Jian Qinwan bit her lower lip, her heart filled with questions.
"Looking back at the world, no one can compare!"
This sentence perfectly described the Heavenly General!
But, could Liang Xiao truly be the Heavenly General?
He was shameless and sharp-tongued, always giving her the urge to draw her sword and strike him down.
He was only nineteen, and his achievements in civil governance were already beyond the reach of countless people's lifelong endeavors. Did he have time to practice martial arts?
"But..."
Jian Qinwan's beautiful eyes suddenly brightened, her gaze shifting.
If he were the Heavenly General, then... what an interesting person the Heavenly General must be!
Jian Qinwan's lips curved slightly, and she followed them into the courtyard as if no one else was there.
Liang Xiao and the other three reached the entrance and were surprised to find Jian Qinwan following them.
Liang Xiao blurted out, "Female Rakshasa, no, Female Bodhisattva, we haven't even left Tianshan yet. You don't need to..."
"I need to get used to it first!" Jian Qinwan glared at Liang Xiao, as if talking to herself, and sat on a stone stool by the door, her sword in her arms.
Liang Xiao exchanged glances with the others and smiled helplessly, deciding to let it be.
He still needed to recuperate in Tianshan for a while, allowing Mu Xueqin to observe any sudden developments at any time.
Diao'er finally found Jian Qinwan and was surprised to see her sitting by the door in a daze.
"Miss, would you like Diao'er to bring your guqin?"
Jian Qinwan shook her head. "No need. I have no mood to play the zither right now..."
Diao'er looked bewildered and could only stand guard beside Jian Qinwan.
Inside the house, Liang Xiao looked at the pile of medicine packets and fell into deep thought.
"This can't go on. I'm becoming too conspicuous."
His success in selecting officials had brought him fame, but it had also thrust him into the spotlight, and he feared he would have no peace.
If the barbarians and his political rivals in court were to find out he was the Heavenly General...
"I must not reveal myself until I can control the situation and assemble a private army to protect my loved ones, especially since I haven't fully recovered!"
Liang Xiao's resolve grew stronger.
He knew that despite his apparent success, he was in a precarious position, with storms brewing.
Without a foolproof plan, if the Heavenly General were to appear, these aristocratic families would surely resist being controlled and would retaliate with even greater ferocity.
However, at present, the aristocratic families monopolized most of the official positions in the Great Qian Dynasty. Liang Xiao knew he couldn't do it alone and needed to find more like-minded scholars to enter officialdom and gradually replace them!
"I've heard that Jiangnan has many heroes. When I've recovered, I must make time to visit Jiangnan," Liang Xiao mused.
But he still had to return to the capital first, and then visit the Bodhi Temple in Yanzhou.
Liang Xiao believed that Mu Xueqin would not deceive him, and there must be something he needed there.
How much he needed it would depend on what Mu Xueqin intended to give him.
Several days passed. Liang Xiao took his medicine and changed his bandages daily, enjoying the peace and quiet.
Jian Qinwan sat outside Liang Xiao's door every day, glaring at Luo Qingxue and occasionally bickering with her.
The two young women were both heroic figures with fiery tempers, and women of such disposition often clashed.
Sometimes, when Liang Xiao heard their arguments, he had to come out and mediate, then take Luo Qingxue back to her room to comfort her, leaving Jian Qinwan gazing resentfully at his retreating back.
The daily meals and water were all tested for poison by Ding Wuyi and the guards before being brought to Liang Xiao.
Ding Wuyi's greatest fear now was that someone would resent Liang Xiao because of Jian Qinwan...
However, the disciples of Tianshan did not dare to approach the courtyard where Liang Xiao was staying, which brought them considerable relief.
Liang Xiao had been staying in Tianshan for eight days. One noon, while Liang Xiao was exercising in his room, Yue Lianxin exclaimed happily.
"Is Gongzi healed!"
Liang Xiao shook his head and smiled, "It's still a long way off, but my back doesn't hurt as much anymore."
Hearing this, Yue Lian's eyes reddened. "Gongzi is clearly in pain, yet you lie to Miss Luo and me!"
Liang Xiao chuckled and quickly changed the subject. "I can't wait to put on that..."
As he spoke, Liang Xiao went to retrieve the black bundle from beside the bed.
Jian Qinwan walked in from outside and said nonchalantly, "Come up the mountain with me."
Liang Xiao was stunned. Carrying the bundle and bringing Yue Lian, he followed Jian Qinwan away.
Luo Qingxue was taking a nap in her room after cleaning Liang Xiao's room all morning. Ding Wuyi, at Liang Xiao's request, personally guarded the courtyard.
Along the way, Jian Qinwan said nothing, only occasionally looking back to glare at Liang Xiao before turning away, her expression complex.
Liang Xiao and Yue Lian exchanged helpless glances.
However, Liang Xiao now also wore a sword at his waist, so he no longer feared Jian Qinwan impulsively drawing her sword to attack him.
In the distant woods, Zuo Wushang and over a dozen others stared intently at Liang Xiao.
"There should be no one on that path. Should we act?" a barbarian assassin asked urgently.
Zuo Wushang narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "I've heard that woman's swordsmanship is exquisite. What if she sacrifices herself to protect Liang Xiao? Then the barbarians will have offended the Three Sages of Great Qian! Let's wait. Perhaps she will remain deep in the bamboo forest, allowing Liang Xiao and the girl to return alone!"
The assassins' expressions changed, and they dared not object.
The Three Sages of Great Qian were deeply respected even by the people of the Liang Dynasty.
If Jian Qinwan, as the Immortal of the Zither, were to die here, they would surely accompany her. If the disciples of Tianshan discovered that the murderers were barbarians, the consequences would be unimaginable.
It was likely that the people of the Great Qian and Liang Dynasties would unite against them, which would not be conducive to the barbarians' plan to divide Great Qian and Liang!
Arriving outside Mu Xueqin's bamboo house, Liang Xiao glanced around and noticed Tianshan swordsmen guarding the bamboo forest, which made him curious.
What was the current situation regarding the grudges and entanglements of the Three Sages of Great Qian?
As soon as he entered the bamboo house, Liang Xiao saw Mu Xueqin sitting beside a redwood chest, her expression calm as she stared at him.
"This is the precious item I'm giving you."
Before Liang Xiao could ask, Mu Xueqin unlocked and opened the chest.
Liang Xiao gazed at the contents, his expression growing increasingly complex.
Inside the chest lay a suit of armor, including vambraces.
It was entirely silver-white, with scales inlaid on the surface that were fine and orderly, radiating a divine light.
With Liang Xiao's discerning eye, this was undoubtedly a peerless treasure armor, and it was remarkably lightweight!
But Mu Xueqin giving him this item, her intentions were obvious...
Yue Lian was already stunned, covering her mouth with a gasp.
"How is it? My family heirloom, the Spiritual Light White Dragon Armor, is it worthy of you?" Mu Xueqin's words were filled with pride.
Liang Xiao chuckled dryly. "Since it's a family heirloom, it should be carefully guarded. Giving it to me wouldn't be appropriate..."
Mu Xueqin pouted. "I had previously entrusted someone to send this Spiritual Light White Dragon Armor to Yanzhou, intending to gift it to the Heavenly General, to add wings to a tiger. But the war has ended, and the Heavenly General's remains are nowhere to be found... If the Heavenly General were still alive, you would give the Spiritual Light White Dragon Armor to him, otherwise, you will wear it yourself."
"However," Mu Xueqin changed the subject, "since the Heavenly General has already ascended to divinity, he will surely manifest and protect you, perhaps even manifest in the future and possess you to fight on the battlefield, right? Tsk, tsk, tsk~"
Hearing this, Liang Xiao maintained a smile on his face, but his mind began to strategize how to cope.
This Medical Saint was more difficult to fool than his grandfather, Zhuo Zifang, and Lü Changhe!