Chapter 649: Chapter 644: Three-character Bone Book: The "Heart" Section (Part 2)
Anyone possessing a Sword Heart is a hero on the path of Sword Dao, without exception.
The last side is even more peculiar—a mirror.
However, the inside of the mirror is bleak, with no anomalies.
Lin Xiaosu understood the two sides of the heart, but as for this side, he knew nothing, unable to decipher even a bit of information.
In one night, his comprehension increased tenfold.
His combat power increased several times.
This is the terrifying power of the Three-character Bone Book.
Lin Xiaosu took a deep breath, calming his heartbeat, slowly put on his clothes, and walked out of the bedroom.
Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat, and he immediately saw the person sitting in the Red Pavilion.
Seventh Prince Hong Yun!
Hong Yun did not come alone; he had someone with him, standing as straight as a lance.
If he guessed correctly, this person must be...
Lin Xiaosu stepped out of the room, and with a swish, Qing Ying landed in front of him: "His Highness is here!"
"Follow me over!"
Lin Xiaosu strode out and approached the Red Pavilion.
He bowed deeply: "Your Highness graced this humble abode, yet the servants failed to awaken me. I truly apologize for the lapse in protocol. I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness!"
The Seventh Prince laughed heartily: "Mr. Li, please don’t blame them. It was by my strict order that they were not to disturb you. You have been laboring diligently over these days and need rest."
"Your Highness’s magnanimity embarrasses me!" Lin Xiaosu raised his eyes, looking at the person beside him.
With a thud, the person knelt before Lin Xiaosu: "Xuelong pays respect to my benefactor!"
"General Xuelong!" Lin Xiaosu extended a hand, suddenly grasped Xuelong’s shoulder, and pulled him up: "You are the Commander at the border, a hero protecting our land. Your kneeling is something I absolutely cannot accept."
Xuelong slowly raised his head: "In my life, I have never accepted favors, but Mr. Li intervened several times, aiding in clearing my name, allowing my parents to escape their cage, and freeing 127 of my clan’s female members from the Imperial Music Bureau. Such a great favor, even if my blood were drained, I could not repay it. Please, accept my three bows!"
His words, spoken with emotional agitation, were somewhat inappropriate.
In any feudal dynasty, matters involving His Majesty are not for others to claim credit for.
"General Xuelong!" Lin Xiaosu sternly said: "The one who pardoned you from the Heavenly Prison was His Majesty. If you wish to repay the Emperor’s grace, then serve the nation in battle in the future!"
With a sudden lift of his hand, General Xuelong responded and stood up.
His heart suddenly trembled.
Astonished and dumbfounded.
Xuelong was sincere in his bow, and Lin Xiaosu, in his urgency, just lifted him up. With that lift, General Xuelong couldn’t withstand it and was forcibly pulled up.
No one else knew about this strength, but Xuelong was shocked inside. How could this Mr. Li possess such physical strength?
At that moment, he had no time to ponder this. Seeing Lin Xiaosu’s serious expression, he dared not insist further.
The Seventh Prince spoke: "Xuelong, Mr. Li is an understanding person. Your feelings are enough, no need to be rigid with formality."
"Understood!"
"Head back home; your entire household is waiting for you to settle things after their ordeal."
Indeed, when Xuelong was imprisoned, hundreds in his household either went to jail or the Imperial Music Bureau. No one expected Xuelong to return; half of the mansion was already dismantled, valuables moved. Now that he returned, it was akin to setting up a new home, with plenty of work to do.
Xuelong was sincere. When the Seventh Prince released him from the Heavenly Prison, he was told he needed to thank someone, and this man made it his priority to bow to Lin Xiaosu first, even if his eighty-year-old parents were still sitting anxiously by the roadside at that moment.
Xuelong gave a deep bow to both: "I, the humble general, take my leave now."
Lin Xiaosu nodded: "Qing Ying, see General Xuelong out!"
"Yes!"
Qing Ying escorted General Xuelong out of the mansion.
Only two people remained in the Red Pavilion.
Lin Xiaosu lifted a teacup and refilled the Seventh Prince’s tea: "Your Highness entered the palace last night, and finally, it was a success."
The Seventh Prince smiled: "I now have a feeling that difficult matters under heaven seem to become easier in Mr. Li’s hands."
"You mean to say that when you entered the Heart Pavilion that day to find He Yun, you were looking for the wrong person?"
"Haha, it can’t be considered wrong!" the Seventh Prince laughed heartily: "If I hadn’t sought He Yun, how could I have provoked this true genius to come out and assist?"
A light-hearted conversation instantly eased the atmosphere.
"How will General Xuelong be arranged?" Lin Xiaosu seemed casual.
"This... Father hasn’t made arrangements yet. What’s your opinion?" On major matters, consulting Lin Xiaosu first seemed to have become a habit for this prince.
"If possible, let him return to Zheyuntai!" Lin Xiaosu said, "I have a premonition that if Yan Country truly engages in battle, Zheyuntai is perhaps not something ordinary people can defend."
"If they truly engage..." The Seventh Prince frowned slightly: "Your words seem to imply... do you mean the ongoing battles between the two countries aren’t real?"
Lin Xiaosu said, "I’ve seen Zheyuntai’s battle reports in the Heart Pavilion, and some details are very intriguing."
The Seventh Prince was suddenly taken aback: "Battle reports from Zheyuntai in the Heart Pavilion?"
Lin Xiaosu smiled: "Have you realized something’s not right, Your Highness?"
"Of course it’s not right! Battle reports from Zheyuntai should only be presented to the Ministry of War, and should by no means be held by a Jianghu pavilion."
"Minister of War Li Yide was originally a chess piece of the Heart Pavilion; any military information from the Ministry of War would appear in the Heart Pavilion. This in itself is not surprising. What’s surprising is the change in the intensity of the wars reflected in the battle reports over decades. Ten years ago was the fiercest intensity, but over the past decade, it gradually weakened. In the past three years, it’s been mere skirmishes. Especially when Xuelong was taken down and the border military morale was unstable, this should have been the best opportunity for the enemy country to invade, yet they chose to cease fire as if they had a mutual understanding."