480: Chapter 56 480: Chapter 56 The days in the Imperial City always fly by quickly.
The competition at the Great Pudu Temple has drawn to a close, and with the unveiling of the Heavenly Pride List, the once desolate Chen Mansion has become bustling once again.
Countless people, with gifts in hand, come to pay a visit.
Standing atop the peak always brings countless followers.
Duan Zhao doesn’t quite understand why, overnight, so many people have become worshippers of the young master of the mountain?
They fervently gather in front of Chen Mansion’s gate, merely hoping for a glance at Xie Zhen.
Even to just see from afar, to say a single word, is considered a great honor.
Yet during the Northern Hunt, the young master had a notorious reputation in the Imperial City, where curses filled the air.
But now, those voices have all vanished.
All he can hear are praises, adoration, envy.
For Xie Xuanyi, all this is routine, no different from what it was years ago.
As time goes on, mountains may wither, rivers may dry up.
But the most stubborn part of the human heart does not change because of this.
These days.
Xie Xuanyi has firmly shut the gates of Chen Mansion, posted talismans, cast formations, blocking out all sounds.
After the unveiling of the Heavenly Pride List.
A visit to the teahouse to listen to music is now impossible.
Xie Xuanyi simply stays to rest in Chen Mansion, taking the opportunity to instruct Duan Zhao in swordsmanship…
For the upcoming envoy mission, Xie Xuanyi is not planning to bring Duan Zhao along, as the journey is exceptionally perilous, and most people do not know the lad’s identity, not everyone has the eye to recognize the “Wind and Thunder Bracelet.”
The Wangyou Island Master entrusted his only child to him, and he certainly cannot lead him into a real blaze.
Should anything go awry,
Then Wangyou Island will surely hold Da Sui Sword Palace accountable.
Moreover…
It’s not impossible that Yuan Jimo knows Duan Zhao’s identity.
To lure and kill Yuan Jimo,
One must allow the enemy to completely lower their guard.
Xie Xuanyi has already arranged everything; come the day of departure, Huang Su will take Duan Zhao away from Chen Mansion, finding a quiet place to cultivate under the watchful eyes of the Imperial City Department.
…
…
On the seventh day.
Chen Mansion is still bustling with visitors coming and going.
Heilin Weisang, himself, stands guard at the front gate, and several young nobles from the grand families of Northern County also arrive to help maintain order…
Regardless of the visitors’ identities, Chen Mansion rejects all, given Xie Zhen’s current status and position, even royalty and nobility can be turned away.
That day, a dove swept across the sky above Chen Mansion, delivering an invitation in the simplest of ways from Miao Zhen.
The envoy from Fan Yin Temple was ready.
They could depart at any time.
Once the dove delivered the message, Xie Xuanyi soon received a message from Chen Jingxuan via the Ruyi Order within his arms.
“Wishing you a safe journey in your travels to the east.”
The Ruyi Order pointed out a route.
The main entrance of Chen Mansion was impenetrable, but that didn’t matter, as the mansion covered a vast area with an exit to the backyard, connecting to a secluded dark alley unknown to others.
Exiting through there, one would arrive at the normally desolate Qingning Street.
A pitch-black carriage was parked just outside the alley.
The coachman in charge of the carriage was none other than “Iron Eyes,” the Special Enforcement Officer who was responsible for guarding the Imperial City North Suburb on the day the Northern Hunt concluded.
Having failed in his duty,
He was expelled from the Imperial City Department…
The Book Tower had predicted all this and had taken measures to protect him in advance.
The best way to avoid being purged by Yuan Jimo was to leave Great Chu.
Iron Eyes was arranged to join the envoy mission to the east.
“Lord Xie, you have arrived…”
This young Special Enforcement Officer looks respectful, promptly dismounts, and opens the carriage curtain for Xie Xuanyi: “Deputy Director Jiang is inside waiting.”
There was already one person sitting inside the carriage.
Jiang Qihu.
Xie Xuanyi was somewhat surprised to see this familiar face.
As the Deputy Director of Imperial City, Jiang Qihu was usually burdened with official duties; after coming to the Imperial City, they had seldom met, and thinking carefully…
it had been quite a while since he last saw him.
These days.
Jiang Qihu had lost some weight; he was draped in a black-gold tiger-patterned robe, with a broadsword lying across his lap, exuding an authoritative and chilly aura.
This was the proper demeanor befitting the Deputy Director of the Imperial City.
He nodded towards the Special Enforcement Officer outside the carriage and hummed lightly.
Once Xie Xuanyi boarded, Iron Eyes closed the carriage curtain, and as the carriage started to move, Jiang Qihu’s aura gradually dissipated.
“You little rascal…
hidden so deeply.”
Jiang Qihu gave Xie Xuanyi a hearty pat on the shoulder, lowering his voice: “The master sent me out of the Imperial City to South Border to carry out a mission…
Had I not completed the task ahead of schedule, I might not have seen you this one last time.”
…
Xie Xuanyi helplessly said: “No need to rush like that, I’m just leaving the Imperial City, not this mortal world.”
“Tsk tsk tsk.”
Jiang Qihu then realized he’d misspoken and softly hit himself laughing: “Blame me…
talking about a ‘last glimpse,’ that’s too unlucky…”
Somehow.
He always felt a familiar warmth from the young man before him.
Alone together.
Xie Zhen made him feel unreasonably “at ease.”
This feeling he had only experienced with family, and with Xie Xuanyi of the past.
“Did Chen Jingxuan send you to the South Border to prepare for the upcoming ‘demon eradication’?”
Xie Xuanyi looked at the tiger before him and couldn’t help but sigh: “How have you lost so much weight?”
“I don’t know why the master sent me there, didn’t slay many demons, but did draw a few maps.”
“The miasma in the South Border is rampant; it’s natural to lose weight, I’m not the only one.”
Jiang Qihu paused for a second, with a worried frown, he said: “You haven’t seen the master, I heard Sang Zheng say, for some reason the master has been troubled these days, spending several nights sleepless, sitting in front of the Roundness Instrument all day and night, the whole person has become a lot more haggard…”