"Senior, it's good that you're done. I hope I can be of assistance to you," Su Fan said with a smile.
"You've got good taste, kid. I won't take your things for nothing. I'm empty-handed right now, so I'll teach you a sword-nurturing technique," Tian Zechuan said happily to Su Fan.
This Long Jiany野 was to his liking. He didn't know if he would be able to return. It would be good to pass on his unique skill to this boy, lest his ultimate technique be lost.
"Thank you, senior!"
Su Fan would naturally not refuse. Su Fan had already seen this person's level. This was a level 78 expert. The method learned from him would surely not be weak.
"Watch closely, this technique is called Guan Ri!"
Tian Zechuan demonstrated the usage of Guan Ri to Su Fan, who memorized it all.
"This is a sword-nurturing technique. Normally, you should keep your sword close to your body and nurture it with your own spiritual energy. The longer you nurture it, the greater its power will be when you draw your sword. With enough time, even piercing the sun with a single sword strike would be possible. I didn't have a sword in hand before, so I couldn't demonstrate it for you," Tian Zechuan told Su Fan.
"Thank you, senior!"
After learning Guan Ri, Su Fan immediately thanked Tian Zechuan.
Upon reading the description of Guan Ri, Su Fan was shocked. Tian Zechuan's words were not exaggerated at all. A single sword strike to pierce the sun might indeed be achievable!
Guan Ri
Type: Sorcery
Nurture your sword with spiritual energy. The longer it is nurtured, the greater its power. Nurturing it for one day doubles its power.
Su Fan didn't know what to say anymore. Tian Zechuan possessed such a powerful sorcery, yet he failed to assassinate the emperor?
Su Fan guessed that someone might have tricked Tian Zechuan, and being tricked, Tian Zechuan was naturally no match for Guang Long, thus leading to his failure.
Su Fan felt that the reason Xiao Yuan hadn't killed Tian Zechuan until now was likely to extract this technique from him. If every soldier in the Tian Long army learned the sword-nurturing technique, even if their individual strength wasn't high, what would be the scene if a hundred thousand soldiers unleashed this attack after months of nurturing?
Su Fan dared not imagine. This was simply a disaster to destroy the world!
"Young friend, take care!"
Tian Zechuan cupped his hands at Su Fan and then flew away.
Su Fan didn't know where Tian Zechuan was going. Most likely, he was going to assassinate the emperor. He wondered if he would succeed.
Su Fan felt the hope was slim. If Xiao Yuan could be eliminated so easily, Xing Dao wouldn't have had that prophetic dream.
Now, Long Jiany野's face had likely become a wanted poster. He should change his appearance before entering the city again.
Su Fan changed his face to that of an ordinary passerby, a completely unremarkable one.
Then, he swaggered into Tian Long City.
He headed towards the Peace Inn.
Upon arriving at the Peace Inn, Xiao Jiu and Er Qing were busy outside, while Cheng Yaoyin was tending the stove in the backyard for Aunt Niu.
The Peace Inn was doing good business, with various officials and nobles coming to dine at this small establishment.
This was because they had heard that the inn's behind-the-scenes owner might be the future imperial son-in-law. Those who wished to curry favor often frequented this place.
"Boss, I'll have a meal," Su Fan said, finding a table and sitting down.
"Coming, sir. What would you like to eat?" Xiao Jiu rushed over and asked.
"Do you have any specialty dishes?" Su Fan asked Xiao Jiu.
"We only serve home-style cooking. If you don't find it to your liking, you can go elsewhere," Xiao Jiu said with a smile.
Su Fan almost choked on his saliva.
Good heavens, is this how you do business?
Su Fan smiled wryly and shook his head. He wondered who had the idea of letting Xiao Jiu serve as a waiter; wasn't this just causing trouble?
"Then see what I can eat," Su Fan said, taking out a plaque with the character "Su" written on it.
Xiao Jiu frowned immediately, then her eyes lit up as if she had thought of something.
"Su..."
"Ahem," Su Fan coughed twice, stopping Xiao Jiu before she could finish.
"Please wait a moment, I'll bring you your food right away." Xiao Jiu quickly changed her words. Su Fan was clearly disguised and didn't want to be recognized. She wasn't stupid and understood Su Fan's intention.
"Can I take a look in the kitchen?" Su Fan asked Xiao Jiu.
"Of course, please follow me," Xiao Jiu said, leading the way.
Xiao Jiu brought Su Fan to the backyard.
Su Fan entered the kitchen. Cheng Yaoyin was tending the fire, and Aunt Niu was busy stir-frying dishes.
"Xiao Jiu, why did you bring someone into the kitchen? Get out!" Cheng Yaoyin said displeasantly upon seeing Xiao Jiu bring in a stranger.
"Brother Cheng, he is..."
Before Xiao Jiu could finish, Su Fan spoke.
"Brother Cheng, you don't recognize me?" Su Fan said with a smile to Cheng Yaoyin.
Cheng Yaoyin was stunned, finding the voice somewhat familiar.
"You are... Su Fan?" Cheng Yaoyin asked tentatively.
The main reason was that Su Fan's appearance had completely changed from before, making Cheng Yaoyin hesitant to recognize him.
Su Fan wiped his face with his hand, reverting to his original appearance.
"It really is you!" Cheng Yaoyin said excitedly.
"Aren't you working for the emperor in the palace? Why are you out?" Cheng Yaoyin asked curiously.
Cheng Yaoyin had learned some information about Su Fan's current situation, hearing that he had become a trusted confidant of the emperor and worked exclusively for him, rarely leaving the palace.
"Did you see me before?" Su Fan asked Cheng Yaoyin, puzzled.
Cheng Yaoyin shook his head.
"No, I heard from Wen Yan."
Cheng Yaoyin's information came through Wen Yan, who had only seen Su Fan a few times in the palace, and they had never met face-to-face.
"Oh, do you know about the Crown Prince? Why did the Third Prince become the Crown Prince?" Seeing that Cheng Yaoyin didn't know much, Su Fan immediately asked him about the Crown Prince.
"Sigh!"
Cheng Yaoyin sighed, his face looking somber.
Su Fan frowned immediately.
"What exactly happened?"
"I know you have a good relationship with the First Prince, but now..." Cheng Yaoyin hesitated, then sighed again.
"Weren't you in the palace all along? Don't you know?" Cheng Yaoyin suddenly looked at Su Fan curiously.
"I was out for a while on business. I'm not too clear about what happened during this time," Su Fan said, making up a casual excuse.
"Oh, it's like this. After the Second Prince was imprisoned, there was a period of calm between the Third Prince and the First Prince, wasn't there?" Cheng Yaoyin explained to Su Fan.
Su Fan knew about this. After that, Xiao Zhihong hadn't made any significant moves and hadn't continued to vie for the position of Crown Prince.
"Later, the Third Prince suddenly rose to prominence. All the civil officials in the court switched their allegiance to the Third Prince and recommended him to the Emperor, urging him to depose the First Prince as Crown Prince and establish the Third Prince as the new Crown Prince. Thus, the First Prince's position as Crown Prince became the Third Prince's." Cheng Yaoyin explained to Su Fan.
Su Fan understood after hearing this.
Xiao Zhihong hadn't been idle in vying for the position of Crown Prince during this time; instead, he had secretly won over the civil and military officials, completely marginalizing Xiao Yan.
Then, he directly pressured the court, forcing the Emperor to make a choice. After weighing the options, the Emperor could only depose Xiao Yan as Crown Prince.