Chapter Ten: The Willow's Bend

imately, what appeared was a fortress like a tomb.And just as this tomb-like fortress appeared.The sky was overcast, and yellow sand surged.Like a giant dragon reaching into the heavens, it swept in f...Jiang Wang doesn't just get into anyone's carriage. Li Youjiu's lesson is still fresh in his memory.

But as for a figure like Xiu Yuan, the commander of the Prisoner Electric Army, since he openly waited outside Changsheng Palace, there wouldn't be anything embarrassing that could happen, so he had nothing to worry about.

The carriage that Xiu Yuan was riding in at this time was not his imperial chariot representing the dignity of the state.

It's meant for everyday travel, but it's still no match for the car the steward from Lord Jiang's household rented.

The spaciousness, the softness of the cushions, and the grandeur of the decorations are self-evident... The patterns on the car walls are actually naturally grown wood grain! Like flowers like trees, like dragons like tigers, they are magically born.

This wood alone is priceless.

Jiang Wang stepped into the car, feeling as if he were walking on clouds, light and airy.

The coachman was obviously a soldier, with a serious demeanor and an iron-straight spine. With just a light shake of his hand, the reins made a crisp sound in the air, and two jet-black steeds simultaneously reared up their hooves.

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The sound of a horse's hooves striking the ground is both when it steps down and when it lifts up.

The carriage moved lightly and smoothly, with no bumps inside.

>

Click!

The car door closed.

Just in time, a warm light appeared on the ceiling of the carriage. It wasn't caused by any object, but rather condensed from the array pattern, clear but not glaring.

>

Lord Jiang was worldly, settling calmly opposite Xiu Yuan: "I wonder what business Marshal Xiu has in inviting Lord Jiang to ride together"

He did not answer, but asked, "Do you drink alcohol regularly"

Between Xiuyan and Jiang Wang, a partition silently fell, and a low table slowly rose. On the table was a silver flask and four inverted silver goblets.

There were two plates of small dishes. One was pea-shaped but red, with a faint roasted aroma.

One kind was shaped like a half moon. Beneath its translucent skin, one could faintly see a silver sand-like flowing heart. In all honesty, Jiang Wang couldn't quite make out what it was called.

But he got into the carriage, not to get a taste of a general's life among his nine thousand soldiers.

Sitting upright and straight, he replied truthfully, "I don't drink unless it's at a banquet."

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“I’ve heard a lot about you, but today is the first time I’ve met you.” Xiu Yuan reached out and flipped the wine glass on the table over, his voice calm: “Have a drink with me.”

In the midst of their conversation, they had already overturned three cups of wine and reached for the wine jug again.

Jiang Wang hurriedly reached out: "Allow me to do it."

With one hand, Xiu Yuan grasped the wine jug and gently pushed it forward: "Good men, don't mind those trivial formalities."

Jiang Wang had no choice but to sit down again.

He poured the wine slowly and deliberately, then casually asked: "Just now in the hall, I saw you faintly practicing the Eight Winds, cultivating the Dragon-Tiger style"

>

"Indeed." Jiang Wang was a little surprised by the other party's attention to him, and quickly explained, "I certainly didn't mean to disrespect the Eleventh Prince. Pondering Daoist arts is just a habit."

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Xiu Yuan poured three cups of wine and, using his index finger, pushed one cup towards Jiang Wang's direction. He said in a low voice, "I've heard for a long time that you, Jiang Qingyang, are not arrogant or discouraged, and work hard and persevere like no other. Seeing you today, it's truly remarkable."

Jiang Wangqian said in a humble voice, "I am but a clumsy bird taking flight early, making up for my lack of talent with diligence."

Xiuyuan shook his head: "In this world, there are quite a few people with a little bit of cleverness. Many, many. Those who possess great wisdom, how many are there If you're a clumsy bird, there aren't many people in the world who can fly."

Jiang Wangdao: "My little clever one, it's all about putting in the effort and being diligent. All rewards come from hard work."

"That's great wisdom," Xiu Yuan said. "Among all the academies in the world, the top four are highly regarded. Longmen Academy emphasizes extraordinary talent, Qingya Academy values a natural and unrestrained personality, Haoran Academy cultivates a person of integrity, all representing the highest level of learning in the world. However, the best academy is Diligence Academy. Diligence Academy has nothing else, only the strong emphasis on diligence in study, which surpasses all others."

>

This Jian Wang who is overly humble, and that Jian Wang who refuses to be belittled and is so valiant he dares to question the emperor face-to-face, are almost not like the same person.

Xiu Yuan gave him a faint glance: "I didn't teach you... well, since you said you want to learn..."

His gaze was slightly firm.

Jiang Wang immediately felt a gentle flow of information like a light rain falling on his soul—it was the cultivation experience of the Taoist art "Dragon and Tiger," and some ideas on how to practice this art based on the outer layer.

"I happened to have learned it in my early years," Xiu Yuan casually said. "I don't use it now, so it's as well I haven't forgotten... I'll just leave it to you."

The world of esoteric arts is vast like the sea, constantly evolving and changing at an incredibly rapid pace.

Even a master of magic like Yi Xingchen couldn't claim that every magical spell he used would coincidentally align perfectly.

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He is no exception to this rule.

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So, this Dragon-Tiger school of magic was naturally something he had hastily come up with while waiting outside the palace gates. After a quick study, he passed it on to Jiang Wang.

The Taoist understanding of a true master in the present world almost instantly opened up the bottleneck that Jiang Wang had been struggling to break through for many days, allowing him to suddenly see clearly.

Jiang Wang was both surprised and delighted: "General Xiu's great courtesy, I truly don't know how to repay it."

"No need to say more." Xiu Yuan raised his chin, quite nonchalant: "Just drink this toast."

Jiang Wang raised his glass straightforwardly: "I'll drink this to show my respect first."

Taking a gulp of the wine, the cool liquid slid down my throat, then suddenly transformed into a fiery trail, scorching its way and surging up to my mouth. At that threshold, like a spark igniting, it exploded throughout my body, leaving me feeling uncomfortable from head to toe.

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The soul was extraordinarily lively, and Dao Yuan was also very spirited.

This wine... it actually helps with cultivation, it's a truly exceptional item!

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The toast itself was also a good thing to let go of. The repeated benefits left Jiang Wang speechless for a moment.

Xiu Yuan had already raised his cup for a slow sip: "Make time to digest, don't lose the effect of the wine."

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Jiang Wang then closed his eyes and moved the Tao Yuan. Under the gently flowing alcohol, Tongtian Hai became even clearer, and in the Five Fates Sea, the solitary island of Heaven and Earth became more solid. In Cangxing Hai, the Dao Pulse soared like a dragon, swimming gracefully...

I don't know how long it took, but when Jiang Wang opened his eyes, he felt his spirit and body were at ease, and everything was going smoothly. This wine is truly a rare treasure. One cup of wine can be equal to a month's worth of hard work!

Xiu Yuan poured him another glass of wine: "This wine is ineffective if drunk too much, but only after its effects wear off does its true flavor emerge. Please try it again."

Such a peerless wine that can benefit cultivation is invaluable.

Only someone as extraordinary as Xiu Yuan could possibly savor the taste of such a brew, even when their senses were completely incapable of perceiving its extraordinary effects.

At least Jiang Wang took a small sip. Although his lips and teeth were fragrant, he was still pondering the feeling of benefitting cultivation, trying to capture its power, and then heartbroken by its immense value... He couldn't feel too much taste.

He put down his glass and sighed: “Jiang Wang is truly overwhelmed with gratitude.”

"This is what you deserve." Xiu Yuan lightly savored the taste of the wine, saying casually, "The older I get, the less I want to owe anything. Especially favors...they're hard to repay."

At the grand ceremony honoring the master, Jiang Wang's words "even ants have no regrets" quelled the emperor's anger and earned him the goodwill of many.

For example, if the final decision is to appoint Yi Xingchen, a scholar who recommended Cui Zhu's name, as the Grand Minister, then he has already released several goodwill gestures.

And Xiu Yuan happened to be the one who needed to be most considerate.

It's just that I was imprisoned at home before, with no time or opportunity to get in touch with Jiang Wang. Today, when we met at Changsheng Palace, I immediately waited outside the palace to "repay the debt."

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Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang immediately relaxed.

He took another sip of the wine in his cup. Actually, he could find some enjoyment in this moment… After all, he, Jiang Someone, was also a man who feared owing favors.

The liquor went down his throat, making a hundred turns in his intestines before he asked: "I wonder what this wine is called"

“This wine was brewed by me myself... only one jar left.” Xiuyan shook the wine gourd, listening to the sound of the jade liquid and nectar, and said softly, “It's called 'Folding Willow.'"

The willow branches bend, hoping you will stay longer.

There must be a story behind this. Though Jiang Wang didn't know the twists and turns within, he could still taste some complexities in the wine and couldn't help but praise: "What a good name."

The carriage came to a gentle halt at this point, and the wine in the cup remained unperturbed. Xiu Yuan's skill as a driver was truly remarkable, far surpassing the one Xie Ping had somehow managed to hire.

Jiang Wang blinked lightly, cutting off those self-deprecating thoughts. Compared to the commander of the Nine Soldiers, it was simply beyond comparison...

Xiu Yuan held the wine pitcher and filled Jiang Wang's cup, then asked, "Do you know where this is"

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Of course, Jiang Wang knew where this was.

Even though he had not yet attained the state of a sound-hearing immortal, his keen hearing had already allowed him to pick up on the sounds of his surroundings.

The surging crowd noise, the feverish atmosphere of the crowd, tension, excitement, fright, cheers... and screams of agony.

There is no doubt that it is a court of law.

A public square where many criminals are being simultaneously tortured.

There once was a real person in the world, whose name was Yan Tu.

A venerable carriage stood not far from the courthouse. Though a crowd surged, it was nevertheless able to clear a space for itself due to its affiliation with the notorious Prisoner Army.

But the car door did not open, nor was a window rolled down.

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Although the chariot had traveled this far, he seemed not to intend to watch the execution.

Of course... As a living person in this world, if he wants to see something, it would be very difficult for anything to obstruct his view.

The tightly shut doors and windows are nothing more than his closed eyelids.

“This is the place where traitors to the Equal Nation are executed,” Jiang Wang said carefully.

There is a hint of longing for the distant in his words.

I don't know if Xiu Yuan understood, or perhaps even heard.

He only took a sip of wine, savoring it slowly, as if half-drunk, then said: "I heard you like to read"

Jiang Wang really wanted to ask, who told you

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After all, he lacked the nerve to brag in front of a real person. He mumbled somewhat awkwardly: "I'm increasingly feeling like I haven't accumulated enough. Lately, I have been looking for time to read... but I haven't read much."

“Have you read the Book of Beasts” Xiu Yuan asked.

"Never..." Jiang Wang said.

He's hearing this book title for the first time!

“It’s a book that records all kinds of strange beasts, with pretty comprehensive information.” Xiu Yuan said, “Although many of the strange beasts recorded in it have already gone extinct, they still represent a period of history to some extent, which can help you deepen your understanding of this world. You may be able to look down on everything as a god, but if you want to become a real person, you must understand this world better. If there’s an opportunity… it’s still worth reading.”

Facing this young prodigy from the State of Qi, he couldn't bring himself to speak up. After all, this was just one of the basic texts read at the Jixia Academy.

"Understood!" Jiang Wang nodded resolutely.

>

To know what one knows and to acknowledge what one doesn't know. Accumulating insufficient knowledge is a matter of innate conditions, it's not his fault, nor is there anything to be ashamed of. He is still young, with many good years ahead. He can make up for it with more effort.

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"There's a bird called the Yu-yu," Xiu Yuan murmured, swirling his wine glass. "I've always wanted to see one, but I've never been able to find it. I think it must be extinct."

"Is this bird god very powerful Does it have any special killing techniques" Jiang Wang asked curiously.

"Having a sudden thought, Xiu Yu turned to the cow and said, 'Don't just drink, have some food.'"

Jiang Wangshun obediently picked up a crescent-shaped fruit wrapped in silver sand and stream heart, putting it into his mouth.

Originally, I wanted to ask what kind of precious materials were on the body of that bird called "negative rain," but after taking a bite, my mouth was filled with fragrance and I instantly forgot.

"Hmm, this tastes pretty good." Jiang Juezhu tried to keep his voice casual, not too surprised. "Xiu Shuai, where can I buy these fruits"

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Thinking to himself, with his current salary, he could at least buy An An a few pounds to try.

Here's your text translated into English:

This year, AnAn missed his birthday again. He always has to find something delicious to make up for it, no matter how expensive it is, it's worth it.

"It's called 'Yuè Lóng Shā'," Xiū Yuān said casually. "It's produced behind the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, and it's the fox clan's favorite food, considered a sacred fruit. It doesn't exist in the mortal world and can't be grown."

"Uh... Oh."

"If you like it, eat more." Xiu Yuan held up his cup and said nonchalantly, "It really is good. Every time I go to the Ten Thousand Demons Gate afterward, I'll specifically look for some."

Although he said so, he just drank another mouthful of wine.

>

"A very rare flavor." Jiang Wang nonchalantly grabbed a handful and popped one into his mouth.

As for finishing his practice in someone else's car, drinking fine wine, eating fruit, and then packing up to leave—that kind of thing would be beneath this peerless genius. However, grabbing a handful of fruit and not finishing it all immediately That he could certainly do.

It should be fine to walk and eat.

So, it's quite reasonable that some were accidentally brought home.

Since there's all that left anyway, I'll leave it for my sister to eat later. It wouldn't do to get gossiped about, would it

In his own world of logic, Jiang Qingyang stood firm.

But Xiu Yuan remained silent.

Xiuyuan Yi fell silent, and Jiang Wang immediately felt awkward.

Holding a handful of moonlight sand, I hesitate to eat it. It seems almost rude not to, but eating it feels strange too. I guess I'll just bite the bullet and eat it anyway. It feels a bit like trying to cover up something.

I've been racking my brain, trying to figure this out... it's really tormenting me.

"It's raining," Xiu Yuan suddenly said.

Only then did Jiang Wang realize that at some point... the screams from the courtroom had already ceased.

The carriage began to move again, silently pulling away from here.

Xiu Yuan looked up and saw the top of the carriage automatically slide open to reveal a skylight.

Only red rain, fine and scattered, could be seen falling from the sky.

When a real person passes away, heaven and earth weep blood... I thought everyone would share my grief.

The carriage moved through the bustling city of Linzi, in the eastern domain. Xiu Yuan remained silent, as did Jiang Wang. Far off, from somewhere unknown, came a faint song drifting on the wind.

The voice sang —

Tonight again, the willow branches bend. The Moon Goddess casts a cup of wine onto the ground...

"Light notes, old feelings shine through. Traces of tears still resemble the delicate blue and white porcelain." (1)

Jiang Wang thought, perhaps he had misheard.

For the past few days, there has been a ban on entertainment in the city.

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"Tonight again, bending willows..." — How deep is the love in "Butterfly Lovers' Cap," A Parting at Twilight: Bending Willows.

I was supposed to have enough saved up and start adding chapters and repaying my debts. But things have been really hectic these days, leaving me with no time left over for anything else.

3, 《》 The physical book sales are doing well. It is the No. 1 bestseller in youth literature on Dangdang's new books and ranked sixth overall. Thank you for your support. I have been making time to sign every day these past few days, signing 500 copies a day, striving to get all the signed editions out before mid-month.

Once I'm done with my work, I'll pay you back.

>ly taken. Especially with Wei Bo and Zhuge Jun, those two who claimed to be "loyal" to the new lord, right before his eyes, he couldn't help but feel uneasy in his heart.But overall, the deal struck o...