Online: I Can See Health Bars Chapter 1791 - 808: Azure Trace_2

~6 minute read · 1,480 words
Previously on Online: I Can See Health Bars...
Lu Lu confronts Lord Jing, demanding the destruction of the Demon Capital and the death of Demon Emperor Lan Yuhe, revealing personal vengeance for Elder Tang. Lord Jing hints at the court's own failed attempts against the Demon Capital and the political complexities surrounding the Second Prince's potential involvement. Lu Lu dismisses the court's methods as inefficient and boldly proposes an alliance with Lord Jing's hidden superior, offering Buddha's Heart in exchange for their cooperation against Lan Yuhe.

Lu Lu smiled.

She brushed away Lord Jing’s hand and took back the Buddha’s Heart, then spoke.

"Lord Jing wants to ask, which Prince have I shown the Buddha’s Heart to?"

"..."

Lord Jing smiled but said nothing.

There are some things he can respond to.

There are some things he cannot respond to.

This is the art of survival in the Capital; for those in the Sect, it might not be as effective.

"Rest assured. What I want... is the strongest Eldest Prince! The other Princes, I don’t fancy them, nor do I believe those few who live comfortably while waiting to die in the Capital have the strength or the ambition to destroy the Demon Capital or kill the Demon Emperor!"

"However... the Second Prince who suddenly returned, the one with the most rumors and mysteries in the Capital, is indeed the second consideration."

"He might have the ability to kill Lan Yuhe! If the Eldest Prince has no interest in the Buddha’s Heart or this cooperation, I’ll simply turn to the Second Prince. However... I assume the Eldest Prince wouldn’t want to see such a result, right?"

Lu Lu’s tone in the last sentence carried a hint of worry for someone else, causing Lord Jing’s smile to become slightly stiff and his mouth to twitch slightly, speaking with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

"Miss Lu Lu indeed has a discerning eye for recognizing the true master! Who, besides the Holy Emperor, is the strongest in the world today? Naturally, none other than the Eldest Prince! The Eldest Prince’s strength, status, reputation—all completely crush the other Princes, and though he hasn’t attained the position of Crown Prince, with his status, ability, and acclaim, having the title makes little difference. The entire Capital... no! The entire world agrees! The Eldest Prince is the Crown Prince appointed by the Holy Emperor! He is the future heir of the Holy Emperor!"

"Under such circumstances, why would Miss Lu Lu consider the Second Prince, consider that unfortunate, tail-between-his-legs returnee, as unwise?"

Lu Lu sneered.

"Lord Jing’s eloquence almost made me pledge allegiance with the Buddha’s Heart right here. But... I’ve heard that the Holy Emperor has never set the position of Crown Prince deliberately to wait for the Second Prince? With the Second Prince’s absence, the Crown Prince’s seat remains vacant. And now, the Second Prince has returned to the Imperial Palace; perhaps the Holy Emperor might soon announce the Crown Prince."

"Even though the Eldest Prince has been diligent over these years of the Second Prince’s absence, achieving victories, slaying demons, rooting out evils, establishing countless achievements, and earning endless fame, even gaining high support and a vast following from the people. But these, whatever they are, don’t compare to a single act of favoritism from His Majesty, a personal bias. After all, this position might just be left for the Second Prince..."

Lord Jing’s expression grew quite sour, his skin twitching, suddenly shouting abruptly.

"You’re full of crap!"

Lu Lu naturally stopped speaking and looked coldly at Lord Jing.

"What I say isn’t important; what matters is what everyone thinks, what those outside and even the Holy Emperor are thinking. I’m just a person from the world, and regarding whether the Eldest Prince can smoothly attain the position of Crown Prince, surely Lord Jing is more aware of the current situation and circumstances than I am."

"..."

Lord Jing fell silent, his gaze already chilling, shedding that layer of disguise and becoming somewhat sinister.

But Lu Lu continued talking to herself.

"The Eldest Prince is really anxious; he doesn’t regard any other Prince because those brothers might be slightly better than him in some aspects, but overall, comprehensively speaking, they are far inferior to the Eldest Prince. Only... the Second Prince is different!"

"I’ve heard that even before the Second Prince left the Capital, before his disappearance, he always suppressed the Eldest Prince, always keeping the Eldest Prince from turning things around, forever reducing him to second place. Only after the Second Prince’s disappearance did the Eldest Prince begin to show his edge, winning the recognition and approval of the others in the Capital."

"There’s even a rumor that everything the Eldest Prince has achieved now is actually what the Second Prince didn’t want, deeming it charity granted to him! The Eldest Prince is living on the Second Prince’s leftovers..."

Smack!!

Lord Jing slammed the table fiercely.

"Shut your mouth!!!"

Lu Lu saw Lord Jing’s agitation and took two steps back, holding the Buddha’s Heart, making a gesture to silence herself.

Lord Jing also realized his loss of composure, moderated his mood, and said coldly.

"... Miss Lu Lu, some things can be known, but can’t be spoken aloud; once they are said, some things cannot be undone."

He stared coldly at Lu Lu, who showed no intention of backing down, confronting him by saying.

"The methods of the Absolute Sect, the methods of the Sect, are far stronger than what you court people think. Threatening me is useless; you only need to convey the message to the Eldest Prince, asking if he is willing to cooperate. This matter is very important to me, extremely important. But to him, it is equally important! While the Holy Emperor hasn’t decided yet, while the Second Prince has just returned to the Capital and hasn’t spread his wings, it’s crucial to make some moves and achieve something."

Lu Lu’s hints were already quite clear.

Lord Jing naturally knew what to do.

"Give me a few days; after I report to the Eldest Prince, I’ll inform you of any results."

Lu Lu was about to agree but suddenly realized something: "... You know how to find me?"

"Hmph!"

Lord Jing sneered.

"You underestimate the court too much. Miss Lu Lu, please remember, it’s your identity with the Absolute Sect that qualifies you to stand in front of me and negotiate fairly, not because of you personally!"

Lu Lu frowned tightly, also sneering.

"Better hurry; I might not resist reaching out to the Second Prince. To my knowledge, the Second Prince should have strength comparable to the Eldest Prince, equally capable of... killing the Demon Emperor Lan Yuhe!"

And with that, Lu Lu’s figure vanished in a flash.

"Hmph! It really was the Artifact’s shadow, but even if it’s a shadow, the contours and the feel can’t be wrong... it’s the real Buddha’s Heart! Something the Eldest Prince has long sought after, now truly delivered, but unfortunately, the timing is such, coinciding with the Second Prince’s return to the Capital..."

Lord Jing contemplated silently for a moment and quickly made a decision, activating the room’s mechanism, retrieving a communicative Jade from a concealed chamber.

Writing a few words upon it, the text was quickly absorbed, and shortly after, text emerged.

"Okay."

Agreed?

Such a hasty agreement?

Lord Jing was taken aback.

This doesn’t align with the typical behavior of the Eldest Prince.

Could it be that some news is known, or the pressure from the Second Prince’s return is too great, forcing the Eldest Prince to become eager for success?

Regardless, first arrange the meeting between the Absolute Sect woman and the Eldest Prince.

Though the Eldest Prince agreed to the woman’s demands, there’s no plan on how to destroy the Demon Capital or kill Lan Yuhe; it’s only a temporary strategic goal agreement.

"First, obtain the Buddha’s Heart to further enhance the Eldest Prince’s strength, then discuss how to solve the Demon Capital issue."

This was Lord Jing’s intention; in his view, what’s a mere person from the Absolute Sect compared to demanding the Eldest Prince destroy the Demon Capital first and then provide the Buddha’s Heart? That order can’t be reversed.

Moreover, with the Eldest Prince’s formidable rival returning to the Capital, the Eldest Prince needs to strengthen himself to counter, first seizing benefits and even gaining the Holy Emperor’s favor, suppressing the Second Prince, stabilizing his position, and then leading troops south to annihilate the Demon Capital—it’s not too late.

As Lord Jing pondered such possibilities, a sudden flurry of urgent footsteps echoed outside the door.

Lord Jing frowned slightly, turned off the mechanism, restored the room, and looked back towards the door.

Knock knock knock!

The door was rapped three times, evidently signaling the most urgent notification.

"What’s the matter?" Lord Jing asked.

"Report!! Sir! There’s an urgent decree from the court ordering you to return immediately, saying—saying—the Demon Capital envoy has suddenly arrived!"