Chapter 82

"Haha!"

In recent days, Ling Xiao suddenly found himself laughing many times. Could it be that life had become as lonely as snow?

"Blocking my door just to say this?" Ling Xiao said with a forced smile.

"Of course not. Today, we master and apprentice will go to the palace together. As long as the Emperor allows it, I will... How did your injuries heal so quickly?" Ling Lingfa suddenly noticed something was off.

Ling Xiao's eyelid twitched as he sighed, "You only noticed now? What have you been thinking about all this time? Just indulging in pleasure and neglecting your injuries!"

"That's all trivial! Where were we? Oh right, didn't you want to know the truth? Once the Emperor agrees, I'll tell you!" Ling Lingfa instantly forgot about the matter, and Ling Xiao couldn't keep up with his train of thought, but he understood the last sentence. Finally, he would know the truth and wouldn't have to waste brain cells guessing anymore.

Just as the master and apprentice were about to leave, a piercing shout came from inside the room, "My pearl!"

Ling Xiao shuddered; what was bound to come, finally did.

The master's wife stepped in front of them with a swift move, her agility leaving everyone speechless. She extended her hand, "Where is my pearl?"

Ling Lingfa was taken aback, "I think Xiao Ling has it!"

"Haha, this..." Ling Xiao was momentarily at a loss for words. Ling Lingfa asked in surprise, "It's gone? Did you give it to someone else? How could that happen so quickly? Who did you charm in such a short time, that disabled and expressionless person?"

Ling Lingfa's words became more and more absurd, and the master's wife's curiosity about gossip flared up!

Ling Xiao swallowed hard and reached into his chest, slowly pulling out a cloth bundle. When he opened it, a pile of crystalline powder appeared!

A gentle breeze blew, and the powder scattered completely. Ling Xiao looked up at the sky; the sun was shining, but there was a strange chill in the air.

The master's wife's expression was peculiar, dark and cold, with anger and heartache in her eyes!

Slap!

The master's wife hit Ling Lingfa on the back of the head, "It's all your fault!"

Ling Lingfa scratched his head with a bitter smile, "I didn't expect Ling Gong to be so hard to deal with!" he said with a sigh.

Ling Xiao didn't say anything. In fact, he was completely confused. What was going on? What did this have to do with Ling Gong?

The master's wife slapped Ling Lingfa again, "If you had protected him, would this have happened?" After shouting, she turned and patted Ling Xiao's head with a look of pity, "Poor kid! You suffer and still have to clean up after your master!"

"Hey! Don't use such dirty words in front of the child!"

The master's wife paused, glanced at Ling Lingfa with a bad temper, and said, "Since Xiao Ling is safe, I'll let you off today. If it happens again, you'll roll off the bed!" With that, she lifted her head and swayed her hips back into the room.

Ling Lingfa smiled bitterly and patted Ling Xiao's head, "Even the Emperor's thousand-year-old pearl was shattered! I never thought Ling Gong's strength was so formidable! It's a miracle you survived!" With that, he shook his head and sighed, then left.

"Huh?" Ling Xiao finally understood. Sometimes misunderstandings can't be cleared up because others don't give you a chance to speak!

...

The capital was still a bustling and lively place. Last night, there were lightning and thunder, galloping horses, and flying shurikens! But the next morning, people opened their shops and continued their daily lives as usual, living a simple and fulfilling life. In their hearts, they had a standard and a belief: as long as the Great Ming Dynasty stood, they were happy!

Just like praying to the Buddha, do believers ever think about what they have done for the Buddha when they pray for his protection? Is it not shameful to always take without giving? The people of the capital were much stronger than believers. At least under the protection of the Great Ming, they worked diligently, contributing to its glorious future. Whenever the enemy invaded, the people responded to the call of the nation without hesitation, picking up their weapons to become warriors!

As they entered the palace gates, the looks from the guards and palace maids were different. The past flattery was gone, replaced by genuine respect and admiration.

"What's the meaning of this? Why are they looking at me like this?" Ling Xiao asked curiously.

Ling Lingfa said proudly, "Capturing a criminal and being a national hero are two different things! Before, I saved the Emperor from the Jin Kingdom, and you were just my disciple and had a good relationship with the Emperor, so they flattered you. But this time, you fought Ling Gong alone, destroying the Japanese plot. You are now a great hero for the country and the people! The treatment is naturally different."

"Is that so? Will many young girls come to ask for my autograph?" Ling Xiao's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Ling Lingfa thought for a moment and said seriously, "You should practice your handwriting first!"

The two entered the Golden Hall, "Oh! Everyone's here!" Ling Lingfa was surprised to find that everyone involved in last night's operation was present.

"We were just waiting for you, Afa!" the Emperor said happily.

After last night's battle, everyone's relationship had clearly improved. The Capture God, though pale, still smiled and greeted them. Baihu nodded with a full face, and Zhuge Zhengwo, the old man, always had a smile on his face.

"Hey, Xiao Ling, your injuries healed pretty quickly!" the Emperor suddenly exclaimed, then seemed to remember something and nodded without further concern. The others were also surprised, but since the Emperor didn't mind, they had nothing to say.

Ling Xiao felt very uncomfortable. Such a miraculous thing, and you only ask one question? Can't you satisfy my vanity a little?

"Since everyone is here, let's discuss the follow-up," the Emperor said casually, leaning back in his dragon throne.

The group exchanged glances, and Baihu spoke first, "Your Majesty, I am incompetent and failed to bring back the head of the Emperor of Wu Xiang!" He knelt down with a thud.

"Stand up and speak! What happened? That old ghost was half-dead, how did he escape?" the Emperor frowned and asked.

Baihu's desperate support last night had some effect. In the past, he would have been beaten first, but now he could stand and explain.

"The Emperor of Wu Xiang jumped off a cliff!" Baihu's answer was simple and straightforward.

Ling Xiao was shocked, "There's a cliff near the capital?" It's no wonder he was surprised. Cliffs are the places where the most encounters happen. Who knows what Wu Xiang would encounter down there! The next time they met, he might wave and put on a golden holy robe, and use some amazing move. It's possible!

Baihu was also embarrassed and said hesitantly, "It's three hundred miles away from the capital!"

Ling Xiao was speechless, "This Wu Xiang is really fast! He ran so far in one night!"

Baihu agreed, "Indeed! I used military acceleration techniques to barely catch up, but I cut off one of his arms when he fell off the cliff!"

"Didn't you go down to look for him?"

Baihu shook his head, "The cliff is steep and slippery, and it's definitely over a thousand meters deep, even beyond the range of the micro-fragrance bugs! There's no way to get down."

Ling Xiao nodded. It seems not all one-armed cliff jumpers are Yang Guo! Wu Xiang went down too! If he met Xiaolongnü down there, wouldn't this book turn into a big H?

The Emperor's frown eased, and he continued, "Hmph! With such injuries and a missing arm, he must have died from the fall! Baihu, you have done well in saving the Emperor, so don't worry about this matter!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Baihu bowed and retreated.

The Capture God stepped forward, "Your Majesty, all the powerful figures in the capital who had dealings with Qin Cao have been placed under house arrest. After a thorough investigation, the results will be presented."

The Emperor nodded, "Good job! You were severely injured yesterday but still worked so hard. I am very pleased! I will order the imperial physician to bring the best medicine to treat you! Additionally, you can choose any martial arts manual from the imperial armory to practice!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The Capture God happily retreated, finally making the Emperor change his view. The injuries were not in vain!

Ling Xiao was a bit startled. It seems a lot happened while he was practicing last night! The Capture God was about to make a comeback.

Zhuge Zhengwo stroked his beard and stepped forward, "Your Majesty, according to my observations, the Lord of White Cloud City, Ye Guocheng, has no connection with the Emperor of Wu Xiang and probably has no ties to Ling Gong!"

The Emperor's frown deepened, and he shook his head, "If that's the case, it's fine. However, I still feel that this duel of the royal uncle was strange! Never mind, you can all leave! Afa and Xiao Ling, stay behind."

Everyone obeyed and left, leaving only the three of them in the hall, even the eunuchs and palace maids had retreated.

The Emperor, as if making a major decision, got up from the dragon throne and walked to Ling Xiao, looking him up and down, "Hmm! Your injuries healed so quickly, you must have a deep feeling about it!"

A big question mark appeared above Ling Xiao's head. What feeling? Did I eat the imperial pearl?

He asked weakly, "What... what feeling?"

The Emperor was taken aback and looked at Ling Lingfa, who understood and explained, "I haven't told him yet."

The Emperor nodded, "Then I'll start!"

He looked up at the clouds in the sky, adopting a profound expression, "Who do you think is the most powerful in the world?"

Ling Xiao was slightly stunned and answered, "Imperial power has always been the pinnacle of power, and the most powerful is you, Your Majesty!"

The Emperor actually smiled bitterly, "Thank you for the compliment!"

Ling Lingfa continued, "Not exactly!"

Ling Xiao's mouth twitched. Master, are you not afraid the Emperor will be angry? He turned to look, and the Emperor actually nodded in agreement! What's going on? Is it the way I opened my eyes?

"The most powerful in the world is a family!" the Emperor said, each word filled with resentment.

"What family can surpass imperial power? Do they have military power and control the court? I haven't noticed!" Ling Xiao asked, puzzled.

The Emperor shook his head again, "This family has no soldiers, but it is more powerful than an army!"

"I don't understand, and I can't even follow what you're saying!"

Ling Lingfa saw that the Emperor was not in a good state and continued, "I'll explain!" The Emperor nodded and returned to the dragon throne, sitting down with a look of helplessness.

"You've been keeping me in suspense. Can you tell me now? I'm very anxious!" Ling Xiao scratched his chest.

Ling Lingfa smiled, "Have you heard of the legend of the Battle of Zhuolu?"

"Of course, it's about the fight between the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou! Even children know it!" Ling Xiao nodded.

Ling Lingfa continued, "Right! After the fight, the Yellow Emperor returned to the capital, did a lot of work, and then ascended to heaven on a dragon!"

"Haha!"

Ling Lingfa continued, "The Yellow Emperor left, but what he did before leaving created a family! The family I mentioned earlier, the Xuanyuan family!"

Ling Xiao wasn't very surprised. When he heard about the Battle of Zhuolu, he had already thought of this possibility. Who else could it be but the descendants of the Yellow Emperor? It couldn't be the Chiyou clan!

"The Xuanyuan family has a lot to be proud of, but it's just a matter of righteousness and name! How can it be the pinnacle of power in the world?" Ling Xiao asked.

The Emperor suddenly snorted, "Nonsense! If they were truly the descendants of the Yellow Emperor, it would be fine, but after so many years and dynasties, how could there be any pure descendants of the Yellow Emperor left?"

Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow, thinking, "There's more to this!"

Ling Lingfa continued, "If it were just a matter of righteousness, they would only gain respect from the people. But the Yellow Emperor left something behind before he ascended!"

"What?"

"The Xuanyuan Sword!"

(From here, the story will involve fantasy elements, but I will try to introduce them gradually to avoid abruptness! Also, I need your support! Clicks! Recommendations! Collections! All are welcome!)

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