Strange lights surged, accompanied by the continuous chanting of scriptures.
More than a dozen female figures screamed and wailed in unison, their bodies enveloped in rolling white smoke, their forms suddenly dimming to the utmost.
"Run!" Qi Fei shrieked hoarsely.
Weak whirlwinds suddenly stirred from the ground, and the coldness inside the flower hall vanished abruptly.
Qi Fei, Lü Que, and more than a dozen red-dressed figures all shrank into the whirlwinds, vanishing without a trace in an instant.
Liu Wu laughed wildly with a cracking sound, his face twisted as he pointed toward the direction where Lü Que disappeared, yelling in anger: "You wretched woman, you already suffered a severe beating that day, yet today you’ve forgotten the pain and dared to come here to meet your death!"
The strange light on the jade lotus faded away.
Liu Wu's expression turned pale as death.
Sweat poured down his entire body like rain.
Once slender, his frame had shrunken further, with skin tightly wrapped around protruding bones, his joints glaringly prominent, making him look horrifyingly frightening.
Yin Xing and Qi Shen swallowed mouthfuls of saliva and stared fixedly at the jade lotus on Liu Wu.
This was a treasure.
Undoubtedly, it was a priceless treasure.
Though using it probably demanded a heavy price.
For instance, Liu Wu had activated it with his own blood, and it seemed as if much of the essence of his flesh and blood had been drained away.
But none of that could deny that at a critical moment, this was a treasure that could be used to save one’s life.
“A treasure, it is meant for one with virtue!” Qi Shen murmured to himself, puffing up his chest as if to prove that he was the virtuous one.
“This treasure is fated to this king!” Yin Xing straightened his posture.
He rubbed the foul-smelling mixed liquid vigorously on Qi Shen’s clothes, then pointed at Liu Wu sternly: “Liu Wu, right? Hand over that treasure to me, and I will remember your favor... hmm, I am eager to recruit talents, you could come serve beside me as a palace attendant.”
Qi Shen coughed and glanced at Yin Xing: “Your Highness!”
Yin Xing glared sternly at Qi Shen: “Brothers settle accounts openly, besides, our friendship hasn’t come to that point. This treasure, I have laid eyes on it, do you have a problem with that?”
Yin Xing’s sunken cheeks twitched; his hand, exuding a strong stench, lightly slapped Qi Shen’s face: “If you have objections, keep them to yourself. Otherwise, in Haojing, I have thousands of ways to ensure you die without a grave!”
Qi Shen’s face flushed red, anger surging to his forehead.
But soon, he suppressed the fury and gave Yin Xing a bright smile: “Your Highness is right. Such a precious treasure is only worthy of a noble of your stature!”
‘A true hero doesn’t suffer a loss right in front of him,’ Qi Shen thought, regarding himself as a true ‘hero’, so there was no way he’d offend Yin Xing.
The man was a prince of Great Yin, and Haojing was his territory.
As for Qi Shen, calling himself the ‘Heir to the East Qi Earl’ was just for show; he knew his true status well—he was the unluckiest son of the East Qi Earl, the one least likely to inherit the title, otherwise, he wouldn’t have been sent to Haojing as a hostage.
Yin Xing had thousands of ways to get rid of him, and Qi Shen’s father, the East Qi Earl, would never offend a prince just for an unvalued son.
Qi Shen looked at Liu Wu and extended his hand: “Brother Liu, you can’t keep that treasure, nor do you deserve it. Hmm, name your price, offer this treasure to His Highness, and your lifetime of wealth and glory is secured, right, Your Highness?”
Yin Xing smiled with authority.
A group of palace guards burst in, panting, quickly surrounding Yin Xing and guarding the entrance and exit.
Qi Shen’s subordinates also surged forward.
Yet, under the shouts of the palace guards, Qi Shen’s guards were held outside the flower hall, with several sword guards from Haojian Palace stationed at the entrance, silently pushing and shoving against the palace guards, a secret contest unfolding.
Outside Qifang Garden, Luo Qingzhou raised his arm and shouted: “Protect the prince! Protect the prince! The King of Lancang is trapped in the fire, go rescue the prince quickly!”
Several generals and lieutenants from the Palace Guard shouted loudly: “The King of Lancang is generous; he will never forget those who save him.”
Amidst the clamor, Luo Qingzhou led the vanguard with a large group of Palace Guards rushing into the smoke still curling around Qifang Garden.
Lu Kai, holding a spear, followed closely behind Luo Qingzhou, shouting loudly with lieutenants and strong men: “Protect the prince! Protect the prince!”
About half an hour earlier.
Less than fifty zhang away from Qifang Garden, diagonally across the street stood ‘Youhuang Pavilion’.
This was the residence of Huang Xie, the nineteenth daughter of Marquis Luo Shan.
Marquis Luo Shan was also a feudal lord in Eastern Divine Continent.
Interestingly, Marquis Luo Shan’s fief bordered that of the East Qi Earl, the two families’ border stretching over two thousand li, and near this border lay many precious mineral deposits — silver, copper, tungsten, tin, and more.
Because of these mineral riches, Marquis Luo Shan and East Qi Earl fought small battles every three years and larger ones every ten, with over a century of bitter hostility between their families, a hatred as deep as the sea.
Normally, Huang Xie and Qi Shen kept the family grudges alive, and in Haojing's streets, when they met, conflict was inevitable.
Honestly, the officials at the Ministry of Rites must have been quite troubled — placing Qi Shen and Huang Xie’s homes so near each other.
When Qifang Garden caught fire, Youhuang Pavilion’s backyard pavilion was brightly lit with guests.
Bai Lu and Zhu Yu were the main guests.
Apart from them, Haojing’s most rising young talents in poetry, painting, music, and calligraphy — the ‘Poetry Madman,’ ‘Poetry Ghost,’ ‘Poetry Fanatic,’ ‘Painting Demon,’ ‘Painting Fiend,’ ‘Painting Lord,’ as well as ‘Qin Heart,’ ‘Qin Intent,’ and ‘Qin Immortal’ — the finest of the younger generation, a large part had gathered here.
Huang Xie, clad in luxurious robes, her smile like a blooming flower, did everything possible to provide fine wine and delicacies, wholeheartedly entertaining these esteemed guests she rarely had the chance to invite.
As a daughter sent to Haojing as a hostage by her own father, largely ignored, Huang Xie understood that building connections with these famed talents of Haojing was highly beneficial for her.
She also knew that with her status, it was impossible to invite so many prestigious people to her garden.
However, she was Bai Lu’s close confidante — their friendship was extremely close!
And Bai Lu maintained a strong relationship with Zhu Yu.
Zhu Yu hailed from a ‘Saintly Family,’ a direct descendant of Zhu Sheng.
In Haojing’s cultural circles, Zhu Yu’s status was special and identity noble.
Once Bai Lu extended the invitation to Zhu Yu, Zhu Yu sent out invitations; these usually arrogant and proud ‘gentlemen’ came running to her garden one by one!
Truly a superb best friend — no wonder Huang Xie frequently gifted Bai Lu those priceless rouge powders and jewel necklaces as ‘little gifts.’
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Even though this abrupt ‘literary gathering’ cost a lot today, no matter the expense, Huang Xie felt it was worth it.
Within the pavilion, soft qin music drifted as several qin masters showed off their skills.
On large tables abundant with ink fragrance, skilled painters drank heartily while wielding brushes wildly, creating bold ink bamboo paintings inspired by Youhuang Pavilion’s winter scene.
On the pavilion walls hung dozens of large sheets of paper.
Several calligraphy experts listened to the recitations of poetic talents, laughing and copying line after line of elegant verses onto the big papers.
Bai Lu’s face was slightly flushed as she held a glazed cup, drinking blood red wine, standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhu Yu, her smile radiant as she praised one beautiful phrase after another newly created.
The news was quite swift.
Lu Kai had just joined the Palace Guard, and they had already received intelligence.
Their carefully laid plans were completely ruined — Lu Kai was already part of the eunuch faction.
Bai Changkong, in any case, would never allow his granddaughter to marry a ‘filthy,’ ‘disgraced,’ ‘eunuch’s lackey.’
All their schemes were shattered.
They had to find a new scapegoat and complete the marriage before Bai Lu’s belly grew too large to hide.
Bai Lu was furious, almost smashing her own brothel in rage.
Zhu Yu was equally angry, but far more composed.
In Haojing city, rumors swirled, and countless slanders flew at Bai Lu, Bai Changkong, and the Bai family.
At this moment, they must not lose their nerve or look guilty.
So Zhu Yu suggested using Huang Xie’s garden to host a gathering, inviting a large group of ‘gentlemen’ to create this ‘literary event.’
Using the literary gathering as cover, as soon as a few excellent poems and paintings leaked out, with the Cultivation Disciples’ tight control of the public opinion, the gathering would become famous throughout Haojing in a day.
Bai Lu appearing as the chief guest would quickly spread the word across Haojing.
Bai Lu’s ‘good reputation’ would naturally travel far and wide along with the event.
Especially during the rampant rumors, Bai Lu’s ability to participate in the literary gathering with such ‘composure,’ ‘calmness,’ and ‘equanimity’ would prove she was ‘upright and unafraid of shadows’!
All slander and stigma would naturally dissipate.
Zhu Yu leaned close to Bai Lu’s ear and whispered with a smile: “Don’t worry, Feng, no one can tarnish your good name. You remain the unparalleled genius on Haojing’s Dragon Phoenix rankings, and a peerless sage on Cai Wei’s lists.”
Those reciting poems, those wielding brushes, those playing qin and drinking, and those gathered around talking loudly — all were famous and talented scholars of Haojing city, each exuding rich ‘literary aura.’
Among these people, Bai Lu’s wild rage gradually subsided, returning to that clear and cold, ethereal and detached charm like a transcendent immortal.
Then, Qifang Garden caught fire.
Huang Xie, excited, led the guests to the tall building to watch the distant blaze.
Lu Kai shouted in the street, stirring the hostage crowd to band together and fight the fire.
Huang Xie stomped her foot angrily: “That detestable thing deserves to die… Qi Shen deserves to burn to death; why bother saving him?”
Lu Kai stood nearly nine feet tall, towering over ordinary people by more than a head.
Standing in the crowd like a crane among chickens, even Bai Lu spotted him from afar at a glance.
Her body stiffened suddenly, her eyes aflame, fixated on Lu Kai's imposing figure in the crowd, gritting her teeth and hissing: “It’s him… it’s him… the heir, it’s him!”
Zhu Yu followed Bai Lu’s gaze.
He squinted and smiled: “That tall fellow? Is it really him?”
Bai Lu nodded fiercely.
Zhu Yu laughed softly: “A dog of the Palace Guard, how dare he enter the Siji Ward?”
Zhu Yu glanced at Huang Xie.
Huang Xie’s beautiful eyes instantly widened with shock!
(End of Chapter)