Qin Shi: I went astray in the Heavenly Sect

Chapter 185 Clash, Entering the City

"Master, do not make a mistake for yourself!"

The State of Chu, the city of Shouying.

Beneath the pavilion, Xiang Yan's tone turned somber, and then a fierce, military aura emanated from the great general.

Military strategists use war to stop war and to sustain war; war is their method of self-cultivation. Xiang Yan charged into battle in his youth, and now, his military aura is almost tangible, making people feel as if they are surrounded by mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

The three people outside the pavilion, namely Xiang Quan, Yan Lingji, and Xiao Meng, felt a chill rise in their hearts, followed by the hairs on their bodies standing on end.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that Xiang Quan, a man from a military background, had his fists clenched, his pupils dilating uncontrollably, and veins throbbing on his forehead. Clearly, the murderous aura that Xiang Yan unleashed had not been spared from him, one of his own.

Yan Lingji, standing to the side, unconsciously ignited tiny flames at her fingertips and assumed a defensive posture. Facing this great general who had emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, she dared not underestimate him in the slightest.

Finally, there was Xiaomeng. Although this girl had witnessed higher-level duels, facing a military master so openly still made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

His clear eyes turned serious, and the pure internal energy within his body began to circulate along his eight extraordinary meridians, resisting the pressure from Xiang Yan.

On the other hand, Xiu Yuan was the closest to Xiang Yan and was under the greatest pressure. Surprisingly, the young man remained calm and composed, as if he had not sensed the other party's murderous aura.

When Xiang Yan saw Xiu Yuan's reaction, a heavy look suddenly appeared in his eyes. In the clash of auras, he hadn't gained the slightest advantage.

"A Grandmaster is a formidable figure, whether in the imperial court or the martial world, but I have killed quite a few Grandmasters myself."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Yan and Xiang Quan were taken aback.

Kill a Grandmaster?

They all doubted that they had heard correctly. In the martial arts world, a Grandmaster was no small figure; most of the top combatants of various sects and factions were at the Grandmaster level.

Generally speaking, in a one-on-one situation, it is difficult to kill a Grandmaster, since even if you can't win, you can still run away.

Before Xiang Yan could react, as the boy opened his eyes, a majestic aura surged into the sky, as if the heavens themselves were above. The murderous aura released by Xiang Yan was instantly dissipated by this terrifying aura.

Sensing this unfathomable aura, Xiang Yan's expression changed again.

"You're a Grandmaster?"

The Chu general, who had remained unfazed even when facing thousands of troops on the battlefield, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Quan's heart skipped a beat. On the way here, they had discussed the other party's strength, but because the other party was too young, none of them thought that the other party would be a grandmaster.

Even the grandmasters felt that this was somewhat illogical.

"Two months ago, a young man suddenly appeared in Daliang City of Wei Kingdom and fought a fierce battle with an old master of the Armored Sect. In the end, the old master temporarily broke through the bottleneck of the Grandmaster by means of a secret technique, but was still defeated by that young man."

"This news was immediately blocked by the Wei Kingdom, but there were many Jianghu people in Daliang City, and the news still got out."

"Legend has it that on that night, sword light filled the entire Daliang, and even the patriarch of the Armored Sect, who unleashed a world-shaking punch, failed to achieve any success."

Hearing the other person's words, the boy stood still, unmoved, as if the words were not directed at him.

"No matter what happens in Shouying City, those two people at Jinghu Medical Manor must be safe and sound."

"As for whether the general is willing to form a friendly relationship with me or an enemy, it is entirely up to the general to decide."

After a while, only Xiang Yan remained under the pavilion. Looking at the lake in front of him, which was called Chunting, he sighed softly.

"I thought a fierce tiger was coming, but it turned out to be a real dragon."

Standing outside the pavilion, Xiang Quan was filled with emotion upon hearing Xiang Yan's words. The difference between a Grandmaster and a Great Grandmaster is as small as one word, yet they are worlds apart.

The Grandmaster realm might cause some concern, but the Great Grandmaster realm only inspires fear.

"General, is he really a Grandmaster?"

Xiang Yan slowly exhaled, a hint of uncertainty flashing deep in her sharp eyes.

"Even if he isn't, he's still a Grandmaster-level fighter. That old guy Yan Wu isn't someone to be trifled with. If he didn't have Grandmaster-level combat power, he wouldn't be able to stand in front of me."

"Please keep a close eye on the matter of Lord Nan and Feng Hu Zi. Our Xiang clan is determined to accept this favor!"

Xiang Quan cupped his hands in greeting.

"As ordered!"

After leaving the General's Mansion, Xiu Yuan, Xiao Meng, and Yan Ling Ji rode in the Xiang Clan's carriage back to the inn. On the way, Yan Ling Ji couldn't help but ask a question.

"Young Master Xiuyuan, you've kept this from me for so long!!"

Yan Lingji sat beside Xiu Yuan, her eyes flashing, her charming tone carrying a hint of complaint.

However, this tone did not evoke any aversion; instead, it made people feel that the girl was simply being coquettish.

Xiu Yuan looked out through the carriage window. Last night, a riot broke out in Shouying City, causing a great disturbance, but the streets outside were still bustling, as if nothing had happened.

Is it that the people here are used to war, or is this peace merely superficial?
The war engulfed the entire Seven Kingdoms, and there was nowhere left to call it a paradise. Even the mechanical city that the Mo family had painstakingly built was eventually destroyed.

"and then?"

Upon hearing Xiu Yuan's words, Yan Ling Ji lowered her eyelids, and a strange, unreadable look flashed in her bright eyes. Then she moved closer to the young man.

"What do you say?"

The passionate girl's breath was fragrant, and Xiu Yuan gently raised his eyes as he felt the warm breath on his ear.

The small space inside the carriage suddenly fell silent. Seeing all the colors fade away, Xiaomeng rolled her eyes at the girl in annoyance.

If it weren't for this girl, how could she have gotten involved?

Now, even if she wanted to change her position, she couldn't. However, feeling the carriage still moving forward at a leisurely pace, the silver-haired girl sighed softly in her heart.

My senior brother's control over the loss of color in the world has become increasingly profound.

After a while, the young man spoke softly.

"Don't worry, since I said I would help you, I won't go back on my word. If you cause any more trouble, our agreement will be null and void."

Knowing the girl's sore spot, Xiu Yuan used it with ease. After reviving the world from its colorless state, Xiu Yuan gave her a warning.

Upon hearing this, Yan Lingji indeed dared not cause any more trouble.

However, she seemed to have thought of something, and a faint smile appeared on her lips, very subtle, but very beautiful.

"Does the young master think Xiang Yan will pass on your information to those people in Shouying City?"

Leaning against the window, Yan Lingji admired the fleeting scenery outside while whispering to Xiu Yuan.

"I don't know."

"But probably not."

Xiu Yuan shook his head. Before something happens, no one can be sure what will happen.

Xiang Yan gave him a strange feeling. This general of Chu seemed to have little interest in court affairs, but all the things that had happened before indicated that Xiang Yan had some plans for the court.

"Won't?"

Yan Lingji turned around and looked over. Judging from their previous interactions, this general was a deep and thoughtful person, not a careless one.

After Xiu Yuan made it clear that he would protect the two people at Jinghu Medical Manor, would he still sit idly by?

However, if the young man beside her is angered, things will not be so lucky for Shouying City. A Grandmaster, if the cost is not considered, it is estimated that none of these people from the Chu royal family will be left.

"Master Xiaomeng, what do you think?"

Then Yan Lingji looked at Xiaomeng.

Her answer differed from Xiu Yuan's. Since their answers were different, she wanted to hear a third person's opinion. At the moment, besides herself and Xiu Yuan, there was only a little girl in the carriage, so she asked the little girl for her opinion.

"Is it important?"

Xiaomeng's eyes flickered slightly as she replied leisurely.

"What difference does it make whether we tell those people or not? The people we need to save can't be saved even if they all come at us together."

Upon hearing the other party's words, Yan Lingji's lips twitched.

This girl is young, but she has a big mouth, and her tone, which makes people angry at first glance, is exactly the same as the boy next to her.

If they weren't so badly beaten, they would have slapped them both, no matter how high or low they were. Would they die if they didn't put on a show for me?

Has anyone ever told you that you're a lot like this little rascal?

Yan Lingji looked at the two people sitting on one side, in almost the same posture, and covered her mouth with a smile.

Xiaomeng looked up, narrowed her eyes, and stared at the girl for a while until the girl felt a little uncomfortable before she looked away.

"He is my senior brother."

Upon hearing this, Yan Lingji coughed lightly.

This wasn't a standard answer, but after thinking about it, a strange look appeared in her eyes.

Xiu Yuan was indeed her senior brother. In terms of both realm and combat strength, he was far superior to her. Especially since they were the same age, it was undeniable that the girl might learn something from this young man without him even realizing it.

Even she learned a lot from this boy.

“Young Master, when I went to the Heavenly Sect last time, I met Master Chisongzi. He once told me that if I wanted to make a breakthrough, I had to cultivate a profound internal skill.”

Inside the carriage, Xiu Yuan shook his head helplessly. Between movement and stillness, it is human nature that he prefers quiet. Xiao Meng doesn't know if it's her nature or if she has been influenced by him, but she is usually very quiet as well.

But Yan Lingji is different. This girl gives the impression of having inexhaustible energy. Although he doesn't mind having such a lively beauty by his side, it still makes him feel a little tired.

After thinking for a moment, Xiu Yuan flicked his finger, and a stream of energy entered Yan Lingji's body from between her eyebrows.

Sensing the changes within her body, Yan Lingji was taken aback, then looked at the boy with a strange expression.

"This is a cultivation technique that I accidentally comprehended. Carefully feel it, remember the trajectory of the true energy circulation, and one day, if you can cultivate it to perfection, reaching the Grandmaster realm will not be a problem."

Yan Lingji's eyes lit up upon hearing this. She knew that the young man in front of her was a grandmaster, and the cultivation technique he had comprehended was certainly not ordinary.

"Young master, I think I've fallen for you." Xiaomeng, who was sitting next to Xiuyuan, turned pale upon hearing this and cursed inwardly as a shameless woman who was now acting innocent after getting something in return.

Xiu Yuan shook his head. It is said that it is easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature. Now it seems that there is quite a bit of truth to it.

Through their previous interactions, he had a general understanding of Yan Lingji's personality. This girl was passionate and outgoing, and she wore her likes and dislikes on her sleeve. She wouldn't say a word to people she didn't like, and even if they did communicate, it would mostly be with cold words.

Just like when she was in Xinzheng, South Korea, she and Bai Yifei, the Marquis of Blood-Clad, never exchanged a single kind word.

However, when it comes to people she likes, she mostly speaks in a joking tone and teasing manner; in other words, she is a girl who dares to love and hate.

"Senior brother."

Just then, a voice entered Xiu Yuan's heart. Xiu Yuan frowned and turned to look over.

Xiaomeng just used a Taoist secret technique for transmitting sound, the Heavenly Sound Transmission.

"what happened?"

Similarly, Xiu Yuan replied using Heavenly Voice Transmission.

Do you know anything about her past?

"How to say?"

"There was an explosion in Shouying City last night. When I wanted to go out to look for you, she stopped me."

"Not when you came back, but shortly after the explosion."

"She was from the Baiyue tribe. Back then, the Baiyue were destroyed by the Chu and Han states. She began to wander around at a young age and later became a subordinate of Tianze, the crown prince of Baiyue. Walking in the darkness, she had seen the darkness of the world and had also taken up arms to reap lives."

"Actually, she did the right thing last night. Your cultivation level is not high enough. If you were caught, it would not be a good thing for me. On the contrary, staying quietly in the inn is the wise thing to do."

"I know, but she definitely doesn't like you as much as she seems. The prettier the girl, the more likely she is to lie."

"."

Xiu Yuan suddenly smiled, then reached out and rubbed the little girl's head. She was so young, yet she was already thinking about these things. Although she looked only thirteen or fourteen, she was much older than that.

He hadn't even considered these things at that moment, yet the young girl was already thinking about them. Should we say that girls mature early, or that he had overlooked something?

"Some things are better left to fate."

Time passed slowly, and in the blink of an eye, it was the morning of the second day. Standing on the second floor of the inn, looking at the carriage passing by below, Xiu Yuan's gaze became profound.

Although they arrived a little late, Nian Duan and Duanmu Rong still made it.

"Here they come."

On the side, Xiaomeng seemed to have also seen the carriage, and then spoke softly.

Upon hearing Xiaomeng's words, Yan Lingji also stepped over. In the past two days, she had learned that Xiuyuan and Xiaomeng were waiting for two people, or rather, two healers.

“Those are the clothes from the Li family.”

Yan Lingji watched the departing carriage, her brows furrowing slightly. She couldn't see the people inside the carriage, but she recognized the clothes worn by the people following it.

"Li House?"

Upon hearing this, Xiaomeng turned to look at her. She had never heard Yanlingji mention this matter before.

"The Li residence of Li Yuan, the Prime Minister of Chu. Last time I visited the Li residence, I was surrounded and intercepted by three experts at the Innate Realm. It was you who helped me out of that predicament!"

When the topic of the previous incident came up, Xiaomeng suddenly realized that Xiuyuan had only mentioned rescuing people and had not said which faction the pursuers came from. Of course, he might not have cared about their identities.

"That's the direction of the Li residence. It seems we should go to the Li residence first, and then to the palace."

Seeing the carriage turn onto another street, Yan Lingji chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in her voice.

The Prime Minister of Chu asked someone to save his sister, but even after the person arrived, he was still worried and wanted to check on her himself first.

In the past few days, several groups of people have arrived one after another, but there is still no good news coming from the palace.

On the contrary, the major legions stationed in Shouying City have been quite lively these past few days. Fortunately, Xiang Yan has been keeping things under control, and nothing major has happened.

"Is there any collusion between Li Yuan and Luo Wang?"

Suddenly, Xiu Yuan asked a question.

Xiaomeng and Yanlingji were taken aback. They had already discussed the matter of the Luo Net when they returned from their first night of cultivation. They hadn't gone out in the past two days, so they had no information about it at all.

"Have."

Suddenly, a voice reached the two women's ears, startling them. They then turned around sharply and looked into the room.

A man in black robes appeared in the room, behaving respectfully.

As if remembering something, Xiaomeng's tense nerves slowly relaxed.

"Are you the person from Mirror Lake?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Lingji was completely bewildered.

There were more than two healers in Mirror Lake Medical Manor, so why was there an extra man in black? And according to her senses, his cultivation level was not low; he was at least a Grandmaster.

It wasn't that she underestimated the Prime Minister of Chu, but if there were such a master in the medical clinic, could Li Yuan really persuade him to come?

"Greetings to both young ladies."

Xiu Yuan withdrew his gaze from the distance and slowly walked back. Seeing that the other party was greeting the two girls, he waved his hand gently.

"Have you encountered any problems along the way?"

This person was none other than Yan Ri, the top-tier assassin from the Luo Wang organization whom he had subdued outside Jinghu Medical Manor. Yan Ri had followed Nian Duan and Duanmu Rong all the way to Shouying.

"There were a few ambushes, but they stopped after that."

Xiu Yuan nodded.

Given the chaotic situation in Shouying City, it would be normal for assassinations to occur; it would be a miracle if there weren't any.

Nian Duan, the renowned physician of Jinghu Medical Manor, would surely take action on the way to prevent her from reaching Shouying City if the other party intended to obstruct her.

Once they arrive in Shouying City, it will be difficult for them to make a move.

"There is something I need to report to you, young master."

After a moment of silence, Yan Ri spoke in a deep voice.

Xiu Yuan nodded.

"Just say what you want to say! They're both on our side."

Yan Ri glanced at the two women in front of him and shook his head slightly. However, he did not object to Xiu Yuan's decision. After thinking for a moment, the top-ranking assassin from Luo Wang said frankly, "Mr. Nian Duan and Miss Duanmu Rong seem to have discovered something. On the way to Shouying, Miss Duanmu Rong asked me for help, wondering if she could avoid coming to Shouying."

"Oh?"

Xiu Yuan let out a soft exclamation. The two people's reaction was beyond his expectations. Before coming, he and Xiao Meng had analyzed the pros and cons of coming to Shouying to save people with Nian Duan, but in the end, Nian Duan still chose to come.

Why did Nian Duan change his mind halfway through the journey?

"What did they say?"

He shrugged, hiding the sun.

"It was Miss Duanmu Rong who contacted me. Mr. Nian Duan did not speak. Miss Duanmu Rong seems to have guessed that Shouying's situation is somewhat critical, so she does not want to get involved in court affairs."

Yan Ri admired the two people from the Medical Manor. They were able to analyze so many things in such a short time. Even the assassins of the Luo Wang might not have such meticulous thinking.

"Later, my subordinate explained to Miss Duanmu that the young master's realm was Grandmaster, not Grandmaster, and Miss Duanmu stopped looking for me after that."

Upon hearing this, Xiu Yuan frowned slightly.

Yan Ri's words seemed somewhat superfluous, but since things had come to this point, he had nothing more to say.

Then, Xiu Yuan's heart stirred, and he asked, "What other forces does the Luo Net have dealings with in Shouying City?"

After pondering for a moment, Yan Ri continued, "Apart from the Xiang clan, we have some contact with most of the forces in the court."

"Previously, Luo Wang had sent people to contact the Empress Dowager, as well as the two royal uncles of Chu, Mi Hao and Mi Fuchu, and the Prime Minister Li Yuan."

"Mi Hao and Mi Fuchu have always harbored resentment towards the current King of Chu, believing that he is the illegitimate son of Lord Chunshen, Huang Xie, and that his ascension to the throne is a disgrace to the ancestors of Chu. Therefore, they have been secretly plotting to kill the King of Chu and take his place."

As Yan Ri explained, scenes from the Chu court began to unfold before the three of them.

"As for this matter, it seems that the King of Chu had anticipated it long ago, so since he ascended the throne, he has been very careful and has not given anyone an opportunity to take advantage of it."

"Empress Dowager Li Huan and Prime Minister Li Yuan both harbored ulterior motives and remained silent about the matter, unaware that the King of Chu had long been planning for the affairs of the court."

"For the State of Chu, the most unstable factor is the Xiang clan. General Xiang Yan commands three major legions and enjoys extremely high prestige on the border. Therefore, the attitude of this general is very important. If Xiang Yan approves of the current King of Chu, then no matter how much Mi Hao and Mi Fuchu scheme, it will not be of much use."

"But the Xiang family had an ancestral instruction that their descendants should not get involved in the struggles between royal families, but should only be loyal to the State of Chu."

Upon hearing this, Xiu Yuan subconsciously touched his chin; these were largely consistent with his previous guesses. No wonder Xiang Yan reacted so strangely after learning certain things.

"Empress Dowager Li Huan was a scheme by Mi Hao and Mi Fuchu. The Empress Dowager has considerable prestige in the court, and with Prime Minister Li Yuan holding absolute power, it is nothing short of a pipe dream to try to deal with the King of Chu."

"So the two of them secretly plotted this, and Li Yuan was also poisoned. If it weren't for a skilled physician, he would probably end up like the Empress Dowager in about six months."

Upon hearing this, even Xiu Yuan was taken aback.

Recalling what Yan Lingji had mentioned before, Xiu Yuan seemed to be deep in thought. He decided to go to the Li residence first, and then to the palace. It seemed that there was more to it than just distrust.

"Mi Hao was also poisoned by a strange poison."

"."

"Made by the Net?"

"Made by Mi Fuchu."

(End of this chapter)