【Morning Court at Jiying Hall】
Eunuch Wei carefully supported the emperor, whose complexion was waxy yellow, as he swayed step by step toward the dragon throne.
The emperor’s eyelids were so heavy he could barely lift them. When he sat down, his feet staggered, and he simply leaned back, half-reclining, half-slumped—looking like an old corn stalk beaten down by frost.
“Long live Your Majesty! Long live! Long, long live!” the officials all knelt in unison, their voices shaking the beams of the hall with a loud rumble.
“Rise,” the emperor’s voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, saving energy to the absolute extreme.
Eunuch Wei immediately stepped forward and added in a sharp voice:
“His Majesty’s dragon body has been unwell recently and requires rest and nourishment. If you have matters, submit memorials. If not, the court will dismiss early.”
Just as the words fell, a cold, sinister voice suddenly rang out:
“Your Majesty, I have a memorial.”
Prime Minister Li stepped out from the ranks holding a memorial scroll, walking forward with measured steps. His eyes looked poisoned, and anyone could tell he was suppressing ill intent.
The emperor glanced at him weakly, not even having the strength to raise his hand, looking like he just wanted this to end quickly.
“Prime Minister Li, what matter?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, recently in Lingqu County, at the Zhenyue Division branch, within the Fulong Camp herb garden of Baicao Garden, news has spread of the reappearance of the ‘Purple Judgment Flower’!”
Prime Minister Li deliberately paused, emphasizing each word.
“Two Netheart Hunters nearly lost their lives! The Purple Judgment Flower is a forbidden flower of our Great Fan Kingdom—its toxicity is extremely fierce! Back then, how many Shura and Netheart Hunters died because of it! Now such a forbidden flower has been cultivated within a national stronghold—this intent is punishable by death!”
He changed tone sharply and pointed directly at the Guang Prince’s estate:
“The person in charge of Fulong Camp, Crown Prince Zhao Chengyuan of Guang Prince’s estate, knowingly violated national law and cultivated forbidden flowers—his intent is punishable! Guang Prince neglected supervision and must be punished alongside him to correct the record!”
The emperor slowly turned his head and looked toward Su Wangshu among the officials.
As the son-in-law of the Guang Prince and elder brother-in-law of Zhao Chengyuan:
“Su Jingcheng, do you have any objections?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, I have objections!”
A loud voice broke through the hall. Minister Zhao stepped forward from the crowd, righteous and stern.
“The Purple Judgment Flower is a forbidden plant, extremely rare. Eighteen years ago, it was sealed and destroyed by formation by the Zhenyue Division headquarters. Only a few samples remained sealed in the Research Institute. Such a rare object—how could it appear two thousand li away in Fulong Camp? There is definitely something suspicious. I request Your Majesty investigate carefully and not listen to one-sided claims and wrongly harm loyal officials!”
“Ridiculous!”
Prime Minister Li shouted angrily, spit almost flying onto Minister Zhao’s face.
The emperor suddenly let out a low chuckle. His sickly face showed a hint of amusement:
“Then tell me, who should investigate this?”
He looked toward Su Wangshu.
Su Wangshu bowed:
“The Purple Judgment Flower is managed by the Research Institute. We request the current head of the institute, Grand Tutor Bai Yanhua, to investigate the truth, trace the origin of the flower, destroy it, and capture the perpetrators, restoring justice to the world.”
“Crown Prince!” the emperor called softly.
“I am here!” the crown prince immediately stepped out.
“Assist your teacher in investigating the truth.”
“I obey the decree!”
The emperor waved his hand weakly:
“Tired… court dismissed…”
“Long live Your Majesty!”
【Outside Jiying Gate】
After court dispersed, Crown Prince Zhao Jingheng, Minister Su Wangshu, and the Right Prime Minister gathered together, whispering.
Crown Prince Zhao Jingheng cursed:
“This is nonsense! No evidence and they’re already framing people. Anyone not blind can see this is an obvious setup! If General Zhenhao were here, even giving Li the Prime Minister ten guts, he wouldn’t dare be so arrogant!”
The Right Prime Minister sighed:
“It’s a pity the Guang Prince is old and about to retire. Jingcheng, you and Chengyuan must help the Crown Prince protect the Great Fan Kingdom. I am also about to retire.”
Su Wangshu looked ashamed:
“Sorry… I’ve even implicated my teacher and Grand Tutor. In this court, I really don’t have many I can fully trust anymore.”
The Crown Prince patted his shoulder, eyes bright:
“You did well! Only then do I get a chance to gain achievements! Otherwise, always suppressed by Prime Minister Li—I’ll go crazy sooner or later!”
Su Wangshu smiled bitterly:
“Please help me apologize to the Grand Tutor. Leave this matter to you. I will also investigate secretly in Yanyang. This is very strange—act low-key and be careful.”
The Crown Prince grinned:
“You too! Be careful!”
【Fulong Camp Dormitory】
“I’ve been in Fulong Camp for over two months now. During this time, spatial rifts have appeared across various regions, but not many—at least compared to the era 1,250 years later, life is still relatively peaceful.”
Li Xuan slumped on the edge of the bed, looking utterly lifeless.
“Most rifts are Disaster or Calamity level. Senior brothers and sisters handle them. We new recruits don’t even get a chance to gain experience, and we haven’t even finished training yet.”
“Is Zhao Commander targeting me recently?” he slammed the table.
“Besides taking me to Elder Yan’s weapon workshop to repair weapons, dragging me to Elder Yao’s herbal lab to restore wilted herbs, and taking me to Elder Su’s treatment room to calibrate medical equipment—he even made me walk around the entire camp repairing cracks, roof tiles, everything!”
“I… Li Xuan… am getting pissed off!”
“Am I some cheap tool?”
“Did I reincarnate as a janitor or a mobile repair machine?”
“Weapons need me, buildings need me, even spoiled food in the kitchen wants me to rewind it to freshness?”
“I came here to be a hunter slaying demons, not a free labor handyman! In my original world, this would violate labor law!”
“Xuan ge, what is labor law?” Xiao Shen asked from the opposite bed, curious.
Li Xuan glared at him:
“Can I get a salary raise? Same pay, why are you all slacking while I’m busy like a dog?”
“Haha, you’re the camp’s rising star! Commander Zhao’s ‘all-purpose repair master’—we’re jealous!” Xiao Shen laughed heartily.
“You people are addicted to this oppressive system, aren’t you?” Li Xuan rolled his eyes.
“I’m going insane! I want a raise!”
At that moment, Elder Old Zhan rushed in holding a steaming cup of tea:
“Long… Longsheng! You can’t go crazy!”
Just then, a disciple rushed in:
“Senior Brother Longsheng! Commander Zhao requests you immediately to the treatment room—urgent situation!”
【Fulong Camp Treatment Room】
Before even entering, a thick smell of blood mixed with herbs hit Li Xuan.
Inside, rows of beds were tightly packed, filled with injured soldiers—bandages soaked in dark red blood, faces pale or blackened, breathing weak.
Commander Zhao Chengyuan, Elder Su, Elder Yao, and others all stood there, faces solemn.
“This… what kind of tragedy is this? Was it an ambush?” Li Xuan’s voice trembled.
What shocked him even more—
Beside Zhao Chengyuan stood two unfamiliar figures.
One was Crown Prince Zhao Jingheng.
The other wore a plain white robe with silver cloud patterns, white hair like a waterfall, tied loosely with a jade hairpin, standing like a solitary peak.
A transcendent aura, like a deity from a painting.
Grand Tutor Bai Yanhua.
The moment Li Xuan stepped in, all eyes turned toward him.
He felt immense pressure.
When Bai Yanhua slowly raised his eyes, their gazes met—
Li Xuan froze instantly.
That gaze…
Ice-cold, sharp, and deeply familiar.
Exactly like his former boss.
His blood turned cold.
“Holy shit… what is this situation? I already time traveled, and now even my boss came too?”
“Commander!!”
The words almost slipped out, but Elder Su quickly placed a hand on his shoulder and stopped him.
“Li Xuan, please use the Reversion Cleansing Technique to restore their injuries to yesterday’s state.”
Li Xuan forced himself into acting mode.
Golden light flowed from his palm.
Wounds healed visibly.
Everyone watched in shock.
Li Xuan’s mind, however, exploded:
“Why is he here?? Why is he acting normal?? Does he not recognize me?? Is he pretending?? Is this his ancestor??”
He shook his head violently internally, then continued healing.
After finishing, Commander Zhao said:
“Besides appearance, no issues. Take restorative medicine.”
Li Xuan drank it.
Then followed to the meeting hall.
【Inner Hall Meeting】
Incense burned. Candlelight flickered.
Commander Zhao sat at the main seat.
Crown Prince Zhao Jingheng, Bai Yanhua, elders, and officers sat around.
Li Xuan shrank into a corner.
Bai Yanhua glanced at him again.
His fingers tightened slightly on the jade scepter.
“Perhaps… just a resemblance,” he thought.
The discussion turned to Purple Judgment Flower, Tianji Sect, and worm-gu cooperation.
Elder Su explained Li Xuan’s ability.
Li Xuan internally screamed.
Commander Zhao ordered protection.
Bai Yanhua insisted even stronger protection.
Li Xuan quietly panicked.
Then Elder Mo presented intelligence: Western merchant caravan likely Tianji Sect disguise.
Commander Zhao issued orders.
Meeting ended after three hours.
【Garden Outside the Hall】
Sunset.
Li Xuan relaxed.
He concluded:
“Just a look-alike. Definitely not the boss.”
Then Bai Yanhua stopped him.
He handed him a jade talisman:
“Carry this. It will protect you.”
Li Xuan bowed:
“Thank you, Grand Tutor Bai.”
Bai Yanhua suddenly asked:
“Your ancestors… were they surnamed Mo?”
Li Xuan froze:
“…Huh??”
He shook his head.
Bai Yanhua’s expression dimmed slightly:
“Nothing. I just asked.”
He turned and left.
Li Xuan watched him leave.
Then immediately thought:
“This case is definitely not simple.”
Then:
“What should I eat tonight?”
【Secret Report of Shen Qingci】
Today Longsheng’s status has risen sharply. Protection increased to two dark guards.
Encountered Grand Tutor Bai by the lotus pond; received a spirit jade talisman. Situation unclear.
Target’s side has gained another major asset (Grand Tutor Bai). Monitoring required.