Early morning at Yunlu Academy.
In the small courtyard where the Xu family was staying, Xu Qi’an stood in the room, looking pale and leaning on a cane. He gazed at Xu Pingzhi and said:
“Second Uncle, we don’t need to go to Jian Province any more. You should return to the mansion in a few days.”
Now that the Emperor was dead, the biggest threat in the capital had been eliminated. Other figures, including the Crown Prince, had no direct conflicts of interest with him. The Crown Prince would probably want to present him with a banner of honor to show gratitude.
Moreover, with the reputation of slaying a foolish ruler, who would dare to provoke Constable Xu?
Therefore, the Second Uncle’s family was very safe and didn’t need to seek refuge in Jian Province.
Xu Pingzhi grunted in acknowledgment, looking at him with words unsaid.
Xu Qi’an turned to face his aunt, taking out a stack of banknotes from his pocket, and said:
“Aunt, thank you for taking care of me all these years. I was ignorant and impulsive before, please don’t take offense. These banknotes are part of my savings. Keep them safe. The family’s daily expenses still rely on your management.
“I’ll be leaving the capital for a while, and I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
His aunt pressed her lips together, took the banknotes, and said softly, “I’ll keep the money for you to use when you marry in the future.”
That won’t be enough, I have many wives… Xu Qi’an’s mouth twitched slightly, then he turned to Xu Lingyue and smiled:
“Big Brother will be away from the capital for quite some time, perhaps a year or two, maybe even three years or more. By then, Lingyue will probably be married. It’s a pity I won’t be able to attend your wedding.”
Xu Lingyue bit her lip, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears.
The eighteen-year-old girl was like a lotus swaying in clear water in June, pure and pristine.
This delicate flower raised in the Xu family’s inner chambers was particularly saddened by the fact that her big brother was about to leave.
Next, Xu Qi’an reached out his hand, rubbed the little bean’s head, and said softly, “Let Big Brother hug you. I’ve never properly hugged you before…”
Xu Lingyin hugged her big brother’s neck and loudly declared:
“Big Brother, I’ll hide chicken legs for you when you come back!”
Hide them in shoes again? Can they still be eaten? Won’t I die on the spot if I eat them… Xu Qi’an touched, rubbed his little sister’s head, and smiled:
“Hide them in your shoes for a few days, then leave them for your master to eat, okay?”
Xu Lingyin nodded vigorously: “Mm-hmm!”
After saying goodbye to his family, Xu Qi’an left the small courtyard and walked down the mountain steps alone.
“Big Brother~~”
Xu Lingyue’s call came from behind. His younger sister had chased after him, panting, and shouting at his back:
“I want to go to Lingbao Temple to cultivate. I… I’ll wait for you to come back.”
Xu Qi’an’s steps paused for a moment, but he didn’t look back and continued down the mountain.
In the room, after Xu Qi’an left, his aunt looked at the banknotes in her hand and said softly:
“My Lord, I remember now. The young master’s birth mother left right after giving birth to him. Before she left, she instructed me to raise him well. I remember that sister was a very good person, gentle and dignified, easy to get along with.
“She held my hand back then, entrusting me to take care of the young master, speaking so sincerely… I know she had her reasons for leaving the young master behind back then.”
His aunt raised her head, her face streaked with tears: “My Lord, I’ve raised him for so many years, he’s like my son now. Now that person has come back, wanting to take his life, I… I’m very upset…”
Xu Pingzhi’s heart was torn.
…
At Lingbao Temple.
Xu Qi’an, leaning on his cane, smiled at the young Taoist guard at the gate: “I want to see the National Teacher.”
Before coming, he had inquired about the fight between the National Teacher and the Earth Sect Leader from the Censor.
The Censor said they both suffered heavy injuries, then scoffed:
“Karmic fire burns the body.”
The young Taoist glanced at him and said: “The Sect Leader has given instructions that if Master Xu comes looking for her, he may enter directly.”
Lingbao Temple has granted me unrestricted access, what about Luo Yuhen? Xu Qi’an mused to himself as he entered Lingbao Temple, leaning on his cane.
Arriving at the secluded courtyard, he pushed open the door of the quiet room as usual, only to see a beautiful Taoist priestess sitting cross-legged on a meditation mat.
Xu Qi’an was stunned for a moment, seeing in her the images of his kind aunt, his mother’s friend, the big sister next door, and so on.
This surprised him, as it seemed Luo Yuhen was somewhat unable to control herself, unable to contain her “charm.”
For a Second-rank expert, this was not a good sign, indicating that the situation with the karmic fire burning her body was very serious.
“I suppose you can see that my condition is very bad.”
Luo Yuhen’s red lips parted slightly, her voice exuding the unique charm of a mature woman.
“I understand.”
Xu Qi’an sighed: “Before coming, I took a bath.”
This time, besides visiting Luo Yuhen to check on her condition, he had the idea of “bargaining,” hoping that Luo Yuhen could give him a few more days. He wanted to wait until he had incorporated the Seven Deadly Venoms, and if his physical condition improved, then he would fulfill his promise.
He didn’t expect Luo Yuhen’s condition to be this bad.
Luo Yuhen’s face remained expressionless as she continued: “You misunderstand. I am just a clone that will dissipate within three days. My true self has already gone into seclusion.”
For a moment, Xu Qi’an couldn’t tell if he felt relieved or disappointed.
In his current physical state, forcing dual cultivation would only result in “Auntie, please proceed automatically.”
This didn’t fit his image of being unstoppable and would make Luo Yuhen look down on him.
But, but… she was just too tempting.
Luo Yuhen’s clone continued: “Dual cultivation requires a certain period, at least seven days each time. After the battle with the Earth Sect Leader, my true self is already struggling to suppress the karmic fire. Not knowing your exact condition, for self-preservation, she had to go into seclusion to forcibly extinguish the karmic fire.”
At least seven days each time, at least seven days each time… Xu Qi’an’s mind was filled with just this phrase.
He was somewhat frightened.
Luo Yuhen continued:
“After this, my true self will likely find it difficult to actively suppress the karmic fire again. So, dual cultivation is imperative. The karmic fire flares up once a month. On this day next month, she will come to find you.”
As she spoke, she waved her sleeve, and a yellow paper talisman folded into a triangle appeared on the table.
“This is a positioning talisman. Keep it safe. In a month, my true self will come to find you.”
With that, the clone voluntarily dissipated.
Is she feeling shy? Xu Qi’an picked up the triangular talisman and silently put it away.
It seemed that after he slew the emperor, Luo Yuhen had fully accepted him and decided to become his Dao partner.
Before, she had been hesitating about whether to engage in dual cultivation with him because she hadn’t fully accepted him. After all, becoming Dao partners was a lifelong commitment, and it was only natural for Luo Yuhen to be cautious.
Before he went to Shanhai Pass, his cultivation was only at the Fifth Rank, which was indeed somewhat lacking for a Second-Rank expert like her.
Now, Xu Qi’an was at the Third Rank, one of the few Third-Rank martial artists in Great Feng, worthy of matching Luo Yuhen’s status and position.
That’s fine, I’ll be ready in a month too… Xu Qi’an left Lingbao Temple and headed towards the Imperial Palace.
…
In Shaoyin Palace.
The boudoir was heated by countless charcoal-burning ground dragons, making the interior as warm as spring despite the late autumn outside. The air was filled with the scent of sandalwood, rouge, and powder, and the faint fragrance of a woman’s body.
At some point, the woman curled up sleeping on the brocade couch suddenly woke up, sat up, her face pale.
“Hong… Hongxiu…”
She called out softly, her voice weak and breathless.
The palace maid lying by the bed immediately woke up and said gently, “Your Highness!”
Lin’an said in a low voice, “Water, I want water…”
The palace maid immediately walked to the table, gently swept aside the upright or tilted wine bottles, and poured her a cup of warm tea.
Her Highness Lin’an had been drinking last night and was dead drunk. When she drank too much, she didn’t become rowdy, but just lay by the table, weeping and crying bitterly.
The palace maids knew very well that the princess was drowning her sorrows in alcohol, only to find more sorrow.
Last night, His Highness the Crown Prince sent someone to inform Princess Lin’an that the Wushen Sect had colluded with His Majesty’s confidant, Right Censor-in-chief Yuan Xiong, and Vice Minister of War Qin Yuandao.
They had used witchcraft to control His Majesty, cut off the supplies for the main army, and caused the death of eighty thousand soldiers and Wei Yuan in Jingshan City.
In a fit of rage, Constable Xu had slain His Majesty outside the capital.
Upon hearing this, Her Highness was stunned, her face pale as she went to the Eastern Palace, seemingly to confront the Crown Prince.
She returned very late, then started drinking endlessly, crying loudly when drunk, and continuing to drink after crying.
The palace maids watched, their hearts aching.
In all the years of serving Princess Lin’an, they had never seen her so heartbroken.
It must be not only because of the passing of His Majesty, who doted on her the most but also because the person who killed her father was that man.
Thinking back now, Hongxiu was almost certain that Her Highness had fallen in love with Constable Xu.
What could be done now? Her Highness was still unmarried and had already suffered such a heartbreak. She would probably be sad for a very long time.
As for consoling her, they didn’t dare.
Servants were just servants, how could they comment on their masters’ affairs?
“Your Highness, the tea is here. Please drink slowly.”
Hongxiu carefully held out the tea.
Lin’an held the tea, drinking absent-mindedly, her usually lively eyes now dull and lifeless.
Just as she finished the tea, a palace maid came to the outside of the boudoir, lightly knocked twice on the door, and said in a low voice:
“Your Highness, Constable Xu… has arrived…”
Hongxiu immediately looked at Lin’an, only to see a dazzling light suddenly bloom in Her Highness’s eyes, but it slowly extinguished in the next second.
Lin’an said in a low voice, “No… I won’t see him!”
“Yes, this servant will go and reply accordingly.”
“Wait…”
She suddenly called out to the palace maid, remained silent for a few seconds, then said softly, “Just let it be.”
The palace maid outside the room immediately left.
Outside Shaoyin Palace, the man leaning on a cane turned to leave.
Hundreds of palace guards stood vigilantly, hands on their sword hilts, silently watching his back. No one dared to speak, let alone stop him.
Xu Qi’an didn’t leave the palace but instead went to Deixin Garden.
Early morning at Deixin Garden.
Princess Huaiqing was washing up with the help of her maids. One maid held a spittoon, while another held a copper basin and a towel.
After brushing her teeth and rinsing her mouth, Huaiqing spat the water into the spittoon, then took the towel offered by the maid and carefully wiped her cool, delicate face.
At this moment, a young palace maid hurried in and said in a sweet voice, “Your Highness, Constable Xu has arrived.”
The cleanliness-loving Princess Huaiqing immediately put down the towel, her beautiful eyes sparkling, and said, “Lead the way… Please show him to the inner hall.”
She suddenly changed her mind, picked up the towel again, and carefully wiped her face once more. She looked in the mirror, satisfied, and gave a slight nod before leaving her chambers with her maids.
She saw the pale-faced Xu Qi’an in the inner hall, sitting by the table, squinting as he sipped hot tea.
The young maids of Deixin Garden stood trembling at the side.
“You may all leave,” Huaiqing waved her hand.
The young maids left with relief, heads lowered, taking small steps.
After a few steps, they heard the king-slaying demon laugh from behind, “This little palace maid is not bad. Your Highness, why don’t you give her to me?”
The young maid’s eyes filled with tears as she looked pitifully at Huaiqing.
Huaiqing waved her hand expressionlessly.
After the maids withdrew, Huaiqing carefully examined Xu Qi’an and said:
“You still have the mood to tease the maids. It seems your injuries aren’t too severe.”
Xu Qi’an smiled bitterly, “This can’t be measured by the severity of injuries. I’m already ruined.”
Huaiqing’s expression immediately turned serious: “Even the Censor can’t do anything?”
Xu Qi’an shook his head.
Huaiqing pressed her lips together: “What exactly happened?”
Xu Qi’an opened his robe to show her the condition of his chest. There was a ghastly wound at his heart, with a demon-sealing nail embedded in it.
For a martial artist below the Third Rank, such an injury would be fatal.
Even for a Fourth Rank martial artist, it would be no exception.
“There are nine such nails in total, in different parts of my body,” Xu Qi’an said with a bitter smile. “They’re Buddhist demon-sealing nails. The Censor said if they’re forcibly removed, I’ll certainly die. This body of cultivation is also ruined.”
“The Buddhist sect…” Huaiqing muttered these words, her pretty face frosting over.
The eldest princess, known for her cool detachment, suddenly felt a surge of intense anger.
“Why did the Buddhist sect get involved in this matter?” Huaiqing asked, suppressing her emotions.
Hearing this, Xu Qi’an sighed, “It’s time to be frank with Your Highness.”
Huaiqing raised an eyebrow slightly, straightened her delicate body, and assumed a listening posture.
“The sealed entity that escaped from the Sangbo case has been inside my body all along. It’s a traitor from the Buddhist sect.”
Huaiqing’s gaze froze, her mouth slightly open, seemingly in disbelief.
Starting with such a bombshell of information, Huaiqing’s mind was buzzing, both shocked and confused.
The confusion and shock were about why the sealed entity from beneath Sangbo would be in Xu Qi’an’s body.
The beast clan had gone to great lengths to break the seal and release the sealed entity, there must be a reason why they would hand it over.
However, upon hearing that the sealed entity was a demonic monk from the Buddhist sect, Huaiqing was only slightly surprised before quickly accepting it.
Because it made sense.
The sealed entity was indeed related to the Buddhist sect, which had been confirmed during the initial investigation of the Sangbo case.
“As for why the demonic monk is in my body, that’s a long story,” Xu Qi’an sighed again. Some things, when spoken of, inevitably lead to sighs.
He began to narrate, telling Huaiqing everything about his fate being intertwined, the incarnation of Shen Shu, his unworthy biological father being the Censor’s senior disciple, the theft of national fortune, and so on.
Since he had already confronted Xu Pingfeng, there was no need to keep his secrets anymore.
Especially after the king-slaying incident, the members of the Tiandihuiwere thoroughly bound together, becoming true companions.
Huaiqing’s expressions were quite interesting, ranging from surprise to shock, from shock to disbelief, her emotions building up layer by layer with each change in expression.
However, when she heard that the reason Xu Qi’an could use the national sword and control the spirit dragon was because he carried the nation’s fortune, Huaiqing visibly relaxed, as if a long-standing concern had been answered.
And the answer was satisfactory.
“So that’s it!” Huaiqing exclaimed, “All of this is because of the competition for Heaven’s Will…”
Xu Qi’an nodded, “Your Highness, please keep this confidential. The Censor hasn’t allowed me to reveal these things.”
Huaiqing nodded, then heard Xu Qi’an say with a strange expression:
“I heard from that dog that my birth mother is from Your Highness’s clan.”
Huaiqing was shocked, her face slightly changing.
“It’s the lineage from five hundred years ago.”
The lineage from five hundred years ago… Huaiqing relaxed again.
“So, I’ll be traveling abroad for a while to collect the scattered dragon vein spirits for Great Feng.”
Xu Qi’an looked at the cool and noble woman who resembled an ice lotus, and said softly, “Your Highness, take care.”
Huaiqing was slightly moved and replied gently, “Take care, Master Xu.”
She no longer addressed Xu Qi’an as “Sir.”
Xu Qi’an nodded, then suddenly showed a hesitant expression and said:
“Princess Lin’an seems to be upset about my king-slaying act. Could Your Highness explain it to her for me?”
Huaiqing let out a long “Oh,” and said expressionlessly:
“So Master Xu has already been to Shaoyin Palace. It seems Lin’an is indeed the most important in Master Xu’s heart.”
Here we go again, are you going to say next: I was here first…
Xu Qi’an didn’t know how to respond when suddenly he heard small footsteps approaching the inner hall. He and Huaiqing tacitly kept silent.
Soon, a palace maid entered and respectfully said, “Your Highness, Princess Lin’an has arrived and wishes to see you.”
“I’ll hide for a moment,” Xu Qi’an immediately stood up and walked towards the back of the inner hall.
After he hid, Huaiqing said, “Let her in.”
“Yes!” The palace maid withdrew.
Two or three minutes later, Lin’an, dressed in a red gown, entered the inner hall alone.
She sat down on her own, looking haggard, her brows knitted with unresolved worries.
She first glanced at Huaiqing, then averted her gaze, looking ahead. Her voice was soft but hollow as she said:
“I heard from Crown Prince’s brother that Father was controlled by the Wushen Sect and cut off the army’s supplies, resulting in the death of Wei Yuan and eighty thousand troops in the Northeast.”
Huaiqing lowered her head to drink tea, remaining silent.
“I know Wei Yuan’s kindness to him was as heavy as a mountain, but Father is my father. How could he kill my father without saying anything?”
Lin’an’s tears rolled down, her face a picture of sorrow.
“Did he come to see you?” Huaiqing asked.
“How did you know…” Lin’an looked at her and nodded, crying, “He came to see me just now, but I didn’t dare to meet him. I don’t know how to face him.”
She continued speaking while crying: “I wanted to see him, but I’m afraid to look at him. Even if Father caused Wei Yuan’s death, Father was controlled by the Wushen Sect. What did Father do wrong? Father has doted on me since I was little…
“I dreamed of Father last night. He died so miserably, he died so miserably. Huaiqing, my heart hurts so much. I, I have no one to talk to anymore…”
In the end, the only person she could confide in, the only one she could pour out her grief and anguish to, was this sister she had been at odds with for over a decade.
She was too lonely.
Huaiqing said softly, “You like him, don’t you?”
Lin’an didn’t answer.
“What about now? Do you still like him now?”
Lin’an seemed to break down, sobbing with her head on the table.
Huaiqing understood. She still liked him, but could no longer face the man who had killed her father.
She had lost not only her father but also a secret, sweet love hidden in her heart.
“Alas!” Huaiqing sighed and said:
“Whether you hate him or like him, whether you can face him again or not, these are your matters. I don’t care about your feelings.
“But there are some things, some truths, that I think you have the right to know.”