Wang Chong immediately understood and said, "The New Sovereign Succession is a major problem."
Lu Moniang said, "The Empress's only son was secretly raised outside the palace from childhood, and very few people know what he looks like. Why would he suddenly appear in the martial world?"
Li Qingge said, "Whatever the case, I must report this as soon as possible. Even a slight delay could lead to something serious."
Su Luoyan sighed and said, "Sister Li, reporting this will inevitably subject you to countless challenges. Who knows how many people throughout the court are longing for this son of the Empress to die young?"
Wang Chong rubbed his chin, reached out to clap Sun Mingke on the shoulder, and said, "Little Brother Sun, you wouldn't happen to be the Empress's son, would you?"
Sun Mingke was taken aback, and all three women smiled wryly. Lu Moniang said, "Young Master Wang Chong, please don't say such grossly disrespectful things. The Empress's son is several years older than my youngest junior brother-closer to your age, in fact."
Wang Chong's heart hopped like a rabbit, and he laughed awkwardly. "I certainly am not the Empress's son. I'm old enough by now; how could I still not know who my own parents are?"
No one present suspected his identity, but after saying this, Wang Chong could not help feeling somewhat uneasy. He thought, Who exactly am I? I hope I'm not White Chrysanthemum, but I don't want to be some son of the Empress either. Wouldn't that mean having a crown prince's fate, but not a crown prince's life?
One means destiny, the other means staying alive!
If I really am the Empress's son, I must petition for a posting to some remote military prefecture. Better yet, become some sort of prince overseas. The farther from the seat of power, the better. I'd do everything I could to get troops, develop commerce, build up the population, and prepare to rebel.
Ah! No, that's not right. Hold my own territory if there's no opportunity, rebel if there is.
Wang Chong pondered for a while, then laughed inwardly. Surely my luck can't be so rotten that I get dragged into such a tangled mess.
Although Li Qingge knew Su Luoyan was right, he could no longer sit still and hurriedly took his leave.
Su Luoyan asked about the various details concerning the giant man from the Western Regions they had encountered that day, then said, "With such an enormous build, mastery of the Vajra Prajna Palm, and his claim to be Tie Mole, I'm afraid he must be that second senior brother of the Green Mountain Sect. He ranks seventh among the Thirty-Six Divine Generals of the Western Regions and is known as the Vajra Venerable. He is a fierce fighter with hopes of advancing to the Innate Realm within the next few years."
"You two were right not to covet the fame. Otherwise, retaliation from the Green Mountain Sect would inevitably be troublesome later." At this point, she paused, then smiled. "Though you two might not necessarily fear them."
Sun Mingke was Daoist Guanlong's disciple. The Taiyi Dao's renown shook the world, and every one of his senior brothers was formidable. Although Wang Chong's origins were somewhat shrouded in mist, he was certainly from Wudang. Wudang was the greatest sect in the world, its sect leader stood at the very pinnacle, and the Empress herself was also from Wudang. The Green Mountain Sect might not dare provoke them. Su Luoyan, too, felt her warning was somewhat unnecessary.
Wang Chong smiled. "I must still thank Sister Su for your care."
A thought turned in Su Luoyan's mind. She glanced at Lu Moniang and said, "Little Brother Sun has his senior sister looking after him, so I can only reluctantly take the trouble to think things through for you." These words were faintly suggestive. Wang Chong caught her meaning and thought, I'm quite a favorite, aren't I?
The four were chatting when Jiangzhuer suddenly came in to report that Lu Zongfeng had come to visit.
Su Luoyan did not wish to meet an unrelated man, and Lu Moniang accompanied her in withdrawing. Given her status, even though Lu Zongfeng was her older paternal cousin, it was not particularly convenient for her to associate closely with him. Wang Chong took Sun Mingke along to welcome Lu Zongfeng inside.
Lu Zongfeng was brimming with delight. Upon seeing Wang Chong, he waggled his eyebrows and said, "Brother Wang Chong, do you know what fine thing I found on Tie Mole?"
Wang Chong smiled. "What fine thing could a man from beyond our borders have that caught Brother Lu's discerning eye?"
Lu Zongfeng glanced at Sun Mingke and decided not to exclude this disciple of the Five Absolutes. Grinning, he said, "Never mind me-even Brother Wang and Little Brother Sun would probably find it hard to remain above worldly temptation when faced with this."
His words piqued both Wang Chong's and Sun Mingke's interest. Wang Chong smiled. "Brother Lu, why have you suddenly become so cagey? Just what is it?"
Lu Zongfeng took out a pair of leg wraps. Wang Chong recognized them: they had originally been on Tie Mole's legs. He thought, What could there be in a pair of leg wraps? Could they conceal a martial arts manual?
Lu Zongfeng spread out the leg wraps and said, "I never expected Tie Mole to have written out a Vajra Prajna Palm manual from memory on his leg wraps."
Wang Chong was indeed very surprised. "Why would he carry a martial arts manual on him?"
Sun Yanqi had most likely obtained his two scripture volumes through some fortuitous encounter and carried them because he had nowhere else to keep them. Tie Mole was a disciple of the Green Mountain Sect; it made no sense for him to carry a manual rather than leave it in his sect.
Lu Zongfeng smiled. "The manual actually gives a reason. Brother Wang Chong, take a look." He unfolded the leg wraps to the very end, revealing a line of small writing: "Zhu'er, my son, this is a secret teaching of the Green Mountain Sect of the Western Regions, called Vajra Prajna. Its fierce, domineering power has no equal under heaven. Your father is not at your side, so you must know to work hard and cultivate diligently. Once you come of age, I will certainly bring you back to the Green Mountain Sect."
These words were unremarkable, yet held an old father's earnest hopes. Judging by their tone, however, this son was surely not legitimate, but born outside the marriage. As for the promise to bring him back someday, it was probably just a grand cake drawn on paper.
Even so, the manual was genuine. Wang Chong read through it, silently committing it to memory, and asked, "Brother Lu, have you made a copy yourself?"
Lu Zongfeng smiled. "Although I won't practice it, I certainly made a copy. It can serve as a family heirloom in the future."
Wang Chong smiled. "In that case, I'll gladly accept your kindness, Brother Lu. This time, you killed White Chrysanthemum, and the villain was also a spy from the Western Regions. Your merit may well surpass Brother Qin's. Your future prospects are boundless, so you must look after us younger brothers."
Lu Zongfeng was delighted beyond measure and said with a smile, "Of course, of course."
He then added, "I found this while searching the body and haven't mentioned it to anyone else. Just make your own copies, you two, and don't tell anyone."
Once again, Wang Chong caught his meaning and replied, "Beyond the three of us, it will never reach an eighth ear."
Lu Zongfeng stayed only a short while before departing briskly, clearly in excellent spirits. Although he had already paid and was preparing the paperwork for the house in Chang'an, this joint assault on Tie Mole had shown him how accomplished Wang Chong's martial arts were, and he had resolved to invest still more heavily in winning him over. As luck would have it, he had discovered a handwritten Vajra Prajna Palm manual on Tie Mole, and had eagerly brought it to Wang Chong precisely to draw their friendship a little closer.
As for also making the acquaintance of a young disciple of the Five Absolutes Sect, that was an unexpected delight.
Wang Chong held the item out before Sun Mingke and said, "Little Brother Sun, you copy it first."
Sun Mingke shook his head. "Brother Wang Chong, I already read through it just now and memorized the whole thing. There's no need for the extra step of writing out a copy."
Wang Chong was speechless for a long while. All he could do was pat Sun Mingke's shoulder and say, "Let me test you."
Skipping around the original text, he recited a few lines and had Sun Mingke continue. After continuing several times, Sun Mingke realized that Wang Chong had not looked at the leg wraps even once, and could not help feeling deeply ashamed.
... Sun Mingke: So Brother Wang Chong also has a photographic memory...
... Wang Chong: Show off a little, and life feels half again as good...
... Tie Mole: How can you take the private teaching materials I prepared for my bastard son and hand them around as gifts...
Before you continue