Chapter 14: The Ancient Fragment
“Although you may not remember, if it weren’t for that casual gesture of yours back then, I might still be a nobody right now. Even if I had all the talent and ambition, I wouldn’t have had any place to display them.”
With this reminder, Ying Tong finally recalled what had happened.
A few years ago, she had been invited to attend the old emperor’s birthday celebration. At the banquet, for reasons unknown, the old man had gathered all his sons and insisted that Ying Tong say who among them was the most outstanding.
Everyone knew that royal affairs were always chaotic, and the old emperor’s sons were especially notorious for nearly fighting each other to death in their struggle for the crown prince position.
Naturally, Ying Tong didn’t want to get involved, as she was merely an outsider.
However, the old emperor acted as if he couldn’t understand her reluctance. He stubbornly demanded she make a choice, threatening that if she didn’t, it would be a sign of disrespect.
Ridiculous—whether she chose or not, it wouldn’t make her hold him in higher regard.
In truth, Ying Tong had long seen through the emperor’s intentions. He simply wanted to place someone in her favor.
So, instead of picking any of the obvious candidates, she casually pointed toward Zhou Yunxing, who was still just a prince standing in the corner at the time.
Back then, it was just a random gesture, and Ying Tong hadn’t expected it to set off a whole chain of events.
After having that strange dream, Ying Tong had started to believe in the concept of fate and consequences.
Now, knowing that Zhou Yunxing had become what he was because of her, she instinctively began weighing the pros and cons of the situation.
As for Zhou Yunxing, Ying Tong didn’t know him well, but she could never mistake his ambition. Having ambition could be both a good and a bad thing.
Oh well, she thought, when the time comes, she would have Ye Ying investigate him.
“You didn’t summon me here just to say thank you, did you?”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunxing smiled slightly. “Of course not. If it were just a matter of expressing thanks, I certainly wouldn’t dare waste your time, Venerable Yunhuang. Please, take a look at this.”
As he spoke, Zhou Yunxing pulled out a tattered, yellowed piece of paper from his sleeve.
The paper emitted faint waves of energy—this was an ancient fragment.
“I found this ancient fragment in my father’s private treasury. After days of deciphering it, I discovered that it records the location of an ancient ruin.”
“Moreover, this ancient ruin is located in Dongzhou and is about to open.”
“This ruin has yet to be discovered by anyone, and you, Venerable Yunhuang, should understand better than I what that means.”
Ying Tong looked at Zhou Yunxing, not showing any excitement or surprise at his words. Instead, she remained unusually calm.
An undiscovered ancient ruin certainly meant that it contained numerous opportunities within.
Over the years, Ying Tong had ventured through almost all the ruins and secret realms in the Cangqiong Realm using various methods. No one understood their potential better than she did.
However, Ying Tong wasn’t blinded by the allure of such things, unlike how Zhou Yunxing seemed to expect.
She knew all too well that the more tempting a treasure was, the more likely it was hiding danger ahead. A single misstep could lead to a disastrous fall.
Besides, Ying Tong was on the verge of ascending. She could do so at any time if she wished.
If it weren’t for the fact that she wanted to teach those unruly descendants a lesson, so they wouldn’t drag her down when the time came, she might have already left by now. There was no need to take such a risk.
Right now, her priority was to find those misguided descendants and set them straight, one by one.
“An undiscovered ancient ruin—yet the Emperor of Zhou chooses to share it with me instead of keeping it for yourself. Are you really doing this just out of gratitude?”
“Is that so wrong?” Zhou Yunxing countered. “I’ve always been this way. If someone wrongs me, I’ll repay them a thousandfold. Likewise, if someone does me a favor, I’ll repay them generously.”
Zhou Yunxing’s eyes, tone, and body language all exuded sincerity, but Ying Tong didn’t believe a word of it.
“In that case, I’ll arrange for someone from the Ying family to come and discuss it with you,” she said.
She wasn’t willing to take the risk herself, but that didn’t mean she would let go of the opportunity right in front of her.
She wouldn’t go, but there were plenty of people in the Ying family who could.
“Venerable Yunhuang, don’t be so quick to decide. Why not take a look at the ancient fragment first? It wouldn’t hurt to make your decision after seeing it.”
At his words, Ying Tong glanced at him curiously before taking the ancient fragment from his hand.
As Zhou Yunxing had said, the fragment did indeed record the location of an ancient ruin. However, the location looked strangely familiar to her.
Upon closer inspection, she realized why—it was the same location as the Jinghong Secret Realm.
Ying Tong mentally communicated with the phoenix beside her, Fentian. “Where are Ying Xuechen and Ying Xuan now?”
“They arrived in Dongzhou an hour ago. By now, they should have reached the Jinghong Secret Realm,” Fentian responded.
“So quickly? Weren’t they traveling on foot?” Ying Tong was puzzled. By normal standards, they shouldn’t have arrived so fast.
“It seems they had a sudden realization. After arriving in Dongzhou, they assumed new identities and disguised themselves as wandering cultivators.”
Ying Tong sighed deeply, uncertain whether it was Ying Xuechen and Ying Xuan who were unlucky or if she was the unlucky one.
The Jinghong Secret Realm had been peaceful for years, yet trouble arose as soon as they arrived.
According to the information on this ancient fragment, the ruin was located behind the Jinghong Secret Realm.
Which meant that the Jinghong Secret Realm was merely a disguise all along.
Once the ancient ruin opened, the Jinghong Secret Realm standing in front of it would be instantly shattered into pieces, and everything within would be destroyed.
Ying Tong glanced at Zhou Yunxing, wondering if he knew more than he was letting on, which was why he showed her the ancient fragment in the first place.
She handed the fragment back to Zhou Yunxing. “When do we depart?”
Zhou Yunxing smiled in satisfaction. “No rush. The coronation ceremony is coming up soon. Let’s wait until after it’s concluded.”
Ying Tong thought to herself, ‘Just like his father—annoying to the core.’
“Fine,” she replied. ‘Whatever makes you happy.’
After leaving the palace, Fentian asked, “Do you want to bring those two back?”
“Why bring them back? They’re not fragile flowers grown in a greenhouse. Besides, Bi Luo is with them. If they truly face mortal danger, Bi Luo will step in.”
Ying Tong wasn’t worried about the safety of Ying Xuechen and Ying Xuan.
The reason she changed her mind wasn’t just because of them; there was another reason.
“Fentian, didn’t that ancient fragment look familiar to you? I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before.”
“Really?” Fentian casually put his hands behind his head, looking nonchalant. “That paper was so tattered and worn out, and the writing was all blurry. I didn’t see anything familiar.”
Ying Tong didn’t bother responding to Fentian’s carefree attitude. Instead, she focused on recalling the contents of the ancient fragment, mentally comparing it with her own memories, trying to figure out why it seemed so familiar.
