Yang Hong had a rough idea of his new attributes.
[Yang Hong: Sixth Prince of the Great Sui Dynasty.
Daily bestowal times: 0/3
Lifespan: 20/150
Cultivation: 196 years of True Qi (Grandmaster, Hundred Thousand Jin Strength)
Cultivation Technique: Basic Breathing Technique Level 22, Novice Body Tempering Technique Level 7
Martial Skill: Ferocious Bull Fist Level 100
Special Abilities: Eidetic Memory, Farming Mastery.]
Although his cultivation realm was still Grandmaster and he possessed hundred thousand jin of strength, his Ferocious Bull Fist had reached the max level of 100. He could now perfectly unleash the full effect of his hundred thousand jin strength. Moreover, his Ferocious Bull Fist had reached the realm of perfection, with every move and stance imbued with immense power.
"Heh heh~"
Looking at the three old eunuchs on the ground, Yang Hong nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave. He decided he would go beat up Crown Prince Yang Yong today. It had been his long-held wish.
However, before he could leap over the wall, an ancient voice called out.
"Young friend, stay your step~"
Yang Hong turned and saw the Retired Emperor. Although Yang Hong had never met him, he had an impression of the old man from his memories. He lowered his voice and said hoarsely, "You want to spar with me too?" Even though his approximate age was revealed, Yang Hong was not worried about being identified. He always took precautions when he went out to spar.
"I see you have good skills, young friend. To have cultivated to Grandmaster at such a young age, your talent must be considerable. Are you willing to join my Great Sui royal family? I possess a secret method for breaking through from Grandmaster to Heavenly Human."
Retired Emperor Yang Zhong's opening move was a bombshell! Any martial artist, regardless of their realm, would aspire to further progress. The next step beyond Grandmaster was Heavenly Human, the legendary Heavenly Human realm! That was the Heavenly Human realm capable of overturning rivers and seas. No Grandmaster would be able to resist such temptation.
If Yang Hong didn't have the bestowal return system, he might have been tempted. But alas, he had a cheat and was not interested.
Without answering, Yang Hong stepped on his toes and sprinted a few steps to the wall, preparing to leave.
Yang Zhong urgently called out again, "Young friend~ I have several daughters and granddaughters, all of them beauties of unparalleled grace. I can betroth them to you."
Hearing this, Yang Hong's foot slipped, and he almost fell off the wall.
"You old man are truly shameless!" Yang Hong turned to look at the old man with white hair and an aged appearance, but still standing tall, and directly retorted.
"Haha~ For my daughters and granddaughters to marry a strong individual like you would be their good fortune. Even if several of them were to serve a single man, it would be acceptable." Yang Zhong did not get angry. Instead, he said proudly. Yang Hong could only silently give him a thumbs-up, speechless at his words.
"Young friend, you can consider it. Moreover, if there is any woman you fancy, my royal family can help you win her over." Seeing that Yang Hong seemed interested in women, Yang Zhong continued to up the ante.
"..."
Is this person before me truly my grandfather, the Retired Emperor of the Great Sui Dynasty? Yang Hong began to doubt his own existence.
"If young friend likes married women, I can also..."
"Stop~ stop~" Seeing Yang Zhong about to spew more nonsense, Yang Hong quickly stopped him. This was getting out of hand.
"Young friend still prefers virgins? Indeed, given your age, only a virgin would be fitting for you." Yang Zhong's eyes lit up. His words, though seemingly nonsensical, were actually probing Yang Hong's age and preferences.
After his initial surprise, Yang Hong also guessed Yang Zhong's scheme.
"Old man, I do like married women, but I don't like married women from the imperial palace."
Yang Zhong immediately responded with the tone of an experienced person, "Hahaha~ Young friend truly has taste. Married women who know warmth and cold are the best." This was truly exasperating.
"Prepare me a manual for internal energy, one for external force, one for combined internal and external cultivation, one for fist techniques, one for movement techniques, and one for footwork. I will come to collect them tomorrow night." With that, Yang Hong circulated his True Qi and disappeared at the fastest speed from the Retired Emperor's "Hall of Filial Devotion."
He realized that the Retired Emperor Yang Zhong was truly desperate for people, hence his various attempts to recruit him. Yang Hong also had his own desires, so he would simply throw him a bait. Let them both fish.
"Are you not dead yet? If you're not, then investigate thoroughly and find out where this fellow came from." Looking at the spot where Yang Hong had vanished, Yang Zhong put away his playful demeanor and said with a grim expression. The three old eunuchs below struggled to their feet. They were injured, but not severely. Yang Hong had not delivered a fatal blow.
"Your Imperial Majesty, forgive us. We will investigate immediately." The three dared not argue. They knelt and kowtowed.
"Go. This person is likely someone from within the palace, possibly a guard or a eunuch, but a guard is more probable." Yang Zhong's low voice continued. Based on their previous conversation, he had formed a simple judgment about Yang Hong. He had considered two possibilities but had not thought of the princes.
"Yes~" The three eunuchs responded and left. What they did afterwards was uncertain.
In any case, Yang Hong had fulfilled his wish. He had secretly infiltrated the Eastern Palace and pulled the Crown Prince, who was embracing the Crown Princess, out and gave him a thrashing. It was a solid beating. Although he didn't cause severe injuries, bruises were guaranteed. The Crown Prince's already robust body was beaten into a much chubbier shape by Yang Hong. Furthermore, he had used his True Qi. For the next three months, the Crown Prince would not be seeing any reduction in swelling. Even if a Grandmaster expert applied blood-activating remedies, it would be futile.
"Satisfying~ So satisfying~" Leaving behind this exclamation, Yang Hong vanished from the Eastern Palace.
That night, the Guard Commander Yuwen Lang was dragged out of his bed, and 13 Grandmasters loyal to the Great Sui Dynasty were summoned overnight within the Dà Xīng Imperial City. A search, grand in scale but ultimately fruitless, was conducted throughout the palace. Everyone within the palace was rigorously interrogated, including those in the cold palace, and Yang Hong. However, such an investigation was destined to yield nothing. After being probed by three Innate Grandmasters and one Grandmaster, Yang Hong was once again proven to be an ordinary person with no cultivation. At this point, even if someone claimed Yang Hong was a Grandmaster, no one would believe them.
"This time the commotion was a bit big, but it was truly satisfying!" Although the three days of investigation were annoying, Yang Hong watched it all with secret glee. He was especially delighted to see the much plumper Crown Prince Yang Yong, dragging his unnaturally bloated body around during the search. Yang Hong had absolutely no regrets about causing such a big stir. Although he couldn't get the martial arts manuals he wanted from the Retired Emperor for the time being, they wouldn't run away. He would get them after the dust settled.
What Yang Hong regretted was that other princes like Yang Guang and Yang Hao, who usually looked down on him, were out of the palace, so he couldn't beat them up. Of course, this whole operation had a side effect: his imperial sister Yang Zixuan visited his cold palace less often. It was said that the angered Retired Emperor personally came out of seclusion and gathered all the princes and princesses under 19 years old and over 14, to personally teach them martial arts. He was determined to select a few promising talents and nurture them into imperial experts. This meant Yang Zixuan could only visit the "Ignored Pavilion" to sponge meals on her single day off each month.