frightfiction Chapter 43, Letter of Loyalty to the King
Chapter 43, Letter of Loyalty to the King
“What good stuff can he find on this floor? Maybe I should take down the ‘Great Wilderness Imprisoning Heaven Finger’ from the eleventh floor and throw it right in front of him. After all, he’s the little ancestor of the royal family.”
After the old man finished speaking, he vanished in a flash. A moment later, he returned to the first floor and used a spell to silently send the rubbing of the spiritually radiant manual crashing down on Han Yi's head.
Han Yi winced in pain, letting out a cry of "Ouch!" as he bent down to pick up the "Great Wilderness Imprisoning Heaven Finger Manual." The manual's appearance was ancient and mysterious. The cover was made of old animal hide, its dark brown patterns varying in depth, bearing the marks of time. It had subtle bumps and grooves to the touch, as if it had been caressed by countless hands. A ring of golden thread along the edge shimmered faintly in the dark, seemingly protecting the manual's power.
At the very center, the five large characters “大荒囚天指” are vigorous and powerful, with light faintly flowing in the concave lines of the strokes, as if they are about to leap out of life.
"One finger imprisons heaven and earth, two fingers shatter mountains and rivers, three fingers annihilate living beings, four fingers shatter the sky, five fingers shake the universe..."
Han Yi glanced at it, a smirk playing on his lips, and tossed the manual back to its original spot. The two old men stared in disbelief, their jaws nearly dropping to the floor. They thought to themselves: "Is this kid crazy? He doesn't even want such a powerful manual."
Then, Han Yi spent a long time sifting through the pile of secret manuals, throwing away many peerless martial arts techniques that were practically offered to him, and finally set his sights on the "Sword Control Technique".
The cover was simple and elegant, depicting a sharp sword with a menacing aura. Han Yi gently picked it up, turned to the first page, and found concise and powerful text explaining the intricacies of sword control.
He studied it carefully and memorized the cultivation method after just one reading. This sword control technique could be learned at the Qi Refining stage, with a low entry barrier, making it perfect for him to get started. Han Yi knew in his heart that he wasn't one to aim too high; given his current state, where he hadn't even reached the Qi Refining stage, he simply couldn't learn advanced spells.
Having memorized the sword control technique, Han Yi left Baoyue Tower with satisfaction. The sunlight warmed him, and he felt full of energy, walking with a sense of dynamism.
The two elderly guardians stared at his retreating figure, full of doubt. They had thought this prince, who never took cultivation seriously, was about to rise to prominence, but unexpectedly, he simply chose an ordinary spell and left.
"Even a copy of the 'Great Wilderness Imprisoning Heaven Finger' is tens of thousands of times stronger than that sword control technique. What was he thinking?"
"You ask me, who should I ask?"
……
Six months ago, Han Yi did something earth-shattering—he ran away from his arranged marriage. This act completely tarnished the royal family's reputation, but it didn't affect the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion.
Why? The old emperor was old and frail, his health was deteriorating day by day, and he was about to pass away. The imperial power was unstable, and the princes were fighting fiercely like hungry wolves. The battle for the throne was about to break out, and the entire capital was shrouded in a tense and oppressive atmosphere.
The imperial palaces stood majestically, their red walls and yellow tiles exuding an air of authority, yet a sinister atmosphere permeated the air. Officials hurried about as if chased by ghosts, their faces grim. Outside the prince's residence, undercurrents surged, various factions vying for power, like something out of a spy thriller.
In the evening, a secret letter from the capital was delivered to the old prince by express courier. It was written by the third prince, Murong Qian. The letter said that the king was seriously ill and asked the Prince of Zhenbei to send troops to defend the king.
This third prince is exceptionally talented, standing out among the princes. He has a high chance of winning the throne, and the future monarch will likely be either him or the eldest prince.
After reading the letter, Han Yunfan's expression turned serious. Without saying a word, he immediately sent someone to invite Zhou Yinzhi to discuss the matter.
He knew very well that the Qingyun Empire was currently in a precarious situation, like a wrecked ship tossed about in a storm. If the entire country were to fall into the chaos of the succession struggle, the common people would suffer. How many innocent people would be displaced and suffer?
Only a powerful and prestigious person could step forward and quickly suppress the budding cholera.
But the princes have their own rules. Without the king's decree, they are absolutely not allowed to return to the capital. Moreover, at this critical juncture, Han Yunfan himself is being closely watched by the court, as if he were in shackles. Any slight movement would be seen as rebellious, and if this were to cause internal strife, it would be the end of him. This is not the situation he wants to see. Han Yunfan is not afraid of anything in his life except the suffering of the people and the turmoil of the country.
Inside the Wu'an Hall, the lights were bright, and many strategists were whispering among themselves. The aroma of tea filled the air, but the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was uncomfortable to watch.
Han Yunfan sat in the main seat, his brows furrowed, his face clouded with worry, and his eyes filled with deep concern. He handed the letter to Zhang Shen beside him, who then respectfully passed it to Zhou Yinzhi.
Zhou Yinzhi took the letter, examined it carefully without saying a word, his deep eyes were unfathomable.
Han Yunfan tapped his fingers lightly on the table. The "tap-tap" sound was particularly jarring in the silent hall, as if it were tapping on everyone's heart.
His decision concerns the fate of the nation and the people's livelihood. One wrong step could lead to total defeat, so he must be extremely cautious.
"Your Highness, I think we should immediately send troops to defend the emperor and help the Third Prince seize the throne," someone suggested.
"No, no matter how chaotic the capital is right now, we absolutely cannot go to the aid of the emperor without his decree. If the Third Prince is capable, he must forge his own path. Our most crucial task right now is to resist foreign enemies. The Qing army is eyeing our borders like a pack of wolves eyeing a piece of meat, ready to pounce and bite us at any moment. We must be on high alert and defend our territory; that is our primary task. If we can't even guard our borders, how can the people live in peace?" another strategist said.
“Mr. Li is right!” another person chimed in in agreement.
"Without our help, the Third Prince might not be able to ascend the throne!" someone muttered under their breath, their voice filled with worry.
"What do you think, strategist?" Han Yunfan asked Zhou Yinzhi. The strategists' words all made sense, and he was unable to make a decision for the time being.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yinzhi spoke up, but instead of answering Han Yunfan's question, he asked him a question in return.
"Your Highness, what is the mission of our Wu'an Army?"
"To protect our homeland and defend our borders!" Han Yunfan replied, his voice steady and resolute.
"Then why should we get involved in the royal power struggle? If we throw the safety of the country and the well-being of the people to the back of our minds just to help a prince fight for the throne, are we even human? We have to be worthy of the uniform we wear and the trust that the people have placed in us!"
Zhou Yinzhi's words warmed the hearts of everyone present, and they all nodded in agreement.
Upon hearing this, Han Yunfan suddenly understood and slapped his chair.
"The strategist is right! I eat the people's food and pay their taxes. If I don't care about the people and guard the country's borders for them, how can I face the people of this land?"
His voice was deep, yet it carried an undeniable firmness; every word was as resounding and powerful as a nail driven into the ground.