1045 The Dreadful Person In The Way (2/2)

What was the Abbey Dean thinking about?

She told Tang that Ning Que and herself were certain that the Abbey Dean would not kill Ye Su. But they were proven wrong. There must be something missing in their wrong speculation.

”I won't feel at ease unless I know what he is planning.” Yu Lian walked toward the city and left the prevailing darkness behind, as well as the Golden Tribe Royal Court. It was of no significance compared with what she was worrying about.

...

...

The Transmission Array in Helan City was connected to the imperial palace in the Tang Empire, which meant people inside the imperial palace had heard about Ye Su's death before Yu Lian received it in Helan City. It was very depressing.

Li Yu looked pale either because of her lack of exposure in the sunlight or because of some other reasons. She seemed calm, but she clenched her hands harder on the chair and that showed her anxiety.

It was actually more than anxiety. She was very nervous or even scared. But she was currently the assistant governor of the empire and had to be a role model for the young emperor. Therefore she could not unveil her sensations.

The young emperor was going to take over the reins the following year. Being taught by the Eldest Brother, he had made outstanding achievements in terms of virtue and capability. But he was still too young and had never been confronted by such situations. Recalling the fierce battle a few years ago, he could not help but be scared.

Zeng Jing, the Grand Secretary stood by the stairs and said, ”As an emperor, you should stay calm even when mountains collapse, when rivers dry, and when the universe overturns. You are a role model for your people.”

The young emperor felt nervous and looked at Li Yu. He said, ”I understand… I'm just a bit worried whether the Thirteenth Uncle could stop that person.”

Zeng Jing, the Grand Secretary yelled, ”So what? That person had visited Chang'an previously. At that time, Lady Chu gathered all of the women and children to the Vermilion Bird Avenue as they were holding their blades. Elder Chao brought his friends and fellows together as they were scorning him in the chilling snow. Everyone in Chang'an stood against him with their weapons and stones. None of us were afraid!”

Li Yu walked to the emperor, held his hand and asked gently, ”Still scared?”

The young emperor was stimulated by Zeng Jing's words. He blushed and his courage was boosted. He held her hand and claimed, ”Not anymore! I won't be afraid even if that person were to come into the imperial palace.”

The emperor and ministers were anxious. The palace was intensively guarded but the gate was left open. The front gate of the imperial palace of Tang was wide open as if they were welcoming some important guest.

Everyone from the government officials to the common people was getting ready for a battle. They were prepared to confront a formidable enemy. It was certainly not because of Ye Su's death, but because of something else.

...

...

The iron arrow did not appear in the capital of Song. There was only sand and snow dancing above the square, but no whistling arrows.

Where was Ning Que? And what was he doing? When the legendary Thirteen Primordial Arrows were aimed at a target, it required very strict conditions. However every condition was satisfied ever since last night.

The Arcane Tome of Sand in Long Qing's hand, the strength of faith Ye Su had collected, and the River and Mountain Sandbox brought by the Fourth Brother had all illuminated the Qi of Heaven and Earth here, and made the target clear enough for an arrow shot.

When Tang Xiaotang jumped down from the sky, Long Qing became as bright as a golden flower in the ocean of consciousness, just like he was many years ago on the snow cliff in Tianqi Mountain. Ning Que paralyzed Long Qing with a single shot back then. Why did he not make a shot today?

Was Long Qing right that he was waiting for Ye Su's death?

The snowfall had lasted for a few days in Chang'an. Snow kept falling last night and accumulated on the city walls, on his clothes, and even his face.

Ning Que's eyebrows turned white because of the snow and because he was extremely cold. The chill came from inside rather than outside, as he was fully concentrated on somewhere else.

He was holding the jet-black iron bow extremely tightly. The bow was pulled to the fullest, like a bright moon. The bowstring was stretched taut. It sank into the three fingers that were holding it and looked horrifying.

He had been pulling the bow like that from last night until this morning. He never switched the posture as if he was a lifeless statue. Perhaps that was why the snow had accumulated on his eyebrows.

Some snow fell on his shoulders and was melted by the warmth of his body, then was frozen by the chilling wind immediately. It reflected the morning glow as if it was the shining colored glaze formed by grit melted in flames.

Throughout the night, the iron bow never moved.

He saw the radiating light in the Divine Halls last night, and the illuminated coastline in the east this morning. Then he saw two flowing lights between Heaven and Earth. They were the Eldest Brother and the Drunkard.

He stayed in Chang'an but was aware of everything that was happening in the world. He knew that many things had happened from last night. He saw many powerful figures fighting fiercely.

But he did not loosen the bowstring. He did not make the shot. It was not because he was hesitating on whether or not to save Ye Su. He was cold-blooded, but not like Lian Sheng. He could watch Ye Su die, but not him being killed.

The morning glow shone on him. He sensed what was happening on the coastline in the east. He was not willing to see it, but he could not make the shot.

His black hair was bound up tightly. Sweat steamed from his hair and rose into the chilling morning wind. He held the iron bow and looked ahead. Sweat fell onto his face and melted the snow on his eyebrows.

The iron arrow never left the bowstring because someone was standing in its way. He had to target that person and leave everything else aside ever since last night.

For Ning Que, that person was the most horrifying enemy as well as the most alluring bait. He aimed the arrow at him out of fear and out of the determination to kill.

In front of Chang'an, the fields were covered by snow. There was a priest in an indigo gown standing in the snow field. Ning Que's iron arrow had been aimed at him ever since last night. The priest in indigo gown held his hands behind his back. He seemed calm and tranquil despite the iron arrow being aimed at him.

The Thirteen Primordial Arrows were legendary killing weapons. They scared the proud barbarian A Da as well as the Drunkard. But the priest in indigo gown could not care less.

His indigo gown fluttered in the snow storm as if he was a sage, like he used to be many years ago when he fought the battle in Chang'an on his own.

Today, he came down from the Peach Mountain and visited Chang'an again. He stayed in the snowstorm for the whole night in front of the city. Ning Que held his bow for the whole night too. He shone throughout the night, and was still shining when the dawn came and the torches on the city wall died out.

He shone like a torch that caught Ning Que's attention, and locked his iron arrow and his spirit. He made Ning Que paralyzed even if he could see the entire world clearly.

Because he was the first in Taoism. The first in Taosim throughout a thousand years.