Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1181 Care and shelter

The Great Song Dynasty, the capital city.

The carriage came from the north, swaying in the sky before landing on the ground. Cultivators and commoners of all ages gathered around the pavilion and the streets, secretly observing it.

'They are remnants of Xuan Yue…'

'We've brought back some surrendered officials... but we don't know what to do with them...'

These sounds, whether contained within magical power or emanating from the lips and teeth, were accompanied by a bustling noise as a man stepped out from in front of the carriage.

This man was not tall, but dark-skinned and muscular. He wore a sword at his waist, and a purple light shone brightly between his eyebrows, receiving the martial arts light from the sky above, which made his ordinary appearance appear majestic.

Chi Xuan lifted the curtain and heard the clanging of iron chains as a person stepped out from inside.

This man was thin and wiry, with a hunched back. His light gray face was speckled with spots, and his eyes were narrowed to slits. His black beard and hair were sparse and long.

Only after taking a step forward did he see the black shackles around his neck. The person in front of him pulled the chains, and a series of crisp sounds were heard. The man looked up and found that the room was densely packed with people.

A young man, handsome and dashing, dressed in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse, stood blocking the road ahead. One hand gripped the reins, a broad smile playing on his lips, while the other drew a whip. He simply said:
"Congratulations on General Chen's triumphant return!"

Upon his appearance, Chen Wenyao immediately turned around, and even though he was holding onto the iron chain, he knelt down and respectfully said:
"I have met His Highness the Second Highness."

The man standing with his whip across his horse was none other than Yang Jiong, the second prince of the Song Dynasty.

Hearing the address, Kong Xiaxiang, still in shackles, didn't even lift his eyelids, standing alone as the prince laughed:
"I was ordered by His Majesty to greet him at the Xiude and Xuanwu gates respectively. It was quite a coincidence that General Chen was leading his troops into the palace through this gate. So please come with me into the palace!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Wenyao's expression subtly changed, and he simply lowered his head in agreement. Yang Jiong, however, was intrigued. He spurred his horse forward two steps, looked at Kong Xiaxiang, and smiled:

"Who is this old man?"

Kong Xiaxiang is actually very young. If he hadn't experienced so many ups and downs, he would still be a backbone of Xuan Yue. However, the sight of Kong Tingyun and Kong Guxi committing suicide before his eyes made him want to die, greatly weakening his spirit and making him look old and ugly.

Upon hearing this, Kong Xiaxiang finally raised his head, his eyes calm, and said in a trembling voice:

"I am Kong Xiaxiang, the head of the Kong family."

Yang Jiong led his men forward, laughing as he said:

"Confucius has repeatedly refused the imperial army and has not attended court for many years. How did things come to this?"

Kong Xiaxiang remained silent, as if he hadn't heard a thing.

These words caused the cultivators on both sides to chuckle softly, and many mocking gazes fell on the down-and-out Kong family members, but there was no reply for a long time. Yang Jiong smiled without saying a word, cracked his whip, and struck the shackles with a clang, sending sparks flying.

A flicker of pity crossed Chen Wenyao's eyes, but his hands showed no mercy as he tugged at the iron chains, channeling his magical power into them:

"Your Highness has asked a question!"

The Kong family has suffered many calamities, and at one point, the clan members were scattered. Many, young and old, died in the calamities. Most of the descendants have been found slowly. The old and weak are everywhere, and they cannot withstand such intimidation. The scattered Kong family members following behind began to cry, and for a moment, the low sobs filled the air.

But Kong Xiaxiang remained silent.

The smile in Yang Jiong's eyes faded, and he was about to speak when a cart ahead began to move, its sound clear, ethereal, and powerful:
"Your Highness, we've missed the appointed time."

Upon hearing this voice, Yang Jiong's expression remained unchanged, but he had already turned his horse around and laughed:
"Not urgent!"

Kong Xiaxiang's deathly expression softened slightly. He raised his head and followed the sound, only to see a golden sedan chair standing in mid-air, with a young man standing in front of it.

This man was tall and handsome, with an extraordinary bearing. He wore a white robe, carried a sword in his arms, and had a blue dot between his brows. His dark, star-like eyes shone brightly, and his sleeves seemed to emanate a mixture of water and fire energy, moving back and forth like a dragon or phoenix.

'The Li family…'

The moment Kong Xiaxiang stared, the pressure Yang Jiong had exerted on him vanished. The prince spurred his horse forward, his gaze burning as he looked at the spirit sword at Kong Xiaxiang's waist, and laughed:
"Since Fellow Daoist Li has the intention to interfere in court affairs, why bother to relinquish his title and seal?"

Unlike the previous mockery and jeers that had been directed at him while he was down, this statement caused a deathly silence to fall over the entire street. The cultivators who had been secretly watching from the pavilions withdrew their gazes, pretending not to have heard, while the mortals exchanged fearful glances.

To put it bluntly, people in the capital may not have seen the Second Prince Yang Jiong, but they must have heard of the sword immortal Li Jiangchun, who was ordered to enter the court but refused official positions and titles.

While the North and South were locked in fierce fighting, the capital was also in turmoil. This prodigy of the Li family entered the capital and then went into seclusion, refusing visits from all sides. The only person in the entire capital who could summon him was the Song Emperor!

Even when Emperor Song personally summoned him and bestowed upon him official titles and ranks, this sword immortal from a vassal state dared to refuse them all. In the end, unable to refuse any longer, he accepted a meager salary as a sign of his submission.

There were also some rumors that the noble families talked about with great interest. This Song emperor was known for not loving his children and grandchildren. It was said that he had his two sons fight him for a sword in the palace. This sword immortal, without showing any sword intent or drawing his sword, still managed to cut off the jade crown of the second prince, Yang Jiong.

'These two bumping into each other...it's definitely not going to end well!'

Yang Jiong's calm yet powerful words, laced with biting sarcasm, caused Chen Wenyao great distress and sorrow.

'How did I end up in this mess!'

His Chen family's supernatural powers have been interrupted, and now there is no successor. He was trying to please both sides. His own old master Chen Yin had devoted himself to guarding the lake for the Li family. He was respectful and humble in the court, but he never expected to encounter such a thing!
A hint of doubt flashed in the eyes of the sword immortal above. Just as he was about to speak, the curtain of the golden sedan chair behind him was lifted, and the middle-aged man leaned out, speaking gently:
“The Emperor’s favor is profound, how can we be negligent? It is not wrong for Jiang Chun to be concerned about the affairs of the country. I am unworthy to serve in the Xiuwu Hall. If Your Highness cannot listen to Jiang Chun’s words, you must listen to the honest advice of me, the Envoy of Zhen Guangyun.”

The man was of medium height and handsome appearance. His robes were magnificent, adorned with gold patterns, exuding an air of noble immortality. Yang Jiong's expression darkened, and he loosened his grip on the sword, saying in disappointment:

"So it was the Marquis of Anyang."

Chen Wenyao lowered his head, a bitter taste in his mouth:

'This is bad...someone even more valuable has arrived.'

This man was none other than Li Jiangchun's father, Li Zhouluo, the Marquis of Anyang of the Great Song Dynasty!

This Marquis of Anyang has no extraordinary supernatural powers or unparalleled talents, but he is of the bloodline of Emperors Li and Yang. He is the younger brother of the famous Prince Wei of the Great Song Dynasty, the grand-nephew of the Great Song General who suppressed the Martial Palace, and the three Li family prodigies who now hold the Xuan position all have to call him uncle!
In the current Song court, he was extremely noble, and even the Song emperor exempted him from the kneeling ceremony!
Even though Yang Jiong was a prince, he dared not act arrogantly in front of him. The atmosphere instantly became heavy. Seeing this, Kong Xiaxiang finally lowered his head heavily and said:

"My master, coerced by Zhi Xuan, offended the majesty of Heaven and has already committed suicide to atone for his sins. We, the common people, are heading south overnight to serve the Imperial Court..."

His words eased the heavy atmosphere. Yang Jiong put away his whip, and Chen Wenyao, as if granted a pardon, led his men forward, hurrying towards the palace. Yang Jiong shook his head regretfully, smiled, and continued on, the sound of hooves gradually fading into the distance.

Li Jiangchun turned back into the sedan chair and saw his father's dark face, saying gloomily:
"This Second Prince... is far too petty!"

Li Zhouluo was always very low-key. He understood that the dispute between the two princes was a sensitive matter. He was usually very polite to the two of them and never showed any favoritism. But once Li Jiangchun was involved, his usually gentle and polite face immediately became cloudy. Even if a Purple Mansion True Person came, Li Zhouluo would still stand up to him!

No one else can be wronged, but not his precious son!

Compared to his father's burning anger, Li Jiangchun seemed full of doubts. After pondering for a while, he said:
“My immortal foundation is ‘Xiangjuchen’. With my Lesser Yin perception, I vaguely sensed that he still intended to compete with me in the sword path! If my father hadn’t stepped forward, he probably would have continued to challenge me.”

Li Zhoulu chuckled but didn't speak. After a few moments, he frowned and said:

"Second Prince, haven't you already lost to me once before the court? Why be so stubborn?"

Yang Jiong's swordsmanship is not bad. He is extremely diligent in his studies. His sword technique is the Yang Family Daoist Sword Manual. At a young age, he has already reached the Sword Essence Realm. However, without breaking the sword intent, it would be tantamount to a fool's dream to compete with Li Jiangchun!
Li Jiangchun nodded, then asked doubtfully:

"This is also what I'm wondering about. I'm afraid he's making things difficult for the Kong family just so I can speak up, but I've never heard of him being narrow-minded... He's asking for the sword, not trying to make things difficult for me."

Li Zhoulu shook his head helplessly. The golden sedan chair had already stopped in front of the palace. Through the window, Kong Xiaxiang was freed from his shackles and entered the hall. A group of Kong disciples knelt outside the hall in fear, not daring to weep.

Li Zhoulu sighed:
"I will deliver the letter personally written by the King of Wei to him, hoping for some protection."

This was the reason why the father and son had come to the palace. Li Jiangchun nodded solemnly, watched his father leave from the sedan chair, half-lifted the sedan chair, and secretly observed.

The moonlight was cold and clear. The summons in the court rose and fell. White cranes spread their wings and flew all over the sky, landing sparsely on the eaves. In Li Jiangchun's clear pupils, one by one, the cranes as big as human bodies were reflected.

"The True Man Kong Tingyun committed many evil deeds... Recognizing his sins, he committed suicide, yet still basked in the true light... His disciple Xia Xiang rejected evil and embraced truth, paying homage to the Holy One in righteous rites... He was enfeoffed in the southern border, ordered to guard Yishan, granted the title of Marquis [for abandoning evil], and permitted to offer incense..."

As the melodious singing drifted over, a hint of emotion appeared between Li Jiangchun's brows. He listened quietly, but then a flapping sound came from the sky. A white crane landed on one leg and rested beside these disciples of the Kong family. It bent its knees and stretched out its wings, solemnly and solemnly covering them with the shadows beneath its wings.

The second, the third... As the word of pardon was spoken, countless white cranes descended from the sky, completely obscuring the kneeling disciples of the Kong family, leaving the ground covered in white.

Li Jiangchun's expression shifted slightly. He sheathed his sword, stepped out of the sedan chair, and stared intently at the countless white cranes descending from the sky.

There was a bit more darkness in front of me.

Father Li Zhouluo, dressed in a black and gold robe, bowed slightly as he walked through the dense ranks of armored soldiers bathed in moonlight. The cranes, as large as human figures, seemed startled and jumped up one by one, folding their wings and avoiding him, leaving a dark rut in the snow.

Li Jiangchun watched quietly as her father stepped into the corridor and appeared behind the curtain, his expression a mixture of surprise and joy. He quickly entered the carriage and said:
"Chun'er!"

Li Jiangchun looked down and noticed that he had a bright yellow pendant in his hand.

"This is…"

"Spiritual weapon!"

Li Zhouluo said with a sigh:
"His Majesty's kindness is as vast as a mountain, and he has forgiven past grievances. The entire Kong clan is innocent, and Kong Xiaxiang is granted the title of Marquis of Qixie, and may continue to offer sacrifices to the Kong family... The Xuan Yue provisions and Kong Tingyun's relics are also returned, and he is to distribute the Purple Mansion-level items to the various families in court. Ziyan and Xiaokui, who had previously resisted, have taken the spiritual items, and the rest are settled with spiritual gifts, to show that all grudges are settled and no further action will be taken!"

"His Majesty is indeed kind and benevolent."

Li Jiangchun had met Yang Zhuo in person and naturally understood his character. Hearing this, he nodded approvingly. Li Zhouluo, however, was very excited and said:
"This spiritual artifact... was given to my Li family by him! He said it's called the [Vast Earth Treasure Heart Jade], and it belongs to the Tongxuan Dao lineage. Now that our grudges are settled, this item will repay the debt of gratitude!"

The father and son looked down. The magical artifact lay quietly in Li Zhouluo's palm, radiating a captivating glow, with a faint beam of brown light weaving through it. Li Zhouluo said with a tremor in his voice:
"Anything from the Tongxuan Dao lineage would be considered at least a mid-to-high grade spiritual weapon in today's world! I bet everyone in the hall is glued to it!"

Li Jiangchun also smiled and said with emotion:
"Unfortunately... my family doesn't have any Earth-elemental True Persons, nor do we favor the Earth element. With ordinary spiritual artifacts, we can only utilize six or seven tenths of their potential; with this spiritual artifact, we'll probably only reach four or five tenths..."

"Give it to real people; it will always be useful!"

Li Zhouluo, beaming with joy, carefully hid the scroll in his bosom and eagerly pulled out a white scroll to send the good news to Tingzhou. Li Jiangchun chuckled and turned away, lifting the sedan curtain with some worry.

One by one, the cranes were landing again, slowly covering the tracks left by Li Zhouluo, leaving only a few broken black marks. Civil and military officials and cultivators from various dynasties stepped down from the main hall, in groups of three or five, like black dots crawling on the snow.

Li Jiangchun's eyes darkened.

This genius swordsman of the Li family has been cultivating the top-level Daoist lineage, the "Lesser Yin Mysterious Lord's Water and Fire Record," since childhood. He entered the sect early and has become more proficient as he has grown older. Even now, without using it at full power, he can still contain water and fire in his sleeves to protect himself at all times.

Such a top-tier lineage cannot fully manifest its wondrous uses without entering the Purple Palace, yet it is like having a commanding view from a high vantage point, making him extremely sensitive to weather phenomena. Everything before him made him feel uneasy.

He hesitated for a moment, taking a step that startled Li Zhouluo from his joy. He asked:

"what happened?"

"nothing."

Li Jiangchun put away his boots, nodded to his father as if nothing had happened, withdrew his hand from lifting the sedan curtain, rolled up his sleeves, and began to grind ink for him.

'Those who practice martial arts are not protected...those who practice martial arts are not shielded.'

Unbeknownst to many, a hint of gloom had crept into the brow of this youngest swordsman of the Song Kingdom:
'Those who are not protected or protected by Xiuwu are not limited to Tingzhou. Apart from Chixuan, I'm afraid it includes myself, my father, from the King of Wei and the True Man Zhaojing down to the guards, women and children, and even every member of the Li clan…'

'If the law is not followed, then no punishment will be imposed for virtue or sin; if no protection is offered, then death or injury will be disregarded.'