Master Ling Yi had originally planned to depart today, but received an encrypted message from Qiandao Temple early in the morning, which was promptly delivered to the palace.
The secret letter mentioned just one thing, specifying that a strange force had infiltrated the Imperial City and urged him to investigate.
The unfamiliar power detectable by Qiandao Temple could be nothing else but the Sensory Power generated by the Mystical Arts. The use of an encrypted message to report such a strange force suggested it was likely malevolent.
After setting aside the message, Master Ling Yi understood his master’s intention for him to stay a few more days and discreetly uncover the origin of this mysterious Mystical Art.
To the eyes of others, Mystical Arts appeared enigmatic and unfathomable, inspiring worship and belief among the masses towards things they did not understand.
However, in Ling Yi’s view, the Mystical Arts were merely areas where some individuals exceeded the ordinary. Just as some are born with keener eyesight or sharper hearing than others, or are naturally taller.
The people of Qiandao Temple simply excelled in certain aspects beyond the average person, with superior Concentration Power, Telekinesis, and Perception Power.
Thus, within Nanzheng State, there were many such talented individuals besides those from Qiandao Temple, but often these innate gifts were not fully realized from a young age. Qiandao Temple was different; with centuries of tradition, they had mastered specific techniques to harness particular abilities.
Therefore, this strange force could very well be another Master Yin He discovered by his master.
Or, his master might even prefer it to be Master Yin He.
Back at the Traveling Palace, after Master Yin He disappeared, his master sent several groups to search for him, to no avail.
Master Ling Yi suspected it was indeed Master Yin He responsible for this, but knowing the mysterious Master Yin He was not to be underestimated, even if he found him, it was not certain he would be able to bring him back.
"Big Brother, shall we set off?" The two disciples who had come along had packed their luggage and stood respectfully to the side, waiting.
"No, Wen Feng, come with me to the palace."
...
Yan Cheng led Zheng Haoyuan out of the palace. The following Eunuch Cang Er, although it was his first time leaving the palace, dared not look around too much.
Zheng Haoyuan headed straight for the shop where Nanmen Yu was located, not wishing to delay, wondering if they really expected to buy his favor with such a trifling thing.
Although Yan Cheng did not know what had occurred, he was aware that the shop, although claimed by Nanmen Yu, was ultimately under the Commandery Princess Chao Ren. Did the young lord know about this?
Yan Cheng had not been following Zheng Haoyuan for long and regretted not having studied the Fourth Prince thoroughly when serving the Second Prince. Even worse, he had participated in a few deeds against the Fourth Prince, although the perpetrators of those deeds had long since been dealt with cleanly by him, leaving no trace behind.
"Why aren’t you moving?" Zheng Haoyuan suddenly spoke up. Yan Cheng looked grave, casting a glance around. Zheng Haoyuan hadn’t noticed anything at first, but after a moment, he too sensed a mysterious aura surrounding them.
"Protect the Crown Prince—" Yan Cheng didn’t have time to hide their identities anymore as four loyal warriors quickly materialized and surrounded Zheng Haoyuan at the center.
Dressed as a servant, Eunuch Cang Er trembled with fear as a chill wind rose around them, and a dark shadow suddenly wrapped around them with movements too swift to be human.
A House Guard had just been entangled and within two exchanges, he collapsed to the ground, his body blackened as if charred.
Yan Cheng was greatly alarmed. Forcing himself to remain calm, he stepped back firmly, positioning himself in front of Zheng Haoyuan.
"Take the Crown Prince away—" Yan Cheng shouted, as two other men quickly turned and started to run with Zheng Haoyuan.
Yan Cheng held his sword in front of his chest, but where was the shadow now? Realizing something terrifying, he leaped towards Zheng Haoyuan, but the shadow was faster, already flying over his head and sweeping directly towards Zheng Haoyuan.
"Ah, save me—!" Zheng Haoyuan’s shriek came to an abrupt end as the shadow swept him away, flying through the air.
Yan Cheng, along with the other two house guards, was flung out as if whipped by a huge force, crashing heavily against the walls on both sides of the street.
"Quick, chase—" Yan Cheng struggled to his feet, ran a few steps, then collapsed again.
When he came to, Yan Cheng realized he had been unconscious for half an hour, and the two guards beside him still hadn’t woken up, with some bystanders curiously surrounding the three of them.
Yan Cheng woke the two men and walked back with a grave expression.
He hadn’t even caught a clear glimpse of their attacker’s face, let alone know anything of their origin.
The loyal warriors of the Wen Family, summoned by Wen Feng, had just arrived and were alarmed to see their leader limping.
Yan Cheng dared not delay and immediately sent people to investigate.
Another half an hour passed, still with no results.
Yan Cheng glanced at a shop in the distance, the people behind Nanmen Yu?
This matter could not be blown out of proportion, the only person who could help with the disappearance of the Fourth Prince was the Crown Prince.
It wasn’t that the Loyal Warriors of Wen Family had such confidence; the ones capable of beating them like this could only be the Crown Prince’s Hidden Guards or those with Nanmen Yu. In the entire Zheng Capital, there was no third contender.
Yan Cheng suddenly stood up; regardless of the circumstances, he had to try.
Ignoring the pain in his body, Yan Cheng limped along. That shadow must have abducted the Fourth Prince; otherwise, the Fourth Prince would be like that loyalist, nothing but a charred heap on the ground. No matter what their motive was, as long as they had one, there was hope the Fourth Prince was alive.
At that moment, Yan Cheng had only one thought: that the Fourth Prince was the Wen Family’s only hope. Without him, they would lose their most important bargaining chip, and the Loyal Warriors of the Wen Family would lose their reason for existence.
Yan Cheng only regretted that he had realized Zheng Haoyuan’s importance too late, overconfident in their belief that in the Zheng Capital, with them there, no one could harm the Fourth Prince. It was precisely their arrogance that had led to repeated mistakes.
Suddenly thinking of someone, Yan Cheng dashed towards the palace, sprinting all the way to Qishun Building, bursting through the doors, and kneeling before Princess Chao Ren.
Everyone in Qishun Building was startled by his disheveled appearance, and it took Zheng Nianru a long time to recognize who it was.
"Your Highness, please save the Fourth Prince." He hadn’t uncovered anything himself, but she held firm control over Nanmen Yu, and this incident was closely related to Nanmen Yu.
For Yan Cheng still believed that in the entire Zheng Capital, aside from the Crown Prince’s men, only those who had clashed with them from Nanmen Yu’s side could be so brazen to take away Zheng Haoyuan.
Zheng Nianru frowned slightly upon hearing Yan Cheng’s words.
However, Yan Cheng’s words confirmed Zheng Nianru’s suspicions that those forces had reached out to Nanmen Yu.
"Why kidnap Fu Gong?"
Seeing this, Yan Cheng steeled himself and recounted everything that had happened, followed by repeatedly kowtowing.
"Come with me and take a look—" Zheng Nianru stood up; she was determined to save Fu Gong, and she was also curious about those behind Nanmen Yu. With such forces at play, it seemed her plans to steer Nanmen Yu towards commerce and trade were becoming less likely.