Eternal Saber-Chapter 397 - 4: Zhiwei’s Whereabouts

For half a year, Chen Tang had not ceased cultivating arduously on the ship, and he had already opened the Four Apertures of the nose and ears, significantly enhancing his hearing.

The surrounding voices were noisy, but by concentrating fully, he clearly overheard the conversation of a few people in the teahouse.

Chen Tang glanced over that way.

Just now, as they approached the main road, four people sitting around a table were also dressed in Jianghu attire, but their mannerisms were subtly different from those of the surrounding Jianghu guests.

The occasional flash of majesty and killing intent in their gaze seemed to suggest a military background.

Besides these four, there was another table in the corner with two young people, a man and a woman.

The man was slightly older, probably in his early twenties, with a handsome face, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes. He wore a simple, clean turquoise robe, and his long black hair was casually tied at the back, with a few strands gently swaying in the wind, adding to his free and unrestrained demeanor.

A plain and unadorned green sheathed long sword stood against the table, within easy reach.

The girl sitting beside him was much younger, having just passed her coming-of-age ceremony. Her hair was styled in a bamboo-leaf bun, her skin was fair as snow, and she was graceful and charming, dressed in a green dress, appearing cute and lovable.

The girl’s sword was somewhat shorter, leaning closely against the man’s long sword.

From Chen Tang’s observation, besides the four who seemed military, the young man in the green robe, and the teahouse owner leisurely lying in a rocking chair, fanning himself with a palm fan, seemed to have some tricks up his sleeve as well.

A lean, small-eyed man spoke in a deep voice, "What Brother Luo said is not groundless. I’ve heard that Shen Guobao was expelled from the Langya Pavilion family genealogy years ago."

"It should have been done long ago!"

Luo Shixian with a scarred face said, "Shen Guobao relied on the prestige of the Shen Family of Langya Pavilion and put in efforts to marry into the Ye Clan of the Sword Pavilion, but because of his poor conduct, the Old Pavilion Master didn’t regard him highly."

"After the battle at Xiajiang, Shen Guobao latched onto Xia Daozi as a backer, and continually slandered the Old Pavilion Master and the Northern Expedition Army, forcing Marshal Xuan to relinquish military power, and the Old Pavilion Master retreated into seclusion again."

The lean man sighed, "I didn’t expect the Old Pavilion Master to have a moment of misjudgment, entrusting his daughter to the wrong person."

Luo Shixian said, "The Old Pavilion Master can’t be blamed. After all, Shen Guobao is from a prestigious family, and the marriage was considered well-matched. Who would have thought that Shen Guobao would degenerate into flattery and collusion with Xia Daozi, disrupting the court, becoming the greatest traitor in Great Xia’s history!"

The four people sitting by the main road glanced over again, their expressions unfriendly.

Chen Tang roughly understood.

The Old Pavilion Master they were discussing should refer to the Nanxia Sword Sect.

The Marshal Xuan is likely the Sword Sect’s nephew, Ye Xuan, who used to command the Northern Expedition Army.

As for Xia Daozi, he wasn’t sure who that was.

This surname is assumed to be from the Xia Dynasty’s Royal Family.

Someone nearby suddenly said, "I just heard that the Xia Family proposed marriage, wanting to form an alliance with the Shen Family."

"Who’s marrying who?" another asked.

The person replied, "On the Xia Family’s side, it’s Xia Daozi’s son, Xia Yuanxian. From the Shen Family, it’s the Miss Zhiwei who was just found."

Chen Tang was about to leave, but hearing the words ’Miss Zhiwei,’ he paused.

The long-lost daughter of the Shen Family turned out to be Zhiwei?

In other words, Zhiwei should originally be called Shen Zhiwei.

Reflecting on some past stories Zhiwei had told and roughly calculating her age, it indeed seemed very likely.

Moreover, Zhiwei knew a very special swordsmanship technique.

Zhiwei’s mother Ye Taoyuan was from the East Mountain Sword Pavilion, thus calculated, Zhiwei’s maternal grandfather was indeed the Nanxia Sword Sect!

"No wonder..."

Chen Tang murmured softly, recalling when they were on the Snow Mountain Peak, Emperor Wu displayed a complex expression upon witnessing this swordsmanship technique.

Emperor Wu also instructed him to take good care of Zhiwei.

Chen Tang secretly rejoiced for Zhiwei.

Originally, Zhiwei made the decision herself, coming to Nanxia to cultivate under a Mystic Master, in search of her family.

Now it seemed it was indeed the right decision.

Chen Tang thought that during this time, many difficulties would be encountered.

As he pondered, a thought struck Chen Tang.

If Zhiwei is indeed Ye Taoyuan’s daughter, then back when her family was ruined, her father died tragically, and the hardships she endured over the years were all caused by the Profound Celestial Sect!

In other words, since Zhiwei came to Nanxia, it’s highly possible she unknowingly apprenticed under her enemy!

What she experienced over the past two years, for her to be able to return to Langya Pavilion and reunite with her family, seemed quite strange.

Chen Tang contemplated for a moment, then entered the teahouse with Ah Li, sitting down as someone just left.

Their attire did not resemble Jianghu guests, instead resembling newcomers to the Jianghu, novices.

Chen Tang carried a bow and arrow, the young girl held a long wooden box, not even possessing a proper weapon, and appeared youthful.

People in the teahouse only glanced up at them, then returned their gaze.

A waiter in the shop quickly cleared away the recent tea set and brought a new brew and several plates of tea snacks.

"Young man, I want to ask about something."

Chen Tang slipped two taels of broken silver into the waiter’s hand and quietly asked, "What’s the story behind the Xia Family, and what kind of person is Xia Yuanxian?"

"The Xia Family is the Great Xia Royal Family, Xia Daozi is now the Prime Minister, second only to one person but above thousands."

The waiter said truthfully, "Young Master Yuanxian is the Prime Minister’s eldest son, not yet twenty, yet appointed as the Central Commander, in charge of the Imperial Guard within the Capital City and the Imperial Palace. He is indeed young and promising, holding high positions."

Chen Tang pondered for a bit.

Xia Daozi as the Prime Minister, his child also overseeing the Imperial Guard of the Capital City Imperial Palace.

Just now, hearing the people talk, Shen Guobao was also Xia Daozi’s man, holding the garrison army outside the Capital City.

This isn’t merely about holding high positions; perhaps the Emperor might even be overruled!

Chen Tang asked again, "Young man, you still haven’t answered me, what kind of person is this Xia Yuanxian?"

"Hehe."

The waiter chuckled strangely, "Well... I’m not really sure."

The teahouse waiter seemed somewhat apprehensive, evidently unlike the surrounding Jianghu guests who spoke without restraint.

Luo Shixian frowned and said, "As far as I know, Langya Pavilion is also quite disgusted by that treacherous minister, with Langya Pavilion’s prestige and status, how could they form an alliance with Xia Daozi?"

"Indeed."

The lean man sighed, "Miss Zhiwei, missing for many years and upon return, never thought she’d become a tool for the alliance of two great families, what a pity."

"You two brothers are unaware."

Another person said, "Xia Daozi knew if he went to propose, he would surely face rejection from Langya Pavilion, so he first requested a Holy Decree, by which His Holiness conferred the marriage."

"Ah!"

A gasp of surprise arose among the people.

With the Emperor Xia issuing a Holy Decree, even if Langya Pavilion’s status were higher, they couldn’t openly defy the decree, or it would surely cause a great uproar.

Luo Shixian said indignantly, "Xia Daozi is truly insidious, forming a marriage alliance with the Shen Family, binding Miss Zhiwei to Xia Yuanxian, making the Shen Family fear of taking rash actions, afraid they will become more unscrupulous in the future!"