Chapter 3
Jianghu Matters, Spies in the Temple
“Benefactor Chen, if you have the heart, you can directly give it to Longqi Temple. Why did you give it to me alone?”
Jiang Changsheng asked as he stared at Chen Li.
Chen Li was stunned. Even though he had experienced this child’s unusual maturity, he was still shocked. He shook his head and laughed. “What kind of status does Longqi Temple have? It’s not something I can befriend alone. It’s not polite and it’s doesn’t make me look grateful. I just want to befriend the little Daoist. Since the little Daoist has such achievements in martial arts at such a young age, you must be an outstanding talent in the martial arts world in the future. You might even become the top scholar of the martial arts world and serve the royal court.”
He was the top scholar last year and his background had attracted public discussion. However, books were an important inheritance, and most of them were in the hands of aristocratic families. How could commoners pass the examination? This year, the Emperor had specially promoted a double top scholar, one in both civil and in military affairs.
The cost of practicing martial arts in this world was not high, as such there were many sects in the world that accepted students. It was just that practicing martial arts required talent, but studying also required talent. Comparatively speaking, it was easier for commoners to stand out in martial arts.
Longqi Temple was a Daoist temple personally ordered by the Emperor. The Chen family did not dare to befriend Daoist Qingxu directly as it would easily arouse the suspicion of the Emperor.
Jiang Changsheng felt that his words made sense. In this world, just hiding alone could not lead to a stable life. Instead, it was beneficial to befriend some influential people.
More importantly, even though Jiang Changsheng had accepted his fate, he was f*cking unconvinced. He had to think of a way to kill that fake prince. Additionally, he would not let go of the nobles behind him.
He recalled his memories from twelve years ago. Among the aristocrats he had heard of, there was indeed no surname Chen.
Jiang Changsheng nodded and said, “Then I’ll accept it. I can’t embarrass you as the top scholar.”
Chen Li revealed a smile and did not feel any ridicule. As long as the other party accepted it, it would be a good start.
The reason why he was so enthusiastic was because of his family’s influence. The Chen family needed powerful martial artists too much. They had roped in many martial artists, but all of them were swayed by benefits. Jiang Changsheng was different, as he was still young. As long as he was given resources, he would devote himself to the Chen family sooner or later.
Chen Li began to talk about the murder case. It turned out that Xue Hai wanted to assassinate him, but he had been staying with Daoist Priest Qing Xu to ask for Daoist skills. Xue Hai was also seen sneaking around by the deceased. Out of a sense of officialdom, he interrogated Xue Hai for a while, but Xue Hai was annoyed and directly killed him. As for Jiang Changsheng, he was entirely framed. It turned out that Xue Hai had seen Jiang Changsheng training his leg skills from afar.
Jiang Changsheng recalled. He did feel like he was being spied on, but it was fleeting. He did not really see the other party, so he did not take it to heart.
“I was too inexperienced and was led astray by Xue Hai’s few words. I thought I was smart enough to see through the truth.” Chen Li sighed and looked ashamed.
Seeing that he could admit his mistake, Jiang Changsheng’s impression of him changed. He asked curiously, “Why did Xue Hai want to kill you?”
Chen Li shot a glance at Qing Ku. Qing Ku was stunned for a moment before he sensibly left and closed the door.
“This matter involves the previous dynasty. My Chen family was originally an official of the previous dynasty, but later on, we lost our way and came back. Xue Hai is a remnant of the previous dynasty. He wanted to kill me in order to shift the blame to the current dynasty so that those aristocratic families who surrendered would realize that the imperial court was not friendly to the families that came from the previous dynasty. Unfortunately, he failed,” Chen Li said helplessly.
The Chen family was really aggrieved. They were in an awkward position in the current dynasty and had to face the retaliation of the previous dynasty.
Jiang Changsheng did not sympathize with him. Who asked you to be the first scholar? The nail that sticks out gets hammered.
From Xue Hai’s point of view, it was understandable. Traitors were much more hateful than enemies.
Chen Li did not say much about the disputes in the court. Knowing that Jiang Changsheng had yet to leave the mountain, he talked about interesting things in the martial arts world.
The powerful figures in the martial arts world fought against the eight great sects alone and shocked the martial arts world.
The divine monk was injured and poisoned by the waiter of the black inn.
Someone had sneaked into the room of the Saintess of the Xuanyin Tower and stolen her belongings.
The Guimu Evil King was captured by the imperial court and thrown into the dungeon.
Jiang Changsheng listened with relish.
Chen Li had also taught him about the ranks of martial artists. From the lowest to the highest, they were divided into third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, and True Energy Realm. If one could allow the true energy in their body to attack the enemy through martial arts, then they would have stepped into the True Energy Realm. Xue Hai was a True Energy Realm expert who had trained for nearly twenty years.
Jiang Changsheng made a comparison. He felt that it was not difficult for him to kill Xue Hai. He had benefited from his natural Dao techniques. He had only mastered the second level, but the true energy in his body was enough for him to wantonly use his Divine Shadow Legs and the Nine-seeking Heavenly Dragon Steps.
Cultivation was still the best.
After an hour, Chen Li finally left.
Jiang Changsheng looked at the secret book on the table and fell into deep thought.
Could the secret book be poisonous?
…
Spring passed and autumn came. Several months had passed since Chen Li left. The leaves on the Longqi Temple gradually turned yellow. Jiang Changsheng’s days returned to normal, and the disciples were no longer curious about him. His junior brother, Qing Ku, rarely disturbed him because he was also intoxicated by martial arts and could not extricate himself.
Speaking of changes, the biggest change was that Jiang Changsheng could also openly train in the day. His true energy had been increasing, and he had already mastered the initial stages of the Diamond Howl. As for the Qi Finger, he had yet to train it.
He wanted to completely master the Diamond Howl before he trained the Qi Finger technique.
Chen Li did not come again, and Daoist Priest Qing Xu did not see Jiang Changsheng alone after the murder.
On this day.
Jiang Changsheng had finally reached the third level of the Natural Technique, and his senses had been greatly improved. He could even hear the sounds of mosquitoes thousands of feet away. He could even hear the breathing of other disciples. This feeling was extremely strange.
His true qi did not increase, but he could clearly sense a slight change in his true qi. Perhaps it was a trend towards spiritual power.
Several hours later, he came to the courtyard. The disciples had yet to return to the courtyard and were still listening in the Daoist hall. He began to cultivate the Diamond Howl.
When he cultivated the Diamond Howl, he did not need to shout at the top of his lungs. He only needed to clear the hidden meridians in his throat. When his true energy resonated, he could determine the power of his shout. In the past, it was hard to activate the invisible meridians. After his cultivation method broke through, he discovered that the process of pouring true energy into the invisible meridians had become smoother and did not hurt as before.
Jiang Changsheng was very happy. As expected, cultivation methods were his foundation. He would still have to spend most of his time on cultivation methods in the future.
In the evening, Qing Ku returned to the house.
“Senior Brother, Second Brother intends to bring fifteen disciples down the mountain to train. He specially asked me to ask you, are you willing to go?” Qing Ku excitedly asked.
Almost all of them were orphans. Every time they trained, they would bring back a group of new disciples.
After going up the mountain, Qing Ku had yet to leave the mountain. He was curious about everything at the foot of the mountain. He had heard from the guests that a prosperous era was coming and the war could no longer be seen in the human world.
Jiang Changsheng shook his head and said, “I won’t be going.”
Qing Ku persuaded him a few more times, but he still refused to go. Qing Ku could only give up.
Down the mountain?
Impossible!
Unless his strength was invincible, otherwise, Jiang Changsheng would never leave the mountain. Longqi Temple was in the capital, and those influential people who were spying on him would definitely still be watching.
After all, if his identity were to be exposed, he would be beheaded. Once the True Dragon was furious, no matter how powerful an official was, they would have to get down from their horses.
Over the years, the Emperor had purged many factions and countless meritorious officials had died.
The next morning, Second Senior Brother Meng Qiuhe brought a group of disciples down the mountain, including Qing Ku. Jiang Changsheng did not send him off. Instead, he continued to train in front of the bell tower.
At night, Jiang Changsheng was about to get up.
“In the 12th year of the Initial Era, a spy urged Second Brother to lure you down the mountain, but you rejected him. You avoided a calamity and obtained a survival reward—miscellaneous ‘Alchemy’.”
When he saw the notification, Jiang Changsheng was stunned and almost spat out a vulgar word.
A spy?
There was a spy in Longqi Temple?
First of all, excluding his second senior brother, Meng Qiuhe, he was almost killed by his senior brother who trained in martial arts when he was two years old. It was Meng Qiuhe who saved him. However, this time, Meng Qiuhe was persuaded to bring him out.
Wait a minute!
Could it be Eldest Senior Brother?
That time when he was two years old was not a mistake, but a deliberate act?
Jiang Changsheng began to think about who would look at him strangely on normal days and who would be able to do so. He even suspected Qing Ku.
Even after thinking for a long time, he still could not figure it out.
However, they were sure that it would be dangerous to go down the mountain. As long as Daoist Priest Qing Xu was still in the Daoist temple, villains would not dare to act recklessly.
What Jiang Changsheng had to do now was to work hard to grow and hide his strength.
In the previous murder case, he only showed his talent in martial arts, but it had already attracted the attention of spies. As for the Divine Shadow Legs, the Diamond Howl, and the cultivation techniques, he must not show them.
Fortunately, he rarely showed off.
Jiang Changsheng stood up and walked towards his courtyard. When the disciples greeted him along the way, he would respond with a smile and silently judge.
Since he had refused to go down the mountain, the spy should still be there.
All of them were suspects!
…
The autumn leaves in Longqi Temple were covered by white snow. After nearly a hundred cycles of the sun and the moon, the white snow melted and the new spring arrived.
In the thirteenth year after the founding of the dynasty, Jiang Changsheng was thirteen years old.
This year, the Emperor went crazy and started to pursue immortal arts. He recruited all the capable people in the world to refine pills for him.
“There are no immortals in this world. Those evil spirits are merely transformed from demons. For the sake of immortal arts, His Majesty has even ignored the state affairs. Fortunately, His Highness the Crown Prince is smart by nature. He is familiar with the four books and five scriptures and has already started to help with some of the political affairs.”
Chen Li sighed with emotion, and his words were filled with admiration for the Crown Prince.
Jiang Changsheng’s expression did not change, but he was unhappy.
To be able to hold such power at the age of thirteen, that little bastard had some ability.
Jiang Changsheng asked curiously, “Is His Highness the Crown Prince so outstanding? Can you tell me about him?”
Chen Li smiled and said, “Of course. Speaking of which, the Crown Prince’s fate is quite unfortunate. He was appointed as the Crown Prince by His Majesty before he was born, and he became the Crown Prince before he was born. Looking at history, he is the only one. However, after the Empress gave birth to the Crown Prince, she fell seriously ill and was in a coma for several months before she woke up. When she woke up, she lost her mind and said that the Crown Prince was not her son. Without the care and concern of a mother, another prince was born. The Crown Prince could be said to have experienced the fickleness of human nature in the palace. Even His Majesty treated him coldly. Fortunately, he was smart at the age of three and could compose poems at the age of five. He also obtained His Majesty’s favor.”
When he heard this, Jiang Changsheng could not help but think of his mother in this life. When he was in his mother’s womb, he often heard his mother talking to herself about how good she would be to him in the future and how reckless the Emperor was.
He felt a little sad.
It turned out that other than evil people, there were still people in this world who talked about him.
Jiang Changsheng asked curiously, “How is the Empress right now? Is she… still the Empress?”
Chen Li glared at him and said, “Of course. His Majesty and the Empress are so loving that the heavens pity them. Now that the Empress has recovered and her relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince has been repaired, the country is peaceful and prosperous. The Empress has contributed to this.”
Jiang Changsheng was speechless and felt slightly relieved.
In any case, at least she was living well.