Song of Adolescence

Chapter 325 Storm Clouds Approach

The banquet at Grand Golden Terrace celebrating the return of the sixth prince, Xiao Se, to Heavenly Revelations City was over.

But all the talk around this banquet would continue to unfold in every corner of Heavenly Revelations City.

Supposedly, the Grand Preceptor Dong Zhu who had been absenting himself from the year end imperial banquets for the last eight years suddenly arrived at Grand Golden Terrace, which was quickly followed by the arrival of all the officials of the Six Ministries. Even the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review hurried to attend.

Supposedly, the third son of the Yunjian Mu family, who was known as the wealthiest family in Qingzhou, also attended. This young master was so extravagant that he distributed gold and silver everywhere on the way to Grand Golden Terrace. By the time he arrived at Grand Golden Terrace, he had already distributed ten baskets of gold, ten baskets of silver, and in the end, he even gave away an invaluable luminous pearl. According to the tales, this young master was dressed all in white with a face as bright as the moon, and he looked every bit like a handsome noble son who was worldly and talented. And this young master only had to flip his sleeves and all the reputable merchants of Heavenly Revelations City came flocking to Grand Golden Terrace.

Supposedly, State Preceptor Qi Tianchen, who was respected by even Mingde Emperor, also arrived at the end. His arrival also spurred the sixth prince’s two Princely brothers to rush over on fast horses. Because the Directorate of Astronomy was known to bear the mandate of Heaven and they would play an important role in the final choice of successor to the Emperor, the Princes could not afford to offend them.

Finally, even Mingde Emperor came personally, despite the fact that he was unwell… But, this last rumour was really too preposterous, and disputed by almost everyone who heard it.

All these "supposedly" very quickly became the only topic of interest in the various teahouses, restaurants, gambling dens and brothels in Heavenly Revelations City. Many people attended the banquet that day, but there were not many who were willing to talk about what happened that night. As for how this news managed to spread throughout the whole of Heavenly Revelations, only four people could have done it.

"I’m telling you, I saw it with my own eyes. That young master from Qingzhou wore clothes that were embroidered in gold. That luminous pearl was the size of my palm, and it lit up the entire street. I’m telling you, he even brought along the Qingzhou Mu Office’s Seven Managers. You know the Seven Managers? Do you understand what I’m talking about?" The speaker slammed the wine cup in his hand onto the table. "All it takes is one of them to move one little finger and those few big tycoons in our Heavenly Revelations will become as poor as us by tomorrow!"

Jiu Jiudao smirked and drank a sip of wine. He said to Dugu Gudu facing him, "The more it spreads, the more wicked it gets."

Dugu Gudu nodded. "It\'s always like this. People are always willing to believe in some legendary stories. After all, their daily life is too boring."

"But what happened last night is already legendary without adding more oil or vinegar. Back then, we didn’t befriend this prince in vain," Jiu Jiudao praised with admiration.

Dugu Gudu shook his wine cup and spoke softly, "We’ll have to be more careful from now on. After yesterday, we’ve made our position clear. From now on, there’s going to be trouble brewing in Heavenly Revelations City in some form or another."

"I got it." Jiu Jiudao nodded. "I saw the notice board outside today. The city lockdown order has been lifted?"

"Yes, after His Majesty made an appearance yesterday and dispelled a whole bunch of rumours. Furthermore, if Heavenly Revelations continues being locked down, people’s hearts will surely be destabilized and speculations will rise again. His Majesty deliberately made an appearance and lifted the lockdown on Heavenly Revelations City to tell those people who are disloyal that this Heavenly Revelations City, this entire Beili, is still under his control," Dugu Gudu said.

"But now that the city has opened, I\'m afraid the storm over Heavenly Revelations City will only grow stronger." Jiu Jiudao looked out the window and said in a soft voice.

Dugu Gudu followed his gaze, and frowned slightly all of a sudden. Jiu Jiudao whipped around but only saw a flash in front of him before Dugu Gudu was already out the window.

Dugu Gudu landed on the ground, reached out and grabbed the shoulder of a man all dressed in black. He said slowly, "This brother, your face is unfamiliar."

The man in black didn\'t turn his head, his shoulders trembled slightly, and he somehow sent Dugu Gudu retreating three steps. He spoke in a low voice, "This is my first visit to Heavenly Revelations, of course I’m an unfamiliar face. Is there a problem?"

"There’s no problem? I want to see your face," Dugu Gudu said.

"Da-ge, what’s wrong!" Jiu Jiudao also jumped down from upstairs.

The man in black made an abrupt leap and fled.

"Chase!" Dugu Gudu barked, and started running after him.

The man in black appeared to be highly skilled in his lightness skill and in just a few jumps and landings, he was gone. Dugu Gudu stopped chasing and Jiu Jiudao caught up, panting as he said, "How is it?"

"Escaped," Dugu Gudu said indifferently.

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Unrivaled City.

Wushuang was sitting inside the sword house on the mountain, his sword casket on his back. Song Yanhui was sitting on the bed, regulating his qi to treat his injuries.

"Shifu, you didn’t enter the sword immortal realm this time. I’m afraid you won’t have another chance again in this life," Wushuang said slowly.

Song Yanhui nodded. "I know. I\'m afraid I will never have another chance in this life. Wushuang, this time I met Li Hanyi\'s disciple and I suddenly realised I was wrong."

"Shifu, you’re indeed wrong," Wushuang responded.

"You also think I was wrong?" Song Yanhui blinked.

"Yes, such a gorgeous woman as Luoxia Fairy was right in front of you, but you chose to train your sword? You tell me, don’t you think that’s wrong?" Wushuang spoke matter-of-factly in a righteous tone. "Not just me. Everyone in Unrivaled City thinks shifu was wrong."

Song Yanhui’s face fell. "Is beauty all you care about?"

"Shifu, back then, you and Luoxia Fairy could have gotten married and traveled the martial world together. Or perhaps, you and Luoxia Fairy were forced to separate by Grandmaster and finally had no choice but to break up even though you still had feelings for each other. Then, shifu would definitely have a place among the five great sword immortals. But you locked yourself in the city to train your sword, focussing only on your sword while you forgot about love. You will never train yourself into a true sword immortal." Wushuang spoke frankly and confidently, as if he was the master.

Song Yanhui frowned slightly and sighed. "What you’re saying is I sunk myself into obsession."

"Shifu, look at the five great sword immortals. The Solitary Sword Immortal… Luo what’s his name?" Wushuang frowned.

"Luo Qingyang," Song Yanhui replied.

"Right, Luo Qingyang. He bitterly loved his own shimei for many years, and finally, he couldn’t have her so he also secluded himself in a city to train his sword. But, he asked for love which he couldn’t have. Although he couldn’t have her, he didn’t lose that love, and gained another sort of sorrow. So much so that the sword he trained became even more passionate. Such a sword of passion is the sword of a sword immortal. Also, there was Li Hanyi and Zhao Yuzhen, neither of them were like shifu, cutting off your feelings, giving up on love, becoming one-track minded about your sword. As they say, an immortal enlightened being is unmoved by emotions. It means unmoved, not unfeeling. Shifu, your sword is too uninspiring." Wushuang stood up. "But it doesn\'t matter. Shifu can be a sword immortal or not be a sword immortal. Whatever shifu has lost, I will help you win it back."

Song Yanhui frowned. "Are you leaving?"

"Perhaps. I get the feeling it’s coming soon." Wushuang walked out the door and looked up at the sky. "To be honest, shifu, I can’t wait anymore. I want to meet them. I don’t think they’re my enemies, but I really want to meet them."