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    Edict of Peace 116

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    Chapter 116: The Princess Consort, Aunt Qingyan

    Li Guanyi looked at the text, realizing that the aloof Princess Consort had recognized him. His concealment of his aura and appearance relied on methods taught by his aunt. However, if Princess Consort Chen Qingyan also knew this method, and had practiced for ten years, her skill would certainly surpass his.

    His disguise might be completely useless to her. She might recognize him at a glance.

    That method, however, was indeed the慕容 family’s secret skill, the “Twelve Storeyed Misty Rain of Jiangnan,” a direct transmission of the Jiangnan Divine Weaponry Manor (a prestigious family known for weapon crafting). When his aunt left the capital, she passed this method on to the Princess Consort – was it to repay a kindness?

    Or perhaps, back then, his aunt had already accepted that she would die on the road? Passing this skill to the Princess Consort might have been to prevent this unique skill from being lost. The circumstances of that year were clearly terrible.

    Li Guanyi lowered his eyes. He recorded the names and contact methods of these twenty-four generals. They were generals who had once fought alongside his father, rising from the southwest, dominating the Western Regions, and clashing with the number one Divine General without dying. Li Guanyi even suspected that if these twenty-four generals hadn’t died in the past ten years, they would all be on the Divine General List.

    Even if not ranked high. Even if all of them were outside the top fifty, they were still twenty-four renowned generals. Furthermore, they were likely proficient in cavalry, infantry, naval warfare, and excelling as fierce generals, duellists, cavalry commanders, and strategists; these twenty-four represented an entire army’s combat system!

    However, ten years had passed. Where these generals were now and their current allegiances were uncertain. Li Guanyi couldn’t guarantee their loyalty. People’s hearts change. He didn’t believe that these generals would immediately bow down just because he, the son of their former comrade, appeared after ten years.

    That was as unlikely as them all rebelling.

    The information left here was limited. Li Guanyi decided to find out these generals’ whereabouts after returning. Chen Kingdom was vast, but it was impossible to completely hide these generals’ tracks. He thought of the Jinwu Guard’s archives. The Jinwu Guard was the imperial court’s royal army, independent of the ordinary Ministry of War. The Jinwu Guard had its own independent record archives.

    It seemed he needed to return early. Aside from the archives, he also needed to retrieve the items he had left in the Qilin Palace, as well as the Mountain Marrow that Empress Dowager had placed in the pavilion, as agreed with Hou Zhongyu. He needed to take it away as soon as possible, otherwise, now that Hou Zhongyu was dead, the Empress would surely seize the opportunity to retrieve it.

    Mountain Marrow from the South Mountain and the methods of the sorcerer. These two should complement each other. Hou Zhongyu, that ageless sorcerer, possessed an almost immortal vitality that Li Guanyi envied.

    Li Guanyi made his decision, noting these things down. He paused, placed his hand on the bookshelf, pretending to search for these miraculous martial arts. In reality, the energy in his brow circulated, activating the “Twelve Storeyed Misty Rain of Jiangnan” his aunt had taught him. Then he lifted his hand.

    In his hand was the “Vast Ocean Strength” that Chen Chengbi had suggested he take. This skill focused on the circulation of energy like a vast ocean, capable of engulfing foreign true qi. After practicing for some time, he could openly use martial arts. He also intended to participate in the martial arts competition before the grand ceremony.

    Light scattered and flowed, and the Xuanwu (Black Tortoise) Law Physique appeared on Li Guanyi’s shoulder. Li Guanyi was about to leave with the “Vast Ocean Strength,” but the Xuanwu stubbornly clung to his shoulder, its small, beady eyes fixed on a certain direction.

    Li Guanyi saw a hidden staircase there, leading to a higher level. The Xuanwu’s small eyes displayed an intense desire, clinging tightly to the boy’s shoulder. Li Guanyi considered it and walked towards it, but someone interrupted, his voice low and calm: “Sir, you can’t go there.”

    The voice was gentle. Li Guanyi paused slightly, instinctively turning to look. Before that, he hadn’t even sensed the person’s approach. When he looked up, waves of shock washed over Li Guanyi.

    The speaker was a gentle-looking middle-aged man. His eyes were small and drooped, appearing tired and gentle. He spoke with a slight bow, very polite, wearing a dark green official robe. His rank didn’t seem high. Before this youth in a ceremonial robe and jade belt, he looked like a timid low-ranking official.

    Li Guanyi’s Bronze Tripod hummed. He saw a Law Physique on the middle-aged man’s shoulder. It was an owl!

    Except for special cases like Li Guanyi, most heroes’ Law Physiques were different. Li Guanyi had seen this Law Physique before. At that time, this man wasn’t timid. He wore armor, wielded a divine weapon, and almost backstabbed the Xue family elder. This was the assassin who attempted to kill Xue Daoyong outside Guan Yi City.

    Li Guanyi recalled the man’s name: Si Tu Deqing, the tenth-ranked assassin in the world. He wielded the third-ranked assassination divine weapon, Chengying Sword, wore the concealing Wu Long纏身甲 (armor with dragon wrapping around), and—

    A face mask that once belonged to the Chen Kingdom Duke 500 years ago, later worn by Li Wanli, the General of Peace, during his campaigns in the Western Regions.

    Si Tu Deqing had witnessed Li Guanyi rushing out of Guan Yi City, warning Xue Daoyong and Yu Qianfeng. While he claimed it was to save the elder, a figure like Si Tu Deqing could likely see through the situation. If he suspected Li Guanyi and Yu Qianfeng had a past connection, then Yu Qianfeng’s Chi Long Jin assassination attempt on Li Guanyi would seem contradictory.

    Why was this person here?! Could it be that the tenth-ranked assassin in the world was a confidant of the Chen imperial family?

    Li Guanyi tensed up, a sense of crisis rising in his heart, yet he remained calm, saying gently, “Oh? Why?”

    The man in the dark green official robe smiled, saying:

    “Most of the books in the library are open to the imperial family members.”

    “This inner chamber, however, is only accessible to princes or those who have made great contributions.”

    “Haven’t you already chosen a martial arts technique?”

    “Oh, the ‘Vast Ocean Strength’. This skill was created 240 years ago by a high-ranking member of the imperial family. It can harness foreign true qi for combat. When perfected, a single punch often hides a second layer of changes, very powerful.”

    Li Guanyi said, “Elder Chen Chengbi recommended it to me.”

    “He said it could remove the Chi Long Jin from my body. Who are you? You seem to know a lot about this skill.”

    A fawning smile appeared on the middle-aged man’s face. He bowed, “My name is Si Qing. I work here as a librarian, a mere eighth-rank minor official with no real power. His Majesty’s grace allowed me to browse these martial arts techniques here. I’m not a cultivator, just indulging my curiosity.”

    “Sir, are you injured? I know some medicine, allow me to examine you.”

    Li Guanyi said indifferently, “Hmph, Yu Qianfeng intruded into the palace a few days ago.”

    “His Majesty bestowed a jade belt and ceremonial robe and sent imperial physicians to see me. Are you more skilled than His Majesty’s physicians?”

    Si Qing said apologetically, “That… that would not be so.”

    He seemed to accidentally touch Li Guanyi, and then said, “Allow me to register it. After your cultivation, return the original copy.” Li Guanyi took the martial arts technique, walked out, his gaze fixed on the inner chamber of the library.

    The Xuanwu Law Physique on his shoulder stared fixedly at the inner chamber. Something incredible seemed to be attracting it. It was close, yet it couldn’t touch.

    Li Guanyi saw a human-like expression on the Xuanwu’s face. The Law Physique was almost about to speak.

    Before this, the Xuanwu Law Physique had only moved twice. Once for the “Tiger’s Roar Bone Forging Technique” created by a hegemon eight hundred years ago, and once for Hou Zhongyu’s pill, “Eternal Pale Moon Immortal Medicine,” which had been refined for an unknown length of time. This third time, Li Guanyi wondered what was inside.

    Was it an unparalleled martial art, or some kind of fated treasure? Or, just as General Xue left behind a secret realm, had the former renowned general, the Chen Kingdom Duke, also left something behind?

    Li Guanyi’s curiosity was piqued by the Xuanwu’s reaction. But with the hidden tenth-ranked assassin smiling at him, and the rules of Chen Kingdom, he showed no unusual reaction, simply saying indifferently, “Good.”

    “Thank you, Sir Si.”

    He exhibited just the right amount of noble and arrogant demeanor.

    Si Qing smiled and nodded. At that moment, a voice came from inside the inner chamber, and someone walked out, a seemingly fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth, dressed in brocade, with a golden hair crown, indescribably noble, but with sharp eyes and a hint of killing intent. He was surrounded by other youths of similar age, scholarly in appearance, addressing him as “Your Highness.”

    The noble youth stepped out of the inner chamber, holding a scroll. His gaze, casually yet arrogant, swept over the bowing members of the imperial family, finally stopping on Li Guanyi. He paused sharply, this prince looked at the youth in the ceremonial robe and jade belt, saying: “The Xue family, Li Guanyi?”

    Si Qing quickly bowed, his face flustered: “Ah, Your Highness the Crown Prince, you’re out.”

    “Have you chosen any books?”

    The Crown Prince waved his hand casually, his gaze calm as he looked at Li Guanyi. In the eyes of others, the fifteen-year-old Li Guanyi, in his ceremonial robe, looked at the young prince. A strange atmosphere hung between them, causing the other members of the imperial family to feel uneasy. The air was filled with a tense silence.

    This was the Crown Prince. The son of the Regent King, a pawn in the current Emperor’s game.

    Li Guanyi had this thought. Their fathers had once raised their swords and spears together, conquering this world, fighting side by side, and once being enemies. Now, they were meeting again here.

    The Crown Prince shifted his gaze. He simply said faintly, “Mm.”

    He didn’t try to make connections or suppress him. He simply left with his young aristocratic associates. Those youths looked at Li Guanyi with curiosity, coldness, and disdain. These were all from the literati and aristocratic factions. Li Guanyi was, at that moment, an outsider, a merchant, and a military officer. This hostility was natural.

    It was the Emperor’s subtle manipulation, planting the seeds of mutual antagonism in the hearts of the younger generation. Li Guanyi raised his eyes, taking the martial arts technique from Si Qing’s hand, and calmly left.

    The Crown Prince went to see his mother. Upon entering the palace, a rich sandalwood scent filled the air. He pursed his lips and opened the door to see a Buddha shrine in the center, a woman kneeling before it, her lips moving, reciting scriptures.

    The Crown Prince said, “Mother, I met Li Guanyi of the Xue family today.”

    But the Empress Dowager didn’t respond. She continued reciting the remaining thirty verses of the Diamond Sutra before opening her eyes, saying, “Li Guanyi? I’ve heard of him. Fifteen years old and at the second level of the ‘Twelve Storeyed Misty Rain’, and also an eighth-rank Jinwu Guard military officer. Did you try to recruit him?”

    The Crown Prince replied, “No.”

    He looked at his mother and said softly, “He is a good son of Chen Kingdom, spirited and full of vitality, but we are destined to be mortal enemies. This embroidered dragon robe is on me, and Xue Guifei’s child is confirmed to have superior bones, my good brother.”

    “Li Guanyi is from the Xue family, from Empress Xue’s faction.”

    “His relationship with my unborn brother, even if not as close as an uncle, is almost so. When my brother grows up, Li Guanyi will become the most reliable person by his side, a future great general.”

    “With such a position, we are destined to clash swords.”

    “Since we are already enemies, is it necessary for me to suppress him?”

    “Since we can’t be friends, why should I try to recruit him? Rather than being friendly now only to clash swords painfully later, it’s better to be enemies from the start.” The Crown Prince’s lips curled. He stepped forward.

    But as he approached the Buddha shrine, the Empress Dowager trembled. The beautiful Empress turned sharply, “Stop!”

    The Crown Prince paused.

    After a few breaths, the Empress calmed down. She said, “Don’t, you can’t get close to the Buddha statue. This is a pure place; you shouldn’t come here.” She stood up and turned to look at her son, her hand enveloping his, her eyes filled with kindness and gentleness, “Your father was a hero.”

    “You must also become a hero no less than him. You must become the Emperor of Chen, and be good to your mother. You understand? I bore you and raised you. You cannot disappoint me. You cannot be soft-hearted.”

    “Li Guanyi is your enemy. What you should do is not to befriend him, not to suppress him, don’t emulate the so-called heroes of chaotic times. You are the Emperor. What you should do is kill him before he grows strong. Do you understand?”

    The Crown Prince looked at his praying mother and finally said, “…Okay.”

    The Crown Prince left. Behind him, the Empress Dowager rushed to the side room. She put the hand that had touched her son into a basin of water and rubbed it vigorously, as if she had touched something filthy, again and again.

    The sound of water became louder and louder.

    The Crown Prince stood quietly in the courtyard, listening to his mother washing her hands. His eyes were calm.

    His father liked the child in Xue Guifei’s womb. His mother prayed to Buddha, yet she acted like this. He looked up at the sky, his eyes slightly red, tears welling up. Then he gritted his teeth, remaining calm and dignified. He told his guards:

    “Find Mo Ke Wuliang, General Xiao Wuliang.”

    “I want to learn Chen Kingdom’s divine skills and receive guidance from the General.”

    “Internal cultivation of the ‘Six Emptinesses Four Harmonies Divine Skill’.”

    “External cultivation of the ‘Mountain Crushing Rock-Breaking Spear Technique’.”

    “I will cultivate both internally and externally, so I will have formidable martial arts skills and only then will I be worthy of being the Crown Prince of Chen and wearing such divine armor.”

    ………………

    In the library, Si Qing was tidying up the archives when he suddenly felt a chill in the air. He didn’t react until several breaths later, turning around to see a tall woman with snow-white hair at her temples.

    Si Qing’s face was flustered, “Princess Consort!”

    Chen Qingyan said indifferently, “Retrieve the book.”

    She had been coming here for ten years, often browsing the classics, so Si Qing wasn’t surprised. This Princess Consort wasn’t very old, yet her martial arts were already outstanding. Chen Qingyan lowered her head and walked towards the bookshelf, wondering what she would see.

    She wondered if it was all in vain, a wishful thought.

    Finally, she reached the bookshelf. The traces left by the “Twelve Storeyed Misty Rain of Jiangnan” skill had changed, clearly having been touched. Chen Qingyan suddenly froze, seeing an additional line of words behind the text—

    ‘Guanyi thanks Aunt Qingyan’

    Her lips seemed to twitch slightly.

    Thus, the past story continued. The bloodline’s inheritance was like this, seeing in another youth not something else. It was the reflection of that person’s youth, her own youth.

    Chen Qingyan stood there quietly. She reached out and touched the bookshelf, and the text, including the secret orders for the twenty-four generals, shattered and disappeared. Chen Qingyan walked out alone, sat in the wooden house, poured a pot of wine, and drank alone under the bright moonlight.

    Then she closed her eyes. For a long, long time. She only whispered, “Wanli…”

    “I’ve found him.”

    ………………

    Back at the Xue family residence, Li Guanyi returned to his room, closed his eyes to meditate, focusing all his attention on the place where Si Tu Deqing had touched him. He indeed felt a trace of imperceptible energy entering his body.

    Not much, just enough to disrupt Li Guanyi’s cultivation and make it appear that he had an accident.

    Sure enough, it was you, old man! But this time, you’re out of luck.

    Li Guanyi closed his eyes, activating his skill to envelop the trace of energy. The “Six Emptinesses Four Harmonies Skill!” Refinement!
    (End of Chapter)

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