Yu Jin Chang An (With Jin's Chang'An)

The Grand Finale (Revised Edition) Part 1

On the day of the secret burial of Li Shuang by the General's Manor, the sky was lightly drizzling.

Beside the coffin, there were the guards who once served Li Shuang and many soldiers she had led before. Surprisingly, there were fewer people from the General's Manor, and the Grand General himself did not attend. Only Li Ting followed the coffin, staggering with each step. Qin Lan was by his side, steadying him several times to prevent him from falling.

Li Ting's voice had become hoarse over these past few days. When they reached the freshly dug grave, as the pallbearers lowered the coffin into the simple tomb, Li Ting hoarsely cried out, "A-jie...." His voice fell with the raindrops onto the coffin, only to be covered by a shovelful of earth.

Li Shuang was the adopted daughter of the Grand General, but dying in prison with a tarnished name left the General's Manor with no choice but to bury her discreetly.

So everything was kept simple—just an ordinary coffin, an ordinary grave, devoid of her former glory, not even matching the honor of any soldier who had fought for the country.

Li Ting knelt on the ground, his white mourning clothes stained by the muddy earth. Qin Lan supported his arms, silent.

Today, Luo Teng finally rushed back from the northern border. His armor, worn beneath his mourning attire, still carried the cold of the north. His eyes were wide like bronze bells, unmoving, fixed only on the guards covering Li Shuang's coffin with soil.

"I'm late, I deserve to die!" he said, and a resounding slap landed on his own face. Luo Teng's strength was formidable; hitting himself, he spared no force. His rough skin immediately swelled where the blow landed, but he didn't stop. Blow after blow followed.

The crisp sound seemed to tear through the rainy day, like a whip lashing at everyone's hearts. Except for Li Ting's nearly inaudible cries, the scene was deathly silent.

Suddenly, a gust of wind stirred within the drizzle. Before the soldiers could react, a dark figure leaped into the grave. With a fierce palm strike, the heavy lid of the coffin, already nailed shut, was sent flying.

The force of the lid being hurled aside knocked down one of the guards still holding a shovel, pinning him beneath it. But at this moment, no one paid attention to him. All eyes were fixed on the person who had jumped into the coffin.

"Bold! Who dares disturb the spirit of my general?" Luo Teng roared, disregarding the swollen marks on his face. He drew the sword at his waist, ready to strike at the intruder. However, Qin Lan intervened, stretching out his hand to stop him.

Luo Teng halted his steps, glancing at Qin Lan before turning his gaze back to the figure. The person stood in the grave, motionless, resembling a specter in the rain.

Inside the heavy coffin was a wooden casket, just slightly longer than a person. He had sent the thick outer coffin lid flying with one palm strike, but when he saw the inner casket, he seemed to lose all his strength, remaining there with the coffin.

In the curtain of rain, his breathing was heavy, like a trapped beast.

"It's..." Li Ting recognized him through tear-filled eyes. But as he began to speak, suddenly, many people emerged from the dense forest, although this place was supposed to be a secret burial site.

The newcomers had Qinglong Guards badge at their waists—were they all members of the Emperor's Qinglong Guard?

They drew their bows, aiming directly at the figure of Jin'an.

Yet, Jin'an seemed oblivious, his black eyes fixed on the sealed inner casket, unwavering.

He could smell the scent of the Gu Master inside the coffin.