Jiang Chao Ge was shocked, heart sinking straight down, "What happened? Explain clearly."

Tian Rong returned to the form of a human, only his eyes were very fierce, "Today, before the Great Heaven Worship Ceremony, the State Preceptor was in the lounge preparing. Shu said there was something he had to discuss with him, so he went to find him. Weapons can"t be brought into the Great Memorial Temple, thus I waited for him outside. Only, until the Great Ceremony, the State Preceptor didn"t come out. The Holy Emperor sent people to investigate. Not long after, someone shouted loudly ""the State Preceptor has been murdered". At that time it was complete chaos. Someone said that Shu killed the State Preceptor. In any case, Shu was taken away by the Holy Emperor. They didn"t have the guts to take me. I just….. I didn"t know who else to find."

The more Jiang Chao Ge listened the more he felt the scene before his eyes go grey. He was not only worried about Yu Ren Shu he was also worried about the State Preceptor! If the State Preceptor was really dead, then wasn"t his only hope of returning home also shattered?

He forced himself to calm his mind: "You were right to return. It"s impossible for His Highness to kill the State Preceptor. He has definitely been framed. Right now, you can"t turn to anyone you find in a crisis. Where"s His Highness" close guards?"

Tian Rong shook his head and said, "They"ve probably all been taken away."

At this moment, the manager of the quarters hurriedly walked over, obviously having heard the news, "Sir Tian Rong! You"ve returned!"

Tian Rong looked at him, "Something happened to Shu, do you know?"

The manager wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Let us go inside and talk."

They entered the house. The manager"s face was quite ugly, "It"s impossible for His Highness to a.s.sa.s.sinate the State Preceptor. He has always been deeply respectful of the State Preceptor but now there"s a rumour that says….." he looked at Jiang Chao Ge, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Jiang Chao Ge narrowed his eyes, "What more is there to hide right now?"

"That says His Highness has been bewitched by the Other World Person, and wants to seize the clues about Heaven grade spirit weapons from the State Preceptor"s hands."

Jiang Chao Ge gave a cold snort, "The State Preceptor has long since said he will give it to us, only after the clues are more thorough and detailed….. His Highness has undoubtedly been framed by someone." He harboured this ray of hope, even his voice trembled slightly, "The State Preceptor is really dead? Isn"t he a level seven spirit weapon user? He can"t possibly be so easily killed."

The manager nodded, "A spirit weapon user apart from a spirit weapon, is only slightly more powerful than a normal person. Bring weapons is forbidden in the Great Memorial Temple and also…. I heard, I heard that without any precautions the State Preceptor was…."

Jiang Chao Ge couldn"t breathe, head completely empty. The State Preceptor was dead? Then his desperate hard work till now, what was it for? Could he still return home? He forcefully took deep breaths and remembered the adopted son of the State Preceptor, You Zhun. Since he was the next State Preceptor, then it was very possible that You Zhun also knew the way to return to his own world. He could not give up hope so early! He asked: "Are there any news now?"

"His Highness and his accompanying imperial bodyguards have all been detained. Only Sir Tian Rong no one dares to block. But I"m afraid that very soon, the Holy Emperor will bring people to take Sir Tian Rong."

A dangerous light flashed across Tian Rong"s beast pupils.

Jiang Chao Ge took a deep breath, brain revolving rapidly. His first thought was that he couldn"t involve himself. His second thought was what he could do to help Yu Ren Shu. He hadn"t hugged Yu Ren Shu"s leg warm enough yet, he didn"t want to let go now! But as long as he thought deeply for a bit, he could be certain that he wouldn"t escape unscathed from this matter. No matter who framed Yu Ren Shu, no matter what purpose they had, Yu Ren Shu"s Tian Rong Jian and Zhi Xuan Sword both wouldn"t be let off.

Tian Rong said: "In the whole imperial capital, there"s only three Heaven grade spirit weapons. As long as the other two people don"t block me, the spiritual power Shu gave me should hold out until I save him."

Jiang Chao Ge shook his head, "You can"t. There are too many implications with this. Do you know where he is, how many people are guarding him and the actual circ.u.mstances? He is a prince after all. Perhaps he already has a way to resolve the crisis this time. Right now we can"t act blindly without thinking. But no matter who comes to take people, they must not have their way. Tian Rong, as long as you protect us and Tian Rong Jian, the opponent will have certain misgivings. His Highness will also be much safer."

Tian Rong scratched his hair, mood agitated, "Don"t tell me we can just wait like this right now?"

Jiang Chao Ge contemplated for a moment, "Yes, right now we can only wait and watch quietly for any change."

They all weren"t in the mood to eat. Jiang Chao Ge brought Zhi Xuan back to their room and began to pack their luggage. Zhi Xuan said: "Are we going immediately?"

Jiang Chao Ge nodded, "Obviously we can"t stay any longer." His mind was filled with thoughts and felt that even his scalp was about to explode. On the surface, it seemed that it was Yu Ren Shu"s crisis, but in reality this was also their big crisis. At the moment, the worst situation was not only Yu Ren Shu"s accident also involving him and Zhi Xuan, he was actually in more danger than Yu Ren Shu right now. Yu Ren Shu was a prince after all. No matter what he shouldn"t have to be concerned for his life. But in this short period of time he loses Yu Ren Shu"s protection, he could be killed by anyone and Zhi Xuan could be taken away at any time. After all, everyone believed that he had already formed a contract with Zhi Xuan. As long as they killed him, Zhi Xuan could change a spirit weapon user.

Who knew that things would develop like this. Jiang Chao Ge was endlessly annoyed. He had already begun to consider how they would run.

"Leaving now?"

Jiang Chao Ge made a wry smile and said: "We can"t go right now."

"Humph! If you could summon my true form, I can take you out of the city in a blink of an eye."

Jiang Chao Ge rubbed his cheek, "I know."

"What will happen if we can"t leave?" Zhi Xuan looked at him with wide eyes.

Jiang Chao Ge smiled: "Nothing much will happen to you."

"Then what about you?"

"Hard to say for me."

Zhi Xuan frowned, "Useless. You are my servant, I won"t let you die."

Jiang Chao Ge stroked his head and smiled, "Ok."

Jiang Chao Ge summoned the Na Wu Pouch made from the bighead carp, and put all the important things into it. He also found several flasks of alcohol in the quarters used to placate Zhi Xuan.

"The State Preceptor is dead, how will you return to your own world?" Zhi Xuan observed his expression.

Jiang Chao Ge paused, expression somewhat stiff. After a while, he said: "I don"t know. Right now I can only hope that that You Zhun knows some things." He suddenly thought of something, "Zhi Xuan you said that the White Marsh read all the books in the world, and knows everything in the world. Could he know how to return to my world?"

Zhi Xuan curled his lip, "Don"t know. But Yin Chuan definitely knows more than a human."

Jiang Chao Ge made up his mind, "If we can successfully leave the imperial capital this time, we"ll go northwest. Go to Kun Lun Fairyland to find him."

Just then, a hurried knock sounded from outside, "Sir Jiang Chao Ge, Sir Zhi Xuan."

"What is it?"

"Second Prince Highness has arrived and has indicated he wants to meet you."

Jiang Chao Ge laughed coldly in his heart. They came. He released spiritual power. Child form Zhi Xuan transformed into the form of an adult in a blink of an eye.

Zhi Xuan made a "eh" sound, seeming quite surprised.

Jiang Chao Ge pulled him along, putting Zhi Xuan Sword on his back, "Let"s go. We"ll go meet this Second Prince."

They walked to the lobby. Yu Ren Kui had already brought a large contingent of people and horses, blocking Yu Ren Shu"s palace so that not a single drop could escape. Tian Rong stood by the door like a G.o.d. There still wasn"t anyone that dared intrude a step. After all, Tian Rong could smash a person"s head with a bite when he was in beast form at the snap of a finger.

Seeing Jiang Chao Ge and Zhi Xuan walk out, Yu Ren Kui"s whole face was full of mockery, "Other World Person, Yu Ren Shu a.s.sa.s.sinated the State Preceptor. I"ve been ordered by the Holy Emperor to bring you back to Punishment Hall to be tried."

Zhi Xuan"s golden pupils glared, baring his teeth and said fiercely: "Ignorant person, you dare take who away?"

Yu Ren Kui"s heart shook, not daring to look straight into Zhi Xuan"s eyes.

Jiang Chao Ge"s tone was likewise without compromise, "When the State Preceptor was a.s.sa.s.sinated, i obediently remained here. What right do you have to take me away to stand trial?"

"Who doesn"t know the way Other World People glare at the State Preceptor like a tiger eyeing it"s prey. Yu Ren Shu has always been friendly with the State Preceptor. If it wasn"t for you bewitching Prince Shu, why would he take a dangerous risk and a.s.sa.s.sinate the State Preceptor."

"Don"t tell me that Tian Ling nation can judge someone as guilty based on a subjective idea? Then what"s the use of having law and order? Wouldn"t it be as if when Second Prince opens his mouth, saying something"s black means it"s black, saying something"s white means it"s white?"

Yu Ren Kui sneered, "You can leave these words for the Punishment Hall."

"I won"t take half a step away from these quarters. If you want to take me away, then ask Tian Rong and Zhi Xuan first."

Yu Ren Kui said angrily: "You"re so daring! You dare defy Emperor"s orders in the imperial capital!"

Jiang Chao Ge gave a grin, eyes extremely malicious, "So what if I defy orders? Yu Ren Kui, it"s true that my spiritual power is weak, but it"s more than sufficient to summon Zhi Xuan"s true form to battle for a few minutes, and tear your body to shreds. Do you want to try?"

Flames suddenly ignited all over Zhi Xuan"s body. He said viciously: "Ignorant person, how do you want to die?"

Tian Rong emitted the growl of a wild beast, making people"s hearts tremble. He said coldly: "All of you get lost. You"re not allowed to set half a step into the palace."

Yu Ren Kui was both shocked and enraged, "Tian Rong, you are Prince Shu"s spirit weapon. You actually dare be so impudent."

Tian Rong walked a step closer to him, "I"m his spirit weapon, but I am not yours. I can bite you to death at any time."

Yu Ren Kui"s face became green then white, looking at this group of subordinates and weighing it up. In the end, he still didn"t dare forcefully charge in and went away in a rage. Only the people he brought still fully encircled the quarters, obviously wanting to prevent Jiang Chao Ge from escaping.

Tian Rong said irritatedly: "Yu Ren Kui won"t let it go at that."

"He couldn"t successfully bring me back, and definitely went back to request for reinforcements. What type of people are the two other Heaven grade spirit weapons?"

"One of them belongs to Yu Ren Kui"s Jiu Jiu. The other one belongs to a close guard of the Holy Emperor."

Jiang Chao Ge immediately grabbed the manager, "Manager, is there a carrier pigeon in the quarters?"

"There"s His Highness" owl."

"Send it out, asking Crown Prince Xiao for help. Just say that Yu Ren Kui wants to take the opportunity and monopolise Yu Ren Shu"s two Heaven grade spirit weapons, plotting to frame Prince Shu. The matter with the State Preceptor hasn"t been thoroughly investigated yet and he wants to come to the quarters to forcefully steal it. As soon as Yu Ren Kui has three Heaven grade spirit weapons in his hands, the consequences will be too disastrous to imagine."

"Understood."

Jiang Chao Ge looked towards Tian Rong, "Tian Rong, if Yu Ren Kui really brings Heaven grade spirit weapons, I hope you can lose to him."

Tian Rong narrowed his eyes, "I lose, what about you?"

"I have a way to preserve my life."

"Why?"

"His Highness being framed, we still don"t know the sequence of events. Right now you can"t trust anyone. But no matter who wants to harm His Highness, both Crown Prince Xiao and Yu Ren Kui won"t let each other grow in strength when His Highness is falling. Right now, only Crown Prince Xiao can stop Yu Ren Kui. We must make Crown Prince Xiao feel as if there"s a crisis and Crown Prince Xiao doesn"t have any Heaven grade spirit weapons to control. At this time, guess how he will control Yu Ren Kui?"

Tian Rong"s eyes lit up, "You"re going to let Shu stop Yu Ren Kui?"

Jiang Chao Ge looked ahead with wisdom, "Yes. When Crown Prince Xiao discovers that he can"t control Yu Ren Kui anymore, he will think of His Highness. Then, His Highness will gain Crown Prince Xiao"s help. How we move next, I still don"t know, but we must at least make Crown Prince Xiao stand out." He had never wanted to involve himself with the disputes of the imperial family, but standing at the precipice of the storm, he was suddenly drawn into it. Now, he must think of a way to pull himself out!

Jiu Jiu/舅舅- Mother"s brother

Kun Lun Fairyland/昆仑仙境- A mystical place located in the Kun Lun mountain ranges. It"s said to be in a strategic location that"s hard to access and is untouched by humans. It"s said that there are ancient mythological beasts here and is full of magical power.

Translator"s Corner

Thus marks the start of an ugly political battle. For someone who didn"t want to be involved in it, Jiang Chao Ge sure knows how to manipulate things to his favour. That scene with both Zhi Xuan and Tian Rong supporting and protecting him is so precious and heartwarming.

Also, a bit of an extra fact here. Chinese people have very specific terms for ach relative. It"s not just aunt or uncle or something like that as it is with the English language. For example there"s different terms for your mother"s older brother and her younger brother. So yeah can be a bit confusing at times especially with how large the extended family can be sometimes.

Thanks for reading!

Ps. Very early heads up here but there will be a hiatus somewhere in October or November this year so that I can focus and revise for some very important exams. Hope you understand!