114: Chapter 114 Undercurrents in the Struggle for the Throne, Chu Ming Kneels to Advise Against Taking Sides

"This is really not a job for a human."

"I encountered this shitty business on my very first day on the job."

"Who knows how much more is to come."

"Have I just jumped onto a sinking ship?"

Along the way, Gu Han couldn't help but mutter in his heart.

Before long, Gu Han returned to the Zhenwu Division.

Gu Han stepped into his residence at the Zhenwu Division, his aura yet to settle, the Heavenly Prison True Qi within his body churning like boiling water.

Just as he unbuckled the saber at his waist, the moment his fingertips touched the hilt, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the courtyard.

"Commander, the Second Prince has sent someone to extend an invitation."

Chu Ming's voice carried a hint of gravity; Gu Han's eyes narrowed slightly as he pushed open the door.

He saw a servant in black robes standing behind Chu Ming, holding a gilded invitation in his hands.

"The Second Prince invites me?"

Gu Han's fingertips lightly brushed over the Dragon pattern on the cover of the invitation, and a cold sneer curled the corner of his lips.

"This Second Prince certainly knows how to pick his timing."

"Commander, the Second Prince said there is an important matter to discuss, regarding the Blood God Cult..."

Before the servant could finish, Gu Han raised his hand to interrupt.

"Tell the Second Prince I will be there shortly."

The servant acknowledged the order and bowed as he retreated.

Gu Han turned and returned to his room.

"The Blood God Cult, the Yao Race, the Second Prince..."

He muttered to himself, a playful look appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"This capital is getting livelier by the day."

After a quick wash, he changed into a clean robe.

Just as Gu Han finished changing and was about to leave, he saw Chu Ming standing outside the door, his expression complex, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Commander..."

The words reached Chu Ming's lips, but he swallowed them back, his eyes flickering as if he were hesitating about something.

"If you have something to say, just say it."

Gu Han frowned, his tone icy.

Chu Ming trembled all over and hurriedly bowed.

"Commander, your subordinate... your subordinate has something to report."

"Speak."

Gu Han cast a cold glance at him and strode toward the outside of the courtyard.

Chu Ming hurriedly followed, lowering his voice.

"Commander, are you aware that several princes in this capital are currently engaged in a succession struggle?"

Gu Han paused, his eyes like torches as he looked at Chu Ming.

"A succession struggle?"

"Isn't that something everyone in the world already knows?"

A cold sneer curled the corner of his lips, his tone icy.

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Commander, as the current Zhenwu Division Commander, holding great power, you have naturally become a target for the princes to win over."

Chu Ming hurriedly explained.

"However, in my observation, none of the princes are benevolent; if you easily take sides, I fear it will invite disaster."

"Take sides?"

Gu Han sneered, his gaze sweeping over Chu Ming, his tone icy.

"I, Gu Tian, would never easily take sides."

"However, you have reminded me."

His eyes like torches, he stared at Chu Ming, his tone icy.

"Why are you telling me this? Whose person are you, exactly?"

Chu Ming trembled all over, his face pale, and he hurriedly knelt on the ground.

"Commander, your subordinate... your subordinate has absolutely no ulterior motives!"

"Oh? No ulterior motives?"

A look of mockery appeared at the corner of Gu Han's mouth, his gaze sweeping over Chu Ming, his tone icy.

"Then tell me, exactly whose person are you?"

"Commander, your subordinate..."

Chu Ming stammered, wanting to speak but hesitating, cold sweat raining down his forehead.

"Can't say it?"

Gu Han sneered, his eyes like torches, staring at Chu Ming, his tone icy.

"Or is it that you were sent by someone else to monitor me?"

"Commander, your subordinate..."

Chu Ming trembled all over, his face as pale as paper, his eyes filled with fear and despair.

He knew well that Gu Han was a man of decisive killing and ruthless methods; if he truly angered him, he would certainly meet a bad end.

"Commander, your subordinate... your subordinate is actually..."

Chu Ming gritted his teeth, seemingly having made up his mind, and suddenly looked up at Gu Han, his eyes full of determination.

"Your subordinate was indeed sent to monitor you, but it was also to protect you."

"Protect me?"

Gu Han frowned, his eyes like torches, staring at Chu Ming, his tone icy.

"Tell me, how do you intend to protect me?"

Chu Ming's Adam's apple bobbed, and cold sweat dripped from his chin onto the bluestone floor.

"Three days ago, when the Old Ancestor ordered me to monitor the Commander... he mentioned the Second Prince."

He looked up abruptly, his pupils reflecting Gu Han's suddenly darkened face.

"Chu Tiankuo said the Second Prince is powerful."

"You must not let yourself be drawn into it."

"The Old Ancestor said the Second Prince is ruthless and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals; if you, Commander, are drawn into it, I fear your life will be in danger."

"That is why he sent me to... secretly protect you."

"And to warn you, Commander, when necessary."

A look of mockery appeared at the corner of Gu Han's mouth, his gaze sweeping over Chu Ming, his tone icy.

"Would he, Chu Tiankuo, be so kind-hearted?"

"Or does he have other motives?"

Chu Ming trembled all over, his face as pale as paper, his eyes filled with fear and despair.

"Commander, your subordinate... everything your subordinate said is the truth!"

"The Old Ancestor does not want Great Chu to fall into a succession struggle, leading to chaos in the imperial court and the suffering of the people."

Chu Ming kowtowed violently, his forehead striking the bluestone floor with a dull thud.

"The Old Ancestor... he is indeed wary of the Second Prince, and he did indeed send me to protect you."

"However, your subordinate also knows that the Old Ancestor... he also has his own plans."

"Oh? Plans?"

Gu Han's eyes flashed, and a playful look appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"What plans could he, Chu Tiankuo, possibly have?"

"The Old Ancestor... he wants to use you, Commander, to balance these princes."

Chu Ming gritted his teeth and finally told the truth.

"Balance the princes?"

Gu Han frowned, his eyes like torches, staring at Chu Ming, his tone icy.

"He, Chu Tiankuo, certainly has a good scheme."

"But isn't he afraid that I, Gu Tian, will bite back at him?"

"What if I don't cooperate?"

Chu Ming trembled all over, not daring to speak, only lowering his head to kowtow, his forehead dripping with blood, yet he dared not stop.

Gu Han's gaze swept over Chu Ming, secretly calculating in his heart.

"Chu Tiankuo, you really know how to scheme."

"However, if you truly think that I, Gu Tian, will let you manipulate me, then you are greatly mistaken."

His eyes like torches, he stared at Chu Ming, his tone icy.

"Chu Ming, get up."

"Thank you, Commander!"

Chu Ming felt as if he had been granted amnesty and hurriedly stood up, but he dared not look up at Gu Han.

"Chu Ming, do you know why I spared your life?"

Gu Han's eyes like torches, he stared at Chu Ming, his tone icy.

"Your subordinate... your subordinate does not know."

Chu Ming trembled all over and said with his head lowered.

"Because you are still useful."

"Originally, just a moment ago, if I had killed you, Chu Tiankuo wouldn't have said anything."

A cold sneer curled the corner of Gu Han's mouth, his gaze sweeping over Chu Ming, his tone icy.

"If you truly want to live, then do your job well for me."

"Yes, Commander!"

Chu Ming hurriedly bowed and acknowledged, his eyes filled with relief and gratitude.

He knew well that his life had been saved.

"Don't be in such a hurry to thank me."

"Since you have told me everything, I will not be ungrateful."

"Furthermore, I can see that you also have your own ideas."

Gu Han stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over Chu Ming, a cold sneer curling the corner of his mouth.

"Chu Ming, tell me everything you know, one by one."

"If you dare to conceal even half a word..."

He tapped his fingertips lightly on the saber hilt, and Saber Qi like a Dragon struck directly at the center of Chu Ming's brow.

Chu Ming trembled all over, feeling a stinging pain at the center of his brow, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.