Chapter 31: Great Qing The Heavenly Gate Pavilion

“You… why is it only 5,000 silver taels?”

Shan Yue looked at the silver note in his hand and wanted to curse, but he swallowed the words back down due to the terrifying aura emanating from Shen Yian.

“For a complete book, I will offer 10,000 taels, but not for fragments.” Shen Yian folded the rag into a small square.

Shan Yue’s mouth opened slightly, as if he had fallen into Shen Yian’s trap.

“Since we’ve reached this point, can you tell me your name? Let’s become friends,” Shan Yue said with a chuckle, showing his big white teeth.

After years of observing people, he could see that this mysterious young man had a good character. In the martial arts world, it wasn’t about fighting and killing, but about human relationships and emotions. Having more friends meant having more paths to take, and in times of trouble, they could also provide more support.

“Ye Beian,” Shen Yian did not refuse and said the alias he used when he was traveling around the world.

The Northern Martial Alliance was a top-tier power in the northern martial arts world, with its disciples spread across the major cities. Building a relationship with them would not be a bad thing, and in the future, if barbarians were to invade, they would become a powerful force to resist them.

“Shan Yue,” Shan Yue bowed.

Ye Beian? This name sounded even more familiar, but he couldn’t remember who it belonged to, which was strange.

“Leader Shan.”

“Cough, cough, you’re too polite.”

Shan Yue put away the book, raising an eyebrow and saying, “You really won’t buy this rare book? It would be great to take it back and study it thoroughly!”

“No need, you can collect it yourself.”

Shen Yian rolled his eyes, having learned from so many “teachers” in his past life. Did he still need this thing?

“Alas, if you miss this opportunity, you will never have it again!” Shan Yue stood up and patted his butt, pretending to be regretful.

“Leader Shan, take your time,” Shen Yian chuckled.

“Alas, I’m off.”

Shan Yue let out another sigh, picked up his roasted chicken, and flew towards Tianwu City.

“Your Highness, who was that senior?” Ye Liyan asked curiously after Shan Yue had left.

“The Alliance Lord of the Northern Martial Alliance, Shan Yue,” Shen Yian replied, standing up.

Northern Martial Alliance!

Cheng Hai was taken aback, having once belonged to the army, and naturally, he had heard of the Northern Martial Alliance.

Who would have thought that the renowned Alliance Lord of the Northern Martial Alliance would be of such an appearance?

“Northern Martial Alliance…”

Ye Liyan murmured, having only read a little about the Northern Martial Alliance in the martial arts world directory given by her grandfather, and her knowledge was shallow.

“Cheng Hai, this saber technique suits you, don’t disappoint me,” Shen Yian handed over the small square.

Cheng Hai was shocked and half-knelt on the ground: “Such a precious saber technique, please reconsider, Your Highness!”

This was a saber technique that His Highness had bought for 5,000 silver taels, and he, a mere warrior, didn’t deserve it.

“I’m giving it to you, take it. If you can’t master it, I’ll punish you,” Shen Yian’s tone was firm, revealing an unquestionable attitude.

“Thank you, Your Highness! I won’t disappoint you!” Cheng Hai knew his lord’s temper and respectfully received the small cube with both hands.

After the interlude, everyone continued their picnic until the sky turned red and the carriage slowly returned to Tianwu City.

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived at the Duke of State’s residence.”

Inside the carriage, Shen Yian gently released Ye Liyan’s small hand and whispered, “I’ll soon take you as my wife.”

Ye Liyan’s long eyelashes trembled, her eyes filled with joy and shyness, and she softly replied, “I’ll wait for you forever, Your Highness.”

Shen Yian pointed at his face and said like an old gangster: “Won’t you give me a goodbye kiss?”

“Your Highness…”

Ye Liyan blushed and lowered her head even further.

Why was Your Highness always so bad…

Seeing this, Shen Yian didn’t tease Ye Liyan anymore, and just as he was about to speak, he felt a familiar warmth on his cheek.

When he came back to his senses, Ye Liyan had already blushed and quickly got out of the carriage, leaving behind a lingering fragrance.

Shen Yian smiled warmly: “Cheng Hai, let’s return to the residence.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

King of Chu’s residence.

“Your Highness, your sword has been retrieved.” Fu Sheng said, holding the long sword with both hands.

“Long Yuan.”

Shen Yian’s cold eyes gleamed, and the sword trembled with excitement and suddenly flew out of the sheath and fell into his hand.

A dragon lurks in the abyss, but will surely soar to the sky.

Yin Hai and Fu Sheng’s pupils simultaneously contracted.

At this moment, Shen Yian seemed like an unparalleled sword saint, standing tall and proud, and the two of them, although they hadn’t entered the path of the sword, could clearly feel the terrifying sword intent surrounding Shen Yian, which seemed to distort the space around him.

“Clang!”

Long Yuan returned to its scabbard, and Shen Yian once again restored his calm and harmless demeanor.

As expected, Long Yuan, which had been nurtured in the sword lake for so long, had finally restored its former glory.

He still remembered the first time he encountered Long Yuan, thinking it was a broken iron scrap, and almost threw it away.

After putting away Long Yuan, Shen Yian noticed the sword wounds on Fu Sheng’s hand that had not yet healed.

“Did you fight with that old man?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Don’t move, let me help you eliminate the old man’s residual sword intent from your body.”

Shen Yian’s palm emitted a burst of true energy, pressing it against Fu Sheng’s chest.

There was a dull hum, and Fu Sheng spat out a mouthful of blood, as the sword intent in his body was quickly suppressed by another burst of true energy.

After a moment, Fu Sheng felt a strange lightness throughout his body.

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

With the help of Yin Hai and Shen Yian, Fu Sheng’s injuries were quickly healed, and his state was restored to its peak.

“Yin Hai, have Wolf Head and Ghost Face arrived in Suzhou?”

“They have, Your Highness, and have met with Si Snake and others, and are currently searching for those Eastern barbarians.”

“The people from King of Song have been dispersed and placed in the merchant guild’s inn.”

“Good, once everything is ready, we’ll begin. Don’t leave any survivors.” Shen Yian’s eyes gleamed with killing intent, and he would settle accounts with anyone involved in that matter.

“I understand!” Yin Hai bowed his head.

The chessboard was about to be set in motion.

Great Qing Palace – the Heavenly Gate Pavilion.

Lu Wenxuan, dressed in white, sat under the dome, gazing at the starry night sky, his long hair as white as snow, his eyes clear and bright, his face like a young boy’s.

He had sat like this for countless days and nights, watching the stars twinkle, using the power of the stars to predict the future of the world, and calculating the fortunes of the Great Qing Dynasty.

“Master, King of Chu requests an audience,” a small Daoist boy called out softly.

“King of Chu? What does this kid want again?”

Lu Wenxuan revealed a helpless expression.

Shen Yian, who had been banned from leaving the palace, would often come to him, saying he was seeking knowledge.

At first, he thought it was interesting, but later discovered that the kid was just pretending to seek knowledge, and was actually using him as a tool.

Every time he thought about it, he felt a headache coming on, and it was the first time he had been so angry that he lost his composure.

“Let him come up,” Lu Wenxuan said, waving his hand.

“Yes,” the Daoist boy replied, and immediately went down.

Before long, Shen Yian, dressed in a silver four-clawed dragon robe, walked up with a swagger.

“Teacher, long time no see!” Shen Yian bowed.

Lu Wenxuan stood up and returned the bow, “King of Chu.”

Their eyes met, and Shen Yian felt a sense of fear every time he saw that face, which was even younger than his own, and yet belonged to a nearly 70-year-old old man. No wonder people who had seen him called him the Immortal of the Human World.

“I wonder why His Royal Highness the King of Chu is free to visit me today?”

“Please, teacher, help your student calculate a divination.”