“Your Highness?!”
Fengqingzi's heart shuddered. He had never had any dealings with the royal family, so why would they invite him...
Although a storm raged in his heart, his face remained entirely placid.
He nodded at the man. By killing the attacker and bringing the corpse to him, the man was demonstrating goodwill. At the very least, he was not an enemy.
Maplewood Garden.
The scar-faced man led Fengqingzi to a pavilion, where someone was already waiting.
He was an elegant-looking man who had already brewed two cups of tea. The rich aroma filled the pavilion, relaxing the mind and body, making one instinctively lower their guard.
Having traveled the world for many years and met countless people, Fengqingzi immediately saw the ambition concealed beneath that refined exterior.
Those deep eyes harbored unfathomable thoughts.
After leading him to the pavilion, the scarred man stepped aside of his own accord. His positioning was peculiar, standing exactly three paces from the stone table separating the two—a perfect tactical distance.
“Forgive me for inviting you without prior notice.”
“My name is Ji Ye, the Second Prince of the Tianwu Kingdom.”
Fengqingzi's expression shifted slightly. To think this person was actually the low-profile Second Prince who never showed his face. Before coming, he had assumed he was going to meet the Third Prince or the Eldest Prince.
The Second Prince pushed a teacup forward, gesturing for him to sit.
He nodded slightly, took a seat, and picked up the teacup to take a sip. A sweet flavor blossomed in his mouth. It was indeed excellent tea.
“Your Highness surely did not invite me here just to drink tea.”
The Second Prince chuckled. “Of course not. You have been relentlessly pursued these past few days, so you probably aren't aware of the current situation in the city, do you?”
Fengqingzi narrowed his eyes. Had the other party investigated him?
As if reading his thoughts, the Second Prince continued, “I bear no ill intent. Guess why you were able to survive for so long under the pursuit of those three assassins?”
Fengqingzi fell into silent thought as he looked at the Second Prince's faint smile. As the one who had been hunted, he knew the strength of those assassins better than anyone.
The three had been highly trained, and their tight coordination had been virtually flawless.
In just three minutes, they had pushed him into a corner. Especially when he took down one of them, he had clearly felt the remaining ones hesitate.
Afterward, he had suspected someone was helping him from the shadows.
As for who it was, he hadn't had the slightest clue...
Not until now, when the seemingly aloof Second Prince appeared before him and voiced the very doubts in his heart.
The Second Prince acted as though he hadn't noticed his reaction. He took another sip of tea and continued.
“Those assassins were from the Kingdom of Liang. Just like me, they came for the parchment scroll.”
—The parchment scroll!
The Kingdom of Liang, the Second Prince... Why would a single treasure cache attract the interest of two nations? One must know that the Zhang Family was merely a third-rate, insignificant family in Fengcheng.
Why would a mere treasure map catch the eye of princes who stood above tens of thousands?
It would never cross Fengqingzi's mind that he had already stepped into a massive chess game.
And the parchment scroll was the key to this game.
“I must obtain the parchment scroll.” The Second Prince set down his teacup. “My imperial father is ill.”
Fengqingzi's pupils shrank as he abruptly snapped his head up to look at him. If he had been shocked earlier, he was now in utter disbelief.
He knew exactly what this statement implied. If that was the case, then everything made sense—why the atmosphere in the city was so stifling.
It turned out that people had already begun taking sides...
The Second Prince watched him calmly, waiting for him to digest this information.
Silence fell over the pavilion, broken only by the sound of the wind rustling through the treetops.
The tea had already gone cold. It was time to give an answer.
“The parchment scroll...”
“...is not with me.”
...
Meanwhile.
“This is a hundred-year-old vintage from the West District Wine Cellar. Please have a taste, Young Master.”
The wine jar was opened, and the aroma, sealed away for many years, finally found an outlet, instantly filling the air.
Just a single sniff of this century-old wine was enough to make someone feel tipsy.
This was a private room on the second floor of the Heavenly Pavilion, reserved exclusively for VIPs. The first floor was filled with weapons crafted by famous masters and artisans, including various Mohist mechanisms.
Jiang Moran sat lazily in the guest seat like a lord, savoring the freshly poured century-old wine with immense satisfaction.
Only half an hour prior, he had just emerged from the alley.
...
Half an hour ago.
“Where on earth did that kid run off to?” Jiang Moran muttered. After leaving the alley, he had wanted to look for Fengqingzi.
Yet after searching for over ten minutes, he hadn't seen even a glimpse of him. Having learned about the current state of the city, it would be a miracle if he could find a place that rented or sold carriages.
Sigh, he really is a handful.
After wandering around for a short while, he arrived at the Heavenly Pavilion, the largest trading hub in Fengcheng.
Unlike other shops, it dared to remain open for business even under these circumstances, and there was no shortage of customers either.
Just glancing inside from the entrance revealed a dazzling array of goods of every imaginable variety; it truly had everything one could ask for.
“That little girl doesn't seem to have a decent weapon, does she?” Jiang Moran muttered to himself. Over the past two years, she had always practiced with a wooden sword.
Since she was about to venture into the martial world, she couldn't very well fight others with a wooden sword.
How could that do? She was his person, after all.
With that thought, he walked right inside. As for whether they would recognize him as the troublemaker from the auction that day—please, he hadn't even shown his face back then.
It to be said that the items inside were truly dazzling.
The King of a Hundred Weapons, the Red-Tasseled Spear!
The spear was over seven chi long. Its shaft was made of black iron sandalwood, textured like coiling dragons and wrapped silk. Its crimson velvet tassel swayed, radiating a chilling intent.
The Gentleman of a Hundred Weapons, the Qingfeng Sword!
The sword was three chi and seven cun long. The spine was thick and straight, with symmetrical wide blood grooves on both sides extending all the way to the tip. Pitch-black snakeskin wrapped the hilt, containing its murderous aura.
In addition to these, there were sabers, concealed blades, soft whips, and more.
He casually picked up a scimitar nearby and examined it closely. It felt incredibly light in his hand, and the curve of its blade was smooth. It was a high-quality scimitar.
He gave it two quick swings. It indeed felt very natural to use. He nodded in satisfaction.
Then, he set the scimitar back down. It was a fine blade, but he really did not want to picture Little Qing hacking people to pieces with a scimitar.
Just as he was about to pick up a nearby saber, he suddenly sensed someone approaching him.
Pausing his movements slightly, he looked up.
The newcomer was a woman. Her most striking feature was her voluptuous figure, her form-fitting robes accentuating exquisite curves that made it impossible to look away.
She was the very same woman with the graceful figure from the auction two years ago. At this moment, she approached him with a gentle smile.
Did she recognize me? How is that possible? My disguise was flawless.
Stopping in front of him, the woman smiled and said, “It has been a long time, Young Master. Have you been well these past two years?”
She really recognized me!
Jiang Moran raised an eyebrow. “How did you know it was me?”
The woman smiled faintly and pointed at the black robe he was wearing—it was the exact same one he had worn to the auction two years ago.
Jiang Moran fell silent.
Tsk.
...
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