TRWSB – Chapter 172 The Envoy from

Tang Tianfeng had settled in the city lord’s mansion and spent his days idly wandering around the mansion.

“Qi Heng, where are you going?” Tang Tianfeng called out to stop Qi Heng and asked.

“It’s the Second Prince! I’m just about to ship something out,” Qi Heng turned around and said.

“Is it a new type of face mask?” Tang Tianfeng asked.

Qi Heng nodded and said, “Yes, there are two versions—one is extra large, and the other is extra small.”

Tang Tianfeng smiled and said, “Is it prepared for the sea creatures?”

Qi Heng nodded and said, “Yes.”

“Qi Shao is so considerate!” Tang Tianfeng couldn’t help but exclaim.

“If you want to make money, naturally, you have to think things through,” Qi Heng said with a faint smile.

“Qi Heng is really capable!” Tang Tianfeng praised.

“Not at all, I’m just running a few errands for the young master. The one who’s truly capable is the young master,” Qi Heng said.

Tang Tianfeng nodded and said, “No need to be modest, Qi Heng. Your ability is well recognized.”

Qi Heng nodded toward Tang Tianfeng and said, “Second Prince, if there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to work.”

Tang Tianfeng nodded and said, “Please, Qi Heng.”

…

Tang Tianfeng watched Qi Heng’s retreating figure and couldn’t help but mutter, “Their business is really booming.”

The black-clad cultivator beside Tang Tianfeng looked at him and said, “The Second Prince, Qi Heng, and Bi Liuyun are all loyal followers of Qi Shaorong. I’m afraid there’s no breakthrough to be found in them.”

Tang Tianfeng nodded and agreed, “Indeed.”

“Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao have hidden themselves in the underground laboratory again, acting all mysterious. Who knows what they’re up to,” the black-clad cultivator said with dissatisfaction.

…

“Shen Yuan, you’re here!” Tang Tianfeng greeted as he patted Shen Yuan’s shoulder.

Shen Yuan respectfully called out, “Second Prince.”

“I’m your brother-in-law, no need to be so formal,” Tang Tianfeng said casually.

Shen Yuan smiled and replied, “Yes.”

“How are you adjusting to life on the Bihai Plains?” Tang Tianfeng asked.

“It’s fine,” Shen Yuan replied. When Shen Yuan had first come, he had heard that the Bihai Plains were dangerous, but once he arrived, he found it wasn’t as bad as expected.

“I heard the merfolk have caused trouble a few times?” Tang Tianfeng asked.

Shen Yuan nodded and said, “Yes, but they’ve been driven back each time.”

“The merfolk are the royal family of the sea race. The ones who came must have considerable strength, right?” Tang Tianfeng said.

“Not really. The merfolk are actually quite weak. They’re living off their old glory,” Shen Yuan replied dismissively.

“Even a dead camel is bigger than a horse. I heard that a group of merfolk came once and were defeated by Zhuang Hao with a single sword strike,” Tang Tianfeng said.

“That’s true. A young mermaid came with a few admirers—just a bunch of unruly rabble,” Shen Yuan said.

“I heard that Bi Qinyu came with Qi Shaorong to the Bihai Plains. Why haven’t I seen him?” Tang Tianfeng asked.

“Qi Shaorong sent him off to marry someone,” Shen Yuan replied.

“Marriage!” Tang Tianfeng furrowed his brows, thinking: “Marriage? Shen Yuan must be joking. However, if Bi Liuyun truly marries Hai Ling, Qi Shaorong’s power will become even more terrifying.”

He had heard a very strange rumor: Bi Liuyun was the long-lost golden mermaid of the sea race. Although Tang Tianfeng didn’t understand how a human musician like Bi Liuyun could turn into a mermaid, the rumor sounded convincing, not at all like a lie.

Shen Yuan forced a dry smile and said, “I was just joking. Bi Liuyun seems to be negotiating business with the young master of the Tianlong Trading House. There might be a big deal between Tianlong Trading House and Qi Shaorong.”

Tang Tianfeng said, “… Qi Shaorong is really enthusiastic about doing business.”

Shen Yuan nodded and said, “Yes.”

…

Qi Shaorong stayed in the laboratory, studying the newly acquired sea race spirit grass.

“Is the Second Prince still not planning to leave?” Qi Shaorong looked at Zhuang Hao and asked.

“I think he might not be leaving anytime soon,” Zhuang Hao said.

Qi Shaorong raised his head and looked at Zhuang Hao. “Why? Is the food here better than in the imperial capital, so he’s reluctant to leave?”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

Qi Shaorong paused and said, “Perhaps I should find a lousy cook to make meals for the Second Prince.”

Zhuang Hao: “…” What did Qi Shaorong take Tang Tianfeng for?

Zhuang Hao smiled helplessly and said, “I think he probably wants to investigate something.”

Qi Shaorong closed his eyes and said, “I have a feeling…”

“What feeling?” Zhuang Hao asked.

“I think my position as lord might not last much longer,” Qi Shaorong said.

Zhuang Hao looked at Qi Shaorong and asked, “Do you think the emperor will transfer you elsewhere?”

Qi Shaorong nodded and said, “That’s possible.”

Zhuang Hao lowered his head and said, “Let’s take it one step at a time.”

“I can’t really be transferred, right? I just started to make progress here, preparing to expand!” Qi Shaorong said with frustration.

Zhuang Hao looked at Qi Shaorong and said, “Don’t worry. No matter where you go, you’ll do well.”

Qi Shaorong: “…”

“I have to get rid of that Second Prince,” Qi Shaorong muttered after thinking for a while.

Zhuang Hao rubbed his chin and said, “If you really want to get rid of him, give him some sea sand secret silver.”

Qi Shaorong nodded and said, “That’s what I was thinking. I was going to wait for him to ask, but now I think I’ll just offer it to him first.”

…

“This is the sea sand secret silver I found. I won’t hide it from you, Second Prince. This stuff is really hard to find. I’ve gone through a lot of effort, risking my life to find just this little bit. Ten jin is really too much, so I hope the Second Prince can speak well of me in front of the emperor and help lower the standard,” Qi Shaorong said with a smile.

Tang Tianfeng smiled and said, “I believe in Qi Shaorong’s ability. You will definitely be able to fulfill the emperor’s orders.”

Qi Shaorong forced a smile and said, “Second Prince, you really think highly of me.”

“With your connection to the young master of Tianlong Trading House, obtaining sea sand secret silver shouldn’t be too difficult, right?” Tang Tianfeng said.

Qi Shaorong smiled wryly and looked melancholic. “It’s not that easy! Sea sand secret silver is a forbidden item of the sea race. Even the young master of Tianlong Trading House would find it hard to obtain. You should know how hard it is to acquire forbidden items of the sea race.”

Tang Tianfeng forced a smile and said, “Precisely because it’s hard to get, that’s why it has to be handled by someone as talented as you!”

Qi Shaorong smiled and said, “Second Prince, you overestimate me.”

“It’s not that I overestimate you, but you really have this ability,” Tang Tianfeng said.

Qi Shaorong looked at Tang Tianfeng and said, “Getting the sea sand secret silver will take time.”

Tang Tianfeng patted Qi Shaorong on the shoulder and said, “The front-line battle is about to break out. The lives of millions of soldiers on the front line are in your hands. Qi Shaorong, for the glory of the original kingdom, I ask that you put in your best effort.”

Qi Shaorong: “…”

Qi Shaorong looked at Tang Tianfeng with a strange feeling in his heart. No wonder Bi Liuyun didn’t want to take the throne of the merfolk. The feeling of being entrusted with such an important task was truly unbearable.

…

“Zhuang Shao.” Tang Tianfeng called out to Zhuang Hao.

Zhuang Hao turned around and looked at Tang Tianfeng. “Second Prince.”

“I’ve been staying in the city lord’s mansion for several days, but I rarely see you! I wanted to catch up with you, but didn’t get the chance,” Tang Tianfeng said with regret.

Zhuang Hao sighed and said with pity, “There’s nothing I can do. Shaorong likes to hide away in dark places doing experiments. He insists on having me accompany him, and if I don’t, he feels lonely.”

Tang Tianfeng looked at Zhuang Hao’s shy expression and couldn’t help but feel a chill in his heart.

Zhuang Hao looked at Tang Tianfeng and asked, “Second Prince, are you adjusting well to life in the city lord’s mansion?”

“The city lord’s mansion is great—great living conditions, great food. I almost don’t want to leave,” Tang Tianfeng said, realizing that Zhuang Hao was hinting for him to leave. He smiled casually and continued, “But I understand.”

Zhuang Hao looked at Tang Tianfeng and said, “No matter how good the city lord’s mansion is, it can’t compare to the imperial capital.”

“Then, Zhuang Shao, why would you willingly stay here?” Tang Tianfeng asked.

“I? I’m naturally here because Shaorong is here,” Zhuang Hao said matter-of-factly.

Tang Tianfeng: “…”

Tang Tianfeng came out this time with the mission of investigating Zhuang Hao’s strength. However, standing in front of him, Tang Tianfeng couldn’t feel Zhuang Hao’s strength at all. This feeling of not being able to probe Zhuang Hao’s abilities made Tang Tianfeng feel extremely defeated.

Normally, only when there’s a huge gap in strength would it be impossible to gauge someone’s abilities.

“Ah Hao, earlier, when the news of you and Qi Shaorong’s deaths reached the imperial capital, Father was very worried. It’s good that both of you are fine,” Tang Tianfeng said with a smile.

Zhuang Hao smiled and thought: The emperor must have been worried that we didn’t die.

“I’m lucky, how could anything have happened to me!” Zhuang Hao said nonchalantly.

Tang Tianfeng nodded and said, “Yes! Ah Hao, you’re blessed, so you’re fine. But, you and Qi Shaorong have been missing for so long. Where did you two go?”

“Is sea sand secret silver really that hard to get?” Tang Tianfeng forced a smile and asked.

Zhuang Hao nodded and said, “Naturally.”

…

Zhuang Hao entered the laboratory, and Qi Shaorong looked at him and said, “It seems you’re a bit late.”

“I was delayed by the Second Prince on the way,” Zhuang Hao replied.

“Did he do anything?”

“It seems like he secretly tested my strength,” Zhuang Hao said.

Qi Shaorong looked at Zhuang Hao and asked, “Did he find out?”

“He’s too weak. He probably couldn’t see anything,” Zhuang Hao said.

Qi Shaorong: “…”

“Too weak,” Qi Shaorong thought. Zhuang Hao really was arrogant!

Zhuang Hao looked at Qi Shaorong and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You say the Second Prince is too weak?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Zhuang Hao nodded and said, “Yes.”

Qi Shaorong: “…” If Tang Tianfeng hears what Zhuang Hao said, he’ll probably be furious.