[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-roaring-dragon":3,"chapter-the-roaring-dragon-the-roaring-dragon-chapter-243":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Roaring Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2282099,4463,"Chapter 243: Reunion After Long Separation (Revised)","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-243",243,"\u003Cp>The room was brightly lit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beautiful woman in an ornate phoenix robe softly recounted past details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having relied solely on her conviction for so many years, these matters had been buried deep within her, unheard by anyone, and Empress Guo spoke for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why she trusted Xie Jin, the reason was simple—the gods had already tested him for her!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Xie Jin could walk south until death for his belief, how could he betray his savior?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he would, he would never have reached that legendary place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Empress Guo did not tell Xie Jin everything—such as her grudges with the High Old Demon of Mei Cong, or slanders against Sikong Shitang and Shang Lianbi—these were omitted, as speaking of them would cause ill effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin listened intently for a long while; when Empress Guo paused and lifted her teacup, he gently exhaled, truly unprepared for how tumultuous the life of this red-haired, blue-eyed Empress had been, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So if that’s the case, your troubles are numerous, hmm… the most pressing now is the young emperor’s coming-of-age ceremony. You certainly have no interest in becoming Empress Regnant, but the court and the realm don’t know that—and the aristocratic clans and sects, suppressed for so long, will surely use this as leverage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Guo sipped her tea and sighed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not waiting until then—it’s already begun. Just now you mentioned the Red Witch Cult; you said you found clues in the mine—that’s framing me. They didn’t expect my connection to you, and you saw through it at a glance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the matter of Mount Li’s Sword Lodge remains difficult. With only half-burned scraps of paper, we can’t prove this was a scheme by demonic bandits. Li Huaichuan is dead, Lu Yan was injured, Chen Chi must give the world an explanation—I cannot step forward to shield him, unless you admit you’re my loyal agent, long undercover in the Southern Court.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin knew this could resolve all of Northern Zhou’s troubles, but it would ignite the Southern Court—he quickly said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exposing my identity to break the deadlock is like cutting off one arm—it still lets the demonic Daoists gain the upper hand. Hmm… I have a strong reputation as a hero, and even Northern Zhou’s court has heard of me. In my view, this can be handled openly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You, Lady Guo, can serve as the judge. I’ll face Lu Yan in court, openly state we were manipulated by demonic Daoists, and accuse Lu Yan of being controlled by them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The court won’t believe this claim—so I’ll make a bold vow: within one month, I’ll capture the demonic bandits behind the scheme and bring the truth to light. With my righteous hero reputation and past record as guarantee, I’ll stay in Northern Zhou without fleeing—how could the court possibly refuse me the right to hunt down the demons and prove myself? Once this spreads, public opinion will naturally calm, and all that remains is to unearth the demonic Daoists.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Guo considered it carefully and found the idea sound, but still warned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The mastermind hides deep. To control so much intelligence, their position can’t be low—they may not even be from the demonic path. Unearthing them in a month won’t be easy…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin said calmly: “A month is plenty of time. Even if I fail to find them, I’ll dig up enough demonic heretics, corrupt officials, and traitors—by then, with the people’s support in the north, when I revisit this old case, I don’t believe Northern Zhou’s cultivators or censors will have the nerve to scold me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Guo smiled: “Tomorrow I’ll assign the Director of the Temple of Rites to preside over this case. I’ll give them advance instructions—you proceed as you wish. I’ll also assign you a capable assistant. And going forward, if you need anything, you may contact your father under the pretense of reviewing case files. If you wish to meet, I’ll come to you anytime.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, Xie Jin rose to take his leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Guo remained seated in the room, frowning in deep thought, her tea cup in hand, her hair and face restored to their normal appearance; after a while, she called:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hongdou, go fetch Jiang Xian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, a response came from outside, and soon after, light footsteps approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap-tap-tap…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A female constable in green robes ran in from the doorway; seeing Empress Guo of Northern Zhou seated inside, her almond eyes filled with excitement, and she hurried forward to bow:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your humble servant bows before Empress Dowager!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Guo briefly sized up the small girl, her brow filled with approval:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got real talent—you even caught Xie Jin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xian looked as if she wanted to boast, but restrained herself before the Empress, humbly saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When Xie Jin fled, he left footprints—I was just lucky to catch up. Had he not cooperated, I couldn’t have caught him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Southern Court says Xie Jin ‘chases like a god, appears and vanishes without trace.’ To catch him already exceeds my expectations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Guo, needing to govern the court, couldn’t personally dig up demons and monsters among the people. Over the years, she’d sought to cultivate loyal talents, but though she had many subordinates, true talent was scarce; those she raised were mostly like Shen Cang—limited in ability. That’s why she so hoped Xie Jin would come to relieve her burdens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, as if fortune had turned, not only did Xie Jin appear before her, but heaven also sent her another promising talent—equally driven, capable, and loyal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For such talent, Empress Guo naturally treasured deeply; from her sleeve, she pulled out a gold token and tossed it to Jiang Xian:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From today, you are the Phoenix Order Envoy. You may investigate officials above and sects below; if you encounter demonic evil, you may execute first and report later. Tomorrow I’ll assign you a task—if you handle it well, the Heavenly Pavilion’s Inner Guard shall be under your command!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xian took the token, her eyes blazing with fervor:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your recognition! Within three days, your humble servant will complete the task!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Guo thought the girl was a bit bold—Xie Jin had estimated a month, yet here she was promising three days without even knowing the task—she shook her head with a smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll talk after you receive your assignment. That’s enough—go back now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, your humble servant takes leave!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xian said it and dashed out, elated…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the Criminal Investigations Office, Xie Jin did not ask his father to arrange a carriage—he walked with Senior Bu toward the residence of his landlady on Duanli Street, a faint thread of worry lingering in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he had safely reached Yanjing, the good news was that his savior wasn’t just Empress Guo—she was the strongest female martial master to appear in the world in centuries, on par with the White-Haired Immortal, a true Ancestor, her influence as thick as a vice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the bad news was Empress Guo’s body was compromised, her former enemies now at their peak, and the court she controlled was an aging carriage, long past its prime, with aristocratic clans, ministers, and sects all pulling it backward, while demonic Daoists schemed in the shadows—far more complicated than the Southern Court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, even if the Great Gan had been riddled with infiltration, it was still a century-old dynasty in its golden age; many elders in court had watched the realm rise from a wasteland of ruin to its present grandeur, and under historical momentum, both cultivators and commoners still recognized the Zhao family’s banner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Northern Zhou was different. After three centuries, the good name of Emperor Tai Zu had been utterly ruined by later incompetent rulers; the landed gentry had reached the extreme of land consolidation, and warlords like the Prince of Andong and the Northern Pacification Command had emerged—obedient in name only, a clear echo of the late Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Guo had grown up during Northern Zhou’s golden age and was a staunch royalist, yet her current position resembled He Jin, Dong Zhuo, or even Cao Cao—holding the emperor hostage to command the lords, desperately trying to halt this carriage hurtling toward ruin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tide of heaven’s will cannot be turned by one person. Xie Jin could offer little help; for now, he could only resolve the “Red Witch Cult” and its demonic falsehoods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu Yuehua walked beside him, holding the sleeping Meiqiu; still dressed in her floral dress, elegant and serene, she looked like a young mother cradling a child, and now she was puzzled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who sent you to pay respects just now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin couldn’t say Empress Guo had summoned him personally—he smiled vaguely:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A high official from the Ministry of Justice asked about the general situation at Mount Li’s Sword Lodge. Nothing major—tomorrow we’ll just coordinate with Northern Zhou on how to handle it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu Yuehua thought Northern Zhou was too accommodating, but as long as they weren’t harassed, it was good. They walked on, soon reaching the vicinity of the Princess’s residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu Yuehua had revealed too much of her abilities; she didn’t know if Xie Jin had guessed her identity. Previously, she’d played along with the flirtatious Daoist nun, but now, after this small incident, whether or not Xie Jin had realized, she could no longer pretend ignorance—she thought a moment and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You go ahead. I’ll find lodging nearby. When Mu Shimei arrives, she won’t want to stay at the mansion—I’ll stay with her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin knew the ice-block would never dare come home as his girlfriend to meet Mo Mo—understanding this, yet seeing Bu Yuehua’s body hadn’t recovered, he accompanied her first to a clean, tidy little courtyard on Parrot Lane, left Meiqiu to act as messenger, then departed alone…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Princess’s Mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moonlight spilled across the courtyard, lanterns swaying gently in the night breeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo stood beneath a lantern in a white robe, waiting for news from Yang Dabiao and the others, her icy, beautiful face heavy with worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the devastating news from Mount Li arrived that day, the entire Southern Court delegation was thrown into chaos. Despite exhausting every possible resource to investigate and communicate, they had received no word from Xie Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo had no connections in the north; going to Lizhou to search would only hinder more—she could only silently pray: May the Ancestor protect him—please bring Xie Jin back safely…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And indeed, the Ancestor answered—just as she trembled inwardly, two hands suddenly reached from behind and covered her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo froze, recognizing the warmth and familiar size of the palms; her lips curled into surprise, yet she dared not pull them away immediately:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xie Jin?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin stood behind her, his eyes crinkling with laughter; he turned his head and kissed her cheek:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing standing out here at night? Waiting for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing his familiar voice, Linghu Qingmo’s heart finally settled—but her expression immediately turned stern; she pulled his hands away and turned to face him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The outside world is in an uproar over you—how dare you act so carelessly? Why did you kill the sect master of Mount Li…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though her tone was slightly scolding, seeing Xie Jin in his yellow cotton robe, covered in dust and grime from his desperate escape, she couldn’t stay angry—she quickly helped him steady himself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you hurt? Hey, you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bo-bo-bo…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin had missed Big Mo Mo terribly; he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her twice more, then looked toward the courtyard:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine. Where are the Princess and Wanyi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo’s cheeks flushed, but she no longer scolded his advances:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ling is worried you’ve run into trouble—she’s in the council hall discussing strategy with Old Li and the others. As for Lin the physician, what else can she do besides sleep? Rest first, have some tea—I’ll go call her…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, Linghu Qingmo pulled Xie Jin to his quarters, poured tea, fetched a robe, then hurried off to notify the household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin wanted to go with her, but he hadn’t stopped since leaving, rolling through mud pits and mine tunnels—his appearance was truly unfitting; he took the robe and began to wash and change…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2062,"2026-06-20T01:38:12.833Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","66f18f291bcda11f36a910a1b0c90cde6acea5bf0f889d7a836e4ef14d79082b","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-244","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-242",252,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-roaring-dragon-cover.jpg"]