CHAPTER 974: CHAPTER 107: DIGNITY

Smoke Cloud Lake, shimmering waves, clear lake water.

Carp leap out of the water.

The Imperial Palace is in an uproar and chaos, yet this place remains quiet. Chen Jingxuan refused the Black Scale Guards’ following, but Sang Zheng had already led people to completely block off Smoke Cloud Lake... not only to prevent outsiders from entering, but also to prevent anyone from leaving.

Lakeside.

Yan Xie stands quietly with a cane, Blazing Sun hangs high. The scorching light casts his shadow beneath him, twisted like smoke.

"Let your men withdraw..."

He suddenly spoke, his voice carrying self-mockery: "If I wanted to escape, I would have done so long ago."

"..."

Chen Jingxuan frowned slightly, turning his head to look behind him.

No words were needed.

Soon rustling sounds came from the dense forest not far from the lakeside.

Sang Zheng withdrew from the dense forest. Of course, he didn’t remove all the blockade, only extended and expanded the lines... A multitude of Black Scale Guards retreated further, over several hundred feet. This distance was enough for the two of them to be alone.

Yan Xie was right.

If he wanted to escape, he indeed could have done so long ago.

During the absent period of that person from Ren Shou Palace, he was arguably the most "free" noble in Great Chu Imperial City, with no one else more so.

But Yan Xie did not escape.

He received the news earlier than anyone else in the Imperial City.

By the Hour of the Dragon, he was already at Smoke Cloud Lake, silently waiting for someone’s arrival... The Imperial City was breached, the iron cavalry entered the Imperial Palace, shouts and destruction echoed from afar, none of this moved Yan Xie. He stood here alone, finally as he wished, waiting for Chen Jingxuan.

Instead of foes meeting, it felt like old friends catching up.

Chen Jingxuan stood beside Yan Xie, silent for a long time, then slowly uttered two words.

"...Thank you."

This inexplicable thanks, outsiders would find hard to understand.

But Yan Xie laughed at himself.

He silently lowered his eyes, coldly said: "No need to thank me. I already intended to use those people. If you gave me more time... they might not have survived."

The last goodbye at Smoke Cloud Lake.

Chen Jingxuan was forced to leave the Imperial City, handing over the Book Tower, Fangyuan Square, Little State Preceptor, and other powers.

Though the overall situation was still under control.

Yet many lives... with the farewell at Smoke Cloud Lake, were handed out.

If Yan Xie wished, after Chen Jingxuan left the Imperial City, he could have thoroughly "swept clean" within the Book Tower, removing all the Death Soldiers and Hidden Chess that Chen Jingxuan cultivated.

But he did not do so.

This...

was the reason for Chen Jingxuan’s gratitude.

Few days ago, no one would have thought that this surging tide would so swiftly end in such a manner.

Yan Xie had just taken over the Book Tower, Fangyuan Square, yet had not had the chance to restore order before the conflict between the Northern County Family and the Imperial City Department erupted... Then came the thousand-mile misfortune from the Taoist, and at the moment when the death knell tolled for Great True Master Chong Kan, Yan Xie felt something ominous in his heart.

He knew things might turn suddenly.

Everything that happened now.

was within his expectations.

He knew everything would come.

Only he didn’t expect it to come so fast.

"My reason for thanking... is not just because you spared the lives of those Hidden Chess Death Soldiers from the Book Tower."

Chen Jingxuan paused, then seriously said: "More importantly, you are not like that Imperial City Chief, at least you wanted to be a ’sewer’."

Yan Xie’s lifelong wish, obsession... was to serve as Great Chu National Master.

In some sense, he succeeded.

He managed to step into Li Pavilion, under the Ren Shou Palace’s decree, briefly held control over the Imperial City.

But he also failed.

The seemingly peaceful and harmonious Imperial City, upon his takeover, quickly developed maladies, riddled with holes.

Patching and mending, yet more and more gaps appeared.

This was much like the chess game played against Chen Jingxuan years ago... At first glance, evenly matched, yet the more it progressed, the more flaws appeared, more patches, more mistakes.

Eventually losing disastrously.

"Heh..."

Yan Xie looked at the clear light of Smoke Cloud Lake, unable to stop a low laughter.

Ten years of brewing.

Ten years of planning.

In the end, it was all smoke and clouds, an illusion.

"My Master... also died by your hand?"

He slowly turned his head, looking at the scholar in azure robes.

Just then, the scouts from the Taoist side had sent news of the death knell, and the news from North Sea Reeds had reached the Imperial City.

"Consider so."

Chen Jingxuan nodded, without denial.

"So leaving the Imperial City... is not conceding defeat..."

Yan Xie lightly laughed, his gaze towards Chen Jingxuan somewhat dazed: "This was all part of your plan, wasn’t it?"

"I..."

This time, Chen Jingxuan hesitated.

He candidly said: "I was guided by the Roundness Instrument, but it also involved gambling."

Leaving the Imperial City was more like a desperate gambit.

He did not know.

Whether in going to North Sea Reeds, what the final outcome would be, life or death?

For this reason.

At Smoke Cloud Lake, he entrusted the list of Book Tower Investigators to Yan Xie... If he were to die, at least Great Chu would have someone able to serve as "State Preceptor", at least the plans made over the years at the Book Tower could contribute something to the dynasty. These were expressions of Chen Jingxuan setting a death-defying resolve.

"I... understand..."

Yan Xie laughed bitterly: "You were indeed gambling, but you won."

"Yes. I won the gamble."

Chen Jingxuan spoke calmly, the deadly battle at North Sea Reeds over, the scales were already tilted.

Heaven favored his side.

"I want to have a dignified end."

Yan Xie looked directly into the eyes of the scholar in azure robes, enunciating each word: "Those outside, foolishly tearing apart the Imperial City, each eager to devour me alive. I know I am meant to die, but I wish to die by your hand."