123: Chapter 123 The Root of Calamity, the Imperial Observatory

The border of Huai Prefecture was not much different from Jiang Prefecture.

The official road was still wide, but in the fields beside it, there were many soldiers in uniform carrying long halberds patrolling back and forth. The ease and leisure of Jiang Prefecture were replaced by an invisible air of killing and tension.

The three rode on horses, silent all the way.

Hong Shao and Qing Luo clearly felt the change in atmosphere; they no longer chattered like the previous days, but silently followed behind Chen Fan, occasionally casting worried inquiries.

Chen Fan did not respond.

All his focus was spread out, perceiving everything around him.

Those few farmers resting on the field ridges had firm waist muscles and calluses on their palms, not looking like farm folk.

That freight carriage passing by had deep ruts, but it didn't seem to be carrying goods, because more than one suppressed breathing sound came from inside the carriage.

Being watched.

Since leaving that ancient temple, this feeling of being spied on followed like a shadow.

The opponent was very clever, showing no killing intent, just like a group of experienced hunters trailing from afar, maintaining a subtle distance, waiting for the prey to walk into the trap.

Arriving at a three-way intersection, a large courier station appeared ahead. Outside the station, horses and carriages were noisy, and people's voices were bustling.

"Let's rest first." Chen Fan reined in his horse.

He dismounted, handed the reins to the approaching station attendant, and was about to lead the sisters inside when his footsteps suddenly paused.

Under the tea shed at the entrance of the station, a familiar figure was leisurely holding a tea bowl, facing his direction with a meaningful smile.

A set of washed-out green robes, a pair of startlingly bright eyes.

It was Mr. Know-It-All again.

Hong Shao and Qing Luo's bodies instantly tensed, their hands unconsciously pressing on their sword hilts.

This person was simply haunting!

Under Chen Fan's mask, there was no ripple. He led the horse and walked straight over; after even Shangguan Yun couldn't make him stop, he stopped before this mysterious scholar.

"What a coincidence." Mr. Know-It-All put down the tea bowl, like seeing an old friend not seen for a long time, "I didn't expect we would be on the same path."

Chen Fan said nothing.

Coincidence? If there were so many coincidences in this world, what would be the use of conspiracies and schemes?

Mr. Know-It-All didn't mind his coldness, picking up the teapot and filling the two empty tea bowls in front of him.

"Young ladies, there's no need to be so nervous." He smiled at the guarded sisters, "If I had ill intent, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to leave this Huai Prefecture border now."

This sentence made the sisters' hearts sink again.

Chen Fan sat down on the long bench.

"You are also going to Huai Prefecture?"

"Indeed." Mr. Know-It-All nodded, refilling his own tea, "To hear some new stories, and also to tell some old ones."

He took a sip of tea and spoke slowly.

"The stories of the world, in the end, all root in one place." He pointed north, towards the capital, Chaoge, "They all stem from Your Majesty, who is single-mindedly focused on cultivating immortality."

Hong Shao and Qing Luo were confused, but Chen Fan remained silent, just listening quietly.

"Your Majesty wants longevity, so he needs Alchemy. Alchemy requires Heaven And Earth Treasures." Mr. Know-It-All spoke like a storyteller, describing it vividly, "Thus, the Imperial Observatory followed the imperial decree to scour the world for spiritual items. This is a lucrative post, but also one that offends people."

He paused, his bright eyes sweeping over the mask on Chen Fan's face.

"This Imperial Observatory, relying on the imperial decree, has always acted overbearingly. In court, they even cover the sky with one hand; whoever dares to disobey gets slapped with the label of 'defying the imperial will,' which no one can bear. Whether it's the Jiang Faction or the Huai Party, they've been suppressed by them quite a bit over the years."

Chen Fan picked up the tea bowl and blew on the floating tea leaves.

"Since they are both suppressed, why not unite?"

This question made Mr. Know-It-All's eyes light up. He clapped and laughed as if he had heard something extremely interesting.

"Good question!" He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice, "Because this court is like a chessboard. The Jiang Faction, the Huai Party, and the Imperial Observatory are all chess pieces. And the person playing the game is Your Majesty."

"The Imperial Observatory is a vicious dog, making the two fat sheep howl; Your Majesty is happy to see this. Because only then do the sheep not dare to have disloyal hearts and will only obediently let their wool be sheared."

"But what if these two sheep suddenly decide not to fight among themselves, but to unite, grow horns together, and gore that vicious dog?"

Mr. Know-It-All's tone became deep and slow.

"Then it won't just be the Imperial Observatory doing the suppressing. The true Dragon sitting in the Nine Heavens would probably personally enter the fray and bring down thunder and rain."

The words were spoken lightly.

Chen Fan's hand holding the tea bowl paused imperceptibly.

So that's how it was.

He instantly understood many things.

Why did the Shangguan Family want to win him over? Why did the Huai Party want to kill a Jianghu person like him?

Because they were all pushed to the edge of the cliff.

The Imperial Observatory's blade was already hanging over their necks. They didn't dare to unite, so they could only fight their own battles, using every means to increase their chips for survival.

And he, the so-called number one on the hero ranking list, happened to become a somewhat sharp good blade in their eyes.

How ridiculous.

He, a passerby ready to die at any time, actually became a life-saving straw in the eyes of others.

"Thank you for clearing my doubts." Chen Fan put down the tea bowl and stood up.

The story was finished, the tea was cold, it was time to move on.

Mr. Know-It-All didn't stop him, just looked at him with a smile.

"Brother Luo, the journey to Huai Prefecture is arduous and dangerous; do be careful."

He seemed to remember something and added slowly.

"Especially the Fuyang city ahead. I heard the prefect there is a core figure of the Huai Party. He is most hospitable, especially liking to make friends with world-famous Jianghu heroes like Brother Luo."

Chen Fan's footsteps did not pause at all.

He took the sisters' hands, mounted his horse, and merged into the endless stream of people on the official road.

Mr. Know-It-All picked up the bowl of tea that had long since gone cold and drank it in one gulp.

He watched the three receding figures, the smile on his face becoming increasingly profound.

"A chess piece, or a game-breaker?"