For some reason, from the first time Thirteenth Wang appeared on that snowy night, he had trusted Fan Xian greatly. Otherwise, he would not be sleeping like a baby in the room right now. Fan Xian stared in a daze at the unconscious young man on the bed and scratched his head. He couldn't find a suitable word to describe his current emotions.
In the basin was a blood-soaked cloth. The bright red gave off a faint stench. In order to remove the leather jacket from Thirteenth Wang's body, Fan Xian had expended a great deal of effort. The blood on the inside and outside of the jacket had long congealed and mixed with the wind and sand on the grasslands. Like glue, it stuck firmly to Thirteenth Wang's body.
He fed Thirteenth Wang some medicine, pried open the already sealed wounds, squeezed out the pus inside, and restitched a number of wounds that had opened on the way here. After doing all this, Fan Xian was completely exhausted. Weakly, he sat on the side of the bed and stared at this man in a daze.
Although he had taken the anesthetic and sunk into the deepest of unconsciousness, the pain in his body still made Thirteenth Wang furrow his brows. This last disciple of the Dongyi Sword Hut had a delicate and pretty face, particularly his brows, which were furrowed particularly nicely. He was like a philosopher's statue contemplating the problems of life.
Fan Xian shook his head and threw the scissors and needles in his hands into the basin. He stretched. In the process of saving people, he had counted carefully. There were 38 wounds on Thirteenth Wang's body. They were all knife wounds, and they were all concentrated in the front half of his torso.
There were many stories in the military camp about how the wounds were all in the front of the body. Thirteenth Wang used his bravery and valiance to perfectly prove these stories. He had faced countless knives alone and charged out head-on.
Fan Xian stared at him in a daze. Although he hadn't personally seen Thirteenth Wang assassinate the Left Virtuous Prince or the scene of killing when he charged out of the continuous Hu camp, each of these wretched knife wounds seemed to tell of what had happened a dozen days ago on the grasslands.
When was the last time he had a comrade covered in wounds? It should have been in Shangjing in Northern Qi. When he ripped open the young master's white robe, Fan Xian looked at Thirteenth Wang on the bed and couldn't help but have the illusion that he and Yan Bingyun were the same person.
However, Thirteenth Wang's injuries were more serious than Yan Bingyun's. Furthermore, Fan Xian knew that the relationship between these two people and him was very different. Yan Bingyun was his subordinate and his arm, but he was also a loyal official of the Qing Kingdom. Thirteenth Wang had relied on him two years ago because of the interests of Dongyi. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the unconscious Thirteenth Wang. He did not understand. Was something like a promise really so important to some people in this world? Even more important than his own life?
Fan Xian furrowed his brows. The unconscious Thirteenth Wang also furrowed his brows.
Both of them were good-looking. However, Thirteenth Wang was less stern than Fan Xian and more amiable. In his coma, there was a natural childishness. Both of them furrowed their brows at the same time. It was a wonderful sight.
…
…
The sound of water being poured came from outside the room. Ye Ling 'er filled a basin of hot water and walked back into the room. She wet a towel and then sat down on the side of the bed. Carefully, she helped Thirteenth Wang wipe away the blood on his body. However, there were too many wounds on his body. She couldn't find a place to start for a long time.
"38 cuts …" Ye Ling 'er bit her lower lip. It was as if she was feeling pain for this unknown Overwatch Council official. "I don't know what you had him do in the grasslands for him to come back alive with such serious injuries."
Earlier, when she was helping Fan Xian, Ye Ling 'er was truly stunned. She was shocked by Fan Xian's superb medical skills. She was also shocked by the injuries of the person on the bed.
Startled by Ye Ling 'er's words, Fan Xian shook himself out of his thoughts. Pulling up the corners of his lips, he smiled helplessly. "He is not an official of the Overwatch Council."
Ye Ling 'er glanced at him and didn't say anything. In reality, she had already guessed that the identity of the person lying on the bed was certainly not ordinary. Otherwise, Fan Xian would not have temporarily sealed off news of this person and had to trouble such a noble wangfei to personally help him.
Fan Xian snatched the wet towel from her hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "He is Thirteenth Wang, a person from Dongyi."
"He is Thirteenth Wang?" Ye Ling 'er's eyes immediately lit up. She sighed and said, "No wonder he is so brave."
Fan Xian asked, "You've heard of him?"
Ye Ling 'er nodded and said, "Don't have the extravagant hope of being able to hide news of him. In less than two days, the Emperor will know that he has interfered on the grasslands. You should think carefully about how to explain it."
Fan Xian smiled bitterly. He wasn't afraid of explaining to the Emperor. In the end, which side Dongyi would fall to, it was still Sigu Jianqian's words before his death. If he and Thirteenth Wang improved their relationship, presumably the Emperor would not be too angry. He was just curious as to why Ye Ling 'er appeared to be so familiar with Thirteenth Wang.
"Although not many people know that he was once your subordinate for more than half a year, many people in the military know that the Overwatch Council once had a powerful figure." Ye Ling 'er seemed to have thought of something. Her expression dimmed. "That year, there was a rebellion at Dong Mountain. The Emperor was surrounded and trapped at the top of the mountain. Shang Shanhu led the Northern Expedition Army soldiers to attack the mountain and forced the Imperial Army to retreat step by step. If it weren't for Thirteenth Wang bravely holding the pass, the mountain would probably have been broken through long ago."
"I heard that he later blocked a blow from Granduncle." Ye Ling 'er shrugged. "That day, this person left a deep impression on the Imperial Army. Everyone admired him greatly. After talking about him a lot these two years, he became famous."
Ye Ling 'er's granduncle was the Great Grandmaster Ye Liuyun, who had disappeared without a trace after the Dong Mountain incident. Hearing these words, Fan Xian paused. He turned his head to glance at the unconscious Thirteenth Wang and slowly said, "Given his brave and ferocious nature, if he was in the military, he would probably become a rarely seen fierce general."
He didn't know that two years ago, the famous general of Northern Qi, Shang Shanhu, had such an evaluation of Thirteenth Wang at the mountain gate.
…
…
After a few days, Thirteenth Wang woke up. No one knew what kind of power this young disciple of the Sword Hut had in his body for his injuries to heal quickly. On the day he woke up, Fan Xian suppressed the joy in his heart and asked straightforwardly, "You are the future of Dongyi. What exactly are you planning by working so hard for me?"
Thirteenth Wang had left Dongyi and returned to Fan Xian's side because of the promise in the snowy night, but it was not just because of this promise. He was silent for a moment. On his pale face, his brows, which were as thick as swords, appeared particularly frightening. After a long time, he slowly said, "Teacher can't hold on much longer."
Fan Xian was silent. Sigu Jian's death was something everyone had expected. In everyone's hearts, this Great Grandmaster of Dongyi should have died two years ago. In the end, no one had thought that the most powerful idiot in the world would be able to drag on for two years until everyone was exhausted and embarrassed. It was to the point that everyone seemed to be hoping for his death.
However, coming from Thirteenth Wang's mouth, these words represented another meaning. Fan Xian knew that Sigu Jian did not have much time left. Dongyi had to immediately decide what path it was going to take in the future. Thirteenth Wang entering Xiliang Road this time and performing such a great service for Fan Xian was also Sigu Jian's arrangement.
"Your teacher is a big idiot. I think it is very likely that you will inherit his legacy and become the second biggest idiot in the world." Fan Xian looked at Thirteenth Wang's haggard face and coldly said, "You and Haitang are both orphans. Why throw away your head and spill your hot blood to protect such meaningless words?"
Thirteenth Wang smiled with some difficulty. He knew that while Fan Xian's words appeared mocking, they actually hid a glimmer of concern. He looked at Fan Xian and slowly said, "If it is not to protect something, then why are you here?"
Fan Xian had nothing to say in response.
Thirteenth Wang finally said, "Teacher wants to see you one last time before he dies."
Fan Xian's heart jumped slightly. He immediately calmed down. Furrowing his brows in thought for a moment, he then shook his head and said, "The Emperor will not let me accept the Dongyi matter."
Thirteenth Wang knew why he shook his head. Presently, Fan Xian was in charge of the Xiliang Road matter. If, in the future, even Dongyi was taken into the arms of the Qing Kingdom through his hands, it would make things difficult for the Qing Emperor. In order to prevent an imbalance between ruler and officials, the Qing Emperor would probably not let Fan Xian handle the Dongyi matter.
"Don't think of things too rosy." Thirteenth Wang coughed. His newly healed wound almost burst open again. "The Sword Hut will open next spring. Teacher's intention is only to invite guests from various places to meet."
Based on what Thirteenth Wang said, Sigu Jian probably didn't have many days left to live. The opening of the Sword Hut in the spring of the 10th year of the Qing calendar was perhaps the last time this sword saint would show his brilliance in the world. Fan Xian furrowed his brows and said, "Guests from various places?"
"Yes," Thirteenth Wang replied. "Including … guests from Northern Qi."
Fan Xian smiled. He knew what Sigu Jian was thinking. After the Great Grandmaster passed, Dongyi would not be able to protect itself. It had to find a good tree to rest on. Asking him and the nobles from Northern Qi to attend the ceremony was to see which of the two powers in the world offered a higher price and who had the most sincerity.
Dongyi had long shown Fan Xian its sincerity. This sincerity was the sincerity Thirteenth Wang's words had delivered on that snowy night three years ago. It was sincerity written in Thirteenth Wang's blood.
"If your teacher asks too much, I won't be able to help much," Fan Xian said seriously to Thirteenth Wang. Very seriously, Fan Xian said to Thirteenth Wang, "You know I am speaking from the bottom of my heart. Never mind, rest well."
After saying this, he realized that Thirteenth Wang did not notice. Instead, his gaze had passed through the window and was cast toward a certain place in the courtyard.
Fan Xian followed his gaze and saw Ye Ling 'er in light yellow clothing. Ye Ling' er was sitting in the dusk. With a calm expression, she gazed at the lonely autumn trees outside the courtyard. She appeared particularly lonely.
Thirteenth Wang's gaze was very soft and lonely. Perhaps it was the wind, sand, and rain of blood on the grasslands that made this gentle but valiant man begin to appreciate the other side of life. Quietly, he said, "This girl is very lonely."
"She is Ye Ling 'er, my … disciple," Fan Xian said bitterly. "Her loneliness is a mistake made by me and all of her family. Oh, right, during the days you were unconscious, it was she who looked after you."
Thirteenth Wang didn't turn his head. He only looked calmly at Ye Ling 'er's silhouette in the distance. It was as if he was admiring a beautiful scene.
Fan Xian suddenly remembered the first time he had met Thirteenth Wang on that snowy night. He had used the name Tie Xiang and said he was going to Baoyue Brothel to see all the beauties in the Qing Kingdom. Involuntarily, a glimmer of a smile rose to the corners of his lips. He thought of some phrases and people.
You looked calmly out the window, and I looked at you silently. The curtain held both of us, savoring the gentle loneliness. Fan Xian slowly rubbed the string of beads on his wrist. It was as if he had returned to the grasslands with Haitang gently leaning against his arm.
…
…
It was impossible for Haitang to suddenly appear by his side. This reality made Fan Xian feel disappointed. Although he and Yan Bingyun had used four months and relied on the Shadow and Thirteenth Wang's extraordinary strength to perfectly complete the Overwatch Council's plan, when he thought of Haitang still on the grasslands and the possibility that she would forever remain in the autumn grass and blue sea, Fan Xian felt anger for no reason.
This anger was mostly directed at Ku He's arrangements before his death and his hatred for the little Emperor of Northern Qi.
Of course, the present Northern Qi Emperor was no longer small. Although the connection between the palace treasury and the North had been greatly weakened because of the Qing Emperor's powerful intimidation, the Northern Qi Emperor had quickly consolidated the court and fully demonstrated his ability to govern. Under the Qing Kingdom's overbearing aura, he did not show any signs of defeat. On the contrary, he began to stretch out his hands and legs, intending to counterattack.
For example, in Xiliang Road.
Fan Xian had spent a great deal of money to move Deng Zi Yue back from Northern Qi's Shangjing to target Northern Qi's infiltration of Xiliang Road. Following the deaths of the Northern Qi people in the court, the Overwatch Council's purge operation in Dingzhou and Qingzhou began with a bang. Because the Overwatch Council had prepared for a long time and the person in charge of this matter was Deng Zi Yue, who knew the way the Northern Qi Brocade Guard did things, it proceeded particularly smoothly.
With the full cooperation of the General's manor and the Governor's manor of Xiliang Road, the Overwatch Council only used 10 days to capture over 40 Northern Qi spies in Dingzhou and Qingzhou. The number of Northern Qi spies who had died to the hands of the Sixth Bureau of the Overwatch Council had already surpassed 100.
In order to destroy Northern Qi's infiltration of Xiliang, Fan Xian had spent a great deal of money and exposed a few officials who had developed in the Northern Qi court for many years to obtain the name list. He knew that although the Hu people on the grasslands appeared to be able to resist at the moment, if they were allowed to continue developing, they would become a great threat to the Qing Kingdom.
Thus, he did not care about anything. He had to kill the signs of the Hu people's prosperity before the spring dew fell.
He also knew that each time the Overwatch Council captured a Northern Qi spy in Xiliang Road and killed a spy, the distance between him and Haitang would increase. Furthermore, there were still a few Tianyi Dao disciples lying in ambush in Xiliang Road.
…
…
The death of the Left Virtuous Prince of Xi Hu brought too many unstable factors to the grasslands. The hardliners, led by the foremost ace of the King's tent, Hu Ge, demanded that the Chief of the court give an explanation for this matter. Without being conferred a title by the court, the Left Virtuous Prince's tribe had elected the Left Virtuous Prince's youngest son as the new Left Virtuous Prince. At the same time, they raised the knife of revenge against the various powers on the grasslands.
The biggest suspects for the Left Virtuous Prince's death were, of course, the Chief of the court and the Right Virtuous Prince. Although the court had once said that the Qing Kingdom's Overwatch Council had secretly done this, not many people believed it. Furthermore, Hu Ge was still picking fights internally.
In order to stabilize the situation on the grasslands, Chief Su Bida was forced to acknowledge the new Left Virtuous Prince's position. He sent envoys to pacify them and guarantee that they would give the Left Virtuous Prince's subordinates a satisfactory explanation.
What was a satisfactory explanation? It was the head of the murderer and the massacre of the murderer's tribe. The problem was that the murderer had long escaped. No one knew which tribe he was from. Thus, the grasslands were in turmoil. At any moment, there was the possibility of a big battle breaking out. Additionally, the court had, in a short half a month, suddenly lost all of their spies in Xiliang Road and became blind. For a moment, they were unable to respond.
There were many troubles on the grasslands. However, these troubles needed Chief Su Bida and Haitang to resolve. As for Fan Xian, who had created these troubles, he was not unhappy at all. He just watched everything that happened on the grasslands with cold eyes from Qingzhou.
According to his agreement with Hu Ge, Hu Ge would completely lean toward the Chief of the court next spring. After all, given Hu Ge's current strength, even if he had the full support of the Left Virtuous Prince's subordinates, he would not be able to overthrow the position of the Chief of the court. Since it was so, it was better to change sides. Presumably, Chief Su Bida would happily welcome the arrival of the power that Hu Ge belonged to.
With the Chief's support, in addition to the Qing Kingdom's secret support, presumably, it wouldn't be long before Hu Ge's tribe would develop and grow. At that time, Chief Su Bida would truly have a headache. The grasslands would welcome a truly difficult time.
Concerning this matter, Fan Xian had only made the beginning. He dug two shovels and threw down a seed. He then waited for the seed to germinate, grow, and take over the place where the grass grew. It had to be admitted that his two shovels, particularly the one Thirteenth Wang had swung down, had truly taken the lives of the Hu people.
Fan Xian stayed in Qingzhou not just to watch the show on the grasslands. He also wanted to watch the show playing out in Qingzhou. However, before he could finish watching the show in Qingzhou, he received a secret report from Jingdou. This secret report from Baoyue Brothel regarding the Great Prince made him angry. Faintly, he sighed, "The affairs of the world are difficult to predict. The affairs of the world are difficult to predict."
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The title of the chapter was a song by Dou Wei. As for the monthly votes, I have already closed in to within 200 votes. It has been hard on everyone. It has been hard on me. Let's work hard together. Please continue to give me monthly votes.
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