Nine Nights Owl Song

Qian Shaoqing remained silent for a long time, then picked up the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp, placing the empty bowl on the table.

"I know. I knew from day one that you weren't in the silk business. Qingjiang City is such a small place, how could I not know if a stranger came here? My father is the military governor. I had people investigate your background, but we couldn't find anything. There are no records of trade routes, no proof of operating a silk business in Luoyang. You're like someone who appeared out of thin air."

Zhao Ying lowered her head and looked at the wine bowl.

"Then why don't you expose me?"

Qian Shaoqing looked into his eyes.

"Because I have no friends. Everyone around me since I was a child has been after my father's power. Not one of them is sincere. Although you approached me with ulterior motives, you are sincere to me. I can see that when we were drinking, discussing knives, and admiring the view from the mountaintop, you were sincere."

Qian Shaoqing picked up Zhao Ying's wine bowl, poured himself a bowl, and drank it all in one gulp.

Sincerity knows no bounds.

Zhao Ying's eyes reddened.

Qian Shaoqing put down his wine bowl and looked at him.

"Have you ever killed anyone while you were in the Dark Pavilion?"

"Killed."

"How many have you killed?"

"I can't remember."

Qian Shaoqing nodded without asking whether the person killed was a good person or a bad person.

For assassins, there is no good or evil on their blades, only life and death.

He drew the cold iron knife from his waist and placed it across his knee.

"My knife has killed people, those who deserved it and those who didn't. My father said that when it comes to great things, one shouldn't concern oneself with trifles; some people simply have to be killed."

Zhao Ying looked at the knife.

The blade gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

"Your swordsmanship is excellent."

Qian Shaoqing looked at him.

"Your swordsmanship is better. There's a whole realm difference between a Core Formation Realm cultivator and a peak Transformation Realm cultivator. You're letting me win."

Zhao Ying did not deny it.

"You're my friend, I can't let my friend lose too badly."

Qian Shaoqing's lips curved slightly.

Zhao Ying smiled too.

Two people sat under a plum tree, with a pot of cheap wine and two knives. One was at the early stage of the Core Formation Realm, and the other was at the peak of the Transformation Realm.

Zhao Ying asked Qian Shaoqing what his plans were for the future.

Qian Shaoqing fell silent.

He didn't know what to do in the future. Qingjiang had submitted to the imperial court and handed over his military power. His father was still the military governor, but things were different from before.

He used to be a local tyrant, now he's a subject of the imperial court.

"I want to join the Dark Pavilion," Qian Shaoqing suddenly said.

Zhao Ying's wine bowl stopped in mid-air.

"What did you say?"

"I want to join the secret service."

Qian Shaoqing looked at him.

"I don't want to stay in Qingjiang, I don't want to do nothing every day. I want to do something meaningful, just like you."

Zhao Ying put down her wine bowl.

"Do you know what the Dark Pavilion does? They kill people."

"I know. You killed those who deserved to die, not the innocent. The Dark Pavilion's rules are: do not kill the innocent, do not harm the loyal, and do not commit unjust acts. Such an organization is worth joining."

Zhao Ying remained silent for a long time. He stood up.

When Su Jiuge arrived, Qian Shaoqing was still sitting under the plum blossom tree. The wine jar was empty, and two wine bowls were placed side by side on the stone table. Qian Shaoqing stood up and looked at Su Jiuge.

"You want to join the Dark Pavilion?" Su Jiuge asked.

Qian Shaoqing nodded.

"Why?" Qian Shaoqing thought for a moment.

"I don't want to stay in Qingjiang. I want to do something meaningful. I can't spend all of my father's money, I can't become his official, and I can't manage his soldiers. Qingjiang doesn't need me."

He paused.

"I want to give it a try. Killing, spying, whatever."

Su Jiuge looked into his eyes, and there was seriousness in them.

"The rules of the Dark Pavilion are: do not kill the innocent, do not harm the loyal, and do not commit unjust acts. If you violate any of these rules, I will kill you with my own hands."

"I know."

Su Jiuge nodded.

"From today onwards, you are a member of the Dark Pavilion. You will have a three-month probationary period. Those who can stay after three months will remain, and those who cannot will leave." Qian Shaoqing clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Your subordinate obeys."

Zhao Ying walked over from the side and bumped him with her shoulder.

"We'll be colleagues from now on."

Qian Shaoqing looked at Zhao Ying, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Um."

On the 23rd day of the first lunar month, Qian Shaoqing officially joined the Dark Pavilion.

After learning about it, Qian Shigui remained silent for a long time, and finally only said, "Go."

My son has grown up and I can't keep him here. He's no longer a fledgling; he's an eagle, and he has to fly.

Qian Shaoqing packed a bundle, a few changes of clothes, and a cold iron sword. He kowtowed three times to his father at the gate of the mansion, stood up, mounted his horse, and rode away without looking back.

Su Jiuge stood at the entrance of the inn waiting.

Zhao Ying stood beside her, watching Qian Shaoqing riding towards them from afar, and a smile curved her lips.

Shen Qing stood in the shadows, expressionless.

Lin Mo poked his head out of the carriage.

"Another one. The carriage is full."

Zhao Ying glanced at him.

"You walk." Lin Mo shrank back.

Qian Shaoqing rode his horse up to Su Jiuge, dismounted, and stood next to Zhao Ying.

The two were a man and a woman, one still and one in motion. One wore a black brocade robe, his features refined and handsome, and he was taciturn. The other wore a moon-white brocade robe, his eyebrows sharp and his eyes bright, with a smile playing on his lips.

Su Jiuge's gaze shifted from Qian Shaoqing's face to Zhao Ying's face, and then back to Qian Shaoqing.

She only said one sentence: "I'm leaving."

He mounted his horse.

Zhao Ying and Qian Shaoqing followed behind, Shen Qing walked at the very back, and Lin Mo's carriage creaked and groaned in the middle of the procession.

Spring is gradually deepening in the southern region during the first month of the lunar calendar.

Wildflowers bloomed by the roadside, yellow, white, and purple dotting the landscape. Zhao Ying rode her horse alongside Qian Shaoqing.

"Brother Qian, you've joined the Dark Pavilion. From now on, you must listen to me," Qian Shaoqing said, looking at him.

"You're a gold medalist, and so am I."

Zhao Ying choked for a moment.

"You're still on probation."

Qian Shaoqing said, "I'll be a gold medalist even after the probation period."

Zhao Ying opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Qian Shaoqing looked ahead, a slight smile playing on his lips.