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Passing through the long corridor and garden, the sound of flowing water accompanied Lu Chen and Old Mu as they arrived at the main hall of the Provincial Governor's Office. At that moment, a soldier came over to lead them into the Side Hall.
By the time they arrived, four people were already seated in the Side Hall. This did not include Governor Wang Qiao's aide, who stood by attentively, nor a young man in his twenties dressed in a Purple Gold Brocade Robe and wearing a black-scaled crown, accompanied by a middle-aged man in plain blue clothing, dressed as a Strategist.
"Lu Chen brother, hahahaha."
As soon as Lu Chen entered the Side Hall, a familiar voice called out his name. The three people in the hall stood up to greet him, which left Lu Chen feeling flattered.
After a moment of surprise, Lu Chen recognized that the person who had called his name was none other than Prince Fu Huangfu Qi. At this moment, Prince Fu had already reached the entrance of the Side Hall to welcome Lu Chen.
"Prince Fu, what brings you here?" Lu Chen asked in astonishment.
Prince Fu laughed loudly, "I was sent out of Qi Kingdom's territory by Princess Zhulan and a young man with the surname Tu. After hearing about the upheaval in the palace, my influence has been undermined. I had no choice but to continue south and seek refuge with Governor Liu Fang."
Lu Chen was shocked to learn that Prince Fu's power within the palace had been so quickly diminished.
"Come, come, come, Lu Chen brother, let me introduce you. This is Brother Sun Zhao," Huangfu Qi said lightly about his own situation as he pulled Lu Chen into the Side Hall.
The Sun Zhao he introduced was indeed the young man who was present alongside Huangfu Qi, Governor Liu Fang, and Governor Wang Qiao.
With such notable figures gathered together—a Great Zhou Fortune King, a Governor of Wu Prefecture, and a Fishing Sun Commissioner—Lu Chen sensed an unusual atmosphere; it seemed that these individuals were subtly united under the leadership of the young man named Sun Zhao.
Sun Zhao was only in his twenties, fanning himself with a folding fan. He had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, with an air of heroism about him. Lu Chen recalled that among all the heroic youths he had encountered, none possessed a presence that could compare to this one. It wasn't merely due to Sun Zhao's abilities; rather, it was an innate quality that made him stand out in any crowd.
Behind him stood the Strategist, wrapped in a silk scarf like a frail old scholar but with piercing eyes that seemed capable of strategizing any situation from afar.
"Greetings, Brother Lu Chen. Prince Fu's recommendation is indeed impressive; outwardly strong yet inwardly weak," Sun Zhao greeted Lu Chen first with a respectful gesture, displaying an easy confidence without being overly formal.
"Brother Sun Zhao, you flatter me," Lu Chen replied while returning the courtesy. At this moment, he was still speculating about Sun Zhao's true identity.
"Lu Ji, didn't you invite a master from the Five Element Sect? Shouldn't he be arriving soon?"
At this moment, the Fat Governor Liu Fang, with his hands behind his back, took a couple of steps in the Side Hall and suddenly looked up to speak to Governor Wang Qiao.
When Lu Chen arrived earlier, Huangfu Qi, the mysterious Sun Zhao, and Wang Qiao all stood up to greet him. Only Liu Fang, the Governor of Wu Prefecture, remained motionless, merely opening his eyes to glance at Lu Chen.
"Teacher, this is the expert who has come from the Five Element Sect," Wang Qiao quickly bowed to Liu Fang and pointed at Lu Chen respectfully.
"Is he really an expert?" Liu Fang looked at Lu Chen with uncertainty, his expression strange and slightly disdainful. It was clear he was using Wang Qiao's inquiry as a pretext to loudly question Lu Chen's abilities, attempting to undermine him.
Liu Fang was clad in Brilliant Armor and held the title of Governor over five provinces. His surname was Liu, his given name Fang, and his courtesy name was Yuan Gui. He was a high-ranking official of the court, skilled in both civil and military affairs, and had the final say in matters concerning Wuzhou, making him akin to a local emperor. Naturally, he looked down on ordinary people, though he had become somewhat portly in middle age.
The Governor was directly governed by the court and served as the highest official above local authorities, overseeing both military and civil affairs.
Governor Wang Qiao not only served under Liu Fang but was also a student whom Liu Fang had personally promoted. Even the Great Zhou Fortune King had to give Liu Fang face here; after all, Prince Fu's influence in the palace had been diminished, leaving him merely a shell of a prince.
As for Sun Zhao, Lu Chen was still unclear about his identity but sensed that this person was certainly not simple based on the level of respect Liu Fang and others showed him.
"I wouldn't dare deceive my teacher; he truly is an expert from the Five Element Sect," Wang Qiao said while still bowing deeply, completely submissive to Liu Fang's authority.
Feeling Liu Fang's distrust towards him made Lu Chen uncomfortable. He immediately thought about showcasing his skills to this Governor so that he wouldn't keep peering at him through the door.
Just then, a soldier pushed open the door carrying a table laden with food and drinks, cautiously walking inside.
Lu Chen smiled mysteriously. While Flesh remained still in place, Yin Spirit had already left his body within the Side Hall and began performing a Ritual Spell.
The soldier was carefully moving about, afraid of spilling any food or drink and making a fool of himself when suddenly he felt as if the table he was holding had been greased; it flew out of his hands instantly.
This startled him greatly; his eyes nearly popped out. When he regained his composure and looked again, he saw that not only had the table flown from his grasp without falling to the ground but it also moved steadily through the air before landing perfectly among everyone. To make matters even more astonishing, the white porcelain wine bottles on the table began to rise on their own and poured wine into each of the four cups.
This scene frightened the soldier so much that he nearly wet himself.
"Good, hahaha," Huangfu Qi laughed heartily. He was very familiar with this scene; Lu Chen had used the same method to kill He Zai Jin and Chen Shihu within the Five Element Sect.
"What a remarkable ability, truly a master," the Mysterious Boy Sun Zhao said, snapping his folding fan shut, his face showing shock.
At this moment, the Governor of Wu Prefecture, Liu Fang, was also dumbfounded. As someone well-versed in Qigong, he had seen many things involving real weapons and immense strength, but he had never witnessed someone like Lu Chen, who stood still and effortlessly moved the table as if it were nothing.
Lu Chen had precisely grasped Liu Fang's thoughts and used Yin Spirit Disembodiment to create this scene. If he had actually exchanged a few punches in the Side Hall and displayed his weapons, it would have lost its meaning.
"Waste, get out of here," Wang Qiao shouted at the soldier who had lost control. The soldier quickly scrambled to his feet, hurriedly pulling up his pants as he rushed out.
Soon after, Lu Chen and the others sat around the table in the Side Hall.
Huangfu Qi said to Sun Zhao, "Brother Sun Zhao, I have introduced Brother Lu Chen to you. Now you can speak freely; there are no outsiders here."
The situation arose because Huangfu Qi had recommended himself to Sun Zhao, and Lu Chen understood the general circumstances.
Huangfu Qi then looked up at Governor Liu Fang with a very amused expression.
Liu Fang was extremely impatient and waved his hand, saying, "What are you looking at me for, Prince Fu? I see nothing and hear nothing."
Huangfu Qi and Sun Zhao exchanged awkward smiles. Sun Zhao stood up with a wine cup in hand and said, "Brother Lu Chen, my surname is Sun, and my given name is Zhao. You can call me Zi Zhao."
Sun Zhao introduced himself. The peculiarity of his name lay in that single character "Sun." Lu Chen had read quite a bit recently and knew some history; the Sun surname is not common today but was once a prominent surname a century ago.
For instance, the current compound surname Huangfu became the national surname because the Huangfu family dominated Central Plains. However, the Sun surname was the national surname of a previous dynasty—the Han Dynasty. Thus, it was evident that this Sun Zhao must have some connection to the Han Dynasty; he might even be a descendant of its royal family. The subsequent events indeed confirmed Lu Chen's thoughts.
Lu Chen also raised his cup high; he knew that Sun Zhao had more to say. He blinked and quietly listened as the other spoke.
Sun Zhao continued, "Brother Lu Chen has probably guessed my identity. My Sun Family is a descendant of the former royal family, and Governor Liu Fang is also a descendant of my Han Dynasty's former subordinates."
After the Great Zhou Dynasty took control of the Central Plains, they slaughtered a portion of the stubborn Han officials, but due to personnel issues, they had to retain some. Liu Fang is a descendant of those Han officials who were kept.
With this context, things become understandable.
"My intention this time is to invite Brother Lu Chen to lend me a hand, so that we can raise a banner in these chaotic times, resist the forces below, drive out the barbarians, defend the Central Plains, and restore the Han Dynasty."
Sun Zhao's passionate words stirred Lu Chen's blood. What Sun Zhao said resonated perfectly with his own aspirations.
"Brother Zi Zhao, what merit do I have to receive your recognition? I fear I am insignificant and lack both literary and martial skills, making it difficult for me to assist you," Lu Chen replied.
"Brother Lu Chen, do not be modest. Huangfu Jiu has already recommended you to me. At your age, you handle matters decisively and wisely; you are a rare talent with an unlimited future ahead," Sun Zhao said.
Huangfu Qi is the ninth son of the current Great Zhou Emperor, and yet Sun Zhao directly referred to him by name—Huangfu Jiu.
Lu Chen pursed his lips, thinking that throughout history, those descendants of fallen dynasties all aspired to restore their former glory. Many took action, yet none succeeded; they ended up meeting tragic fates as if under a curse.
Lu Chen had promised Li Shian to overthrow the Great Zhou Dynasty and establish a realm for the Han people, but he had not intended to assist the descendants of the previous dynasty in restoring the Han Dynasty. Would this also lead him into that curse and bring about his own demise?
He then heard Sun Zhao continue: "In the future, there will surely be countless divisions. Excluding those princes and princesses within the fragmented Great Zhou Dynasty, just dealing with the Korean King of the Western Seven States, the King of Northeast Qi, the Prairie King of the Northwest, and various governors from Central Plains Nineteen and Southeast Fourteen will be quite challenging. Among them, the Korean King and King of Qi are the most powerful forces. As far as I know, Korean King Chu Mang has been secretly colluding with Western barbarians and other nations. Although he appears loyal on the surface, he has long been gathering strength in secret, waiting for the right moment to declare himself king. Furthermore, King of Qi Huangfu Yi has close ties with Giant Barbarian Island in the east and openly recruits groups like Black Fist Sect and Three Poisons Wanderer for his own use. Recently, he has even gained support from Demon King Dynasty's Di Family."
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