Chapter 2: The Beauty of the North

 

How can two ounces of wine tell the whole story of the person in front of you?

 

He couldn’t see through him. Ever since His Royal Highness the King of Chu came back, he could no longer see through him.

 

“Your Highness the King of Chu is too modest.” Ye Tiance chuckled, stroking his beard. Although he was a military man, he had been fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the world.

 

The martial arts world was vast and magnificent.

 

If he were to start over again, without any burdens, he would still be the high-spirited young man in white, and would definitely travel the world with his sword.

 

“Your Highness, the King of Chu, isn’t this martial arts world interesting?”

 

Shen Yian smiled softly: “The martial arts world is indeed more interesting than Tianwu City.”

 

“I agree with that.”

 

“Hahaha!” The old man and the young man suddenly burst out laughing together.

 

――――――

 

The sound of the guqin was delicate and elegant, like the clear and crisp sound of a valley stream, touching the heartstrings.

 

In the north, there was a beauty, unparalleled and independent.

 

Under the willow tree by the lake, a green-clad figure sat with her guqin, her skin as white as ice, her beauty like a goddess, her eyes shimmering like the stars, her raven-black hair cascading down her back, her wrists as white as jade, her fingers moving lightly, and her beauty was like a spring breeze that rustled her hair.

 

The music stopped, and the lingering sound spread far away, and the rippling lake surface calmed down.

 

“Wow! Miss’s guqin skills seem to have improved even more!” exclaimed the maid standing by the lake, her eyes shining brightly.

 

“This is nothing, you’re just late, you haven’t seen Miss play a piece that makes a hundred birds fly around and fish jump out of the water, that’s what’s truly amazing!” said the taller maid with a snort, looking particularly proud.

 

“Jinxiu, Jinlian.” A clear voice came from the pavilion.

 

“Quick, quick, Miss is calling us!”

 

The two maids didn’t dare to delay, and hurried over.

 

“Miss.”

 

“Help me back to my room.”

 

Ye Liyan stood up, a black silk ribbon somehow already tied around her eyes, which had just been reflecting the sun, moon, and stars.

 

“Yes, Miss.”

 

Jinxiu and Jinlian, one carrying the guqin and the other supporting Ye Liyan, slowly walked towards the study.

 

“Has Grandfather not returned yet?” After putting the guqin away, Ye Liyan couldn’t help but ask.

 

At this time, Grandfather should have already returned from his morning court session, and she should have gone to pay her respects.

 

“Miss, the Duke has not returned home yet. I don’t know what delayed him.” Jinxiu answered quickly.

 

“Then let’s wait a bit longer.”

 

“Yes, Miss.”

 

――――――

 

“Your Highness the King of Chu, I will go back first so that Liyan can try the morning tea from this teahouse while it’s still hot.” The two guards beside Ye Tiance each held two pear wood food boxes in their hands.

 

“General Ye, take care, and I’ll visit you another day.”

 

“I’ll be waiting for the King of Chu’s visit at any time!”

 

After Ye Tiance led his attendants away, Shen Yian turned to the teahouse owner: “How’s business been lately?”

 

“Replying to Your Highness, business has been booming thanks to your blessings!”

 

“Good, from now on, General Ye can eat for free whenever he comes.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

“It’s just…I don’t know how to explain it to the Duke.”

 

Shen Yian thought for a moment: “Just say I’ve already given it to him.”

 

“I understand!”

 

“Good, you can go now.”

 

“Your Highness, take care!”

 

The owner bowed and quickly walked a few steps to see Shen Yian off.

 

King of Chu Palace

 

“Your Highness! You’re back!”

 

The steward of the King of Chu Palace was a tall, nine-foot-tall man with a thick beard, whose voice was like thunder, and when he shouted, the neighboring mansions would think it was going to rain. It was hard to find a steward like him in Tianwu City, among the literary and martial officials, or the noble families.

 

“Mendu.” Shen Yian responded with a hint of helplessness.

 

“Sorry, Your Highness.” Mendu realized he hadn’t controlled his voice, and his old face couldn’t help but turn red.

 

“Never mind, you and Cheng Hai go to the study room and wait for me.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness!”

 

In the study, Mendu and another young man stood on either side of the desk.

 

The young man was Cheng Hai, around twenty years old, with slightly dark skin, wearing a green armor, and carrying a long sword at his waist. He was the captain of the King of Chu Palace’s guard.

 

“Your Highness!”

 

The two of them saw Shen Yian walk in and quickly bowed.

 

Shen Yian sat down in the simple, leather-bound office chair behind the desk.

 

“Mendu, how’s the matter I told you to pay attention to?”

 

“Replying to Your Highness, as expected, a carriage went to the Martial Marquis’s mansion when the city gate opened today!”

 

“Martial Marquis’s mansion, Gu Ruoyi…” Shen Yian murmured, the plot’s gears had officially started turning since Gu Ruoyi arrived at the Martial Marquis’s mansion.

 

What followed was Gu Ruoyi repeatedly appearing in the sight of these young masters and princes, receiving attention, and a series of events unfolding.

 

Anyway, it had nothing to do with him; he was just confirming the other party’s whereabouts to see which stage of the plot it was at.

 

“Mendu, continue to keep an eye on the Martial Marquis’s mansion.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

“Cheng Hai, there have been many eyes on the King of Chu Palace recently, be more careful.” Shen Yian’s eyes narrowed.

 

“I understand, Your Highness, I know what to do.”

 

Cheng Hai responded in a deep voice.

 

“Good, you can go now.” Shen Yian gave them some simple instructions and let them go.

 

After the two of them left the study, a black mist twisted in the corner, and a thin man with a bronze beast mask walked out.

 

Shen Yian held his teacup, seemingly not surprised.

 

“Yin Hai, how’s the matter I told you to investigate?”

 

“Replying to Your Highness, the Weeping Old Man has left the Nightless City, and Zi Shu is in charge of tracking him.” Yin Hai’s voice was slightly hoarse, like a voice from the nine hells, making people feel inexplicably cold.

 

“I thought that old dog would still be hiding in the Nightless City for a while.” Shen Yian sneered.

 

The Weeping Old Man, the Left Protector of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

 

This was an existence that had penetrated the entire original plot.

 

From the early stages to the later stages, his shadow could be seen everywhere.

 

It can be said that Ye Liyan’s eventual fall to darkness and becoming a female demon lord would not have been possible without the Weeping Old Man’s efforts.

 

This time, the Weeping Old Man’s target was only one person, Ye Liyan.

 

Ye Liyan’s blue eyes were not a disease, nor were they an ominous sign, but rather a rare and precious Heavenly Eye that only appeared once in a thousand years!

 

From ancient times to the present, people with Heavenly Eyes and Demonic Eyes had always been the cause of countless conflicts between the righteous and demonic factions.

 

In this era, according to the original setting, Ye Liyan alone bore the burden of both Heavenly Eye and Demonic Eye.

 

One eye made her a saint, one eye made her a demon.

 

The Weeping Old Man’s task was to make Ye Liyan fall to darkness and awaken her Demonic Eye, and bring her back to the Nightless City to become the demonic sect’s furnace.

 

The conditions for awakening the Demonic Eye were extremely harsh, requiring the person to be willing and to receive a massive stimulus.

 

The destruction of the Ye family, the loss of loved ones, the rejection of the world, and the blame of all evil on her, would be enough to shatter anyone’s mentality.

 

However, Shen Yian still had doubts.

 

In the original story, the demonic sect had used a secret method to calculate the stars and discover Ye Liyan’s existence, and determine her location.

 

You demonic sect has a secret method, but I, the Great Qing Dynasty, have a sage too!

 

The one in the Heavenly Gate Pavilion of the Great Qing Dynasty was known as the sage of the current era!

 

The Great Qing Dynasty’s National Master, Lu Wenxuan!

 

With that old man’s abilities, calculating the Heavenly Eye and Demonic Eye would be child’s play!

 

But from the moment he was born until now, Shen Yian had not seen his family take any measures against Ye Liyan.

 

Did the Shen Family not know?

 

Impossible.

 

The old man’s attitude today was clear, and it was obvious that he knew the inside story.

 

The royal family was most concerned about face, otherwise, why would they let him marry someone known as an ominous existence?

 

After thinking for a moment, Shen Yian gave up.

 

He couldn’t guess his father’s thoughts for the time being.

 

When the enemy comes, we’ll defend; when the water comes, we’ll build a dam.

 

There were more important things to attend to at the moment.

 

Shen Yian’s eyes suddenly flashed with killing intent: “That old dog will definitely pass through the Heavenly Gate, and let Yin Hu and the others ambush him there.”

 

“You should go too, don’t let that old dog escape.”

 

“Yin Hai obeys the order.”