Many people probably don't remember who Hu Shuanzi is anymore. Even if Jiang Wang heard the name suddenly, he might not recall it either.
The sense of presence for most ordinary people in this world is just like that.
When old Hu Laogen was still around, people might have remembered this honest young man, Hu Shuanzi. But after Hu Laogen died, he became even more silent and unnoticed.
As the saying goes, "When one attains the Dao, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven." Old Hu Laogen, the former pavilion chief, had no children of his own. He pulled Hu Shuanzi, who was a distant relative, into the town hall to find him a job, which was considered looking out for him.
Actually, during this period, Hu Shuanzi had done a lot of things. Maintaining order, transporting supplies, promoting plague prevention strategies... In short, he did everything he could.
He even specifically sought martial arts instruction from those mine guards (now incorporated into the Green Goat Town Hall) from the old mine days, training hard every day without fail.
Although Jiang Wang had given Dugu Xiao the authority, truly winning it required her own efforts.
For any command from Dugu Xiao, Hu Shuanzi was the most resolute executor. Initially, it was under his lead that others slowly began to recognize Dugu Xiao's leadership.
But that was as far as it went. Even if he wanted to do more, his capabilities were limited.
When Dugu Xiao's mood changed, he was naturally the first to notice.
Intentionally or unintentionally, he hovered in front of Dugu Xiao several times before finally mustering the courage to ask, "Xiaoxiao is very happy today?"
Dugu Xiao looked up and smiled at him, "Yes, Brother Shuanzi."
And that was it. She didn't explain why she was happy, nor did she intend to share her joy with him.
She certainly knew Shuanzi's feelings, but what needed to be said had already been made clear long ago.
In a world where extraordinary powers run rampant, ordinary people have no future.
She used to think she was one of those people with no future.
So she risked her life to keep up with Jiang Wang, doing everything she could to demonstrate her value, all because of a lack of security, all due to the anxiety of not knowing whether she'd survive to see the next day.
She feared that if she fell even a little behind, she would be abandoned without hesitation, falling back into that gray world.
And now, having received Jiang Wang's promise, she had even begun to excessively look forward to the future.
In that potentially colorful world, there would naturally be no place for Hu Shuanzi.
She was willing to show a little more closeness to Hu Shuanzi simply out of appreciation for his feelings, using this attitude to make others respect Hu Shuanzi a bit more. In her view, this was an equivalent return.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Seeing that Dugu Xiao didn't intend to say more, Hu Shuanzi let out a couple of honest laughs, "Then I'll let you get back to work."
For him, that smile was enough.
Actually, Dugu Xiao rarely smiled. Most of the time she kept a cold face, which made her, who looked a bit youthful, appear more mature.
Others might not know, or might not care.
But he knew, and he cared.
Walking out of the town hall, crossing the courtyard, he passed by Xiang Qian, who was sunbathing on a lounge chair—his previous hard work seemed like the last rally of a dying man. After the plague was brought under control, he quickly returned to his old ways. If he could sit, he would never stand; if he could lie down, he would never sit.
"It's useless," Xiang Qian suddenly said as Hu Shuanzi passed by.
Hu Shuanzi didn't dare to be negligent. He stopped, turned around, and asked respectfully, "Lord Xiang, are you speaking to me?"
Xiang Qian didn't even lift his eyelids, but clearly there was no one else here. "Give it up. You two aren't in the same world. You can't reach her even on your tiptoes. It was like that before, and it will be even more so in the future."
Hu Shuanzi probably understood, but he didn't speak.
"The road is long and winding..." Xiang Qian sighed. "Shuanzi, why not just give up?"
"I don't know about any road being long or winding, or people being far or near, Lord Xiang," Shuanzi said with his characteristic earnestness. "I just want to look, that's all."
The daylight was truly beautiful, making the world seem bright and vibrant.
"Since you've made up your mind. Then work hard properly. I'm talking about real hard work, not the way you're buzzing around aimlessly like a headless fly."
Xiang Qian lay back, opening his eyes to look at the cloudless blue sky. He had a sudden illusion, as if the entire sky were about to collapse. "When you've truly worked hard, you'll understand... hard work is also useless."
"Yes, Lord Xiang."
Hu Shuanzi seemed to understand, but actually left in confusion.
Everyone sees the world differently.
Xiang Qian could leisurely sunbathe, but Hu Shuanzi only felt... it was really hot.
...
...
Hengyang Commandery was the foremost of the three commanderies of the Yang Kingdom, so the capital naturally fell within this commandery.
The capital of the Yang Kingdom was named "Zhaoheng"—its earliest name was "Tianxiong," and it was only changed to "Zhaoheng" after becoming a vassal state to the Qi Kingdom, which had already been many years ago.
At this moment, in the palace within Zhaoheng City, an ordinary-looking young man was sitting in a side hall waiting.
Not only was this person ordinary in appearance, but his temperament was also quite commonplace. Even dressed in luxurious clothing at this moment, he looked somewhat out of place. In short, he showed no signs of nobility.
If Jiang Wang were here, he would have recognized this person—it was none other than A Ce, the man he had encountered at the Tower of All Under Heaven in Cangfeng City, who claimed to be the number one assassin of the Eastern Domain.
Being able to openly hang the signboard of an assassin organization in a major city, making it livelier than an ordinary restaurant—the Tower of All Under Heaven naturally wouldn't be too simple. At least it had some official connections locally.
But perhaps even Jiang Wang couldn't have imagined that this A Ce was capable enough to come and go freely from the palace.
He was actually the fifth and youngest son of the current ruler of the Yang Kingdom. His surname was Yang, and his given name was Xuance.
As the saying goes, "Heavenly families favor the eldest son, while common people favor the youngest."
No one knew if there was any truth to this, but in any case, Yang Xuance was extremely unfavored.
The Yang Kingdom was only so large. By the time he was born, everything that could be divided and occupied had been taken by his older brothers. He couldn't even get the leftovers, so he simply gave up on any ambition within the palace.
Being an idle prince would have been fine enough, but he had to go and start some assassin organization, styling himself as the number one assassin of the Eastern Domain, spending money to hire a bunch of idle people to hang around the organization all day, pretending business was good—when in reality, they were always losing money.
This little prince, unpopular in his actions, unpopular in his appearance, and even more unpopular in his background.
His mother was just a lowly palace maid. His birth was merely the result of the great ruler's momentary whim after drinking.
That poor palace maid died inexplicably after giving birth to Yang Xuance. To this day, there was still no explanation.
Some said the then-dowager empress disliked it, some said it was the empress... it was unclear, impossible to untangle.
In short, it was a tangled mess.
The letter Jiang Wang had left behind, he opened and read it without hesitation. After all, the Tower of All Under Heaven wasn't exactly a place that valued reputation.
Originally just treating it as an interesting matter, after reading it, he came to Zhaoheng City immediately.
Even if he was constantly criticized for being immature, he could understand just how terrible the plague currently ravaging the Yang Kingdom was. If that Bone Path had further moves, it wouldn't be excessive for the Yang Kingdom to be on guard.
He didn't like Zhaoheng City, not at all. Whether it was the streets here or the air here, there was a suffocating coldness. So he would rather hide in Cangfeng City, running his unsuccessful assassin business.
But regardless of everything, his home was still here. He was born here, raised here.
He just hadn't expected that after finally returning to the palace, after drinking tea for several hours—refilling it again and again, letting it cool and cool again—he still couldn't even see his father's face.
His Majesty the ruler was truly busy! Yang Xuance thought boredly.
The crown prince could see the ruler at any time. As a fellow son, for him to see the ruler, he needed to go through multiple applications and reports.
He had the mind to leave right then, but thinking about that letter...
"How much longer do I have to wait?" He couldn't help but tap his teacup.
The attending eunuch, with lowered eyes and a submissive manner, said, "This servant... this servant truly doesn't know..."
"Then what do you know?"
"This servant is guilty, this servant deserves to die." The eunuch panicked, knowing only to kneel and beg for mercy.
"It always comes back to this one phrase." Yang Xuance was indeed somewhat angry, but managed to hold it back. "I won't make things difficult for you. Go ask Eunuch Liu how much longer my father will be busy. I have important business to discuss with him!"
The eunuch hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground, "This servant will go ask immediately."
Once he left, he never returned.
Tea, tea, tea. Before the person had even left, the tea had gone completely cold.
He was of heavenly blood! Was he some poor relative trying to cling to nobility?
Even though Yang Xuance had long grown accustomed to being ignored, being ignored to this extent, being ignored so thoroughly, was still unbearable.
He didn't fight, didn't snatch. But that didn't mean he couldn't even have basic respect!
He simply stood up, paying no heed to the prohibitions or the attempts of palace maids to stop him. He strode out of the side hall, his wide sleeves fluttering, heading straight toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation where the ruler handled state affairs.
Let's see who dares to stop me! He sneered inwardly.
Just as he reached outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a kindly-faced, beardless old man appeared silently before him.
"Why has Your Highness come?"
This person was none other than Eunuch Liu Huai, the imperial scribe eunuch who was most trusted by the ruler and often attended him.
Even the crown prince of the Yang Kingdom wouldn't dare to slight this person.
Seeing it was him, Yang Xuance could only suppress whatever anger he had, "I've come to see my father."
After speaking, he added humiliatedly, "I have important business!"
"I see..." Eunuch Liu Huai said, as if he had just learned of this, smiling cordially. "Your Highness has worked hard."
"For the sake of the kingdom's affairs, how can one shy away from hardship?" Yang Xuancereplied with pleasantries, then reminded, "Is my father in the hall right now?"
"Ah, His Majesty is indeed present."
"Then I'll trouble you, Eunuch, to go and report this," Yang Xuance said.
"These are difficult times for the kingdom, and His Majesty manages myriad affairs daily. Once he has finished with this period, I will certainly convey your request to him."
Eunuch Liu Huai said respectfully, "The sun is blazing hot. Why doesn't Your Highness go have another cup of tea?"
Tea... more tea.
More waiting.
This face full of respect, heart full of contempt.
"Snap!"
Yang Xuance finally couldn't hold back. He tore the jade pendant from his waist and smashed it to pieces right in front of this person.
He shouted sternly, "Liu Huai! Do you mean to prevent a father and son of the heavenly family from meeting, to sever the human bonds of the Yang clan?"
...
...
P.S.: Although Alliance Leader Chen said the rewards aren't for urging updates, just out of liking. But the author still has to show some appreciation. Three chapters are too much to handle, but I'll squeeze out at least one. Sending a heart~
Le Wen