Chapter 674: A year of great abundance!

A thousand banners drooped.

Not a sound was heard.

Meng Qiang let go of the hand pressing on his shoulder, cursed his bad luck, and with a *clang*, sheathed his blade.

The physicians of the Imperial Academy had been waiting for a long time and led both parties inside to treat their wounds.

Liang Qu was still unable to move and could not attend the subsequent court assembly, so he had the Sky Feather Guards crowd around him, pretending that nothing was wrong, and mixed into the ranks as if he were just going for a check-up.

The envoys from various countries were discussing noisily.

Although it was no surprise that the Northern Court had made such a grand display, sending an envoy to show off their might through martial arts during such a festive season—the two countries had long-standing grievances and disgusting each other was the norm—it was unexpected that they had actually been suppressed right there in the Great Shun throne hall, especially in the fourth match, where they had voluntarily conceded.

It was fought so beautifully!

So beautifully that it was hard to believe!

The first match was peerlessly fierce.

The third match was bloody and brave.

The fourth match was winning without a fight!

Clean and decisive.

Regardless of what considerations the Northern Court had, they had likely swallowed a bitter pill!

The Celestial Empire truly had an extraordinary foundation.

The Chief of Imperial Music played the "Great Harmony" again.

The imperial scribe was in high spirits, gripping his wolf-hair brush, pondering for a long while before writing out the entire piece in a flowing hand, ending with strokes as sharp as silver hooks and iron carvings.

"The New Year begins, all things are renewed. On this day, the Son of Heaven receives the maps and records of the four seas, accepts the tribute treasures of ten thousand nations, pacifies the various Xia within, and soothes the hundred barbarian tribes without!"

The Imperial Academy.

Wreaths of incense smoke puffed from the censer.

The morning dew water rippled within the Ze Ding.

Liang Qu was bare-chested, his hands soaked in the medicinal water, lying on a small bed, half-asleep and half-awake, feeling the physician's kneading.

Wang Chao, the Sky Feather Guard with the severed arm, was receiving a bandage from a physician; the intense pain made him grimace and his cheeks twitch constantly, so he looked up at the sky, trying to find a topic to distract himself.

"Great Physician, Hunting Tiger Grand Martial Artists can survive even after being pierced through the brain, heart, or throat. Since their vitality is so tenacious, why can't they regrow severed limbs? Why must they take rare great medicines?"

"Earthworms can live even when cut in two, and geckos can regrow tails; are humans really inferior to tiny crawling insects?"

Liang Qu turned his head upon hearing this; he had studied medicine for half a year and was equally curious.

The physician changed the gauze and thought for a moment.

"Has my lord seen a magnet?"

"Naturally, I have. When traveling far, one must use a Luo Pan, and I loved playing with them when I was a child."

"If a whole magnet falls to the ground and breaks into two, what happens?"

"Hmm..."

Liang Qu said, "The magnetic force at the fracture surfaces becomes opposite?"

"Correct." The physician nodded. "When a magnet falls and breaks into two, both halves retain their two poles, becoming two magnets. Neither side feels it is lacking, and they can no longer be joined back together."

"The human body is infinitely mysterious and has many similarities. Many things cannot be seen or touched, but they exist as surely as the magnetic force on a magnet."

"Once an arm is severed, the body seals its own meridians and blood vessels to continue forming a seamless body and extend life. This is an irreversible instinct, like eating, drinking, or procreating."

"Even with the best elixir, healing takes time. Within those few moments, the sealing has already begun, like a shattered magnet with opposite poles. Reattaching the severed arm can never be perfect, hence the so-called hidden injuries remain—aching painfully on cloudy and rainy days. If one does not want this, the only way is regeneration."

"Then why is regeneration even more difficult the higher the realm?"

The physician washed his hands and took out an exquisite steel blade, flicking it lightly.

"To regenerate, one must be like forging a Luo Pan magnetic fish; one must return to the innate state and be recast in the furnace. However, the higher the realm and strength, the higher the furnace temperature required for recasting."

"Just like an ice cube, it melts into water under the sun, but smelting copper and iron requires good charcoal, and various rare metals require fire stones and a great cauldron."

"So that's how it is." The Great Physician's explanation was easy to understand. Wang Chao realized this and sighed slightly, "In the end, I took advantage of the situation; it's not as beautiful as how Liang Hengwei won. If it were truly one-on-one based on ability, I would be a notch below him."

In the Imperial Capital, before the Holy Emperor, fighting for the country.

Let alone a severed arm, even if one were cut in half on the spot with intestines spilling out, saving them wouldn't be difficult. It could even be ensured that there would be no major sequelae; after resting for a while, one would be eating and drinking heartily again.

Looking at the Northern Court, a mere small envoy group, only a hundred people or so.

Even though there were physicians and life-saving elixirs in their team, the gap in logistics was still as vast as heaven and earth.

Coupled with the fact that there were Grandmasters watching over the arena, there was no danger to life, so they could let go and perform. The mindset of both sides on stage was completely different.

It's just a pity I don't have Liang Qu's ability to win so grandly and uprightly.

Meng Qiang denied it: "Winning is winning; what 'taking advantage' is there? If you replaced him with someone else, could they have pierced his heart after losing an arm? Could they have slit his throat?"

"Indeed, victory has no fixed location; victory depends on the person."

"His Majesty!"

The eunuchs filed in, lining up on both sides.

Everyone braced their beds to sit up.

The Holy Emperor raised his hand: "Don't move, speak while lying down! Lu Dao!"

The eunuch held a tray and walked over quickly; inside were all pouches and red paper.

"Red envelopes!"

Everyone was delighted.

There should have been red envelopes at the New Year court assembly, but since several people were lying in the Imperial Academy, they naturally missed them. They didn't expect the Holy Emperor to be thinking of them and had sent them over specially—each person received a pouch and a large red flower with the character for 'luck' written on it.

They opened the pouches.

A pure gold carp and a pure silver carp in each, thumb-sized, with considerable weight, though not necessarily worth a fortune.

However.

New Year, new atmosphere, it's about getting a good omen.

As a result, Liang Qu looked up and was surprised to find that what everyone received was different.

Zhang Shaofan picked his up: "Mine is a turtle!"

Li Bingzhong poured his out: "Mine is a toad!"

"Hey, mine is a tiger."

"I'll trade you my toad for a tiger."

"No trade!"

Li Bingzhong looked up: "Eunuch Lu, are there any other pouches?"

"Only that many were prepared."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Meng Qiang was full of joy, immediately hanging the pouch on his waist, and looked at the Holy Emperor again.

Waiting for a long time.

"Captain Meng, what are you expecting?"

Meng Qiang was startled and pondered: "Your Majesty, we had nine wins in nine matches against the Northern Court..."

"Three wins in total, where did nine wins come from?"

"......"

"Haha, today's business was handled well!" The Holy Emperor patted Meng Qiang's shoulder. "Rewards according to merit: those who entered the arena get three great merits each, those who didn't get one great merit each."

"In addition, Meng Qiang and Wang Chao are promoted one rank, and Liang Qu is granted the rank of Fourth-Turn Cavalry Captain."

Everyone is to soak in the Grade C Heavenly Water Pool once; Liang Qu for three hours, Meng Qiang and Wang Chao for two and a half, and the rest for two hours. Those who took the field will receive an additional drop of Heavenly Marrow liquid.

"From today on, you are specially permitted to take your New Year holiday until the end of the first lunar month!"

Meng Qiang was overjoyed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Having received the rewards, everyone relaxed their expressions in unison, leaning back against their chairs and beds.

Busy for so long.

Wasn't it for this moment?

Comfortable~

"Rest well, don't miss tonight's banquet!"

"Yes!"

The formation came and went like the wind.

The physician relit a stick of incense.

"What are the Heavenly Water Pool and Heavenly Marrow Liquid?" Liang Qu asked.

"Good stuff." Wang Chao said, "Two treasures condensed from the earth veins of the Heavenly Mountains, top-grade items for consolidating the foundation and tempering the body. Have you drunk Marrow Jade Liquid? That is A-grade Heavenly Water Pool liquid mixed with other treasures. The Heavenly Marrow Liquid is even more incredible; you can't even come into contact with it normally. In short, you'll know once you soak in it. A great reward!"

Liang Qu set his mind at ease.

If it can temper the body, it definitely won't be bad.

And using a 'drop' as a unit of measurement shows how precious it is.

"I've saved up over a dozen great merits; I'll use them all up while I'm in the Imperial Capital, so I don't have to waste time traveling back and forth..."

Before long.

A small box was sent over. Upon opening it, a medicinal fragrance rushed out; inside lay a purple elixir, with a lifelike scorpion tail decorating its surface.

"Scorpion Tail Rejuvenation Elixir!"

One could tell who it was for just by the name. Wang Chao soaked in the medicinal water, swallowed the elixir, and within a few breaths, his whole body turned crimson, and a tingling sensation spread throughout his body.

The physician unwrapped the gauze, and on the severed arm, tiny buds of flesh were growing out...

Liang Qu glanced at it twice, his eyelids heavy. After slaying the dragon, both his spirit and body were exhausted. Having received the rewards, he relaxed completely and drifted into a muddled sleep.

The Imperial Academy was quiet and leisurely.

The outside world's activities never ceased, like a stone thrown into the sea, causing ripples to spread.

The fight happened in the morning.

By noon, it had spread throughout the entire Imperial Capital.

The Great Shun Sky Feather Guards completely defeated the Northern Court barbarians, and Baron Xingyi Liang Qu shot and killed the reincarnation of the Naiman King.

The streets were full of cheers, and firecrackers shook the sky.

Well-informed opera troupes built stages and were busy rehearsing new plays.

Storytellers added a few elements, slapping the table to improvise, just to get a taste of the freshness.

If anyone asked who Baron Xingyi was, it went without saying that he must be a traveler returning home to visit relatives.

Otherwise, how could one have seen a 120-zhang pillar of blood shooting into the sky?

By evening, the Holy Emperor issued a special order.

The year was to be a year of great abundance, the New Year holiday was uniformly extended to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and officials were to attend court every third day.

The joy was shared by all!

Outside the courtyard, cheers lasted all day.

Tatta Kai did three consecutive somersaults and performed a set of ape claws.

The Fatty Catfish rolled over and spat out water arrows.

"Going to court, and making such a big scene?"

By the banks of the Jishui Pool.

Xu Zishuai fell into deep thought.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 675 =====