Chapter 812: Beneath the Ancient Locust Tree, Hidden Intentions
Within the Three Thousand Daoist Scriptures, there was only a record of that period of history, but no detailed explanation of that particular technique. Chen Changsheng could not confirm whether that monster was the legendary Yellow Springs. He wrote two letters, one sent to the Li Palace in the capital and the other to the Holy Maiden Peak in the south, hoping to obtain more information from these two places.
That monster had clearly come to kill him, but it was unknown whether it had done something or simply hadn't had the time to act.
Setting aside the mysterious origins of that monster, Chen Changsheng was already mentally prepared for this matter itself.
The words that the King of Linghai had asked the Prince of Zhongshan to convey to the Prince of Xiang at the Songshan Military Prefecture were the stance he had instructed the State Church to make clear to the entire continent.
He was well aware that this would also be the situation he would face from then on.
—This was only the beginning.
Just like what had happened to Su Li back then when he was severely injured in the Demon Domain's Snow Plains and encountered countless obstacles on his ten-thousand-mile journey south.
He was now the Pope, but the number of people who wanted to kill him was no less than those who had wanted to kill Su Li back then.
Clearly, someone already knew he was in Hanqiu City.
But he was certain that the Zhu family would not make a move.
Sure enough, as he and Nanke left the Willow Lodge and walked toward the southern gate of Hanqiu City, they sensed several prying gazes along the way, yet no one appeared.
It wasn't until they reached a shop selling perfumes that he encountered an unexpected person.
The man was dressed as a scholar, his handsome features unable to conceal an air of pride, along with a hint of inexplicable delight.
His name was Bie Tianxin. The reason he dressed as a scholar was that his father often appeared before the world in such attire.
His father was Bie Yanghong, and his mother was Wuqiong Bi.
Several years ago in the capital, in order to suppress the National Academy, the new faction of the State Church, led by the King of Linghai and Siyuan Daoren, had pushed for the matter of the Academies' Martial Exhibition.
With the new faction of the State Church and the Tianhai family at the forefront, countless cultivation masters had flocked to Baihua Lane to challenge the National Academy.
Bie Tianxin had once been among those people, and he had been the most arrogant of them all.
However, after a letter from his father, Su Moyu, instead of returning to the Li Palace's attached academy after leaving the Heavenly Book Mausoleum, had directly joined the National Academy. Many people came to understand that the attitudes and stances of those two great figures were not aligned, and naturally, this challenge came to nothing.
Bie Tianxin had never seen Chen Changsheng again, only encountering that name through the mouths of storytellers and on imperial edicts and decrees. Until today, in Hanqiu City, far from the capital, he once again saw that face—one without many distinguishing features, unfamiliar to him, yet absolutely unforgettable—and he was stunned.
He had come to Hanqiu City on behalf of his family's elders to discuss some matters with the Zhu family, and more importantly, to meet someone. He had never imagined he would see Chen Changsheng here.
His heartbeat quickened, his mouth went dry, both from shock and from tension. The entire continent wanted to know where Chen Changsheng was, so why had he, of all people, encountered him in Hanqiu City? What would happen next? What should he do? Should he step forward and pay his respects?
Just as he was pondering these matters, Chen Changsheng had already walked past him.
Chen Changsheng had seen Bie Tianxin and recognized him, but he acted as if he hadn't.
It was Nanke beside him who cast a curious glance at Bie Tianxin.
……
……
Deep within an extremely secluded mansion in Hanqiu City, Bie Tianxin recounted the scene of encountering Chen Changsheng, frowning slightly, looking somewhat troubled.
The person he was speaking to was a young girl, her features captivating, her cheeks faintly flushed, appearing quite adorable—perhaps because she had been drinking.
"You're afraid of him?"
The girl's voice was soft, but her tone was not, carrying a faint trace of mockery and an air of innate superiority.
These words were only three simple syllables, but they showed little respect for either Bie Tianxin or Chen Changsheng, because she was saying that Bie Tianxin was afraid of him, and even more so because she directly referred to Chen Changsheng as "him."
Bie Tianxin was the only son of two of the Eight Winds and Rains, and Chen Changsheng was the Pope.
There were very few people on this continent qualified to speak of them in such a tone, and among young girls of this age, there were even fewer.
For example, Luoluo, Nanke, and Little Black Dragon—coincidentally, they were all now close to Chen Changsheng.
This girl was not Chen Changsheng's friend, yet she still dared to speak this way, because she was not from this continent.
She came from the Great Western Continent, just like Luoluo and the others, and she was also a princess.
Mu Jiushi, the most mysterious of the six giants of the State Church, had been stripped of all her glory and power by the previous Pope, but that glory and power belonged to the State Church.
As long as her bloodline remained, she possessed glory and power that no one could ignore, and her status remained exalted, because she was the younger sister of Madam Mu. In a sense, she represented the will of the Great Western Continent.
Bie Tianxin looked at her face, listened to her voice, and his body went slightly weak, not from fear, but from affection.
Three years ago, when they had met by chance in the capital, he had fallen in love with her, loved her to the point of death.
From any angle, she was worthy of being loved, worthy of being loved by him, and was the most suitable match for him.
So even though her words carried mockery and disdain, he still wouldn't get angry, only thinking to explain his own helplessness.
"Who would be afraid of that guy? It's just... he's the Pope now. Xiao Shi, you're from the Great Western Continent, so naturally it doesn't matter to you, but I'm different after all."
Clearly, Mu Jiushi didn't care about his explanation. She set down the wine jug and walked into the courtyard.
She looked at the somewhat gloomy sky, was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Why did he come to Hanqiu City?"
Bie Tianxin thought it over, his expression grave, and said, "Could he be going to Wenshui?"
This was something anyone could see through—did it even need thinking?
Mu Jiushi didn't turn around, so Bie Tianxin couldn't see the mockery at the corner of her lips; he could only hear her praise.
"Brother Bie's reasoning is very sound... then we should immediately notify the capital and the Wenshui side."
Bie Tianxin smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it shortly."
Mu Jiushi said softly, "Don't mention me."
Bie Tianxin's smile faded, and he sighed, "Xiao Shi, I know things aren't as peaceful on your Great Western Continent as they appear on the surface. Even Madam Mu was forced to leave her homeland back then, let alone you. That's why you don't dare let others know about us. But... you really don't need to be afraid of anything. As long as my parents know about this, would your elder brother still dare to do anything to you?"
Mu Jiushi turned around, looked at him, and asked, "But what would your parents think?"
Bie Tianxin looked at her with deep affection and said, "As long as I like something, my parents will definitely like it too."
Mu Jiushi seemed moved. She walked up to him, looked into his eyes, and asked softly, "How much do you like me?"
With his beloved before him, Bie Tianxin was immensely satisfied and said with heartfelt sincerity, "I would die for you."
Mu Jiushi gently leaned against his shoulder, gazing at the ancient locust tree in the courtyard, and whispered, "How wonderful."
Her hand rested between his chest and abdomen, appearing as if she were shyly blocking the view, but in reality, at this moment, she only needed to circulate her true essence slightly to shatter Bie Tianxin's Nether Palace.
Then he would truly die.