Chapter 114: The Seller Seeks Glory (Part 1)

  Looking at Xiao Ziyang who suddenly appeared in front of him, Wu Tianyou smiled bitterly and said: "The immortal master's informant has already had a clue. The Purple Gold Guard indeed had a deputy commander named Xiao Zhengyu more than 20 years ago. At that time, he followed the Duke of Weiguo to suppress the rebellion of Chengtian Wang, but for some reason, he secretly left the army and returned to the capital in secret. The emperor ordered his arrest and return to Beijing, but he refused to be captured and was killed. His family also escaped without a trace, which made the emperor furious. The person who handled Xiao's case was actually someone from the Duke of Fuguo."

  Song Nancheng was indeed a real person, one of Xiao Tong's trusted subordinates. When Xiao Tong was involved in the case that year, several of his Purple Gold Guards were implicated and beheaded for treason, and Song Nancheng was among them.

  Xiao Ziyang's expression changed slightly as he heard this, "Oh?"

  Wu Tianyou paused for a moment, then continued: "There was once a trusted subordinate of General Xiao's, who is still an official in the Imperial Guard. His name is Jiang He, and he is now the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard. Unlike General Xiao's other trusted subordinates, who either fled or died, this man rose to prominence after General Xiao's death and became the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard eight years ago."

  Xiao Ziyang listened and slightly narrowed his eyes, then flipped his hand to take out a painting from the storage bag, unfolded it in front of Wu Tianyou, and asked: "Is this the person?" The painting depicted a middle-aged man wearing a raincoat, who looked exactly like Song Nancheng, whom he had met at the Xiao family's old mansion that day.

  Wu Tianyou took a look and said, "I haven't seen Jiang He in person, but as the emperor's eyes and ears, the Imperial Guard is always very mysterious. However, I specifically asked about this person's appearance, and it matches the one in this painting."

  Xiao Ziyang nodded slowly, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

  He rolled up the painting and asked Xiao Ziyang about Jiang He's address. As he was about to leave, Wu Tianyou looked at his back, wanting to say something but hesitated.

  Xiao Ziyang stopped in his tracks and said, "Don't worry, from now on I won't come looking for you again." After saying that, he suddenly disappeared without a trace.

  Wu Tianyou let out a long sigh as he gazed at the empty window.

  Jiang He's residence was six streets away from the Imperial City, which suited his status just fine. However, the scale of this residence did not match his position as a fourth-rank deputy commander of the Purple Gold Guard. The residence was not large, with only three courtyards in front and back, and the houses were old and worn out. Compared to the luxurious high gates and grand mansions around it, it looked very shabby.

  When Xiao Ziyang suddenly appeared in the study, Jiang He was sitting at his desk reading documents.

  When he saw Xiao Ziyang, he didn't seem surprised, but instead asked faintly: "You're here."

  Xiao Ziyang said: "That's right, let your subordinates run in vain."

  He smiled slightly, "Are you referring to Ganzhou?" After asking, he shook his head with a smile, "I could tell at the time that you didn't believe what I said. Although I don't know where I revealed my weakness... So I didn't send anyone to Ganzhou. You're a very clever person, and I'm sure you'll find me. I've been waiting for you all along..." He said this with a bitter smile, "Unfortunately, your timing is really bad."

  Xiao Ziyang sneered, "Not the right time? Let me guess, are you saying that something big happened at the Fu Guo Gong's residence over the past two days and all the skilled men who were arranged to capture me have been called away?"

  Jiang He's expression changed slightly, "You... it seems you've actually joined forces with the Weiguo Gongfu, what a big tree you've climbed! Haha! Unfortunately, this tree is about to fall."

  Xiao Ziyang smiled slightly and coldly, without refuting.

  Jiang He asked again, "I've always been puzzled, what exactly went wrong that day to arouse your suspicion? Moreover, since you don't believe me, why not capture me and force the truth out of me? With your martial arts skills, it shouldn't be difficult to do so."

  He said, "You're only twenty years old, and you've already mastered your martial arts to this level! I consider myself a rare talent in the field of martial arts, and there are no more than twenty people in the world who can beat me. But that day when we fought, I didn't even last ten moves...and I felt like you still had strength left over...You said your martial arts were taught by a divine master? Is it really true that a divine master is so amazing?"

  Xiao Ziyang took a deep breath and said, "That day I returned to the Xiao family's old mansion again, and when I saw that someone had tended to the neglected grave in the courtyard, I felt suspicious. I clearly remembered that many years ago, when I first returned to the Xiao family's old mansion, it was obvious that no one had taken care of it for many years. Why did someone suddenly start burning incense and making offerings again? Is all this related to my previous return? With doubts in my mind, I looked around carefully and indeed found signs of someone hiding in the attic. Although none of this can confirm whether you are a person from Fanguo Gong's side or not, it is enough to make me suspicious of you..."

  "As for why I let you go... although I have my doubts, I still hope that what you said is true. After all, you are the first person related to the past of my Xiao family that I've met in my life."

  "Ha! Truly indecisive, weak and soft-hearted, just like your sickly old father, you two are cut from the same cloth."

  He sneered and said, "I really don't understand, Yue Chan is so intelligent and elegant, how can she like Xiao Shouqing, that weak and sickly scholar. A man who can't even truss a chicken, how can he be worthy of Yue Chan, that icy and elegant woman!" As he spoke, his expression became more and more sinister, as if he had already regarded Xiao Ziyang as his father.

  However, Xiao Ziyang felt that his words were somewhat strange. His mother was strong and capable, but not particularly good-looking, and she was also very kind and honest, seemingly unrelated to the four characters "ice snow spirit elegant".

  Looking at Xiao Ziyang's puzzled expression, Jiang He took a deep breath and gradually calmed down. He sneered: "Are you very puzzled? Your mother doesn't even deserve to be called 'ice snow spirit'? She is not your mother at all! She was just a maid in the Murong Mansion back then! Xiao Shouqing, that timid husband, actually abandoned the weak postpartum Yu Chan and ran away alone, leaving her to face death by herself!"

  Xiao Ziyang's face gradually turned sinister, gritting his teeth and saying: "Are you prepared to face the death that you've brought upon yourself?"

  "You're right, the Xiao family has relied on their ancestors' prestige, enjoying glory and honor for generations, and basking in the emperor's favor. But what about us, the Jiang family? My grandfather died for the Xiao family, my father also died in battle for the Xiao family, yet all the credit went to the Xiao family. Why is that? I, Jiang He, was born with a natural talent for martial arts, but couldn't get access to top-notch techniques. Meanwhile, your father, a weakling who can't even tie a chicken, possesses the ultimate technique and doesn't even bother to teach me. I'm a hundred times, a thousand times stronger than your father, so why... why did Moon Chan choose him... isn't it just because he has a good family background?"