Yidu, the imperial palace.
The best lamp was lit in front of the table, the candle flame was bright and smokeless, illuminating the table as if it were daytime. Xu Jingxing pressed his aching forehead and put down the memorial in his hand.
Compared to the dissolute Prince Rong, Xu Jingxing had been the emperor for so many years, and his features had accumulated a lot of maturity and steadiness. He looked a bit like Prince Rong Xu Jingming, but his facial features were more solemn than Xu Jingming's, making him more handsome.
But his handsomeness was obscured by a look of worry.
Xu Jingxing has high cheekbones and slightly sunken cheeks. He drank immortal wine, so even though his face looks a bit old, the few strands of white hair on his head are quite noticeable. He always likes to frown, and his whole person exudes a bit of an old-fashioned air.
The Yun Dynasty flourished for a hundred years and has not yet declined. However, governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. Xu Jingxing is a natural talent. Just maintaining the eight words "peaceful rivers and seas, and a peaceful country and a safe people" almost exhausted his energy.
Xu Jingxing had no ambitions, but he also wanted to be a muddleheaded and incompetent ruler. He had put a lot of effort into punishing corrupt officials and clarifying the administration of officials, but just when things were starting to get better, the trouble at the border resurfaced, and Xu Jingxing was so annoyed that his head was about to explode.
"We just got a new king a few months ago, and those people of Luo Jiu are biting people everywhere like crazy. Barbarians are barbarians, don't they know how to rest and recuperate?"
Xu Jingxing sighed heavily. The old eunuch Lu Fu hurried forward and massaged the emperor's shoulders.
"Your Majesty, didn't the Luojiu barbarians cause trouble a few years ago? Last time, General Liu led his army to defeat the Luojiu elite and killed several of their generals—"
"Okay, we both know what General Liu is capable of."
Lu Fu changed his tone instantly: "Your Majesty, are you sending people to keep an eye on that person? If it's really difficult, ask the Water Review Pavilion to help pass a message. He won't dare to refuse."
"Dare? What dare he have?" Xu Jingxing smiled bitterly, "Before, I was willing to use the sand table to replace the battle, but I was just bored. That evil creature never took me seriously."
Although he said it, there was no fear like King Rong in his words, only a hint of disgust.
"Why did the emperor let him go in the first place?"
Lu Fu said cautiously.
"This boy is very lucky. The emperor is kindhearted and has spared his life and provided him with good food and drink. This is the utmost kindness. If Jiang Youyue had interfered, I would have thought..."
Xu Jingxing interrupted him directly: "A kind-hearted person?"
His tone was more mocking than sarcastic.
"No, I'll give him another year to live, so I'll let him find a way to survive. If he finds one, I'll be able to use it. If he does, I'll also give him a way out - if I keep that monster by my side and force him into a corner, I'm afraid he'll smash my head when I close my eyes one day."
Lu Fu swallowed his saliva and dared not say another word.
"I thought that with the respect shown by the generals, the country would be able to enjoy peace for a few more years. But a powerful Na Luojiu managed to fool those bastards... Jiang Youyue is really a good talent for me."
Lu Fu: "I heard that the new king of Luojiu was called 'God' by the barbarians. Maybe it's not that the generals are weak, but that the king got help from God. Your Majesty, please don't get angry, or you may upset your dragon body..."
Xu Jingxing snorted coldly: "Recently, you've been talking more and more like Jiang Youyue. Which new king ascends the throne and uses the rhetoric of divine help? Barbarians are just exaggerating... Even if it's as weird as Jingzhi, it's just one head and one heart. Dead is dead."
"Da Yun's prosperity over the years has been based on the Immortal Guidance and the common people. I will send people to investigate the matter of 'God's descent'. I will also support Jiang Youyue's recommendation."
"Then I respect him..."
"Let him toss it on himself first. How much splash can a small Kushan Sect make?"
Two hours later, at the Imperial Master's residence.
"Master, Lu Fu just sent me news. After a series of defeats at the border, Xu Jingxing still has no strength to deal with Luo Jiu."
Jiang Youyue sat in the small shrine in the Imperial Master's Mansion and reported in a low voice.
This was still the style of the shrine of the Emperor's House, but there was no plaque. Strong incense was burning in the shrine, and a transparent gauze curtain was hung in front of the altar.
After hearing Jiang Youyue's words, a low murmur came from inside the gauze tent.
"Disciple understands." Jiang Youyue lowered his head. "That Luojiu is not something to be afraid of. If you use it to hit Xu Jingxing, that person will be in danger. This matter is urgent, so we can only rely on God's will..."
Another muffled grunting sound was heard.
The gauze curtain trembled slightly, and something poked out from inside the curtain. Jiang Youyue knelt upright on the futon, lowering his head slightly.
A giant, dry hand passed through the gauze curtain. It raised its index finger and lightly touched Jiang Youyue's forehead with its fingertips.
The hand was so huge that it almost held Jiang Youyue's head tightly. The fingers were extremely thin, with only a layer of dark brown skin covering the hand bones, and when they moved, they looked like the thin legs of a spider.
“… Master taught me, I will keep it in mind.”
Half an incense stick later, Jiang Youyue bowed slightly. He did not look up at the owner of the hand, and his tone became more respectful.
"You have a destiny for him, and I will help him find a way to survive... Have you run out of 'immortal bodies'? I will bring you one right away."
After saying this, Jiang Youyue did not look for his servants. He straightened his clothes, opened the secret passage himself, and entered the secret room behind the shrine alone.
When he came out again, there was a wooden trailer behind him.
A body resembling a human corpse was lying on the wooden trailer. It was tightly wrapped in a white cloth covered in blood, and the cloth was soaked with an unknown liquid, showing a light green color.
Only the neck of the thing was wrapped in cloth, with a bowl-sized gap showing the outside, and the broken end was filled with dark brown dead roots. Those dead roots drooped lifelessly, the color of which was like rotten blood.
Fortunately, this headless corpse did not emit a stench, and the air was filled with the elegant fragrance of plants and trees.
The giant hand grabbed the "immortal body" wrapped in the curse cloth and slowly retracted the gauze curtain. After a while, a dense chewing sound came from the gauze curtain, which sounded like teeth chewing fine bones. The fragrance of plants became stronger, and the night wind blew over the candlelight of the shrine, but the candlelight did not sway at all.
From beginning to end, Jiang Youyue's expression remained calm and he did not raise his head even once.
"From my disciple's perspective, Master is the one who deserves to be 'watched'."
Before leaving the shrine, he sighed softly and spoke to others.
"It's a pity that it's hard to defy God's will."
The same room.
The Kushan Sect master and his disciples distributed all the gold beads and returned to the inn at midnight. They found that the two servants were not asleep at all, and they had lit a full lamp in their room, waiting with red eyes.
It was too bright around, even Mr. Bai couldn't fall asleep. The goose demon stomped around in the large guest room, venting his anger.
The master and disciple were caught red-handed as soon as they entered the door.
"Did the master leave a note? You two can relax and go to sleep directly."
Jingzhi laughed it off.
They were just doing business, but for some reason, he felt inexplicably guilty.
"Master, I have a favor to ask."
Yan Qing sat upright with his hands clenched tightly.
"Su Si, I have explained everything clearly. If the matter of Jianchen Temple gets out, my sect will definitely have a hard time."
"Why, do you want to defend the reputation of this sword and quit?" Xi Jingzhi raised his eyebrows, "I understand—"
"No. Whether it's my life, my old friend, or this sword of mercy, they were all given to me by Kushan Sect. If you withdraw now, what's the difference between you and destroying the bridge after crossing it?"
Yan Qing refused immediately, his tone very serious.
"I know that the master doesn't want to accept any more disciples, and I have no intention of forcing him to make an exception. But Senior Yin is very skilled in martial arts, so if possible, I would like to ask Senior Yin to accept me as his disciple. If our sect is involved in a conflict in the future, I will also help."
The young man's words were full of passion and determination, but his target was cold-blooded and heartless, and he said "give it to me" and gave it to me.
Yin Ci put away the veil and said leisurely, "I will take you in."
Yan Qing: “…”
There was no resentment on his face, only a bit of obedient pleading, like a puppy that was kicked out of the house.
"According to Master Juefei's 'Law of Fate', I have taught you. The technique and the person's temperament are suitable. You and I are on the same path, and I will only teach you the wrong way. If you really want to achieve great things, you must explore on your own."
Yin Ci didn't hesitate at all. After walking in the world for many years, what he was best at was to cool his heart and cut off worldly ties.
The little bit of humanity he had left was already used in the current master-disciple relationship, and he actually had the energy to take care of the second person. Besides, Yan Qing was a decent person, and if they got too deeply involved, they would only be in a dilemma and accomplish nothing.
Yin Ci gave Jingzhi a look, and the latter understood immediately.
"This was given to my sect by Master Juefei before he left."
Jingzhi showed his usual cordiality. He held up the thin book "Yuqing Sword Technique" in both hands and lied.
"He said that this technique is suitable for giant sword wielders, and he wants you to practice it well. If you become famous in the future, don't forget the good relationship you have with Jianchen Temple."
Yan Qing stood there in a daze: "Master..."
"You have laid a solid foundation with Tai Heng, and Tai Heng's basic skills are just right for you. I will teach you some mantras for cultivating internal strength, and you must practice swordsmanship well. You can catch up with Su Si within this year at the earliest."
"With Su Si's level, I can fully explain the key points in the secret book to you. I, Ah Ci, have other things to do, so I will not intervene in this matter."
Su Si: "The secret manual of Jianchen Temple is very valuable, is the master afraid that I will learn it secretly?"
He Jingzhi smiled brilliantly: "With your personality, you want to concentrate on using the great sword?"
Then he stood up and winked at Yin Ci: "Yan Qing, Su Si only taught you verbally. So we, master and disciple, read the secret book in advance and memorized the sword styles. We will demonstrate it to you, and you just watch carefully - Ah Ci, lend me the Shadow Sword and I will give you the flag."
"Master, just demonstrate the great sword."
"Lend me the Shadow-hanging Sword." He Jingzhi shook his hands again.
Yin Ci reluctantly took off his sword and threw it to Xi Jingzhi. He picked up the Medicine to Cure Diseases flag, rolled it up, and used it as a big sword.
Jingzhi: "Watch out, this is an offensive move. The first move is 'Jue Du Feng Zhou'."
The sword of Xi Jing was like a torrential rain, with a hint of Shi Zhongyu's Green Lady Sword. Yin Ci fought back with the flagpole, his movements were decisive and clean, with a big and powerful combination. His strength was tremendous, but he turned from being extremely strong and full of murderous intent into being soft around his fingers, leaving behind a lingering vitality.
"The second form, the defensive form, is 'today is different from yesterday'."
Yin Jing changed his moves, using his sword as a knife, and each move was cunning and vicious, going straight for Yin Ci's vital point. The latter responded to all changes with his own moves, and his flag was as steady as a dry pine tree in the rain. Occasionally, it moved, and the trajectory was smooth and steady, hitting the weak point of the knife move, and the bamboo pole was turned into a copper wall.
"Form 1."
Xi Jingzhi's voice became a little lighter.
"The last style is made of metal and stone."
"Wait," Yin Ci frowned, "This move is complicated. It's too early to demonstrate it now."
However, Jingzhi had already taken action.
This time he used his inner strength, and the Shadow Sword came forward with unprecedented murderous aura. Yin Ci sighed inwardly and responded with the first move -
The flagpole changed its previous heavy posture and danced lightly like snowflakes and majestic like a famous river. At the end, a warm and compassionate feeling burst out from the upright sword path, just like the wind stopped, the rain stopped, and everything was silent.
This move was performed in one go, with great momentum and it looked very energy-consuming. After the move was completed, the Shadow Sword was decisively knocked away and embedded deeply into the wall.
Yan Qing forgot to breathe, his face turned red, and he didn't even dare to blink.
Su Si's face was full of solemnity: "This is a method for the masses. If you injure one thousand enemies, you will lose eight hundred. It is not suitable for the last resort."
However, this time, someone took over his words.
Jingzhi took the flagpole and approached Yin Ci. The latter frowned slightly, his face was red from the fierce battle, and he looked so cold.
"Aci." Xu Jingzhi almost whispered, "You said you are suitable to teach Yan Qing, but why do I feel that this move 'Gold and Stone for the Heart' is not suitable for you?"
The man's eyes sparkled, and he looked determined to win. Yin Ci held back and flicked the tip of Jingzhi's nose.
"It's just a show."
Yin Ci dealt with it appropriately.
"... Master, you should first pull out the Shadow Sword on the wall. If you can fix it before dawn, you will have to pay for it."
Jingzhi's smile suddenly disappeared, and he took a breath of cold air: "Yan Qing, remember to repair the wall later, just as the tuition fee for this time."
As Jingzhi turned around, Yin Ci quietly reached out and took a thin feather from the man's hair.
It looks like a sparrow feather, but with a faint demonic aura... Interesting, is this a message from the sparrow demon
I know that you respect him and have used this to check on yourself.
To be honest, Yin Ci didn't know himself very well. The first memory seemed real and illusory, as vague as the moon in the water and the flowers in the mirror.
I don’t know how far his master has been investigated.