Linzi held many memories.
Looking back on the years before he killed Zhuang Gaoxian, nearly all those few soaring, carefree days had been spent in this city.
Because there were friends here, fine wine, elders, and rivals.
After parting from Er Fengming, whom he had met by chance, Jiang Wang neither went to Huaying Palace nor returned to Marquis of Bowang's Mansion. Nor did he gather a group of old friends to drink and make merry.
Instead, he went to a quiet residence in the east of the city—
The place was truly desolate. Though located in a bustling district, its gates remained tightly shut, and passersby detoured around it. No birds perched in its trees; few carriages or horses passed before its doors.
This was Qi Xiao's residence.
It was not that she had suffered any repercussions because Jiang Wang had left Qi. No matter how frenzied or outspoken those former supporters of the Marquis of Wu'an might be, they could never reach the commander of the Nine Legions—even though she had already stepped down.
The sole reason this place was so cold and silent was that she had lost her cultivation, lost the Summer Corpse Army, and could never rise again.
Even if people were not the sort to fawn on the powerful and trample the fallen, they could not help but be wary of the Donglai Qi Clan, nor of the new commander of the Summer Corpse Army... Qi Wen, whom she had suppressed for so many years.
Reaching the gate, Jiang Wang released his senses, reappearing within people's sight and hearing, then raised a finger and knocked.
Knock, knock, knock~
The sound was crisp and resolute.
For a long while, no one answered.
Knock, knock, knock~
Jiang Wang patiently continued knocking, sending the sound into the