14: Grandmaster

【 In the twentieth year, 】

【 You reach a Breakthrough to the Innate Middle Stage. 】

【 On your thirty-eighth birthday, Uncle Cheng and Qing'er celebrate with you. Ever since you adopted Qing'er, the cooking has been left to her, and the meals are much richer than before. 】

【 Perhaps because you are getting older, you start to miss your mother. You apply to Vice Commissioner Duan to return home for a visit, but you are flatly refused — " As long as you do not leave the Imperial Capital, you may do as you please. " 】

【 Only then do you realize that even after more than a decade, the Imperial City Guard still harbors suspicions about you. 】

【 You even suspect, are there still secret agents watching outside your courtyard? 】

【 That matter of the " Medicine Bodhisattva " likely could not be hidden from them. However, you have a clear conscience, and the Imperial City Guard should be aware of that as well. 】

【 A month later, another unexpected piece of news arrives — — The Grand Secretary has been raided and his clan wiped out, but Cheng Tianrui has escaped. 】

【 And another piece of news makes your heart ache — — During the raid, Cheng Rongrong was forced to commit suicide by Fang Chen. 】

【 Furthermore, it is said that before she died, she had two scrolls hidden in her room — — one was the " four sentences of hengqu ", and the other was that line of poetry you wrote back then. 】

Looking at the simulation content, Qin Chen feels a sourness in his nose.

Although he does not know what Cheng Rongrong looks like, nor does he have those feelings, the bonds from the two simulations still move him.

Why does this young lady think of him incessantly both times?

Could it be just because of the bit of literary talent he plagiarized?

But in reality, he has no ink in his stomach.

Words like the " four sentences of hengqu " are known to anyone who has read a book.

【 In the twenty-second year, 】

【 As you expected, the situation in the Imperial Capital has changed drastically — — the Martial Alliance and the Dukes Residence, two major factions, have risen to power, almost controlling the entire Imperial Capital. 】

【 You vaguely feel that something is wrong, but with the situation as it is, you are powerless to change it. 】

【 On your fortieth birthday, Qing'er prepares a table of good food, and Uncle Cheng also comes to celebrate with you. 】

【 You become increasingly curious about Uncle Cheng — — he looks at least over a hundred years old, yet he is full of vitality and shows no signs of aging. 】

【 What is even stranger is that he is not a Martial Artist; logically, a Mortal should show signs of aging by sixty, yet he is still full of life. 】

【 You even have a premonition — — by the time you die of old age, he might still be alive and well. 】

【 You cannot help but ask: " Uncle Cheng, how old are you exactly? " 】

【 Uncle Cheng glances at you, seemingly having expected you to ask, and smiles: " Kid, this old man has a good mindset, so naturally I live a long time. " 】

【 " As for the troubles in this world, only someone like me, who is heartless and carefree, can live a little more easily. " 】

【 You nod with a smile, but in your heart, you think — — this old man definitely has secrets. 】

【 Suddenly, a thought flashes through your mind, and you ask nervously: " Uncle Cheng, could it be that you are... a Cultivator? " 】

【 Uncle Cheng is stunned for a moment, then laughs out loud: " Hahaha... have you ever seen an immortal as poor as me? " 】

【 You laugh along with him. 】

【 At the same time, you have an illusion that you have been seen through by something. 】

【 In the twenty-fifth year, 】

【 You finally reach a Breakthrough to the Innate Late Stage, which finally makes these years of hard Cultivation not in vain. 】

【 The atmosphere in the Imperial Capital is becoming increasingly tense, as if some major event is about to erupt. 】

【 This day, you accompany Vice Commissioner Duan to the Ghost Market to investigate a series of bloody murders. 】

【 Of the original ten veterans in the team, now some are dead and some have retired, and you have actually become one of the most senior members. 】

【 The victim this time is the owner of the Qingyi Gambling House, named Chang Qingyi. 】

【 You are experienced, and while searching, you discover a Secret Manual in a hidden compartment — — 《 Eighteen Needles of Soul Chasing 》, and you immediately tuck it into your bosom. 】

【 After all, truly good Cultivation Techniques cannot be bought on the market. 】

【 You pretend to search for a while longer, then you go to examine the body and suddenly discover — — Chang Qingyi's corpse, its fingers pointing rigidly at a wall! 】

【 " Vice Commissioner Duan, there is something strange here! " You immediately alert him. 】

【 Vice Commissioner Duan pries open the wall and, as expected, finds a document and an account book. 】

【 You steal a glance and your back immediately turns cold — — so the case of the Grand Secretary's clan being wiped out back then was actually framed by the Martial Alliance and the Dukes Residence working together! 】

【 " Oh no... " Your heart skips a beat. 】

【 The Martial Alliance and the Dukes Residence are currently at the height of their power; knowing such a secret, can you expect any good outcome? 】

【 Sure enough, the next second, more than twenty masked assassins rush out, and both sides instantly engage in a bloody battle! 】

【 This is the first time in the ten-plus years since you joined the Imperial City Guard that you have been besieged in broad daylight! 】

【 Ambushing the Imperial City Guard in the Imperial Capital? Simply lawless! 】

【 You are already at the Innate Late Stage and can barely handle an encirclement by three people. But the few newcomers at the Houtian Realm in the team are not so lucky, and in the blink of an eye, they are decapitated. 】

【 Although Vice Commissioner Duan is a Grandmaster, he is being pincered by two experts of the same Realm, and the battle is tragic — — as their Protective Aura clashes, everyone nearby is sent flying and vomiting blood! 】

【 " Scatter and flee! Go back and report to the Commander! " Vice Commissioner Duan bellows. 】

【 You say nothing, and with all your might, you execute the 《 Mizong Step 》 and flee in a sorry state. The assassins do not chase you — — their target is clearly the evidence in Vice Commissioner Duan's hands. 】

【 " It is definitely people from the Martial Alliance and the Dukes Residence! " You grit your teeth in anger. 】

【 To be able to dispatch so many Innate experts at once, and even two Grandmasters, who else could do it besides these two major factions? 】

【 Fleeing back to the Imperial City Guard, you rush to report to Commander Cold Dustless. 】

【 Before you even finish speaking, his figure flashes, and he takes off directly into the air, transforming into a stream of light as he rushes toward the Ghost Market! 】

【 A sonic boom explodes, and all the hair on your body stands on end — — 】

【 A Great Grandmaster can actually fly?! 】

【 At this moment, you truly understand that in the eyes of Cold Dustless, your past self was probably not even worth as much as an ant. 】

【 A moment later, Cold Dustless returns with a gloomy face, carrying the corpse of Vice Commissioner Duan in his hand. 】

【 Your eyes redden, and tears roll down. 】

【 Although Vice Commissioner Duan almost killed you back then, over the years, he has treated you well... 】

【 " Commander, the evidence must have been snatched by them! Are we just going to let it go like this? " You say unwillingly. 】

【 Cold Dustless looks at you deeply and says indifferently: " Empty words are no proof; without evidence, no one will support us. " 】

【 You clench your fists, but you are helpless. 】

【 The Martial Alliance and the Dukes Residence also have Great Grandmasters presiding over them; in a head-on collision, the Imperial City Guard might not necessarily come out on top. 】

【 Only until this moment do you clearly see the depths of the five major factions that once existed in the Yan Dynasty — — the Imperial Clan, the Grand Secretary, the Imperial City Guard, the Martial Alliance, and the Dukes Residence; five major factions, five Great Grandmasters! 】

【 " No wonder Cheng Tianrui was able to escape... " You suddenly realize — — it must have been that Great Grandmaster from the Cheng Family who intervened! 】

【 Looking at it this way, the rebellion that the " Medicine Bodhisattva " spoke of back then was not the Grand Secretary — — but the Martial Alliance and the Dukes Residence? 】

【 For the next three months, you do not dare to step out of the Imperial City Guard. 】

【 Fortunately, everyone is very busy, and since your boss is dead, no one pays you any attention. 】

【 You have no choice but to focus on Cultivating the newly acquired Secret Manual — — 《 Eighteen Needles of Soul Chasing 》 】

【 It takes you three months to get started with the 《 Eighteen Needles of Soul Chasing 》. 】