Chapter 1418: Like a Sun Extinguished

As Qu Shunhua slipped into the carriage,her eyes fell upon Zuo Guangshu, whose features were bright and clear.And the gently smiling man beside him also entered her vision.Clad in a verdant robe, he sat beside the Little Duke of Great Chu,yet did not lose an iota of his bearing.

Slipping into carriages and climbing through windows were things Qu Shunhua had done often.Not only had she grown accustomed to them, but even Zuo Guangshu was used to them.But to be seen by an outsider still brought a touch of awkwardness.After all, she was a lady of a prominent family, a virtuous gentlewoman!The Qu clan, a thousand-year-old house, and she, Qu Shunhua, a genius of her generation...How could the feeling be summed up in a single word like "shame"?

At this very moment.Zuo Guangshu leaned against the back of the carriage, Jiang Wang rested by the window,and Qu Shunhua stood half-bent at the doorway, one hand holding the curtain,her smile frozen on her face.None of the three spoke.

Qu Shunhua's silence was due to embarrassment.Zuo Guangshu's silence was because, while embarrassed,he hadn't figured out how to introduce Qu Shunhua to Jiang Wang.A friend? An elder sister from the Qu clan?

Jiang Wang's silence was because he didn't know why she had slipped into the carriage,nor how she and Zuo Guangshu usually interacted...Perhaps a high-five and then she would leave?

Inside the carriage, a strange silence descended.

"You're here!" Jiang Wang was the first to speak.He wasn't naturally someone skilled in social graces,but at least he was before his little brother now.In such an awkward moment, he, as the elder brother, had to take charge.Thus, with some effort, he bravely spoke...Although the opening line was a little baffling, it did break the awkward silence.

Qu Shunhua forced a smile and said, "I am."

"Qu Shunhua, right?" Jiang Wang asked.

"You know me?" Qu Shunhua raised an eyebrow.

This was not difficult to guess.Up to this point, among the girls Zuo Guangshu had mentioned to him,there was only Qu Shunhua.Given Little Guangshu's proud yet shy nature, he likely didn't have many close female friends.And someone who could directly barge into the Little Duke's carriage on the street,regardless of their relationship or status, must be extraordinary.Besides Qu Shunhua, no one else came to mind.

Jiang Wang smiled warmly: "Little Guangshu often talks about you!"

This sentence seemed to shatter the distance, making the atmosphere in the carriage lighter.A smile blossomed on Qu Shunhua's face. She took the opportunity to sit opposite Jiang Wang,and with great composure, smiled and said, "What does he say about me?"

As the awkward atmosphere disappeared, she sat down.This beauty with the goose-egg face immediately revealed her dignified and noble side.She was completely at ease, graceful and poised.

"What are you two talking about!" Zuo Guangshu said somewhat flustered.

Qu Shunhua turned her head: "You, don't speak first!"But then she remembered Jiang Wang was present and smiled softly:"Let me have a chat with... Brother Jiang first."

She had also attended the battle at Guanhe Platform, so she naturally recognized the Head of the Yellow River.Not to mention Zuo Guangshu always talked to her about how amazing Jiang Wang was...With a little thought, she understood that Jiang Wang had been invited by Zuo Guangshu to help with the Mountain and Sea Realm.Having witnessed Jiang Wang's combat firsthand, she was naturally happy about this.

But at this moment, what she cared about most was what Little Guangshu said about her behind her back—That he often mentioned her was of course a good thing and a plus,but the specific way he mentioned her still left room for discussion.

"He mentions you so many times, I don't know where to begin," Jiang Wang said without blushing or his heart pounding."One moment he says beautiful and generous, the next he says exceptionally talented,then peerless in the world, then fortunate to have met you in three lifetimes...My ears are almost calloused from hearing it!"

Qu Shunhua stole a shy glance at Zuo Guangshu:"Why are you not modest at all when talking to Brother Jiang? It's quite annoying!"

Zuo Guangshu's handsome face turned crimson, he wanted to deny it,but he still had some sense... Denying it now seemed like asking for death.

"I also thought this child was exaggerating in his speech, not sounding like he was speaking the truth at all.How could such a person exist in the world?" Jiang Wang said with a sincere tone:"Today, seeing you, Miss Qu, I realize he has been very modest!"

"Oh, this..." Qu Shunhua, who was so imposing before Zuo Guangshu,lowered her head shyly: "Brother Jiang, you are making me embarrassed."

"I have a problem, I can't keep my thoughts to myself."Jiang Wang gave Zuo Guangshu a look that said, 'Am I not good to you, brother?',and then smiled: "Alright then, I will go out and take a stroll, admire the night view of Yingcheng.Give you young couple some space to talk properly!"

"Oh, Brother Jiang, don't go," Qu Shunhua quickly said."I don't have anything important to see Guangshu about, I should leave after seeing him!""Also..." She said somewhat sheepishly:"We are not married yet, we are not a young couple. We were just engaged since childhood..."

Zuo Guangshu's face was even redder, as if blood would drip from it.

"Engaged since childhood, deeply in love, and so well-matched."Jiang Wang smiled: "Then it's just a matter of time, isn't it!"

Qu Shunhua's smile grew even brighter:"Brother Jiang, you are Guangshu's elder brother, which makes you my elder brother.If you need anything in Yingcheng, just find me!"Turning to look at Zuo Guangshu, she said:"You two rest today and let Brother Jiang meet the family.Tomorrow, find some time, you bring Brother Jiang to the Huangliang Terrace, I will arrange a welcome banquet..."She nudged him: "Did you hear?"

Zuo Guangshu then said, "Oh."

Qu Shunhua again greeted Jiang Wang: "Brother Jiang, come for a drink tomorrow! I'll be leaving now!"Then she confidently lifted the curtain and departed.

She came like a thunderclap and left like a streak of lightning.Unlike the generally demure and graceful noble ladies of prominent families Jiang Wang had seen in Linzi,she possessed a kind of romantic and unrestrained air unique to the children of Chu.

The carriage window was still open. Jiang Wang looked out.Qu Shunhua's carriage was parked nearby, its luxury no less than Zuo Guangshu's.She lowered herself and sat inside.

"Ah, what a wonderful girl!"Jiang Wang exclaimed, looking at the departing carriage, then at Zuo Guangshu.He looked at Zuo Guangshu, then at the carriage carrying Qu Shunhua away.

Zuo Guangshu's face turned red, and he said angrily, "What are you looking at!"

Jiang Wang laughed heartily but said no more.The little fellow was thin-skinned; teasing him further would likely make him explode.

The Duke of Huai's mansion covered a vast area.In Yingcheng, where every inch of land was precious,just the size of the grounds was enough to convey the power of the mansion's owner.A pair of vermilion jade lions guarded the gate, majestic and undeniably noble.Especially the lions' eyes, shimmering with light, they seemed almost alive.

Upon the return of the Little Duke of the Zuo family, the gates of the Duke of Huai's mansion were opened wide,and guards lined up to welcome him.As Jiang Wang stepped out of the carriage, he saw a middle-aged beauty standing there gracefully.She was dressed simply, her demeanor dignified, with a hint of nobility hidden in her brows,but not overbearing. The feeling she gave off was rather one of warmth and gentleness.

Zuo Guangshu got out of the carriage first and said obediently,"Mother, this is my esteemed brother Jiang Wang, whom I've invited to help in battle,the Head of the Yellow River of this generation!"

Xiong Jingyu turned her gaze towards him.Jiang Wang was one step ahead and bowed:"Junior Jiang Wang pays respects to Her Highness the Grand Princess of Great Chu!"He had done his homework in advance and knew that Zuo Guangshu's mother was the current Chu Emperor's younger sister,titled Grand Princess Yuyun. Addressing her this way was the safest.

Looking at the tall, handsome, and distinguished young man before her,Xiong Jingyu's eyes were momentarily in a daze.Her eldest son had also been the Head of the Yellow River...But this brief daze quickly faded.

Xiong Jingyu said softly, "You and Guangshu are friends, you can just call me Auntie.Thank you for your trouble. You took such good care of my Guangshu in the Void Realm,and now you've come all this way to help him."

"Not at all," Jiang Wang said humbly,"In the Void Realm, Guangshu and I helped each other and grew together.Furthermore, I myself greatly yearn for the Mountain and Sea Realm.Receiving the invitation is exactly what I wished for!"

"How are you adapting to the Mountain and Sea Purgatory?" Xiong Jingyu asked again.

Jiang Wang glanced at Zuo Guangshu and smiled confidently: "Quite well."

Zuo Guangshu seemed quite displeased with his mother's question and exclaimed from the side,"Can the helper I chose be bad?"

Xiong Jingyu ignored him and only said to Jiang Wang,"That place is too difficult, it has troubled you to suffer along. Auntie feels truly sorry.Rest well in the mansion for these few days and recuperate your spirit."

"Guangshu and I cultivate together, it's not hard, Auntie," Jiang Wang went along with the pleasantries.

Xiong Jingyu said, "Has Guangshu told you about his grandfather wanting to see you?"

"He has," Jiang Wang said, "The Old Duke is a hero of this age, I have admired him for a long time!"

Xiong Jingyu smiled slightly, gaining a few more favorable impressions of this neither humble nor arrogant young man:"Guangshu's grandfather is waiting for you in the study. I will lead you there now."She patted Zuo Guangshu's head: "You wait here for a while."

"Why am I not allowed to be present?" Zuo Guangshu immediately expressed his dissatisfaction:"Is there anything in the Zuo family that I cannot hear?"

"Your grandfather specifically wants to talk to someone, does he need you there?"Xiong Jingyu turned him around: "Go, go, stop getting in the way!"

Zuo Guangshu understood that his mother's attitude meant there was no room for negotiation,but he still protested: "You can go talk, but tell my grandfather not to bully anyone!"

Xiong Jingyu couldn't help but glare at him:"How old is your grandfather? Do you think he's like you children?"

Although Zuo Guangshu's words were a joke.Jiang Wang felt inexplicably a little guilty.Only children think about bullying others, adults are all about murder and robbery...Before the Duke of Huai, if there were any grievances, how could his small frame bear it?

But he could only follow Xiong Jingyu.He walked half a step behind, through the deep courtyard of the Duke of Huai's mansion.Jiang Wang slowly calmed his slightly uneasy mood.He could probably guess why the Duke of Huai wanted to see him.The volume of "Detailed Analysis of Blazing Flower Burning City" that Zuo Guangshu had given himalready explained a lot.Just as Master Kujue could find him through some connection,for a prominent figure like the Duke of Huai, it wouldn't be difficult to perceive the connectionbetween him and Zuo Guanglie.

The Duke of Huai of Great Chu, Zuo Xiao, had a rather arrogant name.It is said that in his youth, he was also a fearsome deity,but only after reaching a high position did he gradually begin to cultivate his character.Of course, his fame came many years ago.Outside of Chu, perhaps his notoriety was not as widespread as that of the demon.But those who truly knew him would naturally not have such a pointless comparison in mind.

Jiang Wang thought about the Duke of Huai's style of conduct,weighing the attitude he should adopt when speaking later.Suddenly, he heard a sentence from ahead—"When he left... was he in pain?"

The voice was so soft, as if it hadn't sounded at all.But it was truly and clearly heard in Jiang Wang's ears.Jiang Wang dared not look at her expression as she walked beside him,but he could feel the pain in the question.This Grand Princess Yuyun of Great Chu did not say a name,but Jiang Wang of course knew... who "he" was.Not so painful... was probably a mother's final comfort.

After a moment of thought, Jiang Wang said,"It was like a sun going out. He left very cleanly, and very brilliantly."

"Like a sun..." Xiong Jingyu murmured.She imagined such a brilliant scene, and finally felt...that was the ending Guanglie would choose.

Then she stopped: "That study ahead is it. Guangshu's grandfather is inside."

"Very well. Thank you for accompanying me, Auntie."Jiang Wang bowed to her and walked forward alone.That young figure in the verdant robe, standing tall and straight,was deeply imprinted in a mother's eyes.The same Head of the Yellow River, the same peerless genius, the same youthful promise...But he was not him.Perhaps it was due to the Sky-Soaring Immortal Technique,as Jiang Wang walked, there was a strong air of immortality about him.While Zuo Guanglie was brilliant, dazzling.

Xiong Jingyu gently closed her eyes, vaguely seeing that young backclad in a magnificent blazing robe, but that back would not turn around again.

The door to the study was open, and there were no servants attending.Jiang Wang cautiously walked in and saw a thin old mansitting behind the desk, writing something with great concentration.As he wrote, he said without lifting his head, "Sit."

Jiang Wang glanced around and sat in the large armchair against the wall.Behind him hung a painting of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix.To his right was a tea stool, and beyond the tea stool was another chair.The layout of the entire study could be described with the word "simple,"without any unnecessary decorations.

The Duke of Huai did not intend to deliberately test Jiang Wang's patience.He quickly put down his brush, pulled the freshly written document to the upper right corner of the desk,and then looked up.After all, a person's reputation precedes them, like a tree's shadow.Jiang Wang subconsciously straightened up, his backside unconsciously shifting half an inch.

"Head of the Yellow River Jiang Wang, I have long wanted to meet you."The Duke of Huai used this sentence as his opening.

Jiang Wang turned his face to look, and this time he clearly saw the face of the Duke of Huai of Great Chu—Smooth, refined, with a few fine lines bestowed by time.Although his face did not show much age, one could feel that he was an elder.And his majesty was not outwardly displayed.

"It is my honor to be remembered by the Duke," Jiang Wang said very politely.His respect for Zuo Xiao was not merely because of his status as the Duke of Huai of Great Chu,but more so because he was the grandfather of Zuo Guanglie and Zuo Guangshu.For the elder of a friend, one should treat them as an elder.

The Duke of Huai looked at him silently for a while, and then said,"Actually, there were some questions I wanted to ask you,but later I felt it was unnecessary. In life, everyone has regrets. I am no exception."He sighed softly: "Child, I just wanted to see you now."