Chapter 597: Killing and Arson

The cushion was made of soft, lustrous "Yanghu White" floral brocade, and a piece of hardwood stood upright on it.

The hardwood had forks and a few green leaves on top.

The servants in the hall knelt down in unison before it, because a green snake was impressively coiled on the hardwood!

Its body was as thick as He Lingchuan's fist, with a green back and white belly. Every scale was as lustrous as jade, completely lacking the usual coldness of snakes.

Furthermore, its head did not resemble a snake's; instead, it had high brow bones, deep-set eyes, a prominent nose raised like a cow's, and a bit of soft fur on the tip of its tail.

"Where is Fu Shanyue?"

It spoke in a childlike voice; if you closed your eyes, it sounded like a little boy. In reality, as soon as it opened its mouth, it revealed a maw full of fangs, jagged like crocodile teeth.

The servants, trembling with fear, stammered, "Our pri-, His Highness is out!"

"Where did he go?"

"We don't know!" Does Prince Yue need to tell them where he goes when he leaves?

Besides, Prince Yue has been going out frequently lately, leaving early and returning late, so most servants haven't had a chance to see him.

"What about the Prince's special envoy?" A greater hint of disgust was evident in the childlike voice. "Find him!"

"Sir He isn't here either!" Everyone inwardly groaned in distress.

"Where did he go? You don't know either?"

Prince Lingxu's upper body suddenly rose like a snake, and a strong gust of wind immediately swept into the main hall, causing the paintings on the walls and the silver pots on the tables to shake violently.

Everyone prostrated themselves, their heads touching the ground. "Your Highness, please spare us, this humble one truly doesn't know!"

Another person said, "I heard, I heard the envoy went out today, to wander around the main city."

The main city is so big, and He Xiao has legs; who knows where he might have run off to now!

Prince Lingxu said coldly, "Is that so? Then I shall wait here!"

If it wanted to wait, who dared to disagree?

The servants quickly served tea, snacks, and fruit to the guards.

As for Prince Lingxu, no one knew its preferences. When they tried to inquire, the guards ignored them.

They waited for an entire hour.

During this time, Prince Lingxu urged them several times, sending a few servants from Panshan Manor out to search for the people.

But both those sent to search and those being searched for were completely out of contact.

As time went on, Prince Lingxu grew increasingly agitated. It slithered off the brocade cushion and paced back and forth in the hall, its scales slightly opening and closing.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

With a "smack," the Prince lashed its tail, smashing a chair to pieces.

Although snakes have long tails, it is difficult for them to possess such strength.

A guard said, "Your Highness, perhaps you'd like to take a walk in the garden?"

"Such a shabby garden, small and ugly, and you want me to walk there?"

Everyone fell silent, and time dragged on like years.

Not only the main hall of Panshan Manor but also two nearby buildings were affected by the Prince's anger. It was a bit tired of doing the destruction itself, so it ordered:

"Smash everything for me!"

Its guards followed without a word, and there was a clatter and crash. Doors, windows, furniture, antiques, rockeries, and garden features—everything visible was utterly smashed to pieces.

Panshan Manor also had its own security guards, but absolutely no one dared to stop them. The chaotic sounds from outside weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.

Neither Fu Shanyue nor He Xiao had returned by the time the sun was about to set.

A guard approached the Prince and whispered, "Your Highness has been out too long; if you don't start heading back..."

The Prince snorted, "I'm not going back!"

Returning late would be troublesome, as the journey from here to the royal palace on Lingxiao Peak, Tianxin Island, was quite far.

But it hadn't vented its anger yet.

Not only had it not vented, but holding it in all afternoon had made it even angrier!

"These few servants are annoying to look at!" it said to the dozen or so servants kneeling in a row along the wall. "Kill them, leave no one alive!"

The servants were greatly shocked. Some were so frightened they collapsed, crying out for mercy, while others, disregarding everything else, rushed for the door and fled.

Several guards rushed out, drawing their swords and attacking.

Screams and cries of agony filled the air.

Two young servants, having good legs, outran their companions and rushed all the way to the main gate.

A guard arrived and aimed his sword at the back of one servant. Unexpectedly, the latter stumbled just then, dodging the vital spot, but the long blade chopped into his left shoulder, making him scream more horribly than a pig being slaughtered.

"Why are you running?" the guard said, kicking him down and stepping on his back, then swinging his sword again.

This time, the blade struck accurately in the back of his heart, and twisted.

He breathed his last.

The screams abruptly ceased.

Another giant ape charged past him, caught up to the other servant, and struck him with a punch to the forehead.

The man was already unconscious when he hit the ground.

The giant ape walked over and delivered a series of rapid blows, smashing him into a bloody pulp.

Mission accomplished.

The guard spat on the corpse, then returned to the main hall to report.

At the main entrance of Panshan Manor, two bodies lay sprawled, with blood and mud everywhere.

When the palace guards killed the men, the onlookers scattered like birds and beasts, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.

When the fresh blood flowed down the steps, they gathered again to watch the spectacle, pointing and whispering.

This was the outpost of the Chiyan Kingdom and Prince Yue's temporary residence. Yet Prince Lingxu rushed here to kill people. Oh dear, this is truly a huge matter!

The underlying karmic entanglement made the public's imagination run wild.

Another hour passed, and it was already dark, but the main individuals still hadn't appeared.

"Fu Shanyue offended Little Xing, so he can't be comfortable," Prince Lingxu said, extremely agitated. "Burn down his manor!"

Soon after, the manor caught fire.

In late autumn, the air was dry and windy, and the guards also used some oil, making the fire, fueled by the wind, increasingly uncontrollable.

Prince Lingxu's mount set off again, thundering out of Panshan Manor's main gate and heading straight for Chikan Peak in the center of the lower city. The Jinghong Crossing node was located there, allowing direct access to Tianxin Island above.

Along the way, commoners scattered in panic.

The entrance of Panshan Manor, however, was tightly surrounded by all sorts of people who had come to watch the spectacle and gossip.

Lingxu City today was probably liveliest right here.

Among the crowd were many spies, taking in the entire scene that had just unfolded before quickly going to report to their masters.

Two more street corners and he would reach Panshan Manor.

He Lingchuan held the Chiyan envoy's token, allowing him to ride his large-horned rock goat slowly home at any time.

The "perfume shops"—which were actually bathhouses, not places selling perfume—in Lingxu City were more luxurious than elsewhere. They were spacious, and the technicians' skills were excellent. He Lingchuan's nerves had been taut in recent days, but after soaking in the hot springs for half a day, his bones relaxed, and he felt completely at ease, as if reborn.

The Wood Spirit Venerable's prophecy, "When you encounter Huan, leave your dwelling," seemed not to have come true. He had been out all day and hadn't encountered anything new.

As for Panshan Manor, where he resided, he simply didn't think anything could go wrong there.

Currently, the Chiyan people were highly popular in Lingxu City. Who would dare to defy public opinion and cause trouble at Panshan Manor?

Could it be that the character "Huan" did not refer to the White Huan bird?

He let the rock goat walk on its own when he suddenly heard the sound of wings flapping above.

He Lingchuan looked up and saw a hawk swooping down directly, landing on the rock goat's large horns. Before it could even fold its wings, it urgently said, "Stop, don't go any further!"

He was startled and said in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

"Turn back quickly, go to Lanshan Abode. I'll tell you on the way."

He Lingchuan patted the rock goat's head, and it immediately turned and trotted quickly.

Lanshan Abode was ten li away from here. With the hawk guiding the way, the rock goat had no worry of getting lost.

"Standing on these large horns is much more comfortable than perching on a branch," the hawk said after shaking its feathers.

"His Highness specifically sent me to circle above Panshan Manor to prevent you from returning home. Prince Lingxu is currently in Panshan Manor!"

He Lingchuan thought he had misheard. "Who?"

"The only son of the Beijia Emperor!"

"Why isn't it staying in its perfectly good palace and instead running to my manor?" He thought, "That's completely unrelated... Wait, no, it seems there's still some reason."

Cen Boqing, whose crimes he had confirmed, had a virtuous wife named Yao Xingning.

What did Fu Shanyue and Bai Ziqi tell him?

Yao Xingning was the Beijia Prince's childhood playmate!

It could be said that the young Prince's life was saved by Yao Xingning, so the bond between them was as deep as siblings.

He took a sharp breath. What good could come from the Beijia Prince showing up now?

Most likely, he's here to cause trouble.

The hawk dared not speak ill of the Beijia Prince behind his back, only saying, "His Highness was already on his way back, but upon receiving this news midway, he went straight to Lanshan Abode."

Even Fu Shanyue avoided his sharp edge, so He Lingchuan had even less intention of approaching him.

If the Beijia Prince were to kill him, he'd probably just get a light scolding from his father, and that would be the end of it.

If he were to kill the Beijia Prince, Lingxu City would surely hack him into a thousand pieces.

No matter what, he'd be at a disadvantage.

The rock goat trotted along with the traffic and soon arrived at Lanshan Abode on the mountainside.

This was an elegant pavilion nestled in a bamboo forest, with a mountain behind and a stream in front. Even in late autumn, roses and impatiens were in bloom, with bees and butterflies fluttering around, creating an oasis of tranquility amidst the bustling city.

This place served tea, offered board games, and allowed for discussions. Meals were also available, making it an excellent venue for business meetings and entertaining distinguished guests. The prices, however, were quite steep; a small plate of crispy dried fish, served as an appetizer, cost half a qian of silver.

Outside, that price could buy over ten catties of small dried fish.

Fu Shanyue occupied a small pavilion by himself. Seeing He Lingchuan approaching, he quickly waved.

"Come, eat. My treat tonight!"

The fierce tiger Jiao Yu was lying nearby. Seeing He Lingchuan, it immediately stood up and made a rumbling sound in greeting.

He Lingchuan cast a sidelong glance at Fu Shanyue. "Why are you being so generous?"

This guy had been eating, living, and drinking for free at his place for the past few days, without spending a single penny.

"It's about reciprocity, isn't it?" Fu Shanyue chuckled. "Where's the wine?"

Someone immediately came over to pour wine.

Delicious food and delicacies were served one after another.

Before all the dishes were laid out, Fu Shanyue waved away all the servants. The hawk flapped its wings and flew out the window.

It still had a mission: to fly back to Panshan Manor and conduct reconnaissance from high above.

He Lingchuan stroked the tiger's large head. "Because of Yao Xingning?"

The question was abrupt and lacked context, but Fu Shanyue understood.

"Most likely."

"When can we go back?"

"After it leaves," Fu Shanyue said, raising his cup and taking a small sip. "The Emperor has only one descendant, whom he cherishes like a rare treasure. I don't want to provoke his greatest wrath."

"What if it comes again tomorrow?" He Lingchuan asked, casually picking up a piece of dried fish. "Hmm, it smells very good. Can you guarantee you can avoid it every time?"

"What happens tomorrow, we'll talk about tomorrow," Fu Shanyue said. He was not a good-tempered person, and although he was grinning, there was no amusement in his eyes. "After it returns, the news will most likely reach the Emperor's ears."

"So it's entirely up to the Emperor to restrain him?"

"Otherwise?" Fu Shanyue said, giving him a chilling glance. "Looking across Lingxu City, who dares to lay a finger on him?"

It wasn't just him who was acting cowardly.