"Young Lord, we're finally nearing Chang'an." Commander Victor Wei grinned, gazing at the towering city walls in the distance. Relief washed over him as he sensed their journey nearing its end.
Jason Ji nodded, his eyes flickering with a glint of light. After leaving the Nether Abyss, he had anticipated an ambush from legendary assassins, yet their path had been unusually smooth. Not a single bandit, let alone a killer, had crossed their path.
"Could I have miscalculated?" Jason frowned, but quickly dismissed the thought. Livia Dong wasn't one to let things slide so easily. With thoughts racing, he led Red and three thousand Imperial Guards toward the gates of Chang'an.
"This doesn't feel right," Jason murmured, sensing the tense atmosphere as they neared the city.
At the gates, the army halted. Victor Wei, visibly tense, pointed out a white-haired, white-clad figure at the entrance, speaking in a low voice. "Young Lord, we're in trouble—that's Tom White, the Deputy Lord of the Heavenly Assassins Pavilion."
Victor Wei's expression soured further as he recognized other figures nearby. "Is that… Princess Changle? And over there, that's Xavier Lo, the Saint of the Demonic Sect, and Master Tian Xing from the Celestial Pavilion. Why are all these prominent figures gathered here?"
Jason took in the scene and the figures before him, young prodigies that shone as brightly as stars. "It seems they're here specifically for me," he said with a faint smile.
Victor Wei leaned closer, his voice hushed. "Young Lord, I sense danger. Maybe we should delay our return to Chang'an."
Jason glanced at him, calm but firm. "And what would you have us do instead?"
"Let me inform Lord Dong to send reinforcements," Victor Wei suggested, hoping for backup.
Jason chuckled, shaking his head. "There's no need to wait. Today, the forces of the Dong family are… tied up."
Victor Wei's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Jason offered no explanation, his voice steady. "Move forward. I'd like to see who dares block my way."
Reluctantly, Victor Wei nodded, swallowing his objections under Jason's unwavering gaze.
Nearby, Red tugged at Jason's sleeve, her voice barely a whisper. "Jason, are those people here… to kill you?"
Jason smiled, saying nothing at first. Then, with a playful glint in his eye, he asked, "Red, would you like to see fireworks?"
Caught off guard, Red nodded, her curiosity piqued by his seemingly nonsensical question.
"Very well," Jason replied, his tone light yet brimming with confidence. "Soon, I'll show you a spectacle of fireworks like you've never seen."
Red's eyes sparkled with anticipation, nodding in quiet excitement. Meanwhile, Victor Wei issued orders for the three thousand Imperial Guards to advance, mentally bracing for the worst.
Back at the Dong residence in Chang'an, Lord Dong Junn thundered as he heard the latest reports.
"First Imperial Guard, unable to mobilize," the steward reported. "Elder Council's legendary experts, refusing to act. And not a single soul in Chang'an willing to lend a hand."
Dong Junn's face twisted with fury as he smashed his cup against the ground. "Those wretched fools! Do they not respect me as their leader?"
The steward lowered his head, cold sweat beading on his brow. "It appears, my lord, that the Elder Council wishes to… test our new son-in-law's capabilities."
The idea enraged Dong Junn. "A bunch of pompous, decaying relics!" he spat. But even as he seethed, a sliver of doubt crept into his mind.
Certainly, it was plausible for the Elder Council to insist on a trial. Yet Jason Ji was no ordinary suitor; he was the wielder of the Immortal Slayer Sword, a figure who commanded the awe and attention of the entire continent. If Jason successfully joined the Dong family, their clan's influence would be unmatched. And yet, the council's reasoning seemed… questionable.
After a long pause, Dong Junn ordered, "Prepare my horse. I'll go see for myself."
The steward's face paled. "But, my lord, the Elder Council has forbidden your departure today."
Dong Junn snorted, brushing aside the warning. "I'm not going to interfere with the council's wishes. As for Tom White, that fool wouldn't stand a chance against my son-in-law."
With a flick of his sleeve, he strode out, leaving the steward behind, bowing deeply, regret etched on his face. As Dong Junn left, a graceful figure stepped into the hall.
Recognizing her, the steward fell to his knees, his face filled with shame. "Your Highness, forgive this old servant's failure to stop the family head. It's my fault—"
"Enough." Livia Dong's voice, cool and detached, cut him off. She spared him a glance, her face serene as she spoke.
"Let my father do as he wishes," she said, a hint of a wry smile tugging at her lips. "It's… heartwarming, I suppose, to see him care so deeply. But he needn't trouble himself. This sudden show of concern is unnecessary."
As she spoke, her voice grew even colder, her gaze distant as if lost in thought. "But if it pleases him, let him have this moment."
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