Volume One: The Hidden Dragon Beneath the Abyss Chapter 107: The Mist

“Senior Tian Xingzi seems to have gone to the northern border, and he appeared quite anxious.”
When Chen Ying and the others came to find Wang Chuan, Yang Hao was reporting this to him.
“I understand,” Wang Chuan nodded, lost in thought.
The northern border... Could it be that the legendary Demon Emperor is about to emerge?
Yang Hao was also deeply worried, but he believed that His Highness Wang Chuan should be able to handle it. He could only place his hopes on Wang Chuan.
With matters in the Xia Kingdom growing increasingly urgent, it was imperative to finish quickly.

At that moment, Chen Ying and the others arrived.
Every time they saw Wang Chuan, he seemed ever more profound and unfathomable.

“Sister Lingyan...” Upon hearing their arrival, Xu Wei happily dashed out. “Let’s spar. I’ve already mastered that move.”
Though Xu Wei said this, others thought she was more playful than serious.
She glanced at Chen Ying, who nodded in agreement. “Don’t hurt Her Highness the Princess.”
Chen Lingyan understood and promised to be mindful.

The two drew their swords and faced each other.
Their auras rose sharply, intensifying the atmosphere.
Wang Chuan sat at a distance, toying with a teacup, not even glancing their way, seemingly indifferent.

Suddenly, Xu Wei’s eyes gleamed sharply, as if two streams of sword energy materialized from nowhere, striking her opponent.
At the next moment, Chen Lingyan felt a sudden sensation, a tingling numbness on her scalp.
More than that, she was utterly astonished.
Yang Hao was equally shocked, as if witnessing a sleeping lion awaken and roar mightily!

Before this, everyone regarded her as a playful, lively girl, even her martial training was intermittent and casual.
But now... at this moment, they saw a completely different side of her and were overwhelmingly surprised.
Yet, why did that feeling seem so familiar?

Suddenly, Yang Hao noticed a shadow of Wang Chuan in her—the same charm and aura, strikingly similar.
She was imitating the Crown Prince, and had learned it so well.
Indeed, she was still herself.
If it were truly Wang Chuan, no one present could even put up a fight against that imposing force.

Xu Wei had already moved. Every move she made was clearly mimicking Wang Chuan’s posture and demeanor, without any attempt to conceal it.
She took a step forward, her long sword slicing horizontally from left to right, devoid of the slightest trace of mundane energy.
With one stroke, the air rippled like water, cleanly cleaved apart.
The shockwave spread like water ripples.

Clang—
Chen Lingyan’s sword rebounded, sword energies interlacing like a net. The clash was intense, sparks flying.
The floor beneath cracked and shattered in layers, sharp sounds piercing the air.
Chen Lingyan suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, and the protective aura around her body instantly collapsed.

“What is this...”
Before she could finish, she coughed up blood again, looking weak.

“This is the sword intent...”
Yang Hao stared in astonishment and glanced back at Wang Chuan.
Such mastery was nothing to Wang Chuan but was an unimaginable supreme skill to them.
In such a short time, the Princess had mastered it—her progress was nothing short of meteoric.

Some people were truly geniuses,
but just exceedingly lazy.

After their initial surprise, Yang Hao and the others thought no more of it. For young people, victories and defeats were common, like profits and losses in business.
The younger generation of martial artists rarely accepted each other, but if defeated, there was no excuse—strength was supreme. They could only return to arduous training, striving to defeat their rivals in the future and erase their shame.
It was this intense competition that spurred their astonishing progress. Because of the constant race to surpass or be surpassed, the pressure gradually unleashed their potential.

Whenever the younger generation reached their peak, it was the golden age of martial arts, where the strong flourished.

Once confirming Chen Lingyan was fine, merely slightly injured, Xu Wei happily ran over to Wang Chuan.
“Brother! Brother! Did you see that?” she asked excitedly.

“You’ve only learned that one sword move. One sword can’t defeat an enemy; you’re at the end of your strength. Besides, she deliberately held back.” Wang Chuan replied calmly. “She can’t hurt you, so she’s cautious. In a life-or-death battle, even if you knew that move, it wouldn’t be nearly enough.”

If she wanted to crush Xu Wei, it would only take one sword.

Xu Wei, initially proud, pouted upon hearing this, snorting twice.

“Lord Chen, please sit.” Wang Chuan had already summoned a maid to serve tea.

“Does Your Highness know why I’ve come?” Chen Ying asked.

“How would I know?” Wang Chuan replied, puzzled.
Was there some misunderstanding? Did they really think he was that formidable?
He hadn’t known before they arrived today.

“I have an impertinent request,” Chen Ying said earnestly. “I hope Your Highness will accept my daughter as your disciple. Your Highness is a martial prodigy. If she trains under you, she will surely make great progress!”

“Are you serious?” Wang Chuan’s eyes widened.
He seldom encountered such surprises.
Back in the Wei Kingdom, even under those circumstances, he had been able to control everything.
But...

Are you really serious?

“Of course. How could I joke with Your Highness?” Chen Ying replied solemnly. “I have thought this through carefully. What does Your Highness think?”

The others looked over, equally surprised.

“That’s quite unexpected.”

“Then do you want it nominally or in reality? Given your situation, reality might be difficult. But if that time comes, I won’t stand idly by! I’m not even afraid of Zhong Jie’s entire family; one more won’t matter!” Wang Chuan added. “If it’s in reality, I have an advanced secret manual here. When practiced, it generates intense yang energy. Upon reaching its peak, one gains boundless power, capable of heaven-reaching, earth-piercing feats—grasping stars and moon, moving constellations effortlessly! With her comprehension and talent, her future accomplishments are limitless!”

“If it’s nominal, I can publicly declare her as my disciple, but only that.”

“If you were in their shoes, what would you choose?”

Wang Chuan directly looked at Chen Lingyan. “Chen Ying, you don’t need to say anything for now.”
The difficult decision fell to her—it was her matter after all.

Yang Hao understood the gravity of the situation immediately.
It was a difficult choice for all involved.

“Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness,” Chen Lingyan bowed slightly.

“Think it over carefully. Take your time.” Wang Chuan said.

“To choose between the fish or the fishing rod—that’s a tough problem,” Chen Lingyan added.

“I want both!” Xu Wei sat on the armrest of a chair, leaning towards Wang Chuan.

Wang Chuan sighed helplessly and embraced her lightly. “Sometimes in life, you can’t worry too much. You have to make choices; otherwise, you risk losing everything.”

Xu Wei still didn’t understand—she thought it wasn’t contradictory.

“To practice the true path of cultivation requires profound blessings; it cannot be lightly passed on. When I first met you, I sensed you had a certain fate,” Wang Chuan continued. “But how many in this world have such fortune? Without enduring three calamities and six hardships, one may not withstand it! The path of cultivation isn’t for everyone. Since ancient times, those who achieved greatness endured countless trials.”

Chen Lingyan pondered deeply.

“Chen Ying, I heard you studied literature before switching to martial arts, and now you want your daughter to learn martial arts. You and Zhong Jie really took opposite paths,” Wang Chuan asked.

“But why did you make this choice?”

...

“The way of the gentleman is like traveling afar; it begins with the near. Like climbing high, it begins low. By starting with what is close and humble, one gradually reaches the heights.”

Sizhou, gradually advancing.

A low-profile, ordinary carriage. Zhong Jie pulled aside the curtain, glancing at the driver who had served him for many years.

“You might remember back then, after our examination for the Tongsheng title, a local bully from our county oppressed the village, seized land, and even killed several farmers. The authorities covered it up and deceived higher-ups.”

“At that moment, I suddenly realized that possessing martial arts skills to kill ten or even a hundred men still couldn’t change anything. Even if I were executed, more bullies and corrupt officials would arise.”

“That day, when I raised my sword to kill two men, my mother knelt and stopped me. That made me relent and promise never to wield a sword or use force again. The youthful chivalry was gone. Step by step, I climbed the ranks, hoping to use higher authority to punish these people!”

“But back then, it was Chen Ying who sought out the governor and had those men dealt with! I still don’t understand how she got to meet the governor or why he would come to investigate such a place. Later, she gained favor from a noble and rose swiftly. I always held hope in him, hoping he could achieve what I could not, even though the world no longer believed in him.”

“Even when I discovered it, the murder at the Royal Guild House was orchestrated by an external relative whom he brought to the capital!”

“Chen Ying, oh Chen Ying, let me admire you once more!”

...

“Zhong Jie has done many things over the years, but so have you. Your reputation has worsened; I hear you even sold official positions for the Chancellor and gained his trust,” Wang Chuan said, looking at him.

“I no longer remember the past and don’t dwell on it,” Chen Ying shook his head. “I do my own things and don’t care what others think.”

“But why did you bring your daughter here today?” Wang Chuan asked. “If that’s the case, why now?”

“Your Highness, I’m heading to the northern border,” Chen Ying said.

“Why?” Wang Chuan was surprised.

“Father, why is it like this?” Chen Lingyan was also shocked.

As a key figure in the Chancellor’s faction, such a decision undoubtedly meant neglect and abandonment.

“When something can be done but isn’t, since they think I did nothing, I will do something final,” Chen Ying sighed.

There was no trace of disappointment or unwillingness—none at all.

“That day at the Royal Guild House, the household next to mine, I heard you invited them?” Wang Chuan asked.
It seemed many now knew about this.

“Yes. I don’t want to hide anything from Your Highness; I should have spoken earlier. I make no excuses—all is true. I did arrange for them to stay there. By timing, it was eighteen hours before Your Highness arrived. At that time, I hadn’t even met you or imagined they would die.”

“So it was just an accident?” Wang Chuan smiled. “Another coincidence for me.”

“Yes,” Chen Ying nodded.

No matter the circumstances, Chen Ying would never have plotted against them.
Such a thing was impossible.
It just happened to occur simultaneously.

Before Wang Chuan entered the capital, many did not know his whereabouts.
So it was truly coincidental.

“Then why did you invite them to the capital?” Wang Chuan asked again.

“My father-in-law oversees the Ministry of Revenue, and this person was involved in tax evasion. So I invited him in my name to test the waters,” Chen Ying explained.

“Was that your own decision, or did your father-in-law know?” Wang Chuan inquired.

“Both,” Chen Ying answered quickly.

Such a person involved in such matters should have been interrogated.
But without the emperor’s suspicion or evidence, no one could touch him.

(Chapter continues...)

If that person had been Wang Chuan, it would have been different—he could have spoken without reservation.

“Who do you think killed him?” Wang Chuan asked, posing an intriguing question.

“I never thought about it,” Chen Ying shook his head, answering swiftly.

“Now think about it.” Wang Chuan said.

“Logically, it should be Zhong Jie and his group, but they wouldn’t do this, nor could they. It could be the Chancellor’s faction—they have the means but no motive,” Chen Ying said seriously. “So I don’t know. I can’t figure it out right now.”

“Back then, you gave up literature for martial arts. Were you happy? And now your daughter is learning martial arts?” Wang Chuan asked curiously.

“I never forced her. If she didn’t want to or couldn’t endure the hardship, she could quit, and I wouldn’t blame her. But she’s come this far,” Chen Ying said. “As for me, it doesn’t matter. I’ve always respected Your Highness, especially after that day’s discourse. Mortals fuss over countless things but still eat, sleep, and cultivate...”

“So I shouldn’t have other thoughts. Happiness or sadness doesn’t matter. Walking the great path, my heart can hold mountains and rivers, embrace seas and rivers!”

“Tsk... Chen Ying, you really are different from others,” Wang Chuan admired.
It would be great if Zhong Jie had your realm.
Unfortunately, you lack great talent in martial arts.
What a pity.

“Have you made your decision?” Wang Chuan looked at Chen Lingyan.

“I have,” Chen Lingyan said.

“What did you choose?” Wang Chuan asked.
Xu Wei and the others looked on curiously.

“In truth, Father never pressured me. I’m willing. If he asks me to do something, I do it. He always plans the best and makes the best arrangements. Trust like that is a blessing, and I’m grateful for it. I only need to trust my father and strive to become a daughter who makes him proud and relieved,” Chen Lingyan said.

She looked at her father, and Chen Ying was already tearful.
It had been a long time since he had been so moved.
For many years, he never showed much emotion, but deep inside, there was a soft spot.

“Just now, I was thinking—if it were Father, what would he have me choose?” Chen Lingyan added.
“So I decided to entrust the choice back to Your Highness.”

“You really do imitate your father, and you do it so well,” Wang Chuan said.

“Your Highness’s willingness to help is a great favor. We don’t want to ask for more, so we leave the decision to you,” Chen Lingyan explained, giving her reasoning. “Father often says Your Highness is trustworthy and worthy of reliance.”

Chen Ying nodded, feeling inexplicably comforted.

“Then you’ve put me in a difficult position,” Wang Chuan smiled.
“In that case, I’ll think it over carefully and give you my answer soon.”

That would suffice.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”
The father and daughter bowed deeply.

“Chen Lingyan, you shined today—only today.” Wang Chuan glanced at Xu Wei. “Just like Wei’er, only today.”

“You’ve always respected your father so much, but you don’t understand what is most worthy of respect in him. Even with such trust, I find it rather pitiful.”

“All matters in the world are controlled at the beginning; if the beginning cannot be controlled, then control lies at the end.”

Chen Ying had probably understood this long ago—the course of all things is fate, beyond human power to change.
What we can do is change ourselves, starting with the practical, aligning with the laws of heaven and earth, adapting to nature.

That was the path he had taken—entirely different from Zhong Jie’s.

“What does that have to do with me?”
Xu Wei blinked innocently from the side.

Her delicate hand brushed her temple, strands of loose hair falling softly; her tender skin, rivaling frost and snow, was gently touched.
With a faint, elusive smile at her lips, her charming and enchanting demeanor was truly breathtaking.

“Please, Your Highness, instruct me.” Chen Lingyan hurriedly said.

“If you throw the problem back to me, you’ll only make yourself more pitiful,” Wang Chuan shook his head.

“Your Highness jokes. I have nothing worthy of praise,” Chen Ying said calmly.

Actually, he seemed to have understood something.

Only Chen Lingyan understood nothing.

Xu Wei scratched her head, nearly about to ask.

“It’s this late; Zhong Jie has probably reached his destination,” Wang Chuan glanced at the sky.
“Lord Chen, haven’t you worried about your old friend?”

“Zhong Jie is no ordinary man; he won’t be easily defeated. I hope for his success,” Chen Ying said.

“Then should I propose to His Majesty that you don’t have to go to the northern border?” Wang Chuan suggested.

Chen Lingyan was delighted to hear this, immensely happy.
Wang Chuan’s words would surely matter to the Xia Lord.
Someone like Zhong Jie, with his help, could see the emperor and obtain imperial orders.

“No need. I still have to go to the northern border,” Chen Ying said.
“This is my own decision.”

Wang Chuan was stunned. What was going on?
Why was this?

“Very well.” Wang Chuan nodded in understanding and said no more.

But Xu Wei and the others grew even more confused.

“Then I take my leave. Thank you, Your Highness.” Chen Ying excused himself.

“Very well, take care.” Wang Chuan nodded.

They would meet again soon.

(End of chapter)