Jiang Chao Ge And The Spirit Weapon Chapter 31

The second day, Qi Ling Feng especially held a banquet for Yu Ren Shu. Jiang Chao Ge and Zhi Xuan were naturally invited.

Zhi Xuan hadn’t appeared in front of others in the form of an adult in a long time and seemed somewhat excited. Before they left, Jiang Chao Ge had brought that magnificent golden silk Qi Lin clothes with them. He felt that this set of clothes suited Zhi Xuan’s grandeur extremely well and would definitely intimidate everyone.

After dressing, Zhi Xuan said happily: “I can drink to my heart’s content today.”

“Don’t randomly lose your temper today.”

“I know.” Zhi Xuan straightened his body, using his hand to gesture at the top of Jiang Chao Ge’s head and said proudly: “I’m taller than you.”

“Mn, a little taller.”

“Not just a little.” Zhi Xuan took a step forward, seemingly about to b.u.mp into Jiang Chao Ge. Jiang Chao Ge subconsciously leaned backwards and was supported around the waist by one of Zhi Xuan’s hands. Zhi Xuan continued to compare, “Quite a bit taller.”

Jiang Chao Ge raised his head to look at him and echoed: “Mn, tall.”

Zhi Xuan suddenly lowered his head, burying his nose into his neck and sniffing, “What’s this smell on your body?”

“It’s the smell of the gra.s.s used to perfume clothes in the north. When the clothes are drying, they’ll perfume it in pa.s.sing.” Jiang Chao Ge turned his face away, somehow feeling a little awkward. He wasn’t uncomfortable being this intimate with child form Zhi Xuan but as soon as Zhi Xuan appeared in the form of an adult, still hugging each other was really too strange.

Zhi Xuan’s sharp eyebrows knitted slightly, “What are you avoiding for?”

“I’m not avoiding.”

“You’re avoiding.”

“I’m afraid you’ll bite me.”

“Why would I bite you. It’s not like I can eat you.”

Jiang Chao Ge couldn’t help but smile, “Don’t you cry that you’re going to eat me every day?”

“Ever since I discovered that keeping you is more useful that eating you, I’ve decided not to eat you.” Zhi Xuan forcefully tightened his embrace around Jiang Chao Ge’s waist, burying his nose into the collar of his clothes. The tip of the nose pressed against that very warm neck, taking a deep breath, “This smell is quite nice.”

Jiang Chao Ge said awkwardly: “We should go.”

“No, let me smell it a bit more.” Zhi Xuan tightened his arms, completely drawing Jiang Chao Ge into his embrace. This feeling of having swapped roles gave him a fresh sense of amus.e.m.e.nt. And also, Jiang Chao Ge’s neck was both fragrant and warm, very comfortable….

Jiang Chao Ge had no choice and could only stand and allow him to hug him. Zhi Xuan’s tall nose rubbed back and forth against his neck. He felt somewhat ticklish.

When Tian Rong entered, he precisely caught sight of the two tightly embracing each other, appearing as if they were intimately kissing and muttering. He leant against the door, revealing what was a smile yet not a smile.

Zhi Xuan turned his head and glared at Tian Rong, dissatisfied with his disturbance.

Jiang Chao Ge patted his back: “Zhi Xuan, we should be going.”

Zhi Xuan reluctantly released his arms.

Tian Rong said with raised eyebrows: “Do you plan to mate?”

Zhi Xuan’s face heated up, “Get lost!”

Jiang Chao Ge was slightly embarra.s.sed, “Is Shu waiting for us?”

“That appearance just now, is considered extremely intimate for humans.” Tian Rong imitated their previous position.

Jiang Chao Ge said half jokingly half seriously: “You’re not even human, how would you know.”

Zhi Xuan was somewhat enraged out of humiliation, “He is my servant, you quickly get lost!”

Tian Rong gave a light laugh, eyes full of ridicule.

Zhi Xuan pulled Jiang Chao Ge’s hand, striding out in big steps.

The attendant took them towards the banquet.

On the way there, Zhi Xuan asked in a low voice: “Oi, that appearance back then, is it really very intimate?”

Jiang Chao Ge said calmly: “It’s alright.”

“What does ‘alright’ mean?”

“It’s not very intimate. It’s very normal.”

Zhi Xuan’s expression was somewhat strange, thinking for a while: “Then what is considered very intimate?”

Jiang Chao Ge’s mood was complicated. For a moment, he couldn’t understand what Zhi Xuan meant by what he asked. He said carefully: “There are a lot of ways humans express intimacy. People of different ages, genders, regions and relations.h.i.+ps all differ to some extent. It’s very hard to place different matters under one definition.”

“Then is mating considered very intimate?”

Jiang Chao Ge choked and said hesitantly: “Not….. necessarily.”

Zhi Xuan was annoyed, “Why is everything uncertain? Why are humans so unreasonable!”

Jiang Chao Ge said with a smile: “Then what is your way of expressing intimacy?”

Zhi Xuan froze and again thought for a long time before saying: “I’ve never been intimate with any human or rare beast.”

“Then what were you doing after having lived so long?”

“Don’t know, I forgot.” He squeezed Jiang Chao Ge’s hand and whispered: “Are you the only one that’s intimate with me?”

Jiang Chao Ge really didn’t have the heart to say ‘no’ and could only say: “Yes.”

The corners of Zhi Xuan’s lips lifted slightly, “You are the only one with such luck in the world.”

Jiang Chao Ge couldn’t help but smile, “Yes.”

Qi Ling Feng didn’t invite many people to the banquet. They were mostly important figures in the Qi Clan and the large and small n.o.bility of the north. It seemed that Qi Ling Feng already had complete control over the north. Although they never had to stop paying taxes every year, remote places were beyond the reach of law and enforcement. Slowly, residents of the north recognised only the Qi Clan and didn’t recognise the royal family.

Although the north was one of the most barren pieces of land, they had strong soldiers and st.u.r.dy horses, the people were brave and battle wise. If they used the notion that Yu Ren Shu was the proper heir, they could rebel anytime. He guessed that they were already hard pressed over in Tian Ao City.

While Yu Ren Shu was engaging in social niceties with those big n.o.bles, Jiang Chao Ge was quietly observing from the side. He was someone that was very good at a.n.a.lysing the current political situation, otherwise in his original world, he wouldn’t have been able to leave his own world step by step. Qi Ling Feng was extremely prestigious and lacked natural resources. The thousand Li of frozen earth in the north already wasn’t enough to satisfy his ambition. He wanted to move towards the central region and control more, more fertile territory. And in order to achieve this goal, personally pus.h.i.+ng Yu Ren Shu onto the throne was his only hope. But Jiang Chao Ge could see that many n.o.bles did not agree with rebellion at all. Their current lives were easy, comfortable and abundant. There was no reason to change their current situation.

Jiang Chao Ge gave a push to Tian Rong seated beside him and whispered: “I wanted Yu Ren Shu to inquire about Long Xiang’s circ.u.mstances. Has there been any progress?”

“Shu said that Long Xiang will stand trial in two days.”

“Who’s making the judgement?”

“Qi Ling Feng.”

“Where are they being imprisoned now?”

“Dungeons of Qi Headquarters. Don’t know where.”

“Let Shu continue to enquire. The more detailed the better.”

“You really want to take him away? This will make the Qi Clan your enemy.”

Jiang Chao Ge said with a smile: “Not necessarily.”

Tian Rong was unable to make sense of what this crafty human was thinking. He only knew that Shu listened to him more and more and felt somewhat uncomfortable in his heart.

Jiang Chao Ge’s gaze drifted to Qi Ran Jun who was drinking alcohol on his own. Although Second Gongzi was outstandingly powerful, his words and deeds where somewhat rash, seeming as if he found socialising difficult. Right now, it would appear that his mood was very bad, there also wasn’t anyone that went to stir their bad luck. As a spirit weapon user with a Heaven grade spirit weapon, he was undoubtedly Qi Ling Feng’s most important successor. His words were significant throughout the north. He should start with him, starting with his weakness.

After the banquet ended, Jiang Chao Ge waited for people to be sent back. He still hadn’t been able to grab an opportunity to speak to Yu Ren Shu and could only allow Tian Rong to convey his message. If he frequently went to find Yu Ren Shu, he feared that Qi Clan’s people would become suspicious. At that time, it would be harder to make moves.

After it became late at night, Zhi Xuan refused to turn back into the form of a child, drinking until drunk, hugging Jiang Chao Ge and refusing to let go. Jiang Chao Ge only managed to coax him to sleep after coaxing him for a long time and left the room by himself.

Although Qi Clan made people watch him, they weren’t too restrictive. There wasn’t anyone outside at night. He carefully pa.s.sed through the huge Qi Headquarters with the help of moonlight, avoiding the imperial bodyguards on night patrol, finally arriving at that remote place they went to that day. In that solitary house, the woman Qi Ran Jun valued was confined.

No one guarded the door, only a thick heavy lock hung at the door. Jiang Chao Ge looked at the bolt of the lock, acknowledged that it was unable to be picked open and then began to climb up the big tree beside the room, jumping onto the roof of the house. The rumble on the old roof was already extremely loose, falling apart with a simple pull. He tore off quite a few tiles. There was a dim candle flame within the house. He leapt down.

After landing on the ground, he surveyed his surroundings and discovered a person sitting.

It was a woman clothed completely in white, around twenty or so years old, long hair hanging loosely at both sides of her body. With an extremely beautiful, pale appearance, feather like eyebrows, red phoenix eyes and small bright red lips, even with her hair down, her extreme grace was transparent. No wonder Qi Ran Jun liked her. That woman was different from any other woman Jiang Chao Ge had met. She not only had a rarely seen appearance, she also bore an unperturbed and haughty manner. From when he landed on the ground till now, the woman only looked at him indifferently, not speaking a word, not seeming the least bit agitated, simply maintaining that calmness. Men would even consider themselves lesser than her.

Jiang Chao Ge said: “You’re not afraid?”

The woman said expressionlessly, “You are like a turtle in a jar right now. So long as you speak one wrong word, I will call people to capture you. Who is the one that should be afraid?”

Jiang Chao Ge smiled, “If I dare come, that means I’m not afraid of being captured.”

The woman lifted the hair obstructing her face. This movement affected her collar. Only then did Jiang Chao Ge notice that a heavy thick chain was locked around one of her feet. She said in a low voice: “Objective.”

“I want to save you.”

“Why.”

“I want Qi Ran Jun to lend me a hand.”

The woman laughed coldly, “If he wanted to let me out, he would’ve long since done so.”

“Not necessarily. Perhaps you don’t want to owe him a favour.”

The woman narrowed her eyes, “What else do you know?”

“I know Second Gongzi holds feelings for you, but you are inadvertent. So I guess you would rather remain locked in here then rely on him to leave.”

The woman stared fixedly at him for a long time, then curled her lips into a smile, “You guessed wrong. In order to leave, I can do a lot of things.”

Jiang Chao Ge said with a smile: “I don’t need you to do a lot of things. You don’t have the thing I want.” Although this woman was beautiful, she was domineering. He couldn’t bear it.

The woman became silent for a while, “Ruan Qian Xiu.”

“Jiang Chao Ge.”

Ruan Qian Xiu said: “What do you want him to help you with?”

“Foreign race, possessing Heaven grade spirit weapon Zui You Halberd, spirit weapon user Long Xiang is my friend. Right now he has been captured. I want Second Gongzi to help pardon him.”

“The one Long Xiang killed is a distant relative of Qi Ling Feng. Although they are also surnamed Qi, their connection is superficial, their position also isn’t very high. What they really want is Zui You Halberd. This time, they just happen to have a reason to rob it openly.”

“I know. Therefore, as long as Second Gongzi comes to advise Qi Ling Feng, there’s a possibility of keeping Long Xiang’s life. After all if they just have Zui You Halberd, who knows what year what month it will be when they find a matching spirit weapon user. What could be better than a ready made one? And I will advise Long Xiang to pledge loyalty to Qi Clan, gaining many benefits in one move.”

“It is said that that child has extremely high aspirations.”

“No matter how high his aspirations, he still values his life. How can I watch helplessly as a friend courts death? He’s still so young, he will definitely agree. As long as Qi Ling Feng doesn’t kill him, from then on Qi Clan will gain a extra Heaven grade spirit weapon. And you won’t have to owe anyone, recovering your freedom. Second Gongzi also won’t have to worry about you anymore.”

Ruan Qian Xiu bit her lip slightly, looking at Jiang Chao Ge with a scrutinising gaze, thinking deeply, weighing it up.

Jiang Chao Ge’s expression was honest and sincere without a trace of a gap.

Ruan Qian Xiu said: “You’re taking a dangerous risk. Aren’t you afraid that Qi Ling Feng will know you let me out?”

“I will naturally have to plan it out carefully and not let him know.” Jiang Chao Ge paused, “What did you steal from him anyway? You don’t seem like someone greedy for money.”

Ruan Qian Xiu gave a mocking smile, “A spiritual power cultivation technique of Qi Clan. It’s not circulated through different families but I desire it.”

Jiang Chao Ge said with a smile: “You are quite an unusual woman, actually stealing cultivation techniques.” He began to admire Ruan Qian Xiu even more.

“I will have to leave Qi Clan sooner or later. How far will I be able to go without relying on some power?” Ruan Qian Xiu looked at Jiang Chao Ge, “I still don’t know who you are, why would you come to Qi Headquarters?”

“I’m a spirit weapon user that wanders in all directions.”

Ruan Qian Xiu raised an eyebrow, “Really? Your spiritual power is even weaker than mine.”

Jiang Chao Ge took no notice of her ridicule: “I travelled casually to the north and coincidentally heard that Long Xiang had been caught. Therefore I came to pay a visit to Qi Headquarters and asked for a few days of food simultaneously trying to think of a way to save him.” A lot of spirit weapon users who roam freely will become visitors to the houses of big n.o.bles, usually staying for a few short days. Those that stay longer could possibly reside there permanently, not leaving again, so his reason was very appropriate.

Ruan Qian Xiu said: “I have a condition.”

“You say it.”

“I want to take back my spirit weapon.”

“Where is it?”

“In the hands of Qi Ling Feng. Dark grade spirit weapon Zheng Chen Yue, summons rare beast Shu Hu.

“Yue?”

“That’s right. A pair of crescent moon knives.” Ruan Qian Xiu said with added emphasis, “Without my spirit weapon, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Alright! When I make proper plans I’ll come notify you.”

Ruan Qian Xiu looked at the roof, “How are you going to go out.”

“There’s a way.” Jiang Chao Ge summoned Na Wu Pouch made from bighead carp. That Na Wu Pouch was as tall as a person but short in comparison to the house. Jiang Chao Ge ran up, stepping onto the oval swim bladder and jumping up. He grabbed onto the gap left by the tiles he broke off when he came, and with a swing, went up.

He recalled Na Wu Pouch, placed the broken tiles back into their original place, noiselessly following the big tree and climbing down before hurriedly leaving.

As soon as Jiang Chao Ge returned to the room, a black shadow suddenly threw themselves at him and grabbed him, simultaneously accompanied by an extremely hot hug and the smell of alcohol. He let out a breath, “You’re awake?”

Zhi Xuan complained: “Where did you go actually not bringing me?”

“I was moving secretly, it wasn’t convenient to bring people. Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“I can’t sleep if you’re not here.” Zhi Xuan said matter of factly.

Jiang Chao Ge hissed: “Don’t speak so loudly.” He pulled to bed and said excitedly: “Do you know what I went to do just then?” He recounted everything he had experienced before.

“Then how do you plan to save her?”

“I haven’t thought it through yet. We have to wait for an opportunity to make a move with this matter, and Shu and Tian Rong must help us.”

“Then what do I do?”

Jiang Chao Ge froze: “What?”

Zhi Xuan snorted coldly: “I can’t do anything every time.”

Jiang Chao Ge said hurriedly: “Isn’t that because my spiritual power is too weak? If I could summon your true form, why would it need to be so troublesome? With you, not even Buddha or G.o.d can stop us.”

Zhi Xuan’s eyes lit up, “Not even Buddha or G.o.d can stop us? I like this phrase.”

“This phrase was prepared for you.” Jiang Chao Ge patted his shoulder, “Give me some time. I’ll definitely allow you to appear in grandeur.”

Zhi Xuan’s bright golden pupils flickered in the dark. He hugged Jiang Chao Ge with great strength, making Jiang Chao Ge’s entire body fall onto the bed.

Jiang Chao Ge stiffened, the feeling of having his body pressed down by a tall st.u.r.dy man was indescribably strange.

Zhi Xuan used his cheek to rub against his cheek, “You have to be quicker. Quickly let me appear, then no one will dare look down on you.”

“Alright.” Jiang Chao Ge didn’t know where to put his hands and could only place them lightly on Zhi Xuan’s shoulders, and very carefully gave it a push.

Zhi Xuan drew him tightly into his embrace, not loosening his hold at all.

Jiang Chao Ge said embarra.s.sedly: “Zhi Xuan, your body temperature is too high. I can’t really bear it being hugged this way.”

“Give me some more spiritual power. I can control body temperature.”

“…… Then never mind.”

“Humph, then you get used to it.”

Zhi Xuan’s long hair spread loosely across Jiang Chao Ge’s body and face. Jiang Chao Ge wrinkled his nose, feeling somewhat ticklish. Jiang Chao Ge pushed away Zhi Xuan’s hair and saw that Zhi Xuan was currently staring unblinkingly at him in the dark. That concentrated and desire filled gaze made his heart palpitate. He felt that there relations.h.i.+p was somewhat beyond his own control. This arrogant and unreasonable Qi Lin relied on him more and more. Originally it should be what he wanted, but in the end, he felt somewhat scared. Recalling that he once briefly glimpsed Zhi Xuan’s true form, he could still remember the hair raising, scalp tingling fear he’d felt at that time. With regards to a normal human, no matter how much a tiger relied on you, loved you, you still couldn’t guarantee that it wouldn’t one day bite you suddenly. Being in awe and on guard towards creatures stronger than you was the inherent nature of animals. For him, Zhi Xuan was like a tiger cub he raised from childhood. When the tiger cub was small, they would naturally rely on him to survive. But when they grow up, they will regain their brutish nature. What’s more, Zhi Xuan was a million times more ferocious than a tiger.

Jiang Chao Ge pretended he hadn’t seen Zhi Xuan’s bright eyes and closed his eyes, planning to sleep.

Zhi Xuan hugged him saying: “Jiang Chao Ge, how long can you live?”

Jiang Chao Ge said with a forced smile: “If nothing unexpected happens, I should be able to live seventy or eighty years.”

“Such a short life.”

“Humans simply have such short lives.”

“Why do humans have an end to their life? Yet my life doesn’t have an end?”

“Because you are the unique spirit beast nurtured by the heavens and earth.”

“Seventy eighty years… merely a blink of an eye.” Zhi Xuan’s voice suddenly became serious, “Then aren’t you dying very soon?”

“Seventy eighty years may seem momentary to you, but for me it’s very long. I can’t even imagine what my life next month will be like.”

Zhi Xuan’s tone suddenly became somewhat agitated, “If you die what about me? Who will be my servant?”

Jiang Chao Ge said with a smile: “You can find another pleasing servant.”

“No. I hate other humans. I only want you.”

“There’s nothing I can do. It’s natural to be born, grow old, get sick and die.”

“No!” Zhi Xuan said sternly: “You’re not allowed to die.”

Jiang Chao Ge hurriedly gave a ‘shhhh’, stroking his hair rapidly, “Zuzong, don’t be so loud. I also don’t want to die. I’m still a long way away from dying of old age. Why are we discussing this?”

Zhi Xuan’s pupils flashed, almost as if he’d been struck, “Yin Chuan….. Yin China knows how to allow humans to live forever and never grow old.”

“Really?” Jiang Chao Ge smiled lightly: “Don’t talk about if it’s possible. Even if it is, I don’t want to live forever and never grow old at all. After humans have lived to a certain age they become tired of it. Returning to the dust and earth is better.”

Zhi Xuan said angrily: “You have to accompany me. You must live as long as I live, serving me forever.”

Jiang Chao Ge smiled. He knew that these words were childish but could only agree: “Alright. I’ll live on with you.”

Zhi Xuan hugged him even tighter, almost as if he would disappear as soon as he let go.

Jiang Chao Ge was deeply moved in his heart. He’d lived for twenty or so years, the person that needed him the most was actually a spirit beast he came across in a different world. The connection of the two, from the moment he picked up Zhi Xuan Sword, had been inseparable.