Let Me Show You My Methods

On the terrace, warm jade paved the floor, and clouds and mist served as curtains.

Lu Qiyuan, barefoot, stepped across the smooth jade bricks, waved away the serving maids, and personally led Chen Qing to a seat. The table was carved entirely from ten-thousand-year-old warm jade, laden with rare delicacies and Spirit Fruits.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, do you know the advantages of my place?" Lu Qiyuan asked after they were seated, gesturing around him with pride. "This is Jade Capital's number one money pit, the Stairway to Heaven! Those who frequent here are either true disciples of Immortal Gates or scions of noble families! Lightning technique prodigies from Shenxiao Dao, sword fanatics from Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion, and even several reclusive members of the royal family have lingered here!"

Seeing the gleam in Chen Qing's eyes, Lu Qiyuan pressed his advantage. "As long as you agree, I'll make your name famous throughout Jade Capital within three days and completely wash away your past disgrace! Then, resources, cultivation methods, beauties, and power will be within your grasp! Why should you accompany a falling tree to its doom?" He leaned forward. "Even the Spiritual Bone that was dug out, this young lord can help you reclaim it!"

"Oh?" Chen Qing chuckled and shook his head upon hearing this. "Does Young Marquis know whose debt I intend to collect?"

Lu Qiyuan laughed heartily. "Who cares who it is! In Jade Capital, there's nothing the Marquis of the East Sea's estate can't buy!" His words were fervent, his gaze intense.

Seeing this, Chen Qing stopped beating around the bush. If he stayed out too long, Sixth Prince's men might catch up to him, so he spoke directly. "Young Marquis, when you were vying for the Princess's fief, you still wanted to ask Princess Xiyao to be your Dao Companion. Why are you so eager to poach now?"

Lu Qiyuan picked up a vermillion fruit, chewed it twice, and smiled. "At my status and position, what kind of peerless immortal beauty can't I find? I won't beat around the bush with you. Back then, Xiyao was still the Tenth Princess, favored by the Immortal Emperor. If I could have obtained her, it would have been a significant help to my Lu family! Her essence from the union of Yin and Yang could also help me condense the 'Boundless Sea Dao Seed,' saving me a hundred years of hard work."

He clapped his hands, changing the subject. "But now the Immortal Emperor has ascended, the Empress holds all power, and the Sixth Prince is about to ascend the throne! She can barely protect herself, so why would I court the Empress's displeasure for someone who is about to die?"

He then glanced sideways at Chen Qing. "Chen Xu, you are a smart person, you should know that a wise bird chooses its tree! Don't do foolish things like a mayfly trying to shake a tree. Even if you owe a debt of gratitude, how can it compare to your life?"

Chen Qing sighed. "Young Marquis, please rest assured, I came here for two matters that I wish to consult you about."

"So that's it," Lu Qiyuan raised an eyebrow. "What two matters? Speak freely."

"Firstly, to find Red Vein Stone." Before Chen Qing could finish, he saw Lu Qiyuan's pupils contract.

"This thing is not easy to find, and it's related to an old case from twenty years ago." Lu Qiyuan's hand, which was playing with a wine cup, suddenly tightened. "However, I can help you probe for information."

Related to an old case? No wonder it was so hard to find.

Chen Qing nodded impassively, then said, "Secondly, does Young Marquis know who the person with the Daoist title 'Mystic Bright' is?"

"Mystic Bright? A Daoist title?" Lu Qiyuan was taken aback. He thought for a moment and said, "If you were to ask someone else, they might not know. Fortunately, I have broad connections. The one you're talking about might be the zither fanatic from Mystic Bright Small Abode outside the city."

"Mystic Bright Small Abode?" Chen Qing's heart stirred. "Who lives there?"

"The Seventh Prince." Lu Qiyuan shook his head and sighed. "He, ah, he only knows how to play the zither and paint in his villa outside the city all day. He hasn't shown his face in ten years… Hmm?"

He suddenly stopped, scrutinizing Chen Qing suspiciously. "Why are you asking about him? He's too lazy to even manage his own fief, his relationship with Xiyao is also average, and his cultivation level is likely not high. He wouldn't get involved in this matter."

Chen Qing, however, was inwardly shaken.

The person associated with the title Mystic Bright was actually a prince!

Logically, this person was most likely the historical Mystic Bright Layman, the second ruler of the Immortal Dynasty!

Suppressing his emotions, Chen Qing casually asked, "Does Young Marquis know the name of this Seventh Prince?"

Lu Qiyuan looked puzzled but still replied, "His Majesty the Holy Emperor is a descendant of the ancient Xu Kingdom, so the Immortal Dynasty's royal family naturally all have the surname Xu! The Seventh Prince's given name is Qingfeng."

"Xu Qingfeng…"

Chen Qing murmured the name.

"In Jade Capital, you can't casually mention other people's names," Lu Qiyuan pointed out the key issue.

You brought it up first, didn't you?

Chen Qing's expression remained unchanged. He continued, "His Highness Xu Qingfeng is so low-key, it's truly surprising. Since he is a prince, does he have no ambition for the position of Immortal Dynasty ruler?"

"Careful with your words!" Lu Qiyuan's expression changed slightly, then he said, "His Highness the Seventh Prince has a detached personality, rarely appears in public, and has no ambition. Speaking of which, where did you hear the title 'Mystic Bright'?"

Chen Qing stammered, "I heard this title by chance and was curious for a moment."

Lu Qiyuan's gaze swept over his face, and he didn't press further. He only said, "Jade Capital is a deep and treacherous place. It's better to inquire less about some matters." After speaking, he poured a cup of spirit wine and pushed it over. "Try this 'Jade Sea Tide Dew.' It's harvested from the ten-thousand-zhang cold springs of the East Sea, and only we have it in Jade Capital. Since you're here today, just enjoy yourself and don't trouble yourself."

Chen Qing raised his cup and took a sip. A clear, sweet aroma penetrated his lungs, then transformed into a warm current that flowed through his limbs.

"Indeed, a fine wine."

"Hahaha!" Lu Qiyuan clapped his hands and laughed. After a few pleasantries, he suddenly excused himself and went to a quiet room behind the hall.

Someone was already seated inside, dressed in simple, elegant scholar's robes. It was his close friend, Zhou Renjing.

Lu Qiyuan pushed the door open and got straight to the point. "Brother Zhou, do you have a plan to win this person over?"

"His Spiritual Bone was dug out, yet his resolve remains unshaken. He was tempered in the Mysterious Prison, yet his intellect is unharmed." Zhou Renjing said slowly. "Brother Lu's appreciation for talent is understandable. But this person's rough edges have not been smoothed, and his heart still yearns for his former master. I believe his true intention today, while claiming to seek Red Vein Stone and ask about the Seventh Prince, is merely a pretense. His real goal is to scout the path for Princess Xiyao!"

Lu Qiyuan frowned. "Precisely because he is loyal, if we can win him over, it will demonstrate our capabilities!"

"Not so," Zhou Renjing said seriously. "A loyal person is bound to be proud! How can ordinary wealth, power, beauties, and treasures enter his eyes? If we cannot suppress his arrogance, even if we keep his body, we cannot win his heart!"

Lu Qiyuan fell silent for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Should we let him hit a wall? Suffer some hardship?"

Zhou Renjing paused his fingertips, then smiled. "You want to win him over, to make him loyal. If you try to force him to stay through schemes, it will be exposed later and turn into enmity."

Lu Qiyuan narrowed his eyes and asked, "Then, according to Brother Zhou's opinion?"

Zhou Renjing immediately said, "If we can win him over by using the matter of the Princess, wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone? With his assistance, the foundation of the East Sea will be stabilized, and we can also make plans in the currents of Jade Capital."

Lu Qiyuan stared at Zhou Renjing for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Good! Excellent, killing two birds with one stone! Excellent, planning for the East Sea!" His eyes shone with brilliance. "Renjing, oh Renjing, your convoluted thoughts almost got me too! But…"

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "The Empress is powerful. Rescuing the Princess is akin to provoking her wrath. This path is not viable."

Zhou Renjing sighed. "Since that is the case, Chen Xu's will is firm and cannot be swayed by profit or status. He is difficult to bring into our fold."

"Not necessarily!" Lu Qiyuan's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "He's looking for the Red Vein Stone, and asking the Seventh Prince might have a deeper meaning! Besides..." he lowered his voice, "he lost his Spiritual Bone. If I can find it for him, it'll be a favor owed."

Zhou Renjing frowned slightly. "His Spiritual Bone? The Princess's Estate searched extensively without success. It's likely difficult to find now, perhaps already refined or hidden somewhere inaccessible."

"Heh!" Lu Qiyuan scoffed. "How many people does the Princess's Estate have? With the Marquis of the East Sea's Estate mobilizing all its connections and wealth, using money to pave the way and power to suppress others, within this Yujing City, except for a few forbidden areas, there's no mouth that can't be opened or thing that can't be found!"

He waved his hand grandly, full of vigor. "Half a day at most! I'll find the Red Vein Stone for him as well!"

Zhou Renjing wanted to speak but stopped. In the end, he only said, "Your Highness's spirit is admirable. However, the Spiritual Bone involves old matters. If..."

"If what?" Lu Qiyuan interrupted dismissively. "Could it be more dangerous than saving the Princess and confronting the Empress head-on? Just wait with peace of mind!"

Before he finished speaking, Lu Qiyuan suddenly stood up.

"Guards!"

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Three figures appeared like ghosts from the shadows of the pillars, kneeling on one knee.

"Take my Fish Dragon Token!" Lu Qiyuan threw out three palm-sized, dark blue tokens shaped like sea dragons. "Within six hours, I want to know the whereabouts of Chen Xu's Spiritual Bone, and all clues to Red Vein Stones in Yujing City!"

"Understood!"

The moment the tokens were in hand, the three figures vanished like streaks of light.

Lu Qiyuan turned around and raised an eyebrow at Zhou Renjing.

"Just watch my methods!"

Second update coming soon