Chapter 41 - Arc 4: The Affairs of Chenghuang Kingdom | Chapter 41: The Crown Prince

Chapter 41 - Arc 4: The Affairs of Chenghuang Kingdom | Chapter 41: The Crown Prince

Translator: Lynn

Content warning: This chapter contains NSFW content, just a little bit. I will use a button if you want to see it, if not, you can skip it.

“Big brother?” Dong Lizhao’s initial joy turned to worry. His older brother was confined within his own bedchamber, unaware of the difficulties he had faced for many days. Dong Lizhao held his breath and cautiously took a few steps forward.

In an instant, however, he heard another voice from inside, raising suspicions within him.

Xu Ziqing’s complexion went from red to white. While mortals like Dong Lizhao had poor hearing, Xu Ziqing, as a cultivator, could perceive every sound clearly.

There, unmistakably...

Dong Lizhao remained vigilant and discreetly twisted his mouth, creating a small hole in the window paper. This allowed the sound to pass through more clearly, enabling him to listen attentively.

NSFW Content

“Baby, your place is really great, I miss it to death!”

“Ah ...... mmm ...... mmmm ...... mmmm you ...... mmmm!”

“Clench more, you little bitch! It’s really good around...... me, if people knew how good you look in bed, they would be jealous of me!”

Then there was the continuous sound of “papapa”, the bed shaking and creaking, and the sound of moaning, accompanied by the ragged gasps and laughter of grown men, filling the entire chamber.

Looking through the window, he saw the two naked men fighting it out on the bed.

The man on top was dark and strong, and beneath him was a handsome, slender young man. His purple-black crotch was stuck in the young man’s buttocks, and he was shoving it back and forth with all his might, thrusting nonstop!

The youth had a smile on his face, his legs were wrapped around the strong man’s waist, his hands were around his neck, his face was flushed, his eyes were narrowed, and he seemed to be enjoying himself.



Dong Lizhao’s face turned pale with disbelief. How could he not recognize the powerful man as the State General and the young man he had fought with so fiercely as his beloved elder brother!

His noble brother, the Crown Prince, was once handsome, magnanimous, and talented—the most illustrious prince of all. Yet now, he was entangled with his enemy, completely forgetting about Dong Lizhao’s existence.

This was still the brother he admired and cherished the most—the Crown Prince!

Dong Lizhao clenched his teeth, consumed by anger. He yearned to storm into the room and confront the Crown Prince. He wanted to ask him if he had forgotten their mother’s murder, their brothers’ imprisonment, and the plot to overthrow their dynasty. How could he be so shameless...

Unable to bear it any longer, Dong Lizhao was about to burst into the room when someone grabbed his arm from behind. He turned to see the handsome cultivator who had accompanied him all the way back.

“Sir...” he seethed with hatred, “Spare me the embarrassment. I cannot let my royal brother sink to such... such shamelessness.” The last four words were swallowed, unspoken.

Xu Ziqing let out a soft sigh, having already recovered from his earlier embarrassment. He whispered to Dong Lizhao, “Zhao’er, take a closer look into the prince’s eyes.”

Dong Lizhao was taken aback, but hope suddenly surged within him. He pleaded, “Sir, is there any way for me to see more clearly?”

Xu Ziqing’s gaze softened as he lightly brushed his fingers over Dong Lizhao’s eyelids.

Dong Lizhao’s vision became sharper, and every detail in the room became visible to him. He deliberately ignored the Great General and focused solely on his brother’s face.

As expected, although Dong Lixi appeared to be in a state of ecstasy, his eyes were clear and sober when examined closely. Occasionally, when his gaze fell upon the man thrusting and panting, a trace of coldness emanated from his eyes.

In an instant, Dong Lizhao felt a tremendous sense of relief, followed by a surge of hatred toward that sycophant.

“That despicable person should be killed for disrespecting his elder brother like this!” he exclaimed furiously.

Xu Ziqing gently stroked his shoulder. “Don’t go in there,” he cautioned.

Dong Lizhao muttered in a low voice, “Yes, sir.” He paused and continued, “I understand.”

If he barged in now, not only would he alert the snake, but he would also cause his elder brother to lose face. It would be a great shame and anger for the Crown Prince, who was destined to ascend the throne and become the Son of Heaven, to be witnessed in such a state by his beloved brother.

Even for the sake of Dong Lixi’s dignity, Dong Lizhao, who had now regained his composure, would not act impulsively.

After suppressing his emotions, Dong Lizhao pulled on Xu Ziqing’s sleeve and said, “Sir, I... I don’t want to watch anymore.”

Understanding his sentiments, Xu Ziqing acquiesced and retreated back into the shadows with him.

The sounds of crashing and heavy breathing persisted in the room for over two hours before finally subsiding. Soon after, the rustling of clothing could be heard from inside, and the formidable Great General emerged from the bedchamber, fully dressed and composed.

Dong Lizhao observed a eunuch approaching with a fawning smile, “General, this slave has prepared hot water. Shall I bring it in for His Highness?”

The strong man wiped his face and replied, “Go ahead, but don’t wake him up.”

The eunuch acknowledged and went on his way, while the strong man adjusted his hair once more before leaving with purposeful strides.

Dong Lizhao’s eyes were bloodshot as he fixated on the eunuch bringing in the water, his words dripping with ruthlessness, “These insolent slaves, the king shall bury them all with Jiao Tu1Jiao Tu: The general’s name.!”

Yun Lie advised, “Ignore the golden dragon and focus on the black half-dragon.”

Xu Ziqing scrutinized the scene and noticed that the black-scaled dragon exhibited even greater dominance at night. Its tail entangled with the tail of the golden dragon, and its immense bodies twisted tighter and tighter.

It appeared as though... the golden dragon and the black half-dragon were engaged in a peculiar interaction.

Upon closer inspection, Xu Ziqing discerned that the black half-dragon’s eyes were shaped like a snake’s, with dark golden pupils surrounded by a blood-red ring. A black mist hovered over it, obscuring its true nature. At first glance, it was unclear, but upon further examination, it appeared extraordinarily bizarre and menacing.

Clearly, the black half-dragon had been tainted by demonic energy.

Although Xu Ziqing was an immortal cultivator, he knew that various types of cultivators existed in the world, such as demon cultivators, devil cultivators, and ghost cultivators, whose paths diverged greatly from his own.

Practitioners of the demon path were chaotic, while those on the devil path and ghost path were opposing forces to immortal cultivators. One represented Yin, the other Yang; one embodied negativity, the other positivity. There was no inherent good or bad among all cultivators; they all abided by the Heavenly Dao.

Ghost cultivators were rare, and devil cultivators and immortal cultivators held stark opposition to each other.

However, regardless of the path chosen, all cultivators were subject to the rules of the Heavenly Dao. Hence, Xu Ziqing was astonished to learn that there were demon cultivators involved in the kingdom’s affairs when he had withdrawn from the world.

Furthermore, there was one thing he still did not comprehend. “Brother Yun, what exactly is the Devil Path?”

Yun Lie stared at him indifferently and responded coldly. “A practitioner of the devil’s path experiences the full spectrum of human emotions and cultivates as they desire. In addition to harnessing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, their cultivation methods mostly rely on negative energies such as anger, darkness, blood, death, and impurity. They often succumb to greed, rage, and madness, becoming addicted to vices like alcohol, sex, and killing, constantly plagued by delusional thoughts.

There is a distinction between following a demonic path and the devil’s path.

Those who cultivate the Tao of Harmony with Yin and Yang maintain decency, never forcing others into sexual encounters, and seek mutual benefit. On the other hand, practitioners of the evil demon path engage in acts of rape, pillage, and plunder, using people as tools to satisfy their desire for power and inflicting harm upon their lives.

Therefore, immortal cultivators may not see eye to eye with those who align themselves with the devil’s path, but they will go so far as to eliminate those who practice the devil’s path.

However, due to the unique techniques of the devil’s path, cultivating the devil’s way is much easier than the righteous way. Consequently, those who follow the devil’s path often surpass their counterparts on the righteous path.”

Xu Ziqing found himself captivated by this information. He had only heard sporadic mentions of the enmity between the devil’s path and the immortal path, but he lacked a deep understanding of the reasons and intricate details. Now that he had gained some insight, thoughts began to form in his mind.

Unable to contain his curiosity, he inquired, “How do these two paths... how do you, Brother Yun, deal with each other?”

Yun Lie responded in a cold tone, “Those who practice the demonic path differ from my path and are not sought after. Those who follow the devil’s path are to be killed upon sight, and if their sect is wicked, they must be eradicated by any means necessary.”

His voice was icy, and his intent to kill was palpable, causing Xu Ziqing’s hair to stand on end, and he couldn’t help but shiver. “I wonder how many people have been killed by Brother Yun...?”

For the first time since they met, Yun Lie stated, “I have slain 933 devil cultivators.”

Xu Ziqing was shocked. Such a strong inclination towards murder sent a chill down one’s spine. However, he also recognized that although Yun Lie was a prolific killer, he didn’t act without careful consideration, which was truly commendable.

Now that he understood the reason, Xu Ziqing spoke, “Does Brother Yun want me to locate and eliminate the devil cultivator?” Recalling the massacre he had witnessed with Dong Lizhao, he believed it must be related to the evil demon. Although he felt uneasy, he didn’t argue. Instead, he expressed his doubts, “Cultivators are not permitted to interfere in mundane court affairs, so how can I...”

But Xu Ziqing trusted that Yun Lie would never harm him, so he suspected there must be another motive.

“The matter of a change in a dynasty is originally a mundane affair. However, since the devil’s path is involved, those in the immortal path cannot simply stand idly by and watch.”

It appears that mundane affairs are typically handled by ordinary people, but when devilish cultivators get involved, the balance is disrupted, and the immortals are compelled to confront them, turning mundane matters into a battle among cultivators.

Yun Lie’s expression remained cold as he continued, “Good actions bring about good outcomes, while evil actions result in bad consequences. The evil demon path has gone against the natural order, and it is Heaven’s will that you are here at this opportune moment.”

Xu Ziqing was taken aback. “If I hadn’t come here...” he pondered, considering the possibility of what might have occurred if he hadn’t met Dong Lizhao or hadn’t saved him. What would have unfolded in this place?

Yun Lie responded coldly, “There are celestial rules to follow, and if it’s not you, it will be someone else. Meeting him was your chance.”

Xu Ziqing smiled and sighed, “I understand. I will follow your instructions, Brother Yun.”

The second son, Dong Lizhao, possesses a benevolent heart, respects his elder brother, and emanates a golden dragon aura. It is evident that this dynasty possesses great fortune and should not be on the verge of changing its rule.

Furthermore, Dong Lizhao is a wise and benevolent ruler. Therefore, there must be an external threat disturbing the dynasty and interfering with its heavenly fate.

This is a grave transgression.

As an immortal, Xu Ziqing knows that in order to become an immortal, he must contribute to the Heavenly Dao. If he performs his duties well, he may be rewarded. However, even if he fails... the Heavenly Dao intends to use his hand to punish those who have meddled. As long as he does his best and doesn’t defy the Heavenly Dao, he won’t end up in a dire situation.

Indeed, Heaven’s business is not a trivial matter.

Xu Ziqing nodded, “Yes, I have contemplated it thoroughly.” He smiled once again, expressing gratitude, “Thank you, Brother Yun, for your guidance.”

That night, to prevent the practitioners of the devil’s path cultivator from sensing the surging spiritual energy within him, Xu Ziqing decided not to meditate. Instead, he slept on his bed like an ordinary mortal, resting for the night.

The following day, Dong Lizhao knocked on his door early, asking, “Sir, are you awake?”

Xu Ziqing opened his eyes, rolled over, and went to the door, greeting with a smile, “You’re up early.”

Dong Lizhao felt embarrassed. He hadn’t slept well all night, fearing that Xu Ziqing would leave him. It was still early dawn in the east, and he couldn’t wait to come over.

The eunuchs stationed in the East Palace remained oblivious, but Xu Ziqing noticed the dark circles under Dong Lizhao’s eyes. With a soft sigh, he let him in, saying, “Don’t act so hastily, and be cautious not to be seen.”

Dong Lizhao let out a sigh of relief and entered, closing the door behind him. He explained, “I took the back route, hugging the wall. This place is quite secluded, so unless it’s something important, no one will find out.”

Observing Dong Lizhao’s reliance on him, Xu Ziqing’s gaze softened.

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