55: Curious Fan Xian! Wu Zhu wants to assassinate Prince Yong!

Chapter 55: Curious Fan Xian! Wu Zhu is going to assassinate Prince Yong!

Fan Wujiu had a strong obsession with studying the classics and participating in the imperial examinations, and he possessed talent for it.

It was precisely because he firmly believed he could pass the provincial examination that he became enraged and rebellious after failing it.

Fan Wujiu cupped his hands and replied, "Young Master, I have already killed the remaining two salt merchants. I no longer have any ties in Jiangnan Road."

"I have some martial arts skills. If Young Master doesn't mind, I, Fan, am willing to follow Young Master!"

"As for participating in the imperial examinations, perhaps it's not my fate. It's impossible to force it."

Fan Wujiu was very perceptive. He first declared his loyalty, then stated his desire to participate in the imperial examinations, but without insisting on it.

Just now in the manor courtyard, Fan Wujiu had already seen Li Chang'an's strength, which certainly indicated he was wealthy and powerful.

Climbing up to someone with power and influence was a shortcut to establishing oneself in this world.

Whether he could participate in the imperial examinations later was just a matter of a word from the powerful.

Li Chang'an said, "Your talent is not bad. I have a Secret Manual of saber techniques here. Lao Xing, make a copy and send it to the higher-ups."

"Xing Yusen, Fan Wujiu, both of you have good aptitude. Copy this 'Spring and Autumn Saber Technique,' and you should be able to Breakthrough to ninth-rank in a few years."

Hearing the mention of Breakthrough to ninth-rank, Xing Yusen immediately knelt down and took the Secret Manual, "Your subordinate thanks Your Highness!"

Fan Wujiu was overjoyed, but even more so, he was greatly shocked, because he had already learned Li Chang'an's identity!

"Great Qing's Divine Constable Xing Yusen is here. So it was Prince Yong Your Highness in person. Fan Wujiu greets Your Highness!"

As an ardent lover of poetry and a scholarly imperial examination candidate at heart, Fan Wujiu's eyes were filled with pilgrim-like fervor.

What's more, Li Chang'an had saved his life and gifted him a treasured martial arts Secret Manual, giving him the possibility of Breakthrough to ninth-rank.

If he could follow his idol Li Chang'an, even if he didn't participate in the imperial examinations, Fan Wujiu would have no regrets.

At this moment, Fan Wujiu's emotional value directly surged to one hundred, just a hair's breadth from complete loyalty.

Fan Wujiu was different from Xia Qifei. Xia Qifei had suffered hardships in his early years, and without significant benefits, he wouldn't easily pledge allegiance. Subduing Xia Qifei required time.

But Fan Wujiu was, at his core, a martial scholar, and in his heart, righteousness outweighed profit.

"You may rise first. You are a scholar, and I have a few lines of poetry I'd like you to critique."

Hearing that Li Chang'an was going to compose poetry, Fan Wujiu's eyes burned even brighter, so excited he couldn't speak.

Li Chang'an picked up a brush, and with his pen moving like a Dragon, half a poem was written. "Fan Wujiu, this poem is for you."

Fan Wujiu's hands trembled as he took the paper, staring excitedly at the sharp, incisive lines of poetry, feeling his life was at Perfection.

"The guest of Zhao with a silken cord for a topknot, the Wu hook gleams like frost and snow. A silver saddle illuminates a white horse, swift as a shooting star."

"Killing one man in ten steps, traveling a thousand li without leaving a trace. When the deed is done, he brushes his clothes and departs, deeply concealing his body and fame."

After Fan Wujiu finished reciting, tears welled up in his eyes. "Your Highness, does this poem have a title?"

Li Chang'an said, "Ballad of the Knight-Errant."

The latter half of this poem had too many allusions, making it troublesome to explain. These four lines were enough to capture Fan Wujiu's demeanor.

Hearing these three words, all the grievances Fan Wujiu had suffered over the years surged into his heart, and he unknowingly burst into tears.

"Your Highness, how can Fan Jin be worthy of the title of knight-errant!"

Li Chang'an said, "While a knight-errant using martial arts to violate prohibitions is not commendable, Fan Wujiu was forced to violate prohibitions out of desperation."

"Ultimately, you also sought more justice in the world. The title of knight-errant is well deserved!"

Fan Wujiu respectfully folded the paper and placed it in his bosom, then knelt on one knee and declared resolutely, "Your subordinate Fan Wujiu, is willing to die for Your Highness!"

[Emotional Value: 100 (Die-hard)]

A scholar dies for his confidant. Fan Wujiu indeed reached the state of complete loyalty.

If possible, Li Chang'an would give him an opportunity to participate in the imperial examinations.

As for Fan Wujiu's arrangements, Li Chang'an planned to keep him as a bodyguard for now and have Zhao Gao train him further.

After a year or two, upon returning to the capital, he would have him style his hair like an alpaca and become a spy for the Second Prince.

After Li Chang'an returned to the capital, it was destined not to be peaceful. Planting agents around important figures was a necessary task.

He had already instructed the core members of Net in various regions to search for women who resembled The Eldest Princess in demeanor, wondering if the Crown Prince would dare to accept them.

After the matters in Jiangnan Road were settled, Li Chang'an headed directly north to Danzhou, towards Da Dong Mountain.

Da Dong Mountain stood isolated by the sea, like a jade sword piercing the sky. At its peak was a Qing Temple, said to be the most similar to the Divine Temple.

This world revered the Divine Temple; Southern Qing and Northern Qi both worshipped the same Divine Temple.

However, Northern Qi had a stronger religious atmosphere, and the Great Grandmaster Ku He was the leader of the Heaven One Path.

Southern Qing was founded on martial arts, so the status of religion was not as high as in Northern Qi. The Cultivators of the Qing Temple were all subservient to the imperial court.

In fact, Da Dong Mountain was the site where a nuclear war had previously erupted, so the nuclear radiation intensity was the highest. The jade wall of Da Dong Mountain was also formed by high-temperature refining of rocks.

Current humans had adapted to nuclear radiation and could even benefit from it. There were often legends of devout men and women who couldn't afford medical treatment being cured on Da Dong Mountain.

The Origin Qi of this world was actually the nuclear radiation remaining between heaven and earth, but ordinary Martial Artists couldn't perceive it.

Wu Zhu could perceive nuclear radiation due to his construction, and Ku He, having mastered some Western Spells, could also sense the Origin Qi of heaven and earth.

Li Chang'an, Cultivating the Bei Ming True Energy Cultivation Technique, could also perceive and absorb the Origin Qi of heaven and earth.

On the ten thousand steps leading to the mountain peak, people going up and down the mountain were in an endless stream, showing the prosperity of the Da Dong Mountain Qing Temple's incense offerings.

The Da Dong Mountain Qing Temple covered a considerable area, though the buildings appeared somewhat old. Many small temples for pilgrims to stay in were scattered around the Qing Temple.

Li Chang'an and his group paid a large sum in incense money and began to Cultivate in seclusion at the Da Dong Mountain Qing Temple.

One month later.

According to Li Chang'an's arrangements, Prince Yong, impersonated by Duan Shui, was also on his way to Da Dong Mountain.

After the decoy entered Dongshan Road, he displayed Prince Yong's banner and ostentatiously proceeded to the Qing Temple.

Da Dong Mountain Qing Temple was one of the destinations Li Chang'an had initially reported to Emperor Qing.

At the entrance of the Fan Manor in Danzhou, sat a slightly rustic, somewhat portly Young Master.

Fan Xian, who had been waiting for the Red Armor knights, first saw the procession of Li Chang'an's decoy.

Ever since Prince Yong's procession entered the city, it became the focus of discussion in Danzhou City.

"Prince Yong Your Highness has come to Danzhou, but unfortunately, he doesn't plan to stay long!"

"I heard that Your Highness is going to Da Dong Mountain Qing Temple to worship, merely passing through!"

"All the Jianghu Schools within a hundred li of Danzhou have fled. Prince Yong's Shadow Guard are not to be trifled with!"

News of Li Chang'an's travels across the land had long spread, and Fan Xian had been following it.

Fan Xian pondered for a while, then immediately ran to Wu Zhu's general store.

"Uncle, I want to go to Da Dong Mountain!"

The strongest person in this world, the robot Wu Zhu, was mechanically weaving a basket.

"Da Dong Mountain..."

He turned his neck, trying hard to recall, "It doesn't seem far. Young Miss said... it's a good place."

Hearing that Wu Zhu had an impression of Da Dong Mountain, Fan Xian felt relieved. He wanted to see Li Chang'an up close.

At this moment, Fan Xian still didn't know that Wu Zhu was the top combat power in this world.

But he still had confidence in Wu Zhu's martial prowess; at least, getting him to safety should be no problem.

"Uncle, come with me. I'm afraid there might be danger."

Upon hearing the word 'danger,' Wu Zhu immediately dropped the basket in his hands and picked up the eternally rust-free iron skewer.

Wu Zhu instantly became alert, radiating killing intent.

"Who is causing you danger? I'll kill him!"

Hearing Wu Zhu's words, Fan Xian quickly waved his hands in denial, "It's not a real, existing danger, it's a potential, existing danger."

Wu Zhu twisted his neck again. "Potential crisis, must be resolved early!"