"Uncle, it's best to add one or two Grandmasters today."
"Hmm—?"
"I suddenly have a bad feeling. Today is very likely the day Jade Cauldron Sect or Shadow Sect will retaliate."
"A bad feeling..." Chu Qingfeng looked at him, thought for a moment, and sighed, "Alright, I know your intuition is accurate."
This was already a proven fact.
"Thank you, Uncle!" Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "They might be lying in ambush in the valley."
He had just had a bad feeling, sensing the danger coming, and it was from the direction of the valley.
Now that he had this premonition, it was very likely that those people had already entered the valley.
"... Okay." Chu Qingfeng gritted his teeth, his face looking unpleasant.
Chu Zhiyuan bid farewell and left.
Chu Qingfeng then began to make arrangements.
By evening, when Chu Zhiyuan and his group arrived outside the valley, chatting and laughing, they noticed changes around the valley.
A faint bloody aura lingered.
Chu Zhiyuan had already seen the changes inside and outside the valley.
Not only was there blood, but also the newly built cottages and the well-tended flowerbeds were all in a mess.
The Grandmasters didn't have the leisure to clean up the battlefield; they had already left.
Looking at the scene, one could tell that a fierce battle had taken place, and many people had died.
When the group stepped into the valley, Huang Cheng was already standing inside, cupping his fists in salute, with two middle-aged eunuchs in red robes behind him.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Envoy Huang, thank you for your trouble."
Huang Cheng smiled and said, "It's an honor for this servant to serve the Heir."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "They were from the Jade Cauldron Sect, right?"
Huang Cheng chuckled and said, "Not only the Jade Cauldron Sect, but also the Shadow Sect's brats, vying to seek death, so there was no choice but to grant their wish."
"How many died?"
"Twelve from the Jade Cauldron Sect and six from the Shadow Sect."
"All Grandmasters?"
"Yes."
"To kill so many demonic sect Grandmasters in one fell swoop is truly gratifying."
"It's all thanks to the Heir."
"I do deserve some credit," Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "My bait is too effective.
I reckon they won't give up, and I can continue to catch fish, even bigger fish."
"The Heir is wise!" Huang Cheng chuckled, "Given their petty and vindictive nature, they will definitely come again!"
Next time, they might target my parents and sister, even Ruoling.
Huang Cheng hesitated and slowly nodded.
These demonic spawns are not afraid of death, and they are impulsive, but they are not fools; they won't seek death in vain.
Knowing that this place is a trap and bait, they still come to be fooled.
So it is very likely that they will turn to Heir Yuan's family, Prince Qing and the Princess Consort, and the County Princess are all in danger.
Even the Miss of the Anguo Duke's Mansion is equally dangerous.
Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "Thank you, Envoy Huang."
"This servant dares not," Huang Cheng quickly said.
Chu Zhiyuan and the others continued to cultivate.
Even while cultivating in the valley at night, they could still feel the purple light descending, which was extremely magical.
Chu Zhiyuan cultivated diligently, which made Chu Mingxuan and the other two follow suit.
The result of this hard cultivation was that his Gang Qi became a little purer.
He slowly figured out the taste.
The purple light should have innate and acquired distinctions.
The purple light absorbed from the void is innate; after the Gang Qi is affected by it and becomes pure, it will be pure forever.
The purple light absorbed from the strange stone is acquired; after the Gang Qi is affected by it and becomes pure, it is only temporarily pure.
After this body's Gang Qi is exhausted, the replenished Gang Qi will return to its state before absorbing the purple light.
It's like a pool of water; one changes the water quality from the source, and the other only changes the water quality in the pool.
The acquired purple light in the purple stone is just a one-time consumable and cannot be regenerated.
The innate purple light descending from the void is renewable and will last forever.
The Purple Sun True Scripture is truly infinitely mysterious.
The more he cultivated, the more wonderful he felt, and he enjoyed it endlessly.
He cultivated hard for a night and a morning, still feeling unsatisfied, but he had to go to the Ministry of Rites to report for duty.
As the Left Vice Minister, he could be absent for a short time, but not for too long from the Ministry of Rites.
As soon as Chu Zhiyuan entered his main house, Gao Lingfeng hurried over to salute.
Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for formalities, and smiled, "Lord Gao, you've worked hard."
Gao Lingfeng hurriedly said solemnly, "It is this subordinate's duty to share the burden for the Lord."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "How is the city now?"
"As the Great Zhen envoy is about to leave the capital, more and more martial arts experts are leaving."
"Lord Gao, you can breathe a sigh of relief now, right?"
"This subordinate is indeed relieved."
"Then change the rules back; don't be so strict anymore."
"Yes." Gao Lingfeng cupped his fist helplessly.
He knew that this day would come eventually, but he didn't expect it to be so soon.
The temporary orders issued by himself as the Left Vice Minister were finally coming to an end.
Without strict suppression, Jade Capital might not be so quiet anymore.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Lord Gao, there must be a balance between strictness and leniency; you can't always keep pressing too hard."
Gao Lingfeng was stunned, then overjoyed, and cupped his fist and said, "The Lord is wise!"
He immediately understood that Chu Zhiyuan was not unaware of his strict orders, but pretended not to know, actually tacitly approving.
Obviously, he also agreed with his ideas.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Has anything major happened recently? If not, I want to retreat for a few days."
He no longer had shortcuts in the future, so he had to seize the time to cultivate hard.
Merit was not so important to him anymore.
If it weren't for competing for the throne, he might as well ignore worldly affairs directly.
He could live freely in Jade Capital, either cultivating or traveling and enjoying the scenery, wouldn't that be delightful?
He could even ignore the affairs of the court and the army.
"Lord, something major has indeed happened."
"What is it?"
"A traitor has appeared in White Cloud Sword Palace."
Gao Lingfeng said with a solemn expression, "A personal disciple of White Cloud Sword Palace assassinated his master."
"Murdered his master?"
"Personal disciple Zhou Tianqi assassinated his master Kong Xueming."
"Didn't succeed?"
"It almost succeeded.
Kong Xueming was lucky; another elder happened to come over and saved his life."
"Did that elder witness Zhou Tianqi's assassination with his own eyes?"
"Yes."
"... This is really a shocking event."
Chu Zhiyuan thought of Huang Shirong.
"Where is he?"
"He is being pursued."
"He hasn't been caught yet?" Chu Zhiyuan said, "How many days has it been?"
"It just happened yesterday," Gao Lingfeng said, "It is estimated that he will be brought to justice in the next two days."
"A personal disciple killing his master is a first in the history of White Cloud Sword Palace... It is probably also a first among the four major sects, right?"
"Yes," Gao Lingfeng said solemnly.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Have you asked about the reason? He wouldn't kill his master for no reason... Was he too harsh, or was there some other feud?"
"According to Kong Xueming, there was none."
"... Let's talk after catching him," Chu Zhiyuan said.
When he returned to the Royal Palace, he saw Huang Shirong and the three women on the street.
Seeing him from afar, Wen Qianqian waved her small hand vigorously, and Xu Mengyu also showed a smile.
Huang Shirong was indifferent.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and came closer, looking at Huang Shirong: "Hall Master Huang, you're frowning again."
Huang Shirong smiled bitterly: "Has the Heir heard about it?"
Chu Zhiyuan nodded: "Is there any inside story?"
"Elder Kong and Senior Brother Zhou are as close as father and son; how could such a tragedy happen?"
"Then let's talk after catching him," Chu Zhiyuan said, "White Cloud Sword Palace is also catching people themselves, right?"
"Yes," Huang Shirong nodded: "The sect's Law Enforcement Hall is also pursuing him."
Chu Zhiyuan said, "No one died, so it's not a major case; relax."
"Yes," Huang Shirong smiled bitterly.
It wasn't a major case, but it was a major scandal.
White Cloud Sword Palace's reputation was even more resounding, but it was a bad reputation.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said a few words of casual conversation with Wen Qianqian and Xu Mengyu, and then they separated.
As soon as he returned to the Qing Royal Palace, Feng Xi greeted him and informed him that the Grandmaster's Mansion had sent eight guards.
