Chapter 287 - As Agreed Before

But speaking of Yang Xuance, the youngest son of the Monarch of Yang Country, he broke his usual patience for the first time, making a rare display of thunderous rage in the palace and smashing his jade pendant to pieces.None dared to bear the sin of obstructing the Monarch’s familial duties.

The entire courtyard outside the Nurtured Heart Hall was so still that not even a breath could be heard.

It was as if even the wind was frightened into silence.

The Writing Eunuch Liu Huai immediately bowed his head to admit his fault, trembling with fear: “How would this humble servant dare?”

His posture was perfect, his etiquette impeccable, but his feet did not move an inch.

He admitted his mistake, apologized, and bowed his head, but he did not budge.

Looking around at the guards, palace maidens, and eunuchs, big and small, all silent and with heads bowed, and then at the Nurtured Heart Hall that remained forever silent,

Yang Xuance found that his heart, which had long since grown cold, could actually become a bit colder…

With such a disregard for etiquette, how could his father’s cultivation not hear the commotion?

It’s just that he didn’t want to listen, or perhaps, couldn’t be bothered to care.

After enduring for so many years, and finally losing his temper for the first time, Yang Xuance intended to do something more, but suddenly his enthusiasm waned.

What’s the point?

“So be it.” He sighed, pulling a letter from his sleeve: “Matters of state cannot be delayed.

Just deliver this letter to my father, and I will no longer trouble his elderly eyes.”

“This servant will surely deliver it,” Liu Huai said, bending over and respectfully taking the letter with both hands, never losing the demeanor of a subject.

He watched Yang Xuance’s retreating figure stride away.

Then slowly, he straightened his back little by little.

Without so much as a glance, he simply rubbed his hands together, and the letter turned into a pile of ashes.

A cold smile curled the corners of his mouth.

Now that the Eastern Palace was secure, Liu Huai certainly knew who the true master of this land was.

It was far too late for the Fifth Prince to think of “doing the right thing” or “starting afresh,” like trying to light a cold stove that lacks kindling.

Moreover, the Monarch didn’t care at all about this so-called son.

The Crown Prince was certainly destined to be the future ruler of Yang Country.

Having served the Monarch for years, how could he not know?

Of course, his loyalty was only to the Monarch; however, he must also maintain the necessary reverence for the successor to the throne.

Delivering the letter today was but a minor task, yet in the eyes of the intent observers, it signified a faltering commitment, inviting eventual retribution.

How could he risk it for the mere Yang Xuance?

Outside the Nurtured Heart Hall stood guards, palace maidens, eunuchs, all of whom only lowered their heads to look at their boots, not daring to steal a glance this way.

Liu Huai bowed; those unworthy of seeing it, if unlucky enough to catch a glimpse, might just have their lives cut short.

He turned and walked back into the Nurtured Heart Hall with steps so silent that they made no sound at all.

The Monarch was surrounded by countless people jostling for position, allowing no time for delay.

The grand hall was vast, and the Monarch of Yang Country, Yang Jiande, sat with his eyes closed on a white jade mat, with a faint golden light hovering over his head, yet he was not busy with any state affairs.

Liu Huai carefully stood in a corner of the hall, a position where the Monarch could find him immediately if he wished, without being constantly in his line of sight and thus becoming annoying.

A long time passed.

The eyes of the Monarch of Yang Country, Yang Jiande, never opened: “What nonsense is Xuance up to now?”

Liu Huai respectfully replied: “He says there are important matters and requests an audience with your Majesty.”

In the vast expanse of the hall, no further words followed.

The plague of rats that beset Jia City was finally contained.

With the support of Yang Court and the aid of the Business Alliance, the Xi Family, who had ruled this land for hundreds of years, mobilized all their power and, by the end of July, had managed to contain further spread of the plague.

After all, as dreadful as the plague of rats was, in a world of Transcendents, it was far from an unsolvable problem.

It didn’t even rank among the most terrible disasters.

Take, for example, the great battle last year on the Valley Plain between Qin and Chu, where nearly a hundred thousand Transcendent Cultivators participated, causing mountains to collapse and the earth to crack.

When these two powerful countries went to war, the entire Valley Plain sank for hundreds of miles, leaving not a single blade of grass.

Where fertile land once sustained countless people, overnight it turned to scorched earth; what natural disaster could be more devastating than such a bloody conflict?

As for the annihilation of an entire city domain in Zhuang Country’s Fenglin City, with tens of thousands perishing without a trace, that doesn’t even need saying…

The death toll from the rat plague in Yang Country hadn’t even reached a hundred thousand yet.

Of course, that’s not how you count such things, and tragedy is never something to compare.

But manmade disasters always surpass natural calamities.

Killing people far exceeds any natural disaster or alien species in number and swiftness!

But let’s not dwell on these things.

Those with keen insight probably have already noticed that recently, members of the Xi Family’s direct lineage have become increasingly rare in Jia City, and many of the family’s businesses have been sold or given away, nearly dissipating entirely.

The Xi Family is fully withdrawing from Jia City, retreating from the land they had developed for hundreds of years.

Their destination remains unclear, but many are convinced it’s to the East King Valley, especially since the current Family Head of the Xi’s, Xizi Chu, is a disciple of the valley.

East King Valley in itself isn’t much different from a regular country, naturally it has the capacity to accommodate the Xi Family.

However, a person is least valued when they leave their hometown.

No matter where they migrate, the Xi Family will likely not be able to restore their former prosperity for another generation or two.

On this day, as Jiang Wang was cultivating, suddenly a Martial Artist from the town hall came to report, “Lord Jiang, Xizi Chu… Xizi Chu is outside the town, challenging you to a duel by name and title!”

A man’s reputation lies in his shadow.

Having operated within the domain of the Jia City for hundreds of years, even if they lost people’s hearts during the plague, their accumulated prestige didn’t dissipate overnight.

Especially Xizi Chu, as the current Family Head of the Xi’s, inherited this prestige without dispute.

This was also the reason why, at first, Jiang Wang believed that to stop the spread of the plague in Jia City, Xizi Chu’s cooperation was essential.

Everyone in Jia City feared the Xi Family’s reputation, and the town hall Martial Artist was no exception.

Jiang Wang opened his eyes, showing no trace of surprise.

He simply took his Longsword, pushed the door open, and headed towards the northern gate of the town.

Coming from Jia City would naturally mean through the northern gate.

Still on the way, another loud shout was heard, echoing through the entire town.

“Jiang Wang!”

This shout alarmed Xiang Qian, Zhu Bijing, Zhang Hai, and Dugu Xiao—everyone was startled.

Even the guards guarding the Business Alliance’s warehouse and the Cultivator sent by Zhongxuan Sheng to treat the citizens all took notice.

Not to mention the town hall constables, Martial Artists, and even the town citizens.

If it weren’t for the special period, forbidding entry and exit, the entire population of the town would have likely already been squeezing through the northern gate by now.

Even so, they all pricked their ears at home, awaiting the next development.

But to their disappointment, that voice, which shook the whole town, did not sound again.

Because… Jiang Wang had arrived.

This battle should have taken place in Jia City that day, but thinking of the city’s citizens, he sheathed his sword and left.

Now that the time has come, he will certainly not avoid the confrontation.

Jiang Wang strode to the outside of the northern gate of Qingyang Town and saw Xizi Chu at first glance.

Standing alone.

Gone was the dashing elegance of former days; his face, now thinned and gaunt, had a stern expression.

He wore a mourning band around his forehead and donned funeral attire, emanating an air of grim solemnity.

Upon seeing Jiang Wang emerge, he spoke but a single sentence, “Everything is settled, as per our prior agreement.”

He thrust the carp-patterned red flag in his hand into the ground, several inches deep, and the flag fluttered in the wind.

“Jiang Wang!

I’m here to kill you!”

The enmity of a father’s murder cannot coexist under the same sky.

Xiang Qian itched to jump into the fray, and Dugu Xiao quietly tugged at Zhu Bijing.

But Jiang Wang waved his hand backward, signaling them not to act rashly.

One hand resting on the sword at his waist, he stood firm outside the town gate.

With his sword alone guarding the gate, he spoke only once, “Step forward then!”