Immortal Dynasty Hounds

Chapter 127 In the Name of the Father, Half a Son Over Heaven

"Just realized? Jiang Ping'an, twenty years of seclusion have made you complacent."

Lian Shan Jingcheng looked at the Nine Heavens Domain expert in front of him, who was known as "Ghost Step" Suo Yuan Chu, with a helpless expression: "Are you Nine Heavens crazy? Lord Tianjian just finished testing me, and here you are again. Does Lord Tianjian know that you are doing this?"

“Jiang Ping’an, there’s no need to pretend anymore. Since I went to the trouble of exposing my identity to bring you out of Huichuntang, I’ve naturally made preparations to evacuate Jiutian. Whether Tianjian knows or not is no longer important.”

Suo Yuanchu smiled slightly: "If you admit that you are Jiang Ping'an, then you still have a reason to live. If you are not, then I'm sorry."

"You want to kill me? No, you don't want to kill me, otherwise you would have done it on the way. I am just a doctor with no strength to even kill a chicken, not worth the risk of a master like you who holds a high position in the Nine Heavens. You came for Xiao Xin, right? Then you are not a member of the Demonic Sect. The people of the Demonic Sect would not dare to arrest me."

If it is confirmed that "Ghost Step" Suo Yuanchu is a spy for the Demonic Cult, it is possible that the entire Nine Heavens would come out and wipe out the Demonic Cult in Jiangzhou.

The reason why Jiutian is willing to keep the Demonic Sect around is because the current rules were set by Jiutian, and the Demonic Sect is currently following the rules.

If this evil cult doesn't follow the rules and dares to directly attack the families of Nine Heavens members, then we'll just find another evil cult. Nine Heavens has done this before.

Exorcising demons requires evidence.

Counterterrorism only requires coordinates.

Throughout history, there has never been a shortage of ambitious individuals who wanted to become villains.

“You’re not from the Demonic Sect, yet you dare to attack me. Xiao Xin is now highly valued in the Nine Heavens, and you went to the governor’s mansion this morning. If the governor wanted to harm Xiao Xin, there would be no need for such a fuss.”

At this point, Lian Shan Jingcheng had almost guessed the truth: "In Jiangzhou, behind the backs of Jiutian and the Prefectural Governor's Office, he targeted the families of Jiutian members. Does the King of Jiujiang no longer want the throne?"

As he finished speaking, Lian Shanjingcheng's voice suddenly rose three octaves.

Suo Yuanchu's eyes lit up with surprise: "You still say you're just an ordinary doctor? Can an ordinary doctor have this kind of reasoning ability?"

Lian Shan Jingcheng laughed angrily: "Why is it that all of you people from Jiutian have the same problem? Can't ordinary doctors be a little smarter? Can't they react faster? Is it that hard to guess?"

Suo Yuanchu: "..."

"Just how much do you despise ordinary people? If it weren't for the support of the ordinary people of Jiangzhou, how would the King of Jiujiang maintain his Jiujiang Royal Palace?"

Lian Shan Jingcheng grew increasingly agitated as he spoke: "Lord Suo, what does the King of Jiujiang want with me? This matter cannot be kept secret for long. My son, Xiao Xin, possesses the Heavenly Eye and is exceptionally gifted. He will soon find out that it was the King of Jiujiang who took me away."

"So what if we find out? The prince's surname is Xia. You don't think the laws of Yu the Great can govern the prince, do you?"

Suo Yuanchu's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Lianshan Jingcheng's head.

He's not that naive after all.

When the Great Yu King encountered the Great Yu Law, the Great Yu Law usually simply disappeared.

"Dr. Lianshan, please don't be so hot-tempered. I've heard you're a renowned healer in Jiangzhou, specializing in miraculous cures. The Prince is unwell, and we invited you here to help him recuperate."

Seeing that Lian Shan Jingcheng had fallen silent, Suo Yuan Chu stopped pressing him and took a step back.

Although he spoke with great bravado, he didn't dare to actually do anything to Lian Shanjingcheng.

The only bargaining chip is for Lian Shan Jingcheng to be alive.

Death is the seed of hatred.

Only a fool would do something like that.

Lian Shan Jingcheng coldly said, "Lord Suo, let's not beat around the bush. You don't need to treat me like a fool. Does Xiao Xin's current status already pose a threat to the King of Jiujiang?"

"I admire Dr. Lianshan's ability to draw inferences from one instance to another. You are right, what Young Master Xin is about to do will pose a certain threat to the Prince of Jiujiang. Therefore, Your Highness should strike first."

Lian Shanjingcheng was not surprised.

He had already guessed these things.

"However, Doctor Lianshan, please rest assured that as long as Young Master Xin is willing to cooperate sincerely with the Prince, your safety will naturally not be a problem. If Young Master Xin is willing to become a guest of honor of the Prince, then you will also be a distinguished guest of the Prince's mansion."

Lian Shan Jingcheng countered, "Aren't you going to continue acting?"

"Doctor Lianshan is a wise man, so I will not waste any more time. I also hope that Doctor Lianshan understands that His Highness is respectful of scholars and has always greatly admired young talents like Young Master Xin. Doctor Lianshan, please rest and think it over carefully. I will come to see you again tomorrow."

Without giving Lian Shan Jingcheng a chance to speak, Suo Yuanchu disappeared from the room in the next moment.

Soon, he appeared in the study of the King of Jiujiang.

At this moment, the King of Jiujiang was wielding his brush and splashing ink.

The dragon-tiger leaps off the page; even though it's just an inanimate object, Suo Yuanchu can feel its overwhelming majesty and spirituality.

"Your Highness, your painting skills have improved again," Suo Yuanchu exclaimed.

The King of Jiujiang put away his paintbrush and gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Now, apart from playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, I dare not touch anything else."

Suo Yuanchu lowered his head.

He couldn't accept this.

Fortunately, the King of Jiujiang did not make things difficult for Suo Yuanchu.

"Is Lian Shanjingcheng settled in?"

"He has been settled in, but he has already guessed that it was Your Highness who sent someone to invite him."

"Oh? He reacted so quickly? Could he really be Jiang Ping'an?"

Suo Yuanchu said frankly, "He didn't admit it, but from his words and actions, I feel that he is not just an ordinary doctor. Even in prison, he remained calm and composed, and he was able to draw inferences from one instance to another, showing great courage. Your Highness, even if Lian Shan Jingcheng is not Jiang Ping'an, he is still a rare talent."

"For you, Yuan Chu, to praise him so highly, he must have something extraordinary about him." King Jiujiang nodded: "That makes sense. A man who can raise 'Heavenly Eye' Lianshan Xin is no ordinary person. However, whether he is Jiang Ping'an or not is not what I care about right now. What I care about more is Lianshan Xin."

"This humble servant understands. Who would have thought that His Majesty would entrust such an important matter as Kuangshan to Lian Shanxin, a mere eighteen-year-old Zhen Yijing?"

“Yuan Chu, you are wrong. My royal brother did not entrust the important matter of Kuangshan to Lian Shanxin, but rather gave Lian Shanxin a chance to show his talent. Unfortunately, I cannot let Lian Shanxin stand out.”

Suo Yuanchu frowned slightly: "Your Highness, this humble servant does not quite understand."

In order to control Lianshan Xin, he even exposed that he was a man of the King of Jiujiang, a sacrifice that can be described as great.

Suo Yuanchu is still unsure whether his sacrifice was worthwhile.

The King of Jiujiang told him it was absolutely worth it.

“Yuan Chu, you are my trusted confidant. Under normal circumstances, I would never use you. This time, however, things happened very suddenly. Moreover, this opportunity is once in a lifetime.”

At this point, the King of Jiujiang's voice became unusually excited.

"The anomaly at Kuangshan is related to the fragments of the Immortal Realm. If we can control Lianshan Xin, then the most likely person to control the Kuangshan Secret Realm is my son Xunyang. Yuan Chu, think about it, if Xunyang can become a living Buddha or a Daoist master, a terrestrial immortal, how can my brother's sons compete with my son?"

Suo Yuan Chu was taken aback: "Your Highness, is His Majesty willing to allow Young Master Xunyang to take charge of Kuangshan?"

The King of Jiujiang laughed out loud: "Of course he's unwilling, but he has no better choice. Just like I'm unwilling to use you, Yuan Chu, this time, but I'm worried that something might go wrong no matter who I entrust this matter to. It's not easy to find a suitable candidate. Even my royal brother has no choice in many things. Xunyang and Lianshan Xin are the most suitable candidates in my royal brother's mind at the moment."

Suo Yuanchu also laughed: "This subordinate understands. Lian Shan Jingcheng is indeed very important. If Young Master Xunyang can really achieve his wish, then Your Highness's ambition... may indeed be realized through Young Master Xunyang."

"That's what I think too. Compared to my elder brother, I am indeed less talented. But my son is far superior to those good-for-nothings my brother has. Based on my understanding of my brother, if Xunyang really takes control of the Kuangshan Secret Realm and completely surpasses others, my brother might even take the initiative to make Xunyang the crown prince."

"Really?" Suo Yuanchu was a little incredulous.

The Prince of Jiujiang explained, “Yuan Chu, you don’t understand my elder brother. My elder brother is someone who can completely abandon personal likes and dislikes and put the interests of the court and the royal family first. Although I was unwilling to admit defeat to him back then, I was actually somewhat convinced in my heart.”

Suo Yuanchu did not agree.

Leaders can make fun of themselves.

If you blindly follow the criticism, then you really don't value your own future.

Suo Yuanchu also worked his way up in the Nine Heavens through hard work and struggle, so he is not lacking in emotional intelligence in this regard.

"Therefore, both the Kuangshan Secret Realm and the immortal artifact Kuanglu must be from Xunyang. I have been waiting for this opportunity for decades. Yuan Chu, don't blame me. Faced with such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I must go all out."

Suo Yuanchu expressed his understanding: "This humble servant is willing to go through fire and water for Your Highness without hesitation."

"There's no need for you to go through fire and water, Yuan Chu. I still have high hopes for you. But from now on, you must go from operating in the open to operating underground."

"I will obey Your Highness's orders."

The King of Jiujiang patted Suo Yuanchu's shoulder forcefully, everything was understood without words.

……

The words are divided into two parts.

The situation is not good for Lianshanxin.

After finalizing their plans at Huichuntang, Lian Shanxin and his friends had a simple meal at home before returning to Bailudong Academy together.

He needed to confirm Lian Shanjingcheng's safety first.

And the thousand-faced connector.

Although his eldest disciple, Qianmian, was not as powerful as before, Lianshan Xin still trusted him when it came to survival skills.

However, after returning to Bailudong Academy this time, Lian Shanxin found neither Qianmian nor Lian Shanxian Jingcheng.

In the end, Lian Shanxin had no choice but to go to Zhang Aniu.

Zhang Aniu told Lianshanxin some bad news:

"Suo Yuanchu has disappeared."

"What did you say, sir?" Lian Shanxin's expression changed drastically.

Zhang Aniu understood perfectly and repeated, "Suo Yuanchu has disappeared, and your father disappeared with him. I asked Eunuch Wang, and he said this matter has nothing to do with His Majesty."

At this moment, Eunuch Wang was also beside Zhang Aniu. Upon hearing this, he immediately spoke up: "His Majesty did not specifically instruct that the physician of Lianshan be investigated."

Lian Shanxin's gaze suddenly turned to Tian Ji.

Tian Ji was completely bewildered: "That's not right. I've seen the imperial edict issued by Suo Yuan Chu. It was stamped with His Majesty's jade seal, and the dragon aura on the edict was still swirling. It could only have been issued by the royal family."

It would have been very difficult for Yu the Great to forge an imperial edict.

Because the royal family's cultivation techniques can generate dragon energy, and the decrees they convey are all imbued with dragon energy.

Even Shan Xin wasn't sure if Qianmian could pull off this fake.

Upon hearing Tian Ji's words, everyone present turned grim.

Eunuch Wang said in a deep voice, "In Jiangzhou, only the King of Jiujiang can produce a warrant bearing the aura of a dragon."

Zhang Aniu looked at Lian Shanxin: "Xiao Xin, it seems that His Majesty has entrusted the affairs of Kuangshan to you, and the first person to object has appeared."

Lian Shanxin clenched his fists: "My lord, does the prince have the right to touch the families of us Nine Heavens members at will?"

Zhang Aniu's reply was quite artful: "If your father unfortunately has an accident at the Jiujiang Prince's Mansion, then the Jiujiang Prince is finished. If the Jiujiang Prince only invites your father to the mansion to help him recuperate, then we in Jiutian cannot very well go and question him."

Lian Shanxin was a man who knew how to grasp the key points. He concluded, "Therefore, only after my father's accident did Jiutian have a reason to take action."

Zhang Aniu smiled wryly: "Xiao Xin, I know you're very resentful. If it were the Demonic Sect that made the move, I would have helped you get revenge directly. But the King of Jiujiang is His Majesty's own brother, and it's not easy for us in the Nine Heavens. Apart from your Chosen One lineage, the other lineages in the Nine Heavens will not participate in this kind of royal struggle." "I understand."

Lian Shanxin forced himself to calm down quickly.

This is neither Zhang Aniu's fault nor Jiutian's fault for not standing up for him.

If it were him, and his subordinate's father had been invited away by the King of Jiujiang, he wouldn't have dared to directly confront the King of Jiujiang.

There's no need to ask others to do things that even he himself can't do.

"Lord Tianjian, I understand Jiutian's situation. But if I personally worry about my father's safety and do something rash in private..."

Zhang Aniu looked at Eunuch Wang: "Old Wang, come with me to practice swordsmanship for a while?"

"Okay."

The two grandmasters chatted and laughed as they left the room together.

Zhuo Biyu breathed a sigh of relief: "Master means to ignore it, but he might help you out in private."

If Zhang Aniu had objected, he would have said so directly just now.

Lian Shanxin and Zhang Aniu had known each other for less than a month.

There were no ties to the nine clans.

Zhang Aniu's actions were truly commendable, and Lian Shan was deeply grateful.

He soon discovered that Zhang Aniu was actually secretly favoring him.

"Ah-Shin, look at this letter on the table. It's a handwritten letter from the Queen of Heaven."

Qi Shiyun picked up the official document on the table, glanced at it briefly, and then handed it to Lian Shanxin.

After reading it, Lian Shanxin breathed a sigh of relief: "No wonder the King of Jiujiang couldn't sit still; he's paving the way for his son."

The Empress told Tianjian about Xia Xunyang's situation.

When Emperor Yongchang entrusted the affairs of Kuangshan to Lian Shanxin, he did not intend to conceal Lian Shanxin's identity.

Promoting Xia Xunyang in the capital city is also perfectly aboveboard.

Since Emperor Yongchang was going to use an open scheme, the Empress Dowager naturally had to remind her own people.

Furthermore, she didn't send a message directly to Lian Shanxin, but only informed Tianjian. Whether Tianjian would inform Lian Shanxin or not was none of the Empress's concern.

In short, Lian Shanxin must remember the Empress's favor if he ultimately succeeds. If Lian Shanxin loses, it has nothing to do with the Empress.

Qi Shiyun's expression was solemn: "'Chihu' Xia Xunyang, I know this person. When I was in the Grandmaster realm, I fought him once. After five hundred moves, I lost by half a move. He is indeed a genius. In the Grandmaster realm, I can't think of any way to beat him. Of course, that was before."

Now, Qi Shiyun is also someone who has killed a princess.

“It’s alright. Xia Xunyang, the ‘Chihu’, is indeed a talented man, but I’ve found him a worthy opponent.”

"Du Jiu" appeared quietly.

This reassured Lian Shanxin.

Admittedly, at this moment, Qianmian still gives him a sense of security.

"Disciple, where have you run off to?" Lian Shanxin asked with concern.

Qianmian spoke frankly: "I went to the governor's mansion to inquire about the situation. Cao Fuhu is a talented man. It seems he was right. Emperor Yongchang has indeed made two preparations. However, no matter how outstanding Xia Xunyang is, he still has a huge disadvantage compared to you, Master."

What disadvantages?

"He doesn't have the support of our Holy Sect, Master. Although I don't know how you negotiated with Guagudao, Guagudao is also prepared to support you in this matter at Kuangshan. She has decided to deal with Xia Xunyang herself."

Upon hearing this, Lian Shanxin's spirits lifted.

Xia Xunyang did put pressure on him. Even though he had the Dragon-Slaying True Intent, the gap between their cultivation levels was still too great.

But if the bone-scraping knife is used, the one under the most pressure becomes Xia Xunyang.

Using one's level of understanding to intimidate others—whoever has the higher level of understanding feels better.

"As for the Prince of Jiujiang, I've spoken with Cao Fuhu, and I'll personally take action. I'll go and see if your father, Master, is at the Prince of Jiujiang's residence. If he is, I'll rescue him while I'm at it."

Qi Shiyun hesitated for a moment, but still raised her doubts: "Qianmian, aren't you being too arrogant? The Jiujiang Prince's Mansion is heavily guarded, and it's not a place you can come and go as you please right now. The Jiujiang Prince is also a Domain Realm expert, and his strength is far greater than yours right now."

Thousand Faces smiled arrogantly: "My true strength cannot be shown by my realm. Let alone the King of Jiujiang, what about the Emperor of Yongchang?"

Qi Shiyun: "..."

The record of Qianmian against Emperor Yongchang was indeed too impressive for her to refute.

"The Prince of Jiujiang was just a useless piece of trash among the defeated generals of Emperor Yongchang back then, a nobody by the roadside. My specialty is assassinating the emperor, Master, you can rest assured that I can handle things."

Lian Shanxin was greatly relieved: "I truly trust you in this matter."

Industry specializing in surgery.

Even if Qianmian's strength is weak, once he enters this field, Lian Shanxin is willing to appoint him as a dog special.

"Without further ado, I'll go and investigate the Prince of Jiujiang's residence first."

"My disciple, you've worked hard. Don't worry, your master will definitely advance to the Grandmaster realm as soon as possible and help you get on the right path."

Lianshan Xin never forgets to make empty promises to Qianmian.

Qianmian is increasingly confident and motivated.

After Qianmian left, Qi Shiyun and the other two looked at Lian Shanxin with suspicion.

Tian Ji asked in surprise, "Ah Xin, did you cast a spell on Thousand Faces? Why is he suddenly so devoted to you?"

Lian Shanxin thought for a moment and concluded: "First, Qianmian feels that his path in the Demonic Sect has narrowed, and he must strive to change and develop the Nine Heavens as his fallback. Second, I really intend to pass on the Dragon-Supporting Immortal Technique to him, and he can feel my sincerity. Third, Qianmian has become arrogant on his own, which has nothing to do with me; it is His Majesty who has nurtured his confidence."

Tian Ji thought about the reputation of Qianmian in the capital city and was persuaded by Lian Shanxin: "That makes sense. I am Qianmian, and I have to be arrogant too. I have even managed to deal with His Majesty, so the mere King of Jiujiang is indeed nothing to me."

"In any case, the King of Jiujiang has been handed over to Qianmian. Let's focus our efforts on dealing with Xia Xunyang. The relationship between Guagudao and Axin isn't that strong; we'll have to rely on ourselves more."

“What Scholar Qi says is true.”

Lian Shanxin also shifted his focus to Xia Xunyang.

"The duel between me and Xia Xunyang is a duel between the number one on the Hidden Dragon List."

Zhuo Biyu and Tian Ji were taken aback at first.

Then they all fell silent.

As for Qi Shiyun, she burst out laughing: "Last place is still first place, Ashin, I support you."

Lian Shanxin blushed and said, "If I kill Xia Xunyang, I will be number one."

"It might be difficult for you to kill Xia Xunyang, but I can take his place. I might not have been his match before, but after killing Zeng Ningbing, the advantage is in my hands. Thanks to Zeng Ningbing."

Xia Xunyang, who was traveling to Jiangzhou on the "Qinglong" ship, suddenly sneezed.

Rubbing his nose, Xia Xunyang asked softly, "Is Father thinking of me?"

……

The King of Jiujiang has no time to think about Xia Xunyang right now.

He was reviewing the training plan for his 500 private soldiers and the results of the heavy investment he had made in their training over the years.

"Your Highness, I am confident. With five hundred elite soldiers deployed, we are invincible against anything below the level of a terrestrial immortal."

Suo Yuanchu spoke with great arrogance.

But the King of Jiujiang shook his head: "There are hidden talents in the world, so don't underestimate the heroes of the world. Five hundred people are still too few. It would be better if there were eight hundred."

Suo Yuanchu knew that after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, the King of Jiujiang had an obsession with the number eight hundred.

He could only advise, "Your Highness, you can only maintain a maximum of five hundred private soldiers. If you expand your ranks, you will inevitably face His Majesty's wrath. At that time, we will suffer too great a loss."

The King of Jiujiang sighed softly: "You're right, five hundred men it is. Even if these five hundred men can't raze the capital city to the ground, they should be able to raze half of Jiangzhou City without much trouble."

“Absolutely not,” Suo Yuanchu said in a deep voice. “I’d stake my life on it.”

The King of Jiujiang nodded slightly.

Over the past twenty years, he has accumulated some achievements.

"Your Highness, please rest for a while. Your concubine has been waiting for you for a long time."

A personal eunuch came to serve him.

The Prince of Jiujiang felt he was indeed a bit tired, so he nodded and said, "Have my concubine come and help me bathe and change."

"Yes."

A quarter of an hour later.

master bedroom.

The King of Jiujiang lay in the bath with his eyes closed.

A beautiful woman was kneeling behind him, wiping his body.

Just as the concubine brushed against the front, the Prince of Jiujiang suddenly reached out and restrained her.

Then the King of Jiujiang opened his eyes: "Thousand Faces, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Qianmian's heart sank suddenly.

No, apart from his master, there is no one in this world who can see through his disguise.

"Thousand Faces, do you know how I saw through you?"

The King of Jiujiang smirked.

The next moment, the face of the bone-scraping knife quietly appeared.

"Because I've been waiting for you! When you made your promise to Cao Fuhu, did you ever think that I was actually there too!"

Qianmian's face was deathly pale.

"How do my methods compare to those of Emperor Yongchang?"

The Prince of Jiujiang laughed heartily, letting out his pent-up frustration: "Royal brother, in this contest across distances, I have won by half a point against Heaven!"

　Chapter 120 mentions the name of the bone-scraping knife, Xia Fenghua, but it seems no readers realized that Xia is the surname. There are also indirect mentions of the Prince of Jiujiang by Emperor Yongchang and the Princess of Jiujiang. Actually, I hinted at this quite a bit earlier, including the divination. Think about it carefully; weren't these foreshadowing elements well-placed?

　　
　
(End of this chapter)