397: Chapter 9: Vanquishing Demons 397: Chapter 9: Vanquishing Demons Qin Baihuang accepted the bamboo slip, his expression turning complex.
He fell into silence.
The Qin Family Master intended to pass on his title to him, yet he had no interest in family affairs, only wishing to delve into the art of refining precious artefacts.
Countless people said he didn’t know how lucky he was.
Indeed, they were right, but he was no fool—he was well aware of the few in the family who wished him well and those who wished him harm.
With support came suppression.
To bolster Qin Baihuang, the Qin Family had made many arrangements over the years.
One of which was Qin Qianlian leaving the Imperial City to enter the Taoist Longevity House.
Such arrangements would naturally cause dissatisfaction…
Qin Qianlian had left, but Qin Wanyang still remained here.
Qin Wanyang was a youth, whose adolescent arrogance was at its peak at the age of seventeen or eighteen, yearning to prove himself in front of everyone.
As an older brother, Qin Baihuang saw all this.
But he never said anything.
Because he simply didn’t care about the position of Family Head.
If anyone else wanted that position, then they could take it for all he cared.
Qin Baihuang had planned, once the northern hunt was over, to find this third brother and clear up all previous misunderstandings…
But now.
He no longer had that chance.
With a long sigh.
Qin Baihuang put away the bamboo slip, and slowly said, “This matter…
indeed has nothing to do with you.
Wanyang was seduced by a wicked tempter, this debt, I’ll settle with Yan Xie.”
“Qin Sect Leader.”
Amid the swirling wind and snow, a calm and steady voice came from within the Red Pavilion.
The figure who had been watching the play all along slowly rose to his feet.
“Your exertions at the North Suburb Villa today were appreciated.
This kindness, I will remember.”
The barrier of the great formation.
The voice emanated from within the Red Pavilion, but could not penetrate the wind and snow enveloping it.
Huang Su, performing Sword Control high above the sky, squinted her phoenix eyes, trying to peer through the frost and snow to discern the figure inside the pavilion and could not see clearly…
She only had a vague feeling that tonight’s selection of this desolate mountain in the North Suburb was somewhat deliberate.
The mountains surrounding it in all directions, with the slightest use of the Observing Qi Skill, revealed the overflowing Dragon Vein aura, like red light, raging against the heavens.
Qin Baihuang intended to meet Xie Zhen without any subterfuge.
Anywhere in the Imperial City, even just choosing a restaurant, he could meet openly and honestly.
Only one person.
Needed to conduct matters away from the eyes of the Imperial City.
…
…
“Your Majesty.”
Qin Baihuang turned his head, fixing his gaze on the slender figure within the Red Pavilion, softly saying, “Today’s events will surely alert Yuan Jimo.
Baihuang does not care about retribution, but Iron Face, after all, is but a lone wolf…”
“I have already arranged a retreat for him.”
The young Emperor within the Red Pavilion said softly, “How could one who charges into battle for me perish in the wind and snow?”
“If so, Baihuang can rest assured.”
Qin Baihuang bowed.
Without further ado, he left with Iron Face, leaving Red Pavilion to Xie Zhen.
Once the desolate mountain fell silent, Xie Xuanyi, with his hands clasped behind his back, stepped into the pavilion.
He gazed at the youth in the bright yellow casual dress before him, who was flipping through a leisure book, with a plate of winter dates on the stone table.
“These days, has Your Majesty been leaving the city a bit too frequently, not fearing drawing attention?”
“It’s of no concern.”
The little emperor lazily said, “Hunting and archery are the daily routines of the Imperial Family.
Moreover, in their eyes, I’m just a fool lacking in spirit wisdom, and it’s quite normal for a fool to be fond of play…”
This desolate mountain lay not far from the Jade Sea Hunting Ground.
Xie Xuanyi was thoughtful.
He looked at Qin Baihuang’s departing figure.
Although he didn’t speak, the little emperor guessed what he was thinking.
“Do not worry, Qin Baihuang is Mr.
Chen’s man; he will not leak any secrets.”
The little emperor lowered his eyelids, wistfully closing the book he was reading.
Even though the book cover had been torn off, Xie Xuanyi somewhat guessed what the little fellow was reading.
Beyond that.
He guessed even more.
“Interesting.”
Xie Xuanyi watched the little emperor and slowly stated, “So it turns out that your mentor is Chen Jingxuan.”
He had long known that there was someone guiding the young Emperor from behind.
After all, if there were no sage backing him, how dare such a politically marginalised youth, barely into his teens, harbor the audacious intent of “executing nine generations”?
“In a while, Mr.
Chen will be conferred the title of State Preceptor.”
The little emperor smiled, “By then, the whole world will know, he is my mentor.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Xie Xuanyi raised his eyebrows, “Chen Jingxuan stands behind you…
Does he also aim to oppose the Holy Empress?”
“…”
No matter how prepared he was.
Such blatant words of treason still caused the little emperor to involuntarily hold his forehead.
“It’s about restoring order and reviving orthodoxy.”
The young emperor rubbed his brows earnestly as he corrected, “Although fate is flowing backward, Great Chu is still steeped in dire straits…”
The Holy Empress ruled, the authority of the Imperial City Department prevailed, primordial energy was depleted, chaos reigned across the Four Realms, and the Northern Border was lost.
Fate flowing backward could solve the urgent crisis,
But it was no long-term solution.
“Heh.”
Hearing this, Xie Xuanyi simply chuckled and offered no further comment.
“The risk for me leaving the city this time is actually not that great.”
The young emperor sat upright with solemnity, speaking slowly: “Ever since the hunt at North Suburb Villa, Ren Shou Palace has constructed a grand array, barring outsiders…
Only those Great Chu alchemists skilled in Alchemy, and the special envoys from the Imperial City Department, are allowed entry.
It seems that her cultivation has reached a very important phase, and during this period, she won’t have time to attend to other matters in the outside world.”
Xie Xuanyi’s expression turned grave again.
The battle in the Great Yue Kingdom.
He had seen something that was very likely to unfold in Great Chu’s future…
Compared with Emperor Qi, the Holy Empress had more formidable strength and even grander ambitions; she held a territory a hundred times larger than that of the Great Yue Kingdom!
Though this era was poorer than a thousand years ago,
If that madwoman resolved to sacrifice all of Great Chu’s citizens for Ascending, who could stop her?
“Your implication is that the Holy Empress won’t pay attention to the outside world during this period.”
Xie Xuanyi pointed southward: “I’ve heard that in a little while, the Great Chu Royal Family will organize a grand demon cleansing at the South Border…”
“Indeed.”
The young emperor spoke calmly: “Yin Mountain, Hehuan Sect, Heavenly Puppet Sect.
The Three Great Sects have joined forces and requested the Great Chu Royal Family’s assistance.
In this demon cleansing, they will attack the Paperman Sect en masse.”
The South Border was an “irrelevant territory.”
Here primordial energy was exhausted, and miasma thrived, posing difficulty even for cultivators to gain a foothold.
Great Chu was to the northwest, overlooking others.
Da Li was to the southeast, trailing behind.
After a thousand years of conflict, the two empires had reached a tentative equilibrium.
At this juncture, the South Border, this so-called irrelevance, had turned into a sought-after prize.
If the Great Chu Royal Family could successfully placate the Three Great Sects and bring them under its wing, then Da Li would face threats from all sides and fall into an extremely uncomfortable position.
“Your Majesty intends to participate in this demon cleansing?”
Xie Xuanyi vaguely sensed something.
“Of course…
I must.”
The young emperor sighed, “This demon cleansing is a trial arranged for me by the Holy Empress.
Over the years, as Northern County is left undefended and holds monopolistic power, there have been complaints within the Great Chu court.
Ren Shou Palace’s construction of the grand array and subsequent closure are twofold: to cross a boundary in cultivation and to quell rumors.
This is a good opportunity presented by the demon cleansing.
If I, on my own, perform poorly, I will be criticized, and when Ren Shou Palace’s array disperses, she will naturally retake control without issue.”
Xie Xuanyi’s brows furrowed tightly.
“However, there is also good news.”
He extended a finger toward his head, smiling as he said: “After all, I’m not very bright.
They don’t really expect me to achieve anything significant.”
“The Paperman Sect is not easy to eradicate.”
Xie Xuanyi spoke gravely: “Lu Yuzhen is no ordinary foe; compared to her, those evil cultivators from the Three Great Sects are nothing but wretched cur.
This demon cleansing task is far from easy.”
“Oh?”
The young emperor raised his eyebrows.
He had also secretly gathered opinions on this South Border demon cleansing.
Most showed an optimistic and proactive attitude.
He thought that the demon cleansing was simply a matter of hardship, nothing more.
With so many sects and great families to assist, one only had to be vigilant to prevent the evil cultivators from the Three Great Sects from returning to their old ways, seizing territory, and backstabbing once the cleansing was done.
“Does Chen Jingxuan also support your participation in this South Border demon cleansing?” Xie Xuanyi asked.
“Not at all.”
The young emperor honestly shook his head, “As for this, I have yet to consult the teacher.
After all, the talk of demon cleansing has only reached the Imperial City a few days ago; one cannot simply agree immediately as soon as the Three Great Sects come begging for favors.
This matter requires a process, and it might take a long time, or perhaps it may never start.”
The demon cleansing was not so immediate.
The negotiations between those evil cultivators from the Three Great Sects and the Great Chu Royal Family required time.
Besides that.
Lu Yuzhen’s return to the South Border and preparations also required time.
In Xie Xuanyi’s view, the outcome of this universally confident “South Border demon cleansing” was almost a foregone conclusion.
Lu Yuzhen had been on indomitable ground from the start.
Because the Paperman Sect had never actually established a base in the South Border—
This aggressively launched demon cleansing would inevitably begin with the Three Great Sects discovering the “false bases” Lu Yuzhen had set up.
Ren Shou Palace sending out the young emperor was obviously a sign that the Holy Empress had realized something was amiss…
The young emperor blinked and leaned forward curiously, asking, “Can it be that this nailed-on-the-board demon cleansing venture has more to it?”
“There’s a long story behind this.”
Xie Xuanyi shook his head, withholding detailed explanations from the young emperor, “In some time, I’ll send over a detailed report to the Book Tower.”
He had spoken much with Lu Yuzhen in the Great Yue Kingdom.
About Lu Yuzhen, about the Paperman Sect…
No one in the world knew more than he did!
Xie Xuanyi was never keen to expend effort on these intricate and dirty power struggles.
He knew that Chen Jingxuan was a master strategist, one of the very best at weaving plots; with this taken into account, things would be easier—his job was just to present the related intelligence.
With this information, Chen Jingxuan would surely make reasonable and proper arrangements for the demon cleansing affair.
…
…
(The next update will be a bit later, probably around two or three o’clock.)