Chapter 20: Hah! Him? I fear the only thing he’ll end up shackled to is a demonic beast!

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Ji Hangu’s expression remained as refined and gentle as ever, unchanged. He picked up the teacup beside him and poured the tea onto the ashes on the inkstone. When finished, Ji Hangu spoke calmly, “The man will arrive at the residence in three days.”

“During these three days, you will stay at the Crown Prince’s mansion.”

“After three days, the man will leave with you.”

With Ji Hangu’s promise secured, a faint smile finally appeared on the man’s face. It was the first time in many years that he genuinely felt happiness from within.

With the person sent by the Crown Prince, their master surely had a chance of survival now!

Ji Hangu called the steward into the study and entrusted the man to him for arrangements, never summoning him again. The man settled in the Crown Prince’s mansion, awaiting the day three days later to bring back the person their master desired.

...

At this moment, in the residence of the Second Prince of Beiji Kingdom.

The Second Prince, Ji Hanliang, was also receiving the elder of Qingmu Mountain in his study. In front of Ji Hanliang, the Qingmu Mountain elder was far more respectful than he had been before the new emperor Li Jiahuo of Dazhao Kingdom.

The elder reported every detail of the events in Dazhao Kingdom without omission. He also relayed the uncertain, provocative words spoken by Wu Shanggui before the new emperor Li Jiahuo.

After all, the true master behind Qingmu Mountain was the Second Prince of Beiji Kingdom before him.

The elder naturally treated the new emperor of Dazhao Kingdom differently from the true master present.

Even though rumors circulated outside...

Claiming that the one in Dazhao Kingdom was the Second Prince’s illegitimate son.

As long as the Second Prince had not officially recognized or hinted at them, they would pretend to know nothing and treat the new emperor of Dazhao Kingdom accordingly.

Ji Hanliang wore a dark gray robe, his features sharp and fierce. As he listened to the elder’s report, a growing chill and malevolence darkened his eyes.

Especially when he heard that the leader of Qingmu Mountain and two other elders had been killed by the deposed emperor of Dazhao Kingdom.

Ji Hanliang’s eyes gleamed with a ruthless light, his breath exuding a bone-chilling coldness. The elder, describing the events, had to constantly watch Ji Hanliang’s expressions, fearing that a slight misstep would mean death that day in the Second Prince’s residence.

Their master’s cruelty and bloodthirstiness were infamous in Beiji Kingdom.

Everyone from the leader of Qingmu Mountain down to the janitors knew never to approach when the Second Prince was angry.

One careless move, and one’s life would be forfeit.

Only their Holy Lord, a supreme cultivator, earned some respect from the Second Prince.

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To others, the Second Prince paid no heed.

Fortunately, the Qingmu Mountain elder managed to report all matters, including the words the new emperor Li Jiahuo had asked him to relay—nothing left out.

Ji Hanliang’s face darkened, a sinister aura enveloping him. He raised his eyelids, his jet-black pupils fixed on the elder as a sinister voice echoed in the study, “Did you clearly see? What are the backgrounds of the four strange beasts beside that deposed emperor?”

The elder’s hand trembled, his body shuddering, almost losing his footing. “I... I cannot... tell...”

“The four... strange beasts... each different in form...”

“I have... never... seen them before...”

With trembling lips and gritted teeth, the elder answered Ji Hanliang’s questions, fearing that displeasing the prince would lead to his immediate demise.

After all, the elder’s cultivation was no match for the Second Prince’s.

Within all of Qingmu Mountain, only the Holy Lord surpassed the Second Prince.

Even the deceased leader’s cultivation was a rank below the Second Prince, who was among the top cultivators.

One was at the peak of the top cultivators, the other at the lower end.

At only thirty-five, the Second Prince had already achieved such accomplishments.

Compared to him, their late leader was already white-haired.

Their cultivation aptitudes were incomparable.

There were even secret speculations within Qingmu Mountain that soon the Second Prince might break beyond the top cultivator level to reach the supreme cultivator realm.

But such talk was only whispered privately, never spoken before the Second Prince or the Holy Lord.

Still, recalling the events of that day, the elder harbored a faint suspicion in his heart.

He hesitated briefly, torn over whether to share his suspicion with the Second Prince.

Ji Hanliang noticed the uneasy expression on the elder’s face.

“Are you hiding something from me?!”

Startled, the elder blurted out his suspicion.

“Second Prince...”

“I have a guess.”

“Could those four strange beasts be the legendary... Ancient Divine Beasts?”

He spoke cautiously, fearing the prince’s wrath.

Ji Hanliang narrowed his eyes, then struck the desk sharply with his right hand.

“Impossible—”

“Absolutely impossible! Ancient Divine Beasts are mere legends.”

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“They are the mounts of the Divine Race.”

“Not even we cultivators possess the power to command an Ancient Divine Beast, let alone the demon or妖族 (demon tribes).”

“Much less that deposed emperor.”

“And you encountered not one, but four!!”

“That deposed emperor is a mere mortal, yet commands four Ancient Divine Beasts of the Divine Race—”

“What ability does he have? Huh?!”

Ji Hanliang’s eyes gleamed coldly, a fierce darkness flashing within. Terrified, the elder fell to his knees and begged for forgiveness.

“I am foolish!”

“Your Highness is right.”

“Even the Demon King cannot command Ancient Divine Beasts.”

“How could a mere deposed emperor possess such power?”

“Perhaps—”

“That deposed emperor has secretly allied with some妖族 demon?”

“Those four strange beasts might be妖族 beasts, and I misjudged them as Ancient Divine Beasts.”

“Please forgive me, Your Highness!”

“For nearly misleading you with my ignorance.”

“I accept full blame!”

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

The elder struck his head heavily against the ground.

His humble plea was the only thing that slightly quelled Ji Hanliang’s fury.

“Fine—”

“This once, I will spare you.”

“But if there’s a next time, watch your skin!”

The elder felt as if he had been granted a great pardon, secretly rejoicing at having saved his life.

Ji Hanliang’s gaze was icy as frost, his expression bloodthirsty and grim.

His words sounded like a demon’s whisper from the depths of hell:

“Heh! Does he think—”

“That by allying with妖族 demons...”

“He can rest easy?”