In the dark of night, the young man drove the carriage at full speed. In the seat beside him, the young girl tightly held onto his arm, her head resting on his shoulder, her eyes closed, clearly already asleep.
From time to time, the young man glanced at the girl beside him, his eyes full of affection.
"You dote on your sister a lot!"
At that moment, a mysterious woman's voice suddenly echoed in Ye Xuan's mind.
Hearing the voice, Ye Xuan was slightly stunned, then smiled, "I'm her brother. If I don't dote on her, who will?"
The mysterious woman said, "You're a good brother."
Ye Xuan smiled and then said, "Senior, I've heard that there are Sword Immortals who can split mountains and sever rivers with a single strike. Is that true?"
The mysterious woman said, "It's true!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Xuan couldn't help but feel a sense of longing.
Sword Immortal!
Soaring through the heavens and earth on a sword, seeing all the mountains and rivers—that's something Ye Xuan also yearned for.
At this moment, the mysterious woman said, "If you put in the effort, you also have a chance to become a Sword Immortal!"
Ye Xuan grinned, "I will. When I can ride a sword, I'll take my sister to see the entire world."
The mysterious woman said, "Look at you, so ambitious!"
Ye Xuan laughed aloud and sped up.
An hour later, a faint light began to appear on the horizon. The sky brightened, but it started to rain!
Ye Xuan looked up, the rain growing heavier, making it unsuitable to continue traveling!
Ye Xuan sped up. Soon, he spotted an estate halfway up a distant mountain. From where he was, the estate appeared somewhat dilapidated, and a little desolate.
Seeing the estate, Ye Xuan frowned. How could there be an estate deep in the mountains?
He originally didn't want to stop, but the rain grew heavier, accompanied by a fierce wind, making it really unsuitable to travel!
Ye Xuan hesitated for a moment, then took out the map given to him by Li Yu. On the map, he found their current location, and it wasn't marked as a dangerous area!
Feeling reassured, Ye Xuan drove the carriage to a stop in front of the estate. The gate of the estate was wide open.
Ye Xuan scrutinized the estate before him. Up close, it was clear the estate had been abandoned for a long time, with weeds growing all around the walls.
Seeing that the rain showed no signs of stopping, Ye Xuan carried Ye Ling into the abandoned estate. The siblings entered a large hall. In the hall, there were two people: an old man in a gray robe and a youth about seventeen or eighteen years old. The two were sitting close together, obviously traveling companions.
Upon seeing Ye Xuan and his sister, the old man gave them a glance and then looked away, while the youth smiled and nodded as a greeting.
Ye Xuan nodded slightly and then led his sister to sit to the side.
Ye Xuan started a fire on his own, then took out two chickens to roast.
Seeing this, the youth's eyes suddenly lit up, and he hurried over to Ye Xuan, "My name is Jiang Muqi, and how should I address you, brother?"
Ye Xuan glanced at the youth, "Ye Xuan."
Jiang Muqi chuckled, "Meeting by chance is fate, don't you think?"
Ye Xuan gestured at the chicken roasting over the fire, "Want some?"
Jiang Muqi was stunned for a moment, then nodded eagerly.
Ye Xuan handed one of the chickens to the youth, "It's yours."
Jiang Muqi didn't refuse and took it to roast on his own.
Jiang Muqi looked at Ye Xuan and chuckled, "Brother, although you are only in the Qi Transformation Realm, your foundation is quite strong, not far behind mine!"
Hearing this, Ye Xuan's hands paused slightly but soon resumed, "You are unfathomable!"
That was the impression this youth gave him!
Actually, what Ye Xuan didn't know was that he gave the youth the same impression!
The youth raised an eyebrow, "Shall we spar?"
Seeming to remember something, he added, "Just a light match."
At this moment, the old man not far away suddenly spoke, "Don't bully others!"
Upon hearing the old man's words, Ye Ling, who was beside Ye Xuan, became a bit displeased. She looked at the old man and said, "Old grandpa, my brother is very strong. Maybe it's my brother who will bully him!"
The old man glanced at Ye Ling, "Oh, really?"
Ye Ling looked at Ye Xuan, who smiled faintly, "Shall we spar then?"
Ye Xuan and Jiang Muqi moved to the side, and Jiang Muqi smiled slightly, "Shall we begin?"
Ye Xuan nodded.
The moment Ye Xuan nodded, Jiang Muqi disappeared from his original spot. In the next instant, a fist slammed into Ye Xuan's chest, but Ye Xuan's fist also struck Jiang Muqi's chest!
Boom boom!
The two flew backward simultaneously. After retreating about a dozen steps, they stopped almost at the same time!
Opposite Ye Xuan, Jiang Muqi examined him, surprised, "Your physical strength is even greater than I expected!"
Ye Xuan said, "Yours is as well."
That punch had felt like hitting an iron plate!
Jiang Muqi smiled, "Our Jiang Nation is truly full of talents. Since leaving the palace, I've encountered..."
"Ahem!"
At this moment, the old man not far away suddenly cleared his throat.
Jiang Muqi looked at the old man helplessly, "Elder Ge, traveling outside, if we have to watch our every word, what's the point?"
The old man shook his head, "Outside, people are unpredictable."
Jiang Muqi smiled, "No problem, this brother here seems like a straightforward person, not the type to harbor ill intent."
With that, he turned to Ye Xuan, cupped his hands, and said, "Brother Ye, I am Jiang Muqi, the tenth prince of Jiang Nation!"
Prince!
Ye Xuan was a bit surprised. He hadn't expected to meet a prince of Jiang Nation here!
Collecting his thoughts, Ye Xuan cupped his hands, "Ye Xuan, just a nobody."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Muqi laughed aloud, "Brother Ye, with your strength, it's only a matter of time before you make a name for yourself!"
Ye Xuan shook his head, saying nothing. He never cared about fame; it could get you killed most of the time!
At this moment, the rain had lessened.
The old man stood up, "Your Highness, it's time to leave."
Jiang Muqi nodded slightly, took the chicken that had turned golden brown, and then looked at Ye Xuan, "Brother Ye, I still have places to go. Farewell!"
Saying that, as if remembering something, he took out a token and handed it to Ye Xuan, "Brother Ye, this is my personal token. It might be of some use in the imperial capital. Don't refuse, otherwise, I won't dare eat your chicken!"
Ye Xuan looked at Jiang Muqi, then accepted the token.
Seeing Ye Xuan accept the token, Jiang Muqi chuckled, "See you around!"
After saying that, he and the old man turned and disappeared through the hall's doorway.
Ye Xuan watched their departing figures, lost in thought for a long time.
Outside the estate, the old man spoke in a low voice, "Your Highness wants to recruit him?"
Jiang Muqi smiled, "He's a sword cultivator, but earlier, without even drawing his sword, he could tie with me. If he had drawn his sword, I'm not sure I'd have beaten him!"
With that, he glanced back at the dilapidated estate, "No wonder An Guoshi values him—it was worth traveling all this way."
The old man hesitated, then said, "Although this man has a solid foundation and impressive combat skills, he is ultimately a lone wanderer, with no family or sect backing him. His future is limited, and without a family or background, his help to Your Highness would be minimal. This may be why the Crown Prince and Ninth Princess did not send anyone to Qingcheng."
Jiang Muqi smiled faintly, "My elder brother's mother is from the Yu family, the second most powerful family in Jiang Nation—even Father has to respect them. My ninth sister is the commander of the three armies, controlling nearly half of Jiang Nation's military forces. They naturally look down on ordinary geniuses."
The old man said, "Yet Your Highness came all the way here?"
Jiang Muqi said softly, "Compared to them, I have no advantage. They can afford to be proud, but I cannot. Maybe this goodwill today will earn me a powerful ally in the future."
The old man shook his head. Sword cultivators were indeed rare, but unless he became a swordmaster, it wouldn't mean much. Becoming a swordmaster was extremely difficult.
Jiang Nation only had one!
And that man was already ninety years old!
Jiang Nation had not seen a new swordmaster in nearly fifty years!
...
In the hall.
"Brother, was that person really a prince?" Ye Ling asked curiously.
Ye Xuan nodded, "It seems so."
Ye Ling said softly, "It seemed like he was waiting here just for you!"
Ye Xuan looked at Ye Ling and smiled, "In noble families, people must form alliances and build their power. It's even more so in the royal family."
With that, he gently ruffled Ye Ling's hair, "Right now, all I want is to cure your illness. I have no interest in power struggles."
Ye Ling hugged Ye Xuan lightly, "Brother, will I be able to cultivate someday?"
Ye Xuan smiled, "Of course you will. And if you can't, it doesn't matter—I'll work hard to get stronger and protect you for the rest of my life!"
Ye Ling smiled sweetly and hugged Ye Xuan tightly, "Although I want Brother to protect me, I want even more to protect Brother."
Just as Ye Xuan was about to speak, a voice interrupted, "What a heartwarming sibling bond!"
As the voice faded, an old man walked into the hall!
The newcomer was Qin Family Elder Qin Yue.
Seeing him, Ye Xuan's right hand slowly clenched. He looked at Ye Ling, "Step aside!"
Ye Ling looked at the old man, then softly said, "Brother, be careful!"
After saying that, she obediently moved to the side.
Qin Yue scrutinized Ye Xuan, "Hand over the spirit stones, and I'll spare you both."
Ye Xuan's fists clenched tightly, his face ashen, but he said nothing.
Qin Yue sneered, "What, you want to fight? You're merely in the Qi Transformation Realm, while I am at the Skysoar Realm! Killing you would take less than one move!"
Though he spoke with confidence, he remained cautious.
Living this long, he naturally wasn't foolish—he wouldn't underestimate his opponent.
Ye Xuan spoke after a moment, "If I hand over the items, will you spare me and my sister?"
Qin Yue's eyes narrowed, "Bargaining with me?"
As he spoke, his right hand slowly clenched, and in an instant, his clothing swelled, his entire being resembling a lion ready to strike.
Ye Xuan was silent for a moment, then took out a black bag and tossed it to Qin Yue. Seeing the bag, Qin Yue was overjoyed and quickly caught it. At that moment, Ye Xuan suddenly appeared before him!
Qin Yue's expression remained unchanged, and he sneered, "I knew you'd try something!"
With that, he raised his right hand and slammed it downward.
Whoosh!
A blast echoed through the hall.
Bang!
Ye Xuan had barely thrown a punch before being knocked back, crashing into the wall several meters away.
After knocking Ye Xuan back with a single blow, the old man did not relent. He advanced toward Ye Xuan, and in the distance, Ye Ling's face turned pale, "Brother!"
She rushed to Ye Xuan and hugged him tightly.
The old man's palm did not stop but aimed straight for the siblings—specifically at Ye Ling!
Seeing this, Ye Xuan's eyes were filled with rage, and in that moment, his mind went blank.
The old man's palm drew closer and closer.
Suddenly, Ye Xuan yanked Ye Ling behind him, and the next moment, the Ling Xiao Sword appeared in his hand. A low, deep sword hum resonated through the hall.
With this one sword, he had only one thought!
To kill!
He had to kill!
One sword to decide life and death!
Meanwhile, the mysterious woman's voice suddenly echoed inside the Prison Tower, "This guy...only when his sister is threatened does he have a strong desire to kill..."