Chu Zhenshan, as an old monster at the early stage of the [Domain Transformation Realm], was a well-known figure both inside and outside of Xuanji City.
Once, when a beast tide threatened the city, he had been the commander of the city defense, and his battle achievements were so remarkable that the Empress of the current dynasty had personally tried to recruit him.
As a member of the Taixu Sacred Domain, Chu Zhenshan naturally could not accept.
However, he could be said to have maintained the dignity of a man within an Immortal Dynasty that prioritized women above all else.
Alas, the daily chores of managing the branch families of the Chu Clan made it difficult for him to find the leisure to concentrate on breakthroughs into the [Domain Transformation Realm].
Tonight, as he was meditating in his bedroom to adjust his inner energy, he suddenly heard a dignified female voice resonate within his Consciousness Sea:
[Chu Zhenshan! Where are you right now? Get your pathetic self over here immediately!!!]
Just that one shout was enough to shake him to the point of spitting out a mouthful of blood.
However, Chu Zhenshan felt more terror than anything else.
He quickly transformed into a streak of light, arrived at the courtyard of the Fox Venerable, and knelt to kowtow:
“I am here! Fox Venerable, I do not know where I have offended you, but I beg for your forgiveness!”
As he spoke, Chu Zhenshan subconsciously lifted his gaze, and his pupils suddenly shrank into thin lines.
He saw that on the windowsill, the usually poised Fox Venerable had crystal-clear liquid welling up in the corners of her eyes.
Coupled with her fierce expression, she seemed to have been driven to tears by some pressing matter.
Seeing Chu Zhenshan’s fluster, Su Xuanxuan finally realized she had lost her composure.
Wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes, she calmed her emotions before transmitting her voice:
[That Crown Prince staying at the Gu Manor is currently treating our Holy Son like a human cauldron.]
[I cannot make a move personally; you must find a way to demand his return from the Gu Manor! Go tonight!!!]
“Huh?”
“Go tonight?”
Chu Zhenshan wore a troubled expression:
“Fox Venerable, that is the Crown Prince! The face of the Immortal Dynasty!”
“If we rashly go to demand a person… the Crown Prince will not agree.”
“Furthermore, if we do this, wouldn’t it expose the Holy Son’s…”
Su Xuanxuan interrupted him, her tone brook no argument:
[Regardless, you must stop our Holy Son from being drained dry any further!]
[You go demand his return tonight; if the other party asks for a reason, just say—]
[The God Hunt ceremony requires his presence… any reason will do.]
The more the Fox Venerable spoke, the more incoherent she became; she was clearly pushed to the brink of a breakdown by the situation regarding the Holy Son.
Feeling the cold light in her eyes, even though it gave him a headache, Chu Zhenshan could only swallow the words that reached his lips and instead said:
“Understood! I will go handle it immediately!”
Having finished speaking, he finally had the chance to swallow a medicinal pill to treat the internal injuries caused by the Fox Venerable’s outburst.
Subsequently, Chu Zhenshan took several subordinates and rushed to the Gu Manor overnight.
The night was heavy.
The lanterns of the Gu Manor swayed gently in the wind.
Chu Zhenshan, with two attendants, strode rapidly to the front gate of the manor.
His face was grim, and the coldness of his aura made the gatekeepers feel suffocated.
Fortunately, the steward of the Gu Manor had some composure and personally invited Chu Zhenshan and the others into the living room.
As for the gatekeeper, he scrambled toward the inner courtyard to report to the Gu Family Matron.
*
A moment later, in the Gu Manor’s living room.
Tea had already been brewed, and wisps of hot steam rose under the lamps, yet they could not dispel the chilling air of violence permeating the room.
Chu Zhenshan sat in the guest seat, his face ashen, saying nothing.
The two attendants stood behind him with their hands lowered, not even daring to breathe loudly.
The Gu Family Matron felt an intense pressure hit her the moment she stepped into the living room.
Her heart skipped a beat, but she plastered a smile on her face and hurried forward:
“Oh! Isn’t this the Great Elder of the Chu? What urgent business brings you here so late?”
Chu Zhenshan stood up and cupped his hands in a salute, his expression not softening in the slightest:
“Gu Family Matron, my Yuan has been disturbing your noble residence for several days and has yet to return home. Tonight, his soul lamp in the ancestral shrine of the Chu Clan suddenly dimmed, like a candle in the wind.”
As he spoke, his voice grew heavier:
“Yuan is, after all, a descendant of my Chu Clan. If something were to happen to him at the Gu Manor, I fear it would not be good for anyone.”
The Gu Family Matron was startled upon hearing this, her face showing embarrassment:
“Oh? Is that so? This…”
She certainly knew of that child, Chu Yuan.
He had indeed been staying at the Gu Manor for the past few days, but that was the wish of the Crown Prince.
Hesitating for a moment, she said cautiously:
“Great Elder of the Chu, you must surely know that your Young Master Yuan is currently serving as a tour guide for the Crown Princess. In my opinion, I fear there might be some misunderstanding in this?”
Chu Zhenshan naturally knew that the Gu Family Matron could not make decisions on this matter and might not even be aware of the truth.
However, with his orders in mind, he could only maintain a cold face and say:
“Misunderstanding? Hmph! A disciple of my Chu Clan, his soul lamp dimming, his life hanging by a thread. And the Gu Family Matron tells me it is a misunderstanding? If there really is a misunderstanding, then tell me, where is my Yuan now? Why can’t I even catch a glimpse of him?”
The Gu Family Matron caught the hidden implication and suddenly realized—
Last night, Chu Yuan had spent the entire night in the room of the Crown Princess and did not come out.
Early this morning, he had walked out with a pale complexion and unsteady footsteps to return to his room for rest.
Anyone with eyes could see that this abandoned, useless orphan of the Chu Clan had been played to the point of exhaustion by the Crown Princess.
As the Gu Family Matron, she sighed, yet she could only turn a blind eye.
After all, in the Immortal Dynasty, royals and clansmen engaging in such decadent behavior were common.
Matters of bullying women or snatching handsome men were extremely frequent.
Now it seemed that the seemingly virtuous Crown Princess was no exception.
All the Matron could do was ensure those who knew kept quiet to avoid being targeted by the Crown Princess if rumors spread.
But what she did not expect was for the Chu Clan to come knocking on the door at such a time?
Could it be… that the useless boy’s condition was truly nearing its end?
How many days had it even been?
Could the Crown Princess be that ruthless?
The boy looked to have a rather sturdy constitution?
How could he have been drained nearly to death within two days?
Was the Crown Princess’s desire perhaps a bit too extreme?
The Gu Family Matron felt secretly amazed, while on the surface she kept a smiling face:
“Hehehe! Great Elder of the Chu, please calm your anger. Young Master Yuan is currently in the West Courtyard serving the Crown Princess; I will send someone to the West Courtyard to inquire immediately.”
After speaking, she turned to instruct the steward.
The steward nodded repeatedly and ran all the way toward the West Courtyard.
*
At the entrance of the West Courtyard.
The captain of the guards was leaning against a pillar, feigning sleep.
The steward ran over, out of breath, and whispered a few words.
The captain of the guards frowned:
“The Chu Clan actually sent someone? And it’s the Great Elder of the Chu himself?”
The steward nodded repeatedly:
“Yes! By the looks of it, if he doesn’t see Young Master Yuan, the Great Elder will try to force his way in! What should we do?”
The captain of the guards waved a hand:
“Don’t be impatient! I will report this to the Crown Princess first.”
After speaking, she did not dare to delay and secretly transmitted her voice inside:
[Your Highness, the Great Elder of the Chu has visited overnight, claiming—]
[Young Master Chu Yuan’s soul lamp has dimmed, and he wishes to see him.]
[The Gu Family Matron is blocking the way for now, how should we proceed?]
Upon learning of the situation, Ji Xuanyuan’s brows moved slightly:
“The Great Elder of the Chu?”
“The soul lamp has dimmed?”
“How is that possible!”
In Ji Xuanyuan’s opinion, although she was indeed draining Chu Yuan, she was also mindful of her limits.
If his life were truly in danger, she would have suffered backlash from the Soul Covenant before the other party could even arrive.
Therefore, the situation of a dimming soul lamp should never occur.
Not to mention, wasn’t Chu Yuan just an ignored orphan in the Chu Clan?
Even if the soul lamp were dimming, it shouldn’t warrant the Great Elder of the Chu coming personally to demand his return?
Could it be… that the Fox Venerable has arrived??
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