Chapter 221 A Clichéd Story

After arranging all matters, the Empress Dowager noticed the tall figure behind the curtain and waved her hand, saying:

"You may withdraw for now!"

"Yes! Your humble servant takes his leave!"

Fan Duo stood up, respectfully bowed, and slowly retreated.

"What is it?"

Only after Fan Duo had left did the Empress Dowager speak calmly.

The figure lifted the brocade curtain and entered. It was the tall palace maid beside the Empress Dowager, named Luo Jin.

She bowed to the Empress Dowager and said:

"The Han Family's legitimate son, Han Yue, incited by the Grand Prince, learned that Zhao Licheng's granddaughter had some relationship with Yan Chu. Greatly agitated, he requested Han Tianzong to take action and go to Cangzhou Prefecture to kill Yan Chu."

Zhao Licheng was the Old Ancestor of the Zhao Family, simultaneously the Red Robe Commander of Six Doors and also serving as Vice Minister of Justice.

As for Han Tianzong, he was extraordinary—the Deputy Sect Leader of Six Doors and one of the two Purple Robe Divine Constables, holding an exalted status above the court officials.

Empress Dowager Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng slightly furrowed her delicate brows and asked in a calm tone:

"What is Han Tianzong's intention?"

"He knows Yan Chu is someone Your Majesty values, so he specifically sent this servant to inquire about Your Majesty's opinion."

"That old fox!"

The Empress Dowager coldly cursed, then lightly parted her cherry lips and said:

"Yan Chu is of great use to this palace."

"Take two dragon tiger great restoration pills from the inner treasury to the Han Family. Tell them this palace will have Zhao Licheng select another legitimate daughter from the Zhao Family to marry the Han Family's legitimate son."

"Yes!" Luo Jin respectfully nodded.

"Additionally..."

Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng pondered for a moment, then added:

"Go personally to Cangzhou Prefecture and notify Yan Chu to come to the capital. The wedding procession will likely depart soon."

"This journey is quite turbulent; we may still need to rely on Yan Chu!"

"Yes!"

Luo Jin bowed in acknowledgment, then hesitated slightly and said:

"What about the Grand Prince's side..."

In the battle at Tongzhou Prefecture, Yan Chu not only killed Awakening to emptiness, the Buddha's son of Nalanda Temple, but also abducted the Grand Prince's soon-to-be-wedded concubine.

It is said Yan Chu stayed in Tongzhou Prefecture city for five days, and the cries from the She Family's villa never ceased.

Now, Grand Prince Li Shu has become the laughingstock of the entire Realm.

This incident is also a blow to the imperial family's dignity.

Hearing this, Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng couldn't help but feel a headache.

She rubbed her fair, smooth forehead and sighed:

"I will speak with Li Shu. You go meet Yan Chu face-to-face and make it clear to him that he must not provoke further enmities, or even this palace cannot protect him!"

In truth, she was now somewhat regretting recruiting Yan Chu.

But the initial investment had already been made—not only gifting a divine weapon and treasure armor, but now the entire Realm knew Yan Chu was her person.

If she gave up at this point, whether others would still be willing to follow her in the future would become a question...

...

...

East of the Great Jin Dynasty, Haizhou Prefecture.

Yan Chu originally intended to head straight to the Western Regions to exterminate the Huanxi Sect, but a mid-journey falcon message called him to Haizhou Prefecture.

The one who sent him the message was Zhu Qingluan.

She had an urgent matter requiring his help.

Zhu Qingluan's relationship with Yan Chu was unusual; she had helped him many times before and after. Both emotionally and logically, Yan Chu would not ignore her.

Thus, he could only temporarily set aside the Huanxi Sect and rush straight to Haizhou Prefecture.

"You've finally come!"

In a roadside tea house, seeing Yan Chu appear, a flash of pleasant surprise showed in Zhu Qingluan's eyes.

Zhu Qingluan still wore a wide-brimmed hat with a light veil covering her face.

Although her features were unclear, her graceful figure and unique, solitary aura alone made the tea house patrons unconsciously glance her way.

Only when Yan Chu appeared inside the tea house and Zhu Qingluan exclaimed in delight did the covert gazes withdraw.

That young man clearly looked like someone not to be trifled with!

Those present were all seasoned Jianghu runners; they could easily distinguish who could be provoked and who could not.

"What exactly is going on?"

Yan Chu took Zhu Qingluan's fair hand and sat down, asking.

Zhu Qingluan's delicate face behind the veil flushed slightly with shyness. She tried to pull away but couldn't free her hand from Yan Chu's large grip, so she let him hold it.

"It's like this, I have an elder sister..."

Her soft hands held by Yan Chu's large ones, the warmth from his palms slightly calmed Zhu Qingluan's mind, and she began to explain in detail.

It was a clichéd story.

When Zhu Qingluan was very young, she had a happy family.

Besides her parents, she also had an elder sister.

Later, due to some changes, the family separated.

The two sisters were forced apart. Zhu Qingluan was taken by her father into the Wind Listening Pavilion, while her elder sister Zhu Yushuang was taken by their mother into the Ice Demon Sect.

Although they belonged to different factions, they were still biological sisters. As adults, they coincidentally reunited, learning of each other's situations.

Their mother had died over a decade ago due to Qi Deviation while Cultivating. Now, Zhu Yushuang was a Personal Disciple of the Ice Demon Sect's Sect Master, being groomed as the Ice Demon Sect's successor.

But just a few days ago, Zhu Qingluan suddenly received news that her elder sister Zhu Yushuang had been imprisoned by the Ice Demon Sect and was to be offered as a Cauldron to a great figure.

The Ice Demon Sect was one of the Seven Great Demonic Sects of the Demonic Path. Anyone the Ice Demon Sect called a great figure was likely a Celestial Being Expert.

Zhu Qingluan had been anxiously distressed these past few days and finally thought of Yan Chu.

"Is your father still alive?"

Yan Chu took a sip of tea and asked unhurriedly.

If his biological daughter was in trouble, shouldn't the father step forward?

"Don't mention him to me! He might as well be dead!"

Zhu Qingluan gritted her silver teeth, her tone agitated, as if he were not her father but some enemy.

"What about others in the Wind Listening Pavilion? As a cross-Realm intelligence organization, they should have Celestial Being Experts too, right?"

Zhu Qingluan's tone was somewhat helpless as she said:

"The Wind Listening Pavilion only deals in selling information. Its first iron rule is not to involve itself in any Jianghu disputes."

"I asked my Master, but even he had no solution."

"Moreover, the Ice Demon Sect is no minor force, not to mention this matter involves a Heavenly Human. The Pavilion wants no part of it."

"I had no choice but to beg you for help!"

"Hmm!"

Yan Chu nodded, set down his teacup, and said:

"Do you know who that Heavenly Human is? What level of strength among Heavenly Humans does he possess?"

"I don't know!"

Zhu Qingluan gently shook her head and said:

"Since the Pavilion learned of my intention to rescue my sister, they've cut off all my information sources."

"But the Ice Demon Sect belongs to one of the Seven Great Demonic Sects. The great figure they want to curry favor with must be a Heavenly Human from the Demonic Path."

"Among the known Seven Great Demonic Sects, those with Celestial Being Experts in residence are the White Bone Demonic Sect, Nether Moon Palace, Lihen Island, and the most powerful, the Great Black Heavenly Demon Cult."

"The great figure the Ice Demon Sect wants to please must come from one of these four major Demonic Sects."

"Hmm..."

Yan Chu narrowed his eyes, pondering, and said:

"Do you know if that so-called great figure is currently within the Ice Demon Sect?"

"I don't know!"

Zhu Qingluan shook her head, her delicate brows slightly furrowed as she said:

"That's what worries me. If that Heavenly Human happens to be stationed at the Ice Demon Sect, if we go..."

"It's fine!"

Yan Chu waved his hand dismissively and said nonchalantly:

"At worst, I'll offer you to that great figure too and make my escape!"

"You—"

Zhu Qingluan was furious, pretending to hit him. Seeing Yan Chu's grinning face, she lightly patted his shoulder and coquettishly chided:

"What are you saying?"

"I'm discussing serious matters with you!"

"Hehe!"

Yan Chu chuckled and said:

"Two sisters, both peerless beauties on the beauties ranking list—probably even a Heavenly Human couldn't resist such temptation, right?"

Zhu Qingluan was ranked twelfth on the beauties ranking list as "Graceful and Intelligent."

This was something Yan Chu later learned after specifically checking the four lists released by the Number One Tower Under Heaven.

No wonder Zhu Qingluan always wore a wide-brimmed hat with a light veil covering her face.

The peerless beauties on the beauties ranking list indeed could not easily reveal their true appearances, or they might drive countless men to madness.

And the name Zhu Yushuang was also familiar to Yan Chu.

She was ranked fifteenth on the beauties ranking list as "Icy Skin and Jade Bones."

Two sisters, both peerless beauties on the beauties ranking list—one could only imagine how extraordinarily handsome and beautiful their parents must have been.

"Hmph!"

Zhu Qingluan snorted lightly, her tone carrying some resentment as she said:

"This beauties ranking list is deeply harmful. That Number One Tower Under Heaven—I'll tear it down sooner or later!"

Yan Chu smiled, pulled Zhu Qingluan's fair hand, and stood up, saying:

"Let's go, first see what's really going on with that Ice Demon Sect!"

The two directly flew out from the tea house window, soaring high into the sky.

"Holy shit! They're flying!"

The Jianghu people in the tea house who had been watching this handsome couple couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"Experts! These are experts!!"

"What experts have come to our Haizhou Prefecture?!"

...

At the easternmost part of Haizhou Prefecture, there was a continuous mountain range spanning over a thousand miles.

The altitude here was extremely high, with constant heavy snowfall year-round. The mountains were covered in thick snow layers, the environment harsh and sparsely populated. Because it was located at the easternmost extreme of the Great Jin Dynasty, it was called the East Great Snow Ridge by Jianghu people.

The Ice Demon Sect was located on the East Great Snow Ridge.

Since the great war between the Righteous Path and Demonic Path hundreds of years ago, the Jianghu had formed its current structure. In recent years, due to turmoil in the Great Jin Dynasty, the situation showed signs of collapsing into chaos again.

In the previously sparsely populated East Great Snow Ridge, many unfamiliar faces had recently appeared, traversing the snow ridge and heading upward.

In a mountain col, on a branch heavily laden with snow, two figures suddenly descended from the sky, landing lightly on the branch.

Yan Chu, holding Zhu Qingluan in his arms, looked at the people running and leaping through the distant forest and asked:

"Who are those people?"

"Wasn't it said this place has a harsh environment and is rarely visited?"

Zhu Qingluan was tightly held in Yan Chu's arms. The man's warm breath made her delicate face under the veil slightly flushed. Hearing his question, she thought and said:

"In a few days, it seems to be the Ice Demon Sect's annual Ice Festival!"

"Legend has it the Ice Demon Sect possesses a thousand-year ice core that can absorb the world's ultimate Yin and cold forces. Every year, it produces an ice core flower that can greatly enhance a Cultivator's power."

"On that day, the Ice Demon Sect holds the Ice Festival, having its Disciples compete in martial contests. The results determine the ice core flower's ownership."

"Gradually, it evolved into a grand event. Some Disciples from other Demonic Path Sects also receive invitations from the Ice Demon Sect to participate in the contests."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Yan Chu narrowed his eyes, chuckled lightly, and said:

"So, it's likely many Demonic Path members are currently gathering at the Ice Demon Sect?"

"Exactly!"

...

"Brother Li, are you also heading to the Ice Demon Sect to participate in the Ice Festival?"

Among the mountain ridges, over ten experts traversed the rugged snow surface as if on flat ground, conversing while running. They were all from the Evil Path in the Jianghu.

The Ice Demon Sect had a rule: participants' cultivation must be limited to the Grandmaster Realm, regardless of age or background, as long as they belonged to a Demonic Path Sect, they could come to participate.

Thus, these over ten individuals were all Grandmaster Experts, possessing renowned reputations in the Jianghu and certainly not minor characters newly emerged in the Demonic Path.

"Exactly!"

"The Ice Demon Sect's thousand-year ice core flower not only enhances power but also preserves youth, keeping one's appearance ageless. I intend to win the contest, obtain the ice core flower, and present it to my Master's wife!"

"Oh?"

The one who initially asked exchanged a glance with his companions, their expressions teasing.

This Li Boyuan, Brother Li, hailed from the Hehuan Sect.

Although the Hehuan Sect ranked lower among the Seven Great Demonic Sects, in the Jianghu, it was still a major Sect that made people pale at the mention. Its members all practiced Dual Cultivation methods.

Within the Sect, there were no lack of Rebellious Disciples who targeted their Masters and flower pluckers.

And the Master's wife Li Boyuan mentioned was indeed his Master's wife, but his Master had been killed by him, and the Master's wife taken by him.

Such incidents were not uncommon within the Hehuan Sect.

"Brother Wei, are you all also planning to participate in the martial contest?"

Li Boyuan, from the Hehuan Sect, paid no mind to the changes in their expressions, instead proudly puffing out his chest.

Even within the Hehuan Sect, few could get their Master's wife into bed. He, Li Boyuan, was a notable figure in the Hehuan Sect.

Even fellow Sect members, his Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers, would give him a thumbs-up when mentioning him.

After all, they were all from the Demonic Path, without the burdens of the Righteous Path, and cared little about such matters.

The man surnamed Wei was named Wei Chuan, a Disciple of Lihen Island.

Lihen Island was far in the Southern Sea, a hundred thousand miles from the Ice Demon Sect. To come here, one had to cross the entire Southern Wei and traverse several major prefectures of the Great Jin Dynasty. Could it be just for one ice core flower?

Moreover, Lihen Island's strength far surpassed the Ice Demon Sect's; they likely wouldn't care for such a flower, right?

Wei Chuan chuckled and shook his head, saying:

"Of course not!"

"The reason we came to the East Great Snow Ridge is for... Hmm?"

"Who goes there?!"

Before Wei Chuan could finish, his sharp eyes suddenly looked ahead.

On a large rock piled with thick snow layers above the snow ridge, two people suddenly appeared—a man and a woman.

The man wore a set of black martial attire, while the woman wore a green dress, nestled like a small bird against the man, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, her features unclear.

"Who are you, Your Excellency?"

Wei Chuan and the others were on high alert, having failed to notice when Yan Chu and the woman appeared there or how long they had been watching them.

Then, they heard the woman softly say:

"They're from the Hehuan Sect and Lihen Island. These two Sects are not within the Great Jin Dynasty's borders. The Hehuan Sect is located in the Wei State, and Lihen Island is far in the Southern Sea. Judging by their cultivation, they're likely minor characters within their Sects."

"Seeking death!"

Although Wei Chuan and the others were indeed not important figures within their Sects, they were still Grandmasters, considered high-level in the Jianghu.

Hearing such dismissive words from two such young people, their faces immediately darkened.

"Junior Brother He, kill them!"

At Wei Chuan's command, a horse-faced middle-aged man behind him leaped up, his palms like thunderbolts, striking toward the two ahead.