Meng Qi was stunned for a moment, a faint bitter smile appearing on his face as he shook his head and returned to his normal state. Since he might have to face it eventually, there was no need to indulge in melancholy or deliberately avoid it; that was not the mindset of a strong person.
He reined in his thoughts and walked toward the central light pillar. Since he didn’t know what the task was and had no companions to strategize with, he couldn’t coordinate with others to purchase secret treasures. Therefore, he only spent five hundred Shan Merits to buy a Da Huan Dan (Great Replenishing Pill), leaving him with one hundred and ten remaining.
After sitting quietly for a moment, mist began to rise, and Meng Qi vanished from the Reincarnation Plaza.
…
The July heat was like a flowing flame, and the autumn breeze gradually arrived. The days still retained the lingering heat of summer, but the nights had already become much cooler.
As the capital of the Great Jin Dynasty and the most famous city in the land, Shen Du was divided into five concentric layers. At the core was the palace city, followed by the imperial city, then the inner city and outer city. Beyond the city walls, houses were built along both banks of the canal. If viewed from above, the city’s districts and markets were arranged in neat rows and interwoven in a complex yet orderly pattern, radiating outward in concentric circles toward the imperial city.
Such a magnificent and splendid city naturally had a population to match. Even on ordinary days, not just market days, the streets were packed with people, shoulder to shoulder, and under the shade of the avenue trees, there were always those resting or seeking refuge from the heat.
Compared to cities in the Jiangdong region, the attire of Shen Du’s citizens was not significantly more luxurious, and there were still those dressed in tattered clothes. However, their vitality and spirit were superior to those in Jiangdong. They lacked a bit of scholarly elegance but carried the pride of living under the emperor’s shadow—the capital city of the empire.
Prince Wei’s Mansion was located in Duizi Alley, close to the imperial city. The alley was relatively quiet, with few carriages and horses passing through, unlike the mansions of other princes. The alley was lined with parasol trees, their shade covering the road and giving the place a serene atmosphere.
“Your Highness, where exactly are we going?” Hu Dou, a eunuch with faint eyebrows, whispered in a hushed, high-pitched voice to his master, Prince Zhao Heng, who had changed into plain civilian clothes.
Since receiving a strange note at noon, his master had seemed restless and uneasy. Then, avoiding everyone else, he had secretly left the mansion with only Hu Dou in tow.
Although Zhao Heng wore simple blue robes, his dignified bearing remained undiminished. His eyes slightly narrowed, gazing directly into the bright sunlight: “You’ll know soon enough.”
His tone was calm yet carried an underlying authority, and Hu Dou immediately fell silent, knowing better than to ask further.
Although his prince was usually approachable and easygoing, when he truly showed his stern side, one could feel the innate majesty of a royal heir—the natural authority of a future emperor.
This is the depth of a ruler’s mind… Hu Dou mused aimlessly.
After leaving Duizi Alley, the two walked in silence until they reached the outskirts of the inner city, arriving at Doujiadian, a bustling and chaotic part of the city where all sorts of people mingled.
Hu Dou kept his head lowered and his eyes downcast, no longer displaying his usual arrogance. He ordered a waiter to clean a table for drinking, serving his prince as he sat down.
“Your Highness, are we waiting for someone here?” He took a clean towel and wiped the table himself, feigning disgust at the previous greasiness.
Zhao Heng said nothing, scanning the surroundings. The place was filled with all manner of people, the atmosphere noisy and chaotic.
“The latest Human Rankings are out!” A sudden commotion came from outside.
A scholar, like a star among the moon, walked up to the corner of the second-floor staircase amid the crowd’s gaze. He unfolded a piece of white paper in his hand, preparing to post it on the wall.
“These country bumpkins already know about the changes in the rankings…” Hu Dou sneered disdainfully, glancing around.
Nearby, people had already started discussing it. A man holding a folding fan swayed his head and asked his friend: “What do you think? How much longer will the Wolf King’s rampage last?”
In Shen Du, it was customary to use the respectful “you” even when addressing close friends or acquaintances, making conversations sound especially polite.
“Those who know better in the capital believe the Wolf King is about to break through. He probably just needs to kill one more Half-Step expert to ascend.” A man at a nearby table, his long sword placed upright, spoke confidently.
This sense of knowing all heroes in the world without ever leaving Shen Du intoxicated him.
Hu Dou’s lips curled into a half-smile.
With a rustle, the paper unfurled, black ink revealing the rankings.
“Huh, the first spot really isn’t the Wolf King anymore!” The man with the folding fan exclaimed loudly.
The sword-holding man nodded with restrained pride, also turning his gaze to the paper. His eyes widened as he saw the new number one: Kuang Dao Su Meng (Crazy Saber Su Meng).
He scanned down the list, his gaze suddenly freezing.
Su Meng’s introduction hadn’t changed much from before, but his list of achievements had been greatly reduced, now only a single line:
“Killed the Wolf King in Bayan Grasslands.”
Killed the Wolf King in Bayan Grasslands… Killed the Wolf King… He muttered in disbelief, unable to accept what he had just read.
Gasps echoed throughout the teahouse, making the silence feel even more suffocating.
“This… this can’t be right?”
“The invincible Wolf King was actually defeated?”
“Has Kuang Dao become this powerful?”
At this moment, no further achievements were needed to prove Kuang Dao’s might. This single feat alone was enough to capture the world’s attention!
“What a rare sight,” Hu Dou muttered in satisfaction, completely forgetting his own shock when he first heard the news.
After a short while, the teahouse erupted like a volcano, filled with discussions and exclamations.
The scholar with the folding fan exchanged glances with his companion for a long time before suddenly laughing bitterly: “You were right. The Wolf King is indeed off the rankings, but not because he broke through—he was killed.”
“Who could have imagined Kuang Dao would be this strong? He’s no less powerful than the legendary Tianwai Shen Jian (Heavenly Sword) back then!” The sword-holding man awkwardly changed the subject with a laugh, “Now Fan Changmiao must be so upset he can’t sleep!”
“Why would Fan Changmiao be upset?” The scholar was puzzled, “Does he have a grudge with Kuang Dao? That doesn’t make sense. He was born and raised in Shen Du, never leaving Zhongzhou during his travels. How could he have a past feud with Kuang Dao?”
The sword-holding man teased: “Think about his identity.”
“The current martial arts champion of this year’s imperial exams, a silver badge investigator of the Six Doors—what’s wrong with that?” The scholar was even more confused.
“Haha, you don’t know. Fan Changmiao is extremely cunning and has been biding his time for years. Suddenly last year, he burst forth and became the martial arts champion, the only young expert who earned the title without being on the Human Rankings first. His momentum is strong now, aiming for the top ten.” The man stroked his sword hilt and spoke fluently.
“That’s something to be proud of. Besides, Fan Changmiao has already risen to fifteenth place on the Human Rankings,” the scholar frowned.
What does this have to do with Kuang Dao?
“It was indeed something to be proud of. Even if some questioned the low standards of the previous martial arts exams and doubted Fan Changmiao’s legitimacy, with his current ranking, he had nothing to worry about.” The man chuckled, stroking his sword hilt, “But Kuang Dao was also a participant in that same exam. He treated the title of champion like a piece of trash and never even showed up. Everyone said that Fan Changmiao only won because Kuang Dao withdrew. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have stood a chance…”
The scholar slapped his fan into his palm: “Ah, I see!”
“So the more glorious Kuang Dao becomes, the more frustrated Fan Changmiao feels. Who can stand being called a ‘champion who got lucky’?”
“Exactly! And now even the Wolf King, such an invincible figure, has been slain by Kuang Dao. He probably doesn’t even have the courage to face him!” The man set down his sword, took a big swig of wine, and looked very pleased.
Hu Dou listened with great interest; it was the first time he had heard of this “rivalry.”
Just then, a servant entered and handed Zhao Heng a note.
Zhao Heng glanced at it, clenched his fist, and the note turned to ashes. Then he stood up and walked toward the door.
“Hey, Your Highness, wait for me,” Hu Dou exclaimed, finally snapping out of his daze and hurrying after him.
Once outside, Zhao Heng took several turns and finally reached a quiet alley.
“Wait here,” Zhao Heng ordered solemnly.
Hu Dou whispered, “Your Highness, a gentleman should not stand beneath a dangerous wall.”
“You know my current strength. Are you really worried I won’t survive long enough for help to arrive?” Zhao Heng replied seriously.
Hu Dou, aware of his master’s recent secret breakthrough, inhaled deeply and said, “Your Highness, please be careful.”
At the end of the alley stood a dilapidated courtyard. A man in blue robes lazily leaned against a broken wall, a blade of grass in his mouth. The yard was overgrown with weeds, sunlight filtering through the trees, casting golden patches on the ground.
“The major factions across the land are all shaken by your defeat of the Wolf King. Countless people are talking about you, praising you, and setting you as their goal. Including the Six Doors, many forces are searching for you. Yet here you are, sunbathing and lazing around,” Zhao Heng said, somewhat enviously.
The man in blue robes was none other than Meng Qi, who had traveled day and night, arriving in Shen Du in just over a month and ten days.
Meng Qi replied leisurely, “What does it have to do with me? Even if the Six Doors offer a reward, I need to know the specific details of the mission before deciding whether to reveal my identity. Hmm, haven’t they come yet?”
“They’ll probably take some time, especially Yu Shu’s younger sister. Unlike you, who’s alone, she has responsibilities,” Zhao Heng answered.
In other words, the mission wouldn’t start for a while.
Meng Qi looked up at the sky and suddenly asked, “You’ve broken through?”
Zhao Heng sighed, “I’m not like you and Jiang Nv, with lofty aspirations to leap straight to the heavens. I prefer to progress step by step.”
“Everyone has their own path. Why do you feel this way? I might not even be able to beat you now…” Meng Qi chuckled lightly.
“My own path…” Zhao Heng suddenly felt a pang of emotion and sighed, “Xiao Meng, I really wish I could be as free and easy as you, wandering the skies like a cloud, living freely. The crown prince position, the struggles within the royal family, the great affairs of the world—they’re all too exhausting and heavy.”
He felt that this Shen Du mission might be related to those matters, so he had been feeling stressed and down lately.
Meng Qi glanced at him sideways: “You really willing to give up your luxurious life, the power to command a hundred followers, and the life of a prince surrounded by beauties? In the future, you might even become the crown prince and ascend to the throne…”
Zhao Heng shook his head, lifted his robe, and sat down beside Meng Qi without regard for his appearance: “Only outsiders envy me. If I really had the chance, I’d rather switch places with you. You can be the prince, and I’ll be a wandering swordsman in the mountains and rivers.”
Meng Qi suddenly turned around, his eyes wide and his gaze intense: “Really?”
“Really what?” Zhao Heng was taken aback.
“Really switch places! Hahaha, I’ve always wanted to be a prince, to experience the life of power, luxury, and countless beauties!” Meng Qi laughed heartily, his expression serious, “I know the Eight-Nine Transformations. I guarantee I’ll become exactly like you, and no one will be able to tell the difference!”
Zhao Heng hadn’t expected Meng Qi to take him seriously and follow up so quickly. He was both bewildered and flustered as he instinctively said, “I was joking.”
“I knew it. You’d never be willing to give up all these things.” Meng Qi lay back down, leaning against the broken wall, his mood clearly dampened.
Zhao Heng stood there slightly dazed, thinking to himself, Xiao Meng really is just like they said—sometimes he acts like he has intermittent brain spasms…
However, Meng Qi’s teasing had eased his previous gloom and pressure, and he smiled slightly, stood up, patted off his robe, and prepared to leave.
“Feeling a bit better now?” Suddenly, as if he had been asleep, Meng Qi spoke up.
Zhao Heng paused, turned back, and looked at Meng Qi. His head was in the shadow of the broken wall, blurry and indistinct, only his mouth and chin clearly visible, with a faint shadow of stubble.
“You…” Zhao Heng suddenly felt a surge of emotion.
Meng Qi continued to gaze upward at the green canopy of the trees: “If you’re feeling a bit better, help me find two people.”
“One is Yang Wuliang, a Half-Step expert, who should have pledged allegiance to Prince Jin.”
This was the Shen Du mission for the Xian Ji, to avenge a prospective member for the murder of his father by Yang Wuliang.
Zhao Heng nodded gently: “And the other?”
“Gu Changqing…” Meng Qi said with a slight sigh.
In just over three years, this name had become so unfamiliar. How much had changed with the passage of time…
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