Chapter 33: Changes in Plot Points (4k 2-in-1)

After passing through several side chambers, he reached the top floor near the window overlooking the river.

Xu Yuan stood at the window of the highest level of Zui Xian Lou, clad in a white sable fur robe, gazing down upon the vibrant night life of the southwestern stronghold.

Zui Xian Lou, situated in the northern part of the city, was among the tallest structures. From its top floor, one could see half of the city’s bustling lights and activity.

The nightlife within the city was lively and vibrant. Though there were no street lamps, the sides of the roads were adorned with small, engraved illuminated patterns set by the government.

Looking down, Zui Xian Lou stood along the Jin Hui River.

Even in winter, the water town retained a faint, damp chill. The common folk went about their daily lives, calling out to one another, shouting their wares. Nightly flower boats drifted gently along the river, and beneath the pavilion, the women dressed in extravagant attire drew the eyes of passing men.

Zui Xian Lou, along with Xiao Xiang Ge in the southern part of the city, stood among the famed pleasure quarters, ranking alongside the official opera houses. Naturally, they had their own unique appeal—after all, the opera houses boasted the added status of official titles and lineage.

Beyond beauty, their attire was precisely crafted to entice.

Suppressing the restless stirrings within his heart, Xu Yuan took a deep breath and turned, returning to his bed to sit in meditation.

When the body fails, discipline must follow—abstain from alcohol, from indulgence.

Because of the half-week of cultivation and adjustment spent atop the Xuan Ying Pavilion, Xu Yuan’s body—once hollowed out by the indulgences of a spoiled noble—had grown considerably healthier. Yet certain aspects still required slow, careful healing.

The original body had been consuming pills every day, wandering through the alleys and brothels, pills bought by lowly henchmen from third-rate pharmacies. Xu Yuan didn’t know exactly how potent the effects were, but the side effects were truly severe—day after day, the organs were being systematically damaged, developing hidden ailments.

Every time Xu Yuan recalled this, he could only shake his head at the original body’s mental state. It was no surprise, then, that such a mind would be easily manipulated by the story-driven protagonists who constantly boasted and turned the tables on him.

If you wanted pills, why not simply ask your elder brother? Even if it meant getting beaten up? He wouldn’t refuse.

The organs had long been operating beyond capacity. Thanks to his family’s solid foundation and the steady supply of nourishing remedies, Xu Yuan might have already been lying in a coffin, waiting to be buried.

But now, those henchmen are mostly gone.

Since Xu Yuan had been kidnapped by that massive block of ice, Xu Changge himself had arrived in Jingjiang City. Nearly all the henchmen surrounding the original body had been eliminated by him.

His own younger brother was beyond killing, but these useless lackeys—these fools—were not spared. Xu Changge showed no mercy when it came to them.

Xu Yuan did not judge Xu Changge’s methods. After all, these men had lured the original body out of the family home, stealing ancient artifacts and calligraphy, and selling them at a fraction of their worth. It was likely that most of the profits had eventually ended up in the hands of these henchmen.

But no matter what, Xu Changge’s actions had indeed created a serious problem for him now.

According to the plot timeline, the main protagonist should have already left the remote village of "Zangcun" at the frontier of the Great Inflame and was approaching Jingjiang City.

Yet, now that he wished to take preemptive action, he had not a single reliable person at his disposal.

Fundamentally, even finding the protagonist within this vast city of Jingjiang was beyond his reach.

Sure, his henchmen were useful, but when it came to matters involving the underworld factions and various guilds, as long as he gave the order, everything would be handled flawlessly.

After all, no matter how indulgent the original body might have been, the identity of the third son of the Chancellor would always attract people eager to flatter him. And let’s not forget that the original body was remarkably generous.

In Jingjiang City, high-ranking members of criminal syndicates, merchants’ heirs, even some officials from the city’s defense bureau—these were all considered the original body’s closest friends.

If those people hadn’t been harmed, locating someone in such a large city would have been child’s play. But now, they were all slaughtered by Xu Changge in one fell swoop.

And with this precedent, who would dare risk being chopped up by his brother just to flatter him?

Let the shadow or Zhou Chen handle it?

These two great buddhas...

Ah, Xu Yuan felt it was best he wash himself and go to bed early—anything could appear in dreams.

And since he'd left the lower floor of Xuan Ying Pavilion, he hadn't seen Yu'er's face at all. Now she must be hiding somewhere in a corner, spying on him.

His eyes flickered with thought, his fingers gently pressing against the edge of the wooden window, then he sighed deeply.

No one available—so he'd have to send the new guards from the estate. He didn't know if they'd listen to him, the third son of this household...

...

After assigning the task, for the next two weeks, Xu Yuan had people set up a Locking Spirit Array and remained locked in the top floor of Zui Xian Pavilion, never stepping out.

If there were problems in his cultivation, he'd go to Zhou, the top-tier master who had grown thin from wine and indulgence on the upper floor.

Zhou Chen's talkative nature made him far more effective than Xing Ran's cold, stiff teaching. Many of Xu Yuan's difficulties were resolved simply by their conversation.

Under the guidance of a master and bolstered by various elixirs, within less than a month of cultivation, Xu Yuan naturally ascended into the ninth rank of proficiency.

Just as it had been the last time he broke through a threshold, another sharp "snap" echoed—his internal barrier dissolved without a single impediment.

Feeling the surge and transformation of the primordial qi within, Xu Yuan opened his eyes with satisfaction, a soft smile playing on his lips:

"This breakthrough of my innate Dao body is truly as effortless as drinking water or eating food..."

Ordinary cultivators with decent talent rarely reach the ninth rank, usually taking around a year. Yet he had achieved it in less than a month!

Gazing down, he clenched his fists—once faint threads of crimson source qi now fully enveloped his entire palm. Then, he transformed his fists into palms, watching the magnificent, blood-red source qi swirl and reshape at will within his palm.

The overflowing vitality brought by the surging qi caused Xu Yuan to break into a smile.

This—

was the sensation of power, wasn't it?

A thought flashed through his mind, and Xu Yuan shook his head in silence.

Hmph... so terribly mid-tier.

Gathering the scattered thoughts within, his spirit extended, retrieving the source crystal from the center of the Locking Array and placing it back into his Suomi Amulet. Only then did Xu Yuan sit in stillness, expelling the liquid source qi from the room until it was entirely cleansed, and finally exhaled deeply.

Longing for cultivation, he had entrusted the guards with gathering intelligence weeks ago—now over a month had passed, and it was time to check in on their progress.

Besides gathering information about the main plot characters, he had also instructed the guards to investigate whether any new head performers had recently been cultivated and introduced in the various entertainment districts of Jingjiang City.

With this in mind, Xu Yuan called out clearly to the door:

"Come in—fetch Peng Yong."

......

A minute later,

"Tap-tap-tap—"

The chamber on the top floor of ZuiXian Pavilion was rapped upon.

"Enter."

With permission granted, a young man clad in black martial attire stepped inside, his face handsome yet expressionless.

He surveyed the room, his gaze settling upon the long-haired man seated calmly before a tea tray, sipping his drink with quiet ease.

The man’s black hair spilled over the floor, unmoved by the young man’s gaze, drinking his tea with complete absorption.

A flicker of amused expression passed through the young man’s eyes at the sight of the third prince’s demeanor.

It was said that the third prince admired the style of the eldest prince, and now, upon seeing him, it was indeed true—only a clumsy imitation, like copying a cat and ending up with a dog.

Approaching slowly, he bowed slightly, and Xue Yong bowed respectfully, his voice calm and level:

"Third Prince, the person you secretly arranged for us to investigate has now been found."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly, took a slow sip of his tea, and spoke in a measured, unhurried tone:

"Which one?"

The original guards of Xu's household had been slaughtered or reassigned by Xu Changge. Now these guards were drawn from the protective team of Xu Yuan's father's adopted daughter—commonly known as the Fourth Lady—someone entrusted with ensuring his basic travel security.

Although Zhou Chen and Ying'er, two formidable masters operating openly and secretly, provided protection, it was impossible to rely on them for every minor threat. Thus, capable guards were necessary to handle the brash, reckless youths who dared to interfere.

Previously, Xu Yuan had already deployed these very guards to investigate the whereabouts of the central character and a certain "cleaned woman."

A young man in a martial outfit replied softly:

"It's the woman you were previously looking for—the 'cleaned woman'."

Isn't that the main character?

Xu Yuan felt a slight sense of disappointment, yet he was quite satisfied to have finally found that woman. He smiled lightly:

"Is that woman located in Xiao Xiang Pavilion in the southern part of the city?"

The young man shook his head:

"No, she is still in ZuiXian Pavilion—tomorrow is her wedding day."

Xu Yuan's fingers, gripping the porcelain cup, paused for a moment, then exhaled softly.

Well, the familiar plotline has taken a turn again.

In "Cangyuan," there are numerous paths where the original body perishes in the Wanxing Mountain range—many of which are saved by Xu Changge. After returning to Jingjiang City, several of the original body's fates involve the woman now referred to as the "qingguan."

The reason is simple: rivalry with the protagonist over affection. The conflict escalates continuously, eventually culminating in the protagonist, under player influence, killing her.

Yet in "Cangyuan," this woman is supposed to appear in XiaoXiang Pavilion in the southern part of the city—now she's suddenly in ZuiXian Pavilion in the northern district.

For the past month, Xu Yuan has not once visited XiaoXiang Pavilion, the place where the original body most frequently went—instead, he has remained in the northern ZuiXian Pavilion. And now, this woman has followed him here.

As if... deliberately crafted to provoke a clash between him and the protagonist.

Of course, Xu Yuan knew it wasn't that simple.

He suspected the "clear attendant" was likely just like Ji Qingyue—having set her sights on him, the third prince.

But now wasn't the time to dwell on such matters.

Drinking the tea in his cup to the last drop, Xu Yuan stared intently at the young man in armor before him, his mind swirling with quiet contemplation. Suddenly he asked:

"How long has she been here?"

"Over a month and a half," Xue Yong's voice remained flat.

"Over a month and a half?" Xu Yuan let out a quiet laugh.

The mere reply stirred a slow, creeping fury within him.

Before him, Xue Yong and his retainers—completely indifferent to the orders he had given.

He, Xu Yuan, spent every day meditating atop the highest floor of Zui Xian Lou, with the guards stationed at every critical entrance leading to that floor.

Xue Yong and the others remained within the building itself. Even if they simply asked the old madam inside Zui Xian Lou, with his status as a major patron, she would never keep such information secret.

Helping Xu Yuan find someone?

Find what?

If it weren't for him specifically asking today, he might not find out until tomorrow—when the woman officially married off and saw him in person.

Xu Yuan narrowed his eyes at Xue Yong, speaking softly:

"Xue Yong, I remember instructing you two months ago to begin investigating this woman. It wasn't until a month ago, when she entered Zui Xian Lou, and near the time of her wedding, that you finally obtained this information?"

The young man in martial attire glanced at Xu Yuan, then bowed silently, saying:

"Subordinate is incompetent, please forgive me, sir."

Yet his voice remained flat, and his gaze met Xu Yuan's directly.

As for the accountability of Xu Yuan, Xue Yong showed no concern whatsoever.

The Chancellor's three sons and one daughter—two dragons, one phoenix, and one mouse.

He was under the care of the fourth sister, only temporarily reassigned to serve as bodyguard under the third brother after a prior kidnapping incident.

It was well known throughout the Chancellor's household that the fourth sister looked down upon her third brother.

His duty was to protect the third brother, not to serve as a plaything for his women.

If he defied orders, he would merely be beaten—so what? Let him beat him as he pleased. This useless third brother could not even wound him with a blade.

"... "

For a moment, silence settled within the chamber.

Xu Yuan sat cross-legged upon a mat, gazing downward, idly handling the precious porcelain cup in his hands. For a long time, he said nothing.

Personal experience made him understand why the original body was so sensitive, so prone to furious rage.

His status was indeed high—but it was merely a hollow shell.

Whether subordinates obeyed him depended entirely on their own moods.

Most crucially, you had no power over them at all.

Complain?

Go complain about not helping you find a woman? Hah.

Of course,

You could go wild and beat them senseless, and indeed, your subordinates wouldn't dare retaliate—but such violence would only end with your own hands bleeding.

The gap in cultivation didn't depend on your status.

After a moment's thought, Xu Yuan sighed, and suddenly smiled:

“Xue Yong, twenty-two years old, at the peak of Sixth Rank Iron Body, poised to ascend to Fifth Rank soon. Your younger sister seems to hold you in high regard. That’s impressive—talented young geniuses like you truly have the right to be proud.”

“.........”

Xue Yong’s eyes narrowed slightly, somewhat surprised that the other knew of his cultivation level.

Under Xue Yong’s gaze, the third prince slowly rose to his feet, his voice soft and deliberate:

“Still, if you intend to punish me, then so be it…”

Xu Yuan’s cultivation technique stirred silently. He stepped forward, hands behind his back, moving with a calm, measured gait.

A crimson, exotic source energy began to spread across his palms.

He didn’t know if, with only just entering the Ninth Rank, he could breach the defenses of Xue Yong—who had already reached the peak of Sixth Rank Iron Body. But at present, Xue Yong likely still regarded him as an ordinary person. He probably wouldn’t activate his cultivation techniques in defense. A sudden, unexpected attack might still inflict harm.

He had to establish authority.

Otherwise, these subordinates who obeyed orders only in silence—though they might not help now—would become even more problematic in the days to come.

Stepping closer,

Xue Yong still stared at the third prince with his expression cold and detached, hoping to catch the ugly spectacle of his fury.

Xu Yuan smiled slightly, and suddenly, a hand pulsing with blood-colored source energy emerged from behind him!

Time seemed to freeze in that instant.

Before Xu Yuan's hand had even reached halfway,

Zhou Chen, holding his gourd of wine, appeared like a ghost at Xue Yong's side.

As always, his arrival was abrupt.

"..." Xu Yuan.

Zhou Chen shook his head at him.

Then,

A casual tap on Xue Yong's right arm, which was just bowing respectfully.

The air stilled for a moment.

Xu Yuan clearly saw Xue Yong's expression shift—from contempt, to astonishment, to sheer terror.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"

A shriek of agony echoed through the entire Zui Xian Pavilion.

A tremendous force sent Xue Yong crashing to the ground, his entire right arm now completely twisted and deformed.

Yet Zhou Chen's smile remained unchanged. He glanced at the blood-colored Yuan Qi in Xu Yuan's hand, and with a smile, bowed to him:

"Congratulations, Third Prince, on reaching the Ninth Rank."

Then, turning his gaze to the lifeless figure on the ground, writhing like a dying dog, he slowly shook his head:

"A mere guard dares to show disrespect to the Third Prince... Hmm, are all the people under the Fourth Miss so unruly? Hmph..."

With that,

Zhou Chen looked at Xu Yuan, his eyes curving into a smile as he asked casually:

"Third Young Master, shall we ruin this man, or just kill him outright?"