Chapter 99

Chapter 99: The Setting Sun Picks Up Blood and the Mountain Pass 

Sheds Tears (Part 1)

At the end of May, Si Cang Qing and Qiu Ping Tian finally left Yuexi City. On their way back to the capital, 

they planned a stopover in Nanjun Prefecture. Qiu Ping Tian's home was just outside Luyang, the capital of 

Nanjun. Qi Shuangran also joined them. Qiu Ping Tian suggested he move into Qiuluo Villa, a move he readily 

accepted.

A faint evening mist enveloped the elegant courtyard. In the small pond, pale pink lotus buds swayed gently in 

the breeze, a tranquil atmosphere that stood in stark contrast to the restlessness of human hearts.

"Qingdi ," Qiu Ping Tian said with a smile, approaching Si Cang Qing and following his gaze towards the lotus 

pond. "What are you looking at?"

Si Cang Qing shook his head slightly, the light flickering on his face, making it impossible to discern his expression.

Qiu Ping Tian's lips curved as he leaned closer, half leaning against him, saying softly, "We'll be in Luyang in 

a day or two." As if realizing something, he chuckled, "My father must be furious when he heard the news of 

the consort's appointment! Then, he'll probably make things difficult."

Of course, the responsibility lies with him.

Si Cang Qing glanced at him calmly, still silent. He gently embraced Qiu Ping Tian, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Qingdi," Qiu Ping Tian observed Si Cang Qing, who looked a little uneasy, and reached out to touch his brow. 

"Is anything bothering you?" He rarely saw Si Cang Qing so preoccupied and distracted.

"Nothing," Si Cang Qing replied calmly.

With a soft sigh, Qiu Ping Tian held Si Cang Qing's face and said softly, "Qingdi, don't take everything to heart. 

I'm your wife, and it's my responsibility to share everything with you."

Si Cang Qing silently gazed into his worried eyes, slowly lowering them, and whispered, "Lan, there's been no 

news these past few days."

Whenever he was away from home, he would exchange information through his shadow guards every few days. 

It was still the same back in Yuexi City, but now, nearly ten days had passed, and there had been no news from 

\Feng Lan. Si Cang Qing felt a faint sense of worry, but the shadow guards who had always followed him, and 

any information had been relayed to him by the shadow guards under Feng Lan's control, were no longer in 

touch, and now that they had lost contact, he had no idea what had happened.

Qiu Ping Tian was stunned for a moment, a hint of sadness flashed in his eyes, and he slowly put down his hand. 

"Don't worry, Qingdi. The Empress is a skilled martial artist and acts cautiously. He's in the palace, so he'll be fine. 

I haven't heard from you in the past few days. I guess it's because Qingdi hasn't returned to the court for a long time 

and is busy sharing government affairs!"

Si Cang Qing thought about it and felt that Qiu Ping Tian's words made some sense, so he nodded slightly.

Qiu Ping Tian continued, "Qingdi, you're worried about the Empress. Let's just return to the palace. We can visit 

Qiuluo Villa later when we're not busy." There was a subtle sense of disappointment in his tone.

"No problem," Si Cang Qing lowered his brows, reaching out to embrace the dejected Qiu Ping Tian, whispering, 

"I'll visit your family this time. Once things settle down, I'll stay with you for a few days."

Qiu Ping Tian's consort appointment was a last-minute decision. Secular etiquette requires parents to be present 

at a child's marriage, but Qiu Ping Tian's parents weren't present at his wedding. While he didn't know 

Qiu Ping Tian's intentions, this trip seemed necessary. However, given the current tense situation, he could only 

make a quick stop.

Qiu Ping Tian's face lit up immediately. He raised his arm, put his arm around Si Cang Qing's neck, and kissed 

him on the lips, saying, "Qingdi, you keep your word!"

"Yes."

The bitterness in his heart dissipated somewhat. Qiu Ping Tianjing gazed at Si Cang Qing's typically cold 

expression, his eyes soft as water. "Thank you, Qingdi."

The night breeze was sultry, blowing the tangled hair of the two people in their embrace.

With a clang, the longsword, dripping with crimson blood, snapped. The sword-wielders stumbled back, one 

unable to hold back, spitting out large mouthfuls of blood. The broken sword stabbed fiercely between the rocks. 

The disheveled young man, covered in blood, knelt on one knee, his strength supported solely by the broken sword.

"Your Highness!"

The other wounded men in black fought the enemy, desperately trying to break free and rescue the now-crumbling 

man. However, just then, another wave of men in black surged forward to swarm over them.

Coughing up blood several times, Feng Lan sensed the dozens of men closing in, their murderous auras thick. 

Gathering strength, he leaped back several feet, resuming the fight. After all, Feng Lan was personally trained 

by Si Cang Qing, so his martial arts skills were undoubtedly unmatched by these men. Unarmed, he spun in 

mid-air, swept back, and with a wave of his palm, he mobilized his utmost internal energy to control the Liuhua 

Sword. Wherever the sword energy struck, everything was reduced to ash, and the besiegers were severely injured, 

unable to withstand the sword energy and sent flying several feet away.

Feng Lan landed unsteadily, his body staggering. The excessive blood loss made him dizzy. He stared dazedly 

at the setting sun in the west. This early summer sunset was enchanting and dazzling, its golden-red brilliance 

making it increasingly difficult to open his eyes.

"Your Highness!"

A sharp cry passed by his ears. Feng Lan narrowly avoided the enemy's sudden attack, but before he could react, 

he was struck in the chest by a sudden palm strike. His strength drained, he flew like a rag.

The whistling sound of the wind gently brushed against his ears.

Feeling as if he were soaring through the clouds, his mind, previously hazy, suddenly cleared. Feng Lan knew 

his body was rapidly sinking, his mind racing, countless thoughts mingling in that instant.

He had secretly traveled to Hongcheng to handle some matters with the Shadow Guards there, but on his way 

back, he was suddenly attacked at the border between the two countries. It seemed the enemy had planned this 

all along, setting up numerous traps along the way, forcing him here.

Will he die today at the foot of this nameless cliff?

Thoughts swirled, but there was only one person... Countless memories flooded into his mind like a tide.

Feng Lan chuckled softly, closed her eyes, and whispered softly, "Master..." Before he could finish his words, a 

bone-chilling chill washed over him, and darkness instantly overwhelmed his consciousness.

The setting sun shone like blood, slowly swallowed by the night. Across the mountain, the night wind carried 

gusts of blood before finally returning to tranquility.

◇The Seven Palaces of the Azure◇

"Qingdi... um..."

Qiu Ping Tian's body couldn't help but tremble slightly, and a trace of blood suddenly slipped from the corner of 

his mouth. But he stubbornly wanted to approach the young man who was standing alone in the middle of 

the courtyard. A burst of invisible and oppressive true energy emanated from the man's body, and no one within 

a few feet could approach.

"Your Highness, you must not!" Feng Xiang appeared from the shadows, and while trying to suppress the surging 

blood in his body, he poured true qi into Qiu Ping Tian to resist the true qi emanating from Si Cang Qing's body 

from causing serious damage to him.

"Cough," Qiu Ping Tian tried to calm the churning of his internal organs, his face slightly pale, and he said in a 

trembling voice, "Qingdi..."

"I am incompetent." Feng Xiang said in a low voice, "The master's mood is very unstable now. If it continues, 

I am afraid that..."

"What will happen?" Qiu Ping Tian asked anxiously.

"Gone mad!"

As soon as the words fell, Qiu Ping Tian ran toward Si Cang Qing again regardless of everything. Feng Xiang 

hurriedly stopped him, but was forced back by a stronger aura. Immediately, his blood surged, and he couldn't 

help but spit out a mouthful of blood.

Even Feng Xiang, who was Si Cang Qing's shadow guard, was in such a state, let alone Qiu Ping Tian, who did 

not know any martial arts. The moment he left Feng Xiang, he was seriously injured by Si Cang Qing's true qi. 

His body softened to the ground, and he kept coughing up blood, but he murmured, "Qingdi, stop..."

This extremely low murmur suddenly startled Si Cang Qing back to his senses. He suddenly withdrew his power, 

turned around and saw Qiu Ping Tian lying on the ground. He was slightly startled, strode over, and hurriedly 

picked up the other party and walked toward the room.

"Qingdi," blood kept flowing from the corner of his mouth, Qiu Ping Tian tightly hugged Si Cang Qing, 

and said with difficulty, "You..."

"I'm fine!" Si Cang Qing interrupted coldly, his expression icy, "Do you not want your life?"

With a slight smile, Qiu Ping Tian relaxed and leaned on Si Cang Qing's shoulder, saying in a low voice, 

"How could I see you go mad?"

Si Cang Qing lowered his eyes and said no more. He had lost his composure and failed to control himself! Not 

only was he nearly backfired by his own power, but he also hurt the others around him.

After finishing the treatment for Qiu Ping Tian and healing his internal injuries, and after letting the other 

party lie down, Si Cang Qing was about to get up and leave.

"My brother," Qiu Ping Tian's voice came from behind, "The Empress will be fine. You... take care of yourself, 

otherwise..."

Si Cang Qing looked back, his expression regaining its usual calm and indifference. He nodded and said softly, 

"Rest well. I... don't have time to accompany you right now."

"I failed to protect my Master. Please punish me!"

Looking at the kneeling shadow guards, Si Cang Qing's eyes were cold and his tone was icy. "Why did Feng Lan 

go to Hongcheng Kingdom, and why... was he attacked and fell off a cliff?"

A frightened shadow guard stepped forward. "The branches of Dongying Tower in various parts of Hongcheng 

Kingdom were vandalized and exposed. Your Highness felt something was amiss and went to investigate in 

person. He had already handled the situation, but on his way back home he encountered a severe encirclement 

and finally... was struck and fell off a cliff!"

Before he finished speaking, Si Cang Qing suddenly emanated a chill, oppressing everyone and causing them 

to tremble slightly."Why don't I know?"

"My Lord, it's because His Highness doesn't want you to be distracted."

Si Cang Qing stood in silence for a long moment, then spoke slowly, "You failed to protect your master. Return 

to the Dongying Tower, and everyone will face punishment in the Punishment Hall!"

"Xiang!"

"Your subordinate is here."

"Lead your men to search the cliffs immediately," Si Cang Qing ordered coldly. "Find Feng Lan."

With a gentle, stern look, Si Cang Qing spoke word by word, "At any cost!"

"Mo!"

Si Cang Qing summoned Feng Mo, who was supposed to be accompanying Qiu Ping Tian, and said, "Escort Qiu 

back to the palace. I'll leave the Shadow Guards in your care for now. Investigate this matter thoroughly!"

"Your subordinate obeys!"

"Qingdi, are you going to find the Empress yourself?" Qiu Ping Tian dragged his frail body to Si Cang Qing's 

room and asked the man writing the secret memorial.

Si Cang Qing raised his eyes and said calmly, "Qiu, I won't be going to Qiuluo Villa with you this time. These are 

turbulent times, so you should return to the capital as soon as possible!"

Gazing at him quietly, Qiu Ping Tian sighed deeply and whispered, "Okay. Qingdi, you should be careful too. 

Don't...do things like today again. Feng Lan will be fine."

Si Cang Qing lowered his eyes calmly. He didn't know what had happened before. In his past and present lives, 

he had always had excellent self-control. No, to be more precise, nothing had ever caused him to panic. But today, 

upon hearing the news that Feng Lan had fallen off the cliff, he lost control, so much so that he almost...went 

insane.

"Yes," Si Cang Qing replied, looking at him. "You should take good care of your injuries."

That night, Feng Xiang set off first, galloping towards the border between the two countries. Si Cang Qing spent 

the entire night making arrangements for all matters, then set out alone the next day for the location where 

Feng Lan had met with misfortune.
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