Chapter 381: Farewell, Jiang Linxian (Requesting Monthly Votes!)

The back courtyard.

"Jiang kid, you're not staying put at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau in Jingcheng—what made you come to Qinghe?"

Tie Kuang stared wide-eyed at Jiang Linxian, who Li Rui had just led into the back courtyard.

He had known Jiang Linxian longer than anyone else in Qinghe.

Even when Jiang Linxian was still a prodigy disciple of Huaqing Sect, they were already close friends across generations.

While still at Huaqing Sect, Jiang Linxian often came to Shenbing Manor to drink with him.

One of the eight small swords, Tanlang, was forged by his own hands.

Enough to show the depth of their bond.

Jiang Linxian chuckled: "Senior Tie, good to see you again."

Tie Kuang sighed: "Time flies faster every day—before I knew it, years have passed."

The reckless youth of old had now become someone he himself had to look up to.

Li Rui smiled:

"Don't stand around—sit down and talk."

The three sat down.

Liu Tiezhu willingly took on the role of tea servant.

Jiang Linxian lifted his teacup, took a sip, then spoke slowly: "I left in a hurry, so I didn't give advance notice."

Tie Kuang couldn't help but ask:

"Jiang kid, what brings you to Qinghe this time?"

After all, Jiang Linxian was no longer just a third-rank Tongxuan expert—he was now Deputy Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

Anything requiring Jiang Linxian's personal involvement must be major.

"If it were anyone else, I'd say I'm here to deal with the Ten Thousand Mountains' demon unrest—but with you, Senior, I can only say it's unspeakable."

Tie Kuang narrowed his eyes.

Clearly, the matter Jiang Linxian was handling was a state secret, not to be disclosed.

"Fine, don't say it then. How long are you planning to stay?"

"I don't know yet. It might be a long while."

As he spoke, Jiang Linxian turned to look at Li Rui: "Senior Li, I sold my house in Qinghe—I've got nowhere to stay. If you don't mind, could you spare me a room?"

Li Rui was overjoyed at the thought of Jiang Linxian staying in his home:

"There's plenty of rooms—pick any one you like. I'll have the servants clean it right away."

Tie Kuang didn't know.

But Li Rui understood perfectly: Jiang Linxian had come to Qinghe to deal with the exiled immortal.

With Jiang Linxian, such a formidable expert, stationed here,

he could rest much easier.

Naturally, he wouldn't refuse.

Jiang Linxian smiled: "Whatever Senior Li says is fine."

Li Rui gave Liu Tiezhu a glance; Liu Tiezhu quietly set down the teapot and slipped out to summon the household servants to assign Jiang Linxian a good room.

"Jiang younger brother, once you're here, treat it like home—don't be formal."

Jiang Linxian: "Then I thank you, Senior Li."

The three exchanged pleasantries for a while.

Tie Kuang then made up an excuse to leave the courtyard—he had long sensed Jiang Linxian and Li Rui had private matters to discuss.

Watching Tie Kuang depart,

Jiang Linxian turned to Li Rui with a smile: "Senior Li, you've worked hard."

Without him, Li Rui would never have been drawn into the exiled immortal's turmoil.

Li Rui waved it off with a laugh: "Jiang younger brother, if you say that again, I'll turn angry."

He had thought it through quickly.

Under a capsized nest, no egg remains whole.

Not to mention he was an official of Yu State—his rank would only rise further, and sooner or later he'd have to deal with exiled immortals.

Better to learn ahead of time than be caught unprepared.

Jiang Linxian's heart warmed.

Though Li Rui said that, Jiang Linxian didn't believe it—he knew Li Rui had taken real risks for him; this was a debt that must be repaid.

He then pulled a small jade vial from his robe and handed it to Li Rui.

"Senior Li, this is the reward His Majesty gave you for your mission to Wu State."

"Minister Wang praised you highly."

"Now in the court, no one doesn't know your name."

Li Rui laughed heartily: "Old Li's finally become famous."

He took the jade vial from Jiang Linxian's hand.

The moment he pulled the stopper, a fragrant scent filled the air.

At the bottom lay milky-white grease, shimmering with tiny crystalline specks.

At that moment,

Jiang Linxian's voice came softly: "Senior Li, this is Phoenix Marrow."

Li Rui had already suspected—upon hearing "Phoenix Marrow," his mouth opened slightly.

For Phoenix Marrow was one of the three remaining materials needed for the Shengling Method.

He never imagined His Majesty's reward would be this.

It was truly unexpected.

Li Rui looked at Jiang Linxian.

There was no such thing as coincidence in this world—the truth was simple: His Majesty had indeed given a reward, but it wasn't Phoenix Marrow; Jiang Linxian had specifically requested it.

Li Rui tucked the vial away: "You've thought of me, Jiang younger brother."

Jiang Linxian: "This was His Majesty's gift—why thank me?"

The two exchanged more reminiscences.

Then Jiang Linxian grew serious: "Senior Li, I assume Elder He has already told you—I came to track down the exiled immortal from Wu State."

"The immortal calamity in Yu State a century ago, the chaos in Wu State, and the man who killed my wife—perhaps it was him."

Li Rui was startled.

Good heavens.

Hearing this, just how many things had that exiled immortal done? Jiang Linxian settled into the Assistant Regional Commander's residence.

But he wasn't exactly a guest.

After all, the next day, Jiang Linxian left the city, often gone for days, then returning for a day or half a day before leaving again.

Li Rui was already used to this.

After all, when Jiang Linxian had once served as Assistant Regional Commander in Qinghe, he was just like this.

One day,

The major assistant commanders of Annan Town and several miscellaneous-ranked generals gathered at the Regional Commander's mansion.

Xue Gui sat alone in the high seat and spoke slowly:

"Zijin Palace is an evil force, harming the people to cultivate. His Majesty, in his benevolence, cannot bear to see the people suffer, and has ordered our three towns to mobilize and purge this demonic force."

The decision to mobilize had already been settled.

Li Rui pondered silently.

!

'A few days ago, the court issued a proclamation—said to be written by a Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy—listing eighteen crimes of Zijin Palace: 'remnant eunuch scum,' 'demonic foxes and sharp blades,' each word a knife, stirring universal outrage.'

Though it was a three-army campaign, the main force would certainly be Annan Town.

Huaidong and Jiannan Towns would assist from the flanks.

Xue Gui continued: "By order of Provincial Military Commander Zhou, we will clear the wilderness and build seventy-two high fortresses to contain Zijin Palace."

The assistant commanders and miscellaneous generals seated below all perked up.

Li Rui silently praised.

That Provincial Military Commander Zhou was truly a famed general.

The Ten Thousand Mountains were treacherous, full of miasma and demonic beasts; now Zijin Palace had grown immensely powerful, surrounded by thirty-six halls as guardians—surprise attacks were impossible; we must advance steadily.

Moreover, Zijin Palace still harbors an exiled immortal. Though Yu State has countless experts, dealing with exiled immortals demands extreme caution and timing.

Each first-rank terrestrial immortal is a major figure.

They would never rashly risk their lives—even by imperial command.

They would only act with absolute certainty.

Xue Gui scanned the room.

"Alright, go carry out your orders."

With that,

Everyone rose and took their leave.

After leaving the Regional Commander's mansion, Li Rui, Nie Siming, and Yuan Xiong walked together.

"Brother Li, why don't the three of us join forces? That way, we can watch out for each other," Nie Siming suggested.

Nie Siming proposed.

This time, An Nan Town is building seventy-two high fortresses; divided among us, each of us must oversee four or five. Once built, they'll fall under the command of the corresponding Assistant Regional Commanders.

Provincial Military Commander Zhou built so many fortresses precisely to fulfill their surveillance duty.

In military campaigns, intelligence is vital.

If these high fortresses are linked together and can reinforce one another, they can seal off the Purple Gold Palace.

Of course.

The Purple Gold Palace won't surrender quietly—it will surely take action.

That's why Nie Siming wants to form an alliance.

Otherwise, one side alone may not be able to accomplish this task.

Not just the three of us—all the other military officers share this idea.

Li Rui: "Then I'm lucky to have the two of you as brothers."

On the surface, neither his strength nor his background compares to Nie Siming and Yuan Xiong, the two Marquis's adopted sons. Their willingness to ally with him is, in fact, helping him.

Yuan Xiong smiled:

"Brother Li, don't say that—we're all Father Yuan's men."

They kept close to Li Rui.

Of course, because Li Rui came from the Marquis's household—even though he'd never set foot inside the Marquis's estate, the mark of having once been a retainer of the Marquis remained forever.

Unless Li Rui ever betrayed them.

Li Rui: "Then I accept your offer with gratitude."

With this connection, of course, one must make good use of it.

Now that we're all under Assistant Regional Commanders, fighting alone won't do.

With Nie Siming and Yuan Xiong backing him, he'd be far safer.

Both of them are Yuan Dingting's adopted sons. Li Rui didn't believe Yuan Dingting had left them no means of self-preservation.

When the Purple Gold Palace truly attacks, isn't a brother's hidden card also his own?

Three days later, at dawn.

Dozens of riders left Qinghe County and arrived at the foot of Ten Thousand Swords Mountain that same evening.

At this time,

the Qinghe Hunting Ground had already been surrounded by high walls.

One might say that since the last troop training, Provincial Military Commander Zhou had already ordered construction to begin.

Now, it already resembled a fortress.

Provincial Military Commander Zhou personally named it Breaker Army Fortress.

This Breaker Army Fortress is the foremost stronghold among all the garrisons in An Nan Town, now very close to the Purple Gold Palace.

Li Rui and his group entered Breaker Army Fortress without hindrance.

As soon as they entered the city,

they saw many familiar faces, such as Fu Tao, grinning broadly in the vast training ground.

Li Rui and the others did not rush into Ten Thousand Swords Mountain.

Instead, they each went to their assigned residences in town.

Not large.

A small courtyard with three rooms—far inferior to the Assistant Regional Commander's mansion in Qinghe, yet in Breaker Army Fortress, having such a courtyard was already a luxury.

Li Rui stepped into the house; it had been cleaned and arranged neatly.

He stroked his chin.

"This time, the secret tunnel must be dug deeper."

"The Thick Earth Body is perfect for it."

(End of Chapter)