When the Great Qi Emperor called a halt to the battle, the outcome was already clear. It was sorrowful.

Although Jiang Wang was injured all over, Zhong Xuanzun was still spotless.

Although Zhong Xuanzun still had two Xinglun, although his fighting spirit was still high and his blood energy was like a flood…

But victory and defeat were already decided.

At least, decided at this moment.

In the air, Zhong Xuanzun suddenly smiled freely. His ink-black hair and white clothes hung down. With a flick of his hand, he scattered the Sun-Moon Xinglun. He turned and stepped down from the high air, walking away with ease.

The palace gates naturally opened for him.

The dense gazes, both hidden and open, that had waited for a long time outside the palace, all fell on his body. It was sorrowful.

His breathing could be heard repeatedly.

He was already used to the gaze of ten thousand people and didn’t care about their thoughts.

Under the majestic and tall palace tower, his steps were willful, his laughter sparse and wild—

“This departure is a long journey, Jiang Qingyang, we’ll meet again in the Jianghu!”

He walked away so freely, just like the first time Jiang Wang saw him.

Qiu Ji, who had been waiting outside the palace gate, glanced at Jiang Wang in front of the hall from afar. He didn’t show any expression and followed Zhong Xuanzun with small steps.

Now only Jiang Wang stood in front of the Deer Palace, whose floor tiles were cracked. He was separated from the Great Qi Emperor inside the palace room by only one door. But Han Ling, who guarded the door, would not invite him inside again. It was sorrowful.

He regarded Zhong Xuanzun’s “meet again in the Jianghu” as a kind of blessing.

Because this departure was hard to predict life and death, and fortune and misfortune were unknown.

He won the second battle with Zhong Xuanzun, but there was no sense of satisfaction in his heart.

He personally carved out the path to leave Qi Country, but the road ahead had not become clear either.

But this was his choice.

The place where he set out was a piece of ruins. All these years of effort were for returning to that piece of ruins.

Even the most glorious prosperity could not make him sleep peacefully. Right and wrong sometimes could only be left to time to examine, or perhaps, right and wrong were no longer important. It was sorrowful.

Once he left Zhuangtu and traveled alone for ten thousand li, now he also walked back alone.

He faced the palace room and bowed properly: “Your subject bids farewell to the Emperor!”

“That set of ‘History Knife Chiseling Sea’ that the Emperor gave you, leave it. You don’t need to read it anymore.” The Emperor’s voice came from inside the palace room: “Reading through four thousand years of history, vast and full of words, yet one doesn’t know how a wise man preserves himself. Seeing is believing, can’t take it as truth.”

Jiang Wang said: “Your subject does not carry this set of books with him. If Your Majesty insists, your subject will later have someone buy a set and return it to you.”

Han Ling’s tiger-like gaze stared fiercely at Jiang Wang, with the posture that if a word was not agreed upon, he would go up and forcibly search the storage box.

But the Emperor only said: “Do not call yourself ‘subject’ again.”

That encompassing voice slightly rose: “Wu An Marquis Jiang Wang, is guilty of great disrespect! Now strip him of his title, cut his position, reclaim his fiefdom, demote him to a commoner, and expel him from Qi land! Han Ling, you supervise this matter.” It was sorrowful.

Before Jiang Wang could react, he had already appeared outside the Deer Palace with Han Ling, and the palace gates in front of them were tightly closed.

He bowed deeply again towards the palace gates: “Only wish Your Majesty preserve his holy body, and prosperity for a thousand autumns!”

Then he stood up and walked directly out of the palace with his injured and tattered body.

Han Ling, who bore the duty of expelling the commoner Jiang Wang, hurriedly followed, tapping him with a hand to replenish his blood energy and repair his Ruyi Xianyi.

As the head inner official of the Great Qi palace city, he had no personal like or dislike for Jiang Wang. His love and hate were the same as the Emperor’s.

At this moment, following Jiang Wang as he walked out of the palace, all the gazes, both open and hidden, were blocked by him.

The two walked without speaking until they walked out of the palace city— It was sorrowful.

Outside the palace city, there was a vast crowd of people!

This place was always an empty square, where no food stalls or wine houses were allowed, and no hawking or gathering was permitted. When had such a large crowd ever gathered?

So many people gathered together, yet they were silent, showing good discipline. Obviously, the absolute majority were soldiers.

There were many familiar faces in the crowd, which made Jiang Wang involuntarily stop.

He stopped outside this闕閭 gate, composed himself, and smiled: “Are all the gentlemen having breakfast here?”

It was now Chen Shi, which was the time for “breakfast”. Many people got up and ate breakfast at this time.

The former Wu An Marquis was greeting his former subordinates. It was sorrowful.

But the crowd in front of him remained silent.

As if they could use this silence to keep him.

Jiang Wang stopped for a moment and then walked forward again. Han Ling silently followed behind him.

The crowd also silently made way.

Jiang Wang slowly walked through the crowd. He had long known the weight of gazes, and he had already borne the weight of gazes.

His firmness was conveyed in this silence.

Suddenly, a汉子 knelt on the ground, blocking his way. He raised his head and looked at Jiang Wang, his face sorrowful: “Marquis! Do you still remember me? In Xiaguo, Minxi Corridor, you saved me! You… why do you want to leave?” It was sorrowful.

Jiang Wang looked at him, actually not having much impression of saving him, but this face was indeed familiar. He had fought alongside him in Xiaguo.

At that time in Minxi Corridor, Yi Country’s great general Yan Po and Xiaguo’s Zhou Xiong fought to the death, and the aftermath of the battle harmed quite a few Qi soldiers.

While seizing the opportunity to join the fight and help Yan Po, he also desperately saved people, which even allowed Yi Shengfeng, who was lurking aside, to see an opportunity and welcome Thin Luck Lang’s sneak attack.

This 汉子 was probably one of the soldiers from that time.

As a general, being confined to the life and death of one soldier or one pawn, not prioritizing self-preservation and playing a bigger role, was considered foolish. But it also became the reason why people missed him.

Jiang Wang reached out to help the 汉子 up. He patted his shoulder, just planning to leave. But the crowd all knelt down in unison.

They shouted in unison, with many voices. It was sorrowful.

One person talked about pulling down which city with him, another talked about cutting down what general with him, who raised the flag with him, who once shared wine with him… In the end, they all asked him why he was leaving.

Jiang Wang could only raise his palm and make a downward pressing motion. These hot-blooded soldiers then became solemn and quiet.

“The court has its own public notice about this matter. I won’t say anything. The specific situation should be based on the court’s public notice.” His gaze swept over the surroundings one by one, and he said sincerely: “But all comrades, I will never forget the days we fought shoulder to shoulder. Today’s parting is not eternal parting. When we meet again in the Jianghu, I will surely toast all of you!”

“Let me toast you first!” Li Longchuan, with a jade belt wrapped around his forehead, walked out from the crowd, holding a pot of wine in his hand and two wine cups between his fingers.

As he walked out, he kicked people with his boot: “Get up, everyone. The will of the people has already been decided. It’s enough that you’ve come to say goodbye.”

The soldiers rose one after another.

This brave young general did not hide his dissatisfaction at all. His walking posture already showed great resentment.

“I originally didn’t want to come, but my sister at home insisted that I see you off for her, and see you off with a cup…” He said, casually pouring a cup of wine. With a relaxed posture, he handed it to Jiang Wang and sighed: “Ai!”

Jiang Wang could completely understand his friend’s mood and just smiled: “Today, I’ll drink wine with a sigh!”

He took the wine cup and drained it in one gulp.

Turning the cup mouth down, he smiled and said: “Send my regards to Sister Fengyao for me. I hope to have the opportunity to apologize in person later.”

Li Longchuan, instead, was a bit embarrassed and awkwardly accompanied him with a cup.

The wine went down his belly, sinking some shame and floating some worry.

He said seriously: “I hope we don’t meet on the battlefield.”

Now, under heaven, the conflicts between various countries were frequent. The monarch chose his ministers, and the ministers also chose their monarchs. The movement of talents was originally a common matter. Great Qi’s current Prime Minister Jiang Rumou might also have been brought by his grandfather from Shen Country when he was young.

However, it was also different for each person. For example, for a country’s favorite like Jiang Wang, a meritorious hero, the more the Emperor valued him, the less he would allow him to become another country’s sword.

Jiang Wang’s promise not to serve in other countries, why was this promise believed? Not only because of Jiang Wang’s own character. More importantly, it was because of his action of returning to Qi Country to resign in person.

The reason was very simple—if he wanted to go to any overlord country under heaven, he could just go directly. Those overlord countries would bear the pressure from Qi Country themselves. He didn’t need to return to Qi Country at all and test the Qi Emperor’s mood with his own life and death.

Not many people knew what Jiang Wang was going to do next. In Jiang Wang’s knowledge, besides Zhong Xuansheng, it should only be the Emperor today.

Because he almost never mentioned Zhuang Gaoxian in front of people. During this difficult and long journey, he was always silent, swallowing blood into his belly.

So, the weight of the smiling phrase “hope to have the opportunity later” was not understood by Li Longchuan at this moment. It was sorrowful.

But he understood the weight of Li Longchuan’s sentence “not meet on the battlefield”. He had cut off all fame and fortune in Qi Country, showing the ruthlessness of a single-minded pursuit of Dao, and Li Longchuan still regarded him as a friend.

So he said solemnly: “Absolutely not.”

After Li Longchuan walked out of the crowd, it was Yan Fu and Yan Xian, the brothers most welcomed in the noble circles of Linzi.

“I’m not drinking wine with you, I still have things to do in a while.” He explained casually, as if Jiang Wang was just going on a simple long trip. He casually patted a stack of house deeds into Jiang Wang’s hand: “Here are some houses in the main countries of the Five Domains. Just live wherever it’s convenient. Save yourself the trouble of arranging things again.”

This dazzling display of wealth made Li Longchuan repeatedly retreat. He lightly covered his mouth and nose, expressing the dislike of a famous family descendant towards wealth.

Jiang Wang stuffed the stack of house deeds back and said seriously: “Yan Xian brother, I appreciate your good intentions, but I am single-minded in my pursuit of Dao. I should be in deep mountains and old forests, or wild and dangerous places, so I don’t need so many properties.”

Yan Fu looked at him thoughtfully and backhandedly slapped a storage box into Jiang Wang’s hand: “Keep this box of talismans for self-defense. Living in deep mountains and old forests often, snakes, insects, rats, and ants are quite troublesome.” It was sorrowful.

Jiang Wang was afraid that he would see something else, so he accepted it generously: “Then I won’t be polite. I’ll bring you some local products from the deep mountains and old forests later.”

At this time, a skinny and dark little fellow drilled out of the crowd. He immediately hugged Jiang Wang’s big leg. Before he could speak, tears and snot were already flying.

Then he shouted in a high voice that pierced the clouds, extremely sad: “Master!”

Jiang Wang looked at him helplessly.

He raised his tear-blurred face: “Master, I’ll follow you. I’ll carry the sword for you!”

“Little rascal! Is this how I taught you?” The contemporary Bo Wang Marquis stepped into the field, very indignant: “What did I teach you to say? I told you to tell him not to leave!”

Chu Yao hugged his master’s big leg tightly, crying very sadly but expressing himself very clearly: “My master is the best in the world, but he is not happy. If he leaves, he will be happy, so I will follow him.” It was sorrowful.

Jiang Wang knew early on that besides Zhong Xuanpang, no one else could organize so many old subordinates in such a short time. But he understood in his heart. Rather than saying this close friend was trying to play the emotional card to keep him, it was actually more about letting him say goodbye properly before leaving Qi Country, so that he could leave without worries.

He rubbed Chu Yao’s forehead and said gently: “Master cannot take you with him now. You are my Jiang Wang’s disciple, you can listen to reason, so I will speak reason with you. First, your mother is in Linzi, you want to leave to take care of her. Second, you are still young and your body is not fully developed. It is not yet time for you to cultivate freely. What you need now is to settle down and read properly, not travel ten thousand li. Third, the sword arts you want to learn next, I have all put them with your Uncle Zhong Xuan. When we meet next time, I want to check… Can you pass my check?”

Although Chu Yao was clever, he was still young after all. He only felt that what his master said was very reasonable, and he, Chu Yao, was indeed a person who could listen to reason. When he heard the last question, he also subconsciously nodded: “Yes!”

“Good disciple.” Jiang Wang praised: “You really give me face!”

Chu Yao wiped a handful of tears and suddenly became proud.

Zhong Xuansheng rolled his eyes.

He chased Chu Yao out. In the crowd, Yi Shisi and Yi Huaimin stood together. The brother and sister were simply two extremes. It was sorrowful.

Shisi only looked at all this, quietly and calmly without speaking. Yi Huaimin then shouted: “Brother Jiang! Do you still remember our agreement? An invitation is not a meeting, otherwise today…”

Jiang Wang could only cup his hands and apologize: “Certainly next time.”

Yi Huaimin still wanted to make some noise, but with a glance, he saw Jiang Wuyou, the Huaying Palace Master, walking towards them with big strides. Knowing better, he closed his mouth and shrunk back his long neck.

Jiang Wuyou was not accompanied by attendants today. She was simply wearing martial attire and a ponytail, probably having just finished her morning practice and rushed over from Huaying Palace. From the fine sweat on her forehead, it could be seen that the intensity of her early practice was very high. With her self-developed Daoist martial strength, it was not easy to sweat.

She also upheld her consistent simple style and only asked: “Jiang Qingyang, do you have no attachment to Qi Country at all?”

This was not just her question.

It was also a question that many friends wanted to ask but couldn’t— It was sorrowful.

When your friend says he wants to put down everything he has and bravely pursue his own Dao, how can you, as a friend, block his way in the name of friendship?

So Li Longchuan only indignantly expressed his unfairness, and Yi Huaimin only shouted “agreement”.

At this moment, Jiang Wang looked at Jiang Wuyou. The morning light flowed on her wheat-colored skin, giving her a vigorous vitality different from other imperial heirs besides her nobility. And her eyes were so heroic, and at this moment, also so sharp.

Your Highness, my attachment to everything in Qi Country is precisely the reason for my resignation. Jiang Wang murmured in his heart.

But he could only answer: “Your Highness, my path is not here.”

Jiang Wuyou quietly examined him.

He also calmly looked back. It was sorrowful.

Finally, Jiang Wuyou said: “Do you remember your promise to Gu?”

Jiang Wang smiled bitterly. “Of course.”

He would forever remember that he still owed Jiang Wuyou a promise. He would help Jiang Wuyou wholeheartedly once, to repay Jiang Wuyou’s help in rescuing Zhu Biqiong.

If Jiang Wuyou told him to stay, he would definitely stay.

Even if his heart was already very hungry, very much in need of devouring the bitter fruit of hatred, even when he was in the demon world, he could no longer suppress it!

“Forgive Qi Shuai.” Jiang Wuyou said: “Although she doesn’t need it, this is Gu’s only request.”

Jiang Wang was silent. It was sorrowful.

Jiang Wuyou looked into his eyes: “You are right, that was not a transaction.”

Then she directly turned around, stepped into the morning light, and left.

She knew Jiang Wang intended to cut off his ties and came proactively to resolve the karma.

This journey is long and far.

Don’t worry.