That wretched vixen has disguised herself as my wife!

Xie Yunqi remained in a squatting position and moved two steps like a duckling learning to walk.

"What's your name?"

She clasped her hands together, tilted her head, and asked.

Jiang Jingming leaned back slightly and looked down at her.

"My name is Jingming."

When Jiang Wuwang was lording it over everyone in Zhongzhou, he used his real name without any scruples. So, to be on the safe side, it's best to avoid using the surname Jiang.

"I see."

Xie Yunqi nodded, a fleeting thought flashing in her beautiful peach blossom eyes.

She gradually drifted into a daze, as if recalling something from a long time ago.

When such a loud and energetic girl suddenly becomes quiet, it's as if the whole world has become silent.

"what happened?"

The silence made Jiang Jingming inexplicably uneasy.

"It's nothing, I just feel like you look a bit like someone I know."

Xie Yunqi continued to stare at him intently.

Jiang Jingming was slightly taken aback.

In an instant, the wind swept through my heart, as if a banner were fluttering.

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Agreement

Jiang Jingming was a little unsure whether Xie Yunqi had also recognized him.

After all, the two had only met once, many years ago, when she was about five years old.

The martial arts tournament held by the Xiquan Sword Sect was not a competition between disciples, but more like a large-scale exercise.

Sect Master Su Changqing—who is also his biological father—is a renowned swordsmanship prodigy in the martial arts world.

Not only was his swordsmanship unparalleled, but what was even more astonishing was his research on the "Eight Desolations Sword Formation," which, according to legend, could withstand the onslaught of thousands of troops with only sixty-four people.

The emperor was very interested in the Eight Desolations Sword Formation, so he sent Xie Jichuan, a member of the Divine Capital Guard, to observe the martial arts.

Jiang Jingming heard all this news from his servants. After dinner, they gathered together to discuss it, their tone filled with pride, though a few complaints were inevitably mixed in.

"It's a pity we're so unlucky to be assigned to serve such a useless young sect leader! We can't even catch up with the biggest excitement."

Jiang Jingming listened to the gossip and leaned against the eaves to read a book.

For several days in a row, all the disciples in the sect gathered together to prepare intensively for this martial arts competition.

No one invited him, the young sect leader, to watch the martial arts competition, but from his position, he could get a general idea of ​​what was happening.

The sword energy within the arena was like a rainbow, and the roar was deafening; it was indeed a formation that no army could withstand.

Su Changqing stood on the viewing platform, dressed in flowing white robes, with Xie Jichuan standing beside him in armor.

"Sect Leader Su is indeed a genius of extraordinary talent!"

"To discuss formations in front of Commander Xie is nothing but showing off one's limited skills before an expert, and would only make one a laughing stock."

The two exchanged a glance, clapped their hands, and laughed.

"His Majesty has long heard that the young emperor is weak, so he asked someone to find a piece of warm jade, which is said to prolong life, cure diseases and strengthen the body."

Xie Jichuan pulled out a palm-sized sandalwood box from his chest.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Su Changqing smiled warmly and accepted the wooden box with both hands.

"Speaking of which, we haven't seen the Commander's beloved daughter yet today?"

"Ok?"

Xie Jichuan was slightly taken aback. He turned his head to look, but Xie Yunqi was nowhere to be seen.

......

Aside from the grand sounds of sword fighting demonstrations, a little girl in a red jacket was struggling to make her way up the mountain path, one step at a time.

She spotted the small courtyard on the mountain early in the morning and figured it must be some kind of fun secret hideout.

She walked for an unknown amount of time, and was getting tired, but she still hadn't found the house.

She tried to turn around and look back, but was so startled that she fell to the ground with a thud.

The endless staircase seemed to lead to the sky; I had no idea how many floors I had climbed!

The wind rustled through the trees and leaves, and the faint sounds of birdsong and monkey calls could be heard.

Xie Yunqi was scared.

Having grown up in the capital, this was her first time in such a desolate mountain forest, and for a moment, all the ghost stories she had ever heard seemed to come rushing back from her memory.

She was wondering whether to go down, when suddenly a dark shadow darted among the treetops, making a rustling sound. Startled, she scrambled to her feet and ran away.

Jiang Jingming was awakened by a burst of crying. The mountain breeze was very pleasant, and he unknowingly fell asleep on the eaves.

"Waaaaaahh ...

The sound was like a ghost's wailing and a wolf's howl, and you could vaguely tell it belonged to a child.

Jiang Jingming turned over, sat on the wall and looked down. A little girl in brocade clothes with Nezha-style hair was climbing up the last step with both hands and feet.

He looks only four or five years old, with a childish face, like a glutinous rice ball with arms and legs.

She sat on the ground, wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and seemed about to start another round of wailing.

"Hey!"

Jiang Jingming quickly interrupted.

"Who are you? Why are you alone?"

Upon hearing his voice, Xie Yunqi looked up as if grasping at a straw, forcing back his tears.

The boy sitting on the wall looked to be about her age, with delicate features and a quiet gaze.

......

"You are Commander Xie's daughter."

Jiang Jingming understood immediately; she had sneaked out on her own while the adults were all busy.

"They should all be looking for you now, so don't worry."

He glanced at the sky and added another sentence.

"If I haven't found you before sunset, I'll send you down the mountain."

"Ok!"

Xie Yunqi ate the green rice dumpling he was given, his cheeks bulging like a hamster stealing food.

Why do you live here all by yourself?

She looked around the deserted courtyard; it didn't seem like there was anything interesting hidden there.

"It's nice here, very quiet."

Jiang Jingming smiled, looking completely indifferent.

Miss Xie couldn't understand it at all. Such a small courtyard wasn't even considered a servant's room in her house.

"Are your parents treating you badly?"

"No."

Jiang Jingming shook his head, unsure how to answer her question.

Although he had observed Su Changqing's distant attitude towards him for so long, he hadn't noticed anything amiss.

I think so!

Xie Yunqi pouted, looking very unhappy.

She gazed at the clouds slowly drifting across the sky, and suddenly her eyes lit up.

"I understand! Come with me! They don't like you anyway, so I'll take you back to the capital!"

"what?"

Jiang Jingming looked at this impulsive young lady with amusement.

"I'm serious!"

Xie Yunqi took his hand and looked at him intently.

"We'll go to school together from now on. When I grow up, I'll be the most powerful female knight in the world! Then let's see who dares to bully you!"

"Actually, no one bullied me."

Jiang Jingming laughed, wondering where such a young girl got such a strong sense of justice.

"I want to take you to fly kites! To see colorful lights! Oh, and I can even teach you swordsmanship!"

As Xie Yunqi spoke, she excitedly circled around him like a fluttering little bird.

"How come I didn't know my Xiaoqi was so capable?"

A smiling voice came from the end of the stairs.

Xie Jichuan walked up step by step with his hands behind his back. His expression was gentle, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's.

Xie Yunqi exclaimed "Ah!" and pulled Jiang Jingming to him.

"Father, you've come at the right time! I'm taking him back with me!"

"But Xiao Qi is still so young, how can he take care of his friends?"

Xie Jichuan smiled slightly at Jiang Jingming, probably already knowing his identity.

Jiang Jingming nodded slightly in response.

"I'm not young anymore!"

Xie Yunqi pursed his lips, about to lose his temper.

There's nothing she's ever wanted but couldn't have since she was little. She wants this boy to stay with her forever, and she absolutely has to have him.

"You can't even master one move of 'Flowing Clouds Chasing the Moon,' yet you call yourself young?"

Xie Jichuan was still smiling.

These words clearly struck a nerve with Xie Yunqi. She secretly glanced at Jiang Jingming, seemingly afraid that her new friend would laugh at her.

"Then, once Xiao Qi has mastered the Flowing Clouds Chasing the Moon move, we'll come and take him to the capital. Do you agree?"

Xie Jichuan squatted down and spoke softly.

Xie Yunqi felt a little awkward, and she looked up at Jiang Jingming.

"Then you wait for me here. I learn swordsmanship very quickly, and I'll come find you once I've mastered it!"

"Okay."

Jiang Jingming smiled faintly.

This was a clumsy lie, and only Xie Yunqi among those present would believe it.

Several years have passed since then, and he has almost forgotten that he once made a promise with someone.

Until this moment, I saw those eyes again, as if peach blossoms were falling in a shower.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Impermanence

"Forget it, forget it."

Finally, Xie Yunqi was the first to look away. She patted the hem of her skirt and stood up.

"I was just saying, after all, the person I knew is dead."