Li Guanyi shook his head, dismissing the thought, simply feeling that there were too many heroes in this world. Jiangzhou City had become a gathering place for the great forces from all over, where outstanding figures from various countries convened. With Tuyuhun having fallen, the Dangxiang people established a nation and became a defense against Chen Country. Naturally, the Tiele also hoped to gain the support of Chen.
Li Guanyi felt this was natural; Chen Country would definitely support them.
People of the Central Plains always preferred it when the Western Regions were in chaos.
As for the King Seal, Li Guanyi had no intention of taking it out.
It represented the legitimate royal authority within the Thirty-six Tribes of the Western Regions, and bringing it out would only invite trouble.
Xue Daoyong approached him and asked, "Guan Yi, is everything alright?"
Li Guanyi nodded, feigning ignorance, and inquired, "What was that sound just now?"
Xue Daoyong replied, "It was the Qilin."
Li Guanyi asked, "There is a Qilin in Chen Country?"
Xue Daoyong softly said, "Yes, it was once the protective Exotic Beast of Chen Country. It is said that over two hundred years ago, when the founder of Chen rose to establish the nation through military exploits, five hundred Mo Armor guards stormed into his residence. It was this Qilin that, with a single breath of Qilin Fire, burned all five hundred guards, allowing the founder to survive. However, this Qilin was known by another name more than ten years ago."
The elder paused, then said:
"The mount of the Taiping Duke."
Ripples of intense emotion surged in Li Guanyi’s eyes.
The truth about his parents, along with the existence of his father’s mount, stirred waves of emotion within Li Guanyi’s heart.
He wished he could rush to the side of that Qilin immediately.
The elder continued, "Back then, the Taiping Duke was a hero, clad in Mo Armor, draped in a red cloak, wearing a dark gold mask, riding the Qilin."
"He commanded an army of three hundred thousand, pacifying the Southwest, striking across the borderless territories, and was ranked among the top ten Divine Generals in the world."
"Unmatched in elegance."
"When the Taiping Duke got married, the Qilin walked on water and departed."
"It is said that this Exotic Beast was spirit-attuned, and entrusted its life and death to the Taiping Duke. There are also legends..."
While talking about this legend, Xue Daoyong couldn’t help but laugh, saying, "The Fire Qilin was wildly tempered."
"Even the Taiping Duke himself had to be careful not to be kicked over by the Qilin."
"But it’s said that the Qilin was very kind to the Taiping Duke’s child. When that child was young, he was often seen being carried by the Qilin over water surfaces, and the Qilin would even shrink down to playfully accompany the child."
"Unfortunately, that child also... the last it was heard, the Qilin became madly furious, and several court Guest Elders perished under the Qilin Fire."
The youth clenched his fists, suppressing his emotions, and whispered softly:
"The Qilin, I have never seen the Qilin before. Where is this Exotic Beast, Elder Xue?"
The elder replied, "When the Taiping Duke died tragically years ago, the Qilin remained within the Imperial Palace."
"Since it’s part of the inner sanctum, heavily guarded, not just anyone can enter to see it."
"Speaking of which, Guan Yi, if you wish to see the Qilin, unless it’s on the day of the grand ceremony, there is indeed a way."
Li Guanyi smiled, "What way?"
"I have always been outside and would like to see such a mythical Divine Beast as the Qilin described in legends."
Xue Daoyong casually said, "Aren’t you established by Imperial Decree among those seventy-two accompanying seventh-rank martial officers? Foreign martial officers entering the Capital City must also receive a dispatch. If you can take on an Imperial Guard dispatch, you could gain access to the palace. The Qilin Pavilion, where the Qilin is guarded, also requires the Imperial Guard for protection."
"However, positions in the Imperial Guard are mostly held by descendants of families with military merit."
"Although there is a selection process, over the years it has gradually become a prestigious position for those noble offspring."
"If you wish to try, being an external relative of the Xue Family, you count as our own family member and are eligible to participate in the selection for the Imperial Guard. But if you do, it will inevitably conflict with those descendants who also wish to hold the position. And now, with the Saint Emperor’s order, those descendants have just suppressed their hostility towards you."
"If you go through this, they will definitely take action."
Li Guanyi asked softly, "If I wish to become an Imperial Guard, will it cause trouble for you, Elder Xue?"
Xue Daoyong laughed loudly, "Ha ha ha, trouble?"
"If those descendants’ parents want to find trouble, let them come and fight with this old man!"
"Let’s see who can overpower whom?"
"Since you have this thought, I will register your name. Indeed, if those descendants won’t let us go, nor have we ever let them go. Having such spirit and assertiveness truly makes you a Qilin’er of the Xue Family."
"Don’t worry, if anything happens, this old man will cover for you."
Li Guanyi suppressed his feelings and quietly thanked him.
Together with the Xue Family team, he arrived at a residence within the Capital City.
This was the Xue Family’s property in the Capital City, worth hundreds of thousands of guan. With the dense population in Jiangzhou City and exorbitant housing prices, many officials could only afford to rent accommodations. The Xue Family, with its wealth in the tens of millions of guan, did not need to stay in accommodations prepared by the court. Li Guanyi also received a separate courtyard, where he moved his belongings. The youth caressed his sword, contemplating his next target after deep thought.
The Qilin — he was determined to make contact with it.
But the Imperial Palace was heavily guarded by many skilled people. He needed to armor himself before venturing there. Pondering over and over, he still needed to partake in that dispatch. What he had perceived as a troublesome Imperial Decree now turned into an opportunity.
The Imperial Guard...
Li Guanyi murmured softly, his Qi Mechanism breathing long and steady.
Beyond this, he had to meet Ancestor Zu Wenyuan and Mr. Siming.
Li Guanyi subconsciously glanced at the corner of the wall, chuckling internally, wondering whether this place would first present Mr. Siming’s grizzled white head or a silver-haired young girl. He shook his head, spoke briefly to the Xue Family’s steward, and, carrying his long sword, exited. The steward said, "Young Master, if you’re going out, you might want to come back early."