Embers of Sword

Chapter 570 Twenty-Four Hours (Sixteen)

Tonight, the moon and stars are few in the Great Chu Imperial City.

Hidden in the shadows of a secluded courtyard, Yan Xie, clad in a black robe and carrying a staff, left the small courtyard and looked up at the bright moon in the sky.

A wisp of jet-black thread shot out from the void, straight and taut, and landed in Yan Xie's palm. This thread crossed more than ten alleys in the imperial city, exploring around the Carp Pavilion...

At this moment, only a pond of koi carp and spring water remain in the Carp Pavilion.

The building was empty.

Yan Xin left the capital.

Everything seems to be going well.

"Lord Yan, you've finally come out..."

"This is really... making me wait a long time."

A cold voice rang out from the far end of the courtyard.

Yan Xie slightly shifted his head, looking towards the distance.

Someone dressed in the same black robe as him had been waiting here for a long time.

The figure leaned against the courtyard, holding a long sword, and kept his eyes closed, resting... Perhaps because the wait was too boring, he pushed the hilt of the long sword out an inch with his thumb, and then slowly released it, letting the blade slide back down and close, repeating this process.

The sound of the knife suddenly stopped.

The blade retained an inch of its unsheathed length, its horizontal surface radiating a cold and oppressive killing intent.

"I've waited ten years, and I'm not in a hurry. Why are you in such a rush?"

Yan Xie smiled and said, "Yan Xin really left Li Ge... How did you manage to do that?"

"...You don't need to concern yourself with these matters."

The man with the sword said quietly, "All you need to know is that Qin Zu, Yan Xin, and Wu Zhexian are all no longer in the capital."

"That person at Renshou Palace truly possesses extraordinary abilities."

Yan Xie chuckled softly.

He exhaled a breath of pent-up frustration that had accumulated over ten years, slowly straightened his back, and emerged from the shadows.

That hunched, broken, and shattered body.

Under the moonlight.

He gradually became younger, taller, and more upright.

"Tonight is a good night, it deserves to be celebrated."

Yan Xie looked towards the courtyard and said gently, "I'll accompany you to retrieve what belongs to you first."

……

……

Why is Lord Jiang so melancholy?

The Chen residence is unusually quiet tonight.

After finishing his patrol, Jiang Qihu intended to wander around by himself, but before he knew it, he had arrived at the Chen residence.

He didn't expect that Sang Zheng was already at the Chen residence.

"You're quite fast."

Looking at the large and clean Chen residence, Jiang Qihu sighed softly, "How is things on the other side, sir?"

"After we drove into the foot of Daomen Mountain, the gentleman told me not to follow."

Sang Zheng sighed softly, "Sir, you seem to be preoccupied today. It looks like you've encountered some thorny trouble."

Depart at noon and arrive at dusk.

After leaving the Daoist sect, Sang Zheng quickened his pace alone and arrived at the Chen residence before midnight... In fact, given Chen Jingxuan's status, he could use teleportation portals to travel to any of the four directions in Da Chu. Going to the Daoist sect wouldn't require such trouble, but this time, it seemed that the master didn't want to use the "portal," and even reminded him on the way to travel slowly.

"For you, there is no problem that cannot be solved."

Jiang Qihu casually removed his armor and sat down under the banyan tree in the Chen family courtyard.

He took two jars of wine from the cave and threw them out.

Sang Zheng accepted the jar.

"Master Jiang..."

Sang Zheng looked at the jar of wine, somewhat at a loss.

"Have a drink with me."

Jiang Qihu was frustrated. He had come to this capital city at a young age, far from Qingzhou, and rarely had the chance to return home. His father said he was naturally unruly and wanted to send him to the capital to be tempered, but he wasn't stupid. He knew that the Empress had dismissed the Northern Border, and of all the former generals of the Northern Border, only the Jiang family had been spared. This wasn't just because his father had rendered great service and deserved a reward; there was another very important reason.

The Jiang family delivered themselves to the capital, placing them in the Empress's grasp...

Jiang Lie only has one son, and only by staying here can the Jiang family have a place in Qingzhou.

He was willing to become a "hostage" so that Jiang Lie could live out his days in Qingzhou.

But I've lived in the capital for so many years.

This was the first time Jiang Qihu had ever felt so lonely.

In the past, if he was unhappy, there would always be a fool from the Refining Division who spent all day hammering and tinkering and only knew how to study magical artifacts waiting for him in the cellar. He would stay up all night drinking with him as long as he called out.

But Qin Baihuang isn't in the capital tonight; that guy actually went crazy and went to the southern border.

Or, he could vent his frustrations to Ye Qinglian.

Although that woman surnamed Ye had a bad temper, she always responded to my spiritual commands.

Ye Qinglian has now gone to the Southern Frontier. Even if things don't go perfectly, he can still at least have a few words with the Master.

But the gentleman is not in the capital tonight either.

In this vast imperial city, it seems that only I am left... Fortunately, there is Sang Zheng, who can keep me company for a drink.

"Is Lord Jiang homesick?"

Sang Zheng did not open the wine jar, but placed it on the stone table. He then picked up the broom and continued to clean the dust from the Chen residence.

"Yes."

Jiang Qihu opened the wine jar, intending to take a big gulp.

But on second thought, I decided against it.

He took a small sip and chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I wonder how my old man is doing in Qingzhou? He hasn't sent me any messages or letters these days..."

Upon hearing this, Sang Zheng couldn't help but chuckle.

This is the imperial city, and there are some things that he, as a Black Scale Guard, cannot say aloud.

In Qingzhou, Old Master Jiang was practically an emperor...

Who dares to offend the Jiang family?
"Lord Jiang, you are overthinking it. Everyone knows about Old Master Jiang's abilities. Besides, there's no trouble in Qingzhou."

Sang Zheng comforted him, "Sir, your trip to the Daoist sect shouldn't take too long. You might be back in a few hours."

This is why Jiang Qihu didn't take a big gulp of wine.

He was worried that when his husband came back and saw that he was covered in alcohol, he would scold him again.

"It's strange, but I feel really unhappy today."

Jiang Qihu said with a bitter smile, "Tell me, why does that guy surnamed Qin ignore the Weapon Forging Division and insist on going south with that damned younger brother to fight for the position of Qin family head... What's the use of that? He already told me that he doesn't care about these things and might as well just give it to Qin Qianlian."

"..."

Sang Zheng dared not respond casually.

He listened silently.

Jiang Qihu muttered curses under his breath, from Qin Baihuang to an unknown soldier in the Imperial City Guard.

After the Qujiang Incident.

The heavy responsibility of the Imperial City Guard fell entirely on Jiang Qihu's shoulders.

This pressure...

Perhaps it was still too big for him.

Everyone said that the position of head of the Imperial City Guard was about to fall to Jiang Qihu, and although he was only the second-in-command now, he already had the power of the head.

"They're all congratulating me, congratulating me... congratulating me my ass!"

"The head of the Imperial City Guard... I don't care at all..."

After half a stick of incense.

Taking small sips of wine, Jiang Qihu, having drunk half a jar in total, leaned against the banyan tree and said with a joking laugh, "I know perfectly well that Renshou Palace is deliberately withholding the title of 'Chief of the Imperial City Guard,' just like you, sir, with your 'Imperial Preceptor' title..."

"Lord Jiang, you shouldn't say things like that."

Sang was getting anxious and looked up outside.

Fortunately, this is the Chen residence, and the master had already set up an array. Besides, no one will probably pay attention to this place tonight.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Jiang Qihu waved his hand and said calmly, "I know what to say and what not to say when we go outside..."

"Do you think that in a few years, people will start calling me 'Little Chief'?"

Jiang Qihu suddenly spoke sarcastically.

Sang fell silent.

The title "Little Imperial Advisor" was indeed a compliment ten years ago.

It could last a full ten years.

Yan Xin was willing to relinquish control, and Chen Jingxuan was willing to take over. Under these circumstances, the title of Imperial Preceptor could not be handed over, and the title of "Junior Imperial Preceptor" took on a different meaning.

"Master Jiang."

A clear, cold female voice suddenly rang out above the Chen residence.

Jiang Qihu narrowed his eyes.

Above the courtyard, countless snowflakes swirled and fell, and a woman wearing a pale white mask slowly descended, landing in front of the banyan tree.

The visitor was none other than the Snow Master of Fangyuanfang.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop."

Xuezhu looked at Jiang Qihu, then at the half-empty wine jar beside him.

She remained silent for a few moments before slowly saying, "There is something very unfortunate that I must tell you. Regarding the matter of the young chief you just mentioned... it probably won't happen."

"……Um?"

Jiang Qihu frowned, somewhat puzzled.

"Yuan Jimu is back."

Snow Lord sighed softly and said, "He is not dead, he is still alive."

(End of this chapter)