Chapter 39: A Thousand Strands of Thought (1)

Clang! Clang-clang! The crisp and continuous sound of sword strikes came. In Xima Valley, hundreds of Jiuyi warriors gathered in the open space in front of the mountain. In the field, a young man in a yellow martial arts suit and Li Si in a green light shirt were sparring. The two swords flashed like light electricity. The yellow clothes and green shadows drifted and crossed in a piece of sword light, almost unable to see the people. Bursts of cheers erupted from time to time around them.

After ten moves, the onlookers couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Who knew that at the thirteenth move, Li Si suddenly shifted her sword edge, walking lightly and nimbly, flying up from the side of the yellow-clothed man's long sword. It trembled like a spirit snake, spitting and trembling, and shot out from a clever angle. The man leaned back to dodge, but he was already half a step slow. Before his eyes, the sharp edge flashed, and Li Si's long sword had already pointed at his shoulder.

Li Si's True Essence on the sword condensed but did not release. Just stopping like this, she smiled and withdrew her sword, "Young General, you have conceded."

The man was stunned for a moment, frowned, and said, "I was careless just now. Let's go a few more moves!"

"Xuan'er, you have already walked ten moves under Li Si's sword; no need to try again!" Shusun Yi spoke in time, stopping his challenge. Gu Xuan looked at Li Si with dissatisfaction, cupped his hands, and said, "I will ask for your advice another day, Miss." After saying that, he returned his sword to its scabbard and stood in the ranks of soldiers who were independent of the crowd.

After the banquet that night, Li Si, by the order of her master, assisted Shusun Yi in perfecting the Zhou Tian Sword Formation. For seven consecutive days, she took out two hours every day and taught everyone seven sword techniques in total. But each move had seven changes, seven killing moves, and seven follow-up moves. After being integrated into the sword formation, the power was extraordinary.

"You have been tired these days, Miss." Shusun Yi turned and cupped his hands. To the people of the royal family, his words and actions always seemed to carry a kind of politeness in terms of reason and emotion. Li Si, however, always had a smile on her face. That gentle appearance made it impossible for anyone to see that she had just defeated several opponents in a row, "General, don't be so polite. My master ordered long ago that in the future, the Jiuyi Tribe and the royal family will share weal and woe, and we must support each other. Besides, if we want to form a true Zhou Tian Sword Formation, the sword technique needs to have some foundation. Li Si is just doing her best, and there will be no need to spend too much of my master's time on training in the future."

Shusun Yi nodded and looked at her deeply again. At first, this delicate little maid was ordered by the Eastern Emperor to help him select warriors, and everyone was suspicious. But after these few days, the soldiers in the army were defeated under her sword one by one, which truly made people look at her with new eyes. Now, the forty-nine carefully selected warriors had all made breakthroughs in their sword techniques. Given time, the Zhou Tian Sword Formation would surely be reborn and reach perfection. "After these days of training, the sword formation has achieved some success. I wonder if the King has any other instructions?"

Li Si smiled, "If there are adjustments, my master will naturally give orders. If there are no orders, we will supervise them to practice. It is time for my master to take medicine, so I will bother the General here. Li Si will take her leave for now." As she said this, she bowed slightly, said goodbye to everyone, and left with her sword.

Zi Hao had caught a cold by the lake that night. For the past few days, he had had a low fever that wouldn't go away, and he had only just started to improve. He had never personally inspected the progress of the sword formation and almost never left the big tent. Most of the time, he sat alone in the tent to think, but from time to time, secret orders were sent out, from the Xi State to the Di Du, all involved. When Li Si returned, he was standing in front of the desk, wearing a plain green shirt, concentrating on the vast map of the Royal Domain's rivers and mountains. Su Ling was also in the tent, having just reported some matters. Zi Hao raised his head slightly and asked, "Is it really Ji Cang himself?"

Su Ling confirmed, "Confirmed without error."

Zi Hao sat down at the desk and pondered for a moment, "A 'Secret Records of Smelting' has actually lured King Xuan to come south in person. I am afraid things are not that simple."

Su Ling said, "According to this subordinate, King Xuan seems to have some other purposes for this trip."

Zi Hao said, "Any clues?"

Su Ling's expression was a little strange, "It should be related to Huang Fei. I heard that Huang Fei and King Xuan had some... entanglements before."

Zi Hao seemed to remember something and smiled. At this time, the curtain in the tent lifted, and Xue Zhan flashed in, jumping onto his lap across the long desk, letting out two low "woo-woo" sounds. "If this is the case, the Chu State will be lively." As Zi Hao spoke, he habitually reached out to rub its head, but suddenly stopped, his eyes showing surprise. Xue Zhan's front paws were actually injured. Zi Hao took out the secret letter from its neck. Before he could open it, the smile on his lips had disappeared without a trace. This letter was the one he had brought to Zi Rao last time, and it had been brought back unopened.

Su Ling had been with him for a long time, so because he was familiar with him, he saw something unusual and asked, "Master, has something happened?"

Zi Hao put the letter away, gently stroked Xue Zhan, ordered Li Si to treat its wounds first, turned, and asked Mo Heng, who was standing behind him, "Has Zi Rao contacted you recently?"

Mo Heng looked at Xue Zhan. This little beast was not close to others and only behaved when Zi Hao held it to treat its wounds. The injury on its claws was not serious, and it looked like it had been there for some time, healing on its own. He lowered his head and said, "Except for the message sent a few days ago asking about Wangliang Valley, the Princess has had no news."

Zi Hao's lake-like eyes rippled slightly. Although it was only for a moment, it was an obvious shock, "Why did she ask about Wangliang Valley?"

Mo Heng said, "According to the Princess's meaning, it is for Zhu Jiuyin. It is said that the gall of that giant snake can treat illnesses and detoxify."

Zi Hao raised his eyes, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Mo Heng immediately knelt on one knee and said in a low voice, "I originally thought the Master knew about this."

Zi Hao took a deep breath and calmed his emotions, "Immediately send a message to Nie Qi and Shi Niang, asking where Zi Rao is now."

Mo Heng's voice sounded muffled, as if it came from underground, "Nie Qi just sent a message today, asking if the Princess has arrived in the Chu State. They haven't seen the Princess yet."

"Where is Shang Rong?"

"Eunuch Shang has already joined Shi Niang and the others."

Zi Hao's hand stroking Xue Zhan tightened. Li Si finished bandaging Xue Zhan's wounds and said worriedly, "Master, looking at the wound, it seems to have been injured by sharp teeth. Xue Zhan is naturally supernatural and often follows the Princess. Ordinary fierce beasts cannot get close to it at all. How could it bring back an injury?"

Mo Heng and Su Ling exchanged glances and said nothing. After a while, Su Ling asked tentatively, "Master, should we send someone to the Chu State?"

Zi Hao's face was calm, his eyes deep and clear, "No need. Let Qie Lan come to see me now." After saying this, without waiting for everyone to answer, he got up and walked out of the tent.

Li Si hurriedly followed, walking quickly beside him. She saw his lips slightly pursed, as if he was thinking about something. His steps became slower and slower, and finally, he stopped, standing with his hands behind his back, looking at the distant sky that was as clear as cold jade. Sunlight accompanied the breeze, gently sprinkling on him. Li Si raised her hand to cover her eyes, strangely looking along his gaze, but saw nothing unusual. After waiting for a long time, she couldn't help but whisper, "Master?"

Zi Hao turned his head slightly, his gaze, deep as a dark lake, flashing faintly under the sunlight. He seemed to smile, yet sighed softly, then resumed his stride, though he was no longer as hurried as before. Upon reaching the drill ground, he did not summon Shusun Yi to meet him, but merely watched the soldiers practice their formations from the sidelines. Once a round of formations was complete, he finally ordered Shusun Yi and the female generals leading the formation, such as Qing Ming and Luan Ying, to come over. "When the Gan Palace entered the Kan position, the formation slowed by a split second. If you were to encounter someone with light-body skills comparable to Li Si, that split second would be enough for them to break free. The person at the Southern Ghost Star position snatched a small half-step during the transition of the second move in the sixth sequence, causing the fatal strikes of the two people on the left and right to miss. Does that person at the Northern Dipper Star position always use their left hand?"

Shusun Yi looked back to confirm and said, "Yes, that person's left hand is indeed more flexible than the right."

Zi Hao said, "Change him to the Nan Fang Jing Su, swap the Xi Fang Kui and Bi..." He gave orders one after another, swapping several people's positions. After the adjustment was completed, Qie Lan and Su Ling also arrived at the drill ground.

Qie Lan had been busy dealing with tribal affairs all this time. At this time, she was still discussing something with Su Ling while walking. She had changed her usual tight-fitting combat uniform into the attire of the Jiuyi Tribe—snow-white clothes with silver belts, cloud-like hair with jade hairpins, and no other decorations, only showing a plain face like jade, as bright as the moon.

Zi Hao waved his hand to let everyone familiarize themselves with the formation again. Qie Lan saw that he had only moved a few people's positions, but the cooperation of the people in the formation became naturally smooth. The sword formation was agile and responsive when separated, and round and one when combined. It was vertical and horizontal, without any flaws, and its power increased sharply compared to before, which made her secretly marvel.

"Order the Nan Fang Jing and Gui Su to step out and re-teach the sixth move of the sword technique. If they can't do it perfectly before noon, they don't need to practice anymore." Zi Hao swept his eyes over the sword formation and ordered faintly, signaling Qie Lan to walk toward the lake, "The edict for the restoration of the Jiuyi Tribe has been issued. After you adjust the military equipment, you can set off to return to the country. All heavy baggage does not need to be taken away. The Smelting Hut will prepare one thousand improved flying crossbows and other fine weapons to be sent later. At the same time, there will be two sword smiths and two slave drivers to return to the country with you. These will be handled by Su Ling. You can also discuss the number of war horses directly with him. In addition, Jin Wuyu will arrive here in three days. You can meet him together with Su Ling."

He arranged everything one by one. Su Ling was unusually silent. Qie Lan listened carefully at first, then suddenly stopped and asked, "Are you leaving?"

Zi Hao said, "Yes."

Qie Lan said, "When?"

Zi Hao said, "Immediately."

He left as soon as he said so, which made Qie Lan even more surprised, and her heart seemed to feel a little empty inadvertently, as if a door had suddenly closed, blocking the warm sunshine in the courtyard. She was silent for a moment, then said, "Is there any urgent matter in the Di Du? I originally thought you would go with us."

Zi Hao met her eyes full of questions, lowered his eyes, and smiled. The lake scenery swirled and vanished in his ink-jade-like eyes, turning into boundless depth, "I don't know." He said faintly, his smile like a sigh passing by.

Qie Lan vaguely felt that he had something on his mind. It was the first time she saw him looking like he couldn't grasp things. He had already turned to Su Ling and said, "Order people to prepare horses, the fastest horses."

Su Ling was startled, "Where is the Master going?"

Zi Hao turned and walked toward the big tent, "Chu State."

The war horses of the Xi State were famous for their speed. The specially selected good horses, although not saying they could travel a thousand miles a day, were much faster than ordinary horses. The distance of nearly a thousand miles from the Xi State to the Chu State border would normally take at least three days, but Zi Hao and his party arrived at the Feng Shui Du, the only way to enter Chu, two days later.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 40 =====