Chapter 617: Shangguan Lingxiu’s Request
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
"The prince of an empire, but he performs such a despicable and heinous act. Isn't it disappointing? I have two goals today. One is to visit the crown prince's residence and carry out my tasks while another is to break the third prince's claws!"
Yun Yang grinned, showing his teeth. "Snatching the room away was only to make them feel outraged. This is but a beginning, just a starting point. The main dish is not served yet… Come, let us drink. Our priority now is only to drink and talk. The rest are merely subsequent issues."
Shangguan Lingxiu beamed and thought to herself, 'My guess is correct indeed, he does have other objectives. He is Supreme Cloud, he wouldn't act so outrageously without reason. There has to be a hidden meaning to all of this.'
She picked up the bowl and took a gulp of wine, speaking softly, "If it's possible, it would be best to break the third prince's greed for the throne directly… destroy all of his support and save everyone from future troubles."
Yun Yang chuckled bitterly and said, "I'd love to do so and be free of troubles, but we can't afford to do that. We don't only have this one prince. This strike will have to be launched and it must be sufficiently fierce. However, a portion of his forces must be kept, so he can't cause more issues but still retain the thirst for the throne."
"I have to keep my grip on him to become an eligible whetstone. It'll defeat the purpose of reusing trash if he's crushed outright. Including the crown prince, the fourth prince, and the few other princes whom have yet to grow but are already wildly ambitious, they're all useful whetstones. If they can't be used to their maximum potential, it'd be a waste. The royalty has provided them luxurious lives and power, but they've done nothing to repay that privilege. Are they not undeserving to be men, then?"
Shangguan Lingxiu could not help chuckling.
Yun Yang's words sounded humorous but Shangguan Lingxiu could distinguish the meaning between the lines. It was not supposed to be funny yet when Yun Yang spoke, he squinted and made faces that tickled her.
"Actually, there's another matter that I came to you today for…" Shangguan Lingxiu was hesitant to speak as she cast a glance at Yun Yang. There was a wash of emotions that flashed through her eyes, but she forced them away.
"Do speak. Being hesitant is not your style, Sister Lingxiu," Yun Yang said.
"Old Great Mistress…" Shangguan Lingxiu's gaze was aggrieved. "Old Great Mistress has exhausted herself keeping the family up all these years. She's near her end now…I don't want her to pass on just like this… but I can't find any way to extend her longevity."
Yun Yang kept mum for a moment.
Near her end… This was a person's destiny, a fate that was irreversible.
Even if one was as strong as Feng Xiange, who had Supreme Cloud Yun Yang, Dugu Chou, Ling Xiaozui and Heaven's Inquisition as friends, there was no trick to reverse the situation of an approaching end.
What other ways could Shangguan Lingxiu possibly be seeking for?
It was an uphill task to go against heaven's will!
Shangguan Lingxiu could not help feeling her heart sink when she saw Yun Yang remaining silent. Her eyes were rimmed with red as she spoke shakily, "I know… I know that Old Grand Commandant Fang was… near his end initially as well. His situation was worse than that of my Old Great Mistress. I was you who sustained him, so I thought… to ask you. Please help me."
Her eyes were focused on Yun Yang's face almost pleadingly.
Yun Yang kept quiet for a moment before explaining softly, "Sister Lingxiu, it's not that I want to refuse you, but Old Great Mistress and Old Grand Commandant Fang or even Old Marshal Qiu's situations are different. The main cause of both generals' state is due to their exertion in the battlefield, expending a large portion of their energy and blood. Now that both their life essences are lacking, it's difficult to remain healthy. My cultivation method is proficient in replenishing the life essences. Delivering my basic Qi to both the elders saved them from a critical situation. Most importantly, these two elders weren't really near their end. That's how I could extend their longevity smoothly. I can't, however, defy life and death and extend one's life."
"However, the Old Great Mistress' situation is not so. From what I know, Old Great Mistress knows martial arts as well, but rarely does she fight in the war. There aren't many injuries on her, but she bears the wounds of many people, parents, husband, children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren who have perished in the battlefield throughout these years consistently. This has caused Old Great Mistress to suffer from too many heartbreaks, time and again. Ordinary people expend their life essences, but those like Old Great Mistress have exhausted their spirit!"
"Old Great Mistress' heart is painfully drained!"
Yun Yang sighed and said, "In fact, I had previously gone to Shangguan's residence and checked on her numerous times. Now that Sister Lingxiu has mentioned it, I'll go again and try my best. As for the outcome and how effective it can be, I dare not guarantee."
"As long as you're willing to make the trip, I would be grateful," said Shangguan Lingxiu with delight.
Shangguan Lingxiu was contented after they made the arrangements and began to cheer them both to drink. To her, it was as if there was nothing that could not be done as long as Yun Yang was the one who went to execute it.
Supreme Cloud, the wisest of the Nine Supremes. He was basically God to Yutang's people, omnipotent. Due to Shangguan Lingxiu's knowledge that Yun Yang could do what others could not, she was very, very hopeful.
On the contrary, Yun Yang chuckled self-depreciatingly.
If he could reconnect with Emmie now, Old Great Mistress' case would not have been a big deal. It was not an exaggeration to say that he could have settled the matter with a wave of his hand. The issue now, however, was that the connection was still severed!
Just like Yun yang had said, he could only soothe her condition for a limited period of time by depending on the Endless Divine Art to sort through her meridians. When the Endless Divine spiritual Qi that was delivered into her body was ceased, that would be the end of it.
Despite the revitalizations that could be repeatedly done, the effect would deteriorate with the quantity, shortening the sustaining time and power of his efforts. Yun Yang could not be staying in Shangguan's residence every day. This was where the crux lied; he was in an extremely precarious position!
At about this time, footsteps resounded from outside. Someone was ascending the staircase and walking towards them unhurriedly. Listening to the sounds, there were only three people coming up.
Yun Yang glanced at Shangguan Lingxiu. Both of them no longer spoke and waited for the footsteps to arrive in silence.
"Dong, dong, dong…"
A series of soft knocks came from the door.
A gentle voice that was laced with a hint of a smile rang out, "Is it Young Master Yun inside? I've come to meet you personally."
It was the third prince.
A chilling grin hung at the corners of Yun Yang's lips as he spoke lazily, "The third prince has come. Do you want me to be gone? If you intend for it to be so, do come in and try to make me!"
The relaxed laughter from outside did not cease. The door opened and the third prince paced in slowly, chuckling, "How dare I ask Brother Yun to scram? We haven't met for so long, I've personally come to have a drink with Brother Yun."
The third prince thought that he was already being incredibly friendly and polite. He was even certain that even if Yun Yang harbored no pleasant feelings for him, it was possible for him to sit down, have a chat and drink some wine after such pleasantries. The saying went that one should never hit someone who was smiling.
As long as he could sit down and pull some strings, it was not difficult to establish a connection from here on.
Everything needed only a chance to begin and as long as this objective could be achieved, it was irrelevant that his subordinates had been humiliated. It would not even have fazed him if they had been killed outright by Yun Yang.
This was the advantage of being associated with King Xiaoyao!