Peace Order
Chapter 403 - 170: The Gallant Youth Befriends the Five Metropolitan Heroes (Part 3)

Chapter 403: Chapter 170: The Gallant Youth Befriends the Five Metropolitan Heroes (Part 3)

Once again he had shaken off his pursuers; Li Guanyi was close to the Imperial Path when he heard the sound of something tearing through the air.

It was a crossbow arrow, but Li Guanyi did not dodge, for the arrow struck the ground in front of him, most of it embedded in the earth, cracking the bricks and stones. Li Guanyi slowly looked up to see the person approaching down the Imperial Path.

It was Ye Buyi.

This young military officer was gripping his battle sword tightly, his body still bore injuries as he stared intently at Li Guanyi, his right hand gripping his weapon so tightly that his knuckles protruded. At this moment, he had guessed some of Li Guanyi’s background, and he clenched his teeth to keep his voice from trembling.

But his voice still sounded like a deep wind, determined yet halting, he said:

"You are from General Yue’s lineage."

"Yue Qianfeng, who knows you."

"’Red Dragon Power’ does not really need the ’Vast Sea Strength’ to control it; he would never harm you, right... "

"You have always been, deceiving us."

Ye Buyi gazed at his comrade and friend, slowly raising his sword. He had been knocked out, but because of his cultivation technique, he struggled to regain consciousness. He had taken his comrades to a safe place and then, limping with his weapon, had staggered off to find and rescue his friend.

But in the end, he discovered the truth.

Ye Buyi clenched his teeth, looking at the young man holding the battle halberd on the other side. Ye Buyi was the legitimate heir of the Night Rider Cavalry commander, holding the communication methods of the Night Rider Cavalry in his hands. At this moment, he raised his sword and pointed it at Li Guanyi.

Memories of the past, as if right before his eyes, the act of deception, painfully piercing his bones.

Yet General Yue, falsely accused, also felt a deep-seated hatred.

Suddenly, Ye Buyi twisted his sword, plunging the blade directly into his own chest. His eyes reddening, he let the blood flow down: "To not fight is to be disloyal to my country; to fight is to act against righteousness. Today, Imperial Guard Ye Buyi cannot oppose the traitor Li Guanyi."

"I! Can’t! Stop! Him!"

The young officer’s eyes were red with emotion, and Li Guanyi moved to support him.

Ye Buyi forcefully pushed his hand away:

"Go!"

Li Guanyi clenched his fist, and finally he set down his last elixir pill, turned around and strode away. Soon, the imperial guard arrived, asking about the direction Li Guanyi had gone. Ye Buyi raised his hand and pointed them in the opposite direction, and so the imperial guards quickly left to pursue him.

The youth covered his wound and staggeringly stood up, suddenly breaking into a grin.

His smile was complex.

Then he threw the elixirs Li Guanyi gave him into the lake, picked up his sword, and cut off his own battle robe, throwing it away.

"Li Guanyi!"

He shouted: "We are no longer brothers."

Youth has its own sense of nation, and its own fervor.

Back then, when everyone couldn’t stand to watch, bloody and bruised, all it took was a pot of wine, to say:

"We are friends now."

Now he says, "We are no longer brothers."

Ye Buyi leaned on his sword, holding himself upright while the injured Zhou Liuying supported him with the battle halberd, followed by those young officers, all charging over. Zhou Liuying steadied Ye Buyi, asking: "Where’s the boss?"

"Where’s Li Guanyi!"

Ye Buyi did not answer, just felt his nose sting, and the calmest of all the young officers bit his lip, tipped his head back, as blood and tears fell together.

......

Li Guanyi burst out of the Imperial Palace; the Qilin transformed into a blaze that fell upon him, the enormous Qilin Divine Beast, now free, actually appeared as a large bundle, seemingly able to be embraced, the flames receding, looking just like some odd little lion cat.

Li Guanyi clutched his chest and ran forward, holding his weapon, his blood surging, not knowing if it was poison or something else. The youth just felt a piercing pain in his chest and suddenly understood the words said by Gu Daohui and Yan Xuanji during their conflict.

"How absurd."

"Troubled times always push people to opposing sides."

"Where is the reason in any of this?"

It was merely because both had the impulsiveness of youth and a heart for their home country.

Li Guanyi burst out, but suddenly a gust of wind came to him. Turning around, he sliced with his Battle Halberd, only to find it unmoved. A figure from the shadows stepped forward calmly, his tiger-like eyes serene, his white hair slightly lifted—it was Xue Daoyong.

"Elder Xue."

Li Guanyi sighed with relief.

The old man looked at the young man before him and said, "It’s been tough on you. I was entangled by Yuwen Lie. The Chi Xiao Sword broke through the Great Formation, and the situation in the Imperial Palace has been exposed to everyone. The situation was disrupted, and only now have I managed to extract myself."

Li Guanyi’s mind surged with emotions. He had much to say but for the moment, he did not know what to say. Xue Daoyong extended his hand and gently touched the young man’s head, then fell silent. He spoke softly, "Let’s go."

The carriage came, driven by Zhao Dabing.

Xue Daoyong smiled slightly and said, "I’ve taken Shuangtao out. You go back to Guan Yi City with her. Have Shuangtao stay there, and you and your aunt leave this place together, head to the Eighteen States of Jiangnan."

Li Guanyi’s body shook violently.

"Elder Xue, you know...?"

Xue Daoyong smiled. He and Li Guanyi stood a bit further from the carriage, and the old leader whispered, "Why I know of your identity? Of course, I need to know. Your age should have made you forget; when you fled, did you hear the roar of a fierce tiger?"

Li Guanyi’s body stiffened. The boy suddenly remembered the dream he had had for a long, long time.

Dark clouds gradually enveloped the sky, leaving only faint starlight. Rain fell on the armor of the Night Rider Cavalry, splashing up fine sprays. His aunt fled with the infant, the sound of horse hooves shattering.

Immediately after, this sound was torn apart by a sharp piercing noise, and he seemed to see a White Tiger.

Li Guanyi’s voice was rough as he said, "Elder Xue?"

Xue Daoyong said, "I have always kept Shuangtao with me; Changqing also regards her as his own biological sister, believing her father was a merchant in the Western Regions. But this was just a lie."

"My other son, Shuangtao’s biological father, saved you and then went to the Imperial Palace."

"He never came out again."

"Why would I forget?"

Li Guanyi’s body stiffened. The elder said, "However, it was only about a dozen days ago that I deduced your identity. It’s preposterous, isn’t it? An event from ten years ago still emerges here? Over the past few months, I’ve said many things to you."

"You’ve understood many things, yet many you have not. But do not fear, after you experience the world, you will understand eventually. The path beyond Guan Yi City will not be harder than this one; there will still be many storms and dangers ahead, but do not be afraid."

"Do not fear, for what is a stormy patch to us?"

"The rest of the journey, you must walk alone."

"I, too, must rush to the battlefield of our generation."

The elder smiled faintly and then said:

"Li Guanyi."

"Farewell, under this heaven."

Zhao Dabing helped Li Guanyi onto the carriage, Shuangtao brought out from the palace, the elder had knocked her out, and she was still deeply asleep. The white-haired elder stood there as calm as a fierce tiger, Zhao Dabing nodded and cracked his whip.

The carriage neighed, thundering along as if the hooves were running thunder; it was a top-tier Exotic Beast.

Even in such harsh weather, it was sufficient to reach the distant Guan Yi City within two hours.

Xue Daoyong watched them leave, then raised his head to look at the sky.

"Children, be brave."

"This world is now yours."

"It’s always said that only those destined by the Heavenly Mandate could be Emperors, with Fate Grid and Qi Fortune deciding everything. Thus, the noble remain noble, and those who kneel always kneel; but—"

The old tiger of a chaotic world turned his back on those young ones and walked away, the White Tiger pacing beside him, massive as a mountain. The old man extended his right hand, and the White Tiger Dharma Form advanced, merging to form an ancient and vast War Bow.

The elder grasped the War Bow and whispered:

"I, too, do not believe in fate."