Yefutidaolu

Chapter 447 Going to Find Fei Xiang
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhou showed no displeasure; instead, his powdered eyes lit up, as if he had finally found the reaction he had been expecting. He laughed heartily, casually downed the wine in his glass, and then waved his hand dismissively!
In an instant, the vast starry sky, the misty sea of ​​clouds, the deep dragon palace, and many other layered fairylands around us were wiped away by an invisible hand and vanished without a trace.

Even the roaring Jiuquan Waterfall, the graceful moonlit dance, and the floating golden wine inscriptions all disappeared. The white jade square returned to its original tranquility, leaving only the cold moonlight like mercury spilling onto the three people and the simple table and wine utensils in front of them.

All the luxury and mystery could be controlled at will in the blink of an eye.

“Mr. Gao is indeed a man of few words.” Jiang Zhou’s frivolous smile faded slightly. Although he remained relaxed, there was something else in his eyes, as if the sharp edge hidden beneath his playboy appearance had finally been revealed. “In that case, let’s get down to business.”

He leaned forward slightly and said:

"Mr. Gao left the palace and caused quite a stir inside. I deeply admire his feat." He directly pointed out Gao Jian's previous whereabouts, his tone neither praising nor criticizing, but rather stating a fact, while also demonstrating the Jiang family's well-connected information channels.

Everyone knows about what happens in the palace, this is truly...

"This invitation was just as usual, to get to know a chivalrous person like Mr. Gao, so I asked Qin Long to introduce us," he said, gesturing towards the silent Qin Long to indicate their relationship. "Upon meeting you today, I wonder why Mr. Gao is so cold? Does he find the occasion unpleasant?"

Looking at the other person's words, Gao Jian wondered if he was overthinking things.

Was the other person just saying it casually, or was it a test? The words seemed to lower their stance, but in reality, they still carried a test, wanting to see how Gao Jian would explain his "lack of romantic understanding," or rather, wanting to see what Gao Jian was actually interested in.

Under the moonlight, the square fell silent for a moment.

Gao Mian's expression remained largely unchanged as he faced Jiang Zhou's evasive and roundabout questioning. He set down his wine glass and calmly met Jiang Zhou's gaze:

"Young Master Jiang, you misunderstand. I am not being cold, nor do I feel the occasion is inappropriate." He paused, his tone still calm, "It's just that I am used to being straightforward. Since you have brought up the matter of the palace and invited Brother Qin to introduce us, it must not be merely for the sake of 'getting acquainted'. We have already received the mooncakes and drunk the wine, so if you have anything to say, please speak frankly."

He steered the conversation back to the core issue, avoiding irrelevant entanglements like "whether it suits your taste," and directly stated: "Since you know about my affairs and have come to me through an old friend, you must have something to gain. There's no need to use idle chatter to cover it up."

Seeing that Gao Jian remained unmoved, Jiang Zhou glanced between Gao Jian and Qin Long for a moment, then his sharp expression softened and he put on his usual nonchalant smile again.

He clapped his hands lightly, as if he had just done a trivial warm-up.

“Haha, it seems Mr. Gao still has some reservations and probably doesn’t particularly enjoy these empty banquets,” he stood up, straightened his pinkish-green brocade robe, and said in a relaxed tone, “It was my oversight that I was being presumptuous, sir. I’ll take a break for a moment, change into something more comfortable, and then we can chat in a different way.”

As he spoke, he actually turned around decisively and walked leisurely, disappearing into the shadows of the corridor at the edge of the square, leaving Gao Jian and Qin Long alone in the cold moonlight.

Gao Jian's expression was still not good. This sudden action, seemingly casual, was actually quite meaningful.

He gave Gao Jian and Qin Long space to talk alone, which was both a sign of trust in Qin Long as their "introducer" and a higher-level test. In the absence of him as the host, the conversation between Gao Jian and Qin Long might change Gao Jian's attitude, and this change might reveal some clues.

However... it's also possible that the other party really didn't think of anything, in which case it's a battle of wits between Gao Jian and thin air.

Gao Jian watched Jiang Zhou leave, his brows furrowing slightly. This Sixth Young Master Jiang's style was indeed as unpredictable as the rumors suggested, his actions fluid and unpredictable, leaving everyone wondering what he would do next.

Sigh, dealing with such unpredictable people is such a hassle; you can't even tell if they're genuinely stupid.

Once the scent of Jiangzhou had completely dissipated, Gao Jian, without hesitation, rose and walked directly to Qin Long's table. Looking calmly at his former comrade-in-arms, he asked directly:

"Qin Long, what happened?"

His tone was direct and familiar, as he needed to find out why Qin Long was here and what his relationship was with Jiangzhou.

Qin Long put down the wine glass he had been holding but hadn't drunk from, raised his cold, hard face, and looked at Gao Jian.

His eyes remained unchanged, but his tone carried its usual sincerity:

"Brother Gao." He called out first, and then began to narrate directly, his words concise and his thoughts clear, "As you arranged, I returned to Yan Pavilion to recuperate. Before my injuries had healed, the people of Young Master Jiang came to my door. They did not force me, but simply conveyed a message, saying that they had long admired Brother Gao's name and knew that he had a past with me, and hoped that I could introduce them. They only wanted to make friends and had no other intentions."

Qin Long paused, then continued, "I originally didn't want to pay any attention to it. But Jiang Zhou came to see me personally, bringing an old friend of mine with him... I couldn't refuse to see him, so I showed myself, only to find that this person was somewhat different from the rumors. He frankly admitted that he knew about the affairs of Liangzhou and everything we had done to Yuan Lu. He didn't use his power to intimidate me, but instead offered me several miraculous medicines that were very effective in healing injuries, saying that regardless of whether I agreed to the introduction, he would give me these medicines to heal my injuries, as a way of forming a good relationship."

"After weighing the options, I felt that he at least appeared sincere enough, and the Jiang family is powerful. If we could learn some deeper information about the capital through him, it might benefit both of us. In addition, he promised that it was just an introduction and nothing more, so I agreed." Qin Long looked at Gao Jian. "Before I came here, I had already reported to the cabinet. This is not a private matter. As for what he just mentioned about the palace, I don't know the source of his information, but he certainly knows a lot about it."

Qin Long's account was simple, highlighting several points: Jiang Zhou approached him proactively through other members of Yan Ge, with a polite attitude and offering benefits; his agreement to the introduction was a well-considered decision, mainly to obtain intelligence and taking into account the Jiang family's power; his actions were transparent within Yan Ge; at the same time, he also expressed caution regarding Jiang Zhou's access to information.

After listening, Gao Jian pondered for a moment. Qin Long's explanation made sense; given his character, he wouldn't easily participate in such a matter without sufficient reasons and guarantees. Jiang Zhou's approach of "generous gifts with little expectation" was indeed consistent with his usual style.

"What do you think his real purpose is?" Gao Jian asked, wanting to hear Qin Long's judgment.

Qin Long shook his head and said succinctly, "It's hard to tell. But his relationship with you, Brother Gao, is definitely not just a simple 'acquaintance.' His eyes were different when he mentioned the palace and the Yuan law."

Gao Jian nodded, already having made up his mind. This Jiang Zhou, seemingly absurd and unruly, was actually meticulous and planned every step of the way.

Just then, light footsteps came from the direction of the corridor, accompanied by Jiang Zhou's smiling voice:
"Mr. Gao, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting! Now can we put aside all the formalities and have a proper chat?"

He had changed into a simple, elegant moon-white robe, and his face was bare of makeup. Although he was still handsome, he had lost some of his eerie charm and gained a more refined air, as if he had simply changed into "more comfortable clothes" to come back for a casual chat.

Seeing Jiang Zhou return in a moon-white robe, Gao Jian stopped beating around the bush and strode forward, his eyes sharp, asking directly, "Young Master Jiang, what do you want from me?"

This question is so blunt it's almost rude, stripping away all the pretense and politeness to get straight to the heart of the matter.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhou paused, his smile froze, and then turned into a bitter smile tinged with self-mockery and disappointment.

He shook his head, looking at Gao Jian with a complicated expression:
"Mr. Gao, what kind of person do you take me for?" His voice was tinged with desolation. "My Jiang family is so wealthy that money is spread all over the world, and gold and jade are piled up in countless quantities. As for martial arts techniques, supernatural powers, and divine weapons, my Jiang family's treasury contains more than ten thousand. What I, Jiang Zhou, have always liked is to make friends with heroes from all over the world, regard gold and silver as dirt, be generous and righteous, and only seek 'like-minded people'."

His tone grew somber, tinged with resentment at being misunderstood: "I originally thought that you, who dared to draw your sword against the emperor and could contend with the immortals above the Imperial Academy, were a first-rate hero in the world. I admired you greatly, which is why I went to great lengths to ask Mr. Qin Long for an introduction, prepared some simple wine, and only wished to drink with a hero like you under the moon and discuss the world! But I never expected..."

He paused, his disappointment evident in his voice: "...yet you are so hesitant, so calculating, so wary, treating my sincere desire to befriend you as having ulterior motives. This...you're so fussy, lacking even a shred of boldness!"

He said the last sentence almost with disdain.

"Enough, enough!" Jiang Zhou waved his hand listlessly, as if driving away something unpleasant. "You can go now. Consider it a casual meal since we were just strangers. Forgive me for not being a good host. I won't see you off."

After speaking, he didn't even glance at Gao Jian again, turned around, and disappeared back into the shadows of the corridor. This time, he was clearly truly gone.

Gao Jian stood there, watching the other person's rapidly disappearing figure, speechless for a moment.

It is said that renowned scholars are often unconventional, arriving on a whim and leaving disappointed. Among the ancient sages, there was once a man who, on a snowy night, was suddenly inspired to visit a friend. He set out by boat, arriving at his friend's door after a whole night, but without knocking, he ordered the boatman to turn back. When asked why, he replied, "I set out on a whim, and I'm returning when the whim is over. Why should I bother to see him?" Far from being surprised, people admired his true elegance and the spirit of a true scholar.

At this moment, Jiang Zhou's sudden invitation, coupled with his decision to dismiss the guest because he felt that Gao Jian was not the "hero" he had imagined, was somewhat similar to the behavior of the recluse who "returned when the fun was over."

He wasn't angered by Gao Jian's attitude, but rather by Gao Jian's performance, which shattered the image of a "hero" in his mind. His "interest" vanished instantly, so he ended the meeting he had initiated without hesitation.

This almost willful purity and carefree attitude is truly... arrogant.

Qin Long had somehow walked to Gao Jian's side, silently watching the direction Jiang Zhou had left, his cold, hard face revealing no emotion.

Gao Jian slowly exhaled, withdrawing his gaze from the corridor. He was not swayed by Jiang Zhou's evaluation; on the contrary, he gained a deeper understanding of this Sixth Young Master Jiang.

This person's actions are indeed beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

"Let's go," Gao Jian said to Qin Long.

The banquet on the floating island came to an abrupt end in such an unexpected way.

"Where are we going?" Qin Long asked, his voice still flat.

Gao Jian gazed into the distance of the capital, his tone calm: "I have a friend, a celestial being named 'Feixiang'. Back when I was still in the capital, I entrusted many helpless orphans and slaves who had broken free of their shackles to him. Thinking about it, it has indeed been a long time since I last visited him."

"An orphan?" Qin Long repeated, then nodded. "Alright, let's go."

He was not a sentimental person, but he had no objection to the trip.

Both were Grandmasters who had unlocked two levels of cultivation, possessing profound abilities and requiring no magical artifacts like flying boats. With a swift movement, they were like two wisps of smoke blending into the night, silently gliding across the rooftops and alleyways of the capital city at an astonishing speed. Ordinary people and even low-level cultivators could not detect their actions at all.

Still shrouded in the deep darkness of night, the air seemed a bit fresher.

A Buddhist temple stands quietly nestled among a bamboo grove. Moonlight, like water, spills onto the temple's yellow walls, leaving dappled shadows.

The two did not knock on the door; in a flash, they leaped over the wall and entered, landing in the front courtyard of the temple.

The courtyard was paved with bluestone slabs, with fine moss growing in the cracks, indicating that the incense offerings were not particularly abundant, yet it possessed a cleanliness far removed from the hustle and bustle of the world. A huge Bodhi tree stood in the center of the courtyard, its lush branches casting large, tranquil shadows under the moonlight.

Beneath the tree lies an ancient well, its stone rim worn smooth by time. The main hall's door is ajar; inside, there are no lights, only a faint, almost imperceptible scent of sandalwood wafting out, soothing the soul.

The entire Buddhist temple was very quiet, not dead still, but a kind of serene and peaceful tranquility, as if time itself flowed much slower here.

Not long after Gao Jian and Qin Long stood still, the half-closed door of the main hall was silently pushed open.

A figure slowly walked out.

He was tall, but not bulky, and wore a simple monk's robe.

What was most striking about him was his skin tone, a deep and even azure blue. His face was serene, his features exuding an inhuman solemnity and compassion. His head was smooth as a mirror, without any ordination scars. His eyes, opening and closing, held a gentle gaze that seemed to see right through people and encompass all things.

It was that celestial being—Non-Thought.

(End of this chapter)