Chapter 1231: 18.69 First Grey Star - Undercurrents in the Capital.
Chapter 1231: 18.69 First Grey Star - Undercurrents in the Capital.
Midnight at the Capital City's Night Market.
Lu Ming and Mo Yuhan made the decision to take Su Jin and Ji Yoonjun to the capital's well-known night market. The night market in the capital city is located on the outskirts of the city and is a small, long alley that is only open at night. It is filled with food stalls and entertainment areas such as games of darts, cranes, and shooting.
The atmosphere is similar to that of festivals, with food and entertainment all around.
This is also the meeting place for hunters, mercenaries, and assassins. No one would question someone even if they came here; everyone was covered from head to toe. There were also quiet assassinations that happened in the back alleys; guards were hardly ever present. For this reason, this area can be considered a free area within the capital.
Not even the royal family makes a move here since it is governed by neutral clans such as the Mo and Lu clans.
Su Jin had not seen this night market in a long time, but it was his favorite place in his former life, where Lu Ming would take him around to play. Hunters would come here to exchange information about people, ingredients, and other things. Everything on this street is too expensive; many descendants of the royal and noble classes frequent this place covertly.
Lu Ming and Mo Yuhan used to play here every night when they were still staying in the capital.
Lu Ming held Su Jin's hand as he looked around like a giddy child, wondering aloud why Su Jin had fainted in the first place and how the group had come here to make Su Jin forget what had scared him so much that they had been shocked to learn what had made him lose consciousness in the first place.
A few hours before, in the city's clinic. The doctor just used acupuncture to wake Su Jin up and check on his situation. It's only a bit of low blood, extreme panic, and extreme fear.
"He is terrified badly enough to suffer from instant shock. Just what are you brats doing? Just when I thought you two young masters had finally returned, you immediately sent someone to my clinic after returning to the capital. Moreover, where has that stupid brother of mine, Guang, gone? He hasn't returned yet ever since he left with Lord Mo Xuejing. Aren't they back yet?" Doctor Hei complained.
This man is the twin brother of Doctor Guang; he has pure black hair, unlike Guang's golden hair, and is a witch doctor rather than a healer. Although he rarely heals, his surgical and medical skills are among the best in this city. He is a black-market doctor, protected by his relationship with Guang, who works for Mo Xuejing. The majority of young masters in this city know him as a money grubber.
Given enough money, he will treat a criminal or a murderer. That is how much he loves money.
"What do you mean by that? I didn't do anything! He just suddenly turned pale after seeing the ruins caused by the earthquake and fainted. Doctor Hei, please check on Xiao Jin. I am willing to pay no matter how much!" Lu Ming said while panicking as he held his lover's cooling hands.
Mo Yuhan scratched his head and said, "My cousin isn't back yet. He found his husband and is now staying at Numen Town to take care of my nephew and niece. Doctor Guang is also there with him."
Upon learning that his twin brother has not returned, Doctor Hei loses all interest in him and turns his attention to Su Jin, who appears to be experiencing a nightmare in his sleep, and to a cool-looking young man who looks at everything in this world as if it were a play.
Although he appears concerned for the young man who passed out, there is a distinct aloofness in his bones that betrays his true lack of concern for anything in this world. He will not care if the world ends before his eyes.
Doctor Hei mumbles while staring at Ji Yoonjun. "How interesting~"
"What's interesting? Doctor Hei, how's Xiao Jin!?" Lu Ming asked with urgency, and worry was evident in his voice and actions.
Doctor Hei hit Lu Ming on the back of his head and scolded, "Don't shout! Your little lover is just a bit tired. He might have panicked or something scared him. I don't know if you need to ask him when he wakes up. He isn't even sick and as healthy as you guys. What the hell have you been eating that your qi has increased so much?"
"Hm... We accompanied my cousin and Ming's cousin to hunt in Tornado Mountain Ranges and Death Forest. His elder brother and lover also came. We've only eaten whatever we and they caught, mostly legendary-grade, some demigod-grade, and a few God-grade ingredients cooked by Lord Jieye. It's so delicious~ remembering makes me drool!" Mo Yuhan said while rubbing his tummy.
In the past few months, they have truly enjoyed the life of top gourmet meals. Moreover, the chef is none other than the strongest soloist hunter, Satan.
Doctor Hei was dumbfounded to hear them mention Satan, the Ice Demon, and their entourage. These are people you do not often see in the capital, and they would not just share what they hunted or cooked so easily with others. Many people have asked Satan to cook for them, and many of them have been killed or crippled by that ruthless man.
The Ice Demon and Satan are on the same level, so it is not surprising that they get along, but he believes that they are lovers.
Moreover, he recalled his twin brother staying beside Mo Xuejing as his healer all this time, adding that this top healer of the capital never returned.
Doctor Hei asked, "How about that stupid twin brother of mine? Does he go with them when hunting?"
"That stupid doctor stays at home to babysit the lords' cubs with me. He only needs to wait and he can eat whatever Lord Ye cooks as a reward for babysitting the babies. He eats in their restaurant three times a day. He is now chubby," Ji Yoonjun said as he recalled that silly doctor who got fat from eating heavily nutritious meals every day.
Doctor Hei was holding an ointment meant to be applied to wounds, and when he grabbed it, it crushed into his hand. His smile quivered at the thought of his twin brother living a life of luxury.
"Dammit! I'm so envious!" Doctor Hei grumbles.
Mo Yuhan pointed, "Boss, is that supposed to be used on us?"
"Of course not! This is to be used on wounds. I have other patients; hold back your voice," Doctor Hei said.
Ji Yoonjun commented, "You are the most noisy."
Doctor Hei said, "You brats aren't cute at all! Hmp!" He went to the other bed, separated by a curtain, and gave his other patient his medicine.
Mo Yuhan tried to peer at the next bed, but Doctor Hei flicked him on the forehead. Unlike these brats, whose only problem is fainting, the other patient is severely wounded, and his wounds release a dark aura. Either poisoned or cursed with death.
Flicked!
Ow!
"Oi! Give privacy!" Doctor Hei said.
When Su Jin finally woke up after another thirty minutes, Doctor Hei determined that there was nothing more seriously wrong with him, and the group headed out for the night market.
Meanwhile, Doctor Hei's cheerful countenance vanished when he peered over the other bed and saw the Second Prince Xingju, a wanted criminal in the capital, lying there and using the medication that Doctor Hei had given him.
Second Prince Xingju said, "The great witch doctor who treats anyone is indeed fair. You didn't inform those brats about me being here."
After being wounded in the battles en route to the tower and not being able to get his wounds healed by that sadistic evil god, Xingju had no choice but to seek out a doctor on the black market, such as Doctor Hei. It appears that the being in the tower assisted him in getting away and teleported him to this alley with fewer guards from the palace patrols.
"I am honest when money is involved. After treating yourself, leave on your own. I'm going to eat dinner," Doctor Hei said as he truly left this patient alone in his clinic and went to the night market to have a meal.
Shortly after Doctor Hei left the clinic, several men entered covertly and knelt in front of the Second Prince.
"The Lord is grateful that the second prince is alive."
"We invite his highness to the Lord's mansion."
"Whose lord do you hail from?" Second Prince Xingju asked.
"The Great Lord that leads all the nobles."
When these words were said, the Second Prince Xingju narrowed his eyes in understanding. There is only one man who leads the whole noble faction, and that is Heavenly Guardian Yi Kun.
Second Prince Xingju said, "Show the way."
---
Meanwhile, at the Noble Faction's Territory...
After the palace dispersed them, Heavenly Guardian Yi Kun returned to his palace and, with a knowing smile, watched King Xingyun and Heavenly Guardian Lu Wangle enter the Tower of Gods. He felt that the Gu would leave the faction after he turned a blind eye to Gu Yan's foolishness and ended up in such situations, so he no longer cares about the useless Gu Clan, who only has muscles for brains.
Yi Jun had heard the report about the Gu Clan.
"The Gu Clan can be let go, as those without brains can hardly be of use."
While sipping midnight wine and planning all of his schemes, Heavenly Guardian Yi Kun gazes over the Tower of God with the awe and obsession of a madman.
"Soon the great god should be free. I wonder if he will bestow this kingdom to this faithful servant of his~. But first things that need to be cleaned up should be removed as soon as possible. Those that need to be found should be found."
A black shadow appeared behind him, and he kneeled down. Yi Kun knew that this was one of his people.
"What is it?" he asked.
"My Lord, the Second Prince had been found," the black shadow had reported.
Heavenly Guardian Yi Kun grins when he hears such good news and says, "Send him to the Yi Clan's mansion and serve him like the royalty that he is. He will be our greatest pawn in the future."
"Yes, my lord!" The shadow had once again left.
Yi Kun, left laughing wildly by himself, is amused that things are beginning to fall into place, giving him an advantage in the struggle for the throne. Second Prince Xingju would be his bishop to launch an uprising against the palace.
However, he was unaware that those men, one being the Prime Minister Fu Zin's shadow guard and the other being the eldest highness, Xingmo, who sent Nameless to keep an eye on them, had already been informed of the news the moment Second Prince Xingju entered his clan.