Undying Life

Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Yi Yan Sets a Trap at the Banquet

"Invite Princess Qianyou and Enlightened Arhat to the feast? Is the Grand Commander planning to defy the emperor's orders again and create animosity between the Great Luo Dynasty and the Blissful Pure Land?" General Tie Xue expressed his concern.

"Why, are you unwilling?" Yi Yan turned to look at Tie Xue.

"No, as long as it's the Grand Commander's command, I will do my best," Tie Xue immediately replied.

"Heh heh, rest assured, I'll bear the blame for this disobedience alone. After all, I don't have much time left. If I can do a little more for His Majesty and the empire, it's worth it," Yi Yan smiled bitterly.

"No, Grand Commander, that's not what I meant. I was just thinking, last time the attempt to eliminate Princess Qianyou failed, and now it's even harder. According to reports, the King of Julu has dispatched a large number of strong individuals to protect Princess Qianyou and her companions. Even if we use the 'One Qi Battle Formation,' we won't be able to harm them, and Princess Qianyou and her companions will surely be more vigilant about their safety. It's too difficult to eliminate Princess Qianyou without leaving traces of our involvement," Tie Xue expressed his worries.

"Heh heh, it's not too difficult, it's basically impossible," Yi Yan smiled bitterly.

"Huh? Then, Grand Commander?" Tie Xue looked puzzled.

"Who said I want to deal with Princess Qianyou?" Yi Yan chuckled.

"Huh? Grand Commander wants to deal with Enlightened Arhat and Great Wei Tianlong Bodhisattva? But, but..." General Tie Xue looked incredulous.

With a bitter smile, Yi Yan shook his head. "His Majesty forbids me from killing them, so let them deal with each other. Without His Majesty's full support, I'm as constrained as I was last time. Any slight mistake could lead to a complete failure. This time, it's also the last chance. I'll set another trap and do my best while leaving it to fate! Let's see if the heavens favor our empire."

"Yes, Grand Commander," General Tie Xue nodded heavily—

In the West Garden Palace.

Qianyou, Gulin, Shuijing, Zhongshan, Ada, and A'er. Everyone looked at the invitation in Princess Qianyou's hand.

"Qianyou, what does the invitation say?" Gulin asked.

"Mr. Yi Yan invites us along with Enlightened Arhat to the Grand Commander's Mansion for a banquet," Princess Qianyou frowned.

"It's only a few days away. Could Yi Yan still set up another trap?" Shuijing furrowed his brows in thought.

"A trap? Setting up another trap?" Gulin exclaimed in surprise.

"Inform the prince, the last trap at Misty Lake was likely set up by Yi Yan," Shuijing had to speak the truth.

"What? Him? He wants to kill us?" Gulin worriedly asked.

"It's not that he wants to kill us, he's been wanting to all along, but judging from the King of Julu's attitude, Emperor Nalan forbids him from taking action. Therefore, every time he acts against the emperor's orders, he's restrained by shackles," Princess Qianyou said coldly.

"What should we do then?" Gulin worried.

"What does the master think?" Princess Qianyou looked at Zhongshan again.

"In my opinion of Yi Yan, this man's schemes are extremely rare. He walks a fine line, always staying out of the fray. There shouldn't be any danger to us at the banquet. What we should be more concerned about is what happens before and after the banquet," Zhongshan said solemnly.

"How do you know he won't harm us at the banquet?" Gulin angrily exclaimed.

Seeing Gulin's expression, Zhongshan could only remain silent. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do.

"No, as Mr. Zhongshan said, Yi Yan shouldn't act against us at the banquet," Shuijing said.

"You also think so? But what if he really tries to harm us? I think we shouldn't go," Gulin said.

"No, we still have our goals. We can't afford to make enemies at this moment. Since you're worried, then we'll invite the King of Julu as well. I believe the King of Julu will be willing to come with us," Princess Qianyou said.

"Hmm," Master Shuijing nodded—

Three days later, in the afternoon, on the floating island where Yi Yan resided, he bid farewell to a group of people as they left after the banquet.

"Thank you, Mr. Yi Yan, for your gracious hospitality," Princess Qianyou said.

"It's my honor to entertain the princess," Yi Yan smiled warmly.

"Regardless, today's visit to the Grand Commander's Mansion was very enjoyable. Qianyou will take her leave now," Princess Qianyou said.

"Goodbye!" Yi Yan smiled faintly.

Then, Princess Qianyou led Gulin, Zhongshan, Shuijing, Ada, and A'er towards the West Garden Palace.

Watching Princess Qianyou's retreating figure, Yi Yan smirked coldly before heading in another direction.

On the other side were King Julu and Enlightened Arhat.

"Thank you, Mr. Yi Yan, for your hospitality," Enlightened Arhat smiled.

"If Enlightened Arhat can come, my humble abode is honored. Thank you for coming," Yi Yan smiled.

"Heh heh, my Buddha and Emperor Nalan are about to compete, so I won't stay long. I'll head back now," Enlightened Arhat smiled.

"Goodbye!" Yi Yan bid farewell.

"All right, let me accompany Enlightened Arhat!" King Julu said.

"Very well, Your Highness. Thank you!" Yi Yan smiled.

"Not at all, not at all," King Julu said.

Then, standing on the floating island, Yi Yan bid farewell to this second group of people.

As he watched the two groups in the distance, Yi Yan let out a sigh of relief. Iron Blood stood behind him, also watching the departure of the two groups of people.

In the distance, Princess Qianyou and her entourage were in the clouds.

"This Yi Yan is really generous. A whole dragon, cooked and served for a feast. With so many people gathered around one table, each choosing their favorite dragon meat, it's quite a unique dining experience," Gulin chuckled.

Zhongshan stood behind Princess Qianyou with a furrowed brow, but there was no reaction from the red phoenix on his forehead, indicating that there was no danger. However, Zhongshan still had a bad feeling.

"How do you two gentlemen see it?" Princess Qianyou asked again.

"Unusual, something's not right," Master Shuijing said, shaking his feather fan.

"What's not right?" Gulin asked, looking puzzled.

"Do you notice, my prince, that there are only ten people at this banquet? Only Yi Yan, Iron Blood, King Julu, Enlightened Arhat, and the six of us. Just ten people?" Master Shuijing furrowed his brows.

"What's wrong with just ten people?" Gulin asked in confusion.

"Just ten people, and there's not even a single maid or servant serving us. Moreover, there's no one around the banquet hall, not a single person. We're left to dine by ourselves," Master Shuijing said.

"There are only ten of us, but Yi Yan mentioned some important secrets. He might be afraid that the maids and servants would hear them!" Gulin frowned.

"Heh, important secrets? Would the Grand Commander of the Great Yu Dynasty share secrets with us? Those things are useless once heard. So Yi Yan's banquet today is very intriguing. I wonder what his intentions are," Master Shuijing frowned.

"Master, what do you think?" Shuijing looked at Zhongshan.

"It's indeed intriguing, and there's one more thing. It's the timing," Zhongshan thought for a moment.

"Timing?" Princess Qianyou frowned, seeming to have remembered something. And Master Shuijing also seemed to understand.

"What timing?" Gulin frowned, looking at Zhongshan.

"Our arrival time, Enlightened Arhat's arrival time, and King Julu's arrival time. We arrived on time, Enlightened Arhat was two incense sticks late, and King Julu was half an hour late," Zhongshan said.

"Indeed, King Julu and we agreed on the time, but he was half an hour late. He was brought by Iron Blood, so Iron Blood must have delayed him for half an hour. But why was Enlightened Arhat two incense sticks late? Enlightened Arhat has never been late to a banquet before," Master Shuijing said, shaking his feather fan.

"Enlightened Arhat wasn't late; it's in the invitation sent by Yi Yan, the time was different. He deliberately had us arrive two incense sticks early," Princess Qianyou suddenly said.

"Right, he deliberately had us arrive early, then waited alone in the empty hall, while Yi Yan went out again to greet Enlightened Arhat. In the hall, there were only us and that cooked dragon," Master Shuijing frowned in confusion.

"I think we've been set up by Yi Yan!" Zhongshan smiled bitterly.

"Yes, let's hope Enlightened Arhat can see through it. I wonder how Yi Yan plans to use those two incense sticks to set us up," Master Shuijing smiled bitterly.

"Next, we'll stay in the West Garden Palace. There are still a few days left, the most critical time, we can't afford any mistakes," Princess Qianyou said.

"Understood," everyone responded.

Outside the Sky City, atop a mountain peak.

"King Julu, you can stop here. The Bodhisattva doesn't want to be disturbed," Enlightened Arhat said.

"Haha, very well. Farewell, Enlightened Arhat," King Julu led a group of people to bid farewell to Enlightened Arhat.

"Farewell," Enlightened Arhat turned and flew away.

After Enlightened Arhat left, King Julu let out a long sigh.

"Why did you escort Enlightened Arhat all the way here, Your Highness?" someone behind King Julu asked.

"It's just that I'm worried about the Grand Commander. Princess Qianyou and her group will return to the West Garden Palace amidst the attention of the entire city, so they should be fine. But Enlightened Arhat is alone. Ah well, since Enlightened Arhat has returned, I have fulfilled His Majesty's instructions. Let's go back," King Julu said.

"Understood," the person behind King Julu responded—

In the Grand Commander's Mansion, in a large hall.

Yi Yan stood with his hands behind his back, Iron Blood stood behind him, both watching the circular dining table in the center of the hall, illuminated by a large number of night pearls. There were some plates on the edge of the table, and in the center was a purple dragon about ten meters long.

However, this purple dragon had already been cooked, and parts of its body had been removed for consumption. Now, it was just a plate of leftovers.

But even as leftovers, the purple dragon still emitted a faint purple aura, extremely spiritual.