My System Is Three Thousand Years Early

"Shall we wait for daylight tomorrow before setting out?"

Cheng Guang shook his head, "No need, Uncle Ning, we've already stayed for quite a few days."

Seeing Cheng Guang speak in this manner, Ning Liang did not try to persuade him further but instead actively ordered someone to pack Cheng Guang's luggage.

During his time at the Taihao Sword Sect, Cheng Guang mostly stayed in Ning Qianxue's courtyard and rarely interacted with outsiders. No melodramatic showing off or face-slapping incidents occurred.

The journey was quite effortless.

An hour later.

Ning Qianxue changed into a bright red wedding dress, boarded the Flying Boat with Cheng Guang, and set off towards the Great Zhou Capital.

The main purpose of this trip was, after all, to welcome the bride.

This was something that could not be forgotten.

As Cheng Guang operated the Flying Boat, hastily making for the Capital city,

atop the city walls of the Capital, Emperor Zhou stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

His dignified and icy gaze pierced through the dense night, observing the Imperial Guard encamped within several miles of the Capital. The corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

"Zhao Jin."

"Have you heard what's being spread throughout the land now?"

Zhao Jin, who was by Emperor Zhou's side, quickly stepped forward, bowed, and with sweat beading on his forehead, replied apprehensively:

"Your Majesty, your servant is unaware."

Emperor Zhou's gaze shifted from the distant Imperial Guard to Zhao Jin, his voice chilling.

"All over the land, people are saying that the Duke of the State's Heir didn't die at all, that it was all a misunderstanding."

"The Duke of the State, who had originally planned to head south, returned with the Northern Expedition Army. Just a moment ago, he sent me a memorial, stating that all was well on the frontier, and I needn't worry."

"Tell me, if the Duke's Heir were truly dead, would the Duke act in such a manner?"

Zhao Jin's face tightened, his heart growing even more anxious, "Your Majesty, these are merely rumors and should not be taken for truth."

"The Duke may have been frightened by Your Majesty, knowing that his descent to the south would spell certain death."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhou took a fleeting glance at Zhao Jin and then slowly withdrew his gaze.

He did not believe Zhao Jin's words.

The Duke was not a man who feared death; he was a being who had fought his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. How could he be concerned about his own life and death?

The supposed death of Cheng Guang would have been a fatal blow to the Duke.

Emperor Zhou himself did not believe that the Duke could restrain himself if his son, the Duke's Heir, was truly dead.

Why then, did he retreat?

Was it merely a delaying tactic, planning to wait until I lowered my guard before striking at me?

In just a short moment, Emperor Zhou had thought of many possibilities.

Looking towards the distant sky, a sudden thought crossed his mind, and he turned to Zhao Jin, "How are Cheng Zhihai and Wu Yuemei doing at this moment?"

Zhao Jin hurriedly answered, "They are still in Duke Zhen's Mansion without any actions."

"Due to Qian Siyuan and Li Zhengyang returning to the mansion recently, their moods have quite improved."

"It seems they also believe... the Princely Heir has not perished in the Underworld."

As Zhao Jin said this, the corners of his mouth secretly twitched.

He truly felt uncomfortable now.

He knew that Emperor Zhou trusted him deeply.

Zhao Jin himself claimed he killed Cheng Guang, and in the eyes of Emperor Zhou, that meant the Duke's Heir was certainly dead.

The Duke's Heir, Cheng Guang, even with his many tricks, could not possibly have survived at the hands of Zhao Jin, a Ninth-order Martial Emperor Realm expert.

Moreover,

Zhao Jin was skilled in utilizing prohibitions.

With prohibition techniques at his disposal, Zhao Jin was not without the power to battle even those of the Heavenly Human Realm.

Currently, Zhao Jin was in great discomfort. Deceiving Emperor Zhou was a crime of deceiving the sovereign. There was a real possibility that his life was in danger, which was one reason for his discomfort.

Another, more critical reason was this:

Qian Siyuan and Li Zhengyang returned and brought back news that the Princely Heir was unharmed.

Regardless of what Cheng Zhihai and Wu Yuemei in the Duke's Mansion thought deep down, at least outwardly, they seemed to believe it.

The Duke believed it as well.

Emperor Zhou's objective was only halfway fulfilled.

It might not be long before the Princely Heir would return to the Capital.

By then, no lies would remain hidden.

Emperor Zhou still did not know how he would treat Zhao Jin.

Thinking of this, Zhao Jin felt like he almost wanted to die.

Silently standing behind Emperor Zhou, he dared not say anything else.

Emperor Zhou did not leave the city walls of the Capital immediately, he was waiting.

Waiting for the Duke to appear, or perhaps the Northern Expedition Army.

Seconds and minutes passed by.

The darkness of night gradually faded, and the earth was tenderly embraced by the faint light of dawn.

The contours of the distant mountains became clear, and the color of the sky started to change from deep black to a gentle blue.

With his profound Cultivation Realm, Emperor Zhou could go for days without sleep and not feel a trace of weariness.

His gaze was fixed on the distance.

Under his dignified and stern gaze, he suddenly saw a small black dot slowly appear at the junction of the sky.

Emperor Zhou's eyes narrowed slightly, before he could make out the shape of the distant black dot.

Two presences were rushing over from the distance.

Emperor Zhou felt the aura of the arrivals, his brows furrowing slightly, he intended to say something, but he said nothing and his gaze fell upon those who approached.

The arrivals were none other than Cheng Zhihai and Qian Siyuan.

Cheng Zhihai greeted Emperor Zhou with respect, "Your Majesty."

Emperor Zhou nodded slightly, his majestic gaze rested on Cheng Zhihai, after a profound moment, he spoke slowly:

"Zhihai, you don't blame me?"

The meaning behind Emperor Zhou's words was clear.

Your son was killed by me.

You don't blame me?

Emperor Zhou had not intended to completely eradicate Duke Zhen's Mansion.

What he wanted to do,

was simply to uproot Duke Zhen's Mansion and take back its power.

If he truly went to extremes, one person from Duke Zhen's Mansion would be enough to give him trouble.

Emperor Zhou could hold a grudge, but he was not foolish.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhihai acted as if he did not understand what Emperor Zhou was saying and replied, "Your Majesty has done nothing wrong, why say such a thing?"

Emperor Zhou's gaze stayed on Cheng Zhihai for a while.

He suddenly felt.

Cheng Zhihai at this moment, seemed very different from the figure who had come to his chambers days before.

Not hasty or impatient.

And there was even a touch of joy on his face.

Though the joy was not evident, the fact that it appeared on Cheng Zhihai at this time, wasn't it too abrupt?

Could it be that the Town-Nation Duke's Heir was not really dead??

A bad premonition suddenly surfaced in Emperor Zhou's heart.

His gaze glanced again at Zhao Jin standing by.

Zhao Jin, noticing Emperor Zhou's watchful eyes, hurriedly returned a respectful smile.

Daring not to offend in the slightest.

Seeing Zhao Jin's pitiful demeanor in his presence, Emperor Zhou felt somewhat reassured, knowing it was unlikely for Zhao Jin to deceive him, and a bit of calm returned to his heart.

After a pause, he asked Cheng Zhihai:

"Zhihai, have you encountered some happy event recently?"

Cheng Zhihai replied with a smile, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? During this time, there is the matter of my son's marriage."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhou's brows raised slightly, then he nodded, remembering the occasion.

However.

The Town-Nation Duke's Heir, Cheng Guang, was already dead.

Could it be you truly believe he can come back to life?

Emperor Zhou's dignified face did not change in the slightest.

At this point, Cheng Zhihai continued:

"He has gone to the Taihao Sword Sect to fetch his bride, and he will be back soon."

As he said this, Cheng Zhihai looked towards the distant horizon and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, I have come this time to receive Guanger, look, he's coming back."

Cheng Zhihai pointed to the distance.

In the distance, where the clouds met the rising sun, the small black dot that had appeared was gradually growing larger.

Eventually,

it took on the appearance of a flying boat.

And on the deck of the flying boat, there stood a stunningly handsome noble young master.

Zhao Jin, standing by Emperor Zhou, took in a sharp breath at the sight of the figure appearing in the distance, involuntarily lifting his sleeve to cover his face.

Although he didn't look at Emperor Zhou,

he could guess how unsightly Emperor Zhou's face must be at this moment.

At first, Emperor Zhou hadn't noticed who the figure on the distant flying boat was.

But when he saw the figure that appeared on the deck of the distant flying boat, his eyes involuntarily widened.

His usually dignified and cold expression slightly moved.

His breathing, at the same time, grew heavier!

This!!

How is this possible!!

"Zhao Jin!!!"

Emperor Zhou's voice was heavy as he abruptly turned to look at Zhao Jin.

...