Loyal Heart Roaming the Skies

Ji Xuan suddenly opened his eyes.

He couldn't believe that in this day and age, in his twilight years, Song Hengjiang dared to say such words and make such demands!

He knew Song Hengjiang's domineering nature.

He had also heard of Song Hengjiang's strength.

But how could it come to this?

How dare he humiliate Ji Xuan?

Even the Prime Minister and the Grand General had never treated him with such disrespect.

For a moment, he couldn't believe it was true.

But as he looked into Song Hengjiang's eyes,

He had to believe it was true.

These were Song Hengjiang's conditions.

Because he was Song Hengjiang!

...

Within the borders of Zhuang Country, Zhuang Chengqian controlled the land, while Song Hengjiang controlled the water. This was the agreement that established Zhuang Country!

In theory, the Water Lord of Qingjiang was on the same level as the ruler of Zhuang Country.

The entire 800-mile Qingjiang River was under the jurisdiction of Song Hengjiang. Both banks of the Qingjiang River were under his control.

Song Hengjiang seized this opportunity to humiliate him, and it was justified for him to kill Ji Xuan.

Ji Xuan knew that the Clear River Prefect would not intervene, and the nearby lords of Wangjiang City and Fenglin City would not intervene either. Even the Zhuang family would not step in.

Because once they intervened, the nature of the matter would change. It could be said that Ji Xuan had overstepped his boundaries personally, but if they stepped in, it would be Zhuang Country bullying others. A war between the human and water clans within Zhuang Country would be inevitable.

Zhuang Country could not afford this price. It was not just the huge losses caused by internal strife, but also the conflicts between the water and human clans in the mortal world that could spread and explode.

Zhuang Country could not bear this responsibility.

Was Song Hengjiang willing to kill him?

Obviously, he was not. Otherwise, he wouldn't need to waste words and could just act directly. Ji Xuan was a high-ranking official of the Zhuang family, and if he was killed, it would mean that the conflict between the Qingjiang Water Clan and the Zhuang family was irreparable.

The Clear River Water Palace, in particular, did not want to be the one to provoke a war, as they were still the weaker side.

But would Song Hengjiang dare to kill him?

There was no need to imagine this question at all.

There was no need to weigh the pros and cons or consider cause and effect.

The red tide in the Lian River had not yet subsided, and that was Song Hengjiang's answer to all his opponents.

So, could Song Hengjiang still kill him?

Ji Xuan was at the peak of the Five Mansions and was just one step away from the Fourth Rank Outer Tower Realm.

Hundreds of years ago, Song Hengjiang's strength was unquestionable. But now, everyone knew that his lifespan was coming to an end. Did he still have any fighting power left?

After a difficult silence,

"Smack!"

"Smack!"

"Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!"

Ten smacks in total, not one less.

Ji Xuan didn't hold back. Since he had already decided to accept this humiliation, he wouldn't hesitate or make futile attempts to save face.

He had slapped himself, and it was still unsatisfactory. He wouldn't do such a foolish thing.

After the sound of the slaps ended, Ji Xuan's thin face swelled visibly.

He silently looked at Song Hengjiang, waiting for his response.

Song Hengjiang lowered his eyelids, as if returning to his old age.

He seemed to have difficulty speaking, but he raised his hand.

"Go."

Then he turned around.

Song Hengjiang was not a person who liked to torment others. Since Ji Xuan had surrendered and admitted his mistake, he would not humiliate him further.

With tonight's events, his attitude was already clear enough. The next step would depend on the reaction of the ruler of Zhuang Country, who sat high in the palace.

The waves carried him back to the Qingjiang River, and the water merged.

The raging waves subsided, and the entire Qingjiang River returned to calmness.

Moonlight spilled onto the water's surface, as if nothing had happened.

The evening breeze blew, and the ripples on the water resembled scattered snowflakes.

...

From beginning to end, Ji Xuan did not mention the law enforcement officer who was killed by Jiang Wang, nor did Song Hengjiang mention the Bei woman who was captured and escaped.

Although Ji Xuan came because of that subordinate, and Song Hengjiang came for that woman under his jurisdiction.

But in the midst of the turbulent Qingjiang River, they silently maintained a certain balance.

It was an unspoken connection between the Zhuang family and the Qingjiang Water Palace that had existed for hundreds of years.

When the storm subsided, Ji Xuan stopped in place.

No one appeared at the scene because no one wanted to face Ji Xuan's anger. But Ji Xuan knew that the humiliation he suffered today had undoubtedly been witnessed by certain eyes.

Among those high-ranking figures who were on the same level as him, he had made a fool of himself in broad daylight. There was no way to hide it.

But he didn't show how embarrassed he was. Instead, he determined the direction and continued towards the place where Bai Lian was blasted away by Jiang Wang earlier.

The incident had already happened, and his dignity was irretrievable. What he needed to do was to not let his gains slip away. Once he captured that mysterious white flame and the formidable woman, he would surely have a satisfactory reward.

And he was confident that in the current situation tonight, the tension between him representing the Zhuang family and Song Hengjiang representing the Qingjiang Water Clan was at its peak. The woman behind him, no matter what kind of power she hid, would never dare to show herself.

So he still had hope of finding that woman who was on the verge of death.

But after flying back and forth for hundreds of miles, he gained nothing.

...

Meanwhile, Bai Lian was sent flying by a punch, her whole body surrounded by a warm embrace.

Someone caught her.

But this person was too weak, unable to withstand even the residual force from Ji Xuan's attack. Not only did he get carried away when catching her, but he also immediately coughed up blood into her neck.

The blood was scorching hot.

In a daze, Bai Lian felt herself being carried and then felt the person running. From his panting frequency and the intense heartbeat she felt against her body, she knew he was doing his best.

But the howling wind told Bai Lian that they were moving too slowly.

Am I going to die like this? There's no way to escape, right?

It's just one more person to die...

Who is this person?

How could I have such a foolish subordinate?

No, that's not right. There wouldn't be any subordinates appearing here.

They, those people, were all very clever. Very rational.

So who is this person?

Her eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and Bai Lian realized that opening her eyes was such a difficult task.

But she mustered her strength. She had to do what she needed to do.

So, she opened her eyes.

Bai Lian reluctantly opened her eyes, and her vision swayed.

It was because of the running.

She struggled to focus her gaze and finally saw the person's face from a lower angle.

A slightly rounded chin, not sharp. Lips stained with blood tightly pursed, a straight nose, and a pair of clear eyes looking straight ahead.

It's Jiang Wang. She thought.

Then she fell into a deep coma.