Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Naturally, Qi Qingyao could not sleep soundly that night. Not long after returning to Qingzhou City, the sky lightened. She packed her luggage in her room for a while then immediately went and sat in the side hall, waiting for breakfast. When strands of morning light began shining from the east, Lu Yan awoke. Seeing that Dong Jing had not returned, he got up and, after washing up, went to the side hall only to see that Qi Qingyao was already sitting there quietly, sipping her morning tea.
Qi Qingyao looked up and saw Lu Yan walking in through the door. She said straightforwardly, “I made use of some of your people last night but don’t worry, I paid.”
“I had Dong Jing go with you so that you can use my people to help you deal with whatever troubles you might have.” Lu Yan rubbed the spot between his brows and sat down. Internally, he was thinking, ‘I asked Dong Jing to help you so why did you go and give them money? She’s acting so distantly.’
Qi Qingyao asked lightly, “Did you already expect that I would do that?”
Lu Yan was usually such a clean freak and he rarely sat down with anyone to eat or drink. In recent months, he had changed a lot, perhaps Qi Qingyao’s training had worked. At present, he picked up the teapot on his own, cleaned the black porcelain teacup detailed with gold, then poured himself a cup of tea.
He said as he drank, “It’s going to be a long journey this time when you go to the capital. Not to mention, Si Jin has disappeared. If anyone wants to kidnap you, it would be all too easy for them to do so. So, it’s not unusual that you would make such a decision.” He already expected it.
Qi Qingyao said jokingly, “Truly, you’re able to read my mind.”
“I’ll take this as a compliment.” It was not easy to understand this woman since she was undoubtedly quick-witted to make such a decision. If she were stupid, it would instead be…very difficult to figure out the pattern of her behaviors.
After Qi Qingyao had breakfast, she sat in the side hall waiting for Dong Jing to return.
Lu Yan noted the dark curls of her eyes and reminded her that there was no need to be so anxious. Dong Jing was very careful. The soonest he would be able to return after seeing them off would be around evening.
After hearing this, Qi Qingyao said she would get some sleep.
She turned and headed for her room.
Lu Yan understood Dong Jing very well, as it turned out. Qi Qingyao woke up in the afternoon, had dinner, then waited until it was completely dark. Around that time, Dong Jing came in through the back gates of the Qi Residence. He did not dare dally and made his way to the side hall with haste.
When Qi Qingyao saw someone come in, she hurried forward and personally dragged Dong Jing to his seat by the hand. Dong Jing had not slept for two days and one night and was very tired, so he did not pay attention to Qi Qingyao’s warm hand as he followed her in.
Just as he was ready to take his seat, he suddenly felt a murderous gaze. Dong Jing turned around and caught his master’s eyes. It confused Dong Jing. What had he done to offend the master? He had just returned and had not even eaten! He looked down and noticed Qi Qingyao’s hand was grabbing his tightly. As if electrocuted, he hurriedly retracted his hand and bowed. “You’re too courteous, Missus! This was merely something I had to do!”
Qi Qingyao patted him on the shoulder with a smile. She motioned him to quickly take a seat and served tea, also pouring some water. She requested for a maid to bring some food over quickly. After all her orders were carried out, she asked Dong Jing, “How did things go?”
Dong Jing downed three large cups of tea in one go before replying, “To answer Missus, I have already sent them to a safe location. The old lady and Madam Wu left me a message for you, they asked you to head to the capital safely first. Once they have traveled a bit further and settled down, they will write to you about their situation.”
Qi QIngyao nodded.
Dong Jing scratched his head and said, “Our people escorted them secretly all the way. There should be no problems.”
Lu Yan brushed the corners of his clothes and asked, “It all went according to my previous orders?”
Dong Jing hurriedly answered, “Master, it went according to your arrangements. They’re disguised as a caravan.”
“Disguised as a caravan?” Qi QIngyao looked at Lu yan curiously. They were a group of ordinary people, could they disguise themselves as a caravan?
Lu Yan explained, “I made preparations to transfer a shopkeeper to another capital. He would be going along with them to arrange everything on the way while settling all the ledgers. So, it’s best to disguise them as a caravan.”
Qi Qingyao was moved and could not help saying commendingly, “You’re really considerate.”
“…” Being stared at with adoring eyes by the little lady all of a sudden, Lu Yan blushed.
Qi QIngyao proceeded to ask Dong Jing about the finer details of their journey. After the two talked for half an hour, Qi Qingyao hurriedly ushered Dong Jing to go get some rest. She also let out a breath of relief and went back to her house. Unexpectedly, as soon as her front foot passed the doorway and she shut the door, Qi Qingyao was startled by a shadow near the window. She immediately became alert.
She shouted.
“Who’s there!!”
“It’s me.” An old but clean figure emerged from the shadows.
“You…” Qi Qingyao did not sense any hostility from the other and immediately lit a lamp. With the light from the candle, she took a closer look at the individual before patting her chest and saying vigilantly, “Old man, let me tell you this, Si Jin is still around, you better not have any bad ideas.”
“First off, you don’t have to bluff. I know Si Jin is not around for the time being.” Gongsun She wanted to laugh at her bluff but was afraid of alerting others. He comforted her, “But don’t worry, I don’t plan on doing anything this time. I just came to discuss something with you.”
Qi Qingyao immediately said, “You’re not thinking of stealing my children again, are you?”
“No!” Gongsun Sun cradled his forehead.
Qi Qingyao fell silent for a moment before saying, “Then why did you come at a time like this?”
Gongsun She tried his best to smile and make himself look reasonable. “I already said I had something I would like to discuss with you.”
“Then speak.” Qi Qingyao was anxious.
Gongsun She pondered for a second before saying quietly, “The eighth grand master has appeared.”
“Is that not Si Jin?” Qi Qingyao asked back immediately.
Gongsun She took a seat calmly and glanced at Qi Qingyao. He said, “Pang Juan is dead, and with Si Jin, there were only seven grand masters left. But two days ago, on that rainy night, another grand master appeared on the continent.”
Qi Qingyao heard this and felt her head throb. “What???? What do you mean???”
Gongsun She knew that she was finding it hard to believe and said heavily, “I reckon my words were very clear.”
They were clear—he said that another grand master had appeared. However, there was still an issue. “I can’t even cultivate, so why are you telling me this?”
Gongsun She had not left Qingzhou City and intended to continue keeping an eye on the Qi Residence but he did not think that…
“I’m not the only one who knows of this, it’s likely that Shang Li and the other grand masters also felt it.”
“You mean that a rank nine has broken through the boundary and entered grand mastership?” Qi Qingyao repeated the implications of Gongsun She’s words.
Gongsun She said, “Yes.”
Qi Qingyao shrugged and said evenly, “But there’s no use telling me this, Old Sir! I know nothing about cultivation, I don’t have the talent, I don’t understand anything about cultivators, and I surely don’t know who broke through.. .” There must be something wrong with him for discussing this with her, an ordinary person.
Gongsun She looked at her, his gaze carrying some deep meaning. “Based on my location at that time, I sensed that that person was very close to me, so I think they are in Qingzhou City.”
“Huh!!” Just as Qi Qingyao sat down, she suddenly got up again and said, “You mean to say that, while Si Jin is not with me now, there is another grand master hiding in the dark in Qingzhou City apart from you!”
Examining her as if she were a talented student worth teaching, Gongsun She answered, “That’s right.”
“You’re not pulling my leg, are you?” Qi Qingyao was in disbelief.
Gongsun She replied, “Why would I lie to you about something like this?”
That was true, but she still had her doubts. “But that can’t be right either!” Qi Qingyao pointed at him and then at herself, “There’s no point in you discussing this matter with me. I really don’t know who broke through, I don’t know who’s so powerful!”
He came looking for her…
Gongsun She rubbed his eyebrows and said, “To tell you the truth, I believed you were the fated person. The true name for this fated person is the Harbinger. Si Jin was by your side before he ascended above the grand master level and that confirmed what I thought even more.”
Those who transcended grand masterships must have enjoyed being by the Harbinger’s side!
“I shan’t tell you more about the Harbinger. The point is, according to the legend, the Harbinger is able to get a grand master to break through! In line with that, it should be possible that the Harbinger can get a rank nine to break through quickly as well.”
“You keep boasting and boasting. So how did you break through to grand mastership without me before?” Qi Qingyao rolled her eyes, unwilling to entertain the old man’s theory.
Gongsun She said anxiously, “The seven great masters are rare geniuses, but it took nearly 50 years for them to achieve this realization and ascend to grand mastership…”
“…” Fifty years…!!
Gongsun She reminded her, “With the Harbinger, one may take only a month, or just a year to reach that…”
Qi Qingyao pondered for a bit before saying, “If I really am the Harbinger, then according to you, that rank nine who must have come into contact with me before and broke through and reached grand mastership.”
“Possibly.” Gongsun She’s clouded gaze turned brighter as he stared at her.
Qi Qingyao said, “And that’s why you came to me to discuss this?”
Gongsun She nodded. “Yes.”
“…” A certain rank nine had broken through into grand mastership, which Qi Qingyao found hard to believe.
Gongsun She sank into silence for a moment before whispering, “How many rank nines have you gotten to know recently?”
Qi Qingyao casually replied, “The State Preceptor, the Head Grand Secretariat, and some rank nine archer from the Ghost Organization named Na Lan-something? I don’t know the rest. There were many people who were trying to kill me that one night, there were many rank eights too…”
“…” Gongsun She lowered his head in contemplation.
He thought for a long time but did not dare to make a rash judgment among the people she met. Qingzhou City was huge, after all. What if someone who was not mentioned had broken through?
Gongsun She could not help rambling.
“I came here just to remind you that if you go to the capital now, should the new grand master be hostile to you, they will no doubt attack you. So be careful along the way.
“If they’re not hostile and they’re from Northern Liang, they will show their faces after a short while. They are definitely making their way toward Capital City now.
“Only the little empress of Northern Liang can provide them with an excellent place to cultivate, which would help them consolidate their growth.”
“So, if your destination is Capital City, you will definitely meet that person.
“Si Jin is not around right now, but as long as they are a grand master, they will be interested in Si Jin.
“Since he killed Pang Juan…Hehe, all the grand masters are interested in Si Jin.
“When the time comes, that person will definitely beat around the bush and make a move on you to try drawing Si Jin out.
“So, from now on, if Si Jin is not here, you had better have a few more rank nines to protect you…”
Qi Qingyao wanted to interrupt, but she did not have the chance to. After he finished, she was speechless.
“Where am I going to find rank nines to protect me!! Do you think rank nine powerhouses are a dime in a dozen?!”
“You’ll have to bluff that you have a few even if there are none.” Gongsun She added something that seemed to imply a bigger meaning. “It’s not to protect you, but your three children.”
“…” Qi Qingyao dropped her gaze and said nothing.
“You are likely the Si Jin boy’s weakness and the triplets are your weakness. You know what I mean,” Gongsun She said.
Qi Qingyao looked grateful. She pursed his lips and said solemnly, “Thank you for your advice. I’ll try my best… to convince people that there are rank-nine powerhouses to accompany me all the way.”
Gongsun She noted Qi Qingyao’s promise and so he whispered goodbye.
After Gongsun She left, Qi Qingyao cursed under her breath, “That old fox!”
He was thinking of using her to search for that grand master!
Did he think she was stupid?!
He also asked her to have more rank-nines around her. There was a high likelihood that one of the rank-nines had already ascended to grand mastership; they were probably now a rookie among the grand masters.
Old Man Gongsun would surely be hiding in the dark and observing everything.
It was hard to say whether his objective was to eliminate the rookie who had just entered grand mastership.
If not…
Considering their strengths, Northern Liang now might have three grand masters… Eastern Ling lost Pang Juan and was only left with one. Those with the most power were still Daming in the south and Dazhou in the west who each had two.
If Northern Liang really were to have three grand masters, the balance of the strengths on the continent would be completely tilted.
The grand masters were equivalent to each nation’s super nuclear weapons. If Northern Liang were to have three nuclear bombs, they would pose a serious threat to Daming.
She did not believe the old man when he was just curious. Not to mention…
Si Jin was not around either. If Old Man Gongsun really wanted to eliminate the newly emerged, junior grand master…it would be way too easy for him.
No.
She was, after all, a commoner in Northern Liang. She could not let this old man’s treachery succeed!
…
…
Night.
Half-past one in the morning.
The moon was bright and its light was clear like water.
Outside Qingzhou City, a few carriages and guard troops were waiting at the sides of the official route. Suddenly, the city gates opened. The man standing beside the carriage, leaning on crutches, peered through the door and frowned.
A team of elite tiger guards came out first. They were all wearing black armor and looked very solemn in the dark night.
Jiang Yeqian frowned. When did he redeploy the tiger guards over?
Following closely behind the tiger guards was a convoy…
The tiger guard troops stopped when they reached behind Jiang Yeqian’s convoy. The leader dismounted and saluted the Head Grand Secretariat respectfully.
Although Jiang Yeqian had his resignation approved by the empress, she did not officially announce his resignation in court, so in name, he was still the Head Grand Secretariat.
Li Ruoxuan also alighted from the carriage and walked over.
He casually called out to him.
“Head Grand Secretariat.” Then he immediately shrugged his shoulders, touched his forehead, and stroked the eye patch on his right eye. “Oh no, I should not be calling you the Head Grand Secretariat now. You resigned.”
Jiang Yeqian sneered. “The State Preceptor’s information sure is up to date.”
“That’s a given. My love for the Head Grand Secretariat is truly deep. I know your every move like the back of my hand.” Li Ruoxuan pretended to be confused and asked, “Qi Qingyao is leaving tonight. Are you waiting here to send her off, or…”
Jiang Yeqian replied righteously, “Gongsun She still hasn’t left, who knows what he is scheming in the dark? Since Si Jin is not around now, I naturally have to remain here to protect Northern Liang’s properties.”
Li Ruoxuan considered him before saying, “The Head Grand Secretariat is truly deserving of his title. Even after resigning, you receive news quickly. You even know that Old Sir Gongsun is still around.”
“His objective is Qi Qingyao’s Erniu. Even if I resigned, I still care about Northern Liang. Of course, I can’t let Qi Qingyao’s weakness fall into Gongsun She’s hands. If Erniu were to be taken away, Qi Qingyao will be forced to go to Daming and Si Jin will follow her there when the time comes. Northern Liang would have lost a senior general like that,” Jiang Yeqian concluded softly as he nodded.
Li Ruoxuan replied placidly, “I can’t see Si Jin becoming Northern Liang’s chess piece.”
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Jiang Yeqian tapped his crutch on the ground gently and said, “Whether he wants it or not, as long as he is in Northern Liang, he has an absolute effect of deterring the major nations, no?”
“So, you want to accompany her all the way back to the capital?” Li Ruoxuan asked as he narrowed his eyes.
Jiang Yeqian hooted, “I didn’t want to initially, but after thinking of the safety of the entire Northern Liang, I decided to personally escort the famous Qi Qingyao back to the capital, which is also my last wish in some sense.”
After he said that, he glanced at the elite tiger guard troupe. Jiang Yeqian asked dully, “Did the State Preceptor not have the same idea for coming here today?”
Li Ruoxuan, “Hmph!”