The people of Gao Family Village had already returned.
Li Daoxuan's attention was no longer focused on them.
That evening, Li Daoxuan ordered a takeout of Squirrel Fish. As he ate, he locked his gaze onto the bustling city of Xi'an within the diorama box, watching the tiny figures move about in their lively, orderly chaos.
It was almost time for the daily Gaojia News broadcast.
As always, the common people of Xi'an began to gather, gradually converging on Caishikou Square.
At this same hour each day, the Prince of Qin's Kulinan would also arrive.
Today was no exception.
The glittering Kulinan rolled into view right on time. As usual, the heir sat in the driver's seat. On either side of the vehicle, two neat rows of mounted princely guards rode alongside it, their presence creating an atmosphere of wealth and authority.
However, there was one noticeable difference from the norm.
In the passenger seat sat a masked figure.
This person wore a knight's outfit in the style associated with Dao Xuan Tianzun. A large conical hat covered their head, and a black veil concealed their face entirely.
At a glance, the figure practically screamed "martial artist."
The onlookers immediately began to whisper among themselves.
"The heir is up to his old tricks again. Who knows where he spent money to hire some wandering knight to sit beside him, and even dressed him up in Dao Xuan Tianzun's knight attire. What is he planning now?"
"You still do not understand the heir? He is completely incapable of doing anything serious. How could he ever pull off something real?"
"That knight definitely is not a good person."
"He must be helping the heir do his dirty work."
"No… do not say that. The heir has not really done anything terribly evil. He just likes to pull pranks now and then."
Of course, no one knew the truth.
The masked knight was none other than Zhu Cunji himself.
And the "heir" sitting behind the wheel was the actor Zhao Si.
Over these past few days, Zhao Si had truly been immersed in wealth and splendor. Living such a life of princely extravagance, he was already on the verge of "enjoying this place so much that he forgot his home."
That said, he had not been idle.
Every single day, he had to study. He learned how to read and write properly, memorized the complex rules and etiquette of the princely estate, and used portraits to memorize faces. He familiarized himself with all of the heir's former acquaintances. He had to recognize every official in Xi'an at a glance and call them by name without hesitation.
Beyond that, he also had to learn the names of countless mountain delicacies, exotic seafoods, and rare curiosities.
He even had to develop an eye for famous paintings, poetry, sculptures, and all manner of obscure cultural relics, lest he accidentally reveal his true identity during high society gatherings.
Only after beginning this training did Zhao Si truly realize something.
That so called princely dandy was not as useless as he appeared.
The knowledge he had accumulated since childhood far surpassed that of ordinary poor folk like Zhao Si. It was just that none of it had ever been applied to proper pursuits. Instead, it had all been squandered on indulgence and pleasure, rendering it effectively meaningless.
At that moment, Zhu Cunji spoke quietly from the passenger seat.
"Keep your foot on the brake. There are too many people here. If you accidentally run over a commoner, Dao Xuan Tianzun will smash you flat with one hand."
Zhao Si did not need to be reminded.
He was not some lofty noble who treated human lives as worthless. In fact, he feared hitting common people even more than Zhu Cunji did.
His foot remained firmly pressed on the brake, not daring to move in the slightest.
The glittering Kulinan carefully threaded its way through the crowded streets, eventually arriving beneath the "Prince of Qin's Heir's Exclusive Viewing Platform."
Once the car came to a stop, Zhao Si finally let out a long breath of relief.
However, the moment he stepped down from the vehicle, a serious test awaited him.
The Governor of Shaanxi, Lian Guoshi, was already approaching from afar, waving cheerfully.
"Your Royal Highness," Lian Guoshi called out, "may this humble official share your exclusive spot today?"
Zhao Si's heart skipped a beat. Cold sweat instantly formed on his forehead.
He frantically searched his memory, replaying his training over and over, desperately trying to match the man's face to a name.
Beside him, Zhu Cunji was equally nervous.
Finally, inspiration struck.
"Ah, Governor Lian," Zhao Si said, instinctively about to respond politely.
But halfway through the motion, he suddenly remembered the heir's habitual disdain for civil officials. His expression changed at once. His tone became sharp and mocking.
"Governor Lian," he sneered, "you civil officials wield boundless influence and connections. You even torment His Majesty until he is at his wits' end. Building your own platform to watch Gaojia News should not be difficult for you, should it?"
A flawless retort.
Zhu Cunji nearly burst out laughing in delight.
"What an outstanding stand-in," he thought. "He really was born to be an actor."
Lian Guoshi showed no sign of anger after being "roasted." He had long since grown accustomed to the heir's temperament. Without even asking permission, he simply lifted his foot and squeezed into the heir's exclusive spot.
Zhao Si huffed theatrically.
"Hey. Move over. Do not sit so close to this heir. I do not like you."
Despite the performance, the two still ended up sitting shoulder to shoulder.
Lian Guoshi glanced toward the "martial artist" seated on the other side and asked curiously, "And who might this be?"
Zhao Si snorted.
"This is my highly paid guard. In the martial world, he is known as… known as… eh, what was your name again?"
Zhu Cunji quickly lowered his voice.
"Wanderer of the Four Seas, Zhu Piaoling."
Lian Guoshi was utterly baffled.
What kind of name was that? What kind of ridiculous moniker? It sounded extremely pretentious, yet at the same time incredibly silly.
Zhao Si smiled smugly.
"With Knight Zhu here to protect me, I can freely indulge in the finest food and drink and live my days in absolute comfort."
Lian Guoshi simply dismissed him as a madman. There was no point in taking him seriously.
At that moment, the screen flickered.
Gaojia News began.
These past few days, Gaojia News had mainly been broadcasting reports from Luoyang. Gao Yiye appeared on the screen, her smile carrying a faint trace of melancholy.
"Dao Xuan Tianzun, with supreme divine power, has resolved the locust plague in Luoyang. The people of Luoyang have painted a 'Locust Eradication Scroll' in gratitude to Dao Xuan Tianzun."
The camera zoomed in, displaying the painting that Gao Yiye had purchased from the impoverished scholar in Luoyang.
Gao Yiye continued with a gentle smile.
"Episode Thirteen of The Legend of Dao Xuan Tianzun: Exterminator of Demons will detail the events that took place in Luoyang. Please look forward to it."
Zhu Cunji gasped softly.
"Ah… I truly want to go see Luoyang."
Lian Guoshi turned his head, confused.
"?"
Realizing his slip, Zhu Cunji immediately clamped his mouth shut.
Yet once obsession takes root, it is not easily shaken.
Though he remained silent, his thoughts surged uncontrollably.
On the screen, scenes from Luoyang continued to play. Factories were rising rapidly on the outskirts of the city. Construction teams made up of Luoyang's own people worked with fiery enthusiasm as they laid railway tracks across the land.
"Not enough iron," a Blue Hat exclaimed.
At once, a colossal golden hand appeared in the sky. Dao Xuan Tianzun descended from above, holding a massive pile of iron spheres, slowly lowering them toward the ground.
The workers below erupted in thunderous cheers.
"Thank you, Dao Xuan Tianzun!"
The scene shifted again, cutting to a coal mine under the patronage of the Prince of Fu. Crowds of workers bustled at the mine entrance, hauling out dark, gleaming ore. Every face was filled with joy.
The camera moved once more, showing merchant ships from Gao Family Village sailing down the Yellow River, their holds loaded with handcrafted goods. On both banks, the grand and magnificent canyons of the Yellow River stretched endlessly, forming a breathtaking panorama.
Zhu Cunji could endure no longer.
He suddenly stood up, cupped his fists toward Zhao Si, and spoke solemnly.
"Your Royal Highness, I must resign. I can no longer serve as your guard. I am going to become a Wanderer of the Four Seas. Though mountains may not meet, waters always flow. We shall meet again."
With that, Zhu Cunji turned and strode down from the viewing platform.
The guards, unaware that he was the real Zhu Cunji, made no move to stop him.
Only his sworn bodyguards quietly followed after him, disappearing into the crowd.
From above, Li Daoxuan watched the entire scene unfold.
A faint smile curved at the corner of his lips.