Chapter 2: Bloodline Verification

“Uncle Wu, are they really here to look for someone?”

In another room, Wang Chu sat in a wooden armchair, addressing the elderly man standing respectfully beside him, whose kind face radiated warmth.

The old man cupped his hands and replied courteously, “Master, their words are likely true. The eldest son of the current Emperor of Dairui was lost to the common folk in his childhood for unknown reasons. The emperor has been sending people to search for him and even issued an imperial edict.”

Wang Chu nodded. “Hmm, I’ve heard that rumor before, but I never imagined the emperor would go to such lengths for his son.”

“It is said that the crown prince was born to the emperor’s first wife, who was greatly favored by him,” Uncle Wu speculated.

“Is that so?” Wang Chu admitted he had not heard such gossip before. Today had certainly added some useless knowledge to his repertoire. He joked, “After hearing your explanation, I almost wish I were that crown prince.”

The old man smiled faintly. “Master, you jest. Our Beiming is by no means inferior to the emperor’s court.”

Wang Chu gave no reply and shifted the conversation. “Well, let the emperor look for his son. There’s no need for us to expose our identities over this.”

The old man bowed slightly. “Understood. I shall call the villagers over now to see these men off.”

Wang Chu looked puzzled. “Why don’t you just stall them with a few words? Why involve the whole village?”

The old man explained, “They want to see all the men in Can Yuan Village. They likely carry some artifact that can identify bloodline heritage.”

At that, he produced from his sleeve a translucent jade stone, shimmering with a blue glow. “They even gave me this spirit stone as a fee.”

Wang Chu looked at the spirit stone in the old man’s hand and smiled. “They didn’t use force or intimidation. That’s rare.”

Rising from his chair, Wang Chu said, “Honestly, the emperor must have a thousand easier ways to find someone. Choosing such a cumbersome method means the crown prince must be hiding many secrets and is not easy to locate.”

The old man agreed, “Indeed, the consequences involved with the crown prince must be profound.”

Wang Chu glanced toward the door and took a step forward. “Well, there’s nothing else to do now. Let’s meet these officials from out of town.”

The old man bowed his head respectfully. “Yes, Master.”

***

Soon, Wang Chu, the old man, and many of Can Yuan Village’s men gathered outside the house where Qiu Yeqing and Xu Ji waited.

Before Uncle Wu could notify them, Qiu Yeqing and Xu Ji stepped out, pushing open the door.

Qiu Yeqing surveyed the assembled men, her gaze settling on two in particular.

One was a burly, broad-shouldered young man; the other, a fair-skinned, handsome youth.

Considering his age, the crown prince lost among commoners would now be over nine hundred years old.

Ordinary people would have long returned to dust, but as the bloodline of the current Dairui Immortal Emperor, this prince was no ordinary mortal.

Even if he had never cultivated in those nine centuries, the celestial bloodline granted him a lifespan of tens of thousands of years.

Nine hundred years would still mark a youthful stage for such a man.

Among the gathered men, only the burly youth and the handsome young man fit this profile.

After briefly identifying who to test first, Qiu Yeqing approached the village chief.

“Village chief, are these all the men in your village?”

The old man smiled, his face full of wrinkles. “Yes, Madam, these are all the men of Can Yuan Village.”

Qiu Yeqing nodded. “Good. Have them come here.”

At that moment, a transparent orb materialized in her hand. She looked down at it and said, “Have them hold this orb in their hand.”

The old man’s eyes flashed a barely perceptible dark light that entered the orb.

“I understand,” he said, turning around.

Unaware of anything unusual, Qiu Yeqing added, “And have those two young men stand at the front.”

The old man paused briefly before responding, “Understood.”

He then approached Wang Chu and relayed Qiu Yeqing’s instructions.

In a low voice, he asked, “Master, that orb probably cannot detect our identities. Should we proceed as she says, or...?”

Wang Chu narrowed his eyes and answered with action. He turned to the burly youth beside him. “Niu Er, let’s go.”

The sturdy young man named Niu Er glanced at Qiu Yeqing and grinned foolishly. “Got it, Brother Wang.”

Wang Chu and Niu Er walked toward Qiu Yeqing, followed closely by the rest of the village men.

Stopping before the woman, Wang Chu halted, and those behind him did the same.

Niu Er asked, “Brother Wang, what are we doing? Slaughtering pigs?”

Xu Ji, standing beside Qiu Yeqing, chuckled and whispered to her, “Qiu, is this kid a fool?”

While they exchanged whispers, Wang Chu told Niu Er quietly, “No.”

Niu Er’s face fell. “Oh? Then what is it?”

Wang Chu smiled. “A game.”

He pointed to the orb in Qiu Yeqing’s hand. “You hold this orb gently. Don’t crush it. If you crush it, you lose. If you don’t, you win. The winner gets an extra candy tonight.”

Niu Er’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Wang Chu nodded with a smile. “Of course.”

Their exchange left Qiu Yeqing and Xu Ji with strange expressions.

“Heh, this country boy really has no clue. That Dragon-Detecting Orb is a supreme mystical artifact—no fool could crush it,” Xu Ji whispered disdainfully.

Qiu Yeqing said nothing. Her thoughts differed from Xu Ji’s.

The young man’s casual demeanor gave her the strange feeling that he might actually be able to crush the orb...

“Good! Looks like Niu Er gets an extra candy tonight!” Wang Chu affirmed.

Niu Er beamed with excitement.

He stepped past Wang Chu and gazed intently at the orb in Qiu Yeqing’s hand...