Chapter 745: Chapter 477: Bridal Chamber
Urgent Report?
Prince Jing’s breath tightened, and he quickly took it over with his large hands, retrieving the scroll of paper from the bamboo cylinder on the eagle’s talon, unfurling it against the river breeze.
However, the words that met his eyes were like a mighty hammer, striking him hard on the head!
Tragic news! The head of the spies and his group have died tragically, suspected of being counter-killed by Zhao Douan.
"Dead?! How could it be possible?" Prince Jing’s face drastically changed, reading the words on the paper over and over three or four times, his expression dark and somber like stagnant water.
If it were merely another failed capture, it wouldn’t trouble him so much.
But this time, it wasn’t just the defeat and demise of an elite cavalry, more critically, it was the tragic death of Ouyang Ye, who oversaw the spy system of Prince Jing’s Mansion!
The loss was far more grievous than that of a squad of troops!
Yet what truly moved Prince Jing was not the news of Ouyang Ye’s death, but the possibility suggested in the report, that Zhao Douan had possibly stepped into the Worldly Realm.
"Worldly... Worldly..."
The refined and graceful face of Xu Wen momentarily twisted, as if he had swallowed a fly, feeling utterly disgusted.
This Zhao Douan, is he truly favored by heaven and earth? To survive even this and further advance?
But beyond this explanation, who else within that sovereign and minister circle possesses such capability to slaughter the entire squad?
"Father? What is happening?"
The Young Master standing beside noticed the odd atmosphere.
Xu Wen took a deep breath, trying hard to restrain his shock — as the commander, his every move would affect the entire morale of the "Jiancheng Army."
Handing the secret report to the Young Master, after reading through it, Xu Jinglong’s expression also changed several times, and amidst the shock and astonishment, a deep-seated jealousy arose.
"This Zhao Douan... In just one year, to advance from a mortal to the Worldly Realm... It’s absolutely abnormal. I fear the Fake Emperor has some life-saving trump card over him, yes, the Taia Sword!
Just like back then, he was able to wield the Ancestor Divine Weapon, it must be like that!"
Xu Jinglong’s chest heaved, striving to use logic to explain the current scenario.
Prince Jing snorted coldly:
"The method they use doesn’t matter, what’s important is that the stronger this pair of sovereign and minister grow, the less they can be allowed to remain! I originally planned to capture them before Divine Dragon Temple took action, but now it seems it would be more fitting if they perished."
Xu Wen faced the north, counting the days silently, the squad from Divine Dragon Temple heading south to assassinate the Empress should have entered the Huai River by now.
Unlike the Eight Princes who harbor thoughts of holding the Emperor hostage to command the world, the old monk Xuan Yin absolutely doesn’t wish for such a significant hidden danger like the Empress to continue living.
"Pass down the order, send the secret letter’s information to Prince Mu. Also, inform the Magic God Sect, it’s time they expended some effort again, hmph, the extermination they promised is yet to be fulfilled." Xu Wen pondered and said.
"Tell Prince Mu over there? Aren’t you afraid the Fake Emperor might fall into Prince Mu’s hands?" The Young Master appeared a bit reluctant.
"Just do as you’re told!" Xu Wen angrily rebuked; the aspect he was most displeased with in this son was his hesitation and lack of courage.
In pursuit of the Empress, even Ouyang Ye has perished, he doesn’t wish to lose another great general, so having Prince Mu, who also entered the Huai River, shed some blood wasn’t unthinkable.
"Do you think that for such a significant matter, even if not communicated by us, Prince Mu wouldn’t receive the news?" Xu Wen’s frustration with stupidity rose.
Indeed, although the intelligence system of Yunfu Prince Mu’s Manor wasn’t as formidable as his own, it wasn’t too much behind either; surely, by now, they would also have learned of the Empress’ whereabouts... Xu Jinglong awkwardly turned his head to handle things.
Princess Consort Lu Yan’er hesitated a moment and said: "Perhaps I could make a trip?"
Xu Wen shook his head: "You remain to protect me closely, no need to worry about other matters."
Lu Yan’er remained silent; the situation was changing too fast, beyond her capacity to intervene at will.
Only, with forces from three sides besieging, even if Zhao Douan broke through, how could he possibly survive again?
...
...
At the southern end of the Huai River, on the other side of the canal.
A ship was sailing from north to south.
In the cabin, a burly old monk sat cross-legged in meditation, a massive Zen Stick with a crescent-shaped top, weighing over a hundred jin, rested across his knees.
A string of prayer beads made from thirty-six jade stones resembling Buddha heads hung from the old monk’s neck, his eyebrows sparse, and his eyes gleaming with a peculiar gold color.
Remarkably, he was "Long Shu," one of the three great Bodhisattvas of the Divine Dragon Temple.
"Master."
Suddenly, the cabin door was knocked open, and a boy about sixteen or seventeen years old walked in, clad in a yellow-brown monk’s robe, devoid of prayer beads, appearing slightly gaunt, his features plain and unremarkable, dressed in the typical "Martial Monk" attire.
A yellow satin ribbon circled his forehead, notably conspicuous, and a hexagonal-shaped Zen Staff "Six Paths Stick" slung diagonally across his back.
He was none other than the Tianhai young monk, who defeated Jin Jian in the great Buddhist Tao competition last year, but later was severely injured by Zhao Douan with the Taia Sword!
Over the past half-year, Tianhai’s injuries had long healed, and around the year’s end, he advanced to the "Worldly Realm" - he could have advanced earlier but deliberately restrained himself for the competition.
"What is it?" Long Shu Bodhisattva raised his eyes, looking at Tianhai with satisfaction.
The young Tianhai, with a stern face, said:
"News has arrived, providing the Empress’s location. If we rush with all our might, we can reach in two or three days at most. The message also suggests Zhao Douan has possibly entered the Worldly Realm."
The Zhao one’s entering the Worldly Realm?
In his deep calm, Long Shu was taken aback, his brows furrowed into a Sichuan mark, reflecting:
"The abbot’s words are no falsehood, if this child is not eliminated, he will undoubtedly become a great scourge in the future."
This time, Long Shu Bodhisattva brought Tianhai, the head of the Precepts Hall, and numerous other experts, quietly heading south with only one goal, to kill the fugitive Empress.
"So long as the Empress remains in power, her repression against our Divine Dragon Temple, against our Buddhist sect will not cease. First, she banned Buddhism, then supported Bodhi, resulting in the division of Divine Dragon Temple; ultimately sitting idly by is no different than awaiting death! If left to return to the Capital, our flourishing Divine Dragon Temple would face its doom."
Long Shu Bodhisattva’s gaze was resolute, sharp and penetrating: