Loyal Heart Roaming the Skies

After listening to Lian Que's description, Jiang Wang felt a sense of unease.

In this world, all living beings, no matter how small, yearn for freedom.

Even a lone wolf would starve itself to death, and a solitary eagle would crash into a pillar. What chance do humans have?

"So, you..."

Jiang Wang waited for him to continue, sensing vaguely what Lian Que wanted to do.

"Although I used to think that these rules were outdated and rotten, I also understood that the entire Lian family was deeply entrenched. The rules that have been formed over hundreds of years cannot be easily shaken."

"But today, I truly realize that the Lian family has decayed to its core. Honor and faith have completely disappeared."

"We must make a change, no matter how painful it may be. Because if we continue like this, the Lian family will be no more! The ancient fire that has been passed down for so many years will surely be extinguished."

"Therefore, I have made up my mind today."

"I want to change everything."

"What do you want to do?" Jiang Wang asked.

"In the past, I didn't want to fight, but now I want to compete for the position of the head of the Lian family." He looked at Jiang Wang and said, "Before this, I was solely focused on forging weapons and had no connections or friends. So, I am requesting your help."

"I know that you are currently working for Zhong Xuan Sheng, who is competing with Zhong Xuan Zun for the inheritance rights. I am willing to join you. I just hope that when the time comes for me to change the Lian family, you can help me."

Jiang Wang realized that this was a very solid alliance.

With Lian Que's reputation as a renowned weapon forger, he already had enough power to contend for the position of family head in the Lian family, a family of weapon forgers.

The Nan Yao Lian family was a family that even the imperial family's descendants coveted. If it weren't for the prestige of the current Emperor Qi, and his strict control over his subordinates, it would not have been Jiang Wang, the fourteenth prince, who came into contact with them.

Unlike the competition for the Dragon, participating in the internal power struggle of the Zhong Xuan family with the Lian family did not carry as much risk. In other words, if Lian Que gained control of the Lian family, he would have more power to use and fewer concerns in the competition between Zhong Xuan Sheng and Zhong Xuan Zun.

For Zhong Xuan Sheng, this was undoubtedly a timely help.

With an ally like the Lian family, he could quickly narrow the gap between him and Zhong Xuan Zun. Of course, all of this depended on whether they could help Lian Que achieve his ideals.

Jiang Wang thought for a moment and didn't speak falsely.

He sincerely said, "We are friends, and I can represent myself. I am willing to help you unconditionally. But I cannot make decisions for Zhong Xuan Sheng."

"And I must tell you, we are currently facing a very difficult situation. Zhong Xuan Zun is far stronger than Zhong Xuan Sheng in terms of personal strength, personal influence, and connections. He has been the first heir for a long time, while Zhong Xuan Sheng has just started to develop. Although we need your help now, I don't want you to make hasty decisions."

"Jiang Wang," Lian Que said seriously, "I have no trust in either Zhong Xuan Zun or Zhong Xuan Sheng. So, those things are not my concern. I only know that I trust you. That's why I stand with you. Whoever you help, I will help."

"Okay, I will ask Zhong Xuan Sheng."

In front of Lian Que, Jiang Wang took out the sound transmission token and sent a message to Zhong Xuan Sheng in the restaurant.

He realized that this matter was not small, and it would not be a good thing to let Lian Que and Zhong Xuan Sheng privately discuss it. In the environment of Nan Yao City, the sound transmission token prepared for the Tian Fu Secret Realm came in handy.

As Jiang Wang said, he could only represent himself. He couldn't and wouldn't make decisions for Zhong Xuan Sheng.

However, when discussing with Zhong Xuan Sheng, this fat man's decisiveness surprised Jiang Wang.

"I agree to cooperate. Pass this message to the Iron Boy: 'I, Zhong Xuan Sheng, will never treat my allies unfairly. Today, you help me control the Zhong Xuan family, and tomorrow, I will help you overthrow the Lian family!'"

Jiang Wang inputted the message into the sound transmission token and placed it in front of Lian Que.

Lian Que had no objections to being called "Iron Boy." After glancing at Jiang Wang, he said, "That's the agreement."

When Zhong Xuan Sheng heard the response, he immediately said to Jiang Wang, "It's not convenient to discuss in detail right now. I will establish a secret contact with Iron Boy... uh... Lian Que separately. You leave there immediately and come to the restaurant to find me. We will leave the city immediately."

Jiang Wang was not foolish, but he was limited by his background and knowledge, so he had little understanding of these matters. However, after Zhong Xuan Sheng's words, he quickly understood.

The fewer people who knew about the cooperation with Lian Que, the greater the role they could play in the future.

Making a big fuss now would bring more harm than good, and it could turn a good thing into a bad thing.

As the only weapon forger in the Lian family to have created a famous weapon in nearly fifty years, Lian Que had boundless prospects. As long as he was willing to work hard, he could quickly develop. In this regard, Zhong Xuan Sheng could provide him with many secret helps, including the political struggle experience that Lian Que himself lacked.

But if he wanted to truly control the power of the Lian family, his opponent, Lian Que, was not just the other Lian family members competing for inheritance rights. In fact, it was the existing beneficiaries of the Lian family's vested interests, those family elders... and even the Lian family patriarch, Lian Zhu Ping!Lian Que's current status is of great help to Zhong Xuan Sheng, but on the other hand, Lian Que also has many competitors within the Lian family.

If Zhong Xuan Sheng openly allies with Lian Que, on some level, it would be equivalent to pushing Lian Que's competitors to Zhong Xuan Zun's side.

There's no need to wonder if Zhong Xuan Zun would do this.

He himself is doing the same thing. Among all of Zhong Xuan Zun's allies and various connections, as long as they are in competition with Zhong Xuan Zun, Zhong Xuan Sheng has contacted them all.

Otherwise, how could he have built up his power so quickly?

And if this kind of cooperation exists in secret, it can completely serve as one of the trump cards. When it comes to a showdown with Zhong Xuan Zun, it might be the deciding factor.

The more of these chips he has, the more confident he will be when the final result is revealed.

Of course, Zhong Xuan Zun knows that Lian Que and Jiang Wang are in harmony, but he would never expect what level of cooperation Lian Que and Zhong Xuan Sheng could reach.

Through Jiang Wang, Zhong Xuan Sheng and Lian Que have established an alliance agreement to help each other without reservation!

Zhong Xuan Sheng, on the contrary, needs to leave immediately. The faster he leaves, the better, and the more it seems that he and Lian Que dislike each other, the better.

...

Back at the inn, Zhong Xuan Sheng's subordinates had already prepared a carriage, and Jiang Wang got on and left directly.

Even though the carriage was luxurious and huge, Zhong Xuan Sheng occupied nearly a third of the space.

The elder from his clan who had accompanied Zhong Xuan Sheng to Nan Yao sat opposite Jiang Wang, resting with his eyes closed.

Fortunately, he was only slightly overweight, otherwise Jiang Wang really wouldn't know where to squeeze in.

Zhong Xuan Sheng lifted the carriage curtain to observe the situation in Nan Yao City, while explaining to Jiang Wang, "I'm not afraid of him setting conditions or making demands. If I lose, it's all over. If I win, all problems have solutions."

"Jiang Wu Yong was right about one thing, you do have a strong gambling nature."

Zhong Xuan Sheng was full of contradictions. On one hand, he was cautious, lifting the curtain to check the outside was actually a sign of vigilance. On the other hand, he had a strong gambling nature, often making bold bets.

Hearing Jiang Wang's words, he just smiled.

"I'm inferior to Zhong Xuan Zun in every way. If I lack the courage to go all in, what can I use to compete with him?"

Hearing this, the elder from Zhong Xuan Sheng's clan opened his eyes and chuckled, "What you have over him is not just courage."