Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

It had been a long time since Ling Xiao had seen Li Tianluo, and he couldn’t help but freeze on the spot. In Ling Xiao’s memory, both Luo Tian and Li Tianluo had been bright, confident young men—dashing, noble, and elegant. Their regal bearing was so profound that even many nobles who prided themselves on their heritage felt ashamed of their own standing.

But the man before him... His hair was a tangled mess, like a bird’s nest, and looked as though it hadn’t been washed in ages. His face was so filthy his original features were nearly unrecognizable. He was dressed in rags, his shoes were riddled with holes, and in the sweltering heat, a foul stench emanated from him, causing passersby to give him a wide berth.

The guards at Lingxiao Mansion must have had their work cut out for them. It was a wonder what Li Tianluo had said to them that they’d managed to refrain from sending him flying with a kick, and had even gone to announce his presence.

Upon seeing Ling Xiao, Li Tianluo actually managed a faint smile. "I knew you would see me! Even if everyone else in the world was too afraid, I knew you would dare!"

Seeing him in such a state, Ling Xiao couldn’t help but shake his head with a wry smile. "Did you really have to let yourself get like this? Hurry up and come inside!" Without a trace of revulsion, he took Li Tianluo by the hand and led him in.

The guards of the Lord’s Mansion exchanged glances. ’Good thing we believed him,’ they thought.

Just moments ago, the beggar had told them, "You’d better go announce my arrival. If you dare lay a hand on me, you’ll be in for more trouble than you can handle!"

Perhaps it was because Li Tianluo had been a member of the Royal Family for years; even as a beggar, his words, when spoken with conviction, possessed a regal quality that common people could never hope to emulate. Or perhaps it was his composed expression. Whatever the reason, it was enough for the guards to hesitantly go and announce him.

They were both grown men, so Li Tianluo felt no shame in stripping off his tattered clothes right in front of Ling Xiao before hopping into a large wooden tub that had been filled with hot water.

Ling Xiao had a maid come in to take Li Tianluo’s rags and throw them out. The young maid didn’t dare refuse. Pinching her nose with a pained expression, she gingerly took hold of the clothes and hurried out.

From inside the wooden tub, Li Tianluo let out a hearty laugh. But as he laughed, without any warning, two streams of tears began to trace paths down his cheeks.

"Brother Ling, I’ve wandered all over, but to be honest, your home was the very last place I wanted to come. Do you know why?"

Ling Xiao nodded silently. Everyone knew about the bitter, life-or-death struggle he’d had with the Southern King, Li Wutong. It was only natural that Li Tianluo would be reluctant to seek him out.

Li Tianluo sank his entire body into the tub and closed his eyes. His now-clean face was etched with bitterness and exhaustion. "My father was suddenly murdered," he said faintly. "To be honest, the first person I suspected wasn’t my uncle. It was you! Because as far as I knew, my uncle didn’t have the power to kill my father! But you... you did!" Li Tianluo suddenly grew agitated, his voice filled with fury. "I just couldn’t imagine it! That my own uncle could be capable of slaughtering his own kin! He killed my father, my royal grandfather and grandmother, and my third uncle, who was just a newborn still in swaddling clothes! I traveled all over, trying to rally my father’s old subordinates, but who would have thought? Every single general who was loyal to my father was assassinated overnight. The only ones left... were the ones who defected to my uncle! Ha! Ling Xiao, isn’t that just ironic?"

Faced with a nearly hysterical Li Tianluo, Ling Xiao knew he must have been holding this in for a long time, so he simply listened without a word. He suddenly recalled the beautiful, long-legged girl, Kaelin, who had always been by Li Tianluo’s side. Her family was said to be a powerful noble house as well. Curious, he asked, "Why isn’t Kaelin with you? She never seemed like the faithless type."

"Kaelin... Heh, she’s a good girl. I’m the one who told her not to follow me. Her family was already implicated because of me. Kaelin’s father and my father were the closest of friends, and he took me in the moment he heard what happened. But guess what?" Li Tianluo let out a loud, bitter laugh. "He sold me out! Ha! Not for wealth or status, just to sever all ties with me! If Kaelin hadn’t helped me escape, I’d be a ghost now!"

Li Tianluo was laughing, but tears kept streaming from his eyes.

Ling Xiao sighed softly. ’It’s human nature to seek advantages and avoid harm. In many cases, I suppose not even the gods can prevent such things from happening.’

After putting on the fresh clothes Ling Xiao had prepared for him, the dashing and debonair young man from before had returned.

His eyes suddenly burned with intensity as he stared at Ling Xiao. "Brother Ling, I know you have the power to help me get my revenge. I have nothing of value to offer you, but... my father had an extremely secret private army. It’s in my hands now, and it numbers eight thousand strong! If you can help me kill the current Emperor, His Majesty, then I, Li Tianluo, will serve by your side for the rest of my life and recognize you as my Lord!"

Ling Xiao gave a faint smile and spoke softly, "Brother Tianluo, you and I hit it off the moment we met. Compared to the other members of the Royal Family, you were always an exception. You weren’t arrogant, reckless, or insidious. You were forthright and treated me with sincerity. So, you don’t have to ask; I was always going to help you. Besides, you know as well as I do that even though he’s granted my Ling Family titles and promotions, I couldn’t care less about any of it! However, there is one thing I need you to be honest about."

Li Tianluo said, "Ask away!"

With a serious expression, Ling Xiao looked at Li Tianluo. "Do you have any ambition to become the Emperor?"

Li Tianluo was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Brother Ling, that’s not a funny joke! Me, become Emperor? With what army? The eight thousand soldiers my father left me? Don’t be ridiculous! Even if they were willing, I would never send them to their deaths!"

"And what if I were to help you?" Ling Xiao said nonchalantly.

Li Tianluo’s breath caught in his throat. He looked up at Ling Xiao. He knew his friend well; Ling Xiao was not a man of empty words. If he said he could help, he meant it! But the throne... Li Tianluo slowly shook his head and gave a bitter smile. "I won’t lie to you, Brother Ling. My father schemed for the throne his entire life. He often couldn’t sleep in the dead of night, having to rely on medicine to cope with the immense pressure. I don’t want to endure that kind of torment. And what’s the point of becoming Emperor, anyway? When faced with the blades of the hidden aristocratic families and sects, I would still be utterly powerless. So, Brother Ling, you can rest assured. My only desire is to kill my foe with my own hands! From the moment my uncle decided to murder his father, mother, and brothers, he became my mortal enemy! Even if your Ling Family were to take the throne, I would have no complaints!"

Ling Xiao smiled faintly and shook his head, a look of indifference on his face. "The imperial throne... I have no interest in it, and neither do my father or brother. However... there is someone I want you to meet."

With that, Ling Xiao summoned a Guard and gave him a few quiet instructions.

Before long, a middle-aged woman, a wet nurse, entered holding a baby of about one year old. The moment Li Tianluo saw the infant, his eyes locked onto him. He rushed forward, startling the wet nurse, who thought he meant to harm the child in her arms. She snapped, "What are you doing?"

Li Tianluo stopped in his tracks and gave an awkward smile. "The resemblance! It’s uncanny! He looks just like him! Brother Ling, is... is this my third uncle?"

Ling Xiao nodded lightly. "That’s right. His name is Li Wuxiao."

Li Tianluo dropped to his knees before the wet nurse, so frightening the middle-aged woman that she froze in place, not daring to move.

Li Tianluo choked out with a sob, "The heavens are watching! The heavens are watching! My Royal Family’s bloodline... it hasn’t been severed! It hasn’t been severed!" In that moment, the exceptionally sharp Li Tianluo understood Ling Xiao’s intentions perfectly. ’This revenge will have to be exacted by our own hands in the future. And his question... his test to see if I had any ambition for the throne... it was all because of this infant!’

Li Tianluo truly had no desire to be Emperor. Seeing his own third uncle, even though he was just an infant, filled his heart with an overwhelming sense of kinship.

Strangely, the little one-year-old infant giggled upon seeing Li Tianluo and stretched out his tender little arms, asking to be held.

Holding his third uncle, Li Tianluo couldn’t stop the tears from flowing once more. ’I never knelt to Ling Xiao before,’ he thought. ’He is my friend. And even though I, Li Tianluo, have fallen on hard times, I am still of royal blood. How could I kneel so easily to another?’

’But this time, my kneeling is from the bottom of my heart. Ling Xiao is truly my greatest benefactor!’

"Brother Ling, words cannot express my gratitude! Even if I am ground to dust, I, Tianluo, will never fail you in this lifetime!"

Ling Xiao quickly helped Li Tianluo to his feet. "There’s no need for such words between friends."

Once Li Tianluo had calmed down, Ling Xiao had the wet nurse take the Third Prince away. The two of them then sat down, and a Maid served them tea.

Ling Xiao said, "Here’s my plan. You’ll stay here, and I can help you increase your strength. Then, when the Third Prince is older, you two can personally reclaim what is rightfully yours. I believe that having the Third Prince himself step forward will be far more persuasive than you alone. When that time comes, I will handle the hidden aristocratic families for you."

Li Tianluo stood and bowed deeply to Ling Xiao once more. "Brother Ling, I, Tianluo, will never forget this immense kindness for as long as I live!"

Ling Xiao smiled. "Brother Tianluo, if you wish to see Kaelin, I can have my people bring her here in secret so you two can be reunited."

Li Tianluo hesitated, then shook his head. "Thank you, Brother Ling, but the time isn’t right. I want to wait until I have enough strength to go to her home and get her myself. I will take her away openly and honorably! And at the same time... I want her father to see that betrayal has its consequences!"

Ling Xiao didn’t press the matter. He simply thought Kaelin was a wonderful girl. ’But I suppose Li Tianluo’s heart is filled with more hatred for her father right now,’ he mused. ’He must be conflicted.’ And so, Ling Xiao dropped the subject.

Meeting Li Tianluo again, however unexpectedly, made Ling Xiao genuinely happy. It was the first time he had felt this cheerful since learning of Wang Chao’s death. In a way, Li Tianluo was Ling Xiao’s only male friend from the Imperial Academy.

So, no matter the circumstances, Ling Xiao was determined to help him.

Thinking of the Crown Prince’s smug face, Ling Xiao sneered inwardly. ’Just you wait. In less than twenty years, you’ll pay for everything you’ve done!’ (To be continued. To find out what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com. More Chapters are available, supporting the author and legitimate reading!)