Chapter 289
Chapter 289
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Translator: Ace
Chapter:
Chapter Title: Revelations Over Soy Milk and the Eunuch's Offer
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Chen Shi went downstairs, only to see those children were all eight or nine years old, boys at the mischievous age full of pranks.
Creator Little Five looked no older than eighteen or nineteen, the undisputed king among the kids, playing with them to his heart's content.
"You kids keep playing."
He spotted Chen Shi approaching and waved the children off.
"That kid over there, Yuan Xiaoye—he's the one who taught me how to fight."
Creator Little Five jerked his chin toward one boy and said, "He's the toughest scrapper on this street. Haven't eaten yet? Go wash up. I'll take you for soy milk and steamed buns."
Chen Shi felt a surge of excitement, eager to ask who exactly had severed his Divine Embryo, but he held off and went to wash up first.
Before long, the two threaded through a narrow alley to the soy milk shop on Wuchang Street. They took seats and ordered four trays of steamed buns and two bowls of soy milk from the waiter.
"Your fists can't beat anyone else's, and nobody's gonna listen to your lectures. When I head to the Li Manor, all the ancestors of the Thirteen Great Families will be there, arrayed to welcome me. Waiter, one more bowl!"
Creator Little Five drained a bowl of soy milk in one gulp and handed the empty bowl to the waiter.
Chen Shi, mid-bite on a bun, stopped chewing at once, desperate not to miss a word.
Creator Little Five continued.
"Back then, the Child Scholar earned the True God's favor and was granted the Innate Dao Embryo, shocking the world. The first thing on everyone's mind was snatching it away."
He took a bite of bun—the filling was shepherd's purse and egg, carrying the fresh scent of wild greens—and went on at an unhurried pace.
"The Thirteen Great Families and the lesser houses of Xinxiang Province came swarming, dispatching hordes of experts to Xinxiang County. The place turned into a den of dragons and snakes overnight, and that's when someone carved out your Divine Embryo. Later, your grandpa carved his way to the Western Capital after tracing leads back to the Thirteen Great Families."
He paused, letting Chen Shi finish chewing.
"Your grandpa unleashed a bloodbath in the Western Capital, earning him the title 'Western Capital Butcher.' He didn't wipe out the Thirteen Great Families—not just because their ancestors stepped in and those houses were too entrenched to uproot, but also because he realized the one who'd taken your Divine Embryo might not be from them at all."
Chen Shi blinked in surprise. Not the Thirteen Great Families?
The waiter brought another bowl of soy milk. Creator Little Five munched on buns and slurped soy milk as he spoke.
"From my investigations, Xinxiang saw a brutal scramble back then, all for your Innate Dao Embryo. First to die: the examiner who sold off your Divine Embryo, plus the county magistrate, registrar, and the like. Next came the lesser houses of Xinxiang Province. Then the Thirteen Great Families' elites dropped in droves. They took heavy losses fighting over the Innate Dao Embryo. Once it vanished, they turned suspicious of one another, wondering if some house had pocketed it."
Chen Shi sipped his soy milk slowly.
"The Thirteen Great Families are too powerful. The Innate Dao Embryo couldn't have ended up anywhere else—it had to be one of them who claimed it."
Creator Little Five replied,
"So they're digging too, chasing the Innate Dao Embryo's trail. Your grandpa's rampage to the Western Capital roused those old monsters. They drove him off, got curious about the Dao Embryo's fate, and scoured the great houses from top to bottom—but no trace. So now they all share one theory."
Chen Shi's expression shifted faintly.
"What theory?"
Creator Little Five switched tracks.
"Little Ten, do you know why the True King Era fell? Why all contact with the Huaxia Divine Continent snapped after the True King's death? Why Dao arts plummeted so suddenly, leaving so many techniques fragmented? Why cultivators barely scrape a century of life? Why drawing in moonlight triggers evil mutation? Why the underworld underwent such upheaval? Why the Huaxia gods fell into obscurity? Your grandpa and I have chased answers to these riddles. We joined the loose cultivators to pull in more hands, probing the secrets underneath it all."
He grew especially earnest discussing these matters, almost like any ordinary man.
"We've tried reviving the Luotian Grand Rite, the Zhoutian Grand Rite, the Putian Grand Rite—tried rebuilding the gods' orthodox lineages. But every time we dig in, some mysterious force moves to block us, hell-bent on scrubbing the True King Era from history, on erasing every trace the Huaxia gods ever existed."
Creator Little Five went on,
"We've found another power lurking beneath this land too, biding its time for resurgence.
"Out of nowhere, an unknown peak might sprout. Or some spot births an nameless ancient shrine. Or a obscure god manifests sudden-like.
"If the celestial True Gods take notice, that same mysterious force strikes: slays the god, razes the shrine, flattens the peak. And the deeper we probe, the more those forces gun for us—we've dodged peril time and again. The power even commands the Heavenly Listeners."
Chen Shi started. Heavenly Listeners pierced to the heavens themselves, freaks proxying the True God's eavesdropping on the mortal realm. So where did the clout to sway them hail from?
Creator Little Five said,
"Your grandpa and I once hunted that power's origin, trailed it to Despair Slope, uncovered horrors there, and backed off wisely. This trip, quizzing the Li ancestor's got the Thirteen Great Families' old codgers dredging up the force behind the Heavenly Listeners—and Despair Slope—again."
A chill gripped Chen Shi's heart. He stated flatly,
"It's a trap. Don't take the bait! Those Thirteen ancestors mean you harm—they aim to sic Despair Slope's power on you!"
Creator Little Five grinned.
"You worried about me? Dad hardly bothers; I'm just a tool he whipped up. His 'liking' for me's like fondness for a well-worn gadget."
He paused.
"Of course I know their game's foul. We're no kin; I'm not gambling my neck on your Divine Embryo's trail."
He burst out laughing.
"Hell, as a kid, I nearly turned you into a snack!"
Chen Shi drew a blank on that.
"You've grown; you'd taste foul now."
Creator Little Five shot him a look.
"Your meat'd be sour as hell these days."
Breakfast done, Creator Little Five lounged with hands jammed in his sleeves. Chen Shi glanced over; Little Five flipped the empty pockets inside out.
"Got no coin. See? Pockets cleaner than my mug. Haven't hit the soy milk joint in days."
He pulled a wounded pout.
Hunting the Innate Dao Embryo's truth had meant dropping plenty of bigwigs—but those officials rarely packed silver, just treasures, talismans, spirit soldiers, sundries. He learned later: court salaries were a pittance, and for the incorruptible look, elites shunned carrying cash.
They dined at dedicated halls, ate, bounced—no settling up; underlings handled tabs. Chen Shi footed the bill; they strolled back to Chang'an Street side by side.
Creator Little Five said,
"Chen Tang's likely home from court by now. Head back, drop by tonight—I'll teach you the Zhoutian Grand Rite."
Chen Shi waved farewell. Little Five blew him off, tromped upstairs—then called back suddenly.
"Come early tonight. Take me fencing goods."
Chen Shi assented, ducked out the alley, bound inner-city-ward.
He mulled the day's-and-night's whirlwind, head still foggy.
Yesterday: him and Yulingzi slaughtering twelve core scions of the Thirteen Great Families at Qixia Temple, dumping Fan Kongliu down a well for the dragon's supper. Come evening, Creator Little Five showed; he'd cultivated overnight in Little Five's Minor Zhoutian—energy fully restored, cultivation leaped ahead.
And Little Five had sniffed out his Innate Dao Embryo leads.
Chen Shi reined his thoughts, recalling Chen Tang's stern warning: steer clear shady sorts—Creator Little Five topped the list. He picked up pace, inner city soon.
Outer city thrummed with crowds; inner lay hushed, worlds apart.
Chen Shi eased his stride—spotted roadside wheelchair. Aboard: black-clad with red lapels over white lining, pale-faced beardless man, mid-forties maybe, beaming his way.
Two youths trailed: Embroidered Uniform Guard garb, likewise pale and beardless, faces stone. Chen Shi neared; wheelchair glided alongside smooth.
The pale beardless man's voice rang clear and shrill. He chuckled,
"Young Master Chen, a word."
Chen Shi slowed, brow furrowed.
"Pardon, milord—my eyes fail me; I don't know you."
The man chuckled.
"Our house goes by Feng—Tianhuan. Used to hold the seal as Grand Eunuch, helmed East Factory. Resigned since."
Chen Shi stared, blurted,
"You're a eunuch!"
His gaze flicked to Feng's attendants.
"And you two—eunuchs too!"
The youths advanced a step, barked,
"Insolent cur!"
Feng Eunuch raised a hand, halting them. He chuckled,
"Our house is eunuch indeed—no need mince words. Young Master Chen, know you the perks of our kind?"
Wheelchair matched his dawdle. Feng chuckled on,
"Great Ming's court can lack True King, lack Crown Prince—but eunuchs? Indispensable. We're no Thirteen Great Families; no heirs means no house to feather, no throne hunger—sans seed, claw to crown or not, century passes and poof, we're dust. In Western Capital, us eunuchs tangle interests least, clash least."
He added pointedly,
"Hence, we're the straightest shooters there."
The fresh take hooked Chen Shi; steps lagged further.
"Eunuchs pack perks like that?"
Feng chuckled.
"Perks aplenty! Eye your Chen line: generations stellar, peaked at Household Right Vice Minister, Rites Left Vice Minister. Why stall? Fearing power swells you into rivals. Eunuchs? No spawn, no dynasty threat. No wariness—they hoist you, fund you, unleash you."
Chen Shi chuckled.
"Lord Feng's wit shines. No happenstance meeting—what brings you seeking me?"
Feng chuckled.
"Young Master Chen, old ties bind us—no call for walls. These legs? Grandpa's handiwork."
Chen Shi went taut inside, wary sharp.
Feng said,
"Eleven years back, Grandpa Chen Yindu stormed Western Capital—unstoppable, none dared clash. Our house quailed, mustered East Factory's finest, arrayed for battle. Carnage: heavy East Factory toll; waist-down numb ever since—his gift."
Tension ratcheted in Chen Shi.
Feng pivoted sharp, chuckled.
"Water under bridge, though. Young Master Chen, plenty bet against your top honors—but our house sees talent. We back you: bump the Young Master, claim zhuangyuan yourself."
Chen Shi blinked, baffled stare.
Thirteen Great Families: Chief Minister Zhang Fuzheng alone voiced for Chen Tang; rest backed Young Master overt, covert. Big shots like Feng? Young Master natural pick.
Feng chuckled.
"You outshine him clean. Backing him? Gilt lily. You? Snow-saver. Plus, Young Master's moves chafe me."
Flatly:
"Young Master: obey thrive, defy die. Crushing foes? Fair. But honest officials scarce, precious—he yanks 'em for cronies? No. Worse: entry day, parlaying Zhen Prefecture Assize Du Wanshu's head for fame-boost? Heart-chill."
Chen Shi halted, eyed him askance.
Feng said,
"Who chooses gelding lightly? I crave Great Ming's mending too—but Young Master's no enlightened ruler. Him True King? Dynasty's doom."
He tilted chin up.
"Metropolitan results rigged inside: Young Master's huiyuan, you second. Palace Exam zhuangyuan duel: you two. Harm'll come your way, to kneecap the fight. We'll shield some blows."
Chen Shi reeled.
"Eunuchs got spine?"
Feng roared laughter.
"Lacking tackle, we've extra grit over the equipped. We'll see you home—stance stated." Wheelchair shadowed to Chen Manor.
Feng pressed warm,
"Young Master Chen, gifts galore—if no scorn, take our house godfather."
Chen Shi jumped, waved off frantic.
"Milord, such words? Speak no more."
Feng sighed wistful.
"Eunuchs heirless, crave dry sons. These pair? Mine—pity, geldings too. Crave one intact. You shine: sire me grandsons."
Chen Shi chuckled.
"Gratitude for grace. Parents live—dare not another sire." Chen Manor loomed; Feng watched entry, then wheeled off.
"Why ditch Young Master for Chen Shi, godfather?"
Feng sighed.
"Young Master's style? Never sat—wise facade, petty core, virtue-drain. Chen Shi uprighter. Spine-bearers spurn him. New East Factory chief's his now; I flip, he crowns—reclaim helm?"
The eunuch pressed,
"Young Master wins: throne. Chen Shi? Mere zhuangyuan—no boon bump."
Feng cool:
"Some eunuchs dream lord's polish vaults his dam to consort. Despise ball-less faking balls, kissing Young Master's ring. No gains for me—but scum like him shan't True-King it!"