Chapter 67: What Are You Still Waiting For
“Huainan Underground Palace, that’s a Second-Stage Secret Realm! Though I heard its yield is rather average.”
“Even if it’s average, it’s still a Secret Realm. The Shang Family is really being generous here. What if no evidence is found…”
“Even with evidence, it’s impossible to retrieve it. How could the Court let go of something already in their hands? The Shang Family is bound to come up empty this time. The Secret Realm is gone, and Jiang Ten won’t get it either.”
“Hard to say. If Jiang Ten can reach Third-Stage within five years, the Court might not…”
The atmosphere in Mansu Woodland temporarily cooled down.
Lu Wangji was contacting the Court using his token.
Jiang Ten and the others were also allowed to interact with people from the Jie and Shang Families.
However, discussions buzzed throughout the camp.
Shang Yue’s proposal to trade the Huainan Underground Palace for five years to let Jiang Ten become the dominant force in the Woodland became the hottest topic.
“Big Brother…” Shang Xinlei approached Shang Yue, worried. “Is this really okay? Using the family’s Secret Realm as collateral…”
“This isn’t just our family’s business,” Shang Yue looked toward Jie Zilong. “Instructor Jie won’t put me in a difficult spot, right?”
“The price you’ve offered is really steep. I’m not even sure if my old man would agree.” Jie Zilong sighed deeply. “But regardless, we’ll take responsibility for half of the five-year loss of the Huainan Underground Palace.”
“There won’t be five years. I’m just naming an outrageous price.” Shang Yue shook his head. “The Court might not care much for the Huainan Underground Palace. Without the Shang Family’s battle tactics, they’d be lucky to conquer it once a month. Even if the Court does take it, it’s within the Shang Family’s capacity to endure. With or without that Secret Realm, it doesn’t diminish our strength.”
The so-called battle tactics referred to the secrets of conquering Secret Realms—how to deploy units and equip tokens for maximum efficiency and minimal casualties—kept as proprietary knowledge by the Secret Realm families.
“More importantly, if one Huainan Underground Palace can bring us Jiang Ten, then it’s the most worthwhile deal I’ve ever made. I believe even if Father knew I made this decision alone, he wouldn’t blame me.” Shang Yue looked at Jiang Ten and smiled. “First time meeting you, Jiang Ten. Although I’ve read about you from Xinlei’s letters, you truly live up to the name. Your composure and beauty exceeded my expectations.”
Qian Gongyu excitedly shook Jiang Ten’s hand, nearly losing control from excitement.
Though she had already seen Qun Yushu, this time, Shang Yue had appeared and immediately offered a Second-Stage Secret Realm like a divine weapon descending from the heavens to shatter the villains’ schemes.
Coupled with his elegance and appearance—more aligned with the aesthetics of Liang—he instantly became the perfect image of a refined nobleman in Qian Gongyu’s heart, destined to become the subject of her future dreams.
Shang Yue also noticed Qian Gongyu and smiled. “Miss Qian, your… tiger transformation is also very cute.”
Qian Gongyu looked like she was struck by lightning.
She dumbly touched her ears, her face, then her tail, and then hid behind Jiang Ten like a walking corpse, never showing her face again.
Faced with Shang Yue’s goodwill, Jiang Ten still said nothing, but everyone was used to her demeanor.
Shang Xinlei glanced at the personal score leaderboard and asked, “What’s the meaning of this? They’re not letting us claim the personal treasure chest?”
“You all should be fine, but for Jiang Ten, it’s uncertain,” Jie Zilong said seriously. “They’re set on eliminating her. Jiang Ten must die, and her chest must be seized.”
“Even if the Court agrees to our conditions, Jiang Ten’s chest likely won’t be fully returned to her.” Shang Yue also agreed with Jie Zilong’s judgment and sighed. “Their frame-up was simply too deadly. I can only try to fight for Jiang Ten’s interests as much as possible.”
Jie Yuanshao said, “Though I’m very grateful for Young Master Shang’s help for Jiang Ten, she’ll be joining our Jie Family.”
“I didn’t know about that.” Shang Xinlei said. “Didn’t Jiang Ten say she’d consider whoever gave her the best offer?”
“There’s no rush for that decision,” Shang Yue waved his hand. “The Court may not even allow us to take her. Let’s wait until Jiang Ten regains her freedom. Otherwise, wouldn’t we just be taking advantage of her misfortune?”
Qian Gongyu couldn’t help but poke her head out and say, “I thought you were only helping because you wanted Jiang Ten to join your family.”
“If it were anyone else, that might be true,” Shang Yue said with a smile. “But Jiang Ten… Compared to short-term gains, we believe her friendship is more worth pursuing.”
He didn’t hide his admiration for Jiang Ten’s talent.
And precisely because of that, he seemed even more sincere in Qian Gongyu’s eyes, restoring her faith in the nobility of bloodlines.
Even if everything was still for profit, not everyone resorted to underhanded means.
There were still noble families like the Shang and Jie who valued long-term benefits and acted with integrity!
Just then, Lu Wangji emerged from the large tent.
The Woodland fell silent.
Every gaze turned to this Left Swift Rider Guard.
Everyone knew the farce of this murder case was now reaching its verdict.
“Shang Yue,” he asked, “are you sure you want to use the Huainan Underground Palace to guarantee Jiang Ten’s innocence?”
“On behalf of the Shang Family, I confirm it.”
Lu Wangji silently scanned the crowd.
His gaze lingered on Jiang Ten for a long moment before he slowly said, “The Justice Bureau has approved it.”
“But the five years are reduced to one.”
“If no evidence is found within a year, the Huainan Underground Palace becomes the Court’s property.”
“Furthermore, while the death penalty is exempted, punishment must still be served,” he continued. “Until her innocence is proven, Jiang Ten remains a criminal under supervision, without freedom.”
Seeing that Shang Xinlei and the others wanted to speak, Lu Wangji raised a hand to signal silence and continued.
“However, considering Jiang Ten’s exceptional talent, and her unprecedented unlocking of Mansu Woodland, His Majesty, moved by her brilliance, has decreed the Northward Garrison to assign her to the Silver Spear Guard, Tenth Battalion.”
“The Silver Spear Guard’s Tenth Battalion will immediately depart to the Huainan Underground Palace to garrison and conquer the Secret Realm.”
Shang Xinlei and the others immediately let out a breath of relief.
Being assigned to the Silver Spear Guard's Tenth Battalion to garrison the Huainan Underground Palace was technically a restriction of freedom, but it was also a form of cultivation.
Moreover, the Shang Family had overseen the Huainan Underground Palace for years— with their assistance, along with her talent and strength, Jiang Ten entering the Secret Realm would be like a fish returned to water, a dragon back in the sea.
Calling it punishment was more like sending her to temper herself for a year.
“In addition, there’s another matter,” said Lu Wangji. “The Court found no record of Jiang Ten in the Qian Family’s household register. She’s not a registered guard but a black household. Qian Gongyu, do you admit this?”
“Ah? Uh…” Qian Gongyu panicked at first, but with encouragement from Shang Xinlei and Jie Yuanshao, she quickly calmed down and nodded. “Yes.”
“Mansu Woodland is open to all citizens of Liang, but excludes black households,” said Lu Wangji. “According to the law, the Qian Family should be held responsible for sheltering a black household, and all of Jiang Ten’s gains from Mansu Woodland should be confiscated.”
“Unacceptable!” Shang Yue immediately spoke. “There’s no law forbidding black households from registering. Since the Qian Family is willing to take in Jiang Ten, she’s no longer a black household! How can unjust laws be used to seize someone’s spoils?”
“You didn’t mention this on the first day, or the second, but only now on the third?” Jie Zilong laughed angrily. “Isn’t this just peach-picking?”
“If there’s no punishment, how can the majesty of national law be upheld?” Lu Wangji said coldly.
After much argument, Lu Wangji finally compromised, agreeing to confiscate only forty percent of Jiang Ten’s treasure chest gains.
The remaining sixty percent would still go to Jiang Ten.
As for evaluating the value of the items, Shang Yue and Jie Zilong would oversee it, ensuring Jiang Ten wouldn't be shortchanged.
Seeing the matter finally about to settle, Qian Gongyu felt a weight lift from her heart and collapsed wearily to the ground, her eyes sore and stinging.
Sniffling and wiping her tears, she sobbed, “Th-thank you…”
“Stop crying. Cry any more and you’ll turn into a little tiger again.” Jie Yuanshao squatted down with a smile to wipe her face. “Besides, we’re helping Jiang Ten. Why are you thanking us?”
“If it weren’t for me, Jiang Ten wouldn’t have gotten involved with Luo Weijin, and wouldn’t have been framed…” She hiccupped through tears. “If you hadn’t helped, I—I—”
“There, there. It’s okay now.” Jie Yuanshao helped her up. “But from now on, Jiang Ten will be going to the Huainan Underground Palace for a year.”
“Joining the Silver Spear Guard isn’t hard,” said Shang Xinlei. “For something this small, our two families can help.”
“I want to go!” Qian Gongyu quickly nodded. “I want to go with Jiang Ten! Oh wait—what about the evidence? Don’t we need to find evidence?”
Shang Xinlei and Jie Yuanshao exchanged a glance and smiled. “A year from now, I believe Jiang Ten will already be a powerful messenger the Court wouldn’t dare to ignore.”
“From the start, this wasn’t about finding evidence. It was about buying Jiang Ten time to grow.”
Qian Gongyu blinked. “That’s true…”
“Jiang Ten,” Shang Yue and Jie Zilong walked over, “let’s go claim your personal treasure chest now. But it’ll be opened jointly by us and Lu Wangji—he won’t let you touch it, since you have a storage token.”
“I don’t agree.”
“We’ll just head off th—huh?” Shang Yue hadn’t expected Jiang Ten to reject such a small condition and continued speaking out of habit, only realizing it mid-sentence.
Jie Yuanshao, Shang Xinlei, and Qian Gongyu also looked toward Jiang Ten seated in her chair.
They suddenly realized something.
Whether it was the Shang and Jie Families vouching for her, Shang Yue offering the Huainan Underground Palace to buy her time, or fighting to retain her chest profits—all throughout, Jiang Ten hadn’t said a single word.
She calmly watched everything unfold.
Watched everyone argue around her.
Watched everyone decide her future.
She had neither opposed it.
Nor supported it.
“Jiang Ten, do you disagree with Lu Wangji acting on your behalf?” Shang Yue asked. “I might be able to get Miss Qian to open the chest instead…”
“I disagree with all of you dividing my chest. And I also disagree with going to the Huainan Underground Palace.”
She slowly stood up and walked toward the center of the camp.
Jie Zilong was puzzled. “You don’t want to be tied down by the Silver Spear Guard? But it’s temporary—maybe even just a few months and we can get your freedom back.”
“That’s right, Jiang Ten,” said Jie Yuanshao. “As for the chest, there’s not much we can do. You really are a black household. The other side is justified. Getting sixty percent is already due to our families’ favor.”
“Jiang Ten, I know you’re angry about being framed,” Shang Yue said earnestly. “But as the saying goes, ‘The tree that stands out in the forest will be broken by the wind’… It’s precisely because you’re too outstanding that they targeted you. What you need now is to gather strength and develop. Don’t act rashly over temporary gain.”
“Jiang Ten…” Qian Gongyu stared blankly at her back.
The only one who didn’t speak was Shang Xinlei.
She quietly glanced at her big brother beside her, whose expression was unpleasant, and understood the unspoken agreement between them.
Indeed, the factions were split.
Lu Wangji and his side wanted to frame Jiang Ten.
Shang Yue and Jie Zilong truly wanted to protect her.
But sending Jiang Ten to the Huainan Underground Palace for a year of training was a shared idea.
For Lu Wangji’s side, they couldn’t accept Jiang Ten just joining the Shang or Jie Families.
With a year’s time, they could all try to win her over.
For the Shang and Jie Families, Jiang Ten was too proud, too free, and too full of potential.
Rather than take in someone uncontrollable, it was better to grind down her edge a little.
Jie Zilong and Shang Yue might not know the truth behind the setup, but that didn’t stop them from using this chance to “offer warmth amid the snow.”
Rather than lure Jiang Ten with a high offer, they’d already given up a whole Huainan Underground Palace, fought the Court for her, and defended her interests without reservation.
Even if Jiang Ten’s heart were made of iron, such generosity should melt it.
If Lu Wangji’s group wielded the stick, then Jie Zilong and Shang Yue held the carrot.
Shang Xinlei suddenly recalled how noble families would suppress each other’s promising youth—but only to a point, never to the death.
That way, every noble house always had a steady stream of new blood, growing strong without decay.
So what would Jiang Ten do?
Jiang Ten walked toward the center of the camp, gradually drawing everyone’s attention.
At first, Lu Wangji thought she was going to snatch the chest.
But seeing the direction wasn’t right, he relaxed—until he noticed her real target and immediately strode forward shouting, “Jiang Ten, why are you approaching the victim’s body?”
It turned out Luo Weijin’s corpse had remained in the center of camp this whole time.
With all the arguing and negotiation, they had forgotten to retrieve the body.
After lying in the forest so long, the corpse was now surrounded by flies, and insects had even crawled into his wounds.
Jiang Ten didn’t respond to Lu Wangji’s question.
She walked to the corpse and raised her White Iron Straight Blade.
Swoosh!
To everyone’s horror, Jiang Ten made a cut on the riddled corpse.
But unlike the gruesome previous slashes, her stroke was gentle—just lightly brushing the corpse’s eyelid, as if to close his eyes.
Lu Wangji was stunned. “You, you…”
“You say this person was killed by me.”
Jiang Ten said expressionlessly, “That’s right. I killed this man.”
“You also say that killing a superior is an unforgivable crime.”
She drew two White Iron Straight Blades from her storage token and held them out, arms extended like a cross.
“So then…”
“What are you still waiting for?”