Chapter 14: Chapter 12 The Princely Heir Takes a Liking to Me
“`
Building a tomb for oneself may seem oddly filial.
But since Cheng Zhihai was not his own father but the Princely Heir’s father, Cheng Guang felt no guilt at all.
Cheng Guang said he would do it, so he did.
This task was much simpler compared to the challenge of defeating the Empress of Great Zhou.
It was already 21:00.
The storm had passed, and tonight’s moonlight was exceptionally clear and bright, with no clouds in the sky to veil it, the silvery moonbeams fell straight to the ground.
Cheng Guang took up the pen and took out a brand new piece of white paper, upon which he wrote “Tomb of Cheng Zhihai”.
The tombstone only needed a simple inscription of the name, just a passable impersonation was enough.
His system, clearly not the brightest, should be fooled by this.
Having finished writing, Cheng Guang left his room and once again went to the lake’s edge.
He took some soil, held it in his hands to form a small mound, and attached the written paper to it.
For joss paper, Cheng Guang simply substituted white paper.
He did not have a single coin on him now, let alone fake joss paper money.
He lit the paper on fire.
As the flames rose, the dull voice of the system once again echoed in Cheng Guang’s mind.
[Task completed, would you like to receive the reward?]
A hint of joy appeared on Cheng Guang’s face, it actually worked.
“Claim it!” he said.
The moment Cheng Guang’s words fell, he faintly sensed several streaks of golden light flitting by his side.
The golden radiance scattered like flowing light and converged before his eyes into a resplendent and sparkling Jade Bead.
Cheng Guang immediately wrapped the Jade Bead in his robe to conceal the golden light it emanated, hastily flattened the small mound of earth, then hurried back to his room to inspect the newly obtained treasure, the Restraint Pearl.
The moment he touched the Restraint Pearl, its uses flashed through his mind.
[Restraint Pearl: Can conceal one’s own aura, making it unrivaled and impenetrable to others, shielding destiny and hiding the past and future.]
“This Restraint Pearl can conceal one’s aura, making it unrivaled and impenetrable to others; this is a very powerful feature,” he thought to himself.
“Doesn’t this mean that as long as I wear this Restraint Pearl and have a sufficiently similar appearance, I can perfectly impersonate someone else?”
Cheng Guang’s face lit up with wild elation.
Impersonating the Princely Heir, the only point of vulnerability was the distinctiveness of his own aura.
Cheng Guang guessed that the reason Emperor Zhou had been able to detect that he was an imposter was precisely because his aura was different from the Princely Heir’s; a Cultivator of Emperor Zhou’s caliber could see right through a person, inside and out.
Discerning whether two individuals were the same was simple for Emperor Zhou.
Cheng Guang knew that in reality, any Cultivator intent on probing could easily see through a person’s aura, which not only helped identify them but could also gauge their strength.
Whether a person was strong or weak was crystal clear by their aura.
It was also because Cheng Guang held a noble status that no one dared to casually probe his body; otherwise, a simple investigation to discern his aura would’ve easily revealed he was not the true Princely Heir.
Now that he had acquired the Restraint Pearl, he no longer had to fear his identity would be exposed due to a differing aura.
Steady now!
Everything was secure!
Cheng Guang clenched his fists slowly, now, as long as he got past Cheng Zhihai, it was practically impossible for anyone to see through his identity.
Not even the emperor.
Binding the Restraint Pearl to himself was simple; it just needed a drop of fresh blood.
Cheng Guang bit his fingertip, squeezing blood onto the Restraint Pearl, then placed the Restraint Pearl on his forehead. The pearl, like liquid, merged into his skin.
At the same time, Cheng Guang’s entire being seemed to become murky and unfathomable.
Having merged the Great Xia royal bloodline, an already noble demeanor now carried an added tinge of mystery.
Cheng Guang nodded in satisfaction; though his system seemed a bit foolish, it also proved very useful.
It could not only forewarn him of future events but also provide him with such rewards.
With the system’s aid, perhaps he could grasp many opportunities in the future and obtain even more Different Treasures.
Hope burgeoned in Cheng Guang’s heart.
In contemplation of such prospects, he extinguished the candlelight and lay down to rest.
……
Birds stir in the forests at dawn, and morning light rises over the eastern house.
In the early morning of his seventh day in this world, Cheng Guang awoke as daylight broke.
After getting up,
Cheng Guang washed briefly with the help of a Maiden, then left his residence and headed to the Book Collection Pavilion.
The Duke’s Mansion was vast and luxurious throughout.
Previously, under Qing Luan’s control and also to avoid revealing his identity, Cheng Guang seldom left his residence and avoided unnecessary contact with others.
He hardly walked for a while before he almost got lost.
Thus, he casually stopped a guard passing by on the road.
“Princely Heir,” the guard said.
The guard, looking to be around seventeen or eighteen years old, bowed respectfully as soon as he saw Cheng Guang blocking his path, his young face filled with apprehension.
He wondered if he had done something wrong to catch the attention of this distinguished Princely Heir.
Cheng Guang looked the guard up and down; young, vigorous, having recently joined Duke Zhen’s Mansion, his eyes full of anticipation for the future.
“`
Such a person should be quite easy to deceive.
While Cheng Guang was sizing up the guard, the guard had already begun to sweat profusely from his forehead, clearly frightened.
“What is your name?” Cheng Guang asked.
The guard hurried to reply, “Princely Heir, my name is Lin Cheng! I live at the third building in Third Lane of the Capital city. I have my parents and two younger brothers at home. I am eighteen this year, and my martial cultivation has already reached the third rank of the Purple Mansion Realm. I have just entered the Duke’s Mansion not long ago, not even a full month yet!”
Not knowing the purpose of Cheng Guang stopping him, the guard simply blurted out everything about himself.
Cheng Guang listened with a look of surprise, only eighteen years old and his cultivation has reached the Purple Mansion Realm?
This talent is not low; in many sects of the Martial World, he could at least become an inner sect disciple, or even a direct disciple.
Yet, with such high talent, in Duke Zhen’s Mansion, he was only fit to be a guard.
Cheng Guang patted the guard’s shoulder, “Lin Cheng, right? Not bad, I think highly of you. I’m going to the Book Collection Pavilion right now, you come with me.”
Of course, the purpose of these words was to have Lin Cheng lead him to the Book Collection Pavilion; he just couldn’t make it too obvious.
Otherwise, as the illustrious Princely Heir, not knowing where his own Library was, wouldn’t that be a joke?
Upon hearing this, Lin Cheng immediately became excited, feeling he had encountered immense luck as soon as he entered the mansion.
He was actually favored by the Princely Heir.
Who is the Princely Heir? The future master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion! The future Duke of the State!
Even just following the Princely Heir and drinking a bowl of soup would make his life extraordinarily wealthy and honored; he had never imagined that he could one day come into contact with such a great person as the Princely Heir, let alone be favored by him!
If he mentioned this to his colleagues, just thinking about their envious looks made Lin Cheng feel as if he was floating on air.
“Yes, Princely Heir!” Lin Cheng immediately nodded excitedly and respectfully followed behind Cheng Guang.
Cheng Guang: “…”
I asked you to lead the way, why are you following behind me?
“You go in front,” Cheng Guang spoke up, his tone neutral.
“Oh, alright, alright.”
Without further thought, Lin Cheng walked ahead of Cheng Guang, striding toward the direction of the Book Collection Pavilion.
Along the way,
Many maids and servants they passed, as well as patrolling guards, saw Cheng Guang, and also took notice of Lin Cheng in front of him.
They did not dare to discuss Cheng Guang, but they were curious about Lin Cheng being in front of him.
As discussions buzzed,
Everyone’s gaze held envy toward Lin Cheng being able to be in contact with the Princely Heir.
Walking ahead, Lin Cheng, feeling the eyes on him, held his head even higher and puffed out his chest.
He felt he was now one of the Princely Heir’s people and could not afford to embarrass him.
Cheng Guang, on the other hand, did not care about all these. He casually followed behind Lin Cheng, looking indifferently around.
With the Restraint Pearl on him, no one could see through his appearance and discern his identity, making him feel more confident.
His actions were at ease, free from the constraints of the past.
As they walked, he took the opportunity to appreciate the scenery of Duke Zhen’s Mansion.
Exquisite pavilions and a garden full of colors, all decorated with indescribable luxury.
Though not as extravagantly luxurious as the Imperial Palace, it was still a level of wealth beyond what ordinary people could even dare to dream of.
Walking for no more than a quarter of an hour, winding through several turns, they arrived at the Book Collection Pavilion.
“Wait for me outside.”
The Book Collection Pavilion was not open to ordinary people.
Cheng Guang told Lin Cheng to wait outside while he headed into the Library.
Just as Cheng Guang set foot inside the Library, a hurried and somewhat flustered shadow rushed over.
It was Qing Luan.
She watched helplessly as Cheng Guang entered the Book Collection Pavilion, unable to stop him, her beautiful eyes flickering with anger that she couldn’t suppress.
What is he doing!
Doesn’t he know there’s an Elder in the Library?!
That Elder’s strength is unfathomable, he could see through his identity with one glance!!
He’s just walking into the Library like that, is he seeking death?!
Qing Luan’s breathing was slightly hurried, her fingertips slowly clenching as if wanting to pierce into her palm.
“What is the Princely Heir doing in the Library?”
Qing Luan’s gaze fell upon Lin Cheng, who was standing by.
She knew it was this guard who had led Cheng Guang here.
Otherwise, Cheng Guang who had never left his courtyard before, how could he know where the Library was?
Facing Qing Luan, Lin Cheng would usually have immense respect, after all, she was the Princely Heir’s maiden, able to attend to the Princely Heir, not something he could compare with.
But now it was different.
You are the Princely Heir’s maiden, and I am a guard favored by the Princely Heir; we are all the same from now on, who can look down on whom.
Lin Cheng cast a glance at Qing Luan and did not respond, gazing indifferently at the sky.
Waiting for Cheng Guang,
Yet in his heart, he thought, Father, Mother, your son is going to be successful.
The Princely Heir has taken a fancy to me.