I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality-Chapter 60 - 49: A Gathering of Talents

Outside the pavilion, Overseas Dragon and Walking Tiger exchanged blows, each showing off their divine techniques.

Zuo Zixiong was upright and unyielding, his two Divine Machine Treasure Sabers intertwined like twin silver dragons, not a single flashy move, crashing recklessly toward Bai Luo.

Bai Luo was dressed in white, resembling a small white flower, maneuvering up and down amidst the tempestuous waves, seemingly perilous, but actually far from easy.

This coarse man from the military camp was truly crude, and didn’t understand teasing at all!

Just after Bai Luo finished saying that Zuo Zixiong should convert, the latter responded as if encountering an arch enemy, with each move aiming for fatal blows.

"I, Zuo Zixiong, live as a Yong man, die as a Yong ghost, how dare you, a demon, insult me!"

"Yong man? You also know you’re a mediocre man."

Bai Luo mocked while searching for a way to break the deadlock.

The Celestial Heart Sect’s sole objective this time was to assassinate the Crown Prince.

He didn’t want to waste too much time on Zuo Zixiong.

Bai Luo maneuvered briefly, seeing that his opponent was indeed troublesome, he determinedly said:

"Sect Leader Qin, I’ll hold this brute back, you quickly go take the Crown Prince’s head!"

As soon as Bai Luo’s words fell, a wealthy merchant disguised as a guest suddenly sprang up, and the other disguised sect members drew sharp blades from under tables and pots, rushing toward the Crown Prince’s private room.

Zuo Zixiong immediately disengaged to block them, but Bai Luo followed like a shadow, giving him no chance to defend.

"Zuo Zixiong! You’ve foiled my plans repeatedly, today I will execute the Crown Prince right in front of you, leaving you to bear the guilt of failing to protect him!"

Bai Luo’s eyes showed hatred. Back in the Imperial Capital, he was chased thousands of miles by Zuo Zixiong. Now, disguised as the Piano Taker, he should have easily killed the Crown Prince, but didn’t expect this loyal dog to guard so fiercely, allowing only the guards to deliver the zither, not letting him into the Crown Prince’s private room even a step.

New and old grudges combined, how could he not hate?

In the corridor, the guards around the Crown Prince were already battling fiercely with Sect Leader Qin and other members of the Celestial Heart Sect.

The elderly Crown Prince, who was over sixty, witnessed everything but his face remained calm, as if he was accustomed to such scenes.

Beside the Crown Prince, the effeminate old man holding a brush tail smiled from beginning to end.

Downstairs, a talented woman vying for the courtesan title exclaimed in dismay, not because she was hurt, but because she was distressed over the Mingtiao Zither being used as a weapon by Bai Luo.

Crown Prince Zhao You saw this scene, frowned, then turned to the elder beside him and said, "Companion, do not harm the lady’s heart."

The pale, beardless elder instantly understood, and immediately opened his drake-like voice, shouting to Zuo Zixiong who was fighting fiercely downstairs:

"Crown Prince orders, do not damage the Mingtiao Zither!"

Downstairs, Zuo Zixiong leapt with all his might, his Divine Machine Treasure Sabers swirling like a frenzied dragon, about to strike Bai Luo, but had to exert all his strength, pulling back the striking force.

This reversal caused Zuo Zixiong’s blood to surge and he tasted blood, almost spitting it up.

Seeing this, Bai Luo laughed, then held a sword in one hand and the Mingtiao Zither as a shield in the other, instantly shifting the balance between offense and defense.

Zuo Zixiong was upright and never defied the Crown Prince’s orders. Whenever Bai Luo used the zither to block, he was forced to withdraw his move, temporarily turned into a prisoner with chains and shackles, having infinite techniques but unable to deploy any.

Within a few breaths, several wounds appeared on his body.

"Zuo Zixiong, in their eyes, you are just a watchdog, not even comparable to the broken zither in my hand. I truly feel pity for you."

"Demon, don’t try to confuse my mind, watch the saber!"

While saying "watch the saber," Zuo Zixiong suddenly tore open his robe, releasing several spinning Divine Machine Darts, aimed straight at Bai Luo’s face.

Although Bai Luo had the Mingtiao Zither in hand, he didn’t dare use it to block. If the zither were damaged, the martial artist in front of him might go completely berserk!

Tilted his head to avoid the darts, a thunderous roar came from behind.

It turned out that the hidden weapons from the Divine Strategy Camp had intricate mechanisms, containing thunder and fire elements, which exploded upon hitting the pavilion columns.

The effeminate elder upstairs immediately shrieked, "Left Hundred Households, did you not hear what I said? If the Mingtiao Zither is damaged, even hundreds of deaths are insufficient!"

In the Xiangyin Pavilion, Xu Qing watched the outside commotion closely; although he didn’t witness Zuo Zixiong and Bai Luo’s entire fight, he heard most of it.

But he didn’t hear everything, as Zhu Huai’an and Miss Zhenwan upstairs were causing as much commotion as Zuo Zixiong’s fight downstairs.

There was a fierce struggle near the Crown Prince, while here too, the Cyan Dragon and White Tiger were embroiled together.

Generous and magnanimous, Zhu Huai’an specially chose ’dowry’ maidservants to serve the Wu brothers.

While Wu Zhiyuan was worried about the situation outside, Wu Wencai dragged him back, saying that a moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold; the Crown Prince is not so easy to kill, and those outside might be minor thieves, not worth worrying about.

Now, only Xu Qing was left to pay attention to the outside commotion. The girl Zhu Huai’an had called for him, he had no time to care for, and until the distant noises gradually diminished, he finally pushed open the small pavilion door, walking alone toward the depths of the Book Phoenix Pavilion.

Encountering a hurriedly moving servant, Xu Qing reached out to stop him, asking, "I am a guest delivering combing gifts to Miss Shuyu, can you tell me where Miss Shuyu’s pavilion is?"

Guided by the servant, Xu Qing avoided the shouting and fighting in the lobby, detouring through the winding corridors and finally arriving at Miss Shuyu’s pavilion after several twists and turns.

Earlier, when that Yin Ghost Jade was given as a combing gift, he had specially noted down Shuyu’s performing name.

With the Book Phoenix Pavilion in chaos, it was the perfect time for him to fish in troubled waters.

"Are you... an official from the Patrol Office?"

Arriving at Shuyu’s boudoir, Xu Qing hadn’t planned to enter yet, noticing a young man looking dejectedly standing in front of the pavilion.

Frequenting the government office recently, Xu Qing had some impression of this person, remembering him as a constable from the fast squad in the third class and sixth household.

The other also recognized Xu Qing. Having seen each other a few times, they chatted briefly; Xu Qing only mentioned he was passing by, but the constable named Zhang didn’t seem to happen upon this place by chance.

"Brother Zhang, since you’ve come to the Book Phoenix Pavilion, why not seek a lady to relieve your worries, why sit here alone in a daze."

Zhang Jun smiled bitterly, then picked up a wine pot, planning to drown his sorrows, but found it already empty.

"Bitterness, bitterness, you say I don’t seek a lady for comfort, yet don’t know the lady I love is inside, accompanying someone else..."

Hearing this, Xu Qing’s lips parted slightly, what... what kind of drama is this?

Seeing Xu Qing not speaking, the drunken Zhang Jun pointed to the pavilion beside him, saying word by word, "Miss Shuyu, talented and artistic, her family was once wealthy and prosperous; I was just a boy from a family selling oil, only occasionally seeing her when delivering oil with my father.

Later, her family fell into decline, her mother remarried, and I escorted her here to seek refuge."

"At that time, she promised repeatedly that once settled, she would marry me. But her words were empty; relying on her slight talents, she didn’t hesitate to throw herself into such a place."

"I sought her many times, but she refused to meet me. Today, I brought combing gifts and all my saved silver over the years, yet she chose an old man to accompany her for combing."

After speaking, Zhang Jun burst into laughter, then squatted down and sobbed uncontrollably.

Xu Qing didn’t know how to comfort him, only suggesting, "Since she’s heartless, why grieve here? Better to return early and find someone else..."

Zhang Jun replied with his head bowed, "I fear she’ll be humiliated; those old men are most adept at handling women poorly. If she’s harmed and calls for help, who would save her if I am not there?"

"..."

Xu Qing was speechless.

Inside the pavilion, Miss Shuyu’s panting sounded like heavy blows, relentlessly striking Zhang Jun.

The small Book Phoenix Pavilion had unexpectedly gathered so many talents today.

Zhang Jun looked up at the pavilion, then asked Xu Qing, "What’s happening outside, why so noisy?"

Xu Qing replied, "The Celestial Heart Sect is said to be attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince, both sides are fighting fiercely."

"Crown Prince? The future Heir Apparent?"

Zhang Jun’s muddled gaze suddenly brightened with some clarity.

Shuyu only chose that old man because he was famous and wealthy. If he could defend the Heir Apparent now, risking his life for his future, success would mean meritorious service.

With merit, he need not worry about his future; and Shuyu would no longer reject him...

Thinking of this, Zhang Jun instantly revitalized, grabbing his official sword at his waist, he prepared to leave.

"Brother Zhang, where are you heading?"

"To protect the Crown Prince!"

"The assassins are Celestial Heart Sect members, you are no match for them..."

"The lesser the match, the greater the credit! Without merit, living is meaningless!"

Watching Zhang Jun’s determined figure, Xu Qing couldn’t fathom what madness possessed him.

However, his departure did make things easier for Xu Qing.

Seeing no one around, Xu Qing sneaked into the small pavilion, where Miss Shuyu was trying her best to serve the patron who was older than her father, aided by her personal maid.

Xu Qing activated his Qi Observation Skill, silently scanning the surroundings, finally spotting the Yin Ghost Jade in a makeup box used for dressing.