Chapter 16: Troubled Times

 

“Your Highness, His Royal Highness King of Song has already left.”

 

Mendu looked at Shen Yian who had been standing there for a long time and reminded him in a low voice.

 

“Yeah.” Shen Yian narrowed his eyes, his lips curling up into a faint smile. “This fourth brother of mine is really generous.”

 

Mendu stood behind him, somewhat perplexed by his lord’s words.

 

Oh, I see!

 

The Fifth Prince didn’t bring anything when he came, but the King of Song brought eight gold ingots, which was indeed a grand gesture.

 

Shen Yian turned around: “Mendu, bring the accountant from the palace, and go to the Dingfu Building in the northern city to handle the transfer procedures.”

 

“It will be one of our palace’s assets from now on.”

 

“Ah?”

 

Mendu was momentarily stunned, as the Dingfu Building in Tianwu City was a relatively famous restaurant. How did it suddenly become one of their palace’s assets?

 

“What are you dawdling for? Hurry up!”

 

“Ah, ah, yes, Your Highness!” Mendu didn’t dare to delay and quickly took a few steps forward.

 

Shen Yian glanced back in the direction Shen Jingyu had gone.

 

“Testing the waters…”

 

He tossed a hot potato into his own hands, wanting to try whether his iron hand could catch it, and also to test the reaction from the other side.

 

The King of Song’s estate… the Zhao family of Suzhou… Empress Zhao.

 

Setting aside various conspiracy theories, Shen Jingyu’s goal was simply “freedom”.

 

The Zhao family had raised him like a bird in a cage for so many years, and now it was time for him to spread his wings.

 

However, he needed someone to open the cage door for him.

 

Coincidentally, there were some matters he needed to settle with the Zhao family as well…

 

Compared to befriending Shen Tengfeng, he preferred Shen Jingyu’s style, where you helped him, and he would truly reward you with money!

 

“Your Highness, Yin Hai has returned.”

 

In the study, Fu Sheng and Yin Hai had been waiting for a long time.

 

“Has that old dog been dealt with?”

 

Yin Hai bowed, his voice slightly hoarse: “Reporting to Your Highness, the Weeping Old Man has been killed at the Heavenly Gate, twenty miles west.”

 

Shen Yian nodded, and Yin Hai’s action was effortless, except for Lu Wenxuan and Pei Wen, who were at the level of land immortals. Killing an ordinary old dog in the Heavenly Martial Realm was a trivial matter.

 

However, with the death of a Left Protector, it wouldn’t take long for another to take his place.

 

The Demon Sect had already become a national-level existence in the Heavenly Realms, and their years of hiding had given them unparalleled strength.

 

They were just waiting for their Sect Master to ascend to the Divine Wandering Realm, wielding the sword to conquer the Great Qing!

 

“Did the Nightless City take any action after that old dog’s death?” Shen Yian’s gaze turned cold.

 

In the inner hall of the Demon Sect, there was a row of lanterns representing the important figures of the sect.

 

When someone died, their lantern would extinguish.

 

The news of the Weeping Old Man’s death would be transmitted back to the Demon Sect immediately.

 

“Reporting to Your Highness, the Nightless City rang three bell tolls.”

 

“Three bell tolls, are they convening a meeting? Let Yin Hu and the others return to the merchant guild and wait for further instructions.” Shen Yian sneered.

 

“Also, Fu Sheng, I need you to go to the Southeast Sword Lake and retrieve a sword for me.”

 

Fu Sheng and Yin Hai were both taken aback.

 

Shen Yian couldn’t help but laugh at their expressions: “Don’t think too much, with the current unrest in Tianwu City, I at least need a reliable sword by my side, right?”

 

“Take it, and it will obediently follow you.”

 

Shen Yian reached out, and the sword scabbard on the bookshelf flew into his hand.

 

“Oh, and also ask that old fisherman if he’s going to be idle again today?”

 

Fu Sheng received the sword scabbard, his expressionless face showing a hint of ripples: “Fu Sheng acknowledges the order.”

 

After Fu Sheng left, Shen Yian sat behind the desk, his eyes slightly lowered.

 

The old dog was dead, and the Demon Sect would reselect a Left Protector and reassign tasks.

 

At this stage, they couldn’t provoke the Demon Sect into desperation, nor could they let them completely retreat.

 

It would be best if they could keep them in a state of constant anxiety, like a puppet on a string, with their combat strength gradually dwindling.

 

The old woman and her group should be very interested in the Demon Sect, right?

 

Shen Yian opened the folding fan again, feeling the killing intent emanating from it.

 

What a pity, the old dog’s head would have been worth a lot of money if taken to the Martial Guard Division.

 

The gentle breeze outside blew the flowers of the pomegranate tree.

 

In three months, autumn would arrive, and the northern barbarians would start to get restless again.

 

As the son-in-law, he had to help his father-in-law resolve some troubles.

 

What a busy autumn it was going to be.

 

“Snap!”

 

Shen Yian closed the folding fan and stood up.

 

There were many things to attend to today, and he was getting a bit frustrated. He might as well go find that silly girl to play with.

 

――――――

 

King of Song’s estate.

 

“Your Highness, everything has been taken care of.” Wen Wu bowed and reported.

 

“And the ledger of debts?”

 

“That has also been taken care of.”

 

“Ah, the Dingfu Building will no longer be ours from now on.”

 

Shen Jingyu stroked the bird in the cage, speaking nonchalantly.

 

“Your Highness, I don’t understand why we need to give the Dingfu Building to the King of Chu for free.”

 

“Are you asking me?”

 

“I dare not!” Wen Wu was shocked and quickly knelt down.

 

Shen Jingyu turned around, allowing the raven to jump from the birdcage to his shoulder.

 

“According to seniority, I should call you Uncle, right?”

 

“I dare not!” Wen Wu bowed his head even lower.

 

“Compared to Mr. Zhou from the academy, you’ve taught me more things over the years, Uncle Wen.”

 

“I’ve always appreciated you.”

 

Shen Jingyu walked to Wen Wu’s side and gently pressed his hand on Wen Wu’s shoulder.

 

“Your Highness, please don’t disappoint the Royal Concubine’s expectations!” Wen Wu opened his mouth to say.

 

“When have I ever disappointed Mother’s expectations?”

 

Wen Wu lowered his head and didn’t speak, only feeling the weight of Shen Jingyu’s hand on his shoulder.

 

“Squawk!!”

 

The raven’s blood-red eyes stared at the sky and suddenly let out a loud cry, startling several swallows to fly away.

 

Shen Jingyu laughed with his hands behind his back: “I’m giving the Dingfu Building to my sixth brother out of curiosity.”

 

“Curiosity about your reactions.”

 

“Please, Your Highness, don’t act rashly!” Wen Wu knelt and turned around.

 

“What’s rash about it? Can’t I give away something I don’t like?”

 

“Your Highness, the Royal Concubine…”

 

“Pfft!”

 

A bloodline extended from Wen Wu’s nose to the back of his ear, and half of his head rolled to the ground.

 

“I don’t want to hear you mention that woman again.”

 

Shen Jingyu glanced sideways, his eyes seeming to reflect a sea of blood, with a flock of crows covering the blood-red sky.

 

Wen Wu suddenly came back to his senses and instinctively covered his neck, gasping for air. Had he died once?!

 

This was… close to the perfect “Void Self Technique”!

 

The lord had silently pulled him into the Void Self realm…

 

No!

 

It was that ravine!

 

Wen Wu’s pupils shook.

 

“Your Highness, have you reached another level in your cultivation?”

 

“Can’t compare to my older brothers.” Shen Jingyu raised his hand, and the raven obediently flew back to the birdcage.

 

Crown Prince Shen Muchen had entered the Taiyi Sect at a young age, studying under the Master Wanfa, and had already entered the Realm of Freedom at the age of sixteen. Now, he was probably already in the Heavenly Martial Realm.

 

King of Jin Shen Junyan, a disciple of King of Langya, had cultivated the Shen Family’s “Eastern Emperor Scripture”, entering the army at the age of twelve, and had fought in numerous battles, with an army of ten thousand iron cavalry under his command.

 

“Wen Wu, I’ve always appreciated you, and with your abilities, you shouldn’t be limited to just the Zhao family of Suzhou.”

 

“I’ll give you a broader sky.”

 

Shen Jingyu extended his hand.

 

“…Wen Wu is willing to serve Your Highness with all his might!”