Chapter 617 Identity exposure crisis!

"Your Majesty means..."

Zhao Duan was stunned and looked at the empress in confusion.

I didn't quite understand.

He hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, do you want to wait until I'm about to have a decisive battle with Prince Jing before temporarily flying to Binhaidao? I'm afraid that wouldn't be appropriate.

Firstly, I am not sure of the exact time of the battle when I enter Binhai. Secondly, even if I can predict it, Your Majesty will rush over thousands of miles and fight in a hurry, so I am afraid..."

He thought Zhenbao was crazy.

Xu Zhenguan stared at him seriously and shook his head:

"I'm not rushing over there on short notice. I'm going to go to Binhai with you to kill Prince Jing."

Zhao Duan was even more confused.

He shook his head subconsciously:

"No. Under the current circumstances, if Your Majesty were to remain away from the capital for an extended period, not to mention whether the entire court would be in trouble and the military morale would be disrupted, this action alone would be enough to alert Xu Wen in advance and cause the operation to fail."

A country cannot be without a king for a day!

Xu Zhenguan watched him analyze seriously and quietly, then suddenly smiled sweetly, and the old building became bright.

Her eyes softened as she spoke:

"I naturally understand what you're saying. But what if I could be like you, physically away from home, yet my spirit could return through this stone wall?"

Zhao Duan was stunned, a flash of lightning flashed through his mind: "Your Majesty just..."

Xu Zhenguan nodded slightly and said with a smile:

"Just now, I saw in Emperor Taizu's practice notes how to use this mural to travel back and forth between the spirit and soul."

No... So, the traveling of soul and spirit is not my privilege, but there is a corresponding method... Zhao Duan opened his mouth.

Xu Zhenguan smiled faintly, his expression calm and composed:

"In this way, I can also do as you did, leaving a puppet body in the palace, and my real body quietly left the capital and headed for Binhai."

Zhao Duan interjected:

"Your Majesty, you usually only attend court, occasionally review memorials, and hold meetings... and these tasks don't require your real body at all. As long as you're not away for too long, you can completely conceal it from everyone."

Xu Zhenguan nodded slightly:

"And I will go to Binhai with you. Regardless of whether Wu Xiankui is defeated or not, we will definitely be able to kill Prince Jing. Once Prince Jing is dead, Prince Chen will no longer be a concern, and the internal crisis of the Yu Kingdom will be resolved. By then, even if it is exposed, it will no longer be a big deal."

The king and his minister looked at each other, both pairs of eyes sparkling.

Zhao Duan's breathing became even more rapid. If this was the case, the ambush plan would be much more secure.

Well, the premise is that the empress must hide her identity and not reveal it in advance.

The Empress seemed to see through his thoughts and said seriously:

"So, it is indeed necessary to meet Master Zhang."

As she spoke, she swept Zhao Duan's soul, and he rose from the ground and turned into a golden rainbow.

In the blink of an eye, they had arrived outside the small courtyard deep in the Tianshi Mansion.

In the afternoon.

There is still snow inside the Tianshi Mansion.

However, the mysterious banyan tree in the courtyard was lush and full of vitality. When the empress pushed open the wooden door, she saw lush flowers and plants growing on the ground in the courtyard, which seemed to be in two different seasons from the outside world.

“Rustle…”

Under the big banyan tree, there is an empty bamboo chair.

Suddenly, the door of the house in the courtyard was pushed open, and the old Taoist priest wearing a soft black priest robe walked out with his hands behind his back.

On his ruddy face, he glanced at the monarch and his ministers with narrow eyes and sighed softly:

"The old man really wants to retreat and have some peace and quiet for a while."

Xu Zhenguan smiled and said, "When the world is at peace, the Heavenly Master can live out his days in peace."

Why sleep so long when you are alive? You will sleep forever after you die... Zhao Duan complained in his heart, but a smile spread across his face:

"The Heavenly Master is destined to take action to turn the tide."

Zhang Yan puffed his beard and glared, highly wary of his flattery, and said unhappily:

"What are you doing here this time? Don't tell me you're planning to break the Heaven-Man Agreement and want me to go out and deal with Xuan Yin or Wu Xian Kui."

"Master Zhang, what do you think I am? Since it is an agreement, I will not be the first to violate it." Xu Zhenguan smiled faintly, his grace was unparalleled:

"It's just that the Buddhist sect in the Western Regions has now raised its banner to avenge the destruction of Buddhism by Tianshu six hundred years ago. Actually, it was the Taoist sect that was the main force behind the destruction of Buddhism in the past."

Zhang Yan was silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed:

"When will the cycle of revenge end?"

After a pause, he said:

"The fighting between the Western Regions and the imperial army is beyond my control. But if the Western Regions Buddhist sect launches a large-scale attack, the Tianshi Mansion will send sorcerers to join the battle."

Xu Zhenguan nodded slightly: "That would be best."

Zhao Duan was not surprised by this. If the Buddhist masters only relied on the masters in the imperial army to resist, they would definitely not be able to hold on.

It is only a matter of time before the Tianshi Mansion joins the war.

However, compared to the expansion and development of Buddhism in the past few hundred years, the Taoist sorcerers are a loose alliance, so they lack organization and are too scattered. Although they are not inferior to the other side in high-end combat power, they are far inferior to Buddhism in terms of mid-level monks.

This was also reflected in the Buddhist-Taoist competition.

"Your Majesty, is there anything else?" Zhang Yan's heart skipped a beat when he saw that the emperor and his minister had finished their conversation and did not move.

Xu Zhenguan's smile remained unchanged: "Indeed, there is one more thing I would like to ask for."

"..." Zhang Yan sighed and said cautiously, "Your Majesty, please tell me first."

Xu Zhenguan said calmly, "From now on, Mr. Zhao will go to Binhaidao to kill Prince Jing. I will accompany him in disguise."

Zhao Duan nodded quickly: "Yeah!"

Zhang Yan was startled for a moment, suspecting he had misheard: "Your Majesty is leaving the capital?"

"No, it's both leaving and not leaving." Xu Zhenguan pointed at Zhao Duan, who was in a trance state.

"I will also use mystical techniques, just like Zhao Qing did. My real body will leave the capital, but my spirit will return from time to time. Therefore, I want another puppet body that suits me. Also, I hope that the Heavenly Master will take action to shield the secrets of the Heavenly Master."

She did not hide anything, but revealed her plan in detail.

It wasn't blind trust, but with Zhang Yanyi's level of cultivation, if she left the capital, the old Heavenly Master would definitely notice.

Besides, Wu Xiankui is fine, but Xuan Yin, the bald donkey, has profound magic skills. If the empress leaves the capital, Xuan Yin might be able to calculate and sense it.

If Zhang Yan is willing to cover it up, there will be no risk.

"Like this kid?" Zhang Yan's eyes flickered, revealing a look of surprise. He looked deeply at the monarch and his ministers, and suddenly said:

"Your Majesty, has your cultivation improved recently?"

Zhang Yanyi knew very well: if Xu Zhenguan had possessed this secret technique before, he would never have hidden it away.

The fact that it is being used now only means that it has only been mastered recently, which is very likely to involve the secrets of royal inheritance.

Xu Zhenguan smiled and said, "Indeed, I have gained something from it."

Zhang Yan hesitated for a moment and nodded.

"Okay. I will order the public transport to the palace later. After Your Majesty leaves, I will also take action to cover it up."

The reason for agreeing to this was not due to personal ties, but rather the incident of "Tianshu destroying Buddhism" that the Empress mentioned after she arrived.

What this means is that in the face of the great enemy of Buddhism in the Western Regions, the imperial court and Taoism are allies.

What’s interesting is that due to the cooperation between Prince Jing and Xuan Yin, although the Tianshi Mansion nominally does not interfere in the secular world, in fact, it has to and can only take sides.

If we don't take sides now, when the imperial court is defeated, the next place to be destroyed will be the Tianshi Mansion.

The lips and teeth are interdependent.

Zhang Yanyi sighed in his heart: We have finally come to this point.

It was like a replay of the war that happened six hundred years ago.

In this chaotic situation, the Tianshi Mansion will ultimately be unable to remain immune.

Zhang Yan laughed at himself and looked at Zhao Duan and said:

"Are the Jade Sleeve and the Golden Tablet still with you? I will send the crane to deliver the imperial decree, asking them to accompany you to Binhai and await your orders."

Zhao Duan was stunned.

What Lao Deng meant was that the Tianshi Mansion had finally stopped standing idly by and had decided to take action?

That’s right... Buddhism has raised the banner of “revenge”, and the situation is different from the previous civil war.

Immediately, the second thought came to his mind: Is this Old Deng going to carry the crane to the front line again? Oh, no, no.

"Thank you, Master."

Zhao Duan guaranteed:

"In this battle, unless I die, I will not let these two disciples fall into danger."

Zhang Yanyi glared at him unhappily and said with a curled lip:

"With Your Majesty accompanying me, I won't worry."

Well, this freeloader clearly thought that the Empress was doing it herself, so he didn't mind doing her a favor.

Both parties agreed.

The emperor and his ministers were about to leave when Xu Zhenguan suddenly stopped, turned around and said casually:

"One more thing, Xu Jianwen is not dead."

Zhang Yanyi sat on a rattan chair under the banyan tree, closed his eyes, and remained unmoved.

"oh."

Xu Zhenguan's long eyelashes trembled:

"Master Tian knew this already?"

Zhang Yan took a long breath, but seemed to be asleep.

…

…

Coastal Road.

On the edge of the East China Sea stands the "Holy Land of Martial Arts" which is famous in the martial arts world.

At this moment, clouds and mist are swirling above the green mountains.

Although it is winter, the climate near the sea is humid and the mountains are all indigo.

Dressed in gorgeous clothes and with a jade belt around his waist, Prince Jing Xuwen, with a graceful appearance, walked on the mountain path in the clouds, heading down the mountain.

There were two people following beside him.

Princess Lu Yan'er was wearing a veil and a simple blue dress.

Duan Shuiliu, a short and broad man, was dressed in cloth.

The three of them walked down from the top of the mountain and arrived at the flat stone platform on the mountainside. What they saw were only rows of thatched houses standing there.

There are Qingshan disciples who are immersed in their own martial arts world and have no idea what the world is.

Only three people walked side by side.

"Hello, Senior Brother."

The three of them said in unison, clasped their fists and saluted Duan Shuixing.

They were actually the "threesome" who had represented Qingshan disciples and went to the capital to attend the scheduled competition.

Chai Keqiao, Xiao Ran, and Qiye.

"Yes," Duan Shuiliu nodded and said lightly:

"Master has told the prince that he will lend him a group of Qingshan disciples to go down the mountain to assist. The three of you can bring anyone who is willing to go down the mountain and set off together."

Chai Keqiao and the other two were a little surprised:

Did Master agree to help Prince Jing?

"May I ask," Chai Keqiao blinked, "whether Master would..."

Duan Shuiliu glanced at him, his face stern, and he spoke vaguely:

"Master, what kind of person is he? How could he interfere in the mundane affairs of the mortal world?"

No way? Back then, Fengshan was also... The three people muttered in their hearts, and respectfully clasped their fists on their faces:

"Understood."

Prince Jing stood on the mountain path with a smile and exclaimed:

"With Qingshan's influence in the martial arts world, it will be easy for me to defeat that Zhao thief."

Princess Lu Yan'er said nothing, looking at the end of the sea of ​​clouds below the mountain, and the large group of armored cavalrymen ready to go at the foot of the mountain. Her eyes were vague and she could not hide her worry.

…

…

In a remote cemetery somewhere.

Suddenly, paper money fluttered down from the sky.

A sloppy-looking man with disheveled hair and a long sword made of old copper coins was walking in the cemetery with a crow.

The long sword swung out.

“Clatter…”

There is a faint feeling of soul recalling in the illusory Yellow Springs Road.

The soil of a grave cracked open in front of him, and in the thick black air, Guhuo Zhenren crawled out weakly, his face as pale as paper.

Appearance is haggard.

As soon as he crawled out, he tremblingly threw a copper coin to the leader of the Underworld Cult.

The leader of the Dark Cult grabbed it and said with a smile:

"Is this your last life-saving coin? Well, you still have some, but no matter how strong your cultivation is, it can't withstand these repeated tears. I must warn you, with your current soul's weakness, if you split your soul again, I'm afraid your cultivation will fall back to that of a mortal."

Guhuo Zhenren sat down on the grave, breathing heavily, and said unhappily:

"None of your concern. Even if I only have one life left, what does it matter? I only care about why I died again this time, and why I couldn't be summoned back by the God of Chaos. Did I go to the capital again? Or did I meet Zhang Yanyi?"

The leader of the Dark Cult said calmly:

"Then I don't know. Anyway, you're on your own."

After saying that, the leader of the Hades Cult left in a hurry, just like a corporate slave who was perfunctory at work and wanted to go home as soon as he got paid.

Guhuo Zhenren did not keep him. He rested on the grave for a long time before standing up and staggering out.

He planned to go to a post station he had reserved to find out his whereabouts before his death.

——Every once in a while, he would send a letter to a certain place, clearly stating his current actions.

In this way, even if he died and lost his memory, he would still know roughly what he had done through these letters after he was resurrected.

Well...but I only know the details, it's impossible to know how he died...

"Could it be that Xu Jianwen has provoked some powerful enemy again and tricked me?

Humph, if I didn't want to rely on him to regain the throne so that I could continue to be the imperial teacher, why would I work for him?

Sigh, after I have rested well, I will go to Binhai as soon as possible. I need to take out the things in the treasure house, repair my injuries as soon as possible, and restore my cultivation... I hope that no one will covet the treasure house this time..."

…

…

Jianning Prefecture.

In an unknown temple.

One day, the young monk Tianhai, with a thick yellow cloth tied on his head to cover his third eye, carried a six-way stick and a bag on his back, said goodbye to the abbot of the temple, and went down the mountain alone.

"Prince Jing went to Binhaidao? Okay, then we'll join him."

The young monk Tianhai had a deep look in his eyes:

"If it weren't for coincidence, how would I have known that Prince Jing's wife, Lu Yan'er, is actually a descendant of Pei Niannu's lineage? I must inform Prince Jing and tell him to be careful..."

Monk Tianhai walked hurriedly.

As the sole survivor of the battle at Baihua Village, Monk Tianhai had clearly witnessed Zhao Duan summoning "Pei Niannu"...

After being rescued by the Jiancheng rebels, he was sent here to recuperate.

During his days of recuperation, he gradually came to understand the situation outside and slowly connected everything together.

"Pei Niannu... Lu Yan'er... Are the two related? Zhao Duan, I won't let you succeed again."

Tianhai pursed his lips, his eyes were cold and full of hatred:

"You and I are sworn enemies. I will kill you!"

…

…

"A-choo!"

Capital city.

Zhao Duan, whose soul had just returned to the Zhao Mansion and entered the puppet body, just sat up and couldn't help sneezing. He rubbed his nose and frowned:

"Who is cursing me?"

——

PS: Haha, next up is the couple's collaboration, the ultimate showdown is just around the corner...

Typos should be corrected first and then replaced

(End of this chapter)