Martial Arrogance Dragon Soul-Chapter 167 - 157 Opportunity

What kind of eyes were those?

Qin Qing’s heart trembled.

In his memory, his father’s eyes were firm and forceful, always filled with confidence, giving Qin Qing a very stable feeling.

But at this moment, he saw in his father’s eyes an endless grayness, numb like a walking corpse, dull and lusterless, as if he had lost all hope in the world.

Such eyes were no different from those of the dead.

"Father..."

Qin Qing blurted out, his chest trembling with emotion, wishing he could rush down and rescue his father.

Qin Shuang’s eyes reddened in an instant, too.

Although her memory of their father was no longer vivid, the moment she saw him, her soul felt an electric shock, a resonance that came from their blood.

"Daddy, Dad..."

Qin Shuang murmured softly, her lips trembling.

"Third Prince!"

Qin Qing turned to Qin De and said in a deep voice, "Is there any way to rescue my father? I’ll do anything!"

Qin De shook his head slightly, "I’m sorry, Qin Qing. Your father’s case is too complicated; I have no sway over it... But..."

As he spoke, Qin De paused for a moment, then continued, "I can try to arrange for your father to be moved from his current position to a relatively easier one. For example, being responsible for loading and unloading fuel..."

"I am extremely grateful to the Third Prince!" Qin Qing bowed in thanks, then asked, "My mother, she’s not in the imperial city anymore, is she?"

"Yes," Qin De nodded. "Your mother has been taken away from the Great Qian, but don’t worry, she should be fine..."

Qin Qing nodded slightly.

At least now he could be sure that both his father and mother were still alive.

His mother had been taken away from the Great Qian, but where to?

Who had the power to take his mother away directly, and why hadn’t they taken his father as well?

"I don’t know the specifics... If you can meet with your father, I believe you’ll get the answer," added Qin De.

"Is there any way to arrange a meeting with my father?" Qin Qing asked.

Qin De shook his head, "Not right now! No one can break the rules, as the crimes your father is implicated in are very serious. However, Qin Qing... if you win the spring hunt next year and gain the emperor’s favor, he might agree to your meeting with your father. Furthermore, if he wants you to help him with that matter, releasing your father is not impossible..."

"Win the first place in the spring hunt? Gain His Majesty’s favor?" Qin Qing murmured.

Qin De nodded, "That’s right. Only by winning the spring hunt can you qualify to handle that matter. If you help my emperor father with that issue, there’s no doubt, he will certainly release your father without charges!"

"That matter..." Qin Qing was puzzled; what could it be that Qin De seemed unwilling to reveal too much?

"I cannot tell you now. If you can’t win the spring hunt, you will never know about it," Qin De paused, then looked at Qin Qing with a softer tone, "Qin Qing, I hope you understand. There are many things that are not for me to decide..."

"I understand!" Qin Qing nodded, aware that, as a prince, Qin De also had his constraints.

"By the way!" Qin Qing asked again, "During the spring hunt, what level of competitors will there be?"

"This I can tell you. The spring hunt usually involves the young experts from the imperial city, and by young, I don’t mean your age, but mostly those in their thirties. Many of these individuals have graduated from different Martial Institutes of the imperial city years ago..."

"Graduates from the Martial Institutes of the imperial city..." Qin Qing frowned slightly; those who graduated from the four major Martial Institutes of the city were usually of the Golden Core Realm.

Only the Golden Core Realm graduates would normally leave school; some stay on as elders in the institutes, while some are appointed by the Imperial Court to become court officials.

Of course, many choose to leave the Great Qian to explore the outside world.

After all, the resources of the Great Qian Dynasty are limited; reaching the Golden Core is almost at the limit here, and the chances of breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm are extremely slim.

And venturing into the wider world outside certainly held the promise of far richer opportunities.

But there were also some who chose to stay in Great Qian for various reasons, at least for the time being.

For instance, many Martial Dao Masters at the Golden Core Realm elected to align with the Imperial Court. Often, these individuals became retainers to the many princes or, rather, they stood behind these princes, becoming their powerful aides.

Clearly, Qin Qing’s participation in the hunt was a challenge to vie with these figures.

"Qin Qing, competition below the Golden Core Realm poses no challenge to you!"

"However, encounters at the Golden Core Realm are far more complex than you can imagine..."

Qin De added, "Qin Qing... I know this is difficult for you... but you only have this one chance! Because after the spring hunt, your father may be convicted. By then, it will be too late..."

"I understand!" Qin Qing nodded again, then took a deep breath, "Third Prince, thank you for telling me this. I will never give up!"

Throughout this exchange, Qin Qing’s gaze never left his father.

He watched his father struggle to turn the enormous wheel, watched the scalding magma continuously surge, and the blistering heat scorch his father’s body.

His father seemed numb to it all, his body moving mechanically, but each splash of magma upon him was felt deep by Qin Qing.

"Father!"

"Hold on!"

"I will find a way to rescue you!"

Qin Qing could not bear to watch his father endure such inhuman torture in the world akin to an Underground Purgatory any longer.

"Let’s go!"

Qin Qing took Qin Shuang’s hand.

In Qin Shuang’s eyes lay a profound reluctance, and as she turned away, tears welled up again.

"Shuang’er, we’ll find a way to rescue your father, he’ll be alright..." Jiang Ruorong consoled.

After leaving the Underground Furnace, Qin Qing bade farewell to the Third Prince.

...

As Qin Qing left the imperial palace. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Above the palace gates, the Seventh Prince and Sikong Tu made their appearance.

"Your Highness, I am at fault!" Sikong Tu said, bowing to the Seventh Prince.

"It’s not entirely your fault," Qin Zheng, the Seventh Prince, waved his hand and said, "The original plan was for you to restrain him, and then I would have stepped in to help him escape, winning his favor. Unfortunately, the appearance of the Ninth Brother disrupted our plan..."

"But, Your Highness. The feud between the Prime Minister and this Qin Qing is beyond reconciliation. If you wish to recruit him, I’m afraid it may displease the Prime Minister," Sikong Tu said.

Qin Zheng smiled faintly, "I believe that Shangguan Yong will understand the trade-offs... Besides, Qin Qing’s potential is in no way inferior to Shangguan Yong’s. If he cannot rise to the occasion, his destiny will be merely that of a dispensable piece on the board."

...

Once back at Autumn Water Villa, Qin Qing immediately began his seclusion for cultivation.

Within the training chamber.

Qin Qing was enveloped in flames.

"Strength!"

"I need greater strength!"

"Only if I can sweep through all the enemies within the Golden Core Realm can I secure first place in the spring hunt! Only then can I seize that opportunity... and save my father!"

Qin Qing circulated the Emperor Dragon Secret Technique, with Spiritual Energy swirling around him, and the Dragon Soul above his head in the void fluctuated up and down, inhaling and exhaling divine light.