Explosive Flame Talisman Sword

Chapter 46: Explosive Flame Talisman Sword

Hong Yi answered calmly, no longer possessing the breathless, trembling demeanor he had during his first meeting with Hong Xuanji.

When he reached the gate of the main residence, sure enough, Hong Yi saw Steward Wu waiting there, motionless, wearing his usual expression; it seemed his face never changed with emotion.

His soul drifted out, floating higher and higher. Hong Yi intended to see exactly how high he could drift from the ground.

Because of the vigorous red light of blood energy, Hong Yi could not see anyone inside the main residence.

Hong Yi nodded, calmed his mind, straightened his clothes, smoothed out every wrinkle, and after ensuring there was nothing improper, he said outside the door, "Father, your son Hong Yi pays his respects."

Just as Hong Yi was looking down, he suddenly saw a few strange, dark shadows flash in the corner of the street outside the Marquis Mansion.

"Get out!" Inside the study, the atmosphere suddenly became suffocatingly heavy.

"The last assassination of Hong Xuanji failed, and two hall masters died. This time, the sect leader is furious; we must succeed."

Yin souls fear light, the exact opposite of a physical body.

"When we came, we took a poisonous oath to sacrifice ourselves for the sect. No one should be greedy for life or afraid of death. After we die, we will surely return to the Vacuum Homeland."

Hong Yi was best at observing expressions and guessing people's thoughts, but looking at Hong Xuanji's back now, he truly could not guess what his unfathomable father was thinking.

If he really intends to kill me, then I will fight for my life. At least I won't die at the hands of a villain. Hong Yi secretly made up his mind, stood up abruptly, and walked toward the main residence of the Marquis Mansion.

Hong Yi thought of the horse, Lightning Chaser.

Hong Yi was also shocked by this head-on questioning, but he was, after all, someone who had cultivated his soul to the Day Wanderer realm and had experienced many visualization methods. His mind was firm; after the initial shock, his thoughts immediately steadied, and he bowed to answer calmly.

"Young Master Yi, we have arrived. Go in."

The night was deep and quiet; the moon was dark and there was no wind.

Hong Yi hurriedly lowered his soul and cautiously approached.

He heard a few words, as faint as ants crawling.

"Hmm? What is that?" Hong Xuanji said slowly, and at the end, he let out a sharp shout.

"That's not right!" Hong Yi carefully recalled his father's tone in the study and suddenly seemed to grasp something: "Father spoke calmly, but there was a bone-chilling coldness. This is killing intent hidden but not released, held back. Could it be that he really wants to beat me to death?"

"Father actually called me to the study. This seems contrary to reason. What exactly does he want to do?"

Although his heart was full of doubts, Hong Yi had no choice but to move his feet, walking behind Steward Wu, moving step by step toward the Langhuan Library.

"You dare to quibble?" Hong Xuanji's voice was very calm, but it carried a bone-chilling coldness, "In the Marquis Mansion, there are rules. Family law is like state law. You have committed three offenses: First, you should not have brought people into my study. Even if Princess Zhennan asked you, you should have tried your best to decline and let your eldest mistress send someone to bring her in. Second, you should not practice martial arts in private. Third, you should not be arguing and quibbling in front of me."

"Who gave you the courage to enter my study? Also, I told you not to practice martial arts, so why did you still practice in secret? Who taught you? Hmm?"

"Because Princess Zhennan came to the mansion as a guest and specifically asked me to lead the way, I dared to guide her to visit Father's study. Princess Zhennan is a guest of the Marquis Mansion, and treating her politely is a matter of decorum. I thought that if Father knew, he would not blame me. As for the martial arts, I have not been practicing them. I occasionally read about the arts of archery and charioteering and felt inspired, so I bought a bow to learn archery. I do not want to be a weak-boned scholar with no strength to truss a chicken."

"Go and check on that horse. Right, in an hour, I have to get up to feed it. It needs a mixture of eggs and soybeans. It is truly too extravagant."

"Young Master Yi, the Marquis wants you to go to the study to see him."

Forget it. If it's a blessing, it's not a disaster; if it's a disaster, it cannot be avoided. It can be considered a tragedy following a joy. I'll go if I have to. Even if I have to endure family law, I am physically strong now, so I shouldn't be beaten to death. But it's hard to say... All the servants in the Marquis Mansion, including those who carry out the family law, are Lady Zhao's people. If they secretly want to kill me, I fear my life is in imminent danger.

"Hong Xuanji has high martial arts, and the mansion is full of experts. We must act carefully."

A cold voice came from the library.

And the study was usually where guests were received and confidential matters were discussed.

The moon was dark and there was no wind; it was the best time for Night Roaming.

Hong Yi sat on the bed, silently operating his soul, constantly thinking about the scene in the study that evening. Although Hong Xuanji did not carry out the family law and let him go, he always had an intuition that there was hidden killing intent in Hong Xuanji's words. If it weren't for Consort Yuan coming to visit her family tomorrow and mentioning him, Hong Yi suspected his father would have carried out the family law and killed him on the spot.

Hong Yi looked down. The main residence of the Marquis Mansion was still a ball of blazing red light; that was his father's vigorous, masculine blood energy. No demons or ghosts could approach it.

At the door of the study, Steward Wu stopped and said to Hong Yi.

But Hong Yi could see the surroundings of the Marquis Mansion, including the distant streets, very clearly.

The dress and appearance of these strange dark shadows were exactly the same as the Zhenkong Dao and Wusheng Dao Taoists who had assassinated Hong Xuanji that day.

After Hong Yi walked into the study and stood still, Hong Xuanji suddenly unleashed a series of questions like a thunderstorm, making one's hair stand on end.

Go to the study to see him? Not in the main hall? Hong Yi was stunned when he heard this, feeling a bit confused.

When Hong Xuanji gave instructions at home, there were rules; they were always in the main hall to express the solemnity of family law and the strictness of family rules.

"However, if your soul is attached to the sword, when the gunpowder explodes, your soul will also be reduced to ashes."

Sure enough, his soul drifted more than ten zhang high before he felt heavy pressure and could no longer drift higher. Hong Yi stopped, but at a height of ten zhang, he could barely overlook the entire Marquis Mansion.

"It doesn't matter. This time the sect leader bestowed the 'Explosive Flame Talisman Sword'. This sword is inscribed with purple thunder gunpowder secretly refined by the Fangxian Dao. The sect leader used great divine power and the pen strength to pierce metal and stone to write on the sword, making the gunpowder penetrate the sword body. Later, you will show yourselves to assassinate Hong Xuanji and attract his attention. I will secretly have my soul leave my body and attach it to the sword, driving the sword to kill Hong Xuanji. He will definitely try to catch the sword with his hand. I will suddenly trigger it, and the sword will immediately explode. The Explosive Flame Talisman Sword is extremely powerful. Once triggered, the entire house will be blown away. Hong Xuanji will not survive."

"These three offenses, in my mansion, any one of them would be punishable by death. However, I will temporarily record these three family punishments. Tomorrow, Consort Yuan will come to the mansion to visit her family. She heard about you occasionally from Princess Zhennan and Princess Yongchun and wants to see you. If I beat you to death today, I would be violating the Consort's will. In a word, we will settle the accounts after the imperial examination. If you pass the examination, your status will soar to the heavens, and you will become a Juren scholar. I will not be able to punish you casually. If you don't pass, you should know the consequences."

Hong Yi shook his head, steadied his chaotic soul, and left his body to wander again.

Hearing that his father Hong Xuanji had returned to the mansion and wanted to call for him, Hong Yi was shocked, and an urge to immediately gallop away on a horse and flee the Marquis Mansion surged in his heart.

In an instant, although Hong Yi sat still, many thoughts raced through his mind.

"Come in."

"Yes."

Hearing this, Hong Yi knew he had passed another hurdle and his heart immediately relaxed. He bowed and walked out of the study.

As soon as he saw Hong Yi walking over, Steward Wu spoke.

Could it be an illusion? Even if Father is a master of Neo-Confucianism and is harsh and unfeeling, I am his son after all. If he kills his son, he will also bear the reputation of being unmerciful. I hope my feeling is an illusion. I hope my feeling is wrong; it would be best if it were wrong.

This was also the rule of the Marquis's mansion; the study was a confidential place, and idlers were not allowed to enter.

After Hong Yi went out, he thought that although Hong Xuanji's reprimand was severe today, it was all thunder and no rain. But although the world was vast, after thinking about it, there was no place for him to go.

After all, I am his son. Although I am born of a concubine, Father must be clear-sighted in his heart, knowing that I have suffered many grievances over the years, and is secretly protecting me. Although he reprimanded me severely just now, he did not actually use the family law.

For a yin soul, the darker it is, the clearer it can see. If there is moonlight, it is like being in a thick fog, and everything looks hazy.

Hong Yi's heart trembled, and he stepped forward to push the door open and walked in. He saw Hong Xuanji still wearing a golden crown and brocade clothes, with his back to him, not turning around.