Chapter 510: The Distance Between Daybreak and Evernigh (1/2)

t [V6C40 – Sorrow of a Silent Parting]

Lin Xitang beckoned Song Zining to sit down. After the two exchanged a couple of words, Lin Xitang asked, “Is the Ningyuan Group your private industry?”

“Yes,” Song Zining replied.

“I heard your heavy machinery plants and a number of other estates around the Mercy County are in trouble. I can help you deal with them if you so wish.”

Song Zining didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he pondered for a while before saying helplessly, “The ancestral clan is, after all, where I was born. So, let’s just consider those worldly possessions as payment for raising me.”

Both his tone and expression were rather relaxed. It would seem he hadn’t taken the property confiscations to heart at all. It was as though he had never considered the possibility that Lin Xitang’s words just now were a subtle promise. Had Song Zining taken this opportunity to break free from the Song clan, he would not only regain all of his personal estates, but he would also receive a share of resources fitting of his inheritor rank. Taking it one step further wasn’t impossible, either.

Song Zining then made his intentions clearer. “A couple of friends and I have built a small base on Evernight Continent. It is rather insignificant compared to the major clans, but at least, there’s no one to hold us back.”

Lin Xitang withdrew his gaze with a smile. “Blackflow is indeed a land of miracles.”

Song Zining said calmly, “The city lord, Qianye, and I both graduated from Yellow Springs. Five years as a classmate, and two as a partner.”

“Two years,” Lin Xitang’s expression was stirred, “that’s truly rare.”

“Martial Xitang, you probably know how perilous the test is without taking those partner points.” Song Zining’s expression turned warmer. “I have already learned divination back then. Although my meager abilities weren’t enough to peer into heaven’s mysteries, it was quite easy to observe a person’s heart. No thought could escape me even if that person doesn’t put it into action.

“But Qianye never wavered, not even once, no matter how desperate the situation, or how easy the opportunity. Even I might not be able to be able to remain without a single thought. It was I who proposed that we split up after two years of being partners. Myriad life and the three thousand daos only await to be proven, and I didn’t want a friend’s blood on my hand.” Song Zining smiled lightly. “I’ve likely incurred your ridicule by showing such weakness as a Yellow Springs graduate.”

Lin Xitang listened in silence, then said, “The Yellow Springs Camp follows the law of natural selection. It’s the right outcome that you two were able to walk out of it alive. I heard Qianye is now working for the Zhao clan?”

Song Zining replied with a smile, “That can also be considered fate. A ‘mole house’ of the Ningyuan Group in charge of the Serene South County encountered some trouble. I was in a dangerous situation back then, so I could only ask Qianye to help me. After the delivery, he got into a conflict with some of the Zhao clan people, which, in turn, alerted the fourth young noble of the Zhao clan. But unexpectedly, the fourth young noble took an interest in him instead.” Song Zining said with a laugh, “This brat has always been quite lucky.”

Lin Xitang smiled faintly after listening to Song Zining. This “mole house” referred to the double-identity trade channel. Lin Xitang was even clearer than Song Zining regarding the rebel army affairs in Serene South. It was just that such an insignificant matter would only be in the form of a brief summary by the time it had reached him.

Their conversation ended soon afterward. There was an undisguisable exhaustion on Lin Xitang’s countenance by the time Song Zining excused himself. From this, one could see that the rumors of him suffering a divination backlash weren’t totally unfounded.

Zhang Boqian was standing there when Song Zining returned to the courtyard—even his posture was unchanged. Zhang Boqian looked at Song Zining from head to toe as the latter went over to say farewell. “You can also seek Muyi If you have any troubles in the future.”

This promise held great weight.

Song Zining exhaled deeply after walking out of the main doors of the central camp and quickly realized his robe was entirely drenched in sweat. He didn’t put up appearances after seeing Zhang Muyi and said with a wry smile, “Marshal Zhang is indeed awe-inspiring.”

Zhang Muyi replied sympathetically, “We still feel the pressure despite frequently receiving Marshal Boqian’s guidance.” He then placed a hand on Song Zining’s shoulder and said, “Come, let’s go for a drink! It’s on me!”

Song Zining agreed with a laugh. His greatest profit this time was Zhang Boqian’s word. The Zhang clan’s expression of goodwill afforded him benefits from many aspects. As for the other matter, that was Qianye’s battlefield, and no one could fight it for him.

Lin Xitang wasn’t resting when Zhang Boqian walked into the study. Instead, he had gotten up and was gazing out of the window.

Zhang Boqian glanced at him and asked, “You saw Song Zining but didn’t manage to solve the problem?”

Lin Xitang laughed. “Song Zining’s words were all true, and his reactions were all genuine. Even the sentiments he revealed weren’t a pretense. But, I still didn’t get all the answers, especially the most important part.”

“Why don’t you meet that Zhao Qianye directly?”

Lin Xitang shook his head. “No need. Whether or not it really is him, there’s no benefit in being related to me at this time.”

Zhang Boqian looked at the marshal for a moment. “In truth, I also want to know who exactly it was that made you suffer such a setback and even forced you to endure it. Outsiders think it’s political, but you and I both know the matter with Red Scorpion had nothing to do with me. I’ve been shouldering this blame for long enough. I’m really not used to such injustice.”

Lin Xitang spoke slowly, “That was my fault and no one else’s. Let’s leave all grudges and gratitude until the end of this war of national fate.”

…

At this moment, Qianye was still on his endless exploration journey through the forest covered in purple substance. A vampire viscount flew out and crashed into a tree trunk before collapsing onto the ground. He struggled to clamber up but froze in place immediately after turning over—East Peak was already upon his neck.

Qianye looked intently at the viscount and asked word by word, “I’ll let you die swiftly if you tell me what I want to know. If you don’t know or are unwilling to talk, then I’ll cut out half of your blood core and toss it over there.”