Chapter 1027 - The Return of the Crown Prince
Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
The death of Yan Honglie shocked the people in the Royal Capital more than Guo Lu’s and Han Ying’s.
The Canglong Army was headed by ten reputable commanders. Together they had a million soldiers under their command, governing the military aspect of the Royal Capital. Their influence in the Royal Capital was no doubt significant, even to some influential families of the saints.
Who would have thought they would be killed within a few days?
A hidden powerful force was coming at Canglong Army and the people related to Lingxiao Heavenly King.
Han Ying and Yan Honglie could be killed by the same person.
Someone from the Half-Saint Rank and the Half-Saint Outer Rank must have visited the Royal Capital. Otherwise, no one would be able to kill the commander-in-chief without others knowing.
Everyone in the city thought so.
The shortlist candidates of the Half-Saint Rank and the Half-Saint Outer Rank had no more than two hundred cultivators.
Excluding those who wouldn’t dare to offend Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion and including those who had deep hatred against the King, the number was even fewer.
Many had guessed it was Kong Hongbi who orchestrated the assassinations.
The Sacred Central Crypt had always been the opposing party to the Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion. The two could never get along. Further to that, there had been rumors saying that Kong Hongbi was in the city.
When Kong Hongbi was told about the rumors, he hissed, “So I am the suspect now?”
Saint General Gui Gu stood next to Kong Hongbi and said, “Following the death of the commanders, the saint elder of the Lingxiao Heavenly Mansion and the commander-in-chief of the Canglong Army have been deploying troops to wipe out forces of the Sacred Central Crypt in the Royal Capital.”
“There was no action taken against us previously because they had been waiting for the big fish. But the death of the three commanders have gotten on their nerves. They are going to do it by force this time.”
Kong Hongbi scoffed, “Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion and the Canglong Army are getting under my skin. Do not make me kill their remaining commanders.”
Kong Hongbi never wanted to start a war, unless it was necessary.
The war would only rip the two parties off while benefiting the other parties.
Saint General Gui Gu advised, “Don’t, young master. Someone has already made the move against Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion. We should sit aside and reap the benefits when the two are fighting against each other.”
“You are right.”
Kong Hongbi seemed to have cooled off, nodding at the suggestion. Then, his face showed an evil cunning smile and said, “The mysterious man who killed Guo Lu during the banquet in Cai Family Saint Mansion must be Zhang Ruochen.”
“It has to be him. He came to the Royal Capital along with Chu Siyuan. Other than him, there is no other young but powerful man that Chu Siyuan could find,” said Saint General Gui Gu.
Kong Hongbi commented further, “If that’s the case, spread the news. On top of that, tell everyone that Han Ying and Yan Honglie were killed by Zhang Ruochen. Only the Time and Space Descendant has the ability to kill someone without anyone knowing it.”
“Brilliant! That’s killing two birds with one stone.”
Saint General Gui Gu was delighted. He added further, “One, the war will no longer be necessary, for the Sacred Central Crypt has steered clear of the rumor.”
“Two, we could locate Zhang Ruochen through the people of Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion.”
“Three, we could set the Saint Painter Chu Siyuan up. While the Empress is missing, a feud between Confucianism and Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion would create a scene to the public.”
“But…”
“What is it?” asked Kong Hongbi.
Looking worried, Saint General Gui Gu said, “Though Zhang Ruochen is the wanted felon, he is not related to the Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion. Why would he expose himself by killing the three commanders? Some might not buy it even if we have spread the news.”
Kong Hongbi laughed, confident of his plan. “If we can accuse him of killing the commanders, why can’t we create a cause for others to believe his intention? If I’m not mistaken, the Sacred Central Empire had a crown prince whose name was also Zhang Ruochen.”
“He was assassinated when he was sixteen. Eight hundred years have gone by and the crown prince has long been forgotten.”
“We could use this against Zhang Ruochen.”
Saint General Gui Gu frowned. He asked, “What does a dead person of eight hundred years old have to do with Zhang Ruochen?”
“When the news is out, people will relate him to the dead crown prince. The Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion and the Canglong Army will never allow such person to live. What’s more, Zhang Ruochen is the Time and Space Descendant, the wanted felon…”
Kong Hongbi paused, his eyes widening.
He then let out a long sigh and said, “Even I myself was almost convinced that Zhang Ruochen was the crown prince.”
“Not possible.”
Saint General Gui Gu shook his head and said, “The Sacred Central Crypt has taken a look into his background. He is the prince from a faraway country in the east. His identity has been proven by many.”
“That’s true.”
Kong Hongbi waved the thought off, then said, “Do as I say, spread the rumors. We shall watch everyone’s reaction. Hehe.”
In the evening, when Zhang Ruochen was about to kill the fourth commander, everyone in the Phoenix Dance Palace was discussing some shocking news.
The Phoenix Dance Palace was the largest brothel in the Royal Capital, which made it the perfect place to plant seeds of gossip. Of course, the rumor that the Sacred Central Crypt planned on spreading started from the brothel.
“The one who killed Guo Lu, Han Ying, Yan Honglie is the Time and Space Descendant Zhang Ruochen?”
“Zhang Ruchen is in the Royal Capital. He is about to kill all of the commanders.”
“The Time and Space Descendant controls time and space. He is the only one who has the ability to kill all ten commanders of the Canglong Army.”
…
The ripple of the news soon spread to the entire city.
When Baixuan Shuang and Baixuan Yu heard the news, they were extremely surprised. The way they looked at Zhang Ruochen changed.
They admired Zhang Ruochen, but the admiration had now mixed with some element of fear.
After taking the Withered Pill, Yan Wenqi and Fu Shang had recovered.
When the two heard the news, they could not digest that the powerful figure in the golden mask was actually the Time and Space Descendant Zhang Ruochen.
The name Zhang Ruochen was associated with a terrifying reputation. Recently, he had killed yet another two saints from the Demonic Sect.
As soon as Qin Yutong heard the news, she rushed to tell Zhang Ruochen who had just left the Phoenix Dance Palace.
Her radiant eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen, and then she asked, “Are you the Time and Space Descendant Zhang Ruochen?”
Zhang Ruochen’s face was as calm as he had always been. He replied, “Does it matter?”
Qin Yutong’s heart raced. She knew the masked man standing in front of her was the man the world feared. Masking the excitement in her, she asked calmly, “Why are you helping us?”
Zhang Ruochen did not answer the question.
Meanwhile, another overwhelming piece of news emerged, and it shook the city at a greater scale than the first.
Not only was the news shared to the entire city, but also to the Central Emperor City and all the other sects.
It was world breaking news.
“Eight hundred years ago, the crown prince of the Sacred Central Empire Zhang Ruochen…he is alive. He has returned as the Time and Space Descendant.”
“Zhang Ruochen killed the three commanders to avenge his fallen kingdom.”
“The Empress knew about his identity, which explained why she gave the order of his arrest. She wanted him dead before he grew stronger.”
“Zhang Ruochen is the Time and Space Descendant. With the power of time and space, he can travel through time and revive Emperor Ming.”
The news went viral, under the instruction of the Sacred Central Crypt.
Even Zhang Ruochen was surprised at the news, wondering where the source came from.
“Could it be Lanyou?”
She was the first that came to his mind.
In all of the Royal Capital, she was the only one who knew of his identity.
“Why is she doing so? Could it be because I haven’t been looking for her since the day I arrived in the Royal Capital? And she’s using this to ask me to show up?” Zhang Ruochen shut his eyes, looking puzzled.
If the Sacred Central Crypt knew of his arrival, why wouldn’t Kong Lanyou?
The sole reason he had not been to the Imperial Mausoleum was because he was not prepared to meet her.
Was he going to meet her as the cousin? Or the crown prince of the Sacred Central Empire? Or as someone junior?
Their relationship was complicated, as it involved family and the responsibility they both bore as the Saint Elder of the Sacred Central Crypt and the Crown prince of the Sacred Central Empire.
Too many things had happened over those eight hundred years. Could they find the bond they shared as siblings still?
She’s asking to see me but with such an extreme method. Is that her way of asking me to join the Sacred Central Crypt?
Despite his refusal to believe it was Kong Lanyou, he could not think of anyone else.
Besides, only an influential party could spread the news to the whole of the city within a short period of time.
The Sacred Central Crypt was one of the influential parties.
Qin Yutong’s eyes widened in astonishment. Even her petite body was trembling.
Zhang Ruochen tried to mask his inner turmoil and said, “I am going to kill the fourth commander, Liao Huacheng. Save your questions and ask upon my return.”
“No.”
Qin Yutong finally blinked her eyes and appeared in front of Zhang Ruochen in an attempt to stop him. She said, “Come to see Granny Bai Su with me. You cannot accomplish such a dangerous task alone. What if you get into trouble… What should I do then?”
Clearly, Qin Yutong believed that Zhang Ruochen was the Crown Prince. Her attitude to him had also changed.
Just then, Baixuan Yu and Baixuan Shuang came over with an old lady between them.
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