"Ah!"

Qin Tian's sudden move left the middle-aged man completely unresponsive. Unprepared, he suffered two consecutive strikes from Qin Tian and immediately screamed in agony!

Qin Tian struck, directly destroying the man's Dan Tian Qi Sea, leaving his entire cultivation completely wasted!

At the same time, the man's arm was also severed, blood gushing...

Qin Tian didn't look back and left directly with the three people from the village.

This is the price to pay for trying to kill him!

After leaving, Qin Tian figured there would definitely be pursuers behind them, so the four of them sped up, taking the small roads towards the West State.

"Marquis of Pingxi! Marquis of Pingxi!"

Just as the four were flying rapidly in the sky, several figures flew up in the distance, with the leader shouting at Qin Tian.

Qin Tian turned back to look and saw that the person was Murong Ao.

Qin Tian and the other three landed, while Murong Ao, along with two guards, approached them. After landing, he first saluted Qin Tian, and then said, "Marquis of Pingxi, our family is about to encounter a major event. We ask for your assistance!"

"Hmm?"

Qin Tian frowned and said, "What trouble is the Murong Family facing?"

Murong Ao said anxiously, "For the past few days, the Ninth Prince has been visiting our home continuously, having several secret talks with my uncle. Then, starting yesterday, my uncle has been very close with several confidants of the Ninth Prince... Our family has never chosen between the Ninth Prince and the Crown Prince, but now... I don't know why, my uncle was persuaded by the Ninth Prince, and it seems like he's preparing for our family to lean under the wings of the Ninth Prince..."

"Although I don't know much about these matters, I do know that in the ongoing factional struggle in court, our family is bound to get into trouble sooner or later... so..."

Murong Ao looked at Qin Tian and said, "I originally planned to visit you today, but no one was at your residence. Later, after inquiring from the Ninth Prince's mansion, I learned that you were heading back to the West State, so I chased after you all the way here... Marquis of Pingxi, you've worked hard to reach the Imperial City, so please help our family. Why leave just after coming back?"

Though Murong Ao described things eloquently, Qin Tian remained composed as he looked at him.

"What's the matter? I'm telling the truth. Also, why are you secretly trying to leave the Imperial City? Did something happen?" Murong Ao asked.

Qin Tian grinned and said, "Murong Ao, do you really take me for a fool?"

"Ah?"

Murong Ao was taken aback, "Marquis of Pingxi, what do you mean by that? I don't understand..."

"You don't understand? Never mind, just tell me directly who sent you." Qin Tian said succinctly.

"I told you, I found out from the Ninth Prince's mansion..."

"Do you think such lies work in front of me?"

Qin Tian continued smilingly staring at Murong Ao. As their eyes met, Qin Tian's expression suddenly turned stern and he said, "If it weren't for the sake of Murong, I would have already acted against you by now!"

"Murong Ao, you should know my current situation. When you caught up to me at this time and came here to tell me these useless words?"

A chill emanated from Qin Tian's body as he angrily said, "If you don't tell the truth, I'll give you one chance to leave. But if you follow again, don't blame me for being merciless!"

Murong Ao's expression also became serious in an instant, looking at Qin Tian, he said, "I didn't expect the Marquis of Pingxi to be so observant. How did you tell I came specifically to see you?"

"I'm taking a small path, and without a high person guiding you, you wouldn't be able to catch up here. Moreover, someone definitely told you about my departure from the Imperial City. So, tell me, who sent you? Do the three of you intend to kill me?"

"No, no, no..."

Murong Ao was stunned by the words and quickly waved his hands, saying, "With my strength, how dare I... I can't either. I'm here upon someone's request to persuade you not to leave the Imperial City."

"Oh?"

Qin Tian was momentarily stunned, "You're actually willing to work for someone else? You must have been bribed, right?"

"Hehehe, it's not called bribery. They gave me confidence in the future, which is better than my uncle relying on the Ninth Prince."

Murong Ao smiled and said, "Although the excuse for chasing you is fake, I can guarantee that under my uncle's leadership, our Murong Family is indeed preparing to ally with the Ninth Prince. If I'm lying, you can kill me anytime!"

"Enough nonsense, who sent you?"

"Lord Four."

"What?"

Qin Tian was stunned; he seemed to have heard this title before, several times...

"Are you saying... the Fourth Prince?!"

Qin Tian was taken aback.

Murong Ao nodded, "Yes, it's the Fourth Prince. Didn't the Fourth Prince get appointed by His Majesty as Minister of State Affairs? His authority is booming now, he said if I can bring you back, I can go to the Ministry of Personnel as a third-grade official."

"..."

Qin Tian was momentarily speechless. For just a third-grade official position, Murong Ao was persuaded.

However, this Fourth Prince, apart from attending court, Qin Tian hadn't interacted much with him. At this moment, the Fourth Prince suddenly appearing and indirectly sending someone to persuade him to return — what is the real motive?

Is the Fourth Prince aligned with the Ninth Prince, or with the Crown Prince?

Qin Tian remembers that this Fourth Prince had very good relations in the Imperial Palace but never formed alliances, usually acting alone. For the tasks arranged by the Ninth Prince and the Crown Prince, he completed every one without complaints. Therefore, even though the Fourth Prince was capable, neither the Ninth Prince nor the Crown Prince paid him any mind.

Firstly, the Fourth Prince's background was humble, his mother died early, and he has no one to rely on currently, with no one in the palace to assist him.

Secondly, the Fourth Prince had no military power, no troops, which meant he could never pose a threat to the two vying for power.

Thirdly, the Fourth Prince's cultivation was low; his capabilities were mainly in handling state affairs, while otherwise, always acting alone. Gradually, he was overlooked by everyone.

This time, due to the fall of the King of Wu, a large number of positions were vacant, and the position of Minister of State Affairs became highly contested between the Ninth Prince and the Crown Prince. Ultimately, to maintain balance, the Ice Emperor directly appointed the Fourth Prince, leaving the Ninth Prince and the Crown Prince without complaints.

As the Fourth Prince matured young, both inside and outside the palace, people got used to calling him "Lord Four." An important reason for this was that the Fourth Prince was ruthless yet fair in handling state affairs, which earned him trust.

But this prince, who seems almost disengaged from worldly matters, and whom Qin Tian never had a private conversation with, suddenly discreetly sends someone to call him back at this time?

The more Qin Tian thought, the more he felt something was wrong.

"Murong Ao, does Lord Four think that if you catch up to me, you can definitely persuade me to return?" Qin Tian asked. He knew Murong Ao wasn't a bad person, and his expression didn't seem like someone lying.

"Lord Four said you would definitely return," Murong Ao said. "Lord Four asked me to give you a letter, saying you'd return to the Imperial City once you read it."