A Bit Unusual: Chu Xingchen

The capital of the Xuanwu Kingdom.

Zhao Xuan's gaze swept over the battle report detailing the great victory in Bingzhou.

From the moment Yu Zhu played the card of deploying demonic forces, it was clear that he no longer posed any threat to the Xuanwu Kingdom.

This was closely tied to the composition of the Yuzhu Army.

Most of its soldiers were refugees who had fled to Bingzhou during the chaos of the demonic uprising.

They had joined the Yuzhu Army out of desperation, simply to secure a meal.

Once the demonic soldiers entered the fray, the morale of the Yuzhu Army swiftly collapsed.

After the cultivators of the Xuanwu Kingdom stepped in to suppress the demonic forces, the soldiers of the Yuzhu Army began defecting to the Xuanwu side.

At the same time, the reputation of the Yuzhu Army completely crumbled, turning them into outcasts.

After all, being a bad person might earn you scorn for lacking morals.

But becoming a traitor to humanity? That would strip you of your very identity as a human.

And Yu Zhu had now been stripped of that identity.

With the dust settling in Bingzhou, the Xuanwu Kingdom could finally breathe a sigh of relief—for the moment.

As for Chizhou, as long as disaster relief efforts were properly managed, it wouldn’t stir up much more trouble.

Though the situation had stabilized, Zhao Xuan felt no excitement or sense of relief.

Instead, an indescribable sorrow weighed heavily on his heart.

No matter how glorious the battle report might read, the dead were still his people.

And the destruction had ravaged his land.

News had also arrived from Cangzhou—after all, the cataclysmic battle that had taken place there could not be concealed.

The Karmic Nascent Soul’s Dharma Idol, the terrifying demonic entity capable of clashing with it, the phantom of Xuanwu…

As Zhao Xuan read, cold sweat trickled down his back.

How could his small Xuanwu Kingdom possibly attract such deadly forces?

He couldn’t help but think that his ancestors must have accumulated immense virtue—in every sense of the word.

Leaving behind such things for their descendants to deal with…

"Well, if it isn’t Little Xuan! How have you been lately?"

A familiar teasing voice rang out. Zhao Xuan quickly looked up to see Chu Xingchen, accompanied not by the mischievous young woman from before, but by a more aloof and elegant lady.

She was beautiful, but Zhao Xuan dared not stare.

He hurriedly rose to greet them, forcing a bitter smile. "For an emperor, the real challenges are only just beginning."

Chu Xingchen nodded in agreement. "I’m glad you see it that way. Now is the time to rebuild."

Gratitude flashed across Zhao Xuan’s face as he clasped his hands in respect. "And we owe much to you, Senior, for your valiant efforts in Cangzhou. Had that demon succeeded… another million refugees might have been added to the toll."

"I merely did what little I could," Chu Xingchen said, helping Zhao Xuan up before shifting the topic.

"Though it was far from easy. A dear comrade of mine suffered grave injuries in that battle…"

Xie Lingyu glanced at Chu Xingchen, observing his sorrowful expression.

After not seeing him for some time… not only had his cultivation advanced significantly, but his acting skills hadn’t slipped either.

Alarmed, Zhao Xuan pressed, "How are they now? Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Though severely wounded, they’ll recover."

"Truly, we owe you our deepest gratitude. I recall the treasury still has—"

Chu Xingchen waved him off, his expression turning solemn. "There’s no need for that. I didn’t come here seeking rewards."

Zhao Xuan studied Chu Xingchen’s serious demeanor, his unease growing.

Having spent some time with him, Zhao Xuan had a rough understanding of the man.

When Chu Xingchen refused an offer, it usually meant: This isn’t enough—try something better.

Zhao Xuan hesitated, unsure how to proceed.

Chu Xingchen, deciding the groundwork had been laid, finally revealed his purpose.

"Today, I came to return something I borrowed from you."

Realization dawned on Zhao Xuan, his face paling. "The imperial jade seal… is lost?!"

"Of course not. I always return what I borrow. Why would I come here if it were lost?"

"Then… it’s broken?!"

Zhao Xuan’s vision darkened. A broken seal was worse than a lost one. His mind conjured an image:

After his passing, his heir ascending the throne, eager to behold the imperial jade seal—only for a eunuch to present a tray draped in yellow silk.

The young emperor, bewildered, would lift the cloth to find nothing but shattered fragments.

And the eunuch, with utmost solemnity, would declare—This pile is the Xuanwu Kingdom’s most sacred treasure, the imperial jade seal.

Zhao Xuan couldn’t guess how his son would react, but if he had inherited such a thing from his father… he’d have cursed up a storm.

A thought crossed his mind—perhaps he could pin the blame on his late father.

The dead couldn’t argue, after all.

And sometimes, unofficial histories could pass as official ones…

Noticing Zhao Xuan’s shattered expression, Chu Xingchen figured his expectations had been sufficiently lowered.

He retrieved the jade seal from his spatial ring—now cracked and lacking its former luster—and handed it to Zhao Xuan.

Relieved to see it still intact, Zhao Xuan hastily accepted it.

He tenderly traced the cracks, then inspected the eight-character inscription.

Finding no further damage, he sighed in relief—until his fingers brushed over the deepest fissure.

His gaze turned helplessly toward Chu Xingchen.

Before Zhao Xuan could speak, Chu Xingchen quipped,

"That seal of yours is something else. Or rather, your ancestor Emperor Zhao was quite the bold one—daring to seal that inside."

Zhao Xuan quickly schooled his expression and offered another slight bow.

---

The capital, Vermilion Bird Street.

After returning the seal, Chu Xingchen left the palace. Zhao Xuan, seemingly having grasped the situation, asked no further questions.

Xie Lingyu walked beside Chu Xingchen, her eyes taking in the bustling streets.

The chaos of Cangzhou, Chizhou, and Bingzhou seemed worlds away from this vibrant capital.

Carriages and pedestrians flowed endlessly, the city alive as ever.

She stole a glance at Chu Xingchen. When they first met, she had assumed his rapid ascent from Golden Core to Nascent Soul was due to some fortuitous encounter.

But to her astonishment, he had condensed a Karmic Nascent Soul—the highest tier possible.

Nor had she expected him to be a mere novice in the Nascent Soul stage.

If not for his unchanged demeanor, Xie Lingyu might have suspected an imposter wearing his face.

His cultivation advanced faster than even demonic practitioners.

As Chu Xingchen himself would say—It’s downright unnatural.

And it was unnatural. The same young man who once pestered her for help with minor cultivation puzzles, flaunting poetry in exchange for favors…

Now, after what felt like no time at all, she found herself looking up at him.

Noticing her gaze, Chu Xingchen turned to her and asked,

"What are you thinking about? Why do you keep staring at me?"

Xie Lingyu pondered for a moment, then uttered a remark in Chu Xingchen's style:

"That's a bit shady, Chu Xingchen."

"Huh?! You’ve definitely been corrupted by my first disciple!"

Xie Lingyu turned her head away without responding.

"Huh?! Could it be the second disciple?!"