Chapter 937 - 423: The Commandery Princess’s Secret Hand, Contracted Destiny, Extraordinary Talent, and the Authority of the Gold Commander

Chapter 937: Chapter 423: The Commandery Princess’s Secret Hand, Contracted Destiny, Extraordinary Talent, and the Authority of the Gold Commander

By the lakeside, the crowd gathered to watch, forming a dense mass. Lei Chong’s scheming not only failed to harm Li Xian in the slightest but instead helped to stoke the fire. Upon hearing this, the common folk praised Li Xian of the Gold Appraisal Guard, who fought fiercely against a villain, choosing to destroy the ship and perish together with the enemy rather than allowing the villain to disturb the people. Such an act of righteousness and loyalty was rare and commendable. For a time, the praises echoed endlessly.

His name, Li Xian, began to emerge, destined to become an anecdote among the streets in the days to come.

Xu Shaoqian, the Central Lang General of the Gold Appraisal Guard, held a high rank and felt quite pleased upon hearing the stream of praises. He thought this could serve as an interesting topic of conversation, one to share in front of Tao Xiangrong.

If it weren’t for his wisdom and martial prowess and unique foresight, how could his subordinates be this capable? With an upper beam like this, the lower beam follows suit.

Li Xian and Zhang Qiusheng respectively expressed their thanks. Knowing the dangers on Evil Suppression Island, Li Xian entrusted Wind-breaking Hand to the stables of a nearby inn, instructing the stableboy to care for it daily and feed it Red Pole Grass.

With all matters settled, he paid seven taels of silver, retrieved Wind-breaking Hand, and headed leisurely towards Shepherd Jujube Residence.

Meanwhile, on another front.

Though Zhang Qiusheng received awards, his heart felt frozen, with a sense of ominous foreboding. He didn’t dare to look at Li Xian, much less Lei Chong. Having a thorn in his side, looking back on today’s events, he felt far from a match for Li Xian. This person seemed kind yet possessed skilled and ruthless methods, undoubtedly having killed Wang Jue and Hong Dexin. Lei Chong’s failed scheme left him furious, and surely he’d find someone to vent his anger on. Situated between these two, Zhang, with a common background and no roots, felt he might not survive even the slightest turmoil. The Gold Appraisal Guard seemed unsafe, and Jade City too had become perilous. He considered resignation a likely path.

Zhang Qiusheng seized the opportunity to call in sick, needing to return to his ancestral home for medical treatment, and requested half a month of leave. Xu Shaoqian, with a wave of his hand, readily agreed. Upon returning home, Zhang immediately packed his belongings, intending to leave all behind in Jade City and seek a new life elsewhere.

Beset by illness, his condition was poor. He had gathered his valuables and essentials. Despite his high position in the Gold Appraisal Guard, the monthly salary was only ten taels, with the true benefits lying in "Essence Soup ingestion," "Martial Arts exchanges," "career opportunities," and "limitless prospects." Yet facing this sudden difficulty, Zhang had no choice but to sever ties with such benefits painfully.

He saw the road ahead as murky and uncertain, unsure how to establish himself away from Jade City, how to make a living, cook food, and consume Essence Treasure...

He waited until nightfall to prepare to leave the city. Suddenly, he heard knocks at the door, startling him less. Contemplating further, he decided to open it despite his fear. The visitor was neither Li Xian nor Lei Chong but a woman with a proud demeanor, fair skin, yet ordinary looks wearing a yellow skirt.

Zhang Qiusheng dumbfoundedly said: "Miss, you are..." The woman quickly moved inside Zhang’s room, heading straight in. Zhang called out twice and hurriedly closed the door before pursuing the yellow-skirted woman.

This chase and evasion ensued. Zhang reached out from behind and grabbed but only brushed the hem of her skirt. Zhang furrowed his brows; so many bizarre things had happened that day, causing agitation. Directly, he struck again using the Gold Guard Martial Arts technique "Wind-breaking Hand," executing it with ferocity and swiftness aimed at the woman’s shoulder.

Yet it missed again. Realizing something unusual, he perceived this woman wasn’t ordinary and continued with three martial arts moves, yet she gracefully evaded them all. Zhang’s heart froze, thinking: "Could it be that General Lei already sent assassins tonight to claim my life? Would I escape in time? At worst... at worst... I’ll risk my life and reveal those matters endlessly, making things bad for Li Xian and Lei Chong!"

Unconsciously, he’d followed her into the room. The yellow-skirted woman glanced at the bundle on the table, smiling: "Abandon the Gold Appraisal Guard, shall we?" Zhang Qiusheng’s entire body tensed as he slowly approached where the Horizontal Saber lay, remaining silent and steadied his spirit.

Once he grasped the saber, he immediately employed the "Wind Fire Sword Technique" to attack fiercely. The yellow-skirted woman elegantly sidestepped, seized the saber nimbly, and swiftly pointed at two vital acupuncture points on Zhang’s shoulder to immobilize him. Then, she kicked the hollow of his knee, causing him to kneel, unable to move.

The yellow-skirted woman played with the saber, chuckling: "So this is the Gold Appraisal Guard—nothing much it seems. Frankly, just city-guarding soldiers." Zhang Qiusheng said: "You...!" The yellow-skirted woman casually tossed the saber aside, said: "You’re wiser than you look—you know to escape. Neither Lei Chong nor Li Xian can you contend against. Lei Chong has power, Li Xian is cunning. In your situation, both seek your death. If you don’t flee, what will you do? Alas, the Gold Appraisal Guard position, how rare it is, now for survival’s sake you must give it up." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

Zhang Qiusheng sternly asked: "Who sent you? Was it Lei Chong? I presume Li Xian, though promoted to Gold Rank, couldn’t move a person like you. To target me, it must be his maneuver." The yellow-skirted woman replied: "I bring good news: You need not leave, continue serving in the Gold Appraisal Guard! No one shall claim your life—provided you heed calls and follow orders."

Zhang Qiusheng puzzled: "What do you mean?" The yellow-skirted woman gradually disappeared, leaving only a light remark: "Ponder for yourself." Zhang Qiusheng rose to chase but immobilized by the acupoints, he couldn’t move. His confusion deepened as he pondered and repeatedly reflected upon the woman’s words.

He vaguely sensed that some person intended to use him but who that person precisely was remained unclear. Whether a chance or peril remained unknown.