Chapter 290 - 116: A Deal, Strike While the Iron Is Hot, How Thoughtful of You

Jiang Lan continued to smile faintly as he reached out to steady Song Youwei. At the same time, he sent a current of warm Magical Power into her to tend to her internal injuries.

He knew the extent of Eunuch Wei’s power but hadn’t told Song Youwei the specific details. He was worried she wouldn’t fully cooperate, as they needed to create a large enough time gap by luring Eunuch Wei completely away.

Besides, he knew that Song Youwei possessed a Death Replacement Ancient Talisman, so her life was never in any real danger.

’If the Death Replacement Ancient Talisman is used up here, I’ll just have to find some other way to compensate her later.’

So after dealing with the situation with Qi Qingxuan, Jiang Lan had been tracking Song Youwei’s aura and hurrying over to her location.

’After all, he didn’t have many capable subordinates at the moment. If something truly happened to Song Youwei, he would still feel the loss...’

"You know who I am. Are you from the Royal Family?"

Eunuch Wei’s eyes narrowed even more, glinting with a cold light like that of a venomous snake, exuding an aura that made one’s blood run cold.

He had, after all, served the late emperor, so quite a few people knew of him. However, he had completely changed his appearance after leaving the Imperial Palace. Unless it was someone who had once been very close to him, how could they possibly recognize him at a glance?

’Who on earth is this mysterious person?’

"If I were from the Royal Family, do you really think Yangchun City would still be standing here, safe and sound?"

"It seems the late emperor did indeed leave a contingency plan. Recently, the Dragon Fortune of Great Xia has shifted, suggesting a new dragon has been born. I imagine it’s right here in Yangchun City..."

"But you needn’t worry. I only came here to retrieve my subordinate and to confirm one thing," Jiang Lan stated bluntly.

Eunuch Wei said coldly, "Now that you know the secret of Yangchun City, I have all the more reason not to let you leave."

Hearing this, Jiang Lan let out a soft chuckle as if he had heard a joke. "Eunuch Wei, surely you don’t think that with your power, you can stop me if I wish to leave?"

Eunuch Wei’s expression grew even more grim.

Before they truly came to blows, he couldn’t accurately gauge this person’s strength and indeed lacked the confidence to keep him here.

Now that the secret of Yangchun City was known to this man, if he insisted on leaving and couldn’t be stopped, the consequences would be disastrous.

’But judging from the situation, the fact that he so brazenly revealed my identity without showing any hostility probably means he’s after something else...’

"What is it you truly want?" he asked, his voice chilling.

"I want to make a deal with you, Eunuch Wei," Jiang Lan said with a smile.

"What kind of deal?" Eunuch Wei’s brow furrowed.

"Tell me the verbal edict the late emperor entrusted to you, and I will keep Yangchun City’s secret for you," Jiang Lan said.

At these words, Eunuch Wei’s expression changed instantly. His eyes were fixed on Jiang Lan.

’Only a handful of people knew that the late emperor had left a verbal edict. Where on earth did this mysterious man find out about it?’

"Who in the world are you, and how do you know even this?" he demanded in a low voice.

Jiang Lan replied, "You don’t need to know, Eunuch Wei. You only need to tell me the edict."

Eunuch Wei said coldly, "That’s impossible. His Majesty personally instructed me that the verbal edict was only to be revealed to someone of the Royal Family’s Direct Lineage."

Jiang Lan sighed with a hint of regret, but he wasn’t discouraged. He continued, "Then I’ll change my terms. I know that you, Eunuch Wei, are in possession of a copy of the Bosha Sutra. Give me that Heart Scripture, and I guarantee I will remain silent about what happened today."

"The Bosha Sutra?"

"What use do you have for this scripture?"

Eunuch Wei was slightly taken aback. This Heart Scripture had been bestowed upon him by the late emperor.

He had become a Eunuch before he ever set foot on the path of cultivation. Ordinary Cultivation Techniques were useless for him; at best, they would only allow him to reach the most common realms.

But he had been highly valued by the late emperor. To ensure he could one day hold great power in the Rituals Department, the emperor had sent men to Dongyuan Province to procure this Heart Scripture for him from a major Buddhist Sect.

Thinking of this, Eunuch Wei felt a pang of confusion, his gaze sweeping over a certain area on Jiang Lan’s body.

’His voice makes it hard to tell if he’s a man or a woman. Could he be a Eunuch like me? Is that why he’s asking for this Heart Scripture?’

"You don’t need to concern yourself with what I’ll use it for, Eunuch Wei. Just give me the Heart Scripture, and I will not breathe a single word about Yangchun City," Jiang Lan said.

Eunuch Wei watched him, seeming to hesitate. Then, with a cold snort, he flicked his palm, and a square Golden Silk Nanmu Box appeared in it.

"This is the Bosha Sutra you wanted," he said indifferently.

Jiang Lan nodded. With a casual gesture, the Golden Silk Nanmu Box flew into his hand. He swept it with his Divine Thought to confirm its contents were correct and then put it away.

"Rest assured, Eunuch Wei, I am a man of my word. If you don’t believe me, I will swear on my Dao Heart." He smiled faintly and casually made the oath.

’Now that Qi Qingxuan’s destiny has begun to manifest, there’s no need for me to reveal anything about Yangchun City. Other interested parties will notice him soon enough anyway.’

’Not to mention, with Shang Mingyu getting involved, Qi Qingxuan’s existence can’t possibly be kept a secret.’

Seeing Jiang Lan make the oath, Eunuch Wei’s expression softened slightly. He then looked at Song Youwei, who stood beside Jiang Lan.

Seeing this, Song Youwei also made the oath without a change in her expression.

"Your methods are unfathomable, and your origins are a mystery. But if you involve yourself so casually in the struggle for imperial power, you risk being crushed to dust. I advise you... to watch your step."

Seeing that his business was concluded, Eunuch Wei did not linger. With another cold snort, he transformed into a streak of azure light and vanished.