Chapter 81: The Crown Prince Invites

Opening the door, Wug Qianqian stood there in a green silk robe, looking lively and vibrant.

"Chu Yang, it's really you." Wug Qianqian's expression was complex as she looked at Chu Yang. She had never imagined that Chu Yang would suddenly appear in Tiěyún City, and that his arrival would immediately draw the Crown Prince's high attention.

When Tiě Bǔtiān asked her, Wug Qianqian refused to believe that the Chu Yang the Crown Prince mentioned was the same person she had met in the Purple Bamboo Garden. She thought it was just a coincidence, a case of the same name.

There must be another talented young man named Chu Yang.

The Chu Yang in the Purple Bamboo Garden, though clever, was too low in cultivation to deserve the Crown Prince's praise.

But now, seeing that familiar face, she had no more doubts.

"Senior Sister Wu, why are you here?" Chu Yang asked, somewhat surprised.

"Why can't I come?" Wug Qianqian's face turned red as she spoke. She remembered what Du Shiqing had said to the Crown Prince: This young man's background is truly pitiful. He fell in love with his senior sister, but his senior brother wanted to take her away. In a fit of anger, he killed his senior brother... Alas, what a waste of talent.

Hmm, his senior sister seems to be the daughter of the Heavenly Tower's sect leader...

Thinking of this, Wug Qianqian's face flushed. The daughter of the Heavenly Tower's sect leader? Her father only had one daughter. Could Chu Yang like her?

But... how sudden is this...

"Uh, you can come, you can definitely come." Chu Yang scratched his head and stepped back. "Senior Sister, please come in."

"You are no longer a disciple of the Heavenly Tower. Father has issued an order to expel you from the sect. The title 'Senior Sister' is no longer appropriate." Wug Qianqian felt a bit sorry that Chu Yang had been expelled so easily.

Additionally, she wanted to use this to create some distance between them. She didn't want him to take advantage of the situation and cling to her. This was Tiěyún City. If anything happened, it wouldn't just affect Chu Yang, but also the Heavenly Tower's reputation.

"Uh, then I'll call you sister." Chu Yang patted his head and said, "You seem older than me, so I'll call you Qianqian... Sister?"

Wug Qianqian's face turned red, and she scolded, "Stop being so slick! Come with me quickly."

"Come with you?"

"The Crown Prince sent me to invite you. I really can't see what's so special about you, but the Crown Prince specifically wants to see you." Wug Qianqian rolled her eyes.

"If he specifically wants to see me, I won't go!" Chu Yang smiled calmly. "But if you come to invite me, I'll go."

"Seeing" and "inviting" are two different things, reflecting the Crown Prince's attitude. Chu Yang had already set the stage, surrounding Tiě Bǔtiān with several layers of information. His sharp eyesight, swift movements, Du Shiqing's relentless praise, the irresistible allure of the Heavenly Soldier Pavilion, and now, the recommendation from Tiělóng City.

Tiělóng City would certainly explain his encounter with Tiě Bǔtiān. Chu Yang was certain of this. And Tiělóng City's description would confirm another fact: his keen insight and unparalleled wisdom! His precise judgment of the overall situation and his deep understanding of Wǔ Dì Qīngróu!

All of this was crucial to the survival of the entire Tiěyún Kingdom and the outcome of Tiě Bǔtiān's confrontation with Wǔ Dì Qīngróu! If Tiě Bǔtiān didn't see him, that would be truly strange.

Chu Yang had been planning this since he left the Heavenly Tower and joined Du Shiqing's team. Everything was for today!

And today had finally arrived!

At this critical moment, Chu Yang naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity to elevate his status.

"The Crown Prince sent me to invite you, is that okay?" Wug Qianqian said irritably. "The Crown Prince knows I know you, so he specifically sent me. Outside, there are ninety-nine royal guards escorting you. The carriage is the Crown Prince's own. Sixteen fine horses flank it, and this is the treatment of a national guest! No one in the entire Tiěyún Kingdom has ever received such treatment!"

"Oh?" Chu Yang was also surprised. He had expected Tiě Bǔtiān to send someone to invite him, but he hadn't expected such a grand invitation!

Chu Yang, the great businessman, sat in the extremely luxurious carriage, with eight imposing golden-armored knights leading the way, each riding a pure white horse without a single blemish.

In the middle of the procession, two golden-armored knights guarded the carriage on each side. At the back, four more golden-armored knights brought up the rear. Additionally, ninety-nine silver-helmeted and silver-armored soldiers stood straight as statues, their steps perfectly synchronized, forming a perfectly straight line from any angle.

The整齐的步伐声，士兵们雕塑般的脸庞，坚定的目光，雄壮的队列，汇成了一道独特的风景线。

Chu Yang squinted his eyes, trying to maintain a calm and composed expression, sitting solemnly. In his heart, he was calculating: Damn, this is too impressive. When the world is at peace, I'll get a team like this. No matter where I go, I'll bring them. How cool would that be...

However, despite feeling very cool, Chu Yang kept the curtain tightly closed. If he showed his face, Wǔ Dì Qīngróu would probably know that Tiě Bǔtiān had invited him by tomorrow... That wouldn't be good!

Safety first.

"Mr. Chu, your presence is greatly appreciated. Please sit." Tiě Bǔtiān was courteous and refined, his white cloak spotless, like a jade tree in the wind, his smile warm.

Unexpectedly, the place where Tiě Bǔtiān received Chu Yang was the Bǔtiān Pavilion. The entire journey, not a single person was seen. It seemed that their meeting was treated as an extremely secret matter.

The meeting place was a small lake behind the Bǔtiān Pavilion, with an island in the center, and a pavilion on the island.

The guards escorted Chu Yang to the island and then left.

Chu Yang looked at Tiě Bǔtiān, his eyes calm and unperturbed.

It had to be said that Tiě Bǔtiān's hospitality had made his heart warm for a moment. But now, that feeling had faded.

If it were any other young man of the same age, he might have been moved to tears and pledged his loyalty. But Chu Yang, having lived two lifetimes, was a monster. Even a slight ripple in his heart was quite remarkable.

"Your Highness, I wonder what you have in mind for summoning a humble subject like me?" Chu Yang asked calmly.

"I dare not speak of commands; Mr. Chu, with your great talent, you must know why I have come to meet you today." Tiě Bǔtiān smiled lightly.

"I am but a humble man, and I do not understand your intentions, Your Highness."

Tiě Bǔtiān sighed softly, clasped his hands behind his back, and turned to look at the calm lake surface. He spoke calmly, "Mr. Chu, you come from a martial arts sect; you must understand the world's structure. The court and the martial world, though clearly distinct, are fundamentally of the same origin, inseparable."

"If the court is the dominant force, then the martial world is a secondary force!" Tiě Bǔtiān said quietly. "The term 'secondary force' means a substitute. Only when the ruling group becomes corrupt to a certain extent, and the people suffer, will heroes rise up, rallying the masses. They will take over."

"The new court power always rises from the martial world! Or it may use some forces from the existing court, but the dominant force is always from the martial world! After a period of turmoil, this group will form its own power, its own circle, its own rules, and the successful one will become the ruler of the court!"

Chu Yang pondered deeply and finally nodded slowly. "Your Highness's words are indeed true." He thought about the changes over the past few thousand years, the rise and fall of countless nations, and indeed, this was the path they followed.

The new regime indeed rose from the martial world. Although most failed, some succeeded.

If the court is a form of evolution and progress from the martial world, this perspective... is not without merit.