Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 253 - 252. Breaking Up, The Background of Ren Qining
252. Unmasking Ren Qining’s Origins
Only after Mo Xiuyao came out from the Murong family’s mansion did Ye Li breathe a sigh of relief. The two of them left the Murong family, and Mo Xiuyao’s sword-like eyebrows were furrowed, showing that he was evidently troubled.
"Xiuyao, what happened?" Ye Li quietly asked. Mo Xiuyao retold what he had overheard at the Murong family’s mansion, creasing his brows as he did so.
He had not heard much and did not dare to get too close due to his wariness of Murong Xiong. However, Murong Xiong’s proclamation, "You are Lin Yuan," had been unmistakably clear. Perhaps Murong Xiong was so confident in his unmatched martial arts that he did not bother to lower his voice. Ye Li was taken aback by the revelation. "Ren Qining is a descendant of the former dynasty’s imperial family... Could it be that he and Tan Jizhi are brothers?" Their ages were similar, and given that the former dynasty had been destroyed for two hundred years, it was strange that two survivors emerged simultaneously.
However, Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "No, if they were brothers, both could not be called Lin Yuan. Also, the way Ren Qining spoke about Tan Jizhi was full of contempt." Even if they were blood brothers, he would not use such a tone. Ren Qining’s attitude was clear: he held Tan Jizhi in less regard than a servant.
"It seems we need to thoroughly investigate this former imperial family," Ye Li chuckled. Mo Xiuyao nodded in agreement. "Let’s go. We should tell your elder brother about this."
When Young Master Qingchen heard what Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li had discovered, he did not panic. Seeing the calm and collected demeanor of Young Master Qingchen, Prince Ding felt like he was meddling unnecessarily.
Ye Li looked at Xu Qingchen with some worry. "Elder brother?"
Xu Qingchen smiled and replied, "There is no need to worry. One Ren Qining won’t affect the overall situation."
Mo Xiuyao, with his arm around Ye Li and his chin resting on her shoulder, laughingly said, "Ren Qining sounded quite confident, didn’t he? Young Master Qingchen wasn’t willing to marry Miss Murong, but now an imperial descendant shows up willing to marry her, doesn’t he?"
Xu Qingchen absentmindedly drummed his fingers against the table edge, a smile as tranquil as pear blossoms in full bloom on his lips. "Does Ren Qining have the ability to face the threats of Great Chu, Xiling, Licheng, and the King of Hell Pavilion?" Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, obviously ready to challenge him. "And what if he does?" Xu Qingchen’s eyelids fluttered once before he calmly responded, "If he does, he might as well raise a banner and restore his kingdom directly. Why would he need to marry Murong Mingyan?"
Mo Xiuyao helplessly rubbed his nose. It was exhausting talking to smart people. "What do you think he would do?"
Xu Qingchen replied, "He will most likely move the Murong family’s assets as soon as possible. He will try to save as much as he can."
Ye Li asked, "Would Murong Xiong accept this outcome?" It seemed to her that Murong Xiong, age not having mellowed him, would be difficult to convince. Even if the Murong family were saved, their assets would most likely be significantly reduced.
Xu Qingchen replied, "Ren Qining is not a god. If the Murong family does not wish to perish, they will have to accept his proposal. This man... is not a concern right now, but in the future, Prince, you will likely have to keep an eye on him. I have a feeling that he will be ten or even a hundred times more troublesome than Tan Jizhi."
Mo Xiuyao never took Tan Jizhi seriously, especially now that Princess Anxi had ascended the throne and Shu Manlin had been killed; Tan Jizhi was probably hiding somewhere like a scalded cat. However, if even Xu Qingchen took notice of Ren Qining, Mo Xiuyao would not take him lightly.
After pondering for a while, Mo Xiuyao furrowed his brows. "We have sent people to investigate every corner of Xiling, Great Chu, and even Nanzhao. There is no trace of this Ren Qining whatsoever. It’s as if he emerged out of thin air. If he is confident enough to save the Murong family, he must have a considerable force under his command. How come we haven’t found anything?"
Ye Li pondered for a while, then said, "If we did not miss anything in our investigation, then... he’s simply not in the territory we’ve searched."
Mo Xiuyao was stunned for a moment. "Not in Great Chu or Xiling... could it be Beirong? No, the Beirong people are inherently xenophobic, and it’s extremely difficult for the Central Plains people to survive beyond the border. So..."
There was silence in the room for a moment; the three of them exchanged glances and exclaimed synchronously, "Northeast!"
The northeastern part of Great Chu is also considered a barbarian land like other borders, which the people of the Central Plains call the Northern Territory. Originally, there were many small tribes in the area, constantly fighting amongst themselves. Great Chu did not interfere due to lack of interest, while Beirong did not have the capability to intervene. The terrain in the Northern Territory does not consist of vast plains like those of Beirong, but rather dense forests.
Ever since Prince Ding’s Mansion broke away from Great Chu, the tribes in the Northern Territory seemed to have gradually unified over the past few years and even began to encroach onto Great Chu’s border. If it were in the past, Mo Xiuyao’s focus would have been on that area. However, since he cut all ties with Great Chu, Mo Xiuyao’s attention has shifted to the Northwest and the borders of neighboring countries. How Great Chu fared was no longer his concern, nor did he wish to involve himself in its affairs anymore.
"Investigate it!" Mo Xiuyao ordered coldly.
"Yes, Sir," a voice from the shadows responded. Mo Xiuyao looked grim. "If Ren Qining dares to let the barbarians in... I will wipe out his Lin clan! Regardless of Mo Xiuyao’s grievances with Great Chu, even if Great Chu were to undergo an immediate dynastic change, it wouldn’t concern him. However, the prerequisite would be that the new rulers are from the Central Plains. The lifelong education received by the people made them deeply resentful towards the foreign tribes from beyond the border. As the saying goes, those who are not of our tribe will surely have different hearts. As long as the emperor is from among their own people, the commoners could live happily. However, if the emperor belongs to a foreign tribe, the situation would be utterly different."
Ye Li gently patted Mo Xiuyao’s arm, and his grim expression gradually eased. He turned to Xu Qingchen with an apologetic smile. "I lost my composure for a bit. I hope Brother Xu doesn’t mind."
Xu Qingchen smiled lightly and said, "Prince, you are being too serious. I am not quite pleased either." Xu Qingchen was raised with traditional education and developed even stronger antipathy towards foreigners than Mo Xiuyao. That’s why the Xu Family never intermarried with foreigners. Even when dealing with Princess Anxi, Xu Qingchen never hesitated when it was time to take action.
"In this matter, should we inform Great Chu?" Xu Qingchen asked Mo Xiuyao with some hesitation.
Mo Xiuyao snorted lightly. "Send someone to inform that idiot Mo Jingqi. It is not my concern whether he believes it or not." Xu Qingchen nodded in acknowledgment.
"Since Young Master Ren is so confident, I also want to see how fast he can be. Call someone, notify the Heir of Southern Garrison Prince and Pavilion Master Ling. We take action tomorrow!" Xu Qingchen’s smile was chilling.
"Yes, sir!"
Once they truly fell out with one another and started taking action, the movements were naturally swift. The Southern Garrison Prince’s decree to investigate directly resulted in the sealing of all the shops owned by the Murong family throughout Xiling. The Southern Garrison Prince was originally opposed to it, as this would inevitably cause a huge shock to the economy and livelihoods of Xiling. However, when Young Master Qingchen suggested with a beaming smile, "So, Prince, do you want to wait and watch Ren Qining empty the entire Murong family before taking action?"
The Southern Garrison Prince had no choice but to accept Young Master Qingchen’s proposal to take action in advance. If Ren Qining really was a descendant of the previous dynasty, those bearing grudges against Ren Qining would not be limited to Great Chu or Prince Ding’s Mansion. After all, Xiling had a significant role in the downfall of the previous dynasty.
"Xu Qingchen!" Outside the gates of the Murong family, Murong Xiong and the Murong Family Head were glaring angrily at the enchanting man in front of them. Murong Mingyan’s eyes were full of tears and extreme resentment.
Xu Qingchen, with a gentle and courteous smile, bowed to the people in front and said, "Murong Senior, Murong Family Head, Young Master Ren." Ren Qining’s expression was gloomy. He had made some arrangements secretly these days, but he did not expect Xu Qingchen to act so quickly.
He glanced again at the Southern Garrison Prince and Ling Tiehan standing next to Xu Qingchen and said jokingly, "Young Master Qingchen, you indeed are exceptional. I heard that Pavilion Master Ling and the Southern Garrison Prince had some disputes, and I did not expect them to stand together now. I assume it is all your doing?"
With a faint smile, Xu Qingchen replied, "People come together for mutual gain and fall apart due to different interests. Young Master Ren, you flatter me." Xu Qingchen’s words were clear-cut—they were interested in the fortune of the Murong family. What could Ren Qining do about it?
The Murong Family Head took a step forward and, in a severe voice, pointed at Xu Qingchen, "Young Master Qingchen, the Murong family was always fair to you. Aren’t you afraid of divine retribution for your actions?"
Xu Qingchen sighed and, in a tone of resignation, said, "Family Head Murong, please understand. Even though I have deep ties with Prince Ding’s Mansion, it doesn’t mean I am willing to sacrifice myself for them. However, if this will lead the Northwest into a crisis, it would be my fault too... Therefore, I have to reluctantly take these steps. I am sure Family Head Murong will understand."
The Murong Family Head’s chest heaved continuously with anger, appearing as if he were about to vomit blood. Meanwhile, Ling Tiehan and Lei Tengfeng couldn’t help but lower their heads to hide their laughter. Being aware of the backstory, Xu Qingchen’s words sounded cultured and pleasant. However, to Ling Tiehan and Lei Tengfeng, it was as if Xu Qingchen was saying: I don’t want to marry your granddaughter; you force me to marry her. If I don’t marry her, you’ll cut off my business in the Northwest, so I have no choice but to bring down your Murong family.
"Presumptuous!" Murong Xiong roared and flew towards Xu Qingchen, who was standing at the forefront.
This time Murong Xiong returned to the worldly society brimming with confidence. With his reputation and martial arts skills, everyone was supposed to respect and follow him. If he saw someone acceptable to marry into the Murong family, it would be a great favor and act of charity. However, he happened to meet the unappreciative Xu Qingchen. Now, not only was the marriage not settled, but the Murong family was also on the brink of destruction.
Seeing Murong Xiong rushing towards Xu Qingchen, the faces of Ling Tiehan and the Southern Garrison Prince changed, and they both stepped forward to block him. The secret guards behind Xu Qingchen had already dragged him back more than ten steps. Their palms collided, instantly casting out waves of strong energy. The onlookers nearby could not bear it and quickly backed away. Both Ling Tiehan and the Southern Garrison Prince stepped back two steps, looking at Murong Xiong who tumbled as he landed. Ling Tiehan sneered, "Murong Senior, you made a name for yourself decades ago. Is it really an achievement to attack an individual without martial arts skills? I guess the title of the world’s top martial artist is just a false reputation, isn’t it?"
"Audacious!" Murong Xiong growled and without hesitation attacked Ling Tiehan.
Ling Tiehan, however, did not realize that his words had hit Murong Xiong’s sore spot. In the past, even though Murong Xiong had won the title of the world’s top martial artist, he had no confidence against Lin Fuqin, Ren Qining’s grandfather. It was just that Lin Fuqin had not really ever challenged him. At this point, hearing Ling Tiehan’s words felt like a mockery, as if Ling Tiehan knew the truth about the past.
However, it was entirely Murong Xiong overthinking. Even though Ling Tiehan was now among the Four Great Experts, he knew that there were always mountains beyond mountains, and there might be stronger individuals than them in the worldly society. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
The world’s top martial artist was not someone to be trifled with. Although Ling Tiehan’s skills had improved after his showdown with Mo Xiuyao a few days ago, he still stood no chance against Murong Xiong. In comparison to Ling Tiehan, who was targeted by Murong Xiong, the Southern Garrison Prince, just skirting around the edge of the battlefield, appeared much more relaxed. He even had spare time to analyze the martial arts moves Ling Tiehan and Murong Xiong used.
On one side, Leng Liuyue and a frail scholar, who were also watching the battle, became extremely anxious when they realized Ling Tiehan was getting the worst of it. Leng Liuyue lunged forward with her sword, intending to help. Standing next to her, Xu Qingchen stopped her first. "Pavilion Master Leng, your intervention won’t help. In this high-level martial combat, unless someone of the same level intervenes, they are just cannon fodder."
Giving a glance at the Southern Garrison Prince, who was simply spectating all along the side, Xu Qingchen then called out, "Prince, can you defeat Murong Senior on your own?"
The Southern Garrison Prince was caught off guard. True, he despised Ling Tiehan. If Murong Xiong could kill Ling Tiehan first and then Xu Qingchen, that would be ideal. Unfortunately, if Ling Tiehan died, he himself would be Murong Xiong’s next target. Given this, it would be better to eliminate this major threat first. He and Ling Tiehan had held grudges for many years, yet hadn’t they all been living peacefully? He then rushed forward to join the battle with Ling Tiehan against Murong Xiong. With the addition of the Southern Garrison Prince, Ling Tiehan felt relieved as they were now evenly matched against Murong Xiong.
On one side, Ren Qining, his expression gloomy, also jumped into the fray after scanning everyone in the combat zone. This time, without waiting for Xu Qingchen’s reminder, Leng Liuyue and Lei Tengfeng both stepped forward on their own, tying down Ren Qining. Once all the reputable people had joined the battle, the Murong family’s men and Ren Qining’s men, ordered by the Murong family, rushed forward. Similarly, the men from the King of Hell Pavilion and the Southern Garrison Prince’s Golden Armor Guards, who were behind Xu Qingchen, could not show weakness and stepped forward. The Murong estate was immediately turned into a blood-stained battlefield.
"Why do you treat me this way?" Murong Mingyan, looking at the chaos in front of her, walked towards Xu Qingchen and demanded in a severe voice. Her martial arts skills were neither strong nor weak. Along the way, the fighting combatants on both sides did not attack her much, and she managed to reach Xu Qingchen.
Xu Qingchen looked down at her calmly. "Miss Murong, I have told you that you and I are not suitable. You shouldn’t insist on what is already difficult."
Murong Mingyan, with tears in her eyes, said, "So... so if I insist on marrying you, you’ll destroy my family? Qingchen... Young Master Qingchen, people say that you are refined and elegant like an immortal, but you are so heartless and ruthless!"
Xu Qingchen smirked. "I am sorry to disappoint you, Miss Murong, but Xu Qingchen is not an immortal."
Besides, who said immortals were not heartless? People worshipped them, but who had ever seen an immortal truly show a shred of mercy?
"In that case, you should die!" Murong Mingyan’s face turned stern, and her hand revealed a dagger which she plunged forward towards Xu Qingchen’s chest. Xu Qingchen remained calm and emotionless, watching the dagger stop inches from his chest. Murong Mingyan then closed her eyes and collapsed to the ground. His personal bodyguard, standing next to him, calmly and respectfully reported, "She is still alive." Xu Qingchen nodded, and people at the side carried her off.
Despite their martial prowess, Leng Liuyue and Lei Tengfeng were no match for Ren Qining, one of the top winners in the Martial Arts Conference. Before long, Lei Tengfeng was kicked out first, leaving Leng Liuyue overwhelmed. Her strength was not in swordsmanship but in agility and secret weapons, so she was soon restricted by Ren Qining. The frail scholar, standing aside, watched anxiously, powerless to help. As Leng Liuyue and Ren Qining were too close, the scholar was unable to use poison to aid Leng Liuyue. The specialty of the King of Hell Pavilion was assassination, and they would be at a disadvantage in a direct confrontation.
Xu Qingchen frowned at the situation, and with a wave of his hand, four shadows swooped in to surround Ren Qining, giving Leng Liuyue the chance to withdraw. The addition of the four immediately reversed the situation. While none of them individually could match Ren Qining or even Leng Liuyue in martial arts, when they attacked simultaneously with straightforward, unembellished moves aimed at vital points, and with coordination so perfect it seemed rehearsed a thousand times, Ren Qining became flustered.
Leng Liuyue coughed lightly, wiping the blood from her mouth, and complimented, "The Qilin of Prince Ding’s Mansion surely lives up to its reputation." She had dealt with Prince Ding’s Mansion’s secret guards before, and she could tell that these four were entirely different. She soon realized their identities.
Xu Qingchen was also very satisfied. Li’er was right: since they could take down Mu Qingcang, one of the Four Great Experts, naturally, capturing Ren Qining wouldn’t be difficult either.
The fight with Ren Qining wouldn’t end anytime soon, so everyone’s attention turned to Murong Xiong. Leng Liuyue and the frail scholar had seen the duel between Ling Tiehan and Mo Xiuyao a few days ago, and compared to that, the current fight seemed less exciting. Back then, although they hadn’t been able to see the moves clearly, they could distinctly feel the sword energy and battle intent. Here, however, the three combatants were not moving particularly fast, at least their movements were discernible. Their techniques were not exquisite, but every palm strike hit flesh, and sword energy crisscrossed—this was completely a life-threatening way of fighting.
Ling Tiehan and the Southern Garrison Prince had previous grudges and did not work well together. An experienced Murong Xiong took advantage of that. He faked a move, sent Ling Tiehan flying with a palm strike, and then focused on the Southern Garrison Prince, who was defeated after about one to two hundred moves.
Murong Xiong looked coldly at Ling Tiehan and the Southern Garrison Prince, both seriously injured, and sneered, "So you young bloods want to challenge me?!" Ling Tiehan stared at him. They were badly wounded, true, but Murong Xiong was not unscathed. It was just that his injuries were lighter than theirs.
Murong Xiong did not bother with Ren Qining and instead turned to Xu Qingchen with a cold smile. "Young man surnamed Xu, what do you think of the situation now? Thinking that you can wipe out the Murong family just because you have these two? You must be daydreaming."
Xu Qingchen was not in a hurry and laughed. "Indeed, Murong Senior, your martial arts are formidable, exceeding my expectations. But... do you really think at this point, the Murong family can survive? Can it be stronger than the Southern Garrison Prince’s three thousand Golden Armor Guards or Xiling’s million soldiers?"
Murong Xiong’s expression changed. "You will all die before the Golden Armor Guards and the million soldiers arrive!"
Ling Tiehan scoffed, "I wonder who will die. Murong Senior, at your age, you should be enjoying a carefree life. Getting involved in the younger generation’s affairs is just meddling."
Murong Xiong stared at Ling Tiehan with an icy smile, and the Southern Garrison Prince glanced at Ling Tiehan and then at Xu Qingchen, deep in thought.
Murong Xiong laughed loudly, pointed at Xu Qingchen, and said, "I would like to see how the world-renowned Young Master Qingchen saves his own little life!" Stepping forward, Murong Xiong easily bypassed Ling Tiehan and the Southern Garrison Prince, who were blocking his path, and lunged towards Xu Qingchen. Xu Qingchen could not possibly dodge this attack. Not just Xu Qingchen, but even the secret guards in front of him, including Leng Liuyue and the others, found it difficult to even move under the overwhelming pressure. Ling Tiehan’s expression changed. "Qingchen!"
A white figure, like a startled swan, leaped up from behind. A flash of sword light instantly streaked across the sky. The biting sword aura, almost tangible, slashed down. Leng Liuyue and the others immediately felt the pressure on them lighten and hurriedly retreated. At the same time, two secret guards pulled Xu Qingchen further away. Where Xu Qingchen had been standing, there was now a tall, outstanding figure in white, with snow-white hair and a long sword in hand that glinted with an equally chilling light.
"Mo Xiuyao!"
