Chapter 152: Vanished into Thin Air, Lesser Ziwei Star

"Hehe, it's truly a pity to waste such potent refined blood of yours.

Speak, who on earth are you, how did you sneak into the East Palace, what did you do to the Crown Prince, and how did the Crown Princess meet her death?"

"My name is Blood Poison, and I inherit a trace of the bloodline of the Blood-Sucking Vine Demon. After entering the East Palace, I noticed that the Crown Prince was plagued by fierce internal fires and lived in constant terror day and night.

So, I taught him the art of absorbing Yin, and scoured the realm for women of pure Yin to harmonize the blazing fire within him.

Who would have thought that the Crown Prince's internal fire would grow increasingly fierce, and his desires would multiply beyond supply? Unable to keep up, he suddenly went mad the other day and sucked the Yin essence of the Crown Princess and the others until they died."

"Oh? Why would such a fierce fire be born within the Crown Prince?" another handsome middle-aged man in a green robe asked in a deep voice.

"This, Blood here does not know. From the very first time I saw the Crown Prince, he was already afflicted with this ailment."

"Grand Commander White Tiger, release the Blood-Sucking Leech Gu. I would quite like to witness this treasure of yours with my own eyes," a woman dressed in a red robe said with a smile.

"Very well! Since Sister Vermilion Bird wishes to see it, I naturally must fulfill her wish."

"Hold on, how much of what this wretch says is true and how much is false has yet to be investigated. It would be more prudent to report this to His Majesty before taking further action,"

mused another woman who looked like a middle-aged Daoist nun, dressed in gray-green robes with a Black Tortoise embroidered on her chest.

"Indeed, the matters spoken of by this wretch are of grave importance. If we execute him now, wouldn't it mean destroying our only proof? Better to report to the Emperor first," the green-robed man agreed with a nod.

"Hmph, the two of you are always far too overly cautious. White Tiger, casually pick another prisoner; today, this younger sister must witness what miraculous properties this leech Gu possesses."

"Haha, well then, let's go, let's go," the gray-robed man laughed sinisterly.

The man with three moles let out a deep sigh, his lingering fear somewhat subsiding. Anyone could guess just how terrifying it felt to have that Blood-Sucking Leech Gu burrow into one's body and feed on one's blood.

That evening, the four of them proceeded to the Taiji Hall and reported what the three-mole man had said. However, the Emperor remained entirely silent from beginning to end. After a long moment, he waved his hand and said:

"Put this matter aside for now. You may all withdraw."

Yet when the four returned to the White Tiger Inner Guard Mansion, they were met with shocking news: the man with three moles had vanished into thin air! The prison door remained unbroken, yet the chains were snapped, and all the guards had collapsed unconscious—it was utterly bizarre.

"White Tiger, you often boast before us that your White Tiger Mansion is as secure as an iron fortress, where not even a fly could escape. How is it now so utterly incompetent, allowing people to enter and exit as freely as a marketplace?" the green-robed man sneered.

"Dammit, a bunch of good-for-nothings! How did you keep watch? Get out of my sight and take a hundred military flogging staves!" The latter flew into a rage, kicking several guards in succession.

"Given that brat's strength, it is absolutely impossible for him to have escaped on his own. Some powerful expert must have sneaked in here and rescued him!"

"True, but he had been imprisoned here for barely half a day, and only the few of us knew about it. Could it be that this unknown expert is capable of divination and fortune-telling?"

"Enough, this person should not have fled far. Let us pursue them immediately."

With that, the four left the mansion and galloped off in four different directions. Yet, after searching the entire Imperial City from end to end, they found not the slightest trace of the three-mole man.

Three days later, the Imperial procession set forth. Passing through the South Vermilion Bird Gate, it marched majestically southward and exited the Mingde Gate.

The Emperor rode in the imperial carriage. Aside from Grand Councilor Jin, two vice-directors of the Bureau of Astronomy, and two vice-directors of the Imperial Academy riding in carriages, the rest followed on horseback.

The vanguard, where the Demon Subduing Division was stationed, was led by Han Chong and General Sun, commanding six guerrilla generals and forty pacification lieutenants to form the Demon Subduing Battalion, mustering their full elite force.

Han Chong noticed that apart from the three thousand Imperial Forest Guards and the twenty thousand Shence Army, the main force comprised about fifty thousand troops from the elite Left and Right Longwu Armies. Every single soldier was robust and spirited, with the lowest-ranking troops possessing the strength of at least third-rate martial artists.

With such a formidable formation, they could likely defeat an enemy force of five hundred thousand. Yet, those in the know wore expressions that appeared slightly solemn.

Many veteran generals had experienced one or two demon-slaying hunts and retained vivid memories of the daytime demon swarms and nighttime ghostly shadows lurking among the dark hills and treacherous waters.

Perhaps out of the entire army, only a few individuals, such as the First Prince, were eager to try their hand.

From the Third Prince to the Seventh Prince, all wore heavy expressions. Their capable strategists, such as Zuo Lang and the young Daoist priest, had all perished during the vein-seeking expedition, leaving them with no pawns left to use.

"Sixth Brother, our situation right now is extremely perilous. Eldest Royal Brother possesses peerless combat prowess, Eighth Younger Brother has Ouyang Jingguan as support and is on very close terms with General Niu.

Third Royal Brother and Fourth Royal Brother are also much stronger in combat than the two of us. What are we to do?" the Seventh Prince lowered his voice, frowning.

"Seventh Younger Brother, rest assured. Older Brother has his own arrangements. Money can move the gods; before coming here, Older Brother spent a hefty sum to bribe the main generals of the Left and Right Longwu Armies. What is there for you to fear?"

"Ah, Sixth Brother is indeed far-sighted. Little Brother can finally rest at ease."

"Third Brother, look at Eldest Royal Brother's smug expression—it's as if he's already secured victory and is about to be named Crown Prince. Looking at him is simply infuriating."

"Heh, let him be smug. He truly believes that just because he is the eldest imperial son, once the Crown Prince is deposed, his turn has come.

Little does he know, the higher one flies, the harder one falls. He is merely harboring delusions of grandeur."

"Hehe, Third Brother's reach still spans the heavens. Is there any remote corner of this Great Feng Dynasty that can escape Third Brother's eyes and ears?"

"How could there not be? That Han Chong's background remains shrouded in mystery to this day; he seems to have simply popped out from a crack in a stone."

"What background could that brat possibly have? Wasn't he just a petty constable?"

"Fourth Younger Brother, it's not that Third Brother is lecturing you, but you cannot judge a person solely by their appearance. If he were an ordinary constable, could he have bulldozed his way through demons and ghosts to become a supreme master all the way?

This fellow surnamed Han must have some peculiarities! We must not lower our guard against him."

"Understood. Third Brother's lesson is well-taken; Fourth Younger Brother will keep it in mind."

Inside the imperial carriage, the Emperor supported his forehead with one hand, bowing his head in deep thought.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, he looked toward the bronze ancient mirror placed in a side niche, only to see the mirror slowly opening on both sides with a faint hum.

A stream of golden light shot forth from the golden-bright mirror surface and descended to the floor, gradually solidifying into an old man in white robes with a childlike face, white hair, and smiling eyes.

"This old subject pays respects to Your Majesty," the old man said, bowing with cupped hands.

"Hehe, Director Mo, you finally have some leisure time. Where have you been wandering these past months?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this old subject observed the stars at night and saw baleful portents in all four directions, with our dynasty's national fortune dimming day by day. However, only a single small Polaris star is growing brighter by the day—it is our dynasty's auspicious star. Hence, this old subject wandered far and wide, hoping to find this person.

Regrettably, the Heavenly Dao is chaotic and the threads of fate are obscured. After searching for months with nothing to show for it, I am truly ashamed."

"Oh? Polaris?" The Emperor's eyes lit up slightly.

"Director Mo, ever since I ascended the throne, although I dare not claim to have brought glory and expansion to the ancestral foundations, I have nonetheless labored diligently for decades.

It is merely that, as the ruler of a nation bearing the imperial dynasty's fortune, my consumption of lifespan increases day by day, and now I am nearing the end of my oil.

Yet the Crown Prince is talentless and devoid of virtue, failing my expectations deeply. Moreover, having been poisoned by treacherous villains, he is no longer fit to serve.

The imperial princes are eyeing the throne like tigers eyeing their prey, forming cliques and engaging in factionalism, causing the veteran ministers at court to drift away in disappointment. My heart is filled with heavy sorrow."