Love and Crown

"You mean besides the sect leader, there are others who want your life?" Xu Lai asked, swinging a wine flask in his hand. He lounged carelessly on the windowsill of Xiao Huan's room, one foot propped up while the other dangled, his posture utterly devoid of grace.

Xiao Huan wasn’t much better off, holding a large flask of Shaoxing yellow wine himself, leaning lazily against the table with his head propped on one hand. "Before leaving last night, that man told me, 'Assassins always love encountering a target on the verge of burning out.' I don’t think he’s the talkative type, so I believe he was hinting at something."

"'Always love'?" Xu Lai caught on, tilting his head back to take a big swig before nodding. "That means your troubles might be serious. No wonder you insisted on sending that girl away."

"Exactly. I’m not confident I can escape unscathed, and if Cang Cang stays by my side, she’ll be in danger too." Xiao Huan chuckled, raising his flask for a hearty gulp—a far cry from his usual refined sips from a wine cup.

Xu Lai glanced at him. "You’re still a physician… Won’t drinking like this worsen your injuries?"

"At most, it’ll just slow the healing," Xiao Huan drawled, swaying the flask lazily, a trace of wine lingering at the corner of his lips. "I won’t die from it."

Watching his indifferent, languid demeanor, Xu Lai suddenly burst into loud laughter. "You know what I admire most about you?"

Xiao Huan shot him a sidelong glance, amused. "You don’t actually expect me to guess, do you?"

Xu Lai grinned. "The first time I met you, I thought you were a timid, cowardly physician—until you dropped your medicine chest and fought alongside me in a bloody battle. The second time, I assumed you were refined and dignified, someone not to be trifled with—only to find out that very night, you cheated at the gambling den even more skillfully than I did. The third time, I thought our meeting was just a passing encounter, that you wouldn’t genuinely help a friend like me—yet you tirelessly treated our sect’s disciples for three days and nights without rest, nearly exhausting yourself to illness..." He paused. "You seem tightly bound by something, yet in truth, nothing can truly restrain you." Raising an eyebrow, Xu Lai’s eyes gleamed with admiration. "That’s what I respect and admire most about you."

Staring blankly at Xu Lai’s spirited expression, Xiao Huan slowly smiled and exhaled. "This is the first time someone’s accused me of being too unrestrained."

Xu Lai laughed. "Then blame it on your mask being too convincing!"

Xiao Huan chuckled, jokingly pointing at his own face. "Does it really look that fake?"

Xu Lai nodded. "Just a little too… otherworldly, perhaps."

They fell silent, locking eyes before raising their flasks in unison. "Cheers!"

Next door, faint laughter drifted over. Ears pricked, Cang Cang stomped her foot in frustration.

Ever since she’d left Xiao Huan’s room, the laughter inside hadn’t stopped. Apparently, some friend of his had arrived.

Was he really that happy to have driven her away? What was so amusing? Laughing so loudly—and drinking, no less! A drunkard’s friends are all drunkards! Men are all scoundrels! Pretty boys are even more unreliable! A drunkard and a pretty boy combined? The absolute worst!Fuming and stomping her feet a few more times, Cang Cang didn't know whether she was too angry to think straight or if her mind had actually cleared. Shifting her gaze to the half-packed bundle she'd been angrily stuffing earlier, she suddenly grinned, revealing teeth in a somewhat eerie smile.

About the time it takes to burn an incense stick later, the door of a guest room in the official post station creaked open, revealing a youth in a moon-white robe. The scholar's scarf on his head was tied rather haphazardly, with several unruly strands of hair already escaping from the front.

The youth dragged an enormous bundle, inching his way into the courtyard. His large eyes darted around as if searching for something.

Standing in the yard, he cleared his throat loudly several times, then tilted his head slightly to listen. Hearing no movement from one particular room, he snorted heavily, hoisted the massive bundle onto his shoulder, and strode out of the post station.

As she reached the gate, the old postmaster sitting in his wicker chair greeted her with a smile: "Miss Cang Cang, leaving already?"

"Hmph," came the nasal reply as acknowledgment. Balancing the bundle that towered over her head, the "youth" marched proudly into the crowd outside.

The old postmaster continued smiling: "What a coincidence, Young Master Xiao just left too... Should I pass along any message for you, Miss Cang Cang?"

The crowd ebbed and flowed before the posthouse, but the moon-white figure had already disappeared into the distance.

Under the shade of a large tree opposite the station, a black-clad young man leaning against the wall with his sword spat out the grass stem he'd been chewing. With a flick of his sleeve, he set off after the conspicuously swaying large bundle in the crowd ahead.

Perhaps encountering such an unmistakable tracking target for the first time in his life, the handsome youth with amber-colored eyes allowed a faint smile to curve his lips.

Xiao Huan was abruptly dragged out of the post station by Xu Lai.

After finishing a pot of aged Shaoxing wine each, Xu Lai jumped down from the windowsill and suddenly slapped his forehead: "Right! There's something I need to show you!"

Without waiting for agreement, he pulled Xiao Huan along. One moment he'd been too lazy to lift a finger, the next he was in such a hurry it seemed like delay would be fatal.

Xiao Huan had no choice but to let himself be led. The two quickly left the station and raced through the streets and alleys of Luzhou City.

Even at their rapid pace, it took them nearly half an incense stick's worth of time to reach their destination near the city gates before stopping.

Xu Lai pointed to an inconspicuous blue mark on the corner of a wall: "Brother Xiao, look."

Xiao Huan bent down for a closer inspection, his normally composed expression shifting slightly: "The Tang Sect?" At first glance the mark seemed ordinary, but viewed from a certain angle, faint multicolored phosphorescence could be seen reflecting from the blue pigment.

Xu Lai nodded: "One of our sect's disciples discovered it by accident. We share the same conclusion—it's indeed the Tang Sect's marker for gathering members." He frowned in confusion: "Since the massacre eight years ago, no trace of Tang Sect members has been seen in the Martial World. Could the rumors be true that survivors remain?"

Xiao Huan's brows furrowed as he pondered something. He quickly straightened up and nodded to Xu Lai: "Let's return to the post station first."When the two of them hurried back to the relay station, the old stationmaster was still lounging in his chair basking in the sun. His slightly narrowed eyes immediately spotted Xiao Huan, and he said cheerfully, "Young Master Xiao is back? What a coincidence—Miss Cang Cang just stormed out carrying a large bundle..."

Xiao Huan halted his hurried steps and repeated, "She left?" Suddenly, he bent over, coughing violently.

Xu Lai quickly supported him. "Brother Xiao, don’t panic. We’ll figure something out."

Xiao Huan waved his hand to indicate he was fine, straightening slightly. A bitter smile touched his lips. "Eight years ago, it was Cang Cang’s father who ordered the massacre of the Tang Sect..."

Even Xu Lai was stunned. The Tang Sect’s disciples were infamous for their ruthless methods, and the hatred from such a massacre... He shuddered. "I’ll ask the disciples at the Luzhou branch if they noticed Miss Cang Cang’s whereabouts."

Carrying her bundle, Cang Cang ran all the way out of the city without stopping until she was completely out of breath.

Dropping the bundle to the ground, she rubbed her sore shoulders and looked back.

No one! She had run so far, yet no one had come after her!

Deflated, she plopped onto a roadside rock and began pondering her next move.

She had been in such a hurry earlier that she hadn’t even thought to buy a horse at the relay station in the city. Was she really going to walk to the next town on foot? Or should she go back and buy a horse now?

Cang Cang yanked a handful of wild grass in frustration. No way she was going back! She stole another glance at the road behind her—still no sign of that familiar figure in blue. Her grip on the grass slackened... He really wasn’t coming after her...

Biting her lip in dismay, a lazy voice suddenly sounded beside her ear. "Need some help?"

She jerked her head up and met a pair of amber eyes. A young man in black, holding a sword, looked down at her with an amused smile.

Cang Cang blinked hard, then immediately forced a bright grin. "Oh, it’s you! What a coincidence running into you again, hahaha..." She tried to slip past him, but her foot caught.

An arm blocked her path. The man was still smiling. "Trying to leave, Miss Ling?"

Seeing no escape, Cang Cang awkwardly laughed. "Well, uh, I really need to use the bathroom..."

The young man studied her, then suddenly chuckled. "You’re afraid of me? Why run?"

Realizing she couldn’t hide it, Cang Cang glared fiercely. "What a weird question! You just slashed Brother Xiao last night—should I stick around and wait for you to slash me too?"

The young man looked at her with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Why would I slash you?"

Cang Cang raised her voice. "How should I know why? Anyway, I’m at your mercy now. Do whatever you want—just wait till Brother Xiao catches up and beats you senseless!"

"Is that so?" The young man smirked, deliberately slowing his words. "It’s been a while. If he were coming, he’d be here by now, wouldn’t he?"

Cang Cang faltered, regret creeping in. She shouldn’t have stormed off in a huff...

In a quiet courtyard in Luzhou, a young man in white leaned against a willow tree, listening calmly to his subordinate’s report. He patted the man’s shoulder with a smile. "Well done. You’ve worked hard."Turning his face slightly, he took a shallow breath. "Brother Xiao, you heard it too..."

Xiao Huan, standing beside him, nodded. "Someone saw a black-clad swordsman take her away." As he spoke, he coughed lightly and smiled. "If it's that person, then we needn’t worry about Cang Cang’s safety for now. Brother Xu, thank you."

"As long as you’re sure that man won’t harm the girl," Xu Lai also nodded. "So, what do we do next?"

Xiao Huan smiled. "Of course, we deal with our own troubles." He coughed again and chuckled. "It’s just as well Cang Cang left like this—she won’t be dragged into the mess that follows."

Xu Lai studied him thoughtfully before suddenly reaching out and striking the Spirit Platform Acupoint on his back.

Caught off guard by the blow, Xiao Huan staggered and bent over, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Quickly steadying him, Xu Lai’s expression darkened as he eyed the dark red stain on the ground. "How long have you been holding this in?"

Still struggling to steady his breath, Xiao Huan coughed lightly and managed another smile. "An old ailment. It’s nothing serious."

Xu Lai frowned, scrutinizing his pale face. "This is the ‘recovered’ old illness you mentioned?"

Xiao Huan admitted honestly, "I meddled in too many things and accidentally triggered it."

Xu Lai’s frown deepened. "What exactly is wrong with you?"

"There’s Cold Poison in my heart and lungs," Xiao Huan replied casually, then added after a pause, "Other parts might not be in great shape either."

Infuriated by his indifferent attitude, Xu Lai nearly threw him to the ground. "I was a fool to believe you were fine when we drank earlier! In this state, do you even need someone else to kill you? You’re a renowned physician—prescribe yourself some medicine!"

Then Xu Lai noticed it—the unshakable calm Xiao Huan had maintained even in the bloodiest battles faltered. His face seemed to grow even paler as he forced a weak smile. "No need... I’ll manage..."

Xu Lai silently observed him before suddenly stroking his chin with his free hand. "You’re afraid of taking medicine?"

Struck by the truth, Xiao Huan lowered his head, pressing a hand to his chest. "Cough, cough..."

The free-spirited Left Hall Master of the Azure Jade Sect’s Hall of Light burst into hearty laughter, the kind he hadn’t indulged in for a long time. "A physician... afraid of medicine... Heaven help us... A doctor who fears medicine... Hahaha..."

Xiao Huan frowned at his unrestrained mirth, displaying a rare moment of frustration. "Does knowing medicine mean I can’t dislike bitterness...?"

As dusk settled, wisps of smoke rose from the farmhouses along the road. Farmers returning from the fields led water buffaloes and carried plows through the harvested rice paddies. The golden twilight painted the figures of men and beasts, turning the countryside into a living painting.

Resting her chin on her hands, Cang Cang watched a buffalo amble past before turning for the third time to the black-clad youth sharing her horse. "My legs are sore. Let’s switch places."

For the third time, the young man lazily shook his head. "No."

Gritting her teeth, she glared at him before slumping over the horse’s neck, too exhausted to complain further. "You’re a demon..."

The "demon" behind her stroked his chin smugly as he urged the horse onward. "Call me whatever you like..."Cang Cang pouted, ignoring him.

Even now, Cang Cang couldn’t tell whether this lazy-smiling young man was friend or foe. Ever since meeting him outside Luzhou, he had "coerced" her, firmly insisting she travel with him. Yet, perhaps because he was certain she wouldn’t dare act recklessly, he never used any force against her—not even blocking her escape routes with his sword hilt, but always with his arm instead.

With the horse’s jolting, the young man’s body behind her inevitably rubbed against her back, radiating a warmth unlike that other person’s.

Having grown up among boys, Cang Cang didn’t find this posture particularly improper. Still, she couldn’t help but recall that when traveling with Xiao Huan, even when sharing a horse, he would carefully avoid physical contact between them.

It seemed she had never truly understood him. Though he had openly revealed his true identity upon their first meeting, though he never refused her advances, there remained something about him she couldn’t grasp.

That perpetually faintly smiling man carried vast blank spaces she knew nothing about, gently accompanying her before silently vanishing.

Before her eyes, his bright, profound gaze seemed to appear, along with the ever-smiling curve of his lips.

How could she remember someone’s face so clearly?

Suddenly, Cang Cang desperately wished that if she just looked up, she’d see him standing not far away, smiling slightly—that if she just reached out, she could embrace that faintly cool body.

Why was she thinking like this? It had only been a few hours since they parted.

Outside Wuchang City.

"Xiao Yuncong!" Xu Lai shouted, repelling an assassin beside him as he flicked out a Copper Coin Dart, barely deflecting a sleeve arrow aimed at the man next to him. His voice was exasperated. "Could you please stop testing their martial arts techniques in such a critical situation?"

"Is that so?" came the indifferent reply. The figure in cyan moved effortlessly amid the encircling enemies, each strike targeting vital points yet never delivering a killing blow. He hadn’t even drawn his sword, fighting barehanded. "Brother Xu thinks the situation is critical?"

Too exhausted even to roll his eyes, Xu Lai parried a sharp thrust from a longsword. "It’s not critical… I just don’t want to keep sparring with these juniors… Can we wrap this up quickly?"

Truthfully, their situation wasn’t truly dangerous—at least compared to the relentless pursuit of the past few days. Now, they weren’t at risk of being impaled by a top-ten Martial World assassin or accidentally poisoned by some non-lethal but debilitating toxin. Compared to those life-or-death moments, this really couldn’t be called perilous…

Still… watching as one injured foe was immediately replaced by another, an endless tide of low-level fighters surging forward, Xu Lai couldn’t help but sigh. After days of skirmishes, all he wanted was a clean, comfortable inn room, a soothing bath, and a solid night’s sleep.

Perhaps sensing his frustration, Xiao Huan—who had been weaving between enemies without ever striking decisively—suddenly smiled. A faint cyan light flickered between his fingers. "Then let’s finish this quickly."The flowing sword light swept into the enemy ranks, the clash of metal ringing out crisply, resonating like a heroic battle hymn.

It wasn’t the first time Xu Lai had witnessed such a sharp and fluid sword technique, swift as the wind. His spirits lifted instantly, and the soft blade at his waist unsheathed, striking with the speed of lightning and the force of a thunderbolt.

The tide of battle shifted the moment their weapons were drawn. When the gleam of their blades shone together, no one could withstand that brilliance.

In just a few short days, these two young men had already begun forging an undefeated legend.

Nine provinces converged here, a thousand sails vied upon the waters.

The prosperity of Wuchang City was no less than that of Suzhou and Hangzhou.

The most renowned bathhouse in Wuchang, the Jade Spring, had its finest and most luxurious private room reserved by two young men half an hour prior.

Thick sandalwood incense rose with the steam from the hot pool, lulling the senses into drowsiness.

With a hot towel draped over his face and leaning against the green jade wall of the pool, Xu Lai felt utterly relaxed, lazily drifting toward sleep.

On the other side of the pool, Xiao Huan rested with his eyes closed, also seemingly on the verge of sleep.

Compared to the heart-stopping battles of the past few days, this moment was pure bliss.

Comfort and warmth bred idle thoughts. Xu Lai swayed his head, already imagining the Qi Fang Pavilion by the East Lake, the red-clad dancers, and the amorous songstresses.

Just as his thoughts wandered, a faint fragrance drifted through the warm, damp towel, mingling subtly with the sandalwood.

Suddenly, a wave of hot water splashed onto his face. Coughing up a mouthful, Xu Lai lifted his head, realizing Xiao Huan had dunked him into the pool.

The towel had long since slipped from his face. A slightly cool hand pressed swiftly over his mouth and nose as Xiao Huan’s voice came urgently, “Don’t breathe!”

Without needing further instruction, Xu Lai grabbed a bath towel, soaked it, and swung it back like a banner, infused with formidable force. A series of soft clinks followed as the towel caught a volley of hidden weapons.

Changing his motion, Xu Lai pushed forward, sending the concealed weapons flying back out the window. Screams echoed immediately.

The assailants, few in number, didn’t linger and retreated swiftly. But the once-pristine bathhouse was now in disarray.

“Bastards! Can’t even let a man bathe in peace!” Xu Lai cursed furiously before noticing Xiao Huan’s odd gaze. Glancing down, he realized—having used the towel to block the hidden weapons, he was now stark naked below the waist.

With a splash, he sat back into the pool, water spraying everywhere, his handsome face flushing red for once.

Embarrassed, he glanced at Xiao Huan and noticed a striking patch of scorched black between his fingers. “What happened?” he asked quickly.

“Just a burn from the incense,” Xiao Huan replied nonchalantly, lowering his hand and adjusting the black hair draped over his chest. “They used the Tang Sect’s Drunken Dream Smoke. Luckily, there was sandalwood on the table to counteract it, or we’d have been left to drown drunkenly in this pool.”

Recalling the faint scent he’d barely noticed earlier, Xu Lai nodded with lingering fear. “The Tang Sect’s Drunken Dream Smoke—makes you drunk on its fragrance, paralyzes you, then kills you. What a pathetic way to go.” He frowned. “So, has some Tang Sect descendant set their sights on us?”

“Unlikely just one,” Xiao Huan shook his head, combing his hair with his fingers as he tilted his head. “If it were just one, why bother calling in reinforcements?”Recalling how they had discovered the traces of the Tang Sect disciples, Xu Lai nodded. "Indeed, I overlooked that point..." He suddenly paused and looked at Xiao Huan with a smile. "Brother Xiao, I just realized today that you're so charming, you could rival Xiao Xian, the top courtesan of Qifang Tower, for attention..."

Xiao Huan didn’t seem angered either, merely smiling faintly. “Is that so? Perhaps I’ll give it a try when I have the time.” As he spoke, he loosely gathered his smoothed black hair in front of his chest, stepped out of the bath, and picked up the only intact robe from the rack to drape over himself. With a courteous bow toward Xu Lai still in the bath, he added, “Brother Xu, take your time. I’ll excuse myself first.”

Xu Lai stared blankly as Xiao Huan sauntered out of the bathing chamber, then glanced at the towel riddled with holes from hidden weapons and the robe on the rack missing half its fabric, equally tattered… He called out futilely toward the door, “Brother Xiao, don’t go! Brother Xiao! Wait for me…”

After soaking in the bath for another quarter of an hour, only to be caught naked by constables rushing in to arrest the troublemakers, then interrogated for what felt like an eternity while trapped in the bath, Xu Lai finally managed to cover himself and hurried back to the guest room…

His dignity as the Left Hall Master of the Azure Jade Sect’s Hall of Light… His reputation as a dashing young hero…

By the time he entered the room, Xiao Huan had already changed into fresh blue robes. Though his hair was still damp, tied back with a ribbon and cascading over his shoulders, it lent him an air of effortless grace. Seeing Xu Lai’s disheveled return, Xiao Huan wore a rather conspicuous smile. “Brother Xu took quite a while.”

Since he had been the one to provoke the situation, Xu Lai couldn’t retort. He slumped onto the lavish brocade bed, not bothering to change, and propped his aching head with one hand. “Just… average…”

Before he could finish, a steaming cup of medicinal tea appeared before him.

“To neutralize the lingering effects of Drunken Dream Smoke,” Xiao Huan explained with a smile, then added, “I also included something to prevent chills.”

Taking the cup, the warmth seeped into his palms through the porcelain. Xu Lai downed the concoction in one gulp, then stared at the empty cup before suddenly asking, “Back in the bath, when you noticed the Drunken Dream Smoke, you pushed my head down first before holding your own breath, didn’t you?”

Xiao Huan paused briefly but didn’t answer, only smiling. “Still dizzy? Feeling better now?”

“You…” Xu Lai swayed the cup lazily in his hand, “always prioritize everyone and everything around you over yourself. I really wonder how you were raised… You’ve almost lost all traces of worldly attachment.”

After a moment of silence, Xiao Huan chuckled. “It’s not that extreme…”

“Right, not extreme at all. Any more and you’d ascend straight to immortality…” Xu Lai rested his head on one hand, still languid. “Know why I insisted on following you? I thought, if I don’t keep an eye on this half-immortal who’s practically detached from mortal affairs, what’ll become of him?”

Unable to hold back a laugh, Xiao Huan leaned over and snatched the cup from his hand. “Seems the poison’s still affecting you—you’re even spouting drunken nonsense now!”

Xu Lai burst into laughter as well, still protesting, “Not nonsense! Every word’s true!”

“Alright, I believe you. It’s all true.” Xiao Huan smiled, setting the cup on the table before sitting down beside it.

After a while, he lowered his hand and spread his fingers, gazing at the indelible scorch marks between them as if speaking to himself. “How can you say I’ve lost worldly attachment? Isn’t this clearly the mark of mortal fire?”

Perhaps hearing him, Xu Lai, half-reclined on the bed, let out a soft snort of laughter.On the third day of the tenth month in the seventh year of Virtuous Blessing, at the Blowing Dagger Cottage in the Ling family's suburban villa near the capital.

"Game over!" With high spirits, the gaunt middle-aged man in a brown robe placed the final piece and clapped his hands together with a laugh. "Guess how many stones I won by?"

The beautiful woman in white pushed the board away slightly dejected, resorting to playful defiance. "I won't count... I can never beat you anyway!"

Chuckling, the man indeed didn't tally the score, idly picking up a stone to tap against the board. "It's been years since we last met. What brings you here so suddenly?"

Resting her chin on her hand, the white-clad beauty moved with effortless grace. "There's nothing pressing at the sect. What, Brother Li doesn't want to see me?"

The man laughed heartily. "Are you trying to shame me? I'm just afraid you wouldn't visit without reason!"

Covering her mouth with a sleeve, the woman teased back, "So if I truly had no business, I wouldn't dare visit your esteemed abode?"

Their shared laughter faded after a while. Gazing at the drifting clouds, the man continued tapping the purple sandalwood board with his stone, the crisp sounds punctuating his words. "Luo Mo, must you truly seek Huan'er's death?"

The unexpected question froze the woman momentarily before she responded with a faint smile. "How unusual to hear you call him 'Huan'er'—haven't you always referred to him as 'the one on the throne'?"

"Regardless, I was the first to hold that child after his birth." The man's eyes narrowed nostalgically. "Never seen such a well-behaved baby—never cried, just watched you with those bright black eyes."

After a silence, the woman rose from the table, her voice cooling. "Don't try swaying me with sentiment. Had I been prone to weakness, I'd have relented seven years ago."

As if expecting this, the man merely sighed softly. "Luo Mo, he's your own flesh and blood."

A barely perceptible tremor ran through her shoulders. "And whose fault is it that he's also our Emperor Ruizong's son?"

The garden plunged into quietude, broken only by autumn insects' chirping.

The woman's hand moved to her waist, and with a flick of her wrist, she drew a Soft Sword. Its flexible blade shimmered with an unusual pale green hue, swaying gently like a willow shoot in the breeze.

Placing the Soft Sword on the stone table, she said, "Brother Li, please deliver this Yang Liu Feng to that young girl." A pause. "As for facilitating what follows, I trust you'll know how."

"Willow branches, fragrant season, what grieves is the yearly farewell..." The man traced the engraved verse on the blade with his fingertip, the elegant script belying its mournful love poem.

"So your resolve is firm." His faint smile lingered as he withdrew his hand. "As you wish, Luo Mo. One way or another, I'll bring about that outcome."

Assured, the woman smiled and curtsied slightly. "Then Luo Mo thanks Brother Li."With a slight nod, he watched her graceful figure disappear amidst the flowers and trees before finally lowering his gaze to the long sword on the table. A faint, bitter smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he murmured to himself, "Never show mercy, huh? I hope you truly never regret it, Luo Mo."

Yang Liu Feng—the legendary blade said to be the only weapon capable of countering the Emperor's Sword, King Wind—lay before him after passing through generations.

Smiling faintly, the middle-aged man in brown robes, the most trusted advisor in the Chief Minister's residence and referred to by his subordinates as "Master Li," grasped the three-foot-long soft sword. He flicked the blade with his middle finger, producing a clear, resonant ring.

Rising to his feet, he swung the sword horizontally. As his inner force surged through it, the blade straightened abruptly. The swift swordlight swept past, sending withered leaves fluttering and scattering across the ground.

"What I resent most is the endless farewells year after year." The gleaming blade reflected the man's face, revealing the hidden sorrow in his gaunt features. "After all these years... still bidding farewells..."

He stood and sheathed the sword, then walked out of the small courtyard. Beckoning to a scholarly-looking young man standing outside the gate, he said, "Yuanjiang, send word to Xian Xue. Tell him to stay in Jiangnan with the young mistress—there's no need to return."

The refined young man clasped his hands and smiled. "Master, didn't you previously instruct Mr. Luo to bring the young mistress back as soon as possible?"

"Bringing her back quickly was to prevent her from becoming too entangled with that person. Now, I fear the entanglement isn't deep enough..." Answering his subordinate's question, the man narrowed his deep, unfathomable eyes. "Without deep entanglement... how could it become a fateful bond?"

After a brief, silent chuckle, the young scholar known as "Yuanjiang" smiled again. "I think I understand now."

Without another word to him, the middle-aged man walked away, hands clasped behind his back. His steps were hurried, and even from a distance, the faint glow of the sword in his hand—gleaming white with a hint of emerald—could still be seen.

"Yang Liu Feng..." The white-robed young man murmured softly, his handsome brows arching slightly as he smiled faintly. "So it's a fateful bond."

With that, he followed the middle-aged man's footsteps and vanished into the autumn garden.

Inside the Liuyun Inn outside Wuchang City.

Xu Lai first grabbed the cup of Bamboo Leaf Green Wine on the table and downed it in one gulp before exhaling deeply. Then, addressing Xiao Huan across the table, he said, "I had my men investigate. You were right—aside from the Sect Leader, Jinling's Phoenix Come Pavilion also wants your life."

Phoenix Come Pavilion... This recently established assassin organization was shrouded in mystery, but its Pavilion Master, Feng Yuanjiang, maintained close ties with Li Lu, the advisor to the current Chief Minister.

Nodding, Xiao Huan smiled. "Thank your brothers in the sect for me."

"Helping you is helping me anyway. I'm tired of dragging things out with those small fry." Xu Lai waved his hand dismissively before asking, "What's your plan?"

After a pause, Xiao Huan smiled again. "Unless he forces me into a position where I have no choice but to face your Sect Leader, Mr. Ling won't stop."

Xu Lai whistled lightly. "Seems like we've got plenty of tough fights ahead."

Chuckling again, Xiao Huan coughed softly a few times but said nothing, merely raising the wine cup in his hand to his lips.

Before it could touch his lips, the cup was swiftly snatched away by Xu Lai, who frowned. "Stop drinking. Can't you see how terrible you look?"

Still smiling, Xiao Huan didn't argue. He simply lowered his head, resting it on his arm as he coughed quietly.Stamping her feet in a mix of urgency and anger, Xu Lai threw the cup in her hand and quickly turned around. Just as she had done a few days prior, she struck Xiao Huan's back twice in the same manner.

Xiao Huan coughed once more, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the ground. This time, however, the coughing didn’t stop, and he spat out two more mouthfuls.

Watching him cough up blood incessantly, Xu Lai trembled with fury, nearly losing control of her words: "If your body is this weak, don’t push yourself! If the emperor dies by my hand, I can’t bear that kind of blame!"

His body nearly drained of strength by the waves of cold surging from his lungs, Xiao Huan leaned against the table, coughing so hard he couldn’t straighten up. Still, he forced himself to lift his head and offer Xu Lai a weak smile: "Don’t… worry… I won’t die…"

Startled by her own outburst, Xu Lai wiped her face. Seeing Xiao Huan’s condition was truly dire, she disregarded propriety and convenience, half-dragging and half-carrying him to the bed, muttering, "You won’t die… but being half-dead is even scarier!"

Practically flung onto the bed by Xu Lai, Xiao Huan heard her words and wanted to laugh, but a caught breath stifled it, making him cough even harder. He had no choice but to close his eyes and focus on regulating his breathing.

Only after a long while did his breathing stabilize slightly. Xiao Huan opened his eyes to see Xu Lai standing by the bed, arms crossed, watching him intently.

Her handsome face still bore traces of anger, but her gaze had softened with concern. Noticing him looking at her, Xu Lai snorted loudly, her eyes questioning: "Feeling better?"

With a faint smile and a nod, Xiao Huan took a deep breath before speaking: "I am of the Xiao Clan—"

"I know. 'Xiao Yuncong' is an alias. You’re from the Xiao Clan Vermilion Bird Branch… that person." Xu Lai cut him off, grinning. "Did you think I wouldn’t figure it out after all this time? Do you take me for a fool? Besides, you just called Ling Xuefeng 'Mr. Ling.' How many people in this world can address him so casually?"

Chuckling lightly between coughs, Xiao Huan sighed: "Couldn’t you have waited… for me to tell you myself…?"

Xu Lai frowned. "Wait for what? For you to gasp twice just to say one sentence? I’m not here to listen to your last words—why should I wait?"

At that, both of them burst into laughter.

Xu Lai’s earlier fury had subsided. She tugged at her robe and casually sat down by the bed, speaking idly: "I’ve heard many rumors. To be honest, I never imagined that person would be like this…"

"And… what should they be like?" Xiao Huan interjected with a faint smile.

"At the very least, not like this…" Xu Lai shook her head with a wry smile. "I thought that person would be paranoid, hypocritical, ruthless, arrogant…"

Xiao Huan deliberately coughed loudly and laughed. "That’s enough… no need to go on…"

Xu Lai grinned, shaking her head smugly. "A precocious emperor raised under the thumb of powerful ministers—isn’t that how they all turn out…?"

Her gaze shifted to the pale-faced man on the bed, his deep eyes closed, his chest still heaving violently. Finally, she sighed, half to herself, "Why did you have to be the one I met? Running into you is nothing but a headache!"