Yuan Suiyun bent down and unmasked the killer on the ground.

What caught his eye was a patch of uneven skin. The man’s face looked as if it had been corroded by some drug, and his facial features were blurred, let alone his identity. Yuan Suiyun was not surprised – he had already guessed that this would happen when those people saw Wei Ziyun throw the flare arrows and knew that the game was going to fail, but still did not retreat at all.

The young man in brocade clothes had already boarded another carriage escorted by a group of soldiers and three palace masters. Before leaving, he looked at Yuan Suiyun with interest. His eyes were not malicious, but rather full of childlike curiosity and wonder, which reminded Yuan Suiyun of Yun Chuxiu. Yuan Suiyun did not feel much hatred for him.

Wei Ziyun stayed behind to handle the follow-up matters. He clasped his fists towards Yuan Suiyun and said, “Suiyun, thank you for your help today. If it weren’t for you, I’m afraid today would not have been resolved peacefully.”

When he looked at Yuan Suiyun, there was surprise, envy, and sadness in his eyes – does every elderly person in his twilight years feel this kind of sadness when he sees a young, handsome, and energetic junior?
Yuan Suiyun was still humble, clasped his hands together and said in return: “Uncle Wei, you are too polite. I just happened to be here. Even if I hadn’t come, with Uncle Wei’s martial arts, I would have been able to escape unscathed.”

Wei Ziyun patted his shoulder and said, “Why be so modest? You young people, no matter what you lack, you must have the courage!”

He smiled and said, “I’m not afraid of you getting angry, so I’ll just say it straight. I heard that you’ve regained your sight, and although I’m happy for you, I also feel sorry for you. After all, you’ve been blind for so many years, so you’ve wasted a lot of good time. But now it seems that I was short-sighted and mean-spirited. I’m really ashamed of Brother Yuan.”

He was willing to say it in person, which was a confession. Yuan Suiyun responded calmly, “It’s okay. As long as Uncle Wei helps me get over it when that young master asks about me.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Ziyun was stunned at first, then he understood immediately and said to him in a low voice: “You have already figured out his identity, right? That’s right, it’s the current emperor.”

It turned out that the most talked about thing in the martial arts world these days was the duel on September 15th, so even though the emperor was far away in the palace, he knew everything about it.

If it were just that, it would be fine, but this Majesty who ascended the throne at a young age has a bit of a childish mentality, and has been clamoring to go out of the palace to see what the fun is. Today, Wei Ziyun really had no choice but to dress him up as his own nephew and order several palace guards to accompany him. Only then did he cautiously bring this young man to the street, and was extremely cautious all the way. Unexpectedly, despite all his precautions, something still happened.

Yuan Suiyun thought that the man looked different from others and didn’t even bother to disguise himself. Wei Ziyun should have been prepared for assassination when he took him out of the palace. Why bother saying “still” now?
But he would not say such embarrassing words, instead he praised calmly: “Your Majesty is very courageous. Facing such an assassination, he remained calm.”

Wei Ziyun could not help but smile bitterly and said: “You don’t know the temper of the emperor…” To put it nicely, he is naive and willful, to put it bluntly, he is simply lawless!

Yuan Suiyun interrupted him and said, “When I fought with this man just now, the swordsmanship he used was the Seventeen Styles of Heavenly Dragon created by the immortal dragon Long Bushi in the past. However, he only learned the basics and did not grasp the essence. Otherwise, he would be hard to resist.”

Wei Ziyun saw that he was not interested in listening to the affairs of the palace. He also knew that he would definitely inherit the position of the owner of Wuzheng Villa in the future. He would have no shortage of fame and fortune, and it would be impossible for him to join the public service like himself. He could not help but sigh and discuss with him the martial arts and possible origins of these assassins.

However, as they talked, he was surprised by Yuan Suiyun’s erudition and memory, thinking to himself: Although he was known as a child prodigy when he was young, that was just a saying out of pity for his blindness. Now that he has regained his sight, he has truly made a name for himself. He also remembered that he had just reached the age of twenty and had not yet married, and his heart was moved.

Since he chose to join the government, he was more utilitarian than others. Yuan Suiyun didn’t find it strange to notice his thoughts. After the two of them sorted out the context of the matter, Yuan Suiyun was about to say goodbye and leave. Wei Ziyun hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and asked him: “Is your friend just now really the adopted son of Jellyfish Yinji? Who is his background? Why have I never heard of his name before?”

Yuan Suiyun couldn’t help but laugh. When the two of them were trapped in the Shenshui Palace, even someone as confident as him was not without concerns about whether they could escape. Who could have thought that things would turn out like this today?
He said softly, “He had been following Master in the mountains, cultivating himself, and has only just come down from the mountain. He is still very young, so it is natural that Uncle Wei has never heard of his name. But I believe that soon, most people in the martial arts world will know him.”

Wei Ziyun understood what he meant: even if the other party was just a dandy young man who only knew how to eat, drink and have fun, the relationship between him and Jellyfish Yin Ji alone was enough for this person to walk sideways in the world. Such a person who cannot be provoked will naturally become very famous.

But he was always a thoughtful person, so he couldn’t help but ask one more question: “Who is his master?”

Yuan Suiyun smiled slightly: “This is also a senior who has lived in seclusion for a long time. I only know that he and the old man have been good friends for many years and have been visiting the Sun Mansion in recent days. If Uncle Wei wants to know more, he will have to check it out himself.”

He said goodbye and left. After walking past the street corner and getting on the carriage, Yuan Suiyun tapped Ding Feng’s shoulder with a fan and told him to buy a bowl of fish skin dumplings from the restaurant that Yun Chuxiu wanted to eat before, while he sat by the window of the carriage and closed his eyes to rest. After a while, a breeze gently blew his long hair. Yuan Suiyun opened his eyes lazily and saw Gong Jiu sitting opposite him, staring at him intently. Seeing that it was him, Yuan Suiyun smiled and said, “Your Majesty was ambushed in the long street. Prince Taiping, shouldn’t you hurry to the palace to pay your respects?”

Gong Jiu just said coldly: “What are you going to pay your respects with? My head?”

If he dared to enter the palace now, the emperor would kill him immediately. The emperor of their Zhu family had killed uncles and nephews, let alone a mere cousin from the next family?
“If the prince is willing, this would not be a bad choice. Who told you that you didn’t dare to stand up and fight just now?” Yuan Suiyun hinted at something. Gong Jiu got angry at first, then a half-smile appeared on his face.

“Didn’t the former young master not reveal this to Wei Ziyun? Doesn’t this mean that we still have room for negotiation?”

He leaned closer, looked directly into Yuan Suiyun’s eyes, and said in a deep voice: “What can the emperor give you? Even someone like Wei Ziyun is just a dog he keeps! With your arrogance, Young Master Yuan, would you become a dog?”

“If you join us, I will give you everything you want, whether it’s money, power, martial arts, beauty, or…” He smiled confidently. “…as long as it’s what you want.”

Yuan Suiyun was not moved at all: “Do I look like someone who would be short of these? Your Highness, please think it over before you speak.”

“Please tell Wu Ming that you want a useful invisible man, and I am indeed a very suitable candidate – not to mention, I just saved the emperor and I am familiar with Wei Ziyun, which makes me even more suitable.” He supported his head with one hand and smiled with interest. Looking at his cold and thin lips and the curve of his lips, Gong Jiu felt his body warm up again – the man in front of him was more than the gentle and weak young master of Wuzheng Villa? He was also the cold-blooded and vicious Bat Prince! How could there be such a person in this world, so divided, yet so harmonious, as if the brilliant light and the deep darkness were fused together!
“So, there’s no need to say those empty words anymore. If you want to cooperate with me, then show more sincerity.” Yuan Suiyun said. “The Ruyi Orchid Finger I got last time was pretty good, but it was a pity that it only took me three days to use.”

Hearing this, Gong Jiu narrowed his eyes and smiled disapprovingly: “Young Master Yuan, this is not the way to joke. You have to know that some words, and some words, will only make you a joke–“

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly made a move, and his fingers like willow leaves pressed towards the Shenque and Guanyuan acupoints on Yuan Suiyun’s body. Yuan Suiyun did not dodge, but just raised his hand and swept it, tapped lightly on his wrist, and flicked his fingers away.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged several rounds of fighting, both using the Ruyi Orchid Finger, but it was hard to tell who was better. As the fight went on, the frivolous smile on Gong Jiu’s face gradually disappeared – he had already felt that every move he made was within Yuan Suiyun’s expectations, and the other party only raised his hand slightly to turn every one of his sharp finger techniques into nothingness, as easily as an adult teasing a naughty child.

If this secret book had not been so hard to find, there would have been no way for him to learn it in advance. Gong Jiu would have suspected that he had been immersed in this martial art for decades.

Although it may not have taken only three days as he said, his understanding and application of this martial art was actually better than his own. What an outstanding talent!

“Okay, very good.” Gong Jiu withdrew his hand, but a fanatical fighting spirit suddenly appeared on his face. “Most people in this world are mediocre and useless. Only people like you are worthy of being my opponent!”

Hearing this, Yuan Suiyun just smiled contemptuously: “You are not my opponent.”

His tone was still gentle, but it contained a natural arrogance, which could not be covered up by his tone? Gong Jiu looked at him like this, and felt a ball of fire burning in his heart. He couldn’t control himself and reached out to unbutton his collar, ripping open his clothes, revealing his chest as white as jade!
Seeing this, Yuan Suiyun’s eyes lit up, and he reached out to untie the belt with white jade inlaid around his waist. Gong Jiu watched his bony hands pull out the belt, and couldn’t help licking his lips, and put one hand on the window frame: “Why, what Young Master Yuan wants, is this–?”

At this moment, the door of the carriage was suddenly opened, and Yun Chuxiu climbed onto the carriage with a bowl of hot fish skin dumplings, muttering, “What else can we eat when we take the dumplings back to the restaurant? This stuff is best eaten hot, Lao Yuan, come and try it…”

He looked up and saw a man with his shirt wide open pressing the car window, holding Yuan Suiyun in his arms. The man had unbuttoned his shirt and was holding his belt in his hands. He couldn’t help but widen his eyes and shouted, “Wow, what are you doing?!”

(End of this chapter)