After the car had driven for a while.
The old man said, “Ye Qiu, in my lifetime, I’ve wronged Wushuang and you and your mother the most.”
“I hope in the next life I can make it up to you.”
“Take this.”
The old man took a pill from his pocket and handed it to Ye Qiu.
Ye Qiu sniffed it and asked, “Poison?”
“Yes,” the old man said. “If you’re defeated but not dead, and Long Yi and his men try to torture you, take this pill to ease the pain.”
Ye Qiu crushed it, saying, “No need. I won’t let them torture me. I’ll fight to the last moment.”
The old man sighed, “Your unyielding spirit is just like Wushuang’s.”
Suddenly.
The driver stopped.
“Sir, someone’s blocking the road,” the driver said.
Ye Qiu looked out and saw thousands of people standing in the street, each holding a bowl of wine.
Leading them was Cao Qingcheng.
Behind her were Qinglong, Qilin, Zhao Hu, and Xiao Zhan!
“It’s the Longmen people. I’ll go check.”
Ye Qiu opened the door, stepped out, and asked, “Qingcheng, what are you all doing?”
Cao Qingcheng said, “I brought the brothers to see you off.”
Xiao Zhan handed Ye Qiu a bowl of wine, saying, “Boss, may you return safely.”
Ye Qiu took the wine, looked at the crowd, and said, “Thank you, brothers.”
“Remember this.”
“Whether I live or die, Longmen will always endure.”
“Cheers!”
Ye Qiu downed the wine in one gulp, tossed the bowl aside, and returned to the car.
Cao Qingcheng raised her right hand.
Instantly, all Longmen disciples stepped to the sides of the road, knelt, and shouted:
“Farewell, Master!”
Their voices shook the heavens, echoing through the clouds.
The car continued forward.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the Forbidden City.
The car stopped at the entrance.
From a distance, they saw the War God in a wheelchair, with forty men in black behind him.
Each man had a cold expression, exuding a chilling aura.
Ye Qiu knew these were the death warriors trained by the old man and the War God.
Tang Fei and Long Ye stood behind the War God.
“War God, you’re here early!” the old man greeted with a smile.
The War God grinned, “Wanted to get here early to kill.”
Then.
The War God’s gaze landed on Ye Qiu, asking, “Scared?”
“Scared to death,” Ye Qiu joked. “If I’d known, I would’ve gone with that old fool to hide in the mountains and play cards.”
“You can still run,” the War God said.
Ye Qiu shook his head, “I’m here now, running’s no fun.”
“Enough chatter, let’s go in!” The War God instructed Tang Fei and Long Ye, “Follow the plan. If we die, take Ye Dabao and leave the capital immediately.”
“Yes!” Tang Fei and Long Ye bowed, saying, “War God, take care!”
The War God smiled, “You too.”
They nodded, then approached Ye Qiu.
“Ye Qiu, take care!”
“Boss, you have to come out alive!”
Tang Fei and Long Ye’s eyes were red.
“Enough, we’re grown men, no need for drama. Get lost,” Ye Qiu cursed.
Tang Fei and Long Ye gave Ye Qiu a deep look, then turned and left.
At that moment, large snowflakes began falling from the dim sky.
A cold wind roared.
The trees by the road swayed violently, emitting sharp, piercing howls, like a death knell.
“Auspicious snow heralds a good year. Looks promising for next year,” the old man said.
“Will we even see next year?” the War God added. “Let’s go in!”
Ye Qiu pushed the War God, and the group braved the snowstorm, stepping into the Forbidden City’s gates.
The Forbidden City, once a symbol of imperial power.
Despite centuries of wind and rain, dynasties changing, and eras shifting, this imperial city still stood tall.
Its towering walls, weathered yet awe-inspiring.
After entering the gates, Ye Qiu and the group walked a distance and saw, in the snowstorm, a figure holding an oil-paper umbrella.
Tangtang!
Tangtang wore a long red down jacket, standing strikingly in the snow.
The War God said, “Ye Qiu, she’s waiting for you. Go see her.”
Ye Qiu approached, seeing Tangtang’s nose red from the cold, and said, “What are you doing here?”
“Go back.”
“It’s cold, don’t catch a chill.”
Tangtang looked at Ye Qiu with a smile, but as she smiled, tears fell.
Then, she threw herself into Ye Qiu’s arms, hugging him tightly.
“Before coming, I told myself not to cry, but seeing you, I can’t help it.”
“Ye Qiu, I’m so scared, scared I’ll never see you again.”
“Promise me you’ll survive, okay?”
Ye Qiu stroked her hair, saying solemnly, “Okay, I promise.”
“No lying.”
“I won’t lie.”
Tangtang let go of Ye Qiu and stepped aside.
Ye Qiu pushed the War God forward.
After a few steps.
“Ye Qiu!”
Tangtang’s voice called out again, saying, “Ye Qiu, when you come out, I have a secret to tell you. You have to come out!”
“Okay!” Ye Qiu turned and smiled.
Soon.
They reached the inner part of the Forbidden City.
Surrounded by high walls, with a grand hall in the centre.
The hall’s doors were shut.
In front of it was a vast square.
The square was filled with chairs, already occupied by at least a hundred people.
Ye Qiu scanned the crowd, spotting Old Tang, Old General Bai, Xiao Qingdi, and others he didn’t know but could tell were significant figures.
As they appeared, all eyes turned to them.
Some worried, some indifferent, some gloating…
The old man led Ye Qiu and the others to greet Old Tang.
“Be careful tonight,” Old Tang whispered.
The old man nodded, then led Ye Qiu and the group to sit in empty seats.
The scene was eerily quiet.
Next to Ye Qiu sat Xiao Qingdi.
As Ye Qiu sat, Xiao Qingdi’s voice rang out.
“Ye Qiu, didn’t expect you’d have this day!”
“I was planning to find a chance to kill you, but looks like I won’t need to.”
“You won’t survive tonight.”
Ye Qiu turned, seeing Xiao Qingdi’s smug smile, and said, “Did the Champion Marquis ever teach you not to mess with a man about to die?”
Xiao Qingdi raised a brow, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I mean, you’re an idiot.” As Ye Qiu spoke, he slapped Xiao Qingdi across the face.
Slap!
