hed. "There's a document in my study. Send it to Grand Golden Terrace."

"Understood, young master. The road is long ahead, please take care," the house steward called out but Xiao Se had already left.

In the Grand Golden Terrace, second master Tu did not hear Xiao Se's farewells but he soon received a sealed document from the Yong'an Prince Residence. He opened it and was slightly taken aback. The attendant beside him asked, "Er-ye, what is it?"

"The title deed to.. Fallen Snow Villa?" Second Master Tu's hands were trembling.

"Is that the inn Yong'an Prince mentioned once?" the attendant asked.

"No no no no no." Second Master Tu shook his head repeatedly and exclaimed incredulously, "It's the Fallen Snow Villa in Heavenly Revelations City! The real Fallen Snow Villa!"

"Xiao Lingchen, I'm leaving!" Xiao Se shouted out loud when he passed by the garrison of the great army.

Xiao Lingchen choked on a sip of wine and cursed angrily, "Just go if you're leaving. What are you shouting for!"

Cheng Luoying looked at Xiao Se disappearing into the distance and was visibly moved. "In this world, there are truly such amazing people."

Xiao Lingchen took a sip of tea and said with contempt, "The world is full of amazing people. It's you who has seen too little of the world."

He rode his horse through flying snow in the winter wind, one reign trampled on the sovereign's heart.

Xiao Se rode his horse out of Heavenly Revelations City without looking back once, but suddenly, a man and his sword stood in his way.

The sword was the Army Destroyer sword, and the man was the Wrath Sword Immortal.

Yan Zhantian handed him an item. "Don't worry, I'm not here to stop you. Chong'er asked me to give this to you."

Xiao Se accepted the item and continued riding away on his horse. Without pausing or dismounting, he opened the package and realised it was a scroll. The dragon seal on the scroll was broken; it had been opened before. He was surprised but he unrolled the scroll.

The rest of the contents were exactly the same as what Lanyue Marquis read out loud earlier. Only the most important part was different.

The heir was the sixth prince, Xiao Chuhe.

"Father is really cunning, huh." Xiao Se shook his head with a smile and raised the scroll high up into the air. Within moments, the scroll was ripped apart by the wind and shredded.

historical

Mingde Year 23, the longest period of interregnum in history was finally over. By the order of the late emperor, the second prince, Xiao Chong, ascended the throne, and declared the era name, Chonghe.

Chonghe Year 1. Warm spring, flowers bloomed.

The last winter had passed, and this winter had also passed.

But the innkeeper was still not back.

Without the miserly innkeeper, the workers managed to keep the business running for a while, yet business at Fallen Snow Villa was improving steadily. Recently, as soon as they reopened for business, they received a number of distinguished guests who looked like they had a high social status. The workers were beaming with joy but there was still a measure of melancholy in their hearts.

The innkeeper appeared miserly on the surface but was actually very good to them. When was he coming back?

Xu Hulu was one of the more senior workers. Because he looked sort of like a gourd, they called him Xu Hulu. He sat at the front desk and murmured, "Should we go look for the boss? He's always offending people when he talks and so stingy when dealing with people, maybe he's being held captive by someone outside." He was murmuring and pouring tea at the same time, and suddenly heard the guest in front of him laugh. "Waiter, the tea is spilling out."

Xu Hulu hurriedly raised his head to apologise, but he was shocked as soon as his eyes locked on the other's. He hadn't noticed it earlier but he clearly recognised him! Wasn't this the youth in red who owed the boss money and took the boss away!

"You you you you you you!" Xu Hulu pointed at him and exclaimed repeatedly.

"Long time no see." Lei Wujie laughed. "Where's your boss?"

Xu Hulu couldn't get over his shock. "Our boss!"

"Is right here." A lazy-sounding voice completed his sentence. Xiao Se took off his fox fur coat, revealing his fine blue robes underneath as he walked in through the door.

"Boss!" All the workers dropped whatever they were doing and rushed over to greet him.

Xiao Se waved his hand and forced them back three paces. "Work properly. Don't be lazy!"

"Boss, how did you get back?" Xu Hulu asked.

Xiao Se raised an eyebrow. "Why? Would you rather I never came back so this shop will then be yours?"

"No way no way no way!" Xu Hulu clarified hurriedly. "I recorded every bill and account properly over the past two years. They're all on the counter. The money too. I've been waiting for Boss to come back so that I can hand it all over to you!"

"You're a good man. Didn't waste my effort in treating you well." Xiao Se looked at Lei Wujie and the others. "Has their food and wine been prepared?"

Xu Hulu shook his head. "I just served some tea. They haven't ordered yet."

"My treat," Xiao Se said loudly.

Xu Hulu was shocked and he felt his heart go cold. Was this still their boss? Had he been replaced by an imposter?

"Three bowls of yangchun noodles, two cups of old homebrew. A bowl of beef noodles for me," Xiao Se said slowly.

"Coming right up." Xu Hulu ran off cheerfully. This was his boss, all right. No mistake.

Xiao Se flopped onto the chair and looked at Lei Wujie, Sikong Qianluo and Ye Ruoyi. With a smile, he asked, "How's everyone been?"

"I'm fine without you, but shijie has been miserable," Lei Wujie replied.

Sikong Qianluo stabbed her chopsticks into the table and groused, "That's it? You're treating me to a bowl of noodles?"

Xiao Se gestured vaguely. "This table is worth two taels!"

"You're the world renowned Yong'an Prince, the legend who was victorious against Nanjue. Now, the Emperor has even conferred you with perpetual primogeniture. You're only treating us to noodles?" Ye Ruoyi said with a smile.

"I'm just an innkeeper. What Yong'an Prince? Does the imperial court pay me?" Xiao Se showed his displeasure.

"What are your plans next?" Sikong Qianluo asked.

Xiao Se yawned. "Go wandering about, I suppose."

Lei Wujie's interest was piqued and he announced loudly, "Chu Ge, the swordsman from Nanjue who uses twin sabres, has reappeared in the martial world. He issued a challenge to Snow Moon City and wants to visit. I intend to meet his challenge.

"A few days ago, a child named Er Tiao came to Snow Moon City. He likes using pebbles as a weapon. I intend to take him as my disciple. But, he already has a shifu. His shifu's name is Chang Yi. I think he's a well-known martial expert? Apparently, if I can defeat him, I can take away his disciple.

"In Buddhist Country, the master, Fan Tianjin, cultivated a Heavenly King Sword. I heard he's about to enter the realm of a sword immortal. I wonder if he's closer to a sword immortal or I am, so I plan to meet and challenge him too.

"In the north, there's a fatty who practises a very odd internal strength called 'Wash Bones Clean'. It's said that he's invincible to swords and blades, and he can't be struck by lightning. Now, he's set up an arena for duels and he said he's going to stand there and let anyone hit him. If someone can injure him, he will be that person's servant.

"The martial world is such a splendid place. Just thinking about it makes me long for it. Oh yes, shijie recently accepted a disciple named Wang Beibei. She's a very cute little girl.. Also, that Luo Mingxuan, I didn't expect him to be so brave. He said he's going to marry his shifu and his shifu ran away on the same day. He immediately ran off to chase after her and I heard he's now a vagrant in the martial world."

Sikong Qianluo interrupted him, "Why are you so full of nonsense! Where exactly are you going!"

Lei Wujie looked into the distance, his eyes burning brightly. "The martial world."

Xiao Se and Sikong Qianluo exchanged a glance and immediately sat down in silent agreement. They ignored the idiot next to them. "Come come come, eat your noodles."

Three bowls of yangchun noodle and one bowl of beef noodle later.

Xiao Se and Lei Wujie bumped their cups and each drank a bowl of old homebrew.

The four of them stood up and headed towards the front door.

Xu Hulu groaned in his heart. "Boss, are you leaving again?"

"Don't worry, I won't be gone as long this time. Take good care of my Fallen Snow Villa." Xiao Se patted his shoulder.

"Where are you all going?" Another guest sitting in the corner called out suddenly.

They had already walked out the door when they felt a jolt in their hearts, and they quickly turned around to look at the speaker.

The guest stood up and took off his hood, revealing a very familiar face, though much paler than before. He laughed and remarked, "You're all about to become sword immortals while I've been lying on my back for months in the Tang Clan. This da-shixiong can't compare to my little shidi anymore."

Lei Wujie and Sikong Qianluo exclaimed in joy, "Da-shixiong!"

Lei Wujie rushed over immediately. "You didn't die! Da-shixiong!"

"I didn't die, but I wasn't far off. Lighter, lighter, hahaha." Tang Lian looked at Lei Wujie and smiled. "Don't cry, don't cry."

Xiao Se strolled forward slowly, his face full of smiles. "I never thought I would see you again."

"Yeah." Tang Lian reached out a hand towards him. "See you in the martial world."