Legend of the Heavenly Fruit
Eps. 285 — War Preparation
Jiang Yifei's arrival had indeed shaken the Imperial palace back then because the girl who was considered dead was still alive and had now turned into a mature beautiful girl.
It was hard to believe especially Jiang Qisha and Jiang Long, but their gaze was not being exposed to the illusion of seeing Yifei smiling and informing her was really still alive.
Other than Jiang Qisha who was happy to hear Yifei survived, the entire Imperial Family also felt a similar feeling when he heard that Moon Emperor's daughter was back.
The happiest Jiang Long, after the tragedy of attacking the Human Beast Race three years ago, he was always haunted by guilt for not managing to keep Zhou Yuan and his nephew. Looking at Yifei before his eyes, it was indescribable what happiness was shaped like in his heart.
Yifei later recounted that not only had he survived but Zhou Yuan, Xiao Rou, and Yue Linxia were also still alive. It made Jiang Long feel relieved and the burden of guilt he was carrying lifted.
Therefore at this time when Jiang Long sent Jiang Qisha to go to the Xiao clan, he immediately went to Xiao Fan to inform this happy news. The same thing was done by sending a letter to Yue Jian over Yue Linxia who was still alive in the Green Bamboo Sect.
Xiao Fan had no longer been involved in the Xiao clan government or martial world ever since his grandson disappeared, Jiang Long's whereabouts had come to persuade the old man to take part in this war.
Xiao Fan had already moved house since the tragedy of his grandson and was now residing near the lake to be alone, when Jiang Long arrived there with one of the Elders of the Xiao clan, the elder of the Xiao clan, he found the red-haired man fishing.
"Good day, Senior Fan, long time no see..." Jiang Long paid her respect.
Jiang Long may be from the great Imperial Family but in terms of reputation and strength, Xiao Fan was a respected figure in the martial world.
"Don't I tell you not to let anyone here Elder He." Xiao Fan replied without turning his body, his words just now were shown to the Elder who was escorting Jiang Long.
"Senior Fan, I'm the one who insisted on meeting you, Elder He is innocent here." Jiang Long still spoke politely, he was not offended by Xiao Fan's blatant dislike of her being here.
Jiang Long was aware of Xiao Fan's feeling of being so devastated and sad that when his only grandson he cared about died, the red-haired grandfather's eyes seemed to have no spirit of life, he probably doesn't care about anything about this world anymore.
"Senior Fan, I'm here to convey an important piece of information to you." Seeing Xiao Fan speechless again Jiang Long finally went straight to his core conversation. "Your granddaughter Miss Rou, she's alive..."
Hearing the name Xiao Rou mentioned made Xiao Fan act let alone the last sentence. The old man turned his body and faced Jiang Long
"What did you say Brother Long?"
Jiang Long smiled, "As you heard before, the current Xiao Rou is still alive, she is not dead Senior Fan."
Xiao Fan was startled then hurriedly approached towards Jiang Long, holding his shoulder firmly, "What are you saying right, Long? You're not lying?"
"I can't possibly lie about Senior Fan, not only your grandson but Zhou Yuan, Fei'er, and the grandson of Senior Jian are also still alive."
"Then where is my grandson now, I want to meet Rou'er?"
Jiang Long almost cursed, Xiao Fan's grip on his shoulder grew stronger until his bones felt like breaking.
"I'll tell it to Senior Fan but for now, can you... Untie me..." Jiang Long showed the shoulder the old grandfather had clasped.
Xiao Fan regained his senses then hurriedly released the grip of his hand, Jiang Long only grimaced with the pain.
***
Jiang Long finally told everything he heard from Yifei to Xiao Fan. As Jiang Long spoke, the red-haired grandfather seemed to quietly listen until his explanation was complete.
Jiang Long nodded, Yifei did not tell about those who moved places and were stranded in another world, the girl said that she, he, was, Zhou Yuan and the others were rescued by someone and they were taken to a remote place when the attack took place.
"But if they're alive why doesn't Rou'er go straight home?"
"I also asked Fei'er the same question, he said after the attack on the Human Beast Race was over they were so badly injured that they were unconscious for quite a while, their condition was not possible to return to the Moon Empire."
Xiao Fan was silent for a while, "But why must it be that long, this has been more than three years Rou'er is gone, she must have been cured by now?"
"I don't know but it looks like Yuan'er is plotting it, according to Fei'er they are currently being trained by that young man, maybe Yuan'er wants when the three return they have already become strong."
Xiao Fan mused at Jiang Long's words, "I know that the boy was indeed very talented, which used to make Rou'er's sword ability increase because of his actions. I don't doubt if he's training Rou'er."
There were many questions in Xiao Fan's mind but for now he was happy to hear his grandson was still alive.
"When will Rou'er return Brother Long?"
Jiang Long smiled faintly, "I don't know, maybe when his training period is over he will come back to see you, just like Yifei."
Xiao Fan smiled, a smile that had not been etched for the past three years. "Thank you Brother Long, I don't know what to say but I'm glad you're here and giving me the news."
"Senior Fan, I'm just doing my job." Jiang Long nodded politely.
"So will Elder Fan participate in the war?"
This time it was Elder He who spoke, after hearing that his supreme elder grandson was still alive there should be no reason for Xiao Fan to lock himself up again.
"This war... I had heard of it a long time ago but had not expected the Sky Cloud Temple to declare war openly like this."
"Didn't the Sky Cloud Temple always make a tantrum in the martial world?" Elder He asked puzzled by Xiao Fan's reaction.
"The Sky Cloud Temple is always arbitrary in the martial world but they also have limits in action. At least when they were throwing a tantrum, the Sky Cloud Temple always planned everything carefully to stay in their control but declared a war like this..." Xiao Fan did not continue his words but shook his head slowly.
There was one most basic possibility of the action of the Sky Cloud Temple declaring war that was because their strength had already increased by a lot.
"I'll participate in the war later, it's been a long time since they've been doing a lot of work in the Moon Empire. I can't let the Sky Cloud Temple act as it pleases."
Xiao Fan's statement made Elder He and Jiang Long happy, by participating Xiao Fan in the ranks of the army will have a big impact in the war later especially Xiao Fan is the Swordsman of the Light Realm who has opened 7 meridians in his body, his strength would be taken into account by the Sky Cloud Temple.
After persuading Xiao Fan to participate in the war, Jiang Long then made a meeting attended by sect leaders, noble family leaders, and clan leaders to make a strategy in the war later.
Other than Jiang Long and Xiao Fan who had become warriors of the Light Realm, there were also other warriors from various sects who had been at the same level.
Jiang Long calculated there were about eight warriors including himself who were in the Light Realm. This power was very strong especially after calculating the overall number of troops, around five thousand warriors joined.
After the meeting that discussed the war strategy was completed, five thousand troops finally moved to the location where the war would occur. It had been a long time since a hundred years ago that the sect and the government had not built an army of this size.
The existence of the Heavenly Fruit truly made the dark history repeat itself.