above the galaxy

Chapter 621 Kill the God!

"Bai Xingjian?"

Sheng Jing and his daughter Sheng Xinhuai exchanged a glance, and Sheng Jing said, "See? What did I tell you? Speak of the devil, and he appears."

"Will everything be alright?" Sheng Xinhuai asked anxiously.

“That depends on how well we cooperate.” Sheng Jing looked thoughtful. “Since they chose to send a formal invitation, it means they want to try a polite approach first, and then see what they really want.”

Mei Yuyin, who was watching TV in the living room, heard the commotion and ran over with a worried look on her face, saying, "Old Sheng, what happened? Who came in the middle of the night?"

Since Sheng Jing resigned from his position as Minister of Finance, No. 18 Longqing Street has become deserted.

Those who are not close to me will not come.

Those who are close to you should not be allowed to come.

In the dead of night, someone suddenly came to visit, which made Mei Yuyin worry and be afraid.

She spent her whole life singing operas about talented scholars and beautiful women, and was extremely well protected by Sheng Jing, but that doesn't mean she was naive or ignorant of the ways of the world.

Ever since she and Sheng Xinhuai were brought back from the airport by the security bureau, she knew that the world had changed and people's hearts had changed.

Sheng Jing stepped forward, took Mei Yuyin's hand, and comforted her with a smile, "A young junior just wanted to come and chat. Don't worry, it's nothing."

Then he said to Sheng Xinhuai, "You go upstairs with your mother to watch cartoons."

"Mom, let's go upstairs." Sheng Xinhuai knew that her father didn't want her mother to get involved in these political disputes, so she said, "Two episodes of 'The Reverse Scale' were released today, let's finish watching it."

Mei Yuyin refused, looking at Sheng Jing and saying, "Is there anything I can't listen to? Since we have guests, I'll stay and help make some tea."

"Yu Yin." Sheng Jing wanted to persuade her again.

“I’m not a three-year-old,” Mei Yuyin interrupted Sheng Jing, saying, “We are a family, and no matter what happens, we should be together.”

Seeing Mei Yuyin's resolute attitude, Sheng Jing had no choice but to nod and say, "Alright, then sit down and listen with me."

Since Mei Yuyin wasn't leaving, Sheng Xinhuai naturally wouldn't leave alone.

She was also eager to hear why Bai Xingjian had come to her door.

So the family of three sat in the living room waiting for Bai Xingjian to arrive.

Bai Xingjian was as polite and refined as ever. After entering, he took the initiative to bow and greet Sheng Jingmei and Yu Yin, and he did not even forget Sheng Xinhuai.

He even brought a box of tea with him, and said with a smile, "Knowing that the Minister of Finance likes to drink tea, I specially brought a box of old peony tea that I have collected for more than ten years for you to taste. See if it suits your taste."

Sheng Jing could tell from the wooden box packaging of the tea that it was not cheap. Although the Bai family was not among the nine great families, they were also a prominent family that had migrated from Blue Star. It was said that their ancestry could be traced back to Bai Juyi, the poet who wrote "A smile that could launch a thousand ships, and the beauties of the six palaces would pale in comparison".

"General Bai, you're too kind. I can't accept a gift without having done anything right. Please take this gift back with you." Sheng Jing declined, "Also, I resigned from my position as Minister of Finance a long time ago. Please just call me Sheng Jing or Old Sheng."

"In Xingjian's heart, there is only one finance minister in the empire, and that is you, sir." Bai Xingjian said bluntly, "Your contributions to the empire's economy are well known and cannot be easily replaced by anyone."

It's very obsequious.

It gives the impression of trying too hard.

Bai Xingjian was Shen Wuxiang's confidant and had come on Shen Wuxiang's orders, so he shouldn't have to be so humble.

There's not even a need for excessive politeness.
You two have become so close, what will Shen Wuxiang of Qishan think?
However, Bai Xingjian was not only very polite, but also gave a gift.
If Sheng Jing were to simply let slip that he had delivered the tea, it could arouse Shen Wuxiang's suspicion and wariness towards Bai Xingjian.
What is he plotting?
Sheng Jing placed the brewed tea in front of Bai Xingjian and said, "Since you brought white tea, you must like it. Try my brewed white tea."

"Thank you, Minister of Finance. We're in for a treat today." Bai Xingjian still insisted on addressing Sheng Jing by his previous official title, as if he truly believed that Sheng Jing was the empire's only Minister of Finance.

He picked up the teacup, took a sip, savored it carefully, and said with a smile, "Like silver and snow, sweet on the palate. This tea must have been aged for over ten years, right?"

“You understand tea,” Sheng Jing said calmly, picking up his teacup and taking a sip.

He wasn't in a hurry, nor did he proactively ask Bai Xingjian the purpose of his trip.

If even the butcher with his knife isn't in a hurry, why rush the lambs waiting to be slaughtered?
He was just pondering the deeper meaning behind Bai Xingjian's humble attitude.

Was it an unintentional mistake? Did he accidentally hand over a handle against him?
Shengjing immediately ruled out this possibility.

At such a position, how could one possibly be 'unintentional'?
Everything was premeditated.

Bai Xingjian finished his cup of tea, looking quite pleased with himself.

He fiddled with the empty cup in his hand, looked up to meet Sheng Jing's scrutinizing gaze, and said seriously, "Is the Minister of Finance settling in well these days?"

"I'm eating well, sleeping well, listening to some music, and playing chess. I haven't felt this relaxed and happy in years," Sheng Jing replied.

"The life of the Minister of Finance is truly enviable," Bai Xingjian praised. "If I could live like that after I retire, I would be laughing in my sleep."

"General Bai is young and promising, and it is the time for him to make great achievements. Why would he retire?"

"That day will come eventually," Bai Xingjian said with a smile. "Unfortunately, the Military Minister has been quite unhappy lately."

"Oh?" Sheng Jing feigned surprise and asked, "The Prime Minister is wealthy and powerful, commands the three armies, and has everything he could want. What could he possibly be unhappy about?"

"Has the Finance Minister not been reading the military reports lately? In the Battle of Jinxiu City, the Fire Army suffered a crushing defeat, and Tang Shengyan was captured. Our side suffered heavy losses."

"Why would a retired person like me read military newspapers? Besides, no one sends military newspapers to me anymore."

"It is precisely for this reason that the Military Minister is feeling depressed and wants to find a close friend to drink with and relieve his worries." Bai Xingjian said with a bright smile, "This visit is on the orders of the Military Minister to invite the Finance Minister and his wife and daughter to a small gathering in Qishan."

Sheng Jing put down his teacup, looked into Bai Xingjian's eyes, and firmly refused: "As everyone knows, I am not good at drinking. Military Minister, you should invite someone else."

"The Minister of War feels that he and the Minister of Finance are compatible in temperament and are the only suitable candidates. Please, Minister of Finance, do not put us in a difficult position."

"It's not me making things difficult for you, it's you making things difficult for me," Sheng Jing said coldly.

These people are really hypocritical. They've already come to our homes to forcibly abduct people, yet they still expect others to maintain their dignity.

"The car is ready outside, please get in, Mr. Wealth." "What if I don't go?"

"This option is not in the commands I received."
-
Weishan. Weishan Lake.

"A team has arrived to report and has successfully completed its assigned mission."

"Group Two is here to report; we have successfully completed our assigned mission."

"The three groups have arrived to report and have successfully completed their assigned tasks."

"What about Group Four?"

No one answered.

Five groups?

Still no one answered.

The leader of the men in black had a grim expression and said in a deep voice, "You all wait where you are. I will go and meet them. If there is no reply within ten minutes, you may leave on your own."

A black submarine was moored in the lake.

It can lead them from the depths of the sea away from the Weishan military base, from the Sanjiao Bay into the East China Sea, and then all the way north to Liyu Port.

"Yes." Everyone responded.

Just then, the leader in black suddenly felt a cool breeze.

Instantly, I felt every hair on my body stand on end, and goosebumps rose all over my body.

Even before any symptoms appeared on his skin, his body had already reacted instinctively.

With a light touch of his toes, he sprang into the air and retreated rapidly like a cannonball.

chap!
A white light appeared where I had just been standing.

Where the white light flashed, two Ghost team members were cut in two.

One was severed at chest level, and a head rolled off.
"what?"

The person who drew the sword was surprised that the leader in black could dodge his attack and couldn't help but voice a questioning tone.

"Who are you, you coward? Show yourself!" The leader in black, hovering above the lake, shouted.

A figure in blue appeared on the protruding rocks.

The man, in his forties or fifties, was slender with arrogant eyes and a cold expression. He slowly uttered two words: "Wei Qing."

It's as if these two words should be known to everyone in the world.

"The God-Slaying Sword, Wei Qing?" The black-clad leader did not disappoint him, exclaiming in surprise immediately.

Of the three thousand sword techniques, speed is the only one that cannot be broken.

With an invisible sword, cut down a person with a visible form.

It is deadly to touch, and its effects are unpredictable, even by gods and ghosts.

Wei Qing, one of the Three Swords, Three Madmen, and Three Swordsmen, is known as the God-Slaying Sword Guard

"To have dodged my sword and to even know my name, you must be no nobody. How shall I address you, young man?"

"Ghost Palace, Soaring Clouds."

"Ling Yunxiao?" The man in the blue robe froze.

Ling Yunxiao was ranked alongside him as one of the Three Swordsmen, and was known to the world as "Snow Blowing".

Thousands of miles are frozen, and thousands of miles are snow drifting.

Extreme yin, extreme cold, cold air enters the body, causing carbuncles that adhere to the bones.

This is a tough opponent.

But what exactly is this Ghost Palace?

While thinking this in my mind, I already asked it out loud.

At their level of status, there's no need to keep the "why" inside and make themselves miserable.

"What is a Ghost Palace? It sounds really scary."

"Bold."

"presumptuous."

"This thief deserves to die."
-
Before Ling Yunxiao could speak, one of the other ghost members beside him was already furious.

They were all Tang orphans, adopted and trained by the Sunshine Welfare Institute, and then selected by Bai Wuxin from among the best, before being sent to a secluded place for seclusion.
Those who can enter the Ghost Realm are undoubtedly skilled, capable, and loyal.

Especially regarding 'loyalty', they are only loyal to the palace master and their lord.

They are willing to sacrifice everything for their lord, including their own lives.

Wei Qing publicly cursed, "What the hell is the Ghost Palace?" This violated their taboo and touched their sore spot.

They may die, but their ghosts cannot be dishonored.

(End of this chapter)