0p0 Chapter 300 The undercurrent is surging
Chapter 300 The undercurrent is surging
In the days that followed, the capital city appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents were surging beneath. Ye Jiuchen strengthened the defenses of the Prince's residence, knowing full well that Ye Jingchu would not let the matter rest, and deployed trusted guards to every corner. Dongfang Wan'er also lost her usual liveliness, a hint of worry often flashing in her eyes; she knew this struggle was far from over.
Ye Jingchu, in the Crown Prince's residence, plotted day and night with his advisors. They planned to make their move during the royal autumn hunt, when the chaos would present an excellent opportunity. To ensure everything went smoothly, Ye Jingchu also secretly contacted some martial arts forces, offering them substantial sums of money.
The day of the royal autumn hunt finally arrived. Colorful flags fluttered around the hunting grounds, and nobles, dressed in magnificent attire, rode tall horses. Ye Jiuchen and Dongfang Wan'er rode together, seemingly relaxed and carefree, but in reality, they were extremely vigilant. An Ye and his guards quietly protected them from the outside.
After the hunt began, everyone dispersed. Seeing an opportunity, Ye Jingchu directed the assassins to converge on Ye Jiuchen's location. The assassins, all masked and wielding sharp blades, moved like ghosts through the woods.
Ye Jiuchen sensed something amiss. He reined in the horses, shielding Dongfang Wan'er behind him. An Ye and his guards swiftly arrived, engaging the assassins in close combat. Instantly, shouts of battle echoed across the hunting grounds once more, startling a flock of birds into flight.
Ye Jingchu personally led a group of men to charge towards Ye Jiuchen, his eyes filled with killing intent. Ye Jiuchen showed no fear, drawing his sword to meet the attack. Their swords clashed, sparks flying.
Dongfang Wan'er watched anxiously from the sidelines. She used her lightness skill to join the battle, standing back-to-back with Ye Jiuchen to fight the enemy together. Just as the battle was at a stalemate, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from afar. It turned out that the imperial guards were arriving.
It turned out that after careful consideration, Li Yanran decided that she could not allow Ye Jingchu to continue his evil deeds. She secretly revealed Ye Jingchu's conspiracy to the emperor, who was furious and sent the imperial guards to stop him.
Seeing the situation was dire, Ye Jingchu tried to escape. But Ye Jiuchen and the Imperial Guards had already surrounded him. A hint of despair flashed in Ye Jingchu's eyes; he knew he was doomed this time.
In the end, Ye Jingchu was captured alive. Ye Jiuchen watched Ye Jingchu being led away, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Although this struggle had temporarily ended, the power struggle within the royal family remained a fog, shrouding everyone's hearts, and the future held countless storms for them to weather. Meanwhile, Dongfang Wan'er leaned against Ye Jiuchen's chest, silently praying that everything would turn out alright.
On that vast, boundless continent, lying like a colossal beast, lies an inconspicuous little town—Qingyun Town. It's like a tiny, almost forgotten pearl on the continent's dazzling crown, existing quietly and peacefully. Life here flows calmly, like a gentle stream, without a ripple. However, on that dark and windy night, the gears of fate began to turn mercilessly and violently, changing everything in an unknown direction.
3
Lin Yu, the boy who had grown up in Qingyun Town, stood alone on a hillside outside the town. The black robe of night shrouded the world, and the stars, like dazzling jewels embedded in it, shimmered with a mysterious light. Lin Yu tilted his head slightly, gazing at the starry sky, his eyes reflecting the starlight. He was somewhat thin, his thin clothes swaying gently in the night wind, as if they might be blown away at any moment. But his eyes were as bright and resolute as the brightest stars in the night sky, their gaze revealing a yearning for the unknown world, as if concealing an endless flame.
Lin Yu's background was a frequent topic of sighs among the townspeople. His parents died when he was very young, leaving him to struggle alone in this world. Like a blade of grass struggling to survive in a crack in the rock, he barely clung to life on the brink of starvation and cold thanks to the kindness of the townspeople. Despite such hardship, an indomitable will burned within him. It was a yearning for the outside world, like the light of a lighthouse guiding him through the darkness. He longed to one day break free from the constraints of the small town and explore a wider world, a world of legends and unknown adventures.
That day, sunlight filtered through the dappled leaves, casting dappled patterns on the forest behind the mountain. Lin Yu, as usual, carried his simple woodcutting tools to the back hill. The forest was filled with a fresh scent, and birds sang merrily in the branches; it seemed like just another ordinary moment in an ordinary day. However, fate always takes unexpected turns. Lin Yu was focused on chopping wood when suddenly, a strange light streaked across the sky, like a sharp blade tearing through the heavens, dazzling and brilliant. Immediately afterward, a mysterious object, accompanied by a whistling wind, fell from the sky, landing directly in the grass in front of him, startling a flock of birds.
Lin Yu was startled by the sudden sight, his eyes widening with curiosity. He put down his wood-chopping knife and cautiously approached, parting the dense undergrowth. There lay a jade pendant, radiating a faint blue light, like a sleeping spirit. The light was dreamlike, seemingly pulsating with a mysterious rhythm. Strange patterns were engraved on the pendant, like ancient runes, winding and twisting, each line seemingly containing endless mysteries, as if telling a story that transcends time.
Lin Yu couldn't help but reach out and pick up the jade pendant. The instant his fingers touched it, a cool sensation, like a refreshing spring, spread from his fingertips throughout his body. It felt like plunging into an icy lake on a sweltering summer day, sending a shiver down his spine, yet also a strange sense of comfort. He examined the pendant more closely, his eyes fixed on its patterns, trying to decipher something. Just then, an unimaginably powerful force, like a raging beast, suddenly surged in from all directions, instantly engulfing him in a mysterious space.
When Lin Yu finally managed to open his eyes again, he found himself in a completely unfamiliar place. All around him was chaos, thick as ink, with a heavy fog permeating every corner. Deep within the fog, he could faintly hear low roars, as if some terrifying monster lurked within. The sound echoed in his ears like thunder, making his heart race uncontrollably; fear, like a cold snake, coiled tightly around his heart. But Lin Yu knew that fear was useless now. He gritted his teeth, suppressing his fear, trying to calm himself, and began to cautiously explore this mysterious and unpredictable space.
He walked with extreme caution, as if every inch of ground beneath his feet might conceal unknown dangers. As he walked, through a gap in the mist, he saw an ancient stone tablet ahead. The tablet looked weathered and worn, the years leaving countless marks on its surface, mottled and fragmented.