Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Chapter 422: Chapter 302: A Visit from an Old Acquaintance

In May of Imperial Calendar year 1455, the weather began to heat up. The daytime sun scorched the earth, making the residents of Penzes City long for nightfall or a refreshing, heavy downpour.

Two years had now quietly passed since Ling Xiao’s arrival on the Canglan Continent. For Ling Xiao, these two years had been more eventful than decades in the Cultivation Realm. He had experienced so much—both good and bad.

Ling Xiao stood on a small hill outside Penzes City, one that offered a panoramic view. The back of the hill faced an endless sea. Sheltered from the wind and facing the sun, it was an auspicious location—most Cultivators had some understanding of feng shui. Wang Chao’s grave was here.

Ling Xiao sat cross-legged before Wang Chao’s grave, a bottle of fine wine in his hand. He first poured out half onto the ground, keeping the rest for himself. Tilting his head back, he took a swig and said with a smile, "Wang Chao, old friend, you toiled day and night when you were alive, never taking a moment to rest. Now, you can finally rest properly. I hope that after you reincarnate, you’ll be born into a wealthy family so you won’t have to suffer these hardships again. Don’t you worry. I will personally avenge you. And I will take good care of Gaia, Tang Ming, and Anya! As long as they are in my Penzes City, I will protect them!"

Anyone who knew Ling Xiao would have been astonished to see him now. He had always maintained a calm and steady demeanor, his posture ramrod straight and his eyes devoid of fear. When had he ever shown such raw emotion?

Ling Xiao tilted his head back and drained the bottle, then hurled it fiercely toward the sea. He then turned to a spot concealed by the surrounding foliage and said, "Come out. Since you’re here, you might as well pay your respects."

With red-rimmed eyes, Anya walked out. Her gaze toward Ling Xiao was tinged with shyness. She knelt before Wang Chao’s grave without a word, her silent tears a heart-wrenching sight.

"That’s enough. Don’t be sad anymore," Ling Xiao said, after some thought, walking over to pat her on the shoulder comfortingly. "Wang Chao is watching over us from the heavens. You have to be strong."

Ling Xiao had a strange fondness for this group, the first people he had met after leaving the Imperial Academy. Anya, back then, had been a lively and adorable girl. Though a bit mischievous, she was fundamentally kind-hearted.

Anya nodded and stood up, fiddling with the hem of her clothes with her head lowered. The once sharp-tongued girl found herself unable to say a word in front of Ling Xiao. A wave of sorrow washed over her. ’We really are drifting apart. We don’t even have anything to talk about anymore.’

Seeing her state, Ling Xiao offered a faint smile. "So, what are your plans for the future?"

Anya replied softly, "They’ve always taken care of me over the years. I didn’t contribute much, but I still received a large share of the money. I saved it all, and I think... I should have enough to open an apothecary in Penzes City. I don’t want to be an Adventurer anymore. I’m tired of the nomadic life, and I think it’s quite nice here!" There was one more thing Anya left unsaid, thinking it to herself. ’And here, I can be a little closer to you! Even if I know it’s a hopeless dream, just being able to see you often will be enough to make me happy.’

’Besides,’ she continued to herself, ’this is where the captain is buried. I’ve decided to visit him often, bring him some food, and talk to him so he won’t be so lonely over there.’

"That’s a good idea. It’s your specialty, after all. I’m sure you’ll do an outstanding job!" Ling Xiao said with genuine sincerity. "If you run into any trouble, just go to the Lord’s Mansion and find Uncle Fu. He’ll help you with anything! Heh, and being as pretty as you are, I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to cause you trouble!"

Anya wrinkled her cute little nose, then broke into a dazzling smile and raised a small, fair fist. "I’m a Tier Five Sword Master now, you know!"

Ling Xiao was stunned for a moment before saying, "Congratulations on your advancement! You were a Tier Four Sword Master before, right? By the way, since you want to open an apothecary, you’ll surely make a name for yourself quickly with your medical skills. I promised to teach you the Golden Needle Acupoint Skill, but it’s quite difficult and will take some time. I have a diagram of the human body’s meridians here. Take it and study it first. Once you can accurately locate all of them, I’ll teach you how to perform treatments with the Golden Needles."

If Ling Xiao hadn’t brought it up, Anya would have never mentioned it herself. After all, it was his personal Secret Technique, and his original offer had just seemed like an offhand remark. Anya was touched that he had actually remembered. Then, thinking of her captain—whom Ling Xiao had tried to save—now lying eternally beneath the earth, her eyes reddened again. She bit her lip hard and said, "I will never forget your kindness."

Ling Xiao smiled. "Healing the sick and saving lives is a virtuous deed. It’s a good thing. You don’t need to thank me." With that, the two of them began walking back, side by side.

Gaia and Tang Ming were not the type to accept charity. Once their injuries healed, they refused to continue living in the Lord’s Mansion. Previously, they’d had no concept of a nobleman’s life and hadn’t known Ling Xiao’s true status when they first met. But now that they knew, they couldn’t help but feel a bit constrained, especially when every single member of the Lightning Legion was astonishingly powerful.

Thus, Gaia and Tang Ming both wanted to leave Penzes City. Ling Xiao, however, wanted them to head to the Imperial Capital. As it happened, Meng Li was here and preparing to return, and they were short-staffed there. Adventurers like Tang Ming and Gaia, with their many years of experience, were invaluable. Even a simple, honest man like Gaia was sharp beneath his rough exterior, to say nothing of the more pensive Tang Ming.

Ling Xiao also gave the two of them a number of Elixirs to boost their strength. They were simply too weak—at least, compared to Ling Xiao’s other subordinates.

The two, of course, accepted with surprise and delight, agreeing to go to the Imperial Capital with Meng Li. Wang Chao’s death had extinguished their interest in the adventuring life. The only thing they couldn’t let go of was the thought of their "good brother"... Wu Liang.

Ling Xiao, of course, had his own plans. ’Sales of the Beauty Pill have stabilized, and the monthly income is an astronomical sum. It won’t do to have no one managing such a vast fortune. Besides, sooner or later, I’ll have to leave this Mortal World. Before I go, I must build a powerful family!’

Ling Xiao had no ambition to be a king or an emperor, and neither did Ling Tianxiao or Lingzhi. Otherwise, Ling Xiao would have even planned to overthrow the Li Dynasty within a few decades and install his father and brother on the throne.

Since his family placed no importance on the throne, Ling Xiao settled for the next best thing: first, he would build a powerful commercial empire, and then he would establish an unparalleled army. As for how to ensure that army’s long-term loyalty? For Ling Xiao, that was ridiculously simple.

Just look at the treatment the Lightning Legion received! Forget the imperial families of the Mortal World—even if you counted all the hidden aristocratic families and sects, none of them could possibly match the benefits given to a soldier of the Lightning Legion.

It was no exaggeration to say that if any soldier from the Lightning Legion went to another country, they would be guaranteed, at minimum, the noble title of Viscount.

Furthermore, Ling Xiao possessed Elixirs to increase their strength and had promised that as long as they remained loyal to the Ling Family for generations, he would guarantee them everlasting wealth and status.

Ling Xiao’s heaven-defying power, combined with these incredible benefits, had made joining the Lightning Legion the dream of every soldier.

General Ling Tianxiao had already submitted his resignation to the new emperor of the Lanyue Empire, Li Wu Zhi, on three separate occasions, but the Emperor had rejected it every single time.

For Li Wu Zhi, the greatest fear was not having to promote Ling Tianxiao. He wouldn’t have blinked an eye at making him an Imperial Marshal, let alone keeping him as a General. What he truly feared... was Ling Tianxiao resigning and moving his entire family south.

Penzes City, along with a vast territory in the southern Empire, had long been outside of Emperor Li Wu Zhi’s control. If he were to let the entire Ling Family leave for the south, it would be like releasing a dragon into the open sea. From that day forward, he would have to live in constant fear.

The current Crown Prince, Li Tianlie, had once advised Li Wu Zhi, "Imperial Father, we have the backing of hidden sects and our own clan, the Western Li Family. Why are you so terrified of a single Ling Xiao?"

Li Wu Zhi did not blame his son, but simply said with great worry, "You don’t understand. That Ling Xiao is not a man to be trifled with! The consequences of underestimating him would be catastrophic. Penzes City in the south is, for all intents and purposes, already the Ling Family’s domain. If he decided to rebel, even our own clan would have to weigh the costs and benefits! It’s debatable whether they would even help us!"

"What about the Dragon Valley Gou Family..." Li Tianlie began, still looking unconvinced, but before he could finish, Emperor Li Wu Zhi’s face changed dramatically.

He roared, "Silence! You reckless fool! Do you think that is a family you can command? Forget it. Never mention this matter again. Is there any news on the whereabouts of Li Tianluo and your third uncle?"

Li Tianlie fell silent, shooting his father a dissatisfied glance. ’Always so cautious,’ he thought. ’He was like this when he was the Crown Prince, and he’s still the same now that he’s the Emperor!’ But in the end, this was his father; no matter how unhappy he felt, he could not voice his dissent.

At the question, he shook his head. "No. My third uncle? The infant? Hmph. They’ll never amount to anything. Why should we bother with them?"

"Sigh." Li Wu Zhi could sense the widening gap in perspective between him and his son, and he felt a sense of helplessness. He sighed again. "I’ve always had a feeling that your uncle, who just turned one, will bring us trouble in the future."

A vicious look crossed Li Tianlie’s face as he sneered, "I don’t care who it is. No one is taking my throne!"

「Back at the Lord’s Mansion」

After Ling Xiao returned, a guard came to report. "My Lord, there is a man outside who calls himself Luo Tian. He says he has business with you."

Ling Xiao’s eyes narrowed. ’Luo Tian? It’s him?’

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