“You’re saying that besides the Sect Leader, there are others who want to take your life?” Xu Lai asked while holding a wine jug. He was lounging rather uncouthly on the windowsill of Xiao Huan’s room, one foot propped up while the other dangled, the wine jug swaying with his words.

Xiao Huan wasn’t in much better shape, also holding a large jug of Shaoxing yellow wine and resting his head on the table. “Before leaving last night, that person told me, ‘Assassins always prefer targeting someone who’s already at death’s door.’ I don’t think he’s the type to talk much, so I believe he was giving me a hint.”

“‘Always prefer’?” Xu Lai seemed to grasp something. He threw his head back for a large gulp of wine, then nodded: “In that case, you might be in considerable trouble. No wonder you insisted the girl leave.”

“Indeed. I’m not confident I can escape unscathed, and having Cangcang stay by my side would put her in danger too.” Xiao Huan smiled, lifting his wine jug for a large drink, his manner is carefree – quite different from his usual refined sipping from a wine cup.

Xu Lai glanced at him: “You’re still a physician… is drinking like this okay with your wound?”

“At worst, it’ll heal slower,” Xiao Huan lazily swayed the wine jug, a drop of wine still at the corner of his mouth. “Not enough to kill me anyway.”

Looking at his casual, unconcerned demeanor, Xu Lai suddenly burst out laughing: “You know what I admire most about you?”

Xiao Huan gave him a sidelong glance, smiling: “You’re not expecting me to guess, are you?”

Xu Lai continued laughing: “The first time I met you, I thought you were a timid, cowardly physician. Who knew you’d put down your medicine box and fight alongside me in a bloody battle? The second time, I thought you were refined and proper, above impropriety, yet that night at the gambling house, you were even better at cheating than me. The third time, I thought as mere acquaintances, you might not truly help a friend like me, but you devoted yourself to treating our sect’s disciples, going three days and nights without sleep, nearly making yourself ill…” He paused. “You seem bound by something tight, yet in truth, nothing can truly constrain you.” Raising an eyebrow, Xu Lai’s eyes held a unique brilliance. “That’s what I admire and respect most about you.”

Staring slightly dazed at Xu Lai’s animated expression, Xiao Huan slowly smiled, exhaling: “This is the first time anyone has accused me of being too unrestrained.”

Xu Lai laughed: “That’s because you wear your mask too well!”

Xiao Huan smiled, jokingly pointing at his face: “Does it look that fake?”

Xu Lai nodded: “Just slightly less human than most…”

They both paused, looking at each other, raising their wine jugs together: “Cheers!”

The laughter from next door faintly carried over. Listening intently to the sounds, Cangcang angrily stomped her foot.

Ever since she’d left Xiao Huan’s room, the laughter hadn’t ceased. One of Xiao Huan’s friends had arrived.

Were they that happy after driving her away? What was there to be so pleased about? Laughing so loudly, and drinking too! A drunkard’s friends are all drunkards! Not a single good man among them! Pretty boys are even less reliable! A drunkard plus a pretty boy is the most unreliable combination of all!

After furiously stomping several more times, whether from anger clouding her mind or suddenly becoming clearer, Cangcang shifted her gaze to the half-packed bundle she’d angrily prepared earlier, and suddenly broke into an oddly mischievous smile.

About an incense stick’s time later, the door of a certain guest room in the official post station creaked open, and out peered a youth in a moon-white robe, his scholar’s headband obviously wrapped rather carelessly, with several unruly strands of hair already escaping at the front.

The youth was dragging an enormous bundle, inching into the courtyard, large eyes darting left and right as if searching for something.

Standing in the courtyard, he coughed forcefully several times, then tilted his ear to wait a while. Seeing no response from a certain room, he snorted heavily, swung the large bundle onto his shoulder, and strode out of the post station.

At the station entrance, the old post clerk sitting in a rattan chair watching the courtyard greeted him with a smile: “Leaving, Miss Cangcang?”

“Hmph.” A sound from the nose served as a response, and carrying a bundle taller than himself, the youth walked proudly, merging into the crowd outside.

The old clerk continued smiling: “What a coincidence, Master Xiao just went out too… would Miss Cangcang like old me to pass along a message?”

The streams of people came and went before the station, but that moon-white figure had long since walked away.

Under the shade of a large tree opposite the station, a black-clad young man leaning against the wall with his sword spat out the grass stem in his mouth, shook his clothes, and followed the large swaying bundle in the crowd ahead.

Perhaps encountering such a conspicuous tracking target for the first time in his life, the handsome young man with amber eyes curved his lips into a smile.

Xiao Huan was suddenly pulled out of the station by Xu Lai.

After they each finished a jug of Shaoxing wine, Xu Lai jumped down from the windowsill, suddenly slapping his forehead: “Right, I have something to show you!”

Then without further explanation, he grabbed Xiao Huan and left. One moment he’d been too lazy to even move his hand, the next he was so urgent as if delaying would mean death.

Xiao Huan had no choice but to let himself be pulled along as they quickly left the station, rushing through the streets and alleys of Luzhou City.

Even at their quick pace, they walked for half an incense stick’s time, only stopping near the city gate.

Xu Lai pointed to an inconspicuous blue mark in a corner: “Brother Xiao, look.”

Xiao Huan bent down to examine it carefully, his usually calm face slightly changing color: “Tang Clan?” The mark seemed unremarkable at first glance but viewed from a certain angle, one could see a faint five-colored phosphorescent light reflecting from the blue pigment.

Xu Lai nodded: “It was discovered accidentally by our sect’s disciples. We share the same view – it’s indeed the Tang Clan’s gathering mark.” He frowned slightly in confusion: “Since that bloodbath eight years ago, no Tang Clan disciples have been seen in the jianghu. Could the rumors be true that there are survivors?”

Xiao Huan frowned, lost in thought, then quickly straightened up, nodding to Xu Lai: “Let’s return to the station first.”

When they hurried back to the station, the old clerk was still sunbathing in his reclining chair, his half-closed eyes immediately spotting Xiao Huan, saying with a smile: “Master Xiao is back? What a coincidence today, Miss Cangcang just left angrily carrying a large bundle…”

Xiao Huan stopped his hurried steps, repeating: “Left?” He suddenly bent over, coughing violently.

Xu Lai quickly supported him: “Brother Xiao, don’t worry, we’ll figure something out.”

Xiao Huan waved his hand indicating he was fine, straightening slightly with a bitter smile: “The one who ordered the Tang Clan massacre eight years ago was Cangcang’s father…”

This time even Xu Lai was stunned. The Tang Clan disciples’ vicious methods, the bitter hatred of clan extinction… He suddenly shuddered: “I’ll ask our Luzhou branch disciples if they noticed which direction Miss Cangcang went.”

Carrying her bundle to the city outskirts, Cangcang only stopped when she was panting heavily.

Setting down the bundle from her shoulder, Cangcang rubbed her sore shoulders and looked back.

No one! She’d run so far, yet still, no one had caught up!

Deflated, she plopped down on a roadside stone and began considering where to go.

She’d rushed out too hastily, not thinking of buying a horse at the city post station for transportation. Was she supposed to walk to the next city? Or should she return to the city to buy a horse?

Cangcang viciously pulled up a handful of wild grass to vent, no way she’d go back! Glancing again at the road behind her, still no sign of that cyan figure chasing after her, Cangcang’s grass-pulling hand suddenly lost strength… He wasn’t coming after her…

Dejectedly biting her lip, a lazy voice suddenly sounded in Cangcang’s ear: “Need some help?”

Quickly looking up, she met a pair of amber eyes. The black-clad young man held his sword, watching her with an amused smile on his handsome face.

Cangcang blinked hard, immediately breaking into a bright smile: “Oh, it’s you! We meet again, what a coincidence, haha…” Her foot slipped as she tried to sneak past him.

An arm blocked her path, the man still smiling: “Miss Ling wants to leave?”

Seeing no escape, Cangcang could only smile awkwardly: “Well, um, I need to use the bathroom…”

The young man looked at her, suddenly laughing: “You’re afraid of me? Why run?”

Knowing she couldn’t hide it anymore, Cangcang glared fiercely: “What a strange question! You just slashed Brother Xiao with your sword last night, should I wait for you to slash me too instead of running?”

The young man looked at her rather bemused: “Why would I slash you?”

Cangcang’s voice was much louder than his: “How should I know why you’d slash me? Anyway, I’m in your hands now, kill me or torture me as you please, just don’t wait until my Brother Xiao catches up and beats you crying for your parents!”

“Is that so?” The young man smiled at her, deliberately slowing his words, “It’s been so long – if he was going to chase after you, shouldn’t he have arrived by now?”

Choking slightly, Cangcang began to regret: If only she hadn’t run away in anger…

In a quiet courtyard in Luzhou City, a white-clad young man leaned against a willow tree, quietly listening to his subordinate’s report, then smiled and patted the other’s shoulder: “Very good, thank you for your hard work.”

Turning his face, he took a small breath: “Brother Xiao, you heard too…”

Standing beside him, Xiao Huan nodded: “Someone saw a black-clad swordsman take her away.” He coughed lightly, smiling, “If it’s that person, then good. We don’t need to worry about Cangcang’s safety for now. Brother Xu, thank you.”

“As long as you’re sure that person won’t harm the young lady.” Xu Lai nodded, “So what do we do next?”

Xiao Huan smiled: “Of course, deal with our troubles.” He coughed again, smiling, “It’s better that Cangcang left like this, so she won’t be drawn into the coming disputes.”

Xu Lai looked at him thoughtfully and nodded, suddenly reaching out to strike the Lingtai acupoint on his back.

Caught off guard by his strike to the acupoint, Xiao Huan stumbled, bending over to cough up blood.

Quickly grabbing his body, and looking at the dark red bloodstain on the ground, Xu Lai’s face darkened: “How long have you been holding this in?”

His breathing still irregular, Xiao Huan continued coughing lightly while already smiling again: “An old ailment, nothing to worry about.”

Still examining his pale complexion with a dark expression, Xu Lai frowned: “This is what you call a harmless old illness?”

Xiao Huan admitted honestly: “Got involved in too many affairs, and it accidentally flared up.”

Xu Lai was still frowning: “What exactly is wrong with you?”

“Cold poison between the heart and lungs.” Answering casually, Xiao Huan thought for a moment, then added, “Maybe other parts aren’t too well either.”

Greatly angered by his unconcerned attitude, Xu Lai wanted to throw him to the ground: “I was a fool to believe you were fine while drinking earlier! At this rate, do you even need others to kill you? You’re a divine physician, quickly prescribe yourself some medicine!”

Then Xu Lai discovered that the composure which hadn’t wavered even a bit while fighting alongside him changed instantly. Xiao Huan’s complexion seemed to worsen as he forced a smile: “It’s fine, no need, I’ll just endure it…”

Xu Lai silently observed him, suddenly stroking his chin with his free hand: “You’re afraid of taking medicine?”

Suddenly having his secret exposed, Xiao Huan pressed his chest and lowered his head: “Cough cough…”

The free-spirited Left Hall Master of the Lingbi Sect’s Holy Hall of Light burst into great laughter, a genuine joy he hadn’t experienced in a long time: “A physician who’s afraid of taking medicine… Heavens… There is a physician who’s afraid of medicine… Hahaha…”

Frowning as he watched him double over with laughter, Xiao Huan showed a rare moment of dejection: “Does knowing medicine mean I can’t fear bitterness…”

The sky gradually darkened, smoke began rising from passing farmhouses, farmers returning from the fields led their water buffalos, carrying plows across harvested rice paddies. The twilight tinged the silhouettes of people and cattle yellow, making the rural scene look like a painting.

Resting her chin in her hand watching a water buffalo leisurely pass by, Cangcang finally made her third request to the man sharing her horse: “My legs are sore, let’s switch positions.”

For the third time, the black-clad young man lazily shook his head: “No.”

Gritting her teeth and glaring at him fiercely, pressing her nearly numb sore legs, Cangcang simply sprawled on the horse’s head, too tired even to complain: “You’re an evil spirit…”

The “evil spirit” behind her stroked his chin, contentedly urging the horse forward: “Call me whatever you like…”

Cangcang made a miserable face, ignoring him.

Cangcang still couldn’t tell whether this young man with his lazy smile was a friend or foe. After meeting him outside Luzhou City, he had “coerced” her, forcefully insisting she travel with him. However, perhaps because he was confident she wouldn’t dare act rashly, he hadn’t used any force on her, not even using his sword hilt to block her escape attempts, only his arm.

With the horse’s jolting, the young man’s body inevitably rubbed against Cangcang’s back, with a warmth different from that person’s touch.

Having grown up among boys, Cangcang didn’t find anything improper about this position, but she suddenly recalled that when traveling with Xiao Huan, even when sharing a horse, he would carefully avoid any physical contact between them.

She seemed to have never truly understood him. Even though he had honestly told her his real identity at their first meeting, even though he never rejected her active approaches, there was still something about him she didn’t understand.

That person who always wore a faint smile carried vast blank spaces she knew nothing about, gently accompanying her, then silently disappearing.

His bright, deep eyes and ever-smiling lips appeared before her.

How could she remember someone’s appearance so clearly?

Cangcang suddenly began strongly wishing that if she looked up, she would see that person standing not far away smiling slightly, that if she opened her arms, she could embrace that slightly cool body.

Why would she think this way? It had only been a few hours since they parted.

Outside Wuchang City.

“Xiao Yunzong!” After forcing back a nearby assassin, Xu Lai threw a copper coin dart, barely deflecting a sleeve arrow aimed at the person beside him, somewhat exasperated, “Could you please not test the opponent’s martial arts style in such a critical situation?”

“Oh?” Answering carelessly, that cyan figure moved freely among the surrounding enemies, each move targeting vital points yet without a single killing strike, not even drawing his sword but fighting empty-handed, “Brother Xu thinks the situation is critical?”

Too weary even to roll his eyes, Xu Lai knocked away an incoming sharp sword: “The situation isn’t critical… I just don’t want to practice with these young brothers anymore… Can we finish this quickly?”

Truth be told, their situation wasn’t really dangerous, at least compared to the frenzied pursuit of the past two days. Now they weren’t in danger of being run through by a top-ten ranked assassin’s sword, or accidentally being poisoned by some non-lethal but troublesome strange poison. Compared to those life-threatening situations, their current predicament couldn’t be called dangerous…

But… watching one enemy fall only to be immediately replaced by another, like endless waves of soldiers… Xu Lai felt quite helpless. After days of fighting, he just wanted to find a clean, comfortable guest room, take a nice bath, and have a solid sleep.

Perhaps sensing his grievance, Xiao Huan, who had been moving among the enemies but never truly striking, suddenly smiled, a pale cyan light flowing from his fingers: “Then let’s finish this quickly.”

Flowing sword light slid into the enemy formation, metal clashed with crisp sounds joining together, ringing like a heroic battle song.

Not the first time seeing such sharp, flowing swordplay as swift as the wind, Xu Lai’s spirit suddenly rose, drawing his waist saber, striking with lightning speed and thunderous force.

The battle turned the instant their weapons emerged. When their blade and sword lights reflected each other, no one could withstand that radiance.

In just a few short days, these two young men had begun creating an undefeated legend.

Nine provinces connected, thousand sails competing.

Wuchang City’s prosperity was no less than Suzhou or Hangzhou.

The most renowned bathhouse in Wuchang, Yuyu Spring’s best-located, most luxurious bathroom had been reserved by two young men half an hour ago.

Rich sandalwood fragrance steamed in the pool’s hot mist, making one drowsy.

Face covered with a hot towel, leaning against the green jade pool wall, Xu Lai felt utterly comfortable, lazily about to fall asleep.

Leaning against the pool wall on the other side, Xiao Huan had his eyes closed resting, also seeming about to fall asleep.

Compared to the heart-pounding battles of recent days, this was truly the height of comfort.

Well-fed and warm thoughts wandering, Xu Lai’s head bobbed as he thought of Qifang Tower by East Lake, red-robed dancers, and affectionate singing girls.

Just as these thoughts arose, a wisp of clear fragrance mixed with the sandalwood, drifting over through the warm, damp towel.

Suddenly large amounts of hot water splashed his face. After choking on two mouthfuls of water and raising his head, Xu Lai realized Xiao Huan had pushed his head under the bath water.

The face towel had long fallen off, and a slightly cool hand swiftly covered his nose and mouth, Xiao Huan’s voice was somewhat urgent: “Don’t breathe in!”

Without needing his instruction, Xu Lai had already grabbed a bath towel, soaked with water and swept it around, the force-filled long towel waving like a banner. With soft rustling sounds, the towel was already full of hidden weapons.

Xu Lai changed from waving to pushing, sending a shower of hidden weapons back out the window unchanged, immediately followed by several screams.

There weren’t many attackers, and they didn’t persist in fighting, immediately retreating. But the once-nice bathroom was now in shambles.

“Damn it! Even disturbing my bath!” After cursing in fury, Xu Lai finally noticed Xiao Huan looking at him with a strange gaze, and quickly looked down, finally realizing – having used the bath towel to block the hidden weapons, his lower body was now exposed.

Hurriedly splashing back into the pool, not minding the water splashing everywhere, Xu Lai’s handsome face rarely reddened.

Looking awkwardly at Xiao Huan, he finally noticed the striking black burns on his fingers and quickly asked: “What happened?”

“Just marks from burned incense.” Lowering his hand unconcernedly, Xiao Huan adjusted the black hair hanging over his chest, “They used the Tang Clan’s Sleep-Soft Smoke. Fortunately, there was sandalwood on the table that could barely counter it, otherwise, we would have drowned drunk in the bath.”

Remembering the faint fragrance detected earlier, Xu Lai nodded with lingering fear: “That Tang Clan smoke that makes people faint from the scent and dies paralyzed… I wouldn’t want such a pathetic death.” He immediately asked, “What? Has that Tang Clan survivor caught up with us now?”

“Probably not just one,” shaking his head, Xiao Huan combed his shoulder-length hair with his fingers while saying sideways, “How could one person need to contact fellow clan members?”

Thinking of how they discovered the Tang Clan disciples’ traces, Xu Lai nodded: “Indeed, I forgot about that…” He suddenly stopped, looking at Xiao Huan with a smile, “Brother Xiao, I just realized today that with your allure, you could compete with Miss Xian, the top courtesan at Qifang Tower…”

Xiao Huan didn’t seem angry, smiling faintly: “Is that so? When we have time, maybe I’ll try it.” As he spoke, he loosely tied his combed black hair at his chest, walked out of the pool, took the only intact robe from the clothes rack and put it on, then politely bowed to Xu Lai in the pool with a smile, “Take your time bathing, Brother Xu, I’ll head out first.”

Xu Lai stared blankly as he gracefully left the bathroom, then looked at the bath towel on the ground full of holes from hidden weapons, and the equally tattered robe missing half its body on the rack… He futilely called after him: “Brother Xiao, don’t go, Brother Xiao! Wait…”

After soaking in the bathroom for a quarter-hour, then suffering the embarrassment of being caught naked by the yamen runners who came investigating the disturbance, and being questioned in the pool for a full incense stick’s time, Xu Lai finally got something to cover himself and ran back to the guest room…

His dignity as the Left Hall Master of the Lingbi Sect’s Holy Hall of Light… his reputation as a dashing young hero.

Entering the room, Xiao Huan had long changed into dry cyan clothes, his hair though half-wet was tied with a ribbon hanging at his shoulder, carrying its own graceful and handsome bearing. Seeing him return in such a sorry state, the corner of his mouth carried a rather striking smile: “Brother Xu took quite a while.”

Having spoken frivolously first, Xu Lai couldn’t retort, dejectedly sitting on the large brocade bed, not even mentioning changing clothes, supporting his somewhat muddled head with his hand: “Generally…”

Just as he was speaking, a steaming cup of medicinal tea appeared before him.

“It counteracts the remaining poison from the Sleep-Soft Smoke,” Xiao Huan smiled, adding, “and I included some medicine to prevent cold illness.”

Taking the cup, the warm temperature transmitting through the porcelain to his palm, Xu Lai drank the medicine in one go. Looking at the empty cup in his hand, he suddenly spoke: “Earlier in the bath, when you detected the Sleep-Soft Smoke, you pushed my head down first before holding your breath?”

Slightly startled, Xiao Huan didn’t answer, just smiled: “Is your head still dizzy? Feeling better now?”

“You’re really…” lazily swaying the cup in his hand, Xu Lai drawled, “Always considering everyone and everything around you more important than yourself. I don’t know how you were raised… You’ve almost lost all trace of mortal air.”

After a moment of silence, Xiao Huan smiled: “It’s not that extreme…”

“Right, not extreme at all. Any more extreme and you’d ascend straight to immortality…” Xu Lai propped his head with one hand, still languid, “Know why I insisted on following you? I thought, with this half-immortal who barely partakes in mortal affairs, what would happen if I didn’t keep an eye on him?”

Unable to help laughing, Xiao Huan bent to snatch the teacup from his hand: “I see you’re deeply poisoned, even speaking drunk talk!”

Xu Lai also burst out laughing, still arguing: “Not drunk talk! All truth!”

“Alright, I understand, it’s the truth.” Xiao Huan smiled, putting the teacup on the table, then sat down leaning against the table edge.

After a while, he lowered his hand and spread it open, looking at the unerasable burn marks between his fingers, as if talking to himself: “How could I have lost my mortal air when here’s the mark of fire?”

Perhaps hearing his words, Xu Lai, half-reclining on the bed, let out a chuckle.

The third day of the tenth month, the seventh year of Deyou, at the Blown Banner Pavilion in the Ling family’s suburban villa.

“Game over!” Placing the final piece with high spirits, the thin middle-aged man in brown robes clapped his hands smiling: “Guess how many stones I won by?”

The beautiful woman in white pushed the board away somewhat dejectedly, simply giving up: “No need to count… I can never win against you anyway!”

The middle-aged man smiled, truly not counting the score, idly picking up a stone and tapping the board: “It’s been several years since we last met, hasn’t it? What brings you suddenly to my place?”

Resting her chin on her wrist, the beautiful woman in white carried grace and elegance in every movement: “Nothing much happening in the sect. What, Brother Li doesn’t want to see me?”

The middle-aged man laughed: “Are you mocking me? I’m worried you wouldn’t come without a reason!”

The woman in white also laughed behind her hand, teasing: “So you’re saying if I truly had no reason, I wouldn’t dare visit your precious self?”

After laughing at her joke for a while, the middle-aged man looked up at the floating clouds, still idly tapping the purple sandalwood board with the go stone, and spoke amid the clear tapping sounds: “Luomo, do you intend to drive Huan’er to his death?”

Caught off guard by such a sudden question, the woman in white stiffened briefly before speaking with a slight smile: “I’ve never heard you call him Huan’er before, haven’t you always called him ‘that person on the dragon throne’?”

“Nevertheless, I was the first person to hold him after he was born.” The middle-aged man spoke, narrowing his eyes, seemingly immersed in past memories: “Never seen such a well-behaved child, neither crying nor fussing, just watching you with bright black eyes.”

After a moment of silence, the woman in white rose from the table, her voice carrying a faint chill: “Don’t try to move me with such words. If I were to soften, I would have done so seven years ago.”

As if expecting this response, the middle-aged man didn’t continue, only sighing very softly, quietly: “Luomo, he is your son.”

Her shoulders trembled just once, the woman in white’s voice cold: “Who told him to also be His Majesty Ruizong’s son?”

The middle-aged man spoke no more, leaving only the low chirping of autumn insects in the quiet garden.

The woman in white reached toward her waist, with a flick of her wrist, she held a flexible sword. The supple blade with its bright surface reflected an strange pale green, swaying slightly in the wind like a newly sprouted willow branch.

Placing the flexible sword gently on the stone table, the woman in white spoke: “Please have Brother Li pass this Willow Wind to that young girl’s hands.” She paused slightly, then continued, “As for how to bring about what follows, I trust Brother Li has his plans.”

“Willow Branch, season of fragrance, yearly sorrow of parting gifts…” mumbling the inscription on the blade, the middle-aged man stroked the sword’s surface, smooth as a maiden’s skin.

On this gracefully swaying famous sword, the iron-struck silver-hook inscription was, ironically, such a sorrowful love poem.

“It seems you’re determined.” Smiling faintly, the middle-aged man lifted his finger from the blade, “As you wish, Luomo. Whatever it takes, I will bring about that ending.”

Having received his assurance, the woman in white smiled lightly, turning to curtsy: “Then Luomo thanks Brother Li.”

Nodding slightly, watching her beautiful figure disappear among the flowers and trees, the middle-aged man finally lowered his head to look at the sword on the table, pulling a slightly bitter smile at the corner of his mouth, murmuring: “Never softening? I hope you truly haven’t regretted it, Luomo.”

Willow Wind, legendarily the only blade that could counter the imperial sword Royal Wind, after passing through several generations, now lay before him.

Smiling slightly, the brown-robed middle-aged man, the most capable adviser in the Prime Minister’s mansion, known to his subordinates as ‘Mister Li’, gripped the three-foot flexible sword, tapping the spine with his middle finger, producing a clear ring.

Rising with the sword, he slashed horizontally. As internal force reached out, the blue blade suddenly straightened, sword light passing like urgent wind, causing fallen leaves to flutter and scatter across the ground.

“Yearly sorrow of parting gifts.” The bright sword light reflected on the middle-aged man’s face, showing the melancholy hidden in those thin features, “After all these years, still gifting partings…”

He rose holding the sword and walked out of the small courtyard. Beckoning to a scholarly-looking young man standing outside the door: “Yuanjiang, send word to Xianxue, tell him to keep the young miss in Jiangnan, no need to return.”

Cupping his hands in agreement, the refined young man smiled: “Sir, didn’t you earlier want Master Luo to bring the young miss back quickly?”

“Bringing her back quickly was for fear of too deep an entanglement with that person, now we fear the entanglement isn’t deep enough…” Answering his subordinate’s question, the middle-aged man narrowed his deep eyes: “Without deep entanglement… how can it become a tragic fate?”

Smiling silently for a moment, the young scholar called “Yuanjiang” smiled again: “I think I understand now.”

No longer speaking to him, the middle-aged man walked away with hands behind his back, his steps urgent. Even from far away, one could see the snow-bright, pale green light of the long sword in his hand.

“Willow Wind…” speaking very softly, the white-robed young man smiled faintly, his handsome long eyebrows lifting slightly, “So it’s to be a tragic fate.”

After speaking, he also followed the middle-aged man’s steps, disappearing into the autumn garden.

Inside the Liuyun Inn outside Wuchang City.

Xu Lai first grabbed the cup of bamboo leaf green wine from the table, drank it in one go, and then exhaled before speaking to Xiao Huan across the table: “I had people investigate. You were right – besides the Sect Leader, the Fenglai Pavilion in Jinling also wants your life.”

Fenglai Pavilion… This recently established assassin organization was mysterious and unfathomable, but its master Feng Yuanjiang was known to have close dealings with Prime Minister’s advisor Li Lu.

Nodding, Xiao Huan smiled: “Thank your sect brothers.”

“Well, helping you is like helping me, I don’t want to keep dragging on with those small fry.” Xu Lai waved it off, then asked: “What do you plan to do?”

After a moment of silence, Xiao Huan smiled again: “Master Ling won’t stop until he forces me into a position where I must face your Sect Leader.”

Xu Lai whistled rather casually: “Looks like we have many tough battles ahead.”

Smiling again, Xiao Huan coughed several times without speaking, bringing the wine cup in his hand to his lips.

The cup that hadn’t yet touched his lips was quickly snatched away by a hand, Xu Lai frowning: “Stop drinking, can’t you see how terrible you look!”

Still smiling, Xiao Huan didn’t argue with him, just lowered his head resting on his arm, coughing very lightly.

Stamping his feet in anxiety and anger, Xu Lai threw down the cup in his hand, quickly turning around to strike two palms on Xiao Huan’s back just as he had done days ago.

After another cough bringing up blood onto the ground, this time Xiao Huan continued coughing nonstop, bringing up two more mouthfuls of blood.

Watching him continuously coughing blood, Xu Lai was so angry his hands and feet trembled, almost speaking without thinking: “With your body in such a condition, stop forcing yourself! I can’t bear the crime of letting an emperor die by my hands!”

His body was almost drained of all strength by waves of cold surging from his lungs, unable to straighten up while coughing and holding the table, Xiao Huan had to look up, forcing a smile at Xu Lai: “Don’t… worry… won’t die…”

Stunned by his outburst, Xu Lai wiped his face, seeing Xiao Huan’s condition was truly bad, not caring about propriety or convenience, he half-dragged and half-carried him to the bed, saying: “Right, won’t die… being half-dead is even more frightening!”

Almost thrown onto the bed by Xu Lai, then hearing these words, Xiao Huan wanted to laugh but was choked by a breath and couldn’t, coughing even harder, having no choice but to close his eyes and focus on regulating his breathing.

After quite a while, his breathing finally stabilized somewhat. Xiao Huan opened his eyes to look at Xu Lai standing by the bed watching him with arms crossed.

That handsome face still carried great anger, but his gaze already showed concern. Seeing him looking at himself, Xu Lai snorted heavily, his eyes questioning: “Feeling better?”

Smiling slightly and nodding, Xiao Huan took a deep breath before saying: “I am of the Xiao family…”

“I know, Xiao Yunzong is an alias, you’re that person from the Vermilion Bird branch of the Xiao family.” Xu Lai interrupted him, smiling, “After all this time, you think I’m a fool if I couldn’t figure it out? Besides, you just called Ling Xuefeng ‘Master Ling’ – how many people in this world can directly call him ‘master’?”

Also smiling, Xiao Huan sighed while coughing lightly: “Couldn’t you wait… for me to explain… myself…”

Xu Lai frowned: “Wait for what? Wait for you to need two breaths for every word? I’m not listening to your last words, what’s there to wait for!”

After these words, both men started laughing.

Xu Lai’s earlier anxiety and anger had passed. He lifted his long robe and simply sat down by the bed, speaking casually: “I’ve heard many rumors, honestly, I never thought that person would be someone like this…”

“Then… what kind of person should it be?” Xiao Huan also smiled, quietly interjecting.

“At least not someone like this…” speaking with a faint smile, Xu Lai shook his head, “I thought that person would be sensitive and suspicious, hypocritical and vicious, coldly ruthless, arrogant and conceited…”

Deliberately coughing heavily, Xiao Huan smiled: “Enough, that’s plenty…”

Xu Lai also smiled, shaking his head somewhat proudly: “Isn’t that how all precocious emperors who grew up under powerful ministers’ control turn out…”

He turned his gaze to the pale-faced person on the bed, eyes closed, chest still heaving violently, finally sighing, half talking to himself, “How did you end up being the way I found you? Meeting you gives me a headache!”