Chapter 1576: Great Waves!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
w.a.n.g Chong said nothing, only frowned. The situation was more complicated than he had imagined.
w.a.n.g Chong tapped on the table and suddenly asked, “What has your Zhao Clan said?”
Buzz!
Zhao Fengchen shuddered at these words like he had been stabbed by a needle.
“As expected, I can’t hide anything from you. The clan has already told me to keep my distance from this matter and try not to interfere. They fear the War of the Princes more than anyone else!”
The Zhao Clan was an extremely old clan that had seen numerous factional disputes, so it well understood how cruel the War of the Princes could be.
For some people, this might be a chance to make their name in a single leap, but for great clans like the Zhao Clan, all Wars of the Princes were like primordial beasts that needed to be kept as far away from as possible.
“But the clan is the clan and I am me. a.s.sa.s.sins traversing through the palace and even attempting to take a Prince’s life without repercussion is a disgrace on the name of the Imperial Army. So there’s no need for you to worry about me,” Zhao Fengchen remarked, seemingly knowing what w.a.n.g Chong was concerned about.
Zhao Fengchen had changed after experiencing Talas and Khorasan, and his personality had become much more composed.
“In addition, if you want to investigate those people who tried to a.s.sa.s.sinate the Fifth Prince, I know a few people in the palace. They have always admired Your Highness for your righteous ways, and with their help, it should be much easier to find the truth,” Zhao Fengchen said.
“嗯。”
“Mm.”
w.a.n.g Chong nodded, his eyes flas.h.i.+ng. Zhao Fengchen was still the same Zhao Fengchen. Whether in this life or the last, he was always of firm and unyielding mind. This was also why he had wanted to get close to Zhao Fengchen and forged a Wootz Steel sword for him.
“I also have a few people to investigate this matter. In a few days, think of a way to get them into the palace as soldiers of the Imperial Army. They might be of great a.s.sistance to you.”
Zhao Fengchen’s eyes flashed in surprise, but he quickly nodded.
After receiving a token from w.a.n.g Chong and conferring for a little longer, Zhao Fengchen left.
“There are many new faces in the Imperial Army. What is the First Prince up to?”
w.a.n.g Chong thoughtfully raised his head. Zhao Fengchen had given him an important piece of news before leaving. It had been a long time since the Imperial Army garrisoned in the Imperial Palace had been touched, but it was now frequently being reshuffled, with many new faces appearing in the various divisions. And some of the officers had been switched out for people that Zhao Fengchen had never seen before.
Zhao Fengchen said that he had almost been replaced himself. However, his achievements at Talas and the accolades of the Sage Emperor had ultimately caused those attempts to fail.
This had some part to play in the apprehension felt by those in the palace.
I really hope it’s not that!
With this thought flitting through his mind, w.a.n.g Chong left as well.
As the temperature cooled, w.a.n.g Chong emerged in a secluded part of the restaurant, boarded his carriage and set off. Within the carriage, w.a.n.g Chong continued to think. The Imperial Palace had his uncle-in-law and Zhao Fengchen, so the Fifth Prince would be safe for now.
w.a.n.g Chong turned his head and said, “Old Eagle, send these two letters. In a few days, several people will arrive at the capital. They will have rather strange temperaments—remember that. Just make sure to take care of them and don’t ask them any questions.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Old Eagle quickly entered the compartment, took the letters, and then withdrew.
w.a.n.g Chong had gotten to know many martial artists on his northwest adventure, and two of them were a couple known as ‘Heaven Deaf and Earth Mute’. They didn’t possess formidable martial arts but were skilled in pursuit. When they hunted someone down, they would rarely fail. They were the martial artists that w.a.n.g Chong wanted to use this time.
When they had parted in the northwest, the two had told w.a.n.g Chong that they would travel through seas of fire and over mountains of blades for him.
No matter how formidable and cautious that group attempting to a.s.sa.s.sinate the Fifth Prince was, it had to have left behind some clues. Heaven Deaf and Earth Mute would definitely be able to find these clues.
Such was w.a.n.g Chong’s plan.
Even though he was a n.o.ble of the Great Tang, he was also able to mobilize the martial artists of the righteous and evil paths, an honor that belonged to him alone.
w.a.n.g Chong quickly calmed himself down, and with a thought, a golden seed appeared in his hand. w.a.n.g Chong had gone through many things in his excursion to the northwest, and he needed to slowly digest them all.
Of these things, the golden seed the Origin Immortal Lord had given him had left him the most confused.
Just what is this thing?
w.a.n.g Chong muttered to himself as he looked at the seed. The golden lights the seed shone onto his face were constantly s.h.i.+fting.
There had been a lot of time to think on his way from the northwest back to the capital, but besides the boundless energy sealed within, he couldn’t see anything else in the seed. He still did not understand how this seed was connected to the fate of the world.
The Origin Immortal Lord had waited one thousand years, even setting up the Origin Immortal Sect and setting up so many mechanisms and traps, precisely so that he could pa.s.s on this object of utmost importance to him.
But w.a.n.g Chong was incapable of seeing through its secrets.
Moreover, the Stone of Destiny had said that it was a.n.a.lyzing the seed’s composition and secrets, but it had been ten-some days now, and there was still no result. There had never been such a long a.n.a.lysis before.
It seemed like w.a.n.g Chong could do nothing but wait.
And what would the Stone of Destiny produce in its final a.n.a.lysis? Or perhaps… the a.n.a.lysis had failed?
Bang!
In the middle of his ponderings, brash laughter and chattering in the Hu language came from outside, drawing w.a.n.g Chong’s attention away. Raising the curtain, w.a.n.g Chong saw that a large number of Hu had gathered nearby and were jeering at a nearby young Han man.
These Hu were wearing various styles of clothes. At a glance, w.a.n.g Chong could see Tibetan, Turkic, Mengshe Zhao, and even Western Regioner clothes.
w.a.n.g Chong could see that the young Han was red in the face from anger. He was apparently ready to go up and fight, but his friend pulled him back.
“Forget it! They’ve only just arrived in the capital. Don’t waste time with them.
“And they have more people than us. If a fight starts, we might not be able to beat them.”
“Hahaha, hear that? Our countries are all friends with the Great Tang, friends! Understand! Don’t forget, it was your Great Tang that invited us! It’s not like we wanted to come!” A Hu spoke in rough Tang language and derisively pointed at the two young Han men.
Bang!
The clearly intoxicated Hu began to loudly laugh, their expressions brash and arrogant.
Kaclack! The young Han man said nothing, but his fists were clenched in rage.
“Wuluyalu…”
Someone shouted out of the Hu crowd, and those Hu who had been seated on the ground suddenly stood up and rushed to surround the two Han men.
“Husubuluolu…”
The Hu now had vicious looks in their eyes. They were clearly about to beat the two men up.
w.a.n.g Chong instantly paled at this sight.
“Old Eagle!” w.a.n.g Chong shouted.
A moment later, Old Eagle descended upon the crowd like a giant bird with unfurled wings, the winds howling around him. As he s.n.a.t.c.hed out with claw-like fingers, Stellar Energy erupted out, and then the ten-some Hu were s.n.a.t.c.hed up by the neck and began to struggle in the air.
These Hu were stricken with fear and began to shout in panic. They could deal with two ordinary Han men, but they were helpless in front of an expert like Old Eagle.
w.a.n.g Chong had ordered Old Eagle to remain in the capital to handle the intelligence network, and it was precisely for this reason that Old Eagle had the time to cultivate the martial arts w.a.n.g Chong had given him, refining his Stellar Energy to a formidable level.
“Seeking death!”
Old Eagle stood in the center of the crowd, his eyes coldly flas.h.i.+ng. Boom! Boom! Boom! Ten-some Hu were sent flying outward like ragdolls.
“b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Run! Come on!”
The Hu saw the G.o.d-like Old Eagle and took fright. Before Old Eagle could attack again, they hastily got to their feet and scattered.
Old Eagle did not pursue, and his actions had been greatly restrained. Although these Hu had been going too far, they had not killed anyone, so Old Eagle also had no reason to kill them.
“Sir, thank you for saving us!” The two young Han men immediately came forward and voiced their thanks.
“Old Eagle, bring those two over!” Old Eagle heard w.a.n.g Chong’s voice at his ear.
“Young Sirs, my master would like to see you,” Old Eagle said to the two.
The two glanced at each other in surprise, but they still followed Old Eagle into the carriage.
w.a.n.g Chong had slightly altered his face, so the pair did not immediately recognize him.
w.a.n.g Chong skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the main topic. “What happened between you and those Hu? Why were they targeting you?”
The two of them glanced at each other, the youth on the left slightly reddening. Though a little apprehensive, they decided to explain the whole story.