Chapter 2730 - Danger in the Imperial City

After a moment’s thought, Su Yi asked, “Do you have any suspects?”

Qin Suqing shook her head. “I’m still investigating.”

Her bright eyes gazed intently at Su Yi. “Dark currents flow beneath the surface of the imperial city. If at all possible, I’d like to ask you and Pu Xuan to leave as soon as you can.”

Su Yi took a sip of wine, then laughed. “You’re worried that we’ll get swept into this mess?”

Qin Suqing nodded. “There’s more on the line in this competition between imperial scions than just the fates of the Great Qin Empire and Sky Profound Court. It will affect Bluebird Palace, Fire Dragon Temple, and the Yu Family, too. Pulling a hair can move an entire body. I don’t want you to...”

But before she could finish, Su Yi waved dismissively. “I understand what you’re trying to say, and to tell the truth, I’ve already decided to leave once Pu Xuan has recovered from his injuries.”

Qin Suqing sighed in relief, but at the same time, she felt inexplicable sadness.

A moment later, she comforted herself.

If anything, I ought to be happy about this. After all, Fellow Daoist Su and Senior Pu Xuan saved Uncle Luan and I twice already. It would be far too selfish of me to get them mixed up in this.

“When you two are ready to leave, I’ll personally see you off,” Qin Suqing said solemnly.

Su Yi smiled. “I’ve yet to visit the imperial city. I plan to take a stroll tomorrow. If you’ve got the spare time, we could go together.”

Inwardly, Qin Suqing laughed bitterly.

I’m overwhelmed with the competition for the throne. How could I possibly be in any mood for an outing?

But when she met Su Yi’s gaze, she nonetheless agreed.

Suddenly, a hoarse, aged voice resounded from beyond the residence. “Lass, it’s getting late. We’d best leave.”

Su Yi instantly sensed a bony old man in black robes standing just outside the courtyard.

The old man seemed to notice that Su Yi had sensed him. He silently raised his head, his gaze cold and calm.

“That’s my martial uncle, as well as a retainer of the Great Qin. His Daoist title is Yin Mu,” explained Qin Suqing. “Martial Uncle rushed over when he heard about what happened in the Golden Spirit Hidden Realm, and he’s been watching over me ever since.”

As she spoke, she clasped her fists and bade farewell.

Su Yi rose from his wicker chair and picked up a jug of wine. “I’ll see you to the door.”

Qin Suqing didn’t refuse. The two of them walked side by side to the gates. Night had already silently set in, and the distant streets of the imperial capital were already bright with lamplight.

Su Yi stood in the gateway and watched his guests leave. Soon, Qin Suqing and her martial uncle had faded into the distance.

Su Yi stretched languidly and whispered, “These are interesting times indeed.”

A figure in white had silently appeared beside Su Yi. He was tall and upright, with an extraordinary bearing.

This was none other than Pu Xuan.

Pu Xuan gazed at the countless lights illuminating the streets and murmured, “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the smoke and fire of mundane life. Are we really going to leave?”

Su Yi sloshed the wine in his jug and said casually, “I’m afraid it’s too late for that.”

Pu Xuan was stunned. A moment later, he smiled. “I’ll do as you say, regardless of whether you decide to stay or go.”

Su Yi rolled his eyes and said irritably, “Why is everything up to me? Do you really think I’m your dad or something?”

Pu Xuan wasn’t the least bit bothered. He just laughed. “You granted me a second chance at life. Why shouldn’t I call you my father?”

Su Yi had only just taken a sip of wine, but when he heard that, he spat it back out and gave Pu Xuan a big thumbs up. “I’m only just now realizing that you’re capable of such shamelessness.”

Pu Xuan shook his sleeves, hard, then lowered his head and clasped his fist. “You exaggerate, Father! Your son dares not accept such praise!”

Su Yi kicked him. “I’ve seen plenty of people pretend to be grandsons, but never a son. Miss Qin has clearly taken a fancy to you, and I’m afraid that if she saw this, she’d suspect she’d gone blind.”

Pu Xuan made no attempt to dodge his kick. He just took it, then stood and smiled. “Miss Qin is a kind person, but she really does have poor taste. She can’t tell that, outside of my efforts to do good, I’m shameless indeed. You’re quite keen-eyed to have picked up on this, Father.”

Hearing Pu Xuan repeatedly call him “father” made Su Yi thoroughly uncomfortable, so he quickly changed the subject. “How are your wounds?”

“About seventy or eighty percent healed,” said Pu Xuan. “They won’t get in the way.”

Su Yi pondered briefly. “You can just keep healing in seclusion. No need to worry about anything else.”

Pu Xuan nodded. “Alright.”

Pu Xuan was all too happy to play the role of “obedient son” while making idle conversation, but he naturally understood what to do when they got down to business.

...

The following morning.

Qin Suqing arrived, all dressed up in a simple, elegant dress with wide sleeves. Her long hair was tied up, with an angled jade hairpin holding it in place. Her fair, beautiful face shone beneath the morning sun.

Su Yi couldn’t help but take another look at her. “If I didn’t know better, I’d suspect you were here for Pu Xuan.”

Qin Suqing blinked at him. “Don’t think so little of yourself, Fellow Daoist Su. Women dress up for those who appreciate their beauty. A chance to accompany you on a trip through the imperial city is my honor.”

The eldest princess of the Great Qin smiled. “Let’s go. Today, I plan to take you on a tour of the eight greatest sights the imperial city has to offer.”

Su Yi was all too delighted to agree.

The two of them set off, leaving the residence and boarding a carriage decorated with imperial cloud markings. It slowly carried them into the distance.

The carriage was pulled by two Flaming Antler Beasts and driven by a steady, middle-aged man with dark skin.

“Take us to the Pavilion of Sages first,” ordered Qin Suqing.

The Pavilion of Sages was located in the city center. It was fully one hundred thousand feet tall. Sixteen statues stood atop it, each honoring an unparalleled figure who’d contributed majorly to the Great Qin Empire.

They said that each of the statues contained a portion of the charm of the Grand Dao, and that those chosen by fate could glean enlightenment into wondrous truths of the Grand Dao just by standing before the statues.

The ornate carriage drove slowly through the streets as Qin Suqing softly described the Pavilion of Sages to Su Yi.

Su Yi was dressed in his usual blue, holding a gourd of wine. His hair was casually pinned into a Daoist topknot, and he looked utterly relaxed.

“Fellow Daoist Su, do you have anything you’d like to say to me?” Qin Suqing suddenly fixed her beautiful eyes on him.

Su Yi was stunned. “Like what?”

Qin Suqing sighed. “I have a strong premonition that you didn’t simply invite me out today for a tour of the city.”

Su Yi couldn’t help but smile. He took a sip of wine and asked, “And what do you think I’ll do?”

Qin Suqing’s beautiful eyebrows furrowed. “I can’t even begin to guess.”

Su Yi took another sip of wine and buckled. “What, are you expecting something big to happen to spoil the mood?”

Qin Suqing glared at him. “Here in the imperial city, who could possibly be so bold and brazen?”

She’d only just said this when Su Yi smiled. “You mean you haven’t discovered the problem outside the carriage?”

Qin Suqing froze, then opened the curtains. The look on her beautiful face shifted. It was still the same familiar streets outside, but they were completely deserted.

“Stop the carriage!” Qin Suqing shouted.

But the carriage continued with no sign of stopping.

“The Unfettered Realm Dao Lord driving the carriage left a while ago,” said Su Yi.

Qin Suqing couldn’t help but ask, “Why didn’t you warn me?”

As she spoke, she exited the carriage, and indeed, she saw that the two Flaming Antler Beasts were rushing along, but the driver, Ying Hu, was nowhere to be found.

Qin Suqing promptly pulled the carriage to a halt and landed in the street. She looked around, but there was no one in sight.

Misty golden rain fell from the sky, creating splashes of gold on the ground.

“Is this the city’s defensive formation?” Su Yi appeared out of nowhere, one hand behind his back, the other holding a gourd of wine.”

Qin Suqing said icily, “It’s just one of the city’s defensive formations. It’s called the Golden Halo Dragon Formation, and it can transform one’s surroundings, creating a self-contained world.”

Su Yi said thoughtfully, “You’re saying that although it looks like we’re in the imperial city, we’ve actually been separated from the outside world?”

Qin Suqing nodded, her brow furrowed. “Only a few ancestors of the imperial family are capable of controlling the formation. I can’t even begin to imagine why they’d do this.”

Su Yi looked around and said casually, “They’re after me, of course.”

Qin Suqing’s heart clenched. “Did you anticipate this?”

Su Yi shook his head. “I cannot predict the future. How could I possibly have anticipated this? I took this trip with you simply to test a certain hypothesis.”

He’d only just said this when a handsome purple-robed man appeared further down the street. He had a sword case on his back, and his robes billowed around him.

“Senior Apprentice Brother Wen?” Qin Suqing exclaimed.

This new arrival was called Wen Biechen. He was a fellow disciple of Sky Profound Court, the chief disciple of Tamed Lightning Peak.

More than that, he was one of Sky Profound Court’s ten Divine Wandering Realm legacy disciples, and his strength placed him firmly in the top three!

Wen Biechen’s master was one of the sect’s patriarchs, so his status was far above most of the sect’s elders.

Wen Biechen stopped not far away, disregarded Su Yi, and focused on Qin Suqing. “Senior Apprentice Sister Suqing, step aside and let me handle that black-hearted schemer!”

His gaze was gentle, but his tone was firm.

“What ‘black-hearted schemer?’” Qin Suqing frowned. “Senior Apprentice Brother Wen, are you sure you haven’t misunderstood something?”

Wen Biechen looked around. “If I were mistaken, why would the imperial clan assist me by activating the Golden Halo Dragon Formation?”

Qin Suqing’s heart sank.

Something isn’t right here.

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

She forced down her fury, then said, “Senior Apprentice Brother Wen, I’m sure there’s a misunderstanding. How about you let me explain, then decide?”

Wen Biechen’s gaze was conflicted, but in the end, he shook his head. “Junior Apprentice Sister, I’m doing this for your own good!”

This time, Qin Suqing roared, “Senior Apprentice Brother Wen, aren’t you worried that someone is using you?”

Wen Biechen took off his sword case, then said casually, “It doesn’t matter if someone is using me or not. For you, I’m willing to be used.”

The sword case opened, and a glinting blue sword whooshed forth like an arc of divine light and landed in Wen Biechen’s palm.

His gaze instantly sharpened, and his sword intent rose into the heavens!

Qin Suqing was just about to say something when someone appeared out of nowhere, an unassuming man in black.

This was none other than Yin Mu, Qin Suqing’s martial uncle and a retainer of the imperial clan. Su Yi had seen him the night before, just outside his residence.

Yin Mu placed his hand on Qin Suqing’s shoulder and said, “Suqing, you have no further business here. When the truth comes to light, you’ll understand.”

Then, without giving her any chance to argue, he carried her over to a towering pavilion in the distance.

Su Yi was now the only one left.