Chapter 109: Return to the Capital (2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Whoosh, whoosh…
In the blink of an eye, it was already night. The ferry was sailing quietly on the river, leaving only the sound of waves outside the window.
There was no light in the room, and the window was open. The gentle night breeze quietly entered the room, causing ripples on the curtains.
Ye Jingtang was sitting cross-legged on the bed and practicing the Dragon Form Picture. After he waited for an unimown period of time, there was finally the sound of water ripples outside.
He opened his eyes to check, only to see a young woman as thin as a willow silently jump in from the window and land in front of the bed. There was faint red rouge on her lips. Her long black hair was tied up, and there was a blue hairpin inserted diagonally. She looked like a fairy on the summer night.
The little watermelons on her chest swayed slightly with the inertia after she landed…
“Hero—”
“Shh!” Luo Ning was very cautious. She went over to him and asked in a low voice, “Are you crazy? Why did you suddenly kill Zhou Huaili?”
Ye Jingtang moved to the side and gestured for Luo Ning to sit down. “How did the Zhou family react?”
Luo Ning had been so anxious that she had chased after him. She hadn’t had the time to think about the minor details. She sat on the side of the bed and said solemnly, “The Zhou family is in an uproar. They must find the murderer and make him pay with blood.”
“Do they suspect the Red Flower Pavilion?”
“No, you left the Black Office’s token and used saber skills. It’s very difficult to suspect the Red Flower Pavilion, but they will find you eventually.”
Hearing this, Ye Jingtang heaved a sigh of relief.
Seeing that he was relieved, Luo Ning said solemnly, “You’re only working for the Red Flower Pavilion. Why are you taking the blame yourself when something happens? Did the Red Flower Pavilion force you to draw a clear line with them?”
Ye Jingtang said with a smile, “No. The Red Flower Pavilion can’t beat the Zhou family now. Since 1 wanted to kill Zhou Huaili myself, 1 should settle the matter.”
“How are you going to settle it?”
Luo Ning had been anxious for the past two days, afraid that Zhou Chiyang would run faster and find Ye Jingtang in the capital first. She fumbled in her sleeve and took out a small iron token. On it were the words ‘The Soul of Yan Is Indestructible, Aspiring to Pacify Heaven’. She handed it to Ye Jingtang. “This is a token the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master gave me and Yunli. All Eight Chiefs know it. If you meet Zhou Chiyang, show it. He definitely won’t dare to kill you.”
Ye Jingtang was slightly surprised. He looked at the small iron token in his hand. “Is that so?”
“You still don’t believe me? As long as you don’t bump into the One Immortal and Two Sages, when others see this token, they won’t kill you at the risk of angering the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master.”
“I believe you. How can 1 not believe you?” Ye Jingtang rubbed the small iron token with a rather strange expression. With the token of the Prince of Jing, no one in lawful society would dare to provoke him. With the token of the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master, no one in the underworld would dare to provoke him…
Wasn’t this equivalent to hugging a thigh with black stockings and a thigh with white stockings at the same time and being invincible?
But if he carried the two tokens at the same time, if they were exposed, both the black and white stocking thighs would probably trample him…
After sizing up the token for a moment, Ye Jingtang returned it to Heroine Luo. “No need. I wrote a letter to the Prince of Jing…”
?!
When Luo Ning heard this, a complicated look appeared in her eyes. “Yunli and 1 chased you for hundreds of miles just because we were afraid that something would happen to you. You didn’t even ask me when you got into trouble and went straight to the princess. Do you think I’m heartless and won’t help you?” Ye Jingtang shook his head and said, “What are you thinking? Do I look like someone who lives off a woman and clings to a lady’s thigh?”
Luo Ning snorted. “If you don’t rely on the princess, how can you deal with Zhou Chiyang?”
Ye Jingtang said solemnly, “The law! I killed Zhou Huaili because he went to kill Jian Yuhua in the middle of the night. 1 acted bravely and upheld justice on behalf of the government. This isn’t hiding under the skirt of the princess but standing upright under the law of the country, being a law-abiding citizen, and adhering to righteousness and chivalry!”
Luo Ning blinked her beautiful eyes and thought for a moment before saying, “If you didn’t know the princess, would the Imperial Court interfere in this matter?”
Ye Jingtang smiled and said, “Why wouldn’t the Imperial Court care? It’s just that the case won’t be handled so quickly.”
Luo Ning thought about it and felt that this was hugging the princess’s thigh. But it was indeed easier for the Imperial Court to mediate than for the Pacifying Heaven Cult to exert pressure. She put away the token. “Does that mean you’re okay for now?”
“I’m fine for now. When I’m done practicing my saber, the ones in trouble will be Jun Mountain Terrace and the Zhou family.”
Luo Ning had been worried for several days. At this moment, she secretly heaved a sigh of relief and thought for a moment. “You… hurry up. Yunli is still waiting. I have to go back.”
Ye Jingtang blinked. “Hurry up with what?”
Luo Ning sat up straight with a serious expression. “Since I’m willing to bet, I’m willing to admit defeat. Do you think I, Luo Ning, am a person who goes back on my word? Even if you have forgotten, do you think that I’ll pretend nothing happened?”
Ye Jingtang had been busy for a few days and had really forgotten about the bet. He smiled and opened his arms.
Luo Ning placed her hand on the hilt of the sword at her waist and tilted her head to look elsewhere. Her expression was cold, as if she was not taking the initiative, refusing, or cooperating.
Ye Jingtang hugged Heroine Luo generously and patted her back gently. “Thank you and Yunli for worrying about me. When 1 get back, I’ll strive to let Qiu Tianhe regain his freedom as soon as possible.”
Luo Ning’s entire body tensed up. Her eyes moved as she said calmly, “Just do your best. It’s not convenient to come and go these few days. We’ll talk about the rest when we return to the capital… By the way, can you take me to the palace?”
“Hmm?” Ye Jingtang was stunned. He turned his head and looked at Luo Ning’s ear. “Why do you want to go to the palace?”
“I’m curious. I just want to look around.”
“Are you planning to kill the empress?”
“I don’t have the ability.”
“That’s true—Hiss! You said it yourself. Why are you pinching me?!”
Luo Ning loosened her grip on Ye Jingtang’s waist and said seriously, “The previous dynasty buried something in the palace. I have to go get it.”
?
Ye Jingtang was stunned and asked, “The Roaring Dragon Chart?”
Luo Ning didn’t know what the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master wanted her to take, so she thought for a moment. “It can’t be the Roaring Dragon Chart. It should be something related to the Great Yan Imperial Court.”
Ye Jingtang was doubtful. “Where is it buried?”
“Eternal Joy Palace, Peaceful Hall.”
?
Ye Jingtang took a deep breath, pushed Luo Ning away, and looked at her pair of innocent peach blossom eyes. “Sister, do you know where that is?”
When Luo Ning heard the word ‘sister’, her heart trembled for some reason.
She pretended to be calm and said, “The emperor’s resting palace.”
“You still know? How do you expect me to enter the place where the empress sleeps? Should I be sent to the dragon bed by the Prince of Jing?”
Luo Ning recalled Xue Baijin’s reminder and added, “You have to take me in with you. I have to pick it up myself.”
?
Ye Jingtang spread his hands. “You mean that after I’m sent to the dragon bed, I have to be loyal to you and bring you along? Even if the empress agrees, what can you do? Let us busy ourselves first while you put on your clothes and get up to walk around yourself?”
Luo Ning had long felt that this matter was ridiculous. She sighed softly. “Xue Baijin asked me to help. 1 just casually mentioned it. If it doesn’t work, forget it. Have you hugged me enough? It’s been so long.”
Ye Jingtang let go and patted Heroine Luo’s shoulders. “Don’t mess around when you return to the capital. This is really not a small matter.”
“I know what to do. I’m leaving.” Luo Ning tidied her clothes and flew out of the window like a breeze.
Tread, tread…
Ye Jingtang got up and went to the window to look. He could see that the beautiful figure on the river had already run far away, leaving only circles of ripples that had yet to disappear.
After watching Luo Ning return to the distant ferry, he looked up at the silver moon in the sky and breathed a sigh of relief.
After entering the capital, he had inexplicably stepped on three ships. Now, it seemed that his footing was becoming more and more stable…
Unfortunately, these three ships were not very harmonious. If one of them went astray one day, his third leg would be torn off on the spot…
If his foster father knew that he was in Jianghu and that the girls he met were worried about him and gave him life-saving charms, he would probably feel that his foster son was very useless…
Who didn’t want their son to stand between heaven and earth alone with a saber? Even if he were pointed at by thousands of weapons and attracted the anger of gods and Buddhas, he would still raise his hands to hold up the sky and step on the ground, protecting everyone behind him with a smile…
Crack!
A cold light flashed in the room.
Holding the Hornless Dragon Saber horizontally, Ye Jingtang stroked the densely packed fine scratches on the silver blade with his fingers. The saber let out a hum.
Buzz!
Then he pointed the saber diagonally to the floor, took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began to practice the saber…
End of Volume 1: A Golden Scale Enters A Cold Pool