Mobilization

Chu Zhiyuan sat cross-legged on the couch, his eyes slightly closed, his countenance solemn and dignified.

The Meridian Washing Art and the Dragon Transformation Technique cycled in turn, his meridians strengthening again and again.

When practicing the Dragon Transformation Technique, he would take a Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Unfortunately, the effect of the Marrow Cleansing Pill was waning.

The body all develops drug resistance; with each additional pill taken, the resistance grows stronger by one part, and the efficacy diminishes by one part.

Still, even with diminished efficacy, it was far faster than cultivating without taking any pills.

After two Marrow Cleansing Pills, his meridians could now accommodate eight strands of the Dragon Binding Rope.

He estimated that after taking two more tomorrow, he would be able to condense nine strands and break through to the seventh Jade Tower.

The setting sun cast its lingering glow, painting Yujing City in a layer of rosy light.

He left the residence draped in the evening glow, planning to return to Prince Qing's Estate for dinner, only to spot Gao Lingfeng outside the estate.

Gao Lingfeng stood on the clean, spacious street before Prince Qing's Estate, motionless in the glow of the sunset, lost in deep thought.

Hearing movement, Gao Lingfeng turned his head and saw him. He hurriedly approached, clasping his hands in salute from a distance: "My Lord!"

"Lord Gao, what is the matter?"

"The experts from the Town Martial Division have gone to the Flying Flower Sword Sect."

"When did that happen?"

"It's been over an hour already."

"...Then let it be. Lord Gao, you've worked hard."

Chu Zhiyuan figured that it had already ended an hour ago; even if he rushed over now, he wouldn't make it in time.

"My Lord, then we...?"

"Let's go check the Ministry of Rites first," Chu Zhiyuan looked up at the setting sun. "Mm, the office is already closed for the day. We'll go tomorrow."

The light over all of Yujing City had dimmed, dusk faintly emerging. Some taverns had already lit their ornate lanterns.

Light and shadow, brightness and darkness, coexisted, adding a touch of vividness to Yujing City.

A flourishing age of prosperity, intoxicating the heart and mind.

"This..." Gao Lingfeng hesitated.

He had been waiting anxiously, burning with impatience. Now that he had finally waited for Chu Zhiyuan, Chu Zhiyuan wanted to go to the yamen tomorrow instead, showing no urgency at all.

His thoughts raced.

The matter of the Flying Flower Sword Sect had always been handled by Chu Zhiyuan, with him as the deputy. If something truly went wrong and eventually drew Grandmaster Song's intervention, he knew the first to take the fall would be himself.

Although Chu Zhiyuan was an Assistant Director and his superior, Chu Zhiyuan's status was different after all—born of imperial blood, always entitled to preferential treatment.

They would spare the dog for the master's sake; the Minister and Director Langzhong couldn't shift the blame onto Chu Zhiyuan, so it would have to fall on him.

He understood this very well, which was why he was so particularly anxious.

Chu Zhiyuan, on the other hand, was not so concerned about the entanglement between the Flying Flower Sword Sect and the Thick Earth Sect.

Since it had already been submitted to higher authorities for a decision, he didn't want to worry too much about it. Better to use that energy to comprehend martial arts.

Besides, the Earth Dragon Pearl was not an elixir; it wouldn't be damaged or disappear. Neither the Thick Earth Sect nor the Flying Flower Sword Sect would let it vanish.

What he wanted to figure out now was whether the Heavenly Treasure Department had any treasures similar to the Earth Dragon Pearl, and whether anything related to dragons would have an effect on him.

"My Lord!" Gao Lingfeng called out again.

"Lord Gao, there's no use in rushing. We've already done what we could." Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "This matter won't be blamed on you."

He had read too many case files and had broadened his perspective.

The conflict between the Flying Flower Sword Sect and the Thick Earth Sect, if it hadn't involved Song Feiqiong, would have been handled lightly. Gao Lingfeng was taking this matter far too seriously.

"If we don't go now, I'm afraid Director Langzhong will hold a grudge."

"Director Langzhong is broad-minded. Rest assured."

"...My Lord!" Gao Lingfeng gave a bitter smile.

Whether Director Langzhong was broad-minded or not depended on the person. Toward Chu Zhiyuan, of course he was broad-minded, but toward himself, not so much.

Seeing his distress, Chu Zhiyuan turned around and said, "Fine. You've worked hard running around for so long. Let's go take a look."

Gao Lingfeng let out a long sigh of relief.

Gratitude welled up in him: the Heir Apparent's heart wasn't that hard; he wouldn't disregard his fate.

Chu Zhiyuan understood that even with a noble status, one must know how to manage people's hearts and not act willfully at every turn.

Gao Lingfeng was a capable man, and he was far too anxious about this matter. He had come looking for him repeatedly and even waited an hour.

Forcing him too stubbornly would inevitably plant resentment and grudges.

By first refusing, then agreeing, he could instead reap gratitude.

Escorted by Zou Fang, Guo Chi, and the others, he arrived with Gao Lingfeng outside the courtyard where the Flying Flower Sword Sect was quartered, only to find experts from the Town Martial Division standing guard at the entrance.

"Young Master." Just then, Huang Shirong, dressed in an apricot-yellow silk gown, stepped out, willowy and graceful as a swaying willow, with the two White-Clad Girls still behind her. When she saw him, she clasped her hands and smiled brightly. "You're a step too late, Young Master."

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands in return and asked with a smile, "Hall Master Huang, have you found any leads?"

Huang Shirong gently shook her head.

"Not a single clue?"

"That fellow is formidable—not a trace, not a shred of evidence, not even a wisp of aura. Our division's experts judge that he used not only a secret technique but also some kind of treasure to achieve this effect."

"A treasure..."

He searched his mind for treasures capable of concealing one's aura.

There were quite a few.

Things like the Spider Stone, the Mantis Jade, the Turtle Origin Pearl, and so on.

He could be certain none of those had been used. If a treasure had been employed, its own aura should not have escaped the perception of Super Sensation.

It had to be a secret art.

And such a secret art was not something a minor sect could possess.

Huang Shirong furrowed her delicate brows. "Troublesome."

Her bright eyes suddenly flickered, and she gazed quietly at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan waved a hand. "I don't sense anything either."

The light in Huang Shirong's eyes dimmed, and she sighed. "This time, our division has truly lost face."

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "So what's next?"

Huang Shirong let out another sigh. "We can only ask Grandmaster Song to step in... We'll all take the blame for this."

"...It doesn't necessarily have to be Grandmaster Song. What about submitting it to the Grandmaster's Mansion instead?"

Both were grandmasters, but other grandmasters could probably remain calm. If it were Song Feiqiong, she would easily let her emotions get the better of her.

A grandmaster would not lightly restrain their temper.

Once a grandmaster lost their temper, the consequences were unpredictable.

She might even cripple the Thick Earth Sect outright.

The Thick Earth Sect's backing was Prince Huai's Estate. If Prince Huai's Estate lost face, it would be as good as the imperial family losing face, and that would bring him no benefit.

"It's the same. Even if it goes to the Grandmaster's Mansion, we'll still lose merit."

"It's not the same. Better to submit it to the Grandmaster's Mansion."

Huang Shirong furrowed her brows and looked at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled back at her.

Their gazes clashed in the air. Huang Shirong pursed her lips into a faint smile and nodded lightly. "Then let's do as the Young Master says—hand it over to the Grandmaster's Mansion."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and clasped his hands, acknowledging the favor.

Between the two divisions, the Town Martial Division held a more dominant position.

This was Huang Shirong doing him a courtesy, preserving the Young Master's face. If she had insisted on inviting Song Feiqiong, he would not have been able to oppose her.

He took his leave of Huang Shirong.

On the way back to the Ministry of Rites, Gao Lingfeng shook his head and sighed endlessly.

Lanterns in the streets and alleys had already been lit, their glow casting shifting shadows across his handsome face, making his expression flicker between light and dark.

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at Gao Lingfeng but pretended not to notice.

Gao Lingfeng was far too pessimistic.

This time, the Department of Martial Affairs might not lose any merit at all—if anyone took the hit, it would be the Town Martial Division.

But he wouldn't voice that judgment, nor did he comfort Gao Lingfeng.

Still, he couldn't yet be certain whether the Thick Earth Sect was behind this.

Feng Zhihao's demeanor and movements showed no difference from usual. There were two possibilities: either the Thick Earth Sect wasn't responsible, or they were acting behind Feng Zhihao's back.

--

"Treasures like dragon pearls..." Chu Zhiyuan stood before the counter of the Heavenly Treasure Department, facing a delicate young woman who wore a thoughtful expression.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded. "Anything involving dragons will do—dragon scales, dragon horns, and the like."

"Young Master, please wait a moment." The young woman's voice was crisp as she turned and disappeared through the door behind her.

Chu Zhiyuan stood with his hands behind his back, scanning his surroundings.

The counter was busy, with clerks of the Heavenly Treasure Department serving those who came to exchange for Spiritual Medicines and treasures.

These clerks, both men and women, all wore indifferent expressions.

Those who came to make exchanges were all very polite. Even the rough-and-tumble martial arts masters kept their manners, lowering their booming voices to a restrained, hushed tone.

A cup of tea later, the delicate young girl returned, handing a plain slip of paper to Chu Zhiyuan. "Young Master, these are all treasures and elixirs related to dragons. I've marked their grades."

Chu Zhiyuan took it, glanced over it, and revealed a satisfied smile. "Many thanks, Miss Xiaodie."

Miss Xiaodie quickly waved her small hands.

This Miss Xiaodie was the younger sister of a former comrade of Ma Tianhe's. Her brother had already given his life in the Supervisory Department, and so she had inherited his position and entered the Heavenly Treasure Department.

Chu Zhiyuan turned and left, sighing inwardly.

Prince Qing's Estate had been sealed off for thirty years. While the fief and stipends remained intact, the losses in other areas were immense—especially in terms of personal connections.

Thirty years of isolation had effectively severed their network of relationships.

And this network, he increasingly realized, was everywhere.

With such networks in place, handling matters became far more convenient—sometimes even more effective than his own status as Young Master.

He swept his gaze over the names on the slip, imprinting them into his mind.

Aside from the Flying Dragon Sword, the Crimson Dragon Saber, and other weapons, there were also the Crimson Dragon Pill, the Golden Dragon Bone Strengthening Pill, the Flying Dragon Saliva, the Dragon Saliva Incense, and other rare items.

Quite a few indeed involved dragons.

All of these were of very high grades, requiring high-grade merits to exchange.

Anything involving dragons often originated from the Four Great Secret Lands, and even then, only from Demon Beasts with extremely high bloodline levels within those lands.

He returned to Prince Qing's Estate. During lunch, he casually brought up the matter with Bai Ningshuang, saying he wanted a Dragon Pearl to play with.

"What Dragon Pearl?" Bai Ningshuang asked, puzzled.

"Something like the Earth Dragon Pearl—a Crimson Dragon Pearl, a Golden Dragon Pearl, or a Flying Dragon Pearl. Any of those will do."

Bai Ningshuang agreed. "Then I'll ask Her Imperial Consort."