Chapter 2361: Restraining the Sea

Qi Wen had mentioned earlier that the people from Binghuangdao had already taken Li Longchuan's corpse and were sending it back to Linzi.

Jiang Wang had subconsciously thought that it was Li Fengyao herself who was escorting Li Longchuan back. But upon seeing Li Fengyao at this moment, he only then vaguely remembered... what kind of woman Li Fengyao was. She wasn't the type to close the door, hug her knees, sob quietly, and grieve silently. With Li Fengyao's character, how could she silently carry the corpse back home?

"You came," Li Fengyao said. Her absolutely beautiful, ice-carved face was also brilliantly white, as if it had frozen the sky light. She shone brightly, but for the first time, she made people feel she was fragile.

"Fengyao Jie," Jiang Wang walked forward, "I thought... you went back to Linzi."

"The person is already dead, the corpse has also been examined, a corpse has no meaning beyond emotions," Li Fengyao said coldly. Her gaze also shifted back, looking down at the ice layer beneath her feet. The refraction of the ice, the coldness in her beautiful eyes, as if this frozen sea surface could freeze some things, retain some things. Yet nothing remained.

"I used to be a Qingpai catcher for a period, I am re-investigating this matter," Jiang Wang said.

"Me too," Li Fengyao said faintly. Everything had already settled, yet someone was still seeking answers. Not because they were certain that there were problems with everything, but to confirm in their own way—to confirm how their closest kin had departed. In the end, this was just a kind of unavoidable farewell. They could no longer sing and drink together, could no longer see each other off at the long pavilion.

"I'm not saying this, my meaning is—" Jiang Wang pondered for a moment, still saying, "What if the truth isn't as desired?" Up to now, no evidence could overturn the "seven whys" Qi Wen had filled out. As for whether a high-level official of the Jing country had instructed it, Qi Wen himself had said "cannot confirm if such a thing." And the other details had been repeatedly verified. Jiang Wang had traveled along this path, inquiring around, also reminiscing more about Li Longchuan's last life trajectory. But Li Fengyao's identity was after all different. It was inconvenient for her to suspect the national affairs that the East Sea had already decided.

"There will be no change, nothing will happen," Li Fengyao said in a nearly ice-cold tone, "The Li family has been a military family for generations, guarding the borders for the country. We eat the ruler's salary and only know loyalty to the ruler, we enjoy the country's salary and only know to serve the country. Military orders are like mountains, and as a general, I only obey. The court's decisions, the Li family will only accept."

"I just—" Li Fengyao at this moment shifted her gaze, looking towards the horizon, "Longchuan had a big temper from a young age. If he suffered grievances, I want to know his grievances."

Jiang Wang was silent for a moment. It was best if the truth was just like this! Li Longchuan had already unfortunately died, it was best if he did not die aggrieved. Also at this moment, in that brilliantly white sky light, clouds suddenly surged. Looking closely, how could they be clouds, they were clearly sword energy. Surging sword energy gathered into a dragon, twisting and leaping, then arched in the sky, turning into a suspended gate.

The "Dragon Gate" hung in mid-air, reaching up to the blue clouds from here. The world should pity me, without illness to serve in office. This gate pushed open, and from the gate came two scholars. The foremost one, with an excellent figure and proper clothing. Although her facial features were not particularly outstanding, her temperament was supreme. Just slowly walking out from this Dragon Gate, in glances, she already possessed an abyss-like grandmaster demeanor. She held one hand behind her, leading a person by the hand. That person behind her tried hard to hide himself, and also turned his head to one side—but his shiny forehead, divided by much sky light, made him unable not to attract attention. Peeling away the dazzling sky light, one could see his eyes, swollen like walnuts.

"Li family Jie, Jiang Ge," Zhao Wuyan opened her mouth, "Xiang Qian is always crying at home, I thought I would bring him to see, as mourning... why are you all not in Linzi?"

The Confucian school values rites, and funeral matters are of utmost importance. In her thoughts, the Li residence should be handling the funeral at this time. Li Fengyao must not have left. She also planned to accompany Xu Xiangqian to the Gui Mian Yu sea domain to pay respects for a while, then take Xu Xiangqian to Linzi to offer sacrifices, present silk and gold, and console the family.

"Some details are not clear enough, I want to see some things clearly," Jiang Wang said, "As for Fengyao Jie... she came to see Longchuan."

Xu Xiangqian fiercely wiped his eyes, walked to the front, and pretended to wave his hand casually, "I don't always cry, Zhao Shi Jie spoke exaggeratedly. Longchuan told me long before that a great man should command a thousand riders when born, and step on ten thousand hooves when dead. Wrapped in horse leather, it does not lose a man's romance. He was open-minded! Life and death in a military family are often unpredictable, how can we not be carefree! I came here, nothing more than to respect him with a jar of wine, burn him several hundred paper beauties, so he won't be lonely."

Saying so, he really took out a jar of wine, raised it high with both hands, and heavily smashed it on the sea surface! Let the broken pottery sink into the sea, let the wine fragrance splash everywhere. There wasn't even a live fish here, and nothing could be affected. Xu Xiangqian again from his storage box, hugged out a large stack of finely drawn, life-size paper figures, piled like a small mountain. The drawing of these paper figures took much thought, some innocent and lively, some beautiful and charming, some plump, some slender, not uniform, they could be called "hundred beauties". With one hand, he threw this pile of paper figures all into the air! Again with a big wave, brushed out a flame light, all ignited, fluttering in the air—like releasing lanterns. It was really like the time they were still in Linzi ah, people all went to see lanterns, they went full streets to see beauties.

Jiang Wang did not speak. Li Fengyao was still looking at the ice layer beneath her feet. The flame light reflected on the sea, and was also imprinted into her eyes. The flame light swayed with the paper figures, and the emotions in her eyes seemed to flow with it. She slowly said, "After being beheaded, he just fell into the sea here, along with that big turtle."

"He will like it, he will like it," Xu Xiangqian seemed to hear nothing, just looked up at those burning beautiful paper figures, chattering, "He likes me, handsome and tasteful, he knows how to appreciate, he definitely likes the one in the middle the most, how plump. He—"

He squatted down on the sea surface, covering his face with both hands, and wailed loudly. Zhao Wuyan just squatted beside him, quietly accompanying. Li Fengyao stood on the ice surface, still calmly narrating, as if Xu Xiangqian was crying for someone else, "The Gui Mian Yu sea domain has been abandoned for a long time, it's almost not considered a defense area, usually no one is stationed there, at most it just appears on the patrol route of the border guards. At the time of the incident, this sea domain only had Longchuan and the Jing country people. Except for Longchuan, all other people were confirmed killed by Tian Anping. With one thought, he slaughtered this sea domain. All things with spirit were annihilated. Slaughter for him is almost a habit, it can no longer be called surprising—I did not find any anomalies on Longchuan's corpse. Not here either."

The people of Baijiao Island fished up Li Longchuan's corpse, the process was very careful, they dared not touch it substantially, afraid of destroying traces on the corpse. Li Longchuan's corpse was personally examined by people she found later, and she personally sewed it up. After putting Li Longchuan on the ship back to Qi, she alone came to the Gui Mian Yu sea domain and had been staying here. She almost used the Shuang Xin divine ability to illuminate every inch of this sea domain. It was precisely because she completed such heavy work in an extremely short time that, with her cultivation, she would appear somewhat weak.

The beautiful paper figures flying in the sky slowly burned out. Only left were falling ashes, dotting the clear sea water, spotted. Originally beautiful things could become this ugly. Good thing the waves rolled and then submerged them. Jiang Wang suppressed that kind of unreleased emotion and felt himself sinking. The process was slow but firm. Just at this time, a sharp whistling wind sound came from far away to near. Li Fengyao turned her head to look back. But she saw a luxurious, restrained, narrow flying boat, piercing the wind and breaking the clouds, flashing like lightning, arriving in an instant. At the moment of the sudden stop, the electric light flashing on the outside of the flying boat quietly hid, turning into beautiful and mysterious inscriptions on the boat body. There were also two people on the flying boat, a sitting renowned family young master and a great family lady. Always gentle and tranquil, rich and idle-like Yan Fu, at this time his face was heavy. Beside him was the gentle and beautiful woman, precisely Chao Yi Daifu Wen Yanyu's daughter, Wen Tinglan, who was to marry Yan Fu at the end of the year. She was looking at Yan Fu with concern, her face also filled with sadness. After all, Li Longchuan was such a good friend of Yan Fu, and his family background was also extremely good, she had also seen him many times by Yan Fu's side, so she was familiar with him.

"There were some matters in Linzi... so we came late," Yan Fu walked down from the flying boat, saying as he walked, "I guessed you should all be here. Tinglan insisted on accompanying me, so I brought her."

"What matters in Linzi?" Li Fengyao could probably guess some, but she was still annoyed that someone actually dared to stir up trouble at this time. The people of the Li family during this period, no matter how intense their reactions were, could probably get understanding. But precisely because of this, it was inconvenient to respond—you are the first famous family of Great Qi, you should have the bearing of a famous family of Great Qi. Even if your teeth are broken, you should swallow them into your stomach. Easily overturning heaven and earth is not the family style. Jiang Rumo endured being spat on, and previously Yan Ping also let people scold and laugh. The prime minister's belly can support a boat, because sitting in that position, there are too many things to consider.

"A small matter, Li family Jie, no need to worry," Yan Fu said, "Zhong Xuan Sheng is handling it."

Whatever the matter, as long as you heard that Zhong Xuan Sheng was involved, it always made people feel relieved. Wen Tinglan let go of Yan Fu's sleeve, walked to Li Fengyao's side, and said warmly, "Li family Jie, heaven has unforeseen events, and people have evening misfortunes. Many things are not for us to decide, we can only firmly walk forward. You must take good care of your body, I believe Longchuan in heaven also does not hope you grieve excessively. Your complexion doesn't look good—"

She took out an exquisite jade bottle from her embrace and placed it in Li Fengyao's hand, "Here is a bottle of Yi Yuan Dan, refined by my third grandfather himself, it can nourish the spirit and supplement the essence... you can try it."

Wen Tinglan's third grandfather, Wen Baizhu, was a famous doctor of the Imperial Medical Bureau. Speaking of medical skills, perhaps he was not inferior to that Imperial Medical Director, only in cultivation he was not as good. The dan he refined was naturally of top quality. Li Fengyao was a head taller than Wen Tinglan. Leaning against a body in armor, with a frost-cold temperament, Li Fengyao stood beside the soft-spoken Wen Tinglan in a short jacket and long skirt, making her appear even more gentle and proper. In terms of family background, appearance, and conduct, she could be considered a good match for Yan Fu. This marriage was also favored by many people.

Li Fengyao was not a person who needed consolation. What she needed was the truth, the way to solve problems. She knew how life should go forward, and did not need anyone to guide or support her. But Wen Tinglan came with Yan Fu, and also with good intentions, even though she was as cold as ice, she would not brush off this kindness. So she accepted the jade bottle.

"Wen Niangzi is kind," she said, "Fengyao has a thousand words hard to express, no heart for small talk. Don't feel slighted. The days ahead are still long, many meetings."

There were many people in this world, she could still see many faces. But her blood relatives, she could no longer meet again. As a child, she disliked him being naughty, and always beat him. Yet no matter how much she beat him, he was not estranged, always following beside her, wiping tears but still wanting to find his elder sister to play. This boy had a big temper, arguing with anyone, only before her was he obedient, saying east and not going west. It had been like this from a young age to adulthood. The Li family's little tiger cub was Li family Jie's little soldier! People often said this. She instead did not shed tears. The honor of the Shi Men Li family was built with fresh blood. The people of the Shi Men Li family were long accustomed to life and death. She told herself, generals die in a hundred battles, in military uniform, this day will come sooner or later. But Li Longchuan died during a vacation... He did not die on the battlefield. He did not die in a formal war.

"Li family Jie..." Wen Tinglan's eyes were already red, holding Li Fengyao's hand with both hands, holding it tightly, "We will always be here."

The two held hands and let go, warmth as if thus transmitted. When Wen Tinglan strongly suppressed her emotions and returned to Yan Fu's side. Li Fengyao then opened the jade bottle in her hand, poured out a Yi Yuan Dan, and ate it casually. She then carefully treasured this bottle of dan medicine. Besides Zhong Xuan Sheng, the people who often gathered in Linzi once again gathered in this desolate sea domain. Xu Xiangqian, covering his face, was already silent, Li Fengyao stood on the ice surface, Yan Fu was silent and did not speak, Li Longchuan was sunk at the bottom of the sea... Jiang Wang was still gazing far away. He was like a sculpture, but it was as if one could hear the muffled sound of his heart.

"Jiang Ge, what are you looking at?" Wen Tinglan asked caringly. But there was no need for Jiang Wang to speak, this question immediately had an answer. Splash la la, splash la la. The sound of iron chains shaking finally clearly appeared in their ears. When this sound appeared, the drooping-haired Tian Anping had already slowly walked over, occupying everyone's view. He was slow in vision, but in reality, each step he took was extremely far. After two steps, he was already standing nearby. He just stood on the water surface, changed into a clean single garment, and the wounds on his body looked completely recovered. Broken chains were tied around his ankles, just hanging into the water, in the shadows of the wave light, as if moving.

"What are you here to do?" Yan Fu frowned and asked. From the beginning, his impression of Tian Anping was not good. Tian Anping, however, did not look at him, only stared at Jiang Wang, saying, "Little Yan young master, don't look at me with that kind of eyes, it's easy to cause trouble."

Yan Fu had not yet said anything, when Wen Tinglan, eager to protect her husband, already scolded, "Tian Anping! You less presumptuous here! Don't think that just because you can go mad, you are so great. The Imperial Medical Bureau has many ways to cure madness!"

Originally still wiping tears, Xu Xiangqian, with red eyes, then stood up, walked to Yan Fu's side, and indicated his stance with his actions. The disputes between the various overlord countries, the friction between famous families, Zhao Wuyan was unwilling to get involved from the beginning. Today, however, she silently followed. Tian Anping's eyes did not move, he just turned his eyeballs, as if his peripheral vision was enough to see these people. He 'hehe' laughed, "Really ignorant and fearless ah. I am very curious, Wen Yanyu does not dare to speak to me like this."

Wen Tinglan was greatly angry, "What do you think you are—"

Li Fengyao was afraid they would suffer a loss, and proactively stepped forward, interrupting Wen Tinglan's words, "General Tian, you were injured due to official duty, why are you not properly recuperating on Jue Ming Island, how did you come here?"

"I have had headaches since I was young, and physicians also diagnosed no issue, always using some very hard to eat medicine, saying 'this is good', 'this is good', but it was always not good. I instead was not afraid of pain, just felt strange. Always wanted to cut open my own head and see what was inside. That year I was ten years old, I did so—" Tian Anping seemed to fall into memories, his eyes for a moment dazed, but quickly clear, he grinned, "Guess what?"

A ten-year-old child, because of curiosity, cut open his own head, this was really somewhat horrifying. Not something a normal person could do. Inexplicably telling this matter to unrelated people was also not a normal person's way of interaction. He was really very strange. No one answered him. He talked to himself, knocking his brow with his index finger, "The Imperial Medical Director's medical skills are really good. One needle 'Jing Hong', benefited my primordial spirit, filled my thoughts." Again knocking his temple, "One needle 'Zhen Ge', restored my blood and soul, returned my true gong."

No matter who he was talking to, no matter what he said, Tian Anping was always facing Jiang Wang from beginning to end. At this time, he also grinned, looking at Jiang Wang's eyes with a smile, "I now feel extremely good."

"Zhen Ge" is a forbidden needle method, which can restore to a peak state in an extremely short time, but at the cost of damaging lifespan. Tian Anping was simply ill. It was hard for anyone to understand his way of thinking. Not to mention how he managed to invite the Imperial Medical Director to use this needle, how much resources were consumed. The overseas conflict between Qi and Jing had already ended, the Jing country people had already left the field, there would be no major war for a short time, yet he used such a needle! What did he want to do? Just to come here healthy for a stroll, and exchange harsh words with Yan Fu and Wen Tinglan, who were of the same Qi country?

"General Tian's body has recovered so quickly, which is a good thing worth celebrating," Li Fengyao was already following the rites as much as possible, "This is a private gathering occasion for friends. General Tian, if you have no other matters, perhaps it would be better to first return to Baijiao Island to handle some island affairs? I heard that side is still under reconstruction, I think it is very busy."

"A private gathering occasion for friends?" Tian Anping tilted his head, his eyes clear, as if truly with doubt, "Not Destroy City Marquis's eldest daughter, former prime minister's direct grandson, Wen Daifu's only daughter... you these pillars of the Qi country, have suspicions about Duke Dou, are dissatisfied with the court's decisions, and thus gathered together in this place where Li Longchuan died, seeking the so-called truth?"

"Who said you were mad! The hat fits quite accurately," Yan Fu was always gentle and elegant, rarely angry, but his disgust for this person really could not be hidden, "If you think this hat can affect us, no harm in reporting it to the imperial front! No need to wag your tongue here!"

"What is the 'truth' in your hearts?" Tian Anping asked.

"We are gathered here only for mourning, General Tian!" Li Fengyao looked at him.

"I don't quite understand," Tian Anping looked at Jiang Wang, and stirred his hand, "Li Longchuan died, it was the first time I personally killed Wang Kun, to avenge him. It was also I who first found Lou Yue and drove the Jing people out of the sea—why do you all seem very hostile to me?"

"General Tian, indeed it is Fengyao being rude, I forgot to thank you," Li Fengyao pursed her lips, "Please forgive me. My friends and I are not in a very good mood, it is not that we are dissatisfied with General Tian."

Li Longchuan's death, no one could be more sad than Li Fengyao. With her usual character, she would not give face to anyone. But today, these friends all came for Li Longchuan. She was truly unwilling to see them have a conflict with a madman like Tian Anping, who was without regard for anyone. Especially since this madman now held a very high position and truly wielded the military power of the elite Jiu Jun. The lost influence of the Da Ze Tian family was in comprehensive recovery.

"No need for thanks," Tian Anping grinned, "Li Longchuan is nothing to me. I killed Wang Kun only because I just wanted to kill, just had a reason, that's all."

These words were really unpleasant. Whether true or false, he was straightforward to the point of having no scruples. He didn't care about Li Longchuan, and he didn't care about the feelings of these people. But Li Fengyao didn't plan to flare up, she suppressed her emotions, and was just about to speak again to send him away and end this unpleasant meeting—

"Almost enough," Jiang Wang's voice rang out. He who had always stood there silently, he who was dazedly不知道thinking what, he who was very suppressed! At this moment, slowly opened his mouth, "Don't always say this kind of nonsense in front of me."

He stood on the sea surface, the sea also reflecting the sky, his pair of boots, as if thus nailed dead the sky and the sea. The sky clouds, the water ripples, all the waves, were all suppressed by him. Thunder rumbled in the depths of his Dao body, a muffled ringing. That was the sound of his slow heartbeat.

"The Jing Yi Shen Ding cake personally made by South Chu Yu Guo Gong also cannot suppress me for too long now. My time is very limited—Tian Anping, you are nothing to me, my limited time has no part for you."

Tian Anping not only was not annoyed, but instead showed an excited smile. If Jiang Wang were completely sunk in the deep sea of the Heavenly Dao, he would feel bored! It was precisely this direct expression of disgust that made him feel emotions. That was the emotion boiling like magma sunk in the ground. Others perhaps could not perceive it, but he could see it clearly. He was full of interest in such a Jiang Wang!

Tian Anping opened both hands, the broken chains on his wrists shaking in the wind, "Since time is limited, why not hand it over to me, Tian Anping?"

He was even somewhat excited, "Such an interesting person like you, handing over your time to these mayflies born in the morning and dying in the evening, with a vision only in one family and one house, is what absurd waste!"

These people in the field, including Zhao Wuyan, who inherited the Zong Heng school, in his eyes were all dull and uninteresting, not worth a glance. Just like that Li Longchuan, said to be a genius, done with one knife. Like that Wang Kun, also had a reputation, but died in one thought. All mediocre! Only Jiang Wang, every glance was different from before, often looking, often new, one could see too many possibilities.

Jiang Wang looked at him indifferently, only saying—

"Roll!"

Boom!!!

The entire Gui Mian Yu sea domain raised waves tens of thousands of Zhang high!!

Above the waves, sound waves wandered. Each wave congealed into a sword shape, a thousand swords against the sky, ten thousand swords returning to the sect, interweaving and shuttling, all killing towards Tian Anping. Just like the Bei Hai of the ice river past, during the high tide period, a school of Yin Hai swordfish upstream!

Jiang Wang directly made a move!

What son of Gaochang Marquis, heir of the Tian family, commander of the Zhan Yu. What "madman" that ordinary people would not reason with. I have the "disease" of a Heavenly Person. When my old disease acts up, who cares how mad your mom is? Go roll far away mad!