Li Shiqi’s face was filled with fury. He gritted his teeth and said, "The Crown Prince planned this all along. He did it to provoke His Majesty. And sure enough, His Majesty flew into a rage that day, roaring that he would depose the Crown Prince. But that very night, His Majesty died under mysterious circumstances! Elder Chen and many of the other Royal Tributors were attacked at the same time. More than half of the Royal Tributors were killed or injured..."

"How could this be?" Even Qin Li was astonished to hear this. If not for the genuine rage he could feel from Li Shiqi as he spoke, Qin Li would have found it hard to believe it was true.

Besides, there was no need to lie about something so monumental. Even as they entered this ancient town, Qin Li had noticed something was amiss from the desolate atmosphere and the tense expressions on people’s faces.

This town had always been incredibly prosperous, with countless caravans passing through and all sorts of businesses booming.

What Qin Li found most difficult to understand was how the Crown Prince, Zhao Xinghe, could have possibly wielded the power to destroy a kingdom.

Li Shiqi’s next words answered Qin Li’s question. "Marquis Qin, I’m afraid you would never guess. That bastard Zhao Xinghe... he betrayed our kingdom! I don’t know when he made contact with the New Qin Kingdom, or what they promised him, but it drove him to do something so utterly depraved. When the Second Prince received the news that night, he saw the situation was irreversible and fled with his men to the Eastern Great Chu Kingdom. Elder Chen, the Tributor, took the remaining eight Celestial Level Tributors to protect your family, Marquis Qin, and went to Yellow Sand City. I assume Elder Chen’s goal was the same as ours—to ask for your intervention, Marquis Qin. But we never expected that you wouldn’t be in Yellow Sand City at all."

Li Shiqi sighed and continued, "The Crown Prince seems to have two extremely powerful masters by his side. It’s very likely... they’ve already reached the Celestial Shattering Realm! I have no idea where experts of that level came from so suddenly. And no one ever imagined the New Qin Kingdom would resort to such a tactic. It’s just too vicious!"

Qin Li, now recovering from his shock, gave a bitter smile. "Of course. The Cyan Dragon Kingdom is located at the center of the Five Nations. Buying off the Cyan Dragon Kingdom is tantamount to dismantling the entire Five Nations Alliance. Not only that, but since Zhao Xinghe has defected to the New Qin Kingdom, the remaining Great Chu, Qingqiu, Silo, and Great Qi Kingdoms are left with only two choices: either surrender their power and become vassals of the New Qin Kingdom, or fight the New Qin Kingdom to the death! But before that, they will surely want to destroy the Cyan Dragon Kingdom, that damned traitor! That’s why Zhao Xinghe has no choice but to cling desperately to the New Qin Kingdom’s thigh!"

As Qin Li spoke, he let out a cold smile. ’He recalled Li Shiqi begging him to save the princess. It couldn’t be any other princess. It had to be Zhao Xinghe’s own sister, the Little Princess, Zhao Qianqian!’

"He... gave his own sister to the New Qin Kingdom?" A mocking sneer played on Qin Li’s lips, but deep in his eyes burned a thick... rage!

Li Shiqi nodded, somewhat surprised. He probably hadn’t expected a peerless expert like Qin Li to be so well-versed in politics. With a helpless expression, he said, "That’s right. The Princess has been taken into custody. In fact, she was supposed to set off today, to be sent to the New Qin Kingdom. We took this risk to come out here and find you in Yellow Sand City, Marquis Qin, because everyone in the world knows of the Princess’s affection for you. By doing this, Zhao Xinghe isn’t just trying to cling to the New Qin Kingdom’s thigh—he’s also getting revenge and making a show of his power!"

Qin Li nodded, feeling a tightness in his chest. He thought of Zhao Qianqian’s face, which was lovely whether pouting or smiling. He remembered her defying immense pressure to throw herself into his arms in public... Scene after scene from the past flashed through his mind. Although he hadn’t known the noble Little Princess Zhao Qianqian for very long, he couldn’t just stand by and watch an innocent, cheerful young woman walk step by step into a pit of fire. ’I can’t do it,’ Qin Li told himself.

Saving those young women just now had been a matter of coincidence. He had happened upon the situation and simply lent a hand. And while Qin Li didn’t consider himself a good person, he wasn’t a villain without principles or a bottom line, either.

Towards evil people, he could be more ruthless, more vicious! But he would never take the initiative to harm a kind person. Still, that was the extent of it. If it were some ordinary royal princess with no connection to him, Qin Li would remain indifferent, no matter how beloved she was by the people.

Although he now possessed great power, making enemies for no reason was not something Qin Li desired. Zhao Xinghe’s move was clearly a malicious scheme designed to kill several birds with one stone.

Besides the points mentioned earlier, there was another goal: to pit Qin Li against the New Qin Kingdom! If the New Qin Kingdom could eliminate Qin Li, it would also rid Zhao Xinghe of a thorn in his side.

That, it could be said, was the result Zhao Xinghe wanted most of all!

Qin Li sneered inwardly. ’Zhao Xinghe, do you really think... two Martial Artists at the Celestial Shattering Realm can protect you?’

With that thought, Qin Li looked Li Shiqi directly in the eye and said coolly, "Li Shiqi, is it? Can I trust you?"

Hearing this, Li Shiqi was overjoyed. He stood up, his expression solemn, and said, "Please speak freely, Marquis Qin. Although I, Shiqi, may serve the Second Prince, I am first and foremost... a citizen of the Cyan Dragon Kingdom! I believe that anyone with an ounce of dignity and honor would not stand by and watch their country be destroyed! Not to mention... you also saved my little sister, Marquis Qin!"

Qin Li smiled. "It’s alright, no need to be so tense. I just need you to do one thing. I’m sure you can contact the Second Prince. Tell him to prepare to return and become the Emperor! However, how he’s going to appease the wrath of the other four nations will be his problem. Also, he will have to face Great Qin in a bitter struggle! And I... I won’t be able to help much, because I’ll have my own things to do by then! That’s it. If he is willing, then have him sneak back to the Imperial Capital within ten days. Because... the news of Zhao Xinghe’s death cannot be made public right away! I still have to bring Princess Qianqian back!"

Li Shiqi stared at Qin Li, dumbfounded. After a long moment, tears suddenly streamed down his face. He knelt once more, and this iron-willed soldier choked out, "Li Shiqi thanks you for your immense grace, Marquis Qin!"

...

Li Shiqi released a military-grade Homing Falcon and then stayed behind to protect the young women. Meanwhile, Qin Li also used a Homing Falcon to send a letter to Yellow Sand City. It was partly to thank Chen Yihan and partly to let Hu and the others know he was safe. As for the missing Watermelon, while Qin Li was a little concerned, he wasn’t overly worried. ’That kid’s tough as nails; he won’t die that easily!’

After taking care of everything, Qin Li departed quietly without a word to the young women. In Qin Li’s eyes, the Crown Prince, Zhao Xinghe, was already a dead man.

「The Imperial Capital, Cyan Dragon City.」

The city was as bustling as ever, and its various businesses didn’t seem to have been greatly affected. However, the smiles of the past had vanished from everyone’s faces.

Emperor Zhao Yuanli had been diligent in his duties during his reign and held a high reputation among the people of the Cyan Dragon Kingdom. His sudden death, which the New Emperor Zhao Xinghe attributed to a sudden, severe illness, was met with suspicion by the vast majority. Moreover, a rumor was circulating in the streets.

It was said that the New Emperor, Zhao Xinghe, had already defected to the New Qin Kingdom and had also murdered His Majesty the previous Emperor. As for the proof... wasn’t the fact that the Empire’s most beloved Little Princess, Zhao Qianqian, was being married off to the New Qin Kingdom the best evidence of all?

Of course, people only dared to discuss this news in private. If the guards overheard, they would be arrested immediately, or even killed on the spot!

For the past few days, the entire Cyan Dragon City had remained prosperous on the surface, but in reality, everyone was on edge, and a dark undercurrent was stirring.

At this moment, Qin Li was disguised as an ordinary young man in his twenties—the type you wouldn’t notice in a crowd. Walking the streets of Cyan Dragon City, he watched the squads of grim-faced guards with a cold gaze, his mood sinking. After all, the late Emperor Zhao Yuanli had treated him with great courtesy. Although there was a utilitarian aspect to it, Qin Li didn’t resent that sort of thing.

’To master the martial arts and sell one’s skills to the Imperial Family’—this was the ambition of the vast majority. He, however, simply had a different focus due to other opportunities.

’If I were an ordinary Martial Artist, I’d probably have been content just being a wealthy man.’

On Cyan Dragon City’s main commercial street, Qin Li passed by the shop that had belonged to him, only to see it had been completely transformed. It was now a large, magnificently decorated restaurant, opulent and exquisite.

Qin Li sneered inwardly. ’This must be one of Zhao Xinghe’s properties. Even if it’s not his directly, it must belong to one of his trusted subordinates. Besides them, who else could take over this place on such short notice and completely convert it into a restaurant?’

The thought that his first business in this world had been destroyed just like that stoked a flicker of hatred in Qin Li’s heart.

Meanwhile, in the imperial palace, Zhao Xinghe was hosting a grand banquet for his court. The assembled Civil and Military Ministers all wore different expressions, each with their own hidden thoughts.

Some were beaming with joy, their expressions relaxed. Others were grim-faced and silent. And some were simply cold and detached, observing from the sidelines.

New Emperor Zhao Xinghe sat at the head of the hall. Beside him sat two expressionless old men. It was impossible to tell their age; their complexions were ruddy, and they had very few wrinkles. There was no shallow arrogance in the old men’s eyes, but their attitude of near-total disregard for everyone present, combined with the courtesy Zhao Xinghe showed them, was enough to prove that their identities were anything but ordinary.

Zhao Xinghe wore a faint smile. He had on a royal crown and was dressed in imperial yellow robes. Normally, he wouldn’t need to dress so formally for this kind of banquet.

But he liked it.

This was his greatest wish for many years!

Now, it had finally come true!

’If I can just get rid of that thorn in my eye, that thorn in my flesh, then everything will be perfect!’

The only thing that slightly displeased Zhao Xinghe was that Qin Li had vanished as if he had never existed, disappearing from the face of the earth.

He had long since received a secret report from the Shangguan Family in Yellow Sand City: Qin Li had never returned!

’So, where is he?’

--------------------

My son is so loud, I’m on the verge of a breakdown. If this keeps up, it looks like I’ll have to find an apartment to rent just to write. I’m so conflicted. I can’t bear to leave my child with someone else, but I really don’t want this to affect my writing.

What a dilemma! 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Please send some monthly tickets to comfort me! A tearful Xiaodao begs you all! (To be continued. If you want to know what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com for more Chapters and to support the author and official publication!)