Chapter 77: Chapter 73: “Dragon Fortune” Unlocked, The Beginning and End of the Assassination

Night fell on Qingzhu Hall.

Lu Mingyuan was in the courtyard, using the Black Tortoise Breathing Method for his Qi Cultivation, when a line of text suddenly appeared before his eyes.

[Eldest Prince Lu Changfeng has suffered from Heart Demon Devouring Body. His Divine Soul is annihilated, and his Dragon Fortune has dissipated.]

This immediately caught his full attention.

’The Eldest Prince is dead?’

A look of astonishment flickered across Lu Mingyuan’s face.

’Heart Demon Devouring Body?’

’What happened? Could it be that he went mad from being locked up in prison for too long?’

’That doesn’t seem likely, though.’

At the same time, more text flickered into view.

[Emperor Orange Fate Grid – Trapped Dragon in the Abyss, Refinement Level increased to 40%.]

[Refinement Level has reached 40%. New Life Chart Trait acquired: “Dragon Fortune” (Basic Level).]

“Dragon Fortune (Basic Level): Celestial Mandate is with me; I am the Celestial Mandate. Gain a small amount of Dragon Fortune, increasing Destiny and making one resistant to Demon Fiends.”

Ever since he last turned a crisis into a blessing, his “Trapped Dragon in the Abyss” Fate Grid had been stuck at a 30% Refinement Level with no change.

’I suppose it’s because life has been too peaceful lately,’ he thought. ’Things have gotten a bit better, and I haven’t run into any danger.’

But the Eldest Prince’s death had caused his progress to surge by ten percent, bringing him close to the halfway mark.

Lu Mingyuan looked at this new “Dragon Fortune” trait, lost in thought.

’As expected of an Emperor Orange Fate Grid,’ he mused. ’To think it has so many Life Chart Traits.’

’The “Martial Fool” one only has two Life Chart Traits, and the others don’t have more than three.’

’Including “Dragon Fortune,” this should be the fourth Life Chart Trait I’ve obtained from this Fate Grid.’

“Dragon Raising Its Head,” “Hidden Dragon,” “Hidden Qi,” and “Dragon Fortune.”

’A small amount of Dragon Fortune, infused with Destiny.’

’And resistance to Demon Fiends.’

He remembered the Six-Yao Turtle Shell had notified him before that his Dragon Fortune had already dissipated when his original self was thrown into prison.

’Now that the Nine Dragons Struggle for the Throne has reached this point, does the return of my Dragon Fortune mean things are heating up?’

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Just then, a slow knocking came from the door.

“Hong Wan, go open the door,” Lu Mingyuan instructed.

“Hey, brat! Miss me?”

Hearing the hearty voice from outside, Lu Mingyuan knew who had arrived.

“Master, what are you doing here so late?”

The man who swaggered into the hall was a middle-aged man with a wine gourd hanging from his waist. Beaming, he came to stand before Lu Mingyuan.

Lu Mingyuan smiled faintly, took out two wine cups, and called to the side, “Zi Yun, bring some of the good wine Mother sent.”

“Yes.”

Hearing this, Zhao Xuanwu chuckled.

“You’re getting to know me better and better, kid.”

Lu Mingyuan smiled. “I don’t just know you; I know you inside and out. Your favorite wine is Erguo Niang, which sells for two taels of silver in the Capital City. The wine gourd at your waist isn’t actually yours. And your rules for taking action are very strict: limited time, sufficient payment, and you charge by the half-incense stick. Any longer and you charge extra.”

After several months together, he had a crystal-clear understanding of the old drunkard’s habits.

But even so, he still had many questions.

The more he knew, the more questions he had.

Regardless, his respect for the old drunkard only grew.

“But you’re always saying how incredible you are, so why has this disciple never seen your name on any regional records or rankings of the Immortal Influences?”

Zhao Xuanwu snorted. “Impossible! This master’s name is legendary! Throughout the entire Great Yan, and even the whole Central Plains World, who doesn’t know my name? If you’re ever traveling and run into a mortal enemy, just mention your master’s name. Wouldn’t they be so scared they’d piss their pants?”

Lu Mingyuan had heard plenty of his boasts over this period and couldn’t tell what was true and what was false. He could only respond with a light chuckle.

“There’s something else this disciple doesn’t understand. Why do you always drink Erguo Niang? While it’s considered a decent wine for common folk, there are far better alternatives available in the Imperial Palace.”

Zhao Xuanwu happily drained his cup, let out a satisfied sigh, and smacked his lips. “It’s for the nostalgia. Plus, it’s cheap and tastes good.”

“A man gets sentimental about the old days, you know.”

Suddenly, Zhao Xuanwu put down his cup, stood up, chuckled, and scratched his butt.

“Hang on a sec. Your master needs to take a piss.”

…

「Within the vast Imperial Palace.」

Two eunuchs stood at the far end of the Cold Palace, staring in the direction of Qingzhu Hall. They clutched their lower bodies, their eyes glinting with a cold light that seemed to hold a boundless hatred.

A gentle breeze blew past, but a bone-chilling cold rose in their hearts!

Almost instinctively, they leaped up, jumping ten meters high, and tried to flee toward a distant pavilion.

Their frantic reactions, as if facing a great enemy, were accompanied by a sudden burst of powerful aura. It was clear these two were no ordinary eunuchs.

But in an instant, two thick, heavy hands landed on their shoulders—one on each.

All of their aura and techniques dissipated completely. Their bodies slowly descended back to the ground.

The two eunuchs’ faces were filled with terror. They broke out in a cold sweat as an unprecedented pressure washed over them—a feeling they had never experienced, not even when facing an Eleventh Realm Martial Artist.

The next second, their vision went black, and their bodies slumped to the ground.

…

A short while later, Lu Mingyuan saw Zhao Xuanwu return, looking thoroughly relieved.

He picked up a peanut with his chopsticks, popped it into his mouth, and couldn’t help but ask, “Did you come all this way tonight just to freeload some wine?”

Zhao Xuanwu sat down, refilled his cup to the brim, and said lightly, “No. Your master came to say goodbye.”

“You’re leaving?” Lu Mingyuan asked in surprise.

Zhao Xuanwu gazed out at the Imperial Palace, its thousand lanterns glowing under the night sky, and looked toward the north. He sighed. “I have to go back eventually. It’s time to change shifts.”

“I’ve been back for almost half a year. I’ve taught you pretty much everything I can. It’s time to go.”

Lu Mingyuan then remembered what he had said when he first arrived: that he would only stay for half a year.

It was almost the seventh month now, so the time was indeed up.

Zhao Xuanwu patted him on the shoulder. The surprising toughness of the bone beneath his hand slightly exceeded his expectations, but he quickly broke into a knowing smile.

“I never planned on taking you as a disciple, you know. I figured I’d just go through the motions. If you learned, you learned. If not, whatever. I’d still get paid. I didn’t expect you, kid, to actually succeed. You’ve made great progress.”

Lu Mingyuan understood. His master must have discovered that he had broken through to the Sixth Realm.

He possessed the “Hidden Qi” trait, which meant that ordinary people couldn’t sense his true cultivation unless they got close to him.

Zhao Xuanwu’s tone turned serious. “I’ve heard about what’s happened to you. It’s certainly been a rough path. But in my eyes, it’s nothing special. This master has seen more people than you’ve had meals, and some of them had it much worse than you since they were kids. Since you are this master’s Registered Disciple, there are some things I must say.”

Lu Mingyuan replied solemnly, “Please speak, Master.”

Zhao Xuanwu leaned his head back, narrowed his eyes, and said, “In this world, men live for their pride, and Buddhas vie for a stick of incense. There is no principle more important than staying alive. So, you must strive to live.”

“At the same time, my disciple, you must cherish the good connections you have around you. Be very careful to maintain them. Don’t ever let them break.”

Lu Mingyuan played dumb. “Why? I haven’t thought that far ahead.”

Zhao Xuanwu gave him a meaningful look. “Well, now is a good time to start thinking about it.”

In that instant, many faces flashed through Lu Mingyuan’s mind.

There was a certain cold and proud White-haired Daoist Nun, the proper and gentle Miss Qi who loved to lecture, his captivating sister-in-law Yang Yingchan, and even Wei the Ninth, whom he had only met a few times in the Cold Palace. Of course, there was also his master, and many others…

“I will.”

Lu Mingyuan nodded.

He had always cherished even the slightest kindness from others.

But if they were filled with malice, he would keep it in mind. As his master would say, he would one day have to make them understand the principle that whoever has the bigger fist calls the shots.

Zhao Xuanwu said with a sigh, “You must understand, ’The Great Yan Imperial Capital is but a single grain in all of heaven and earth.’ Here in the Capital City, everyone’s power is relatively close—a difference of three realms is considered normal. If you ever have the chance to leave the Cold Palace and see the world outside, do not be a frog in a well. The longer you spend out there, the more thoroughly you will understand this saying.”

“For me, a gourd of good wine is enough to wander the world. But you, Lu Mingyuan, are different. You must walk your own path and fight for your own destiny. Don’t be like me, fighting the fiercest battles and walking the hardest roads. Some of my principles are twisted logic; I don’t usually preach to people anyway. Forget them if you can.”

“But there is one thing you must not forget.”

Zhao Xuanwu tapped his saber with his bamboo staff. “This. You can’t forget this.”

As if reaching an understanding, Lu Mingyuan suddenly asked, “Master, what about your other disciples? Didn’t they come back with you?”

Zhao Xuanwu narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of reminiscence in his gaze. “Them? They’re all resting on the city walls.”

He suddenly broke into a smile. “I’ve said so much just now. How much do you remember?”

Lu Mingyuan thought for a moment and said, “The most important thing is to live long enough.”

“That’s enough.”

…

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