I Can Strengthen Everything

Chapter 252: Chapter 130: Void Sacred Technique, Nanming Li Fire

Fang Xing turned to look.

A figure appeared before his eyes.

It was a slender young man.

His cultivation was at the Early Stage of the True Qi Realm.

In a place like Jade Capital City, such a cultivation level was completely unremarkable.

The young man smiled and stepped forward, speaking in a low voice, "Lord Fang, I am one of the Ninth Prince’s men. His Highness would like to invite you for a cup of tea at a nearby teahouse."

"The Ninth Prince’s men..."

Looking at the young man, Fang Xing instantly understood.

’What’s destined to happen, happens.’

’It seems they’re always watching. I just parted ways with Hong Miaojin, and they’ve already found me so quickly.’

"Lord Fang, please come with this humble servant," the young man said with a smile, gesturing for him to follow.

Fang Xing looked at the young man before him, his expression unchanging.

But his thoughts were racing!

’What is this Ninth Prince planning?’

’A warning?’

’Or... a recruitment attempt?’

As his thoughts spun, Fang Xing nodded. "Lead the way."

’I’ll find out soon enough.’

The young man smiled. "This way, Lord Fang!"

...

Soon, Fang Xing followed the young man to the nearby teahouse.

On the top floor of the teahouse, the young man opened the door to a private room. Fang Xing immediately saw a figure clad in a black cloak.

’The Ninth Prince!’

At that moment, Zhao Taiji also turned around, his gaze falling upon him.

"Greetings, Ninth Prince."

Fang Xing cupped his fist in his other hand and bowed. The necessary etiquette had to be observed.

Although he wasn’t afraid, there was no need to openly antagonize a Prince.

Without the requisite strength, one had to lie low.

This had always been his guiding principle.

When one’s strength was inferior, one had to know when to bow their head.

This was what it meant to be a wise man who understood the times.

Besides, it hadn’t yet reached the point of open conflict.

Zhao Taiji looked at Fang Xing with a warm and gentle smile. "Lord Fang, please sit."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Fang Xing stepped forward and sat down.

The young man at their side immediately poured him a cup of hot tea. Zhao Taiji glanced at him, and the young man, understanding the signal, silently withdrew from the room.

"Lord Fang, please try this tea. It’s a local fragrant tea from Jade Capital, brewed with water from the glacial springs of Jade Capital Mountain."

Zhao Taiji sat beside him and began his introduction.

Fang Xing lifted the cup and took a small sip. "A sweet aftertaste. Upper Grade."

Zhao Taiji smiled. "It seems Lord Fang is a connoisseur of tea. We should be able to get along."

’Get along...’

’Those words are heavily layered with meaning!’

Fang Xing smiled and replied, "This humble official’s taste is merely average. Your Highness praises me too highly."

Hearing this, Zhao Taiji looked at him, his smile widening. "Actually, average taste is the best. Those who insist on being unique are often ostracized. Lord Fang, don’t you agree?"

Fang Xing’s expression remained unchanged as he listened to Zhao Taiji’s words.

He could naturally discern the unspoken meaning behind them.

Maintaining his smile, he looked at Zhao Taiji. "Your Highness is right. Those who are too different are indeed easily ostracized."

"It seems Lord Fang is an understanding person. This prince most enjoys making friends with understanding people," Zhao Taiji said, chuckling as he watched him.

Fang Xing offered a slight smile. "To be friends with Your Highness would be this humble official’s honor."

Playing political tai chi was one of his specialties too.

Flattery was free, after all. It wouldn’t cost him anything.

Although he hadn’t completely deciphered Zhao Taiji’s thoughts, he had a general idea.

This was an attempt at recruitment.

And he wouldn’t refuse.

After all, whether in terms of status or strength, he currently had no standing to challenge Zhao Taiji head-on.

Without sufficient strength, one must feign weakness when necessary. Bend to a stronger enemy. Fang Xing naturally understood this principle.

Zhao Taiji’s status and strength were both far superior to his own.

Although he had Hong Miaojin as a backer, Fang Xing had always lived by one principle.

True strength is one’s own strength!

Just like when he had killed the Elder from the Divine Martial Sect, he had only been able to act with such backbone because he himself possessed sufficient strength.

Moreover, one was a Jianghu Sect, and the other was the Great Jing Royal Family!

The two could not be compared.

...

The two of them chatted idly for about an hour, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Zhao Taiji put down his teacup and looked at Fang Xing. "Lord Fang is already twenty years old. I wonder, have you considered the matter of marriage?"

Hearing this, Fang Xing shook his head. "This humble official has only one goal: to slay demons, vanquish evil, and protect the peace. I have not yet considered such matters."

Zhao Taiji smiled. "Protecting the peace is certainly important, but love between a man and a woman is the natural order of things. Lord Fang, why be so insistent? You should let nature take its course."

"This prince happens to know someone. Her name is Lü Su. She is as beautiful as a flower under the moon, and she is the daughter of the current Prime Minister. She is only nineteen and still unwed. If Lord Fang is interested, this prince could act as a matchmaker. With Lord Fang’s talent, you would surely win the fair lady’s hand."

’Lü Su, the Prime Minister’s daughter, Lü Chunqiu’s daughter!’

As he listened to Zhao Taiji, Fang Xing couldn’t help but recall something Hong Miaojin had told him before.

The current Prime Minister was allied with Zhao Taiji. Furthermore, Lü Chunqiu’s younger sister was the current Imperial Consort—Zhao Taiji’s birth mother.

In other words, the Lü Su whom Zhao Taiji spoke of was his maternal cousin.

’He’s really willing to put up a high stake,’ Fang Xing thought to himself.

Fang Xing hadn’t expected Zhao Taiji’s recruitment attempt to be so forceful.

He had played a trump card right from the start.

This was a clear attempt to pull him onto his ship.

Unable to find an opening with Hong Miaojin, he had decided to start with him directly.

He had probably investigated him thoroughly; otherwise, he wouldn’t be willing to invest so heavily.

As his thoughts raced, Fang Xing stood up and bowed. "Your Highness, this humble official is but a mere Vice Marshal. How could I possibly be worthy of the Prime Minister’s daughter?"

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