Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 184 The Song of the Wind (Thanks to the generous patron, Feng Huo Xi Zhu Hou!)
In less than half an incense stick's time, Xiang Siren and Yang Qing walked out of the Duke's mansion.

The two had entered with their heads held high and chests puffed out, but now they were not only stiff and unable to stretch out, but their eyes were also filled with fear.

He mounted his horse in a daze and rode slowly, holding the reins.

"What exactly is the Duke's intention?"

Yang Qing spread his hands: "Is this something we can do?"

Xiang Siren frowned deeply, stroking his chin in thought, and did not answer immediately.

Both of them had participated in the Duke's mansion's siege mission, so how could they not know the other party's methods? At that time, the Duke's mansion had many experts, and they were not the main force, but even so, they still had to be extremely careful.

Yang Qing said with a bitter expression, "If we take direct action, I'm afraid we'll face a nine-out-of-ten chance of death."

He actually wanted to inquire about Si Ren, who was one of the most trusted generals under the Duke, and also a relative of Wang Shichong.

Just now, the Duke said, "There are other arrangements."

Yang Qing had no idea what the so-called "arrangement" was and wanted to find out exactly what it was.

Judging from Si Ren's appearance, he probably doesn't know the details either.

"Although I don't understand the Duke's intentions, the fact that he specifically chose the two of us and avoided Yang Gongqing and Zhang Zhenzhou shows that it was intentional. When it comes to leading troops, these two are probably more capable than us, but they are not as trustworthy as we are."

Yang Qing nodded in agreement with Xiang Siren's honest words.

"In other words, this matter is of utmost importance and must be handled by the most trusted person."

Yang Qing thought to himself, "Isn't that obvious?"

'Should I go and fight the Celestial Master?'

The thought of the absurd task given to him by the Duke made Yang Qing feel an urge to immediately ride away from the Eastern Capital. He asked himself honestly if he really could do it.

But they must obey orders.

If it were someone else, they might really have packed their belongings and fled overnight.

Yang Qing cut to the chase: "What other plans do you think the Duke has?"

Xiang Siren shook his head: "I don't know. I suppose it's just a way to get the ball rolling. Otherwise, the two of us alone would definitely not be able to accomplish this. The Duke should know this very well."

After hearing this, Yang Qing glanced back at the Duke's mansion and asked in a low voice, "Was the person we met today the Duke himself?"

Xiang Siren was silent for a moment, then said firmly, "Yes."

"Okay, let's do it."

The task was absurd, but what could be done when the Duke had arranged it?

Upon further reflection, if Wang Shichong wanted to control Luoyang, he would never harm his own trusted confidants.

……

The setting sun cast its light on the walls of Yanshi City, and the river breeze blowing from the Yi River, carrying the desolation of autumn, ruffled the beard and long robe of a middle-aged man.

He looked west towards the eastern capital, his gaze filled with both cunning and pressure, as well as a profound sense of being deeply mired in debt.

It was Li Mi, the most famous debtor of the Sui Dynasty.

On the list of debtors, he was a formidable figure whom even Emperor Liang, Xiao Xian, would avoid.

"Master Mi, can Wang Shichong's words be trusted?"

Wang Bodang, who was standing to the side with a bow and arrows on his back, also followed Li Mi's gaze and looked eastward towards the capital.

"Of course you can't believe it."

Shen Luoyan replied without hesitation: "This person will be fickle as long as his own interests are involved. You can't trust a single word he says. He is using us this time, but aren't we also using him?"

Li Mi stroked his beard and said in a deep voice, "Not bad."

"As long as that guy lives, I'll never have peace of mind."

His eyes swept over Shen Luoyan and Wang Bodang: "I have a strong feeling that this may be the last golden opportunity. Once it's missed, it will be too late to regret it."

Li Mi gave a cold laugh:
"Wang Shichong underestimated me, and this time he will also pay the price. The magnificent city of Dongdu will open its doors to us for the first time."

Wang Bodang looked around and whispered a reminder: "Lord Mi, those foreigners have ulterior motives. After this matter is over, we still need to find a way to get rid of them."

"Don't worry, these people can't easily gain the upper hand by playing mind games with me. Right now, I'm just giving them a little taste of the sweetness. I also have to thank my mortal enemy for cooperating. If he hadn't aroused the fear of all the tribes, my inferior strategy wouldn't have become the best one."

"These alien forces are nothing."

Li Mi's expression darkened as he thought of something.

"I still can't understand why Mao Gong would betray me."

When Xu Shiji was mentioned, Wang Bodang and Shen Luoyan had different expressions. Back then, he and Mi Gong's son went to plan the Pegasus Ranch. Although it was a pity that they failed, his sudden defection to the enemy became a worry for all of them.

Shen Luoyan was aware of Xu Shiji's attitude towards her.

I never imagined that this guy would help Mi Gong's greatest enemy turn against her.

If Xu Shiji had been this assertive when he was a sycophant, she would have thought more highly of him.

Nowadays, Xu Shiji has gained immense fame in Jiangnan, with various rumors surrounding him far surpassing those about him when he was in Wagangzhai.

The group heard that Xu Shiji always took the lead in every battle, capturing every city he encountered, and that his ability to mobilize troops was brought to its fullest potential in Jiangnan.

Is he suddenly so proactive just because he changed bosses?
This was something Li Mi found hard to accept.

He was eager to know what methods his mortal enemy had used to force Xu Shiji to work so hard.

Wang Bodang took a deep breath and imagined, "Did Xu Shiji deliberately gain Zhou Tianshi's trust so that when Mi Gong attacked the south, he could support Mi Gong and secure victory in one fell swoop?"

This is pure daydreaming.

If that mortal enemy were that stupid, he would probably have been killed long ago.

Li Mi didn't point it out, but simply smiled at Wang Bodang.

Shen Luoyan followed Wang Bodang's words and said, "I hope Shiji can bring us a surprise."

"Have you set off to return home?"

"They have already gone east along the Yi River to the capital."

Shen Luoyan said, "He will be the first among us to meet Master Zhou."

Yue Sigui was an old-timer in the Pushan Gong camp, and Li Mi trusted him the most when he led the team.

Yue Sigui played a significant role in the fire at the Taiping Taoist Temple on Mount Fuzi back then.

Li Mi said with a hint of expectation, "Compared to Xu Shiji, I hope to get good news from Si Gui. As long as the Zhou family dies, the entire southern power will fall apart, the world will be more chaotic, and we will have more opportunities."

Before sunset, the delegation from Yanshi arrived in the Eastern Capital.

The guards at the city gates were Duan Da's men.

The Duke of Chen followed the instructions of the Nine-Headed Insect and gave the order in advance.

Therefore, the city guards turned a blind eye and let Li Mi's men into the city. This was not the first time they had done this.

Yue Sigui was in charge of leading the team, but his martial arts skills were quite ordinary among the team members.

The group of people behind him was truly a 'gathering of heroes'.

For example, the Khitan Huyan Jin and the Goryeo Han Chaoan, who were separated on the left and right, were known as the three great bandits along with the Shiwei Shenmo Huan, who was killed by Zhou Yi.

They are all like the wind, appearing and disappearing without a trace, inspiring fear in those who hear of them.

Such notorious bandits were not uncommon in Yue Sigui's group.

After entering the city, they had a clear objective: to converge on the areas where the Tuyuhun, Tiele, Liang, and Western Qin forces were gathered.

Meanwhile, the even more lively banquet at the Dugu residence came to an end.

When Li Jiancheng learned the exact details of the old lady's old illness, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the Dugu family owes the Taoist Celestial Master a debt of gratitude, it is not so great that they have to gamble with the fate of the family. The Li clan still has a great chance.

Even Juexin noticed this.

Therefore, after the banquet, the old nun Cihang took her leave.

"Master, is the He Shi Bi jade in Jing Nian Zen Temple?"

Based on his memory, Zhou Yi asked directly.

The old nun Juexin immediately stopped: "The details of the arrangements made by the host are unknown to this humble nun. If the Celestial Master has any doubts, he may investigate on his own. However, recently, the Venerable Liaokong has not been receiving any guests."

"If the Celestial Master has patience, he only needs to wait a while."

Zhou Yi didn't say anything more.

Judging from the old nun Juexin's appearance, the He Shi Bi is most likely at Jingnian Temple, but she is fearless and doesn't seem worried at all about her sudden visit.

Li Jiancheng accompanied Dugu Lang to see the old nun Juexin out.

Li Jia's eldest son was very attentive, and Zhou Yi couldn't help but want to remind him.

You've misplaced your trust, Dalang.

You are not the chosen one in Old Ni's heart.

But even the old nun Juexin couldn't have imagined that no sooner had she left than Erfeng pulled out a Taoist classic, the very same "Huainan Honglie" that he had received from Zhou Yi using an eagle feather when he left the Pegasus Ranch.

There were rumors of five extraordinary books in the early years. After the rise of the Celestial Master, the Taiping Hongbao became a well-known secret manual among people in the martial arts world.

It is said that Hongbao is closely related to Honglie of Huainan.

Therefore, there are many people in the world who study this scripture, and some fanatical people have even gone so far as to forget to eat and sleep.

When Li Shimin obtained this classic text, he also consulted some learned scholars.

But upon meeting Zhou Yi, the originator of this legend, I naturally couldn't help but ask him for advice.

Zhou Yi's interpretation method is quite different from those of those learned scholars and PhDs, and his main idea is "I can interpret it however I want".

Empress Zhangsun, who was standing to the side, initially suspected that he was making things up.

But upon closer listening, one suddenly realized that his interpretation of the scriptures could be connected with martial arts.

The subtle and ingenious ideas that emerge one after another, touching the heart yet elusive, truly inspire endless imagination.

"Is it truly the treasure hidden in my pillow?"

Erfeng held the book and sighed. He gazed at the contents of the ancient book and had some insights: "Thank you for your guidance, Brother Zhou."

Zhou Yi waved his hand, then left with a thought-provoking remark: "If there is an opportunity in the future, I will tell the story of Hongbao in the Ziwei Palace."

I saw a girl waving subtly in the distance.

Zhou Yi then left Erfeng and her husband behind, letting them fill in the blanks on their own.

Empress Zhangsun picked up the Huainan Honglie sword from the second princess's hand:
"It seems I was being cynical. This is truly a Taoist classic that elucidates the mysteries of martial arts. Ordinary people can explain the meaning of the text, but they cannot convey the feeling of its profound implications beyond words. Shimin, you are right."

She smiled and said, "I forgive your rash act of bringing back cicadas."

Li Shimin didn't bother arguing with her and silently recalled Zhou Yi's words.

Empress Dowager Changsun then asked, "Then do you think what he just said was true or false?"

"Of course it's true."

Li Shimin said sincerely, "Brother Zhou has great ambitions and is more like the number one person in the Taoist sect. I finally understand why those Taoists support him."

"Shh~"

Changsun Wugou said, "Ning Sanren is very good to you, don't let anyone hear about it."

"but."

"He said he wanted to recount the story of Hongbao in the Ziwei Palace, perhaps to the Daoist community. You have a fairly good relationship with him, so if the opportunity arises, I will too."

She hesitated, realizing she had been too greedy.

Li Shimin joked, "You want to enter the Ziwei Palace to attend classes and become a disciple of the Celestial Master, right?"

Empress Zhangsun leaned closer and said to Li Shimin, "If I could listen to the cicadas sing with you for a few more lifetimes, I would gladly be anyone's disciple."

After listening to her words, Li Shimin looked up at the distant starry sky that was about to dim.

Then, he glanced again in the direction Zhou Yi had left.
Deep within the inner courtyard, past a small bridge and flowing water, stands an elegant and imposing wooden pavilion.

The fifth young lady of the Sha family heard the footsteps first, then stood up and leaned against the railing by the boudoir to look around.

Two figures were approaching from a distance.

Xiao Feng is great!
Sha Zhijing was a little excited and gave a silent thumbs-up.

As the moon rises above the willow branches, and the rendezvous takes place after dusk, glass lanterns are lit under the eaves of the Dugu Mansion. The gentle evening breeze softens the light, and the dim yellow glow adds to the enchanting atmosphere.

Getting to know the charming Taoist priest at this time would be more fitting than in the afternoon.

"This is Sha Zhijing, the fifth young lady of the Sha family, and my best friend in Luoyang."

Dugu Feng smiled, pursing her lips.

Sha Zhijing, with grace and poise, gave a slight curtsy and greeted him, "Master Zhou."

Good evening, Miss Sha.

Zhou Yi seemed more outgoing, walking ahead of Dugu Feng onto the waterside pavilion, and without needing anyone to serve him, he poured himself some tea.

Sha Zhijing was quite surprised to see his familiar movements, and quickly gave Dugu Feng a wink.

Thinking to myself, "You're being so rude. How can you expect the handsome Taoist priest to pour his own tea?"

They were not only guests, but also people of such high status.

Sha Zhijing suddenly realized that her best friend seemed not to have seen her reminder and had completely ignored it.

However, he's not so imposing in private; he seems quite approachable.

Miss Wu was pleasantly surprised, feeling that her chances of succeeding had increased considerably.

She's usually very talkative, but right now she's tongue-tied and doesn't know where to begin.

She then winked at her best friend.

Xiao Feng was a true friend; as soon as he saw her gesture, he immediately walked towards the stone table.

The fifth young lady thought to herself that she would find topics to talk about and get to know each other better.

But what happened next made her widen her beautiful, bright eyes even more.

The Fifth Miss's eyes were filled with 'fear', and the fear grew stronger, as if she had seen a demon.

Xiao Feng sat down next to the handsome Taoist priest and immediately reached out to hug one of his arms.

this.!!
Then, the two stared at each other, oblivious to everyone else, their gazes so sweet.

Sha Zhijing felt as if she had eaten a mouthful of Jiangnan maltose.

This scene is really hard to understand. They have only met a few times, and it was during the time when he was treating the old lady's injuries. How did they suddenly get better?
This is not right!
Her stiff brain started working again.

Could it be that the old lady saw the powerful Master Qiao and directly betrothed Xiao Feng to him?
Did Xiao Feng immediately resign herself to her fate?

Your willpower is so weak!
Sha Zhijing thought about it and realized that it was indeed possible. She glanced at that handsome face again and thought that she would also "reluctantly" accept her fate if she were in his shoes.

'Sha Tiannan, aren't you going to do your job? Look at that old lady.'

If the richest man in Luoyang heard his daughter's complaint, he would probably be so angry that he wouldn't be able to eat dinner that night.

At this point, Sha Zhijing had completely forgotten about any feelings of "the majesty of the Celestial Master".

She sat on the stone bench, looking at Dugu Feng with a hint of resentment.

She finally found a handsome young man, only to have her best friend snatch him away in the blink of an eye.

I was just about to ask why.

Suddenly, Dugu Feng smiled and said, "Jingjing, he's the 'rascal' you were talking about."

When Sha Zhijing heard the word "scoundrel," she was taken aback.

Then, realizing what had happened, she looked surprised and quickly covered her mouth, almost letting out a cry.

The man Xiaofeng had been longing for was actually him!

Zhou Yi couldn't help but look at the Fifth Miss. Sha Zhijing waved her hands repeatedly, but before she could explain, Dugu Feng simply explained where the "scoundrel" label came from.

For example, "It's been a long time since I've been to Tokyo."

For example, did you forget about the person?

For example, is he having affairs?

Sha Zhijing felt increasingly uneasy as she listened. When did I ever say such a thing?

She realized that her best friend was using her to express her own feelings, so she decided to just bear it silently.

As Sha Zhijing listened, she poured herself some tea. Gradually, the tea started to taste off to her.

Because Zhou Yi also discovered Dugu Feng's intention, he reached out and lifted her onto his lap.

"What other bastards are there?"

Dugu Feng immediately stopped making a sound, and while pushing him, she said softly with a hint of shyness, "Jingjing is still here, put me down, I won't say anything more."

Sha Zhijing glanced at Zhou Yi, feeling that she had been used by him as well.

No wonder you two got together.

She rested her chin on one hand and lightly tapped the teacup with the porcelain lid in the other, saying casually, "You can continue. Just pretend I'm not there."

Dugu Feng got off Zhou Yi's lap, sat down next to Sha Zhijing, and poured her a cup of tea.

“Jingjing, his identity is so special, even my grandmother doesn’t know.”

"Okay, okay, I'm not blaming you."

The fifth young lady sniffed in dissatisfaction: "However, you have to satisfy my curiosity."

"Okay, I'll let you know when I have time."

Dugu Feng guessed what she wanted to ask, but she was too shy to say it in front of Zhou Yi.

I wanted to keep Sha Zhijing here for a while longer.

But Miss Fifth didn't want to be a third wheel, and she certainly didn't want to be subjected to public displays of affection.

Although the two had been together for a long time, it was still heartbreaking to lose the handsome young man she had her eye on.

Dugu Feng couldn't refuse, so he had no choice but to see her to the door.

Sha Zhijing teased her a few times, and then returned to the Sha family home, which was just across the street, accompanied by a group of guards.

She had barely returned home when she was summoned to her father's place.

The Sha family started their fortune in mining and became a powerful merchant family that controlled the lifeline of the military industry.

In the room where Sha Tiannan handled important matters, numerous precious weapons, including swords, spears, axes, and halberds, hung on two walls, their gemstones gleaming. These were the finest weapons gathered from hundreds of weapon factories across Kyushu, the source of his pride.

Sha Tiannan is over fifty years old, possesses excellent martial arts skills, and is well-maintained.

She looks younger.

When Sha Zhijing entered, Sha Tiannan, who was admiring a "Cold Iron Treasure Blade" produced by his rival Dongming Sect under the lamp, immediately showed a kind smile.

"Father, what do you want with me?"

"Oh, you've been staying at the Dugu residence all this time. Tell me about what's going on there."

"No one reported this to you?"

“Yes,” Sha Tiannan stroked his short beard, his face serious, “but you came back later, so you may have seen more. The attitude of the Dugu family is crucial to us.”

"This is a critical moment, and I can't afford to be careless. If we make the wrong choice, even if we manage to preserve the family business, we will fall into ruin."

Sha Tiannan then recounted his subordinates' reports and assessments:

"Chief Steward Dugu should have a higher opinion of the Li Clan. Our relationship with the Li Clan is also very close, and several of our mines are cooperating with the Guanzhong Sword Sect. I just don't know to what extent the Celestial Master can cure the old lady's illness."

Sha Zhijing frowned: "Dad, you're completely wrong."

"how you said that?"

Sha Zhijing didn't explain why, but took a few steps closer: "The Dugu family must support the Celestial Master."

Sha Tiannan knew his daughter liked to joke, but when he looked at her closely, he found that she was very serious.

"This matter concerns the rise and fall of our family, so don't try to fool your father."

"Why did I lie to you?"

Sha Zhijing said confidently, "You can trust me; the Dugu family will definitely support the Celestial Master to the end. Moreover..."

She glanced at Sha Tiannan and said, "What kind of judgment do you have, Father? I saw the Celestial Master today and I know I should support him. Have you been blinded by the reputation of some traditional aristocratic family?"

The richest man in Sha was even more astonished: "Tell me, where did you find out?"

Sha Zhijing wanted to say something, but then she remembered that their relationship hadn't been revealed to outsiders.

Although the daughter hesitated and didn't say anything, the richest man in Sha was not stupid.

The only source she could have known about the secret was Dugu Feng's daughter.

After a moment's thought, Sha Tiannan realized something and suddenly stood up.

Before his daughter could come up with an explanation, he pressed on, "Jingjing, are you telling the truth?"

"really."

After receiving the reply, the richest man in Sha smiled and gave away his beloved daughter.

Some things can have completely different outcomes depending on when they happen earlier or later. Sha Tiannan, who had originally intended to observe, keenly sensed something unusual.

Dugu Feng might be confused, but if he makes a decision, Sha Tiannan will never blindly follow.

However, important matters concerning that Miss Dugu must be decided by the old lady.

If you say that this old lady is being foolish, Sha Shoufu would absolutely not believe it. If that were the case, the Dugu family would have declined long ago.

The old lady is gambling heavily, and I, Sha Tiannan, must lend a hand.

"Butler, butler~!"

Sha Tiannan roared and summoned all three of his capable stewards.

That night, the Sha family mansion was anything but peaceful.
"Your Majesty, please stay at the palace tonight."

In these chaotic times, the emperor's treatment was far less than in times of peace; he was not as pampered, and living in constant fear was a common occurrence.

Yang Tong refused Dugu Feng's suggestion.

He had just chatted with the old lady for a while, and was now preparing to return to the palace.

Standing at the entrance of the Dugu residence, Yang Tong didn't have to wait long before he heard footsteps. He turned around and saw a young man in white walking towards him.

"Heavenly Master."

The young emperor, imitating the manners of a江湖人 (jianghu person, someone who travels the martial arts world), clasped his hands in a respectful bow, maintaining both his noble bearing and proper etiquette.

Dugu Feng, who had not yet reached the secret center, was now very hesitant, wondering if it was appropriate for the Emperor Tai to have such contact with the Taoist Celestial Master.

Then I thought about it.

Yang Guang drank with him, so he didn't need Yang Tong either.

"Father, Grandmother is calling you."

Dugu Ce called out from inside, sending Dugu Feng away.

Dugu Feng had wanted to listen to their conversation, but his mother called, so he had no choice but to take his leave.

As soon as Dugu Feng left, several loyal guards from the palace came up. Yang Tong waved his hand, ordering them all to leave, and even the eunuchs waiting on the side were driven away.

Zhou Yi did not have any ill feelings towards this kind-hearted young emperor.

"Your Majesty the Emperor."

He also clasped his hands slightly and walked to Yang Tong's side: "I wonder what Your Majesty wants to say to me?"

Yang Tong breathed a sigh of relief: "Celestial Master, could I take up some of your time?"

"can."

Yang Tong, having heard his agreement, slowly began to speak:

“When my grandfather went on a trip to Jiangdu, he ordered me to stay behind in Luoyang and appointed ministers such as Duan Da to assist me. After that, life was never peaceful. We used Luoyang as our base and first engaged in fierce battles with the armies of Zhai Rang and Li Mi.”

"As the war continued, the Eastern Capital Imperial Court lost its prestige, and eventually, military power mostly fell into the hands of Wang Shichong."

"After the news of my grandfather's murder reached Luoyang, they made me emperor, but I was just a puppet, and a very tiring one at that."

Yang Tong’s face revealed a maturity beyond his years: “Many times, I miss the time when my grandfather was still alive. I was very carefree then, I didn’t have to worry about anything, and I didn’t have to worry about being suddenly killed by someone.”

He showed a look of fear:
“I am very afraid of seeing Wang Shichong, especially when he kills people on my orders. Even with my uncle from the Dugu family speaking up for me, I dare not offend him.”

Yang Tong, confirming that Zhou Yi was listening, continued:

"Master, if Wang Shichong completely controls Dongdu, what will become of me?"

Zhou Yi succinctly stated: "A cup of poisoned wine."

Yang Tong wasn't surprised: "I thought so too. Judging from his methods towards others, I knew I wouldn't have a good ending."

Zhou Yi asked, "Does Emperor Tai desire the He Shi Bi jade?"

"Do not want to."

Yang Tong said, "Firstly, I can't protect it, and secondly, I can't get it at all. It's just that Wang Shichong wants it, and I'm cooperating with him."

“My grandfather told me long ago that the martial arts holy lands in the Jianghu have no goodwill towards my Yang family. I think he was right, because the Cihang Jingzhai people came to the Dugu family, which had nothing to do with me, and they never went to the capital to look for me.”

Zhou Yi was slightly surprised by the boy's level of clarity.

"Why do you trust me and tell me these things? You should know that I have also won over your men, which is not much different from Wang Shichong seizing military power."

Yang Tong calmly replied:
"That's because Lu Chu and Huangfu Wuyi thought that if the Celestial Master controlled the Eastern Capital, I could survive. They were favored by the late emperor, but they had no ability to turn the tide. I don't blame them. The Celestial Master is also different from Wang Shichong."

“Otherwise, my grandfather would not have drunk with the Celestial Master. I have never heard of him respecting any Jianghu person.”

Zhou Yi smiled slightly: "If you were born in a peaceful era, you might have been a good emperor. Unfortunately, I have my own concerns and cannot become the Celestial Master of the Sui Dynasty."

Yang Tong shook his head: "The Celestial Master has misunderstood. In fact, Renjin regards you as an elder."

Renjin was the courtesy name of Yang Tong.

He laughed and said, "Perhaps I should call you Uncle-in-law."

Ok?
Zhou Yi calculated the generations, and Little Phoenix was indeed the young emperor's maternal aunt.

"Who told you?"

"I discovered it myself."

Yang Tong said:
"I listened most of the time during the banquet today because I had heard of your great name before, so I paid the most attention to you. Lu Chu said that you were invited to treat the old lady's old ailment, and I have been wondering who this person is."

"Later I suddenly realized that my aunt seemed to be looking at you. I had heard from others that she looked down on all the young men in Dongdu. Later, when I was talking to the old lady, I mentioned you a few times and found that her attitude towards you was also very different."

"It's very different from when it was in the banquet hall, after you treated her injuries."

"There were only the three of you in the room at the time, and considering the situation in Dongdu, I just made a wild guess."

Zhou Yi smiled upon hearing this: "I underestimated you a bit."

Yang Tong humbly replied:
“I don’t usually think about these things, but I pay more attention to the Celestial Master.”

Zhou Yi tentatively asked, "How would you like me to help you?"

Yang Tong stared at him intently: "I hope to survive. If I have the chance, I don't ask to become a disciple of the Celestial Master, but I only hope to receive some guidance on Taoism."

"Oh? You're interested in Taoist philosophy?"

"My grandfather later pursued the art of immortality and collected many Taoist scriptures. I had nothing to do in the palace, so I often looked through them. It's just a pity that some of these books were taken away by a Western Region monk under Wang Shichong."

He added, "I don't understand those Taoist classics very well, nor do I grasp the essence of their martial arts."

"Then why do you want to read it so deeply?"

"When the Duke of Lu was alive, he mentioned to me that the Taoist martial arts and doctrines are free and unrestrained. To me, the Eastern Capital is like a big cage, and I don't want to continue being a puppet in the cage."

Zhou Yi sensed his urgent desire for freedom and survival.

Yang Tong said sincerely, "Uncle, I can provide you with everything in the Eastern Capital Imperial City according to the most proper etiquette."

The boy looked somewhat embarrassed: "Of course, I don't have anything else to offer."

These rules and etiquettes were not important to Zhou Yi, but he did not tell Yang Tong about them, and the young man did not make any excessive demands.

"You should go back to the palace first. If Wang Shichong seeks you out, just agree to everything he asks. The Eastern Capital is not yet settled, so he will not take action against you for the time being."

Yang Tong clasped his hands in a fist salute once more and left the Dugu residence.

Guangshen, your grandson is better than you.

Zhou Yi smiled and quietly returned to his residence.
As night deepened, the moonlight, like frost, bathed Luoyang, the eastern capital. The main street stretched out like a white ribbon, and the towering buildings were shrouded in a hazy glow.

Two figures leaped out gracefully from the Dugu residence under the cover of night.

"Go this way."

Dugu Feng pointed south: "Jingnian Temple is in the southern suburbs, quite a distance away."

Her beautiful eyes were filled with worry:

“They were already on high alert, and you made a fool of yourself by speaking to that nun Juexin, alerting them. They must have a large number of people lying in ambush right now. I don’t want to take you with me at all.”

Zhou Yi sat on the roof of an attic, stroking his chin in thought:
"Yes, if they catch me, I might be able to save my life thanks to my friendship with Master Daoxin, which involved sharing a gourd of wine. But I'll definitely have to become a monk. Xiao Feng, do you want to remarry?"

"No."

Dugu Feng knew he was joking, but she glared at him irritably: "If you are captured by them, I will definitely practice the Celestial Master's Thoughts diligently. There will always be a chance to rescue you. Don't underestimate me."

She was very unhappy with Zhou Yi's assumption, but her slightly pouting expression was quite adorable.
"Besides, she didn't marry you."

Before Little Phoenix could say anything more, Zhou Yi suddenly leaned in and kissed her on her snow-white face.

His movements were too fast; the girl couldn't react in time.

"Xiao Feng, you look so tempting. Let's not go to the temple, let's go back to sleep."

The girl's cheeks flushed red, and she spat lightly.

Next, he took out the package he had brought from the mansion, and inside was a black robe.

She draped the black robe over Zhou Yi, who immediately understood her intention.

"Walk."

As he spoke, he opened his arms to the little phoenix, and then a warm fragrance enveloped him.

"Little Celestial Master Zhou, hurry up."

The girl hugged him, her face full of anticipation.

Zhou Yi thought of Fule City a few years ago, and of the failed takeoff in Jiangdu last time.

In an instant, he mobilized all his strength and burst out from the roof ridge.

Under the moonlight, a dark figure sped south at a speed unimaginable to ordinary people.

The Luo River meanders silently around the city, its ripples carried by the shadows swept by the wind over the Tianjin Bridge. At that extreme speed, the distant, brilliant starry sky seems to dissolve into countless points of starlight, scattering into the autumn night.

The black robes billowed, tearing the wind apart with unparalleled speed!

That night, many residents of Luoyang heard a strange sound and lit lamps and opened their windows.

But the sound could not be found, as if it had disappeared in a very far place.

Some wondered if the sudden sound was the cry of a wild goose breaking the autumn melancholy from beyond the clouds.

Whose jade flute is playing softly in the dark?

Or perhaps it's like "The West Garden's thousand gates are as bright as day at night, and one can still hear the tinkling of jade pendants as painted boats depart?"

Zhou Yi, wielding his full light-footed skill, said, "Can you hear the ancient northern desert ballads?"

"Ok!"

Dugu Feng's eyes flashed with the retreating lights of the Eastern Capital, and her voice was filled with joy:

"The wind was torn apart, but I felt that it was not whimpering. This wonderful and moving sound was the wind rejoicing, the most free and joyful melody."

When Zhou Yi stopped, Jingnian Temple was already not far away.

Dugu Feng stepped out of his embrace and looked at him with gentle eyes: "Little Celestial Master Zhou, has anyone else heard the song of the wind?"

"No, it's just you."

After Zhou Yi finished speaking, his expression changed slightly. Then, he and Dugu Feng looked at the bamboo forest not far away.

First came two bursts of laughter, followed by a teasing voice.

"Unfortunately, we heard it too."

The words have not yet fallen.

Two figures silently appeared as a few bamboo leaves drifted down.

Under the moonlight, a refined middle-aged man and a young woman partially veiled could be seen, their gazes sweeping back and forth between Dugu Feng and Zhou Yi.
……

(End of this chapter)