While Zi Ye was overwhelmed by grief staring at the lifeless body of the girl she loved, he felt a hand pats gently on his shoulder. He looked up and saw that it was the grandfather of the girl. The old man is trying to comfort him. When he looked around, all Zhichen disciples inside the funeral hall were no longer there. The old man had probably given him some privacy.
"Child, La'er would not want you to cry in front of her." the old man said solemnly.
"Yes, you are right senior!" Zi Ye said and he awkwardly wiped the tears in his face. The old man then, guided him on a chair and let him sat silently.
"It was my fault for being too lenient on my granddaughter. I did not discipline her well. She becomes reckless." Zi Ye heard the old man's regretful tone. He had naturally placed the blamed himself for the death of the girl.
"Senior, La'er looked like she was tortured before she died. I want to avenge her death!" the young man declared with full of seriousness. When their gaze meets, the young man saw the unwillingness in the old man's eyes.
"No child! La'er did not die because someone attacked her. She died because of her temperament." the old man stated in a serious tone while looking at him. He released a deep sigh, before looking back at his granddaughter.
"Senior, you are the unrivalled master of Zhichen Sect. You have countless of disciples that will follow your order. La'er is very proud to be your granddaughter. Now that she is dead, why are you not willing to avenge her?" Zi Ye asked the old man quietly. He was hoping to convince him to take action on his granddaughter's death and he refuse to believe that the grandfather of his beloved will not do anything about her death.
"La'er had deliberately applied our clan's absorption method to someone and had acquired a cursed. There is no need to avenge. It may be painful to say this but her death was not caused by anyone but herself." the old man responded silently.
"Who is the person, Senior? My father will definitely support me. Even if you do not have any desire of avenging La'er, I cannot just stand here and watch her lifeless body without doing anything!" Zi Ye asked in desperation while looking intently at the old man.
The girl's grandfather stared at him for a while before responding to his desperate tone.
"That person has unparalleled strength. Even I - the unrivalled master of Zhichen Sect is no match of her. I know you are angry. It's normal to be upset but do not be reckless. Learn from my granddaughter's tragic death." the old man said and then turned his back from the coffin. He then slowly walks out of the funeral hall, leaving the young man alone.
The old man refused to tell the identity of White Death to Zi Ye but during the burial of La'er, he had known the person behind her death. The disciple accompanying La'er who was successfully saved from the curse had told Zi Ye everything about the lady who humiliated then in the Hong Empire. When he learned that La'er was ordered by someone to kneel in her stay at the small empire, his anger grows rapidly!
As days passed by, Zi Ye accompanied by ten strong sword masters from Zikun Sect ventured towards the Region S. They are heading directly to the Empire of Hong. The flying skills of these figures were at top speed that they reached their destination within half of the day!
As they set foot on the capital of Hong Empire, there was a little to none reaction from the citizens as they saw group of men wearing a purple garments carrying different types of sword in their back. Some children along the street glanced at them but did not really stared too long. This empire had always been full of diversity that it is not surprising for the people living there to see new faces every day.
Zi Ye approached an ordinary stranger walking on the road and asked him the direction of an information branched where he could buy information. Too his surprise, the stranger told him that he can gather information for him as long as he pays a decent amount of money! Zi Ye handed the man the bag with 100 silver coins.
"This is not enough, find someone else to gather information for you." the strangers said after inspecting thoroughly the amount in the bag. He then returned the bag and walked away.
"This... !" Zi Ye and his companion were left speechless while looking at the retreating figure of the ordinary stranger.
"Young Master, there was a rumor that this kingdom is the most expensive empire in the whole region. Now, I have finally witnessed that the people here indeed are not easy to sway with money." one of the ten sword masters told him while looking at the other group of men walking with an abnormal speed on the opposite side of the road.
"Those men are sword cultivators!" another one commented.
"Let's try to ask them." Zi Ye stated and they soon reached to the six people's direction.
"Oh? This is the famous disciple of Zikun Sect. What are you doing in our region?" one of the six men asked when he noticed their uniforms. Zi Ye was slightly taken aback that the man recognized them.
"We are looking for someone, I wonder if you can give us information?" Zi Ye responded politely. Although they are not from the same sect, they have mutual respect among Sword Masters.
"Information is the most easy to get in this empire. Who is the person you are looking for?" the eldest of the six men inquired.
"We are looking for White Death." Zi Ye directly answered then handed them a paper with the portrait of Ye Shin.
Recognition slowly blooms on the faces of the six men upon seeing the portrait. Zi Ye saw them smiled gently while still staring at the paper.
"It's the sister that saved me! Are you visiting her? You can join us, we will go to the palace and meet sister there." the youngest of the six men innocently blurted out.
They were indeed the same Sword Masters that Ye Shin and Emperor He Mo once met in the Empire of Hu. These six men had assumed that the Zikun Sword Masters were looking for the lady to probably express gratitude. After all, they have witnessed how Ye Shin helped their youngest from being attacked by a snake once!
Zi Ye did not know about the relationship between the six Sword Masters and the person they are looking but since they offered them to join, he immediately grasps the opportunity and accepted it.
As they reached the palace entrance, the soldiers guarding the area were surprised to see the huge number of people. Although, seeing various kinds of people is not new to them, but it is rare to receive numerous people at once! If not for their decent purple uniforms, the guards would have chased them out.
"Bro, we have purchased an appointment yesterday. Here is the proof." the eldest of the six men said to the guards and give them his receipt.
"Are you going all in? This appointment is good for ten people only." the guard told them.
"Ahahaha well... The six of us will go. Then, four of these brothers will accompany." the eldest explained at the guard pointing at his companions then glanced at Zi Ye.
"My brothers will not be entering. It's just me." Zi Ye said once he learned that there was an appointment arranged for their visit.
"Then those who will enter the palace go on and register your names at the area. The others, you can go home! Do not block the pathway." the guard ordered and let them write their names on the paper.
"Young Master!" the rest of the Zikun Sword Masters called Zi Ye. They are all not willing to leave him.
"Find a pavilion to rent. Later, we will meet there. Don't worry, I will just visit." Zi Ye told them before he finally entered.
Since it is the palace of Hong Empire, Zi Ye had thought that it is not the best place to attack. He decided to just observe and know of his target.
A servant guided the Sword Masters toward a mansion. Not far away, they saw a small cottage near the lotus pond. Emperor He Mo and Emperor Hong Te are having a discussion inside the cottage. There are also two figures that are standing near the pond. They are seemingly enjoying on feeding the Koi fish in it.
"Sister!" the youngest of the six sword masters shouted and runs toward the direction where the two ladies are standing. Excitement is evident in his eyes. The servant guiding them frowned of the young man's action but his other companions just laugh behind.
The two ladies turn their heads to the new comer. The young guy was wearing a goofy smile as he speed up. Ye Shin and Princess Hong Mei stared at him as he tried to catch his breath.
Ye Shin then calmly looked at his companion and looked at their faces one by one. She solemnly nods at them but did not speak a word. Princess Hong Mei also glanced at them and when her eyes landed to Zi Ye, she stood frozen on the ground for a brief second. Then she looked away and focus to the fishes as if pretending to be busy feeding them.
Zi Ye also looked at the young lady standing beside Ye Shin. He was stiffened on the spot as a wave of familiarity hits him when their gazes meet. This girl bores a great resemblance of La'er! In fact Princess Hong Mei is the split image of his beloved!
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-GREAT WALL OF APPRECIATION-
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[BIG THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT! I want to let you know that I treasure and cherish each time you engage in my story.]
(♡˙︶˙♡)♪
__Power Stones__
*Goodluck_Ernest, *veronica_eurica, *Yssa_Bella, *disted, *DEMO_ON, *DaoistGh3dpc \\(^ ^)//
"And also to all our silent readers enjoy reading!" – Ye Shin
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