Dual Cultivation God Returns

Wu Long arrived at a large and lavish party of a noble family celebrating their Patriarch's birthday.

He was here delivering a gift on behalf of prince Wei Yuanjie, though the host instantly understood that the 9th prince just couldn't be bothered to visit so he sent some random man no one here knew.

As a polite host, he naturally had to let the man sent in the prince's place join the celebrations.

But Wu Long didn't arrive alone, rather, his partners made him a welcome guest, since two stunning beauties were joining him.

"It's been quite long so I might be actually out of practice a little", Sui Luxiao quietly spoke as they proceeded inside and numerous gazes started falling onto them. She was definitely used to social gatherings like this, but she has not been to one ever since she followed Wu Long on his journey.

"You'll quickly get the hang of it, look, Xiwang isn't worried even though it has been a while for her as well", Wu Long chuckled.

"It's easy not to worry when you just don't care. Sister Xiwang is not someone who would be nervous about a party like this", Sui Luxiao made a wry smile.

"I actually didn't visit any of the parties my nobles thrown, so it hasn't been a while for me, it's a first. But Sister Luxiao is right, I don't really care much for what these people think, say, or want", Nie Xiwang calmly replied.

"...", Wu Long didn't have anything to answer to that, as he should have confirmed if she indeed had such experience instead of assuming she did because she was an Empress of a country.

But ultimately it didn't change much.

Wu Long made sure to arrive after the 3rd prince - who briefly visited the party - left. The party was linked to the family of the Empress, so both of her sons were expected to be here. The princess he came here to meet, though, was here because her mother always tried to butter up to the Empress.

And as he expected, the combination of his two beauties certainly caused a furor, but the way they mainly spoke among themselves coupled with Nie Xiwang's aura of cold indifference to outsiders made them very hard, if not impossible to approach.

The only ones who did were the noble ladies,whom Sui Luxiao engaged in a polite chat, and even they did not linger around them for long since it was hard for them to be in the presence of Nie Xiwang and not feel small and insignificant.

If Wu Long took only one partner to the evening, even if it was Nie Xiwang, there might have been, or rather, there would have certainly be a crowd of people swarming his partner while he talked with the princess, with quite a few men making passes at the lady.

However, the two of them together formed a sort of bubble, as they could look natural at such an event, even just talking among the two of them, but hard to approach.

And as the attention gathered on the two ladies, Wu Long quietly approached the princess on the balcony.

"Daoist Wu, I suppose?"

"Correct, Your Highness"

"Seeing who you came with, I can certainly be assured this meeting is really not about me", the princess chuckled, turning to the open doors of the balcony, seeing the two ladies standing close and talking to each other, "I was half-doubtful, especially since it was Yuanjie's referral..."

"You give His Highness the 9th prince too little credit, Your Highness", Wu Long smiled.

"Perhaps... but that is not why you are here either. So... what is it then?"

Wu Long's eyes narrowed, 'Straight to the point, good start'. He then bluntly said, "I have an offer to make"

"Offer...", the expression of the princess slightly darkened as she seemingly had a lot of various offers made to her.

"Yes, I wish to help you make a bid for the throne", Wu Long replied in a calm tone, as the princess almost audibly gasped.

"...! A-Are you insane? Talking about this so openly?"

"It is fine, I assure you that no one can hear this conversation as it happens"

"...", the princess carefully assessed the situation, at the same time composing herself, which she did quickly, calmly asking after a few seconds, "What's in it for you?"

'Quick recovery... good', Wu Long inwardly noted. By now he got a better read on the princess as a whole, having met in person, and was already fairly certain she fit the requirements.

Not to mention, Xue Bing and Shen Min who were hidden with Fen Baihu's powers, standing near him, already told him much about this princess.

His hunch about her match with Chen Hui also got even more solid.

By now he was just ticking off the last few check-marks on the list.

"I get to be the person who helped a Monarch to be crowned", Wu Long shrugged as it was quite obvious, but added as he saw the thoughts that instantly appeared in the princess' head, "But I'm not interested in influencing the politics of this country. The most I'll ask for is a single spot in the Secret Realm of 10,000 Dynasties, and perhaps a bit of help with minor things like a Trade Company"

The princess made a pause for a bit, thinking over his conditions. The fact he at least had stated goals was reassuring. Of course, it did not mean he didn't have hidden agendas, but she at least had an understanding of what he wanted outwardly. That caution and thinking were the final confirmation Wu Long needed.

"You have to admit, that it is quite preposterous for a person with no background or political power in this city to try and help me get the throne", the princess then sighed, further calming down and talking in a more collected way.

"It often takes an outside force to break the balance", Wu Long spoke still looking at the scenery.

"...", the princess made another pause, "You do know the conditions for me to be able to compete for the throne, right?"

"I do, and therein lies my help. I will help you obtain permission first, and will even recommend you a candidate, one that I am quite sure you will be satisfied with", Wu Long nodded.

"Bold claims... Let's start with the first, how do I know you do have the power to do so and won't just put me in a precarious position?"

"I'll start with a gesture of goodwill, to show you the ability to help. I am sure you know that the Kai Family just lost its marriage arrangement with the Shan Family"

"I have been hearing rumors, if this goes on the Kai Family might fall over, since they couldn't salvage the situation they were already in with that marriage. Though they will probably have to become vassals of one of the other three families besides the Shan Family"

"Yesterday evening, close to night actually, they lost some of their important personnel, including their Third Young Master, which will accelerate their fall, probably within a week now"

"Lost? And how do you-..."

"That is not what is important, is it?"

"You are quite audacious"

"If I wasn't, would I lecture the 5th prince on the Imperial Etiquette in his own palace?"

"Pfft... hahaha, that is certainly true", she chuckled, since Wu Long didn't try to pretend that she didn't know of that incident, she didn't have to pretend either.

"The Kai Family will most certainly cut some of their people off in the process of becoming vassals to the other family. And after they lost some of their people to a third party who poached their talent, they will most certainly eliminate those people they cut off"

"Eliminate? Surely they-...", the princess turned a shocked look to him, but halfway through denying something so horrid out of reflex, found it very likely to be true.

"It is a prime example where an intervention from an Imperial Family member could both save lives and win reputation among the working people"

"Hearts and minds...", the princess spoke, lowering her face and raising her hand to her chin in thought.

"Indeed, the four older princes think that the word on the streets, the reputation among ordinary citizens doesn't matter, that they need to only compete for the influence among nobles, but those nobles would still find it slightly less appealing to support a certain prince if all of the hired workers in their businesses and all of their customers support another candidate", Wu Long calmly spoke.

Adding to that, "Of course, that alone will not help you win the throne, as the nobles have ways to deal with such things. But reputation and public opinion can give you that little, almost insignificant, push in a crucial moment, tipping the scales"

"It seems you are quite versed in politics"

"If you see something happen a hundred times, you're bound to notice some things", Wu Long shrugged, "In any case, it will not harm you, as well as save some innocent lives in the process"

"Indeed, I shall follow your advice, Daoist Wu", the princess calmly nodded, "Thank you"

"You do not have to thank me, Your Highness. This is part of a deal I wish to make, my conditions are known to you now"

"You still gave me advance notice which I can use to save innocent lives of my country's citizens"

Wu Long nodded, adding, "I will make sure this intervention from you spreads through the word on the street, and if you could make an intervention into another matter shortly after, you will win the hearts of your citizens for at least a short time"

"Another matter?"

"Yes, there are many districts in docks which are occupied by gangs, I am sure you know that. There are various interests at play there, so its impossible to root out the problem entirely. However, there is one particular group of gangs in the North-West part of the docks which is going quite extreme and low even for the outlaws", Wu Long nodded.

It was something Lu Mang complained about, as there was a particularly nasty group that kept their territory in constant terror. It was quite famous among the citizens, but from the point of view of the Imperial authorities, all of the docks looked the same, so they did not make distinctions.

"You will also have something to report to the Emperor during the annual report", Wu Long added.

"I see that you have a few tricks up your sleeve, Daoist Wu. And maybe you even have one that could get me the permission I need. However, the second part of your deal is a bit worrisome. How can I just trust your candidate, and not believe he will act on your behalf to manipulate me in case I do get the throne?"

"Because he is a citizen of your country, and a loyal one at that. With proven history of serving it long before I even appeared. While I am biased, I do really believe you will be hard pressed to actually find a better candidate"

"A loyal citizen? Wait... are you talking about-...?"

"Indeed, Captain Chen Hui. In the time that you await the Kai Family's uproar to start, you can thoroughly research him. I am sure you will like what you find out"

Wu Long knew she would guess Chen Hui's identity, as she likely closely monitored the situation with the pirates. Not to mention, the more closely she examined him beforehand, the better it got for Chen Hui who had a reputation for being straight-laced and honest, as well as a humble and loyal Imperial Guard.

He added to that, "His achievement in eliminating the threat of pirates will earn him credit in the Imperial Court. The 5th prince's faction of course will try to gobble up that credit, but if he becomes your suitor, it will not go to either the 5th prince or you, it will stay with him and serve as a foundation for being allowed to court you. Of course, you will also deny the 5th prince the credit, and thus slightly upset his standing"

'And I can be certain he is not influenced by any noble faction or prince...', the princess thought lowering her face again in thought.

After all, she knew that Chen Hui was picked out for the role of leading that mission precisely because he had no affiliations and was to an extent disposable due to not being part of the 5th prince's inner circle either. She also had at least partial understanding of his current precarious position.

And as Wu Long said, his recent success would make him the ideal candidate since it gave him enough credit in the Imperial Court to become a suitor to the princess.

"But that would require for you to completely extricate yourself from that success", she then said.

"I wasn't interested in it beyond building a relationship with the 5th prince for the same reasons that I am approaching you now, which failed miserably", he shrugged.

The fact his motives were applicable to the 5th prince first became another reassurance, as Wu Long's self-interest seemed to indeed be neutral to who sat on the throne.

"But that is not the only achievement Captain Chen would have behind his shoulders. A far bigger one is to come quite some time later, when he is already your suitor. He will be responsible for eliminating a Corrupt Path lair", Wu Long added.

"C-Corrupt-...!!!", the eyes of the princess widened in shock as she heard a name she was not prepared for. It was a name that struck horror in the hearts of people, as well as intense repulsion from people like her.

"Don't worry, it won't be a staged lair, it is real. And yes, it is in this city", Wu Long chuckled, slightly mixing up and hiding in his words the timing of when that lair was dangerous.

He then decided to leave her with that bombshell to think about, as such an achievement would certainly elevate Chen Hui's status enough to not only court her, but to be rewarded with her hand in marriage instead.

"Well, then, I need to go join my ladies. I hope you think about our conversation in a good light, Your Highness, and enjoy the rest of the party", Wu Long said, wrapping up the discussion and turning to join his two ladies, leaving the party with them shortly after.