308 The Long Journey to Heavenly Revelations
Although they were supposed to arrive in Heavenly Revelations at the same time, they were now missing the one who had always been their leader.
Although they deliberately waited another three days, they waited in vain for the news they had been expecting.
Although the Snow Moon City Spiderweb which claimed to be number one under Heaven in gathering intelligence, already brought them verified news, at this moment, the three of them were unwilling to accept this reality.
"Impossible!" Lei Wujie shook his head furiously. "That’s impossible. Something must have gone wrong somewhere! Something must be wrong!"
The agent from Snow Moon City shook his head. "I saw the corpse with my own eyes and confirmed that there was no pulse."
"Impossible!" Lei Wujie roared, "Da-shixiong has escaped death so many times, so many times! Why not this time? This time, he didn’t even have to look out for us. Without us dragging him down, he couldn’t possibly die!"
"Can I trouble you to visit Tang Clan again?" Sikong Qianluo whispered as she wiped away her tears.
The agent shook his head. "The Spiderweb’s information is never wrong, and there’s no need to review it. I also want to tell all of you that this information is not true, that Tang Lian is not dead. But unfortunately, this is the information I have for you. Farewell." The agent stood up and turned to leave. Steward Xu hurriedly got up to see him off, but the agent waved his hand and walked straight out.
"This is Snow Moon City’s Spiderweb, as cold-hearted as the rumours say," Xiao Se remarked quietly. He raised the cup of tea on the table and took a sip, then sighed before he hurled it to the ground. "Why isn’t this wine?"
"Young master," Steward Xu whispered.
"Leave us for a while. Don’t let anyone disturb us. We wish to be quiet for a while," Xiao Se said wearily. "For the next few days, whoever brings a visitation card to the Residence, I won’t meet them."
"Yes, sir." Steward Xu responded and took his leave.
Sikong Qianlou looked at Xiao Se, her eyes wet with tears. "Da-shixiong is dead."
Xiao Se stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. "Yes, da-shixiong is dead. So we have to live on properly for him."
For the first time, Sikong Qianluo felt Xiao Se’s warm embrace, and her grief settled little by little. She nodded heavily. "Okay!"
Lei Wujie held the Heart sword in his hand, his tone bitter. "Hidden River! I will make them pay for this with their blood!"
"Don't let hatred occupy your heart, Lei Wujie." Xiao Se spoke softly. "Tang Lian-shixiong died because of me. This vengeance is on me."
Another three days passed and Fallen Snow Villa was still as quiet as before.
An endless stream of people came to visit, the visitation cards flying into Fallen Snow Villa like confetti. However, Steward Xu shook his head as he went through each one.
"What's the matter?" A servant boy standing nearby asked.
"These visitation cards…" Steward Xu shook his head, sighed, and threw those visitation cards onto the table. "Too worthless."
Although many people came, not a single one of them was worthy of letting Steward Xu inform Xiao Se to meet.
The true high-ranking nobility were still watching - was the Xiao Se who stepped into Heavenly Revelations City today a true dragon who could vie for the throne, or a pheasant whose wings had been broken off?
"The people of Heavenly Revelations City are still so snobbish," Steward Xu said quietly.
"Steward, isn’t that… the young miss from the Ye family that used to come to the Residence to visit the young master?" The servant boy suddenly said.
Steward Xu immediately sprung up from where he was standing and walked to the door. Indeed, the visitor was the daughter of Beili’s General-in-chief. He couldn’t help but display his joy. "Miss Ye, you’re here."
Ye Ruoyi walked to the door and said with a smile, "Steward Xu, I haven’t seen you in so long."
Steward Xu flapped his hand. "What’s there to see in this old man. More importantly, it’s you, young miss, who hasn’t seen my young master in many years."
"Not that many years. In fact, I just met him a few days ago," Ye Ruoyi said.
Steward Xu was taken aback for a moment but he didn’t ask further and immediately said, "I'll report your arrival, Miss Ye. Please wait a moment."
"It’s fine, Steward Xu. Please go ahead," Ye Ruoyi said.
Steward Xu immediately turned around and ran towards the backyard. At this moment, Xiao Se, Lei Wujie, Sikong Qianluo and the others were training in the backyard. The three of them had just entered the Unfettered Heavenly Realm so they needed to train even more diligently to stabilise their realm.
"Young master, there’s a guest," Steward Xu announced loudly as he walked in.
"Guest?" Xiao Se frowned. "Didn't I say I won’t see anyone?"
"This guest is no ordinary person. She’s the young miss from the Ye family." Steward Xu smiled. "She’s the General’s daughter who grew up with you. Now, she’s even more beautiful than before."
"Miss Ye is here," Lei Wujie exclaimed with joy.
Xiao Se thought for a while and nodded. "Let her wait for me in the main hall."
Ye Ruoyi stood in the main hall and looked around. She hadn't been here for many years, but nothing had changed at all. If she just closed her eyes, she could go back to four years ago. Back then, Xiao Se was still a stunningly brilliant and articulate youth, yet his arrogance and stubbornness was somewhat similar to Lei Wujie. As for herself back then, she was always standing behind him, looking up at him, hoping for…
"Ruoyi, you’re here." A voice interrupted her memories. Ye Ruoyi turned around and saw Xiao Se, Lei Wujie, and Sikong Qianluo coming in from outside. The three of them had not walked out of Fallen Snow Villa for six days now, but their expressions were a little haggard. Especially Sikong Qianluo, who had obvious tear tracks still on her face. Ye Ruoyi sighed. "I’ve also heard the news about Tang-shixiong. I’m also very sad. Tang-shixiong saved me in the past, and when we were in Snow Moon City, he often took care of me. I want revenge for him too. But today, what we must do is not let da-shixiong down."
"You’re here… on behalf of the General-in-chief?" Xiao Se asked suddenly.
"No, I don't represent my father. His intention is to help you ascend to the throne and become Emperor so that he can gain even greater power. But I am different. The reason I came to Fallen Snow Villa is to be your counselor," Ye Ruoyi said earnestly.
"Counselor?" Lei Wujie and Sikong Qianluo exchanged a glance.
Xiao Se was not surprised, but said, "Is there a difference between the two?"
"You are a dragon, and I only want to be a gust of wind. The wind that will help you ascend to that seat in the Ninth Heaven," Ye Ruoyi said slowly.
There were many legendary stories in the world. For example, a young man who will one day become a famous general met the future emperor in the middle of nowhere. The emperor reached a hand for the young man and said, "Come, let’s go together and see everything under Heaven." But there were also many secrets that were never told. For example, a sly and hidden counselor who stood behind the ruler, watching the chessboard and calculating the world under Heaven. Those chess pieces would eventually become living people and would also come to die under his machinations.
A team that wanted to vie for the throne needed warriors and kings but also needed counselors.
This position could not be filled by Lei Wujie nor Sikong Qianluo. Tang Lian could have been calm enough, but he was still not cunning enough. As for Xiao Se, he could not be his own counselor if he had aspirations to become the Emperor. However, Ye Ruoyi could do this. She was smart enough, calm enough, and she even held a very strong ace up her sleeve.
Xiao Se's eyes lit up and he chuckled. "Ruoyi, you’ve come looking for me. Are you forcing me to take this first step?"
"Yes. The long journey to Heavenly Revelations must begin at some point. It's time to take the first step." Ye Ruoyi nodded.
"The first step is to tell the whole of Heavenly Revelations that you’re back.
"You’re back to fight for the throne!"