Embers of Sword

Chapter 507 Jealousy
The Crimson Dragon Pendant crashed down behind the Prince of Jiangning.

The loud noise resounded throughout the entire secret hall, something Xie Zhisui had never heard before.

He was immersed in the illusion of his broken heart. The glow of the setting sun forty years ago shone into the ancestral hall, where the Xie clan members knelt before him to worship their ancestors. He held incense sticks in his hands and inserted them into the bronze incense burner, silently vowing to lead the Xie clan to restore its former glory within the next sixty years.

A melodious bell rang out outside the ancestral hall. In the stillness, he turned around and looked at the crowd behind him.

This scene was frozen in time.

This image was deeply etched into his mind. If he were given a pen, he could draw every detail of that day, down to the elongated shadows cast by the setting sun, down to the material of the robes of the bell-ringer in the distance.

This is the most important moment of his life.

A person always has to live for something...

The moment the bell rang.

Xie Zhisui decided to dedicate the rest of his life to the "Jiangning Xie Clan".

At that time, he had nothing, yet he also possessed everything.

He was willing to risk everything to make the Xie family the most prestigious and sacred family in Da Chu.

He did indeed do it.

However, Xie Zhisui did not receive the joy he had imagined.

Taking advantage of the opportunity presented by Emperor Chu's bestowal of titles, Xie Zhisui seized the chance to rise to prominence, and the Xie family gradually became the most prominent family in Jiangning. On the day of his birthday celebration, countless dignitaries came to visit, and the whole city celebrated with lanterns lit up the streets. Slightly drunk, Xie Zhisui left the banquet early and rode his carriage through the streets, wanting to hear the praises of the neighbors for the Xie family.

Indeed, there were voices of praise.

But no matter how many times they talked about it, they only mentioned one person.

Xie Xuanyi, Xie Xuanyi, Xie Xuanyi...

It's so weird.

Every street and alley, throughout Jiangning.

Why are all the people in the world talking about one person?

Can't they see me?
On that day, Xie Zhisui, hidden behind the carriage curtain, felt a strange, bittersweet feeling.

Perhaps this is what it feels like to be jealous of someone?
Xie Zhisui knew that people would become like this if they wanted too much and could not get it... He had tried to tell himself that the Xie family had become an extraordinary family, that he had fulfilled the vow he made at dusk that day, and that he should not be too ungrateful.

But no matter what, the discussions that took place throughout the streets and alleys of Jiangning that night still echoed in my mind, lingering there.

The Xie family wanted to express their gratitude to Xie Xuanyi.

That's a correct point.

But that's what everyone says.

Didn't these people ever think... if the Xie family wants to thank Xie Xuanyi, then what about him?

Shouldn't the Xie family thank him?

If it weren't for Xie Zhisui, how could the Xie family have become what it is today?
Xie Zhisui wanted the Xie family to become the most prominent family in Jiangning...

But more than that, he wanted to turn back time and return to that twilight when the ancestral temple bells rang.

At least at that dusk, the people in the ancestral hall regarded him as the hope for the Xie family's rise.

……

……

"Boom!"

The dull tolling of the bell crashed into the gaps in Shenhai's shattered memories.

Xie Zhisui was in a daze, and just like that, he returned to the twilight of the ancestral hall many years ago. The afterglow of the setting sun fell on his back, like a scorching flame, burning his body. He turned around and found that the entire ancestral hall was empty. There was no one behind him...

His knees ached; he was kneeling in the center of the ancestral hall.

Xie Zhisui was taken aback.

He looked toward the ancestral hall, but the hall was empty, and the memorial tablets were gone.

A dozen feet away stood a nightmare etched deep into the heart.

Xie Xuanyi stood before the ancestral hall, his thin figure towering like a mountain, as unapproachable as the sky.

"Do not……"

Xie Zhisui spoke in a hoarse voice.

He suddenly returned to reality, looked down, and realized that the scorching heat beneath him was not the afterglow of the setting sun. The [Crimson Dragon] Dharma Image was pinned down by the sword energy and was on the verge of death, its golden Dao essence flowing into a pool of blood. He knelt in the pool of blood, and this scene lasted for an unknown amount of time... This battle of the Great Dao had come to an end in a daze, and he had been defeated by Xie Xuanyi "once again".

Ironically, it's true.

In a sense, today's battle is actually his first duel with Xie Xuanyi.

however……

This defeat, however, was not Xie Zhisui's first. Forty years ago...

Before Xie Xuanyi had fully developed his skills, Xie Zhisui maintained an excellent relationship with this once-in-a-millennium sword prodigy.

It wasn't because we were compatible in temperament.

Instead... Xie Zhisui treated everyone equally.

Ever since the day the clan swore an oath to revive the Xie family, Xie Zhisui has tried every means to send any young person with outstanding talent, whether from the collateral or direct line, to the corresponding sacred place of cultivation, in order to secure a future for them.

Xie Xuanyi's parents died early. Xie Zhisui also contributed to Xie Xuanyi's ability to go to the Da Sui Sword Palace to cultivate when he was young.

This is why Xie Xuanyi worked so hard to repay Jiang Ning.

He truly owes Jiangning a debt of gratitude.

only……

People's hearts are changeable.

Even Xie Zhisui himself didn't know when he started to feel jealousy and resentment towards Xie Xuanyi.

He sought refuge with Chongkan, entered Renshou Palace, and began to oppose Xie Xuanyi at every turn...

Perhaps it was to satisfy one's inner desires.

Or perhaps, it was to let Jiangning see his glory.

This jealousy gradually took root, sprouted, and became increasingly uncontrollable until finally... Xie Zhi decided to kill Xie Xuanyi.

To satisfy this lingering jealousy.

The Prince of Jiangning has sacrificed so much, so much...

There were so many that he himself couldn't remember them all.

But Xie Xuanyi is still alive.

This is truly absurd and hilarious.

The fact that Xie Xuanyi is still alive means that everything he has done over the years has actually been a failure.

"I... lost..."

The Prince of Jiangning spoke in a hoarse voice, slowly squeezing out a strained sound from his throat.

"There is one thing you have the right to know."

Xie Xuanyi looked at the man kneeling before him and said calmly, "Xie Sheng's death is related to me."

He waved his sleeve.

The image of Xie Sheng's suicide in the Great Yue Kingdom is reflected in the screen.

"..."

The Prince of Jiangning stared blankly at this scene.

"I did not lie that day at Yuanqing Tower."

Xie Xuanyi paused for a moment, then said, "Xie Sheng committed suicide, he was not killed by me."

"There's no need to explain all this. Sheng'er's death..."

The Prince of Jiangning chuckled softly and said in a low voice, "I've already set my sights on you."

"Remember what I said before? You're a disgusting guy."

Xie Xuanyi said calmly, "Xie Sheng was destined to die from the moment he was born. You and Chongkan planted the 'Crimson Dragon' in his body. If Xie Sheng returns alive from the Northern Hunt, he will become your Dao Seed in the future."

The Prince of Jiangning was just one step away from becoming a Yang God.

And this is the starting point.

That's Xie Sheng.

If I'm not mistaken... the Great Master Chongkan also had this idea. This Great Master wanted to become a "Celestial Being," and he also needed the Daoist guidance.

“If Xie Sheng hadn’t committed suicide that day, I would have sent him on his way.”

Xie Xuanyi lowered his eyes and said calmly, "If he wants to fight me to the death, then this is the only outcome... Since you are father and son, let's save some face today."

"...?"

The Prince of Jiangning was taken aback again.

"Go ahead and kill yourself."

Xie Xuanyi said coldly, "Don't make me do it."

(End of this chapter)