Chosen One Son of Heaven

"Heavenly Sword" laughed despite himself. "Fair point. Tell me how you intend to help me catch those Demon Cult fiends."

Lianshan Xin did not answer. Instead, he followed Wang Jian's example of asking for riches before a battle. "My lord, I heard the Imperial Court has issued a bounty. Anyone who reports a Demon Cult fiend can receive up to five hundred thousand taels of silver. Is that true?"

This was not insatiable greed or an attempt to bargain. On the contrary, it would make "Heavenly Sword" trust him more.

Wang Jian commanded a vast army. He had to ask for riches to set the First Emperor's mind at ease.

And if Lianshan Xin wanted to join the "Nine Heavens" and become a hawk and hound of the Imperial Court, he, too, had to ask for riches.

If a hawk and hound of the Imperial Court did not want wealth, what else might he want? The possibilities hardly bore thinking about.

Sure enough, "Heavenly Sword" was not angry. He merely chuckled. "Since coming to Jiangzhou, I have accomplished nothing and instead lost all face. If you help me capture those Demon Cult fiends, five hundred thousand taels will not be enough to reward your service. Besides the bounty, I will personally appoint you to the White Deer Grotto Academy. If we capture a core disciple of the Demon Cult, I can even reward you with a Qi Condensation Pill. The Nine Heavens rewards and punishes fairly. Everyone under heaven knows that. Rest assured."

Lianshan Xin did not believe the Nine Heavens rewarded and punished fairly, but he did believe "Heavenly Sword" needed an achievement right now and could deliver on his promises.

So he told "Heavenly Sword" everything he had discovered. He merely passed off his innate gift as keen observation, explaining that his father's conflict with President Qu had made him pay particular attention to the Qu Family, leading to an unexpected discovery.

After hearing him out, both "Heavenly Sword" and Qi Shiyun's eyes lit up.

The bell at Qi Shiyun's waist seemed to sense its mistress's excitement and gave a gentle jingle. Lianshan Xin heard its pleasing chime.

"Lianshan Xin, is everything you said true?" Qi Shiyun sounded a little nervous.

Lianshan Xin answered solemnly, "I would not dare deceive you, my lady. Besides, this should be easy to verify."

Qi Shiyun nodded and told "Heavenly Sword," "My lord, he does not seem to be lying."

"Heavenly Sword" had also been monitoring Lianshan Xin's blood and qi throughout, and had detected no unusual fluctuations.

He grew excited as well. "An unexpected windfall indeed. Shiyun, go investigate."

"Please wait, my lord. Rashly investigating the Qu Family could beat the grass and startle the snake. Why not let me lure Qu Junjie to the academy first? He is President Qu's only son. Once we have him, President Qu will hesitate to strike the rat for fear of breaking the vase, and we can keep those Demon Cult fiends from leaping over the wall like cornered dogs."

The main reason was that the Qu Family lived too close to Spring Revival Hall. Lianshan Xin feared his parents would be caught in the fallout.

Wanting to advance was one thing. He could not disregard his family's safety.

"Heavenly Sword" guessed what Lianshan Xin was thinking. He was not angry, but neither did he agree.

"There is no need for all that trouble. Go to the Qu Family with Shiyun. Rest assured, your parents will be safe."

Qi Shiyun added, "As long as your information is correct, there will be no danger. His lordship already inflicted heavy injuries on their demonic leader while slaying demons and vanquishing evil. Lianshan Xin, the Nine Heavens earned its fearsome reputation through slaughter. Those Demon Cult fiends are merely elusive. In a head-on fight, they cannot contend with us."

That, Lianshan Xin believed.

If rebels were stronger than the Imperial Court, they would not need to be rebels.

He only feared that when immortals fought, mortals would suffer.

"Please place my family under protection beforehand," Lianshan Xin insisted. "My lord, I believe the Nine Heavens also wants my parents to remain alive. If I were utterly alone between heaven and earth, you would not feel at ease about me, either."

"Heavenly Sword" laughed aloud. "An interesting lad. Your words are crude, but your reasoning is sound. Your thinking is correct, but your horizons are still too narrow. The rule of the martial world is that calamity must not extend to one's family. That rule was laid down by the Nine Heavens. Anyone who dares violate it harms both others and himself."

Lianshan Xin was somewhat doubtful.

The Demon Cult would follow your rules?

Qi Shiyun told him that the Demon Cult really did have to follow the Nine Heavens' rules.

"The previous Demon Cult refused to abide by the Nine Heavens' rules and targeted our members' families. As a result, the Nine Heavens uprooted them completely. All their senior leaders, along with three degrees of their kin, were beheaded for public display. The martial world fell silent, and both court and country were shaken. Every civil and military official at court wanted to petition for the Nine Heavens to be abolished to appease the world."

At this point, Qi Shiyun sneered. "And yet the Nine Heavens is still the Nine Heavens, while the Demon Cult has been replaced by another. Five of the censors who submitted impeachment petitions against us were also beaten to death with staves. Since then, no one has dared touch our members' families. Even the martial world began observing the rule that calamity must not extend to one's family. That is the Nine Heavens' deterrent power."

"Heavenly Sword" added, "We possess a great deal of information about the current Demon Cult's senior leaders, including their families. We simply have not carried out targeted strikes. The Demon Cult's leaders know this, so they follow the rules more strictly than you do. If they break those rules, the first people to kill them will be the cult's true upper echelon."

Lianshan Xin understood, and he believed them now.

He did not ask "Heavenly Sword" why the Nine Heavens knew about the Demon Cult leaders' families yet did not move against them.

Clever people never asked questions like that. They only devoted themselves to practicing one word-loyalty!

"Help Shiyun investigate the Qu Family thoroughly, and your parents will naturally receive the Nine Heavens' protection. If you become a full member, they will have even less to worry about."

Hearing this promise from "Heavenly Sword" made Lianshan Xin even more eager to join the Nine Heavens.

It was not merely that he wanted to advance.

What child did not want their parents to live in peace and security?

"Lianshan Xin, if you really help me capture the Demon Cult fiends hiding in the Qu Family, I'll have your back from now on."

Qi Shiyun took everything upon herself with great generosity. "With me around, I guarantee no one in Jiangzhou will dare cause you trouble."

That was quite a bold claim. A trace of disbelief unconsciously showed in Lianshan Xin's eyes.

Then he heard "Heavenly Sword" say, "Shiyun, a gentleman's promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold. That promise is too great."

Oh?

"Heavenly Sword" had only said her promise was too great, not that she was boasting too much.

Lianshan Xin immediately caught the key point and asked, "Teacher... are you stronger than Brother Kong?"

They looked about the same age.

Qi Shiyun and "Heavenly Sword" burst out laughing together.

A moment later, "Heavenly Sword" formally introduced Qi Shiyun to Lianshan Xin. "Lianshan Xin, standing before you is the woman ranked third on the Hidden Dragon Ranking and third on the Peerless Beauties Ranking, the third-place finisher in the Imperial Court's martial examinations three years ago: Third-Place Qi, known as Third Under Heaven."

Good grief.

Lianshan Xin joked, "There's almost no room left for all those people."

With a few more titles, she could almost give Erfeng a run for his money.

Qi Shiyun raised her slender, swanlike neck and tried to restrain her urge to show off. Her tone sounded very casual. "I suppose I'm doing all right. There's still plenty of room for improvement."

"Winning Third-Place Qi's appreciation is no easy feat. I once wanted to take her as my disciple, but she would not even entertain the idea."

"Heavenly Sword's" words genuinely startled Lianshan Xin. "Third-Place Qi certainly has lofty ambitions."

Qi Shiyun hurried to explain, "I have no talent for the sword."

"Heavenly Sword" nodded. "So she became Chosen of Heaven's disciple instead. She also has another nickname: Chosen One Daughter of Heaven. Provided Third-Place Qi does not meet an untimely end, she will surely join the Nine Heavens in time."

Like "Heavenly Sword," "Chosen of Heaven" was one of the Nine Heavens.

Lianshan Xin's respect deepened. "Please lend me your guidance and support in the future, Third-Place Qi."

A smile appeared on Qi Shiyun's face. "Of course. I possess supreme wisdom, and you possess supreme martial might. If we join forces, success will come the moment our horses arrive."

Lianshan Xin: "?"

Something about that sounded wrong.

"I have high hopes for you. You are the next Chosen One Son of Heaven." Qi Shiyun's tone suddenly turned serious. "Do not let that title down."

Lianshan Xin struggled to catch up. I've become Old James?

Qi Shiyun merely assumed he was stunned with joy. With a wave of her fair hand, she instructed, "Go outside and deal with Kong Ningyuan first. I'll make a few preparations, and then we'll head to the Qu Family."

Lianshan Xin realized Qi Shiyun and "Heavenly Sword" had something to discuss. This was really a dismissal, so he readily bowed and left.

Once Lianshan Xin had closed the door, Qi Shiyun took out a small notebook.

"Heavenly Sword" leaned back in his chair and watched Qi Shiyun write down Lianshan Xin's name. His tone was complicated. "Shiyun, have you said those same words to everyone in that notebook?"

Qi Shiyun nodded.

"Heavenly Sword's" tone grew even more complicated. "How many people is that now?"

Qi Shiyun answered without hesitation. "Lianshan Xin is the ninety-first Chosen One Son of Heaven. My code name for him is Young Master Xin 91. Very easy to remember."

"Heavenly Sword": "..."

Suddenly, the title of Chosen One Son of Heaven did not seem quite so valuable anymore.