Starting My Cultivation With Time Management

Chapter 410: Chapter 43 If You Still Want to Hold the Fox

Their conversation ended quickly.

Long Long had not interjected throughout the entire discussion. In fact, as soon as Hu Li hinted that Long Hu was born “a very, very long time ago,” prompting Qin Beiwang to think of a certain possibility, it was destined that he would thoroughly investigate this matter afterward.

No matter how he might interject, divert, or even mislead Qin Beiwang’s thoughts, it would not be possible to dissuade him from his intent to thoroughly investigate Long Hu’s origins.

As for what would happen after the truth came to light… it wasn’t hard to guess.

If it had been tens of thousands of years ago, the Azure Dragon Clan might still have been wary of her “princess” status.

But now Emperor Ying Long has become a legend, the Jiaolong branch has long since lost power, forced into the Beiming Fanyang to barely cling to existence, while the Azure Dragon Clan has become the leader of the Dragon Clans of the world. To them, Long Hu’s identity therefore represents only a purely exploitable, legal advantage of great significance.

Continuing along this line of deduction, since the Celestial Fox Clan behind Hu Li also knew this secret, and considering that Long Hu also had the Celestial Fox bloodline, it meant that the two clans now had a secret they needed to keep together, as well as interests they could share—essentially a natural foundation for an alliance.

Tsk, not long ago in the clan school, I was saying that the Azure Dragon Clan should secretly ally with West State. I never expected my words to come true so soon.

Qin Beiwang instructed a servant to take Hu Li to a guest room to rest, and then he said to Long Long with a smile:

“The Coiled Dragon Gold-melting Pearl that Marquis of Mount Tu gave you is a kind of ancient Magical Treasure that can attract or repel all things made of gold and iron.”

“It holds a great restraining power against iron-based Flying Swords, Magical Treasures of the Metal System, and similar Bloodline Supernatural Powers.”

“Thank you, Clan Leader, for clearing up my confusion.” Long Long struggled to show sincere gratitude.

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“It’s getting late, you can go back and rest.” Qin Beiwang waved his hand dismissively.

Long Long then took his leave. Back in his room, he found that Long Hu, who had been lying down and resting, had indeed disappeared.

This was within his expectations because if Long Hu truly was a descendant of Emperor Ying Long, the first thing Qin Beiwang would think of would be to take her away and bring her completely under the control of the Azure Dragon Clan.

This control might not necessarily mean crude restrictions on personal freedom; it could also mean softly removing other influences—such as making arrangements to keep her as far away from him as possible.

Because if Long Hu merely possessed the bloodline of an immortal’s descendant, the Azure Dragon Clan, seeing her as a combatant with potential, wouldn’t interfere with her social interactions.

But if Long Hu was a descendant of Emperor Ying Long, her partner in a political marriage would naturally be an extremely valuable political bargaining chip.

To keep her away from him doesn’t mean the Azure Dragon Clan is hostile towards him; it’s just that his political weight isn’t enough.

In the end, it all comes down to being too weak!

As Long Long sat on the bed deep in thought, he heard the door being pushed open from outside.

“You don’t seem to care at all where she has gone,” Hu Li said with a smile as she walked in.

“No matter where she’s gone, I’ll find her again,” Long Long said indifferently.

[Persistence Persona, Synchronization Value +1.]

“What will you do?” Hu Li asked with interest, “And what can you do? You haven’t even achieved transformation yet.”

“I have my methods.” Long Long did not intend to explain further to her.

In reality, the simplest method was to lay out the solution to the bloodline issue on Long Hu and convince the Azure Dragon Clan to send Long Hu to the Jiaolong’s Beiming Fanyang Secret Realm. In this way, he could perfectly fulfill the promise to his mother.

However, the most crucial problem was that, afterward, the fragment of the Heaven-Mending Stone pendant was unlikely to end up in Long Long’s hands.

It would only be collected by the ancient ancestors of the Azure Dragon Clan, and then Long Long would have to start plotting anew from the beginning, just as he had done in Kunlun, Shushan, and Penglai… Only a fool would take that path!

Seeing Long Long deep in thought and silent, Hu Li raised her estimation of him again in her mind and laughed:

“Aren’t you angry with me at all? If it were not for my arrival, Long Hu wouldn’t have grabbed the attention of the Azure Dragon Clan and been taken away.”

“Even without you, as long as her bloodline issue remained unresolved, the clan would sooner or later trace her father’s true identity,” Long Long shook his head dispassionately, “How many Jiaolong of an immortal rank have there been since ancient times?”

“I have long been prepared, no need for Marquis of Mount Tu to worry.”

“Is that so?” Hu Li narrowed her eyes and smiled, “I thought you were so upset at the parlor that you needed help. It seems I was overthinking.”

She stood up, pretending to leave, and seeing no reaction from Long Long, she cursed silently, stretched her arms with a yawn, and sat down again, casually starting a conversation:

“The political situation on the continent isn’t very stable lately.”

Long Long was still in deep thought when he heard this, it was as if a bolt of lightning had raced through his mind, and he suddenly asked:

“Qi Weihuan and his wife are getting a divorce?”

Despite Hu Li being old and crafty, taken by surprise by Long Long’s direct approach, a flicker of unusual color passed through her eyes.

Although it was just a flicker, it was captured by the Kunlun Mirror and played back directly in front of Long Long.

Upon closer inspection, Long Long couldn’t help but understand that he had guessed correctly and sneered coldly:

“The supreme leader of the ten thousand demons, Qi Weihuan of the Qilin Clan, can’t even keep his wife in check.”

“If their marital relationship collapses, it will undoubtedly deal a severe blow to the alliance between the Qilin Clan and the White Tiger Clan.”

“So the Celestial Fox Clan foresaw this and sought external support in advance, secretly liaising with the Azure Dragon Clan, right?”

Hu Li observed him calmly, seemingly determining how much of his words were speculative and how much were analytical conclusions.

After a long moment, probably realizing she could no longer keep it secret, she slightly smiled and said:

“What I say next, once out of this house, I will not acknowledge.”

“Please speak frankly, Marquis of Mount Tu,” Long Long said with a grave voice.

“Qi Weihuan’s two sons and one daughter, none are sired by that clumsy big-horned deer,” Hu Li said quietly.

Long Long’s pupils contracted sharply, his heart churning with shock and consternation.

What? The Emperor of the Demon Race got cuckolded!

As is well known, Qi Weihuan, the master of ten thousand demons, married Lü Ya, the daughter of the chieftain of the White Tiger Clan.

This was a pure political marriage, and the relationship between the husband and wife was exceptionally poor; Empress Lü Ya ridiculed Qi Weihuan as a “clumsy big-horned deer” more than once in private, and the Qilin Clan, by extension, felt extreme antipathy towards the empress.

But a political marriage doesn’t require affection, only that Lü Ya bears Qi Weihuan offspring. When the future heirs ascend to the throne, filial piety will inevitably command respect for their mother and her family background, which is the fundamental basis for the alliance between the White Tiger and Qilin clans.

But if the offspring are not the Emperor’s… let alone Qi Weihuan with the grass on his head, the entire Qilin Clan would never accept it.

Such a development would inevitably lead to full-scale conflict between Central State and West State!

Furthermore, given that the Xuanwu Clan has been a historical ally of the Qilin Clan, North State would inevitably support Central State. At the same time, the Vermilion Bird Clan, currently in a state of war with the Qilin Clan, would likely form an alliance with West State against them… essentially drawing four-fifths of the Eastern Emperor Realm into warfare!

“Does Qi Weihuan know about this?” Long Long asked in a low voice.

“If he knew, do you think he could remain this calm?” Hu Li said with an indifferent expression. “Central State would have already gone to war with West State, and your Dragon Clan of Eastern State wouldn’t be able to remain unscathed either.”

“So you’re playing the game of thrones, huh!” Long Long vented fiercely, feeling utterly powerless inside.

What was he looking for when he joined the Azure Dragon Clan? Wasn’t it for a secure environment to develop and later send Long Hu to the Beiming Fanyang Secret Realm?

And now you’re telling me that the Eastern Emperor Realm is about to be thrown into chaos? Even the Dragon Clan can’t ensure its own safety? I might as well have stayed a Loose Cultivator as I was before!

“What is the game of thrones?” Hu Li asked, frowning.

“It’s nothing.” Long Long let out a long sigh, “Thank you for the insight, Marquis of Mount Tu, but… why tell me this?”

“This matter cannot be kept secret forever,” Hu Li said in an enigmatic tone. “When the time comes, the Dragon Clan of Eastern State, not embroiled in the war, will inevitably become a target for both sides seeking allegiance.”

“The clan hopes to establish a covert alliance with the Azure Dragon Clan as a way to protect ourselves amidst the crisis.”

“However, personally, I do not trust the Dragon Clan.”

As she said this, she gracefully stood up and spoke seriously:

“The Dragon Clan is innately cold-blooded, and Qin Beiwang is not a man of kindness. If you have been beguiled by them before, you should now see their true nature.”

“I am Little Aunt to Long Hu and will not let her stay here. If you wish to be with Long Hu in the future, you’d better obey my orders.”

“Does the Marquis of Mount Tu want to bribe me to become a spy?” Long Long finally laughed, “I am also of the Dragon Clan, whom you clearly distrust, Marquis of Mount Tu. So why would you see me differently?”

Great! She could actually discern my professional level! This vixen is no ordinary one!