Ye Jingtang sat by the tea table and tapped his fingers on the chair while waiting for Shang Jianli to return.
After he waited for a while, footsteps sounded outside the door, and a figure appeared at the door.
The figure was tall and slender, and her makeup was as gorgeous as the last time he saw her. Even without looking at her face, the 'fat-headed dragon' that was about to emerge was recognizable at a glance.
"Your Highness?!" Ye Jingtang stood up with a happy expression to welcome her, but his expression immediately stiffened. From the corner of his eye, he looked at the red sandalwood box in front of him…
(0_0)!
Ye Jingtang wanted to hide the Mr. Horn quickly, but this action was no different from burying his head in the sand. He could only brace himself and act natural.
Dongfang Liren raised her hand slightly to dismiss her entourage and entered the tea room alone. "Young Master Ye, you are so fast. It is really beyond my expectations."
"It's nothing…" Ye Jingtang's eyes were full of embarrassment as he used his body to cover the red sandalwood box.
Dongfang Liren walked to Ye Jingtang's side and sat down. Although she knew what was in the red sandalwood box, she still pretended to be surprised and asked curiously, "What is this? A meeting gift for me? Young Master Ye, you are really considerate…"
While speaking, she reached for the red sandalwood box.
But a rebellious hand pressed down on the box.
Snap!
Ye Jingtang pressed down on the box with one hand, his expression indescribable. He tried his best to explain calmly, "Your Highness, you've misunderstood. I borrowed this item from Commander Wang to capture the thief. Um… It's not very clean…"
You know it's unclean? Dongfang Liren thought, but her expression was rather serious. "I am in charge of the Black Office. What kind of dirty things haven't I seen? I'm curious. What kind of magical item did you rely on to capture the Wingless Owl…"
While speaking, she reached out with both hands.
What the… Ye Jingtang couldn't fight with the Prince of Jing, so he could only explain in advance, "It was Commander Wang who came up with the idea for me. Inside…"
Clatter!
The wooden box was opened, revealing the Mr. Horn's true appearance.
Even though Dongfang Liren was mentally prepared, her dignified expression froze when she saw the lifelike, thick, and long stick. A faint blush appeared on her face.
Click!
Dongfang Liren quickly closed the box. Not angry but arrogant, she looked at Ye Jingtang with a look that said: I didn't expect you to be such a person!
Ye Jingtang's scalp went numb. He felt that the image he had painstakingly built up was completely destroyed. He took out a small booklet from his sleeve and changed the topic. "This is what I found on Wingless Owl when I caught him yesterday. It should be the 'lightness skill insights' in the rumors in Jianghu. I came here today to present it to Your Highness."
Dongfang Liren was originally putting on an act to tease Ye Jingtang. Hearing this, she was slightly stunned. "Although the Dragon Pool Tourmaline is precious, it's still an ordinary item. It's understandable that you hand it over. This item is a most precious treasure in Jianghu. Why are you giving it to me so readily?"
"I made a copy last night. I only hope that Your Highness doesn't inform the Cutting Cloud Palace about this."
Dongfang Liren understood and didn't take the booklet. "I like your personality. You are honest enough. However, this item is indeed hard to find in Jianghu, but I have no use for it. If I really want to learn Lu Jieyun's lightness skills, I can send a letter to the Prince of Yan to get Lu Jieyun to come to the capital to teach personally. You can take this item with confidence."
Ye Jingtang generously gave the Prince of Jing the lightness skill insights because first, he didn't want the Black Office to have any ideas, and second, he was worried that the Cutting Cloud Palace would come knocking on his door for 'stealing'.
With the Prince of Jing's words, Ye Jingtang was naturally relieved.
Dongfang Liren took out a jade pendant from her sleeve and put it on the tea table. "Take this too. Regarding capturing fugitives and bandits, the stolen goods that the Imperial Court haven't named will belong to the constables who arrest them. I won't intervene and ask about them. This is a rule of the Black Office."
Ye Jingtang took the jade pendant and saw that it was the Dragon Pool Tourmaline he had obtained last night. "This item is a family heirloom of the Water Cloud Sword Pool. Your Highness, giving it to me, isn't it a bit…"
"The Zhou family lost something, and they didn't report it to the government. They think that matters of Jianghu belong to Jianghu. How can I take the initiative to return it? If you don't dare to take it, you can return it to the Zhou family. If the reward is too little, I will help you seek justice."
Ye Jingtang understood the meaning and accepted the jade pendant with a smile. "Thank you for your reward, Your Highness. Shall I go see Qiu Tianhe now and talk about learning his saber technique?"
Dongfang Liren wanted to see how good Ye Jingtang's comprehension was, so she deliberated for a moment before saying, "Your talent in martial arts is extraordinary. Since you've obtained Lu Jieyun's lightness skill insights, go back and comprehend them well. When you gain something, I will spar with you and see how much you've learned from Lu Jieyun."
If Ye Jingtang wanted to enter the palace to dig for treasures, he would definitely need the Prince of Jing's help. Naturally, he wouldn't refuse such a favor. "Alright, I will visit Your Highness in three days. Let's compare our lightness skills…"
What? Dongfang Liren frowned slightly and looked at Ye Jingtang. "Three days?!"
Ye Jingtang realized the problem and corrected himself. "Three days might be too short. How about seven days?"
"…"
This was the first time in Dongfang Liren's life that she had heard that learning martial arts could be calculated by days!
Although Ye Jingtang seemed to have a solid foundation, Lu Jieyun's experience in lightness skills was a field that only Grandmasters could come into contact with. First, one had to have basic mastery of lightness skills. Then one had to comprehend the lightness skill insights and turn them into one's own. Seven years was already considered fast. What could he do in seven days?
Dongfang Liren fell silent for a moment before nodding. "Forget it. In three days, we will discuss your comprehension of lightness skills. It's beneficial for you to learn these insights. Go and meet Qiu Tianhe and discuss with him. See if he's willing to teach his saber technique in exchange for a chance to live a peaceful life."
Ye Jingtang got up to leave, but when he was about to take the red sandalwood box, he saw the Prince of Jing put her hand on it.
"Let others return it. You can go directly."
Ye Jingtang knew that Wang Chihu was the Prince of Jing's eldest cousin, so he naturally believed her without a doubt. After cupping his hands in salute, he left the tearoom on his own.
It was still raining outside.
Ye Jingtang followed Shang Jianli to the dungeon to meet Qiu Tianhe. But when he passed through the corridor and arrived near Jasper Pavilion, he suddenly felt that someone was looking at him.
Following his senses, he looked up at the top of Jasper Pavilion. He could see a woman in a home dress at the top who just turned around.
He thought that it was a maidservant from the estate secretly spying on his beauty, so he didn't take it to heart…
———
The dark dungeon was full of a ghostly aura, and the few dim oil lamps looked like will-o'-the-wisps from afar.
Ye Jingtang slowly walked through the tunnel with his saber hanging from his waist and arrived at the entrance of the hole on the second basement floor.
In the stone prison, Qiu Tianhe had disheveled hair and still maintained the same posture as before, sitting against the wall silently.
Clatter!
The chain on the iron fence was unlocked. Shang Jianli waited at the entrance of the hole, while Ye Jingtang jumped in.
Qiu Tianhe opened his eyes and saw the descendant of this old friend. He felt a sense of closeness in his heart, but his expression was quite calm. "Why are you here again? What do you want to ask this time?"
Ye Jingtang landed steadily on the ground. He removed the Hornless Dragon Saber from his waist and placed it horizontally on his knees. "Hero Qiu, I have been practicing the saber since I was a child and have always admired you. I'm here today to ask you to teach me your saber technique."
?
Qiu Tianhe raised his eyebrows slightly and sat up straight. He looked at Ye Jingtang as if he was considering Ye Jingtang's intentions.
Ye Jingtang didn't hide anything and said directly, "After I learn your saber technique, you will have the grace of giving me guidance, and I won't be able to sit back and watch you stay imprisoned. So I discussed the matter with the Prince of Jing. I will learn your saber technique and then pass it on to the Prince of Jing. In exchange, the Prince of Jing will release you from prison and allow you to retire in the capital."
"…"
Qiu Tianhe understood what he meant. He was saving him.
Regarding this hard-won opportunity, Qiu Tianhe shook his head and rejected it without thinking. "The Prince of Jing is really good at scheming. She's plotting against my saber technique and even using me as a threat to make you serve her in the future. I'd rather die in prison than let her have her way. Boy, give up on this idea."
"I am a good person, and I don't have a criminal record. It's a blessing to be recognized by the Imperial Court. It's better than licking blood at the edge of my saber in Jianghu. Hero Qiu, you don't have to worry about my future."
Qiu Tianhe naturally knew that it was a blessing to be recognized and placed in an important position by the Imperial Court. However, as long as he walked out of the dungeon, it would be equivalent to putting a rope around Ye Jingtang's neck for no reason. Ye Jingtang would have concerns about doing things in the future.
Ye Jingtang's talent was outstanding, and he was also the descendant of an old friend. In order to save this old man, he would let himself be controlled by others. How could Qiu Tianhe face his old friend in a hundred years?
"It's your business if you want to serve the Imperial Court. We're not on the same side, so I don't want to owe you a favor. If I really want to go out, I can teach the Prince of Jing my saber technique myself."
Ye Jingtang had a headache. After a moment of silence, he noticed that Shang Jianli was only listening from the outside but didn't lower his head to look inside. So he stroked the scabbard with his finger and wrote the words 'Zhe Yunli'.
At the same time, he said, "The Heaven Equaling Saber has a great reputation, but it has never been ranked at the top of saber techniques. Hero Qiu, you are famous in Jianghu and already the most outstanding successor of this saber technique, but there's still a gap between you and the Saber Chief. Instead of letting this saber technique be buried in the dungeon, why don't you let me try and see if I can raise the status of the Heaven Equaling Saber in Jianghu by half a level?"
These ostentatious words were meant for Shang Jianli to hear.
When Qiu Tianhe saw the name written by Ye Jingtang's finger, there was an obvious change in his expression. He had taught Zhe Yunli saber skills and knew her personality. She valued relationships and righteousness. He had been arrested for covering for her, so she would definitely think of ways to save him.
Although he didn't know how Ye Jingtang got in touch with Zhe Yunli, the fact that Ye Jingtang could write this name meant that he was in the same group as her.
Zhe Yunli was the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master's disciple, and the Pacifying Heaven Cult was a rebel who had formed an army.
Ye Jingtang was with a rebel, so he was naturally a rebel too!
Figuring this out, Qiu Tianhe suddenly 'understood' Ye Jingtang's intentions. Ye Jingtang was a rebel from the Pacifying Heaven Cult. He had secretly infiltrated the Black Office to be a 'spy' for the Pacifying Heaven Cult's grand plan to restore the country. He needed his saber technique to please the Prince of Jing and infiltrate the top echelons of Great Wei. Saving him out of prison was just a matter of convenience!
In that case, if he stubbornly refused to leave, not only would he not be able to help the younger generation, but he would even ruin the long-term plan of the Pacifying Heaven Cult and Ye Jingtang…
Thinking of this, Qiu Tianhe looked at the young Ye Jingtang in front of him and couldn't help sighing inwardly.
What a great hidden move!
At such a young age, he is going deep into the enemy's belly and secretly devising strategies to vie for supremacy in the future. This ambition, this boldness, this younger generation will really surpass me…