Chapter 81 True Face: From Death to Survival

"Who has trespassed into Xingguo Ward!"

Pei Yuancang's voice rang out, accompanied by hurried footsteps as he headed straight for the foundry. "Have you all forgotten the important events at Xingguo Workshop today?!"

The swordsmen hadn't recovered from their shock when the sect leader suddenly appeared. None of them paid any attention to Pei Yuan. They looked at each other, wondering if Mu Chenbi was telling the truth. But he had said it several times. Once to bluff, twice to deceive, three times... wasn't he afraid of being beaten to death?

"Are you all deaf?!" Pei Bi glared at Lou Cangyu, "What are you all standing there for?"

Mu Chenbi turned his head at the sound, and Pei Bi glared at him, wondering who had the audacity to do this. Just one glance sent shivers down his spine. "A-Jiu? No…" Pei Bi recognized A-Jiu's familiar face a few steps away. "You… are…"

Pei Yuan's pupils dilated in shock. This person... wasn't it Prince Shen Bi, dressed in black robes and wearing a jade belt, standing beneath the white jade steps of the Zetian Palace?

"This humble subject..." Pei Yuan knelt on both knees, bowing his head deeply, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"The Crown Prince?" Ji Fang exclaimed in surprise, "It really is the Crown Prince!"

"—The Crown Prince? His Highness the Crown Prince?" The words swirled around Feng Shisan's ears like insects. "Am I dreaming? The Crown Prince? He looks almost exactly like Ajiu. Is he really the Crown Prince?"

Lou Cangyu's eyes widened in shock, his face turned deathly pale, and he nearly dropped his sword with a thud. He had just provoked them so many times; he was determined to die. He had chosen to blindly walk down a dead end instead of taking the main road. Lou Cangyu, you've caused trouble again and again; you're probably not far from death.

Xiao Ma turned to look at A Jiu, who hadn't said a word, and lowered his voice, saying, "You seem to... already know who he is?"

"Pei Yuan." Mu Chenbi stood with her hands behind her back, facing the wind like a jade pillar in a long corridor. "I was in a hurry during the sword-testing in the inner workshop and didn't even have time to chat with Master Pei. You actually remember me?"

"On the day I entered the palace to meet the Emperor, I had the honor of seeing Your Highness outside the hall." Pei Yuan lowered his head, not daring to look directly at Mu Chenbi. "The Imperial Preceptor Cui said that the god-like figure was His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Hahahaha." Mu Chenbi laughed a few times. "The Imperial Advisor is really good at talking. Master Pei also has a good memory, remembering it at a glance." As he spoke, he glanced at Ajiu and chuckled again, "There is a swordsman in Xingguo Ward who looks just like me. I will never forget him once I see him."

"Your Highness, please forgive me!" Pei Yuan was terrified, bowing his head and not knowing what to do. "Those few were ignorant of their own abilities. Were they disrespectful to Your Highness?"

"More than just rude?" Luo Yichen rubbed his sore wrist. "The swordsmen of Xingguo Ward are all very skilled, even more so than His Highness's Eagle Guards."

Seeing that Lou Cangyu and the others were still holding their swords and their foreheads were wet with sweat, indicating that they had just been fighting, Pei Bi knew something was wrong. He quickly stepped forward and knocked Lou Cangyu's sword away, saying, "How dare you show your sword in front of the Crown Prince! Put it down at once!"

Lou Cangyu loosened his grip, and the sword clattered to the ground. Ji Fang followed suit, dropping his sword on the ground. Xiao Ma took a half-step back, half-kneeling to gently place his sword on his knees. Although Feng Shisan was reluctant, seeing the brothel owner's fear, he could only reluctantly place his beloved sword at his feet. Realizing something was amiss, he moved a little further away, then turned to see A Jiu standing motionless. He urged in a low voice, "The brothel owner has already knelt down, why don't you put the sword down?"

"A-Jiu!" Pei Bi shouted, "Put down the sword immediately!"

Ajiu stared intently at Mu Chenbi, then with a flick of her wrist, she held her sword upside down, bent down and pressed it to the ground, taking a few steps back to stand shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Ma.

"Have they dared to offend Your Highness?" Pei Yuan asked, his voice trembling.

"—And they didn't know who the visitor was?" Guan Ye couldn't help but say. "Mu Chen... the Crown Prince came to visit without any prior notice, and he just walked in like that... When they saw that he looked just like A Jiu, everyone... then..." Guan Ye wanted to continue, but seeing Pei Yuan glaring at her, she ultimately lacked the courage. With their eyes locked, she swallowed her words.

"When did it become your place, a mere sword slave, to speak here!" Pei Yuan said angrily. "Shut up and get out of here!"

Guan Ye turned around, but then suddenly turned back as if remembering something. Her eyes were fixed on Mu Chenbi. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then stopped, bit her lip, and turned away. Mu Chenbi felt guilty and wanted to call out to Guan Ye, but couldn't. He knew that she harbored some dissatisfaction with him, so he could only leave it for another day.

"Your Highness, they are blind to your greatness, please forgive them," Pei Yuan said cautiously.

"What crime have they committed?" Mu Chenbi retorted. "Guan Ye is right. I arrived early and came in on my own. Your swordsmen don't know me. They are all young people, just sparring. How can they be considered presumptuous? Not only are they innocent, but I admire them very much. Master Pei, you have taught them well. Not only are they innocent, but they also... deserve a reward."

Ah… Feng Shisan scratched his head, leaned closer to Xiao Ma and said, “Really? Is he being sarcastic?”

Upon hearing the word "reward," Ji Fang suddenly looked up and saw Mu Chenbi with empty hands, rubbing his wrists which had been numb from Luo Yichen's beating, pouting and lowering his head again.

Mu Chenbi gazed at Ajiu, "I have heard the name Ajiu many times before. Seeing her today, I can confirm that she does indeed look very much like me, Ajiu."

Ajiu looked up at him, her dark eyes unrestrained and fearless. Mu Chenbi raised his lips slightly, turned around and said, "Father and the others should be arriving soon. Master Pei, there's no need to worry. Just focus on welcoming His Majesty. I'll stay here. The Heavenly Furnace..." Mu Chenbi looked up and said, "I've long heard of the Heavenly Furnace. Before Father arrives, I'll feast my eyes on it."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Pei Yuan held his breath and winked at Pei Bi. Pei Bi was lost in the double imagery, and it took him a while to come back to his senses. After taking a few steps, he couldn't help but look at A Jiu again. Crown Prince Mu Chenbi had an imposing and regal air, while A Jiu was just a boy he had brought back from Hu Xian's ship. Even though they had almost identical faces, their lives would be completely different. Pei Bi only hoped that this face wouldn't cause trouble in the neighborhood, and he also hoped that one day he could return to Canglang Island alive.

After Pei Yuan and his companion left, the swordsmen still dared not breathe loudly, staring at each other without daring to speak first. Luo Yichen approached the group and, seeing that the one named Ji Fang was too timid to raise his head, coughed and said, "As they say, no fight, no friendship. My name is Luo Yichen, and yours is Ji Fang."

"Hmm." Ji Fang replied weakly, "Greetings... Chief Luo."

Luo Yichen stroked his beard and looked at the burly young man who had first fought him. "Your name is Thirteenth Young Master? Your Highness, that's an interesting name."

"My name is Feng Shisan." Feng Shisan clasped his hands in a fist salute. "Chief Luo's swordsmanship is superb, worthy of being the renowned Eagle Guard."

"You're holding back," Luo Yichen said cheerfully. "If you were to go all out, you would definitely beat me to a pulp, just like that Cang Yu guy."

Lou Cangyu blushed deeply upon hearing his own name. "I, Lou Cangyu, was blind and ignorant. Please forgive me, Your Highness and Chief Luo. I... will never dare to do it again."

Mu Chenbi approached Lou Cangyu and examined his face closely. "I remember you. During the sword trial in the inner workshop, you were the swordsman from Xingguo Workshop. On Lingbo Platform, your swordsmanship and Wushuang's swordsmanship were both superb and very impressive."

Lou Cangyu's eyes dimmed as his painful past was touched upon. "I apologize for the embarrassing incident on the Sword Breaking Platform, Your Highness."

Mu Chenbi looked for Guan Ye's figure and said gently, "Although the sword is broken, justice remains in your heart. I know that the sword should not have been broken. You don't need to be discouraged. In the future, you will definitely have the opportunity to prove your worth for Xingguofang."

The group immediately understood and went to look for Guan Ye. Along the long corridor, by the jade pillar, they saw Guan Ye's red-clad figure leaning against the pillar, fiddling with weeds in her hands. Unaware that everyone was watching her, she angrily broke the weeds into pieces and threw them on the ground in frustration. Mu Chenbi watched intently, finding even her back view adorable, a smile playing on his lips, unwilling to look away.

"Guan Ye!" Ajiu shouted at her.

Guan Ye was holding back her anger and didn't want to pay attention, but this voice was so irritating that even though she didn't want to, she couldn't help but turn her head to look at A Jiu. Her bright eyes blinked, revealing a faint emotion. Mu Chenbi saw this and felt a pang of sadness he had never felt before.

Guan Ye brushed the grass clippings off her hands. "What are you doing?"

"The sect leader is gone, what are you still hiding for?" A-Jiu walked towards her, ignoring the people watching. Using the jade pillar as cover, she unexpectedly pressed her forehead against Guan Ye's, her voice low and soft, her dark eyes gleaming. "Are you angry? Are you angry that the sect leader scolded you, or..." A-Jiu scoffed, her eyelashes glancing at Mu Chenbi's fluttering robes, "Angry that he kept it from you?"

Ajiu's eyes were captivating, like a glimmer of light in the dark night. Guan Ye raised an eyebrow slightly, their eyes met, and they both laughed. Ajiu's low, husky voice rose again, "You are the sword that was tested with Crown Prince Chen Bi. Now that he's here, why don't you return it to him?"

Guan Ye felt a sudden weight in her sleeve, and her fair cheeks flushed red. A Jiu chuckled, gently pinched her cheek, and whispered close to her ear, "I know today isn't the right time, just don't forget."

Jade Pillar, dressed in a red robe and black brocade, was visible to Mu Chenbi, yet he couldn't see her completely. His eyes flashed back to the times Guan Ye had mistaken him for Ajiu, and he turned away, forcing himself not to look any further. Ajiu's face was half-revealed; seeing Mu Chenbi's reaction, a small, triumphant smile played on her lips.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

"The Emperor has arrived!"

The eunuch's loud voice startled everyone in the foundry, and they all stood up straight. A man in a yellow robe walked slowly from the other end of the corridor. He was about fifty years old, with white hair and a face marked with deep lines, but he did not look old. His golden crown gleamed, and his light eyebrows and deep eyes did not give him a frightening look. His face was square and dignified, and he walked steadily with a breezy air. He glanced at everyone in his path, and those who were swept by his gaze were all startled.

The swordsmen standing beneath the furnace in the foundry also saw that face clearly. Lou Cangyu glanced at it quickly and then hurriedly lowered his head, afraid of being recognized as the defeated swordsman who had tried his sword in front of the emperor that day.

Feng Shisan swallowed hard, his eyes following Mu You's every step. He nudged Xiao Ma beside him with his elbow and asked, "Is the Meteor Sword that His Majesty is carrying?"

The scabbard was carved with the sun and moon, and the hilt was imprinted with a dragon pattern. It was indeed the Meteor Sword from Xingguo Workshop. Xiao Ma nodded and responded in a low voice.

"It seems His Majesty is very fond of our swords," Feng Shisan thought excitedly.

Ji Fang held his breath, barely daring to exhale, rubbing his hands together as sweat seeped out. Xiao Ma glanced down at his movements, "Your injury has only just healed, don't rub it raw again." Hearing this, Ji Fang quickly hid his hands behind his back, sweat pouring out again from his forehead.

Ajiu took Guan Ye's hand and led her down the corridor railing, disappearing into the ranks of swordsmen. Her red robes were striking, and Mu Chenbi recalled that day in the Ghost Market when Guan Ye removed her mask and revealed a face as radiant as the sun, shining brightly throughout the night.

Guan Ye wasn't particularly interested in the Emperor. She had heard her father mention Mu You's name before. Her father said that Mu You was incredibly lucky. In the Blood Crossbow Incident, three thousand archers died without a fight, and the one leading the troops was Prince Mu You. Tens of thousands of rebel troops swarmed in like locusts, but he managed to break through the encirclement. In just over ten days, he gathered reinforcements, recaptured Eagle Ridge Road, and after a bitter half-year battle, finally recovered the seven cities of Xiguan. For such unparalleled military achievements, Mu You was appointed Crown Prince upon returning to the capital. The late Emperor was already old and frail, and was further frightened by the rebellion. He passed away not long after, and Mu You naturally inherited the throne and became the Emperor of the Great Jin Kingdom.

My father said, "This is what they call 'putting yourself in a desperate situation and then finding a way out.'"