Martial Cultivator

Chen Chao dragged his tired body back to the academy. Xie Nandu had been waiting for him at the entrance of the courtyard for a long time.

Seeing him return, Xie Nandu handed him a clean cloth. Chen Chao took it and promptly spat a mouthful of blood onto it.

Xie Nandu was not surprised to see the cloth stained with blood. She was in the academy, but she was aware of what had happened in the alley.

After spitting out the blood, Chen Chao felt much better. His complexion was a little pale, it was obvious that he had sustained injuries too.

During the martial exam, he had already sustained some injuries that had not fully healed. It merely did not affect him. Then, he rushed to the palace without any rest and fought with that nun, worsening his injuries. Now, he had faced a challenge from more than a dozen people. In fact, being able to come back alive was already a miracle for Chen Chao.

In other words, if he had not been injured, that female sword cultivator would likely not have been able to leave any wounds on him at all.

Sword cultivators were terrifying, but that female sword cultivator was not particularly terrifying.

"She was a sword cultivator, it looked pretty impressive."

Chen Chao's remark about it being impressive was referring to the spell that controlled the sword rather than the female sword cultivator's cultivation level.

Xie Nandu naturally understood what Chen Chao meant and nodded, saying, "I will become much stronger than her in the future."

Although she had just started practicing the sword, it was evident that her potential would far surpass that of the female sword cultivator.

Chen Chao casually tossed the cloth in his hand into the nearby stove and ignited it. Then he found two sweet potatoes and began roasting them.

Xie Nandu walked over and sat on the rattan chair across from Chen Chao.

Chen Chao glanced at the rattan chair with a strange expression and raised an eyebrow as he asked. "When did you buy this?"

"Just the other day."

Which day it was, did not seem too important.

Chen Chao nodded and said, "Rattan chairs are softer. They are quite popular in Wei Prefecture. I didn't know when the Divine Capital started selling them."

Xie Nandu said, "The Divine Capital is a very inclusive place."

Chen Chao flipped the sweet potatoes without saying anything.

Xie Nandu glanced at him and went straight to the point, asking, "What did that Lord Warden say to you?"

Xie Nandu naturally knew that Chen Chao had gone to see that Lord Warden. She also knew that they must have discussed many things.

But as for the specifics?

Most likely, only the two parties involved knew.

Chen Chao changed the topic and said, "It seems that the Northern Frontier hasn't been very peaceful lately. There's a war brewing."

The fact that Song Lian, this Commander of the Left Guard, had been transferred to the North, was already an indication of the severity of the situation in the North.

Xie Nandu said, "There will indeed be a major war, but the outcome shouldn't be too bad."

Chen Chao asked, "Isn't it always said that we're on the defensive?"

Xie Nandu did not answer this question.

Chen Chao did not press further either.

He just thought for a moment and then had an answer.

Then, he could not help but lament, "This uncle of mine is truly impressive."

After such a long time, this was the first time he used such a term to refer to the Great Liang Emperor.

Xie Nandu felt surprised, but did not say anything. She said softly, "I guess someone tried to make you go to the Northern Frontier, but you refused."

Chen Chao nodded, saying, "That's correct."

"I really want to go to the Northern Frontier, but not at this time," Xie Nandu said. "Some say that young people need to be tempered to achieve something. I think that's true, but I don't think we need to be in such a hurry for this tempering. If you go there now, you're very likely to die."

Chen Chao smiled and nodded. "The most important thing in life is to appear in the right place at the right time."

Xie Nandu nodded appreciatively, expressing her agreement with that statement.

Soon, she continued, "But you won't stay in the Divine Capital either."

Hearing this, Chen Chao was somewhat surprised. He had not told anyone about what happened after leaving the Warden Office. But since Xie Nandu brought it up, Chen Chao thought for a moment and realized that it was very reasonable that she could guess certain things.

"I am still the Commander of the Left Guard for now."

Chen Chao said, "But I won't be able to stay for long; I will have to leave."

Xie Nandu asked, "Where to?"

Chen Chao did not speak.

Xie Nandu raised an eyebrow, understanding Chen Chao's meaning.

Silence meant that he could not say it.

"When are you leaving?"

Xie Nandu looked at him.

Chen Chao smiled faintly and shook his head.

Xie Nandu looked at the sweet potatoes that were starting to emit steam and felt a little angry.

But it soon passed.

She changed the topic and said, "Before leaving, you need to pay a visit to the Second Prince's residence."

As early as during the imperial banquet, the Second Prince had already expressed the intention of befriending Chen Chao. However, at that time, Chen Chao found a reason to politely decline. Then, had been postponing it for so long.

At this point, no matter what, he had to make a trip there.

After all, the Second Prince had treated Chen Chao quite well. Even if it was just to show gratitude, he should pay a visit.

Chen Chao lamented, "But I still don't want to go."

Getting swept into the struggle for the throne was never a good thing. The true influential families rarely took a stance and would not easily choose to support anyone.

Although Chen Chao did not have that much power, he did not want to get involved in this matter either.

"But you must go."

Chen Chao sighed and asked with a smile, "Go together?"

Xie Nandu shook her head and said, "I want to check out the books over at the library."

After the Myriad Willow Convention ended, whether was it Chen Chao or Xie Nandu, they actually had many things to do.

Chen Chao raised an eyebrow and did not say anything else.

……

……

The invitation from the Second Prince's manor came quickly. At dusk, the carriage from the Second Prince's manor arrived here.

Right outside this small courtyard.

Chen Chao walked out.

The steward came up to greet him warmly with a smile, "Greetings, Commander Chen."

Previously, Chen Chao's title of 'Commander' would be preceded by an additional deputy, but now he was a true commander.

However, not many people knew about this yet.

Chen Chao nodded his head.

"His Highness invites Commander Chen to gather at the White Crane Pavilion."

The White Crane Pavilion was located in the western part of the Divine Capital, in the center of White Crane Lake. It was a splendid location.

The steward smiled and led Chen Chao to the front of the carriage.

Chen Chao was about to board the carriage when all of a sudden, the sound of hooves sounded out from afar.

A horse carriage suddenly appeared in the distance.

A middle-aged man appeared and smiled at Chen Chao, saying, "Commander Chen, I wonder if you're free time tonight. His Royal Highness, the First Prince, invites you."

Upon hearing this, Chen Chao furrowed his brows slightly. That steward who had previously maintained a smile on his face also turned stiff.

He represented the Second Prince and invited Chen Chao to a banquet. This was already considered expressing his stance. In the entire Divine Capital, there should not be many who would express any opposing views.

But the First Prince was different.

His status was on par with the Second Prince, and in some respects, even more esteemed than the Second Prince.

He was the First Prince, the eldest son, and the legitimate eldest heir.

Throughout history, the eldest legitimate son often represented an eminent status, that of the Crown Prince.

The current Emperor had taken over the Divine Capital for thirteen years without designating a crown prince. No one was certain who the future Crown Prince would be. However, there were other signs that allowed people to speculate on the Emperor's thoughts.

For example, the First Prince's princess consort was the biological daughter of that Northern Frontier Great General.

Therefore, most people felt that the throne would lean more toward the FirstPrince.

The dilemma that Chen Chao had previously faced was choosing between the two princes. But he never expected that before meeting the Second Prince, this choice would be presented to him.

Two stewards, two horse carriages, representing two choices.

"Commander Chen..."

Seeing Chen Chao remain silent for a long time, one of the stewards spoke up.

Chen Chao looked at the steward in the distance and pondered for a long time before saying, "Today, I have to keep the appointment with the Second Prince first no matter what, because an agreement was made many days ago... As for His Highness, the First Prince, if he can wait, this lowly official will definitely pay a visit later to apologize."

The meaning behind this sentence was profound, but the two stewards were both shrewd individuals. How could they not understand?

The steward from the First Prince's manor soon smiled and said, "Since that's the case, this lowly one will wait outside the White Crane Pavilion."

Hearing the straightforward words, Chen Chao was somewhat surprised for a moment.