Young hero, stay put and don't be reckless.

Chapter 83 Chapter Turning

"My meridians have been modified." Tuoba Feng's voice was filled with rare excitement. Although it was still deep, it had become warmer. "It can withstand much stronger energy now, and I don't have to worry about exploding for a while."

Jiang Xun was stunned for a moment, then quickly looked inward at himself.

Sure enough, his meridians were much wider than before, his internal energy flowed more smoothly, and the restlessness that had been making him anxious subsided considerably.

He looked down at the dragon crystal in his hand—its luster had dimmed considerably, and it looked no different from an ordinary glass bead.

"This thing... is it ruined?" He was a little embarrassed.

Tuoba Feng glanced at it and nodded: "The energy has been absorbed by us."

The two looked at each other and suddenly laughed.

"Hahahaha—" Jiang Xun laughed so hard he almost fell over, this time truly enjoying himself. "Worth it! Absolutely worth it!"

Tuoba Feng laughed too, even more heartily than last night.

After laughing enough, he stood up, dusted off his clothes, and said, "I'm going back to the North."

"So fast?"

"There are matters to attend to in the clan." Tuoba Feng's tone was calm, yet it conveyed an undeniable firmness, as if he couldn't wait a moment longer.

Jiang Xun nodded and handed over the dragon crystal: "Would you like to take this with you?"

Tuoba Feng shook his head and pushed the dragon crystal back to him: "It's useless to me. You keep it as a souvenir."

He paused, then added, "If you can't make it in the Central Plains, you can come to the Northern Border to find me."

Jiang Xun laughed: "Are you cursing me?"

Tuoba Feng didn't laugh, but said seriously, "What happened last night can't be hidden for long. Mirror Lake will come after you sooner or later."

"I just won't admit it," Jiang Xun shrugged, completely unconcerned.

"I hope they can believe you." Tuoba Feng's lips twitched slightly, it was hard to tell whether he was smiling or sighing.

After saying that, he turned and left, but stopped after a few steps, turned back and glanced at Jiang Xun: "Until we meet again."

"Until we meet again." Jiang Xun waved.

Tuoba Feng's figure disappeared into the morning light.

Jiang Xun stood at the door of the woodshed and stretched out a big yawn.

The bones crackled and popped for a while, as if they had been taken apart and put back together.

The sunshine felt warm and comfortable on my skin.

It's time to go back to the inn.

He had just reached the foot of the mountain and was about to turn into the alley leading to the inn when a figure suddenly appeared from the alley entrance.

Dressed in white as snow, with hair as black as ink.

Ye Qingying.

She stood there quietly, like a white lotus standing in the morning breeze.

The morning light shone through her from behind, gilding her silhouette with a thin layer of gold.

Jiang Xun paused, his heart skipping a beat.

"Where is the Dragon Crystal?" Ye Qingying asked directly, her voice cold and clear, like a mountain stream, tinkling and devoid of any warmth.

Jiang Xun's mind raced—Tuoba Feng's mouth was always full of bad luck; whatever he said came true.

But he put on a puzzled expression and even blinked, saying, "What dragon crystal? I don't know."

Ye Qingying looked at him with a calm and indifferent gaze, like a still pond.

Those eyes were so clear you could see right through them, yet it was impossible to guess what she was thinking.

"What makes you so sure it's me?" Jiang Xun retorted.

"I have a photographic memory," Ye Qingying said calmly. "Although you were wearing the clothes of a servant of the Meng family last night, I recognized your eyes."

Jiang Xun's heart tightened.

This woman has such a sharp eye.

He simply stopped pretending and shrugged, saying, "That's right, I did go into the backyard, but I didn't take any dragon crystals."

Ye Qingying remained unmoved: "At midnight, two people broke into the Meng residence again, and Uncle-Master Nie recognized one of them as Tuoba Feng."

She paused, looking into Jiang Xun's eyes.

"The other person is you. Tuoba Feng told me that you have a special aura about you, very similar to his."

Jiang Xun was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.

Did Tuoba Feng know Ye Qingying?

And their relationship is quite close?

No wonder that guy said "Mirror Lake will come looking for you sooner or later" when he left; it turns out he had already sold himself out.

"You two are that close?" Jiang Xun couldn't help but complain. "That guy, he really doesn't hold back when it comes to selling me out!"

Ye Qingying didn't speak, she just looked at him quietly.

Jiang Xun sighed, took out the now dull dragon crystal from his pocket, and handed it over: "Alright, here you go."

Ye Qingying took the dragon crystal, glanced at it, and frowned slightly.

She turned it over and over, examined it for a moment, then looked up with a hint of doubt in her eyes: "This dragon crystal... it seems a little different."

Jiang Xun looked completely innocent: "What's different? We just played around with it for a bit and didn't figure anything out."

Ye Qingying glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Jiang Xun felt a little guilty, but he pretended to be completely at ease.

A moment later, Ye Qingying put away the dragon crystal and turned to leave.

Jiang Xun stood there, watching her figure disappear, and let out a long sigh.

He had already prepared to run away—he couldn't win in a fight, and running away probably wouldn't be an option either.

He looked down at his empty palms, then remembered the commotion he'd caused last night, and couldn't help but chuckle before turning and heading back to the inn.

I never expected that the matter of the Dragon Crystal would be resolved so smoothly.

Li Che and Li Tang were both in the backyard of the inn.

As soon as Li Tang saw him, she rushed over: "Where have you been? Last night, there was a fire and assassins at the Meng residence. It was chaotic all night long, and we were all worried sick!"

Jiang Xun smiled and said casually, "It's nothing, I just went for a walk."

Li Che stood to the side, his gaze sweeping over Li Che's face, seemingly looking at something.

After a while, he asked, "Is the matter finished?"

Jiang Xun nodded: "It's done."

Li Che didn't press further, but simply smiled, a knowing look in his eyes: "That's good."

Li Tang pressed on, "What is it? What exactly did you do last night?"

"It's nothing serious," Jiang Xun said vaguely. "I just dealt with some personal matters."

Li Tang was about to ask another question when Li Che coughed lightly, cutting her off.

"Oh, right." Li Tang suddenly remembered something, "This morning, Master Meng sent someone to say he wanted to take my brother as his disciple!"

Jiang Xun looked at Li Che and smiled sincerely: "That's great, congratulations!"

Li Che nodded calmly: "It wasn't just me, several others were also taken in, including Liu Wen."

After a pause, he added, "I plan to stay in Qiantang for a while, transporting grain to Haiyou while studying under Master Mencius."

He looked at Jiang Xun, his gaze serious: "What about you? What are your plans next? Why don't you stay and come with me?"

Jiang Xun thought for a moment. Although he had returned the Dragon Crystal to Ye Qingying, he and Tuoba Feng had already drained it. It was hard to guarantee that no one would discover anything amiss.

He shook his head: "Qiantang is a dangerous place now, I'll avoid it for a while."

After a moment's thought, he said, "I have a property in Jiangning Prefecture that I need to take care of. Once that's done, I might just come back and settle down here."

Li Tang's eyes lit up: "Was it bought with the money we gave you back then?"

Jiang Xun smiled and nodded: "Exactly."

Li Che suddenly remembered something, and his brows furrowed slightly: "Back when the Golden Feather Guard was arresting people in Jiangning Prefecture, a house caught fire. Could it be...?"

Jiang Xun didn't speak, but just smiled, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Li Tang immediately perked up and jumped up, saying, "Then I'll go to Jiangning Prefecture with you!"

Li Che glanced at her, frowned, and said in a calm but undeniable tone, "You stay. There's a lot going on here, and we need your help."

Li Tang opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but was silenced by a look from Li Che.

She pursed her lips, but didn't say anything more, and stomped her toes on the ground.

Jiang Xun stood to the side, his mind perfectly clear.

Li Che was afraid of danger, and even more afraid that he, this "wild man," would abduct his sister.

He remained expressionless, simply smiling, "Then it's settled. I'll be going now, and I'll come back to find you in a while."

Li Che patted him on the shoulder: "My uncle is in Jiangning Prefecture. If you encounter any trouble, you can go to him."

Jiang Xun nodded, thinking that the Prince of Qi's in-laws must be someone of great importance.

Li Tang looked at him, hesitated, and finally nodded: "Then be careful on your way."

"Don't worry." Jiang Xun waved his hand. "It's not like this is my first time going out."

He turned and walked out, but after a few steps, he suddenly looked back.

Li Tang stood in the courtyard, the sunlight shining on her moon-white dress, making it gleam.

When she saw Jiang Xun turn around, she paused for a moment, then smiled and waved vigorously.

Jiang Xun smiled, turned around, and strode out.

The matter in Qiantang has come to a temporary end.