You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

Chapter 315 Undercurrents

As night fell, deep within the mansion of Grand Marshal Yuwen Qing, in a heavily guarded secret room, where no unauthorized personnel were present, the lights were bright and the aroma of wine filled the air.

In stark contrast to the tense and almost hostile atmosphere in the Taiji Hall during the day, the two people sitting opposite each other drinking wine at this moment were actually Yuwen Qing and Prime Minister Liu Daoling!

The interior was luxuriously furnished yet elegant, with a huge bronze animal-head incense burner exhaling expensive ambergris.

Yuwen Qing had changed out of his court robes and was now wearing a loose brocade robe. His face, covered with a bushy beard and a broad smile, was raising his cup to clink with Liu Daoling's across from him.

Liu Daoling was still dressed in simple, elegant clothes, with a fair complexion and no beard. He wore a faint, confident smile, and his eyes were clear, showing no signs of drunkenness.

"Hahaha! Prime Minister Liu, you didn't see the foolish emperor's behavior in court today!"

Yuwen Qing tilted his head back and gulped down a large glass of strong liquor, wiped the liquor stains off his beard, and laughed heartily:

"Being struck by the murderous aura of my men, and seeing your black-skinned dogs lurking in the shadows, I turned pale with fright!"

"Do you really think we're sworn enemies, going to fight to the death in his imperial palace?"

Liu Daoling smiled slightly, gently swirling the white jade wine cup in his hand, the amber liquid rippling within: "Brother Yuwen, why bother arguing with a mere puppet child?"

"If it weren't for the fact that the Lu family's resources were almost exhausted, and the elusive 'Black-Clad Guards' who hadn't shown up for twenty years, the throne should have been given to someone else long ago."

"Isn't it better now that he's a puppet in the open, while you and I hold the reins from the shadows?"

"It also saves a lot of public opinion and avoids a confrontation with those lurking old fogies."

"That's right!" Yuwen Qing slammed down his wine cup, a glint of shrewdness and disdain flashing in his eyes.

"This young man from the Lu family is mediocre, cowardly, and lecherous. Apart from being a direct descendant and holding a legitimate position, he is utterly useless."

"If it weren't for the fact that his ancestors left behind some unfathomable things, I would have already..." He made a downward chopping gesture.

"A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan." Liu Daoling interjected, his tone turning cold. "The founding father of the Lu family was, after all, no ordinary person."

"His secret guard, directly under the royal family, a hereditary force dedicated to suppressing demons and eliminating rebels, is extremely small in number, but each member is a carefully selected, secret-trained assassin!"

"His strength is unpredictable, and his whereabouts are elusive. He is loyal only to the Lu family bloodline."

"Since the late emperor's reign, the Black-Clad Guards have rarely appeared. The last time there was a clear record of them was twenty years ago."

"On the eve of the late emperor's death and the current emperor's ascension to the throne, several families of nobles with treacherous intentions were suddenly killed overnight in the capital. Their deaths were bizarre, and only fragments of dark-colored clothing were left at the scene."

"After that, the Black-Clad Guards vanished as if they had disappeared from the face of the earth."

Yuwen Qing's expression also turned serious: "I am also aware of this matter."

"It is precisely because we fear this hidden knife that we have no choice but to join forces, pretending to fight to the death, so that the tyrannical emperor and the Black-Clad Guards who may be observing from the shadows will think that there is an opportunity to take advantage of us."

"In reality, we were trying to lull them into a false sense of security, secretly undermine the royal family's influence, and investigate the true strength of the Black-Clad Guards."

"But even after twenty years, this thorn is still stuck in our hearts."

"Not bad." A cold glint flashed in Liu Daoling's eyes. "The Black-Clad Guards may not show themselves, but they are ultimately a major threat."

"We do not know its true nature, its method of inheritance, or how much power it still possesses today."

"We control the imperial court, the army, and even part of the Demon Suppression Bureau, yet we know nothing about this last trump card of the royal family."

"This feeling is very unpleasant."

"In Liu Xiang's opinion, how should we force them to show themselves?" Yuwen Qing leaned forward.

Liu Daoling put down his wine cup, dipped his fingertip in the wine, and slowly wrote the character "妖" (demon) on the gleaming rosewood table.

"Demons and monsters wreak havoc, the people suffer, and the foundation of the nation is shaken." His voice was low, carrying a hint of cruel calculation. "One of the duties of the Black-Clad Guards is to suppress the great evils that threaten the country and its people."

"Although demons are frequently seen in various places nowadays, they are mostly minor ailments and not enough to shake the foundation. The Black-Clad Guards can naturally continue to remain hidden."

"But what if... the chaos escalates?"

He looked up at Yuwen Qing: "Brother Yuwen, beyond your northern border, there are those barbarian tribes who worship the 'blood sacrifice land,' and on Liubo Island in the East Sea, there are the lairs of those half-human, half-demon monsters..."

"They must desperately need 'sacrifices,' and they'd be happy to see the Great Hao in turmoil, wouldn't they?"

Yuwen Qing was taken aback at first, then a terrifying light flashed in his eyes, and a ferocious smile spread across his lips: "Prime Minister Liu means..."

"Secretly transporting 'demon blood,' and even guiding some controllable, powerful demons into the heart of the Great Hao Kingdom to create several 'disasters' that would shake the court and the country, making even the tyrannical emperor and his hidden Black-Clad Guards uneasy?"

"Exactly." Liu Daoling slowly wiped away the wine stains on the table, as if erasing a stain that did not exist.

"The more rampant the demons are, the more powerless the imperial court becomes, and the more exhausted the Demon Suppression Division and the Demon Suppression Platform are, the greater the likelihood that the Black-Clad Guards, who protect the royal family, will appear to clean up the mess."

"Once they show themselves and leave their mark, we can follow the clues to find out their strength, strongholds, and methods of inheritance!"

"At that time, whether we subdue them, disintegrate them, or... completely eradicate them will be up to you and me to decide!"

"Brilliant! This plan is brilliant!" Yuwen Qing clapped his hands and laughed, his eyes filled with ruthlessness.

"The second batch of 'Demon Blood Essence' secretly transported by the Donghai Chamber of Commerce will arrive at Jinhai Port within ten days."

"At that time, we'll select a few wealthy prefectures and give them a little 'spice'!"

"Perfect! This will also allow us to further weaken the unruly forces of the Demon Suppression Division—killing two birds with one stone!"

"Brother Yuwen understands my heart well." Liu Daoling raised his cup, and the two looked at each other, their eyes filled with tacit understanding and ambition in their collusion. They clinked their cups together again.

……

As night deepened, the imperial palace was still in ruins.

Lu Zuo had just finished his evening class, and his internal energy had become stronger and more solid.

He was facing the candlelight, flipping through a geographical record from a previous dynasty, trying to learn more about the local customs and potential resources of this world.

Eunuch Liu quietly entered and reported: "Your Majesty, Prince Rong is requesting an audience outside the palace."

Prince Rong?

Lu Zuo thought for a moment and remembered that this was "his" youngest brother, the late emperor's youngest son, named Lu Huan, who was only nine years old this year.

What is he doing here at this time?

"Let him in." Lu Zuo put down his book.

The palace doors opened slightly, and a small figure, dressed in a prince's everyday robes and with a rather slender build, walked in with deliberately composed steps.

Her face still had a childish look, but her eyes were dark and bright, revealing a calmness beyond her years.

He walked to the imperial desk and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your subject, Lu Huan, greets Your Majesty."

"Rise, please take a seat." Lu Zuo's tone was gentle. The original owner didn't seem to have much of an impression of this young imperial brother, only that he was aloof and didn't like to interact with others.

"It's so late, Brother Huan, what urgent matter brings you to see me?"

Lu Huan did not sit, but stood up and looked up at Lu Zuo, his dark, bright eyes particularly clear in the candlelight.

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, as if confirming something, he carefully looked at Lu Zuo's face and then listened intently to the sounds outside the hall.

Then, he stepped forward, lowered his voice but said clearly, "Brother, the new 'Ink Scale' has been chosen."

"His character and temperament meet the requirements."

"The 'Dragon Blood Ink Crystal' required for the initiation ritual has been prepared. We are just waiting for the full moon to be in full bloom before the transmission can take place."

Ink Scales? Initiation? Dragon Blood Ink Crystal? Inheritance?

Lu Zuo's heart skipped a beat!

These terms are not mentioned at all in the basic information about the Great Hao royal family provided by the system!

He maintained his outward composure, his brows furrowing slightly, seemingly puzzled: "Brother Huan, what are you talking about? What Mo Lin? I don't understand."

Lu Huan looked at Lu Zuo, a knowing smile appearing on his young face that seemed out of place for his age. His voice was even lower, yet carried a strange certainty: "Royal brother."

"'Ink Scales' is the preparation for the Ink-Clad Guards."

"Each generation of Black-Clad Guards is not simply trained, but rather selected through secret methods from outstanding children with exceptional talent and unwavering will from collateral branches of the Lu family or loyal non-family members."

"By combining 'Dragon Blood Ink Crystal' with ancient secret techniques for empowerment, inheriting the power of the previous generation of Ink-Clad Guards, and then diligently cultivating, one can achieve this."

"Twenty years ago, after the previous generation of Black-Clad Guards carried out their last mission, their power was greatly depleted and they were on the verge of extinction. They had to activate the 'Hibernation' program to seal most of their power in 'Black Crystal' and wait for a new successor."

"Now, a new successor has taken the place."

"After receiving the initiation, they need to cultivate in seclusion in a secret place for at least two years before they can initially grasp the power and serve the Emperor."

"Please be patient, Your Majesty. The court is filled with treacherous officials, and the realm is rife with demonic influence. Once the new 'Ink Scale' takes flight, it will surely cleanse the world for Your Majesty!"

After Lu Huan finished speaking, he bowed respectfully like a little adult.

Lu Zuo sat behind the imperial desk, his mind in turmoil!

The Black-Clad Guards! So this is how the Great Hao royal family's true trump card was passed down in such a fantastical way!

No wonder it's not in the system data; it's because it's a top secret of the royal family, and even the "original owner," the real emperor, didn't know about it!

Lu Zuo's mind raced, but his face revealed a complex expression that mixed surprise, realization, and then heaviness and hope. He stood up, walked to Lu Huan, and gently patted his still-childish shoulder, his tone full of emotion and "brotherly affection":

"Brother Huan... I never expected that you would shoulder such a heavy responsibility at such a young age."

"This matter is of great importance; who else besides you knows about it?"

"Your Majesty, apart from your brother and the selected 'Ink Scales' trainees, no one else knows about this."

"Even those who serve in the palace are unaware of the situation," Lu Huan replied earnestly.

"Good, good!" Lu Zuo seemed relieved, as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart.

Black-Clad Guards...Initiation and Inheritance...Two Years...

Liu Daoling, Yuwen Qing, do you think you can control the court and manipulate me?

Little did they know that beneath this seemingly weak and muddle-headed throne lay a sharp blade they could never have imagined.

And I... seem to need to speed things up as well.

This 'tyrant's' cultivation level cannot lag behind my future 'Ink Scale'.

He turned around, his gaze falling towards the quiet room.

It looks like I'll need to cultivate for an extra hour tonight.

"At that time, whether we subdue them, disintegrate them, or... completely eradicate them, will be up to you and me to decide! 'Wandering Through the Heavens as a Tyrant, You Don't Understand My Joy,' is a top contender in the Cola Novels readers' vote for best multiverse novel!"