Chapter 216: Calamity Strikes at Home

Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Calamity Strikes at Home

「Huai State Capital City, Xining Garden in Prince Huai’s Mansion.」

Princess Huaining, Long Yujie, was relentlessly cracking the iron whip in her hand.

With every crack of her whip came a hysterical scream.

Not far in front of her, a well-built man knelt on the ground. His bare torso was already a bloody mess. In several places on his back, the flesh was split open, revealing the bone beneath.

Though the man screamed incessantly, he didn’t dare move an inch.

Kneeling not far from the man was another woman. Her head was bowed, her eyes lowered, and she trembled like a leaf.

This woman was none other than Qiao Siwen, the Second Miss of the Qiao Family, the very one who had caused trouble for Chu Fan before fleeing.

"Two people and a little fox. Even if you gave them wings, how far could they fly? It’s been half a month, and there’s not a single clue. What use are you to me?"

Perhaps tired from the beating, Long Yujie threw down her iron whip, pointed at the two kneeling figures, and berated them loudly.

"Qiao Siwen, let me tell you something. You were the one who lost them. You know how important that Spirit Fox is to me. I’ll give you another half a month. If you still can’t find it, then your Qiao Family will no longer have a reason to exist. The Spring Flower and Autumn Moon Building happens to be looking for a new headliner. Perhaps I should send you to compete for the spot?"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Siwen trembled even more violently. She pleaded incessantly, "Princess, Princess, I will find the Spirit Fox’s whereabouts at any cost."

"The sixth day of the sixth month isn’t far off," Long Yujie said. "I need that Spirit Fox’s Inner Core to make a breakthrough. Only then can I catch the eye of the Crown Prince’s Imperial Uncle. If you mess this up... I’m capable of anything."

...

「Chenzhou, the East Wing of Prince Chen’s Mansion.」

Prince Fuling was lounging on a chair with a beautiful woman in his lap. His hands roamed freely over her, leaving her disheveled and panting.

Directly in front of them, several other blindfolded women were playing a game. The sight was enough to inflame anyone’s desires.

Because the women were all practically naked.

A woman hurried in from outside the wing and whispered a few words in Long Haixin’s ear.

Long Haixin waved his hand and said, "Bring him in."

After the woman left, Long Haixin pushed the woman off his lap and called out to the others, "Stop for now. All of you, leave!"

After the women had gone, Long Haixin touched the spot on his thigh where the woman had been sitting. It was wet.

He then brought his fingers to his nose and sniffed, an intoxicated expression spreading across his face.

Just then, a young man walked into the courtyard and knelt before Long Haixin.

"Greetings, my Prince."

"Rise," Long Haixin said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "What new tricks is my cousin, Princess Huaining, up to now?"

The man rose and, bowing respectfully, said, "My subordinates report that over half a month ago, the Third Young Master of the Yongzhou Song Family acquired a pure white Spirit Fox from somewhere. He planned to give it to the Second Miss of the Qiao Family to win her favor. Meanwhile, Princess Huaining had been searching for a white Spirit Fox, claiming its Inner Core could help her break through a bottleneck. Since the Second Miss Qiao is one of the Princess’s followers, she intended to present the fox to Princess Huaining. But somehow, the white Spirit Fox escaped."

"And then?" Long Haixin asked.

"The Song Family members were on its trail and about to catch it when a young couple appeared. The Third Young Master of the Song Family and his men were all injured. Later, the Second Miss Qiao caught up to them with her own people, but unexpectedly, all four Divine Separation Realm experts she brought were killed by the young man."

"A young man? He killed four Divine Separation Realm experts?" Long Haixin asked in surprise. "Which one from the Talent List is he?"

The young man shook his head. "It is said he is not on the Talent List."

"Oh? A young man strong enough to kill four Divine Separation Realm experts, yet he’s not on the Talent List? Since when did our Hua Xu Empire produce such a prodigy? Do we have any information on him?"

The young man pulled a portrait from his robes and said, "I had my subordinates acquire this from Prince Huai’s Mansion. It’s said the Second Miss Qiao drew it herself after she escaped. Both Prince Huai’s Mansion and the four great families of Yongzhou are using this portrait to search for them in secret."

Long Haixin took the portrait with great interest, but as soon as he saw the face depicted, his smile froze.

’It’s him. It’s actually him. He’s still alive, and he dares to come to the Hua Xu Empire?’ Long Haixin stared at the man in the portrait and muttered to himself.

"You know him, my Prince?"

"Know him?" Long Haixin said through gritted teeth. "I’d recognize him even if he were burned to ash."

The portrait depicted none other than Chu Fan and a veiled Yun Xi.

"My lord, should I gather our men to search for him as well? Furthermore, I’ve discovered that Princess Huaining isn’t seeking the Spirit Fox for its Inner Core."

"Oh? And why is that?" Long Haixin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I hear the Imperial Grandson is afflicted with a terrible illness. The Crown Prince even summoned the Hundred Flowers Wanderer to the Celestial Dao Palace, but even he was helpless. It is said that only the blood of a pure white Spirit Fox that has formed an Inner Core, used as a medicinal catalyst, can cure the Imperial Grandson’s condition. This was meant to be a closely guarded secret, so I don’t know how Princess Huaining found out, but that’s why she has taken such an interest."

"The Imperial Grandson is ill? But I heard the Crown Prince was touring the empire on the Emperor’s behalf. Wasn’t he just celebrating Duke Chen’s birthday not long ago?"

"The rumor is that the Crown Prince is only pretending to tour the empire. In reality, he’s searching for the Spirit Fox."

"Interesting, very interesting." Long Haixin tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of his chair.

"This man’s name is Chu Fan, and he’s from the Eastern Domain. Send out the order: let everyone know his identity. Also, spread the news that the blood of the Spirit Fox in his possession can save the Imperial Grandson’s life. Remember, cover our tracks. Don’t let anyone trace this back to Prince Chen’s Mansion. Then, arrange for our own people to find him and seize the Spirit Fox."

At this, Long Haixin stood up and sneered, "Actually, it doesn’t matter if we don’t get the Spirit Fox. All I want is for Chu Fan to find it impossible to take a single step in the Central Domain. It would be best if he died right here in the Hua Xu Empire."

The young man exited the East Wing.

Long Haixin looked up at the azure sky, a cold laugh escaping him. ’Chu Fan, oh, Chu Fan, you probably have no idea I’m still alive, do you? I haven’t even had the chance to go to the Eastern Domain to settle our score, and yet you dare to come to the Central Domain. If I let you leave here alive, how could I possibly live with myself?’

...

「Two days later. Ezhou, the Emperor’s Traveling Palace.」

The Crown Prince, Long Jingyao, was in his study listening to a report from two subordinates. His face was livid, and he looked as if he could erupt at any moment.

In the end, however, he let out a long breath, suppressing the towering rage in his chest.

"Have you traced the source of the news?"

"They were quick to cover their tracks, but we still traced it back to Prince Chen’s Mansion. The order came from Prince Fuling."

’Prince Fuling?’ Long Jingyao muttered to himself. ’Ever since that brat returned from the Secret Realm, he’s kept a low profile for the past three years. Why is he so invested in this? Chu Fan... He even knows Chu Fan’s name. It seems they have some history.’

Then, his eyes lit up. "The Secret Realm," he said. "Chu Fan must have been there, too. They must have become enemies there. That brat has some nerve, daring to use me like this. Heh!"

At Long Jingyao’s final, cold laugh, the two subordinates before him couldn’t help but lower their heads even further.

"What about Chu Fan? He’s been missing for half a month. Are there any leads?"

Both of them shook their heads.

"To think he could just vanish without a trace within the borders of our Hua Xu Empire?"

"Forget about Prince Huai’s Mansion and Prince Chen’s Mansion. You only need to focus on finding Chu Fan. As for their squabbles... and whether Chu Fan can make it to the Celestial Dao Palace alive... that will depend on his own destiny."