Embers of Sword

Chapter 578 Twenty-Four Hours (Twenty-Four)
At 9:00 AM, the dawn broke through the dark clouds and fell on the top of the Great Chu Imperial City wall.

Yuan Jimu, clad in armor, sat atop a fine horse, his entire body completely covered.

Hundreds of spies, archers, and guards waited anxiously on both sides of the city gate.

Jiang Qihu's expression was not good.

He didn't quite understand the purpose of the arrangement made by the master in Qingzhou, but... the case file of the Qingyang City Incident had been finalized.

As the gentleman said.

It's all coming to an end.

Is it really all coming to an end?

At this moment, Jiang Qihu had a very ominous premonition.

"coming."

A low shout rang out from the city wall.

From afar, a horse-drawn carriage could be seen approaching against the thick cloud of dust.

Jiang Qihu immediately set off to meet him alone.

The carriage moved against the strong wind, proceeding at a steady pace.

After being away from the capital for a day and a night, Chen Jingxuan showed no other unusual signs except for looking slightly haggard.

His clothes were neat and tidy, showing no signs of a fight...

Seeing this, Jiang Qihu breathed a slight sigh of relief.

It seems that this trip to the Taoist sect went quite smoothly.

"Sir, you are back."

Jiang Qihu spoke respectfully, then carefully lifted the carriage curtain. Seeing the female monk curled up asleep inside the carriage, he was completely relieved.

"Qihu, lend a hand and take Master Tang to Tailing."

Chen Jingxuan gestured for Jiang Qihu to sit down in front of the carriage, and said with a smile, "I have some business to attend to in the capital."

"gentlemen……"

Jiang Qihu sensed something strange.

But it was fleeting.

During the interrogation in Qingzhou, Jiang Lie told him that everything that happened that night was caused by Chen Jingxuan.

Tracing the cause.

Perhaps it was the Taoist sect, or perhaps it was Renshou Palace... those truly powerful figures at the top developed a dissatisfaction with Chen Jingxuan.

What the Jiang family needs to do is to firmly state their position when the storm first arises, buy time for Chen Jingxuan, and investigate the situation. With Chen Jingxuan's strength and the influence behind the Book Tower, this storm can most likely be quelled simply by an apology and admission of wrongdoing.

At this moment, in Jiang Qihu's eyes, the master had deliberately sent him away, and the next step should be to go to the capital to apologize.

"Go."

Chen Jingxuan patted Jiang Qihu on the shoulder: "Wait for me at Tailing. I'll be there soon."

"……it is good."

Jiang Qihu took a deep breath, no longer hesitated, and exchanged mounts with Chen Jingxuan.

He drove the carriage, turned around, and headed towards Tailing.

Chen Jingxuan sat alone on his horse, riding against the wind and sand into the imperial city.

The dawn light, like golden scales, fell upon the wall.

Golden light swayed.

But beneath the city walls, mottled shadows still remain.

In this pitch-black shadow, there was a tall figure leaning on a cane, almost blending into the shadows.

The man leaned against the city wall, his back against the stone wall, looking relaxed, his hands resting on his cane, as if waiting for an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time.

Archers, spies, cavalry—countless people stood ready to witness this return.

But no one could see the shadowy figure.

The scene at this moment is very similar to the scene at the Taoist sect last night...

"Fellow smoker."

Sitting atop his steed, Chen Jingxuan looked down at the figure struggling to straighten its back and said softly, "We meet again."

"Yes."

Yan Xie smiled and said, "I have been waiting for this moment for ten years."

The two brushed past each other.

Yan Xie turned around naturally, holding the horse's reins, and accompanied Chen Jingxuan into the imperial city, like a boy leading the horse.

some years ago.

Yan Xie had just completed his seclusion at Changshengzhai and left the Daoist sect to come to the imperial city.

Having just arrived, I didn't know anyone there.

At that time, the library set up a chess game in the imperial city, which no one could solve.

Yan Xie broke ten rounds in a single day, gaining great fame and being invited to meet him in the pavilion.

That year, "Fangyuanfang" had not yet been established, but Yan Xin had already entrusted many trivial details to his favorite disciple, Chen Jingxuan. Chen Jingxuan personally set up those chess games outside, and upon learning that an amazing chess player had appeared, he immediately invited him. The two played chess all night, and it was difficult to determine who was better.

After that, the two became friends, and Chen Jingxuan personally led the horse, taking Yan Xie for a tour around the imperial city.

That's how stories always begin.

In the early spring of the rainy season, grass sprouts and all living things are at peace.

Unfortunately……

The Great Chu state can only have one Grand Preceptor.

Yan Xie, on whom Changshengzhai placed high hopes, had cultivated for many years, but had only one obsession: to become the next Grand Preceptor of Da Chu.

He was getting closer and closer to his ideal.

The more you see, the more likely you are to encounter a figure blocking your way.

Former friends have become bitter enemies.

Then came the world-famous "Little Imperial Advisor" contest. Yan Xie was utterly defeated. He lost in everything, from array formations and feng shui to destiny divination. Even with the help of the Yin-Yang Mirror, he still lost the duel.

He has already tried his best.

Unfortunately, he was ultimately no match for Chen Jingxuan, one of the two great talents of the Chu Kingdom.

Several years have passed.

These two old rivals and friends are reunited.

Riding a horse and leading it by a rope—this scene is very similar to what it was back then, but unfortunately, things have changed.

Chen Jingxuan looked much more haggard.

Over the years, he has been in charge of the "Hun Yuan Yi" in the library, smoothing out his life line, and dealing with trivial matters, which has consumed a lot of his lifespan.

And Yanxie wasn't much better off.

Once the pride of the Longevity Cult, now shrouded in gloom.

Yan Xie's entire demeanor has undergone a dramatic change compared to before, becoming sinister and dark, exuding a cold and filthy aura.

Do you remember the first place you took me back then?

He held the horse's reins and spoke softly, with a hint of reminiscence in his voice.

"..."

Chen Jingxuan remained silent and did not respond.

"It is Misty Cloud Lake."

Yan Xie sighed softly and said with a self-deprecating laugh, "I knew you didn't remember... Back then, you took me to visit Yanyun Lake, and you told me that there was a 'Carp Pavilion' next to Yanyun Lake, which was the residence that only the Grand Preceptors of the Great Chu Dynasty were qualified to live in."

Back then, their duel in the capital caused a great stir and was quite a spectacle.

At first, Yan Xie thought that he and Chen Jingxuan were truly "evenly matched".

Unfortunately.

In the end, he realized that it was all wishful thinking on his part.

It turns out that the gap between geniuses is even greater than the gap between geniuses and ordinary people.

Chen Jingxuan played chess with himself all night without a clear winner because he had already taken control of the game... No one in the entire imperial city, except himself, could play against him to this extent. Out of respect for his "opponent," Chen Jingxuan deliberately held back, which led to the evenly matched game on the chessboard.

Yan Xie knew that many things were just wishful thinking on his part.

At the very beginning.

He truly considered Chen Jingxuan a friend.

As for Chen Jingxuan... he probably only sees himself as an unusual passerby.

"Excuse me."

Chen Jingxuan politely interrupted, "It's getting late, I think we should... not say anything more useless."

Before leaving the imperial city.

He had already guessed who had started this storm.

At this moment, Chen Jingxuan had no interest in reminiscing with Yan Xie.

He took out his waist pouch, which contained several of the most important tokens of the Great Chu Imperial City. "These are the keys to the library."

"To manipulate the [Hun Yuan Yi]... all you need to do is inject your divine sense..."

"This is the token of the head of Fangyuanfang."

"With this order, one can mobilize the minor workshop masters within certain limits... However, the Snow Master and Fire Master, who belong to the Da Chu Fang Yuan Workshop, are not exclusive assassins loyal to this order. They have already decided on their loyal servants."

“Those secret agents of the Imperial City Guard who were imprisoned in the dungeon were different; they were loyal to the Imperial City Guard and to this order.”

"No matter what... these people shouldn't have been killed."

Chen Jingxuan slowly explained the things that needed to be paid attention to after the transfer of power.

The two walked through the streets and alleys of the imperial city. Yuan Jimo stopped the spies from a distance, not following them, but leaving them some private space. Those spies who couldn't see "Smoke Evil" were naturally puzzled. They didn't know what was happening, only that Chen Jingxuan seemed to be talking to himself, talking to the air beside him.

"..."

Yan Xie, who was leading the horse, had his head down, his face shrouded in shadow and his long hair, making it impossible to discern his expression.

"These tokens are now yours."

Chen Jingxuan flung out the waist pouch.

He frowned slightly.

Chen Jingxuan looked up at the dazzling sunlight streaming down from above.

At that moment, the two had just left the long, dark alley, and the world suddenly opened up. It turned out that this alley connected to the Misty Cloud Lake in the north of the imperial city, and not far away was the "Carp Pavilion" where their master Yan Xin lived. Chen Jingxuan recalled the information Jiang He had given him: last night, the Jiang family members had visited the Carp Pavilion, but were turned away.

obviously.

This impeachment, which began with the chaos in Qingyang City, was the result of a long period of planning and preparation before it was launched.

To harm himself, Renshou Palace must get Yan Xin away.

Now, only these koi fish should remain in Koi Pavilion.

Yanyun Lake is as beautiful as ever.

However, as time has passed, Chen Jingxuan no longer has the same longing for this lake as he did in his youth.

Although he did not hold the title of Imperial Preceptor.

However, he had already become the emperor's advisor.

Chen Jingxuan felt that the price he paid was well worth it to allow his master to spend these years in the Carp Pavilion without any worries.

"Fellow Daoist Yan has been planning for so long, with these things... it should be enough to complete the rest of the handover."

Chen Jingxuan looked at the small lake not far away and said, "Now, can I leave?"

The owner of the bookstore.

Fangyuanfang owner.

Imperial Advisor.

The moment Chen Jingxuan dropped the waist pouch, he felt lighter than ever before.

It turns out that the invisible burden on my shoulders is really so heavy.

Chen Jingxuan turned his head slightly.

At this moment, he saw Yan Xie's expression clearly. His long hair was being blown by the breeze, and his face, bathed in the morning light, seemed to show neither a smile nor joy.

Yan Xie had thought that his ten years of patient revenge would finally come to a spectacular end today.

When night falls.

He was nervous, he trembled, he was excited.

The moment of sunrise.

All emotions melted away, leaving only emptiness and loneliness.

The chaos in Qingyang City… was merely the first step in his plan; he had already conceived of his counterattack after Chen Jingxuan's response. He knew that this young imperial advisor had left numerous backup plans within the capital: the Jiang family, the Qin family, the spies of the Book Pavilion, the Snow Lord, the Fire Lord, and the young Emperor Chu Yin…

These restless factors, these pawns that could disrupt the game at any moment, are all under Yan Xie's control.

However, nothing happened tonight.

When the sewage from Qingyang City was splashed out, Chen Jingxuan did not struggle, but calmly accepted it.

Yanxie achieved a great victory effortlessly, with the incident in the Imperial City Division's dungeon being the only setback.

What's the point of such a resounding victory?
What he wants is a battle of wits and strength, a fight where all cards are played!

He lost so badly back then.

For a full ten years, he racked his brains for a countermeasure, wanting to defeat Chen Jingxuan head-on!

But the ending...

But that's how it is.

Is this a victory or a defeat?
"I don't know."

After a long silence, Yan Xie spoke in a hoarse voice.

"What don't you understand?"

Chen Jingxuan sat on his horse, feeling the gentle breeze caressing his clothes and leaving a warm feeling.

Yan Xie gazed at the Carp Pavilion not far away.

He doesn't understand.

Why do I feel so frustrated even though I won?

He doesn't understand.

Why did Chen Jingxuan not care about the Imperial Preceptor or the Book Tower at all?

This guy……

Why can you throw these things away so casually?

Why can you so carelessly choose to admit defeat?

"The outcome of the game is not important."

Chen Jingxuan glanced at Yan Xie and said calmly, "Similarly... the struggle between you and me is not important. Since you want the 'Imperial Advisor' so much, then I'll give him to you."

"You mean none of this matters?"

Yan Xie found these words somewhat absurd and laughable: "Then what is the most important thing?"

He knew that Chen Jingxuan had gone to the Daoist sect overnight to ask Chongkan for Tang Fengshu, who was being controlled by the [Heart Cage].

My great victory was more or less due to the help of the Taoist sect.

but.

He didn't believe that Chen Jingxuan could give up everything just because of Tang Fengshu.

He regarded Chen Jingxuan as his greatest rival in life.

He knows Chen Jingxuan better than anyone else.

This is not someone who prioritizes romantic relationships.

and so……

Chen Jingxuan felt that these struggles were unimportant, so what was important?
It can't be Tang Fengshu!
The two remained silent for a moment—

"What's most important..."

The thin man in the blue robe sitting on the horse thought for a moment.

He finally lowered his eyes and sincerely said four words from the bottom of his heart.

"Peace reigns throughout the land."

……

……

The lake shimmered with golden light, and koi carp swayed gently in the breeze.

Two young figures were reflected in the water.

A man dressed in black robes sat astride a horse, gazing intently at the Carp Pavilion not far away, his eyes shining brightly.

Another young man in a blue robe held the reins of a fine horse, like a meditating monk. Although he was young, he exuded a sense of antiquity and age.

"Brother Chen, you just said... that only the Grand Preceptor of Chu can stay at the Carp Pavilion?"

The young man in black robes spoke with great enthusiasm: "Do you know that my greatest wish is to become the Grand Preceptor of the Chu Kingdom?"

"..."

The young man in the blue robe leading the horse simply smiled.

"What about you?"

The young man in black robes couldn't help but ask, "What is your greatest wish?"

"My...greatest...wish?"

The man in the blue robe tilted his head slightly.

This was the first time anyone had asked him this question.

Chen Jingxuan, who was only seventeen years old, thought about it seriously for a long time.

After a while.

He chuckled softly and said sincerely, "If possible, I hope... for peace throughout the world."

(End of this chapter)