Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 864: Chapter 860: Making a Move

As for the identity of these two middle-aged men, he already had a vague guess.

Although they didn’t say anything, he surmised their identity through their demeanor, the aura they exuded, and their manner of conduct: people from the Yuanzhen Dynasty.

They might be spies from the Yuanzhen Tingfeng Pavilion.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Yifan pledged allegiance not to the Phoenix Dynasty’s Rain Listening Platform, but to the Yuanzhen Dynasty’s Tingfeng Pavilion.

He was thoughtful.

Has the Yuanzhen Dynasty never given up their attempt to assassinate me?

Tingfeng Pavilion has very astute information, they should be aware of my prowess.

Yet they still go forward without hesitation to deal with me, is this perseverance?

Or could it be that they are confident?

Do they know that I have already obtained the Spiritual Treasure?

”That’s right.” The tall middle-aged man squeezed out a faint smile from his stern face: ”When predicting the enemy, you must be generous. He is petty-minded and will certainly make a move, and he’ll do so quickly. If you’re careless and get blocked in the city, there’ll be no use regardless, and the Court won’t intervene much.”

”Yes.” Zhou Yifan replied in a deep voice.

If I really have to act against Chu Zhiyuan, there’s a chance of success, but he certainly has masters assisting him.

If Fu Zheng is added into the mix, then I have no chance of winning.

So I still need to leverage external forces.

He quickly pondered and then spoke deeply: ”Then I will set off now, gentlemen, shall we go together?”

”We have a place outside the city, Qiyun Valley. If he dares to come here, he will never return!”

”Let me make some arrangements, we’ll depart immediately.”

Zhou Yifan clenched his teeth and spoke solemnly.

This world is indeed like this, overcoming one challenge after another, I can surpass this one!

...

Watching Zhou Yifan leave the small courtyard hastily, the two middle-aged men withdrew their gazes, their expressions grim.

”He won’t be an issue, right?”

”No.”

”We must be cautious.”

”Old colleagues for so many years, there won’t be an issue.”

”Human hearts change easily... ”

”How could he change, would he be turning to the Rain Listening Platform?”

”...Yes, exactly.”

While the two discussed, Zhou Yifan appeared in another small courtyard.

Beside the stone table in the small courtyard, two young men were seated, one with a chubby, round face, looking somber.

The other had a longer face but was smiling heartily, giving off a sense of approachability.

Upon entering the courtyard, Zhou Yifan bowed with a bitter smile: ”Lord Meng, Lord Qi, apologies for my interruption.”

The long-faced young man laughed: ”Did you not give anything away?”

”They didn’t seem to notice any flaws.” Zhou Yifan laughed: ”But this time it was truly an offense against the Prince Consort.”

”There will be arrangements made by our Prince there.” The round-faced youth said coldly.

The long-faced youth chuckled: ”With our Prince personally speaking, even the Prince Consort must give face.”

Zhou Yifan nodded and laughed: ”Prince Cheng is a Prince, the Emperor’s seventh brother; even if the Prince Consort is strong, he must show some respect to Prince Cheng.”

”As long as you’re aware.” The round-faced youth said coldly: ”So, don’t consider riding the fence, revealing news to Yuanzhen!”

Zhou Yifan hurriedly said: ”Lord Meng, I may be foolish, but I would never do such a thing!”

”I hope so.” The round-faced youth snorted.

The long-faced young man laughed: ”Brother Meng, you don’t need to remind, which is dark and which is light, doesn’t it go without saying.”

Zhou Yifan smiled: ”Lord Qi’s words are indeed correct, given the chance, who wouldn’t want to enter the Rain Listening Platform, who wouldn’t want to be part of our Phoenix Court?”

Zhou Yifan expressed sentimentally: ”Twenty years ago when I first arrived at the Imperial City, I thought I had entered a dragon’s den, a tiger’s lair. But living in our Imperial City for twenty years, I’ve completely assimilated into Phoenix Imperial City, I’m considered a Phoenix person.”

”Those who come to our Phoenix Imperial City find it hard not to become one of us.” The round-faced young man said proudly.

Not to mention the immense power of the Phoenix Dynasty far surpassing the Jade Dynasty and Yuanzhen Dynasty, other small dynasties are not even worth mentioning.

And the prosperity of the Phoenix Imperial City is incomparable to other imperial cities.

After residing in the Phoenix Imperial City for long, how could one still hope to return to the Yuanzhen Imperial City?

Moreover, the Phoenix Dynasty has been invincible, continually suppressing the Yuanzhen Imperial City.

Everyone wants to stand on the side of the victors.

The long-faced youth said: ”By the way, how are they planning to deal with the Twelfth Prince Consort?”

After listening to Zhou Yifan’s account of the plan, he frowned: ”There’s an ambush planned to assassinate the Twelfth Prince Consort.”

”Should be aiming to kill the Twelfth Prince Consort.”

”It’s truly ridiculous.” The round-faced youth said coldly: ”Do they think they can ambush the Twelfth Prince Consort!”

The long-faced young man laughed: ”Even the Heavenly Demon couldn’t succeed.”

”Two lords, from their demeanor, it seems they are prepared.” Zhou Yifan said.

The round-faced youth coldly snorted: ”Those who plot against the Twelfth Prince Consort, which one of them hasn’t prepared?”

Zhou Yifan said: ”I feel they are indeed confident.”

The insidious methods of Yuanzhen, having experienced them as part of the Tingfeng Pavilion, were deeply felt.

If they are meticulously targeting someone, they can practically succeed, especially with the dynasty’s strength backing them, something no individual can defy.

”Don’t worry, they won’t succeed.” The long-faced young man chuckled.

”Should we inform the Twelfth Prince Consort?” Zhou Yifan said worriedly.

The round-faced youth spoke deeply: ”Let the Prince decide.”

The long-faced youth quickly nodded: ”Yes, yes, we are just following orders.”

”Then...”

”Just continue the operation, if by chance pursued by the Twelfth Prince Consort, at the life or death moment, reveal your identity and he will not act rashly.”

”Yes, then I’ll go.” Zhou Yifan solemnly clasped his fists and stood up to leave.

Chu Zhiyuan, upon seeing this, stood up with his hands behind his back, pacing with a smile on his face.

He couldn’t have guessed matters would be so amusing.

That Zhou Yifan truly is a talent, turning into a double agent.

It’s uncertain whether Yuanzhen knows about his other identity; if they do, then it’s truly interesting.

...

Zhou Yifan left the Imperial City alongside the two middle-aged men, heading west.

The three walked and chatted.

Zhou Yifan had a cheerful smile and wasn’t worried, not believing Chu Zhiyuan would act immediately.

”Gentlemen, we don’t actually need to hurry like this, he won’t act that quickly.”

”That’s because you don’t understand him yet.”

”I even think we should’ve hurried more.” The short middle-aged man shook his head: ”There shouldn’t be any delay, we should have departed directly earlier.”

Zhou Yifan laughed without refuting; it was evident that these two were intimidated by Chu Zhiyuan.

”After this, if you fail to take him down, Xiao Zhou, you should withdraw as well.”

”Can I retreat?” Zhou Yifan became immediately excited: ”I can finally go home!”

His eyes flashed with yearning and he said sentimentally: ”I wonder if the embroidered flowers of my hometown have bloomed.”

”You will see them.” The short middle-aged man laughed: ”You’ve been away for twenty years, your parents are older now, it’s time to return.”

”Indeed...” Zhou Yifan sighed: ”I am not a filial son.”

”Then make sure to fulfill your filial duties when you return this time.”

Zhou Yifan asked: ”If we succeed, can I return too?”

”Well...”

The two middle-aged men exchanged a glance and shook their heads helplessly.

Obviously, he couldn’t.

If Chu Zhiyuan is really defeated, Zhou Yifan’s role as a senior in the Qianji Tower is still very valuable, it’s unwise to give up.

Zhou Yifan smiled bitterly: ”In that case, I don’t know if I should hope for success or not.”

”Surely we will succeed!” The taller middle-aged man said solemnly: ”Absolutely without fail!”

”Yes, this time it’s absolutely foolproof!” The shorter middle-aged man nodded earnestly.

Zhou Yifan didn’t ask what arrangements were in place, and smiled: ”Let’s see if he takes the bait.”

”He will take it.” The short middle-aged man said in a serious tone.

”Take what bait?!”

A clear voice suddenly resounded beside their ears.