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"It has been a long time, Young Master Peng...."

Wei Gongcheng looked at the future head of the family he had served for decades, his heart incredibly complex. He had imagined many scenarios for their meeting but never expected it would come so casually and suddenly....

"Gongcheng...." Weichi Peng was somewhat stunned. For the first time, the usually forthright him found himself feeling so complicated that he didn’t know how to start speaking.

If there was anyone in the world before whom he felt most guilty, it was the brother who had followed him for decades.

Over those decades, he had been his most reliable deputy, yet when that man had almost died for him, he couldn’t even secure his brother’s old age.

Thinking back on it now, he might not have been as loyal as he had imagined because he could have entirely forced the other to stay by his side, even after he had been crippled.

He was a Duke, the future head of the Weichi Clan. Who said that he always had to do things by the book?

What’s wrong with a bit of willfulness?

But he hadn’t....

"Your... leg is better?" Weichi Peng pondered for a long time, unsure of what to say, and could only utter this dry remark.

"Thank you for your concern, Young Master.

..." Wei Gongcheng replied with a slight smile, returning a light nod of courtesy.

Having spent time with Shen San, he had learned a lot from the scholars and magicians, managing to mimic them quite convincingly.

This made the Weichi Peng across from him feel both estranged and quite awkward.

He could clearly sense the other’s coldness.

Yes, it should be cold....

When he wanted to ask the other to come back, the words reached his mouth but he couldn’t say them. In the end, all he could manage was a dry, "This time.... the Imperial Court is promoting Lord Chen, and you all can return to the capital. Do you... want to go back and see the Wei Family?"

Damn, what was he saying?

Wasn’t Wei Gongcheng forced by the Wei Family to retire in the Weichi Clan in the first place?

Why bring that up?

Wei Gongcheng looked at him, seemingly unfazed, and smiled even more warmly, "Thank you for your concern, Young Master Peng. I will return to the Wei Family, but the time has not yet come. Since I’ve decided to come out into the world, I must earn some reputation, shouldn’t I?"

"Ah... yes, yes, yes." Weichi Peng hurriedly nodded, "Now that your leg is better, do you want to rejoin the military? There are many opportunities to earn merit fighting in the north now."

"I am now following Lord Chen. I don’t think we will be fighting in the north."

Weichi Peng choked, glancing toward Chen Qing. Truth be told, when Wei Gongcheng followed Chen Qing away, he never believed Chen Qing could win Wei Gongcheng’s loyalty, after all, he and Chen Qing weren’t on the same level.

But now... he could see that Wei Gongcheng was steadfastly committed and had clearly drawn a line with his own stance.

At that moment he understood, Chen Qing... had really rebelled!

Because only someone of such capability could make his once proud and arrogant deputy be loyal.

Luo Yi, standing aside, looked at Wei Gongcheng curiously. He had heard about Weichi Peng’s deputy, after all, along the road Weichi Peng had mentioned several times that he had not seen Gongcheng for a long time and wondered how he was faring with Chen Qing.

Now it seemed that Wei Gongcheng was faring extremely well and... must have encountered a great opportunity!

As a First Rank magician, he could clearly feel the surging spiritual power emanating from Wei Gongcheng. Judging by spiritual power alone, Wei Gongcheng... was above him!

Even... on the matter of spiritual power, his own teacher was somewhat less pure...

But how could this be possible?

A bastard from an affiliated bloodline family, with a warrior’s background, who became crippled and then came to Jiangnan for no more than a year, had the spiritual power of a Super First Rank magician?

He even doubted that the person before him was Wei Gongcheng at all, but some demon wearing Wei Gongcheng’s skin, like Mister Hua Pi!

"Chen Qing...." Weichi Peng closed his eyes, took a deep breath, "By destroying the imperial edict, do you mean... you do not wish to accept the order?"

Chen Qing shook his head in response, "I did not lie just now. The wooden bird entered the city, and its destruction was purely accidental, not intentional."

"So you mean, you are willing to accept the order and return to the capital with me?"

Chen Qing looked up, "Lord Chen is honored by Your Majesty’s appreciation, to assume the position of a Fifth Rank Jiangnan Magistrate as a freshly appointed Imperial Scholar, and even more, to receive the royal favor of having Princess Mingyue betrothed to me.

Should Your Majesty decree it, under any circumstances, Lord Chen is willing to go through fire and water without hesitation! But...."

Chen Qing’s eyes suddenly sharpened as he looked at the two men and asked in an even tone, "Did this edict... come directly from His Majesty?"

Weichi Peng frowned, and beside him Luo Yi spoke, "The Emperor is gravely ill, unable to govern the nation. Currently, the Ninth Prince takes the place of acting ruler, with The Empress assisting!"

"The Ninth Prince? The Empress?" Chen Qing snorted, "If I remember correctly, the Ninth Prince, born to Consort Li, is... only just a year old, right?"

"The Emperor fell ill suddenly, the Crown Prince’s life and death are unknown, and the Ninth Prince’s regency is merely out of necessity.

Now the Imperial Court is unsettled, the ruler is young, and the country uncertain.

Lord Chen, since you just said you are loyal to His Majesty, at this time, should you not comply with the edict, uphold the Emperor’s authority? "

"And what about The Empress?" Chen Qing said coldly, "If I remember correctly, The Empress has already given birth...."

"Hold your tongue!!"

Wei Chi Peng and Luo Yi spoke at the same time, a flash of green light in their eyes quickly disappearing as their expressions turned savage, "Blasphemy against The Empress, punishable by death!"

Chen Qing’s brows furrowed immediately, as expected, before Wang Ye broke contact with him, he had mentioned that there was something unusual in the Court, the Emperor....must indeed be under the control of some demon.

The Yin Devouring Demon?

It couldn’t be that simple!

"Chen Qing!" Wei Chi Peng stepped forward with a cold face, and the overwhelming aura of a Super First Rank Warrior burst forth instantly, the terrifying pressure even caused Luo Yi by his side to retreat two steps, using all his Spiritual Power to protect himself.

The surging vitality in the air actually changed the direction of the wind, forming a wind circle around the group!

"If you accept the decree, you will be the court-appointed Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War on the left, if you don’t, you are a traitorous rebel!"

With those words, he took a step closer, and though he was treading on air, the terrifying might felt as if it was stomping directly on a person’s chest.

But before Chen Qing could speak, a tall figure already stood in front of him, causing Wei Chi Peng’s brows to furrow.

"What commotion are you joining? Move aside!" Wei Chi Peng’s voice carried impatience, pressing his aura to force the other aside.

To his surprise, the figure that he could usually brush aside with a flick of his hand was now immovable under his pressure, steadfast as a mountain!

"You...." Wei Chi Peng stared at the other in astonishment, knowing full well what this younger brother of his was capable of. When he was leaving the capital with Duke of Qin, he had personally requested Duke Qi Tian Heng to take care of his proud and haughty younger brother.

He knew Fei Hu had great potential, but he was too young, always aspiring to reach the heights he had achieved at his age. At the same age, he had already been a First Rank Warrior, which is why their father had sent him to the northern borderlands; this kid was merely Third Rank.

A Third Rank Warrior in this world was already among the top masters, but among the true powerhouses, they were not enough.

Clearly, after a year apart, Fei Hu...had grown stronger!

To retain such composure against his full might, there was only one possibility....

The other....was now a First Rank Martial Artist!

One year?

Wei Chi Peng’s eyes became frosty, and with a step forward, he reached out to grab the other’s head.

The younger brother who had once defied him, much like before, struck back immediately. However, this time, he was confident enough to answer with just one hand too!

Their robust palms collided, the powerful force shattering the wind circle around them. Neither of the two men took a step back, yet the impact forced the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites to retreat ten meters!

"Good lad!" A flicker of excitement passed in Wei Chi Peng’s eyes. This kid’s growth in a year reached such an extent?

While still somewhat green, he could see that the other was just one step away from surpassing the Super First Rank!

His foundation was solid, not the result of any foul methods; he reached First Rank genuinely!

"You flatter me, Second Brother!" Wei Chi Fei Hu too was excited...

Finally, he had touched, had caught up with, that figure he had always admired and envied so fervently. He might not be a match for him quite yet, but he was twenty years younger than the other!

He....had a chance!

"Chen Qing!" From a distance, Luo Yi spoke with tightly knitted brows: "Are you attempting rebellion?"

"This official advises caution with your words!

" Chen Qing looked up and said indifferently: "Chen Qing is deeply graced by His Majesty, how could I rebel?

However, His Majesty is clearly harmed by a vile force.

Given the task entrusted to me by His Majesty is incomplete, unless directly decreed by His Majesty himself, Chen Qing cannot leave Jiangnan! "

"Ridiculous!" Luo Yi sneered, "A treasonous official still dares to invoke the emperor’s name, I’d like to know, what exactly did His Majesty entrust you with?"

Chen Qing replied with equanimity, "When the Thousand-Faced Fox entered the capital, His Majesty sensed that the Court was not safe. But by that time, the Siao Family already bore the royal lineage that could rejuvenate the dynasty. To ensure the young royal bloodline did not suffer losses within the confines of the palace, His Majesty entrusted me to guard Jiangnan and ensure the protection of the Siao Family’s future. "

"The Siao Family’s bloodline?" Wei Chi Peng was startled. "What’s this now?"

"Nonsense and lies!" Luo Yi shouted coldly. "You rebellious official, your lies know no bounds. How precious is His Majesty’s bloodline? Especially a young prince, how could he be entrusted to a mere scholar with no background whatsoever?"

This time, Chen Qing did not speak. Instead, a young and tender cry came from within the clouds.

That left both men frozen in their expressions....

The voice was indeed immature....but....it truly was the cry of the Golden Crow!

The next second, a streak of golden flame cut through the sky behind Chen Qing, and both men widened their eyes in disbelief....

The flame was clearly immature, nowhere near as powerful as His Majesty’s, yet it still scorched both their eyes to a stinging red, causing tears to flow ceaselessly!

But even then, neither of them dared to blink for it was too incredible....

The young girl in the sky, who appeared to be just over a year old, was actually...using the Golden Crow’s flame!

What did it mean for a one-year-old to inherit the Golden Crow’s flame?

"How about that?" Chen Qing looked at the two, his voice haunting, "Such a bloodline of His Majesty in the land of Jiangnan, how can you expect me to believe that the Emperor, in his sickness, would pass the regency to a prince whose bloodline has not yet been confirmed?"