Chapter 479: Li Er and His Old Comrades (5/7, please subscribe)

"Qiao Feng, are you truly determined to fight me to the death today?"

Murong Fu parried a few strikes and immediately felt his arms go numb.

Qiao Feng was, just as in the dream, terrifyingly powerful beyond measure.

Although he and Qiao Feng had been dubbed by the jianghu as "Murong of the South, Qiao Feng of the North."

But as for actual strength, the other party was far, far beyond him.

"The blood-feud of my mother's murder cannot share the same sky!" Qiao Feng roared. "Today, either you die or I die—there is no room for both of us!"

Duan Yu, hearing Qiao Feng's roar, hesitated: "Should I go help Qiao Feng?"

Because of Ah Zhu's interference, Duan Yu had never encountered Qiao Feng at all, nor had he sworn brotherhood with him.

Yet, according to the dream, they were brothers bonded by life and death.

While he was hesitating, a figure materialized out of the void.

"Sister Ah Zhu!"

"It's Sister Ah Zhu!"

Duan Yu waved at Ah Zhu, overjoyed.

Qiao Feng and Murong Fu, who had been fighting, also stopped and looked up at the sky.

Murong Fu's face was ablaze with fervor.

With Ah Zhu's aid, how could the great enterprise of restoring his kingdom possibly fail?

Ah Zhu paid no heed to Murong Fu's expression, nor to the apologetic glances from Duan Zhengchun and Ruan Xingzhu. She merely nodded in greeting toward Duan Yu, then said: "By order of Grand Master Taixuan, I hereby establish a sect and proclaim the Dao upon Mount Qingcheng, transmitting the methods of Immortal Martial Arts for longevity. All who are fated may enter its gates."

Having spoken, she did not linger, and stepped directly through the void to depart.

"The Immortal Path of Longevity?"

"Ascension?"

The eyes of the gathered Wu Lin folk blazed with fervor.

Those who had been locked in combat out of old grudges now had not the slightest heart for fighting.

Compared to hatred, clearly the lure of immortality was far more enticing.

The moment Ah Zhu departed, the crowd surged toward the stone steps on the mountainside and began to climb.

The stone steps were not high—each step was only half a chi.

Wu Lin folk, light of body and fleet of foot, could easily vault ten steps in a single stride.

But reality was nothing of the sort.

Those stone steps seemed possessed of some magic power—no matter what one's cultivation, one could only ascend a single step at a time.

Even Qiao Feng and Murong Fu had to pause and rest for a while after each step.

In but a moment, sweat had beaded on both their foreheads.

"Many thanks to the Dao Lord for lending a hand—otherwise, I'd have had to borrow money to buy the Heart-Questioning Steps! 々｀!" Ah Zhu landed, and seeing the crowd's performance on the stone steps, immediately understood that Zhang Taixuan had intervened.

Zhang Taixuan waved a hand: "It's nothing—merely a casual effort. Before tomorrow, they likely won't make it up. We might as well continue to tour the mountains and play in the waters."

"Wonderful! Ah Zi loves touring the mountains and playing in the waters most of all!" Ah Zi cheered, and her whole person was already hanging from Zhang Taixuan's arm, causing Ah Zhu to knit her brows.

This little sister is impossible to keep!!

In the original work, she tried to steal her sister's man.

Now that fate has changed, she still wants to steal her sister's man!

Wang Yuyan and Ah Bi exchanged a glance, helpless at heart: "This Ah Zi has no sense of propriety at all—a little vixen!"

The world of the Sui-Tang Romance.

Li Shimin had arranged all the various modern improved seed strains properly, and only then changed into casual clothes and left the imperial palace.

"It's time to go visit my old comrades."

Walking along the streets of Chang'an, Li Shimin was filled with emotion: "All these years, because my temperament changed so drastically, my old comrades have all drifted far from me."

Whether Cheng Yaojin, Changsun Wuji, or Li Jing, Li Shiji—all were shrewd veterans who had walked out of the fires of war.

Facing Li Shimin's transformation, they had all seen it with their own eyes. Knowing that remonstrance was hopeless, they could only quietly withdraw from the center of power.

Even those who could not withdraw reduced their contact with Li Shimin.

Seeing Li Shimin in his later years, they finally understood a saying—serving the sovereign is like keeping company with a tiger.

Li Shimin in his later years was no longer that Qin Wang of his youth with whom one could discuss anything.

"Benefactor! I've come to see you!"

Outside the residence of the Marshal of the Left Martial Guard, Li Shimin's face was full of emotion: "I still remember how it was you, Benefactor, who saved my Li clan with your pair of golden maces—otherwise, there would have been no Great Tang."

The Marshal of the Left Martial Guard was, naturally, Qin Qiong—Qin Shubao.

Speaking by the official history, Qin Shubao had long since passed away over a decade ago in this period.

But in the world of the Romance, where medical arts were far more advanced, Qin Shubao had unexpectedly lingered on for over ten more years.

However, his condition was not good now, for the campaigns of his youth had left him with many hidden injuries. He lay bedridden year-round, his life sustained only by the imperial physicians of the palace.

"Who are you?"

Seeing the visitor, the old doorman of Qin Fu gave a start: "Is that Your Majesty?!"

"I didn't expect you could still recognize me." Li Shimin was somewhat pleased. "I remember you were Shubao's personal soldier, yes?"

"Yes." The old man's frame instantly straightened. "This subordinate followed the Marshal from his youth, and once saw Your Majesty in your younger days. Your Majesty—could it be that you have obtained an immortal's blessing?"

In his agitation, he could not be bothered with the proprieties of rank, and blurted out the question in his heart.

Li Shimin, hearing this, did not take offense, but rather laughed heartily and freely: "Indeed. It is precisely an immortal's blessing. Today I have come to let my old comrade stand up once more. This Great Tang still cannot do without my old comrades."

"The Marshal can be saved?" The old man, hearing this, was misty-eyed with tears, and knelt on the ground: "Many thanks to Your Majesty for still remembering the Marshal!"

Thud thud thud—he kowtowed several loud times in a row.

Li Shimin waved his hand: "Get up, lead me into the residence. Today is a joyous occasion—stop the sniveling."

"Yes."

The old man led Li Shimin into Qin Fu.

The people in Qin Fu, apart from the old gatekeeper, had long since been replaced several times over, no longer what they once were, and none of them recognized the young Qin Wang Li Shimin.

Still, seeing it was an old man of the residence, led by the Marshal's trusted aide, the servants did not press further.

Arriving at a side room, Li Shimin caught a strong whiff of Chinese medicine.

"Shubao, I've come to see you."