The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 376 - 188 Is a Good Person

Chapter 376: Chapter 188 Is a Good Person

March 21st.

On this day, at the court assembly, Eldest Prince Feng Guanyu, one of the three Imperial Princes, proposed to fully enforce Emperor Feng Tianming’s previous decree, banning all trade of Longevity Powder within the borders of Northern Zhou, showing no leniency regardless of the traders’ identities.

This proposal naturally received full support from Feng Jiu and Feng Qiwu. The two Imperial Princes, both practicers of "Vast Righteous Qi" whether genuine or not, loathed this nation-ruining poison deeply and supported Eldest Prince’s proposal without hesitation.

As for Feng Chaonan, who was not an Imperial Prince in public, he did not even have a chance to object.

When the court assembly concluded, Feng Chaonan left with a grim expression on his face. The officials he passed by, knowing somewhat of Feng Chaonan’s involvement with Longevity Powder, naturally dared not provoke him at this time.

By the time he reached his sleeping chambers, Feng Chaonan could no longer suppress the raging fire in his heart. The intense Phoenix Sky Strategy True Qi uncontrollably surged from within him, incinerating everything around, even causing his own clothes to start smoking.

"Your Highness, please calm down."

A cold True Qi dispelled the uncontrolled temperature as Eunuch Wei quietly appeared behind Feng Chaonan, placing a hand on his shoulder and suppressing the wild True Qi.

"Calm down? How can you tell me to calm down when Feng Guanyu is so blatantly targeting me, and those opportunist officials are echoing him, each stepping on my face?"

Despite his words, Feng Chaonan tried to calm himself down and pressed down the wrath in his heart.

The more such times arose, the more he needed to be calm. Well aware of this, Feng Chaonan, proficient in Qi Cultivation, took several deep breaths and finally suppressed his irrational thoughts.

Seeing this, Eunuch Wei withdrew his hand from Feng Chaonan’s shoulder and said, "Your Highness, the trade of Longevity Powder is ultimately too filthy. It’s not suitable for you to be involved. If you need funds, there are other ways; why use such a disreputable method?

"Now that the trade of Longevity Powder is being cracked down on, you might as well take this chance to disengage and distance yourself from this dirty business."

Feng Chaonan just shook his head and gave a bitter smile.

Although the trade of Longevity Powder was dirty, the profits were incomparable to other methods. Initially, when he openly severed ties with the Si Family, limiting his access to funds, Feng Chaonan maintained his power through Longevity Powder, even expanding aggressively with the tremendous profits it brought him.

Now, although it seemed he had reconnected fully with the Si Family, Feng Chaonan knew that the support they provided had invisibly lessened since before.

In the end, it was the family’s strategy of not putting all their eggs in one basket. Feng Qiwu held intentions towards Si Qingwei, giving the Si Family a good reason and pathway.

Between Feng Chaonan and Feng Qiwu, the two most likely candidates for the throne, regardless of who ultimately ascended, the Si Family stood to profit.

The only difference would be whether the Si Family Head would become the Emperor’s uncle or the Empress’s father.

However, Feng Chaonan’s current biggest concern was not the affair of Longevity Powder.

"Eunuch Wei, go to Shadow Market and send a message to Gong Ziyu. Double the reward. I want Feng Guanyu dead, the sooner the better," Feng Chaonan harshly said.

Following this court assembly, Feng Chaonan’s desire for the position of Imperial Prince intensified. Though he had already secretly seized part of the Imperial Prince’s power in private, his status was not officially recognized, making it difficult for him to ascend the ranks of respectability.

At least, should another incident like today’s assembly occur, Feng Chaonan still had no legitimate reason to either oppose or support. Ultimately, the legitimate wielders of power at court were the three Imperial Princes, not him, Feng Chaonan.

"Yes," Eunuch Wei quietly disappeared.

After he vanished, Feng Chaonan continued to brood over the assembly matters, his expressions shifting complexly on his face.

Eventually, Feng Chaonan’s eyes flashed fiercely as he stared towards the location of the Eldest Prince’s chambers, "You want to use Longevity Powder to bring me down? Just wait and see how many will truly strike down. You should know, the network spun by Longevity Powder already encompasses the entire Great Zhou."

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However, the next few days unfolded far beyond Feng Chaonan’s expectations.

Various Longevity Powder workshops were smashed, and countless traders were executed. The once pervasive network across Northern Zhou seemed suddenly ineffective, as if it had never existed.

Within just a few days, Eldest Prince Feng Guanyu triumphed comprehensively, cutting off a significant revenue source for Feng Chaonan.

At this time, the chief handler of Longevity Powder trading and the leader of Feng Chaonan’s concealed forces, the Pharmacist, was reporting to Qingyu.

"Reporting to Dragon Chief, all benefits accrued by Feng Chaonan from selling Longevity Powder across Northern Zhou have been secretly transferred, and any related traces have been cleanly erased by agents from the court," the Pharmacist reverently said.

"This time, we’ve indeed played a big trick on Feng Chaonan," receiving the detailed report handed by the Pharmacist, Qingyu laughed while tapping the thick list of goods.

Feng Chaonan could never have dreamed that his covert forces had long been infiltrated.

Before each headquarters was destroyed, the Pharmacist had already transferred all corresponding assets, leaving only empty shells for investigation.

The court officials handling the Longevity Powder also cooperatively cleaned up everything, ensuring neither Feng Chaonan nor Feng Guanyu could trace the whereabouts of these assets.

Even so, they might think it was the other who made a clever move, gathering a large amount of wealth.

As for why those officials would help Qingyu clean up, it was thanks to the extensive network established by Longevity Powder.

Well... it should not be called the Longevity Powder network now, but the Antidote network.

Longevity Powder had an antidote. Although useless for the irredeemable, it was beneficial for most.

Initially, when Qingyu created Longevity Powder, he had already planned for this day. Selling Longevity Powder was one thing, selling the antidote was another; one harmed, one saved, different in nature but the same in profit.

Especially after Feng Chaonan took over the Longevity Powder trade, this nation-ruining notoriety also inadvertently fell upon him. This way, Qingyu just needed to harvest the good reputation of saving those harmed by Longevity Powder.

"It truly is ironic, I am both the god and the devil. Harming and saving, two sides of the same coin," Qingyu mused, speaking with a smile that was not quite a smile.

"Mm... Also, Feng Chaonan is really a good man."

Indeed, a good man. Not only did he take on this bad reputation, but ultimately the profits were secretly transferred to Qingyu’s hands. If that’s not being a good man, then what is?