Chapter 148: Chapter 86: The Second Realm, Fame Shakes the Capital
And as for Commandery Princess Chunyang, she was a testament to his connection with the Zhou family through the Cyan Wood Province Governor. Of course, he hadn’t planned to accept this woman, but should she draw near, Li Xuan wouldn’t shy away. A widow who lost her husband, he could empathize.
A good reputation and persona brought limitless benefits.
Seeing Jiang Zhenshan about to promote the Jiang family’s unmarried girls again, Li Xuan patted his shoulder and said, "Brother Jiang, did you know I’ve been waiting for you all along?"
"Huh?" Jiang Zhenshan was taken aback by this interruption.
Li Xuan laughed, "I haven’t eaten since I returned, I’m starving. I’ve been waiting, thinking Brother Jiang might come to invite me for a good meal."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhenshan slapped his forehead and said, "Right, right, let’s go to my Jiang family then."
Li Xuan replied, "It’s better to go to a restaurant.
It’s also good for your Jiang family."
Jiang Zhenshan was about to say something but suddenly met Li Xuan’s clear eyes, his expression shifted, regaining a shred of reason.
Earlier, he’d been utterly stunned by Li Xuan’s talent.
But upon reflection, Li Xuan was not suitable to go to the Jiang family at this moment.
Li Xuan was like a blank slate, and even in the capital, not many knew him yet.
Soon, the entire Great Yin would know his name.
And then... this young man would become the focal point of myriad power struggles.
For the Jiang family to get involved now would be a blunder, wouldn’t it?
"Alright, the restaurant it is." Jiang Zhenshan’s voice carried a tone of deference.
...
...
In just a few days, the "twenty-year-old magic form warrior" had astonishingly quickly reached the ears and eyes of all the major figures in the capital.
...
The Palace.
The Dowager Empress, adorned in opulence, was listening to tunes.
Beside her, many concubines, princesses, and children of nobles were accompanying her.
After the music, it was time for tea.
The noble ladies sipped tea, enjoyed preserved fruits, whispered, and laughed among themselves.
Topics naturally revolved around the major events unfolding in the capital, and soon a noblewoman remarked, "Recently, the most talked-about person in the capital is, of course, Li Xuan.
A twenty-year-old top scholar, also a twenty-year-old magic form warrior.
Hey, do any of you know what magic form means?"
"Hehe... magic form, magic form, what is it? Sister, you’re knowledgeable, do tell." A lady nearby laughed, genuinely unaware.
It wasn’t just her; indeed, many present weren’t well-informed.
Of those with expertise in the Prime Minister’s mansion, not many truly understood.
Most people’s understanding of secret martial artists remained at "they are secret martial artists," and those with slightly better information knew of "First Cultivator, Dual Cultivator, Triple Cultivator."
As for "magic form," truly few were aware.
However, Li Xuan’s dramatic entrance this time brought "magic form" into more people’s awareness.
Their conversation drew the Dowager Empress’s interest.
The Dowager Empress naturally knew "magic form."
She even feared "magic form."
The four magic form masters in the Prime Minister’s mansion were like four swords hanging over the royal family’s head, almost forming the four strongest pillars of the cage.
The Sovereign had once attempted to resist after ascending the throne, secretly nurturing hundreds of death warriors, intending to assassinate the Prime Minister during the spring hunt.
But the Dowager Empress could never forget that only one among those hundreds returned, screaming, "Demon, demon, demon!"
Piecing together his scattered words, the Dowager Empress learned... that one person was responsible for killing all those death warriors.
Springtime, gentle breeze, blooming flowers, hundreds of death warriors lurking and ready, but on the path to the Prime Minister, they encountered one person.
One man stands alone, repelling thousands!
Hundreds of death warriors were slaughtered.
A whole mountainside of flowers was stained red with blood.
And that lone survivor, naturally, had been intentionally spared to report back.
Later, inquiries revealed that the person who slaughtered hundreds was merely a secret martial artist from the Prime Minister’s mansion.
Such terrifying secret martial artists were said to have reached the "magic form realm."
And the Prime Minister’s mansion had four such magic form warriors!
Since then, "magic form" became the royal family’s nightmare and a forceful deterrence against the Sovereign.
With "magic form" present, the Sovereign’s head was never truly on his own shoulders but rather... in the Prime Minister’s hands.
Thus, the Sovereign indulged in heedless revelry, living indulgently.
And now...
"A twenty-year-old magic form warrior?" the Dowager Empress asked.
Her attention becoming wholly captivated.
The speaking lady promptly replied respectfully, "Yes, Imperial Grandmother, his reputation is booming now in the capital.
He is both a scholar and a martial artist, and compared to those terrifying and strange secret martial artists, he appears quite normal."
"Where is he from?" the Dowager Empress asked again.
That lady faltered briefly.
Another lady rose and replied, "Imperial Grandmother, he hails from Xiongshan County in the Cyan Wood Province. He came to the capital at the invitation of the Prime Minister."
"Why would the Prime Minister invite him?" The Dowager Empress wondered.
If invited, it meant the boy originally wasn’t one of the Prime Minister’s household.
That lady was of the royal family and seemed to have a deeper understanding. Although it wasn’t comprehensive, she provided a nearly accurate account.
After she finished, Commandery Princess Chunyang suddenly exclaimed, "Imperial Grandmother, I know him!"
The Dowager Empress looked over with a smile, "Yunshang, you’ve resided in the Cyan Wood Province for many years; indeed, the hero in your courtyard hasn’t been overlooked. How do you know him?"
Commandery Princess Chunyang replied, "Li Xuan is a sworn brother to my son, and he always calls me Aunt Yun."
