Chapter 120: Zhao Jin, Get Back Here This Instant (Please Subscribe)

After leaving the Great Yan, Cheng Guang steered his flying boat toward the capital of the Great Zhou.

Standing on the deck, Cheng Guang noticed the evening sky seemed clearer, not gloomy, but a limpid, deep blue. The mountains outside Fire Heaven City were bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. Watching this shimmer, he retreated into his quarters on the boat.

He found himself quite perplexed regarding the Ning Prince’s Princess—or rather, Jiang Luojing. He had discovered that the "Tomorrow’s Yellow Flower" in his storage ring had vanished, yet Jiang Luojing had remarked that the yellow flower he gave her was quite nice. Cheng Guang realized that at some point in the future, he had indeed gifted that flower to her. Even without knowing exactly what would transpire, he could infer it was inextricably linked to Jiang Luojing’s identity and his own.

Why she chose to remain in the Great Yan capital, and whether her identity would be exposed, were things Cheng Guang didn't particularly care about. His task was complete. After casting one last glance at the glowing mountains, he turned back into his room.

"Claim reward."

Inside, he closed the doors and windows and spoke to the system in his mind. As he finished, golden radiance began to bloom before his eyes. It flowed like water from the void, converging into a tombstone-shaped square stone. It was carved with intricate, ancient characters; even upon close inspection, the tiny, mosquito-sized script remained indecipherable.

Cheng Guang took a brief look and reached out. The moment his fingers touched the Princess Tomb, it became solid and heavy, dropping into his palm. It was small enough to be held in one hand and felt icy cool—enough to serve as a portable air conditioner in the sweltering heat of summer.

As he touched it, a surge of information flooded his mind:

[Princess Tomb: The tomb of a princess. Turning death into life, reversing the heavens and earth, shifting yin and yang, concealing destiny. This appears to be the tombstone of an ancient figure, waiting for restoration.]

Cheng Guang studied the object, feeling confused. An ancient figure’s tombstone? Waiting for restoration? Which princess? He felt the item was currently useless. He didn't know the tomb's location, and even if he did, the "turning death into life" aspect suggested it might awaken the ancient inhabitant. He had no idea if this being was benevolent or malevolent; awakening it recklessly could lead to uncontrollable consequences. He decided to shelf it until he grew stronger.

He put the tomb away and looked out at the night, knowing his next system mission would soon arrive. He remained in his room, instructing Qingluan and the others not to disturb him, and sat in meditation.

As the hour approached midnight, Cheng Guang opened his eyes. The system’s cold, emotionless voice resonated in his ears:

[September 20, 34th Year of Saint-Proving. The 80th day since you reached the Heaven-Human Realm. You have found the remnants of the Great Chu, who were besieged in Fire Heaven City back then.]

[She was indeed never dead from the start. You discover that this Great Chu remnant has a complex identity, appearing to be an ancient Empress. You recall the "Western Liang Women’s Kingdom" established during the chaos of the world, and it seems this was her doing.]

[This newly established kingdom seems deeply connected to her ancient identity. You realize this remnant might be the reincarnation of the ancient Western Liang Empress.]

[She re-established the kingdom during the world's chaos, yet for unknown reasons, she disbanded it shortly after.]

[You feel perplexed and recall the chaos of that era, feeling a sense of loss. The decline of the Duke of State’s mansion was not only due to the Great Chu remnants and the demons but primarily because, in the world-spanning catastrophe, the mansion lost its value and the support of the Lamp-Lighting Division and the Northern Expedition Army, leading to its abandonment by the Great Zhou imperial family.]

[The source of that chaos was the sudden appearance of a secret realm within the Great Zhou. Its emergence drew all the world’s experts, but those who entered vanished without a trace. The top Heaven-Human experts of every dynasty were decimated, shattering the century-long balance and plunging the world into endless strife.]

[You lament that if you had seized the opportunity to ascend to the Heaven-Human realm back then, you might have secured a place for yourself among the nations.]

[But the past is the past. Your priority now is to find that secret realm. It was discovered that if one did not break the wine jars, the monkey demons inside would not attack; if one smeared "Three-Flower Grass" on their body, the strange insects would not approach. Mastering these two steps allowed one to traverse the realm unharmed.]

[You are confident that with your current cultivation, you could gain significant benefits if the realm reappears.]

[Four-Star Mission: Re-explore Wudao Mountain.]
[Mission Reward: Heaven-Transforming Dao Pill.]

Cheng Guang’s eyes narrowed, stunned. The roots of the world’s future collapse and the chaos that destroyed the balance of the four dynasties were merely due to a secret realm? What kind of place could lure so many top experts to their disappearance? If it appeared again, the world would surely fall into turmoil once more.

His gaze lingered on the words "Western Liang Women’s Kingdom." He was familiar with such a place. Combined with the red-clad boy and the Tushita Palace he had encountered in a previous realm, this place seemed to exist in his own memories. Even more shocking was the possibility that Jiang Luojing was the reincarnation of the Western Liang Empress.

Everything felt connected to the ancient era. Why had these figures vanished? Why were ancient palaces shattered and turned into wandering secret realms? He felt a headache coming on. He stopped thinking about it; these mysteries were currently beyond his reach.

He focused on the mission reward: the Heaven-Transforming Dao Pill. Its name suggested a powerful elixir, but its effects remained a mystery until the mission was complete. He calmed his mind and resumed his cultivation.

***

Time passed. Cheng Guang returned to the Duke of State’s mansion.

The mansion was unusually busy, with extra guards at the gate—men with an aura that suggested they were not mere servants, but elite guards from a powerful house. Cheng Guang guessed there were distinguished guests.

He landed in the mansion, followed by Qian Siyuan and Li Zhengyang. Qian looked worried. "Young Master, we returned without completing the Emperor's mission. If he blames us, it will be difficult to explain."

Cheng Guang smiled dismissively. "Qian-shu, leave it be. That Great Chu remnant is either impossible to find, or impossible to deal with. If the Emperor asks, tell him to come to me."

He walked toward the main hall with Qingluan and Qin Yanqiu, while Qin Beifang followed at a respectful distance.

Qingluan prepared hot water for him, but Cheng Guang told her to rest. Qin Yanqiu sat by a stone table, looking bored and tired. Cheng Guang chuckled, thinking about how their long journey had been spent mostly in transit. He secretly rubbed his waist, wincing, and told Qingluan to prepare a nourishing meal for the evening, claiming he was exhausted.

Qingluan nodded innocently. Qin Yanqiu, hearing this, remained expressionless, though she secretly touched her belly, wondering when she would conceive. She worried that if she stayed away from the battlefield for too long, her martial arts might grow rusty.

After the meal, Qingluan mentioned the important guests. "Young Master, the mansion is hosting significant visitors. The Master and Mistress haven't come to see you yet; they must be occupied. Would you like to go over later?"

Cheng Guang shook his head. "Wait. If they need me, they will call." He suspected the visitors were of high status, perhaps related to the marriage arrangement his parents had mentioned before he left for Fire Heaven City. The thought gave him a headache; he didn't need a new wife, yet he couldn't easily refuse his parents. He cast a mournful glance at Qin Beifang, who kept his head down, ever more cautious since learning of Cheng Guang’s true identity as the Prince of Great Chu.

***

Inside the grand reception hall, the atmosphere was serious.

"Elder Ning, then it is settled?" Cheng Zhihai asked with a smile.

Across from him, a luxuriously dressed old woman nodded. "It is our Taimao Sword Sect’s honor to marry into the Duke of State’s mansion."

Cheng Zhihai nodded. "Then we shall hold the wedding soon."

Elder Ning looked at him. "Our sect agrees, but it must be understood: the child born of this union will inherit the position of Sect Master of the Taimao Sword Sect. If this causes conflict with the imperial court regarding the inheritance of your Dukedom, that is not our concern."

The court and the sects were fundamentally at odds. Cheng Zhihai knew this was a gamble. He was already feeling the Emperor’s pressure. Even though he had a good relationship with the Emperor, the Duke of State’s mansion was becoming too powerful, and he needed a fallback. The Taimao Sword Sect, a secluded, powerful entity independent of any dynasty, was the perfect ally.

"That is understood," Cheng Zhihai replied.

Elder Ning rose to leave, but suddenly, a brilliant light flashed from the direction of the Imperial Palace, followed by the tolling of a great bell. Cheng Zhihai’s expression shifted. "The Emperor is summoning the officials. Something major must have happened." He apologized to Elder Ning and took flight toward the palace.

Outside the mansion, Elder Ning’s disciple, Ning Qianxue, grumbled, "Grandmother, why must I marry into this mansion?"

"Qianxue," the old woman said, "the Duke of State holds immense power. In these uncertain times, we must build alliances. And the young master is said to be peerless in appearance—you won't be losing out."

"If he is ugly or bullies me, I will beat him up!" Ning Qianxue pouted.

***

In the Taihe Hall of the Imperial Palace, the Emperor sat on his throne, his gaze cold and majestic.

"Not long ago, I received word that a Great Chu remnant appeared in Great Yan," the Emperor said. "But the people sent to suppress her were all wiped out by a powerful expert protecting her."

The officials were stunned. Many realized this meant the Duke of State’s son, who had been sent on that mission, might be dead. Cheng Zhihai, however, remained calm, knowing his son had already returned safely.

"My son is already home, Your Majesty," Cheng Zhihai stated calmly. "He returned at noon today, safe and sound."

The Emperor was momentarily surprised. "Safe? Excellent." He breathed a sigh of relief, though he still felt a lingering unease. He dismissed the officials, then retreated to his private chambers with his eunuch, Zhao Jin.

Over a game of chess, the Emperor’s voice grew hoarse. "Zhao Jin, do you know why the Duke of State killed everyone in the Great Chu palace back then, despite my orders not to?"

Zhao Jin broke into a cold sweat. "To... to cut the weeds and pull the roots, Your Majesty."

"No," the Emperor said, placing a stone on the board. "He did it for himself. I once saw a woman during my travels—a woman I thought was an immortal. I have searched for her for years. I recently learned that the place where I met her was the secret meeting spot of the Great Chu Emperor and Empress. The woman I have been obsessed with... was the Great Chu Empress."

The Emperor looked at Zhao Jin. "And the Duke of State’s son, Cheng Guang... he looks exactly like her."

Zhao Jin trembled.

"It is not a coincidence," the Emperor murmured. "Either the Duke hid the Great Chu Prince and raised him as his own to keep the secrets of the Golden List prophecy, or he used some method to alter his own son’s appearance. Either way, the Duke of State’s mansion is too restless. If his son had died, I would have known the truth. Since he lives, I must find out why."

The Emperor stood up and looked out the window. "Zhao Jin, I know the Duke is planning to marry his son into the Taimao Sword Sect. On his way to the sect, I want you to eliminate him. Bring me his body. I must know the truth."

Zhao Jin’s heart sank, but he bowed. "As you command, Your Majesty."

As Zhao Jin left, the Emperor stared at the moon, feeling a strange void. He sighed, then frowned. "Wait... did I forget to pick a concubine for tonight?"