Super Invincible Immortal Doctor
Chapter 1576 - 1577: Just Like the Old Days

Su Chengyu took the initiative to stand up, cupped his fists and spoke: "The Cold Moon Envoy indeed has bestowed upon me considerable guidance; she took care of me when I was still in Lin Jiang and could be considered almost akin to my mentor."

In the matters of imparting the Dao, guiding disciples, and resolving doubts, Ye Qingci’s instruction to Su Chengyu was almost negligible in the imparting of the Dao, but she offered significantly more in the other two respects than Cang Qing True Master, something Su Chengyu was acutely aware of.

During his initial meeting with Zhao Xuanzhen, Su Chengyu was yet unable to discern what it was the other party desired to probe, but he could clearly sense a deep submission beneath that seemingly amicable smile.

Therefore, instead of constantly concealing the truth, Su Chengyu chose to frankly acknowledge it all.

"Hmm, I’ve also heard that you are the Cold Moon Envoy’s Path-Protector."

"I merely offer what little help I can. In the Kunwu Realm, I also served Lin An... Princess Your Highness, as a Path-Protector."

"Hehe."

Zhao Xuanzhen chuckled lightly, not pressing the matter further.

Su Chengyu’s thoughts shifted. Through their dialogue, although he still couldn’t grasp what Zhao Xuanzhen aimed to test, he was certain of one thing: matters involving Lin An, Zhao Xuanzhen sought to avoid as much as possible.

The deep-seated reason clearly being that because of Lin An, Zhao Xuanzhen had to relinquish his intent to kill him.

Su Chengyu knew that this was the only bargaining chip he had when facing Zhao Xuanzhen, the one thing that allowed him to meet on equal footing, or even to gain the upper hand.

But having fully confirmed this, Su Chengyu did not plan on using Lin An to counterbalance the pressure Zhao Xuanzhen exerted on him any longer.

It wasn’t because Su Chengyu, for the sake of a man and his so-called pride, didn’t want to rely on Lin An’s support for himself.

Such action would only belittle the unconditional trust Lin An had in him.

The real reason Su Chengyu could exercise patience was that he was well aware that quality steel should be used on the cutting edge of the blade.

And now was far from the time.

"However, Your Majesty can rest assured that personal matters are personal, public matters are public. The Cold Moon Envoy has indeed taken great care of me, but this will not lead me to be partial before right and wrong."

"Oh?"

Meeting Zhao Xuanzhen’s gaze, Su Chengyu blinked and said with no fear: "Even if Your Majesty still has doubts about me now, you should trust the Cold Moon Envoy, a scion of a military family."

Zhao Xuanzhen chuckled again and nodded: "Indeed, the daughter of General Ye is indeed too reassuring. But Su Qing, don’t misunderstand; I do not mistrust you."

"Your servant dares not."

Speculating about the Emperor’s intent was taboo; even more so, considering Zhao Xuanzhen with such ill-intentions, Su Chengyu immediately spoke out to correct his earlier words that were not proper.

"There is nothing about daring or not daring. The times have changed now; sovereigns and ministers remain so, but there are not so many cumbersome formalities. You are a reliable general of the Demon Slayer Department and will someday be the right arm of Xia Country. If you can’t even dare this, how can you talk about advancing further?"

Su Chengyu bowed his head in silence, not daring to respond to Zhao Xuanzhen’s words.

Zhao Xuanzhen chuckled and then looked at Xu Zijing beside him: "Just like Zijing, he thinks every day about what I really want him to do."

The named Xu Zijing took the initiative to stand up and said: "Only by contemplating the monarch’s thoughts can one resolve the monarch’s perplexities."

Zhao Xuanzhen nodded in satisfaction and then turned to Su Chengyu: "Su Qing, indeed I have had reservations about you previously, but you have proven yourself time and again. I have conferred upon you the title of Tian Heng in the hopes that we can be a pair of sovereign and minister who truly see each other honestly. For many things, you need not hide them from me; you just need to speak up, and I can naturally resolve your doubts."

Su Chengyu reflexively looked up, meeting Zhao Xuanzhen’s utmost sincere gaze, and was almost instinctively about to voice the doubts he was most eager to know in his heart.

"Your servant... indeed, dares not conceal matters concerning the Dragon Vein’s embryonic form. I recognize my fault."

The words on the tip of his tongue ultimately remained unspoken, turning instead to the matter of the Dragon Vein.

Zhao Xuanzhen chuckled lightly, raised his hand, and the elderly man who had previously received the two of them immediately presented a red agate seal to Su Chengyu.

As Su Chengyu looked up in confusion, Zhao Xuanzhen continued, "This is a Landscape Seal personally crafted by the Imperial Observatory; with it, the growth of the Dragon Vein’s fledgling form will accelerate by dozens of times. Before it fully matures into a complete Dragon Vein, you shall be its keeper."

"Thank you for Your Majesty’s generous favor."

Su Chengyu took a deep breath and accepted the seal.

Zhao Xuanzhen smiled while looking at Su Chengyu, "Some have told me that you might be the next Long Xuan, and others believe that I wish for you to become the next Zijing. But in truth, it’s neither."

Su Chengyu raised his head looking puzzled at Zhao Xuanzhen.

"In my view, you will only be you, another pillar of Xia Country who is not inferior to Long Xuan and is loyal to Xia Country, just like back then..."

His words suddenly ceased.

Within the grand hall, there was a sudden silence.

The sound of a heartbeat emerged in Su Chengyu’s mind, under such immense pressure, he could not tell whether it was his own heart pounding furiously or an illusion born from the strange atmosphere in the hall.

It felt as if something was pressing down on his head in an instant, making even breathing difficult.

"Your Majesty, it’s getting late, and the State Preceptor is still waiting for you."

The tall and thin Attendant who had brought the seal suddenly spoke up, breaking the eerie silence in the hall.

Zhao Xuanzhen slowly stood up and then, on leaving, took one last look at them.

"Oh, Su Qing, Imperial Concubine Chen actually wanted to see you today, but I’ve put it off for you for the time being. However, seeing as she is Lin An’s mother, when the time comes, make sure to request an audience yourself."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Imperial Concubine Chen’s intent to kill was much more straightforward than the Emperor’s, and Su Chengyu did not dare to weigh which was more severe.

But due to her pure rationale, Imperial Concubine Chen was not one to easily change her views of him. Zhao Xuanzhen’s initiative to decline on his behalf was clearly an act to extricate him from the situation, and Su Chengyu was well aware that this was Zhao Xuanzhen showing goodwill towards him.

After this audience with the Emperor, Su Chengyu somewhat understood why Qiu Tianlin had previously instructed him with such emphasis.

Emperor of Xia Country, Zhao Xuanzhen.

The depth of his strategies was unfathomable.

As he walked out from the grand hall, the immense pressure that enveloped his entire body finally dissipated substantially.

Feeling the ease next to him, Xu Zijing turned around and asked, "How do you feel?"

"It’s alright."

Su Chengyu replied with a bitter smile.

Xu Zijing chuckled lightly, said nothing more, and continued walking forward.

Su Chengyu turned his head to glance at Xu Zijing and after hesitating for a moment, initiated the conversation.

"Zijing, who exactly was His Majesty referring to just now?"

Xu Zijing abruptly stopped, then turned to look at Su Chengyu with a meaningful gaze and replied, "Don’t you know?"