In the world of martial arts, people who desire the Fen Xing are in the hundreds if not thousands; but most are plain fantasies only . According to legend, Jiu Xuan Ji is built by a junior of Lu Ban, the grandfather of carpentry . There are traps everywhere in the tower; a moment of carelessness can cost one's life — to tell the truth, in recent years, the people from Jiang Hu who lost their lives there are not few; and so the rumors became more and more wild . Duan Yao has heard of it before, but he always had no interest in martial arts, and did not take note of it . He only knew that it is an extremely dangerous place, and had planned to avoid it if he encounters it in the future . Contrary to his expectations, he had unknowingly rushed into the place instead . Duan Bai Yue placed the wooden box into his sleeve, and turned to leave . Duan Yao: " . . . . . . . "
The two people went back to the inn wordlessly . Upon reaching the entrance of the room, Duan Bai Yue patted his shoulder, and said: " Today you worked hard, so just quickly go and sleep . "
Duan Yao sidestepped him, pushed open the door without a care, and walked in .
Duan Bai Yue reminded him from the back: " This is my room . "
"Let me take a look . " Duan Yao sat at the table and reached out his hand .
"Look at what?" Duan Bai Yue pretended to not know .
"The Fen Xing, of course . " Duan Yao said, "Why do those people in the martial arts world all desire it, and also, why do you also want it?"
Duan Bai Yue replied: "Don't know . "
Duan Yao: " . . . . . . . . "
"I'm not the one who wants it, someone else wants it . " Duan Bai Yue said it matter-of-factly, "Since you and I happen to cross paths with it, might as well retrieve it . "
"To put it so simply, 'might as well retrieve it'!" Duan Yao said in a fit of resentment, and poked a hole in the table with his finger, " Do you know how dangerous it was inside?"
"No matter how dangerous it was, you have already come out of it intact . " Duan Bai Yue said in a relaxed tone, "Beside getting a bit dirty, nothing else was lost . "
. . . . . . . . . . \nDuan Yao felt that if this continues like this, he will be angered to death by the person in front of him before he even arrives at the royal capital .
After seeing him return to his room, Duan Bai Yue opened the wooden box, and took out a pearl from inside . Neither smooth nor perfectly round; of a dull color ;surrounded by torn cloth; it looks as if it was torn from a beggar's clothes, and does not look like it is of any value .
Duan Bai Yue frowned slightly, and was unable to find an opening despite poring over it for a long while .
In the neighboring room, Duan Yao took a shower grumpily and fell into a deep sleep the moment he hit the bed, and only woke up in the afternoon next day . He did not go to find Duan Bai Yue, but instead immediately went out through the window to stroll around aimlessly . Only after buying sweets and listening to stories to his heart's content, and going to a shop and ordering a full table of food, did he return to the inn in the middle of the night .
Duan Bai Yue is currently sitting at the table, drinking tea .
"Here . " Duan Yao put down the medicine bottle in his hands with a dong sound, "I borrowed the kitchen and just finished brewing this . "
Duan Bai Yue smiled: " And here I thought you forgot that today is the fifteenth . "
Duan Yao placed his cheeks on his hands, and guarded the entrance . A rich merchant who probably drank too much, walked past the room while discussing business matter with his companions loudly . While laughing halfway he noticed a 13 or 14 year old youth with a sword looking at him with irritation and with an evil aura; he immediately quieted down and walked hastily back to his own room .
Duan Bai Yue finished the medicine concoction, and meditated quietly on his bed . Only 2 hours later did he open his eyes .
"Will you die?" Duan Yao asked while leaning on the entrance .
Duan Bai Yao answered: "Not within 3 to 5 years . "
Duan Yao pouted: " Harm passes on for a thousand years . "
Duan Bai Yue can't help but laugh, and said " I'll pretend that you dislike me having a long life . "
Duan Yao yawned widely, and went back to his room to sleep .
In the royal capital, the news of the murder has been momentarily suppressed, and Gu Li's servants are relocated to the palace as a temporary measure . Even using the fastest horse and riding through the night, a journey to and fro the capital and Ah Nu will take at least 3 months; it cannot be rushed even if one wants to .
"Your Majesty" On this afternoon, Eunuch Si Xi announced at the entrance of the royal study, " General Shen has arrived . "
"Summon him quickly!" Chu Yuan threw aside the report in his hands upon hearing the news . "General Shen, please enter . " Eunuch Si Xi opened the door for him, and said in a low tone, "The emperor has summoned you back here; the court has not been peaceful lately . "Shen Qian Fan smiled, and walked into the study .
In the martial arts world, there is no one who doesn’t know about the Shen Clan . The head of the clan, Shen Feng is wizened and wise; the first son, Shen Qian Feng is highly skilled in martial arts, and commonly agreed to be one of the candidates for the next leader of the martial arts world; although the second son, Shen Qian Qian, did not embark on a journey in Jiang Hu, he is still a elegant gentleman of high status; the fourth son, Shen Qian Lin, is bright and lively; it is said a smile from him can cause a hundred flowers to bloom in winter . As for the third son, he is the famous battle strategist of the country of Chu, Shen Qian Fan . The Shen family had contributed unrelentingly, whether be it the initial capturing of bandits or the quelling of the rebellion later on; hence Chu Yuan viewed Shen Qian Fan as one of his most important people . He initially wanted to return to Jiang Nan(1) to call on relatives; who knew that he hasn’t even left for half a month before being called back to the capital .
“You have worked hard, general . ” Chu Yuan descended the royal throne . “Your Majesty flatters me, this is simply my duty as a general . ” Shen Qian Fan asked, “Did something happen in the imperial court?” “Official Liu(2) seems to have made a move, so you are called back here . ” Chu Yuan said, “We wish to eliminate them in one go . ” “Your Majesty wishes to bring forward the plan?” Shen Qian Fan is a little shocked at this . “This is one matter; there is yet another matter . ” Chu Yuan said, “I wonder if you have heard of it?” Shen Qian Fan shook his head: “ I rode straight from the gates of the city back to the palace, and did not talk with anyone, nor did I hear any rumours on my way here . ”
“Gu Li is assassinated . ” Chu Yuan returned to the royal throne .
“Is this done by Official Liu?” Shen Qian Fan frowned deeply .
“You too think this is so . ” Chu Yuan smiled coldly, “We think so too . ”
“Then the assassin has not been captured?’ Shen Qian Fan said carefully .
“Even if they are caught, one can only pretend that they have not been caught . ” Chu Yuan said, “Otherwise what else can we do?”
Shen Qian Fan tried asking: “Then, what is the next step you wish to take, Your Majesty?” “We have already concealed the incident; a messenger is being sent to Ah Nu . ” Chu Yuan stated, “Knowing Sha Da’s temper, there’s chance some scoundrel will take advantage of this again; moreover it is my great Chu that is in the wrong here, a moment of carelessness will cause others to treat us as a joke . ”
“I understand . ” Shen QianFan nodded . “Respected official rushed all the way here and must be tired, go back to the manor and rest first . ” Chu Yuan said . “As for other matters, it can be discussed tomorrow . ”