Crown Prince?

Since when did Daqian have a Crown Prince?

Doesn’t His Majesty only have one daughter?

How could it be him?

Dong Kui’s lips trembled, and Lin Mo’s single word—’Crown Prince’—had just about scared his soul out of him, his guts felt like they were about to burst!

"You were waiting for me?"

Xu Yang didn’t pay Dong Kui the slightest attention.

Upon hearing this, Dong Kui’s face turned ashen and he collapsed to the ground.

The dignified perfection-stage powerhouse of the Myriad Manifestations Realm, now sweating profusely, panic written all over him!

The sheer deterrence of a newly revealed Crown Prince was fully displayed at this moment!

Dong Yue was so shocked her jaw dropped, even forgetting her hatred, staring blankly at Xu Yang.

She suddenly realized why Xu Yang had been so confident all along.

It wasn’t just about strength, but status!

Lin Mo bowed respectfully, "Yes, Your Highness!"

"I wish to see His Majesty. Can I meet him now?"

Upon hearing this, cold sweat streamed down Lin Mo’s forehead.

Is that something I can answer?

"Y-Your Highness, I—I do not know!" Lin Mo stammered, face full of panic, lips quivering.

"So it seems seeing him isn’t that easy!"

Xu Yang laughed at himself.

Whether or not he could meet the emperor, it seemed he’d have to enter the capital first.

Maybe it was time to look for the chief ritual official!

"Tell me about the Dong Clan in the capital."

"Yes!"

"Your Highness, the Dong Clan keeps a fairly low profile in the capital; even their True Lord rarely shows himself. From the elders down to the juniors, the family all act quite humbly on a daily basis..."

After Lin Mo’s description, Xu Yang gave Dong Kui—who looked like he’d lost his ancestors—a surprised glance. Was the gap really this wide?

"Really?"

Meeting Xu Yang’s gaze, Lin Mo felt cold sweat seeping down his back.

He didn’t know why, but Xu Yang gave him a tremendous sense of oppression!

And it wasn’t just about status!

"I’m absolutely not lying!" Lin Mo replied, voice trembling.

Xu Yang nodded slightly. The leader of the City Defense Camp may not be among the very top in the capital, but the post wasn’t insignificant either.

This Lin Mo looked young; to have reached this position, he was definitely no fool!

By this logic, maybe the main Dong Clan really was respectable!

He turned to Dong Yue, "Should I take you straight to the Dong Clan, or do you want to look around with me first?"

Dong Yue hesitated, but quickly gathered herself, replying seriously, "Mr. Xu, just take me to the Dong Clan."

"Alright!"

Xu Yang didn’t say more.

"I want to see Tang Yan." He stared at Lin Mo.

"Tang Yan? You mean Mr. Tang?" Lin Mo was shocked, testing with his question.

"Yes, that’s right!"

Lin Mo hesitated, "To be honest, Your Highness, it may be difficult to meet Mr. Tang; in the capital he’s elusive as a dragon, and I’ve heard even the palace’s Pill King struggles to find him!"

Seeing Xu Yang’s brows knit, Lin Mo quickly said, "If Your Highness has urgent business, you could return to the palace and seek out Lord Chief of Rituals or the Pill King; maybe they’ll have news!"

"Oh, right."

Lin Mo suddenly slapped his forehead, "There’s one other place."

"Ten Thousand Hammers Association!"

"What sort of place is that?" Xu Yang was dubious—it sounded like a power or faction.

"Your Highness, the Ten Thousand Hammers Association is a location, once established by Mr. Tang, where he left a secret technique and a hammer; he once stated: whoever comprehends the technique can become his closed-door disciple!"

"And if you can swing the hammer ten thousand times, he will come out to forge you a Divine Weapon!"

Xu Yang was stirred; this was a place worth visiting.

If Mr. Tang left those things behind, once someone succeeded, he’d definitely sense it and appear!

As for going to the palace first...

Honestly, Xu Yang really wanted to avoid it!

If the emperor could meet him directly, it wouldn’t be Lin Mo arriving right now.

The previous rumors about the emperor being locked away, coupled with Zheng Xuan’s dying words, suggested the rumor was true!

That palace... better to stay away for now!

If he went, who knew what kind of uproar he’d stir up!

With this thought, Xu Yang said, "Let’s head into the capital first."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Lin Mo stepped respectfully to the side.

"By the way, lock this fellow up for now; maybe the Dong Clan will have use for him later." Xu Yang glanced dismissively at Dong Kui.

Lin Mo nodded and waved to his men in the distance.

Dong Kui gave up all hope, trembling like a sieve.

Xu Yang’s status made him too terrified to even beg for mercy—all he knew was, he was finished!

And with that, the group headed grandly towards the capital.

Upon entering the city unimpeded, Lin Mo wanted to accompany Xu Yang, but was rebuffed.

Xu Yang asked for a map, clarified the locations of the Dong Clan and Ten Thousand Hammers Association.

"By the way, how many people know about my identity?" Xu Yang suddenly asked.

Lin Mo was silently cursing—he was just a minor City Defense Camp leader!

Originally, when Lord Chief of Rituals gave him this task, Lin Mo had been excited!

After all, this was the Crown Prince.

The same man who could concoct supreme-grade pills, an utterly monstrous Pill Master.

This was a heaven-sent opportunity!

But now, Lin Mo deeply regretted it!

This assignment was way too tough.

Lin Mo replied bitterly, "Your Highness, truthfully, I don’t know either!"

"But I’d guess that the top circles in the capital should all know."

"Seems like quite a few know."

"Any movement from His Majesty lately?"

Oof, movement?

What kind of question is that?

Lin Mo braced himself, "Seems there hasn’t been any."

Xu Yang’s eyes flashed, "So it was Lord Chief of Rituals who spread the news?"

"..."

Lin Mo wisely shut his mouth, saying nothing!

He knew what could and couldn’t be said.

Especially given Xu Yang’s actions and questions—he couldn’t make sense of his motives or intentions.

All the more reason not to speak carelessly.

Seeing this, Xu Yang shook his head and chuckled, dropping the inquiry.

"Thank you."

Saying that, he set off with Dong Yue down the street.

Lin Mo finally breathed a sigh of relief, watching Xu Yang’s departing figure with a complex expression.

"Mr. Xu, you’re actually the Crown Prince." Dong Yue stared wide-eyed in shock at Xu Yang.

"Not by my choice!"

"If this trip to the capital goes well, I’d rather shed that status," Xu Yang said coolly.

Dong Yue opened her mouth in disbelief—she might be young, but she understood plenty.

You don’t want to be Crown Prince?

Dong Yue hesitated, "So, that story you told me before wasn’t a lie?"

How could a Crown Prince have suffered so much?

Besides, rumor had it that His Majesty had no princes!

So there shouldn’t be any strife! 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Xu Yang reached out and ruffled Dong Yue’s hair, "Do you think I was lying to you?"

Dong Yue tilted her head, "Doesn’t seem like it!"

"Exactly."

"Don’t listen to what others say; learn to see for yourself, to tell right from wrong!"

Dong Yue mulled it over, then nodded firmly.

After a short while—

A large manor appeared before them.

It was the Dong Clan!

"Are you scared?"

"What if Lin Mo was fooled by the Dong Clan’s disguise, and the real thing is no better than the branch? There’s still time to reconsider." Xu Yang smiled at Dong Yue.

Dong Yue grinned, "Mr. Xu, the City Defense Camp leader seems like a big deal too."

"If... If I have to, may I reveal your identity?"

Xu Yang chuckled in surprise, looking at Dong Yue with even more admiration.

This little girl is smart and knows how to handle herself!

If it really came to that, then he himself would be her destined chance!

Thinking of chance, Xu Yang couldn’t help thinking of the mysterious Celestial Refining Divine Scripture, and the divine cauldron!

"Go on."

Xu Yang waved his hand.

"Mr. Xu, thank you for all you’ve taught me along the way!" Dong Yue gave Xu Yang a very formal salute with clasped fists, raised her head and said, "May Your Highness achieve all your wishes!"

With those words, she beamed brilliantly and turned to walk toward the manor!

Xu Yang felt a bit dazed.

When he came back to himself, guards at the manor had already changed expression and rushed inside!

Seeing this, Xu Yang smiled faintly, turned to leave—only to notice a young man not too far away, staring suspiciously at him.

The young man saluted, "Friend, I am Dong Yue. That little girl just now—who is she?"