Chapter 9: Brother Wang Actually Comes from Beiming!? The Lotus Fairy Is Stunned

“You... you are from Beiming...”

Before the words were finished, Shangguan Ming vanished.

To be precise, he had already crossed into another world.

Liu Cuier, who witnessed everything, was now as shocked as Shangguan Ming had been before disappearing.

So Wang Chu was not an ordinary person!?

Beiming...

The Beiming that Shangguan Ming mentioned before dying—could it be the same Beiming known throughout Jiuzhou?

It was a mysterious organization renowned across Jiuzhou.

Though it had only been known to the public for less than a century, Beiming had accomplished more than any other power during that time.

For instance, eighty years ago, Beiming suddenly appeared in the public eye and wiped out the elite Songshan Sword Sect in a single night.

Seventy years ago, it assassinated over fifty officials of the Darui Dynasty overnight...

And just ten years ago, Beiming unified the demonic path, becoming its undisputed leader.

Its prestige rivaled only the Darui court itself.

If Wang Chu truly came from this organization...

Liu Cuier’s feelings grew complicated.

After a long moment of contemplation, she finally couldn’t help but ask:

“Brother Wang, are you really from Beiming?”

Wang Chu smiled faintly:

“What’s the matter? Afraid?”

Liu Cuier shook her head:

“No, even if you were to kill me now, I would have no regrets.”

Wang Chu sat back down and picked up the chopsticks resting on the table:

“Heh, come on, sit down and finish the noodles—they’re about to clump up.”

Liu Cuier obediently sat, raised the bowl, and took a sip of the soup.

After drinking, she put down the bowl and said:

“May I ask something?”

Wang Chu broke the noodles he was halfway through chewing and said:

“What?”

Liu Cuier clenched her hands:

“Why did you open a shop here?”

Wang Chu replied briefly:

“To cultivate, and for pleasure.”

Liu Cuier nodded, not fully understanding, but she didn’t press further and instead said:

“Sorry for the trouble. If I hadn’t come here, that guy wouldn’t have found this place.”

Wang Chu stirred the noodles with his chopsticks:

“Heh, it’s nothing, just something done along the way. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Liu Cuier pursed her lips:

“Mm.”

---

Liu Cuier remained silent and earnestly ate the noodles.

Soon, she finished the remaining noodles.

She wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, then stood and bowed to Wang Chu:

“Brother Wang, thank you. I will never forget the kindness you’ve shown me. Perhaps only in another life can I repay you.”

With that, Liu Cuier straightened her posture and said farewell:

“I’m leaving now.”

She turned away, her expression resolute.

Wang Chu looked at her graceful figure and called out:

“Wait.”

Liu Cuier stopped in her tracks, still with her back to him, and said:

“Brother Wang, rest assured, I won’t drag you down. I will bear all the blame myself.”

“Heh.”

Hearing the laugh, Liu Cuier turned around, pouting:

“Brother Wang, why are you laughing?”

Wang Chu said:

“Are you planning to go to Qingcheng Mountain to apologize?”

Liu Cuier lowered her head:

“I’m powerless. That’s the only way I can think of.”

Wang Chu rested his chin on one hand:

“Take a break. You don’t have to go yourself. Brother Wang will handle it.”

Liu Cuier looked at Wang Chu:

“You mean...”

Wang Chu said casually:

“It’s just Qingcheng Mountain. Don’t worry, it will soon disappear from this world. But...”

Hearing Wang Chu speak so lightly about something that, in Liu Cuier’s eyes, was a colossal force, being casually slated for disappearance, she trembled with shock and asked:

“But what?”

Wang Chu pointed a finger at her:

“You need to participate in this operation.”

Liu Cuier was stunned:

“Me?”

She spoke with some hesitation:

“My cultivation is only at the Qi Refining stage.”

Wang Chu shook his head:

“No matter. I will also assign a partner to go with you. Of course, all this depends on one condition—you must join Beiming.”

“Join Beiming!?”

Though she tried to remain calm, Liu Cuier was taken aback by Wang Chu’s words.

Wang Chu kept smiling:

“Yes, join Beiming. Liu Cuier, are you interested? In Beiming, everything—resources, power—is distributed based on strength and achievement. If you work hard, one day you will realize your dreams.”

Liu Cuier took a deep breath, and with some uncertainty, asked:

“Can I... really do it? Although I possess dual spirit roots of Water and Wood, in Beiming, I must be very ordinary.”

Wang Chu looked into her eyes and said:

“Nobles and generals, are they born or made? Beiming doesn’t care about talent, only about heart and character. Believe in yourself.”

“Nobles and generals, are they born or made...”

Liu Cuier’s gaze grew firm:

“You’re right, Brother Wang! I want to join Beiming!”

Wang Chu stood and walked to her:

“Trust me, you won’t regret this decision today.”

...

“Your Majesty, I have a question!”

Within the ancient palace, a young woman with a delicate and lovely appearance but an air of regal grace and an icy expression knelt without servility and spoke.

She was Jiang Wan, the eldest daughter of Jiang Cheng and the crown princess of the Darui Dynasty.

“Speak!”

Jiang Cheng, with his back to her, responded in a low voice.

Jiang Wan voiced her doubts:

“Since my elder brother has been confirmed within the territory of Ling City in Darui, and since we have the power to locate him sooner or later, why did Your Majesty issue an edict inviting others to join the search? Wouldn’t this make the world think the Darui court is incompetent? More importantly, wouldn’t it allow certain opportunists to take advantage and harm my brother?”

Jiang Cheng turned and countered:

“Who do you think, upon seeing this edict, will go to Ling City to search for my son?”

Jiang Wan thought for a moment and answered:

“I believe there are three types: those who see it as a last straw in desperation; those with ambitions who want to use it to defy fate and rise in status; and those secretly opposing the court, aiming to take revenge.”

Jiang Cheng nodded with satisfaction:

“You analyze well. Among them are many hidden pests—for example... people from Beiming!”

“Beiming!”

At the sound of the name, Jiang Wan’s spirit was instantly stirred.

Beiming...

This organization was well known yet profoundly mysterious across the continent, and was the only force posing a threat to Darui’s rule.

It was like a hidden serpent, ready to bare its fangs and strike at Darui at any moment.

Jiang Wan immediately understood the emperor’s intent:

“Father, you intend to use my brother as bait to lure out Beiming and other hostile forces?”

Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes:

“Exactly. Everyone knows I’m searching for your brother. Those people know it too; they will be curious why I am so intent on finding him. So, they will surely go to Ling City.”

He then looked at Jiang Wan and said:

“Your brother’s mission is to bait them, and your mission is to find your brother, protect him, and follow the bait to catch the fish hiding beneath the water.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wan immediately promised:

“I understand, Father. Please rest assured.”

...