229: Departure, to the Valley of the Deaf and Mute

"You know full well what His Highness is like. In the current circumstances, as long as he doesn't abandon us after having his fun, he is already the best man in this world."

"What more could I possibly want? After all, even with so many sisters now, His Highness's feelings for us haven't changed." Dao Baifeng's tone was gentle, a slight smile playing on her lips.

A Li listened and nodded, thinking it did indeed seem that way.

"Hmm, Sister makes a good point. But still, staying at home like this is really boring."

Dao Baifeng smiled as she looked at A Li.

"If you're bored, you could go shopping. Or, you could go and give Xiao Feng some pointers on his cultivation."

A Li's face instantly fell.

"Sister, you're teasing me again. That little fellow Xiao Feng is a natural-born martial arts talent.

His aptitude in martial arts is even higher than mine. Moreover, he's practicing the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, the Northern Darkness Divine Art, and the Nine Yang Divine Art, all passed down to him by His Highness.

I don't know any of those! How could I possibly give him pointers?"

Upon hearing this, Dao Baifeng gave a soft, amused laugh.

"Well, there's nothing I can do about that. If all else fails, you could have Little Red accompany you shopping."

A Li wore an expression of utter helplessness but ultimately shook her head in refusal.

"Forget it. I'll just go back to my room and meditate on my cultivation by myself."

Dao Baifeng shook her head helplessly, then turned and headed back into the Prince's Mansion.

Duan Zhengchun traveled alone, accompanied by his three great guards. As for Zhu Danchen, Duan Zhengchun hadn't brought him along.

Among the Four Great Guards, Zhu Danchen was the most astute and resourceful. Keeping him at the Prince's Mansion was much more convenient.

Inside the luxurious carriage, Duan Zhengchun lay leisurely, resting with his eyes closed.

Outside, Chu Wanli drove the carriage, a smile on his lips.

Beside him, Gu Ducheng and Fu Sigui rode on horseback, keeping pace.

"Brother Fu, do you think this time the Zhenlong Chess Game can be solved?" Chu Wanli asked Fu Sigui with a curious look.

"Heh, in my opinion, it couldn't be solved before because our lord didn't go. Now that our lord is going, he will definitely solve this Zhenlong Chess Game.

You have to understand, our lord is a true dragon. How could he possibly fail to solve it?" Chu Wanli said with a smug expression, which made Gu Ducheng want to punch him.

"Brother Fu, have you noticed? Old Chu here is really asking for a beating. I feel like going up and punching him," Gu Ducheng said, pointing at Chu Wanli with a laugh and a curse.

"Hmm, he is indeed asking for it. Go ahead and punch him," Fu Sigui nodded.

"However, there's one thing he said that's correct. The reason the Zhenlong Chess Game couldn't be broken before was that our lord wasn't there."

Hearing Fu Sigui's words, Gu Ducheng and Chu Wanli were taken aback. They exchanged a glance and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Duan Zhengchun had been listening to their conversation the whole time, a slight upward curve on his lips.

These guards of his had loyalty, and they also had camaraderie.

In the original story, these Four Great Guards all died protecting Duan Zhengchun, their useless Master.

However, now that he had come to this world and become their Master, loyalty was all he required from them; they didn't need to lose their lives.

"Do you know what the true purpose behind this Zhenlong Chess Game is?"

Hearing Duan Zhengchun's voice, Chu Wanli and the other two immediately stopped their conversation. They exchanged glances and shook their heads.

"We truly don't know that. However, we've heard it seems Su Xinghe is looking to select a successor.

That's why he set up the Zhenlong Chess Game—to choose a suitable successor," Chu Wanli said after thinking for a moment, sharing what he knew.

"The part about selecting a successor is correct. However, it's not Su Xinghe selecting a successor, but Wuyazi.

Wuyazi is Su Xinghe's Master and the Sect Head of the Xiaoyao School. He was betrayed by his Disciple Ding Chunqiu, who pushed him off a cliff. Su Xinghe saved him, but he ended up completely paralyzed.

To seek revenge, he set up the Zhenlong Chess Game to find a successor. The ultimate goal is to revive the Xiaoyao School and kill Ding Chunqiu for revenge," Duan Zhengchun's voice rang out.

Chu Wanli and the other two exchanged glances, surprised to learn there was such a hidden story behind it.

None of them had expected that Wuyazi was actually the Sect Head of something called the Xiaoyao School. But what kind of School was this? Why had they never heard of it?

"Your Highness, is this Xiaoyao School very powerful? Why have we never heard of it?" Chu Wanli asked with a puzzled expression.

Duan Zhengchun didn't hide anything and shared what he knew.

"The Xiaoyao School is indeed quite powerful. Its founder is the Carefree Master. Based on my understanding, it's likely the Carefree Master is still alive now.

The Xiaoyao School has always been very low-key. Their primary criteria for accepting Disciples are, first, appearance, and second, talent.

Therefore, the male Disciples of the Xiaoyao School are handsome and dashing, and the female Disciples are also beauties, one in ten thousand.

It's just a shame that after the Carefree Master left the Xiaoyao School to wander the world, the School was thrown into chaos by his Disciples and ended up in its current state.

Wuyazi is only the second Disciple. The eldest Disciple is Wu Xingyun, the Palace Master of the Lingjiu Palace on the Ethereal Peak of Mount Tianshan.

The second Disciple is Wuyazi, who took charge of the Xiaoyao School. The third Disciple is Li Qiushui, and the fourth is Li Canghai.

However, when the Carefree Master left, he took Li Canghai with him.

Li Qiushui fell out with her Senior Sister, Wu Xingyun, due to jealousy and rivalry over a man.

Wuyazi was fickle in love. After being with Li Qiushui and having a daughter with her,

his heart actually yearned for Li Qiushui's younger sister, Li Canghai. Li Canghai has another name, Qi Yufeng, which is her birth name.

It was only because Li Qiushui saved her back then, and the two became sworn sisters, that Qi Yufeng changed her surname to Li and became Li Canghai.

It was also after discovering Wuyazi's true feelings that Li Qiushui left in anger and completely lost hope in him."

"You all probably know of Li Qiushui—the Empress Dowager of Western Xia. She is now in her sixties or seventies, yet her appearance shows no signs of aging.

This is the remarkable aspect of the Xiaoyao School's Cultivation Techniques. Not only are they powerful, but they also have the effect of prolonging life. Moreover, after practicing their techniques, one's appearance becomes increasingly beautiful.

Li Qiushui is now a Master of the Heavenly Human Realm. As for her Senior Sister, even if she's not at the Heavenly Human Realm, she is at least at the Great Grandmaster Peak."

Hearing Duan Zhengchun reveal this information, Chu Wanli and the other two were stunned.

They never expected that such a powerful School had no reputation whatsoever in the Jianghu.

"Your Highness, since you say they are so powerful, why has no one in the Jianghu ever heard of them?" Chu Wanli asked, his face full of confusion.

"Because they keep a low profile. Moreover, the Mind-Cultivation Techniques of the Xiaoyao School belong to the Daoist School. Daoism emphasizes tranquility and non-action.

Not involving themselves in worldly affairs is beneficial for cultivation."

"You may not know of the Xiaoyao School, but have you heard of the Lingjiu Palace, the Thirty-Six Caves, and the Seventy-Two Islands?" Duan Zhengchun asked in return.

The three exchanged glances and couldn't help but shake their heads.

"That's also true. They don't belong to the martial forces of the Central Plains; they are overseas powers. It's normal for you not to know about them.

However, none of that is important right now. Let's go to Deaf-Mute Valley first.

I wonder which young talents have been invited this time," Duan Zhengchun said dismissively, waving his hand.

The three exchanged glances but didn't say anything more, continuing on their journey.