Embers of Sword

Chapter 645 Decent
Yanyun Lake is sparkling with clear water.

The carp leaped out of the water.

The palace was bustling and chaotic, but this place remained quiet. Although Chen Jingxuan refused the Black Scale Guards' request to follow him, Sang Zheng had already led his men to completely seal off Yanyun Lake... not only to prevent outsiders from entering, but also to prevent anyone from leaving.

Lakeside.

Yan Xie stood still with his cane, the blazing sun high in the sky casting its scorching light, which distorted his shadow like smoke.

"Have your men withdraw..."

He suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with self-mockery: "If I wanted to escape, I would have done so long ago."

"..."

Chen Jingxuan frowned and looked behind him.

No words needed.

A rustling sound immediately came from the dense forest not far from the lake.

Sang Zheng withdrew from the dense forest. Of course, he did not remove the entire blockade, but only extended and expanded the blockade line... The group of Black Scale Guards retreated, withdrawing hundreds of feet, which was enough distance for the two of them to be alone.

Yan Xie is right.

If he wanted to escape, he could have done so long ago.

During the period when the emperor of Renshou Palace was away, he was arguably the most "free" nobleman in the Great Chu Imperial City, without exception.

But the evil smoke did not escape.

He received the news earlier than everyone else in the capital.

At Chenshi (7-9 AM), he arrived at Yanyun Lake, silently waiting for someone's arrival... The imperial city was breached, iron cavalry entered the palace, and the sounds of shouting and smashing echoed from afar, but none of this made Yan Xie move. He stood there alone, and finally, as he wished, he waited for Chen Jingxuan.

They were clearly enemies meeting, but they acted like old friends reminiscing.

Chen Jingxuan stood beside Yan Xie and remained silent for a long time before slowly uttering two words.

"……Thanks."

This unexpected thank you is probably hard for outsiders to understand.

But Yan Xie just laughed self-deprecatingly.

He lowered his eyes silently and said coldly, "There's nothing to thank me for. I was going to use these people anyway. If you had given me more time... they might not have survived."

Since our last parting at Yanyun Lake.

Chen Jingxuan was forced to leave the capital and relinquish power over the Book Tower, Fangyuanfang, the Junior Imperial Preceptor, and other institutions.

Although the overall situation remains under control.

But many lives... were lost with the departure from Yanyun Lake.

If Yan Xie is willing, after Chen Jingxuan leaves the capital, he can "clean up" the library and eliminate all the assassins and spies that Chen Jingxuan has cultivated.

But he didn't do that.

This……

That's why Chen Jingxuan thanked him.

Just a few days ago, probably no one would have imagined that this surging tide, which stirred up so many waves, would end so swiftly in this way.

Just as Yan Xie took over the Book Tower and Fangyuanfang, before he could even restore order, the conflict between the Northern County aristocratic families and the Imperial City Guard erupted... Then, bad news from the Daoist sect came from afar. The moment the death knell tolled for the Great Master Chongkan, Yan Xie had a premonition of something bad.

He knew things might take a sharp turn for the worse.

Everything that is happening now.

Everything was as he had anticipated.

He knew everything would come to pass.

He never expected that all of this would happen so quickly.

"The reason I thank you is not only because you saved the lives of those hidden chess assassins in the library."

Chen Jingxuan paused, then said seriously, "More importantly, you are different from that head of the Imperial City Guard. At least you want to be a 'mending craftsman'."

Yan Xie's greatest wish and obsession in this life is to become the Grand Preceptor of the Great Chu Kingdom.

In a sense, he succeeded.

He successfully entered the Carp Pavilion and, under the instruction of the Renshou Palace, briefly gained control of the imperial city.

But he failed.

The seemingly peaceful and tranquil imperial city suddenly fell into a terrible disease and became riddled with problems after he took over.

Despite patching and mending, the holes only seem to multiply.

Isn't this a reflection of the game I played with Chen Jingxuan years ago... At first glance, it seemed evenly matched, but the further it went, the more flaws appeared, the more leaks appeared, and the more mistakes were made.

In the end, they lost miserably.

"Ah……"

Looking at the clear, blue Yanyun Lake, Yan Xie couldn't help but let out a low laugh.

It had been brewing for ten years.

It had been planned for ten years.

In the end, it was all just smoke and clouds, a fleeting dream.

"My master... also died at your hands?"

He slowly moved his head, gazing at the scholar in the blue robe.

Just as the Daoist spies delivered the news of impending doom, news of the North Sea reed marshes reached the imperial city.

"It is."

Chen Jingxuan nodded, without denying it.

"So leaving the capital... is not admitting defeat..."

Yan Xie chuckled softly, his gaze towards Chen Jingxuan somewhat dazed: "You planned all of this, didn't you?"

"I……"

Chen Jingxuan hesitated for a moment this time.

He frankly admitted, "I received guidance from the Hunyuan Instrument, but there was also an element of gambling involved."

Leaving the capital was more like taking a gamble.

He didn't know either.

What will be the final outcome if I go to the reed marshes of Beihai? Will I live or die?
Therefore.

He had just handed over the list of spies from the Book Pavilion to Yan Xie at Yanyun Lake... If he died, at least Da Chu would still have someone to serve as the "National Preceptor," and at least the plans the Book Pavilion had made over the years could make some contributions to the dynasty. These were all signs of Chen Jingxuan's determination to die.

"I understand……"

Yan Xie gave a bitter laugh: "You were indeed gambling, but you won."

Yes. I won the bet.

Chen Jingxuan spoke calmly, saying that the deadly battle in the reed marshes of Beihai had ended, and the scales had already tipped.

Heaven was on his side.

"I want a decent life."

Yan Xie stared directly into the eyes of the scholar in the blue robe and said, word by word, "Those fools outside who are smashing up the imperial city all wish they could tear me apart alive. I know I'm going to die, but I hope I die by your hand."

"..."

Chen Jingxuan did not respond.

But often, silence is the best response.

The Misty Cloud Lake at this moment is just like it was a few days ago.

A few breaths later, Yan Xie suddenly spoke: "The Daoist treasure, the Yin-Yang Mirror, is in my waist pouch."

This news came as a surprise.

"Hmm?" Chen Jingxuan raised an eyebrow.

Yan Xie smiled faintly: "In my original plan, Renshou Palace won a great victory, and I took over Lige. Before long, this Yin-Yang Mirror will be left to Qin Qianlian. It can be considered as a blessing left by the elder brother of the sect to his junior brother who is on good terms with him."

Chen Jingxuan knew.

The two had met once and even had a brief working relationship.

Although this cooperation... is fake.

But it doesn't matter.

If Yan Xie wants to regain control of the capital, he needs to cultivate a good relationship with the Qin family.

Qin Qianlian is the best breakthrough point.

"I originally wanted to support Qin Qianlian to take the position, but this junior brother is too stubborn."

Yan Xie paused for a moment: "Now it's simple. After I die, this treasure should be returned to the Daoist sect... but if you are willing to give me some dignity... I can teach you how to refine this mirror."

Now that things have come to this, Yan Xie's tone has become much more relaxed.

He's come to terms with it.

Today's so-called reckoning seems to be Chen Jingxuan, in his victorious manner, eliminating him.

But the real deciding factor actually lies in the Great Eagle Sword Palace, at Lotus Peak.

The Holy Empress was defeated, therefore I was defeated.

“I am not interested in this treasure.”

Chen Jingxuan shook his head and asked, "Besides that, do you have any last words?"

Although Yan Xie's expression did not change, his voice trembled slightly after hearing the words "last words": "I... have some things I want to say to True Person Xuanzhi."

"Please say."

Chen Jingxuan flicked his sleeves.

“…Never mind.” Yan Xie lowered her eyes and murmured softly, “Even if I told him, he wouldn’t forgive me, would he?”

He is a disciple of the Longevity Abode.

Therefore, he would inevitably have to follow Xuanzhi in his cultivation.

Master Xuanzhi's cultivation consisted only of farming and tilling the land, which was extremely tedious and boring. For a self-proclaimed genius cultivator like Yanxie, it was really meaningless.

therefore.

Yan Xie's nominal master in previous years was Xuan Zhi, but the supernatural powers and Taoist techniques he later cultivated all came from Chong Kan.

Xuanzhi had tried to persuade him.

Stay on Qingnang Mountain and abandon those delusions.

He was dismissive.

Looking back now... a moment of regret flashed through my mind.

If I had listened to the advice back then, would the outcome have been better?

All thoughts settled down.

Yan Xie opened his arms, closed his eyes, as if resigning himself to his fate, and dispersed his Dao domain.

The Dao Domain dissipated.

A strong, foul odor flowed from his dark sleeves.

Chen Jingxuan showed no mercy. He stretched out his palm, and a majestic image of a scholar in a blue robe appeared. Hundreds of fine golden lines appeared between heaven and earth. As the scholar pressed down, they swept across Yan Xie's brow, slashing and shattering the void. A splash echoed in the lake.

The scorching sun burned his heart. This traitorous disciple of the Longevity Sect, who also practiced evil arts, had his brow cleaved open by a golden thread, his soul and spirit destroyed, and he fell straight into the Misty Cloud Lake.

Countless carp leaped up.

……

……

The mountain path of Tailing was paved with the thunderous sound of horses' hooves.

A swift horse galloped through the mud, and on its back, a figure in black was crouching low.

The figure, wearing a bamboo hat that concealed its face and adorned with numerous talismans, almost blended into the horse, galloping swiftly along the winding mountain path—

suddenly.

The horse let out a mournful neigh, stepped on a protruding pebble, and tumbled to its side.

"Well!"

The man in black on horseback groaned, but was not knocked down by the unexpected accident. He braced himself with one hand and sprang back with remarkable resilience, landing steadily on the ground. He did not rush to help the fallen horse, but instead reached for his waist, and only felt slightly relieved when he grasped the hilt of his sword.

Mossy Ridge remained as desolate as ever.

No sound.

The man in black, however, was like a frightened bird, constantly looking around. He released his divine sense, covering an area of ​​a hundred feet in radius.

After confirming that there were no living people and that it was just an accident, he cautiously approached the horse.

His hand had just reached out.

"Whoosh!"

A very faint whooshing sound rang out, and a pebble flew out from nowhere, hitting the back of his hand with a whoosh.

"……who?!"

Yuan Jimo abruptly stopped, stood up abruptly, and looked at the empty dense forest on both sides.

Within the range of divine sense, there was still nothing.

He gritted his teeth.

Almost instantly, Yuan Jimo made a decision. He abandoned the fast horse and prepared to turn around and flee into the forest. However, the next moment he suddenly stomped his foot on the ground and stopped abruptly.

Yuan Jimo gasped.

His pupils were narrowed to a slit, and a sliver of extremely thin golden light was reflected in his pupils.

Suddenly, an extremely dazzling golden flying sword hovered behind his head, its tip pointing directly at his brow. The person who placed this sword seemed to have anticipated his decision to flee... If he hadn't reacted quickly enough, he would have died instantly upon colliding with the flying sword.

"...a chronic illness?"

Yuan Jimu's expression was extremely grim.

It only took a moment.

He then recognized the flying sword.

"Master Yuan."

"Are you in such a hurry to leave?"

At the same time, a slightly sarcastic and composed voice rang out from the dense forest.

Dressed in black, he sat on a treetop, his hands gently pressing down. As the wind blew and the leaves rustled, his black robe swayed in the breeze.

Bang.

The young man in black landed on the ground, casually waved his sleeve, and the golden sword instantly transformed into a streak of light, obediently hovering back on its master's shoulder.

Standing before Yuan Jimo at this moment.

It was Xie Xuanyi who removed the "appearance of all beings" and showed people his true face.

"Xie Xuanyi..."

Yuan Jimu's face under his straw hat was extremely stiff.

Some people are willing to stay in the capital to maintain a semblance of dignity.

But obviously.

He is not that kind of person.

After losing contact with the messengers from Renshou Palace, he made two preparations: leaving behind Xuanwu and trusted confidants from the Imperial City Guard to delay the Northern Prefecture aristocratic families and to prepare for any potential reinforcements arriving at the Imperial City. Yuan Jimo knew how many people hated him, so when he fled, he didn't even dare to use the [Teleportation Array]. Every [Array] in the Great Chu Imperial City could be traced to a precise anchor point.

Using the [rune array] to escape, it seems possible to escape to a very far place.

In reality, this doesn't apply to a situation like Yuan Jimu, who has "enemies all over the world." Once he steps into the [talisman array], it will only lead to him being locked on even faster!
So he rode alone, without telling any of his confidants, covered his body with breath-holding talismans, and left the imperial city directly, heading north along the remote and deserted Tailing route... In his plan, escaping Tailing would be a great success, and escaping Da Chu would mean a new life.

One can either cross the Qujiang River to become a disciple of the Li Kingdom, or cross the North Sea to seek refuge with the Demon Kingdom.

Unfortunately.

This move was cut off halfway.

"How did you..."

Yuan Jimu gritted his teeth and stared at the young man in front of him. He didn't understand how Xie Xuanyi had found him.

"You want to ask how I found you?"

Xie Xuanyi stood with his hands behind his back and smiled calmly: "Would you believe me if I said it was a coincidence?"

"coincide?"

A mocking look appeared in Yuan Jimo's eyes.

He never told anyone about his escape route.

There's no way someone surnamed Xie could have come all the way from the Great Jade Palace and appeared at Mossy Ridge—

but.

Now that we've met, how we found out is no longer important.

hum!
A cold glint flashed in Yuan Jimo's eyes. Instead of retreating, he accelerated and rushed towards the young man opposite him. He covered the distance of several feet in an instant and drew his sword at an extremely fast speed, causing a gust of wind to whistle through the dense forest.

"Wow—"

He was startled.

This vertical slash, imbued with the full power of the Dao Realm, was dodged with remarkable ease by the opponent simply turning their body slightly to the side.

Then came the second and third strikes.

Yuan Jimo's sword strikes became faster and faster. The man in black stood still, but managed to dodge every single sword strike.

"???"

Yuan Jimo's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Although news of the false saint's death in the southern border region had already reached the imperial city.

But some things can only be truly understood through personal experience.

He couldn't understand why this Xie fellow, who was previously a lamb to the slaughter in Qujiang, needed to use the Lotus Sword Qi to even challenge him...

In just over a hundred days.

The gap between the two was as vast as the difference between heaven and earth!

A muffled thud echoed.

Xie Xuanyi raised his foot and kicked out, but did not use force.

Yuan Jimo's expression suddenly changed.

He felt as if he had been hit by a huge mountain.

With a loud bang!
A man in a bamboo hat, whose scale armor was concealed beneath his black clothes, flew out and smashed through several ancient trees.

Yuan Jimu coughed up a mouthful of blood, raised his head, and looked up in disbelief.

He struggled to pick up the longsword again.

The next moment, the hand sank, and the longsword was stepped on.

"Isn't it about time you've had enough fun...?"

Xie Xuanyi frowned and said, "Someone like you dares to wield a sword?"

(End of this chapter)