204: Chapter 204: The Sacred Village

"First, reply to the Prime Minister."

After a long while, the Prince of Qi finally let out a slow breath and said coldly:

"Just say that the matter of Shi Village harboring remnants of the God-Invoking Sect was indeed a lapse in my intelligence gathering.

Afterward, I will personally give the Prime Ministers Mansion a satisfactory explanation."

"Yes, I will obey."

"Is there anything else?" the Prince of Qi asked.

"There is one more thing... Regarding the background of that Tang Liu, we followed the clues and managed to uncover some interesting things."

"Oh?"

The Prince of Qi raised his eyebrows in surprise, and a hint of inquisitive interest seemed to flicker within his blurry silhouette.

"The Cultivation Technique 'Divine Turtle Art' has disappeared ever since the Xuangui Sect was annihilated.

It is truly curious that Tang Liu, a mere commoner, is able to Cultivate this technique."

The middle-aged man lowered his voice, his tone tinged with an indescribable eeriness and bewilderment:

"Your Highness, we found traces of... the Hidden Saint Village on him."

"What?"

On the jade wall, the figure of the Prince of Qi, which had always been as steady as a rock, suddenly took a rare, sharp step forward, causing the light of the entire jade wall to flicker violently.

"Hidden Saint Village? Is this true?"

For the first time, the Prince of Qi's deep voice was laced with unconcealable suspicion and uncertainty.

"It is likely true."

The middle-aged man's expression was grave as he explained in a low voice:

"When we thoroughly investigated Tang Liu's past, we discovered that he had lived since childhood in an extremely secluded mountain village.

According to official government records, I sent people to investigate that location, and discovered that it simply does not exist.

However, within a hundred miles of that location, there is another ruined village, and this village is the Hidden Saint Village."

Inside the stone chamber, there was deathly silence.

Back then, the Marquis of Zhenguo had received a secret decree from the late Emperor and personally led troops to slaughter the Hidden Saint Village, announcing to the public that he had executed the entire family of the previous dynasty's remnants who were plotting a rebellion.

But the Prince of Qi naturally knew the inside story; the Hidden Saint Village was filled with powerful Martial Artists.

However, because they had committed various crimes, they had relied on the power of the Hidden Saint Village's chief to hide from the imperial court's pursuit.

Within the Prince of Qi's blurry shadow, the pair of eyes hidden in the blue mist seemed to ignite with an eerie glow.

"I thought that the Hidden Saint Village of the past had long since turned into a charred ruin under the Marquis of Zhenguo's spear, with not even a chicken or dog left alive.

I just didn't expect..."

The Prince of Qi muttered to himself, the astonishment on his face gradually fading, replaced by a playful smile.

"Interesting... This is truly interesting."

"A remnant of the Hidden Saint Village, bearing the blood feud of his village's destruction, is now hiding and biding his time within the Four Seas Academy.

Yet, the grandson of the man who slaughtered his village—whom he views as his mortal enemy—has become his fellow student.

And now, his life and death are in the hands of the White Lotus Sect and myself..."

The corners of the Prince of Qi's mouth curled up slowly:

"I am truly looking forward to it now... When the Four Seas Academy Secret Realm opens and these various factions become entangled, just how spectacular this grand drama in the capital will be."

"Remember to follow the plan and keep a close watch on Chen Shanzhi. Do not let him be discovered by the White Lotus Sect to have any contact with us.

I have great use for this piece."

"Yes! I will obey!" The middle-aged man kowtowed heavily.

"What about the woman named Tang Xiaowu beside him?"

Deep within the jade wall, the Prince of Qi's low and majestic voice sounded again.

The middle-aged man knelt on one knee again, cupping his hands and burying his head very low.

Hearing the Prince of Qi's inquiry, he hurriedly replied:

"Replying to Your Highness, regarding that woman, I have already mobilized all of our eyes and ears and intelligence networks in the capital to search.

That Tang Xiaowu must have met Tang Liu only after he escaped death from the Hidden Saint Village and was living in exile."

"Oh?" The Prince of Qi's tone rose slightly. "Have you found out her background?"

The middle-aged man shook his head with some regret: "Judging from the moment her True Qi was exposed when she acted earlier,

we are currently unsure whether she is Cultivating an ordinary technique of the Witch Tribe or a secret, high-level technique that is not passed down."

"Hehe..."

A meaningful chuckle came from the Prince of Qi within the jade wall.

"To dare to come to the capital and enter the Four Seas Academy without anyone noticing.

How could this woman possibly be just an ordinary Witch tribesperson?"

The Prince of Qi's silhouette paced slowly inside the jade wall, his tone deliberate yet filled with certainty:

"Originally, I had no great interest in such a little girl.

But I heard that a few days ago in the Four Seas Academy, that Tang Xiaowu... seems to have been getting very close to the heir of the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion?"

"That is indeed true." The middle-aged man shook his head with some regret and hurriedly said, "According to reports from our eyes, that scoundrel Chen Shanzhi is in the Academy.

He still cannot change his nature as a lecher and is often with that Tang Xiaowu."

"This is very interesting."

The sneer at the corners of the Prince of Qi's mouth flickered on the jade wall: "Chen Shanzhi is likely just acting on lust and has no idea of that little girl's true identity.

However... the heir of the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion is actually getting cozy with a Witch tribesperson in the capital.

If this news were to reach the ears of the one in the palace..."

"This might, in the future, become an extremely useful trump card in my hands."

The middle-aged man felt a chill in his heart, secretly admiring the Prince's far-sightedness, being able to calculate even such a minor trace.

However, he still spoke with some hesitation:

"But Your Highness, that Tang Xiaowu has hidden her strength, but according to our speculation, she is very likely a Xuanguan Peak Martial Artist.

In this heavily guarded capital, if we want to forcibly make a move on her,

I am afraid it will alert the Jiantian Division and the Four Seas Academy, which would be quite troublesome."

"Troublesome? I don't think so."

The Prince of Qi said indifferently, his tone carrying a touch of arrogance as if he had everything under control.

"Making a move by force in the capital is naturally a foolish act.

But don't I happen to have a ready-made vicious dog in my hands?"

The Prince of Qi's voice echoed in the stone chamber, carrying an unquestionable command:

"You tell Tang Liu, didn't he always want to join my command and use my hands to avenge the bloody feud of the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion?"

"Wanting to join is very simple." The Prince of Qi sneered coldly, "Tell him to bring that Tang Xiaowu to this small courtyard of yours.

As long as he brings her here, I will consider that he has passed the test and allow him to join."

The middle-aged man's eyes flashed, and a look of sycophantic understanding appeared on his face:

"Your Highness means... to use Tang Liu's hand?"

Deep within the jade wall, the Prince of Qi's voice rang out:

"That's right. You give Tang Liu a spirit-severing pill. Tell that brat to find an opportunity to feed it to her personally before bringing Tang Xiaowu over."

The middle-aged man shuddered violently, then slapped his thigh, flattering him:

"Your Highness is brilliant! As long as Tang Liu feeds it to her, even if she is a Xuanguan Peak expert, she will only be able to be slaughtered like a toothless kitten!"

"Go and do it."

Deep within the jade wall, the Prince of Qi's silhouette slowly dissipated.

"Do not make me wait too long."

"Yes! This subordinate takes his leave, respectfully sending off Your Highness!"

The middle-aged man shouted loudly, prostrating himself deeply on the ground.