Chapter 34

Perhaps because he met too many people last night and thought about too many things, wasting brain cells really does make one tired. With sleepy eyes, he raised his head to look at the sky, and a wonderful day began at noon. Ling Xiao had already entered the palace, and Ling Xiao, as usual, walked towards the Bao Long Clan's training ground.

"Hey! Sir Ling, good morning! You look great today!" A substitute from Ling Ling Xi's side greeted him enthusiastically. Ling Xiao glanced at the high sun and then at the man's expression, finally confirming that he wasn't mocking him.

"Good morning to you too!" Ling Xiao chatted casually for a few moments and then hurriedly left, because he couldn't remember who this guy was, and continuing the conversation would definitely be awkward.

"Truly disheartening! These people don't even say hello to me with my kind and benevolent face, but they come over to flatter you!" A sour voice came from behind.

"A handsome young man and a bald head, even a fool knows who is more popular!" Ling Xiao turned around and said to Foyin, who was swaying over.

"I didn't expect that just a few months away would result in so many things happening, and you actually guessed right! Your master, that lazy fish, can actually turn over!"

"Where have you been these days? Why did you go missing without a word!"

Foyin shook his somewhat stiff neck, "I've been exhausted these days! The sect received an urgent report that a large amount of resentment appeared in Shaanxi, and there might be evil spirits causing trouble, so they sent me to subdue them!"

"Come on, who are you fooling! Is the capital close to Shaanxi? Why send you? This is just playing with people!" He rolled his eyes and stuck out his middle finger.

Foyin didn't care and continued, "There's no choice. All the other disciples have important tasks, and only I am idle."

"Isn't protecting the Emperor an important task?"

Foyin made a dizzy gesture, "Please! In this palace with righteous energy, what evil spirits would dare to come in!"

"Did you find the evil spirits?"

"No."

"Sure enough, you're just playing with me!"

"..."

Foyin suddenly found his mouth wasn't enough. He remembered that at the last open assembly at Jinshan Temple, he had refuted hundreds of disciples to the point of speechlessness. Why couldn't he get through to Ling Xiao? This kid was extremely wise, though his physical condition was terrible, his insight was almost supernatural. If he practiced Buddhism, he would surely become a Venerable of Jinshan Temple in the future!

"Hey! What are you thinking? If you keep looking at me like that, I'll get angry! I'm a real man!" Foyin's eyes were very intense, like when Li Yingqiong fought him for a lollipop.

Foyin sighed again, "If I could show him the power of Buddhism, he would surely join Jinshan Temple obediently! Unfortunately, showing the Dharma to those who haven't reached the innate state is a violation of the precepts!" He was annoyed, and his face showed even more frustration, making Ling Xiao's face twitch.

"I don't have time for you! I'm going to find my master." Unable to bear Foyin's gaze, Ling Xiao finally fled. On the way, he was still wondering, Foyin always wanted to persuade him to become a monk, but it wasn't this crazy before. Did he suffer some kind of shock these days?

The palace, though large, isn't that big if you know the shortcuts. Even though the Emperor had lived in the palace for decades, some places were still less familiar to him than to the eunuchs and maids! Ling Xiao just climbed over two walls and went through a few alleys, and the Hall of Supreme Harmony appeared before him. Most of the guards along the way turned a blind eye, who would dare to offend a favorite of the Emperor?

"Please stop, Wei Gonggong!" Seeing Wei Zhongxian walking out of the hall with his head held high, Ling Xiao ran a few steps to stop him.

"It's Mr. Ling. What can I do for you?" Wei Zhongxian smiled warmly, his kind and friendly appearance made people feel good. Who would think such an amiable old man was a great villain!

"Too kind, Gonggong! What merit do I have to be called 'Mr. Ling'!" Ling Xiao humbly said.

"Hehe, Mr. Ling, don't belittle yourself. The Emperor regards you as a confidant, and being a friend of the Emperor certainly makes you worthy of the title 'Mr. Ling.' By the way, what can I do for you?"

"Have you seen my master?" Ling Xiao asked directly without beating around the bush.

Wei Zhongxian smiled, "This morning, the Emperor went out for a walk because the weather was nice, and then he went to the Eighth Prince's residence to play chess. Your master accompanied him."

"Thank you, Gonggong. I'll take my leave." He bowed and turned to leave.

Wei Zhongxian still smiled warmly as he watched Ling Xiao's back. After his figure disappeared, his face turned cold. His originally kind eyes were like venomous snakes, "This master and disciple are a threat. If it weren't for the Emperor's fear of alarming the snake, you would have been eliminated long ago! Hmph!" His voice was full of killing intent.

Ling Xiao, of course, didn't know Wei Zhongxian's hostility, and even if he did, he wouldn't care. With Ling Lingfa's rise, some things were becoming easier. He knew the Bao Long Clan's name was useful, but he didn't expect it to be so useful! At the Eighth Prince's residence, he could enter without any announcement. What made the Bao Long Clan so convenient?

The Eighth Prince was the Emperor's uncle, known for his gentle and upright character, and was called the "Eighth Virtuous Prince." It was the first time Ling Xiao saw him, so he couldn't help but observe him from a distance. His tall and imposing figure, his heroic appearance, made him seem more like the Emperor! In Ling Xiao's words, this was a man who exuded dominance! The royal family's martial arts tradition was well-established, and the Eighth Prince was likely one of the best, as he could sense Ling Xiao's gaze.

"Little Ling, stop staring and come help me." The Emperor, reminded by the Eighth Prince, also noticed Ling Xiao. He walked over to the group, bowed slightly to the Eighth Prince, and found that Ling Lingfa was helping the Emperor and the Prince play chess!

He rolled his eyes, these two chess amateurs together couldn't even avoid losing! "Quickly, Little Ling, help me defeat him!"

Ling Xiao's face was stiff, and he remained silent, "What should I do? If it were a complex chess game, I could handle it, but what is this? A 4-4-2 formation? Do I need to go global with this?"

All his complaints boiled down to one sentence: "Look! Beautiful women!"

"Where?" Everyone's eyes followed Ling Xiao's finger, and in the blue sky, four beautiful women in white robes, looking like fairies, were gracefully flying towards them! The four women, with swords on their backs, slowly dispersed in the air, and only then did everyone notice that they were surrounding a man!

What a breathtaking sight! A simple white robe, a calm and handsome face, without the Eighth Prince's dominance or the Emperor's nobility, everything about him seemed ordinary. Yet, it was as if the world didn't exist in his eyes, a kind of arrogance, a disregard for everything around him. For him, the only thing that mattered was his heart's desire!

The Emperor was frustrated. At that moment, he was stunned. It wasn't because the man posed any threat, but because of his aura that made him unconsciously submit. The man even drew his attention away from the four beautiful women. If he hadn't been prepared, he would have doubted his sexual orientation.

Ling Lingfa was surprised, rubbing his eyes, "Isn't this the kid who was illegally gathering on the roof that day! Truly, a change of clothes can make a big difference. With a new look, you've transformed from a turtle to a tortoise!"

The Eighth Prince's face was serious, and his hand on the table was trembling. He was resisting, resisting the pervasive yet unintentional aura.

Ling Xiao keenly sensed all this, because he had taken the opportunity to mess up the chessboard! The Eighth Prince didn't seem as detached as rumored, or why would he be competing with the newcomer?

Actually, Ling Xiao had already noticed him before the four women revealed him. He was too familiar with that aura, which he pondered every night before bed. Of course, not from a real person, but from that book!

"Your humble servant, Ye Gucheng, pays respects to the Emperor." The man bowed, but despite the difference in status, there was no trace of humility.

"No need for formalities. Uncle, why did you leave the White Cloud City to come to the capital?" The Emperor laughed.

Ye Gucheng first looked at Ling Xiao and then said, "This must be the young hero who foiled the Prince of Qing's plot! Truly remarkable, the younger generation is surpassing the older!"

Ling Lingfa was pleased but then realized, was this a subtle insult to his master?

The Emperor nodded in praise, "Yes! Little Ling is very clever and has saved me more than once."

"I heard about him while traveling. Later, I accidentally encountered the great thief, Ghost King, and recovered the lost imperial seal, which I have brought to return to the Emperor." One of the women handed over a yellow silk-wrapped object, and Ye Gucheng casually flicked it, sending it flying to the table.

The Emperor's face lit up as he opened the yellow silk, while Ling Xiao kept his eyes on Ye Gucheng. As he had expected, they were the mysterious "four women and one man." According to the plot, Ye Gucheng should request a duel with Ximen Chuixue on the Forbidden City's peak. However, he didn't know that the returned seal was so perfect that the Emperor had already suspected its authenticity!

Ling Xiao sneered inwardly and looked at the seal, "This... dirty and chipped stone, what is it?"

"The imperial seal!" Ling Lingfa said matter-of-factly.

"But shouldn't the imperial seal be shiny and magnificent?" This question surprised not only Ling Lingfa but also the others, who looked at him strangely.

"Who said the imperial seal should be like that?" The Emperor asked, amused.

Ling Xiao was taken aback, "No one really said that, but such an important thing should be well-maintained!" He tried to cover his embarrassment, but his habitual thinking had betrayed him. This world was clearly different from his previous one.

The Emperor chuckled, "At first, it was indeed shiny, but with frequent use, it would naturally deteriorate until it was destroyed." He then added, "I forgot, you're not yet a formal member of the Bao Long Clan, so you don't know some things. Your master can explain when the time comes."

Ling Xiao nodded and said nothing more. The Bao Long Clan had some important secrets, and though he was curious, he didn't need to rush since the Emperor had spoken.

"Uncle, finding the imperial seal is a great service, but as a royal relative, you lack nothing. I don't know how to reward you!" The Emperor said with a bitter smile.

"Your Majesty, there's no need to worry. This is my duty. If you must reward me..." Ye Gucheng paused and continued, "I have a request, I hope Your Majesty will grant it."

"Please speak."

"On the 15th of next month, the full moon night, I will duel with Ximen Chuixue. The battle between the Sword God and the Sword Saint should take place in the most prestigious place, so I hope to borrow the peak of the Forbidden City."

Ye Gucheng glanced at Ling Lingfa, whose face turned ashen. This was a challenge, a clear challenge! Now they could openly gather on the roof!

"Hmm? On the roof!" The Emperor tilted his head, "It must be very interesting. The duel between the two great swordsmen on the Forbidden City's peak will surely become a legend!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty! I will take my leave." Ye Gucheng didn't dawdle and left with the four sword maidens, but before leaving, he glanced at Ling Lingfa, the mocking look in his eyes making Ling Lingfa tremble with anger.