CH 32

The second day, Jiang Chao Ge took advantage of mealtime to go find Yu Ren Shu and Tian Rong, revealing his own plans to them.

Yu Ren Shu heard it and frowned severely, “You really are too daring. If Qi Ling Feng finds out you want to release that woman, we will lose even our last friend.”

“Relax. As long as you properly cooperate, I will make Qi Ling Feng believe that Qi Ran Jun released Ruan Qian Xiu.”

“Then how are you going to explain it to Qi Ran Jun’s side?”

“It’s fine as long as he doesn’t admit to it. Even if Qi Ling Feng thinks that he released her, he can’t do anything to him. At that time if Qi Ran Jun once again pleads for leniency, Qi Ling Feng may possibly pardon her.”

“This plan, gave you told Qi Ran Jun?”

Jiang Chao Ge blinked his eyes, “No.”

Yu Ren Shu was slightly angry, “So right now it’s just your own wishful thinking. You went to see Ruan Qian Xiu without even discussing with me. You told Ruan Qian Xiu that Long Xiang will pledge loyalty to Qi Clan without telling Long Xiang. In other words, you don’t have half a bargaining chip, yet you want me and Tian Rong to act according to your hypothesis and then let Qi Ran Jun plead leniency for Long Xiang. Jiang Chao Ge ah Jiang Chao Ge, isn’t this equivalent to trying to build a house without a foundation?”

Jiang Chao Ge said with a smile: “I’ll tell you a story from my world.”

“I don’t have time to listen to stories.”

“Try and listen. It’s very interesting. The story goes like this, a poor young man and the daughter of the city owner is in love with each other. But he knew that the city owner would never agree to him marrying his daughter. A wise person decided to help him. The wise person went to the biggest gold bank in the city and asked the boss of the gold bank if he was willing to employ the city owner’s son in law as his manager. The gold bank boss heard this and naturally agreed. Then, the wise person went to find the city owner and asked him if he was willing for his own daughter to be wed to the manager of the biggest gold bank in the city. The city owner heard this, felt his daughter quite liked him and the young man was so honourable, so he also gladly agreed. Thus, the young man gained both wealth and a beautiful woman. The city owner’s daughter was wed to her young and promising sweetheart. The gold bank gained the city owner’s son in law as a manager. The city owner was able to see his daughter happy.” Jiang Chao Ge smiled lightly: “I’ve always really appreciated this story. Not because it teaches me how to create something from nothing, but because it teaches me that satisfying the interests of all sides is the best deal.”

Yu Ren Shu was stunned, looking at Jiang Chao Ge with a kind of incredulous gaze.

“Shu, cooperate with me a little. In the end, we’ll all be able to get what we want.”

Yu Ren Shu hesitated, “Alright then. You say what’s to be done.”

“You go find Qi Ran Jun personally, tell him, Ruan Qian Xiu agrees to leave Qi Headquarters with my help. Ruan Qian Xiu is unwilling to owe him a favour and doesn’t accept his help, so we will help her with this. The condition is to allow us to see Long Xiang before the trial and he has to plead with Qi Ling Feng to pardon Long Xiang. The price is Long Xiang will atone for his crimes with meritorious acts, pledging loyalty to Qi Clan.”

Zhi Xuan snorted coldly, “Human women are really inexplicable. Why doesn’t she agree when someone is willing to release her? Don’t tell me she likes being locked up?”

“I’m guessing, Qi Ran Jun has definitely expressed that he wanted to help Ruan Qian Xiu regain her freedom before, but with the implication that she become his people. Even if he didn’t say it directly, she could hear the hidden implication. That woman is very prideful and definitely wouldn’t agree.”

Yu Ren Shu said: “With Qi Ran Jun’s status, it’s impossible to marry her. Moreover with such a corrupt reputation, I’m afraid that she can’t even become his concubine. She cannot accept right?”

Tian Rong said: “Then what if Qi Ran Jun doesn’t agree? He wouldn’t be able to gain Ruan Qian Xiu then.”

“I think Qi Ran Jun isn’t that type of person.” Jiang Chao Ge patted Yu Ren Shu’s shoulder, “Its all on you to persuade him. You have to say it emotionally. Qi Ran Jun is amenable to coaxing but not coercion.”

“What if he is?”

Jiang Chao Ge said with a smile: “If he is, I have other plans.”

Yu Ren Shu was skeptical but ultimately still agreed.

Everything progressed smoothly according to Jiang Chao Ge’s plan. The second night, that is the night before the trail, he was secretly taken to the dungeon to meet Long Xiang.

Long Xiang saw him appear and was not the least bit surprised. That youth still maintained that maturity and icy arrogance surpassing his age, looking at him fixedly.

Jiang Chao Ge drew back his neck, “This dungeon is really cold. Can you sleep here?”

“The cold and not being able to sleep doesn’t matter.”

Jiang Chao Ge smiled, “True. Your head might be dropping tomorrow after all.”

Long Xiang said: “Not necessarily if you came. Speak, what do you want to do?”

Jiang Chao Ge sat opposite him, lifting the manacles and leg irons on his hands and feet, asking frankly: “Do you want to live?”

“Yes.”

“I have a way for you to survive, do you want to listen?”

“Speak.”

“At the trail tomorrow, you must not admit you killed someone from the Qi Clan at the cost of death. Qi Ran Jun will plead leniency for you, allowing you to atone for your crime through good deeds. Henceforth you will pledge loyalty to Qi Clan.”

“I already said, I…..”

“Hear me out.” Jiang Chao Ge stopped him, “After you keep you life, Third Highness will request to Qi Ling Feng to allow us to bring you with us to search for Heaven grade spirit weapons. At that time, you can leave Qi Headquarters, recovering your freedom.”

“What do you want for helping me?”

Jiang Chao Ge said bluntly: “I want you to follow me.”

Long Xiang laughed coldly, “Then how is it different from staying in Qi Headquarters?”

“Of course it’s different. You hate Qi Clan but you can’t be regarded as hating me right? Moreover, I will repay you generously. It’s better than you running this way and that obtaining pecuniary awards. The most important thing is, you are free from beginning to end. If you are unwilling to follow me, you can leave anytime.”

Long Xiang’s dull blue pupils flickered, weighing up Jiang Chao Ge’s words.

Jiang Chao Ge said with emphasis, “If you want to live, that’s your only hope.”

Long Xiang shook his flaming red hair, eyes becoming firm and persistent, “Alright. If I can leave Qi Headquarters, I will owe you a favour. Before you find one Heaven grade spirit weapon, I definitely won’t leave.”

Jiang Chao Ge said with a smile: “Good!”

Qi Ran Jun and Long Xiang had been settled. What remained, was how to get Ruan Qian Xiu out of Qi Headquarters. Actually, he shouldn’t worry too much about that. Qi Ran Jun was more proactive than him. They planned to take Ruan Qian Xiu along when they went to find Heaven grade spirit weapons.

Long Xiang’s trial, Jiang Chao Ge had no qualifications to attend. Yu Ren Shu went. Although he had a well formed plan, he was still somewhat nervous. He was somewhat anxious the whole morning.

Zhi Xuan looked at him walking to and fro in the room and finally became impatient, “Can you just sit down for a bit? You will shorten your lifespan this way.”

Jiang Chao Ge couldn’t help but smile, “How will this shorten my lifespan?”

“I heard that humans will shorten their lifespan if they are too stressed. Eat too much lifespan is shortened. Don’t exercise lifespan is shortened. Too cold too hot lifespan is shortened. Crying, being drunk lifespan is shortened….. why are humans so troublesome? Dying at the drop of a hat.” Finishing speaking, Zhi Xuan became angry by himself.

Jiang Chao Ge laughed out loud: “What you’re saying is quite reasonable. Humans are just this fragile. But sometimes they are also very unyielding. So even though they’re short lived, they can multiply for millions of years.”

“Simply absurd. Why is it that there’s only one an ancient spirit beast like me but thousands upon thousands of humans as small and insignificant as ants? Obviously I am both stronger and more long lived.”

“Perhaps it really is because of that, that there is only one of you. If there were lots and lots of Qi Lin, I’m afraid this world cannot bear it. Other races will all extinguish, so the world can only create one Qi Lin.”

Zhi Xuan nodded. It seemed as if these words made him very comfortable.

At this moment, Yu Ren Shu returned. Jiang Chao Ge went to meet him hurriedly, “How did it go?”

Yu Ren Shu was somewhat excited, “Everything went very smoothly. Long Xiang didn’t admit the truth no matter what. Qi Ling Feng has wavered. Qi Ran Jun will act as the go between.”

Jiang Chao Ge let out a breath. As long as they didn’t immediately bring him to trial, it proved that Qi Ling Feng’s determination to kill Long Xiang wasn’t that strong. Things will definitely take a favourable turn.

“In addition, Qi Ling Feng helped me find a place that may possibly hold a Heaven grade spirit weapon based on the State Preceptor’s clues. It’s just seven hundred Li to the east of Yu Fa City, on Shao Xian Mountain. Accumulated snow covers it all year round. There are many ferocious beasts on the mountain, no one dares go. We can leave anytime. I spoke according to what you said and told them we are searching for a specific spirit weapon. If it isn’t that one, then we’ll give the Heaven grade spirit weapons we find to him.”

“Very good. When Long Xiang has been pardoned, we’ll leave immediately.”

After waiting two days, Qi Ran Jun brought good news, saying that after Long Xiang agreed to serve Qi Clan, Qi Ling Feng decided to pardon him. Yu Ren Shu immediately suggested that they bring Long Xiang to Shao Xian Mountain to search for a Heaven grade spirit weapon. Because of Yu Ren Shu’s reputation, although he felt something was not quite right, Qi Ling Feng could only agree.

On the day of departure, Qi Ran Jun sent people to hide Ruan Qian Xiu in the hidden compartment of their horse carriage in advance. That horse carriage held food, clothing and expenses Qi Ran Jun prepared for them. Qi Ran Jun had specially ordered people to make it for them.

Qi Ling Geng delivered them to the entrance of Qi Headquarters but Qi Ran Jun escorted them out of the city. After leaving Yu Fa City about ten Li, Qi Ran Jun called for his own people and horses to stop. He dismounted his horse, releasing Ruan Qian Xiu from the hidden compartment.

Ruan Qian Xiu had changed into plain but elegant black clothes, long hair drawn into the simplest bun. A face like white jade was elegant and moving. Her tall height made her body seem somewhat thin but at the same time, there was a pure air unable to be hidden somewhat more heroic than even a male.

Qi Ran Jun looked at her painfully, “Qian Xiu, you’re really going to go?”

Ruan Qian Xiu said indifferently, “Even if Yu Fa City has a place I can still call home, I wouldn’t want to waste time here.”

Qi Ran Jun’s resolute face was filled with grief, “Qian Xiu, I want to give you so much, yet you don’t want a single thing. Why are you so stubborn?”

“Second Brother, a lot of things we’ve spoken about multiple times before, don’t say it again.” Ruan Qian Xiu looked at Qi Ran Jun, eyes somewhat sad as well, “Thank you for your many years of care, otherwise my time in Qi Headquarters would’ve been harder to bear. If there is an opportunity in my remaining years, I will definitely repay you.”

Qi Ran Jun drew Ruan Qian Xiu into a tight embrace uncontrollably. His fists were clenched extremely tightly, body trembling slightly.

Ruan Qian Xiu gave a light sigh, “Second Brother, thank you……. Sorry.”

Qi Ran Jun took a deep breath and released her, taking a pair of sharp crescent moon blades as bright as silver from a pouch on the horse, “Your weapon.”

Ruan Qian Xiu saw the crescent moon blades, eyes becoming spirited. She stroked them carefully, extremely valuable.

Qi Ran Jun took a step back, forcing himself to turn away, “You guys can go. Qian Xiu, don’t forget about Second Brother.”

Ruan Qian Xiu said softly: “I will never forget.” She flipped her body onto a horse and walked forward without even looking back.

Jiang Chao Ge looked back and seeing that she’d caught up, yelled heroically: “Depart.”

Depart towards that unknown dangerous location.