According to the agreement between Lu Ming and his father, he would go to Aoyama when Jing Jiu was in trouble, and he would go back to Zhaoge City when Jing Jiu was released from prison.
There was still no news from Jing Jiu. He should have waited outside, but he couldn't help but want to go home to see his wife and his father.
He went back to Zhaoge City without informing anybody. As a result, he was stopped by someone before he could even return to his home.
The person who stopped him was Gu Pan, his deputy in the Magic Army, and the representative of the external disciples of Zhongzhou School in the Imperial Court.
Gu Pan didn't care about Lu Ming's reaction. He didn't want to let go of Lu Ming and insisted on inviting him to dinner. Lu Ming noticed the problem and let him go with a smile.
The purpose of the banquets in Zhaoge City was to get to know people, not to talk business.
Lu Ming wasn't surprised when he saw Prince Jing Xin walk out from behind the beaded curtain. He bowed to him respectfully.
Prince Jing Xin behaved amiably. He only talked about the scenery outside the county while eating and drinking. He didn't put down his chopsticks until he was a little tipsy.
No one knew when Gu Pan had already escaped.
"I have no problem with my father's loyalty and ability; otherwise, I wouldn't be supported by the masters of Yimaozhai."
Prince Jing Xin said sincerely while looking into Lu Ming's eyes, "What I don't understand is why my father's attitude toward me hasn't changed. Does he want to continue testing me?"
Lu Ming thought the prince was thinking too much, so he said something else, "Maybe it's because of the Aoyama Sect?"
Prince Jing Xin shook his head and said, "The Aoyama Sect didn't use their full strength, and this is Zhaoge City after all."
Lu Ming knew very well that Prince Jing Xin's sincere words weren't meant for him, but for his father. He didn't need to respond.
Duke Lu had never been popular in the imperial court, but someone like Prince Jing Xin knew that he was the most popular person in the Emperor's eyes, and always had been.
After the banquet, Lu Ming returned to the State Duke Manor and repeated Jing Xin's words, asking, "What is the current situation?"
The fight for the throne of the Jing Dynasty had become more and more intense, but it had little to do with the officials in the Imperial Court. It depended on the attitude of the Emperor and the major Cultivation sects.
Yimaozhai sent a scholar to the Manor of Prince Jing Xin. Besides Xiang Wanshu, the Zhongzhou School also invited the Qianyuan Valley Master, Yue Qianmen.
With this elder in the Lianxu State guarding the Palace of the Prince, the attitude of the Center Sect was not ambiguous; it could even be said that it was a bit tough.
In comparison, the attitude of the Green Mountain Sect, another leader of the orthodox sects, was a bit ambiguous. Gu Qing had taught Prince Jing Yao for three years, but the Green Mountain Sect hadn't sent anyone else. It was rumored that the two immortal masters, Mei Li and Lin Wuzhi, who were supposed to come as reinforcements, hadn't shown up yet, indicating that the nine peaks had different opinions.
Having heard his father's description, Lu Ming remained silent for a long time before asking, "What about the Immortal Master Jing Jiu?"
The Aoyama Sect's support for Prince Jing Yao came from Jing Jiu, and Jing Jiu was the only one who could influence the Emperor's attitude.
If Jing Jiu didn't show up, the situation would get worse.
Speaking of this, Duke Lu came back to his senses. "Why did you come back all of a sudden?" he asked angrily.
Lu Ming said helplessly, "Does it mean I can't go home as long as he doesn't show up?"
Duke Lu said worriedly, "He said that he would come out in three years at the earliest. This year is the third year. If something happens, it will happen in a few days."
Lu Ming thought it was unlikely that he would come out in three years at the earliest. Would he really come out in three years?
…
…
The streets and markets connected to the State Duke Manor had been under construction in the last two years.
No matter how low-key Jing Shang was, he couldn't resist the deliberate efforts of those people. The manor house had been expanded a lot, three times the size of the previous one.
Jing Li had grown a lot older. The youth of fifteen years old had realized that the white cat was not a regular cat devil. From the day he realized this, Jing Li had a more respectful attitude toward the white cat, and he cultivated more diligently; but he didn't dare play Pai Gow with the white cat every day like he did when he was little.
The white cat was quite dissatisfied with Jing Li's attitude. He attempted to change Jing Li's attitude forcefully, but he found that the people of Jing Li's family name were all stubborn.
One evening, Jing Li walked toward the deep part of the back garden after finishing his meditation. He passed through a patch of bamboo forest and arrived at the newly built courtyard wall. He stepped on an ugly rock and stuck his head out of the wall.
On the other side of the courtyard wall was a large and luxurious manor house, which belonged to a high official of the Imperial court. After the Jing House was expanded, they became neighbors.
There were a few rocks by the lake on the other side of the courtyard wall. A young girl stepped on the rocks and stood by the courtyard wall. She looked at Jing Li and smiled happily.
Jing Li and the young girl started chatting, just like they had done in the last few days.
The white cat crouched on the distant courtyard wall. He pulled back his gaze and looked at the nearby Taichang Temple after sniffing a few times.
Spring had arrived.
It had rained the previous night. The eaves of Taichang Temple were wet, looking even gloomier, like the horns of an old dragon.
The white cat stared at the eaves in Silence.
He had no idea whether Jing Jiu was dead or alive in Taichang Temple.
The cat was the least able to answer this question.
…
…
The Fiend Prison was located at the deep end of Taichang Temple.
There was a green valley in the deep end of the Fiend Prison.
There was a bamboo chair by the purple flowers and green grass.
Jing Jiu was lying on the chair.
The word "lying" was actually not accurate.
Jing Jiu drifted higher than before. He hovered in midair quietly, his white cloth draped over the bamboo chair. He looked like a woman in a long skirt performing magic in the folk.
The King Of The Underworld walked back from the broken cliff outside the valley. The dark clouds followed her like a shadow, looking a bit unlucky.
In comparison to three years ago, the King Of The Underworld had changed a great deal. Her expression was more tranquil, and her energy was more powerful. There was no sign of bad luck on her face; she looked calm and composed.
A bell rang, and the lightning appeared in the clouds, making the sound of chopsticks being broken. Those invisible mosquitoes were nowhere to be found.
Jing Jiu opened his eyes and woke up.
The King Of The Underworld said while looking at Jing Jiu, "I didn't expect you to wake up so soon."
"It's normal," said Jing Jiu.
Jing Jiu had told Duke Lu that it would take at least three years.
So it would take three years.
Jing Jiu drifted down to the ground soundlessly, like a weightless yellow leaf.
His appearance hadn't changed much from three years ago. He was still as perfect as before, and his temperament was still indifferent and distant; but it seemed that something was different.
His energy seemed to have become clearer.
His body seemed to have become lighter.
He was lighter than a fallen leaf, like a patch of cloud, giving off a feeling that he didn't exist.
What he cultivated was the Soul-Fire of the Underworld; but why did his energy become so light and full of fairy aura?
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