"When I sleep with Qing Mei, I still sometimes mistake it for being in your arms."

Very well, it seems like the key to maintaining a long-distance relationship safely is through daily maintenance by a best friend, Le Yuxin thought.

More than half a month after sending her letter, Le Yuxin finally received a reply from Qing Lan.

In his 'secret letter', he naturally wrote an address in Yanjing where she could send letters, though Le Yuxin was already prepared for the first letter not reaching Qing Lan—who knows what's happening in Xuanzhu County now; in these times, not receiving mail is quite normal.

In the old days, travel was slow, and letters were hard to deliver, sometimes taking a lifetime to send one.

In Qing Lan's reply, most of it detailed his living conditions and the current situation in Dongyang, and he has already hidden Zhengwei's survival information as Le Yuxin suggested, and is making preparations to rush to Yanjing in six months.

The 'business proposals' Le Yuxin put forward, she plans to entrust to others, as just the newspaper already keeps her too busy.

As for why Le Yuxin doesn't return to Xuanzhu County, why she needs to conceal news of the death, why she has to stay in Yanjing, she didn't ask; or rather, she believed Le Yuxin's explanation—that for their future, Le Yuxin needs to be on a business trip in Yanjing for six months.

"No matter what you do, I'll accompany you till the end." Her reply was so indifferent, not willing to say even a single 'dear', hmph, women.

But Qing Lan shared the same worry with Le Yuxin—she was very concerned about whether Le Yuxin would cheat during the business trip, truly showing that people cannot fully trust long-distance relationships.

Given such matters cannot be monitored or controlled, Qing Lan could only leave a threat filled with intent: "I don't care if you find other women; anyway, once I arrive in six months, we'll still play cards at night, the rules the same as before."

Hmph, thinking this could scare me? Le Yuxin read the letter while sipping iced honeyed Five-Flower Tea soaked with goji berries.

However, after receiving Qing Lan's letter, Le Yuxin did breathe a sigh of relief, especially seeing her ally with Mu Qingmei and Huyan Siluo to form a strong woman best friend alliance, feeling this long-distance relationship was effectively secured.

With two good friends accompanying her, at least loneliness wouldn't be an issue.

Compared to Qing Lan's happy life, Le Yuxin's situation was rather miserable, with only a tool brother and a sister who seemed eager to devour his flesh and blood.

And he hasn't even been able to go out and play cards.

Ever since being fooled by Qian Cicada Dust, Le Yuxin naturally switched his role to a home guard, refusing to go out, waiting for this summer vacation to end.

Last time, he was fortunate enough to have Zhengwei and Yin Hidden Shadow's abundant guidance, so Le Yuxin successfully covered up, but the 'Black Rose outfit' still brought indelible trauma to his soul.

Qian Cicada Dust, this enmity must be avenged, life is not worth living under the same sky!

Le Yuxin silently vowed in his heart, while hiding at home, enjoying melon barbecue, spending a leisurely summer day.

After reading Qing Lan's letter back and forth three times, confirming there were no hidden romantic words, Le Yuxin reluctantly lit a fire and burned the letter. He wasn't interested in triggering the special plot of 'elder brother's secret letter found by brother/sister,' and it's quite embarrassing if such correspondence between lovers is seen by outsiders.

Of course, even more terrifying is being mistaken by brother or sister as elder brother pretending to be Zhengwei to flirt with his fiancée... Though it indeed happened, it wasn't just that; one could only say Le Yuxin is a pitiful, lamentable pure love War God.

Turn off the lights, sleep.

Lying in bed, Le Yuxin began considering the sword quest competition three days later.

Only three days are left until the start of Royal Academy next semester, and once Le Yuxin enters Royal Academy three days later, it means he's safe—at least he will no longer fear being chased by Qian Cicada Dust and his group, or being instantly killed by a passerby of Peak of Perfection realm.

In the academy, Le Yuxin's enemies are the other six sword sheaths.

As long as the other sword sheaths are Martial Artists in Integration and Mastery realm, Le Yuxin has some confidence.

As for victory, Le Yuxin can only say he'll do his best.

Winning would be great, losing means changing roles at most.

As for who becomes emperor, Le Yuxin doesn't care—in any case, they're all young people around twenty years old; how much experience in ruling a nation could they have?

Even if one ascends the throne, they would only be a puppet of the court officials or Radiant Four Guards; until he controls the Holy Sword Radiant, there won't be much real power. As a nominal mascot, it doesn't matter who takes the throne.

Even if Le Yuxin takes it, it won't help; the emperor's power is recognized from the bottom up, and the emperor chosen by sword quest competition naturally can't gain the loyalty of the officials.

Unlike the keyboard politicians fantasizing about being emperor this and that, Le Yuxin realized he doesn't have the talent to manage power only after being Silver Blood Association President—royal scheming, balancing various interests, driving people to work for him, preventing subordinates from outward compliance but inward opposition...

Too complicated, Le Yuxin would rather use Desolate Bite to blast everything apart than play those devious games.

But Qing Lan is quite interested in such matters... Why am I thinking about Qing Lan again, sleep or not.

Le Yuxin let out a hmph, directly using Ice Blood Physique to clear his mind, lying down honestly to sleep.

In a void of clarity, he suddenly felt a peculiar sensation, followed by hearing the door make a 'creak' sound—

"It's me, Fire Prison."

Wearing a black cloak, Bai Yu closed the door and stopped Le Yuxin from turning on the light, then sat down beside him and said, "Don't turn on the light, I'll leave after I finish talking."

Le Yuxin sat up and asked, "Why did you come to see me so late? Did something happen?"

"No, I should have come to see you earlier, but I've been closely watched these days and can't expose the connection between you and me, so I could only come at night," Bai Yu said, "Firstly, I want to inform you that the Righteous Guard has already punished Xian Chanchenchen."

"What kind of punishment? Make him recite the 'Radiant Ode' with the children at the lecture square? Or make him wear children's clothing to work?"

"...Your ideas are very creative, but Righteous Guard wasn't that harsh," Bai Yu shook his head, "He was just fined several months' salary and was required not to approach you again in the future."

"How could he approach me? Even if he jumps up, he can't reach my knees," Le Yuxin quipped, "This punishment is like nothing, does Radiant's Four Guards encourage infighting? He almost got me killed, and this is the result?"

"Xian Chanchenchen is different. If anyone else had behaved so viciously, they would have been demoted or even sent away, but he is very important to the Righteous Guard, even to the Radiant's Four Guards," Bai Yu shrugged, "Sometimes that's how it is; we have to bow to life."

Le Yuxin: "What if he bothers me again next time? Should I not only refrain from hitting back but squat down and let him smack my face?"

"...If Xian Chanchenchen were here, he would definitely try to kill you even at the cost of being demoted."

Bai Yu couldn't help but laugh, "Don't worry, in three days you'll be the Sword Sheath, a position far superior to Xian Chanchenchen's. If he appears in front of you, you could even strip off his pants and spank him. The Four Guards definitely would not hold you accountable, just like they don't with Xian Chanchenchen."

"What you said makes me start to look forward to him appearing in front of me..." Le Yuxin laughed, "Is there anything else?"

Bai Yu: "Yes, there's another matter, which is to confirm whether you truly wish to participate in the quest for the sword and competition."

"Confirming this now?" Le Yuxin laughed, "As if I can refuse?"

"Of course you can, because this will be a battle where you stake your life," Bai Yu said, "Forcing someone who is unwilling into the arena of life and death is irresponsible towards both you and us."

Ah, this is about asking me for a pledge... Le Yuxin naturally sensed the implication in Bai Yu's words, which was simply to know whether Le Yuxin was willing to fight with all his might, even sacrificing his life. In the 'game' concerning the next emperor, if the Sword Sheath didn't have this awareness, they might as well replace him.

For a moment, Le Yuxin really wanted to agree, but then he thought about how Bai Yu mentioned Xian Chanchenchen before talking about this matter.

Connecting the ideas, isn't this a threat of 'if you don't try hard to become the Sword Sheath, you can only endure when Xian Chanchenchen spanks you'?!

This espionage organization's threat is really subtle... Le Yuxin adjusted his mood and said solemnly, "I want to shine brilliantly, to be remembered in history. To step onto the stage of history, to become a ruler second to none, I will stop at nothing, to earn the favor of the Holy Sword Radiant for my Sword Master."

His voice gradually sank, "Someday, I will make Xian Chanchenchen regret, make Blue Flame bow down, make White Night vanish, and make the world tremble because of me!"

"Radiant's Four Guards are my stepping stones, the quest for the sword becomes just my trial. My life has just begun and will not end here! My goal is the highest position in the Imperial Court!"

Having said that, Le Yuxin quietly met Bai Yu's gaze in the dark.

After a moment, applause rang out.

"Such great ambition, it's making my blood boil," Bai Yu clapped and laughed, "Of course, Hongle, your abilities match this ambition."

If I didn't express such large ambitions, how could they trust me… A person without desires can't be used; an ambitious person like Le Yuxin is just the right type to be employed.

Like someone who only wants to become a civil servant, get married, or live a stable life in their later half, how could they be used? Only those who want to stay in first-tier cities, live in big houses, and climb social classes can be targets for the 'blessing' of working around the clock.

"But I think you are lying."

Le Yuxin was stunned.

"A person with such beautiful and grand ambitions doesn't seem like someone who would rashly offend Xian Chanchenchen to save a girl, acting as a righteous passerby."

"That was when I was new and didn't know..."

"Just drawing your sword when faced with injustice?" Bai Yu laughed, "That sounds even scarier."

"I—"

"Hongle, do you think that people like us are not qualified to speak of serving the country and the people, benefiting all living beings? Are we only suited to possess base ambitions and discontented souls?"

In the darkness, Bai Yu's voice was low and hoarse, "The grand officials of the Imperial Court, talk of righteousness and morality, every word for the world, every sentence for the public; Radiant's Four Guards in the gutter, with hands stained in blood and hatred, only know power struggles and deceit..."

"But those backbone officials of the Imperial Court don't believe every word they preach; and we, the gutter rats, don't fight only for riches and glory."

"Hongle, the choice for the Ritual Guard's Sword Sheath isn't limited to you. It was I who put all my chips on the line to make you the only choice."

Le Yuxin stared blankly at Bai Yu. He didn't speak, Bai Yu couldn't see his expression, but the meaning of his question was already in the air — Why?

"Because you are willing to resist tyranny, protect the weak," Bai Yu spoke softly, as if afraid of breaking something fragile in the darkness, "How much are people willing to pay for justice? I am willing to give everything to give you this chance, are you?"