Chapter 158: The Arrival of an Old Acquaintance
At the same time that Xiao Chen fulfilled his ten-year promise, outside the City Lord's Mansion of Immortal Spirit City—
An old man with white hair and a slightly hunched back slowly walked forward, leading a little girl of about ten years old by the hand.
Though his steps were slow, each was steady and powerful, his breath long and even like a flowing stream. Clearly, he was no ordinary elder.
Beside him, the little girl had her hair tied into two small braids. Her large, dark eyes were full of curiosity as she stared at the stone lions before the mansion gate.
Several phoenix tree leaves had fallen upon the bluestone steps. When the wind passed, they rustled softly.
Two gate guards standing afar exchanged glances, whispering under their breath.
"Here he comes again…" The tall, thin guard curled his lip. "That old man keeps bringing that little girl here to request an audience with the City Lord. Does he think this is some marketplace?"
"Who isn't tired of it?" the short, stocky guard muttered, leaning lazily on his spear. "The City Lord is a great figure, busy with affairs every day. Where would he find time to meet with common folk like them?"
The little girl seemed to have overheard their remarks. Tilting her head, she looked toward them with confusion in her bright eyes.
The old man, however, acted as if he hadn't heard a thing. He merely patted her hand gently, signaling her not to mind it.
Just then, light footsteps sounded from within the gate. A young maid dressed in pale cyan robes gracefully stepped out. Her brows were delicate, her bearing refined, and a jade token hung at her waist, marking her as someone of considerable standing.
"The City Lord invites you in," she said coolly with a slight bow. "Please, follow me."
The old man cupped his hands. "Many thanks, young lady."
She nodded lightly, then turned her gaze sharply toward the two guards. "You two men—see to your duties properly. Stop gossiping like idle women."
The tall and short guards immediately straightened up with embarrassed smiles, nodding repeatedly. "Yes, yes, understood, Miss Feng."
Miss Feng gave a light snort and ignored them, turning to lead the old man and the girl inside.
The little girl skipped along behind her, then suddenly turned around and made a face at the guards, leaving them both helplessly amused.
Passing through several winding corridors, the scenery within the mansion grew increasingly serene.
Artificial hills and flowing water adorned the courtyard, lush trees and flowers filled the air with fragrance, and faint notes of zither music drifted from afar.
Miss Feng stopped before an elegant pavilion and said softly, "The City Lord awaits inside. Please, enter."
The old man took a deep breath, tightening his grip slightly on the girl's hand. A trace of complex emotion flickered in his eyes.
Inside the pavilion, sandalwood incense curled upward in thin wisps.
A woman in white sat with her back to the door, her slender fingers plucking the strings of a zither. The melody flowed like clear spring water, though faintly tinged with loneliness.
Sunlight streamed through the carved lattice windows, bathing her in a hazy radiance, like an immortal descended to the mortal realm.
When the old man led the girl inside and saw that familiar figure, he immediately released her hand, dropping to one knee. His voice was hoarse yet firm.
"Your servant, Meng Kuo, pays respects to Her Highness, the Princess!"
At the word "Princess," the zither music abruptly ceased.
The little girl's eyes lit up. She broke free from the old man's hand and ran forward excitedly. "Sister Xiu! It's really you!"
The woman in white turned slowly.
Her face was breathtaking—stunning enough to topple nations. It was none other than Ji Lingxiu, the City Lord of Immortal Spirit City.
Her gaze softened slightly as she looked upon the innocent little girl, but when her eyes turned to the kneeling old man, they grew complicated once more.
"I am no longer the Princess of Great Zhou," she sighed softly. "General Meng, there is no need for such formality. You've come three times in ten days, and each time I have refused to see you. I thought my meaning was clear."
Still kneeling, Meng Kuo bowed his head, his white hair veiling his weathered face. "Your servant… had no choice but to come."
Silence filled the pavilion.
The little girl glanced around, then tugged on Ji Lingxiu's sleeve playfully. "Sister Xiu, Grandpa Meng has had such a hard journey! We came from very, very far away!"
Ji Lingxiu gently stroked the girl's hair, a flicker of sorrow flashing through her eyes.
Who could have imagined that this seemingly frail, hunched old man before them was once the foremost of the Eight Pillars of Great Zhou—the Commander of the Imperial Guard?
Even fewer knew that this elder, who appeared to be at the twilight of his years, was in fact a peak Heaven-Human Realm powerhouse, ranked among the top ten on the Earth Rankings.
The faint fragrance of sandalwood filled the air, but it could not mask the heavy tension lingering within the pavilion.
Ji Lingxiu's gaze fell upon the little girl—the innocent, bright child who called her "Sister Xiu." She was Ji Lingxiu's long-unseen cousin, the Princess of Yongtai.
When Ji Lingxiu left the palace years ago, the girl had been only two years old. Now, she had grown so much, and yet she still remembered her.
"General Meng, rise," Ji Lingxiu said softly, her fingers unconsciously tracing the zither strings.
Meng Kuo slowly straightened his back, his stooped figure appearing even older in that moment.
He remained silent for a time before finally speaking. "Your Highness, this old servant came today…"
Ji Lingxiu interrupted coldly, "Do you come on your own behalf—or on behalf of the Imperial Guard?"
Her words struck with unmistakable weight.
Meng Kuo gave a weary smile, the exhaustion in his eyes deep and unhidden. "Now… there is no more Imperial Guard."
His hoarse voice trembled, every word heavy with blood and sorrow. "The Imperial Guard has been nearly annihilated. Only a few family members and children remain, still being hunted by the great sects and noble clans… hiding in the shadows, clinging to life."
Ji Lingxiu's fingers trembled violently, the zither string letting out a mournful zeng.
Meng Kuo drew a deep breath, then suddenly dropped to both knees, bowing heavily. "This old servant has not come to beg Your Highness to restore Great Zhou!"
He raised his head, and tears glimmered in his clouded eyes. "With my experience, how could I not know? Unless another arises who can dominate the era as the late emperor once did, Great Zhou… shall never rise again."
The Princess of Yongtai was frightened by his sudden outburst. She shrank behind Ji Lingxiu, clutching tightly at her sleeve.
Ji Lingxiu closed her eyes, and memories flooded her mind—
The Imperial Guard in their black armor like a tide, iron cavalry shattering mountains and rivers, Meng Kuo in his battle robes, proud and resolute.
But time had washed all that away. Now, their bodies were left unburied, and their families were hunted like stray dogs.
"Your Highness," Meng Kuo's voice choked with emotion, "this old servant only asks… for mercy's sake, protect these innocent children. Give them… a chance to live."
When his last word fell, the once-mighty Heaven-Human Realm master wept on the floor like an ordinary old man.
Ji Lingxiu gazed at his aged face and sighed softly. "General Meng, if even a Heaven-Human peak cultivator like you cannot protect them, why do you think I could?"
Meng Kuo slowly lifted his head. A faint sharpness flickered in his murky eyes. "Your Highness underestimates those sects and clans."
He pushed against his knees and stood upright. "If this old servant could find Your Highness, do you think those sects have not also known where you are these past ten years?"
The words pierced the air like a sword, cutting through the stillness of the room.
Ji Lingxiu's pupils contracted. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around her sleeve.
"Every major power in Qingzhou now treats Immortal Spirit City as one of the province's foremost forces," Meng Kuo said slowly, each word deliberate. "But their vision remains shallow… because behind Your Highness—there stands a Saint."
"You…" Ji Lingxiu rose sharply to her feet, her sleeve brushing across the zither strings, producing a sharp, jarring zeng.
…
Hey readers! If you're eager to dive into advanced chapters, consider joining our Patreon. By joining, you'll get access to 20 chapters ahead and enjoy 8 new chapters per week. Plus, we have 8 more exciting fics with the same chapter release rate, giving you a total of 64 chapters per week! Join now and keep the adventure going!
Patreon: https://patreon.com/Alex_Cruise