These past few days, Chen Yang had been completely absorbed in breaking through his bottleneck. Reaching the Earth Saint realm was an urgent matter.
Instead, it was Yang Hu, who had been accompanying him, who broke through to the seventeenth rank.
Another night of meditation passed.
「The next day.」
The matter of the Little Prince's two subordinates being killed was still brewing. After a single night, the outside world had already locked onto a target: the Former Supreme Martial Commander, Chen Yang.
In truth, he was the only possibility. Powerful families that had produced a Prime Minister were already at the pinnacle of the mortal world; only the Imperial Clan could suppress them. However, the Little Prince's grandfather, Zuo Chang, had long since been absorbed into the Imperial Clan. Why would their own people attack them?
It was another bright, sunny day.
Just after breakfast, as Chen Yang was preparing to go for a walk, he received a call from Su Yan. It was Su Yan's birthday, and he had set up a few banquet tables at his home for a gathering of friends and family, hoping Chen Yang could attend.
Chen Yang refused immediately. After all, he was in the eye of the storm and didn't want to drag others into his troubles.
Yet Su Yan insisted he didn't care, stating clearly that no matter how the situation changed, he would always stand with Chen Yang. Without waiting for a rebuttal, he just said that Chen Yang had to come no matter what, then hung up.
Left with no choice, Chen Yang could only ask Yang Hu to prepare the car.
「The Su Family.」
Although the family had produced a prominent figure like Su Yan, the head of the Discipline Court, they maintained a low profile, just like the three elders of the Elders' Court before them. They were not like some aristocratic clans who wished they could inlay their houses with gold. The Su Family residence was an unremarkable courtyard in the old district.
Su Ling was already waiting at the entrance.
To minimize his impact, Chen Yang insisted on using the side door. With so many guests in the front hall, it was better to avoid them.
"Big Brother, there's really no need for this."
Su Ling certainly knew Chen Yang's intentions. He stood tall, thumping his chest with an air that suggested anyone who backed down was a coward.
SLAP.
A single smack from Chen Yang and the young man immediately deflated. "Alright! Boss, this way, please."
The courtyard wasn't large, consisting of a front and back section. After leading Chen Yang to the backyard, Su Ling scurried off to inform Su Yan.
He lit a cigarette and surveyed his surroundings for a moment. Compared to the Luo Family's residence, this was undeniably shabby. If nothing else, the tea set in the yard was a clear example; its glaze was mottled and faded, looking as though it had seen at least a decade of use.
"Chen Yang."
Before long, Su Yan walked over, his face flushed and beaming.
"I wasn't sure what you'd like, Old Sir, so I brought some tea leaves," Chen Yang said, placing a gift box on the tea table. He sat down without ceremony and began to prepare the tea.
"Your presence is gift enough, there was no need to bring anything." Su Yan snatched the teapot away from him. "You're the guest. It wouldn't be right for you to make the tea."
The old man seemed to be in high spirits. But deep within his eyes, Chen Yang could still see a trace of carefully hidden disappointment and loneliness.
Some said that Su Yan had seen through the ways of the world, so he had relinquished his power to lead a life as carefree as clouds and wild cranes. There were also rumors that this Old Yama was a wily fox, the only person with close ties to Chen Yang who had managed to remain unscathed.
But the reality was different. Ever since the incident with Ning Kun, the Director of the Discipline Court, nicknamed Yama, had been effectively sidelined. He was now the dean of an academy directly under the Martial Department. It was like forcing a veteran Martial Guard, who had fought on the front lines for years, to become a typist.
"How are your injuries?" Su Yan asked after pouring two cups of tea, giving Chen Yang a quick once-over. Many knew that Chen Yang had nearly died in the battle not long ago, which led to Tu Su giving Chen Yang half a month to recover before Tu Su would come to kill him.
Chen Yang took a sip of tea. "Mostly healed."
"Worthy of the Former Supreme Martial Commander." Su Yan laughed heartily. As the saying goes, a happy occasion lifts the spirits, and that certainly seemed to be the case. To witness someone topple the major royal families and cow the various powerful, aristocratic families into silence in his twilight years was truly one of life's great joys.
However, the laughter didn't last long before it faded into silence. It was indeed gratifying, but the clouds had not yet parted to reveal a clear sky. The Imperial Clan was a mountain too high to climb.
After a long moment, Su Yan sighed and shook his head. "Chen Yang, I'm sorry."
Chen Yang naturally understood why Su Yan would suddenly apologize. It was simply a deep sense of guilt and self-reproach for being unable to offer any help during this time.
"Before the Great Elder passed away, he instructed me to help you with all my might, but I..."
"Old Sir," Chen Yang interrupted, picking up the Traveling Dragon Sword beside him. "Without this sword, I wouldn't have made it this far. Your help in giving it to me is beyond compare."
"Besides, this is my own battle. There was no need for any of you to get involved."
Su Yan simply smiled without a word.
"Tell me about the academy," Chen Yang said, changing the subject with a smile. "The Great Elder tried to arrange for me to study at the academy several times, but I never ended up going. Thinking back on it now, it's a genuine regret."
"If you had gone, the entire academy would have lost its mind, haha..."
As he laughed, Su Yan fell silent once more, then sighed. "Do you remember Wei Dayong?"
"A former Messenger Officer of mine," Chen Yang nodded. Back when the academy was expanding its enrollment, Wei Dayong was not yet twenty. Chen Yang, then the Zhennan Prince, had personally approved his admission for advanced studies. At the time, Wei Dayong had cried and begged, vowing he wouldn't go. He insisted he belonged on the front lines, that only cowards went to an academy, and that they'd have to kill him to make him go. In the end, Chen Yang had to practically kick him through the gates.
"He placed first in the graduation exam this time," Su Yan said.
Chen Yang's expression didn't change as he waited for Su Yan to continue.
"But he was delisted," Su Yan said helplessly. "If I'm not mistaken, his results were swapped with someone else's."
"Who?"
「Meanwhile.」
In the front courtyard, Su Ling was greeting guests on Su Yan's behalf. Many of them tried various tricks to coax the identity of Su Yan's guest in the backyard out of him, but Su Ling always managed to deftly dodge the question, appearing very much like a younger version of Su Yan. A sly little fox indeed.
Just as Su Ling was skillfully maneuvering through the conversations, an old man with a sagely, ethereal air walked into the courtyard. His powerful presence immediately drew the gaze of everyone there.
Su Ling glanced at the unfamiliar face, but a guest was a guest. He smiled and greeted him, "Please, find a seat."
"Are you Su Ling?"
Unexpectedly, the elder offered no congratulations. Instead, he walked straight toward Su Ling and asked with an expressionless face.
Hmm? Su Ling raised an eyebrow, and the other guests froze in confusion. Even a fool could see this old man meant no good.
"And you are?" Su Ling asked.
The elder's voice suddenly grew louder. "I asked, are you Su Ling?"
The sharp tone made everyone's scalp tingle, and many even took several steps back.
Su Ling's gaze turned icy as he watched the elder warily.
"It must be you!"
The elder reached out, his hand descending directly toward the top of Su Ling's head.
BOOM!
Despite Su Ling's swift reaction, he was powerless to resist. He was slammed to the ground in an instant, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
The elder stood as still as a mountain. "Come with me."
His commanding tone left no room for doubt.