The people of the Yue Kingdom were martial-minded, yet they were "brave in public battles but timid in private conflicts." Therefore, within the capital city of Yuejing, the public security had always been excellent, and there was no need for a night curfew.
As the two carriages of the Yan family emerged from the imperial palace, the streets were still bustling with pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages.
On the way back, Tang Jian did not ride in the same carriage with Xiao Dingdang and the others. Instead, he was invited by Yan Zi to join her and Chen Guang in their carriage.
As soon as Tang Jian entered the carriage, Yan Zi deeply bowed to him and respectfully said, "Today's predicament was largely resolved thanks to you, Mr. Tang..."
"Miss, you needn't be so polite. If it weren't for your rescue with the Morning Dew Pill that day, I would have lost my life in the desert long ago, let alone have the opportunity to repay you today." Tang Jian slightly turned his body to avoid the bow and smiled as he spoke.
"I only saved you alone that day, but today you saved my entire Yan family. Such a great kindness, I cannot repay it..." Yan Zi said gratefully.
"Let's not be so ceremonious with each other... By the way, Master Chen, are your injuries serious?" Tang Jian looked at Chen Guang, who was leaning against the carriage wall, and asked.
"It's not serious. I can still endure it. But I'll probably need to rest for a while," Chen Guang said, coughing lightly.
After speaking, he unexpectedly also straightened his clothes and bowed to Tang Jian.
"Master Chen, what are you doing?" Tang Jian quickly raised his hand to support him and exclaimed.
Yan Zi's expression also slightly changed, filled with surprise.
"Miss, you probably don't know. This Mr. Tang is actually a high-level sword forger. That Red Eyebrow Sword was actually forged by him," Chen Guang looked at Yan Zi and said slowly.
"You mean..."
Yan Zi's gaze shifted to Tang Jian again, and her thoughts turned and turned. She didn't know what she was feeling at this moment.
The Tang Jian before her was like a mysterious box with layers. Each layer she opened brought her another surprise.
Although she wanted to ask about Tang Jian's background, past experiences, and even the great enemy he had mentioned before, as soon as these thoughts arose, she stopped herself from asking such taboo questions.
Tang Jian thought that Yan Zi would surely ask, and he had already prepared some explanations. However, in the end, he didn't get to say them.
"By the way... Mr. Tang, why did you ask me to accept that short sword from Sun Yang earlier?" Yan Zi suddenly remembered something and asked.
"To tell the truth, this sword was forged by me using the broken sword embryo of Master Chen Guang. I was in urgent need of money at that time, so I accidentally sold it to the Sun family. Today, when I saw him insisting on giving it to you, I found it interesting and asked you to accept it," Tang Jian said with a smile on his face.
Upon hearing this, Yan Zi was slightly surprised at first. After a moment of consideration, she felt that she had gotten something for nothing and couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle lightly.
Seeing her like this, Tang Jian's eyes flickered slightly, and a hint of gloom appeared in his heart.
When they arrived at the Yan Sword Shop, Tang Jian helped Chen Guang get out of the carriage, said goodbye to Yan Zi, and walked back to the sword shop with Yao Bin.
Yan Zi and Xiao Dingdang, on the other hand, rode in the carriage through the night, heading towards the direction of their mansion.
When they returned to the entrance of the Yan mansion, the carriage slowly stopped.
Yan Zi lifted the curtain, leaning halfway out. Xiao Dingdang, who had already come to the side of the carriage, immediately offered a hand, waiting to help her get off.
"Xiao Dingdang, I need to go back to the sword shop. You go back and rest first," Yan Zi's movement paused slightly as she stood in place and said to Xiao Dingdang.
"Miss, let me go with you," Xiao Dingdang immediately said.
"No, you go rest. I'll go alone," Yan Zi quickly replied upon hearing this.
After speaking, she called the carriage driver, let down the curtain, and sat back in the carriage.
Xiao Dingdang watched the departing carriage, scratched his head, and felt that Miss Yan's behavior was somewhat strange. However, he didn't think too much about it and went back to the mansion on his own.
...
As the carriage approached the entrance of the swordsmith's shop, Yan Zi suddenly felt a slight warmth on her cheeks and grew tense.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she lifted the curtain, ready to disembark, when she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure turning the corner ahead on the street, vanishing in an instant.
Illuminated by the light from the shops along the road, Yan Zi saw the person wearing a cyan robe, a gray bundle on their back, and a long sword hanging from their waist.
Though it was only a fleeting moment, she immediately recognized the figure as Tang Jian.
"You stay here..."
Yan Zi's brows furrowed slightly as she jumped off the carriage. After instructing the carriage driver, she hurried after the figure.
But when she turned the corner, the wide alley before her was empty, devoid of any sign of life.
"Yongan Gate, are you leaving?" Yan Zi raised her head, gazing in the direction the alley led, murmuring to herself.
...
Yongan Gate was the western gate of Yuejing City, and the only one among the four gates that remained open at night.
At that moment, within a dense forest outside the city, a broad path wound its way through, and Tang Jian, carrying his bundle, walked alone in the night.
His pace was not fast but steady, maintaining a consistent rhythm as he walked slowly.
When he reached a tall, straight pine tree, his steps faltered slightly. He turned around and looked back in the direction he had come, spotting a figure in a snowy white robe rushing towards him.
He hesitated for a moment but didn't continue on his journey, instead stopping where he was, waiting for the person to catch up.
After a short while, Yan Zi, dressed in her snowy white robe, finally caught up, slightly out of breath, and asked, "Why did you leave without saying goodbye?"
"The sword forging challenge today will soon spread throughout Yuejing. My name will likely be known as well. When that happens, my enemies in the State of Jin will surely not rest. I don't want to implicate your Yan family," Tang Jian replied without hesitation.
"This is Yuejing, not somewhere else. Even if your enemies are the royal family of Jin, they won't be able to act with impunity here," Yan Zi said.
"I understand what you're saying, but if they make a move at the swordsmith's shop or the Yan mansion, you and the Yan family will inevitably be affected. That's something I don't want to see," Tang Jian shook his head and said.
Upon hearing this, Yan Zi's expression softened, and ripples stirred in her heart.
"You saved our Yan family today, and I shouldn't be asking for more, but I, I... I still have one request," Yan Zi took a deep breath and looked at Tang Jian as she spoke.