Chapter 263: Chapter 223: The Palace Coup_2
Mo Ningdan released the confinement spell, and only then were Lin Yao and Liang Lu able to move freely again.
Lin Yao didn’t say anything, she just clasped her hands towards Liang Lu and then stepped down from the platform to prepare to leave.
Liang Lu couldn’t understand – Lin Yao looked even younger than her; she wondered who was older, her or her younger sister, Princess Liang Pei.
Girls of that age should be innocent and carefree, so why was Lin Yao fighting so desperately?
“Fellow Daoist Lin.”
Lin Yao turned around.
“Why do you go so far as to sever your own arm just to beat me?”
“I didn’t intend to win against you, I’m just accustomed to giving it my all.”
Liang Lu’s expression darkened and she said, “So… you… you’ve actually never taken me seriously?”
Just as Lin Yao was about to speak, Mo Ningdan said, “Liang Lu, I have something to tell you.”
Yan Yue tugged on Lin Yao’s arm and whispered, “Let’s go. By the way, have you prepared the elixirs for treating your severed limb?”
Lin Yao shook her head: “No.”
“You dare to fight like this without them?”
“I didn’t think that much.”
Yan Yue sighed and said, “I’ll go back and get you some life-saving elixirs. I’ll also prepare some that remove scars. With the way you cut down, even if it can be reattached, have you thought about the potential ugliness?”
It was not until Yan Yue mentioned it that Lin Yao remembered that improper handling of a severed limb indeed could leave scars.
If her arm were scarred, it wouldn’t look nice, and Senior Brother Jiang certainly wouldn’t like it if Yao’er were not pleasant to look at.
Yao’er should pay more attention to taking care of her body in the future; she can’t let down Senior Brother Jiang.
“I understand, Teacher. Next time I’ll just concede defeat directly,” Lin Yao said frankly.
After all, for her, winning or losing the competition with Liang Lu wasn’t important. What mattered were Jiang Cheng’s opinions and feelings.
If Jiang Cheng disliked her getting injured and becoming unsightly, then she would simply concede.
Although Yan Yue intended to persuade Lin Yao, he had not anticipated her to adapt and accept so quickly.
“Ah, just don’t push yourself too hard next time,” he said.
Lin Yao nodded in profound agreement: “Mm, I will take good care of my body.”
Meanwhile.
Mo Ningdan took the initiative to stop Liang Lu to prevent Lin Yao from further agitating her.
The whetstone that was Lin Yao was too hard.
If mishandled, it might end up breaking the precious sword that was Liang Lu.
What Immortal Sect lacked the least were geniuses; what they lacked most were those cultivators who could keep fighting after repeated defeats.
“Teacher, you called for me.”
Liang Lu was visibly not in high spirits.
But Mo Ningdan understood it wasn’t Liang Lu’s fault.
Lin Yao was too ruthless; during their contest, she willingly chose to win by severing her arm, her will as solid as to be almost scary.
If Lin Yao’s talent were a bit stronger, Mo Ningdan even felt that, maybe not the Sect Leader position, but the Holy Maiden title of Taixu Sect could have been within her reach.
“You did well today, you nearly won,” Mo Ningdan chose to comfort Liang Lu.
“But…”
“Don’t dwell on Lin Yao, the viciousness she embodies is something even Helmsman Shang couldn’t match. Your judgment during the competition was correct, and your spell coordination was spot on, that’s good enough.”
“Yes.”
Liang Lu verbally agreed, but she still couldn’t let go in her heart.
Lin Yao, what does it take to defeat you?
…
“Jiang Cheng! Don’t make me get down on my knees to beg you!”
Liang Hong used his trump card towards the communication talisman.
Who knew, Jiang Cheng this time firmly declined, “Third Prince, our contract has already ended. Meeting with the Emperor is not part of my job description.”
Liang Hong said, “That’s what you say, but if I can’t see my imperial father, how can I use the talisman?”
Jiang Cheng: “Good luck.”
Liang Hong: …
“Third Prince, if there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now.”
“No no no, wait, Jiang Cheng, just hear me out. If you like signing contracts so much, we can sign a new one. As long as you help me meet the Emperor, anything is negotiable.”
Jiang Cheng honestly replied, “I am really powerless here.”
“You definitely have a way! You are the chosen one of Void Venerable!”
“Not really familiar.”
Since Liang Hong couldn’t persuade Jiang Cheng, he could only say, “Then think about it for an hour, and I will call you with the communication talisman again.”
Jiang Cheng looked at the already disconnected communication talisman, thinking to himself that Liang Hong wouldn’t really call him in an hour, would he?
Unlikely, given Liang Hong’s personality, he would probably forget.
An hour later, Liang Hong called right on schedule.
“Junior Brother Jiang, have you thought it over?”
Jiang Cheng repeated his stance.
Liang Hong said, “Then think about it for another hour.”
Jiang Cheng looked at the communication talisman with a sense of foreboding.
Afterward, Liang Hong called Jiang Cheng every hour.
This persistent spirit of asking for help even surprised Jiang Cheng.
“Third Prince, is there any chance that the effort you’re putting into asking people for help right now, if you put the same into seeking an audience, you would have already met your father?”
Liang Hong hesitated, “But every time I try to meet him, I get taken away directly by the Imperial Army,” he said.
“Then just stand there, don’t speak.”
“Would that work?”
“Definitely more useful than calling me,” Jiang Cheng assessed.
Upon hearing it was more effective than asking Jiang Cheng, Liang Hong immediately felt assured.
He got his things ready, and early the next morning, he arrived in front of the Emperor’s chamber.
Eunuch Liu and Eunuch Zhang greeted him, and he just smiled without saying a word.
After the greetings were over, Liang Hong followed Jiang Cheng’s “instructions,” just standing there as if he wanted to compete with the two door-guarding eunuchs for their job.
Eunuch Zhang communicated to Eunuch Liu: “I had heard that the outside economy was rough, but seeing is believing— even our job as doorkeepers is coveted by a prince.”
Eunuch Liu replied with a hint of pride: “Our profession has high standards. It’s not something just anyone can do thoughtlessly.”
At first, Eunuch Zhang and Eunuch Liu didn’t take Liang Hong’s actions to heart.
