Chapter 93: The Prince of Jiyang Visits!

Today, a distinguished guest arrived at the Yongzhou Chamber of Commerce.

Given the guest’s identity, even Dong Li—who had served as the Chamber’s Chairman for ten years, possessed vast connections, and made outstanding contributions to Yongzhou’s economy—had no choice but to step outside and greet him personally.

“Your Highness has graced us with your presence.

I, Dong, failed to welcome you from afar, I beg Your Highness’ pardon.”

The portly Dong Li could not spare a moment to wipe away the nervous sweat on his forehead, which had broken out as he rushed outside.

He bent down to apologize to the man before him, who was actually a little shorter than he was.

None of the guests coming and going through the Yongzhou Chamber of Commerce were surprised by Dong Li’s obsequiousness.

To be more precise, very few guests could even stand near Dong Li.

For the man at the door of the Chamber, whom Dong Li was bowing to in such haste, was a middle-aged man dressed in a five-clawed python robe.

He was Zhao Chenglü, Prince of Jiyang, a member of the royal family of the Great Qian Dynasty, and holder of Yongzhou’s Jiyang County as his fief.

Faced with a royal prince, it was inevitable that Dong Li would be excessively deferential.

But Dong Li was, after all, the Chairman of the Yongzhou Chamber of Commerce.

Though his status was far inferior to that of Prince Jiyang, his personal influence was by no means small.

Yet Prince Jiyang was not the least bit arrogant.

With a warm smile, he helped Dong Li up himself:

“Not at all. Chairman Dong, you exaggerate. It was I, Zhao, who came suddenly, without notifying you in advance.”

Dong Li made as if to bow again:

“No, no, the fault lies with me…”

A pair of strong hands supported him, preventing the second bow.

They belonged to Prince Jiyang.

The Prince patted Chairman Dong’s shoulder and laughed:

“Chairman Dong, we are old friends. Why cling to such formality?”

“This time, I’ve come to trouble you with something. If you keep receiving me with such a stance, I wouldn’t dare linger at the Yongzhou Chamber.”

Hearing this, Dong Li finally straightened his back, though the sweat on his forehead still had not been wiped away.

“Haha, since Prince Jiyang insists, then I shall take the liberty just this once.”

“Though the doorway is cool, it cannot compare with the comfort of indoors. Your Highness, why not come inside with me for a talk?”

Prince Jiyang nodded:

“It has been a long time since I last came to the Yongzhou Chamber. Perfect chance to take a stroll. I’ll trouble Chairman Dong to show me some of the Chamber’s finest wares.”

With that, he stepped forward and entered the building first.

A man with a vicious expression, dressed like a bodyguard, followed closely behind the Prince, utterly ignoring Dong Li, who had been about to enter.

He strode inside ahead of him.

At this moment, Dong Li finally found a chance to wipe the sweat from his brow, secretly cursing in his heart:

Smiling tiger.

Pretending to be a cultured scholar.

Bah.

After wiping off his sweat and venting a vicious complaint in his heart, Dong Li plastered on his eager smile again, and followed behind the Prince and his guard into his own domain.

“Please look here, Prince Jiyang—these are luminous pearls from the East Sea, each worth a fortune. Soon they will be sent to the Capital.”

“Your Highness, look here—these are exotic flowers from the Western Regions, mandrakes, prepared for sale in the southern markets…”

Dong Li led Prince Jiyang on a tour of the Chamber, introducing the many rare treasures on display.

To outsiders, such a collection would surely draw admiration.

Yet though Prince Jiyang kept his usual warm smile, his eyes showed no ripple of emotion.

After all, Zhao Chenglü was a prince.

Though these antiques and treasures were uncommon, obtaining them was nothing more than a trifle to him if he truly wished.

Thus, he found little interest in them.

His purpose in visiting the Chamber today was something else entirely.

“Chairman Dong, I wonder how the matter I entrusted to you a year ago has progressed?”

Hearing this, Dong Li sneered inwardly:

Dog prince.

I thought you could keep up the act, but you couldn’t resist in the end, could you?

Outwardly, however, he only looked troubled:

“Your Highness, this matter…”

At once, the Prince’s smiling face turned solemn.

He glanced sharply at Dong Li:

“What? Chairman Dong, could it be that you only pretended to help me while secretly defying me?”

Dong Li looked as though frightened, bowing hastily:

“How could I dare!”

“The matter Your Highness instructed me to watch for, I naturally put forth all my effort. I have already ordered my men to keep constant watch for what you desire.”

“But Your Highness also knows—though Yongzhou abounds in pythons, those who have advanced into the Profound Rank are rare, and wild Profound Rank high-grade python demons even more seldom seen.”

“What’s more, such demonic beasts are often proud and arrogant. Should they fall into human hands, most would choose mutual destruction.”

“Therefore, even for the Yongzhou Chamber of Commerce, to obtain a living, high-grade Profound Rank python demon is no simple task.”

“I beg Your Highness’ forgiveness.”

Seeing Dong Li’s evident fear, Prince Jiyang’s expression eased slightly.

He patted Dong Li’s shoulder again, lifting him up:

“Chairman Dong, there’s no need for such bows. Asking the Chamber to secure a living high-grade Profound Rank python demon was a request from me. Even if it cannot be done, I would never hold it against you.”

Head lowered, Dong Li sneered in silence:

If I truly hadn’t bowed, you’d surely have kept that in your heart, wouldn’t you?

After a moment’s thought, he said:

“However, though the Chamber has not been able to acquire a living high-grade python demon for Your Highness, there have been rumors regarding python demons in Yongzhou these past six months. Would Your Highness be interested?”

The Prince turned his head:

“Oh? Let’s hear it.”

Dong Li said:

“Has Your Highness ever heard of Black Wind Stronghold?”

The Prince thought for a moment:

“Black Wind Stronghold… isn’t that the mountain den where the chief raised a Black Eagle, and several attempts by the officials to suppress them all failed?”

Dong Li nodded.

The Prince clearly knew of it:

“Tsk tsk, I heard that the chief’s luck was extraordinary, raising a Black Eagle of high-grade Profound Rank. Even ordinary Profound Demons could not deal with it.”

Dong Li was speechless.

If anyone else praised the Black Wind Stronghold’s chief for his heaven-defying luck, it would be nothing.

But Prince Jiyang?

Dong Li knew well—Prince Jiyang’s household already kept two Profound Demons!

One was a fox demon, the other a cat demon.

In terms of fighting power, they might not match the Black Eagle.

But in terms of rarity, and the difficulty of cultivating to the Profound Rank, they were far beyond what that eagle could compare to.

The Prince looked at Dong Li:

“I wonder, Chairman Dong, what purpose you have in suddenly mentioning Black Wind Stronghold?”

Dong Li smiled faintly:

“Half a year ago, Black Wind Stronghold was destroyed. Everyone within, including the chief and his Black Eagle, was wiped out, almost none survived.”

The Prince of Jiyang was surprised at this:

“Oh? From what I know, that Black Eagle was exceedingly cunning. Even if an Earth Rank expert tried to capture it, it would have flown away immediately.”

“And such an eagle is dead? Who could be so capable?”

“The Bureau of Heaven Monitoring? Or the Six Gates?”

Dong Li shook his head slowly:

“Neither. It was two demonic beasts who broke into the stronghold and slaughtered everyone.”

“According to certain information I’ve gathered, one of those demonic beasts was a high-grade Profound Rank Black-Scaled Python Demon.”