Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 254: Chapter 251 Bait

Li Hongzhao didn’t say much to Sun Jiwei, only arranged for someone to escort him away.

With things as they were, Sun Jiwei was no longer suitable to stay here, it would only invite criticism.

The experts from the Military Suppression Department had already arrived outside, but were blocked by the Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry.

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at this group of Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry, indifferent and detached, like emotionless machines.

He waved his hand, and Gao Lingfeng commanded the Military Suppression Department’s people to retreat.

As Li Hongzhao walked out, she asked, ”Mr. Su.”

Su Qiuyan appeared by her side.

With a gentle press of his left palm against her left scented shoulder, he quickly dispelled the aura in her heart, and sighed, ”What a Fourth Prince, truly extraordinary!”

”Are you asking about the Princely Heir’s moves?”

”How did he do it exactly? I didn’t see a thing, and couldn’t sense it at all, it’s too strange!”

She felt uneasy in her heart.

Her senses were extremely acute, far surpassing ordinary people, which was a unique advantage of the Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique.

Yet she didn’t feel a thing, perhaps because she was engaged in a duel with Chu Zhiyuan.

But in such a state, she should have been even more sensitive, able to react faster, yet she still sensed nothing amiss.

Most likely, even under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t notice it.

Su Qiuyan said, ”When he was sparring with you, he unleashed an invisible finger force, similar to Sword Gang power, quite a peculiar finger force.”

She could see that Chu Zhiyuan casually pointed, vaguely sensing a strand of finger force wafting towards Sun Jiwei.

Unlike ordinary finger force that shoots out rapidly, this one moved slowly, like willow fluff drifting by.

Sun Jiwei was entirely focused on the battle between Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao, dazzled by the sword light, failing to notice the danger approaching.

Completely unprepared, he was struck, his energy quickly deflating like a punctured balloon.

Even if she wanted to intervene, she couldn’t stop this finger force; it looked leisurely, but was too close, too late to respond.

”This guy, with such insidious moves!” Li Hongzhao said hatefully, ”There’s no way to defend against it.”

Su Qiuyan said solemnly, ”Your Highness must be extremely cautious, you may not be able to withstand it.”

”I have Protective Gang Qi, if he tries to ambush me, it won’t escape my notice!”

”But what if?”

”Then how to guard against it?” Li Hongzhao pondered while biting her red lips, ”I can’t just avoid him altogether, never seeing him!”

”Then don’t meet him in private, do it in public.”

”...Hmm, that makes sense, next time I see him, Mr. Su must be present to intimidate him.”

Su Qiuyan laughed, ”He’s not afraid of me.”

”He’s as timid as a mouse, how could he not be afraid of you, Mr. Su?” Li Hongzhao scoffed, ”Utterly laughable!”

But she immediately recalled Chu Zhiyuan’s words, he was timid, but had the cultivation of the Eighth Layer Heaven.

A single remark that could choke someone.

Su Qiuyan smiled faintly, ”Your Highness, as you say, he appears cowardly but is brave inside, fundamentally ruthless, we can’t be careless.”

”...Hmm.” Li Hongzhao nodded slowly.

——

After sending the message out, Li Hongzhao began to ponder the Phoenix Sword Technique in her courtyard.

She recalled the earlier sparring with Chu Zhiyuan, the Phoenix Sword Technique was executed flawlessly, becoming more powerful.

At the same time, she pondered over Chu Zhiyuan’s swordsmanship.

It seemed as if a weak willow moved with the wind, always about to break, yet it would effortlessly resolve danger.

Appearing risky, yet precise.

Had Chu Zhiyuan’s swordsmanship reached such a level?

The more she thought about it, the more alarmed she became.

However, fortunately, no matter how strong he was, he was only strong in martial arts, a mere Left Vice Minister, unable to decide the great affairs of the realm.

Thus, his keen and extraordinary powers of observation had no place to be utilized.

She had to find a way to push him into dormancy, he couldn’t keep gaining merits and promotions, or he would become a threat to Da Meng.

How to let him fall silent?

She mused, plans forming in her mind, quickly dismissed one by one.

The Beauty Trap, he had the most beautiful woman in Yujing as his Heir’s Wife, ordinary beauties didn’t catch his eye.

Alienation wouldn’t work either, his relationship with the Emperor had nothing to alienate, Da Jing’s Emperor had just lifted the suppression on Prince Qing Mansion.

Lifting the suppression didn’t mean trust was gained, there was a vast distance to faith and esteem.

Then spread rumors of his cowardice, taking only safe, undemanding positions, living ignobly, losing others’ respect.

But Da Jing promotes based on merits; as long as he accumulates enough achievements, a poor reputation won’t hinder him.

Thus, fundamentally, it’s to prevent him from achieving merits.

How to prevent it?

Don’t let him leave the capital; he could slaughter the Secret Shadow Sect in Yujing City and if out, he could charge into the Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry.

It would be best to entangle him, not allowing a break, but how to ensnare him?

Ultimately, still the Beauty Trap?

Using herself as bait?

She pondered the feasibility, her bright eyes flickering with thought.

Chu Zhiyuan held no soft feelings for her, always vigilant in the depths of his heart.

If she were to entangle him, with his acumen, would he notice?

Moreover, she really didn’t want to stay by his side, having her secrets unveiled by him.

Entangling him might yield less than the secrets she’d expose.

So this path was a no-go.

Her bright eyes flickered, softly saying, ”Mr. Su, are there any beauties left in Yujing City?”

Su Qiuyan replied, ”Linglong Bookstore’s?”

”Those won’t do,” Li Hongzhao shook her head, ”He wouldn’t even acknowledge them, they must be ladies of noble character.”

”There are still quite a few in Yujing City,” Su Qiuyan said, ”Like Miss Huang of the White Cloud Sword Palace, Miss Zhou from Qinglu Cliff, and Miss He of the Flying Sky Sect, all are rare beauties, should Your Highness pay them a visit?”

”Can we match them up with Chu Zhiyuan?”

”Your Highness, better give it up,” Su Qiuyan smiled, ”The Beauty Trap won’t work on him.”

”There’s no cat that doesn’t steal fish; no matter how powerful a man, he still likes beauties.”

Su Qiuyan responded, ”I see his thoughts are all on cultivation, he doesn’t pay much attention to romantic matters.”

”Hmm... cultivation...” Li Hongzhao pondered.

She clapped her hands with a laugh, ”Got it!”

Su Qiuyan looked at her, curious about what cunning idea she had now.

Li Hongzhao said, ”I know of a cave mansion outside Yujing City, a thousand-year-old cave mansion.”

Su Qiuyan looked at her in surprise, ”Still outside Yujing City?”

”Strange, isn’t it?” Li Hongzhao laughed, ”Yujing City should have been thoroughly explored, yet there’s still a cave mansion.”

”Is the news true?”

”I saw it in an anthology, one of our Da Meng’s Great Grandmasters drifted here, eventually passing away in this place, have you heard of Lu Yaofeng, Mr. Su?”

”Lu Yaofeng...”

”An expert from a thousand years ago, who used the Qiankun Six Absolute Palm, and became a Great Grandmaster.”

”...Never heard of him.”

”His hand skills were formidable, prominent in his time, but unfortunately, he was troubled by love, came to Da Jing, thus his fame was muted, and sadly died alone... Someone recorded his life, mentioning the location of his cave mansion, and I stumbled upon this record.”

”You haven’t gone to look for it?”

”I’ve been inquiring these past days, finally found it, surprisingly not far from Yujing.”

”You don’t want to find it yourself, rather hand it to him?”

”This Lu Yaofeng was no good man, quite vicious, and heartbroken, surely had quite a few interesting items in his cave mansion, it’s fine to let Chu Zhiyuan explore it.”

”What if there are treasures in the cave mansion?”

”That Qiankun Six Absolute Palm is strong, but my Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens Technique is already the most elite and suits me the best, the Phoenix Sword Technique suits me as well, I’m not particularly envious, it’s just an exploration of curiosity.”

”Why not explore it first, then tell him?”

”...Actually, I’m quite frightened, not knowing what harmful devices Lu Yaofeng left in the cave mansion.”

”...Okay,” Su Qiuyan smiled.

The two had some tea and snacks, preparing to stroll outside, when they saw Chu Zhiyuan returning.

”Found it,” Chu Zhiyuan appeared with long strides, greeting with clasped hands and a cheerful smile, ”Now the Prince in the Da Lie Pavilion of the Four Directions Pavilion is indeed real.”

Li Hongzhao was half doubtful, ”So quickly?”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Has Your Highness’s news spread yet? No matter how fast, how could it be faster than me?”

”...Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse?” Li Hongzhao’s bright eyes turned, realizing in a moment, she exclaimed indignantly.

Chu Zhiyuan clapped his hands, ”Your Highness is wise.”