Listen to the king's order

The moon shines on the west building, and the other courtyard of Nanchenjiang Mansion is brightly lit.

There are bluegrass planted everywhere in the other courtyard, and the green color does not look like it has just survived the severe winter.

At the end of the yard, the door of a room was half-closed, and the warm yellow candlelight slipped out through the crack of the door, as if playing hide-and-seek with the spring breeze.

Agarwood incense rises in the room through the exquisite small incense burner, and the wooden screen carved with strong bamboo divides the room into two halves.

There is a book case on one side, and a pair of copybooks on the case seems to have just been completed, and there is still a glimmer of light.On the other side is a small couch, which is neatly covered with a thick layer of white gilt cushions.

A sandalwood four-wheeled cart was parked by the window next to the small couch. At this time, a man in snow clothes was sitting in the cart.

The man was 28 and nine years old, with long black hair tied casually and hanging lazily on his shoulders.He had a pair of peach blossom eyes, and his half-smile was very pretty.Except for the slightly sickly pale face and the thin lips with little blood, the whole figure is like a jade carving, with a sense of laziness in the gentleness.

This person is none other than Jiang Qichen, the head of the Jiang family, one of the three great aristocratic families in the current Chen Kingdom.

Jiang Qichen's wealthy hands with neatly manicured nails were holding a pair of delicate scissors, and he was slowly trimming a plant of bluegrass by the window, looking like a gentleman of a family who does not eat fireworks.

"Jing Xing, what time is it?" Jiang Qichen cut off a dead leaf, and as soon as he loosened his hand, it fell gracefully under his feet.His voice was hoarse and deep, which seemed particularly moving in this quiet night.

Jing Xing bowed slightly, and whispered into Jiang Qichen's ear respectfully, "Master, it's time to be ugly."

The man named Jing Xing was Jiang Qichen's personal bodyguard. He was very young, with a dignified appearance and a black long sword hanging from his waist. His name was "Shangxuan".

It was late at night, and everything in Nanchen was silent.

After asking about the time, the people in the room stopped talking. If it weren't for the flickering candles between the cracks of the door, everything would seem to be integrated with the night.

Until there was an inaudible footstep outside the door.

Jiang Qichen glanced at Jing Xing with his pretty peach eyes, and handed him the scissors.As soon as Jing Xing took it with both hands, there was a knock on the door.

Jiang Qichen said, "Come in."

Just as the lingering sound fell, the half-hidden door was gently pushed open.

Even though it was March in Yangchun, the night wind was still tinged with coolness, and it rolled in by the door, knocking the trembling candlelight on the table, and blowing the orchid grass that fell by Jiang Qichen's feet, and brought him along with him. The hem of the clothes is tattooed with white and gold peonies.

When Jing Xing saw the person coming, a smile appeared on Duan Fang's face.He immediately greeted him, and said happily, "Brother Lu Ming, you are back!"

The man called "Lu Ming" was wearing a black gown with a robe of the same color over it.The wide brim of the hat covered most of his face. If you look closely, you can vaguely see that the man's face is covered with a black armor mask.

Lu Ming entered the room sideways, closed the door tightly, and lifted the brim of his hat, only to see that his hair was tied up high, with a golden pattern Liuyun hairband tied on it.

"I'm back." Jiang Qichen turned the four-wheeled vehicle under his feet and moved it out little by little. When he saw Lu Ming's torn clothes, his pale face turned slightly chilly.

Lu Ming's steps toward Jiang Qichen stopped for half a moment after hearing this sentence, then he nodded slightly, walked behind Jiang Qichen with big strides, and pushed the four-wheeled cart to the table.

"Injured?" Jing Xing saw several rips on Lu Ming's black clothes, and said in disbelief, "Brother Lu Ming, who can hurt you?"

Lu Ming put down the handle of the quadricycle, reached out and lifted the mask off his face and put it on the table.I saw that the face under the mask was sharp and angular, very handsome.Especially a pair of eyes, as black as ink and as deep as stars.

He half-kneeled in front of Jiang Qichen, lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "Master, I'm a step late."

Jiang Qichen was silent for a while, then shifted his gaze from Lu Ming's stern face to his shoulders, where the wounds pierced by the peach leaves blatantly appeared, as if he was shouting about Lu Ming's failure.The frost on his face gradually disappeared.

"It's Hua Wudao." Jiang Qichen stared at Lu Ming's wound and read out a name.The latter nodded silently.

Jing Xing came up to stare carefully at the scar on Lu Ming's shoulder, a little surprised: "How could it be Hua Wudao? Hua Wudao's whereabouts are secretive, and he has always been a dragon. When he betrayed Tianyanzong, he still stood up. I swear - I won't bother with Jianghu affairs anymore. Why did you appear at this time?"

After a long time, Jiang Qichen looked at the silent young man kneeling on the ground, and sighed softly: "No one expected that it would be Hua Wudao who made the move, so get up first."

After getting the order, Lu Ming didn't seem to have heard of it. His back was straightened, as if he couldn't break it even with thousands of blows.He has a cold face, even more cold-blooded.But at this moment, Lu Ming gritted his teeth, and bowed to Jiang Qichen while kneeling on the ground: "Master, Lu Ming is not doing his job well, please punish him."

A few lines of cold sweat flowed down Jing Xing's back, and he didn't dare to show his breath as he looked at the master and servant who were sitting and kneeling.As a shadow killer, Lu Ming has never disappointed Jiang Qichen.This was the first time he missed a shot, and his usual pride seemed to be shattered by this intrusive Hua Wudao, leaving only a little bit of self-esteem, which seemed to be eager to be redeemed through punishment.

"Well, punishment will definitely be punished, but not now." For the first time, Jiang Qichen didn't say a word about punishing Lu Ming. He knew Lu Ming's temperament very well, and it was the first time that he didn't get what he wanted: "I've been leg and foot for the past few days. Inconvenience, there are still some things you need to do, after these things are over, go to receive the punishment, you get up first and then talk."

After saying these words, Jiang Qichen seemed a little tired, he closed his eyes and stretched out his hands to pinch his brows.

Lu Ming subconsciously glanced at Jiang Qichen's limp legs, clenched his hand hanging by his side, and then loosened it.

"The kindness of nurturing, the kindness of teaching, the kindness of teaching me, I treat me like a teacher like a father, but Lu Ming can't share my worries for me, which makes me disappointed." Lu Ming still didn't get up, he thought, if Jiang Qichen needed it, His own life is his.

Jiang Qichen frowned again, staring at Lu Ming's drooping face, and said sternly: "How can you say this politely? Even if you grew up with me, I wouldn't dare to be your master, let alone replace you. Father, there is gold under your knees, don't kneel to me again. Get up."

Jiang Qichen's few words made Lu Ming's face darken, and he finally stood up from the ground, but his face was already a little pale.

Seeing that Lu Ming's expression was different, Jiang Qichen felt that he had spoken a few words a little more seriously, and softened his voice: "Ming'er, I can't blame you for what happened to the Xin family today, so you don't have to blame yourself too much. Tell me first, the Xin family's What is the state of death?"

"Throat, kill with one knife."

Hearing this, Jiang Qichen raised his eyebrows, thoughtfully recalling Lu Ming's words, and said in a deep voice after a while, "From this point of view, it seems that he died under the phantom thread."

Phantom silk, as thin as nothing, cuts iron like mud, killing people invisible. It is the deadly weapon of the "shadow" killer.

After pondering for a moment, Jiang Qichen continued: "This time Hua Wudao entered the world, the whole family of the Xin family was slaughtered, and the plea talisman disappeared, so it seems that it is the same as the case of the Huo family's extermination 12 years ago."

He paused at this point, his eyes inadvertently skipped over Lu Ming, and finally stayed on his lap.

A gleam flashed across Jing Xing's eyebrows, and he spoke harshly: "Master, they wanted to pour dirty water on us in that old case 12 years ago, could it be this time..."

Jiang Qichen said: "What happened 12 years ago has been spread all over the Jianghu. I have lived in seclusion for so many years, keeping a low profile and rarely intervening in Jianghu affairs in front of outsiders. That's why they don't pay attention to us. Today , I’m afraid I won’t be able to sit still.”

Jiang Qichen looked at Lu Ming secretly, and Lu Ming quickly understood what he meant.

12 years ago, in the case of the Huo family extermination, one of the rumors in the world was that Jiang Qichen murdered the entire Huo family to avenge his father.Helplessly, Jiang Qichen was only 15 years old at the time, and he was still an inconvenient disabled person.There is also the No. [-] sect in Jianghu, Tianyanzong, who acts as a security for him. No matter how suspicious he is, it is not easy to arrest people without evidence.After that, the matter was left alone and became an unsolved case.

But now, Jiang Qichen has long since withdrew his edge and disappeared in the Jianghu.Everyone only knew that there was a Patriarch Jiang in Nanchen, but he was rarely seen.Looking around the rivers and lakes, who else is the most suitable for doing such insane things, except for the mysterious and unpredictable "shadow" killer who is both good and evil?

"They wanted the 'Shadow' to be a scapegoat. First, the 'Shadow' was treacherous and ruthless, and the discipline was strict. Not only can you find the bottom, but you can also use your strength to fight." Jiang Qichen rubbed his fingers, turned to Lu Ming after a while, and said, "You are the shadow leader now, and you will have nothing to do with the bloody storms in the world after tomorrow."

Lu Ming bowed his head and said in a deep voice, "Raising soldiers for a thousand days and using them for one hour. Lord, I have been waiting for this day for a long time."

He thought to himself: This knife of mine can finally be unsheathed for you.

"Brother Lu Ming, you haven't been back for a long time. My brother and I miss you."

After leaving the room, Lu Ming put the mask back on his face.The identity of the Shadow Killer is mysterious. As long as he is outside, he cannot take off his mask no matter what. Even the partners who fight side by side don't know each other's appearance.Although this is Jiang Qichen's other courtyard in Nanchen, and the courtyard is full of confidantes, Lu Ming is still used to hiding his face outside.

Different from other shadows, Lu Ming also has an ostensible identity as Jiang Qichen's half-adopted son, which is why he can appear in front of everyone with his real appearance.

Lu Ming raised his head, looked at the dark night sky through the mask, and his eyes fell on this cobblestone path countless times. It has been three years.

In the past three years, the number of times Lu Ming has returned to Jiang's house can be counted with a single slap.Most of the time, he was traveling around the country of Chen, and only occasionally when there was a major event that needed to be reported to Jiang Qichen, he would come back in person.

Take this time as an example, he has been lurking in the area under the jurisdiction of the Pei family west of Chen Guo, and has not been back to Jiang Mansion for five months.

Lu Ming is a very cold person in his heart, and there is almost no one close to him. If he counts his fingers, Jing Xing's elder brother Jing Zhi and the shadow killer's deputy commander can be regarded as his life-and-death friends.

Lu Ming said, "Brother Jingzhi, is he alright?"

"My elder brother, he's fine! If you came back one day sooner, you would be able to watch him. He was just sent to the north by the master yesterday."

Hearing this, Lu Ming was stunned, north? 12 years ago, the Huo family's territory.Ever since the Huo family was wiped out, it has been divided into two. One half was allocated to the Xin family, a famous sword-making family in the east, and the other half went to the Jiang family, which sells salt for a living.

Lu Ming nodded thoughtfully, but did not respond.

Jing Xing grew up with Lu Ming since he was a child, and knew his temperament very well. He knew that he didn't like to talk too much, so he said to himself: "Brother Lu Ming, you haven't returned home for a long time, and every time you come back, you just put your foot down and leave. Grandpa Even if you don't say it, you are still thinking about you in your heart, why do you always want to ask him for punishment?"

Lu Ming was taken aback, wondering if he was taken aback by Jing Xing's words "I miss you in my heart".

"Look——" Jing Xing pointed to a fork in the road, and continued, "It's so late, Master himself is not happy, and he didn't forget to ask me to go to the pharmacy to get you some Jinchuang medicine."

Lu Ming glanced in the direction of Jing Xing's finger. The door of the pharmacy was still lit, and it seemed that he could smell a familiar dose of medicinal food from a long distance away, which was what Jiang Qichen often ate when he was sick.

"Grandpa..."

Two words popped out of Lu Mingxi's mouth like gold, and there was no more words.

In fact, he wanted to ask how Jiang Qichen was doing recently, his leg ailment was still serious, and whether his body could hold back... But when he reached the point of his mouth, he abruptly stopped there.

People who are not good at words always don't know how to express their concern, but all they can think of is the pale face of that person in white clothes and robes.