Return of the Ancient Gods

Chu Nan returned to the mansion and discussed today's events with Chen Hezhi:

"It's right to ask Uncle He Zhi to return to Beijing. I have to fight with an old fox like Qin Wenhan. He can't resist with just a few words. It's really impossible without your help."

Chen Hezhi also praised Qin Wenhan, but he was even more puzzled about Chu Xiu. He suddenly said:

“What the King of Chu said is correct this time. The most urgent task should be for you to re-establish your prestige.

Use stillness to overcome movement, and no matter what means King Kang and his men use, you will be able to remain invincible."

Chu Nan nodded, agreeing deeply, but it would not be easy to do it in a short time.

"I heard that Beiyan sent three geniuses at the peak of the Shenzang realm to Beijing a few days ago, saying that they wanted to have friendly exchanges with us and reconcile with us." Chen Hezhi reminded.

"I understand. I will defeat them tomorrow." Chu Nan suddenly realized and didn't take it seriously. He could easily deal with them, but the matter itself was puzzling.

"Since the last war, there has been no major war between the two countries for nearly twenty years, but the relationship between the two countries is not that good. What is Beiyan's intention in sending people here at this time?"

"I don't know, but they have bad intentions. Most likely they are here to laugh at our internal fight, or to provoke trouble and start another war, or..." Chen Hezhi shook his head, put forward many explanations and overturned them one by one, thinking of something and repeatedly denying them.

"..."

The next day, Chu Nan displayed his extraordinary power and defeated the three geniuses of Beiyan with lightning speed, winning cheers from the people in the capital. However, when he was leaving, he was stopped by the crown prince of Beiyan.

To be precise, the other party has been waiting for Chu Nan.

"Greetings, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. What can I ask you today?" Chu Nan simply greeted him. He had no friendship with him in the past and didn't understand why the other party came today.

"My Lord, please forgive me. I am just a hostage. How can I be worthy of your great gift?" The Crown Prince of Beiyan bowed respectfully in return, and laughed bitterly at himself.

"I have been sent to Nanchu as a hostage for these years, and the entire capital has almost forgotten my existence. No, even Beiyan has forgotten me. The prince is the only one who remembers me."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is not looking for me to blame for what happened just now, right?" Chu Nan asked curiously, throwing out a suggestion.

"Your Excellency is making fun of me again. It's a fair fight, and winning or losing doesn't matter." Beiyan Crown Prince Ye Renjie replied with a wry smile. This time, the Beiyan envoys did not meet with him, so you can imagine how embarrassing his situation was.

"The three of them are all subordinates of my good brother, the Second Prince of Beiyan. I am very lucky that they did not harm me. I don't ask for anything else."

Chu Nan was brought to Beiyan Prince Ye Renjie's mansion, one of the most prosperous residential areas in the city, but it was unusually deserted as soon as he entered the gate.

The mansion is very different from the architectural style elsewhere in the capital. It is magnificent, with bright red and yellow colors, and is a very typical Northern Yan style.

"This should be built in imitation of the style of your Northern Yan. I didn't expect that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is such a person who loves his hometown so deeply." Chu Nan looked around and joked.

"Although South Chu is beautiful, it still cannot replace the beauty of my hometown in my heart. After being away from my country for several years, I can only relieve my homesickness in this way." Ye Renjie said frankly, pointing to the tallest small building not far away, and expressed his feelings.

"Look at the tallest building. I named it 'Wangbei Tower' because I wanted to be able to overlook my hometown in the north and relieve my homesickness."

Chu Nan smiled awkwardly.

"Okay, let's get back to the point. This time I met with you, the prince, because I have something important to discuss with you," Ye Renjie collected his thoughts and asked in a resounding voice:

"I wonder if the Crown Prince knows why Northern Yan sent envoys to Southern Chu this time?"

"..."

After some discussion, Chu Nan was also surprised by the information revealed by Ye Renjie, and he was full of doubts:

"Your Highness, didn't you keep saying how much you love your homeland? Why are you now telling me that there are spies from Northern Yan in the court?

You know, your behavior is treason, how can I know whether what you said about there being spies in my Nan Chu court is true or not? Isn't this your trick to sow discord?"

"Collaborating with the enemy and committing treason? That depends on what you think. Everything I did was for Beiyan. I don't know their intentions, but I just don't approve of their actions. Rather than letting them make a big mistake, it's better for me to cut off my arm and survive!" Ye Renjie said firmly.

Seeing Ye Renjie's awe-inspiring look, Chu Nan was a little stunned, and then asked:

"So what does His Royal Highness want in exchange?"

“I want the prince to plead for me and ask the Emperor Chu to let me go back.

"After being held hostage for twenty years, my role in Nan Chu is almost zero, and there is no longer any need to maintain the alliance between the two countries. On the contrary, if I am released, the princes will fight for power and Bei Yan will be in turmoil. Wouldn't this be more beneficial to Nan Chu?" Ye Renjie said confidently.

Ye Renjie's almost crazy stubbornness is incomprehensible:

"Your Highness, you are willing to sacrifice the interests of the country for your own freedom. Don't you think this contradicts your patriotism? Just for the throne you deserve?"

"No, no, it would be more beneficial to Beiyan if I returned. A little injury or pain is not worth mentioning." Ye Renjie corrected.

"Then according to what Your Highness the Crown Prince said, I can't let you go, right?" Chu Nan asked back.

It is indeed as Ye Renjie said, keeping him as a hostage in Nanchu for twenty years will have little effect, but judging from what he said today, we cannot let the tiger go back to the mountain either.

"Your Highness thinks this way because you don't know much about the situation in Beiyan. The situation in Beiyan is far more complicated than you think." Ye Renjie said meaningfully, and it was hard to doubt his sincerity.

"And I believe that His Royal Highness is not the kind of person who would betray his promise. If I take charge of Northern Yan, perhaps one day our two countries will be able to make peace."

Nan Chu and Bei Yan have been hostile to each other for a long time, but except for a few people like the Demon King who have rich experience in fighting against Bei Yan, most people's understanding of Bei Yan is very one-sided.

Chu Nan continued to talk to him, trying to get more useful information but to no avail.

"Your Excellency is really putting me in a difficult position. With my current status and position, I can only get this much information. How can I get more?"

"Okay, I'll remember to cooperate with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Once the authenticity is verified, I will get started."

Before leaving, Chu Nan accepted a bottle of third-grade Qi-nourishing Pill given by Ye Renjie, the Crown Prince of Beiyan, and hurried back home.

……