Dual Cultivation God Returns Chapter 1052: Bait living a life of luxury and prosperity

"The 8th prince, I see... an unexpected player making a move," Wu Long remarked, his laughter subsiding as he swirled the cheap wine in his cup, a slight shake of his head accompanying his words. "Personally, I had my sights set on the 4th prince."

"What do you mean by that?" Chen Hui inquired, his eyebrows drawing together in curiosity.

"It appears the 8th prince's faction orchestrated this scheme, in conjunction with the Tuyin Dynasty. Or rather, they share common benefactors, so it's more accurate to say this alliance benefits them directly," Wu Long elaborated. "It's good that their involvement is no longer hidden; at least I know who the opposition is. Still, I wouldn't completely dismiss the 4th prince's family just yet."

"I... I thought they merely seized an opportunity..." Chen Hui stammered, a creeping realization dawning that a power far greater than the Wei Dynasty itself loomed behind this succession struggle.

Considering his tendency to avoid probing too deeply before meeting Wu Long, the thought sent a chill down his spine.

"Haha, it's far too late to reconsider now, my cautious friend," Wu Long observed the look in Chen Hui's eyes and let out another chuckle, shaking his head.

"W-Who's backing out?" Chen Hui blurted out, his eyes wide with a hint of panic. "I am with the Princess, now."

"Indeed, you are," Wu Long confirmed with a nod. He then added, his tone reassuring, "Try not to worry too much; this is but a minor ploy that won't significantly trouble them."

However, Wu Long's description of the Wei Dynasty's succession battle and an intrigue involving another dynasty as a 'minor ploy' did little to soothe Chen Hui's unease, underscoring the immense influence of those operating from the shadows.

A sudden jolt of realization struck Chen Hui, his mind racing. "W-Wait... that Corrupt Path stronghold... I'll be the one known across the land for..."

He couldn't finish the sentence, the full weight of the implication settling in as his words trailed off. He simply mimed a stabbing motion with his hand.

"Precisely," Wu Long responded with a light laugh. "What did you anticipate? Reputations and accomplishments without any repercussions? Naturally, the Corrupt Path will seek retribution."

"M-Maybe we could aim for a different accomplishment and let this one pass?" Chen Hui offered with a hesitant, awkward smile.

"That won't do. A lesser achievement won't grant you the title of General, especially not in this political climate. This particular feat will effectively lodge a massive obstacle, akin to a structural beam, into the wheels of the Tuyin Dynasty's marriage proposal carriage. Any other accomplishment we could devise on such short notice would be akin to a fragile twig, snapping uselessly and doing nothing to impede the carriage or its wheels," Wu Long explained, shaking his head. "Besides, what are you truly worried about? Surely you don't believe I would leave you to face the consequences alone after drawing you into this, do you?"

"It's still my neck on the line!" Chen Hui exclaimed, on the verge of tears.

"I have my own motivations for wanting a prominent figure to be held accountable," Wu Long stated, his voice deepening with a more serious tone. "For reasons of my own, the Corrupt Path has become a target of mine, and I require a reliable method to track their movements."

"Y-You're using me as bait?!"

"A lure that will live luxuriously and happily... with a beautiful consort and the title of Emperor's spouse... adorned in General's armor... possessing Essence Ignition Realm cultivation... yes, a lure," Wu Long admitted with a disarming, albeit shameless, smile.

"You... that..." Chen Hui attempted to retort, finger pointed in accusation, but his words caught in his throat. He couldn't refute any of Wu Long's claims. His finger remained extended, losing its accusatory momentum, until he eventually slumped down with a defeated sigh. "While I still harbor reservations about becoming a General, the families of the 4th, 5th, and 8th princes are bound to cause a stir. Moreover, the Empress is not in my favor; she simply relishes watching the rivals of the 3rd Prince entangle themselves, freeing her from any need to intervene."

"Do not stress yourself, eradicating a major Corrupt Path stronghold that operated successfully under the Dynasty's very nose for so long will surely put the Emperor in a difficult position. It represents a significant embarrassment to have it go unnoticed. He will need to preserve his honor, and to claim a portion of this achievement for himself, he will undoubtedly bestow a substantial reward upon you," Wu Long declared with unwavering conviction. "Not only will you ascend to the rank of General, but your marriage prospects will also dramatically improve. Although, before the Tuyin Dynasty's prince arrived, this would have had a more profound impact on your marital situation... the princess's hand would have essentially been your reward. However, that opportunity has passed. The Emperor must tread carefully now, given the involvement of another Dynasty. He will likely grant you supplementary rewards instead – perhaps a prestigious noble title that will still significantly enhance your standing in marriage negotiations."

"Hmm, if I possessed both a noble title and the rank of General, I would have the standing to contend openly with that foreign prince, and also to more boldly oppose any other princes who attempt to interfere...", Chen Hui mused, recalling the humiliation he endured merely an hour prior due to insufficient status.

"Furthermore, from this point forward, I shall offer you more active assistance. You will see me in the capital with far greater frequency. I can also aid in dealing with these foreign elements in my capacity as a guest of Princess Wei Zhenhui and a close confidant of Yuanjie," Wu Long added.

"Dealing with them...? You intend to stir up more trouble, don’t you?" Chen Hui initially froze, then voiced his concern with a hint of nervousness, remembering Wu Long's particular methods for handling those who vexed him.

"Hahaha, come now, when have I ever caused trouble? You know me by now~! I am an exceptionally friendly and affable individual~ practically harmless~! People even refer to me as a hopeless pacifist~", Wu Long presented a disarmingly innocent and harmless smile.

The look Chen Hui returned was potent enough to fill an entire volume of unwritten words.

Even Fen Baihu nearly tumbled from Wu Long's shoulder, her tiny claws scrabbling desperately for purchase on his arm.

"Come, let us delve into the specifics; we must be precise about how this endeavor will unfold," Wu Long then produced a jade slip, seemingly intending to overcome their disbelief by shifting the subject. "Commit this to memory; it serves as a blueprint for the entire operation. Remember, while we are staging a spectacle for your soldiers, our primary objective is to deceive those who will be monitoring you. Therefore, there will be injuries among your men, though no one will perish. However, we cannot permit it to be a painless affair."

Chen Hui's expression grew serious as he realized the time for jesting had concluded. He accepted the jade slip, immersing his Spiritual Sense within it.

—

After Chen Hui departed to 'receive the confessions' from the apprehended individuals who intended to patronize the Corrupt Path, thereby securing the final confirmation needed for the raid, Wu Long was soon joined by a trio clad in masks.

"It proved worthwhile to cultivate contacts within the city during our previous visit, Boss," Old Yen remarked, nodding. "We discovered an ideal mansion. It is not excessively large, but it resides within a prosperous district and is somewhat isolated, standing on its own platform. Lake waters surround it on all sides for at least 100 meters, with only a wooden bridge connecting its main entrance to the district's thoroughfares. Most mansions in that area share these characteristics."

"Its condition is not pristine, which allowed me to significantly reduce the cost, thus necessitating some renovation,"

"Excellent," Wu Long assented, rising to his feet. "Let us proceed to inspect it and determine if we can immediately establish protective formations and a Spatial Node. Given that it is a manor in a wealthy district, likely belonging to nobility, I presume there are secret lower levels beneath the mansion grounds?"

"Naturally," Old Yen replied, following closely behind Wu Long. "We conducted our search with precisely those criteria in mind."

"Have you also investigated suitable properties for the Soaring Feather Trading Company and the Thousand Eyes Palace?"

"Those... present a somewhat greater challenge to locate than living quarters for the Wu Family Manor," Old Yen's tone shifted to one of lesser confidence.

"It may be feasible to secure a location for the Soaring Feather Trading Company with additional funds...", Kwon Qianhong interjected, a visible reluctance to employ that method coloring his words. "However, simply injecting more capital into finding a suitable property for the Thousand Eyes Palace will not be significantly effective."

"Did I not tell you we could resolve this with a bit of 'persuasion'?", Nie Guanting inquired, scratching his head.

"Heh, as long as you are targeting individuals who behave similarly and refrain from disturbing innocent people, then proceed. Follow Guanting's directive on this matter," Wu Long chuckled, feeling increasingly assured that entrusting the task to someone capable of employing more assertive tactics alongside the two cautious individuals was the correct choice. This prompted Old Yen and Kwon Qianhong to exchange uneasy glances, as Nie Guanting's approach tended to be somewhat conspicuous and would inevitably draw notice. Nevertheless, they acknowledged his decision and guided Wu Long into the newly constructed Wu Family Manor situated within the Wei Dynasty's Imperial Capital.