Volume One: The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss Chapter 125: Suspicion

“At least for now, it seems your move was the right one. Are you satisfied with that?” the Lord of Jin asked him. “Because you are seizing his fortune, his fate.”

The Fourth Prince was momentarily taken aback.

He had conquered the Tang Kingdom with just a single pool and a city, carrying enormous prestige, all in hopes of challenging for the Crown Prince’s position.

Inevitably, he had to stand in opposition to Wang Chuan.

“But fate changes. If it truly belongs to him, who can snatch it away? The way of Heaven diminishes the surplus. It is capricious and cyclical, cause and effect repeating. I have yet to transcend completely,” the Fourth Prince spoke candidly. “I have never liked him—never. After all, her cultivation surpasses mine; I do not yet have the strength to confront and kill her. But through recent training, I have come to understand many truths.”

He had once secretly returned to the capital and caught a distant glimpse of Wang Chuan, sensing boundless potential and a mighty fortune within her. That fortune was even not inferior to his own.

Wang Chuan had risen to fame only recently, but since then, she had crushed all competition.

No one could match her head-on.

What a pity—yet it was precisely her, too arrogant, who had dared to assassinate the Demon Emperor.

Was that something he could handle?

He had long sensed Wang Chuan’s threat. Her strength, if harnessed well, could be a tremendous asset, even augmenting his own fortune from nothing.

“Go now,” the Lord of Jin waved his hand, unwilling to say more. “I do not want to see barbarian troops cross the border. I hope you will not disappoint me.”

The great hall soon returned to calm. After others departed, the Lord of Jin’s figure blended into the darkness.

Motionless.

…

“When will the Jin army invade the Wei and Yu kingdoms?” Yang Hao asked the Lord of Yu when they met again.

“I don’t know either,” the Lord of Yu shook his head. “According to spies inside Jin, the country is now at rest, engaged in farming and preparing for the next great battle. Perhaps they are short on food?”

“That’s impossible. The Lord of Jin has been planning for years. How could he lack food? Even after these two battles, though he consumed much, and could not seize supplies from the Xia and Tang kingdoms, Jin’s strength is sufficient to avoid famine,” Yang Hao replied. “Your Majesty, do you believe this?”

“You make a fair point, but it is still mere speculation without concrete evidence. The Lord of Jin is inscrutable; perhaps he is deliberately sowing confusion, waiting for us to lower our guard before striking,” the Lord of Yu said.

“If it’s the Lord of Jin, that’s likely true—he excels at striking unexpectedly,” Yang Hao sighed. “But if we stay vigilant and avoid mistakes, there is still hope, right?”

“Perhaps,” the Lord of Yu nodded. “What truly concerns me is the Fourth Prince, who opposes a whole kingdom alone. His sudden transformation is too mysterious.”

“I also suspect dark forces support him. They only dared rebel when His Highness Wang Chuan was absent. The faction that attempted to assassinate the Princess probably relates to them as well. Maybe they feared Wang Chuan, uncertain if she was truly gone, hence their caution.”

After all, only one assassin had appeared. There was no clear indication that this faction was willing to go to any length to harm her.

That much made sense.

Even for a top assassin, such recklessness was unthinkable.

“Since this matter arose because of him, I want an explanation when he returns. I won’t say more for now,” the Lord of Yu said, somewhat angry.

“His Highness will not disappoint anyone,” Yang Hao replied earnestly. “Your Majesty, I shall return to Yang City.”

“Jin Kingdom? Why go back? Wang Chuan’s whereabouts are still unknown,” the Lord of Yu exclaimed. “You’ll do nothing there. Do you not understand how the Lord of Jin will treat you? Why risk your life?”

“Staying here won’t help Your Majesty or the Princes. I’ve always been good at minimizing losses and maximizing gains—I want to be a successful merchant,” Yang Hao sighed. “If I return to Yang City, I will surely obtain information beneficial to you. Since His Highness disappeared, many rumors have spread, shaking the confidence of many. I must act.”

“His Highness once told me a story: two armies fought over a city for a long time with no success. Then they built a wooden horse, hiding soldiers inside, feigning retreat to deceive the enemy. The defenders grew careless, believing victory was theirs, and brought the horse into the city to celebrate. At midnight, the hidden soldiers struck from within, taking the city—a classic stratagem.”

“I have always hoped to do such things for His Highness.”

“But you understand, a single mistake could mean a terrible end,” the Lord of Yu warned.

“If I place all hope in His Highness, I will be safe; no one dares harm me. If not, if something happens to him, all we do will be in vain,” Yang Hao said seriously. “When he returns, I hope my efforts have been worthwhile.”

“Very well, since you have made up your mind, I won’t try to dissuade you,” the Lord of Yu sighed. “Be careful.”

“I understand,” Yang Hao respectfully saluted. “My wife, children, and elderly mother—Your Majesty need not worry. If Yu Kingdom is safe, many will be safe. That is important.”

It was a simple truth.

“Many advise me not to worry too much about Jin’s invasion, but I am not worried,” the Lord of Yu breathed deeply, speaking slowly. “At first, I was unfriendly toward Wang Chuan, disliked her, but would not harm her. Yet, strangely, when speaking with you, I felt a kind of bond beyond age.”

“I have a strained relationship with my father-in-law,” Yang Hao admitted, wiping sweat from his brow. “He always looks down on me.”

The Lord of Yu was momentarily stunned. Perhaps if he had not married his daughter to him, he would not have such feelings toward him.

Was it really just because of that?

It seemed so.

“His Highness cultivates the Great Way—his heart, his realm,” Yang Hao continued. “The more I learn about his path, the more I feel life is like a dream. The people and events—so unreal. Not joyful for gains, not sorrowful for losses—the realm of the Great Way grows clearer, but I am afraid. I used to ask His Highness about the Dao, but now I am too afraid.”

“Don’t let your cultivation dull your mind. I have met many who lost themselves to madness, raving and insane. Perhaps this is not your path; how many can truly reach the summit?” the Lord of Yu advised.

Yang Hao was silent for a moment, then said, “Zhuangzi once dreamed he was a butterfly. Upon waking, he did not know if he was a man who dreamed he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was a man.”

“People like us will interpret that differently.”

“Back then, His Highness often said he did not know if this world is real or illusion.”

…

Sunlight filtered through the leaves of a great tree, casting mottled shadows upon the ground.

The courtyard was spacious, with eaves curling like a snake’s tail, sharp and long, casting dark shadows over the bluestone.

“Brother Xu…”

Upon seeing him return, the little girl ran swiftly and threw herself at him.

In the courtyard lay a huge slab of bluestone, large enough for a person to lie upon.

Its surface was smooth and polished, washed by the afternoon rain, as clean as a mirror.

Xu Qing set her down and sat beside her, pulling sweets from his pocket. Soon, her face beamed with joy.

She gave off the fragrance of lotus flowers, her slightly damp skin smooth like porcelain.

This family might well be his greatest surprise and blessing since his rebirth.

Then Han Keru approached, leaning gently against him.

“I was out doing business with others; keep these safe,” Xu Qing remembered and produced a pouch of coins.

Han Keru’s eyes widened in surprise upon opening it—it was all silver.

No matter where or when, money always came fast.

Xu Qing was truly resourceful.

“It’s nothing; I only deal in just matters,” Xu Qing reassured her, fearing any doubts.

Han Keru quickly trusted him—perhaps Xu Qing himself believed the act he played.

He had even deceived himself, always thinking what he did was right.

Yet still, he felt such a man was a bit foolish.

But beyond this stubbornness, he was an excellent partner, always believing in himself.

His figure, appearance, and skills were all top-notch, and she was virtuous and gentle.

Within her delicate body, she likely could not bear great blows.

Xu Qing instinctively hugged her tighter.

In that moment, her feminine charm truly revealed itself.

All outer shells melted under the gentle assault; her form became supple and alluring. A faint blush colored her cheeks; lips and eyes glistened with moisture, and she radiated captivating light.

Xu Qing held her earnestly, feeling her body ebb and flow like the tides.

Yang Hao heading to Jin Kingdom?

Was he a fool?

Why did they all refuse advice, like moths to flame, courting their own destruction?

These people could do nothing, change nothing.

Self-deception.

When Xu Qing discovered their intent that day, he was speechless and frustrated.

Having dealt with those men once in Pucheng, if exposed, they would surely not let it go.

So since returning, he had kept his doors shut, only venturing out in emergencies for those close to him.

But Jin Kingdom was truly dangerous.

Both the Lord of Jin and the Fourth Prince exuded strangeness. This was no longer the Jin Kingdom they once knew.

“This man must have fallen to the demonic path, cultivating dark arts. When he destroyed Tang Kingdom, he was invincible, manipulated by demonic forces behind the scenes.”

“But the Lord of Jin—what about him? What is his purpose?”

“Is it simply to unify the world and achieve the great enterprise of ruling the nine provinces?”