Chapter Seventy-Six: The Four Young Lords of the Capital

Chapter Seventy-Six: The Four Young Lords of the Capital
Chapter Eleven: The Hidden Triumphs of Jinglin – Seven Heroes Stirring Up the Spring and Autumn (Part Six)

“The second young lord is none other than Lord Wu of the Red Bean Pavilion, Pu Ting, the fifth son of the Pu family. He is a fifth-generation descendant of the Sacred Emperor Qian, inheritor of the title ‘General Who Guards the Nation,’ and a Duke Assistant to the State!” Ma Fei interrupted Zhang Ke’s slow narration with great enthusiasm.

“As for the third, let Black Stone tell you himself—he’s tasted defeat at that one’s hands! This one is truly a dragon among men, quite extraordinary!” Ma Fei shook his head for a long moment, sighing in admiration.

Shi Lei’s face reddened; his skin was already dark, and now it only looked darker. He hurried to argue, “What’s so remarkable about it? He’s just at a higher stage than me, his inner strength deeper than mine, but sooner or later, the day will come when I… I will—” He paused for a moment, then sighed and continued, “The third young lord is Zhang Jiaqi, known as the Master of Spring Outings. His blood father is of the Zhang Apothecary, one of the three great families of Lingnan. Later, he was adopted by his uncle, Zhang Xin’an, who is also the brother-in-law of Prince Yuan. The Zhang family has a long heritage in Phoenix Ancient City, a veritable local giant. It’s said that Zhang Jiaqi was personally instructed by the family patriarch, mastering martial arts, formations, and alchemy. Exceptionally intelligent and gifted from a young age, he was selected at thirteen, and the late Sacred Emperor Hua held him in high regard—granting special permission for him to study the Dao alongside our current Sacred Emperor Hualuo!”

Having finished, Shi Lei seemed somewhat dispirited. He listlessly raised his teacup, stared at it in a daze for a while, then slowly set it down again, continuing, “That’s all I know about the third young lord, and most of it is just hearsay, but it should be roughly accurate. Enough about him, let’s move on to the fourth!” He waved impatiently at Ma Fei.

Zhang Ke, Ma Fei, and Gu Yunqi couldn’t help but burst into hearty laughter. Ma Fei said, “Look at you! Where’s your spirit? There’s nothing shameful about losing—who among us here hasn’t suffered defeat?”

Shi Lei sighed, “It’s not because I lost to him once that I’m disheartened. It’s that I fear I’ll never surpass him in this life!” At these words, everyone fell into thoughtful silence.

Zhang Lan smiled gently at the side and said, “Then let me introduce the fourth young lord. He’s even more formidable than the previous three. His name is Zhang Hanyi. His father, Zhang Xiangming, was once the supreme commander of the former Great Liao. Sixty years ago, when the Demons of Ying invaded, Zhang Xiangming still stands in resistance to this day. Zhang Hanyi followed his father into battle, earning countless military honors. His teacher is the revered Taiyan of Jiangnan, from whom he learned profound and unfathomable Daoist arts!”

Inwardly, Ye Hua was astonished. “No wonder these four young lords are so renowned. It turns out they all come from illustrious backgrounds and are men of outstanding talent—not frivolous wastrels as one might expect! The reputation of the Four Young Lords of the Capital is, in truth, misleading.”

Ye Hua nodded. “It seems, then, that all four are men of real learning and exceptional abilities, truly worthy of admiration.”

Zhang Ke nodded. “Indeed. However, though the four are gifted and virtuous, still… still…”

Ye Hua asked in surprise, “Still what?”

Zhang Ke sighed, “The Sacred Emperor Hualuo is still young and his foundation unstable. There are many who plot against the throne. These four serve different factions, each loyal to their own master and, I fear, not unwaveringly devoted to our Sacred Emperor. If they were mediocre, it would be of little consequence, but being men of such talent and renown, it makes the situation much more precarious.”

Ye Hua nodded. “So that’s how it is. Only after hearing all this do I understand the full picture.”

Zhang Ke continued, “My father, Zhang Dongtian, is a general under Prince Wen Zheng. As a subject of the Divine State of Huaxia, he is steadfast in his loyalty to the Sacred Emperor Hualuo. As for those with rebellious intentions, our paths diverge and we cannot work together.”

Ma Fei added, “Brother Zhang is right. Brother Ye, we have gathered here because we wish to pledge ourselves to Prince Wen Zheng. May I ask, Brother Ye, what are your intentions?”

Ye Hua pondered for a while before replying, “I am new to the capital and know little of its ways. My uncle is currently in the city, and I wish to seek him out, pay my respects, and learn from his teachings. However, I have no news of him and do not know where to find him.”

Zhang Ke asked, “May I ask who your uncle is? I am acquainted with a number of people in the capital, and if I do not know him, I can at least ask around.”

Ye Hua replied, “Thank you, Brother Zhang. My uncle is known as Master Zhiguang, a Buddhist monk who traveled to the capital with Master Xukong of Bliss Monastery.”

Zhang Ke thought for a moment, then apologized, “I have heard of Master Xukong of Bliss Monastery, but cannot recall much. As for your uncle, I do not know him, nor have I heard of their whereabouts. They are unlikely to be under the patronage of Prince Wen Zheng or Prince Yuan—these senior figures I know at least a little about.”

Ye Hua shook his head. “The capital is vast, with eight cities and sixteen districts, and countless heroes gathered from all corners of the land. What are the chances I would just happen upon him?”

Ma Fei nodded in agreement. “You are right, Brother Ye. Seeking your master is not something to be rushed; it will take time and patience. For now, why not stay with us? Together, as one, we can accomplish great things here in the capital.”