The Third Prince calculated everything precisely. He handed his own men over to Prince Nolan, boosting Nolan’s power. When the time comes, even if he doesn’t move against the Emperor, the Emperor won’t be able to tolerate him any longer.
The conflict between Prince Nolan and the Emperor can never be resolved. All the Third Prince needs to do is add fuel to the fire and let their rivalry grow even fiercer.
And as for that Lance Quinn who snatched away his Nine Provinces Treasure Map?
The Third Prince sneered. Nolan Dongling found his hiding place so quickly—all thanks to Lance Quinn. The Third Prince has never shown mercy to anyone who’s betrayed him, and this secret is tied directly to Lance Quinn.
Whether it’s master and servant, brothers, or lovers—in this world, there’s no bond that can’t be broken. When the stakes are high enough, even the closest people can turn into enemies.
Even if there’s some connection between Prince Nolan and Lance Quinn, the Third Prince is confident he can turn them into mortal foes…
“Ninth Brother, do you know about the Nine Provinces Treasure Map?” the Third Prince asked, pretending to be mysterious, his chin lifted in smug pride.
Prince Nolan paused, then nodded. “I’ve heard of it, but never seen it.” Never reveal your trump card to your enemy—even if that enemy is about to die.
Good, you haven’t seen it. If you had, how would I get to feel superior?
The Third Prince boasted, “The Nine Provinces Treasure Map is a secret royal relic from the Former Dynasty. It’s normal that you haven’t seen it. I only learned of its existence by pure chance. They say the map is tied to a batch of hidden treasures left by the Former Dynasty. If you could get your hands on those treasures, you’d be unstoppable. Forget Eastlyn—you could unite the entire Nine Provinces Realm and restore the Lan clan’s glory.”
To an ambitious man, these words are pure temptation. The Former Dynasty ruled for a thousand years—hundreds of generations piling up unimaginable wealth. You can’t look down on it.
That’s why, even though everyone knows how hard it is to gather all nine fragments of the Nine Provinces Treasure Map, there are still people who chase after it. If you get those treasures, ruling the world is just a matter of time.
“The Nine Provinces Treasure Map may be priceless, but unfortunately I have no idea where to find it.” Prince Nolan let a hint of longing show, then sighed in regret.
The Third Prince turned away, a mocking sneer on his lips. No matter how proud, cold, or unflappable you act, you’re still tempted in the end.
Money moves the heart. That old saying is true.
He might look down on it, but outwardly the Third Prince still put on a caring act for Prince Nolan, gently reassuring him: “Don’t be discouraged, Ninth Brother. Since I’ve brought it up, it means I know where to find the Nine Provinces Treasure Map.”
“Oh? If you know, Third Brother, why not go get it yourself?” Prince Nolan countered. If it hadn’t been for that brief flash of desire, the Third Prince would have doubted whether Nolan was even tempted.
Of course, that’s exactly the impression Prince Nolan always gives the Third Prince.
The Third Prince gave a bitter laugh and said earnestly, “How do you know I haven’t tried? You don’t realize—the Nine Provinces Treasure Map is actually made up of nine fragments. All these years, no matter how much I’ve asked around, I’ve only managed to learn the whereabouts of three.”
“Three?” Prince Nolan replied coolly. “You’re impressive, Third Brother, to track down three fragments. So, where are they?” He wanted to know, but kept his tone utterly calm.
Since the Third Prince had already brought it up, he didn’t need to be asked—he would explain on his own.
Fake. That was the Third Prince’s silent judgment.
“Anyone who holds a fragment of the Nine Provinces Treasure Map is no ordinary person. Theoretically, only royals like us should possess it, but the three fragments I know of are all tied to the jianghu.” The Third Prince kept up the suspense, but Prince Nolan didn’t rush him—if the Third Prince didn’t speak, Nolan wouldn’t press…
Sure, this place isn’t far from the Capital, but for Prince Nolan, as long as the Emperor isn’t present, he’s the one in charge here. He can afford to wait.
The Third Prince waited and waited, but Nolan never asked. So he had to explain himself: “Of the three fragments, one is held by the demonic sect, one by the Assassin Alliance. The last one…”
The Third Prince paused, then sighed. “The last one was originally in my hands, but I ran into a wandering swordsman named Lance Quinn. He took it. If you’d come earlier, Ninth Brother, I could have given you that fragment. But as fate would have it, you and the Nine Provinces Treasure Map were never meant to cross paths.”
You can see how sly the Third Prince is—even though he doesn’t say much about Lance Quinn, he makes it clear the map fragment is in Lance’s hands. So if Prince Nolan wants to gather all the fragments, he’ll have to face Lance. And then the Third Prince adds, “Ninth Brother, if I’m not mistaken, Lance Quinn is a descendant of the Former-Dynasty Lan clan. He definitely has more than one fragment.”
“You make a good point, Third Brother.” Prince Nolan nodded, while in a place the Third Prince couldn’t see, his eyes showed a hint of pity.
It really was a vicious move. If Prince Nolan and Lance Quinn weren’t the same person, then even knowing it’s a trap, Nolan would still jump—the lure of the Nine Provinces Treasure Map is too strong.
His Third Brother really isn’t cut out to be a great schemer. Trying to plot against Nolan without knowing the facts—truly both hateful and pitiful…
Having gotten the information he wanted, Prince Nolan didn’t bother with further talk. He simply reminded, “Third Brother, I appreciate your help with the Nine Provinces Treasure Map—but our deal isn’t over yet.”
Prince Nolan was never one for small talk, and he certainly wouldn’t say anything reckless just because the Third Prince was about to die.
Sometimes, even the dead can’t keep secrets. The best way is not to speak at all. And as a younger brother, of course he wanted his Third Brother to die in peace—if the Third Prince realized all his careful plotting was for nothing, he’d never rest easy in the underworld.
To let his brother rest easy beneath the Nine Springs, Prince Nolan kindly let the Third Prince believe his schemes were working. He let him feel secretly proud.
Thinking his plot had succeeded, the Third Prince felt pleased. This way, even in death, he’d drag someone down with him. His enemy would never know peace.
With that thought, the Third Prince—though reluctant—handed the military command token to Prince Nolan. “Ninth Brother, I’ve kept my end of the deal.”
There was unmistakable disappointment in the Third Prince’s voice. After nearly thirty years of scheming, success was within reach, only to vanish in an instant. If he weren’t already dying, he might have coughed up blood from the frustration.
“Don’t worry, Third Brother. I’ll do everything I promised.” Prince Nolan checked the token, found it genuine, and put it away.
“Third Brother, since you’ve told me about the Nine Provinces Treasure Map, I’ll give you a choice. Do you want to die here, or see the Emperor before you die?” The feud between the Third Prince and the Emperor was never hidden, and Prince Nolan was genuinely curious to see them meet.
“See the Emperor? Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell him about our deal and sell you out?” the Third Prince retorted, mocking.
He wasn’t any sort of upright man. If he got the chance, he’d sell Prince Nolan to the Emperor in a heartbeat. He wasn’t looking for any reward—only…
What he really wanted was for the fight between Prince Nolan and the Emperor to turn even bloodier—ideally, for both of them to lose. That would satisfy him.