187.1 – Qing [1]

“He's not an officer for no reason. He dealt with this situation quite well.”

As soon as Xue Qilin retreated to Ye Zhen's side, she heard him evaluate Guan Qi's way of coping with this situation in an admiring tone, which is rare for him.

“Hmm, really…?”

Xue Qilin is a bit out of the picture.

“Officer Guan preemptively punched and formally punished that person in order to prevent the Merak Temple from pursuing this matter…”

Indeed, this punch has solved many problems. If the Merak Temple pushes for a punishment, he can simply use the excuse of “disobeying orders” and send the other party to prison.

“Hey, that's so convoluted…”

“Of course Qi'er's restraint is also praiseworthy.”

According to Ye Zhen's statement, things didn't go out of control due to Qi Qiqi's restraint and Guan Qi's quick response.

Nevertheless, the deterioration of the overall situation could not be avoided.

Because Chen Yong has drawn his sword, the current situation has fallen into a state of tension.

Whether it is the Merak Temple's side or the Northern Guard Fort's side, they all have the same grim expression. If something stirs the pot, this tense situation will become hard to deal with, and may even devolve into a fight.

Anyway, the reaction of both sides is really edgy. This also proves that the relations.h.i.+p between the Martial World and the Imperial Court — at least with the army — is extremely bad. Otherwise, the situation would not have been made highly strung that easily.

The scars left by that incident from 5 years ago seem deeper and more indelible than imagined. Everything is kept up on an extremely fragile balance.

Xue Qilin realized this once more at this time.

It seems that many things are not as optimistic as imagined… Restlessness welled up inside Xue Qilin's chest.

After all, everything she now has is in the Merak Temple. If the relations.h.i.+p between the Martial World and the Imperial Court deteriorates to the point where they must meet on the battlefield, she won't be able to stay out of it.

“Officer Guan, why does Great General Gong wants Qing'er brought back to the mansion — can you tell me the reason behind this?”

When he heard Qi Qiqi's question, Guan Qi shook his head.

However, what he meant by this gesture was not “no comment”, but–

“Unfortunately, the order I received only mentioned for us to meet Young Lady Gong and escort her back to the Gong Mansion. The order didn't state anything else. I also don't know.”

That's the military for you.

Military orders cannot be disobeyed. Besides following orders, there is no room for questions.

Although Qi Qiqi can understand this, but she still didn't give up on investigating the cause of this.

“Officer Guan, forgive me for being rude, but you should know something, right? Even if it's just an inkling, please tell it to me.”

Guan Qi frowned and remained silent for a while.

“I cannot comment on this.”

In other words, he actually knows a bit about what's this all about, but he cannot reveal anything because of his ident.i.ty.

Although the other party is in a tight spot and cannot disclose any information, but Qi Qiqi has no intention of empathizing with him and making concessions.

“In that case, I cannot comply with this order.”

Cold, unkind words sounded.

For Qi Qiqi to a.s.sume such a tough stance, it rather surprised Xue Qilin.

“It's hard on Qi'er…”

Ye Zhen suddenly sighed with a seemingly profound meaning.

However, Xue Qilin has no time to delve into it.

The moment Qi Qiqi categorically rejected the other party, the expressions of the cavalrymen became unsightly. Guan Qi, who had a tranquil expression all this time, furrowed his eyebrows tightly.

“Qing'er is my true disciple. She is the one who'll inherit my legacy in the future. In other words, she is the future Temple Master of the Merak Temple. How can I — no, how can our Merak Temple hand over the future Temple Master under these dubious circ.u.mstances?”

Qi Qiqi's stern, sonorous voice resounded in the Merak Temple.

At this time, Xue Qilin learned that Gong Tianqing is the future Temple Master.

In any case, since Gong Tianqing has such an ident.i.ty, this is not a matter that can be taken lightly.

No clan or organization would allow their successor to be taken away under dubious circ.u.mstances. After all, the successor is the one who shall carry the torch of an organization or clan. Naturally, they require strict protection.

There's no way that Guan Qi would not understand such a simple truth.

In fact, after listening to Qi Qiqi's statement, his expression eased a little.

“So that's the case.” He shook his head somewhat apologetically, “Reasonably speaking, our actions are indeed improper.”

The other party's softened att.i.tude let Qi Qiqi release a sigh of relief.

“Officer Guan, since you understand–”

Guan Qi raised his hand to signal Qi Qiqi to be silent.

“I understand that it may be unreasonable.” Guan Qi sighed, “It's a pity, but.”

Qi Qiqi creased her slim eyebrows deeply. “But” generally indicates a turning point where the situation is likely to develop in an unfavorable direction.

Guan Qi closed his eyes and uttered in an oppressive tone, “The order we got states to bring Young Lady Gong back to the mansion at all costs.”

There was an unnatural pause in his words.

“–at all costs.” He emphasized.

“… can it really not be avoided?”

“Military orders must be obeyed.”

Guan Qi raised his hand apathetically, ready to give some kind of signal. Xue Qilin can easily perceive killing intent congeal. A fight can happen at any time.

But what about the remaining 900 people? Where are they hiding? Xue Qilin's thoughts revolved rapidly. She doesn't think that Guan Qi is so impulsive and brazen as to use his current military power to contend against the Merak Temple. That would just be throwing away lives, utterly meaningless.

As if to answer the upcoming signal–

Killing intent surged from different directions.

Hundreds of soldiers suddenly appeared between the trees on both sides of the road and aimed the crossbows in their hands at the Merak Temple's main gate.

They came stealthily! Xue Qilin opened her eyes wide.

Before the ambush, no one in the Merak Temple has noticed their existence.

The la.s.s suspects that these people must belong to a military branch that specializes in stealth arts, which is evidenced by the fact that they only wear light leather armor with leaves and mud stuck to it as camouflage. Although they are martial pract.i.tioners, but their breath is weak, which obviously means that it is being suppressed.

On the other hand, the more than 90 cavalrymen gripped the spears hanging from their mounts and a.s.sumed a stance, ready to charge at anytime.

With just one gesture, hundreds of killing intents locked on the people of the Merak Temple.

Everyone of the Merak Temple was rattled.

Even though they have prepared themselves beforehand, but now that things are really happening, they couldn't help but waver.

Xue Qilin and Ye Zhen looked at each other solemnly, and then took a step at the same time and protected Qi Qiqi and the people of the Merak Temple. If a fight really takes place, they need to serve as a sharp sword and defeat the enemy.

Ye Zhen unsheathed the sword Heavenly Glimmer, whose hilt he has been holding tightly all along. But Xue Qilin has no sword to draw. Her mechanical sword is still under repair. Therefore–

“Young Ancestor, catch the sword!”

Li Wanting's voice sounded, and Xue Qilin looked back.

Then, a green flash broke into her field of vision, and she subconsciously reached out and grabbed it.

“This is–!”

Xue Qilin exclaimed when he saw the true appearance of the thing in her hand.

It is a familiar sword. The cross guard is engraved with a dragon pattern, while the sword body is glowing with gentle light green light.

It's Luo Qing's sword.

In a daze, Xue Qilin saw a green shadow.

–Young Ancestor, protect the Merak Temple.

A green voice, a green smile, a green will.

Xue Qilin stroked the sword, a bitter expression on her face.

“Okay, okay, I got it.”

Xue Qilin and Qi Qiqi exchanged a look, and then the latter nodded at the former.

Then, the la.s.s, with the sword in hand, turned around.

Images dotted with cold rays appeared before her eyes.

[1] – Qing (青) is Luo Qing's name, not to confuse with Gong Tianqing's Qing (晴). Luo Qing's name Qing means “green”, while Gong Tianqing's name Tianqing means “clear sky”. Luo Qing is the girl who effectively committed suicide in Vol.1