People in the Qin Dynasty, entertained during the Warring States period

"Tianze, the former deposed crown prince of Baiyue, was known as the Crimson-Eyebrowed Dragon and Snake due to his unusual appearance, and was also called the Crimson-Eyebrowed Lord. His strength was among the top in the martial arts world, and his skills were unpredictable. Even half-step grandmasters dared not underestimate him. Back then, the Marquis used three hundred ice-armored personal guards to capture him alive, and even so, he still lost most of his personal guards."

Cao Ze asked thoughtfully, "What was the Marquis's strength back then?"

"They are about equal in skill with me."

Cao Ze estimated that Bai Yifei should have studied military strategy and tactics, and be able to command troops for his own use.

It's unclear how many personal guards Bai Yifei can control, but it shouldn't exceed three hundred. If it exceeds three hundred, even a Grandmaster might not be a match for Bai Yifei, and Bai Yifei would no longer be able to submit to Ji Wuye.

"Thank you for your hard work, Brother Mo Ya. Please return now."

Mo Ya hesitated and said, "This person is extremely dangerous..."

Cao Ze waved his hand and said, "The general has already entrusted me with all the work. If I can't even handle a deposed crown prince, how can I talk about doing anything else?"

Mo Ya didn't try to persuade him any further. "Farewell."

After Mo Ya left, Cao Ze patted the iron fence and said, "Hey, stop pretending to be dead."

He had already sensed that Tianze had awakened.

The dungeon remained silent. Cao Ze chuckled and said, "Still playing dead? The Hundred Poison King and the Corpse-Driving Demon will be very disappointed to see you like this. It's a waste that they traveled all the way to Xinzheng to rescue you."

The intense black mist raged like a hurricane, causing Cao Ze's robes to flutter wildly.

A pair of red eyes suddenly opened in the darkness, staring at the calm and collected Cao Ze like a venomous snake.

It was only at this moment that Cao Ze noticed the malice, ferocity, and hatred in Tian Ze's eyes.

He thought of Tianze's various behaviors in the original novel, and how he was even jokingly called the leader of the Quicksand Matchmaker Group. He couldn't help but mutter to himself, "I hope he doesn't become an idiot because he's been locked up for too long, or it will be difficult for me to deal with him."

"who are you?"

Because he hadn't spoken for a long time, Tianze's voice sounded like a broken bellows, hoarse and rough, which was very unpleasant to listen to.

"Me? One of the four fierce generals of the night. You can call me Cao Ze."

Cao Ze smiled and said, "I'm curious how I knew about your former subordinates, aren't I?"

Tianze stared at Cao Ze with a gloomy expression. "They...died at your hands?"

Cao Ze shook his finger. "No, no, no, they didn't die at my hands. They're safe now and investigating where you're being held."

Tianze suddenly said, "You are not Ji Wuye's person."

Cao Ze exaggeratedly raised his arms: "I am the fierce general of the night, you say I am not the general's man?"

"...Bai Yifei came last night...If I obey your orders, I may live."

"Lord Marquis is truly shrewd..." Cao Ze said with a smile, "So, you consider me one of Lord Marquis's men?"

Tianze, whose hands and feet were bound by several thick iron chains, snorted coldly, and the snake patterns on his face seemed to come alive.

Cao Ze suddenly sighed and said, "Unfortunately, you're still wrong. I'm neither Ji Wuye's man nor the Marquis's man."

Tianze scoffed, "Are you one of Han An's men? Has Nightfall become this bad?"

Cao Ze chuckled and said, "To tell you the truth, I am the Fire Fairy's man. The Fire Fairy offered herself to me in exchange for my help in rescuing you."

"Fire Princess?" A hint of confusion flashed in Tianze's sinister red eyes.

"Oh, it's Yan Ling Ji. She's changed her name now, you can call her Fire-Striking Princess," Cao Ze said with a smile.

“It’s her…” Tianze murmured, recalling the girl he had once recruited.

"What is your purpose?" Tianze asked calmly.

"The purpose..." Cao Ze chuckled softly, "Just two conditions."

"What conditions?"

"From this moment forward, Fire Princess will serve me as her master, and you shall not interfere."

Tianze didn't hesitate. "This is her own choice. From now on, she is yours."

Cao Ze was overjoyed. "Fire Fairy, Fire Fairy, you've been sold to me. You must be stunned now, right?"

"Ahem, the second condition is to help me find the Baiyue treasure?"

Tianze's heart pounded violently, and his red pupils were as small as pinpoints.

Seeing this, Cao Ze realized that Tian Ze really did know some secrets.

"Is it possible or not?"

Tianze couldn't help but sneer: "Since you know about the Baiyue treasure, aren't you afraid that if word gets out, Ji Wuye and Bai Yifei will kill you?"

Cao Ze chuckled and said, "Sorry, these two just happened to ask me to investigate the Baiyue treasure."

Tianze was somewhat frightened and stared blankly at Cao Ze.

He didn't know who Cao Ze was, what abilities he had that made Nightfall trust him so much, and what made him seem to have an extraordinary understanding of him.

"You want me to help you?"

"good."

"Help me remove the curse from my body."

"Yes, but it will take time. Once you help me find the location of the Baiyue treasure, I will remove the curse for you. Trust me, I have the ability."

Cao Ze said confidently that even though he didn't know how to cure the curse, it didn't stop him from making empty promises to Tian Ze.

If all else fails, I'll go to Madam Mingzhu's place for massages more often, to test the waters and maybe even sacrifice my looks.

Tianze remained silent, his mind, which hadn't been used in a long time, began to work.

If the person in front of you readily tells you your secret, then either he is a fool, or he is confident and has the absolute ability to suppress you.

Regardless of which option it is, at least for him now, it's all beneficial and without any harm, except for the loss of a fire starter.

"Since you are the Fire Fairy's man, I will believe you for now. But if I find out you are lying to me, I will be the first to kill you!"

Tianze threatened Cao Ze in a stern voice.

"Then, it's a pleasure to cooperate."

"Hmph!" Tianze proudly raised his head.

"So easy to fool..." Cao Ze exclaimed sincerely.

……

Chapter 296 'Defaming Someone's Innocence'

The night was cool and still.

Flames soared into the sky within Xinzheng City, illuminating half of the city and dispelling the coolness and silence of the night.

Having suppressed his anger for too long, Tianze unleashed it without restraint.

He endured for many years, and he vowed to bring endless fear to South Korea, to stain the Korean land with blood, to rekindle the spirit of national restoration, and to vent the hatred in his heart!

"This aura is..."

Sitting on the courtyard wall, Yan Lingji, who was idly swinging her long legs, stared blankly at the place where the flames were soaring into the sky.

She instinctively wanted to rush over to find out what was going on, but was stopped by the smiling Li Wu with her flute.

"Yan Ling Ji, Jing Ni has been in a bad mood these past few days. I advise you to calm down a bit."

Yan Lingji snorted and jumped down from the courtyard wall, sitting on the swing and swaying slightly.

The weather warmed up too quickly, and Jingni was caught off guard, accidentally causing Xiaoyan'er to develop prickly heat.

Even with the medicinal powder, Jingni still needs time to recover.

As a result, Xiao Yan'er has been crying and making a fuss every day for the past few days, and Jing Ni's expression is visibly unfriendly.

Yan Lingji would naturally not risk trouble at this time.

Now that her master has been born, she has regained her confidence.

With their master present, along with the four top experts, even if they couldn't defeat Jing Ni, they wouldn't be completely powerless.

On the high platform of Zilan Pavilion.

Han Fei's expression was grim. "Brother Cao, the city is on fire..."

"It wasn't me who did it, Brother Han, why are you looking at me like that?" Cao Ze snorted. "Do you think I can control Tianze?"

Han Fei was speechless and felt a great headache coming on.

If he hadn't seen the hope of eradicating the darkness, he would have fought Cao Ze to the death long ago.

Is this how a brother-in-law should act?!

You're just bullying your brother-in-law like this?!

Don't you know your brother-in-law just became the Minister of Justice and hasn't even had a chance to settle in yet?

I bother!

Cao Ze ignored Han Fei's resentment and instead pondered the answer Tian Ze had given him.

He showed the runes to Tianze, who recognized them and provided an explanation.

Only eight characters: Blood soaks the homeland, the royal aura is rekindled.

It is suspected to be a prophecy of restoring the nation.

It is known that the Baiyue treasure was left by Duke Zhuang of Zheng, and the Baiyue treasure chests passed down to his descendants are inscribed with runes and secret words.

The intention is to allow future generations to obtain the treasure and use it to revive or rebuild their homeland.

Cao Ze fell into deep thought.

Did Duke Zhuang of Zheng obtain the Feng Hou Qi Men technique?

Could it be that Tianze and Huoyu Gong's ancestors were the same, descendants of the Zheng royal family who fled to Baiyue and were left behind in Baiyue?

And Tianze is the one who "soaked his homeland with blood and reconstituted the royal aura"?

Cao Ze rubbed his temples, estimating that Ying Zheng would leave home in at most two more months, leaving him little time to find the Baiyue treasure.

He didn't care about the wealth in the Baiyue treasure trove, but he couldn't easily let go of the bronze box containing the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations.