Forgotten Legend of the Bloodied Flower

While Old Master Nan was talking with Emperor Yang Zhou, Nan Hua headed to the courtyard at the back. She knew the palace's layout, at least, most of them. There were naturally some areas she was unfamiliar with.

It didn't take long for her to reach the courtyard and saw Long Qian Xing stood there. He was wearing brown training robe, brandishing his sword towards a wooden dummy. His expression was solemn as if he was truly fighting enemies.

When one was practicing, they were bound to imagine that they truly fought against real enemies.

Otherwise, their movement wouldn't be real.

Nan Hua chose not to disturb Long Qian Xing and watched from the side. Her black obsidian eyes were watching Long Qian Xing for some time.

After a while, Long Qian Xing closed his eyes and lowered his sword. He turned to look at Nan Hua, a smile on his lips. "Adjutant Nan, thank you for agreeing to my request to come here today."

"It's my pleasure to meet you, Young Master Long."

"We had a spar just a few weeks ago. I don't think there'll be much difference even if we did spar now." Long Qian Xing sheathed his sword and walked closer to Nan Hua. The courtyard was big, but there were only the two of them here.

Nan Hua looked at Long Qian Xing calmly. She could guess that he didn't ask her to come here in order to have a spar but because he had something he wanted to ask her. After all, the appearance of a sudden young adjutant like her might disrupt a lot of things that involved the balance.

"Adjutant Nan, have you come close to the palace before?"

"I have."

During the reward ceremony, didn't she come into the palace? It was the time when she openly become Adjutant Nan and could enter the palace without anyone questioning her identity.

Long Qian Xing chuckled. "Let me rephrase the question. Have you come to pay a visit to the forest in the back of the palace at night?"

"Is it a question I have to answer?" Nan Hua asked back. Her clear black eyes were staring straight at Long Qian Xing without any falseness within it.

Looking at the clear black obsidian eyes on the face of the youth before him, Long Qian Xing felt that the gaze was oddly familiar. It was as if he had seen this gaze many times in the past before.

However, Long Qian Xing couldn't think of any young man he met before with this kind of gaze.

"Yes."

"Then my answer will be yes." Nan Hua was calm. She was not afraid of Long Qian Xing at all.

Long Qian Xing looked at the youth who was visibly younger than him and the corner of his lips curled up to form a smile. A polite smile that expressed nothing of his real feeling. "I see."

"Is there anything else you would like to ask, Young Master Long?" Nan Hua asked back once more.

"Yes, there is." Long Qian Xing looked at Nan Hua and smiled faintly. "Do you know Dark Moon Organization?"

"I do."

"Are you part of it?"

"No."

There was no change in Nan Hua's expression even when she lied. Her gaze was still staring at Long Qian Xing calmly as if she was merely talking about weather.

Even when she lied, there was no mark that she did so.

Long Qian Xing stared deeply and cupped his fist. "Thank you for answering my question, Adjutant Nan. Great General Nan should have finished his talk with His Majesty. I wouldn't take more of your time."

"You are welcome, Young Master Long."

As Nan Hua turned around, Long Qian Xing rubbed his chin. He felt that even if he were to use lie detector, he would never be able to catch the youth in front of him lying. Even when the youth answered his question, there was no change in expression or gesture.

Not even the slightest bit.

It was not like his eyes were the sharpest around, but Long Qian Xing still knew the basic methods for interrogation. He knew very well that there were only very few people who could do something like this.

Either they were saying the truth.

Or they were trained to lie as if they were saying the truth.

"How annoying."

People like this were the hardest to deal with and Long Qian Xing didn't really want to have anything to do with them. He rubbed his forehead and sighed. In any case, he knew that Nan is an assassin.

But whether the youth was part of Dark Moon Organization or not, he didn't now.

In addition, he didn't know whether the one who helped them last night was Nan or someone else.

There were still many question.

'I'm not in a hurry.'

Long Qian Xing took out his sword and continued his practice. If he couldn't get his answer now, he would just be patient and wait for another chance.

…

On the other hand, Old Master Nan had already finished talking with Emperor Yang Zhou. He saw his granddaughter walking in his direction and a smile formed at the corner of his lips.

"Nan, have you finished your spar?"

"Yes, Old Master Nan."

"In that case, let's go back."

It wouldn't be appropriate for Old Master Nan to stay here any longer either. He didn't want to bump with any of those annoying official like he did with Prime Minister Bei. It would ruin his mood for the entire day.

He finally could spend his day with his granddaughter again.

Why should he waste time to talk with those old fogeys?

It was not worth it!

As they got into carriage, Old Master Nan looked at his granddaughter and asked slowly. "Did he suspect you?"

Nan Hua looked at her grandfather and nodded softly. "Yes, he did."

"I see." Old Master Nan rubbed his forehead. Just like his old friend, that young man was indeed very sharp.