Chapter 265: Leaving the Assembly

The old man drank the tea in his cup in one gulp and raised his brows: "You speak."

Cheng Lin bowed again: "Actually, it is still about the clues of the flow of Heart Amber. Twenty years ago, Master Yu went to the Prefecture City to take office. The document says that he was the Vice Minister of the Industrial Platform and concurrently the Supervisor of the Instrument Office. But on the way to take office, he was bought off by Qiao Changyue, who colluded with the Joy-Death Pavilion to assassinate him. Then Qiao Changyue successfully filled this vacancy as he wished."

Cheng Lin lowered his head to flip through the case file: "Two months later, this case was solved by Master Sui with a single sword, and Qiao Changyue was brought to justice. But the Instrument Office controlled the production of Heart Amber. We checked the documents of that year. In those two months, a batch of Heart Amber was actually sold to the Chamber of Commerce. Where this transaction went should be the first tail that can be traced. But this case file brought from the Prefecture Office has no detailed records. I would like to ask Master Sui, did you investigate this matter that year?"

Sui Zaihua paused and said softly: "I did investigate. This batch of Heart Amber was sold to Jin Jin Yuzhai that year, it seems to be seven or eight catties. Jin Jin Yuzhai has always bought this amount of Heart Amber every year, and it should have remained unchanged until now. Therefore, the Immortal Platform believed that this shipment had no suspicious points that year."

"... Oh, good." Cheng Lin looked at Wu Dong, "Since that is the case..."

"Check it again," Wu Dong said.

Cheng Lin nodded.

"Then, this assembly ends here," Wu Dong looked around. "Two days have passed, and we have progress on both the strange and right paths. I ask everyone not to slack off and try our best to catch the thieves."

Everyone nodded.

Wu Dong turned and bowed: "Master Sui, then, until we meet again."

Sui Zaihua nodded and stood up, also bowing to all sides: "I wish everyone success in everything, we will meet again at the Prefecture Office."

Several people bid him farewell one by one. After everyone had left, Pei Ye walked up and bowed deeply to this lord who had taken good care of him.

Sui Zaihua looked at him with a smile. Pei Ye raised his head, as if he had mistaken some envy in the old man's eyes. But it vanished in a blink. The old man said warmly: "You have rare talent and rare good luck. If it is not necessary, don't get involved in this mud. Just go straight to the blue clouds."

Pei Ye was silent for a moment and smiled helplessly: "... Sometimes, one cannot help oneself."

"... That is true," the old man also smiled, sighing as if he had seen through him, "Because there are goals that must be reached."

"... Yes."

"'Traveling the ends of the earth to meet in the mirror, looking back, the ice heart does not move,'" the old man chanted slowly, finally giving him a gentle smile, and turned to stride out of the hall door.

Everyone watched the lord go far away. He had no entourage when he came, and he was alone with his sword when he left.

Sui Zaihua left without avoiding eyes and ears, and the people in the hall also walked out. Pei Ye returned to Ming Qitian's side and walked out slowly with her.

As they went out, they happened to run into Shi Zanxue coming out from the office. The Wind Inspector bowed properly: "I have long admired Ming Ming Jianzhu Ming. It is a pity I missed the face of sword-questioning, but I am fortunate to see your divine posture today."

Ming Qitian nodded: "The high sword of Tianshan, the junior has benefited a lot."

An Zang smiled: "I dare not accept this 'junior'."

The Sword Lord should be of the same generation as the Tianshan Sect Master. Although Ming Qitian was of the younger generation, her seniority was indeed very high.

Behind, Pei Ye and Shi Zanxue walked side by side, also nodding with a smile: "Miss Shi."

Shi Zanxue glanced at the famous sword in his hand and smiled: "I heard that a famous sword recognizes its master and is not allowed to be touched by strangers."

"Is that so?" Pei Ye was stunned for a moment. He really didn't know this, "Zhanxin Liuli might be a bit special. Actually, it loves making friends."

He handed it to the woman. Shi Zanxue hesitated for a moment, and just as she was about to reach out, Zhanxin Liuli retracted itself.

"..." Pei Ye gave an awkward smile, "Maybe it's feeling better and isn't acting crazy anymore."

Shi Zanxue didn't care and smiled: "It seems Young Master Pei and Ming Ming Jianzhu Ming have a very good relationship."

The white-clothed figure was walking in front. Pei Ye's heart tightened: "No, no, Miss Ming is taking care of me."

"Oh, then do you need to discuss with Ming Ming Jianzhu Ming about Young Master Pei coming to Tianshan?"

"... Ah?" Pei Ye was stunned.

"Didn't Young Master Pei tell me last time that you must become a true disciple of our pool?"

Ming Qitian turned her head and looked at him with some surprise.

Pei Ye's eyes widened, but Shi Zanxue smiled faintly, bowed, and left.

"I, I didn't, Miss Ming. Last time I was just... joking with her."

Ming Qitian nodded peacefully: "If you want to choose a sect to learn the sword, Yunlang Mountain is the best. Secondly, it depends on whether your compatibility matches. Tianshan is not impossible to go to, but sword matters should still be considered from the perspective of the sword path."

"..." Pei Ye had no way to explain, so he simply dropped the subject. At this time, there was no one around in the courtyard. He hesitated for a moment, "Miss Ming, I want to... ask you something."

"Hmm."

"That is, I want to go to the Divine Capital Sword Academy. Do you think it's okay?"

"Naturally, you can. If you want to participate in the selection, just go. If you don't want the trouble, I will write a recommendation letter for you."

Pei Ye's eyes lit up: "Miss Ming, can the recommendation letter you write definitely get someone in?"

"... Hmm?"

"That is, if someone with insufficient talent takes your recommendation letter, will it work?" Pei Ye looked at her uneasily.

"I will not write a recommendation letter for someone with insufficient talent."

"..." Pei Ye's heart went cold for half, and he hurriedly said, "No, no, actually her talent is enough. It's just that she didn't perform well. At most, in another half a year, she will definitely be able to enter the Lesser Long Sword Academy."

Ming Qitian turned her head to look at him: "Who?"

"..." Pei Ye was dumb for a moment, "My... my friend."

"..."

Ming Qitian was silent.

The woman was actually encountering this kind of thing for the first time—no one had ever walked through her connections before.

"Really, Miss Ming, you can take a look first. I think her talent is actually enough," Pei Ye tried hard to explain, and then said with some embarrassment, "And, am I not... that... very talented? If I enter the Divine Capital Sword Academy, do you think the Sword Academy will give me face and accept her too?"

Ming Qitian shook her head: "I don't know."

"... Oh."

"But I can take a look. If it is indeed as you said, I will write one. If it is far from it, then entering the Sword Academy is actually not a good thing for him."

Pei Ye's eyes suddenly brightened, and a smile broke out: "It's not far, it's not far!"

The two walked to the courtyard gate at this time. Pei Ye took out a small copper strip from his cloth bag again. He really felt that he was a bit troublesome, but he still bit the bullet and said: "Miss Ming, I want to trouble you with one more thing... Can you please cast it into the shape of Zhanxin Liuli? I think, you are so amazing, it shouldn't take much effort..."

Ming Qitian was slightly startled and took it: "Alright."

True Qi flowed through it, and the copper strip flowed like golden water. Within three breaths, a translucent and exquisite little Zhanxin Liuli had taken shape. Pei Ye really didn't know if this sword-learning genius also had a special talent for "sword casting." He always felt that this little sword was exceptionally good-looking.

"Then, please engrave these few words on it," Pei Ye stared at it for a while, then hurriedly lowered his head and took out a folded piece of paper from his cloth bag. It was already a bit wrinkled by now, "That is—"

He paused. At this time, the two had walked out of the courtyard, and Pei Ye was choked for a moment.

What he saw at the County Office that day seemed to appear before his eyes again.

The clerks of the entire State Office seemed to have gathered here, and dozens of pairs of eyes were looking over carefully and curiously.

The Master of the Glazed Sword never avoids prying eyes when coming and going; in any case, no one has ever been able to keep up with her tracks.

Now it could be considered a rare piece of luck. When she came to participate in the assembly this morning, from the martial arts hall to the State Office, the eyes and ears had already spread to the whole city.

—The white-clothed figure who went to the State Office this morning seems to be the legendary Ming Qitian!

Who said the State Newspaper only makes up stories!

——————

In the Cuiyu courtyard.

Li Piaoqing still got up very early. The habit of sleeping in had been thrown away a long time ago. For nearly a year, the girl had been accustomed to the grey and icy cold light of dawn. She always broke the silence of the mountain gate with the sound of her sword before the first chirp of the morning birds, and she always extinguished the orange light in her small window only when the mountain gate was completely plunged into darkness.

The love and admiration of the entire sword gate for this young sect master did not come from the so-called "true disciple" status.

But today, after she got up as usual, she just sat in front of the door with her legs together, pressing her Lost-Emerald sword and dazing off.

After leaving the martial arts hall yesterday, she wrote a letter to Li Weiru telling him the result of the selection. She knew the old man would find time to check the contact point. She perhaps should have just waited there, but she didn't want to go over at that time, just as she had no mood to wave the Lost-Emerald sword in her hand at this moment.

The girl suddenly realized that she seemed to be unable to do anything well.

She left the sect matters to her master and Senior Sister Shen, but she didn't pass the selection for the Sword Academy. She bumped into Pei Ye like a fool, making the relationship between the two a mess...

If the result of yesterday's sword test made her frustrated and down, then the encounter with Pei Ye again almost made her nose sore.

That kind of panicked avoidance...

Li Piaoqing lowered her head and hugged her knees tightly.

She knew that this was the most blocked group of sourness in her heart right now. She had to endure the discomfort and poke it open, because the road always had to go down, and escaping and procrastinating would only make things worse.

She still had to find him and explain things clearly... as long as Pei Ye was still willing to chat with her, even if it was fake, that would count as repairing some of it.

But the girl couldn't help but want to cry when she thought of this—why didn't Pei Ye come to find her?

Did he really intend to never speak to her again from now on, not even as friends?

Was the friendship between the two of them so light?

When Li Piaoqing thought of this, she really couldn't help but bite her lip.

Since that's the case, why should I find you again? You decided not to want this friendship, then... don't want it.

But she softened her heart.

Perhaps Pei Ye was actually very reluctant, but just didn't dare to find her? And the relationship she destroyed should also be repaired by herself...

Anyway, the girl could always find many reasons for herself.

After making this decision, Li Piaoqing really felt a bit lighter in her heart. She took a deep breath, propped herself up with the Lost-Emerald sword, and stood up. She intended to go out with the sword, but paused, then returned to the room to wash up carefully, and re-applied a light and extraordinary feather makeup to her brows.

Then she opened the wardrobe, took out a new dress, and was about to put it on. A glance caught a yellow skirt in her field of vision. This skirt definitely couldn't be counted as one of the most exquisite and proud pieces in the girl's wardrobe, but when her gaze fell on it, it was stuck.

It was the day she went to the Singing-Dan Assembly.

The autumn rain was cool, the long street was moist, and the youth tilted his head and leaned in front of her to stare at her, chuckling: "Let me see what the kingfisher looks like."

This scene made Li Piaoqing's mouth twitch, but the next moment her brows lowered again.

—What was he thinking when he said this?

She naturally didn't want to wear this skirt. She was going to end all this, not to beg for his favor again, but...

Since it was the last time, why not give it her all? At least leave no regrets behind.

Anyway, the girl could always find reasons for herself. She lowered her head and reached out to take this skirt down quickly.

As soon as she put everything on and went out, she ran into Shen Yao walking in with a big stride, her face full of joy: "Piaoqing, Piaoqing!"

Li Piaoqing subconsciously covered this yellow skirt guiltily, but Shen Yao didn't notice at all. She looked at this little junior sister with heartache, and the next moment she took her hand, her eyes bending brightly: "Piaoqing! Guess what news I heard?"

Shen Yao had seen the girl's depression over the past two days and had been agonizing over how to make her happy. Who would have thought that she would find it without looking for it? Today, she ran into Zhang Mozhu going to the State Office and suddenly heard a piece of news that made her widen her eyes in astonishment.

Li Piaoqing smiled reluctantly: "What?"

Shen Yao smiled and narrowed her eyes: "A very powerful person went to the State Office. Guess who it is?"

"..."

"Hint: On the Crane List."

"Ah?" This hint was enough to make the girl widen her eyes in surprise, "... Crane List?"

"Crane List." Seeing the girl clearly mobilized, Shen Yao smiled, "Second hint: Likes to wear white clothes."

"..." Li Piaoqing searched her memory of being obsessed with the Crane-Fowl Book in the past, "That's too many."

"Uses a sword, and is very young."

"There are many who use swords," Li Piaoqing thought, "Young... Zhu Gaoyang? Wait a minute, it wouldn't be—"

The girl's voice stalled, and she suddenly widened her eyes, looking at Shen Yao in disbelief.

Shen Yao deliberately pointed her index finger at her chin, smiled and paused for a few seconds: "This person, it seems... also has a famous sword."

"Ah!!" Li Piaoqing screamed, grabbing Shen Yao's arm with both hands, "You mean... Ming Ming Jianzhu Ming?! Ming Qitian! Right now, in our State Office?!"

"They say so." Although she had confirmed it multiple times with Zhang Mozhu, seeing the girl's excited expression, Shen Yao was still worried that something would go wrong and said uneasily, "You should go take a look."

"I'm going right now!" Li Piaoqing didn't wait for even a second. This surprising news washed away much of the heavy fog in her heart.

In those dazed and heavy nights, this Yunlang descendant who was rumored to never be confused, never lean on or love, and understand everything was indeed the silver river north star in her heart. It was both a direction and a sustenance.

"By the way," Shen Yao hesitated, "Um... they said Pei Ye is also there."

"... Good!" This name didn't bring depression. Another kind of great relief and joy rose in the girl's heart again. She couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth—this way... she would have a topic to open with Pei Ye.

Such a big event, as long as they meet, chatting a few words is very normal...

Without further response, the girl had already rushed out of the courtyard quickly.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 266 =====