Stronger by Killing

Chapter 144 - 143: Pingyang Prefecture

The hall was silent for quite a while,

when a thin, slightly stooped old man draped in a long robe slowly walked out. His face was sallow, his eyes sunken, and he seemed to move with difficulty. White hair draped around his shoulders, he looked for all the world like a dying elder nearing his end.

After a few steps, the old man was suddenly seized by a fit of violent coughing.

Bai Jiu’Er’s brows knit ever so slightly as she said, "You really look nothing like the famous Dragon King of the Martial World at all now—more like a man right before death."

Just as Bai Jiu’Er said,

it was hard to imagine anyone would believe that the legendary Nu River Dragon King, Mo Jingzhou, would turn out to be such a frail, sickly old man.

Mo Jingzhou smiled faintly and said, "You, this temper of yours really needs changing. You care, but it sounds like you’re cursing me."

The candlelight flickering over Bai Jiu’Er’s peerlessly beautiful face could not melt the faint cold indifference in her manner. She said blandly, "Is your body truly beyond all hope?"

Mo Jingzhou waved his hand and said, "My days are numbered."

Bai Jiu’Er was silent for a moment, then handed the Jade Pendant and letter she held to Mo Jingzhou.

Mo Jingzhou gazed at the Jade Pendant and sighed. "In the blink of an eye, twenty years have passed, and at last this pendant has returned. He... is he well?"

"His junior said he’s in good health," Bai Jiu’Er replied.

"That’s good."

Mo Jingzhou smiled, sitting down on a chair beside him. He slowly opened the envelope and began reading. After quite a while, he showed a helpless smile and said, "I knew it. For him to send back this Jade Pendant, it could never be some trifling matter. Really, he doesn’t stand on ceremony at all!"

Bai Jiu’Er asked, "What is it?"

Mo Jingzhou chuckled. "That junior of his got himself into major trouble and has come to me seeking protection."

Bai Jiu’Er frowned in puzzlement. "Even he couldn’t handle it?"

Mo Jingzhou shook his head. "That junior of his is bold beyond reason, actually killed the Heir of Marquis Chengyang and the younger brother of Qi Baiyu, Alliance Leader of the Yundong Celestial Sword Alliance."

Bai Jiu’Er paused, then said, "Reckless indeed. But, can you protect him?"

Mo Jingzhou sighed. "The Jade Pendant has been sent here—Yang Yuzhi is using all the favors and friendship I owe to beg me to shield this junior of his. I have no choice but to personally see to it."

Bai Jiu’Er pondered, then said, "What about your health?"

"I’ll just live a couple years less, then."

The great hall fell into deathly silence once more.

After a long time, Bai Jiu’Er asked, "Do you want to meet that junior of his?"

"No need," Mo Jingzhou said, "You know the situation in Canglan Dao as well as I do. If I were to meet that young man, I would only drag him into needless troubles. With his current strength, getting caught up in such turbulence would mean certain death."

"Hmph," Bai Jiu’Er snorted. "Isn’t this turmoil all your own doing? Who made you marry so many women? Now on the verge of death, no one cares for you, all of them busy fighting over your inheritance. Honestly, my aunt was too good for you.

Back then, she was with you when you had nothing—and after you made your name, you married a whole slew of women. Consider this your retribution. Men—none of you are any good!"

Mo Jingzhou smiled wryly. "Jiu’Er, you don’t understand. If I hadn’t married them back then, how would there be today’s Canglan City? And also, not all men are like this. If Yang Yuzhi had been like me in the past, your big sister wouldn’t have wasted away with worry and passed before her time!"

Bai Jiu’Er snorted softly. "That’s precisely why I don’t hate him. Blame only that my sister fell for someone she shouldn’t have—missing him until death, for some old man so much older than her. Was it worth it?"

Mo Jingzhou shook his head. "Everyone’s life is different. Some never meet anyone who truly stirs their heart; some, with just a single glance, lose themselves for a lifetime. But, most love stories end in regret—some regrets are never resolved, some are buried forever in dust. As for whether it was worth it, only those who experience it can know."

Bai Jiu’Er pondered for a while, then rose and said, "Enough, that’s it. Since you won’t meet him, I’ll lead everyone away now."

Mo Jingzhou nodded, then added, "That junior of Yuzhi is a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Now that he’s come to Canglan Dao, just let him stay with the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Bai Jiu’Er said, "Don’t you know what the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Yunxi is like? It’s just a figurehead—they have nothing at all."

Mo Jingzhou replied, "Precisely because of that, I want him to go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Now, with undercurrents stirring throughout Canglan Dao, if I put him somewhere with real power, wouldn’t that harm him? The Embroidered Uniform Guard is just right—he can drift through his days without major trouble. Hmm, let him go to Pingyang Prefecture."

Bai Jiu’Er frowned. "Pingyang Prefecture—will that work?"

Mo Jingzhou nodded. "Pingyang Prefecture is my bequest to Xiaoliuzi. It’s now the only place in Canglan Dao untouched by the current strife. Should anything happen, Xiaoliuzi can look after him somewhat."

Bai Jiu’Er nodded and turned to leave.

...

Night fell, and the wind and snow continued as ever.

Gu Zhan rode in the carriage with Bai Jiu’Er, leaving the City Lord’s Mansion together.

Inside the carriage, Bai Jiu’Er gently stroked the fat cat, saying, "Tomorrow you’ll come with me to pay respects at my elder sister’s grave. After that, go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard of Pingyang Prefecture. As for your trouble, the Dragon King will handle it for you."

Gu Zhan nodded. "Alright."

Bai Jiu’Er said slowly, "Aren’t you curious at all? For example, why let you go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Canglan Dao has so many better posts."

Gu Zhan replied in puzzlement, "Helping me get through my trouble is already a tremendous favor. Now you’re even finding me a place to settle—couldn’t be more considerate. What else should I ask?"

Bai Jiu’Er nodded. "True enough. Let me tell you about Pingyang Prefecture—it’s the most peaceful place in all of Canglan Dao right now."

"Has something happened in Canglan Dao?" asked Gu Zhan.

"It’s not exactly a great calamity," Bai Jiu’Er said. "The Dragon King is old now. His sons, each backed by their mothers’ families, are fiercely vying for the position of successor. If any faction is inattentive, they get swept up and erased."

Gu Zhan asked, "Why doesn’t the Dragon King appoint a successor?"

"He can’t," Bai Jiu’Er shook her head. "Naming a successor would set off a chain reaction affecting everyone. More importantly, back when the Dragon King conquered Canglan Dao, it was thanks to the support of those very maternal clans behind his sons—their debt of gratitude is there. If a victor isn’t settled among those families, naming anyone outright would chill the hearts of all the rest.

Hm, let’s get back to Pingyang Prefecture. That’s the domain the Dragon King gave to his youngest son. This son has no backing from his mother’s clan, so has neither part in the succession nor any say in Dao affairs. The other sons don’t mind leaving this harmless little brother to live his life in comfort off in a remote corner. So, Pingyang Prefecture remains a rare land of peace."

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