After shamelessly lingering in the Great Xia Dynasty for a few days, Lin Huang could no longer withstand Shen Diexin’s icy glares. He immediately decided to set off for Piaoxue Palace.
If he delayed any longer, she would probably drag him there herself!
It was the early morning of the seventh day since the life-and-death battle between Lin Huang and Crown Prince Lingyun. The sun had yet to peek over the horizon. In the heart of a snowy winter, the weather was exceptionally biting.
Frost coated the ancient, mottled city walls, adding a chilling edge to the air.
Outside the city gates, eighteen carriages from the Divine General’s Mansion lined up in a neat row. Aside from the occasional soft whinny of horses, there was nothing but frigid mist.
Atop the city tower, Lin Beichen stood clad in iron armor. As he gazed down at the row of carriages, a smile hung on his old, wrinkled face—but it was a deeply sorrowful one.
His white hair fluttered in the cold wind. Resting his hands on the ramparts, the old man felt a myriad of sorrows clogging his chest, unable to find release. Despite a lifetime of warfare and countless brushes with death, he had never felt anything quite like this.
Bitterness.
Reluctance.
Melancholy.
These tangled emotions caused tears to shimmer in the eyes of the smiling old man.
He remembered when Lin Changtian first left Great Xia. Lin Beichen had been in his forties then, his ambitions still burning bright. He had hoped that one day, Lin Changtian would return covered in glory, wielding his spear in full armor.
That had been his first time standing on this city tower to see someone off.
Later, however, he heard that Lin Changtian was being hunted down by the united Martial Artists of the East Spirit Realm, fleeing like a stray dog. That night, he felt as though he had aged ten years.
It wasn’t until Lin Changtian returned with Lin Cangxue and Lin Huang that he finally laughed heartily for the first time in years. Yet, even though Lin Changtian had advanced to the Martial King Realm and was unrivaled in the East Spirit Realm, he had lost the sharp edge he possessed when he first left the Great Xia Dynasty. Instead, he was burdened with secrets and a touch of desolation.
He had only stayed for three months before leaving once again.
The second time he stood here was for Lin Cangxue.
On the day Lin Cangxue left, he was reluctant to see her go but also gratified. He felt he had finally done right by his son. He imagined a day when Cangxue’s name would once again echo across the East Spirit Land.
Lin Cangxue did not disappoint him. As a youthful prodigy, her brilliance suppressed all the geniuses in the East Spirit Realm, leaving them unable to lift their heads.
However, on that fateful day three years ago, news struck him like a thunderbolt.
Lin Cangxue had charged into the Eastern Palace alone with her sword. Since then, her Martial Soul was shattered, and her former infinite glory vanished. The name Lin Cangxue ceased to exist in the East Spirit Realm.
All that remained was mockery for the fallen prodigy.
Countless grievances and indignation piled up in his heart, but he was powerless. He was old now; he was no longer the Great Xia War God of the past.
And today, he stepped onto this cold city tower once more.
Looking at Lin Huang, who was about to leave, the only thing left in his heart was reluctance. He didn’t ask for Lin Huang to make a world-shaking name for himself; he only prayed for his safe return.
He didn’t want Lin Huang to leave, but he knew Lin Huang had to go. He was going for Lin Cangxue’s sake. Still, the old man couldn’t bear to see him leave.
He had lost his wife early in life and never remarried. His son had traveled far into the East Spirit Realm, his granddaughter’s wings had been broken, and now, his only grandson was departing. In the end, he was the only one left of the Lin Clan in the Divine General’s Mansion.
He was old, and he was beginning to fear loneliness.
Yet he was Lin Beichen. He would never let his own feelings hinder the footsteps of his descendants.
Amidst the biting wind, the eighteen carriages slowly moved forward.
Atop the city tower, despite the immense reluctance in his heart, Lin Beichen roared into the freezing wind, "A true man should wield a three-foot sword and establish peerless merits! Since you are stepping out of the Great Xia Dynasty, go and carve out a world for your grandfather, just like your father did! Remember, you are a man of the Lin Clan!"
The vast snowstorm swept across the landscape like a rolling mat.
On a hilltop east of the Great Xia Imperial City, a young man on a magnificent steed, draped in an ink-black cloak, gazed blankly from afar at the slightly hunched figure on the city tower.
"Grandpa... has grown old after all!"
Lin Huang sat solemnly, quietly watching the figure on the tower in the freezing wind. His thoughts churned, filled with an indescribable melancholy.
He stayed there until the sun crested the horizon, casting its glow over the majestic tower and the figure slowly descending its steps. Only when Lin Beichen disappeared from sight did Lin Huang turn around, quietly wiping away a tear from the corner of his eye.
Then, with a sweep of his sleeve, Lin Huang spurred his horse. He charged down from the hilltop, his back to the golden morning sun, riding off into the distance toward Piaoxue Palace, leaving only a trail of dust in his wake.
His destination was Piaoxue Palace!
There was someone waiting in Piaoxue Palace, and her name was Lin Cangxue.
She was the former East Spirit Legend.
Yet now, she suffered endless disdain within those very walls!
Less than the time it took an incense stick to burn after the eighteen carriages left the Imperial City, countless figures on horseback dashed out of the city gates, trailing closely behind them.
Lin Huang and Shen Diexin had known all along that the Celestial Thunder Sect and Fengyu Tower would not simply let matters rest.
In this Four Sects selection, Piaoxue Palace taking in Lin Huang was secondary. What truly unsettled the two major sects was Fatty Bai’s potential. How many people in the entire East Spirit Realm could skyrocket in their cultivation realm without even practicing?
If they allowed Fatty Bai to enter Piaoxue Palace unchecked, he might just become another Lin Cangxue.
Furthermore, the enmity between Lin Huang, the Celestial Thunder Sect, and Fengyu Tower was naturally irreconcilable.
Thus, the journey from the Great Xia Dynasty to Piaoxue Palace was bound to be treacherous. Whether to seek revenge by killing Lin Huang or to nip Fatty Bai’s potential in the bud, both sects were guaranteed to attempt an interception along the way.
According to their original plan, Shen Diexin was supposed to escort decoys of Lin Huang and Fatty Bai back to the sect, while the real duo traveled in secret.
The problem was that Fatty Bai... was just too fat! It was practically impossible to find a believable body double for him.
Left with no other choice, Shen Diexin took Fatty Bai on the road, leaving Lin Huang to travel to Piaoxue Palace alone.
Those eighteen carriages outside the city gates were naturally meant to confuse the pursuers from the Celestial Thunder Sect and Fengyu Tower.
"I hope this buys them some time!"
Atop his galloping Bloodthirsty Steed, Lin Huang consoled himself. At the very least, without him dragging them down, Shen Diexin should be able to protect Fatty Bai safely.
Compared to Shen Diexin’s route, Lin Huang’s path was far more roundabout. The direct journey from the Great Xia Dynasty to Piaoxue Palace was already thirty thousand miles, but to ensure his safety, Lin Huang had naturally taken several detours.
When Lin Huang had shown his route to Qin Xuance, the guy hadn’t hesitated to alter several stretches, extending the trip from thirty-one thousand miles to a staggering thirty-six thousand miles.
The reasoning behind this was to avoid potential ambush points where the Celestial Thunder Sect might strike once they realized Lin Huang was traveling alone.
Thirty-six thousand miles. Even with his Bloodthirsty Steed capable of traveling a thousand miles a day, it would take a full thirty-six days to reach Piaoxue Palace. Consequently, Lin Huang barely rested along the way.
As he drew nearer to his destination, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. Because his sister, Lin Cangxue, who valued him more than her own life, was there.
Besides her, Jun Qingcheng had also once stayed at Piaoxue Palace. Though Lin Huang didn’t know whether she had already arrived or left, his heart was still brimming with anticipation.
He wondered, "She probably doesn’t know me yet, right? How should I make my appearance? Play the hero saving the damsel in distress? And then she’ll fall in love with me at first sight?"
Bouncing on his speeding steed, Lin Huang felt a bit dizzy from the ride and couldn’t stop himself from daydreaming. A warm smile unconsciously spread across his face.
"Wait, her current strength should be close to the Martial Marquis realm. I won’t be able to save her!" Lin Huang realized, his face instantly filled with despair.
In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed. He had covered nearly a third of the journey to Piaoxue Palace. On horseback, Lin Huang was thoroughly covered in dust, and his expression showed clear signs of fatigue.
Fortunately, after ten continuous days of travel, he finally reached an ancient imperial city.
The Xitang Dynasty!
"Is the young master looking for a place to stay? Our inn is the finest tavern in the Imperial City. I guarantee you’ll feel right at home," a waiter at a tavern in the Xitang Imperial City greeted him. The waiter was very observant. Even though Lin Huang looked travel-worn, the quality of his clothes and the Bloodthirsty Steed he led were clearly no ordinary items.
Lin Huang gave a faint sound of agreement. He walked into the tavern and ordered a few small dishes to be sent to his room.
As night fell, shortly after Lin Huang had bathed and changed his clothes, a knocking sound came from outside his door.
"Who is it?" Lin Huang called out. He was slightly guarded but not particularly nervous.
It had been ten days. By now, the people from the Celestial Thunder Sect and Fengyu Tower should have realized he was traveling alone, but it would still take them a few days to track him down.
Otherwise, Lin Huang wouldn’t have boldly checked into the most luxurious tavern in the Xitang Dynasty like a wealthy young lord.
Despite Lin Huang’s question, there was no reply from outside. However, the knocking didn’t stop. Lin Huang’s ears twitched slightly as he carefully discerned the rhythm and cadence of the knocks.
Soon after, Lin Huang’s slightly tense expression relaxed, and he said softly, "Come in!"
As the door was pushed open, a middle-aged man in rich attire walked in. He was slightly plump with a prominent belly and a ruddy complexion, looking every bit like a wealthy merchant.
"Wang Fugui, Squad Leader of the Divine General’s Mansion’s Dark Department in the Xitang Dynasty, pays his respects to the Young Master!"
Upon seeing Lin Huang, a hint of excitement flashed across the middle-aged man’s ruddy face. It was obvious he was restraining himself, deliberately keeping his voice low out of fear that someone might overhear their conversation.
Lin Huang smiled politely. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Captain Wang. The Dark Department is truly extraordinary. I’ve only just entered the Xitang Imperial City, yet you’ve already found me!"
Seeing this man, Lin Huang finally realized that Lin Beichen’s words were true. Though the Divine General’s Mansion had ceased its campaigns of conquest over the years, the operatives of the Dark Department had long since spread far and wide.
In fact, the Dark Department had a presence in two-thirds of the entire East Spirit Realm.
"Every Dark Department spy of a certain rank has memorized the appearances of the Young Master and Miss Cangxue," Wang Fugui said with a jovial chuckle. "Whenever you need anything, we are at your command!"
Though he outwardly appeared to be a merchant who had been rooted here for over a decade, twenty years ago, he had been a Centurion in the Divine General’s Mansion.
"Then tell me," Lin Huang asked with a smile, tucking his hands into his sleeves. "Why hasn’t the Divine General’s Mansion received any intelligence from you over the past month?"
"This..."
At this question, Wang Fugui froze, his face flushing crimson.
Seeing Wang Fugui standing there in utter embarrassment, Lin Huang frowned slightly. He figured something must have happened.
And the very reason Lin Huang had taken a two-thousand-mile detour to visit the Xitang Imperial City was precisely to handle a task Qin Xuance had assigned him before his departure...