Chapter 374: Letting It All Go to Rot

Chapter 374 -316: Letting It All Go to Rot

Jiang Xu’s gaze lingered on Xiong Anling, as if searching for an answer, yet also as if avoiding something.

The turmoil in his heart and the chaos of the outside world intertwined, stirring a sudden impulse within him to abandon everything and simply go with the flow.

‘Actually, I had originally planned to stick with him, see how he would get out of this mess, and lend a hand along the way.’

‘But now, my mind is in complete chaos. I don’t have the mental energy for any of that nonsense anymore.’

‘Even if I followed Xiong Anling from now on, I probably wouldn’t have the focus to pay attention to anything else.’

In that instant, Jiang Xu made a decision. He reached into his Storage Bag, and with a light touch of his fingertips, an exquisite brocade box appeared quietly in his palm.

The motion seemed to drain all his strength, yet it was also imbued with his complex emotions.

Jiang Xu slowly handed the brocade box, heavy with secrets, to Xiong Anling, his eyes showing both relief and an indescribably complex mix of emotions.

Xiong Anling was bewildered by Jiang Xu’s stare. Then, he watched as Jiang Xu suddenly produced a brocade box from his Storage Bag and offered it to him, and a moment later, Jiang Xu spoke.

“Nephew Xiong, your father, Xiong Liangsheng, entrusted this to me before I left Dinghai State, asking me to pass it on to you.”

Jiang Xu’s voice sounded particularly heavy in the wind. Each word seemed to have been carefully considered, yet at the same time, it felt like an unconscious utterance.

“I have no knowledge of what’s inside the box, but I imagine it must be of great significance to you—it may even have far-reaching consequences.”

Xiong Anling took the brocade box, feeling its weight as if he were accepting an unknown burden. His eyes lingered on Jiang Xu’s face, trying to glean more unspoken information.

Jiang Xu’s sudden shift took him by surprise, filling him with curiosity and anticipation for the secrets held within the small brocade box.

Jiang Xu’s words carried a hint of relief, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart. He explained,

“This brocade box has a special seal on it. Only Xiong Liangsheng’s wife and his direct children can open it. Though I possessed it, I had no right to pry into its secrets. If you have any doubts, there’s no need to rush. You can keep it with you and open it when the time is right.”

Xiong Anling caught the undertone in Jiang Xu’s voice. Startled, he couldn’t help but ask,

“You mean, you’re no longer traveling with us?”

Jiang Xu shook his head gently, his eyes revealing a sense of detachment.

“Yes. I’ve realized there are more important things I must do, things that transcend all of this. For now, I need to face them alone.”

“More important things…”

Xiong Anling repeated the words, gazing at Jiang Xu. He felt as if the man had undergone some kind of metamorphosis in a short period of time.

Although he didn’t know Jiang Xu well enough to pinpoint the exact change, he could clearly feel his newfound resolve and certainty.

He realized that Jiang Xu’s mind was made up and any attempt to make him stay would be futile. So, Xiong Anling didn’t insist, simply accepting the brocade box and its unknown contents with a solemn air.

The moment he accepted the brocade box, Xiong Anling’s heart was a swirl of emotions: on one hand, confusion and regret over Jiang Xu’s sudden decision; on the other, a mix of anticipation and unease about the secret he was about to uncover.

Jiang Xu left without another word, without a hint of hesitation. His silhouette stretched longer and longer in the afterglow of the setting sun.

His departure was solitary, yet it conveyed an air of absolute resolve, leaving Xiong Anling and the others present with a profound mystery.

Xiong Anling, Elder Hong, and Xiaojiu watched Jiang Xu recede into the distance until his figure vanished over the horizon, an indescribably peculiar feeling lingering in their hearts.

Jiang Xu’s arrival and departure were like a sudden storm, bringing with it a torrent of information and unknown riddles, only to vanish before they could even begin to sort through it all.

It was as if the sole purpose of his visit was to deliver that crucial intelligence and the mysterious brocade box.

They exchanged bewildered glances, each seeing their own confusion mirrored in the others’ eyes.

Jiang Xu’s appearance and disappearance had been too sudden, too mysterious. It made them wonder if he was some messenger of fate, sent specifically to reveal critical information and provide necessary aid before quietly exiting the stage.

“That fellow… truly an enigma,” Elder Hong muttered to himself, his voice laced with bewilderment at Jiang Xu’s behavior.

Xiong Anling, however, was lost in thought, his hand tightly gripping the brocade box.

“Let’s go. Now that we know Xue’Er’s location, it’s time for our counter-attack!”

…

Jiang Xu quietly left Xiao Jin Island, and he did not return to Wenqu Island.

He had now decided to remove himself from the situation.

With the Heart Demon Oath having vanished upon the mission’s completion, he felt an unprecedented sense of ease and freedom, as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart.

What was more surprising was that under the intangible pressure of the Heart Demon Oath, his Spiritual Power had been tempered and had quietly grown. An inexplicable joy welled up inside him at the realization.

He chose a small, remote island near Wenqu Island—far from the hustle and bustle of the world—as his place of seclusion.

Lush forests covered the island, which was ringed by azure waters. It was tranquil and serene—a stark contrast to the clamor of Xiao Jin Island.

Here, Jiang Xu felt as if he had found his own sanctuary, a haven where he could temporarily escape from the world’s conflicts.