Chapter 236
Inside the Golden Phoenix Pavilion, on the third floor, Chu Lishu stepped into a room, lit some soft incense, and sat down, waiting for Yu Suoxi to arrive. Lu Yi, Lu Shi, Qi Ci, and Huo Luo were all ready.
The soft incense could make a skilled martial artist gradually lose their inner strength, neutralizing Yu Suoxi’s martial prowess. Of course, everyone else had taken the antidote in advance.
The two adjacent rooms to that one were also booked. Lin Qingyang and Yue Chen stayed in one of them, using a small hole for surveillance to observe the situation in the neighboring room. They didn’t possess martial arts skills and wouldn’t cause trouble at such a critical moment. They were there solely to prevent any unexpected situations from arising.
Seeing Yue Chen looking a bit nervous, Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but pat his shoulder, his gaze firm. He not only trusted the arrangement they had been given but also had his own ace up his sleeve. Even if it cost him two thousand points, he was determined that they could defeat Yu Suoxi.
Soon, Yu Suoxi arrived unexpectedly, wielding only a single sword. Lu Yi and Lu Shi naturally began searching the entire building, worried that there might be hidden guards lurking around. Huo Luo and Qi Ci remained, one on the rooftop and the other hanging outside the window.
As soon as Yu Suoxi opened the door, he took a deep breath and smiled. “What a lovely scent.”
Chu Lishu’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but he remained calm, gesturing for Yu Suoxi to take a seat.
Yu Suoxi casually sat down, his gaze fixed on Chu Lishu.
Ignoring the intense stare, Chu Lishu poured a drink for Yu Suoxi.
Surprisingly, Yu Suoxi drank it without any suspicion.
Chu Lishu’s expression shifted slightly. There was indeed poison in the drink, but it was just a decoy. Their main focus was on the soft tendon incense, which was much harder to detect, similar to regular incense. Poison in the drink was more common, and most people would be wary of it. They could use this to engage with Yu Suoxi for some time.
However, Yu Suoxi not only drank it but also seemed to enjoy it, even pouring himself another cup. This unexpected behavior made Chu Lishu feel a hint of unease.
Yu Suoxi chuckled and said, “I didn’t expect this. You’re willing to invite me out voluntarily. I thought you didn’t want to see me at all. After all… now that you’ve seen Qi Ci, perhaps seeing the scars on the back of his neck reminds you of the time when you were by my side, being my pet.”
With Yu Suoxi’s words, everyone almost lost their composure.
Lin Qingyang didn’t want anyone to know about this matter at all. He was about to move, but Yue Chen patted his back to calm him down.
Looking at Yue Chen’s expression, Lin Qingyang knew that he had already understood. After all, Yue Chen and Huo Luo had witnessed Chu Lishu’s moments of losing control and becoming insane a few times. At that time, although Chu Lishu was insane, his martial arts skills remained intact. Just by recalling Qi Ci’s description of the madman and Yu Suoxi’s expression when he first saw Chu Lishu, someone as smart as Yue Chen would quickly understand.
At this moment, Qi Ci and Huo Luo also realized what was happening. For a moment, their minds almost went blank, both suspecting they were experiencing hallucinations. Gradually, they became aware of the situation, and the killing intent emanated from them instantly. If Chu Lishu hadn’t signaled yet, they would have stormed in and torn Yu Suoxi apart.
Chu Lishu’s expression remained unchanged. “Indeed, my memories have returned. Otherwise, I won’t sought an audience with His Royal Highness, the Regent, for a reunion.”
Yu Suoxi chuckled, “Is it a reunion or an assassination?”
“You already suspect I want to kill you, so why did you dare to come alone?” Chu Lishu also chuckled. “And why did you dare to drink the wine here without any precautions?”
“You poured it yourself, it’s a rare opportunity. Even if it’s poisoned, I can’t waste it,” Yu Suoxi raised an eyebrow, gesturing casually. “Besides, I don’t think I’ll die tonight. After all, I couldn’t possibly be acting alone.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the sounds of chaotic fighting outside could be heard, indicating that Lu Yi and Lu Shi had encountered enemies during their investigation.
The unexpected turn of events was within expectations, so no one else panicked. However, Chu Lishu didn’t want to waste any time. Upon hearing the sounds of the scuffle, he immediately launched a concealed weapon attack. Naturally, Yu Suoxi easily evaded it. But in the next moment, Qi Ci and Huo Luo appeared in the room, their blades and swords intersecting and pressing against Yu Suoxi’s neck.
With hardly any resistance, Yu Suoxi was subdued.
The first layer was the soft tendon powder, the second layer was the slow-acting poison, and the third layer was the blade of Qi Ci and Huo Luo sealing his throat.
There shouldn’t have been any problem in subduing the enemy, but the smoothness of the operation left everyone feeling uneasy.
Especially with Yu Suoxi’s seemingly fearless demeanor, he still sat there smiling.
Next door, Lin Qingyang was about to ask Yue Chen if they should go over, but when he turned his head, he suddenly realized that Yue Chen was nowhere to be seen.
The next moment, everything went black before him.
Meanwhile, Chu Lishu frowned and stepped forward, grabbing Yu Suoxi’s hand directly. He pulled up the sleeve and examined it. The red line indicating poisoning had already appeared at the wrist. He was indeed poisoned.
At this moment, without the antidote from Mu Huichun, Yu Suoxi was bound to die.
“Are you not afraid?” Chu Lishu asked with a furrowed brow.
Yu Suoxi chuckled, “I told you, I won’t die. But by not letting these two kill me immediately, are you really intending to catch up with me, Yuan Ran?”
The three present individuals were momentarily stunned.
Chu Lishu narrowed his eyes slightly as he saw Yu Suoxi smiling at him. “Since a year ago, Great Zhou has been in constant turmoil. It seems like three factions are in conflict, but in reality, none of them benefit in the end. Even the Emperor suffered heavy losses. However, they all failed to realize that there was someone behind the scenes, constantly stirring up trouble. And that person coincidentally left their mark in every major event, hidden behind other factions, yet unnoticed by anyone.”
“Four years ago, my subordinates found a highly skilled madman at the border. A year ago, that same madman suddenly appeared as a cousin in Marquis An Nan’s residence, with no identity that anyone could verify. And then there were all the coincidences during the Longevity Festival. Taking over Qi Ci, a hot potato, and still being able to make use of him for your own purposes. All these signs point to one conclusion: you, Chu Lishu, are Yuan Ran. Only this explanation makes sense. Was it some special medicine you took?”
Chu Lishu’s eyes darkened. “Yu Suoxi, you’re truly clever.”
“Hahaha, Yuan Ran, Yuan Ran, you’ve truly surprised me,” Yu Suoxi laughed. “I thought you had died four years ago, and it saddened me for a while. After all, it’s rare to find a worthy opponent in this world. I never expected you to come back like this and reclaim everything that belongs to you. Starting from nothing and reaching this point… you’ve truly brought endless amusement to my dull world. By the way, if I had known you were Yuan Ran back then, I wouldn’t have let you stay in the Beast Arena. I would have treated you properly, helped you recover, and assisted you in returning.”
“So, in a way, I might owe you thanks. If you hadn’t imprisoned me in the Beast Arena, my Imperial Uncle should have found me easily,” Chu Lishu sneered. “But when you say you would have helped me, I don’t believe it.”
With that said, Chu Lishu fed Yu Suoxi the truth-telling incense.
“Why is there still poison? This doesn’t taste good,” Yu Suoxi said helplessly.
“It’s not poison, per se. I just want to hear you speak the truth,” Chu Lishu said slowly.
Yu Suoxi was somewhat surprised. “There’s such a drug?”
Chu Lishu remained silent for a moment, waiting for the effects of the incense to take hold, then directly questioned, “Yu Suoxi, answer me. Regarding my identity as Yuan Ran, who did you tell?”
“Such an intriguing matter naturally only I should know,” Yu Suoxi responded confidently.
Chu Lishu furrowed his brows slightly. He didn’t like being treated as a toy. “Tell me, why did you start that war four years ago?”
“You’re asking me this, so it seems you already have some guesses. Why don’t you tell me yours first?” Yu Suoxi countered.
Chu Lishu suddenly paused for a moment, the opportunity to use the truth-telling incense was rare, so Yu Suoxi’s calm demeanor in the conversation now was somewhat different from the reactions of those people before, and it was unclear whether it was because of differences in the effects of the drug on individuals.
“Answer me,” Chu Lishu reiterated.
“Alright, alright, I’ll tell you. Four years ago, I was still an ordinary member of the royal family. At that time, the struggle for power and profit was intense, and I needed a significant war to help me seize military power, honor, and the hearts of the people. Our two countries were age-old enemies, so attacking you was the most normal thing to do. However, at that time, I was still hesitating because Great Zhou had you, and I was afraid of losing both my wife and my army. But then one day, a man from Great Zhou came to persuade me and suggested that I start a war.”
Why? Is it because… they wanted to seize the throne that belonged to Yuan Ran
Yu Suoxi continued, “He was very straightforward with me at the time. This battle had only two purposes: first, to take your life, and second, to help the new emperor gain popular support.”
“Taking your life was simple, just let you die on the battlefield. But gaining popular support, that’s where it gets interesting,” Yu Suoxi’s eyes lit up as he spoke.
“As for those people, the spirits of those three cities can actually blame you, Yuan Ran. It’s because you were so beloved in the past, the entire Great Zhou Dynasty almost worshipped you like a deity. If they didn’t give Great Zhou a painful lesson, how could they make you appear so heinous, drain all the admiration people had for you, and make room for the new emperor?”
“Your Imperial Uncle is truly ruthless. Do you think those three cities could have been taken so easily? The defenders of your Great Zhou are not useless. Of course, there were traitors, city defense plans, and other assistance, which allowed us to easily capture the three cities. Otherwise, if we truly had the strength to break through the three cities, would General Huo have been able to easily drive us away? It’s all just a show, a show for the world to see.”
The room was warmed by a fire, but a chill rose from the feet of everyone present.
Qi Ci’s eyes turned red, veins bulged on his forehead, and the hand holding the knife trembled from exertion. He remembered the innocent civilians affected on the border, his army being slaughtered, the things he later heard, and the four years since he parted ways with Ning Ziheng… He thought it was just the cruelty of war, just the rule of survival of the fittest. They were indeed betrayed, but… How could it have been false from the beginning?
What were he and His Highness doing in the Tongjia Pass then?
Huo Luo couldn’t contain his anger and growled, “Beast, beast!” With Yu Suoxi’s revelation, it seemed like their Huo family’s efforts to save the city at all costs, the sacrifices of the Huo family members, and the admiration of the rescued civilians were all fake, all part of a psychological warfare orchestrated by that beast on the throne.
“Tsk tsk tsk, such a ruthless man, I admire him. And it’s beneficial for me too. Killing you, capturing the city, achieving unprecedented military feats—after that, who in the entire Tianheng Kingdom would dare oppose me? So I joined their plan.”
Chu Lishu slowly raised his head to look at Yu Suoxi, his eyes gradually turning red, though he had grown accustomed to this state and wouldn’t descend into madness. There was a slight twitch in his cheeks, a sign of the rising ferocity within him.
“Look at you, not very surprised, huh? What? You’ve been considering this possibility for a while, just never dared to confirm it completely? After all, it’s been said that you and your uncle had a good relationship. Who would’ve thought… power truly is captivating. But this isn’t the full truth from four years ago,” Yu Suoxi spoke as if truly controlled by the truth serum, driven to reveal all.
“And…what else?” Chu Lishu gritted his teeth, each word dripping with menace.
Yu Suoxi chuckled, “After that, I found out that not only did our Tianheng Kingdom cooperate with them, but they also contacted other countries. The Western Moon Kingdom, as well as some smaller neighboring nations offering assistance, were all involved. Do you know how many enemies you had at that time? Those rulers who usually admired and respected you all wanted you dead, even including some smaller nations you had once helped. I assure you, it was an unprecedented grand alliance, all for the sake of taking your life. Such an honor, not something an ordinary person could possess.”
Chu Lishu spoke each word deliberately, “You all wanted me dead? Have I shown any signs of aggression towards you?”
Yu Suoxi smiled, “No, not at all. Not only did you not show any signs, I also knew that the you from the past resembled our Saintess a bit, caring for the people. How could you possibly have any intention of aggression towards other countries? You have the bearing of a great nation in your heart. You even said a sentence that spread to our Tianheng Kingdom: ‘Strong but not overbearing, big but not domineering.’ That’s the attitude a strong and great nation should have, right?”
“Then why!” Huo Luo and Qi Ci almost simultaneously questioned with indignation.
“Because of suspicion! The fame of Yuan Ran back then, you as his followers should know best. While all countries admired him, they also feared him. Military prowess, political and business acumen, formidable martial arts skills, and deep popular support. The talents displayed by a young man were shocking to all who heard. A figure far surpassing all the rulers of other countries, how terrifying! While other countries were mere dogs, you were an immature lion. Moreover, at that time, the Great Zhou Dynasty indeed had the strength to invade other countries. How could they let you grow up peacefully? What if a few years later, you changed your mind? With a single move, they would all be no match for you, even Tianheng Kingdom feared you at that time.”
Huo Luo and Qi Ci were left dumbfounded after hearing this.
Chu Lishu sneered coldly, “Ridiculous to the extreme. To be so distrustful of someone who hasn’t done anything or shown any intentions yet, just because of who he is? Perhaps some foolish rulers might have such thoughts, but most wouldn’t be so paranoid. It’s groundless fear. It’s more plausible to say that they simply wanted to weaken the Great Zhou Dynasty, so they seized the opportunity to cause trouble.”
If the three major clans had such concerns back then, it was because he had indeed initiated policies to weaken them. But towards other countries, he had always been friendly. Even if they feared him, they wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that he would destroy their countries.
But Yu Suoxi chuckled, “Strange, haven’t you heard about the prophecies concerning you?”
At this revelation, all three of them were stunned.
“What prophecy?” Chu Lishu pressed.
Yu Suoxi was genuinely surprised, “The prophecies that circulated among the royal families of other countries. I can’t believe you haven’t heard of them. Could it be that the news was sealed off as soon as it came out?”
This was indeed a bombshell of information, something they had never heard of before. But Chu Lishu recalled it. When they were trying to take over the Qintian Observatory, they had indeed investigated some past events. There had been a very powerful supervisor of the Observatory in the past, but there were few records left behind, and he had eventually disappeared. The information seemed to have been deliberately erased, and the timing was just after his birth.
Chu Lishu wasn’t inclined to believe in fortune-telling; it clashed with the principles instilled in him since childhood by his father and mother, who emphasized self-reliance and the idea that one’s destiny was in one’s own hands. It was also after his birth that the Qintian Observatory fell out of favor.
Seeing their reactions, Yu Suoxi chuckled, “It’s said that when you were born, there were strange signs in the sky that affected multiple countries. Your Qintian Observatory spent seventy-seven days divining for you and came up with three prophecies, but only one of them was widely circulated, and it’s closely related to everyone.”
Chu Lishu’s eyes flickered as he listened.
“The prophecy goes: ‘In the future, your wisdom will unify the land, bringing all nations under one rule without resistance. All people will recognize you as their ruler, and you will control the life and death of all.'”
With those words, it was as if thunder had struck each person’s heart.
Huo Luo and Qi Ci, faced with the former Chu Lishu, found the prophecy ludicrous and unthinkable. But now, considering the current Chu Lishu… they felt he might indeed have the ruthlessness to fulfill it, and they were willing to follow. However, they couldn’t shake the feeling that this version of Chu Lishu was forced out by their actions!
Yu Suoxi continued to gaze into Chu Lishu’s eyes and said, “When this prophecy first came out, it was so exaggerated that everyone treated it as a joke. They thought it was the indulgence of your monarch, who was too doting on this child and not afraid of shortening his life. How could such a domineering emperor possibly emerge?”
Chu Lishu’s expression gradually changed as Yu Suoxi spoke.
“But as you grew older, doesn’t this prophecy seem more and more plausible? Who wouldn’t be afraid?” Yu Suoxi continued. “Moreover, the previous Saintess of Tianheng also prophesied that twenty years later, Tianheng would face a catastrophe that could lead to its destruction. Doesn’t it all fit together?”
Chu Lishu’s face turned pale gradually. The impact on his psyche was indescribable. He had previously thought that only the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty saw him as an enemy, but now it seemed that the entire world was against him, and his fate had been foretold from the very beginning.
What a load of nonsense prophecy, how ridiculous. He never had such thoughts back then.
He just… wanted to be a benevolent ruler… to take care of his people, to foster harmony and development with neighboring countries, he just…
Suddenly, a shout from above jolted everyone awake.
“Lishu, watch out!”
Chu Lishu reacted instantly, with Qi Ci and Huo Luo also on high alert. Despite being surrounded, Yu Suoxi swiftly turned around, unafraid of his neck being cut, risking injury to his shoulders, and broke free from the encirclement. In an instant, multiple skilled fighters flooded into the room, and the scene erupted into chaos.
But Chu Lishu already realized something was wrong. He looked sharply towards the source of the sound and instantly saw Lin Qingyang being held hostage, while Yue Chen was lying on the ground, both drugged and unable to move. Lin Qingyang had blood flowing from his mouth, indicating he had just bitten his lip in pain to alert them.
But the warning came too late.
Qi Ci and Huo Luo were restrained, and Yu Suoxi moved swiftly, capturing Chu Lishu within a few moves. “Don’t be nervous, I don’t intend to harm you. But if you resist again, I won’t hesitate to kill.”
As Yu Suoxi spoke, Lu Yi and Lu Shi were also thrown in, already heavily injured.
Chu Lishu, unwilling to suffer further losses, immediately shouted, “Stop!”
Huo Luo and Qi Ci instantly retreated to the side, facing the enemy’s men in a standoff but refraining from attacking.
Yu Suoxi didn’t demand their surrender, seeming genuinely uninterested in taking their lives.
The situation was dire; they needed to wait for the right moment.
Although Chu Lishu knew that Yu Suoxi would likely have guards, he never imagined that he would bring so many experts with him to the Great Zhou Dynasty. To avoid being detected, he must have arranged everything in advance and also needed officials in the capital to act as accomplices to help him sneak in so many unidentified people.
Leaving aside the unexpected number of guards, the current situation…
“You weren’t poisoned at all?”
Yu Suoxi held Chu Lishu’s neck from behind, raising his arm to show Chu Lishu the lack of red lines on it. Chu Lishu was puzzled; he hadn’t taken any antidote at all.
“The teeth can not only hide poison but also antidote, didn’t you know?” Yu Suoxi chuckled.
“So, you were just playing games with me, not telling the truth earlier?” Chu Lishu sneered.
“Oh, rest assured, those were all truths,” Yu Suoxi smiled.
“What do you want by not killing us?” Chu Lishu looked towards Lin Qingyang in the distance, already calculating various methods in his mind.
Meanwhile, Lin Qingyang was also strategizing.
Lin Qingyang: 【System, I want to activate cheats!】
System: 【Activation failed. Please note, for the sake of maintaining world balance, the self-rescue mode can only be activated when the host is in extreme danger. Upon inspection, the host is not currently in a dangerous state.】
Lin Qingyang: ?!? What the heck! So, it means I can only use this cheat when I’m about to die?
Lin Qingyang really didn’t expect the system to pull this move on him. Blame him; even game items should have usage restrictions known in advance.
Isn’t this a disaster?
Lin Qingyang: Wait a minute, just now the system said it’s not dangerous. Could it be that Yu Suoxi really is sick to the point where he doesn’t intend to kill them even in this situation? Is he repaying kindness with enmity?
Facing Chu Lishu’s questioning, Yu Suoxi seemed disappointed. “You were the one who wanted to reminisce, not me. Initially, I had no ulterior motives; I was simply curious about the current you. But, alas, Yuan Ran, you’ve disappointed me after all…”
As Yu Suoxi spoke, he reached into Chu Lishu’s clothing, “If you truly wanted to kill me, you would spare no effort, just like your emperor, planting explosives to finish it all. You wouldn’t need to take risks. After all, sacrificing innocent civilians of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion for my sake is no big deal compared to the benefits of killing me, isn’t it? When I saw you here, I knew that you hadn’t resorted to such convenient methods, and that disappointed me greatly.”
“It’s clear that four years ago, so many lives were sacrificed to teach you a lesson. Why are you still so soft-hearted? Back then, what I was most curious about was whether you would discover that your trusted relatives and ministers were betraying you. In the end, you lost, and I could only disappointingly kill you. Now, seeing you crawl out of hell and accomplish so many remarkable things, I once again have hope for you. You should abandon your innocence and conscience, and tread the path of iron and blood, embracing ruthless slaughter. Why have you become weak again? Is it… because of him?”
“What the hell are you doing! Let go!” Lin Qingyang was already anxious. He had thought that Yu Suoxi was only restraining Chu Lishu, but what was he groping for?
However, Yu Suoxi’s gaze suddenly turned towards him, filled with amusement.
Chu Lishu’s face had turned completely dark. He knew that Yu Suoxi had noticed Lin Qingyang, and that was too dangerous. He wanted to drive himself crazy, to regain his strength, but that power wasn’t something he could control. All he could do was speak in a cold tone, “What do you want?”
Yu Suoxi almost embraced Chu Lishu, but just as Lin Qingyang was losing his mind, he reached into Chu Lishu’s embrace and pulled out a vial. It turned out he was only searching for medicine, and that medicine happened to be the unused truth-telling incense. To get to the truth, Chu Lishu had prepared a sufficient amount. And to ensure its effectiveness, Lin Qingyang had even mixed his own truth telling pill into it.
“Of course, I’m curious about some things and thought I’d ask.”
Chu Lishu thought the medicine was for him to take, and he wasn’t afraid. After all, his identity as Yuan Ran had already been exposed, so what else was there to hide? But when he saw Yu Suoxi’s guards bringing Lin Qingyang over, he became a bit bewildered. What exactly did Yu Suoxi want? Was he just curious to know if Lin Qingyang had changed his initial intentions?
As for Lin Qingyang, he also felt puzzled as he looked at the vial. He and Yue Chen hadn’t taken any antidotes at the beginning because they had no martial arts skills, which led to them being drugged. Now, was he supposed to take truth-telling incense? What did they want to interrogate him about? And could he possibly know any classified information? The system wouldn’t allow him to spoil the future, after all.
As he pondered, Lin Qingyang saw Yu Suoxi smiling at him. “Do you know his identity?”
In that awkward moment, Lin Qingyang looked at Chu Lishu. They hadn’t avoided discussing anything during their conversation, and Chu Lishu had already anticipated that Lin Qingyang would overhear. Moreover, Chu Lishu had actually suspected…
Lin Qingyang nodded decisively. “I know, so what?”
“Oh? When did you find out? Just now, or did you know earlier?” Yu Suoxi asked.
Suddenly realizing a problem, Lin Qingyang’s expression changed slightly. But just then, Yu Suoxi forcibly fed him the truth-telling incense. In an instant, Lin Qingyang’s brain seemed to freeze, and as his voice came out involuntarily, he realized that he had lost control of himself.
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