Chapter 771: Chapter 771

This was the first time in over three years they hadn't seen each other. Today marked the first time in over three years they sat down together for a deep conversation. For the most part, Li Qingyun spoke, while Li Qingyun listened.

First, Li Qingyun talked about his journey to the War School, how he eventually became the top student there, and finally how his father handed over the team leadership to him.

They talked and laughed cheerfully; their laughter mingled with the clinking of wine glasses. From noon till dusk, the fourth floor was littered with empty wine bottles. The two brothers spent the entire afternoon talking and drinking.

"I owe you a lifetime, Li Qingyun!" cried Li Qingyun painfully, lying on the table with tears streaming down his face, slurring his words as he spoke.

Li Qingyu said nothing to comfort him. Sometimes, no words of comfort are as effective as simply letting emotions flow. Men rarely bare their emotions, but when they do, it is an uncontainable torrent. Crying lightened their heavy hearts.

Throughout this, Li Qingyu silently listened to his brother's words. The general beside his brother was one of his closest friends. They had been assigned together to the same unit. A once-promising young man had shielded Li Qingyun from the blade of an assassin sent by the Guangwu Empire to kill Mr. Zhongye.

For the past three years, Li Qingyun had been at the frontlines of every battle against the Guangwu Empire. He knew his companion wouldn't be coming back, but he hoped Guangwu would pay the price for his friend's life. He had resolved to avenge him!

Perhaps exhausted from crying, Li Qingyun's voice grew softer and softer, turning into faint whispers. By day's end, there was no sound at all; he had fallen asleep on the table. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novel⟡fire.net

Li Qingyu silently drained the wine from his cup. Then, he poured himself another and drank it alone.

For the first time, he thought it might be boring not to get drunk. For the first time, he wanted to be drunk, so he could cry like his elder brother did.

Regrettably, he simply could not get drunk!

When the last pot of wine was finished, Li Qingyu set his cup down and gazed sorrowfully at the night sky outside the window.

Even Mo Yunshan was startled by the sight of so many bottles scattered across the floor. He had only sent one jar of wine to the fourth floor earlier in the day, not realizing it would end this way.

He stood at the stairwell, scanned the chaotic scene on the fourth floor with a quick glance, and finally rested his gaze on the slightly lonely figure of Li Qingyu. Yes, that loneliness.

It was a feeling Mo Yunshan was all too familiar with, for he felt it often himself.

Mo Yunshan hurried past the wine jars and sat down beside Li Qingyu, turning his gaze to the night sky outside the window. Li Qingyu had noticed Mo Yunshan's presence but remained silent. Together, they quietly looked at the vast expanse of night, searching for their own solace, while the drunken Li Qingyun intermittently mumbled, "Mr. Yu!"

Time passed in silence, and the evening quietly faded into full night.

It was nearing the mid-autumn festival, and tonight's moon was resplendently round and luminous.

"Miss Yunshan, may I write here?"

"Of course!" Mo Yunshan replied. She then retrieved a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone from her Space Ring and placed them on the table.

Taking the brush, Li Qingyu dipped it in ink and asked, "Miss Yunshan, may I inscribe a poem on the wall here?"

Li Qingyu smiled, brush in hand, and walked to a blank wall to begin writing.

Mo Yunshan followed closely, curious about what kind of verses Li Qingyu might compose in such a state.

As the final line was completed, Li Qingyu finally broke into a rare smile, set the brush down, and turned to address Li Qingyun.

What Li Qingyu inscribed was not a poem but a line written once at a family gathering long ago:

"When will the moon arrive? I lift my cup to the heavens to ask. I wonder not about the celestial palaces; what year is this evening on earth?"

As expected, the assassin had indeed come from the same organization as the previous two killers—this was evident from the new edition of "The Plum in the Golden Vase" found in their Space Rings.

Yes, "The Plum in the Golden Vase!"

Li Yi glanced at the three limited-edition volumes lying in the assassin's ring and felt at a loss. What kind of assassin organization was this? Were they all this cultured?

He had hoped to uncover the secret manual from the final assassin, but instead—nothing but laughter...

But... was there a secret concealed within this limited edition?

It wasn't merely a handbook required by the organization. Could it be something else? No, that didn't seem likely.

Regardless of what it truly was, once back, Li Yi resolved to try deciphering it.

After waiting a long time, Li Qingyun left swiftly, his back fading from view.

Meanwhile, Mo Yunshan, upon seeing the assassin's lifeless body, inexplicably felt a sense of relief. A closer examination revealed the assassin had been killed with a single, precise strike.

This was Dan Yuanchou—struck dead in one blow! But was it Li Qingyu or some superior rank who delivered the killing stroke?

Mo Yunshan mulled it over in sorrowful silence before leaping atop a nearby rooftop and vanishing into the darkness.

Elsewhere, Zhao Wuji was pacing excitedly around the table in his room. According to the plan, tonight the Blood Drip organization would confront Li Qingyu. This time, they had sent a formidable Dan Yuanchou. Zhao Wuji did not believe Li Qingyu could survive this time.

"If you dare covet the woman I fancy, don't blame me for being cruel!"

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Zhao Wuji opened it just in time to see Mo Yunshan slip inside.

"Miss Yunshan, is Li Qingyu dead?"

Zhao Wuji initially thought Mo Yunshan came bearing good news but soon noticed the unsettling look in his eyes. From that look, Zhao Wuji sensed murder!

"Are you serious?" Mo Yunshan replied coldly.

Faced with the question, Zhao Wuji was momentarily dumbfounded. Mo Yunshan furrowed his brow. As much as he wanted to end Zhao Wuji's life with one swift strike, he knew the man's connection to Li Qingyu's ties to broader power. Killing Zhao Wuji would bring retaliation from Zhao Tianzhi and unrest across the Empire.

"This time, it doesn't matter. Blood Drip won't stand a chance again after this. Leave it be," said Mo Yunshan indifferently before departing.

Zhao Wuji's eyes widened in disbelief. Had the mission truly failed?

Dan Yuanchou, that elite killer, was slain by Li Qingyu? What a joke!

Zhao Wuji's face turned red and green with fury. With one sweep of his hand, he sent the tea set on the table crashing to the floor, porcelain shards scattering everywhere. Finally, he even flipped the table out of rage.

"Master, are you alright?"

The person behind the door, met with Zhao Wuji's wrath, dared not enter. Deep breaths restored Zhao Wuji's composure.

"Li Qingyu, I, Zhao Wuji, swear you will never live to see peace!"

"Ah… damn it!" Li Qingyu rubbed his nose. "Which sister is thinking of me now?"

"Forget it. Just focus on the limited edition..." Li Qingyun pulled out "The Plum in the Golden Vase" and began examining it.

Turning through each page, he submerged it in water, but the black-stained results made him sigh. The process nearly burned through Gou Dan—it was almost charred!

Thankfully, Li Qingyu was quite wealthy. There were still two more volumes left.

Li Qingyu retrieved another book. This time, he skipped the water test and placed it directly over a charcoal brazier. It wasn't long before the pages began to combust under the heat of the flames.

Without hesitation, he tossed it into the brazier entirely. He shook his head and laughed at the absurdity of it all!