Mid-May.
The border area between Yunbei and Jinling.
This region had abundant rainfall. Light rain drizzled. Passing jianghu figures mostly wore bamboo woven hats, draped in cheap straw raincoats. When thirsty from traveling, they’d hastily stop at roadside tea stalls for a bowl or two of water, treating it as a rest stop.
News of the Crown Prince and Regent Prince’s southern tour had long spread everywhere. Recently, one could hear people discussing it everywhere.
“Who would have thought our dynasty’s heir apparent, only sixteen this year, already shows signs of a wise ruler! Didn’t you hear about Shunfu? Hey! He actually had the courage to directly execute that corrupt official!”
“Wasn’t the Nan’an cheating case resolved by the young Crown Prince? The newly appointed official tried to flatter but kicked the horse’s leg instead, even sending women to the young Crown Prince. I heard the young Crown Prince’s face turned black on the spot.”
“Didn’t they say the Regent Prince also came along? How come there’s no news about him? Hmph, I’ve heard that lord isn’t easy to deal with…”
“Who says otherwise? But affairs above—what’s it to us?”
The tea stall attendant diligently served tea, his shrewd eyes darting around, fearing these jianghu figures might lose their tempers and smash their small stall.
The attendant glanced toward a corner.
A person sat there—tall and slender build, wearing black robes, hat pressed extremely low, revealing only a cold, hard jawline and pale lips.
One hand rested on the table, palm pressing down on a cloth-wrapped long sword. The other hand held a crude tea bowl, slowly drinking a few sips.
His entire bearing had a cold, detached aura, separating him from the surrounding chaotic noise.
An honest swordsman.
The attendant observed a few times and thought to himself.
“…Hey, hey, speaking of which, is there still no news about Young Master Ximian on the Winds and Clouds Rankings?”
“He’s held the top position for nearly ten years, right?”
“Hah, if you ask me, it’s only because Ximian hasn’t appeared these ten years. Otherwise, that top position would’ve been challenged down long ago. Hasn’t the second-ranked person been looking for him all along?”
“Tsk—better not mention it. That person has been searching even more frantically after winning the Sword Saint title.”
“That person, ever since Young Master Ximian vanished without a trace, has never drawn his sword again. The Sword Saint title was won with a casually picked wooden sword.
Tell me, what’s the relationship between that person and Young Master Ximian? Is it like Boya and Ziqi—kindred spirits hard to find? Or mortal enemies—you die or I die?”
“Tsk tsk tsk, I think, after so many years without finding anyone, perhaps Ximian died long ago. When the next Winds and Clouds Rankings comes out, what does it have to do with him…”
Bang!
An unsheathed sword directly shattered those people’s table, fiercely stabbing into the ground. The faded gray-white cloth strips on the hilt fluttered slightly in the moist rain-laden air.
The attendant froze, his gaze dull as he looked toward the swordsman he’d just defined as “honest.”
“Who—who who is that!”
The people at that table angrily turned around. After seeing the swordsman, before they could get angry, they were stunned by the powerful internal energy emanating from him.
Those with quick minds had already realized something. They hurriedly looked down at the sword—vaguely visible in the center of the hilt was the character ‘Wu’ (Nothing).
They immediately drew in sharp breaths and exchanged glances with each other.
Damn! It’s Qiu Che!
The Sword Saint who’d been chasing after Ximian for ten years—one of the protagonists in their conversation. What a coincidence!
—Saying Ximian was dead right in front of Qiu Che—weren’t they the ones courting death?!
Those people hastily stood up, mumbled “sorry, sorry,” and fled.
“Hey, hey!”
The attendant was on the verge of tears.
How did this… the stall still got smashed.
The swordsman hadn’t said a single word from start to finish. After drinking the crude tea in his hand, he placed an ingot of silver on the table as compensation, retrieved his sword, led his horse, and left the tea stall.
The attendant watched his figure walk into the rain and mist—heading toward Jinling.
He fondled the silver lovingly, thinking: this good person who gave silver—in the jianghu, he must be… an important figure, right?
–
The southern tour ships slowly sailed toward Yunbei.
Along this route, they’d encountered three assassination attempts so far. The First Prince and Third Prince had definitely interfered, but the imperial guards dispatched were quite capable—dangerous but ultimately safe.
Lian Shenwei was very satisfied with Ying Jingjue’s performance these days.
The young Crown Prince had visibly matured and grown more composed. His body had grown taller, and the immaturity on his face gradually faded through being tempered by one event after another.
Of course, his wariness toward him had also grown heavier.
This boy suspected he’d also participated in these assassination attempts.
Lian Shenwei couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. Or rather, he was happy to see it happen. This southern tour was, for him, going home. So the closer to Jinling, the better his mood.
Mood and physical condition influenced each other. After recuperating for nearly a month on the road, plus not having to give blood, he’d barely improved somewhat.
“Master, the Crown Prince requests you to dine with him.” Ming Zhu pushed open the cabin door and entered.
In Lian Shenwei’s cabin, everything he ate, wore, and used was the best quality. Even the floor was covered with a layer of plush carpet.
It wasn’t that he insisted on luxury—Feng Ke said his current body couldn’t withstand hardship. If he didn’t eat well, who knew when his depleted body could be replenished.
Lian Shenwei raised an eyebrow at the words. “What else did he say?”
His body hadn’t fully recovered. Staying long would make it easy for Ying Jingjue to notice something amiss. Usually, he’d make excuses when possible and wouldn’t be alone with Ying Jingjue.
“Never mind. Going out to get some fresh air today isn’t bad either.”
On deck, a table of fine dishes was laid out. Ying Jingjue smiled and came forward. “Teacher, please sit.”
Lian Shenwei wore a set of green robes today. Sitting at the table, he poured himself a cup of tea, his tone gentle. “Does Your Highness have some matter?”
He’d just taken medicine and couldn’t eat yet, so he didn’t touch his chopsticks. Ying Jingjue saw this and naturally took it as a form of wariness toward him.
He didn’t insist and smiled. “To discuss with Teacher—this afternoon the fleet can reach the border between Yunbei and Jinling. I’ve heard the public security there is excellent. This Prince wishes to see the local officials’ governance experience.”
“This fleet will be left to Teacher to watch over. This Prince will take some people there and return before evening.”
Lian Shenwei replied, “Whatever Your Highness decides is fine.”
Ying Jingjue said, “Since public security is excellent, presumably there won’t be bandits or water thieves, right?”
The air subtly stilled.
Lian Shenwei found it amusing inwardly.
This boy—was he actually threatening and testing him?
The wolf cub was baring his claws.
A faint smile appeared in his eyes as he deflected neither lightly nor heavily. “Your Highness is blessed with fortune. Even if you truly encounter them, presumably you’ll be safe and sound.”
Ying Jingjue looked at him for a moment, smiling as he raised his cup. “With Teacher here, this Prince will certainly be safe and sound.”
“There may be heavy rain tonight. Your Highness should be careful and return early.” Lian Shenwei stood up. When walking past Ying Jingjue, he lightly patted him. Scattered powder fell on Ying Jingjue’s body.
“This minister will go rest first. Wake me when Your Highness departs.”
The young Crown Prince didn’t notice and nodded. He gazed at the broad lake surface.
The atmosphere in the south was naturally different from the north, including boat travel. He’d originally thought he wouldn’t adapt, but he adapted well. In fact…
Ying Jingjue inexplicably said, “I keep feeling this scene of boating on the lake seems somewhat familiar.”
Lian Shenwei’s footsteps suddenly stopped. The curve at his lips slowly disappeared.
He turned back and asked calmly, “What did Your Highness say?”
Ying Jingjue turned around. “Nothing. I once read about southern scenic beauty in poetry. Seeing it today, I know the words weren’t false.”
He paused, puzzled. “Teacher, what’s wrong?”
Lian Shenwei’s gaze lingered on his face for a while. After confirming there was no abnormality whatsoever, he returned to his previous demeanor.
“Nothing.”
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Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152