Chapter 181: Chapter 85: Respect for One’s Elders (Please Subscribe)
 

Cheng Zhihai returned to Duke Zhen’s Mansion at the hour of Wei (1 p.m. to 3 p.m.).

He passed through Duke Zhen’s Mansion and arrived at Cheng Guang’s Million Specie Garden, where he immediately spotted Cheng Guang, sharing a lively conversation with Qing Luan at the pavilion.

Cheng Zhihai slowed his pace as he approached, intentionally coughing twice to make some noise and attract Cheng Guang’s attention.

Noticing the sound, Cheng Guang turned his head and looked towards Cheng Zhihai.

“Father? Has the matter been resolved?”

Cheng Zhihai nodded slightly, his eyes filled with a mix of indulgence and pride as he looked at Cheng Guang.

“Guanger, you were right about that location; it was indeed a crossing point used by the Devil Clan, and there was even a Devil Emperor involved. Last night, the Emperor took action and forced that Devil Emperor back to the Eight-layered Devil Realm. There should be no more trouble from the Devil Clan for some time,” he said.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Guang also felt a sense of relief.

Without the assistance, or rather participation, of the Devil Emperor, even if the crown prince who holds a grudge sought to stir up trouble at the future royal ceremonies, it would not be so easy.

Mere trifles like a couple of cats could never cause serious harm to Great Zhou. If that grudge-bearing crown prince were clever, he would lie low and avoid showing his face for now.

While Cheng Guang pondered this, Cheng Zhihai patted Cheng Guang on the shoulder with a look of admiration, “Guanger, you’ve played a significant role in discovering the whereabouts of the Devil Clan. The implications of this are substantial. Even if I were to promote you directly to the position of a Silver Lantern Catcher in the Bureau of the Lamp, no one could object.”

“However, your current Cultivation Realm is still too low. With weak cultivation, handling cases in the future will not be effortless. You must work hard to enhance your cultivation and strength,” he added.

Cheng Guang nodded with a smile.

Indeed, he had never been negligent in his own cultivation during this time. All power and authority are founded on strength. Without strength, Duke’s Mansion could never possess its current influence, and without it, all riches and honors would be as insubstantial as a loft in the air.

For Cheng Guang, lacking strength in this world meant having not a shred of security.

Cheng Zhihai, as if suddenly recalling something, said to Cheng Guang, “Guanger, now that you’ve exposed the Devil Clan, those from the Devil Clan and those behind them, like the grudge-bearing crown prince, might bear a grudge against you. For the time being, try not to leave the mansion to avoid any accidents.”

At this, Cheng Zhihai also looked troubled.

If it involved someone else, he could take precautions, but against the grudge-bearing crown prince, the measures he could adopt were sadly limited.

Firstly, he had no idea of the crown prince’s current whereabouts.

Secondly, he did not know who served under the crown prince’s command.

Just like the former head of the Great Zhou Martial Academy, Qiu Zhiman, such a high-ranking figure on equal footing with him turned out to be one of the crown prince’s men, engaged in treacherous activities in secret.

If Guanger had not focused on Qiu Zhiman during the Great Zhou and Great Wei martial arts tournament, exposing him, Cheng Zhihai would still find it hard to believe that Qiu Zhiman was one of the crown prince’s men and engaged in treasonous activities.

If a person like Qiu Zhiman could be so complicated, how many similar, or rather identically aligned, figures were there in the court?

Cheng Zhihai dared not think about it, and neither did Emperor Zhou, but both were aware that if these worms within the court were not dealt with, the Great Zhou Dynasty would never be at peace.

The grudge-bearing crown prince must die.

Arriving at this conclusion, Cheng Zhihai gave a few more instructions to Cheng Guang and then turned to leave.

His time was precious, every minute, every second. The sooner he found the whereabouts of the grudge-bearing crown prince, the sooner his heart would be at ease.

If they still had no trace of the crown prince after a month, it would be more serious than just the Bureau of the Lamp’s authority being stripped away by Emperor Zhou; the consequences would be far graver.

Cheng Guang watched Cheng Zhihai leave the Million Specie Garden, his mood not as heavy as his father’s.

For him, the grudge-bearing crown prince was now as obvious as a declared card.

Despite not knowing the method used to disguise himself as the King of South Ming, drawing him out completely was not going to be an easy task.

By exposing the Devil Clan hidden beneath the canal, both the Devil Clan and the grudge-bearing crown prince behind them would certainly bear a grudge against him.

Cheng Guang understood that he was likely now a thorn in the side of the grudge-bearing crown prince.

On the other hand, had he not made such a move, he would have been a marked man by the crown prince anyway.

To wreak havoc in Great Zhou and cause utter chaos, killing him would be the swiftest and most convenient method.

If it weren’t for the numerous guards protecting him, and his infrequent departures from the Capital city, the grudge-bearing crown prince might have already tried to kill him numerous times by any means necessary.

Cheng Guang poured himself a cup of tea and watched the rolling water stir within the cup, releasing a pure fragrance as he contemplated how he might make contact with the King of South Ming.

It was already difficult for him to leave the Capital city, let alone travel to the King of South Ming’s domain, which was thousands of miles away. Even if Cheng Zhihai were to agree, his guards, like Song Yunqi, would rather die than allow Cheng Guang to embark on such a distant journey.

The path was long, and anything could happen.

If any mishap occurred, they wouldn’t have enough lives to pay for it.