I, the military god of the Tang Dynasty, have risen since I destroyed the Turks

Chapter 782 Dragon-Shaped Jade Pendant
Li Kan gazed in the direction Yang Guo had left, his right knuckles unconsciously clenching, crumpling the remaining wisp of blue robe fabric in his palm. A complex look flashed in his eyes, as if a thousand words were stuck in his throat, ultimately turning into an almost inaudible sigh: "So alike." These words were so soft that only he could hear them, yet they contained sixteen years of forbearance and struggle.

He subconsciously touched the phoenix-patterned jade pendant he always carried in the hidden pocket of his chest; its edges had been smoothed and rounded by countless touches. Sixteen years ago, on that rainy night, when the woman in white entrusted him with the infant in her swaddling clothes, she wore a similar jade pendant at her waist. Only that pendant was engraved with a dragon pattern, making it a perfect pair with his.

“General Li.” A soft, feminine voice sounded behind him, interrupting Li Kan’s thoughts. He turned around and saw Liu Jin, the chief eunuch beside the emperor, squinting at him. “His Majesty summons you for an immediate audience.”

On the high platform, Li Zheng was toying with the dragon-shaped jade pendant in his hand. Sunlight shone through the pendant, casting a dragon-like shadow on the ground. He thoughtfully stroked the fine crack on the pendant, a mark left by a great battle sixteen years ago.

“Yang Guo…interesting.” Li Zheng’s lips curled into a meaningful smile. He turned to Liu Jin and whispered, “Send shadow guards to keep an eye on him for twelve hours a day. I need to know his every move.” Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he added, “Especially any contact he has with any women. Report to me immediately.”

"This old servant understands." As Liu Jin bowed and withdrew, a strange light flashed in his eyes.

Autumn winds swept up fallen leaves, swirling around the arena. A withered sycamore leaf drifted down onto Li Kan's shoulder, but he didn't brush it away. The distant tolling of the bells from the Great Xiangguo Temple brought the thrilling duel to a close, but also unveiled the prelude to an even greater mystery.
Three days later, in the old alley south of Bianliang City.

Yang Guo crouched on the eaves, his blue robe blending seamlessly with the night. His left hand lightly caressed the gentleman's sword at his waist, but his gaze was fixed on the inconspicuous pharmacy at the end of the alley. Three days after the martial arts competition, he had sensed that at least five groups were following him. These followers were skilled and experienced, clearly well-trained imperial spies.

"It seems Emperor Li is quite concerned about a nobody like me," Yang Guo chuckled self-deprecatingly, his right sleeve fluttering even without wind. Suddenly, his ears twitched as he heard familiar footsteps coming from the backyard of the pharmacy—light as a cat's, yet carrying a deliberate heaviness.

"Uncle Guo is still the same as ever." A hint of warmth flashed in Yang Guo's eyes. He moved swiftly, like a falling leaf, and silently drifted towards the backyard of the pharmacy.

In the backyard, Guo Jing was brewing medicine, the rich aroma masking all other scents in the yard. With his back to the gate, he suddenly spoke, "Guo'er, since you're here, come in."

Yang Guo leaped down from the wall and said with a wry smile, "Uncle Guo's internal strength has improved again."

Guo Jing turned around and carefully examined Yang Guo by the light of the fire. Three years had passed, and the once rebellious boy had grown into a composed man, though the arrogance between his brows had not disappeared, but instead added a touch of vicissitude.

"Your injury?" Guo Jing's gaze fell on Yang Guo's slightly pale face.

"It's alright," Yang Guo waved his hand. "Although Li Kan's Frost Palm technique is insidious, it can't harm me." He paused, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Uncle Guo, do you know Li Kan's background? His palm technique is similar to that of the Ancient Tomb Sect..."

“This is exactly what I wanted to tell you.” Guo Jing interrupted him solemnly, taking out a yellowed letter from his robes. “I found this at the training ground three days after you left.”

Yang Guo took the letter and saw that it was written in delicate handwriting: "The dragon-patterned jade pendant has appeared, my old friend is about to return." A small magnolia flower was drawn at the end of the signature.

“This is…” Yang Guo’s fingers trembled slightly.

"It's your aunt's handwriting," Guo Jing said in a deep voice. "I recognize it."

Yang Guo looked up abruptly, a glimmer of hope in his eyes: "Long'er is still alive? Where is she?"

Guo Jing shook his head: "This letter should have been written sixteen years ago. But I suspect..." He lowered his voice, "Li Kan might know something. His connection with the Ancient Tomb Sect is too deep." Just then, a barely audible sound of tiles shattering came from outside the courtyard wall. Yang Guo's eyes sharpened, and his left hand flicked out a copper coin with lightning speed. With a "clink," the coin embedded itself in the wall, followed by a muffled groan.

"Someone's eavesdropping!" Guo Jing's expression changed drastically.

Yang Guo shot towards the wall like lightning, but only saw a dark shadow disappear into the night. The person's lightness skill was exceptional; they vanished in an instant. However, by the moonlight, Yang Guo clearly saw the faint glow of a jade pendant flash at the person's waist—a dragon-shaped jade pendant!
Imperial Palace · Imperial Study

Li Zheng was reviewing memorials when Liu Jin appeared silently in the hall.

"Your Majesty, a shadow guard reports," Liu Jin whispered. "Yang Guo and Guo Jing are secretly meeting in an old alley in the south of the city, seemingly investigating some jade pendant."

Li Zheng's vermilion brush paused slightly, a drop of red ink staining the memorial, as glaring as blood. He slowly raised his head, a cold glint in his eyes: "Continue to watch. Also," he took a brocade box from the drawer of his desk, "Send this to the Cold Palace."

When Liu Jin took the brocade box, his fingers trembled almost imperceptibly. The box was light, yet it felt incredibly heavy to him—for the past sixteen years, every time something was delivered to the Cold Palace, several eunuchs would mysteriously disappear upon their return.

Yang Guo stood before an abandoned post station, clutching a yellowed letter in his hand. The words "Zhongnan" were still faintly discernible on the dilapidated plaque of the post station. This had once been the only route to the ancient tombs of Zhongnan Mountain.

"The dragon-patterned jade pendant has appeared; the time for my old friend to return has come," Yang Guo murmured, repeating the words from the letter. Suddenly, his ears twitched; he heard faint footsteps coming from the woods behind him.

"Come out," Yang Guo said without turning his head. "You've been following me for three days, aren't you tired?"

After a moment of silence in the woods, a woman dressed in black emerged. She appeared to be around thirty years old, with a beautiful face but an icy demeanor, and a slender sword hung at her waist.

"Young Master Yang has excellent hearing," the woman said, bowing slightly. "I am Leng Qingshuang, Deputy Commander of the Shadow Guard. I have been ordered by His Majesty to invite you to the palace for a discussion."

Yang Guo sneered: "What if I don't go?"

Leng Qingshuang did not answer, but took out an item from her bosom—a beautifully carved jade pendant with a phoenix pattern, exactly the same as the one Yang Guo had seen in the ancient tomb when he was young!
Yang Guo's pupils suddenly contracted.

"His Majesty says that if you wish to know Miss Long's whereabouts, you must come with me," Leng Qingshuang said emotionlessly. "Of course, you may also choose to refuse."

Yang Guo stared at the jade pendant, a flood of longing from the past sixteen years washing over him. He took a deep breath: "Lead the way."

Just as the two turned to leave, a figure suddenly emerged from the forest and blocked the way—it was Li Kan! His clothes were stained with blood, clearly indicating that he had been through a fierce battle.

(End of this chapter)