127: A divine eye? A blind man? (12)

Inside Jingxin Hall, the four walls were desolate.

Several holes were torn in the window paper, and the cold wind wailed as it poured inside, sounding like someone sobbing softly.

Two people sat opposite each other.

In front of them was only a pot of plain water that had long since cooled completely; there wasn't even a speck of tea leaf.

"Drink."

Jun Yun felt around and pushed a chipped, coarse porcelain bowl toward You Chen. "This is all I have."

You Chen held the bowl.

The icy touch transmitted to his palms made him feel a bit awkward.

He was a prince, and although he was the least favored one, he had never seen such a shabby way of treating a guest.

Yet, strangely, this shabbiness made him feel safe.

In this imperial palace full of fine clothes and delicacies, but also filled with the glint and flash of daggers and swords, he actually felt that this bowl of cold water was cleaner than the nectar bestowed by the Emperor.

"Do you find it ridiculous?"

Jun Yun's voice echoed in the empty hall, carrying a hint of self-deprecation.

"Once upon a time, I was also a Divine Son surrounded by attendants, drinking divine tea worth ten thousand gold pieces per ounce, using cups carved from warm jade."

He pointed to his tightly closed eyes.

"Now, I can only hide in this unwanted corner, barely hanging on to life."

You Chen's hand trembled slightly.

A few drops of water spilled out, landing on the dilapidated table and soaking into a dark patch.

"I..."

You Chen opened his mouth, his voice dry. "I am the same."

"Not the same."

Jun Yun shook his head, his tone flat. "You are a prince of Great You; this is your home. I am an outsider, a remnant, and an abandoned piece."

"No!"

You Chen suddenly looked up, his emotions somewhat agitated. "This is not my home."

He gritted his teeth, a layer of red appearing in the depths of his eyes.

"Here, I am not even as good as a dog. Those eunuchs and palace maids, anyone can step on me. Imperial Father... the Divine Lord has never looked me in the eye once."

Once the floodgates were opened, they could no longer be closed.

All those grievances, resentments, and frustrations accumulated in his heart for years poured out at this moment, facing this 'blind man' who shared a similar fate.

Jun Yun listened quietly.

A gentle, helpless, bitter smile remained on his face, like a tolerant elder brother listening to a younger brother's complaints.

But in the vision of his Minds Eye,

Everything was cold.

He calmly watched the clump of ashen Luck above You Chen's head.

As You Chen's emotions fluctuated violently, deep within that lifeless gray clump, an extremely fine golden thread was trembling slightly.

Like a young Dragon trapped in the silt, it was trying to break free from its bonds.

"Resentment is a good thing."

Jun Yun evaluated in his heart.

The more resentment and unwillingness there was, the stronger the force of the rebound.

What he needed was exactly this power.

A long time passed.

You Chen finally stopped and wiped the corners of his eyes, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"I'm sorry... I lost my composure."

"It's fine."

Jun Yun sighed softly. "It's better to say it out loud; keeping it bottled up in your heart will make you sick."

He reached out and felt around in his robes for a while.

He pulled out a piece of old, yellowed cloth.

Densely written on the cloth were some obscure and difficult-to-understand small characters; the handwriting was somewhat blurred, looking like a remnant page torn from some ancient book.

"This is for you."

Jun Yun handed the cloth over.

You Chen was stunned. "This is?"

"I picked it up by chance back when I was still a Divine Son."

Jun Yun fabricated a lie casually, his face not reddening and his heart not racing. "It seems to be a remnant of some Cultivation Technique. My eyes are blind, so I can't practice it. You have a Mortal Body; perhaps you can use it to strengthen your health and get sick less often."

You Chen took the piece of cloth.

By the dim light filtering through the broken window, he clearly saw the words on it.

Hibernating Dragon Breathing Technique.

The name sounded very domineering, but the content was very simple—just some methods for adjusting breathing rhythm and circulating the weak blood Qi within the body.

It looked even inferior to the common techniques practiced by the palace guards.

But You Chen treated it like a priceless treasure.

Because this was the first time someone had given him something.

And it was a 'Cultivation Technique'.

For a Mortal Body judged unable to practice cultivation, this was hope in a desperate situation.

"Thank you... Thank you!"

You Chen tightly gripped that piece of cloth, clutching it extremely hard.

Jun Yun smiled.

His smile was inscrutable.

That wasn't any Hibernating Dragon Breathing Technique at all.

It was a guidance method he had casually altered using the principles of the Azure Heaven Pagoda Record combined with the characteristics of the Python Sparrow Swallowing Dragon Record.

It could indeed mobilize the dormant power within You Chen's body.

But its more important function was 'positioning'.

This method would place a spiritual imprint belonging to Jun Yun upon that golden Luck seed.

As long as You Chen cultivated it,

Jun Yun would have a clear understanding of his Luck's trajectory, its changes in strength, and even his location.

In the future, when it came time to harvest, this method would become the best 'drainage channel'.

This was the chain.

"Go back."

Jun Yun issued a dismissal; he seemed somewhat tired. "It's getting dark, and the night paths in this palace are not easy to walk."

You Chen stood up and respectfully gave Jun Yun a deep bow.

It was not the bow of an imperial uncle to a nephew.

But the bow of a Junior to a senior, or even a Disciple to a Revered Master.

"Big Brother Jun, I will come to see you again another day."

You Chen carefully tucked away the cloth and turned to leave.

His steps were much lighter than when he arrived.

Although his back was still thin and weak, his spine seemed a bit straighter.

Jun Yun sat in the darkness.

His Minds Eye watched You Chen walk out of Jingxin Hall and disappear around the corner.

"Truly a good child."

He whispered softly.

Then, his finger lightly tapped the tabletop.

Thump.

Thump.

"However, a pity, a pity..."

...Over the next few days, You Chen did not come again.

Jun Yun was in no hurry.

Every day he still sat cross-legged on the bed, cultivating without fail, while simultaneously setting aside a wisp of his mind to monitor the movements on You Chen's side at all times.

He could 'see'.

Within that gray Luck, the golden thread was slowly growing.

Although it was very slow, it was indeed becoming stronger.

That was because the boy was secretly practicing the Hibernating Dragon Breathing Technique.

This kid's talent was indeed more than just a simple Mortal Body.

On the afternoon of the third day.

The sunlight was pale and devoid of any warmth.

Jun Yun was resting with his eyes closed when suddenly his brow twitched.

In the perception of his Minds Eye,

Several malicious auras were closing in on the remote courtyard where You Chen lived.

Those were several eunuchs.

The leader was precisely the Chief of the Meal Management Bureau, Eunuch Wang, who had led the people to beat You Chen that day.

And in a pavilion further away,

The Third Prince, who had humiliated You Chen that day, was shaking a folding fan and looking this way with a mocking expression.

A trap.

A crude trap, but one sufficient to harm You Chen.

Jun Yun smiled slightly.

The opportunity has come...