Wang Xifeng’s voice was filled with hatred; Shen Ling and Shen Qiu were her flesh and blood, yet they were bullied to this extent. How could she possibly tolerate it?
Zhang Chen looked at Wang Xifeng and listened to her conditions. Zhang Chen shook his head, firmly refusing, "That’s impossible!"
Zhang Gaoqiu was indeed despicable, but he was now considered a prince consort of the Great Victory Dynasty. Zhang Chen couldn’t risk being hunted down by the three twelfth-tier mysterious powers of the Great Victory Dynasty to kill Zhang Gaoqiu.
For the sake of Shen Ling, risking his own family was not Zhang Chen’s style.
Upon hearing Zhang Chen’s refusal, Wang Xifeng looked at him expressionlessly, her gaze full of resolve, showing no hint of backing down.
Zhang Chen also looked at Wang Xifeng expressionlessly, showing no sign of relenting. He just wanted to bide his time and develop quietly without inviting trouble.
"I want Shen Ling and Shen Qiu to be alive; this isn’t too much to ask, is it?" After a long while, Wang Xifeng took a step back and said to Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen heard her words and neither agreed nor disagreed. Instead, his gaze fell on Wang Xifeng’s stomach, "Abort it!"
"As long as Shen Ling is safe, I won’t cause you any trouble," Wang Xifeng turned and got on the carriage. The driver, wearing a straw raincoat and hat, drove away, with only Wang Xifeng’s voice resonating in the rain:
"Zhang Chen, don’t forget what I said."
The Qi Mechanism flowed in Zhang Chen’s hand, and the surrounding raindrops vibrated continuously, slowly forming into ice spikes. Yet until Wang Xifeng’s figure vanished into the curtain of rain, Zhang Chen did not strike. Instead, he sighed in frustration as he retracted his skill: "I’ve really been caught by the handle."
Truth be told, Zhang Chen had complicated feelings about the embryo in Wang Xifeng’s belly, with an indescribable tangle in his heart.
Eventually, Zhang Chen’s figure faded into the rain curtain. When he reappeared, he was inside a house, yet he didn’t cultivate but stood in front of a table silently practicing calligraphy. At this moment, Zhang Chen had to admit that his heart was in turmoil.
Two hours later, Zhou Zhen walked in from outside. Seeing Zhang Chen practicing calligraphy, Zhou Zhen held up a wine jug, "Want a drink?"
Upon hearing these words, Zhang Chen put down the brush and did not refuse, "Let’s have some."
After a few rounds of drinks, Zhou Zhen, with a flushed face, stood up and staggered away, leaving Zhang Chen sitting silently inside.
Northern Land
Prince Pingbian’s Mansion
The frail and haggard-looking Prince Pingbian stood before a desk, gazing at a letter sent back from the south. He had been standing at the desk for two hours.
The current Prince Pingbian no longer had his past valor, long drained of Essence, Qi, and Spirit by Bai Cang.
Staring at the letter in his hand, a moment later, Prince Pingbian seemed alive as two tears fell from his murky eyes: "Xiaohua is dead! The legacy of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion is severed! What is the point of me guarding this foundation?"
"Revenge! I must avenge! But it’s the Innate Water God; how am I supposed to take revenge?" Prince Pingbian’s voice was filled with despair.
After a while, Prince Pingbian gritted his teeth and said, "Even if I can’t avenge Xiaohua, I should do something for her. Her biggest foe in life was Zhang Chen, so I’ll send him down to accompany you in death."
"But Zhang Chen isn’t that easy to kill..." Prince Pingbian drummed his fingers on the desk, "With the experts I have now, it’s simply impossible to avenge."
Amid his countless thoughts, a sweet voice suddenly came from outside the door, "My lord, it’s time for you to rest. I’ve made Great Nourishing Soup for you. Come and try it."
Seeing Zhang Xiaolan walk in, a flash of inspiration struck Prince Pingbian’s mind. He had an idea.
The next day
The rain continued to drizzle as Zhang Chen put away the Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pill Formula in his hand, "If I find a secluded spot behind the academy, I can attempt to refine the Eight-Treasure Heart-lock Pill."
As the thoughts flickered in Zhang Chen’s mind, Fox Fairy Nannan emerged from the rain: "Yellow Heaven Dao intends to bestow the title of Natural Divine Spirit; I know you have a grudge against Yellow Heaven Dao, so I’ve come to inform you."
"I’ve been aware of this for a long time," Zhang Chen replied briefly, then asked, "Let me ask you, is the yard found yet?"
"The mountain below is in chaos; it’s not that easy," Fox Fairy Nannan complained.
Hearing this, Zhang Chen wasn’t in a rush because he knew it wasn’t something to be forced.
"There’s something I must tell you, something very, very important!" Fox Fairy Nannan sat opposite Zhang Chen and said solemnly.
It was fortunate that Zhang Fei had gone next door early to study, or else Fox Fairy Nannan would not have been able to come and report the news to Zhang Chen.
"What is it?" Zhang Chen asked.
To be called something significant by Fox Fairy Nannan meant it wasn’t a trivial matter.
"Prince Pingbian intends to surrender to the court, even willing to send Zhang Xiaolan to Kyoto, to offer her to the Human King!" Fox Fairy Nannan said.
Zhang Chen was stunned at this news, "How can this be? Wasn’t Prince Pingbian always intent on rebelling? How could he suddenly surrender to the court?"
His voice was filled with disbelief; the actions made no sense at all.
"Zhang Xiaohua is dead, Prince Pingbian’s mansion has lost its heir, that old guy Prince Pingbian is left without descendants, after all his scheming, who will he handover such a great estate?" said Fox Immortal Nannan.
"Prince Pingbian wants to seek allegiance with the court, but I’m afraid neither the court nor the Demon Race will allow it," Zhang Chen questioned.
"Of course the Demon Race won’t allow it, hence the ancestor secretly sent me to pass a message to you, asking you to find a way to stop Prince Pingbian," Fox Immortal Nannan said.
"Why should I wade into these troubled waters? Who Prince Pingbian allies with has nothing to do with me." Zhang Chen sneered.
"The reason Prince Pingbian is releasing news of seeking allegiance with the court is to threaten the Eight Great Clans in Kyoto, to have the Zhang Family in Kyoto kill you. Don’t you think it has anything to do with you? Prince Pingbian is a pawn of the Eight Great Clans in Kyoto, and now this pawn wants to overturn the chessboard. When the chessboard is overturned, too many will be implicated, and the grand scheme of the world will change. All of this will come at the cost of your life; don’t you think it matters to you?" Fox Immortal Nannan added.
Zhang Chen heard this and fell silent, standing in the room speechless. After a long time, he said, "Looks like I can only ask Hu Li the Immortal to kill Prince Pingbian? Once Prince Pingbian dies, his forces will be like headless flies, then they’ll only await annexation by the Demon Race."
"Prince Pingbian can’t die. If he dies, all his forces will fall into the hands of the Yellow Heaven Dao, which will be more troublesome for you and for us demons. Given Yellow Heaven Dao’s control over Prince Pingbian’s mansion, once Prince Pingbian dies, Yellow Heaven Dao can instantly take over all his forces," Fox Immortal Nannan rejected Zhang Chen’s statement.
Zhang Chen frowned, "If killing is not an option, how should I persuade Prince Pingbian not to ally with the court?" His voice was filled with dissatisfaction.
"I don’t know, that’s why I came to ask if you have any ideas." Fox Immortal Nannan asked.
Zhang Chen stood there silently, though the situation was troublesome, he had to resolve it.
If Prince Pingbian offers his allegiance with his own head as a condition, the court is likely not to refuse.
"What to do?" Various thoughts flashed across Zhang Chen’s mind.
Seeing Zhang Chen’s troubled expression, Fox Immortal Nannan said, "Actually, you don’t need to be in such difficulty. If you really can’t find a way to stop Prince Pingbian from allying with the court, you can think of a way to delay it. If you can buy time for Hu Li the Immortal to reach the Twelfth Tier and gain the ability to oppose the Yellow Heaven Dao’s Great Virtuous Master, there will be no hindrance even if you kill Prince Pingbian. Or, you can buy time for my family’s ancestor; once he enters the Imperial Palace, absorbs the Great Victory Court’s fortune, and confuses the Emperor of Great Victory Dynasty, Prince Pingbian’s plan will naturally fail."
"You overestimate me; I don’t have any strategy to buy time," Zhang Chen replied discontentedly.
Hearing Zhang Chen’s words, Fox Immortal Nannan shook her head, "I’ve said all I can; I’m only notifying you. As for whether you can come up with a solution, that’s your concern."
"I never imagined my head would be so valuable," Zhang Chen scoffed.
Fox Immortal Nannan stared at Zhang Chen’s neck, seemingly wanting to see his head fall, "Your head is far more valuable than you think! Should the court agree to the condition, the first to want your head is probably the dean of Chongzheng Academy."
Zhang Chen fell silent; Fox Immortal Nannan turned and took her leave, leaving Zhang Chen alone to stare aimlessly at the rain.
"Everyone in this world wants Zhang Chen’s head, yet they don’t realize it’s not so easily taken. I possess the Eleventh Tier Sun True Flame, and even if a Twelfth Tier expert came, I’m not without resistance." After a long time, Zhang Chen laughed coldly, suddenly realizing leaving the three little ones and stepmother at Chongzheng Academy was not safe, after all, ’there are always rebellious subjects wanting to harm me,’ if the court orders Zhou Qiucheng to take my head, who knows what Zhou Qiucheng might think?
These Confucians all have some sort of affliction in their minds; I dare not bet and cannot afford to do so.
"It’s truly a major nuisance! How much does Prince Pingbian hate me, that he wants to drag me down even at his death!" Zhang Chen cursed inwardly, what can he do?
He’s quite helpless too!
Standing in the room, Zhang Chen pondered for an hour, and he truly came up with something:
"I can’t stop Prince Pingbian’s actions, but I can prevent the Great Victory Court from accepting his allegiance."
It’s difficult to accomplish things, but it’s much easier to spoil them.
"This matter is quite advantageous for Bai Cang; if he can enter the Inner Palace, he can absorb the Dragon Qi of the Great Victory Dynasty, his cultivation will surely advance rapidly to an unbelievable level. At that point, confusing the Emperor is not impossible," Zhang Chen quickly weighed the possibilities in his mind.
Just thinking about Bai Cang as a male fox wreaking havoc on both Prince Pingbian and the Emperor Dasheng, Zhang Chen couldn’t help but grimace.
It’s truly an eyesore!
If Bai Cang were a female fox, Zhang Chen might accept it, but Bai Cang as a male fox supplementing from two men is just too much to bear.
"I can’t influence Prince Pingbian, the only place I can act is in Kyoto to disrupt Prince Pingbian’s plans, giving the court a valid reason not to accept his allegiance," Zhang Chen mused deeply.
Prince Pingbian’s Mansion
Prince Pingbian and Zhang Xiaolan sat in the room, incense rising, causing Prince Pingbian’s face to shift in the smoke.
Compared to when Zhang Chen first saw him, Prince Pingbian now seemed decades older; his tall stature had stooped, no longer the robust figure he once was, appearing aged beyond measure like a feeble old man.
Prince Pingbian had been drained of his foundation by Zhang Xiaolan, and the Northern Land’s Dragon Qi had been consumed by Zhang Xiaolan by seven or eight parts, all for Bai Cang’s use.
Prince Pingbian looked at Zhang Xiaolan with a hint of reluctance in his eyes; he was truly infatuated with her, yet he genuinely sought revenge.
Ultimately, he was a formidable ruler; between desire and hatred, he had clear priorities.
"Xiaolan, I am reluctant to part with you, but I have no choice. Revenge is my only hope to continue living. From today, you are the primary wife of me, Prince Pingbian, and tomorrow, I wish you to embark on your journey. I hope once you reach Kyoto, you can mesmerize the Human King and complete my revenge." Prince Pingbian said to Zhang Xiaolan.