The moment Chen Kuang caught the transmission talisman, he saw, and heard, the scene unfolding in the Chen Residence.
Chen Rong, Gan Tang, Chen An, and Chen Ning... all were being restrained.
In the image, Zhou Yanwei clasped his hands in a gesture of apology, a look of shame etched on his face:
"Brother Ruogu, forgive me, this is not what I wished for."
He took a deep breath and continued,
"But I am a prince of Great Zhou. For the sake of this vast land and all its rivers and mountains... there are things I must do, whether I wish to or not."
Chen Kuang's gaze turned icy cold. "I thought we could become friends."
His eyes landed on Chen Ning's hair.
Her long hair was clearly in some disarray, but there it was, worn neatly and properly, a jade hairpin securing it in place.
That same jade hairpin... which she had once mistakenly gifted to Chen Kuang, thinking him a wandering elder. Later, he returned it to her before his departure.
Chen Kuang remembered clearly: after that, Chen Ning never wore the hairpin again, instead treasuring it in private.
And now it had been brought out and placed back in her hair.
A hairpin as a token...
Clearly, this was meant as a silent reminder of past sentiment.
Zhou Yanwei paused, then said:
"As Zhou Yanwei, I can be friends with Chen Ruogu. But as Ji Yanwei, I cannot be friends with Chen Kuang, not as long as Great Zhou remains my father's Great Zhou."
Chen Kuang gave him a deep look and asked calmly,
"And who are you, right now?"
The youth in the transmission fell silent for a moment, then solemnly replied:
"Ji Yanwei."
Chen Kuang let out a cold laugh:
"So I really did misjudge you. No matter how honest a man appears, the moment ambition arises, he changes completely."
"From this moment forth, we are no longer friends."
Ji Wangquan, standing nearby, watched this unfold with a deepening gaze.
She had always thought that her half-brother was too soft, too kind-hearted. He wandered about aimlessly, never showing ambition, unfit to inherit the throne.
But now it seemed: Zhou Yanwei had merely been hiding his fangs.
With the death of Prince Qi, only Zhou Yanwei and the young Third Prince remained in the race for the throne. Zhou Yanwei, realizing this, immediately shed his old mask of chivalry and virtue, and began proving himself to Ji Chengtian, their father.
Clearly, Zhou Yanwei had deliberately played the weakling, concealing his strength in the glare of Prince Qi.
...Perhaps she should consider making peace with this brother after all.
These thoughts flashed quickly through her mind before Ji Wangquan turned to Chen Kuang and asked:
"Well? Are you still unwilling now?"
Chen Kuang looked up slowly and asked,
"Are you not afraid of death?"
Ji Wangquan's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm:
"Think carefully. Your entire family's life is in my hands. If you kill me, they will die too."
"No," Chen Kuang corrected, "their lives are in Zhou Yanwei's hands."
"Whether or not I'm willing to go to Great Zhou, and whether or not you die, are two unrelated matters."
He turned his gaze to her:
"What if I say I'm willing to go, but only on the condition that you're killed? Do you think Ji Chengtian would agree?"
Ji Wangquan was briefly stunned before gritting her teeth:
"Trying to sow discord!"
"I am the eldest princess of Great Zhou..."
Chen Kuang said lightly,
"But I have a Saint on my side. Do you think Ji Chengtian would rather throw everything away in a life-and-death struggle, or sacrifice a daughter?"
Ji Wangquan had heard rumors before, that Chen Kuang had once talked Li Hongling into giving him a powerful Spiritual Treasure with just his words. Now, experiencing his rhetoric firsthand, she finally understood how formidable his mouth could be.
In just a few short sentences, even Ji Wangquan found her heart wavering.
But she knew all too well how unyielding her father was. She had already mentally prepared herself.
Taking a deep breath, Ji Wangquan said:
"Then go ahead and speak. Let's see if my father will agree."
The surrounding crowd, stunned into silence earlier, now seemed to awaken from a dream.
Jiang Yunqing tightened his grip on his sword and said coldly:
"It was Chen Kuang who saved us from Martial Saint's schemes. You repay kindness with betrayal. I may not know how you offended Ji Chengtian, but I can see clearly how ruthless Great Zhou is."
"If Chen Kuang is taken today, then I shall stand in opposition to Great Zhou from this day forward."
Shen Meinan said nothing, but raised her sword, staring coldly at Ji Wangquan.
Ming Yan, Xiuzhu, and Tang Qiusheng followed suit, each expressing their support for Chen Kuang.
Ming Yan giggled sweetly:
"We met once on the pleasure boat, and today you've saved my life. All sentient beings are Buddha, perhaps I've come to some understanding. Be it for justice or for personal debt, I should repay you today, Fellow Daoist Ruogu."
Xiuzhu pressed his palms together, his expression nervous yet firm:
"My Buddha is merciful. Lady Ji, you are indeed in the wrong here."
Tang Qiusheng spun the jade flute in his hand, quipping:
"I've been eyeing Brother Chen's fan for a while. If you gift it to me, I'll lend you my help today, even if it means angering my master."
That master was the purple-robed elder who had once intervened when Mu Zhao descended to kill Chen Kuang. Had he not stepped in, Chen Kuang might not have lived long enough to perform the Method of Demon Shedding.
Of course, the elder had hesitated then, fearful of offending the Heavenly Sound Pavilion. Now, if Tang Qiusheng openly opposed Ji Chengtian, the elder might well lock him up for defying orders.
But Tang Qiusheng refused to be a hypocrite.
Even Shen Yuliu, who had planned to stay neutral, saw that his cousin had already drawn her sword. Whether he drew his or not no longer mattered in terms of family stance, so he simply gave in and raised his sword too.
The elders behind them exchanged glances. Though they sighed and smiled wryly, they didn't intervene, silently condoning the young ones' recklessness.
In fact, their eyes held a touch of admiration.
This was what true Canglang Evaluation prodigies should be like!
If youth held back and schemed instead of standing firm and shining bright, how could they be called heaven's proud sons?
And besides, Ji Chengtian had acted unreasonably.
Great Zhou destroyed Liang, yes, but because Su Yu had insulted them. Chen Kuang was neither royalty, nor had he killed any of Zhou's princes or princesses.
If Martial Saint had hunted him, that was one thing. But what right did Ji Chengtian have to pursue him?
Surrounded by opposition, Ji Wangquan was briefly thrown off. But she quickly regained her composure, after all, she had the entirety of Great Zhou behind her.
She swept her gaze over the crowd and said coldly:
"Each of you are famed young talents, chosen to represent your sects. Are you truly willing to stand against my Great Zhou?"
"You must know, Great Zhou is currently fighting for its life against the Night Barbarians of Northern Plains. Your sects have sent disciples to assist. At such a crucial time, if Great Zhou must divide its focus to deal with internal conflict, what kind of message does that send?"
Despicable! Absolutely shameless!
Everyone couldn't help cursing inwardly.
This was blatant moral blackmail!
Using the war in the north as a shield, this should have been Great Zhou's own responsibility, yet now they wielded it like a righteous excuse.
And the others couldn't ignore it. If Great Zhou truly pulled back or severed supply lines, the disciples alone would struggle to hold the front.
Many sect elders began to waver.
Chen Kuang, however, suddenly laughed:
"I thank all of you for your kindness. I will remember your aid this day."
"But... it's unnecessary."
He said plainly:
"If Great Zhou wants to kill me, then let us each rely on our own strength!"
Ji Wangquan froze.
She shouted,
"You would abandon your own family? What a cold-blooded man you are!"
Chen Kuang replied calmly,
"It seems... you've never truly witnessed a Saint's power."
Suddenly, Ji Wangquan's expression changed.
She looked sharply at the woman who had been standing beside Chen Kuang this entire time, Lü Zhexuan.
That alluring Daoist Nun..
In the blink of an eye, her form was blown away by a gust of wind!
It had long since been... merely an illusion!