Supreme Sword Exalt

Within the Great Flame Emperor, everyone deeply understood that the Flame Emperor, Yun Tian, was everyone’s heaven. Without him, the empire wouldn’t have existed. His words were absolute truth. His commands had to be carried out by everyone. No one could defy or question him, except for the tenth princess, Feng Xi.

She was the most dazzling prodigy of the empire, a peerless heavenly pride that left those of her generation with no thought of catching up. At the same time, she was also the Flame Emperor’s dearest youngest daughter, the only person who could make him lower his head.

With a single request from her, the Flame Emperor would crown her empress, and no one would dare object. In the same way, Feng Xi’s junior brother could swagger around in the capital, doing whatever he liked.

Of course, Pavilion Master Yu also didn’t dare, so she collapsed and gave in.

Yun Fan asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Pavilion Master Yu, you don’t want the Divine Maiden anymore?”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Mengyou glared at him, her target of hatred shifting instantly.

Pavilion Master Yu trembled. “No... I wouldn’t dare...”

“What about the money?”

Pavilion Master Yu felt like crying. She had thought that by bringing up the ninth prince, her toughest backer, the other party would show some face no matter how great their own backing was. She never expected Feng Xi to be brought up. This wasn’t any different from bringing out the Flame Emperor himself. Actually, the princess was even more terrifying than the emperor!

If Yun Lie went to the Flame Emperor for money, at worst he’d get a scolding. Meanwhile, if he dared go to Feng Xi for money, he’d most likely end up with broken legs.

Xue Yu watched, feeling very satisfied. Although Pavilion Master Yu hadn’t treated her maliciously, she certainly hadn’t been kind either, treating Xue Yu as a mere cash cow. Even though Pavilion Master Yu appeared pitiful, that was only because she was facing Gu Han. No one understood better than Xue Yu just how terrifying Pavilion Master Yu truly was.

Just as she was lost in thought, Gu Han’s voice came again. “Miss Xue, let’s go.”

Xue Yu was stunned for a moment. “Go...?”

To her, the Xian Ya Pavilion was a demonic lair, a place where she had to tread carefully and live in fear. She wanted to escape but was unable to, so she was forced to despairingly accept her fate. Then, Gu Han appeared and dispelled the haze and despair in her heart.

She knelt gracefully. “Young Master, if not for you rescuing me, I fear I would have fallen into an inescapable abyss. Now, with no way to repay you, the only thing I can do is—”

Yun Fan leaned in. “Marry him to repay the favor? Tsk tsk, isn’t this the kind of plot you only see in storybooks? Brother Gu, looks like you’ve finally got your wish—”

Before he could finish, Gu Han smacked him, sending him staggering. Yun Fan winced in pain, puzzled why the cripple was still so strong.

Gu Han said seriously, “Miss Xue, I brought you out only because Senior Xue did me a great kindness. As for the talk of marrying me to repay a debt, please don’t mention it again.”

Xue Yu’s face was flushed crimson with embarrassment as she bit her lip. “Young Master, you misunderstood. I meant to say, with no way to repay you, the only thing I can do is serve you as your maid.”

Gu Han froze while Zhao Mengyou struggled to suppress a laugh.

Gu Han slapped Yun Fan on the head again.

He walked out of the private room with a dark expression. “Let’s go.”

Upon seeing this, the others quickly followed. Xue Yu was the last to leave, doing so very decisively, without a shred of reluctance. From beginning to end, Pavilion Master Yu didn’t dare say a single word.

After they left, a middle-aged man cautiously approached. “Pavilion Master, you’re just letting them leave like that?”

Pavilion Master Yu immediately slapped him across the face. “Do you want me dead?”

Her expression was dark and murderous, a stark contrast to the appearance she had shown Gu Han just moments ago. She had encountered countless people in her life. If she had insisted on blocking them, it wouldn’t have just been about money, she might very well have lost her life. Moreover, with Feng Xi involved, she’d die for nothing. No one would dare stick their neck out for her.

The man covered his face. “But what about His Highness and the marquises...?”

The Xian Ya Pavilion was their source of money. With Xue Yu gone, the income here would plummet, definitely causing dissatisfaction among them.

Pavilion Master Yu turned cold. “Shut up! Do you think you have any weight to throw around, daring to challenge the tenth princess? Send a message. This matter is simply not something small fries like us can interfere with.”

“Understood!”

After the man left, Pavilion Master Yu looked at the now-empty private room and felt a twinge of regret. If only she had treated Xue Yu a little better over the years. Even if there had been just a shred of goodwill between them, today’s outcome probably wouldn’t have ended with her losing both people and money.

***

“Is that... Miss Xue?”

“Oh my god, how did she come out?!”

“In all these years, this is the first time I’ve seen Miss Xue voluntarily come out!”

“Just who is this guy, to have these two stunning beauties following him like maids?”

“And the Little Prince, why is he also...?”

Just Zhao Mengyou was enough to draw attention. Now, with the well-known Xue Yu present and Yun Fan laughing beside him like a loyal sidekick, Gu Han became the center of attention.

Gu Han sighed. “I finally understand why those people like to throw their weight around.”

Yun Fan cooperatively leaned in. “Why?”

Gu Han was somewhat emotional. “Because it really does feel pretty good.”

Yun Fan couldn’t quite understand while Zhao Mengyou rolled her eyes. For them, throwing their weight around was almost routine, long since losing any novelty. However, Gu Han was different. This whole time, he had been the one on the receiving end, being the one to throw weight around was a first. Only Xue Yu could somewhat empathize with Gu Han’s feelings.

Yun Fan thought for a moment. “Brother Gu, what are you going to do about your current problem?”

Gu Han considered for a moment. “Go to the border. It should be suitable for me there.”

Amid war, life-and-death crises were everywhere, making it the best opportunity for a breakthrough.

Yun Fan was unusually silent for a moment. “Brother Gu, it’s really dangerous there.”

Xue Yu was also a bit worried. “And the ninth prince and those marquises are also there.”

Yun Fan shook his head. “Don’t worry. They’re just clowns in front of my sister. Besides, with my uncle and father keeping them in check, they won’t dare act recklessly. It’s just...”

Gu Han sensed the shift in his tone and frowned slightly. “What’s wrong?”

Zhao Mengyou suddenly said, “Did you know that the Flame Emperor has ten children in total. Why do you think you’ve only met Feng Xi and Yun Lie?”

Yun Fan sighed. “They died. Of my uncle’s nine sons, three had their foundations damaged fighting the barbarian tribe. Unable to break through, they died when their lifespans ran out. The other five all died on the battlefield.”

All died? Gu Han was stunned. He had heard about the border situation, and thought it was just an ordinary conflict. He never imagined it to be this bad!

Yun Fan added, “Actually, my father also had two sons before, but...”

He didn’t finish the sentence. Clearly, they had died too.

Gu Han patted him on the shoulder. “It’s okay.”

Yun Fan wasn’t too sad. “They died before I was born, so I don’t really have any emotional connection. And I never actually met any of my uncle’s eight sons that died. Haa... who knows, maybe one day I’ll die on the battlefield too.”

Zhao Mengyou asked, “Why? I’ve read the records. Why has your war with the barbarian tribe been so intense?”

Yun Fan rolled his eyes. “How would I know? I asked my father but he wouldn’t tell me anything!”

“Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

“Of course I am!”

“But how...”

Zhao Mengyou wanted to ask why, given such intense warfare, he could still be happy and foolish all day long.

Yun Fan seemed to know what she wanted to say and didn’t mind. “I’m used to it. Fighting for so many years, with all the life and death, everyone’s become indifferent.”

Zhao Mengyou shook her head. “Actually, you don’t stand a chance. The barbarian tribe’s strength is far greater than yours.”

Yun Fan smiled. “As long as my uncle is here, we won’t lose, at least!”

Zhao Mengyou was silent for a moment, for once not refuting him. “The Flame Emperor truly is a very remarkable figure.”

Gu Han shook his head. “I have to go.”

Not mentioning the breakthrough, Murong Yan and Shen Xuan were undergoing training on the border battlefield. He was a bit worried about them. Besides, Zuo Yang had once said that entering the Fengwu Court meant having to help Feng Xi with something. Although Feng Xi hadn’t mentioned it because of his condition, Gu Han had always kept it in mind.

Having made up his mind, he looked at Xue Yu. “Miss Xue, I wonder what plans you have for the future?”

Xue Yu hesitated for a moment. “Since grandfather is still alive, I want to find him first. Then, I will stay by you, serving as a maid to repay your great kindness, Young Master.”

Gu Han’s head ached. From the start, Xue Yu had addressed him as Young Master, and no matter how he tried to persuade her otherwise, he couldn’t change her. For some reason, Zhao Mengyou suddenly felt a bit jealous inside. Just a tiny bit.

Immediately, Yun Fan’s reproachful voice came over. ”See! That’s how you act as a maid! You can’t even say ‘Young Master’ properly! You’re completely unqualified! When you get back, you need to be properly disciplined!”

Zhao Mengyou gritted her teeth again.

Just then, a flash of light passed.

The shadow guard appeared before them once more. “Little Prince.”

Yun Fan was stunned. “Hmm? That was fast...”

“That person was a coward. I didn’t need to use any methods. He told me everything.”

Yun Fan glanced at Gu Han. “Speak. What exactly is Ninth Brother plotting?”

The shadow guard recounted everything. The order Song Jian received was actually very simple: monitor Gu Han’s every move and see if he could recover.

Gu Han laughed coldly. “Monitoring me? I didn’t expect a dying man like me to receive such attention from the ninth prince. I’m really flattered.”

Yun Fan shook his head repeatedly. “That’s going too far. If my sister finds out, Ninth Brother’s legs will definitely be broken!”

The shadow guard glanced at Xue Yu. “Also, there’s one more matter related to Miss Xue.”

After listening to the shadow guard’s account, Xue Yu turned pale. “Grandfather is actually in the capital?”

What Steward Song knew was limited, but it was enough for them to deduce the whole story. Several months ago, Divine Physician Xue had made his way to the capital and learned of Xue Yu’s whereabouts by chance. Overjoyed, he was about to reunite with her when someone unexpectedly discovered him, taking him to Marquis Song’s mansion.

Song Jian had threatened him using Xue Yu’s safety. He forced Divine Physician Xue to refine ten thousand Return Essence Pills within two months, promising to release Xue Yu in return. However, after Divine Physician Xue did as promised, Song Jian went back on his word. He demanded another ten thousand pills before he would release them both. In truth, he planned to kill Divine Physician Xue the moment the pills were finished and take Xue Yu as his concubine.

Yun Fan was furious. “Bastard! How could I have not seen what a venomous dog this thing was?!”

Xue Yu bit her lip hard as tears streamed down like rain. She wanted to beg Gu Han for help, but ultimately couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Gu Han was calm, showing neither joy nor anger. “Is Senior Xue still at the Song Marquis mansion?”

“Yes.”

“Is Song Jian there too?”

“Yes.”

“Did the ninth prince make him do this?”

The shadow guard hesitated for a moment. “Yes.”

Yun Fan suddenly felt a bit cold. “Brother Gu...”

Gu Han seemed to think of something. “Oh, right. Is Steward Song dead or not?”

“No.”

Gu Han was somewhat dissatisfied. “Hmm? You didn’t kill him?”

The shadow guard was also a bit embarrassed. It wasn’t his fault as it was really because that guy cowered too quickly. He didn’t have a chance to use many of his methods.

He cupped his fist. “Understood. I’ll go kill him right now.”

Yun Fan said cautiously, “Brother Gu, are you—”

Gu Han smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “Let’s go to Marquis Song’s mansion. It’s not every day I get a chance to throw my weight around. How could I not make the most of it?”