Wan Jian returns to his clan!

Chapter 216 Past Events, New Opportunities

"Old Huang, there's something I don't understand. You're the Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Stables, with five or six thousand Imperial Guards under your command. You hold a high position and great power. Why are you so wary of a young monk from the Great Yuanguang Temple?"
"That doesn't make sense. They even went out of their way to personally subdue the lower-level gangs. Tell me, the Seven Insects and Seven Flowers Pill is already in my stomach; whether I live or die is entirely in my hands. What can't I say?"

Lu Wubing was not simply fierce and domineering.

Although I haven't been in a position of power much in either my past or present lives, I know that the way to manage people is nothing more than drawing a pie in the sky and then wielding a knife—it's not that complicated.

"If you are loyal to your duties, this poison can be cured."

Even your position at the Imperial Stables isn't entirely without the possibility of advancement, leading to a life of wealth and honor.

"Now, it's up to you to choose..."

Lu Wubing threw out a sentence, took the fragrant tea that the little princess of the dynasty brought him, sat quietly and sipped the tea, and did not try to persuade him any further.

Those who know the current affairs are handsome.

He knew that people like Huang Chengzong, who rose from a lowly eunuch to a position of great power through flattery and servility, were more reluctant to give up their wealth than anyone else.

For him to lose his power and wealth would be worse than death.

Threatening him with life and death beforehand, and then forcing him with poison, might get him to cooperate to a limited extent.

But what is he really thinking?
Will they take a passive approach, revealing only three parts and holding back seven?

They might even secretly sabotage you...

These are all uncertainties.

He had to submit from the bottom of his heart, to shift his loyalty from the old emperor to the princess, or rather, to himself.

This transformation was very difficult, but also very necessary.

"This old servant is completely submissive. From now on, I will obey your commands no matter what dangers I may face."

Huang Chengzong didn't hesitate for long; in fact, he didn't even have two breaths before he immediately bowed down in reverence.

That's just the kind of person he is.

It is foolish to expect a eunuch to have great integrity and conviction.

However, if they can truly see hope, it can become the sharpest blade.

However, Huang Chengzong saw in Lu Wubing a domineering and sharp aura that was unyielding and lawless.

In a moment of slight mental confusion, he even subtly superimposed the image of the excessively young new master before him onto the image of his old master, whose moods were unpredictable.

Thinking back to the palm strike he had received earlier, he felt like a mosquito trapped in the palm, unable to struggle at all. Huang Chengzong stopped thinking about anything else and simply accepted the attack wholeheartedly.

"Why are you bowing to me? Remember, from now on, you will be openly loyal to the princess. Next, find a way to contact the commanders of the Twelve Imperial Guards and arrange a banquet for each of them. I will personally get to know them better then."

Upon hearing this, Huang Chengzong trembled slightly.

The Imperial Guards, including the Golden Scale Guard, the Flag Bearer Guard, the Golden Crow Guard, the Feather Forest Guard, and so on, were poorly trained, exploited at every level, and had many vacancies, yet their total number was still nearly 50,000.

These soldiers were actually quite good, mostly composed of elite troops drawn from various regions. Due to military discipline issues, they might not be very good at fighting tough battles, but they would be a valuable asset in the capital.

Especially the Golden Scale Guards, who were skilled at confiscating property, exterminating families, and framing others—it was an ancestral art, and no one was better at it than them.

'Is he planning to attack the imperial court? What audacity! Doesn't he worry about what will happen after His Majesty emerges from seclusion? Or does he actually have a backup plan?'

That's what I was thinking.

Huang Chengzong quickly bowed and agreed.

Now that we're on board, we naturally hope the ship is as big as possible.

As for harming colleagues and dragging them down with you, wouldn't you feel guilty?

Huang Chengzong stated that he did not possess such a thing.

"It's been sent. Now tell me, why did you set your sights on Huichuntang's medical records and notes? What do you know?"

Asking again at this point will ensure that the other person is telling the truth.

Lu Wubing's spirit stirred slightly, keenly sensing Huang Chengzong's inner turmoil and relief, as well as his determination to survive even in the face of death.

Knowing that the old eunuch was completely under control.

The reason for going to such lengths and employing various methods is that no one knows just how important this "Form" seal is to Lu Wubing.

It's not an exaggeration to say that it involves life and death.

He hadn't forgotten that there was actually a time bomb inside his mind.

The Yuanling Sword Manual is so useful that it cannot be regarded as a sword technique. Its sword intent is magical, its attacks are fierce, and its demonic intent is profound. At its higher levels, it is even comparable to the Ten Directions Seal Diagram.

As I grew stronger, this thing also rose in power, faintly possessing a strange and mysterious power that transcended this world.

Recalling the information he had discovered, and thinking about the demonic phenomena appearing in his soul and body, he had no choice but to take precautions.

Regardless of the method of cultivation, maintaining one's true self is the most important thing.

If a person, in pursuit of power, gradually trains themselves to be unlike themselves, becoming a slave to the thoughts of others, what is the use of that kind of power?

Lu Wubing had no desire to one day unknowingly become an incarnation of some ridiculously powerful demon.

Therefore, he will do everything in his power to find a solution.

We must never pretend we don't see it.

The seal with the character "形" (shape) is most likely the key to unlocking the door.

Obtain a treasure that can contend with the demonic intent of the [Primal Spirit Sword Intent].

As the mind turns.

Lu Wubing quietly suppressed the demonic horns that had sprouted again from the depths of his soul. At the same time, his blood and qi surged, suppressing once more the fierce and murderous intent deep within his body.

My mind was firmly fixed on Huang Chengzong as he recounted his past.

Sixteen years ago, your grandfather Lu Chengyun entered the palace for the first time to treat Consort Qiao's illness...

At that time, Consort Qiao was suffering from morning sickness and could not rest day or night. She tossed and turned as if she were possessed. Even the best imperial physicians felt helpless and dared not prescribe any medicine. They could only prescribe some calming soups and other mild tonics to do their best.

Of course, this practice also displeased His Majesty, who found a pretext to behead several imperial physicians. He also summoned renowned doctors from the common people, just as he had done recently.

At this point, Lu Wubing noticed that Princess Ji Wenxiu, who was listening quietly beside him, was now in tears, tightly covering her lips, her face filled with sorrow.

And so he found out.

That Consort Qiao was Ji Wenxiu's mother.

The child she was pregnant with back then was probably Ji Wenxiu herself.

Lu Wubing quietly reached out and grasped Princess Wenxiu's small hand, feeling her body tremble slightly before gradually calming down. He sighed softly in his heart.

He also knew that not long after giving birth, Consort Qiao died under mysterious circumstances.

Later, Emperor Ji Jiufeng continued to take in many concubines, hoping to have more sons.

Perhaps it was because of some of the things this person did that even God couldn't stand it anymore.

Later, things never went as he wished...

It wasn't until last winter that Consort Yi became pregnant again, this time reportedly due to the miraculous methods of Wang Lin, the abbot of Tongtian Temple.

It was also because of the Five Qi Golden Elixir offered by the Five Qi Daoist, the abbot of Tongtian Temple, that Emperor Ji Jiufeng went into seclusion to cultivate in seclusion.

In the beginning, every now and then, Ji Jiufeng would leave the seclusion to attend court and pay attention to important matters of the court.

In recent months, His Majesty the Emperor seems to have reached a critical juncture in his cultivation and has not appeared for a long time.

This is the real reason why the capital of the Great Li Dynasty was in chaos and out of control.

Although no one dared to think too much about it.

But more or less everyone had a thought in their hearts that the emperor was probably, possibly, perhaps going to have an accident.

The little prince is still in his mother's womb, so the princess's succession is a joke.

The other princes were also eyeing the throne covetously, and the civil and military officials in the court each had their own agendas.

Some wanted to negotiate peace, some wanted to send troops, some spread rumors, and some caused trouble. The situation was so chaotic that no one could see how things would develop.

If it weren't for the perilous situation, it would have been even more difficult to "persuade" Huang Chengzong, the chief eunuch. Taking his life would have been easy, but making him loyal would have been unlikely.

Huang Chengzong continued, "It was after your grandfather entered the palace to treat her illness that Consort Qiao recovered. The miraculous acupuncture technique she used became widely known and became famous in the capital."

That's not all. It was during that trip to the palace that Lu Chengyun created a technique called the "Six Yang Divine Needles," which he claimed could bring the dead back to life and heal flesh and bone. I thought this was just hearsay and exaggeration spread by busybodies. I even disguised myself and went to Huichuntang for a consultation. After receiving acupuncture once, guess what happened?

As he said this, Huang Chengzong's face turned bright red, his breathing became rapid, and his eyes became fanatical.

It seems that the acupuncture treatment he received that time had an unparalleled impact on him.

Even after fifteen years, the memory remains vivid.

Lu Wubing didn't interrupt. He knew that Huang Chengzong was already in a state of heightened urge to speak. If you didn't let him talk, he would feel extremely uncomfortable.

Sure enough, Huang Chengzong's voice turned impassioned: "Those Six Yang Divine Needles can actually make a disabled person like me feel an impulse, a sign of growth."

Mr. Lu, you may not understand what I was thinking at that time. The thrill of seeing the light again after being in darkness for so long is something that only those who have experienced it can truly understand.

Huang Chengzong had forgotten to refer to himself as "our family." Deep down, he was probably a normal person who had always hoped to one day return to normal and become a fully healthy man.

"At that time, we thought that no matter what Dr. Lu needed, we could get him any treasure he wanted, as long as he could cure my illness."

"Unexpectedly, when I went there again, I found that Huichuntang was like it had been ransacked by thieves. Three rooms had collapsed, and Doctor Lu Chengyun had also left the capital."

After making inquiries from various sources and sending people to investigate, it was finally understood that on the night I returned, someone launched a night attack on Huichuntang.

People nearby noticed a sword aura shooting straight towards the heavens...

Anyone who saw this sword aura in the three streets surrounding Changxinfang suddenly fainted.

As for a hundred and fifty feet away, there was no wind or waves, and nothing was heard or seen.

I felt that the sky was unusually dark that night, and there were no stars... and the night wind was a bit strong.

My later deduction was that someone must have used supreme profound skill to completely block out all the vital energy and light in that area.

"After experiencing the immense and terrifying aura of Huichuntang, our family never went there again, nor did we leave the capital to search for your grandfather. We kept this matter silently in our hearts until ten years ago..."

"Ten years ago, could it be that something strange was discovered again? Was it a similar acupuncture technique?"

Princess Ji Wenxiu's curiosity was piqued, and she asked a curious question.

"This time it's not the Six Yang Divine Needles, but a dose of Rejuvenating Soup."

Huang Chengzong's mood gradually calmed down, as if he had learned to accept reality after failing to obtain what he wanted.

That was about Zhang Yujing, a famous doctor from Jiangbei, coming to the capital. The Empress Dowager had caught a cold that had not been cured for a long time, and the imperial physicians in the palace were also at a loss.

Claiming that his lifespan was about to run out, coupled with his worries and grief, he could not take any ordinary medicine and could only rest and leave it to fate.

However, Zhang Yujing was quite clever; he came up with a unique and ingenious recipe for Rongyang Soup.

Although he couldn't completely cure the Empress Dowager, he was able to stabilize her condition and prevent it from worsening. As a result, he received a large reward and became famous in the capital.

Before long, his family's "Rejuvenation Soup" became legendary. We went and had a bowl too. Same recipe, same taste, but this time, we weren't in a hurry.

He simply stayed quietly nearby, sneaking in every night to secretly observe the man treating patients, and dared not even enter his clinic.

"problem occurs?"

"That's right, just three days after Doctor Zhang's reputation for saving so many lives with his 'Rejuvenation Soup' spread,..."

That night, we were peeking out the window when suddenly the sky went dark, our minds went blank, and we fainted.

The next day, upon further inquiry, they heard the wife of Doctor Zhang next door crying and shouting that her husband was missing and that things were missing from the house.

The Chaotian Prefecture sent people to investigate, but they offered no explanation, and the matter was left unresolved.

Huang Chengzong coldly added, "If these two times were just coincidences, then when Master Wuxiang of Dayuanguang Temple came to the palace five years ago to treat the nobleman, and then returned to the palace and became famous again, and comprehended the miraculous method of 'suspending the thread and flicking the pulse'... I knew that this was the best opportunity."

"Why?"

"Because Abbot Fayuan of Dayuan Temple keeps a close eye on his precious disciple, everyone in the capital knows that."

Master Wuxiang is known as a "Buddha's Child." No matter what secret techniques he obtains, it won't be so easy for those behind the scenes to snatch them from him.

Just how powerful is Abbot Fayuan?

Lu Wubing roughly understood.

Even though Huang Chengzong was extremely wary of the mastermind behind it all, the moment he thought of Fayuan, he was no longer afraid. It was clear that this old monk was no ordinary person.

“When he burns incense and prays to Buddha on ordinary days, in everyone’s eyes, the monk Fayuan is just an ordinary old monk with no trace of cultivation.”

"It's similar to that old Taoist priest in the princess's residence..."

This time, Huang Chengzong spoke vaguely, only expressing his feeling.

But Lu Wubing knew what kind of state it was to be so ordinary, with no energy leaking out and integrated into daily life.

According to Princess Ji Wenxiu, the old Taoist Qingyun spends his days happily brewing and drinking wine, and occasionally sends servants from the princess's residence out to buy some local specialties. He lives a life of blissful ignorance, his days seemingly endless in a drunken stupor.

However, as long as he remained in the princess's residence for even a day, no one dared to lay a finger on Ji Wenxiu.

This is an old Taoist priest who has reached the level of "returning to simplicity and authenticity".

In other words, he can conceal his entire body's vital energy and true qi, live to be two hundred years old, and possess true qi that is completely in a liquid state. He is a master of the fourth realm of innate cultivation, with unfathomable strength, and is at the Returning to Truth realm.

Huang Chengzong's cultivation has already reached the second stage of the Innate Realm, the Innate Realm... He may not be able to defeat many people, but his perception ability is excellent, and his judgment is unlikely to be wrong.

Since he sensed that the monk Fayuan was a master of the Returning to Truth Realm, then he was not someone he could casually approach.

Things have become complicated.

Can I defeat someone in the [Return to Truth Realm]?

Lu Wubing silently assessed the situation and felt it was a bit risky.

I have a pretty good idea of ​​my own capabilities.

His internal energy cultivation is at the late stage of the Innate Realm, and he is very close to stepping into the ultimate realm of the third Innate Realm.

My advantage is the Primordial Pure Qi... After fusing the True Qi of the Three Peaks, its quality is ten times stronger than the True Qi of experts of the same level.

Even ordinary experts at the peak of the Innate Realm could fight him with ease.

However, if one moves up another level and reaches the Returning to Truth Realm, one's own Primordial Pure Qi may not necessarily have an advantage.

Lu Wubing was unclear about the exact distance between the gaseous true qi and the liquid true essence.

But it's not a good idea to try it directly.

A master of this caliber, if they make a move and win, things are fine. But if they lose, the problem becomes much bigger; it could turn into a life-or-death struggle, a desperate escape, and a complete mess.

The only saving grace is that his physical body is also terrifyingly strong, and he will probably be able to gain a considerable advantage when fighting against someone in the Returning to Truth Realm.

Without sufficient confidence, the only option is to accelerate the process, further develop true qi, and reach the ultimate realm. That should be about right.

Lu Wubing was confident that he could advance just one level.

Thinking about this, he basically understood why Huang Chengzong had disguised himself and directed the Wild Wolf Gang to plot against Huichuntang's notes.

Firstly, they wanted to hide themselves and didn't want to alert the mastermind behind the scenes.

Another reason, of course, is to openly and honestly discuss cooperation with Monk Wuxiang, so that both sides can work together to gain insights, contribute their own efforts, and share the results.

Huang Chengzong sighed and said, "I dare not ask who passed on the secret technique to that monk Wuxiang, but I can guess that the person must be hiding in the deep palace."

After obtaining this picture from the monk Wuxiang, I have studied it repeatedly, but I have never been able to grasp its true meaning.

I don't know if it was because he lacked comprehension, or if the monk had kept a secret from him.

At this point, Huang Chengzong carefully took out a silk painting from his bosom and handed it over.

Lu Wubing took a look and scoffed, "It's not fake, but it's been spread too little."

This drawing is rather dubious, and even less valuable than the family's heirloom, the "Six Yang Divine Needles."

Even if he learned it completely, he would only be able to reach the level of his father, Lu Changfeng.

It has absolutely no effect on the old eunuch growing a small penis; at most, it can only treat the external injury.

Upon hearing this, Huang Chengzong was initially furious, but then a glint flashed in his eyes, clearly indicating that he had gleaned some other meaning from Lu Wubing's words.

He clenched his fist tightly and said, "This old servant knows some of Master Wuxiang's unspeakable things. If Your Majesty wants to find out the identity of the mastermind, you can start from there and force that monk to tell the truth. However, you must avoid the monk Fayuan."

……

(End of this chapter)