Following the purchasing carriage of Bo Wang Hou Fu, Jiang Wang slipped out of Lin Zi City, thankfully without encountering any checks.

The shadow guard dispatched by Chong Xuan Sheng to guide him was, surprisingly, a familiar face who had left a deep impression on Jiang Wang. It was the very same individual who, at the grand opening of the Tai Xu Corner Tower in Tian Fu City, had loudly proclaimed his insight into the true essence of the Dao.

His appearance suggested honesty and simplicity, which was likely why Chong Xuan Pang had chosen him. Yet, when it came to handling affairs, he was taciturn and silent, merely leading the way without a single superfluous word.

Chong Xuan Sheng had mentioned that these shadow guards were all trained by his uncle, Chong Xuan Chu Liang. Jiang Wang had considerable trust in their abilities and loyalty.

Bi Wu County lay just east of Lin Zi, a short journey. Pushing on without rest, they quickly reached their destination: a manor on the outskirts of Chi Feng City, the county seat of Bi Wu County.

It was a night of the dark moon, with only a sparse scattering of light piercing the sky. The sprawling manor, vast and silent, crouched like a massive beast in the shadows.

“Gong Sun Yu and Yang Jing are good friends. After leaving Chang Sheng Palace, he secluded himself here,” the shadow guard explained. Seeing Jiang Wang’s bewildered expression, he added, “Yang Jing is the younger brother of Yang Luo, the governor of Bi Wu County.”

What Jiang Wang didn’t know was that Yang Jing had also participated in the Yellow River Assembly quota selection. At a young age, he had already reached the Outer Tower realm, possessing extraordinary combat prowess and was considered the foremost genius of Bi Wu County. However, within the vast scope of Qi Country, he simply couldn’t rank, not even having the opportunity to participate in the Grand Ceremony.

Naturally, Jiang Wang understood the shadow guard’s implicit warning. “I only intend to ask Gong Sun Yu a few questions; I won’t cause any conflict.”

The shadow guard replied faintly, “Presumably, your visit won’t be preceded by a formal calling card.”

“Yes… my visit must be confidential.”

“Then it will be difficult to avoid conflict,” the shadow guard stated, clearly a man of considerable experience. He produced a detailed map of the manor’s layout. “Gong Sun Yu has barely stepped outside since arriving here. He receives no external visitors, and not many people know he resides here. This manor is Yang Jing’s property; he usually only stays for a short while during the hunting season, so it’s very quiet. Gong Sun Yu’s room is marked on the map. When you visit, just keep the noise to a minimum.”

Jiang Wang accepted the map. The information was indeed incredibly detailed, a testament to the effort put into intelligence gathering. While examining it, he inquired, “I still don’t know your name. How should I address you?”

“Qing Zhuan,” the shadow guard replied, offering no explanation for the name’s meaning. He simply added, “I’ll be on guard for you outside. Every quarter of an hour, two bird calls signify that everything is normal. Three consecutive bird calls mean something has gone wrong and you need to leave. More than two quarters without sound means I am dead.”

The reminder was certainly practical, though the word “dead” was spoken with unsettling ordinariness, as if stating he would eat a meal when hungry. It was a stark reminder of the brutal training these soldiers endured.

Jiang Wang had the impulse to say, *I’m just going to chat a bit, there’s no need to be so tense.* But on second thought, he remained silent. He took the manor layout map and effortlessly vaulted into the garden. Having gone to such lengths to arrive secretly in Bi Wu County, how could he claim there was no need for tension?

The governor of Bi Wu County, Yang Luo, was at the peak of the Outer Tower realm. To serve as a local governor in a dominant power like Qi Country meant he was far from ordinary compared to cultivators of the same realm. With the Bi Wu County seal, his combat strength was not to be underestimated. Only in regions like the Three Counties of Yang Di, newly annexed, was there an opportunity for someone of Huang Yi Xing’s caliber. Of course, he had always been a Town Pacifier and hadn’t yet fully transitioned into a governor.

However, for the current Jiang Wang, the governor at the Outer Tower peak realm meant that among the official figures in the entire Bi Wu County, no one else could possibly contend with him. Thus, Jiang Wang felt quite at ease as he infiltrated the manor. It wasn’t that no one in Bi Wu County, besides Yang Luo, could challenge him. Like Bei County had the former Prime Minister, Shi Men County had the Li family, Da Ze County had the Tian family… Bi Wu County undoubtedly had its own hidden masters, but those figures wouldn’t be found here.

This manor, used by Yang Jing as a retreat during hunting season, was thoughtfully arranged. The rockeries and corridors were expertly patterned, and while the decorations weren’t extravagant, they were tastefully appointed. Jiang Wang, however, had no inclination to appreciate his surroundings. Following the map, he quickly located Gong Sun Yu’s courtyard.

The courtyard was small and the layout style was ancient and simple. At a glance, it was plain and unadorned, devoid of anything superfluous. Under the night sky, the manor was exceptionally quiet. Only in Gong Sun Yu’s bedroom was there a light.

Jiang Wang hesitated for a moment, then made no attempt at concealment, pushing open the door and stepping inside.

A man in a high crown and flowing robe, with an ancient and elegant demeanor, sat cross-legged on a stone bed. Unlike many places in Qi, Bi Wu County had a custom of sleeping on stone beds, a practice whose origins were unknown. As Qi Country had expanded, becoming the overlord of the Eastern Domain, it had absorbed countless smaller nations, resulting in a diverse array of domestic customs, many with untraceable origins.

The stone bed was quite large, roughly divided into two halves. On the side where Gong Sun Yu sat, a pillow and quilt were rolled up, and in front of him was a low table. On the right side of the table was a stack of books, all bearing signs of age, indicating that reading by lamplight late into the night was a habit, not just an occasional occurrence. On the upper left corner of the low table stood a pine-tree shaped candle holder of decent quality. The candlelight was steady, casting a warm and tranquil glow.

Jiang Wang had not concealed his entry, so Gong Sun Yu naturally noticed his arrival. He raised his head and looked over, still holding a scroll in his hand, the pages open and faintly yellowed.

He recognized Jiang Wang. On Cloud Mist Mountain, Jiang Wang’s single strike of the Eight Sound Flame Sparrow had blasted open the sea of clouds, astonishing the crowd—it was a sight he could never forget. Yet, he showed no surprise, merely observing Jiang Wang in silence, his gaze questioning.

Under the control of the Voice Hearing Immortal State, not a single sound from the room would escape.

“How long have you been here?” Jiang Wang asked.

Gong Sun Yu simply looked at him, not speaking.

Jiang Wang realized his question was futile. How could someone who could locate Gong Sun Yu’s current residence not know when he had moved in?

“I’ve come to find you to ask some questions. I hope you can help me resolve some doubts,” Jiang Wang stated directly.

Gong Sun Yu continued to look at him, silent as a statue, even the book in his hand remained still.

He was a disciple of the renowned School of Names. Among the Hundred Schools of Thought, they were most famous for their eloquence, known for their “lip-guns and tongue-swords.” A silent disciple of the School of Names was indeed a kind of irony. He still remembered how articulate and talkative this person had been on Cloud Mist Mountain. How could such a short time have passed for him to become so silent? What exactly had happened?

Jiang Wang vaguely felt that the answer he sought might lie within this silence. Could Gong Sun Yu be completely unaware of Feng Gu’s known secrets?

“Can we talk about why you left Chang Sheng Palace?” Jiang Wang asked.

Gong Sun Yu’s eyelids drooped slightly, but still, there was no response.

Jiang Wang didn’t want to pressure him. He sat down on a tea stool, turned over an inverted tea cup, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and slowly said, “At the funeral of Eleventh Hall Down, I didn’t see you.”

Gong Sun Yu remained expressionless.

Jiang Wang sipped his tea and continued, “You were Eleventh Hall Down’s confidant, the person he trusted most…” He put down the tea cup and gazed at Gong Sun Yu. “Do you think, when Hall Down left, he had regrets? Do you want to help him fulfill those regrets?”

Gong Sun Yu suddenly laughed, a bitter smile, and he shook his head. For a moment, Jiang Wang couldn’t tell if he was shaking his head at the former question or the latter.

“Although Eleventh Hall Down is gone, I feel perhaps there’s something we can do…” Jiang Wang said. “Are you willing to share what you know with me?”

Gong Sun Yu quietly looked at Jiang Wang, then suddenly opened his mouth. His mouth opened wide, indecently so, revealing inside… only half a broken tongue!

His tongue was broken!

A disciple of the School of Names losing his tongue was like a swordsman losing his sword. This was the part he should have been most proud of, and relied on the most.

Who had cut his tongue?

“Who did it?” Jiang Wang heard his own voice sound a little dry.

But Gong Sun Yu just looked at him, his mouth now closed. The silence from this scholar behind the candlelight seemed to have swallowed all his desire to communicate along with that half-broken tongue.

“Can we communicate by writing?” Jiang Wang asked.

Gong Sun Yu shook his head.

“Or, I’ll ask you some questions, and you just nod or shake your head.”

Gong Sun Yu’s head didn’t move. He only looked at Jiang Wang, his eyes filled with a thousand-mile silence. He didn’t want to say anything; he wouldn’t say anything.

Jiang Wang sighed. “Do you know that Feng Gu is dead? Three feet of white silk, hung in the spirit hall of Eleventh Hall Down.”

This sentence finally seemed to touch Gong Sun Yu. He reached into his sleeve…

He took out a dagger, tossed it lightly, and it landed at Jiang Wang’s feet. He used his left hand to lift the sleeve of his right hand, making a gesture of invitation.

This was his final expression of the night. His meaning was clear. He would say nothing. Either leave, or kill him.

Jiang Wang was silent for a moment. He picked up the dagger from the ground, stood up, and walked forward. This bedroom was no more than twelve steps across. The distance between him and Gong Sun Yu was no more than six steps. If he wanted to kill Gong Sun Yu, it would take less than a breath. Gong Sun Yu’s resistance or lack thereof would not affect this timing.

One was a world-renowned young prodigy, the other a high-ranking disciple of the School of Names, once also a rising figure in Lin Zi City. Before today, they had only met once, with almost no other intersection. After their farewell on Cloud Mist Mountain, their paths had diverged greatly. This world was one where everyone experienced their own life’s journey. Jiang Wang’s magnificent waves were sung by the world, while Gong Sun Yu’s stormy seas were all contained within that half-broken tongue, swallowed whole, chewed over and over, alone.

Gong Sun Yu gently closed his eyes, very calm, with no regret or resentment. But he only heard a soft sound, the sound of the dagger lightly tapping the low table. He opened his eyes, and there was no one in front of him. Only the dagger placed on the low table proved that the person had indeed been there.

Leaving Gong Sun Yu’s courtyard, he casually lifted the sound seal. Jiang Wang’s face was expressionless as he returned along the original path, leaped out of the manor, and went to meet the shadow guard named Qing Zhuan. Bird calls rang out every moment, never ceasing, indicating that under Qing Zhuan’s surveillance, there had been no abnormalities outside the manor.

Not far to the south of the manor was a patch of mountain forest. Qing Zhuan had hidden there, and manipulating bird calls from that location was not conspicuous. Jiang Wang moved swift as the wind, brushing through the night, but suddenly stopped before the mountain forest. His hand was on his sword.

“I came here with no malice, only to seek out an old acquaintance. I harmed no one and damaged nothing in the manor. If you don’t believe me, you can return to the manor now to check,” he said in as gentle a tone as possible. “Please don’t harm the person I brought.”

“Your bird control is not bad, but the calls are too regular,” said a young man of medium build, carrying a bow and holding a sword, as he stepped out from the shadows of the mountain forest. His sharp eyes were fixed on Jiang Wang. “Allow me to introduce myself, I am Yang Jing.”

The bird calls ceased. The dim moonlight was shallow, the long night windless.

“I am Jiang Wang,” Jiang Wang said, maintaining his distance and taking the initiative to cup his hands. “My uninvited visit tonight was presumptuous. Please forgive me, Young Master Yang. If there is anything I can compensate you for, just say the word.”

Yang Jing looked at him and said, “I have long admired your great name!”

From the forest, two cultivators dressed in tight clothing emerged, restraining a bound Qing Zhuan. Qing Zhuan’s bruised and swollen face indicated he had endured some hardship, but thankfully, he was uninjured and his cultivation was intact.

“My humble name is not worth mentioning,” Jiang Wang said. “There are twenty-eight more friends in the forest. Why not come out together so I can get to know you all one by one?”

Then, one after another, dark figures emerged from the forest. Each had a knife at their waist, their demeanor cold and stern, subtly forming a military formation. The Yang family’s ability to maintain their roots in Bi Wu County for so long, while not a renowned family, certainly had its formidable aspects.

Yang Jing smiled carelessly. “How did you guess it was me, and not that you had provoked other trouble?”

“If I had provoked other trouble, I shouldn’t have had the chance to detect it,” Jiang Wang explained lightly, then added, “Please allow me an opportunity to atone for my offense.”

“No need,” Yang Jing lifted his chin, and his subordinates loosened Qing Zhuan’s bindings. He looked at Jiang Wang and said, “My friend is unharmed, and your man is also unharmed.”

Jiang Wang sincerely said, “Thank you for your magnanimity, Young Master Yang.”

“My friend is unwilling to see guests. I hope there won’t be a next time.”

“If there is a next time, I will send a calling card first,” Jiang Wang said.

“I won’t see you off.”

“Then we won’t intrude,” Jiang Wang cupped his hands, then left with the shadow guard named Qing Zhuan.

“You’re just letting them go like this?” a subordinate near Yang Jing asked, watching their backs.

“Otherwise?” Yang Jing sighed. “That is Jiang Qing Yang!”

“But this is Bi Wu County,” the subordinate said.

“Bi Wu County is very small, but the world is very big!” Yang Jing shook his head. “It seems I should find a new residence for Brother Gong Sun…”

“Still hurt?” Jiang Wang asked as they walked.

Qing Zhuan grinned. “It’s nothing. It’s just because of me… your trail was still exposed.”

“He won’t spread it,” Jiang Wang said firmly. “Based on Young Master Yang’s stance tonight, it was truly not easy for you all to find this place.”

Qing Zhuan calmly replied, “Young Master Sheng’s assigned tasks, we will certainly handle well.”

Jiang Wang again thought of his exaggerated shouting about the true essence of the Dao… He couldn’t help but ask, “Are you all from the military?”

“Ah, yes,” Qing Zhuan said. “Trained under… General Fierce Slaughter.”

“Truly, there are no weak soldiers under a famous general!” Jiang Wang praised.

Qing Zhuan was probably unaccustomed to being praised. He turned and asked, “Shall we return to Lin Zi now?”

Jiang Wang looked up at the sky. He sighed. “We can only return to Lin Zi.”