Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“How do you know my real name?”
Chang Lu, or more precisely, Fu Changde, stared at Yan Liqiang with his eyes wide like saucers. The aura he exuded had risen to an overwhelming intensity. Unbeknownst to anyone, another weapon which resembled a tiger’s claw had appeared in one of his hands. He was like a ferocious beast that was ready to pounce on Yan Liqiang any moment.
Yan Liqiang secretly put up his guard. Fu Changde should be a Martial Grandmaster, but Yan Liqiang wasn’t scared. However, if a fight were to break out between them right now, then he would ultimately fail. He definitely did not wish for that outcome.
This was the best time to put the Psychic Serpent to good use. Fu Changde’s mind was in a rather chaotic state. All sorts of thoughts and visions flashed through his brain. The fact that Yan Liqiang managed to call out to him by his real name filled his heart with shock.
“I just mentioned that there are many things in this world that are difficult to explain through reasoning. If you really want to know the reason, I can only say that this is perhaps the Will of Heaven!” Yan Liqiang gently shook his head at Fu Changde whose aura had completely changed.
“If I wished to harm you or scheme against you, I wouldn’t have brought so little people with me today. You were the commandant-in-chief for the Qiyun Protectorate’s southern barracks back then, and you are now the chief of the Hui Clan Gathering. Back then, you escaped with a group of surviving soldiers and officers from the Qiyun Protectorate to live in seclusion here. Do you think there’d be a third person who knows about all these things aside from yourself?”
“Impossible! That’s impossible! Someone must’ve told you that! Stop trying to act all mysterious and don’t try to trick me! Tell me, who was it that knew about my identity? Who in the Hui Clan Gathering recognized me? If you don’t make that clear today, I will make sure that none of you will leave this place!” Fu Changde shook his head firmly while keeping his eyes on Yan Liqiang.
Yan Liqiang suddenly changed his tone. He spoke sorrowfully and solemnly to Fu Changde. “Changde, the Qiyun Protectorate has fallen today. There is a traitor within the imperial court and we are being watched. The Shatu people will never give up if they don’t see my head today. There’s no need for you to be sacrificed along with me. Lead the surviving men and break out from the northern hill. If you manage to survive this, remember to never avenge me. Live out the rest of your life well. The Gu Clan has watched over Mount Qiyun and the Gulang Plains for over two centuries. For generations, my ancestors have respected nature and loved people. They emphasized that with all tribes and never governed with cruelty. The Gu Clan has guarded the northwestern gate of the Great Han Empire and protected peace of the plains for two hundred years. If Heaven has eyes, it will certainly spare one life from the Gu Clan… Forget it, there’s no use saying all this now. Hurry up and leave. If you don’t leave on the count of three, I, Gu Tianxiong, shall slit my own throat before your eyes today. So are you going to leave…?”
CLANK…! The tiger claw-like weapon fell to the ground from Fu Changde’s grasp. Unbeknownst to anyone, tears were already streaming down his face. He watched Yan Liqiang as his lips trembled. He couldn’t even say a single thing. Yan Liqiang’s words had hit him right in the gut, causing him to completely lose control of his own emotions…
“These were the words of my great grandfather to you before he parted ways with you in the protectorate office’s secret passage. Apart from you, no one else in this world heard them. I’ve already explained everything up to this point. I have nothing else to say if you still don’t believe me. You might as well pretend I never came here and continue to act as the Hui Clan Gathering’s chief. I’ll just pretend that I had a strange dream. From now on, we’ll have nothing to do with each other.”
“Can… Can it be that… My lord’s soul lives on in Heaven and the Gu Clan bloodline still runs today in this world?” Fu Changde mumbled to himself while still staring at Yan Liqiang. However, there was no longer any killing intent in his gaze, only unspeakable pain. He swept his eyes over Yan Liqiang’s face, trying to find some hints on it.
“Does Lord Fu still remember a guard who served my great grandfather who suddenly left the protectorate with his family and returned to the pass before something happened to the protectorate?” Yan Liqiang sighed inwardly. The way he addressed Fu Changde also changed without him realizing it.
“Back then, my great grandfather had a premonition, so he made some arrangements in advance. That was the reason why he said all those things to you that day, allowing me to be able to stand here today…”
“Y-You’re… saying Chu Heng…!” Fu Changde suddenly got worked up.
Yan Liqiang told Fu Changde the story about himself which Yan Dechang told him before.
“Ah, so the Shuiyun Token is still around?”
Yan Liqiang smiled and fished the Shuiyun Token out from his chest.
It was a coincidence that the Shuiyun Token was made with an extremely unusual casting technique. Apart from its wonderful workmanship, it seemed to also contain a spirit talisman technique. Since Yan Liqiang had been studying spirit talismans lately, he kept the Shuiyun Token close to him so he could conveniently study it when he was alone.
When Fu Changde saw the Shuiyun Token, he couldn’t stop his tears from gushing out.
Yan Liqiang didn’t say anything. He merely bit his finger, then let his blood drip on the black Shuiyun Token.
Like a fantastic chemical reaction, the black token glowed hazily in just less than a few seconds. Red token writing appeared in the middle of the token amidst the luster, which was surrounded by large peaks of luxuriant hills formed by moire patterns akin to that of sea waves as well as a vast plain.
Nothing could prove Yan Liqiang’s identity better than the visible changes in the Shuiyun Token.
“Greetings from the ex-servant of the Qiyun Protectorate, Commandant-In-Chief of the Southern Barracks, Fu Changde!” Fu Changde, who was already trembling in excitement, immediately knelt down before Yan Liqiang to pay homage to him.
“Unacceptable, this is unacceptable! Please get up, Lord Fu!” Yan Liqiang hurriedly went forward and pulled Fu Changde up by his arms.
Fu Changde wiped his tears while clutching Yan Liqiang’s arms tightly. After calming down himself, he finally spoke. “Heaven indeed has eyes, to allow me, Fu Changde, to once again be reunited with my lord’s descendant. Young Lord is a promising young man, I am sure you will be able to restore the Qiyun Protectorate to its former glory and avenge my lord! Most of the 2,318 people in the Hui Clan Gathering are descendants of the Qiyun Protectorate’s ex-servants! From now on, we shall follow only the Young Lord’s command!”
“Truth be told, I do have an urgent matter that I wish to seek help from the Hui Clan Gathering!”
“What is it?”
Yan Liqiang honestly told Fu Changde about the incident with the Transportation Office.
“Good job killing them…!” Fu Changde immediately slapped his own thigh in excitement after Yan Liqiang finished his story. “How is a mere one thousand people worth mentioning…!”
