he would probably not just hit your legs... But it is very likely that it was done by the emperor.

No wonder when Shen Tang saw his feelings for An Nuo, the feeling was really hard to describe... It was not just about the night before, he must have felt it in his heart a long time ago.

People's likes and dislikes always have their reasons.

Shen Tang continued, "No matter who did it, this act of fratricide has caused the Imperial Master extreme dissatisfaction, so he sent Qingli to escort me away and provide personal protection."

"So Qingli is the disciple of the Imperial Master, and a direct descendant of the Holy Land?"

"Yes." Shen Tang said, "Qingli and I are somewhat similar. She has been cultivating in Dongyue Hanchuan since she was a child and rarely interacts with outsiders. However, because of the cultivation method she practiced... she was originally supposed to cultivate to the fourth level before leaving the mountains to seek the path to the third level. But because of my situation, the National Master allowed her to come out early."

Lu Xingzhou sighed, "With your background, you two could flip the entire Xiazhou over a hundred times and crush it into a ball. Xiazhou is just a county town, how could it have room for two of you, big Buddhas?"

Shen Tang laughed. "Actually, Xiazhou is a bit special. It's rare for a county to be called a 'zhou'. That's because in the early days, the state and county governments were both here. Later, the spiritual energy here became weaker, the state government moved, and this place became a large county."

"I heard this when I was a kid. Is there a story behind it?"

"Whether there's a story behind this is perhaps something we can explore." Shen Tang said, "The Imperial Master's guidance for the rise of the Xiazhou Storm must have had its reasons... The events that occurred before would have been considered dramatic for ordinary people, but for us, it doesn't seem to be enough."

Lu Xingzhou nodded: "Continue with your story. The Imperial Master will help you, and then what?"

"If it was my father who personally did it, things would be much simpler. He would have destroyed me, and there would be no need to kill me completely. It would only tarnish my reputation and anger the Holy Land. He would also restrain my brothers from doing anything reckless."

"Does the Holy Land impose such severe restrictions on imperial power?"

"Let's rely on each other. The Holy Land cannot completely override the Imperial Family... but the Imperial Family will never want to fall out with the Holy Land. Being considered as a perverse act by the Holy Land is not a good thing."

Lu Xingzhou interjected, "If it was your brothers who did it, under the pressure of the Holy Land, they'll most likely have to give an explanation, or at least put forward a group of scapegoats. Once this case is over, you can actually openly present yourself as the Tianxing Sword Sect. With you content to be a cripple, without the threat, they won't openly attack you again. At most, they might plot against you secretly or suppress you under the pretext of gang fighting."

"That's right, so even if I am cured, I will continue to pretend to be lame and show him."

Lu Xingzhou's heart moved slightly, and he also felt that if he was cured, he could continue to pretend to be lame...

Shen Tang suddenly changed the subject: "Xingzhou, do you know that when we first met, you said something unintentional that touched me deeply."

Lu Xingzhou was stunned: "Which sentence?"

"You said, making people regret losing me is something we women like to do..." Shen Tang whispered, as if talking to himself, "Originally, I really just wanted to stay away and watch them kill each other and their fathers and sons hate each other, and regret it sooner or later. God knows how much I thought when I suddenly heard such a sentence. The blood of my mother, uncle, and countless innocent disciples of the Sword Sect was actually shed because of me. If I really just stood back and watched, who would I be doing justice to..."

She paused, then looked into Lu Xingzhou's eyes, her gaze sparkling. "Anyway, I just want them to be like Liu Qingcang... and regret their failure."

Lu Xingzhou laughed: "I didn't expect that the story between me and the Danxia Gang would have a different meaning from you watching..."

"So you and I are truly destined to be together." Shen Tang's eyes flickered. "Will you retreat from such a matter?"

"I anticipated your troubles." Lu Xingzhou said with a smile, "Since I dare to accept your jade talisman, I will not give it up easily, Master."

Shen Tang bit his lower lip: "So... when can you take your hand off my leg?"

Lu Xingzhou moved his hand away as if he had been electrocuted.

I was lost in thought while listening to the story, not on purpose, really!

Shen Tang looked at him for a while with a half-smile in his eyes, but he didn't say anything. He just asked, "So what kind of development advice can you give me now?"

Lu Xingzhou touched his chin and thought for a moment: "Wait for a change before making a decision."

"Has the case in the capital been closed?"

"No, let's see who the new city lord is. During this time, focus on healing your leg. This is more important than anything else."

…………

At this moment, the capital is in an uproar over two things.

One is the Tianxing Sword Sect massacre a few days ago.

Most people didn't know that the Tianxing Sword Sect was an imperial merchant, nor did they know about the "disappearance of the princess". Shen Tang was quite surprised when Lu Xingzhou knew about this before, but later he naturally guessed that Lu Xingzhou had been secretly using the intelligence network of the Yama Palace.

However, the Tianxing Sword Sect was a righteous sect, and its leader, Shen Chaoqun, was a third-grade sword cultivator, considered relatively strong among the third-grade cultivators, ranking 103rd on Daqian's "Heroes List" and gaining considerable renown. The Tianxing Sword Sect's overall strength was considered upper-middle-level, and their annihilation truly shocked the world.

Especially since Shen Chaoqun was killed right under the emperor's feet and outside the capital, it was an even more serious case.

The emperor was furious and ordered a thorough investigation. After a month of chaos and fighting throughout the capital, a conclusion was finally reached recently.

The Third Prince, Prince of Qi, Gu Yiheng, was tempted by the wealth and committed murder, seizing the goods. The evidence was irrefutable. He was demoted to a commoner and confined to his palace, forbidden to leave. The Prince of Qi's subordinates implicated in the crime were slaughtered, leaving the capital in terror.

This is the emperor's instructions to the Holy Land...

As to whether it was really the King of Qi who did it, or whether the King of Qi got into trouble in other struggles and was used as a scapegoat in this way, no one knows.

At the same time, the emperor also issued an edict to support the remnants of the Tianxing Sword Sect and not to bully them because of their decline.

"How is the Imperial Master now?" Gu Zhanting slowly walked up to the observatory and looked at the figure shrouded in smoke in the center of the platform.

His eyesight could penetrate the thick mist and he could see the graceful figure sitting cross-legged, calm and composed.

The master of Tianyao Holy Land and the national teacher of Daqian, he is number one in the world on Daqian's "Heroes List" and is called Master Tinglan.

It's a pity that she's wearing a veil, so her face can't be seen.

But there was no need to see, Gu Zhanting had seen her when she was young, and he also knew that she was not a "real person" back then, and she was still using her real name Ye Tinglan... She might be the most beautiful woman Gu Zhanting had ever seen in his life.

Unfortunately, such a woman would never be able to marry into the inner palace, so he couldn't even dream of it...

There were countless hidden monsters, and the Imperial Family itself had its share of veterans, with even more in the Holy Land. The Heroes Ranking couldn't even begin to list them all. The two of them were the only two super-class creatures currently active in Daqian, seemingly a match made in heaven. But he knew he couldn't defeat Ye Tinglan, especially after suffering injuries from the battle with the Demon King that hadn't healed yet.

In the end, the emperor ranked second on the list of heroes.

Ye Tinglan would not be attracted to men with low strength, or to put it simply, there is no possibility of love between men and women in her eyes... She only has the path to immortality in her eyes, and she is even more interested in King Yan than in others.

The third in the world...Yanluo Palace Lord Yama, the best among the super-grade ones, invincible among the same level of the first grade.

However, the reason why the holy land is a holy land is that it is not secluded from the world. After all, they are fair and restrain the Daqian ship from easily deviating from its course.

"That's your own daughter. Ask me if I'm okay?" Ye Tinglan slowly opened her eyes, her beautiful eyes showing neither sadness nor joy. "Why not ask yourself if I'm okay?"

The voice is plain and magnetic, just as pleasant as it was back then.

It seemed as if time had never left any trace on her.

Gu Zhanting was silent for a moment. "Yitang is a natural martial artist and has her own power, but unfortunately she's a woman. For the sake of the future of the country, I have no choice but to do this."

"You are not as enlightened as your ancestors."

"In fact, the actions of several former empresses...were completely nonsense. The historians simply gave them some face."

"They really didn't do a good job." Ye Tinglan said sarcastically, "But you are a seven-foot-tall man, and you did a pretty good job?"

Gu Zhanting said solemnly, "I have been fighting demons abroad and caring for the people at home, without a single day of slacking off. I have done my best to live up to the trust of our ancestors."

Ye Tinglan said calmly, "What crime did the Tianxing Sword Sect commit that they were slaughtered for no reason by the Emperor? All the sects in the world are in panic. Is that what they call good? Those who know the inside story also know that the father killed his daughter and framed his own son. It is indeed good."

Gu Zhanting was silent.

Ye Tinglan continued, "Yesterday I heard a message that the Lord of Xiazhou was secretly raising a demon and feeding it blood... If this isn't discovered in time, and Xiazhou is truly devastated, will Your Majesty be right?"

Gu Zhanting had something to say: "It was just a local official who broke the law. This has happened since ancient times. How can you blame me?"

"Similar cases have doubled in recent years. If Your Majesty, as the Son of Heaven, doesn't take responsibility for officials involved, how can you expect the people to take responsibility? Putting aside other things, why would Xu Bingkun, a swordsman who only cares about practicing and breaking through, be qualified to be the city lord? It's definitely not my appointment."

Gu Zhanting fell silent again.

Xu Bingkun was recommended by Grand Tutor Huo, and the Huo family was someone he trusted.

As if Ye Tinglan knew what he was thinking, he added, "The Huo family exploits the people of the village, causing widespread resentment. The emperor uses them as his right-hand men. If it's not the emperor's fault, then is it mine?"

Gu Zhanting, the emperor, was not one to be scolded. Finally, he began to lose face and said coldly, "Did the Imperial Master cross the line?"

Ye Tinglan chuckled softly, "Xiazhou is considered good... Everywhere in the country, factions, bureaucrats, and families... bully the weak, lead beasts to devour people, and are worse than demons. If the day of its collapse comes, I hope Your Majesty can say that he is worthy of his ancestors."

Gu Zhanting snorted coldly, turned away, and the conversation ended on an unpleasant note.

Ye Tinglan looked at Gu Zhanting coldly as he left, and suddenly her slender fingers lightly pinched the magic formula and made a simple calculation.

"Qian, Nine Two, Seeing a Dragon in the Field, It's Good to See the Lord." Ye Tinglan was slightly stunned: "Why is it this kind of hexagram? The host and the guest are not right... I calculated for Yitang, who is the Lord?"

(End of this chapter)