Chapter 1069: Chapter 1068: Chance Encounter_1
"Court Physician, hasten and see, how is the National Master faring?"
After the initial burst of agitation subsided, Er Pingzhi regained some composure and quickly summoned an elderly man to diagnose and treat the other man.
The Court Physician knew the importance of the National Master and dared not neglect him; after an examination and pulse diagnosis, he let out a sigh of relief, "Your Highness can rest assured, the National Master’s injuries are now under control. Once I prepare several formulae of medicine and he rests, he shall recover."
"Then go quickly!"
The Court Physician glanced at Er Pingzhi, thinking that only the National Master could make the sovereign lose his composure like this. After bowing respectfully, he went to prepare the medicine.
Er Pingzhi blamed himself, "National Master, it’s I who have implicated you. In a few days, I’ll arrange for someone to escort you away."
This morass was too perilous, and he no longer wished to see the National Master, both a teacher and a father figure to him, risk his life for Er Pingzhi and the Zrin Kingdom. His father had only saved the National Master’s life years ago, but what the latter had repaid over the years was far, far more.
The man, somewhat frail, shifted his position against the headrest and smiled weakly, "I promised the old sovereign to bestow upon you a stable Zrin Kingdom, how could I abandon my pledge halfway?"
Though markedly fatigued, the man’s smile remained enchanting, to the point where it seemed to dim even the candlelight.
Moved yet still shaking his head, Er Pingzhi said, "The power backing my younger brother this time is too formidable; they do not play by the rules. National Master, we cannot contend with them."
Before this incident, no one knew the true extent of the National Master’s strength, the foremost expert of the Zrin Kingdom. Three days prior, two individuals had infiltrated the royal palace, attempting to assassinate Er Pingzhi.
Faced with these two assailants, the sixteen martial guards under the sovereign were overwhelmed with no struggle, and it was fortunate the National Master arrived in time. It was that brief battle that revealed the strength of the National Master, the Heaven Realm Martial Emperor. Regrettably, after fending off the assailants, the National Master too suffered serious injuries.
Er Pingzhi knew that no matter how skilled the Court Physician was, he couldn’t possibly heal the National Master; it must be the National Master’s own power instinctively correcting itself, Now with the National Master gravely injured, if someone were to strike against him, departure was indeed the best option!
"How can you be certain we cannot overcome them until the very last moment? I’ve watched you grow up, and your father entrusted you to my care. How could I, Tang Yi, leave alone?"
The man gave a nonchalant smile.
His demeanor was identical to when they first met, as if nothing could ever deter him. Er Pingzhi’s heart inexplicably steadied at the thought; he admired yet worried for him simultaneously.
Knowing he couldn’t persuade the National Master, Er Pingzhi silently resolved that if, in the end, there was no other choice, he would go against the National Master’s wishes and send someone to escort him away.
At the same time, within a vast estate a hundred miles from the royal palace,
Er Pingyong, the second prince of the Zrin Kingdom, was fawning obsequiously before a figure dressed in black robes and wearing a painted opera mask, who was seated at the head of the room.
"My lord, we now control seventy percent of Zrin Kingdom’s civil and military officials. That damned Tang Yi has also sustained heavy injuries; why not seize this opportunity to strike with full force..."
Although ’valiance’ is part of Er Pingyong’s name, his appearance was rather effeminate. He made a throat-slitting gesture, his voice trembling with excessive excitement.
The mysterious person tapped their fingertips on the table surface, the corner of their mouth, obscured by the mask, curling with disdain.
Idiot!
If his goal were merely to eliminate Er Pingzhi and take control of the Zrin Kingdom for himself, he wouldn’t have bothered so much. The key was to operate undetected, without letting anyone sense his presence; otherwise, unexpected complications might arise.
"Second Prince, I have something to show you."
No sooner had the mysterious person finished speaking than a box was brought in. Upon opening the lid, two bloody heads rolled out, their expressions grotesquely fierce.
Bang.
Er Pingyong’s legs buckled, and he fell to his knees, "Spare my life, my lord, I beg you..."
The individuals to whom these heads belonged had displayed their might in the royal palace three days prior, nearly killing Er Pingzhi and seriously wounding Tang Yi. Er Pingyong was no fool; it was clear that their operation had incurred the mysterious person’s dissatisfaction.
"What crime have you committed?"
A thunderous shout struck terror into Er Pingyong, causing him to tremble violently, almost to the point of losing his bodily functions. Yet unbeknownst to the bowed man, the mysterious person was not rebuking him, but another man who had just been dragged in.
The man had broad forehead and thin face, silent, with eyes revealing a glint of fear.
The mysterious person spoke with an icy edge, "You’ve always performed well by my side for many years, and I have relied heavily on you. But you shouldn’t have taken matters into your own hands, acting behind my back. Do you realize you almost ruined my grand scheme?"
The man kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead bleeding from the force, all while incessantly pleading for mercy.
"Considering your past contributions, alright, I won’t make it difficult for you."
No sooner had the mysterious person finished speaking than a flash of a blade followed, and a head soared into the air, blood splattering all over Er Pingyong, who was close by.
A stench of urine spread throughout the hall.
Er Pingyong had wet himself.
The beheaded man was once one of the mysterious person’s most capable lieutenants, having strategized for him these past days. And yet, the mysterious person enacted his execution as if a sovereign himself, exercising the ultimate authority over life and death.
Er Pingyong realized that this was likely a display intended for him.
"Second Prince, you may leave now. Remember, I favor those who obey."
The mysterious person’s voice was cold as a serpent’s, but the words granted Er Pingyong a reprieve, as if spared from execution. After swearing his loyalty, he staggered out the door.
After Er Pingyong left, a man emerged from a side room. He was dressed in Japanese attire with a long sword at his waist; it was Fujiki Ookubo of the Fujiki Family.
"Young master, in Sky City, someone has noticed your prolonged absence and has begun to speculate on your whereabouts." (Chapter 904)
Fujiki Ookubo spoke in a deep voice.
The mysterious person removed their mask, revealing a dignified and scholarly face. Who could it be if not King Jin, the fourth prince of the Flying Horse Dynasty?
Upon hearing this, he said with a gloomy look in his eyes, "The ones keeping an eye on me are not only the other few scrambling for the throne. The Zrin Kingdom, I must obtain it no matter what, that item is very important, but we must proceed slowly, understand?"
Fujiki Ookubo tried to meet King Jin’s gaze but couldn’t withstand the pressure and lowered his head.
There was a time when he looked down on the young master who now seemed to have undergone some inscrutable change. He must report back to the head of the Fujiki Family as soon as possible, thought Fujiki Ookubo to himself.
...
The chaos in the Zrin Kingdom became increasingly evident. Walking on the streets of the capital, one could always see horses rushing through and soldiers armed to the teeth. No one noticed that three people from the Central Plain had arrived.
"The Nine Ancestors’ clay sculpture reacted just now. It was only for an instant, but I definitely did not see that wrong!"
Uncle Wang was visibly excited.
After leaving the Yanbei Country ruins, the three of them entered the territory of the Zrin Kingdom. Since it was within their scope of investigation anyway, they headed west until they reached the capital, where they noticed the abnormality with the Nine Ancestors’ clay sculpture and decided to conduct a thorough search.
The capital was too large for the search to be completed in a short period, so the three of them purchased a mud-brick house to stay temporarily. Uncle Wang and Yan Zhenning went about their business while Shi Xiaole repeatedly studied the black stone.
In recent days, Shi Xiaole carefully absorbed the death energy from the black stone and made great strides in his martial arts of life and death, equivalent to several years of normal training.
However, the side effects were also clear. For a few days after each absorption, Shi Xiaole would suffer from dizziness and an extremely low state.
"Compared to my progress, this is nothing. But this little place seems not so peaceful."
Upon entering the capital, Shi Xiaole had probed with his psychic power and was surprised to discover several astonishing auras, roughly judged to be those of Heaven Realm Martial Emperors.
But Heaven Realm Martial Emperors were not common cabbages. How could several of them appear at once in a place like the Zrin Kingdom?
For safety, Shi Xiaole decided not to absorb the death energy for the time being.
Over the next few days, he either practiced his swordsmanship or strolled the streets to familiarize himself with the environment and experience the local customs, which he found quite interesting.
Soon, Shi Xiaole learned about the affairs of the Zrin Kingdom.
It turned out to be a struggle for power between the ruler and the second prince. The ruler had even survived an assassination attempt, all thanks to the National Master, who was like a father to him and averted the disaster.
Sadly, the National Master seemed to have suffered severe injuries that had been worsening over the days, leaving him on the brink of death. The ruler, anxious for his recovery, not only ordered the royal physicians to treat him but also offered a substantial reward for civilian doctors, even neglecting his court duties.
"That National Master, to be valued so highly by the ruler?"
Shi Xiaole raised an eyebrow.
The tavern keeper was a Hu woman who had taken a fancy to this extraordinarily handsome young man. Leaning on the counter, she flirted, "Who in the Zrin Kingdom doesn’t know that our ruler trusts and respects the National Master the most?"
Shi Xiaole noticed that others in the tavern also showed reverence and concern when the National Master was mentioned. Even the drinkers, who were gulping down their alcohol, deliberately lowered their voices, making him secretly admire the National Master’s prestige.
"Ever since the National Master came to the Zrin Kingdom, he has worked tirelessly, issued a series of policies beneficial to the country and its people, never bullied a civilian, and even lives in a house not as lavish as those of the rich... Without him, the Zrin Kingdom would have been annexed by the neighboring countries long ago. Oh heavens, if you must take a life, take mine; why trouble the National Master!"
A drunkard suddenly cried out with tears streaming down his face, his emotional outburst affecting the others. Even the Hu woman who had wanted to approach Shi Xiaole stopped in her tracks.
"Seize him."
Suddenly, a group of soldiers rushed in and dragged a customer away.
"What offense have I committed, esteemed officials?"
The man struggled and cried out.
"Are you a doctor?"
"I am."
"Then there’s no mistake. Her Highness has ordered that all doctors in the capital, regardless of their medical skills, be taken to the royal palace to treat the National Master. Come on."
After the soldiers left, everyone exchanged glances.
If the ruler revered the National Master, then the attitude of his only sister, the most precious jewel of the Zrin Kingdom, toward the National Master was somewhat intriguing.
The thirty-two-year-old princess, despite her reputation for beauty spreading throughout the Western Region and remaining unmarried, repelling numerous foreign princes, was said to be related to the National Master.
Listening to the chatter of the crowd, Shi Xiaole became more curious about the National Master but left it at that. The world was full of extraordinary people; one couldn’t possibly satisfy their curiosity by meeting every single one, could they?
Leaving the tavern, he encountered a dignified procession passing through the street. Inside the curtained carriage at the center, a pair of eyes brimming with sorrow shed silent tears.
Er Miba was filled with regret. She should not have stormed off in a huff or left the capital. Heaven knows how lost and helpless she felt upon hearing the news of the National Master’s grievous injury, as if the entire sky had fallen.
Therefore, even while still en route, she had ordered the seizure of all doctors in the capital. She didn’t care what others thought or said; if it could save the National Master, she was willing to do anything.
Submerged in her pain, Er Miba lifted her grieving eyes, and through the veil, she caught a glimpse of the crowd on the left. In that moment, her gaze suddenly froze.
"Stop!"
