[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-red-heart-patrols-the-sky":3,"chapter-red-heart-patrols-the-sky-red-heart-patrols-the-sky-chapter-11":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Red Heart Patrols the Sky",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1047063,1357,"Chapter 11 - 11 7 Old Memories_1","red-heart-patrols-the-sky-chapter-11",11,"\u003Cp>11: Chapter 7 Old Memories_1 11: Chapter 7 Old Memories_1 Zhao Rucheng, who came from a well-off family, bought a residence near the Taoist academy to live in by himself, with about a dozen servants attending to his daily needs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seldom stayed in the dormitory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Du Yehu, once he touched alcohol, it took more than just a moment to deal with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, when Jiang Wang returned to the dormitory, he was struck by the realization that the usually noisy space was now quiet except for himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After closing the door, he instinctively glanced at the bed on the far left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bed had exceptionally neatly folded linens, indistinguishable from the other dormitory mates’ bedding in terms of quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, there was nobody on the bed, and there never would be again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was Fang Pengju’s bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He came from a wealthy background, but he was never squeamish or petty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shared meals and drinks with everyone without fuss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Directly across from Fang Pengju’s bed was an empty one, piled high with luggage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beds on either side were thus arranged, with three on each side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second bed next to Fang Pengju’s on the left was the messiest in the dormitory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bedding was thrown together haphazardly, and scattered clothing served only as ornamentation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a closer sniff, one could even detect the scent of wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the bed, one would find rows upon rows of neatly arranged wine jars, which, compared to the living conditions of the bed’s occupant, were evidently well taken care of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first bed on the left was by the door, and thus belonged to Ling He—he was always responsible for opening and closing the door for everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were a few discreet patches on the bedding, but it was washed very clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first bed on the right-hand side was Jiang Wang’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His bedding was on par with Ling He’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite having been away for a long time, the bed was still very tidy, obviously cleaned regularly by someone—perhaps Ling He, Zhao Rucheng…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>or perhaps Fang Pengju.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second bed to the right of Jiang Wang belonged to Zhao Rucheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His bed stood out in the dormitory, with bedding and sheets all from the high-end Yunxiang Pavilion, adorned with a canopy embroidered with golden thread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a stark contrast to the simple conditions of Du Yehu’s place across from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who didn’t know him might find Zhao Rucheng difficult to get along with, but the truth was that he simply had high living standards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he only stayed in the dormitory occasionally, he wanted it to be as luxurious and comfortable as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even once splurged a fortune to try converting the entire dormitory into a top-tier luxury room—if it hadn’t been for a beating he received from Jiang Wang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the age of fourteen when he entered the outer gates of the Taoist academy until now, Jiang Wang had spent three years in this dormitory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was extremely familiar with every detail of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All is changed with the passage of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Wang was silent for a while, then took off his shoes and socks, removed his outer shirt, and lay down on his bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was very tired, very weary, but it was only now that he could finally sleep soundly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Awake to face the matters at hand, but in dreams, wait for the skies to brighten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fenglin City was square and orderly laid out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The City Lord’s residence was at the center, radiating out in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The East City was the domain of the Taoist academy, while the noble families were in the West City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>South City was mostly inhabited by commoners, and the merchants and rich traders mostly gathered in North City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Jiang Wang emerge from the head’s quiet room unharmed, Ling He finally left the academy alone, carrying Fang Pengju’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In life, Fang Pengju could call upon scores of friends, but in death, he was shunned by everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had acted despicably and maliciously; it was only right that he was despised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling He didn’t feel indignant for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just felt a pang of heartache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wrapped Fang Pengju’s body in his own outer shirt, which was old but very clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The journey from the East City to the West City was not too far for him, and the path to the Fang Family estate was familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Ling He walked slowly, his steps heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was reluctant to let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being the eldest, he should have taken good care of his four sworn brothers, but he had failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still remembered the time they became sworn brothers by the banks of the Green Willow River, the radiant smiles of every brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Green Willow River was a tributary of the Clear River, winding around the Ox Head Mountain, with its waters so clear that they could reflect a young face and a young heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That year they rode with swords, that year they held cups together in conversation, they sparred countless times, and on countless nights, they talked by candlelight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had agreed to ascend to the inner court together, to ride swords into the clear sky, and to transcend and become saints together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those memories, those…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>promises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling He had never imagined that such kindred spirits, bound by deep affection and weighty loyalty, would one day turn against each other in a life-and-death struggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could this be possible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t understand, but holding Fang Pengju’s cold body in his arms, he finally arrived at the gates of the Fang residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing?” the gatekeeper stopped him and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The estate of the Fang Family was imposing, reaching high into the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.” Ling He, cradling Fang Pengju’s corpse, nodded slightly as a gesture of greeting, “Fang Pengju has passed away, I am returning his body to your esteemed house for burial.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If no one claimed the body, the authorities would take it to the mass burial site for processing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a place frequented by nefarious characters, where rest would be hard to find even after death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ling He didn’t think it necessary to say this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t one to show off his merits, nor did he think this act was any kind of merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gatekeeper’s face changed, and with a bang, he shut the gate tight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice came from behind the door: “Take him away!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The master said he is not to enter!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young man,” Ling He earnestly said, “please report to your master once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Ju, after all, is of the Fang bloodline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They may have spoken in anger; they wouldn’t ignore this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gatekeeper seemed to hesitate for a moment, “I’ll ask again…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but don’t you take the chance to barge in!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can be assured, young man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding Fang Pengju’s body, Ling He stood steadfastly in front of the Fang Family gates, listening to the footsteps hurrying away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lowered his head to the already cold face of Fang Pengju and said, “Peng Ju, look at the mess you’ve made.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dead, you won’t have anyone to remember your good deeds, loathed by gods and spirits alike.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A long while passed before the gatekeeper’s voice rose again from behind the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The master says,” he began, emulating the tone of the master of the house, “he’s dead already, why bring him back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling He was stunned for a moment, then faltered, “The Fang Family is respectable, Peng Ju should have a proper burial.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The master has said, he already knows the cause of Fang Pengju’s death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such an unprincipled and dishonorable man is not of the Fang lineage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But he is, indeed, of the Fang lineage,” Ling He said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You should leave!” The gatekeeper threw out a handful of knife coins through a crack in the door, “Keep troubling us and we’ll call the authorities!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clinking coins scattered across the ground, conspicuously enticing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If used for a simple burial, they more than sufficed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anything extra was a gratuity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the attitude of the Fang Family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling He fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped trying to say anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was very poor, always had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was in desperate need of money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only decent outerwear he had was wrapped around Fang Pengju’s body, while his undergarment was patched up in many places.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood in front of the grand, ornate gate of the Fang residence, like a poor relative turned away at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned away with Fang Pengju’s body in his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From beginning to end, he never once glanced at those knife coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the stance of Ling He.\u003C\u002Fp>",1454,"2026-06-03T09:48:21.959Z","2026-06-03T09:48:27.369Z",1,"novelbin.me","6f0773756172c05c420a4c525ec4a4ed08d2066b5b0124a820269a507bd353d4","red-heart-patrols-the-sky-chapter-12","red-heart-patrols-the-sky-chapter-10",2464,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fred-heart-patrols-the-sky-cover.jpg"]