Who Said I Had a Good Temper?

Chen Wulang and Chen Yu took a deep breath at his words. Chen Yu lifted the carriage curtain and helped his sister, Chen Xuan, down.

The brocade-robed man smiled faintly. "You two can rest easy. As long as Young Master Chen Xu pledges allegiance to Sixth Highness, the stain on the Chen House can be cleared. Sixth Highness has promised that once the matter is settled, he'll not only restore the Chen House's title, but also bestow a Marrow Cleansing Pill to help Seventh Miss eradicate her cold poison."

Chen Xuan's body trembled, and a glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes.

Chen Yu, however, said coldly, "Steward Zhao, my second brother is stubborn. Even when his Spiritual Bone was crippled and he was cast out of the household, he never bowed his head. Getting him to betray Princess Xiyao now won't be easy."

Steward Zhao's smile remained unchanged. "That's precisely why Sixth Highness specifically invited you both here. Blood ties, after all, can never truly be severed."

He gestured for them to go inside.

The posthouse was brightly lit, and several servants had already prepared hot water and food.

Chen Yu helped his sister sit down, but he remained by the window, gazing toward distant Jade Capital with a complicated expression.

"Fifth Brother..." Chen Xuan called softly.

Chen Yu turned around and forced a smile. "It's all right. We'll see Second Brother soon."

Chen Xuan lowered her head and looked at the jade pendant in her hand. Chen Xu had left it for her before leaving home.

"If Second Brother finds out we were brought here by Sixth Prince's people, will he get angry?"

Chen Yu was silent for a moment, then said quietly, "So what if he does? The Chen House has nowhere left to turn. Father is imprisoned, our clansmen have been exiled. If we don't seize this chance, there won't be a Chen House left at all..."

A streak of swordlight tore through the twilight. Three thousand li of road lay beneath their gaze, as mountains and rivers shifted and cities dotted the land like stars.

Chen Qing lightly traced the air with his fingertips. Each extraordinary sight along the way became an invisible scroll, imprinted upon his Sea of Consciousness.

Xu Zhaoying didn't disturb him, merely urging the swordlight a little faster.

By sunset, the two had reached the outskirts of Jade Capital.

In the distance, Nine-layered City Walls pierced the clouds, and a Rainbow Bridge stretched across the River of Stars.

Where the Golden Crow sank in the west, palace lanterns lit one after another, illuminating the entire Imperial City like a world of colored glass.

"We're here."

Xu Zhaoying lowered the swordlight, landing at Lianshan Posthouse outside the city.

Only then did Chen Qing return to his senses. Perhaps because he had drawn on the scenery of Xuan Du Mountain while condensing the talisman, the layers of mountain peaks now formed a scroll in his Sea of Consciousness, ready to be brought forth for contemplation at any time.

"This has practically become a Visualization Diagram..."

He pondered to himself that after meeting the princess, he would find a quiet place and paint this "Xuan Du Visualization Diagram." If he succeeded, not only would his dream-self's cultivation advance further, but he could also strengthen his sect's foundations after returning to the waking world!

"By the time I wake up this time, it should be about time to teach him the Great Claw Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll, help him step into the First Realm, and open his Yellow Court Palace..."

Night deepened, and the lights in the posthouse gradually went out.

Chen Qing sat cross-legged on the bed, regulating his breath and steadying his mind. The Life Talisman circulated within him, while Supreme Harmony Qi nourished the meridians throughout his body.

A faint stir of wind came from beyond the window.

"Hmm?"

He furrowed his brow and looked up. A paper crane flew in through the window and drifted lightly onto the desk.

The crane was pure white, except for a dark red stain on its beak. It looked almost like blood and gave off an eerie aura.

"A message-bearing paper crane?"

Chen Qing reached out and drew it toward him. The crane unfolded into a letter. Its handwriting was neat, yet carried a note of urgency—

"Second Brother, I hope this letter finds you well."

"Seventh Sister and I have arrived in Jade Capital. Thanks to Sixth Prince's kindness, we're staying in Qingxi for now. His Highness is generous. He said that if you're willing to pledge allegiance, the stain on the Chen House can be cleared, our title restored, and a Marrow Cleansing Pill granted to relieve Seventh Sister's cold poison."

"Second Brother, Father is imprisoned, our clansmen scattered, and the Chen House has reached the brink of ruin. Sixth Highness is the Holy Emperor's legitimate son, with power that blots out the sky. Princess Xiyao is merely of foreign blood and will never amount to much. Please think carefully!"

The letter was signed, "Your Fifth Brother, Chen Yu."

Chen Qing rubbed his fingertips together, and the letter crumbled into ash.

Princess Xiyao had taken on the task of settling a hundred thousand convicts in the first place because Sixth Prince had obstructed her. Now that the task was nearly complete, he was secretly contacting the Chen House again, trying to win Chen Qing over?

"This Sixth Prince seems to have made a point of opposing Princess Xiyao. What's between them? And Chen Yu, Chen Xuan... There really is a Chen House, and it even comes with siblings. My original setup should only have involved Chen Xu. Is this part of the identity package?"

In his memories, the two were indeed Chen Xu's younger siblings. They had still been young when disaster struck the Chen House.

Chen Qing rose and pushed open the window, gazing toward distant Jade Capital.

In the night, the towering Imperial City blazed with lights, like a crouching beast lying in wait.

"Using family ties to force someone into submission? Typical villain behavior!"

Chen Qing's gaze turned cold.

If he really were Chen Xu, he might have been shaken by this. But he had only come here through a dream and had little affection for the Chen House. Besides, Princess Xiyao, Xu Zhaoying, and the others had treated him well. How could he switch sides on a whim?

What's more, if he could so easily abandon his convictions for gain, even in a dream, then his Dao Heart would never take root!

"At worst, I can make up another ancestor and start over. But letting me twist my thoughts however I please? That won't do."

As he pondered, footsteps sounded outside the door.

"Daoist Chen, are you resting?"

It was Xu Zhaoying's voice.

Chen Qing composed himself. "Not yet. Please come in, Daoist Xu."

The door opened. Xu Zhaoying wore plain robes and held a green lamp, its flame no bigger than a bean, casting her features into a picturesque glow. Her gaze swept over the ash on the desk. "Did someone send you a message?"

Chen Qing did not hide it from her. He briefly told her what the letter said.

A cold glint flashed in Xu Zhaoying's eyes. "Sixth Prince secretly contacted your family and pressured you?" After a moment's thought, she asked, "What do you plan to do about the Chen House?"

Chen Qing replied, "What do you think I'll do, Daoist Xu?"

Xu Zhaoying studied him for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "I trust you."

Those three short words carried the weight of a thousand jun.

Then she added, "Actually, you don't need to worry. The princess will find a way to make arrangements for the Chen House."

Chen Qing's heart stirred, and he was about to speak when a sharp whistle suddenly came from outside the window!

"Whoosh—"

A blue jade arrow shot through the air and embedded itself in the window frame. Half of a broken jade pendant was tied to its tail.

"We haven't even entered Jade Capital, and things are already this lively." Chen Qing froze. His gaze swept over the pendant, where the character "Yun" was carved. His blood and qi surged against his will!

Li Xiao!

The name stabbed out from the depths of his memories like a poisonous thorn!

It was this sworn elder brother who had once falsely accused Chen Xu of treason, leading to his Spiritual Bone being crippled and the Chen House's downfall!

If the real Chen Xu were here, he would probably already be beside himself with rage.

Outside the window, a figure seemed to flicker beneath the moonlight.

"Trying to lure me out?"

He considered this for a moment, then asked Xu Zhaoying, "Are there any restrictions on fighting beneath Jade Capital?"

Xu Zhaoying replied, "Any unusual fluctuations in spiritual energy will draw the patrols from Jade Capital. But we have the princess's summons, and we're here on official business. If anything unexpected happens, we're authorized to act at our discretion."

"Good." Chen Qing nodded, then slipped soundlessly out the window, his figure like smoke.

Xu Zhaoying frowned, reached into her robes, and crushed a communication jade talisman before following him.

In the wilderness, beneath an ancient locust tree, moonlight flowed like water.

A white-robed figure stood with his hands behind his back, his sleeves drifting in the breeze. He had an otherworldly bearing, and the cinnabar dot between his brows stood out sharply.

Li Xiao.

Chen Qing stopped, his brow furrowing slightly.

Unlike the sinister and ruthless "sworn elder brother" in his memories, the Li Xiao before him was as warm as jade, his aura as deep as the sea. Chen Qing couldn't make out his strength at all!

How long had it been?

Oh, more than thirty years. In that case, no wonder.

"Little Brother Xu, it's been a long time."

Li Xiao turned around, his gaze gentle, seemingly full of concern.

Chen Qing stood ten zhang away, his expression calm. He neither showed hatred nor pretended familiarity, simply saying, "It has been a long time."

Li Xiao was slightly taken aback.

He had assumed Chen Xu would either fly into a rage or greet him with cold hostility. He had never expected him to be so composed. For a moment, Li Xiao couldn't read his thoughts.

"You've changed quite a bit, Little Brother Xu." Li Xiao sighed, his tone earnest. "I had no choice back then. I risked meeting you today only to save you."

Chen Qing raised an eyebrow. "Save me?"

Li Xiao lowered his voice. "The Tenth Princess's visit to the capital may seem to have many reasons behind it, but in truth, she's being sent to the Meridian Washing Pool."

A secret letter slid from his sleeve. He held it out to Chen Qing. "The Holy Emperor is currently in seclusion, comprehending the Profound Mysteries of the Heavenly Dao. The one governing the Immortal Dynasty is the Regent Empress Dowager. A few days ago, ministers jointly submitted a memorial claiming Princess Xiyao's bloodline had mutated and that she was not one of us. So the Empress Dowager has already issued a secret decree. This summons is a sham; the real purpose is to send her to the Meridian Washing Pool!"

Chen Qing took the secret letter and glanced over it. His face remained impassive, but he silently turned over the title "Regent Empress Dowager" in his mind.

Li Xiao watched his reaction in secret, growing increasingly suspicious. If this were the old Chen Xu, he would have been furious or anxious at the news. Yet the man before him hadn't even furrowed his brow!

"Little Brother Xu," he probed, "aren't you worried?"

Chen Qing looked up and replied with a question. "Did you come here today just to tell me this?"

Li Xiao faltered, then gave a bitter smile. "You still don't trust me." He paused, then suddenly lowered his voice, his tone grave. "There's something else... Stop investigating what happened to your Spiritual Bone. Don't investigate anything. It won't do you any good."

A glimmer passed through Chen Qing's eyes, and he finally showed some interest. "Why?" He suddenly remembered Venerable Taiyan of Xuan Du Mountain mentioning that his Root Bone was "as deep as an abyss."

Li Xiao shook his head. "The more you know, the more dangerous it gets."

Chen Qing's expression remained calm, as if none of this had anything to do with him.

Li Xiao felt even less certain, but still put on an earnest front. "Little Brother Xu, I heard you're practicing the Great Mountain Art now. That method doesn't suit your constitution. I happen to have the original text of the Cosmic Star Tribulation you used to practice. If you agree to leave, I'll return it to you."

He took out a Jade Slip and offered it to Chen Qing, but a wisp of black energy quietly spread across his fingertips.

Chen Qing lowered his gaze, as if considering it, though he had already noticed that strand of black energy.

Just as Li Xiao was about to touch his wrist—

"Clang!"

A streak of swordlight shot through the air. Xu Zhaoying shouted, "How dare you, villain!"

Li Xiao tossed aside the Jade Slip and retreated several zhang. His feigned warmth instantly fell away, revealing his sinister nature. "What a pity. I was this close..." He looked up at Chen Qing and saw that he had no intention of making a move, which left Li Xiao somewhat disappointed.

"Chen Xu, you actually managed to hold back?"

"I can't even see how strong you are, so I naturally wouldn't act rashly." Chen Qing sighed, deliberately putting on a dispirited air. "At this point, what would attacking you accomplish?"

Li Xiao narrowed his eyes, then suddenly burst out laughing. "So you've lost your edge! You've even lost your temper! Then there's nothing more to say. What does it matter if I let you live a little longer? Once the princess falls, you'll end up in my hands all the same!"

Chen Qing caught the implication. "You want to capture me?"

Li Xiao stopped answering. He formed a hand seal, and a black gale rose, about to envelop him—

"Actually, you're wrong. I've got a bad temper."

Chen Qing spoke abruptly and flicked a finger. A pitch-black talisman shot out, following the gale straight toward Li Xiao!

Li Xiao swept out his sleeve. Spiritual energy flared, and he smiled with easy confidence. "I thought you'd truly lost your mind. So you're pinning your hopes on a cheap trick like this, still thinking you're the heaven's favored one you used to be. But a firefly can't compare to—ah! How can this be Yin God!?"

Before he could finish, the talisman suddenly exploded!

Boom—

There was no flash of fire, no wave of hot air—only a bone-chilling cold, like ten thousand years of ice, that instantly froze everything within ten zhang!

Twisted faces appeared in the air, shaped like specters. They let out soundless shrieks and lunged at Li Xiao!

Remnant Yin God, gnawing at the spirit like a parasite!

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