Chapter 101 (2/2)

After his words, Xiao Chen did not want to make himself look too modest. It was true he had turned the tide on the first and third days. Otherwise, they would have lost all three rounds as well as the Spiritual Meridian. They would have lost much face and the surrounding states would be eager to trouble them. It would mean endless warfare for the Zhou State.

Xiao Chen smiled faintly and rose to cup his fists. “Thank you, Your Majesty for your care and concern. I still have that same request. I beg Your Majesty to marry Miss Luo to me… ”

With these words, the atmosphere in the hall froze as in the last time. Yet faintly, there seemed a difference. No one dared to comment about Xiao Chen now.

Yu Wenji too smiled. “There’s no hurry. Why don’t we talk about this again after tomorrow’s victory banquet?” As the sovereign of this state, it took a lot for him to concede so politely. He knew that if he fell out with Xiao Chen now, the other sects would be unhappy. They might not assist him at the next Immortals League Competition.

Xiao Chen smiled lightly. “In that case, let me thank Your Majesty first.” Then, he sat lightly back on his seat.

Liu Yunzheng knitted his brows deeply. He said no more. Chu Lingjiao’s gaze was so cold that it terrified everyone who saw her. Yu Wenmu was infuriated but kept his anger well hidden.

After the banquet, Xiao Chen returned to his lodge. Just when he was about to step into his room, he sensed a swift, fierce Sword Qi assailing him from the back. He turned around at once and with his palms, clipped the Immortal’s Sword soaring toward him. A figure entered the courtyard. He frowned and asked, “Did you try to kill me?”

Chu Lingjiao’s gaze was extremely icy. She edged forward and grabbed her Immortal’s Sword. She asked coldly, “What were you trying to do? You think you can keep Liu Yunzheng from getting implicated through this?”

“I prefer one less trouble than one more.”

Chu Lingjiao tittered. Then, her gaze turned cold again. “You really think Yu Wenmu is so simple? You will only be alerting them unwisely!”

Xiao Chen sighed. He said no more. It was true they had an agreement before coming to the palace. Yet, after Liu Yunzheng had blocked off Zhang Qinglian’s palm and nearly died for him, and again when he handed him the divine zither, Xiao Chen had undergone a subtle change. He had not detected the change in himself, but he did not want to implicate the entire Teal Jade Sect just because of Luo Shangyan.

Seeing him silent, Chu Lingjiao said coldly, “They have kept Luo Shangyan somewhere secret. I’m helping you. You’d better not try anything funny again!” With these words, she shook her robe sleeve, turned and left the courtyard.

Xiao Chen gazed at the crescent moon in the sky, sighed and returned to his room.

At this moment, Princess Xuanyue was sitting quietly on the other side of the palace. Yu Wenji paced back and forth in his room, a worried expression on his face. “What now? He has made this request… I can’t agree, can I? I thought he only knew how to play the divine zither. I hadn’t expected the sheer power of his zither. I didn’t know he is a disciple of the Ancient Immortal Clan either, like you say… should I talk to Mu’er?”

Xuanyue answered, “There’s no need to worry, Father. You can’t agree to his request. It would shame the entire Royal Family. And you ought to know your son’s temper very well.”

“What then? If tomorrow, he… he… Perfected Immortal Zhang isn’t here with us. What shall we do?”

Yu Wenji’s brows knitted in a deep frown. He was already thinking the worse. If Xiao Chen left the Zhou State because of this, they would lose a remarkable talent… He had a divine zither as well. Leng Ningfeng could withstand him thanks to his mystic arts. Who else from his side could? The rampaging army? They would all be dead the moment his zither note sounded.

Xuanyue sighed but did not speak. In her mind rose the scene where they sauntered down the imperial gardens together. She did not expect him to be a possible disciple of the Ancient Immortal Clan.

Yu Wenji said, “Shall I get Sect Leader Liu to reclaim his divine zither?” Xuanyue frowned. “Father, are you serious? Sect Leader Liu handed him the divine zither in front of everyone. How can he claim it back now?”

“Then… then what shall we do?”

Xuanyue kept silent for a long time. Then she said, “We have no choice but to send someone to the Nanzhan Subcontinent in the night. Invite Third Brother’s Master, Perfected Immortal Liku, over as our guest for a few days… ”

…

By noon the next day, Xiao Chen had packed everything and was preparing himself to visit the palace hall. It was the day of the Victory Banquet. The Zhou Emperor had disallowed arms into the hall. Even magic treasures in Divine Vessels had to be emptied out. There was no precedent for this. Many sect members were resentful as they emptied out their magic treasures and put away their Immortal’s Swords.

As he neared the grand hall, two inspecting guards stopped him. “Young Master Han, on His Majesty’s order, you cannot bring magic treasures and weapons into the hall.”

Xiao Chen extended his arms. “I haven’t brought any.” The two guards were cultivators and they looked to be a dilemma. “Well… ”

Xiao Chen knew that they wanted to search his Divine Vessel. Although a Divine Vessel could carry items, but it was different from a Violet Manor Nascent Soul. A Violet Manor Nascent Soul could disguise everything within it, but items in a Divine Vessel could be detected using mystic arts. Others could even steal from it while its owner was asleep.

Xiao Chen nodded and stretched out his arms. “Very well. You may search me.”