Chapter 524 - 346: Come Back with Me (Part 2)

Celestial Garden and the nine young boys all knelt before Ling Xiao. Celestial Garden's childish voice rang out in the room, filled with unwavering conviction, "Master, we vow to follow you with all our hearts and shall have no regrets!"

Ling Xiao smiled warmly. "Everyone, rise," he said.

'Watching the boys get back to their feet, Ling Xiao felt a daze come over him. To think I've actually taken on disciples myself… Heh, if Master found out, he'd probably laugh his head off. Then again, if he knew I broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage, would he drag me before the memorial tablet of Shushan's founding patriarch to thank him for his blessing?'

'He probably… would.'

"Now, I will tell you about the path you will walk from this day forward…"

And so, under the guidance of Ling Xiao, their young Sect Leader and founding patriarch, the future Ten Great Sword Heroes of Shushan embarked upon a new path—one that would have otherwise been impossible for them to tread.

…

Deep within Wangfu Street in the Imperial Capital, the old Ling Family estate showed no signs of desolation despite its owners having moved away. On the contrary, it seemed even more vibrant than before. In the courtyard, numerous servants bustled about their tasks methodically.

When they first moved in, many of the servants were terrified. Years ago, General Ling Tianxiao had brazenly disregarded the Empire's laws and left without a word, branding the entire Ling Family as traitors in the eyes of many. Strangely, however, the Ling Mansion had been perfectly preserved. Some Golden Fingers had tried to sneak into the noble estate to find some valuables, but the deadly crossbows and formidable Martial Artists within taught them a harsh lesson: just because a mansion's master is away doesn't mean you can simply walk in.

That's right. Those people were agents from the Ling clan's intelligence division, trained alongside the Lightning Legion. They had remained in the Imperial Capital, living right here!

After the heads of the Ling Family left, the original servants gradually dispersed. When these intelligence agents moved in, the Royal Family—located just a stone's throw away—had no reaction. Even the Wulan Family, who had always been at odds with the Ling Family, did not utter a single word of protest.

Later, Huangpu Yue moved in with her entourage. The servants who accompanied her were terrified, thinking, 'Our lady is far too bold! How could she dare to live in a place like this?'

In truth, Huangpu Yue was also a little puzzled. She was living in Ling Xiao's old courtyard, in the room right next to his—the one that had once belonged to Chunlan and Qiuyue.

Occasionally, she would slip into Ling Xiao's room, hoping to find any trace of him. Sometimes, she would sit in his chair, close her eyes, and ponder for a while. 'What was he thinking,' she would wonder, 'when he sat right here all those years ago?'

If anyone knew that the Lanyue Empire's goddess of commerce had such idle moments, their jaws would drop. This woman, invincible in the business world and possessing a beauty that could topple nations, had been considered Ling Xiao's woman by nearly everyone ever since she rejected the Wulan Family's marriage proposal years ago.

And yet, Huangpu Yue never offered any explanation, nor did she make any move to suggest it was true. More than three years went by. Those who had once staunchly believed she belonged to Ling Xiao eventually fell silent. The rumor was like a colorful soap bubble, carried away by the wind and popping before it could drift too far.

「In the winter of Imperial Calendar year 1458, another Carnival was fast approaching.」

The temperature in the Imperial Capital was rather low this year. Several heavy snows had blanketed all of Yalan City, transforming it into a world of white.

Winter days were always short. Bathed in the bright light of a Crystal Core Lamp, Huangpu Yue was reading an ancient tome. Perhaps it was from spending too much time around Ling Xiao and his group of incredibly powerful people, but Huangpu Yue, who had never once yearned for a life of flashing blades, suddenly felt a restless stirring in her heart. She knew, however, that even if she possessed great talent, she was far too old to begin practicing martial arts.

Besides, when it came to anything in the world of commerce, Miss Huangpu could handle it with ease. But the thought of wielding blades and brandishing spears filled Huangpu Yue with a subconscious sense of dread.

'She wasn't afraid of a blade cutting someone else, but on herself… That would have to hurt!'

And so, Huangpu Yue gave up on the idea of cultivation. The tome she was reading was a gift from Ling Su, a book about the glorious civilization of the Ancient Era.

Huangpu Yue was a careful reader, so there was one passage she reread several times, still unable to quite grasp it. Contrary to her own understanding, the people of this world seemed to have almost no religious faith.

Yet, in this ancient tome, Huangpu Yue could clearly read accounts of humans and gods coexisting peacefully during that brilliant bygone era.

'Could it be… there really are Divine Spirits?' Huangpu Yue furrowed her delicate brows, looking exceptionally lovely in the lamplight. A self-deprecating smile then touched her lips. 'Then again, if there were no such things as Divine Spirits, how could I have come to this place?'

Lost in thought, Huangpu Yue stood up and walked to the door, reaching out to push it open. Her hand was fair and smooth, with long, slender fingers. Her black-painted nails seemed to hint at the flame that burned deep within her heart.

WHOOSH!

A cold gust of wind poured in through the open door, making Huangpu Yue shiver involuntarily. Her gaze followed the light of the outdoor lamps, and she stared, stunned, at the figure standing at the far end of the snow-covered ground, right at the entrance to her courtyard. It was a tall, straight silhouette.

BANG!

Huangpu Yue slammed the door shut. The biting cold and that silhouette were once again cut off, separated from her world. Inside, the room was as warm as spring. It would be so comfortable to crawl into her soft blankets right now. Huangpu Yue reached up and rubbed her eyes, then yawned, covering her small, delicate mouth with her hand.