Embers of Sword

Chapter 53: The Peerless Twins
Thousands of miles away, the imperial city of Da Chu.

It was late at night and the candlelight in the library was flickering, illuminating a handsome young face.

Hundreds of bamboo slips were suspended in an array in front of the table.

The characters carved in the bamboo slips jumped out of the bamboo slips like tadpoles and swam around the young man.

Although there was no one around, the young man still sat very upright, his back seemed to be supported by a ruler, and his eyes were as clear as a mirror.

At this moment he waved his sleeves.

Countless tadpoles fetched back the bamboo slips, and with a neat and crisp sound, all the bamboo slips leaped away and hid in the niche of the library. Only one of them was left, and the green fluorescence spread, reflecting the scene of the Jiang family mansion in Lichao City at this moment.

Chen Jingxuan smiled, stretched out his hand and held the bamboo slips.

At the same time, thousands of miles away, Xie Xuanyi took the Ruyi Order from Jiang Qihu and slowly injected a wisp of soul fire into it.

……

……

The scene is quite different from the one seen inside the magic weapon.

This time it was an illusory scene of souls meeting each other.

It is in the [Zhi Dao Book Tower] in the Da Chu Imperial City.

Wrapped in the soul.

If you don't want to see your true face, you can draw the fog to cover your face.

Of course, Xie Xuanyi would not meet him in his true appearance.

But Chen Jingxuan did not have this concern.

He sat in front of the desk, his hands on his knees, his sleeves fluttering, and his body was surrounded by countless books, like a Confucian immortal.

Xie Xuanyi was sitting on the other side of the table, dressed in extremely simple black.

Compared with Chen Jingxuan, it really seems dull.

However, both of them were very relaxed, just like old friends reuniting after many years. Unfortunately, there was no teacup or wine on the table, only a thick book and two dim yellow candles flickering.

"Master Chen, I have long heard of your great name."

Xie Xuanyi looked at the familiar face in front of him whom he hadn't seen for ten years and spoke with a smile.

Chen Jingxuan.

This name carries a lot of weight.

Although it is only three words, it is so serious that the entire Da Chu Dynasty, all sects, and all families must take it seriously.

During the Great Chu Dynasty, there was a saying that Xie in the south and Chen in the north were the two peerless pillars of the world… The Xie here refers to Xie Xuanyi, who was born in Jiangning and became the leader in kendo.

And Chen is Chen Jingxuan, who sits in the imperial city and guards the secrets of heaven.

"What is your name?"

Chen Jingxuan smiled slightly, and his clear eyes stared directly at the chaotic soul wrapped in mist in front of him.

Xie Xuanyi had the illusion that he was "seen through".

"The name is not important."

Xie Xuanyi said softly: "Just call me 'Jia Liu'."

Chen Jingxuan nodded lightly.

He suddenly brought up a topic that had nothing to do with this meeting: "Sixty years ago, in the Battle of Drinking Poison, most of the 108 garrisons in the northern border died in the battle. In the end, the Great Venerable Mozhen died for the sake of the country, and the Monster Kingdom was repelled outside the Jiayong Pass. The great cultivators joined forces to set up a great formation, completely drawing a natural barrier between Da Chu and the Monster Kingdom."

Xie Xuanyi was stunned for a moment, somewhat confused.

"Although the Great Master Mo Zhi is dead, the Demon Nation's ambition to move south is still alive."

Chen Jingxuan said slowly: "In recent years, at least three great masters have tried to stir up trouble in Da Chu. They used the 'embers' of the battle in the northern border to set up spy networks and play with people's hearts... If I'm not mistaken, the one behind 'Jialu' should be the Sun Tun Master of Xixi Lake?"

"..."

Of course Xie Xuanyi would not respond, but just remained silent.

"interesting."

Chen Jingxuan leaned forward slightly, wanting to get closer to Jialiu.

But this distance... made Xie Xuanyi feel uncomfortable.

He stepped back slightly.

Chen Jingxuan keenly caught this action. He lowered his eyebrows and smiled, then stopped advancing and asked softly, "Should you say something? You went to so much trouble tonight to lend me the Ruyi Order. You can't really just want to see me from afar through the soul?"

"Of course... no."

Xie Xuanyi shook his head and calmed his mind. After not seeing each other for ten years, Chen Jingxuan's realm had become even more unfathomable. Although they were meeting with the Ruyi Order, he felt uneasy that if he got any closer, he would be seen through.

"I am Jialiu, but Jialiu... is not me."

Xie Xuanyi spoke succinctly and calmly: "The real Jialiu has died outside Lichao City. Tonight, I want to talk to you alone."

There was no surprise or surprise on Chen Jingxuan's face.

He smiled and said, "Your Excellency...seems to know a lot of incredible things."

There are not many people in this world who are qualified to have a private chat with the Little Imperial Master.

But Chen Jingxuan did not reject the "uninvited guest" in front of him. Instead, he showed great respect and patience to Xie Xuanyi. After saying the previous sentence, he put on a posture of listening attentively, and sat quietly beside the table, waiting for the next words.

"..."

Xie Xuanyi took a deep breath.

He lowered his eyes slightly.

Scenes of memories flashed through my mind.

When Xie Xuanyi heard the news about the traitor Jiang Qihu from the Jialiu Soul Sea from Venerable Longmu, he felt like he was struck by lightning and it took him a long time to recover.

Who is Jiang Qihu?

After the loyal and brave, Da Chu hated the people of the Demon Country the most... It can also be said that he is almost destined to swear allegiance to Da Chu until death!

How could such a person betray me?

But after calming down, Xie Xuanyi gradually figured out the deeper "game" involved.

Such confidential and breaking news about Bai Ze Secret Realm.

Only a person like Jiang Qihu can release information that will make the demon country believe...

Venerable Longmu tried his best to send Bai Ze's finger bone to Lichao City. This was the Demon Country's attempt to trust Jiang Qihu. In fact, to them, it didn't matter whether Jiang Qihu really betrayed them.

What’s important is whether the Bai Ze Secret Realm is real.

And whether the supreme holy treasure, the [Dao Pen] that is powerful enough to erase the imprint of the soul of the owner of the treasure, is real.

After the Battle of Chenqing Mountain.

There is one thing Xie Xuanyi has never been able to figure out...

What is the significance of Qingzhou deliberately releasing the news of Bai Ze Secret Realm to the Demon Kingdom?
Now after meeting Chen Jingxuan.

He suddenly figured it out.

For no reason, Xie Xuanyi suddenly thought of the Taoist priest Lu Yuzhen's earnest words on the Lichao River.

[“Brother Xuanyi, since we have another chance, why not put aside your pride and enjoy this life.”]

[“This game in Lichao City is really interesting.”]

It turned out to be the case.

It turns out that this is what the situation in Lichao City means.

Xie Xuanyi smiled silently.

He laughed at himself and said, "In fact, I never figured it out before... How could someone like Jiang Qihu betray Da Chu?"

"?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jingxuan raised his eyebrows slightly.

"But now I know the answer."

Xie Xuanyi whispered, "Sometimes, betrayal is also a form of loyalty. And... in this game in Lichao City, no one cares whether he betrays or not."

"What's important is whether the information provided by Jiang Qihu is reliable - whether the Bai Ze Secret Realm is real or fake."

He raised his head and looked at the young imperial teacher with his sleeves fluttering in front of him.

"This most important news seems to have been released by Jiang Qihu."

"But actually... it's you."

Chen Jingxuan did not argue.

He just stared quietly at the thin figure wrapped in black mist in front of him. In fact, this gaze had been on Xie Xuanyi for a long time.

After a while.

Chen Jingxuan asked word by word: "You seem very sure that Jiang Qihu will not betray the country. Why?"

　ZZZ~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)