Eternal Saber

The crowd turned to look in the direction of the voice.

Out from the group stepped a striking young man, with sword-like eyebrows reaching his temples and a tall, straight posture. He carried a jar of wine in one hand and held two wine bowls in the other.

"Isn’t that the young master from the Changsun family?"

"What’s he doing out here?"

As the crowd murmured, Changsun Ming raised his voice: "I, Changsun Ming, have been a life-and-death friend of Prince Wei. Today, I wish to bid him farewell, share a bowl of wine with him, and hope Your Majesty will permit this."

Prince Wei, life-and-death friends, farewell...

These words spoken by Changsun Ming sparked an uproar among the crowd.

Yuan Qingmo had long been branded a traitor by the Court; there was no longer any Prince Wei.

At this moment, even those who had friendships with Yuan Qingmo wished to distance themselves, cutting ties with him.

Yet Changsun Ming dared to stand up in front of everyone, declaring he was a life-and-death friend of Yuan Qingmo and wished to bid him farewell.

"Is he courting death?"

"I’ve heard he and Prince Wei went through hardships together and had deep friendship. Coming forward now truly shows he’s a man..."

"After all, he’s the young master of the Changsun family; his lineage is well known."

"Even if he is from the Changsun family, so what? This time he’s offended His Majesty; Changsun family might be the next offering!"

The crowd whispered, and the civil and military officials secretly shook their heads.

The Little Emperor, what temperament does he have?

This matter will surely be held against him, and he won’t let Changsun Ming off!

Sure enough.

Yuan Taiping’s face gradually darkened.

Lu Li softly advised, "Your Majesty, he is General Murong’s true disciple, merely sharing a cup of wine, let it be."

Thinking of Murong Daoye, Yuan Taiping frowned, suppressing his anger, and said, "Truly courageous. Permission granted!"

Changsun Ming did not thank for the favor but carried his wine jar, walking step by step onto the execution platform.

Since Yuan Qingmo was imprisoned, they hadn’t seen each other for several months.

Looking at the haggard Yuan Qingmo, tortured and bruised, kneeling on the ground, Changsun Ming’s heart was filled with pity and anger, gritting his teeth.

"Brother."

Yuan Qingmo looked at Changsun Ming before him, lips trembling, with thousands of words in his heart but only these two words at his lips.

Changsun Ming glanced sharply at Taishi Qu beside him, cursing, "Get lost!"

Taishi Qu’s eyes narrowed, about to retaliate.

But in that moment, he considered Changsun Ming’s identity and the backing power, pretended to be indifferent, smiled, and stepped aside.

Changsun Ming knelt in front of Yuan Qingmo, placed the two bowls before them, broke open the mud seal, and filled them with wine.

Yuan Qingmo reached out his chain-bound hands, tremblingly raised the bowl, and smiled, "Good brother, drink this wine, then leave. I will die without regrets."

"Since we are life-and-death friends, blessings are to be shared, and hardships to be endured together."

Changsun Ming’s eyes burned intensely as he spoke loudly.

Taishi Qu snorted coldly, loudly questioned, "Lord Changsun, you wish to endure hardships with this traitor, are you planning rebellion?"

At this moment, a voice suddenly emerged from among the crowd, "In Pingzhou, I heard of the Daqian Ink Qilin’s name, and today am pleased to see. Can little sister Mei Yingxue have a cup of wine?"

The crowd turned towards the voice to see a group of people emerging, led by a beautiful woman in red, snowy-skinned.

"Who is Mei Yingxue?"

"Never heard of her; which family’s young miss is she from?"

"Are you the leader of One Plum?"

The Vermilion Bird Lord seemed to recall something and suddenly asked from the city wall.

Mei Yingxue chuckled lightly, "Seems little sister is famous enough to be known in the Capital City."

"What is One Plum?"

Yuan Taiping, uninvolved in governance, was still confused.

The Vermilion Bird Lord briefly explained.

Yuan Taiping understood, sneered, "Those bandits from the Three Thousand Snow Ridges, good, capture them all!"

"Prince Wei, the Li family of Liangzhou owes you a favor, today we’ve come to bid you farewell!"

At this point, another group entered, led by Li Zhongmou and Li Shuhu brothers.

The crowd filled their bowls with strong wine, raising them to salute Yuan Qingmo from afar.

"Li family of Liangzhou?"

The civil and military officials glanced at each other, secretly frowning.

Months ago, the battle in Liangzhou shocked the world.

No one expected the Barbarian Army to press on, and Liangzhou held on without Daqian’s support, defeating the Barbarian Army.

And the fact Yuan Qingmo was sentenced to execution was indeed related to this.

"You all..."

Yuan Qingmo looked at the crowd below, face full of sadness, wanting to say more but stopped.

In Daqian Capital, the waters are deep as the sea.

Even if these people infiltrated the capital, nothing could be accomplished.

Risking their lives to bid him farewell, offering a bowl of wine, why go through such trouble.

At this moment, another voice rang, clear and pleasant.

"Big Heigou, you all hide here drinking, why leave me out?"

Upon hearing the voice, Yuan Qingmo shook all over, quickly raised his head to look.

Not far away, above a restaurant, sat a woman in white clothing on the eaves, legs leisurely swinging, holding a wine jar, smiling as she looked at him.

"Qingcheng!"

Upon seeing her, Yuan Qingmo was overwhelmed with emotion.

"Who is she?"

Everyone exchanged glances.

"She seems to be the granddaughter of the Former Emperor Wu!"

"Ah!"

A Vermilion Bird Guard softly reminded.

"Arrest her!"

The Vermilion Bird Lord’s expression changed, ordering at once.

"Hold!"

Yuan Taiping said, "Is there anyone else who wants to drink with this traitor, step forward, let me see!"

"I want to drink with Prince Wei!"

"Me too!"

"Count me in!"

From among the crowd, people began to step forward one after another.

In the past years within the Capital, many had received favors and shelter from Prince Wei, and now inspired, stood up.

"And me!"

Before the words ended, a tall man in black robe floated over from afar, arriving before Vermilion Bird Sect, standing in mid-air, holding a wine jar, and looking at Yuan Taiping on the city wall, quietly speaking, "Taiping, do you recognize me?"

"Ah!"

Seeing the person, Yuan Taiping was first taken aback, then his complexion dramatically changed, exclaiming in shock, almost falling off his seat.

"Who?"

"It’s Chen Tang!"

"Which Chen Tang?"

"Lion-Tiger Arhat, Demon Blade Chen Tang!"

In Daqian Capital, there were many who recognized Chen Tang, and his sudden appearance stirred a sensation!

Watching Chen Tang stand without support in mid-air, the Black Tortoise Lord and Wei Yu, along with other marshals, turned solemn, secretly shocked.

"Chen Tang, you... you all are here..."

Yuan Qingmo, overwhelmed with emotion, murmured to himself.

Yuan Qingmu looked at the familiar figure, tears streaming down.

He’s back!

Three years later, Chen Tang re-entered Daqian Capital, in dramatically different circumstances!

"Greetings, Demon Monarch!"

Upon seeing Chen Tang, the Xiling Delegation straightened up, bowing deeply in respect.

Though he was the last to join the Demon Sect, in Xiling, he was known far and wide.

The battle in Liangzhou, the battle with Black Water Country, further solidified Chen Tang’s standing in the Demon Sect and the Xiling, second only to the Demon Venerable!

This scene, how astonishing.

These delegates never bowed before Emperor of Daqian.

This title ’Demon Monarch’, shocked the civil and military officials in Daqian Capital.

Yuan Taiping felt his scalp tingle, a chill running down his spine.

In his father’s time, Chen Tang served as Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor, Yuan Taiping harbored certain fear of him.

Unexpectedly, the Demon Monarch of Xiling was indeed Chen Tang!

Earlier, he had boasted about witnessing personally.

The marshals gasped in astonishment, rising, reaching for their weapons.

"Chen Tang, what are you planning!"

The Black Tortoise Lord shouted, taking down the Black Tortoise Shield from his back, holding it out front.

Chen Tang ignored him, raised his wine cup, loudly proclaimed, "To Prince Wei!"

"To Prince Wei!"

The crowd simultaneously raised their cups, drinking in one go.

Chen Tang finished his strong wine, smashed the bowl onto the ground, and roared, "Make your move!"

The crowd smashed their cups, shouted, and rushed towards the execution platform.