Prince Zuo Cheng walked ahead, with Lin Yun and Fang Yu'er following closely behind.
Even now, Fang Yu'er still found everything that had just happened hard to believe. She had thought that Lin Yun would have to suffer a great deal in his battle to barely manage a victory against his opponent. Who would have thought that while Lin Yun did indeed run into some trouble, he still ultimately defeated He Jiemin? That was an expert who completely surpassed Lin Yun's own realm; no one knew how he had managed it. Even Fang Yu'er was now filled with considerable admiration for him.
"You can finally be without a care now," she said in a low, smiling voice. "Within this princely estate, there are very few who can be considered your opponent."
Lin Yun had now fulfilled their prior agreement. After he had successfully dealt with these enemies, Fang Yu'er no longer needed to worry about any subsequent trouble coming her way.
Seeing Fang Yu'er's tense posture, Lin Yun just smiled faintly. "It's just as I said before. These people all have fatal weaknesses. As long as you seize that weakness, all the problems can be solved with ease."
Winning this battle had not been a simple matter. Lin Yun had also suffered quite a bit in the process. But for now, the overall situation was still under his control. He also had to admit, these people were simply no match for him.
"What do you plan to do next? It seems His Highness the Prince is preparing to take your advice."
Lin Yun didn't answer her.
Prince Zuo Cheng was walking ahead, quietly contemplating how he should proceed. His original plan had been to kill Lin Yun, thereby cutting off Chen Suning's left and right arms. But after the battle just now, he had realized that this young man could also be of immense help to him. If he could successfully get Lin Yun to cooperate with him, wouldn't he be able to solve his problems even faster?
Soon, Prince Zuo Cheng led Lin Yun to the garden where he spent most of his days. Every furnishing in the princely estate was the epitome of luxury. But for the prince, his greatest hope was to walk even further on the path of cultivation. After all, who didn't wish to live longer? This was also why he had been so nervous when Lin Yun came to his door. He was terrified that Lin Yun, in a fit of pique, would simply kill him. After what had just happened, the prince didn't dare to disbelieve it.
"Actually, I'm very curious. For you to come to my door so brazenly, were you not afraid that I would kill you?" the prince asked. "Or did you know from the very beginning about the methods I have at my disposal within this estate?"
This was the first thing that puzzled him. He believed that very few people in the entire Daye Dynasty knew just how many powerful experts were in his vast princely estate. Yet Lin Yun still had the guts to come here and cause trouble for him. This made Prince Zuo Cheng suspect that this boy might truly know some well-kept secrets.
Seeing the prince's curious expression, Lin Yun just laughed heartily. "Your Highness's thoughts are not wrong. I do indeed know some inside information about this place. However, this matter is not quite what Your Highness imagined."
Lin Yun shook his head and then said calmly, "What Your Highness assumes is not the case. The reason I dared to walk in here so brazenly is because I believe that with the power currently at Your Highness's disposal, you are powerless against me."
The words were arrogant and audacious enough. They also left the prince, at this moment, completely unable to muster any temper. Lin Yun was right. In this vast princely estate, not a single person had been able to stand up and stop him. Even He Jiemin of the Shangqing Temple had fallen at his hands.
Taking a deep breath, Prince Zuo Cheng suppressed the rage in his heart. "Since that is the case, what exactly did little friend Lin come here for?"
Lin Yun ignored the prince's anger and instead asked directly, "I wonder if Your Highness knows what business the Shangqing Temple has in Wangjing this time?"
The prince frowned and thought for a moment before snorting. "How would this prince know? And even if this prince did know, I certainly would not tell you. This is a secret between this prince and them. How could it be casually revealed to an outsider?"
Lin Yun shook his head. "Allow this humble one to make an introduction for Your Highness. This person beside me is a disciple of the Crimson Ghost Sect. And she can be considered one of their core members."
Hearing this, Prince Zuo Cheng's eyes lit up. He had known about the Crimson Ghost Sect for some time and had sent people out to find clues about them. But unfortunately, these people were extremely careful and had left almost no trace, even within Wangjing. This had left the prince quite frustrated. He had thought this matter would drag on for some time and had hoped the Shangqing Temple would help him resolve it. He never imagined that Lin Yun would directly bring a member of the Crimson Ghost Sect to him.
"You don't think that just by offering a pledge of allegiance, this prince will be able to forgive you, do you?" the prince snorted. "The matter of killing Prince Changqing is still a grave crime. Even Her Majesty the Empress could not possibly spare you from the death penalty."
Towards this display, Lin Yun was not surprised. This man was still trying to hold out for a better offer.
"I know that, of course," Lin Yun said. "But I'm certain Your Highness does not know that the Crimson Ghost Sect has been secretly cooperating with the Shangqing Temple all along. They are even plotting something together. As for what that is, I do not know."
Originally, the prince had paid no mind to Lin Yun's words. He had just brought him a member of the Crimson Ghost Sect. That meant little to him. But the moment Lin Yun finished speaking, the expression on the prince's face immediately changed.
If it were as Lin Yun had said before, he wouldn't need to care. But now, the Shangqing Temple and the Crimson Ghost Sect were secretly colluding, and they were plotting something together. For the current Prince Zuo Cheng, this was an infuriating state of affairs.
Prince Zuo Cheng looked coldly at Lin Yun. "Do you know what you are saying?"
Lin Yun just glanced at Fang Yu'er.
Fang Yu'er understood tacitly. "It is natural that Your Highness does not believe us now. However, if Your Highness is willing to investigate, you will soon understand that what we have said is not false. Maoshan Village has been completely taken over by the Crimson Ghost Sect. We do not know what the sect is planning, but we were ordered to, under all circumstances, prevent anyone else from proceeding deeper into that area."