Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 102: Chapter 100 Come Again

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Gao Jiong touched his own face, feeling inexplicable.

"And what about the token?" Guo Chi couldn’t help but ask.

Gao Jiong hesitated.

Guo Chi asked, "Didn’t you see it?"

"It’s hidden somewhere, not with him."

"Hey, is that a lie?" Guo Chi couldn’t help but say, "He’s tricking you!"

In the martial arts world, even if one’s life is saved, one cannot fully trust the other party, as there is a need to guard against ill-intentioned rescues.

Some things are more important than life, such as martial arts heart methods, treasures, the lives of family members, the fate of sects, etc.

Upon hearing these words, he couldn’t help but think this was a self-preservation tactic, with a certain familiar air.

If practiced in advance, it could be used smoothly at critical moments, even with closed eyes, thus preserving one’s life.

It is similar to a trump card.

Gao Jiong said, "I don’t think it’s a lie. He’s an honest young fellow."

"Hey, old Gao, your judgement is off," Guo Chi said, "He’s definitely deceiving you."

Gao Jiong shook his head, "It doesn’t seem like it, truly doesn’t."

He looked at Ji Dongxiao.

Ji Dongxiao appeared thoughtful, "Why don’t we go and take a look?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Do you think he will be willing to part with it?"

"... Probably not." Ji Dongxiao shook his head.

Guo Chi snorted, "His life was saved by old Gao, yet he can’t part with a mere token?"

"It’s different." Ji Dongxiao understood the complexities of human nature well.

Sometimes saving a life might not earn gratitude from the other party.

In this world, many repay kindness with enmity.

The selfishness and greed of human nature, the complexity of the human heart, is beyond imagination.

If it doesn’t involve interests, it’s fine, but once interests are involved, even the grace of saving a life is useless.

"Forget it." Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.

Guo Chi hurriedly said, "Prince Heir, what if it’s real? This is a token from Yao Yue Palace, which isn’t an ordinary sect, it has a great grandmaster!"

He looked at Gao Jiong, "Can this token mobilize the grandmaster of Yao Yue Palace?"

"It probably can, right?" Gao Jiong scratched his head, "He didn’t say whether it could or couldn’t."

Yao Yue Palace is the most prideful.

Agreed that holding this item could request Yao Yue Palace to take action, and once it acts, it won’t fuss over trivialities, it will absolutely go all out.

If a grandmaster is needed, they will mobilize the grandmaster without hesitation, this is the pride of Yao Yue Palace.

"Prince Heir, let’s take a look, just in case it’s real, let’s retrieve it!" Guo Chi hurriedly said, "This is a token that can mobilize a grandmaster!"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Exploiting favor for return?"

Seeing his expression, Guo Chi knew it was impossible, and said regretfully, "A token for his life, there’s nothing wrong with that."

"Forget it." Chu Zhiyuan said.

Sun Yanwu had been standing by silently, but now he couldn’t help but say, "Old Gao, is this young fellow truly honest? Don’t be fooled."

"I see him as a pretty honest young fellow," Gao Jiong said.

He was somewhat hesitant at this point.

Originally quite sure this young fellow was a simple honest lad, but after their words, he became a bit suspicious.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Ji Dongxiao.

It’s said Ji Dongxiao has an eye for detail, let’s see if that’s true.

"Old Gao," Ji Dongxiao sighed, "this young fellow might not be as honest as you think."

As a disciple of the Zhenyi Sect, Bai Jingmang’s disciple, so close to Zhenyi Sect yet he preferred lying in an empty house, not returning to Zhenyi Sect for help.

That empty house was probably prepared by him, like a crafty rabbit’s multiple burrows, a deliberately kept retreat, a safe house.

Carefully thinking about what he said to Gao Jiong, it was clearly a deliberate mention of the token.

Such an important thing, mentioned during a grave injury, seemed without reservation, even somewhat naive.

Mentioning this token at this time could save his life, but equally could provoke covetousness and lose his life.

The behavior before and after is inconsistent.

So, most likely the latter words are false, and if true, his purpose might be to ask Gao Jiong for help, to send him to Yao Yue Palace.

In short, this little fellow is not simple.

...

After listening to this analysis, Gao Jiong’s face darkened.

Although he didn’t intend to take his token, being played with like this felt truly uncomfortable.

Felt like his good intentions were misplaced, the life-saving grace repaid not with sincerity but with deceit.

His face grew increasingly unpleasant.

Ji Dongxiao said, "Prince Heir, I’ll accompany old Gao to check out this little fellow later."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Upon returning to the Prince Qing Mansion, Chu Zhiyuan discovered there was a guest present.

Super Sense perceived Chu Minghou in the front hall, being jovial with a burly and robust middle-aged man, the atmosphere harmonious.

The two were gathered by the window’s table, gazing at a painting on the table.

Chu Minghou was enthusiastically explaining, while the robust middle-aged man listened intently, occasionally asking questions.

The bright sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the vast and magnificent snow mountain painting on the table.

Chu Zhiyuan turned his head to Zou Fang.

Zou Fang nodded gently and quietly went to the front hall, whispered a few words to Feng Xi, and then came back silently.

"Is Yuan’er back? Come on in!" came Chu Minghou’s voice from the hall.

Seeing Zou Fang, he knew Chu Zhiyuan had returned.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and proceeded forward, with Zou Fang’s sound transmission: "Prince Heir, the guest is Marquis Jianchi."

Chu Zhiyuan abruptly stopped, turning his head to look at him.

By this time he’d already reached the steps to the front hall, about to step up, but stopped and withdrew.

Zou Fang lightly nodded.

Chu Zhiyuan furrowed his sword-like brows.

Marquis Jianchi.

The one who proposed to his little sister two days ago.

Back then, Bai Ningshuang turned the matchmaker away, not thinking highly of Marquis Jianchi’s family.

Not just because Marquis Jianchi is newly noble, nor just because his son is unpromising, but more importantly, due to the mismatch in social status.

For a mere newly promoted marquis, whose son wanted to marry a commandery princess, the gap in social standing was too vast.

If it were a newly promoted marquis himself, in his twenties, that would qualify to propose to a commandery princess.

But now, it’s the son of a marquis, inheriting not the marquis title, just a courtesy title of General.

Such a status marrying a commandery princess is like a mere fantasy.

An attempt to snatch a bargain.

Bai Ningshuang didn’t boot the matchmaker out, simply politely declined and saw them out, which was already a display of utmost cultivation.

If he dared to propose at any Duke Mansion, he’d certainly be driven away with a chaos of sticks.

"Yuan’er, come over here," Chu Minghou smiled, "Have a look at Marquis Guo’s Thousand Miles Snow Peak painting."

Chu Zhiyuan lightly coughed and gracefully stepped onto the steps.

Zou Fang stepped forward, lifting the heavy white curtain.

Chu Zhiyuan crossed the threshold and gracefully stepped inside.

Inside, it was warm and akin to spring.

"Greetings, Prince Heir." The robust middle-aged man by the table cupped his fists with a smile, "Sorry to intrude, please don’t blame this marquis for being presumptuous."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Greetings, Marquis Guo, is this... the Thousand Miles Snow Peak painting?"

He stepped closer to the table for a look.

The painting exuded an overwhelming heroism, just a two-foot wide and one-zhang long scroll, capturing the entire Thousand Miles Snow Peak.

Indeed, it was an extremely high level of painting technique, no wonder Chu Minghou was so excited.

It struck exactly at his heart’s desire.

"A good painting, a good painting!" Chu Zhiyuan exhaled, "A work of a master!"

"It was made by a nameless scholar on the border, this marquis happened to see it on the street and bought it for ten silver taels."

"Ten silver taels..." Chu Zhiyuan exclaimed, "Luck favors the marquis."

He looked to Chu Minghou, "To get a painting by Ouyang Qiong, just for ten silver taels, it truly is good fortune!"

Chu Minghou was taken aback, examined it a few times, solemnly nodded, "Indeed, it should be Master Ouyang’s! No wonder it looked somewhat familiar."

He exclaimed, "Ever since Master Ouyang left Yujing, it’s said he went to the border to experience all the mountains and rivers of the world to expand his mind... Master Ouyang’s technique has advanced further, no wonder, no wonder, only Master Ouyang could create such a magnificent painting!"

He wasn’t surprised by Chu Zhiyuan’s keen eye.

He often couldn’t discern it, but Chu Zhiyuan could see it, after several times he got used to it.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Is the marquis here for a proposal?"

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