The Copper Sparrow Terrace was the number one brothel in the capital, and the Luan Feng Mingming Pavilion was the tallest brothel in the Copper Sparrow Terrace.
As the night fell and the lanterns were lit, the Copper Sparrow Terrace was lit up with a soft light. Sun Lang sat on the roof, looking at the night sky of the capital, holding a box in his hand.
There were some things in the box, the relics of a Sword Saint friend of his.
The people of the Cao family had already been sent away by him with an ambiguous promise. From Old Lady Cao's expression, it could be seen that she was not satisfied with this result. However, she was a shrewd old lady. She knew how to observe people's expressions and knew how to act appropriately. She knew when to stop and when to take things slowly.
In this meeting, she had already gotten what she wanted.
At least, that was what she thought.
"Your mother saw through it."
Sun Lang said in a low voice, "She saw my impatience and my guilt. She probably guessed what happened in the Great Desolate Mountain. After all, no one knows a son better than a mother.
My attitude, your temperament, the letters you sent back, your last words … So she guessed what her son did in the Great Desolate Mountain. "
"She didn't say it out loud. She pretended not to know, but all her words and actions were silently reminding me of one thing — — I owe your Cao family, and I hope I can repay it."
"This is called having nothing to fear."
"Because she doesn't think I'm an ungrateful person. She thinks that I won't leave the Cao family alone no matter what. She hopes that I can repay her son's kindness, the kindness that he exchanged his life for."
"Repay it all at once."
"She wants the Holy Sword. She wants the Cao family to become a Sword Saint again."
Sun Lang said and laughed softly, "It's really hard to understand. Your mother actually wants me to repay the kindness in one go, with a mere Holy Sword."
"Under normal circumstances, shouldn't it be long term?
Where I'm from, the bank doesn't even want you to pay the mortgage in advance. Even if you do, you still have to pay a f * cking penalty … "
As he spoke, he patted the box. "With our friendship, I can definitely protect your family for a long time. As long as your family doesn't cross the line and doesn't do anything that will cause the heavens to punish you, I'll continue to take care of your family. I didn't expect your mother to want to pay it all at once."
"Should I say that she killed the goose that laid the golden eggs?
Or should I say that she is greedy beyond measure? "
"But I can understand her thoughts."
Sun Lang said softly, "You said that your mother is a shrewd and strong woman. She is self-reliant and has a strong desire for control. She doesn't like uncertain factors. After all, she still has to lower her voice when she needs help from others. She can't tell how long I can take care of the Cao family. She can't even tell if I can defeat the Emperor. Under these circumstances, the most reliable method is to turn the so-called kindness into a ready-made Sacred Sword … After all, with the Sacred Sword, the Cao family is still the Sword Saint's family. No matter who the person in power is, they still have to show respect."
"Smart, really smart."
Sun Lang's finger slid across the box.
"Furthermore, even though she said that she wanted to cash it out in one go, she must have her own plans. Putting everything else aside, even if the Cao Family were to meet with a calamity in the future and be destroyed, I would definitely lend a helping hand."
"She has nothing to fear. She's got me. What a good move. She's simply manipulating the clouds and rain with a flip of her hand. She's maximizing the benefits of your death … I wonder what your expression is right now."
"Well, it's probably a bitter smile, or a matter-of-fact expression, or perhaps a gratified expression."
"After all, I still remember your embarrassing appearance … You were covered with wounds and were about to die. Moreover, you were in great pain. In the end, you were crying, but not because you were about to die, but because you were unfilial. You said that you had let down the family and your mother. You said that your willful and reckless actions would definitely implicate the family. Even if the Emperor didn't dare to pursue your actions, the consequences of losing a Sword Saint were quite severe."
"Now that your mother has used your death to exchange for benefits from me, you must be very gratified."
Sun Lang raised his head and looked in a certain direction in the night sky. Several thousand miles away in this direction was the Great Desolate Mountain. Many things had happened there, things that he didn't want to recall and couldn't forget.
Mountains of corpses and seas of blood, the world that had changed color, and people who were covered in wounds.
He was a timid guy who had followed the rules all his life. He never knew how to resist or question. He was like a flower that had bloomed in a greenhouse, like a puppet that had no sense of self. Even though he was a Sword Saint, he didn't have his own temper or thoughts. He was the Mommy's Boy in the Six Armies of Tianyuan. When he was bullied, he would sulk. When he was offended, he would laugh. He didn't know how to be flexible, and he would write letters to his mother every day.
On the last day of his life, he completed the first and last rebellion of his life.
Such an old-fashioned guy who followed the rules was full of his style even if he rebelled. He was stubborn and didn't know how to be flexible. Once he set his target, he wouldn't turn back. He would clench his teeth and never relent.
Therefore, in the face of the encirclement of the army, the persuasion of his colleagues, the imperial edict of the Emperor, and the many layers of iron armor and swords, he pulled out the Sword of Chen Xing and never took a step back.
He was not good with words and was sentimental. He was used to recording his feelings with a pen, but he wasn't good at talking to others. He was a good boy, so he didn't know how to quarrel. He was often stunned by Sun Lang's words. Sun Lang had taught him patiently for five years, but he hadn't been taught a single swear word.
So, when faced with the furious rebukes, accusations, orders, attacks, and attacks that covered the heavens and the earth, he was still clumsy with his words. He didn't argue eloquently, nor did he speak righteously. He only repeated the same few sentences over and over again.
"You can't kill him!"
"Back off!
Back off! "
"He is Jia Ying!
The marshal of the empire!
The hero of Houtu!
Are you going to wave your swords at him? "
"He did nothing wrong!
That's why I have to protect him! "
At that time, Sun Lang was counterattacked by The Devil of the Ancestor. The two sides started a desperate battle on the spiritual level. He couldn't control his body, but he could vaguely feel the scene outside.
Weapons, brutality, waves of blood, roars, and the man who carried him out of the encirclement.
The man was roaring and roaring. He had never fought as hard as he did that day. He didn't like killing, but at that time, he was desperately waving his sword.
Chi Lianyan's voice sounded far and near, "His Majesty's order is here!
He ordered us to kill Jia Ying!
You disobeyed the order and colluded with the rebels. You are about to die, and you will implicate your family!
Don't tell me you're going to abandon your family?
Are you going to die with the rebels?
Quickly kill Jia Ying and redeem yourself. We will plead for you and save your life. Otherwise, we won't be polite! "
The man desperately urged the power of the Star Sword. In the face of the Fire Sword Saint's righteous reprimand and advice, he was still clumsy and only responded with a dry sentence.
Or maybe he didn't have the strength to retort.
He just said, "Jia Ying is not a rebel!"
Chi Lianyan shouted, "His Majesty's order is here. You have seen it with your own eyes!"
Sun Lang, who was carried on the back of the Sword Saint of Water, could feel the trembling body and the fear, exhaustion, confusion, and sadness coming from the other side.
Zhan Ge 'er of the Cao Family was born in a prosperous and prosperous country and grew up in a prosperous and prosperous city. He was born in a family of martial arts and lived in a place of wealth and prosperity. He was the most standard son of an aristocratic family. He followed the rules his whole life and was disciplined by a strict mother. He was taught by an excellent master. He practiced martial arts, studied literature, had a family, married, and grew up step by step. He was recognized by the Divine Sword and finally became the Sword Saint of Water.
He had never encountered any setbacks or difficulties in his life, so he didn't know how to reflect or doubt. He listened to his mother's teachings and became the honorable Sword Saint. He was loyal to the supreme monarch and defended his country on the Tianyuan Battlefield. Everything went smoothly without any mistakes. He was used to obeying orders. Everything was so natural.
Until that day.
His faith was shaken and doubts arose involuntarily. Ideals and reality clashed. On one side was his country and on the other was his friends. On the other side was the Emperor's order and on the other side was his own soul.
Therefore, a bolt of lightning struck his confused soul.
To this day, Sun Lang still remembered that angry roar.
That voice trembled a little, as if it lacked confidence. It was not domineering at all, but it contained a stubbornness that he could not forget. On that day, one of his Sword Saint friends, in front of the battle, in front of the imperial edict, in between the past and the current life and death, made his choice.
He said.
"Your Majesty is wrong!"
It was a very simple sentence, but Sun Lang would never hear a more deafening roar in his life, whether it was in the past or in the future.
He would never forget it.
"Damn it …"
Sun Lang murmured, "You have left me with one big problem after another … Forget about the Great Health Preservation Force and the three-year promise. What's going on now?
Your wife, your mother, your family, they are all rushing into the limelight. What do you think I should do? "
His voice grew softer and softer, as if he was afraid to disturb someone. He said in a low voice, "The relics you left behind say some things. Your mother guessed what you did in the Great Barren Mountain, and so did your wife. But the methods of these two women are completely different. You said that their personalities were completely different.
"Your mother wanted to use your death to exchange for benefits for the family. After all, the living are the most important. So she ran to my side, squeezed me, and begged me.
"And your wife … ha, she actually wanted to resurrect you.
She also guessed some inside information about the Great Barren Mountain and knew the truth about your death. She may not hate me and may blame me, but for her, the most important thing was not to keep an eye on me and attack, but to see you again. So she ran to the Emperor's side and indirectly opposed me. What do you think I should do?
Actually, I am also in a difficult position.
"Actually … there is nothing difficult about it.
"I am not the kind of person who is suitable to be friends. You have made a mistake by treating me as a friend.
"Look at you. Usually, you are bullied by me, brainwashed by me, scolded by me, and made to doubt your life because of my twisted logic. When I was on the brink of death, only you jumped out to save me. You threw away your loyalty and your family. In the end, you died, your wife became a widow, your family lost its Sword Saint, and the Empire gained a time bomb like me. Now, I am competing with the Emperor to see who will destroy this country first … All of this is because you meddled in other people's business. You are even more meddlesome than Qiu Jichu.
"I am very sorry. I am really sorry.
"Even though you've done so much for me, I can't give you any more promises. I've kept my promise of three years, but this so-called promise has now become an excuse for me to protect myself. Now, I don't really want to destroy this world. It was you who gave me enough time to meet them. I owe you another big favor."
"But I can't repay you.
"Your wife has become my enemy. She is obsessed and believes the bullshit of The Devil Yuan Zu, but I can't wake her up. I am willing to tolerate her for the time being, and even show her mercy until I expose the tricks of The Devil Yuan Zu and shatter her fantasy. Then I will settle her down and take care of her … I am willing to do this, but if she hurts the people I love during this period, I think, I will not show mercy.
"I am sorry.
"Your mother wants the Water Innate Sacred Sword, and your family wants to revive the Sword Saint family. But the Sacred Sword contains the trick of The Devil's possession. If it falls into the hands of the Cao family, it will only bring disaster. The most important thing is that the Sacred Sword is in the hands of Shen Yaohua. This involves a problem.
"A question I once asked you."
Sun Lang remembered the past and couldn't help laughing, "You basked your wife in front of me. One day, I was tired of being basked in the sun, so I asked you, if your mother and your wife fell into the water at the same time, who would you save?"
"You said that you could mobilize the power of Chen Xing to move the water away and save both of them."
"But now …"
He opened the box and took out the stone inside. Below it were some letters and books. Old Lady Cao had put in a lot of effort. Some of the contents were accumulated letters, and some were the last words left by Shui Yao. The contents were basically related to Jia Ying. She wanted to use this to arouse Sun Lang's guilt.
But what she didn't know was that even if she didn't do this, Sun Lang's guilt and feelings for her son would not fade away … Shui Yao not only saved Sun Lang's life, but also pulled Sun Lang out of the abyss of despair and madness. His sacrifice made Sun Lang realize one thing — he was not abandoned by the whole world.
"Let me ask you, if you don't know martial arts, who would you save?"
"You also said that you would save your mother without hesitation."
"Then you seriously explained filial piety to me, saying that saving your wife first and not saving your mother is not only a morally corrupt beast, but also you will be held accountable by the Empire's laws."
"As for your wife, you said that you would live and die with her."
Sun Lang pinched the stone and played with it left and right. This stone was ordinary and he couldn't see anything special about it. He tried to inject a little water spiritual power into it before, but there was no reaction at all.
"… Okay, I got it. You want to save your mother, right?"
Sun Lang sighed, "Your wife is really annoying. She actually cheated and played with my feelings. In the past, you always showed off in front of me. This time, it's not bad to let her live and die with you …"
He said a few words casually, pinched the stone in his hand, and then his expression changed slightly.
Because it was a relic left by him, Sun Lang tried to activate it before and used the water spiritual power, but there was no reaction at all. Just now, when he pinched it, a little earth spiritual power leaked out, but unexpectedly, the stone had some subtle changes.
"Huh?"