C8 These Two Old Things Are Good and Bad

Chen Ming, donned in a bamboo hat, sat astride a formidable tiger, perusing the documents the Tiger Troopers had gathered on the Killing Palace. "The Killing Palace is an assassin organization lurking in the shadows," he observed. "Records show it has around three thousand members, with fourteen surpassing the Dao Entering Stage. The Palace Lord is a third-level Dao Entering Stage practitioner, skilled in lethal secret techniques, having hunted down over ten cultivators at that stage, including two at the third level. Their headquarters is nestled within the Mausoleum of the Prince Chiang."

The clarity of this intelligence was not by chance—it was the result of having allies from the Prince Regent Mansion embedded within the Killing Palace.

Chen Ming cast a glance at Wang Meng, who also rode a tiger beside him, and instructed, "Wang Meng, signal our undercover guards in the Killing Palace to convene all the Hall Masters at the headquarters."

"That may pose some difficulty," Wang Meng responded.

Chen Ming offered a sly grin. "Whether it's difficult is their concern. I'm interested in outcomes. Can it be done?"

Wang Meng bowed respectfully. "It shall be accomplished."

Satisfied, Chen Ming nodded. "Good. And how many troops from the Flying Tiger Army are at my disposal?"

"A maximum of thirty thousand," Wang Meng reported.

After a moment's contemplation, Chen Ming commanded, "Under the guise of a routine rotation, mobilize three thousand soldiers from each of the ten military towns within the Flying Tiger Army. Move discreetly. Once we're certain we've evaded any tails, we'll don disguises as traders and regroup near the Mausoleum of the Prince Chiang. Also, ensure the Yan Kingdom's royal communications are intercepted. Notify Faang to ostentatiously return to the Prince Regent Mansion, convincing everyone that I have retreated there. Henceforth, my operations are of the utmost secrecy—only my grandfather and father are to be privy to them."

The Tiger Troublemaker Guards, a formidable force under the Prince Regent Mansion, executed covert missions—all adept in the Dao Entering Stage. This time, Chen Ming had reassigned a significant contingent of these elite guards, a full thirty-strong.

If we were merely comparing strengths, the Killing Palace wouldn't stand a chance. But Chen Ming's mission wasn't just to defeat them; it was to obliterate them—to ensure that no remnants of the Killing Palace would ever rise to wreak havoc again. He was tasked with eliminating all the key figures of the Killing Palace, leaving them powerless to make a comeback. The stakes were high, and with a higher mission rating came even greater rewards.

The Killing Palace had lurked in the shadows of the Yan Kingdom for many years, and it wasn't without good reason.

Once the plans were in place, Chen Ming dismounted from his tiger, a symbol of the Prince Regent Mansion in the Yan Kingdom. He dispatched his men to take the tigers away, then, along with the thirty Tiger Troublemaker Guards, disguised themselves as a caravan and set off for the Mausoleum of the Prince Chiang.

Inside the grand hall of the Prince Regent Mansion, the atmosphere was as solemn as that of the Imperial Court. In the Yan Kingdom, civil and military officials were required to attend court sessions twice: once to deliberate over minor issues at the Imperial Palace and again to discuss more significant matters at the Prince Regent Mansion.

The Old Prince, his temples graying, wielded his power with clarity and conviction. He held sway over much of the Yan Kingdom, and his name, Chen Wang, was as straightforward as his approach.

At that moment, he received a confidential letter and began to read. In the hall of the Prince Regent Mansion, only two figures of authority remained: the Old Prince himself and his eldest son, General Chen Yuhu.

Chen Yuhu, a square-faced, middle-aged man, was clad in a Nine-Python Gold Robe, exuding an air of undeniable authority. He glanced at the secret letter in his father's hands and let out a wry smile. "This rascal has used the highest level of secrecy for his correspondence yet again. Can't he use it for something more substantial? It's just the matter of taking on a disciple. Does he really need to announce it to the entire nation? And to have Qingshan City renamed Qingyao City, he must be quite fond of his new female disciple. I'm curious what kind of chaos he's planning to stir up this time with such a high-level secret letter!"

Old Prince Wang scrutinized the secret letter for a moment before his furrowed brow eased, "This is serious business."

Chen Yuhu's demeanor turned grave, "What exactly is this little scoundrel up to?"

"The Killing Palace is likely a tool of the Yan Kingdom's royal family, and they've already targeted Ming'er," the Old Prince revealed. "Ming'er is gearing up to strike back at the Killing Palace."

Chen Yuhu's eyes narrowed, predatory as a lurking tiger, "That explains why the Killing Palace remains afloat despite our blockade on their funds—they're being bankrolled by the royal family. But the Killing Palace won't go down without a fight. In an open battle, I could take down ten such palaces, but they're like moles—elusive, always burrowing out of sight. We've never shown our hand regarding the Killing Palace because startling them would only make tracking their movements all the more difficult."

The Old Prince nodded in agreement, "Ming'er's decision to take on a disciple so publicly wasn't without reason. He aimed to blindside the Killing Palace, to repair the roads in daylight while tunneling in secret. He's playing a grand game, laying his plans well in advance and even keeping us in the dark. It seems Ming'er has truly advanced of late."

Chen Yuhu chuckled, "He's been quiet for so long, but when he strikes, it's with the force of a tempest. Who would've guessed he'd be the one to act? Now that the little rascal has made his move, let's put on our own performance, drawing the Killing Palace's gaze to us, and giving Ming'er the opening he needs."

Old Prince Wang let out a hearty laugh, "Taking down the Killing Palace will cripple the Yan Kingdom's power. I can't pass up such an opportunity. Summon my men—I'm going to inspect the border!"

With a grin, Chen Yuhu teased, "Father, if you're heading to the border, then I might just have to play the rebel!"

Unperturbed, the Old Prince instructed, "Make sure it's a spectacle. And while you're at it, purge our ranks of any spies the Yan Kingdom has planted."

Three days later.

Amidst the Old Prince's border inspections, his sole heir, Chen Yuhu, seized the moment to revolt, leading a formidable army of a hundred thousand to stand off against the swiftly returning Old Prince at the capital of the Yan Kingdom. Word of the uprising spread like wildfire across the nation.

"Did you hear? The Great General of Zhen has turned against the Prince Regent!"

"The Prince Regent's grip on power is undeniable—who wouldn't covet it? Besides, the heir apparent is the Prince Regent's grandson, not the Great General. It's no wonder the General won't stand down!"

"I bet it's all a ruse orchestrated by the father and son!"

"A ruse? The conflict's already erupted outside the city walls, with over ten thousand casualties!"

"What? The battle has begun? It looks like the Great General is truly staging a coup."

In the Imperial Palace of the Yan Kingdom.

Being the emperor of Yan was no easy feat, especially as a mere puppet under Prince Chen's thumb. His dominion extended no further than the palace walls. Accustomed to a life of worry and forced smiles in Prince Chen's presence, the emperor often wore a somber expression.

But today, the Old Emperor was in high spirits, buoyed by a piece of news.

Laughing heartily from his throne, he exclaimed, "Chen Wang, even you have met your match! After years of waiting, the day has finally arrived! I command all covert forces to collect intelligence on Chen Wang and Chen Yuhu. Prepare for action. As the two tigers clash, one or both will emerge wounded. Ensure that the generals within Chen Yuhu's ranks engage in battle! We shall watch from the sidelines and reap the rewards of their strife."

Suddenly, a guard entered the grand hall, announcing, "Thirteen court officials await outside, seeking an audience!"

A sly smile crossed the Old Emperor's face, his eyes gleaming with the prospect of reclaiming his rule. "Summon them at once, for we have significant matters to discuss!"

Meanwhile, in an inn near the Mausoleum of the Prince Chiang, Chen Ming, donning a bamboo hat, sipped tea from a clay bowl. Overhearing the street chatter about his father's rebellion against his grandfather, he set the bowl down and remarked coolly, "These two old men truly never tire of their games."

Given his insight into his father and grandfather, the idea of his father rebelling was ludicrous. His grandfather had only one son—how could he not bequeath the throne to him? Some speculated that perhaps his father wouldn't outlive his grandfather, hence the rush to seize power. History was rife with crown princes who never outlasted their emperors, never ascending to the throne. But the notion of a sixty-year heir was preposterous, especially since his father wasn't even a prince. Had his father lost his mind and decided to revolt?

Yet, his grandfather had no aptitude for cultivation, while his father was in the Dao Entering Stage, blessed with a lifespan of three hundred years. It was inconceivable that he wouldn't outlive his grandfather.

At that moment, Wang Meng entered and took a seat next to Chen Ming, whispering, "The secret guard from the Killing Palace has relayed that they typically convene at the Mausoleum of Prince Chiang only for the contest for the Hall Master's title. The recent contest has been sanctioned by the Palace Lord of the Killing Palace, who has also commanded all Killing Palace branches to converge at the mausoleum."

Chen Ming chuckled, "So that's the scheme those two old foxes have hatched. But to mobilize the Killing Palace like this? The scale is excessive; over ten thousand lives have been lost already."

"You might not be aware, but the Great General and the Prince Regent are merely at an impasse; they haven't issued combat orders," Wang Meng explained. "Those who perished did so without heeding the Great General's or the Prince Regent's commands. They were likely royal family members, too eager for a conflict to erupt."

Chen Ming spat in disgust, "Those two old schemers have the royal family dancing to their tune, their hearts black as coal!"

Wang Meng grinned, "Had the royal family been astute, the Prince Regent would never have reached this juncture. Yet, the Killing Palace's ranks extend beyond three thousand. The Dark Guard reports that these individuals command their own factions. In due time, an army of over a hundred thousand could secretly amass at the Mausoleum of Prince Chiang, likely a covert force of the Yan Kingdom, poised to overpower the Prince Regent and the Great General once they've weakened each other. Moreover, the Dark Guard has uncovered a tunnel within the mausoleum, an escape route for the Killing Palace if discovered. Given our current might, we're no match for them. And should we deploy our forces, the Killing Palace will surely detect us."

Chen Ming set his teacup aside and inquired with a hint of nonchalance, "Out of the hundred thousand, how many are practitioners?"

Wang Meng replied, "Roughly three thousand, all elite members of the Killing Palace."

Setting his teacup down once more, Chen Ming said, "Come, let's return to my quarters and examine the map."