Four People, Six Alliances

Luo Province.

The Heavenly Wonder Pavilion, a special institution within the imperial court, had its main pavilion located here.

Only this main pavilion possessed the complete forbidden prison grounds for the twelve zodiac signs. The branch pavilions only had the basic Rat and Ox facilities.

And they only held temporary detention rights; in the end, everyone had to be sent to the Heavenly Wonder Pavilion's main pavilion in Luo Province.

"What does the Emperor mean by this?" The one who spoke was Three-Wood Hermit, one of the Heavenly Wonder Pavilion's three deputy pavilion masters. Born into both a great clan and an immortal sect, he had entered the court as an official only because his aptitude was mediocre.

Yet although he was a court official, Three-Wood Hermit's tone held not the slightest respect when he mentioned the Diyi Era Emperor.

That was not only because his Lineage had once supported the Dragon-Controlling Crown Prince, whom the Diyi Era Emperor had killed, but also because the immortal sect he belonged to was Western Tuo Mountain, located beyond the secular world.

Hearing this, Yun Shoutian, another of the three deputy pavilion masters, set down his teacup and chuckled. "Hermit, don't be impatient. I know you've already arranged with the Pavilion Master to reserve the position of Sword-Watching Commander for a disciple of your Western Tuo Mountain. But times have changed. Now that the Emperor has thrust his hand into this matter, it may actually be a good thing."

"A good thing?" Three-Wood Hermit frowned faintly. He couldn't see what was so good about it.

"Hermit, you came from the west, and in recent years you've been engrossed in alchemy, so it is only natural that you don't know Sword Disciple Mountain has found news of Heaven's Chosen," Yun Shoutian said.

"The Heaven's Chosen prophesied by Sword Disciple Mountain's patriarch is about to descend the mountain?" Three-Wood Hermit couldn't help showing a look of realization. As a disciple of Western Tuo Mountain, he had also heard of Sword Disciple Mountain's Righteous Path Grand Plan. But when he had first heard of it, there had been no sign of when that grand plan would begin, so he hadn't taken it to heart.

Who would have thought that, without his noticing, the Righteous Path Grand Plan had already reached the point of beginning?

"Then the position of Sword-Watching Commander truly isn't such a good posting anymore." Three-Wood Hermit sighed. The duty of a Sword-Watching Commander was to oversee sword cultivators throughout the realm.

In the past, those who held the post of Sword-Watching Commander had basically never fulfilled the duties of the office, turning it into a fat and lucrative position.

But once the Heaven's Chosen selected by Sword Disciple Mountain's patriarch descended the mountain, the Sword-Watching Commander would undoubtedly have to cross paths with that Heaven's Chosen.

Otherwise, the Diyi Era Emperor would inevitably fly into a rage over it.

"Can the Sword-Watching Commander appointed by the Emperor handle it? Does that person have some special background?" Three-Wood Hermit asked in surprise.

Of the three deputy pavilion masters, he was the one who never handled affairs year-round.

Normally, unless someone shared his interest in alchemy, he couldn't even be bothered to meet them.

Thus, while Deputy Pavilion Master Three-Wood Hermit couldn't be said to be completely cut off from information, he was certainly nowhere near as well-informed as the Heavenly Wonder Pavilion's spirit officials and commanders.

"Whether he can handle it is the Emperor's intention; it isn't for me to say. But he truly does have a somewhat special background. Hermit, do you still remember that word game the Emperor played back then?"

"Of course I remember. When he bestowed the poisoned wine, he tricked that old Tan thief by saying he would spare his eldest legitimate son, only to turn around and slaughter every member of the Tan family, leaving behind only one illegitimate son... Hmm? Could this newly appointed Sword-Watching Commander be that old Tan thief's illegitimate son?" Three-Wood Hermit immediately understood.

"Precisely." Yun Shoutian nodded.

"Looks like the Emperor feels guilty in his heart, yet also wants to take this chance to kill the last of the Tan family..." Three-Wood Hermit immediately sneered.

Others might not understand the Emperor's character, but how could someone like him not know it?

Indecisive, yet ruthless and merciless.

Had the Tan family not poured every ounce of its strength into helping him back then, he would have been unable not only to kill his imperial elder brother, the Dragon-Controlling Crown Prince, but even to secure his throne.

"What a pity for that old Tan thief. He possessed talents that could span heaven and weave earth." Though Three-Wood Hermit disliked those surnamed Tan because of their opposing positions, he had to admit that the man possessed Heaven-Shaking Realm talent.

By his strength alone, he had made someone who could never have become Emperor sit firmly upon the throne.

"Brother Yun, why did that old Tan thief drink that cup of poisoned wine back then? If he hadn't drunk it, what could the Emperor have done to him?" Three-Wood Hermit suddenly asked.

"Hermit, the old Tan thief you speak of was already old at the time. And considering the injuries he suffered in his youth while helping the Emperor secure the throne, if I'm not mistaken, he was likely already running out of days. That was why he acted so decisively." Yun Shoutian sighed.

The imperial house had no kinship; emperors had no sentiment. Nothing could illustrate it better.

The two deputy pavilion masters were about to continue speaking when a servant hurried over, stopped outside the door, and said, "Two Pavilion Masters, the newly appointed Sword-Watching Commander has arrived. He is currently bathing and changing clothes."

After repeatedly traveling through the Water Spirit Lord, even with twenty-seven years of cultivation, Tan Shuchang couldn't avoid looking somewhat bedraggled. More than half his clothes were soaked.

But this was normal when traveling by Water Spirit Lord, so as soon as Tan Shuchang arrived, the guards here presented him with a set of replacement clothes prepared in advance.

"He's here? We won't meet him. Take him directly to assume his post. Oh, right—the Emperor received a letter of accusation saying there is a problem with the Ning family in West Isle City. He specifically ordered the newly appointed Sword-Watching Commander to make a trip to West Isle City. First have people prepare anything the Sword-Watching Commander might need, then gather a group of pavilion officers native to the area around West Isle City to await the new Sword-Watching Commander's orders," Yun Shoutian instructed casually.

For a Sword-Watching Commander whose lifespan was unknown but could certainly be said to be very short, Deputy Pavilion Master Yun Shoutian had no interest in even meeting him.

Otherwise, a Principal Third Rank commander would have been well worth winning over.

Though the Heavenly Wonder Pavilion's structure was simple, with only four people at the top, there were no fewer than six alliances among those four people.

Everyone was being isolated, yet everyone was also forming alliances.

Upon hearing Deputy Pavilion Master Yun's instructions, the servant hurriedly found people to carry them out.

Thus, after Tan Shuchang changed into his robes and used the Sleeve Storage Technique to put his belongings back into his sleeves, he walked out intending to find someone and ask where to go so he could meet his four "superiors," only to discover that a group of people was already waiting for him.

"This subordinate greets Lord Sword-Watching Commander!"

The moment these people saw Tan Shuchang, they immediately saluted.

"Lord Commander, these are all experts from within the pavilion. Each has at least ten years of cultivation and can accompany you to West Isle City to investigate the Ning family." After saluting, one person stepped forth from the crowd and introduced this group of pavilion officers to Tan Shuchang.

However, when he mentioned going to West Isle City to investigate the Ning family, every one of those pavilion officers revealed a trace of strange expression in their eyes.