The Prince

After the battle at Luojiu, the Emperor's health improved day by day.

The court officials thought it was heaven's blessing that saved the Emperor from illness and pain. Only a few knew the inside story - that strange disease that had slowly simmered Xu Jingxing like a human stew was clearly concocted by the National Teacher's faction. The Immortal Gathering had vast supernatural powers; it's quite possible they had slipped Xu Jingxing some Twin Roots before he even became Crown Prince.

The Immortal Gathering was temporarily taken over by Jianchen Temple, while Jiang Youyue and Qu Duanyun were locked in the deepest dungeon. Xu Jingxing wanted to torment the two, so he used the excuse of unrest to keep them hanging - neither interrogating nor allowing visitors. Who knows how long it had been since those two had seen sunlight.

Compared to his imperial brother, Prince Rong's situation was even worse.

Xu Jingming had been through many storms. He would occasionally think back to when he first descended into the Ghost Tomb; compared to now, it felt like a lifetime ago.

Many who knew Xu Jingming well said that Prince Rong had changed his nature. Previously, Xu Jingming had looked down on everyone, not treating servants' lives as lives at all. Who would have thought that after rolling through this fiery ordeal, his whole person had become - it was hard to say if he was more honest or just deflated - no longer having that air of supreme arrogance.

An old servant brought Xu Jingming a calming soup in the evening. He was staring blankly at the bonsai in his room. The night was quiet, making the creaking of the door especially jarring. Xu Jingming's whole body trembled in fright. After the old servant set down the soup bowl, he inexplicably blurted out a "thank you".

This time it was the old servant who was shocked, nearly spilling the soup bowl, suspecting his master had been possessed by something.

But seeing Xu Jingming try to stuff the soup bowl lid in his mouth, the old man dismissed the thought - the prince was probably still recovering from the shock of the recent chaos.

Xu Jingming indeed hadn't recovered. His state of mind fluctuated wildly, unable to find stable ground. Previously, he had considered himself of noble royal blood, supremely exalted. But after learning about the Suspended Tree's Immortals, his self-evaluation rapidly plummeted from "superior being" to "slightly larger ant". His former cruelty and arrogance now seemed like a joke in retrospect.

Prince Rong's mental state was in shambles, unable to even put on airs properly. After all, everyone was just ants - who was nobler than whom? But changing one's attitude towards others was a matter of face, and Xu Jingming was thin-skinned, truly unable to lower his face to do so. Caught in this contradiction, he hadn't had a peaceful night's sleep in days.

Xu Jingming had no choice but to secretly sneak out with a lamp to see his imperial brother.

With the realm unsettled, Prince Rong had been lingering near the imperial palace, and no one had driven him away. Xu Jingxing was also diligent and loved the people, never sleeping before the third watch. Xu Jingming wasn't afraid of finding him absent.

Seeing his brother float in like a sleepwalker, the Emperor spoke first.

"Rest assured, in this battle against Luojiu's Suspended Tree, I also sent some of our people."

Xu Jingming blinked and looked at his imperial brother - Lu Fu, with his close ties to the Immortal Gathering, had already been replaced. Xu Jingxing dismissed the eunuchs, wearing a loose brocade robe, patiently reviewing memorials. The firelight wasn't very bright, but at a glance, the Emperor's complexion was incomparably better than before.

"Led by the Master of the Heaven Department, I'm at ease. Miss Shen is also an extraordinary woman, her hatred and obsession both extraordinary. This time, various sects have sent some heroes. With their different styles mixed in, infiltrating Luojiu shouldn't arouse too much suspicion."

"Mm, oh." Xu Jingming responded absent-mindedly.

He wasn't very surprised about Shen Zhu infiltrating Luojiu. If not for being crazy enough, how could a commoner fight against the Immortal Gathering - the most absurd part was, regardless of the process, she actually succeeded in her revenge.

This woman clearly wasn't satisfied yet, now planning to completely eradicate the Suspended Tree.

...However, what troubled him wasn't the foreign Suspended Tree.

Noticing his distraction, the Emperor looked up: "What's wrong?"

"Imperial Brother, how do you plan to deal with the Immortal Gathering people?" Xu Jingming hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Want to plead for your friend?"

"I don't know if Qu Duanyun considered me a friend." Xu Jingming gave a bitter smile. "I just... just feel that this time, few of us did humane things. You and I have viewed Shi Jingzhi as a monster since childhood. At least you're a good emperor, I..."

Self-important, never treating servants' lives as lives. Compared to Qu Duanyun, he was just the pot calling the kettle black, really in no position to condemn - before the Suspended Tree was exposed, he had also viewed the people of the world as pigs and dogs, just living comfortably without taking severe action.

Now Qu Duanyun was locked in prison, while he wandered freely outside. Although Xu Jingming didn't consider his crimes unforgivable, he still had some complex emotions. Surviving a calamity, unbearable shame mixed with confusion, he truly didn't know what to do.

Xu Jingxing sighed, giving Xu Jingming a deep look before changing the subject.

"Jiang Youyue is deeply implicated in this matter, his crimes unavoidable. But the Immortal Gathering has great influence among the people. I absolutely cannot publicly execute him, at most imprison him until death."

Jiang Youyue looked young but was actually quite old. With no materials for spellcasting in prison, no books for entertainment. The jailers were forbidden from talking to prisoners; he couldn't even see sunlight. Even if nothing was done, the old man wouldn't live much longer.

But compared to Yin Zizhu's fate, this was already lenient.

"Qu Duanyun is tricky. Although there are jianghu witnesses, the physical evidence is insufficient, and the Qu family has many relatives in court. Now is a time when we need capable people; hastily dealing with him would also invite dissatisfaction from the Qu family."

Xu Jingming looked at the Emperor in confusion, not understanding why he was telling him this - he didn't care about political affairs at all and was getting a headache just listening.

"Qu Duanyun's parents are deeply principled; I've already discussed this matter with the two elders. They've decided to have him change his surname, sever ties, and expel him from the Qu family. Let jianghu matters be settled in jianghu. Now that he's a commoner, let the jianghu people deal with him. Whether he lives or dies henceforth depends on his fate."

Xu Jingming listened quietly.

"When Qu Duanyun is released this time, you'll escort him out. I've already had the Yueshui Bureau spread the news. Now even Taiheng won't take him in. Since you were acquaintances, you arrange for him."

"...Mm."

Xu Jingming agreed verbally but still didn't understand inside. He was troubled by major life issues, yet his imperial brother assigned him this perplexing task. If it was about settling a commoner, the Yueshui Bureau would clearly be more suitable.

The day Qu Duanyun was released, it was midsummer in Yi City.

Compared to when he entered prison in spring, Qu Duanyun had become much thinner. Now he was gaunt, no longer with that previously spirited appearance. With no light in prison, unable to eat or sleep well, Qu Duanyun's strong body had also become quite frail. At first glance, he was no different from ordinary people walking on the street.

Although Qu Duanyun was obsessive, he wasn't stupid. The Suspended Tree was destroyed, the National Teacher's faction firmly grasped by the Emperor, their hundred-year plan beyond salvation. Expelled from the Qu family, he could no longer take the imperial examinations or join the military in the future. With blood debts in the jianghu, he was also a rat crossing the street in the martial arts world.

Although Qu Duanyun had kept his life, his eyes were full of bewilderment.

The Emperor had left him his life, but only his life.

No great cause, no future, and only enough money for food and drink for a few days. Qu Duanyun sat dazed in the carriage, not knowing what to do next. The carriage window curtain fluttered slightly, and a porter carrying a pole passed by. The man's skin was tanned dark red, covered in sweat, but his face bore a full smile as he chatted idly with the guards at the city gate.

Previously, he wouldn't have deigned to look at such a scene. Now seeing it, Qu Duanyun felt a peculiar taste in his heart - looking at that crude-faced porter, he seemed to be living more decently than himself.

"...That's enough, your face looks worse than a dead person's."

On the other side of the carriage, Xu Jingming sighed.

"Back when Shi Jingzhi left the city, his situation was similar to yours. Imperial Brother didn't give him much money or any good status. Most of the money he made later was from helping people with medical treatment."

Qu Duanyun withdrew his gaze and silently looked at Xu Jingming. Xu Jingming thought he was going to say something heroic like "the victor becomes the king, the loser becomes the bandit", but Qu Duanyun said nothing.

Perhaps it was his first time tasting the vastness and heaviness of the mortal world. Xu Jingming's mouth twitched. Indeed, they had never worried about food and clothing before, never considering how to survive on their own.

"You... you should first find a way to give the martial arts world an explanation. At least you kept your life, which is better than being imprisoned to death. With your martial arts skills, even if you can't mingle in the jianghu, you won't starve doing manual labor."

"Won't starve doing manual labor." Qu Duanyun finally spoke, his voice tinged with cold laughter. "Your Highness speaks lightly, have you ever considered going down to do manual labor yourself?"

Xu Jingming glanced at the heat waves outside the carriage and shamelessly shrank back - so what if he was just talking without walking the walk?

"I... I have seen the peak of mountains; I absolutely won't roll in the mud begging for food." Qu Duanyun's voice was still a bit drifting. "As long as there is still a Suspended Tree in the world, it can be used by people..."

His tone wasn't as confident as before, and Xu Jingming didn't point it out. It's fine if one hasn't tasted looking down on all living beings, but once tasted a bit, it's hard for people to lower their heads again.

"What Suspended Tree or not, you should first think of a new surname for yourself."

Qu Duanyun stared at Xu Jingming for a while, his gaze extremely complex. Xu Jingming leaned back, the back of his neck covered in goosebumps. Since their reunion, Qu Duanyun seemed to have never looked at him so seriously.

"You have it good." Qu Duanyun said softly, his tone a bit absent-minded. "Whether starting over or persisting, you have it much easier."

After saying this, he looked out the window again, not saying another word to Xu Jingming. Prince Rong was stunned on the other side, savoring some strange flavors himself, seeming to have some realization.

The carriage swayed, moving away from Yi City.

Reaching a pavilion in the suburbs, the carriage slowly stopped. Xu Jingming picked up the food box and bundle from inside the carriage and got out himself. At the same time, a person flew out of the pavilion, stepping on the breeze, full of smiles.

"You're here, quite punctual. I smelled it from far away." Shi Jingzhi grabbed the food box with one hand, hooking the bundle with the other. "Thanks to Prince Rong for personally delivering the items. How rare, farewell."

With that, he turned and rushed towards the pavilion, like his invisible tail had caught fire: "Zizhu, Zizhu, these are the snacks I ate as a child! I specially asked for them from the palace. They're so delicious, hurry and try them while they're hot."

His words became increasingly muffled, probably because a piece of snack had already entered his mouth.

Xu Jingming steeled himself before snapping the fan in his hand. The tassel of the magical fan shot out, catching the fleeing Sect Leader Shi. That fox had just grunted when a flash of cold sword energy came, actually cutting the magical item in two.

The next instant, Yin Ci descended from the sky, his face making even the dog days of summer feel a few degrees colder.

The hundred-tael silver magical item was instantly scrapped. Xu Jingming's heart bled: "That mon... Elder Brother ran too fast, I just wanted to ask him to stay."

This "Elder Brother" was almost hummed out, nearly covered by the mosquito calls in the grass.

He didn't want to attack, even trying to greet with a smile. Who could have imagined Shi Jingzhi would run off at full speed - forget about them being brothers, most people wouldn't be so perfunctory even to a delivery boy bringing food!

"Mm, stay." Yin Ci smiled meaningfully, "We just came here to escape the heat, nothing important to discuss."

"It's not, it's not a big deal. Imperial Brother dumped Qu Duanyun on me, and I don't really know how to handle it. Eld... Elder Brother has experience and is well-connected in the jianghu, I thought he might have some methods."

Xu Jingming rubbed his hands, hurriedly smiling apologetically.

"Just so happens I had arranged to meet Elder Brother, so..."

"Huh? Qu Duanyun?" Shi Jingzhi poked Yin Ci's lips with a snack, "Just find a river and throw him in to feed the fish."

Xu Jingming: "..."

He had overestimated the humanity of the Desire Child. Shi Jingzhi's words came from the heart; he was indeed still that unfilial Shi Jingzhi. If he dumped the hot potato Qu Duanyun on Shi Jingzhi, Qu Duanyun would probably become fish food the next day.

Xu Jingming: "Enjoy your meal, Elder Brother. I was just asking casually, farewell."

This time it was Prince Rong who turned tail and ran. He hurriedly ran back to the carriage, quickly ordering the driver to continue on.

Shi Jingzhi blew a puff of air at the swaying carriage, then turned to Yin Ci with a grin: "Is it delicious? Want me to feed you another piece?"

Yin Ci lowered his head slightly, one hand pressing down his hair that were about to slip, carefully licking clean the crumbs on the other's fingertips: "Yes."

Xu Jingming swept a glance - he had never seen such a gentle expression on Shi Jingzhi's face. That person seemed to have racked his brains to dig out past sweetness, breaking it into tiny pieces to share with his beloved.

It was almost blinding.

He yanked the carriage curtain shut, rolling his eyes to the heavens. After a long while, he finally let out a breath.

"Fine, I've done my best. You're on your own now. From now on... from now on, you go your way, and I'll go mine."

After saying this, he suddenly felt an almost paralytic sense of relief.

Qu Duanyun still didn't respond to him, just nodding.

After that incident several years ago, Xu Jingming didn't achieve any notable accomplishments, except becoming extremely adept at keeping a low profile. The Prince Rong's manor became known among servants as a good place to work, and he gained some reputation among common folk. He had also kept an eye on Qu Duanyun's movements - that man had used every trick up his sleeve to ingratiate himself with the martial arts world, and finally managed to save his life at the cost of cutting off one of his feet.

For the first two or three years, Xu Jingming heard rumors of that man trying to manipulate people and stage a comeback. In the following years, there were still whispers about "Lord Duanyun" in the jianghu.

However, twenty years had passed, and he hadn't heard any more news about that man's situation.

...But that's a story for another time.

Author's note:

Sect Leader Shi: Digging up all the good memories to show off

Yin the Demon: Happy.jpg