Song of Adolescence

"A fugitive of the imperial court is just sitting there in an important government office of the imperial court waiting for an offer? There are people just outside who want him dead, but they're bargaining inside? No matter how you put it, doesn't this sound a little incredible?" Lei Wujie was sitting on the steps at the entrance of the main hall, still feeling that what was about to happen was rather ridiculous.

"It's not difficult to enter the Court of State Ceremonial. What's difficult is getting out. Of the three parties he invited today, one of them will take him away and the other two will not just give up and leave, obviously. On the surface, they will have lost but they will also be plotting to get him back," Xiao Se said.

"Then what's the point of all this?" Lei Wujie asked.

"Whoever has made the most comprehensive arrangements to preserve his life, he will choose that person. Since we're here, we have the confidence to take him away." Xiao Se stood up and bowed his head. "Grand Eunuch."

Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan, dressed in his purple python robe, returned the greeting, "Your Highness."

Lei Wujie looked carefully at Jin Xuan, then asked with suspicion, "Where have I seen you before?"

"Lei xiongdi must be joking. We have met many times." Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan smiled.

"No. Have we fought each other?" Lei Wujie stood up and planned to walk forward. Xiao Se reached out and stopped him. "We're not here for any other business. Stand down."

"Your Highness Yong'an Prince, Xiao Se, please enter." Ji Xue walked out of the main hall.

"Come." Xiao Se turned around and brought Lei Wujie with him to walk inside.

"Xiao Se, that person just now, I think he's the martial expert we met inside the palace," Lei Wujie whispered.

"I know," Xiao Se replied softly.

The two walked into the main hall, and saw six iron-masked officials standing in two rows with three on each side, and a long table in the middle between them. At one end, Jin Yan sat with a slight frown and next to him was Jin Xian, his eyes closed as he counted the Buddhist beads on his rosary. Xiao Se and Lei Wujie sat down on the bench at the head of the long table.

"I want to live." Jin Yan went straight to the point. "My life in exchange for this document in my hand."

"Once you leave the Court of State Ceremonial, men loyal to the Grand Golden Terrace and the Four Youths of Heavenly Revelations will already be waiting outside. They will create a diversion in the city. Then, six disciples of Snow Moon City, as well as this Heavenly Realm genius swordsman by my side…"

Lei Wujie coughed overtly, proving his existence.

Xiao Se rolled his eyes at him and continued, "They will personally escort you out of Heavenly Revelations City. Once you leave Heavenly Revelations City, you will be in the martial world. Once there, Snow Moon City and Lei Clan Fort will pave the way for you."

"Can you protect me for the rest of my life?" Jin Yan sneered. "Or are you going to let me stay in Snow Moon City for the rest of my life."

"Your life is not as valuable as you think. Soon, the contents of that document will no longer be that important. And your life will be worth even less. As one of the Five Grand Eunuchs, your martial arts are not weak in the first place. What's more…" Ji Xue walked up to Xiao Se's side and interjected, "Bai Xiao Hall will arrange a new identity for you. Once you enter the martial world, very soon, no one will be able to find you again."

"Bai Xiao Hall?" Jin Yan was taken aback.

"Bai Xiao Hall is on my side." Xiao Se waved his hand. "This is my bargaining chip."

In the imperial court, he was Yong'an Prince. Among the military forces, he had the Langya Army. In Heavenly Revelations City, all the lowborn and commoners were within his control. In the martial world, he had Snow Moon City and Bai Xiao Hall.

Jin Yan sighed. "No wonder everyone said you're the most talented of all the princes."

"So?" Xiao Se asked.

"How sure are you that you can keep me alive?" Jin Yan asked back.

"Nine points," Xiao Se said slowly.

"I hoped for absolute certainty." Jin Yan frowned.

"If one of the three of us told you they had absolute certainty, you had better not choose him. Because if you do that, you will die without a doubt." Xiao Se stood up, turned around and walked towards the door.

"You will die without a doubt." Lei Wujie raised his eyebrows at Xiao Se, and followed him out.

"Next?" Ji Xue gave Jin Yan a provocative look.

"Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan," Jin Yan replied.

Immediately after he said that, Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan sat where Xiao Se was sitting before. Jin Yan has no intention of reminiscing with his martial brother and also went straight to the point. "I want to live."

Jin Xuan pondered for a while, then suddenly asked, "You only want to live?"

Jin Yan was stunned, and the six iron-masked officials in the hall looked at each other.

Jin Xian sighed softly.

After all, the Grand Eunuch was the Grand Eunuch. With one word, he caught Jin Yan's weakest point.

"You don't want to go to the Imperial Mausoleum to be a mausoleum guardian, waiting for his life to end."

"You don't want to lose the power you currently hold, don't want to be an ordinary person wandering the martial world."

"You will still be that person who calls and receives a hundred replies, that person whom all those in power come to grovel at your feet and flatter you."

"Why do you only want to live?"

"You can have more than that."

"You are the Eunuch of Seal. Only to live? That's hardly enough."

Jin Yan was suddenly drenched in sweat, and each of the six iron-masked officials felt a tightness in their hearts. Jin Xian started counting his Buddhist beads faster and faster.

"I can give you all of that." Jin Xuan waved his hand. "As long as you give me that document. I guarantee you will live for another year."

"And after one year?" Jin Yan's sweat was dripping from his forehead.

"You will retain the same power as before." Jin Xuan smiled slightly.

Jin Yan looked at Jin Xuan, and Jin Xuan looked back at him with a slight smile. Jin Xian, who had his eyes closed the whole time, suddenly opened his eyes and stared at Jin Xuan.

At this moment, he could finally confirm that the person who killed Eunuch of Records, Jin Yu, was definitely Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan. His fangs were already showing!

"Alright." After a long silence, Jin Yan Gonggong finally nodded. "Thank you, Grand Eunuch, I understand."

Jin Xuan retracted his gaze and smiled. "I hope you truly understand."

"How much confidence do you have in this matter, Grand Eunuch?" Jin Yan asked this question again.

"Nine points." Jin Xuan's answer was surprisingly the same.

"The remaining one point?" Jin Yan asked. ƒ𝒓e𝐞we𝚋𝙣ｏ𝚟𝚎𝘭.co𝙢

"One's fate is unknown." Jin Xuan stood up. "How can anything be absolute in this world? Jin Yan, you have told so many lies, how can you not know who is lying to you?"

"I understand. Please allow me to think about it." Jin Yan wiped the sweat from his forehead.

However, the six iron-masked officials in the hall already had an answer in their heart. When it came to attacking the heart, Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan was superior to Yong'an Prince.

The next person sitting in front of Jin Yan was not as courteous as the previous two.

He was wearing a blood-red official robe.

The first thing he did when he sat down was to place the executioner's blade on the table.

Maybe there was someone in Heavenly Revelations City who was not afraid of him.

But anyone who had committed a serious crime would definitely be afraid of him.

"Minister Shen." Jin Yan sighed. His tone did not sound like he was bargaining like before, but carried a sense of pleading mixed with desperation. "I want to live."

Shen Xiduo's answer was very simple. "Can be done."

Unexpectedly, Jin Yan heaved a sigh of relief.

Shen Xiduo was a ruthless official, and he was the most well-known amongst the previous chief ministers of the Court of Judicial Review. But there was something about him that made him more merciful than the previous chief ministers. He never lied.

A promise from the King of Hell, Shen Xiduo.