Chapter 1613: Chapter 62: The Beicang King Appears! (2)

Emperor Changning raised his hand to stop her. "I understand."

He then looked at Jiang Ning. "Dongling Marquis, I hope you can agree to this matter. Under normal circumstances, protecting Shiqi won’t even require you to make a move."

Just then.

Jiang Ning suddenly turned his head to look to the side.

He saw a shadow appear inside the room. The shadow then gathered and solidified, and a figure emerged.

The newcomer wore a tight black outfit, holding a pitch-black longsword in his hand. A dark metal mask covered his face, wrapping his entire visage so that only a pair of ink-black eyes were exposed.

The newcomer cupped his hands in salute to Emperor Changning, then stood to the side without saying a word.

"Lu Jiu, go take care of Mr. Fu!" Emperor Changning said.

At these words, the entirely pitch-black Lu Jiu took a single step forward, stepped into the room’s shadow, and disappeared.

"This is a Shadow Guard, a personal guard unit belonging to the position I currently occupy. With the Dragon Soaring Order just now, you can mobilize thirty percent of the Shadow Guards, and Lu Jiu will also obey your commands."

Emperor Changning saw Jiang Ning’s puzzlement and opened his mouth to explain.

Hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded.

Hidden Guards and Shadow Guards—he had long heard of them.

They were the two most mysterious units within the Imperial Family, and only obeyed the one seated upon the throne.

As well as a portion that could be mobilized by the Dragon Soaring Order in his hand.

The next moment.

He heard sounds from outside.

A short while later.

The Shadow Guard who had just left reappeared before them. He bent in a bow toward Emperor Changning, then stood silently to the side.

"Go find Chief Manager Hai, and have Chief Manager Hai bring three Holy King Pills," Emperor Changning said again.

"Yes!" The Shadow Guard bowed to Emperor Changning, then turned and departed.

"Dongling Marquis, how about waiting here for a short while?" Emperor Changning again looked at Jiang Ning, then continued, "These three Holy King Pills are your reward for taking action today and waking me."

"Many thanks, Holy Emperor!" Jiang Ning cupped his hands, a bit of joy rising in his heart.

He was also familiar with the Holy King Pill.

This item never circulated in the outside world, but was exclusive to the Imperial Family, refined by a group of Pill Masters the Imperial Family had cultivated over many years, using Ancient secret formulas.

One Holy King Pill, taken, would remake the body, increase Essence Qi and spirit. For a short time, one would enter a state known as Crossing the Mortal into the Sacred, with a chance of falling into a state of enlightenment and advancing a thousand miles in a day.

"That technique just now—can you still use it?" Emperor Changning glanced at Jiang Ning and asked again.

Jiang Ning shook his head.

"That method is one of stimulating the vitality within the body. Now Your Majesty’s body already shows signs of fuel exhausted and lamp about to go out. Forcing it again would be no different from draining the pond to catch fish. If we forcibly stimulate it again, it may instantly deplete Your Majesty’s remaining Primordial Energy, with the risk of death on the spot." Jiang Ning’s expression was calm as he answered truthfully.

Hearing this, there was no disappointment in Emperor Changning’s eyes. Instead, a trace of relief appeared.

He slowly leaned back against the soft pillow, his gaze falling toward the patch of sky outside the window, neatly cut by the palace walls. "One day and night... is enough. It’s already a windfall, at least I can still see Shiqi a few more times."

As he spoke, his gaze had already fallen upon Ji Mingyue.

"Father Emperor..." Ji Mingyue’s lips trembled slightly, grief on her face.

Just then, some commotion suddenly came from outside.

The next moment.

Ji Mingyuan appeared in haste.

"Father Emperor!" He immediately bowed toward Emperor Changning on the dragon bed.

Emperor Changning’s brows and eyes darkened. "What happened outside?"

"Father Emperor, Beicang King has come to see you!" Ji Mingyuan lowered his head even further.

He understood what those three words "Beicang King" meant at this moment.

At the same time.

Emperor Changning’s face instantly sank, and the atmosphere in the room immediately congealed.

Tap, tap—

Two footsteps sounded, instantly breaking the silence in the room.

Then a tall figure stepped in slowly.

The newcomer looked to be a bit over fifty, wearing a dark robe embroidered with coiling dragons, a jade belt at his waist. His face was square, his gaze restrained yet bright, and there was a natural authority in his bearing that came from long years in high position.

This man was none other than Beicang King, a king enfeoffed by martial might, whose most famous force under his command was the hundred thousand-strong Heavenly Hero Army.

He guarded the northern barrier, resisting the northern Barbarian tribes. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Prince Zhenbei, he was one of the Twin Kings of the North, a true old-line king.

As Beicang King stepped into the room, his gaze first swept across Emperor Changning’s face, then over Jiang Ning, Ji Mingyue and the others.

Though no aura leaked from his body, he made the room fall silent in an instant.

Behind Beicang King followed a handsome man.

Once the man entered, his gaze first fell upon Ji Mingyue, then shifted to Jiang Ning.

At the same time.

Beicang King’s gaze landed on Emperor Changning on the dragon bed.

"I heard in the north that the Holy Emperor was gravely ill and unconscious, so I traveled day and night to rush to the Royal Capital. Yet just now outside, the Fifth Prince actually tried to bar me from seeing the Holy Emperor, saying the Holy Emperor needed rest. Now that I see this, the Fifth Prince is clearly confining the Holy Emperor, not allowing outsiders to visit."

As he spoke, Beicang King’s gaze fell upon Ji Mingyuan to the side.

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Ji Mingyuan’s brow.

"Beicang King, you’ve gone too far!" Emperor Changning’s voice landed like a hammer.

"Forgive me, Holy Emperor. I was worried for Your Majesty’s safety!" Beicang King cupped his hands.

Then he smiled. "From the looks of it now, Your Majesty’s body is still stable, not as the rumors outside say—gravely ill and unconscious."

What a domineering aura. Watching Beicang King at this moment, Jiang Ning whispered in his heart.

In just this first entry into the palace, the successive turns of events had already shown him the surging waves surrounding imperial power.

"Beicang King, there’s no need for you to worry about my body. The safety of the north is far more important than my health," Emperor Changning said.

"I understand Your Majesty’s intent. Before coming to the Royal Capital, I already spoke with Prince Zhenbei. With him sitting at the northern barrier, there is no immediate worry. Compared to the north, Your Majesty’s body is the truly major matter now!" Beicang King said, taking a step forward. "If Your Majesty does not mind, I can help examine Your Majesty’s body. I have already reached the absolute peak of the Human Dao Domain. Even if I cannot resolve the Immortal Curse Killing Skill, I can at least help Your Majesty regulate your body."

"No need!" Emperor Changning waved his hand. "I know my own body. With the northern Barbarian tribes frequently in turmoil, what Beicang King should do is return north and guard the northern barrier."

"I know Your Majesty worries for the north, but Your Majesty now needs people at your side. Otherwise, if today’s kind of incident happens again, it will shake the very roots of Great Xia Country. I intend to rest in the Royal Capital for ten days to half a month. It has been a long time since I last strolled the Royal Capital. If Your Majesty has need, you may send someone to summon me," Beicang King said.

Then his gaze swept past Su Qingying.

"State Preceptor, I trust you have been well these days."

"And this is...?" He looked again at Jiang Ning.

"Father King, this is the Dongling Marquis!" the man behind Beicang King reminded him.

"So this is the recently famed Dongling Marquis." Beicang King smiled faintly and said no more.

Just then.

Footsteps once more came from outside.

The next moment.

A middle-aged man with a plump figure and round face appeared before them.

"This old slave greets the Holy Emperor!" At the moment he saw Emperor Changning, the plump man’s eyes grew slightly red. "This old slave has brought the items."

Emperor Changning looked at the wooden box in Chief Manager Hai’s hands and nodded.

"What has Chief Manager Hai brought?" Beicang King looked at the wooden box in Chief Manager Hai’s hands, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes.

"Greetings, Beicang King!" Chief Manager Hai spoke, then continued, "I must beg forgiveness, but I cannot say what this is."

Beicang King smiled faintly, then looked back at Emperor Changning.

"Holy Emperor, the matter of the Crown Prince ought to be decided sooner, lest petty villains take the chance to stir up trouble."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Jiang Ning, then over Su Qingying, before cupping his hands to Emperor Changning. "I shall take my leave first. I will remain in the Royal Capital for a period, at Your Majesty’s disposal."

Leaving these words behind, he turned to go outside without waiting for Emperor Changning to speak.

Seeing this, the man behind Beicang King followed after him.

As he walked out the door, he glanced once more at Ji Mingyue and Jiang Ning, then vanished from sight.

The room fell quiet at once.

Only Emperor Changning’s breathing remained clear.