Chapter 1244 - 873: Arrival in Kyoto

Upon hearing the words of the brocade-clad young man before him, Zhang Chen raised an eyebrow: "It seems all the troubles have gathered together."

"Not only that, Zhang Gaoqiu is quite influential among the younger generation of the Zhang Family. He spreads bad words about you everywhere at home, and many young ones want to confront you, seeing you as the disgrace of the Zhang Family, wanting to utterly trample you into the mud." The young man in the brocade quietly said, "Relying on his status as the Prince Consort, he has managed to win over quite a few people in the Zhang Family."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen raised an eyebrow: "He really managed to climb up high branches."

"This matter is not a good thing! The Zhang Family in Kyoto is one of the Eight Great Clans, disdainful of climbing high branches. For a princess of the royal family to marry into the family is not considered a joyous occasion, and behind the young princess lies the struggle for the throne. The Zhang Family faces the dilemma of choosing sides in the future, and with a slight misstep, they could be dragged into it," the young man in the brocade remarked.

Hearing this, Zhang Chen appeared thoughtful, then said to the young man, "May I ask your honorable name?"

"I am but a guard by Her Majesty’s side. You may call me Xiao Hu," the young man quickly replied.

Zhang Chen now understood that the person was likely from the Fox Race, but he didn’t know how they managed to conceal their True Body from being discovered.

"I understand. Return and report to Bai Cang that we should try our best to maneuver through this matter." After speaking, Zhang Chen sent the young man away and stood there in silence, deep in thought.

Accompanying the creaking of the carriages, the convoy continued on its journey towards Kyoto. The people of the Dragon Tiger Escort Agency pressed on towards the capital, with Chen Ping, full of worry, following behind Zhang Chen, stroking the reins of the horse: "Zhang, can I really escape the wrath of the Grand Steward? I know I’ve done something terribly wrong, worthy of great blame, and pulling me out of this situation isn’t easy. I have no intention of exonerating myself, just asking you to use your means to clear my agency members of blame, taking all the responsibility upon myself."

"Rest assured, it’s just a small matter, no big deal at all. I naturally have ways to help you out, and I’ve already found a scapegoat for you. Just wait to get out of this clean," Zhang Chen comforted Chen Ping gently, gradually alleviating his anxiety.

Chen Ping still wore a pessimistic expression upon hearing this, his eyes looking into the distance, lost in thought.

As time slipped by, Kyoto soon arrived. Gazing upon its outline, Zhang Chen was momentarily stunned, for the prosperity of Kyoto exceeded that of Jinling City tenfold. The city walls stood dozens of meters high, rooted in the Dragon Vein below and overlaid with a Feng Shui Array above. Its opulence and grandeur were unmatched even by the major cities of northern regions in later generations.

The city walls were constructed entirely from unknown stone, engraved with intricate, mysterious runes, emitting mysterious glows and faint wisps of mysterious Qi Mechanism flowing around them.

On the city walls stood small giants, ten meters in height, resembling statues, appearing immensely majestic and formidable.

"This is Kyoto; we’ve finally arrived!" an Escort Master exclaimed, his voice hoarse with the harsh journey, as the hardships of the long trek under the sun and wind had taken their toll.

Zhang Chen followed suit, "Truly deserving of being a capital city, its majesty is awe-inspiring, shaking one’s spirit."

Dragon Qi swirled above the city walls, stronger than that of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion by a hundredfold, a thousandfold. Even Twelfth Tier experts would find it impossible to perform Divine Techniques, forced to become mere mortals.

Still, Zhang Chen cultivated the Immortal Dao and practiced Qi Cultivation Skills. Though his Blood Dao Cultivation might be suppressed by the Dragon Qi, his Divine Techniques remained unaffected.

At the very center of the city, three obscure Qi Mechanisms swirled, hidden among the Dragon Qi, representing the three Innate Spiritual Treasures of the Great Victory Dynasty.

"Upon entering the capital, the only means we have left is Martial Dao, and the strongest martial artists belong to the government. So, once inside the city, avoid conflicts with the great clans," Chen Ping advised Zhang Chen. "Even if there’s cause to act, do so only after leaving the capital."

Zhang Chen nodded and then turned to Chen Ping, "What’s the next step? Do we go directly to meet the Grand Steward, or what?"

"The Grand Steward is on duty in the capital, with three days off each month. We need to settle in the city first, rest, and prepare substantial gifts before meeting him," Chen Ping stated. "Zhang, will you be settling with us, or seeking out your family?"

"Someone’s already here to pick me up!" Upon hearing Chen Ping’s words, Zhang Chen looked into the distance and saw a luxurious carriage approaching the escort agency’s convoy, halting in front of them.

The carriage was opulent, adorned with intricate runes, with an exotic fragrance emanating from it, showcasing fine craftsmanship.

Most astonishingly, the carriage was not drawn by horses, but by two fierce white tigers with majestic auras, causing the populace to withdraw in retreat, even the small giants guarding the city instinctively stepped back.

"Which notable figure is traveling?" Witnessing the sight of the white tigers pulling the carriage, the common people of Kyoto and the passing nobility were all astonished, hastily making way.

The members of the escort agency saw the white tigers pulling the carriage and their horses lost control, causing chaos as they fell, the escort masters quivering with fear. The tigers, standing three meters tall, had intimidating glares and a terrifying demonic aura swirling around them, all of them being Great Demon Kings of the Seventh Tier.

To have a Seventh Tier Great Demon draw the carriage, even Zhang Chen couldn’t help but marvel at the Inspection and Supervision Department’s dominance.

The carriage halted in front of the escort agency’s convoy, and the curtain was lifted, revealing a familiar gentle face to Zhang Chen: "Zhang, I’ve finally waited for you in Kyoto. Why did it take you so many years to come here?"

Xie Lingyun’s voice was filled with complaint and dissatisfaction.

Zhang Chen had been delayed within the Great Tomb for four years, coupled with the time spent in Jinling City and the journey south from the Northern Land, seven or eight years had swiftly passed.

As these years went by, Xie Lingyun remained the same Xie Lingyun, and having proven the Primordial Spirit afterwards, time left no trace upon her face.

Just hearing Xie Lingyun’s voice filled with discontent: "Moreover, all these years, you didn’t even care to send me a letter."

Zhang Chen replied with a helpless smile: "I can’t be blamed for this. Didn’t unexpected events occur, delaying matters? I was trapped in the Great Tomb for a full four years."

Then he turned to Chen Ping and said: "Looks like we have to part ways. You all go ahead to settle and camp. I will naturally find you."

Chen Ping glanced at those two majestic tigers, and then at Zhang Chen, suddenly feeling motivated, brimming with endless confidence for Zhang Chen’s talk of resolving the troubles with the Grand Steward for him.

After speaking, Zhang Chen didn’t stand on ceremony, directly boarding the carriage. Upon entering, he was amazed by Xie Lingyun’s extravagance; inside the carriage was completely lined with the soft pelts of demon beasts, with pearls embedded that emitted refreshing air currents, making the interior feel as cool as autumn.

Kyoto, located south of Jiangnan, is as hot as the summers of the later generations in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, despite the unbearable heat. Yet, Xie Lingyun had cooling pearls, which were evidently some sort of exotic treasure.

Zhang Chen scanned the carriage and saw in its center a small table, adorned with fresh fruits like melons, pears, and peaches, as well as an incense burner emitting fragrant smoke. That incense was no ordinary product; it was a spiritual wood Zhang Chen had gifted to enhance the Yang God.

On the left side of the carriage stood a row of shelves, holding stacks of books, with strands of mysterious power swirling on them, clearly not common items.

"Such luxury!" Zhang Chen casually settled on a small stool, unabashedly picked up an apple from the table, and took a bite.

"Haha, what luxury is this? The true luxury belongs to those thousand-year-old families." Xie Lingyun personally peeled a grape for Zhang Chen, who swallowed it in one go, only to curse: "Filthy rich! All filthy rich!"

After speaking, Zhang Chen turned to Xie Lingyun: "How did you find me?"

"Your trail is so obvious that if I couldn’t find you, the Inspection and Supervision Department would be unfit to oversee the realm."

These words rang true, and Zhang Chen nodded upon hearing them: "Since you could discover my whereabouts, many others should also be aware."

"Of course, which is why I came to the city outskirts first to meet you, to avoid any trouble." Xie Lingyun said.

"Is someone looking to trouble me?" Zhang Chen sensed the underlying meaning.

"Whether it’s Zhang Gaoqiu or Chu Mingyue from the Inner Palace, they all wish to eliminate you swiftly. In Kyoto, dealing with you is very easy; catching your trail and given your status as a condemned citizen, leaving your territory without permission is a capital crime." Xie Lingyun said with a smile.

Upon hearing Xie Lingyun’s words, the apple in Zhang Chen’s hand suddenly lost its flavor: "I haven’t even arrived in Kyoto, and there’s already an undercurrent brewing. Where do I go to argue my case?"

"You think the storm is limited to these matters? The real trouble is the Eight Great Clans! The Eight Great Clans inclined to hand you to Prince Pingbian, thereby appeasing Prince Pingbian and stabilizing the situation in the Northern Land. Those truly wishing for your demise are your Zhang Family’s allies. Prince Pingbian is the strongest foundation of the Eight Great Clans in Kyoto, and they won’t allow any mishap; he is their trump card." Xie Lingyun stated.

Zhang Chen stopped his action of eating the fruit: "I realize many wish for my swift demise, and the quicker the better."

"What about the one in the palace?" Zhang Chen opened his mouth to ask.

Xie Lingyun shook her head: "No one knows what the one in the palace is thinking, but with the support from the Grand Steward, Elder Zhong, and our people, even if the Human King wants to take action against you, he needs to think twice."

"Elder Zhong?" Zhang Chen asked in surprise.

"Zhong Xiang’s grandfather!" Xie Lingyun answered.