Chapter 89: Transition

The scorching summer sun hung high in the sky, as if it bore a grudge against all living things, eager to roast the vast earth below until it sizzled. Most people could do nothing but silently endure the sun's relentless attention, but for some, its fury was powerless; no matter how fierce the heat, it could never reach the summer retreat built halfway up the mountain, tucked away in a cool, shaded hollow.

Zhu Yu sat in the shade, savoring his tea, letting the mountain breeze caress him—utterly content. It was more refreshing than any air conditioner, and with no urgent affairs in court these days, Zhu Yu had done little but amuse himself, living in perfect ease. This, he thought, was truly the life an emperor ought to have.

There was only one flaw in his idyllic existence: he had neglected to bring a single consort to the retreat. Thus, Zhu Yu had been living an ascetic life of late. He had assumed that leaving the choice of companions to the inner palace would yield quick results, but the latest word was that the struggle over these coveted spots had thrown the harem into chaos.

Just thinking of the tangled mess in the inner palace gave Zhu Yu a headache. At such moments, he found solace in abstinence. Of course, his days were not entirely idle. The rumors of a grandmaster's treasure had swept through the martial world, and just yesterday, Zhu Yu had received an update from Yu Huatian.

Here, one had to mention that Zhu Yu truly hadn't expected Yu Huatian, silent and unassuming, to have known of Blackstone's existence all along. Had Jiang Yuyan not tipped him off, he would still be in the dark.

After Prince Duan and Prince Yu fell victim to assassins, Zhu Wushi took command of the investigation, and the nation's foremost manor lent its strength as well. Before long, Zhu Wushi had caught a whiff of Blackstone's trail. If not for Zhu Yu's strict instructions to report any progress directly to the palace, Blackstone might have been eliminated already.

Still, even this arrangement brought Zhu Yu no end of vexation. In a moment of idle conversation with Jiang Yuyan, he voiced his frustrations, hoping for advice or comfort. To his surprise, Jiang Yuyan's eyes flickered, and she promptly revealed Yu Huatian's secret.

This astonished Zhu Yu—if Yu Huatian knew he was behind Blackstone, then surely he had already guessed at the truth behind the recent scandal of the princes' deaths.

With this thought, another idea took root in Zhu Yu's mind. He summoned Yu Huatian to the palace for a subtle warning, then entrusted him with a secret mission: to secretly interfere with Zhu Wushi's investigation and shield Blackstone.

What exactly transpired, Zhu Yu could not say, but judging by the outcome, he was satisfied.

During this period, Yu Huatian met more than once with Blackstone's upper echelons, and through these dealings learned of Zhu Yu's fondness for tales from the martial world. Now that Blackstone had gone completely into hiding, it could no longer supply Zhu Yu with news. But Yu Huatian, ever resourceful, did not wait for orders—he immediately set the men of the Western Bureau to gather intelligence.

Meanwhile, with Blackstone lying low, Zhu Yu's hastily sketched plans lacked hands to carry them out. Yu Huatian, eager for opportunity, stepped forward, and Zhu Yu gladly handed him the task.

Indeed, the furor over the treasure map that now swept the martial world was orchestrated by Zhu Yu. He had provided only the broad strokes; the details were left to Yu Huatian.

So far, the Western Bureau had done a fine job, but its shortcomings were beginning to show—chief among them, a lack of manpower. The Western Bureau alone could no longer control the flow of rumor throughout the martial world.

For days, Zhu Yu debated whether to enlist the Eastern Bureau as well, but remained undecided. It was not merely caution; the Eastern Bureau's base was just too broad, encompassing all manner of folk. A single misstep could mean a leak, and Zhu Yu dared not make that call lightly.

A muffled rumble of thunder broke his reverie. He looked up; moments ago, the sky had been clear, but now it was choked with dark clouds. The breeze that had been so pleasant now carried a hint of chill.

Though the coolness did not bother him, Zhu Yu returned indoors. No sooner had he done so than the rain began to pour in torrents.

Time slipped by, and three days passed. They say time changes all things, but not always—not the heavy clouds that had hung unbroken all this while. The rain fell ceaselessly, and now, save for those skilled in martial arts, everyone in the retreat had donned thicker clothing.

Zhu Yu frowned at the sky. Something was amiss. While a cool summer was a blessing, he could not shake a sense of foreboding.

Helpless to dispel his unease, Zhu Yu found himself checking the system page from time to time. It might not accomplish anything, but until his anxiety faded, it was the only way he could anticipate a change.

He had already ordered Yu Huatian to establish contact with Cao Zhengchun at the palace. Should anything happen, Zhu Yu would know at once.

It was all he could do, for the fortune value displayed by the system had not changed significantly; the unease resided only in his heart.

He could not be sure if he was imagining things—perhaps it was simply a matter of his own cultivation being too shallow. If he had already reached the grandmaster level, he would not be so plagued by doubts; the intuition of a grandmaster was rarely wrong.

As for his status page:

Host: Zhu Yu
Identity: Emperor of Jingguo, Leader of Blackstone
Condition: Healthy
Martial Arts: Northern Sea Divine Skill (beginner mastery), Nine Yin Manual (fully integrated), Ramayana Divine Skill (barely started)
Dynastic Fortune: 1132 points

By all rights, his fortune value was already high enough to advance once more and step into the grandmaster realm. But last year's sudden incursion and pillaging by Western Xia had left a shadow on his mind. Had it happened when his fortune was low, he would have been powerless.

He had finally accumulated enough fortune and planned to wait until summer's end before upgrading his skills. Now, however, new troubles had arisen.

Still, he felt secretly relieved at his own prudence—had he spent his fortune recklessly, he would be far more anxious now.

A tremendous crash of thunder sounded once more.

The sound reached his ears; Zhu Yu froze for two seconds. Suddenly, he realized—something was wrong! That was not thunder!