"Iron Appearance?" Fan Xian's eyes glanced at the green banner, narrowing slightly. He flicked his sleeves and walked back into the clan school, completely ignoring the man in green outside.

The swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau of the Supervisory Council glanced warily at the man in green before retreating back into the building. Although they didn't know why Director Fan had stopped them from chasing after the archer, the Council's orders were paramount, and no one dared voice any objections.

The man in green tilted his head slightly, leaning on the green banner, seeming somewhat taken aback. Heavy snow fell, descending from the darkness, gradually accumulating on his shoulders.

The scene was indeed rather bizarre. After encountering an assassination attempt, Fan Xian was surprisingly calm, as if nothing had happened. He neither acknowledged nor paid attention to the man in green who had suddenly appeared before him, blocking that terrifying arrow. It was as if he had no interest in speaking at all.

The man in green looked at the tightly shut door, shaking his head and chuckling to himself. He thought that the legendary Little Fan, was indeed an intriguing fellow.

He readjusted his clothing and calmly walked to the wooden door of the clan school, politely knocking twice.

After a moment, Fan Xian's calm voice came from inside.

"Enter."

...

...

The man in green placed the green banner beside the wooden door of the clan school, the snow melting on it and dampening the gray ground. He lowered his head, a hint of a smile visible at the corner of his lips. He didn't directly bow to Fan Xian, but instead said softly, "Compared to the rumors, Your Excellency possesses a few more traces of unruliness."

Fan Xian kept his hands in front of him, warming them by the fire, still not speaking.

The man in green said gently, "Is this how Your Excellency treats guests?"

Fan Xian rubbed his warmed hands and took a bag of fine wine from his subordinate beside him, taking two sips. He said calmly, "It's freezing. You knocked on the door, and this official let you in to avoid the snow. This is this official's compassion for the people, but it's not treating you as a guest."

"If I hadn't knocked, Your Excellency wouldn't have seen me?" the man in green continued to ask. "Doesn't Your Excellency have anything to ask me?"

Fan Xian glanced at him coldly, not clearly seeing the man in green's face, and said, "What... qualification do you have for me to see you? What is there that I need to ask you?"

The man in green slowly raised his head, and the ancestral hall, illuminated by the firelight, suddenly became bright.

This man had sword-like eyebrows, warm, jade-like eyes, and thin, slightly upturned lips. He lacked a bit of sharpness, but had a more approachable quality. His appearance was exceptionally delicate, and he was exceptionally young.

Even Fan Xian couldn't help but be slightly taken aback, thinking with a smile that this fellow was indeed handsome, only slightly less so than himself.

The man in green seemed a bit surprised by Fan Xian's cold attitude, and said with a wry smile, "Why must Your Excellency keep people at arm's length?"

Fan Xian took another sip of wine, withdrawing his gaze from the man's delicate face, and said indifferently, "Do you perhaps think you have done me a service?"

The man in green thought for a moment and said, "Even if I weren't here tonight, that arrow wouldn't have harmed Your Excellency in the slightest."

This was something that had been said earlier.

Fan Xian placed the wine bag beside him, looking at him calmly and saying, "Since you are of no help to me, don't expect me to remember your kindness. You must understand this."

The man in green was stunned, then smiled and said, "Indeed."

Fan Xian continued, "I don't owe you anything. If you want to avoid the snow, then avoid it. If you want to speak, then speak... but don't put on a mysterious, unfathomable air. I hate that."

The man in green was taken aback and said with a wry smile, "Your Excellency is right."

"And another thing..." Fan Xian suddenly leaned forward and said seriously, "Are you planning to have me take you in?"

From ancient times to the present, from history to stories, such encounters in the wilderness, with famous lords and accomplished ministers coming together as the wheels of history turned, always involved an idealistic glow, as well as gestures of respect for the worthy, and loyal allegiance. But the way Fan Xian put it was so direct and blunt… even vulgar and unpleasant. Such a thing had probably never happened before.

Fan Xian stared into the man in green's eyes and said, "Don't expect that we can have an equal relationship. If you want to be my subordinate, you must stand below me, pay attention to your position, whether it's in conversation, in action, even in your posture, and even in your inner thoughts. You must place yourself below this official."

He straightened up and said calmly, "If you want me to take you in, then abandon those unrealistic fantasies and your self-esteem. The world doesn't stop turning because someone is missing. This official has a somewhat eccentric nature, and I don't have a fondness for widely gathering followers."

The man in green was severely shaken by Fan Xian's series of remarks, and stood somewhat dejectedly in the hall. After a long silence, he said with a wry smile, "Your Excellency is indeed aggressive."

Fan Xian calmly interrupted, "Because this official has the qualifications to be."

Without waiting for the man in green to speak, Fan Xian said, "If you have something to say, then say it. Otherwise, go squat in the corner and warm yourself by the fire, and leave when the snow stops."

The man in green hadn't expected things to develop to this point, and couldn't help but shake his head. He had to approach Fan Xian before he entered the capital, to convey a certain meaning to him... And he happened to know where that small arrow came from, so he seized this opportunity to appear before Fan Xian. He had originally thought he would make a good first impression on Fan Xian, but he hadn't expected that although Fan Xian wasn't suspicious, he was unusually tough, exposing his intentions.

The man in green considered for a moment, then said with a smile, "On the way back to the capital, this humble subject might be able to protect Your Excellency."

"The reason isn't sufficient." Fan Xian shook his head. "You and I both know that only small arrows are coming. I wouldn't take him seriously."

The man in green thought again, finally sighing and saying, "I bring a message for Your Excellency."

"What message?"

"A message from the East."

Fan Xian suddenly raised his head, staring into the man in green's eyes.

The man in green remained calm. In truth, he was already one of the top young people in the world, so he was able to remain so calm in the face of Fan Xian's authority.

Fan Xian clapped his hands.

All the swordsmen and secret agents of the Supervisory Council in the hall silently stood up and walked out of the clan school. Hong Changqing carefully closed the wooden door behind him, leaving a quiet space for Fan Xian and the man in green.

After the room returned to silence, the man in green smiled, bowed, and said, "Dongyi City sends greetings to Director Fan."

Fan Xian fell silent, slowly taking several deep breaths to regain his composure. A cold light flashed in his pupils as he asked coldly, "State your name."

"Thirteenth Disciple of the Sword Cottage, Tie Xiang."

"Si Gu Jian only took twelve disciples." Fan Xian looked at the man in green and said, "And this official has never heard of a young man named Tie Xiang in Dongyi City... People this official hasn't heard of don't exist."

With the Supervisory Council's intelligence network spread throughout the world, Fan Xian said these words with great confidence.

The man in green lowered his head and remained silent for a while, then smiled and said, "My original name is Wang Xi. I was ordered by my master to travel in Qing Kingdom and changed my name to Tie Xiang."

"Wang Xi?" Fan Xian said casually, "A good name."

The man in green named Wang Xi smiled and said, "The name isn't necessarily that good, but this person is somewhat useful."

At this time, Fan Xian should have asked why Dongyi City, an irreconcilable enemy of the Supervisory Council, had come to him, but strangely, Fan Xian didn't ask, and Wang Xi didn't take the initiative to explain.

These two young men both possessed wisdom and calculation far exceeding their peers, seeing through each other's thoughts in an instant. For Fan Xian, Dongyi City should have sent someone to contact him long ago, but he hadn't expected that it would be such a somewhat unfathomable young man.

Indeed, Dongyi City had always had good relations with the Xinyang faction. Presumably, that Si Gu Jian, like Ye Liuyun, enjoyed the offerings of the Junshan Society. However, Fan Xian was clear that there were never permanent enemies or permanent friends in this world, only permanent interests.

Although Si Gu Jian was an idiot in his early years, he could protect Dongyi City and those small vassal states for twenty years with his sword, relying of course not only on the sword in his hand.

Those who govern a country must be cautious. Under the great pressure of the Qing Kingdom, if Dongyi City wanted to survive, it had to maintain close ties with the highest power echelons of the Qing Kingdom. And the relationship between Si Gu Jian and the Eldest Princess was how this had developed.

However, with Fan Xian's emergence, the power structure of the Qing Kingdom had undergone tremendous changes. Especially after taking control of the Supervisory Council and the Internal Treasury, Fan Xian already possessed the strength to threaten Dongyi City. In comparison, the Eldest Princess's bargaining chips were becoming increasingly fewer.

Eggs cannot be placed in only one basket, and chips cannot always be placed on the larger side. Daughters in the family cannot all be married to one household. This is a matter of risk diversification.

Si Gu Jian was still betting on the Eldest Princess. Dongyi City's relationship with Xinyang was more intimate than Fan Xian's could be. Moreover, since Fan Xian's debut, he had formed an unsolvable enmity with Dongyi City, such as the two female assassins on Ox Street, and the sudden attack on Grandmaster Yun Zhilan by West Lake.

But Dongyi City still had to contact Fan Xian.

If the Eldest Princess fell, without a doubt, Fan Xian would become Dongyi City's first choice. And before this choice, Dongyi City had to first express its goodwill.

Politics was indeed very wonderful. Clearly, Fan Xian and Dongyi City were still at odds, but both sides knew that in addition to being at odds, they had to begin tentative contact. Today they might still be at each other's throats, but tomorrow they might be drinking and laughing together.

In the face of enormous interests, any kind of hatred can be washed away. Although Fan Xian wouldn't think this way, Si Gu Jian must be thinking this way.

However, Fan Xian was also clear that Dongyi City and himself could only have this kind of hidden, under-the-table flirting. That idiot Si Gu Jian was still betting most of his chips on the Eldest Princess, just as Counselor Lin had analyzed in Wuzhou. If that thing really happened, Dongyi City could guarantee decades of peace. Where would they need to come to him?

The reason why this man named Wang Xi had come to contact him today was just a preliminary road opener.

"Is this your master's intention, or Dongyi City's intention?" Fan Xian asked.

Wang Xi thought for a moment and then replied with a smile, "It is my master's intention."

In one question and one answer, both sides understood that this contact couldn't be brought to the table yet. This was just Si Gu Jian's experienced and hidden move, a move that couldn't be known by anyone.

"What benefit is there for me?" Fan Xian asked very directly. "A large number of ninth-rank experts from your Sword Cottage wanted to assassinate me in Jiangnan. I can't possibly pretend that nothing happened just because of your one sentence."

"There is no benefit, only an attitude." Wang Xi explained gently, "Dongyi City and Your Excellency are still enemies, but I am not… I am just the attitude expressed by my master. Not even many people in Dongyi City know of my existence. As long as Your Excellency is willing, I will stand by Your Excellency's side. This will never change."

"Even if your eldest brother wants to assassinate me again?" Fan Xian picked up the fire poker, stirring the charcoal in the brazier, and said casually, "You will also stand by my side and kill all the people from your Dongyi City?"

"I will." Wang Xi replied extremely seriously, "Whoever is detrimental to Your Excellency is my enemy."

Fan Xian couldn't help but laugh, sighing, "Si Gu Jian, ah, Si Gu Jian, this idiot's thoughts are indeed somewhat amusing."

As he said these words, Fan Xian watched Wang Xi's reaction out of the corner of his eye. When he said the word "idiot" – the biggest taboo in Dongyi City – the other party remained calm and unmoved.

"Thirteenth Disciple of the Sword Cottage…" Fan Xian narrowed his eyes. Of the world's Four Grandmasters, plus Uncle Wu Zhu, Ku He's true closed-door disciple was Haitang, and Uncle Wu Zhu's closed-door disciple was of course himself. If this man in green was truly Si Gu Jian's closed-door disciple, then he should also be a rather formidable character.

"From now on, I will call you Wang Thirteen." Fan Xian said calmly, "Thirteen, ah… Have you ever considered that with this official's vindictive personality, if your Dongyi City still follows that crazy woman to deal with me in the future, how could I, because of one person like you, let Dongyi City off?"

"A union benefits both." Wang Xi smiled freely, exuding an indescribable elegance, "As for those who have offended Your Excellency, you can find a way to kill them. My master let me travel in Qing, and I don't have hidden evil intentions, so naturally I want to live."

"As long as I live," Wang Xi said calmly, "Dongyi City will continue to live as it is now."

Listening to these very plain, but in fact very unusual words, Fan Xian lowered his head slightly and said, "You are also going to the capital?"

"Yes." Wang Xi sighed leisurely, "Since it's a journey, of course I must go to the Qing Kingdom's capital. I heard there is a Baoyue Brothel in the capital... with countless beauties in the brothel. I must sample them."

Fan Xian didn't even raise his head: "I won't give you a discount."

Wang Xi smiled: "I can earn a lot of silver by telling fortunes too."

"Didn't you say before that you weren't a fortune teller?" Fan Xian said.

Wang Xi replied softly: "Your Excellency… fate is too strange, coming and going with the wind, the stars twinkling uncertainly. How can mortals calculate it?"

Fan Xian's heart stirred slightly. After a long while, he slowly said: "Going back to the original topic, that is to say… you are Si Gu Jian's attitude alone, a subtle part of his attitude, and it has nothing to do with Dongyi City's general intent?"

"You can say that." Wang Xi replied neither arrogantly nor humbly.

"Very good." Fan Xian rubbed his hands, which were starting to get cold again, placed them above the brazier, and looked at the bright red glow in the white ash in the pot, saying: "I don't like having a very powerful archer spying in the dark on my way back to the capital, occasionally releasing a few cold arrows."

Wang Xi was silent.

"Go and break that small arrow outside." Fan Xian raised his head and looked at him, "Since you are Si Gu Jian's attitude, I want to see your attitude. Before entering the capital, I want to see the head of that small arrow."

Wang Xi continued to remain silent. After a long while, he nodded lightly, picked up the long green banner next to the door, and was about to push open the wooden door with both hands when he suddenly turned around and said: "I don't really like killing people, can you change the requirement?"

Fan Xian's head was already lowered again at this time, and he said coldly: "If you don't know how to kill people, what use do I have for keeping you?"

"My skills are not bad." Wang Xi said calmly, but there was a hint of inscrutable depth in his words, "I can protect you."

"Protect me?" Fan Xian curled his lips and laughed, "I don't think you have the qualifications to say that."

Wang Xi smiled and said: "I have the qualifications, Your Excellency, you can try it."

With Fan Xian's current level, Wang Xi dared to say such a thing, which shows that he has considerable confidence in his own level. But Fan Xian still didn't raise his head, and just said softly: "Don't talk big in front of this official. The Qing Kingdom is not Dongyi City. You can die in the wilderness at any time, and not know which piece of sky the rope of death is hanging from."

As soon as the words fell, the light in the clan school suddenly dimmed. A gust of wind rose without reason, blowing the snowy charcoal ash in the brazier. A powerful and secret, lethal and traceless aura enveloped Wang Xi at the door.

Wang Xi's hand holding the green banner trembled slightly. The black feathered arrow that had been stuck on the green banner pole shattered into pieces!

Wang Xi coughed lightly twice, took two steps back, but there was no trace of fear on his face. Instead, he said with a smile: "No wonder my eldest brother suffered a setback in Jiangnan. With such an expert protecting Your Excellency, naturally you don't need me... Well, then I will kill a few people for Your Excellency."

After saying these words, he pushed the door open and disappeared into the night. The long green banner flickered intermittently in the night snow, sometimes appearing and sometimes disappearing in the distance.

...

...

(I read all the book reviews carefully... I'm just a bit lazy, so I haven't replied these past few days. Sorry, sorry.)