"General Yue... I have failed you!"
Xia Wuyang sighed softly, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the Jade Couch.
He had tried back then, but as a deposed Crown Prince, he couldn’t even protect himself, let alone Yue Zhan.
"When you took that arrow for me, I promised I would protect your entire family. But all these years, not only did I not know you had a son and daughter who survived, I even allowed them to fall to such a state."
Guilt pricked Xia Wuyang’s heart like a fine needle.
If he hadn’t recently ordered the Shadow Guard Chief to pay special attention to the former members of the Crown Prince’s Mansion, he would likely still be ignorant of how his loyal old followers had fallen into such dire straits.
’Thank goodness I came to my senses in time, or I would have made another terrible mistake.’
He rose and walked to the window of the Practice Room, pushing it open a crack.
The night wind rushed in, carrying with it a spray of rain and the distinct fishy smell of the White Dragon River.
In the distance, the palace walls stood imposing, its lights flickering on and off. This Imperial City, which had devoured countless loyal souls, now appeared exceptionally cold in his eyes—so cruel it made one’s blood run cold.
"Cao Bang..." A cold light began to gleam in Xia Wuyang’s eyes.
He was certainly no stranger to this behemoth that controlled the empire’s canal transport. As the most important source of wealth for the Third Prince, Xia Wuchen, it had helped him commit many wicked deeds over the years.
The Cao Bang had over one hundred thousand disciples, with branches at docks in every county. It controlled about fifty percent of Great Xia’s grain and salt transport, handling tens of millions of taels of silver coins annually.
Its Gang Leader, "Fan Jianglong" Hong Zhenhai, was a Super Grade Late Stage expert. It was said his combat prowess was no less than that of a Super Grade Perfection Celestial Human, and even Tantai Zhan and Zheng Zhicang were quite wary of him.
Under him, the Four Great Elders and eight Hall Masters were all renowned figures in the Jianghu. Every one of them was a Grandmaster of First Grade or above, some even Super Grade Celestial Humans.
During the height of the Third Prince Xia Wuchen’s power, the Cao Bang was one of his most important sources of revenue. The gold and silver they presented each year was enough to cover more than half of the Prince Faction’s expenses.
Now that the Third Prince, Xia Wuchen, had fallen from grace, the Cao Bang had descended into an internal power struggle and was in a state of chaos. It was no wonder the siblings Yue Yulong and Yue Yufeng had chosen this moment to act.
"Yue Yulong, Yue Yufeng..."
Xia Wuyang recited the two names to himself, his heart surging with emotion. He was fortunate that his old friend had descendants, giving him a chance to make amends. Otherwise, how could he ever face his old friend in the afterlife?
Zheng Zhicang’s secret report included a brief description: Yue Yulong was twenty-three and had inherited Yue Zhan’s true teachings, wielding his Silver Spear with divine skill. His younger sister, Yue Yufeng, was stunningly beautiful yet exuded a heroic aura. She was skilled with dual swords and possessed exceptional Lightweight Techniques.
The siblings had endured for decades, training bitterly in secret. In the end, they could no longer bear their deep-seated blood feud and resorted to this dangerous move.
"Foolish, but admirable." Xia Wuyang shook his head, though not with any intention of blaming them.
He understood what the two "children" were thinking. Their father had been wrongfully killed, their family had collapsed in an instant, and this blood feud had seared their hearts day and night. Who could truly endure such a thing?
Their choice to risk everything was born of desperation. How could he have the heart to blame them?
But now that he knew, he couldn’t just stand by. He had to intervene.
This wasn’t just about his promise from all those years ago. It was also because it was time for that juicy piece of meat, the Cao Bang, to fall into his own hands.
With the Third Prince’s fall, the Cao Bang was in turmoil. Even its Gang Leader didn’t know whom to pledge allegiance to, making it the perfect time to step in.
If he could take control of the Cao Bang, not only would he gain a massive source of income, but he would also be seizing a part of Great Xia’s economic lifeline, which would be of immense help to his future plans.
Watching the sky darken with the heavy rain, Xia Wuyang deliberately came out and "visited" several beauties—Su Ling’Er, Hanik’s Heart, Ah Yuela... He didn’t miss a single one.
Then, feigning exhaustion, he returned to the Practice Room with some restorative delicacies, claiming he needed to get some proper rest.
In truth, the moment he entered the Practice Room and locked the door behind him, Xia Wuyang’s appearance changed completely.
He walked to the Copper Mirror. The man in the reflection had gray hair and a face full of wrinkles, looking as if he had one foot in the grave. Anyone who saw him would think this elder Crown Prince didn’t have long to live.
Then, he smiled faintly. A series of soft CRACK sounds came from his bones as his frame straightened at a visible rate.
His white hair turned black and his wrinkles smoothed out. In just a few breaths, he had transformed into a scholar in his thirties wearing a green robe. His figure, appearance, and aura were completely different from before.
This was the Transformation Realm, achieved by combining the Escape Concealment Technique with True Qi control. Not to mention Body Refining Martial Artists, even most True Monarchs would find it difficult to see through his true appearance.
He then took a Human Skin Mask as thin as a cicada’s wing from a hidden compartment and carefully applied it to his face. This was his second layer of disguise.
’Even if one layer is seen through, the face underneath is still not mine.’
The person in the mirror instantly changed to have a plain, unremarkable face—the kind that would disappear into a crowd, not the least bit conspicuous.
Only his eyes remained as deep as a Cold Pool, a strange light occasionally flashing within them.
He changed into an ordinary long robe of blue cloth, hung a plain Iron Sword from his waist, and covered himself with a black Cloak.
The Xia Wuyang of this moment was like a completely different person from the debauched and muddle-headed elder Crown Prince in Wenhua Hall. No one would ever recognize them as the same man.
"Cao Bang Headquarter..." He gazed south as his figure gradually faded, passing through the window like smoke and mist, and melting into the vast, rainy night. He was so brazen he would have done it even in broad daylight.
Spring days on the White Dragon River were supposed to be a gentle haven of painted boats, singing, and beckoning red sleeves.
But today, the rain grew heavier and heavier. There were not many painted boats on the White Dragon River, only a few black-canopied boats moored by the bank, rocking gently with the waves.
The Cao Bang Headquarter was located deep within the dock district, occupying nearly a hundred acres. It was surrounded by high, imposing walls and lined with watchtowers.
Even in the heavy rain, one could see the flickering wind-lanterns in the hands of the patrolling disciples on the walls, like the single eyes of a hibernating beast.
Like a single falling leaf, Xia Wuyang landed silently on an old willow tree outside the headquarter’s western wall.
Raindrops trickled down the edge of his Cloak, but they were vaporized by an invisible Qi Blood before they could touch the ground, making not the slightest sound.
’I’m not using True Qi. It’s always good to keep some trump cards in reserve. My Qi Blood is more than enough; there’s no need for True Qi.’
His Mental Force Field unfolded, flowing over the high walls like invisible mercury, reflecting the scene inside the headquarter onto his Heart Lake.
His Spiritual Power was now close to four hundred points. Once his Mental Force Field was deployed, everything within a nearly four-hundred-meter radius was under his control, far exceeding the detection range of an Extraordinary Spiritual Power.
In the front courtyard’s training ground, dozens of disciples were drilling in the rain, their shouts sounding muffled amidst the downpour.
The Central Hall was brightly lit, and the faint clamor of clinking glasses and boisterous conversation could be heard. Some of the gang’s upper echelons were feasting inside, seeming quite merry.
In the direction of the backyard’s Water Prison, the security was clearly much tighter. Overt sentries and hidden posts were intertwined, and two powerful auras lurked in the shadows—they belonged to two Guardians at the Third Grade Realm.
’As expected of the renowned Cao Bang. To think they have experts of the Upper Three Grades guarding the Water Prison. In any other place, an expert of the Upper Three Grades would be enough to hold dominion over an entire region.’

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