"Your Majesty, please take care of your health. We shall take our leave."
Emperor Xue Ye leaned back in his dragon chair, his face even paler after a few suppressed coughs.
"School Master Ning… why not stay a few more days?"
"It would be good for Us to play a game of Go with you."
Ning Fengzhi smiled and shook his head.
"I won't disturb Your Majesty's rest."
Emperor Xue Ye sighed helplessly.
"Qinghe, go see your teacher off for Us."
"Yes, Imperial Father."
Red palace walls lined the path, with dappled light and shadow.
Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi walked side-by-side, discussing state affairs.
When they reached a secluded spot, Ning Fengzhi paused, looking at Sword Douluo Chen Xin beside him.
"Uncle Jian, even you can't discern the Emperor's condition?"
Chen Xin's face was placid, and he slowly shook his head.
"Healing and saving lives are not my forte."
"Even that old monster is at a loss, so I suppose…"
Ning Fengzhi sighed, then suddenly asked Xue Qinghe, "Qinghe, I hear you have an unshakeable relationship with Sword Wine, who is famous in Heaven Dou City?"
Xue Qinghe nodded. "I indeed get along very well with him."
"Is teacher asking about Sword Wine because you intend to recruit him into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?"
A perfectly appropriate smile played on his lips.
"It's just that this person has an unruly nature; I'm afraid he wouldn't be willing to join any faction."
Ning Fengzhi glanced at Xue Qinghe.
Why did he feel… that there was a hint of sarcasm in his disciple's words?
Had Li Dixian told Xue Qinghe about his past with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?
Were their relations that good?
Ning Fengzhi's thoughts flickered, and he calmly said, "Sword Wine and I… have some old ties."
"Coming to the Imperial City this time, I also wanted to meet him."
Xue Qinghe's smile remained. "Then why don't I lead the way for teacher?"
"Your Highness is busy with state affairs; there's no need to trouble you."
"Sword Wine's residence is secluded, so it would be more appropriate for me to lead the way."
In the eastern suburbs of the Imperial City, far from the hustle and bustle, Xue Qinghe, accompanied by guards, and Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin stopped in front of a courtyard.
The courtyard wall was not high, and a gnarled plum tree with sparse branches extended over the wall, making the small courtyard appear uniquely refined and elegant.
Ning Fengzhi looked up, his gaze sweeping over the gracefully perched plum blossom, and he nodded in praise, "Quiet in the midst of noise, with an inherent elegance; it's a good place."
Upon hearing this, Xue Qinghe's smile deepened, and her tone was light. "Yes, compared to the strict atmosphere of large sects' deep courtyards, this place feels more free and at ease."
Ning Fengzhi: "…"
The five of them stood before the courtyard gate.
Xue Qinghe was about to step forward to knock.
But Ning Fengzhi had already taken a step forward, his robe sleeve lightly brushing, and he softly said, "It is I who am visiting uninvited, disturbing someone's cultivation."
"Let me handle the courtesy."
Dong —
Dong —
Dong —
The knocking sound was clear in the quiet countryside.
Creak —
The door opened in response.
The daylight outside poured in, outlining a tall figure in a simple white shirt behind the door.
Ning Fengzhi's gaze fell with complex emotions on the young man's still handsome face, which seemed to be separated by a thousand mountains and rivers.
In a momentary daze, he almost didn't recognize the old acquaintance.
His throat moved slightly, and after three silent breaths, he finally uttered the long-unspoken name.
"Dixian… long time no see."
Inside the door, Li Dixian, in a freshly tailored, spotless white shirt, wore a perfectly appropriate, faint smile.
He stepped aside, opening the passage, and said with a smile, "School Master Ning, Senior Chen Xin, and… His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, please come in."
Ever since the name Sword Wine resounded throughout Heaven Dou City, Ning Fengzhi had rehearsed countless reunion scenarios in his mind.
He had imagined the young man would be angry, mocking, triumphant, or even accuse them of being "blind" at the time.
Yet he had almost never imagined… it would be this calm and collected.
The young man in white before him walked with a composed stride.
As if all the past events were merely a wisp of breeze brushing past plum branches.
Looking at Li Dixian like this, Ning Fengzhi suddenly recalled Gu Rong's question to him, "Do you regret it?"
At that time, his heart had only rippled slightly.
But now, the slightly rippling heart seemed to be on the verge of surging.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin had no time for such thoughts.
His gaze was fixed on Li Dixian, particularly noticing the lingering breeze around the young man.
A sharp gleam suddenly flashed in his placid eyes.
The month-long period had arrived.
If not for the inappropriate setting, he would certainly want to see how many more steps Li Dixian had taken on the path of the sword.
Xue Qinghe was the last one.
Her taut heartstring finally relaxed the moment she saw Li Dixian's expression.
Although Li Dixian had told her that he would face Ning Fengzhi calmly, it was only upon seeing this unimaginable composure with her own eyes that she truly felt relieved.
The plum tree stood tall like a canopy, casting dappled, clear shade.
Beneath the tree was an ancient sandalwood table and four round stools.
Li Dixian led Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin to the seats of honor for guests.
As for Xue Qinghe… he gave her a knowing glance, indicating she should make herself comfortable.
The four sat down.
Li Dixian poured clear tea for Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin.
He casually asked, as if making small talk, "Why didn't Senior Gu Rong come along?"
Ning Fengzhi, who had been looking up at the plum blossoms, retracted his gaze and smiled, "Your Uncle Gu needs to preside over the sect, so he didn't join us this time."
That long-unspoken "Uncle Gu" made Li Dixian's hand, holding the teapot, almost imperceptibly pause for half a breath, causing tiny ripples in the tea in the cup.
Then it steadied again, as if that momentary ripple had never occurred.
The tea was poured full.
Li Dixian put down the teapot.
His gaze fell on Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin.
In the depths of his eyes, an uncontrollable complex emotion finally surged.
These two before him were once the towering mountains he looked up to.
Ning Fengzhi's strategic planning and Chen Xin's aloof, unparalleled swordsmanship were both realms he once yearned for.
However, times had changed.
His, Li Dixian's, path had long deviated from the trajectory of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
All the past events were like watching a fire from across the bank, leaving only a sigh of regret in his heart, a feeling that things were the same but people had changed.
"Dixian still remembers I like this."
Ning Fengzhi's gaze fell on the Go board already set on the table.
He lightly flicked his robe sleeve.
The Go board unfolded between the two of them.
"Dixian, it's been a long time since we played; how about a game?"
"Alright."
Li Dixian smiled and agreed.
Black and white intertwined, pieces falling silently.
The game was intricate, showing no signs of aggression, rather like old friends reminiscing, flowing silently across the small board.
Ning Fengzhi watched the game, a relieved smile gradually appearing on his face.
"Dixian, I truly didn't misjudge you…"
As his words fell, the previously relaxed atmosphere instantly solidified.
Because… Ning Fengzhi had also said the opposite of this sentence to Li Dixian before.
The white jade chess piece Li Dixian held between his fingertips hung suspended in mid-air, not falling this time.
A long silence ensued, pressing down so heavily that even the plum branches seemed to droop a few degrees.
Xue Qinghe glanced at Li Dixian, then quietly reached her right hand behind her and tugged on Li Dixian's sleeve, indicating her comfort.
After a few moments of silence, Ning Fengzhi's voice carried an indescribable bitterness.
"Dixian…"
"Are you willing to return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?"
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Bowing~~~