Leaving the Royal Capital, Riding a Crane South

Half a month later.

As the New Year passed, the weather throughout the Royal Capital took a sudden turn for the better.

Nearly half a month of sunshine melted the snow, turning bitter winter into warm spring.

Peach blossoms had opened all across the Royal Capital.

And through that half month, the Royal Capital had been unusually peaceful. Not a single major event had occurred.

Only Emperor Changning had missed court for seven days straight, drawing complaints from the officials.

At the National Preceptor's Residence.

Countless overlapping sword shadows drew together, ten thousand becoming one.

Jiang Ning stood in the courtyard with sword in hand, his breathing somewhat ragged.

Suddenly—

Cough, cough, cough—

He coughed violently, again and again.

With each cough, his chest heaved so fiercely it seemed his lungs might be shaken right out.

He planted his sword against the ground with his right hand and covered his mouth with his left. Dark golden flecks of blood seeped between his fingers.

The courtyard's peach blossoms were in full bloom, their petals drifting slowly onto his shoulders.

The next moment.

The blood between his fingers evaporated on the spot, vanishing into thin air.

Lin Qingyi came over and handed him a cup of freshly poured tea, her brows tightly knit and her eyes full of concern.

"Are you really all right?"

"I'm fine!" Jiang Ning smiled, his expression calm.

He took the tea Lin Qingyi offered and drained it in one gulp.

The tea washed down his throat, sweeping away the sweet, bloody taste in his mouth.

The heaving of his chest gradually eased as well.

"How are you feeling now?" Lin Qingyi asked.

Jiang Ning closed his eyes.

He saw that, under the erosion of the curse's power, his heart's ability to produce and replenish blood had weakened