Wangxian Pavilion.
At this mont, the sun was setting in the west, and a window at the highest point of the pavilion was open. From here, one could take in the full view of Baoqing Prefecture’s West City, both inside and out.
In front of the window, the evening breeze began to rise, green clothes fluttering, while a pair of eyes watched the peaceful scene of this Xiong City under the sunset.
As twilight spread over the arrow tower’s flying eaves, the last ray of slanting sun dyed the battlents honey-colored. The shadow of the city tower slowly moved over the green stone walls, like ink stains spreading on rice paper. The corner tower’s wind chis jingled lightly, and the evening glow on the copper bells trembled along with them, leaving one to wonder whether it was the wind or the clouds that moved in that mont.
Deep within the urn city, the faded vermilion door was half ajar, with a broken halberd leaning obliquely against the threshold. Rust glimred dark red in the evening glow. In the distance, the sunset painted a brilliant rainbow, a line of birds flew across the evening light, their wingtips cutting the sky full of crimson. On the streets, people returned ho, pedestrians hurried, smoke from cooking fires rose gently, thousands of hos’ walls let wild mugwort sway in the wind, sifting the setting sun into bits of gold leaf, which scattered into the cracks of the bricks.
As the birds flew over the city wall and outwards, distant hills rolled in undulation, like the beautiful scroll of a thousand-mile river and mountain.
"I haven’t seen such a beautiful sunset in a long ti!" Chen Yuan looked at this scenery by the window, feeling sowhat nostalgic.
"When I was the Mountain Patrol Military Officer in Qingshan County before, I didn’t feel much about it. Now that I think about it, ti doesn’t return, and I no longer have that kind of sentint."
"It’s just like Mr. Gongsun said about that plateau, it’s a hotown one can’t return to, but the accent remains unchanged, so there’s so familiarity and nostalgia. Just now soone listened to Mr. Gongsun’s folk songs and said the elders at ho loved them, and they even sought out Mr. Gongsun for inquiries."
Chen Yuan used the scenery to express his emotions, ntioning a small episode that happened thirty minutes ago.
Before, they encountered soone on the official road calling for them to stop. They ignored it and walked on, unexpectedly, that person’s house servants and guards coincidentally found their way here.
The visitor sounded quite polite, saying they ca by their lady’s command, saying the elder at ho was from the North Pass and loved Qin opera and folk songs. They enjoyed Mr. Gongsun’s song on the road and wished to inquire further. They happened to see this group’s carriage outside the inn, so they inquired about them.
The visitor said this.
Chen Yuan thought of the family’s filial piety, and since the subordinates’ manners were appropriate, he did not show any airs due to their sudden visit, but left it to Gongsun Yang to handle and send them away.
"The past is unretrievable, the old servant’s accent unchanged but the sideburns already gray, while the General shines like the rising sun, destined to be a hero one day." A slightly aged voice rose from behind Chen Yuan, carrying so weariness.
Speaking to this point, they seed to recall sothing, the tone shifted.
"The old servant still rembers the ti when the General and I t in Qingshan County, when the General turned the old servant into a sheep."
Gongsun Yang stood behind him, his voice carried a hint of laughter.
Chen Yuan clasped his hands behind him, drawing his gaze back from the distant scenery, and grinned.
"Ti passes fast, it’s been a while since I’ve heard Mr. Gongyang laugh."
"I still rember when we first t, Mr. Gongyang was lively, wielding a pen to write books, full of fervor. Later ca along with to the battlefield and saw the cruelty of war, then stopped laughing as much."
"Mr. Gongyang has followed for almost two years, hasn’t he?"
"I joined the General in the spring to sumr transition of the Guihai year." Gongsun Yang under his bamboo hat adjusted his grip, speaking slowly.
"Mr. Gongyang repeatedly made battle rit, yet no one sings your praises, silently enduring it. Have you ever had any complaints?" Chen Yuan turned around.
Gongsun Yang, as his secret agent, could not reveal himself, always serving quietly as his other pair of eyes. In the past great battle of Ten Thousand Mountains, his contributions were significant. Without his presence, Chen Yuan might have died there and never reached this point.
But his feats were substantial, yet outsiders were unaware of his achievents.
Gongsun Yang’s expression did not change, his voice sowhat hoarse, "When I t the General, I’d been downtrodden half my life, wandering across the four seas, rely a storyteller. After following the General, receiving the General’s heavenly mandate, slaying demons and advancing swiftly, I’ve seen too much, gained much, and I’m content."
"Being able to follow the General has allowed to make great use of my scant legacy. To die without regrets, how dare I ask for more?"
These words were heartfelt.
Since joining Chen Yuan, his impoverished and hopeless life trajectory had undergone dramatic transformation. A book completed, achieving fa in Mingzhou, progressing from a humble Profound Body to Tao Fruit, and further still borrowing the General’s threefold heavenly mandate. If he truly displayed his Divine Skills, he could contend against Martial Vault without difficulty.
Such a substantial change, what complaints could he have? His gratitude was beyond words.
With a breeze on his face, Chen Yuan thought of sothing.
"Mr. Gongyang always writes books and biographies for others, not realizing that you are also the protagonist."
"When things are settled in Shu, I will personally have a book written for you."
Gongsun Yang heard this, taken aback, a rare flush appeared on his face.
He once had such fanciful thoughts in his youth.
Chen Yuan seed to see through his thoughts, laughing heartily.
In the midst of this hearty laughter, drums began to sound at the corner tower of the city gate.
"Dong"
"Dong"
"Dong"
"...."
The drum’s sound was deep and powerful, announcing the end of the day, as the heavy stone gate of West City slowly closed with a rumbling roar.
As the evening drum sounded, Baoqing City visually quieted at a notable pace.
Chen Yuan turned and looked toward the twilight outside, a look of interest this place seed superficially to have cald down, but with his keen perception, he could clearly sense the restless gazes being cast toward the West City walls from the nearby area.
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