206: Chapter 75: Every Sigh and Smile, All Old Friends 206: Chapter 75: Every Sigh and Smile, All Old Friends Three days.
Merely three days.
The Jiangning Royal Mansion had prepared all the items listed by Xie Xuanyi and delivered them to the Da Sui Sword Palace…
The speed of the royal mansion’s actions proved Xie Xuanyi’s earlier point that the list of items might have been too short.
When these gifts were delivered, the Princely Heir of Jiangning was still in a coma in his bed.
A dozen carriages flew swiftly towards the Sword Palace, landing at the gate of Da Sui Mountain.
However, this time, the “momentum” of the Jiangning Royal Mansion was kept extremely low-key, almost wishing to enter through the back door.
The crushing defeat at the Xuanshui Cave Heaven competition combined with the exposure of the true perpetrator behind the assassination.
If the Da Sui Sword Palace insisted on “investigating” this matter, the entire Jiangning Xie Family would lose all face.
Xie Xuanyi did not show up in person, and the so-called “apology” was even more meaningless.
The compensation from the royal mansion was accepted on their behalf by Qi Lie.
News of Sect Leader Pure Yang’s emergence was something that many Great Practitioners in the Sword Palace had begun to sense vaguely.
In a short while.
Once the news spread from the Imperial City, it would become public knowledge.
During this time.
The Sect Leader was in no rush to show himself, spending his days in Xie Xuanyi’s courtyard enjoying the breeze and amusing himself with the innocent and naive Jiang Huang.
After her broken leg healed, the little girl could run around on the ground, often chasing the fireflies and butterflies in the courtyard.
With Zhao Chunyang around, Jiang Huang could reveal her “true nature” without fear or worry about her demon aura leaking out, nor about attracting disaster.
Regarding Jiang Huang’s future arrangements.
Xie Xuanyi had considered it.
In a few more days, to strike at the “Nine Death Forbidden” in the Sword Washing Pool…
If the little one is willing to cultivate, he would send her to the back mountain of Golden Turtle Peak.
After all, the paths of demons and humans diverge.
The cultivation methods of the Demon Race are not quite the same as those of human Cultivators.
And in the back mountain of Golden Turtle Peak resides a “predecessor” Great Demon of Jiang Huang.
After receiving the compensation, Jiangning Royal Mansion took the Princely Heir and their delegation and left the Sword Palace in a rather dispirited manner…
That night, Jiang Qihu put on a banquet, specially celebrating the occasion, inviting many guests.
Several influential figures had not set off on their departure but chose to stay at the Sword Palace, waiting to witness the moment when the “Jiangning Royal Mansion” would bow its head in submission.
Many people attended this banquet, including Huang Su, Si Qi, and even the usually reserved Qi Lie… All made an exception to attend.
The Family Head of the Xu Family and the Marquis of Bowang, those powerful individuals staying in the Sword Palace, also came one after another.
Of course.
They came to this banquet not just to drink, but also to “see” Xie Zhen once more.
As outsiders to the Sword Palace, they found it inconvenient to stay for long without good reason.
“Master Xie, if you ever come to the cool state of Liangzhou in the West Territory, be sure to join me for a drink,” the Marquis said.
The Marquis of Bowang had waited many days just to extend this invitation.
The news of Zhao Chunyang’s draw with the old ancestor of the Qin Family had, of course, reached the ears of these nobles.
Their initial reluctance to take a stance was due to one aspect they had yet to fully comprehend.
The attitude of the Holy Empress towards this disciple of Xie Xuanyi—
Now that the dust had settled.
From the compensation given by the Jiangning Xie Family, it could be seen that the Holy Empress had no desire to provoke further disputes with the Sword Palace.
If that was the case.
Who could miss the chance to befriend such a young future Sword Immortal?
Xie Xuanyi exchanged tokens of communication one by one with these “nobles.”
He understood why they befriended him.
On one hand, it was because he had defeated Xie Sheng, securing the Xuanshui Cave Heaven.
On the other hand.
It was because Zhao Chunyang stood up for him.
Befriending him was equivalent to indirectly connecting with a top combatant at the apex of the Dachu Dynasty.
“You seem to have grown accustomed to such scenes?” asked Huang Su, who sat drinking alone and seemed out of place, connecting with Xie Xuanyi through a whispered transmission.
She could hardly believe that Xie Zhen, who had always remained an undercover agent in the library, could handle such an occasion with ease.
On the contrary, she, a genuine Sect Leader, felt somewhat out of her element.
Helpless, Xie Xuanyi replied somewhat reluctantly.
He couldn’t tell her that the only reason he was used to such things was that he’d seen too much of it in his previous life.
There were no other reasons, only seasoned experience.
All he could do was sigh and resort to the most convenient excuse: “It was taught by that gentleman in the library.”
At those words, Huang Su was left without a reply.
As the banquet drew to a close and the several important figures who exchanged tokens with Xie Zhen left one after another…
Having achieved their purpose, staying longer at the Sword Palace would seem too “intrusive.”
The last to leave was Family Head Xu Qi of the Xu Family from Bingzhou.
He deliberately chose to wait silently when there were the most people.
Only after those noble lords had extended their olive branches, did Xu Qi approach Xie Zhen with a wine cup in hand, his attitude sincere and his words earnest.
“It’s a pity there are still trivial matters in Bingzhou…
Xu has to set off tonight.
I hope Master Xie can take good care of my daughter in Lotus Peak in the future.”
After the Xuanshui Cave Heaven competition ended.
Only two people “benefited” from the Lotus Peak’s fortune on the second level of the Cave Heaven.
Now Xu Nianning and Duan Zhao were both immersed in the “sword Qi realization,” a kind of epiphany that is a rare and sought-after opportunity for Cultivators.
Xu Qi’s stay in the Sword Palace during these days was not to watch the excitement of the assassination case but to wait for his daughter’s emergence to bid her farewell.
Looking at things now…
this realization seems to require some more time.
It was good news, and he was happy.
“Family Head Xu, your words are too courteous…” Xie Xuanyi replied helplessly, leading the Family Head of the Xu Family to Huang Su and seriously said, “This is the person you should ask for help.
Miss Xu has remarkable talents.
It won’t be long before she can achieve true fruition at the base of Lotus Peak.”
“…Me?”
Huang Su stretched out a finger, pointing bewilderedly at herself.
“As a Sect Leader, if not you, then whom else should he ask?” Xie Xuanyi sighed.
Huang Su’s face was filled with emotion as she recalled that before the mountain was sealed, she had been the youngest junior sister on Lotus Peak!
“How come it’s time to take apprentices and teach already!”
“Truly, everyone on Lotus Peak is an exceptional character.”
Witnessing this scene, Xu Qi couldn’t help but laugh.
He raised a toast to both, then left with the Xu Family, flying away on their swords.
With that, the banquet had thoroughly come to an end.
Having drunk who knows how much, an utterly inebriated Jiang Qihu, clinging to Xie Xuanyi, wanted to tell some ancient tales about his master, but luckily, at the last moment, he was dragged away in time by Ye Qinglian from Baihua Valley.
Chen Jingxuan, who knew about the banquet, had guessed that the foolish tiger would cause trouble with his drinking and had used the Baihua Command to contact Miss Ye beforehand.
Chen Jingxuan earnestly requested Ye Qinglian to be sure to take Jiang Qihu away when leaving.
And so, the Baihua Valley group departed.
Yuan Yi silently watched Master Xie’s figure, offering no goodbye, they only exchanged a glance, nodding to each other.
The young girl’s gaze was firm.
In just a few days, and seeing her at the banquet again, her aura seemed to have changed significantly.
She was no longer timid and cowering…
Perhaps it was the night in the hall on Golden Turtle Peak, with the Sword Qi tolling the bell, that Master Xie’s guidance took root in her heart.
But a person’s change is always gradual, and Xie Xuanyi could see that at the final parting, Yuan Yi wanted to say a few words to her.
Sword Cultivators cultivate courage until the end, which is to follow one’s heart.
To do what one wants to do and to speak what one wants to say.
Not to care about the judgment of common society.
To pursue one’s own Sword Qi, and also one’s own heart.
In the end,
after the banquet had dispersed, Huang Su pulled Xie Xuanyi into a secluded and empty corner.
Huang Su spoke with trepidation, “I don’t know why, but I feel somewhat nervous…
I wanted to talk to you about it.”
“Is it because you’re about to become a master?”
Xie Xuanyi raised an eyebrow, he knew his junior sister’s personality well.
Huang Su was momentarily stunned.
She hesitated but eventually nodded.
“People always grow up.
Since you sit as Lotus Peak’s master, you should take one or two disciples…
Xu Nianning is a good seedling, hadn’t you already taken a liking to her before?
This is a good thing,” Xie Xuanyi comforted her in a gentle voice.
“…”
Huang Su spoke with distress, “Logically, I should go to Si Qi with such matters.
If not him, then to my sister Miao Yin, Elder Brother Qi Lie, or even to my eldest senior brother.”
She paused, murmuring, “But my intuition tells me…
at times like these, I should look for you.”
It had only been a few days since she had met Xie Zhen.
Even though Xie Zhen was Xuanyi’s disciple…
it shouldn’t be like this.
And besides, she was clearly the elder!
Why did it sound like Xie Zhen was acting more like the master!
“Maybe it’s because we’re both from Lotus Peak.”
Xie Xuanyi said calmly, “Some troubles, they can’t solve for you…
but I can help you share some.”
Huang Su raised an eyebrow, “Share?”
“If you don’t have the energy, you can leave that Duan family boy to me.”
Xie Xuanyi said with a smile, “Of course, if you’re willing to teach another, I’d be more than happy.”
“Fine, fine, fine…
take that ragged boy away quickly.”
Huang Su had no interest in the scruffy boy.
In her view,
the boy from the Duan family had no talent for sword practice at all…
she didn’t know why Law Enforcement was so concerned about him, and even had Elder Brother Qi Lie personally receive him, it seemed they were preparing to send him to Lotus Peak.
He was a downright burden, a package.
Now that Xie Zhen had asked to take him away, she couldn’t be more eager!
“In that case, I can only take on this burden with reluctance.”
Xie Xuanyi feigned a sigh, raised his eyebrows with a smile, and said, “Look, master, you had a reason for seeking me out…
who else but me can help you with this trouble?”
The identity of that little rascal Duan Zhao was almost as “secret” as his own.
The Island Master of Wangyou Island had personally visited, with Law Enforcement and the Sect Leader silently supporting.
Xie Xuanyi could guess…
The responsibility of teaching the little rascal would ultimately fall on his own shoulders.
With these words,
Xie Xuanyi realized that Huang Su hadn’t responded for a long time, just staring blankly at his cheek.
He couldn’t help but reach out and touch his cheek, making sure his mortal appearance was still in place, and asked with a smile, “Master?”
“It’s nothing…”
Huang Su came back to her senses, quickly shook her head, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and said somewhat flusteredly, “…that would be very good, very good.”
She probably understood why she had come to Xie Zhen with these matters.
Because this young man…
Was strikingly similar to her senior brother from years ago.
Although their features were different, the temperament, the style of doing things, were extremely alike…
Especially that recent sigh, that smile.
It was as if they were cast from the same mold.
Being someone familiar and close, Huang Su couldn’t help but be moved.
Where else in the world could there be such similar people?
…
…
(P.S.: These transitional chapters are before the unfolding of the major plot; I will try my best to portray in more detail each supporting character of the Sword Palace, to shape every person as fully as possible.
As said in the end-of-book remarks of volume one, a good story is like the tide, with rises and falls…
I know many readers do not favor this kind of storytelling, and the reason there was only one chapter last night is that I was contemplating whether to speed up the pace.
But I decided against that idea later; the journey ahead is still long, let’s walk it slowly.
I hope everyone can support the subscription and automatic subscription with the monthly tickets, TAT)