Chapter 302: 311 The Marquis

Even though he had guessed it early on, Tang Zhao could not help but feel his scalp tingle and his mouth go dry. Having no other reaction at the moment, he followed Xing Ji in bowing and said, "Tang Zhao, pays respects to the Marquis."

That old woman, who was none other than the current master of Yunzhou and the world-renowned Gaoyuan Marquis, smiled and said, "Xiao Tang, no need for formalities. Come over here and let me take a look at you." Her smile toward Tang Zhao was a genuine one; when she truly smiled, her eyes would crinkle, looking as kind as an old grandmother.

Tang Zhao took a breath and stepped forward two paces as instructed, not forgetting to glance back at Xing Ji. Gaoyuan Marquis said slowly, "You get up too. Are you waiting for me to help you up?"

Xing Ji got up sluggishly, looking dispirited and entirely lacking his usual nonchalance.

Although he looked a bit disheveled, for some reason, Tang Zhao suddenly wanted to laugh at his appearance.

Gaoyuan Marquis ignored him for the moment, took hold of Tang Zhao, examined him carefully, and said, "Good, good, good."

With those three consecutive "good"s, though she said little else, Tang Zhao felt somewhat flushed.

In truth, Tang Zhao had heard his fair share of praise over the years. Those who praised him included people of high status and great power, those of peerless talent, and even a Sword Saint who was stronger than a Sword Immortal and nearly unreachable. But Gaoyuan Marquis was different. He had heard of her since he was a child, and as he grew older, his admiration for her only deepened. Her status was incomparable to that of ordinary people, a reputation built up by the many admirable Town Guardians and Inspectors of the Inspection Bureau. At this moment, he felt agitated, especially after having drunk a few cups, and he actually felt a bit tipsy. He hurriedly forced himself to control his emotions and offered a few modest words of thanks according to etiquette.

Gaoyuan Marquis continued, "Tang Zhao, do you know why I have always wanted to see you? It is truly because I have heard your name so often that my ears have grown calluses."

She pointed to her ears quite naturally and said, "These calluses are no lie. Because not only does everyone say you are good, but there is also someone who says it every single time, every time he sees me, he must say it. He says it so much that I couldn't forget you even if I wanted to."

Tang Zhao could not help but glance at the unusually silent Xing Ji. Gaoyuan Marquis said, "Look, it's the one behind you. Don't look at him now, throwing a tantrum and refusing to speak; in truth, he won't be able to hold it in for long before he shows his true colors. He is always chattering away in front of me. In the days he is not around, my ears are much quieter. Once it gets this quiet, I can't help but want to move about. I happened to hear the good news about Sword Casting in Yunzhou, so I came to see this Xue the Swordsmith whom I have known in spirit for so long, and incidentally, to see you too. I didn't expect that you would transform from the little prodigy in others' mouths into a proper Sword Smith."

Tang Zhao smiled embarrassedly and said, "Actually, it should have been me going to Zhongtian Prefecture to pay respects to the Marquis."

Gaoyuan Marquis said, "Zhongtian Prefecture is right there, and my residence is there too; it won't run away. You can go whenever you want; let Xing Ji take you. But it is different here. I feel that meeting for the first time here is very good. Although Zhongtian Prefecture is large, it is too stifling. This place is truly good—far from the dust of the world, flawless and pure, most suitable for a vacation. I haven't rested for many years, so isn't it good to come here and relax? For these two days, that brat hasn't wanted to see me, and I haven't wanted to see him either. Just living on the mountain without worrying about status feels very relaxed and happy. Everyone, don't stand on ceremony. Jiang, you don't need to call me Marquis either. I am a generation older than you; just call me Xun Aunt in front of others and behind my back."

Tang Zhao could hardly say, "Isn't it a bit presumptuous to call you 'Aunt' given your age?" He only said, "Then I will not stand on ceremony. Since you find Zhuoyu Villa good, you should stay for a few days. 'Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?'"

Gaoyuan Marquis said, "Even if I want to stay, I want to stay in peace. If your place is not peaceful for a single day, I will never be able to rest easy, so what kind of vacation would that be? You must sweep the place clean for me. We didn't sneak out of the venue for nothing, after all."

Only then did Tang Zhao remember that he didn't seem to have come out just to acknowledge his boss; there was still serious business to attend to.

Does this mean he really has to trouble this Marquis to personally take action to find someone for him?

This... is this a bit like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken?

Even if ten or eight Turtle Bandits and an East Pillar of State attacked the door together, it might not require the Marquis to take action, right?

Gaoyuan Marquis had already said, "Xing Ji, come here, come here." After saying this, she beckoned.

Xing Ji had been playing the wooden statue there for a long time. At this, he came over reluctantly and said, "Sister Xun, what is it?"

Tang Zhao almost spat out his drink. Gaoyuan Marquis kicked him and said, "Get lost to the side. I am talking to Xiao Tang alone; what are you joining in the fun for?"

Only then did Tang Zhao clear up this logical chain—Gaoyuan Marquis told him to call her Aunt, meaning they were one generation apart, and he and Xing Ji were also one generation apart. Xing Ji counted as his father's generation, so it could be deduced that Gaoyuan Marquis and Xing Ji were of the same generation. Clearly, given their ages, Gaoyuan Marquis could not call Xing Ji "Brother," so it fell to Xing Ji to call her "Sister."

This logic was not hard to follow, and it made sense, but the key was... could Xing Ji really say it?

Looking at Xing Ji's expression, Tang Zhao had thought he was very afraid of the Marquis!

It really didn't take long for him to show his true colors.

From the Marquis's reaction to the flying kick to the scolding, it didn't even take an instant. The process was so smooth, it looked like a practiced routine.

Tang Zhao could only say: Although the Marquis looks dignified and composed, she is actually very approachable.

Gaoyuan Marquis pointed at Tang Zhao and said, "This child says you are one of his own. I want to help, but I need you to vouch for me. You tell me, can you vouch for me?"

Xing Ji said directly, "Naturally, I am willing. If you take action, I will stake my head on it."

Gaoyuan Marquis said to Tang Zhao, "Did you hear that? If I can't find them, or if I commit some taboo, I'll have Xing Ji twist his head off and give it to you."

Tang Zhao waved his hands and said, "That's not necessary... not necessary. If you can find them, I don't know how to thank... Xun Aunt enough."

Gaoyuan Marquis smiled and said, "What is there to thank? Just cash in my voucher." After saying this, she took out a voucher, on which was written "One Sword Casting Opportunity."

Just how many dolls did you catch to exchange for such a prize ticket? We set the price so high that we didn't intend for anyone to redeem it. It seems that saying she was here to relax was truly relaxing.

"My eyes are good, and it just so happens that several of the games were tests of eyesight, so I won a few more times," Gaoyuan Marquis explained thoughtfully. "I was originally thinking, to offer a Sword Casting opportunity for exchange, could a new Sword Smith handle the workload? It turns out there are two Sword Smiths at once; no wonder you are so generous. Then I won't be polite. When this matter is finished, Xiao Tang, will you cast a sword for me?"

Tang Zhao could only say repeatedly, "Certainly, certainly."

Gaoyuan Marquis said, "Let's find the person first. Do you have anything he used recently?"

Tang Zhao was startled—finding a person through an object; was this method of finding people a bit familiar?

It seems like a dog... my apologies, my apologies, I shouldn't think that way.

But since Gaoyuan Marquis requested it, he thought carefully and said, "I have a Dharma Artifact he used."

"When was it used?"

"Last night."

Last night, Shi Chunqing led a group of Turtle Bandits up the mountain, had a fight with Jiang Shenyi at the end of the plank road, and Jiang Shenyi snatched away his Treasure Sword—which was the Dharma Artifact sword that Xue Xianyun had originally gifted to Shi Chunqing for self-defense. Jiang Shenyi had returned this sword to Xue Xianyun, and Xue Xianyun had placed it in the Sword Furnace, seemingly intending to burn it to ashes, but Tang Zhao had picked it out.

Regardless, the Dharma Artifact was not at fault; it would be too much of a pity to destroy it.

Gaoyuan Marquis's brows relaxed slightly, and she said, "Good, bring it here."

Xing Ji, who was to the side, wanted to say something but stopped. Tang Zhao presented the Treasure Sword. Gaoyuan Marquis took a look and praised, "This is a good Dharma Artifact. It doesn't seem to be an Original Sword; is it actually a pure Talisman Magic Tool?"

Tang Zhao nodded and said, "This 'Treasure Sword' has no Original Sword; it was created from scratch by Master relying on his superb skills in Rune Formulas."

Gaoyuan Marquis nodded and said, "Your master's attainments in Rune Formulas are very high; I have long known this. Such a good treasure, why discard it?"

At this moment, she opened her eyes slightly and stared at the sword.

This movement was almost just a slight lowering of her head, which Tang Zhao hadn't even noticed, but he felt the atmosphere suddenly stagnate, and the surroundings went quiet. There was only this old woman, slightly lowering her eyes, looking at that Treasure Sword.

A mere sword, even if it is a Dharma Artifact, does it need to be looked at with such intense concentration?

Tang Zhao's gaze was also drawn over, and he ignored the slightly uneasy expression of Xing Ji beside him.

After a while, the old woman raised her head and smiled, "He didn't use this last night."

Tang Zhao let out an "Ah?" and immediately said, "Impossible. Jiang Shixiong snatched this sword from his hands with his own two hands."

Gaoyuan Marquis said, "No, Shi Chunqing did not hold this sword last night. The past has already happened, and time will not lie." She smiled again and said, "However, he did indeed hold this sword in the past? Then let us look further back."

Xing Ji suddenly stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said, "Marquis, there is no need for this! What kind of thing is Shi Chunqing? If we can't find him, we can just turn Zhuoyu Villa upside down, dig three feet into the ground; how could we not find him? Why trouble the Marquis to expend such Spirit? Please, Marquis, think twice." As he reached the end, his voice became hurried.

Tang Zhao's heart jumped, and he immediately felt that something was wrong.

Gaoyuan Marquis smiled slightly and said, "I am just taking a look; it won't expend much Spirit."

Xing Ji's tone became increasingly sharp, "That is not the point. It is merely Shi Chunqing; he is not worth it at all."

The Gaoyuan Marquis shook her head and said, "The time you've spent arguing with me is already longer than the time it took for this one glance of mine. Go, go, go; you were just being disrespectful a moment ago, and now you're calling me 'Marquis' again."

Tang Zhao felt both puzzled and nervous; he had assumed that since the Gaoyuan Marquis's Sword Art was related to the eyes, it should be a matter of looking from a high vantage point, taking in ten or eight miles of heaven and earth in a single glance, leaving Shi Chunqing with nowhere to hide—was that not how it worked? Did this method of finding someone require something special, and did it seem to consume quite a lot of energy?

Suddenly, his whole body stiffened; he had an extremely dangerous feeling.

That feeling was one of impending disaster, a crisis right before his eyes, as if half a foot were standing on the edge of a cliff, and a single movement would send him falling into a bottomless abyss.

This feeling seemed familiar.

It seemed to be... the same premonition he had that day in Xun City before the Space Storm erupted.

That was a Space Storm, an existence he was completely unable to resist, and it was only because his Inspiration was so high that he had managed to capture that momentary life-or-death crisis; it was the only experience of its kind in his life.

However, today... why did that sense of danger feel even worse than back then?

What on earth is...

Tang Zhao looked up in confusion and could not help but be dumbstruck.

He saw the Gaoyuan Marquis, who had been looking down at her sword, suddenly have her white hair turn jet-black, her face also becoming much younger, her skin smooth, and her eyes slanted upward, looking like a beautiful woman in her forties.

But in an instant, that sense of crisis suddenly vanished, and as the Gaoyuan Marquis looked up, she transformed back into that white-haired old woman. Tang Zhao was dazed for a moment, thinking he had seen wrong.

She smiled gently and said, "Oh, I've found him."