Embers of Sword

Chapter 332 Mission
Days in the imperial city always pass quickly.

The competition at the Great Pudu Temple came to an end, the list of geniuses was announced, and the Chen Mansion, which had been deserted, became lively again.

Countless people came to pay their respects, bearing gifts.

As long as you stand on the top of the mountain, you will have countless followers.

Duan Zhao didn’t quite understand why so many people worshipping the little mountain master appeared overnight?
They gathered enthusiastically in front of the Chen residence, just wanting to see Xie Zhen.

Even if you just look at them from a distance and say a few words, it is a great honor.

It was obvious that during the Northern Expedition, the young mountain master had a bad reputation and was cursed in the imperial city.

But now these voices have disappeared.

All he could hear were praise, admiration, and envy.

Xie Xuanyi has become accustomed to all of this. Everything now is no different from what it was back then.

As time goes by, the mountains will dry up and the rivers will dry up.

But the most stubborn part of human heart will not change because of this.

These days.

Xie Xuanyi closed the door of Chen Mansion, pasted talismans on it, and cast a formation to block out the sound.

After the list of geniuses was announced.

It is impossible for him to go to the teahouse to listen to music.

Xie Xuanyi simply took a rest in Chen's house, and just in time he had time to teach Duan Zhao how to practice sword… On the next mission, Xie Xuanyi was not planning to bring Duan Zhao with him, as this long journey was extremely dangerous, and most people didn't know the identity of this kid, and not everyone had the eyesight to recognize the "Wind and Thunder Bracelet".

The Lord of Wangyou Island entrusted his only son to me, but I couldn't really take him through fire and water.

Just in case something goes wrong.

When the time comes, Wangyou Island will have to settle accounts with Dasui Sword Palace.

and……

With Yuan Jimo's methods, he might not be unaware of Duan Zhao's identity.

Want to lure Yuan Jimo to his death.

You have to let the other party completely let down their guard.

Xie Xuanyi had already made arrangements. On the day of the diplomatic mission, Huang Su would take Duan Zhao away from the Chen Mansion and find a quiet place to practice under the eyes of the Imperial City Division.

……

……

The seventh day.

The Chen Mansion is still bustling with visitors coming in an endless stream.

Black Scale Guard Sang Zheng was personally guarding the gate of the mansion. Several young nobles from the Beijun family also came to the scene to help maintain order... No matter what identity the visitor showed, the Chen Mansion would not see them. With Xie Zhen's current status and position, even royal relatives could be turned away.

On this day, a white dove flew over the Chen Mansion, and Miaozhen delivered an invitation letter in the simplest way.

The Fanyin Temple delegation has prepared everything.

Ready to go at any time.

After the white dove delivered the letter of advice, the Ruyi Order in Xie Xuanyi's arms soon brought a message from Chen Jingxuan.

"I wish you peace on this journey eastward."

Ruyi Ling pointed out a route.

The main gate of the Chen Mansion was surrounded by crowds of people, but it didn't matter. The mansion covered a huge area, and the exit of the backyard was connected to an unknown dark alley.

Walking out from here, you will come to "Qingning Street" which is not very popular on weekdays.

A dark carriage was parked just outside the alley.

The driver in charge of driving the carriage was none other than "Tie Tong", the special envoy who was in charge of guarding the northern suburbs of the imperial city on the day the Northern Hunt ended.

Because the guard failed to do his duty.

He was expelled from the Imperial City Department... The library had anticipated all this and had taken steps to protect him in advance.

The best way to avoid being liquidated by Yuan Jimo is to leave Da Chu.

Tietong was arranged to participate in the delegation's eastward journey.

"Thank you, sir, for coming..."

The young special envoy, with a respectful expression, took the initiative to dismount and lifted the carriage curtain for Xie Xuanyi: "Master Jiang is waiting inside."

There was already someone sitting in the carriage.

Jiang Qihu.

Xie Xuanyi was a little surprised to see this familiar face.

As the second in command of the Imperial City, Jiang Qihu was usually busy with official duties. After arriving in the Imperial City, the two of them rarely met. Thinking about it carefully...it had been a long time since I had seen him.

These days.

Jiang Qihu had lost some weight. He was wearing a black and gold tiger pattern robe, with a broadsword across his knees. He exuded a majestic and cold aura.

This is what the second seat of the Imperial City Department should look like.

He nodded to the special agent outside the car and hummed softly.

After Xie Xuanyi got on the carriage, Tietong closed the curtain, and the carriage started moving, Jiang Qihu's momentum gradually dissipated.

"You kid...hid it well enough."

Jiang Qihu patted Xie Xuanyi's shoulder vigorously and said in a low voice: "Sir, you sent me out of the imperial city to carry out a mission in southern Xinjiang recently... If I hadn't completed the mission ahead of time, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to see you for the last time."

"..."

Xie Xuanyi said helplessly: "There is no need to be so anxious. I am only leaving the imperial city, not leaving the human world."

"Bah bah bah."

Jiang Qihu realized that he had said the wrong thing, and smiled and slapped himself lightly: "It's all my fault... What's the last time we met? It's too unlucky..."

Do not know why.

He always felt that the young boy in front of him had a familiarity and affinity.

The two were alone together.

Xie Zhen made him feel inexplicably "relieved".

He had only felt this feeling from his family and Xie Xuanyi back then.

"Did Chen Jingxuan arrange for you to go to Southern Xinjiang to prepare for the next 'Demon Suppression'?"

Xie Xuanyi looked at the stupid tiger in front of him and couldn't help but sigh: "Why did you lose so much weight?"

"I don't know why the master sent me there. I didn't kill many demons, but I did draw a few maps."

"There's a lot of miasma in southern Xinjiang, so it's inevitable that you'll be thinner. I'm nothing."

Jiang Qihu paused for a moment, then said with a sad face, "You didn't see the master. I heard from Sang Zheng that the master was worried about something these days. He didn't sleep for several nights, and sat in front of the Hunyuan Instrument day and night. He looked much more haggard..."

Chen Jingxuan has been sleepless these days, sitting in front of the Hunyuan Instrument?

Xie Xuanyi was stunned for a moment.

He suddenly realized that the Ruyi Order just sent only a few lines of text. The last time he met Chen Jingxuan was seven days ago, and the young imperial teacher's face was still rosy at that time.

While he was talking with Junshan, Chen Jingxuan and Deng Baiyi went to the villa next door.

He probably understood why the young imperial teacher was just sitting there in vain.

It was nothing more than the fact that Tang Fengshu was imprisoned by Chongkan in the back mountain of the Taoist sect...

Xie Xuanyi knew that Chen Jingxuan had known about this for a long time. The Sky Monitor could sense the destiny of the four directions, and holding the Hunyuan Instrument, he could listen to the sound of thousands of miles away with his eyes closed. He knew that Tang Fengshu was in danger without Deng Baiyi's message.

Xie Xuanyi felt completely relieved about this "close friend".

Chen Jingxuan's layout.

Xie Xuanyi couldn't see through it, but he knew that Master Tang was an extremely important person to Chen Jingxuan.

This guy will never ignore it.

"Take good care of yourself."

Xie Xuanyi said softly: "Chen Jingxuan has his own arrangements."

"That's what you said."

Jiang Qihu smiled heartlessly: "There is nothing in this world that can stump you, sir..."

The carriage left Qingning Street and headed towards the eastern suburbs of the imperial city without attracting anyone's attention along the way.

There is a deputy commander of the Imperial City Department in charge.

The level is wide open.

Soon we were out of the city.

From a few miles away, you can see the convoy at the gate of the Great Pudu Temple and the high-raised flag of the country. Today is the day when the Fanyin Temple delegation leaves the Great Pudu Temple.

There are many people gathered here.

"Tell Monk Miaozhen that they can set off now. We will take a detour, avoid the Great Pudu Temple, and eventually meet at Tailing."

Jiang Qihu lifted the curtain of the carriage, took a glimpse from a distance, and then conveyed an order to Tietong: "I will accompany Xie Zhen for a little longer."

Close the car curtains.

"That's what sir meant."

Jiang Qihu explained: "The news that the Fanyin Temple delegation is about to leave has spread throughout the four regions. The news that you will be the envoy of Da Chu and will go with them has also spread... The people of Da Pudu Temple want to see you. Once you arrive at Tailing, it will be much quieter."

"Just to my liking."

Xie Xuanyi lowered his eyes slightly and asked, "Where are Junshan and the others?"

"The gentleman has made arrangements for you."

Jiang Qihu said, "Master Junshan arrived at the Great Pudu Temple with Miss Deng half a day in advance. They are now in the Fanyin Temple delegation... In addition, the news of these two leaving the city was kept extremely secret by the bookstore. No one should know about it at the moment. Junshan and Deng Baiyi are also on this mission together."

"Thanks for his hard work."

Xie Xuanyi sighed: "It seems that he knows what I am going to do next..."

"The master said that you want to lure out the enemies hiding in Da Chu."

Jiang Qihu said sincerely: "If you want these enemies to 'take action', you need to create opportunities for them. Master Junshan and Miss Deng Baiyi are your hidden backup for this mission?"

"When you go out, you always have some cards to hide."

Xie Xuanyi smiled and said, "With Junshan here, I will be much safer."

"actually……"

Jiang Qihu scratched his head and grinned, "I wanted to follow secretly alone, but this proposal was rejected by the master."

"..."

Xie Xuanyi smiled when he heard this.

This proposal was of course rejected.

Ever since the Qingzhou Rebellion and the Xuanshui Competition, everyone knew that he and Jiang Qihu had a close relationship.

This deputy commander of the Imperial City Division, who was on duty in Southern Xinjiang, was Yuan Jimo's primary supervisor.

If Jiang Qihu's whereabouts are unknown.

Yuan Jimo must be on guard and won't act rashly.

"I always feel that this mission will not be that simple."

Jiang Qihu slowly stopped smiling, and looked into Xie Zhen's eyes sincerely. "This time when I came back to the library to see you, I felt a sense of pressure for no reason... It seemed like something very important was about to happen. Maybe it was just my illusion, but in any case, please protect yourself."

Xie Xuanyi also restrained his smile.

The carriage took a detour and left the Great Pudu Temple, moving forward on the deserted mountain road, shaking violently.

He opened the car curtain and leaned gently against the window.

The scenery along the way is the same as what I saw on the way here.

Now that I am leaving, the scenery has not changed much.

Xie Xuanyi asked softly, "What did your husband say when you met him this time?"

He knew that his plan to kill Yuan Jimo would sooner or later be hidden from Chen Jingxuan.

Chen Jingxuan knows his own character best.

an eye for an eye.

Yuan Jimo must be killed.

But what surprised Xie Xuanyi was.

Chen Jingxuan guessed everything.

He even guessed that he would not wait——

That year, Lian Yinshen Houjing's assassination attempt on Yuan Jimo ended in failure.

I am just an ordinary person.

Didn’t Chen Jingxuan leave any warnings?
"The gentleman was just chatting with me, and it seemed that he didn't say anything."

Jiang Qihu shook his head. He thought for a moment and murmured, "Well, some words are worth pondering..."

"What words?"

"The teacher said that we should always try some things. Even if we can't succeed, it's good to try."

Jiang Qihu lowered his head and repeated word for word: "He also said that it is better to treat it as a sword. Most of the troubles in the world can be solved with a sword."

Xie Xuanyi couldn't help but laugh when he heard that.

"yes……"

He said with emotion: "It's really good to be a sword cultivator."

……

……

The streets in front of Chen's mansion were crowded with people.

Yuan Jimo sat at the top of the teahouse, calmly sipping a cup of tea, staring expressionlessly at the mansion that had been closed for many days: "A few days ago... was Xie Zhen listening to music here?"

"Yes."

Queqi stood beside the tea table, and the entire floor of the teahouse was empty.

The actors were singing on the stage, but their voices were trembling.

"What's the name of this song?"

After drinking the tea, Yuan Jimo's expression did not relax, but he frowned.

"My Lord... this piece of music is called 'Pozhen Music'..."

The teahouse owner nearby responded in fear, bending over almost to the ground with an extremely humble attitude.

"Pozhen Music? What kind of broken music?"

Yuan Jimo raised his head casually, his eyes locked on a white dove circling in the sky, the atmosphere in the teahouse suddenly turned cold, the dove circled over the Chen residence, and then left, flying towards the eastern suburbs where the Great Pudu Temple was located, when the teahouse owner heard this comment, he felt like the sky was falling, and suddenly a crisp sound rang in his ears again.

Snapped.

Yuan Jimo chuckled, threw out a string of copper coins, and waved his hand: "This is your reward."

The teahouse owner was sweating profusely and didn't dare to move at all.

"This is a reward from the chief, why don't you pick it up quickly?"

Queqi spoke softly.

The shopkeeper immediately knelt on the ground, and without caring about his manners, he picked up the scattered copper coins, and then took the actor and the servant away.

This floor of the teahouse is empty.

Only Yuan Jimo and Queqi were left.

The Imperial City Bureau's message was vibrating slightly, with news coming from inside and outside the city.

"Xie Zhen has already left the Chen Mansion."

"Xie Zhen went to the Great Pudu Temple and changed direction temporarily."

"When Xie Zhen arrived at Tailing, Jiang Qihu, the deputy commander of the Imperial City Division, left the carriage and did not accompany him eastward, but headed directly southward. This time, Jiang Qihu met Xie Zhen only to escort him..."

"The whereabouts of the Snow Lord of Fangyuanfang have been confirmed. His Majesty is having fun at the Jade Sea Hunting Ground, and the Snow Lord is accompanying him. They are 200 miles away from Tailing."

"The whereabouts of Qi Lie, the law enforcer of Jin'ao Peak of Dasui Sword Palace, has been confirmed. Qi Lie left Dachu Imperial City the day before yesterday and headed west. He seems to have a mission to complete. He is currently 600 miles away from Tailing."

"The whereabouts of Huang Su, the master of Lotus Peak of Dasui Sword Palace, has been confirmed. Huang Su and his disciple Duan Zhao went to Suiqingling in the north to practice meditation. They are currently 400 miles away from Tailing."

Messages popped up one after another in the summons.

The smile on Yuan Jimo's face became more and more intense. People who knew him knew that this was the most terrifying expression.

He stood up.

"Sir, now the time is ripe, do you want to take action?"

Queqi put a cloak on the chief master.

"Do not."

Yuan Jimo gazed into the distance with great joy, and said with a smile: "Wait a little longer, there's no rush."

……

……

(There will be another update tomorrow at noon)
(End of this chapter)