Chapter 233: Secret Schemes, Hidden Killing Intent
Hearing these words, Pei Yan’s face darkened even more.
“Bi Junheng, do you also want to be dragged out and beheaded like these useless fools?”
“Please spare me, young master. I’ve only just arrived in Changling and haven’t had the chance to show off my skills before Your Highness.”
The young man named Bi Junheng cupped his hands with a mocking smile. “It’s just rare to see Your Highness so enraged, which piqued my curiosity and made me unable to resist speaking out.”
“Then shut your mouth!”
“Your Highness, why vent your anger on an outsider like me?” Bi Junheng flashed a frivolous smile again, as if he didn’t take the threats seriously. “I’ve only come here to share Your Highness’s worries.”
“Prince Pei, please calm down.”
One of the elders sitting in the hall said in a low voice, “I’ve more or less grasped the situation. Although it’s extremely humiliating, if Your Highness wants to achieve great things, you must have the capacity to tolerate such matters. Losing your composure and throwing a tantrum like a child over a mere conflict will ultimately lead to nothing.”
“…”
Pei Yan gritted his teeth, took two deep breaths, and gradually calmed down.
After a moment, he sighed and cupped his hands towards the elder. “Thank you for your advice, Elder Hu. I was indeed blinded by rage just now and spoke carelessly.”
“Your Highness’s ability to swallow this anger is proof enough of your tolerance.”
“I will keep it in mind.”
“Heh… I’m curious, what exactly happened at Ascension Immortal Restaurant?”
Bi Junheng interjected with interest. “For these elders by Your Highness’s side to be so concerned, something must have happened.”
“That Lin Tianlu returned from his travels and committed an unforgivable offense against His Highness!”
A middle-aged man walked into the hall with a grim expression, took a bottle of pills from his sleeve, and handed it to Pei Yan. “Take this medicine first. Your facial injuries will heal in a few moments.”
“Thank you, Uncle Li.”
“I was only away for a short while, and such an incident occurred. These guards need a good lesson to learn their place.” The middle-aged man glanced coldly at the guards still kneeling on the ground.
“Li Jinghe, I actually chose such incompetent fools. After this matter is over, all of you will be punished in the black prison for a year, and no one is allowed to step out! Afterward, I will find other capable individuals to replace you. No objections, do you hear me?”
“Thank you for your generosity, Lord Li!”
The guards kowtowed as if they had been pardoned, slowly shuffling out of the hall on their knees.
“—Lin Tianlu?”
Bi Junheng, however, paid no attention to these insignificant guards. Instead, he looked surprised. “This person… I’ve heard of him. He seems to have quite a reputation in Changling. Many people even address him as ‘Master,’ showing their respect.”
He hadn’t paid much attention before.
After all, he was just a scholar. Even if he had some real talent, it was probably limited to the Four Books and Five Classics. He might be eloquent, but in this world of demons and ghosts, that was just empty talk.
But now…
“A mere scholar actually caused trouble for His Highness?”
“This person is no ordinary scholar. He must possess a terrifying level of cultivation. Ordinary ghost practitioners are no match for him. He can easily suppress them with a wave of his hand.”
Pei Yan swallowed the pill, and the bruises on his face, now smeared with ointment, began to fade rapidly. He clicked his tongue. “Even the two Venerables secretly protecting me were suppressed and unable to resist.”
“Two Venerables?”
Bi Junheng raised an eyebrow, glancing at the elders sitting in the hall.
The faces of two of them were particularly unsightly as they clenched their fists, veins throbbing on their foreheads.
“Even these two Venerables, nearing the Crimson Demon Realm, returned empty-handed. It seems that Lin Tianlu is truly extraordinary.” Bi Junheng stroked his chin, suddenly realizing, “No wonder I’ve heard so many stories about him slaying demons and eliminating ghosts. I previously dismissed them as the ramblings of ordinary people, but it seems they were all true.”
Pei Yan took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “Currently, there are no Luo Xing members inside or outside Changling County, precisely because of Lin Tianlu’s intervention. He seems to have eliminated the Luo Xing Crimson Demon stationed here, making the Luo Xing wary. They withdrew all their personnel within a radius of dozens of miles, creating this… ‘safe zone.’”
“To make even the Luo Xing so wary?”
Hearing this, Bi Junheng’s previously relaxed expression turned serious. “A Luo Xing Crimson Demon is not some easily disposable minion. To be able to kill one, this person’s cultivation level… just how high is it?”
After a moment of thought, he chuckled teasingly. “Your Highness calls this a safe zone, but in my opinion, it might be even more dangerous and unpredictable.”
“You’re right.”
Pei Yan closed his eyes slightly, suppressing the burning anger in his chest. “I didn’t expect that Lin Tianlu would actually resort to violence for a woman, even knowing my status as a prince, and dare to injure me in public.”
“Oh?”
Bi Junheng smiled, his interest piqued. “So, I’ve finally pieced things together. It turns out that the peerless beauty Your Highness has taken a fancy to happens to be that Lin Tianlu’s woman?”
Li Jinghe shouted coldly, “Bi Junheng, mind your tone! Cheng Yishi is the woman His Highness has set his sights on. Even if Lin Tianlu has the audacity of the heavens, he must obediently hand her over!”
“Heh, this relationship is quite complicated indeed.”
“You’re too ignorant.”
Pei Yan opened his eyes again, staring coldly at him. “You’ve never seen a true celestial beauty, so how would you know what it means to be devastatingly beautiful? Moreover, Cheng Yishi herself possesses extraordinary cultivation. If I can take her as a concubine, it will definitely be a great asset to my family.”
“I indeed haven’t seen her, nor do I know why she has captivated His Highness so.”
Bi Junheng slouched slightly, spreading his hands with a chuckle. “But now, this woman’s existence has clearly caused Your Highness considerable trouble, even leaving a red mark on your face that hasn’t faded yet. Does Your Highness truly believe… that this woman will bring you any benefits, rather than inviting disaster?”
He casually tapped his forehead. “My memory is quite good. Before I came here, I seemed to have heard that Your Highness wanted to win over Lin Tianlu and make him a valuable subordinate. But now, for a mere woman, you’ve become enemies at first sight. If you’ll pardon my bluntness, sometimes you can’t be too infatuated with beauty.”
“…”
Pei Yan remained silent, his eyes flickering.
Seeing his hesitant expression, Bi Junheng grinned. “Could it be that Your Highness has truly fallen for her during these past few days?”
“I…”
“Unfortunately, that woman is probably now whispering sweet nothings with Lin Tianlu, perhaps even engaging in more intimate activities.” Bi Junheng shook his head and chuckled. “While Your Highness can only sit here feeling frustrated, fantasizing about a so-called beautiful future. It’s truly… lamentable.”
Pei Yan’s breathing grew heavier, his eyes bloodshot.
He gradually clenched his fists until they cracked, muttering, “You’re right. Being infatuated with a woman is indeed not advisable. It’s a pity that I originally wanted to get closer to Lin Tianlu according to plan, and then use our brotherhood to smoothly bring Cheng Yishi into my fold. Now it seems I might have to find a way… to get rid of this woman!”
“Oh?”
Bi Junheng exclaimed in surprise, “Is Your Highness truly so ruthless?”
“Hmph! There are countless women in this world. Once they’re in bed, they’re all the same. No matter how beautiful Cheng Yishi is, she’s just a beautiful exterior. As you said, I must be decisive.”
He rubbed his temples, a cold glint in his eyes.
“Since my relationship with Lin Tianlu has deteriorated because of a woman, and we’ve become estranged at first sight, then… let’s use this woman’s crisis, or even her death, to repair our relationship and let him understand that I’m also a ‘pitiful and heartbroken’ man. Such a loyal and righteous person will definitely not continue to target me. As long as I find a way to speak well of him, our relationship shouldn’t be too bad.”
Bi Junheng couldn’t help but laugh, clapping his hands. “Your Highness is truly adept at adapting to circumstances. I admire you greatly!”
Although it sounded strange, it was indeed a clever plan.
As long as the woman standing between them was completely eliminated, there would naturally be no more ‘reason’ for them to be at odds.
By manipulating this matter properly, perhaps their relationship could be completely reversed.
“However, is Your Highness truly willing to part with her?”
“Whether I’m willing or not depends on her own choice.” Pei Yan sneered. “Of course, if I can capture Cheng Yishi secretly and imprison her without anyone knowing, then properly train and discipline her, making her my personal slave, that would also be a delightful outcome.”
“Excellent! Your Highness’s plan is truly ingenious. To gain a valuable asset and a beautiful woman at the same time is truly a fortunate event! However, Your Highness must be extra careful with the various twists and turns and ‘drama’ this time. Don’t repeat the same mistake and expose your true intentions in front of Lin Tianlu.”
“Of course, seeing how confident Your Highness is now, I believe you won’t make the same mistake twice.”
Bi Junheng stroked his chin, a meaningful smile spreading across his face. “However, if Your Highness captures that woman, why not hand her over to me first? With my methods, I can definitely ‘create’ a loyal personal slave for Your Highness. She’ll obey your every command, even if it means crawling on the streets with a leash. She’ll do it with a smile.”
“How dare you!”
Li Jinghe, standing beside them, roared angrily. “His Highness’s woman, how can someone from the Zhaoxiao Courtyard touch her!”
“Mr. Li, why so angry? She’s just a woman. If His Highness can achieve great things, what’s the worry about not having beautiful women offering themselves to him? He could have a harem full of concubines!”
Bi Junheng shrugged nonchalantly. “Why cherish just one woman? If he truly loved all three thousand women in his harem, he would be controlled and manipulated by them.”
Li Jinghe was about to retort, but Pei Yan quickly stopped him.
“Your Highness…”
“Uncle Li, he does have a point.”
He stared intently at Bi Junheng with a calm gaze. “I’ve made many friends and recruited talented individuals from all over the world in my pursuit of power. The Zhaoxiao Courtyard is an organization with a profound background, but you, Bi Junheng, are the only ‘eccentric’ among them. Your personality is unpredictable, and you enjoy torturing women. Ordinary women who fall into your hands either die or are crippled, their fates tragic.”
“Rest assured, Your Highness. Since she’s a woman you’ve taken a fancy to, I will naturally restrain myself.” Bi Junheng let out a sinister chuckle. “If Your Highness is worried, you can come and observe. I guarantee it will be an unforgettable experience.”
“You should know your limits.” Pei Yan warned in a low voice.
“Yes, yes, yes~”
Bi Junheng instantly put away his sinister smile, raising his hands playfully. “I won’t do anything too cruel. However, what are Your Highness’s plans next? Do you simply want to recruit Lin Tianlu and some ordinary people?”
“My plans are not for you to know. You don’t need me to teach you what you should and shouldn’t ask.”
Pei Yan stood up with a cold expression, his gaze meeting the elders sitting beside him for a moment. He waved his sleeve. “You Venerables may withdraw. I have other important matters to discuss with Bi Junheng and the others.”
“As you command.”
The elders sighed softly and bowed, retreating.
Bi Junheng glanced at them before looking away, casually asking, “When will the other ‘important figures’ Your Highness has summoned arrive?”
“Soon. Once they arrive, we can begin preparing the ‘Grand Concealed Dragon Formation’ and establish our stronghold with Changling as the center. We will seize the initiative in these chaotic times.”
Pei Yan stood with his hands behind his back, his words laced with arrogance.
The world only knew him as a gentle and refined scholar, unaware of the ambition hidden within his heart. How could he be content with being a prince who merely lived a life of luxury?
Moreover, there were many secrets he couldn’t share with outsiders. The stakes involved were far beyond just… “Hmm?”
Pei Yan suddenly frowned, his thoughts shifting. He mused, “Uncle Li, have you set up formations around this area to prevent eavesdropping?”
“We’ve already made all the necessary preparations, just in case.” Li Jinghe nodded solemnly. “Since there’s a variable like Lin Tianlu in Changling, we naturally wouldn’t be careless.”
“That’s good. I was just worried that—”
“That someone else might overhear everything?”
A gentle, calm chuckle suddenly echoed through the hall.
In an instant, Pei Yan, Bi Junheng, and the others’ pupils constricted as they turned around in shock.
Lin Tianlu was holding a teacup, taking a sip of warm tea.
“Unfortunately, I heard everything.”
He looked up slightly at the stiff figures in the room, a faint smile on his face. “So, how do you want to die?”
His casual words couldn’t conceal the killing intent swirling in his eyes.