Chapter 44

In the spring of the seventh year of the Eastern Emperor, a great war broke out between the states of Chu and Mu. Within ten days, the Cloud-Piercing Pass changed hands three times, and the flames of war filled the Cang Mountains.

Between the Tongtian Post Stations, royal decrees flew back and forth. Both sides continuously reinforced their troops, and the banners of over a million soldiers blotted out the sun. The war that reached the heavens quickly swallowed Xiachuan, Yinma, Hanquan, Shaoling, Wubei... spreading to the states of Chi, Qi, Chen, Yu, and Yue.

On the day of Yi-Geng in the fourth month, the Shao Yuan Jun led the Liefeng Cavalry across the Yu Nu River, launching a surprise attack on Juzhang, the capital of Chi.

War chariots thundered, and iron cavalry trampled prosperity into dust. The states of Chi and Qi perished one after another, and the states of Chen and Yu were subsequently overturned. The situation intensified, rivaling the great chaos during the reign of the You Emperor that had once caused the Nine Domains to fall apart.

The state of Yue was adjacent to the state of Qi and was suddenly in imminent danger. With no other options, the monarch of Yue, holding onto a glimmer of hope, sent people rushing into the Di Du to knock on the gates of the Heavenly Palace and beg for help from the royal family.

On the day of Bing-Xin, the Di Du sent an envoy westward.

The royal envoy wore a high cap and plain robes, rode in a light carriage, held a banner of authority, and was surrounded by the eight-banner black dragon flag to manifest royal ceremony, followed by thirty-six cloud streamers, golden poles, and tiger banners. Seventy-two royal guards from the palace followed with slow reins. Along the way, they did not unsheathe swords or halberds, nor did they erect spears or pikes, passing through the Nine Yi and entering the state of Yue, arriving leisurely at the Cloud-Piercing Pass.

On the day of Geng-Yin, the royal decree descended, and Wei Yuan of the Mu state withdrew his troops.

On the day of Xin-Mao, the Liefeng Cavalry retreated to Shaoling. The Shao Yuan Jun personally left the city to welcome the envoy, and three days later, he led his troops back to the capital.

Shangying, the capital of Chu.

The thousand-mile Qing River was like a jade belt, flowing long and winding, passing through ancient streets and painted bridges, circling high city walls and sparrow terraces, forming a shallow lake just right between the palace quarters of the Chu capital. The lakeside was planted with golden-silk weeping willows, dotted with delicate red, the green leaves like cut flowers and rain, enveloping the carved railings, jade doors, red towers, and flying eaves of the shore in the elegant and graceful charm of late spring. Drifting in a boat among them, it was as if one had fallen into a gentle dreamland.

This Ranxiang Lake was a famous place in the Chu capital for chanting poems and playing with the moon. It was a place that cherished fragrance and jade, and every day there was no lack of elegant scholars who embraced green sleeves to talk and laugh, or tuned strings and bamboo to soothe their spirits, wearing brocade clothes and embroidered reins, coming and going with flair. However, the most beautiful spring scenery was not on the shore, but on the few painted boats swaying with the waves.

The painted boats of the Ban Yue Pavilion were places where one could not board without an appointment, and once inside, one had to throw away a thousand pieces of gold. Among them, the boudoir boat of the top courtesan Bai Shu'er was the most alluring; even throwing away a thousand pieces of gold was hard to gain a glimpse, unless one was a dignitary of the various states, and ordinary people could only look and sigh.

This painted boat, over three zhang in length, had a semi-circular fragrant sandalwood platform extending from the front, and a two-story corner-eaved structure with seven treasures in the back. Jade hung in clusters under the eaves, and the entire Xiang bamboo curtain was covered in floating, faint silver-thread embroidery, half-covering the green railings like cicada wings. It was elegant, soft, and possessed a kind of refined and mysterious beauty.

There were people in the boat today. From behind the curtain in the central fragrant pavilion came the clear and moving sound of a zither. The beautiful courtesan Bai Shu'er wore a loose, magnificent "Liu Xian Zui Hua" long dress. The collar and lapel were embroidered with a hundred birds carrying branches and tangled vines, trailing down along the light-pleated rouge-colored brocade, winding all the way to the floor. The soft, crimson, weightless gauze upon it fluttered and swayed with her light plucking and brushing movements, almost as if the light of flowers beneath the curtain were gently enveloping her whole body. Just those white wrists and jade fingers reflecting the ice strings were already beautiful beyond words.

Opposite her, on a precious cold-fragrance wood brocade couch, inlaid with bright pearls and tortoiseshell, with four sides made of gold and jade inlaid with exquisite patterns, a man in white reclined amidst the swirling precious light. His flawless face and handsome, leisurely posture belonged to none other than the Shao Yuan Jun Huang Fei, who had turned the half of the Yong Dynasty upside down not long ago. However, at this moment, he seemed not to pay much attention to the beauty before him. He held a feather cup idly, leaning half-recumbent on the couch, but his gaze passed through the slightly fluttering curtain to look outside the painted boat, toward the side of the lake center.

Plucking the strings lightly, Bai Shu'er could not help but raise the corners of her eyes to secretly ponder. Thinking and thinking, she did not know if she had neglected this noble young master, famous throughout the states, in any way. He had been here for most of the day, and she had not seen his usual spirited, witty demeanor. Her thoughts were slightly chaotic, and her fingers unintentionally stalled for a moment. It was only an imperceptible pause, passing by with the light, cloud-like, flowing zither music, but Huang Fei suddenly raised his eyes. "Shu'er, I rarely hear you make a mistake in your zither playing."

So he was listening. Bai Shu'er raised her sleeves to gently gather them on the zither, the strings trembling lingeringly, her sweet, sticky voice seeming to carry a few ripples. "This slave has already played several pieces, but the Young Master only watches the painted boat of Sister Lv Yi outside the window, not even turning his head once. It makes one's heart flutter, not knowing if the Young Master is tired of this slave. Being so flustered, my hands just got messy!"

The beauty pouted, her wonderful eyes filled with spring water about to drip. She was truly a stunner who surpassed all others in beauty; every frown and smile was perfect to the extreme. Huang Fei appreciated her posture of frowning with resentment, threw down his jade cup, and paced to the desk, lowering his head to smile. "Clearly you were the one who got messy, yet you blame this Lord."

Her delicate body leaned softly backward. "It is this slave who is unskilled, only hoping for the Young Master to personally guide me and correct my mistakes."

Huang Fei reached out from behind her to pluck the strings. With several *ding-dong* sounds, pleasant, clear music flowed from his fingers. With the warm, fragrant, soft jade beauty leaning in his arms, the zither music was not the least bit chaotic, soaring and turning, interpreting the fairy-like melody to the fullest. Bai Shu'er's eyes were charming, looking around softly, but a trace of her peripheral vision swept toward the window intentionally or unintentionally.

Looking across the lake, the painted boat of another famous courtesan of the Chu capital, Lv Yi, was moored opposite. Bai Shu'er had always been quite confident in her charm to win over men. She thought that Huang Fei was not necessarily attracted by the new songs and dances choreographed by Lv Yi, but there was another person on that boat—none other than the Third Young Master of the Mu state, Ye Xuanshang.

Huang Fei had indeed come for Ye Xuanshang.

After observing secretly for several days, the hidden composure of this Third Young Master, who was in a dangerous situation, was truly extraordinary. He turned a deaf ear to the war, ignored the disputes, and only sought pleasure here, throwing gold to buy drunkenness. Scanning the shore, at this very moment, those spies who had been following for many days were probably already drunk in the depths of tenderness, under the sleeves and skirts. By tomorrow, there would likely be no fresh content on Tai Zi Yu's desk.

Viewed in this light, that proposal was indeed feasible.

Originally a dead game of chess, the black and white were chaotic and near the endgame, but now, with cuts, connections, flights, and stands, every step was a move to bring it back to life. Huang Fei seemed quite moved, letting out a light breath, but his eyes faintly flickered with an unusual sharp light.

More than ten days ago in Shaoling City, unexpectedly and yet expectedly, the envoy he led his troops to welcome was the very woman who had invited him to drink on the peak of Jingyun Mountain and admire the moon at the jade terrace water pavilion. Like every previous accidental or inevitable encounter, she still had those charming, smiling eyes that he could not ignore, offering tempting conditions that he could not refuse.

In the Chu-Mu war, except for the state of Yue, several small states such as Chi, Qi, Chen, and Yu were wiped off the map of the Nine Domains. Among them, Chi and Qi entered Chu, and Chen and Yu belonged to Mu. It was the survival of the fittest, life and death elimination; the strong became stronger, the weak vanished, and the footsteps of the rise and fall of dynasties never hesitated for a moment because of the unwillingness and struggle of the common people.

Thirty-six seven-treasure cloud chariots loaded with a hundred pairs of jade discs, a thousand jars of fine wine, and ten thousand bolts of gold silk traveled westward into Chu and Mu. The Di Du bestowed generous rewards, and the promise made on Jingyun Mountain was kept. The royal family did not send a single soldier, yet it completely established the grand pattern of the two countries standing against each other beside the Wangyu, and the chaotic phenomena of the world for decades finally gradually became clear.

And the other piece of news she brought—Helian Yiren was secretly colluding with Tai Zi Yu, plotting to welcome Young Master Han Hui back to the country. Young Master Han Hui was the Chu King's half-brother and the only person in the Chu state currently qualified to inherit the throne. Now that the various states were fighting for power and hegemony, the assassination of other countries' monarchs was common. Once the Chu King met with an accident, the Helian Marquis Mansion could support a new monarch and gain an excellent opportunity to topple the Shao Yuan Jun Mansion.

Those who are not of our race must have different hearts. Although the Helian family had been generals and ministers in Chu for many years, they were ultimately not true Chu people.

Now, the person the Helian Marquis Mansion wanted to kill, the Shao Yuan Jun Mansion was determined to protect. Not only would they ensure he was safe, but they could also help him return to his country at the appropriate time, giving Tai Zi Yu an unexpected grand gift in return.

"Ye Xuanshang's schemes and martial arts are both extraordinary; he will never be willing to be suppressed by Tai Zi Yu. Once internal strife in Mu begins, it will inevitably affect their strength to compete for hegemony with Chu, and Chu's status as the hegemon will be within reach. To take a step back, if Ye Xuanshang is ultimately not Tai Zi Yu's opponent, it will be nothing more than restoring the current situation, and Chu will have no losses. But if Ye Xuanshang can replace Tai Zi Yu, then given his temperament, he will surely have a heart of gratitude toward the Shao Yuan Jun Mansion that helped him with all its might. Such a strong alliance is a win-win situation. Since Helian Yiren has made such plans, why doesn't the Young Master go with the flow and let him be a scapegoat?"

Tactful and detailed, soft-spoken and gentle, every word was wonderful beyond words. He almost wanted to applaud the meticulously careful layout. A strong alliance is also a mutual restraint. She let go and united with Chu, naturally having already reached some tacit understanding with Ye Xuanshang. By uniting Mu and Chu, with these two great powers guarding the left and right, who in the world would dare to move the Wangyu even a fraction?

Pushing and planning, the person who was now in the Chu state in disguise, looking at the Nine Domains, probably truly had no equal.

Thinking and reflecting, that woman with a beautiful bone and icy heart, enchanting and transparent, made all the beauty before him seem dull and tasteless.

For the first time in many years, Huang Fei had the inclination to test his sword edge. Except for the duel with King Xuanji Cang, he rarely had this feeling of meeting a worthy opponent.

A flash of bright red suddenly flickered before his eyes. Bai Shu'er leaned to his side, using her jade fingers to hold a delicate, beautiful peach and send it to his lips, complaining gloomily, "Young Master, could it be that your soul has been lured away by Sister Lv Yi? This slave will not allow it!"

Red sleeves swung down, jade arms half-exposed, her pouting smile full of charm. Huang Fei laughed out loud, and just as he was about to speak, a soft, feminine voice drifted in coldly from outside the cabin through the light gauze. "Leaning on red and cuddling green, beauties are soul-stirring; Huang Fei, you are indeed having a lively time."

Shadows flickered outside the curtain; someone had appeared, he knew not when. Huang Fei smiled and shook his head, gently patting Bai Shu'er's fragrant shoulder to signal her. The beauty was naturally understanding; she silently gathered her clothes and stood up, bowed softly, and took her leave. Lifting the curtain to rise, she was curious for a moment, wondering what kind of person had come to be so impolite to the world-famous Shao Yuan Jun. Lowering her eyes, she saw a piece of red magnificent brocade quietly displayed on the clean fragrant sandalwood. Looking up quietly along the flowing golden cloud patterns, she suddenly crashed into a pair of enchanting, fine eyes that did not seem mortal.

With just one glance, the evil, cold light pierced through her heart. The person stood high above, neither moving nor speaking, but the power radiating from their whole body terrified the beauty, who was used to seeing such scenes, so much that she immediately retreated half a step and knelt down.

A faint, cold snort sounded, and the red-clothed figure turned and left. Bai Shu'er held her breath and lowered her head deeply, her heart filled with inexplicable terror. A laugh came from Huang Fei in the cabin. After a long while, she regained her senses, stood up, and looked around, discovering that the painted boat had long since drifted into the depths of the inner lake. The lake was filled with misty waves, boundless and shoreless. This person had boarded the boat across the lake without a sound; just this light-body skill of walking on waves was enough to make one's jaw drop.

On the seat in the cabin, Ji Cang sat with his sleeves hanging down, watching Huang Fei without revealing any emotion. "You've been back for ten days, and you've spent five of them wasting time on this painted boat in the Ban Yue Pavilion. When did you become so sluggish in your actions?"

Huang Fei poured a cup of wine and waved his hand casually. The jade cup flew forward in a spin, landing precisely beside his hand without spilling a single drop. He smiled. "Anyway, if I don't look for you, you will naturally come to look for me. Using the near to wait for the far, using ease to wait for the weary—this is the way of military strategy. Your patience is not as good as it used to be."

Ji Cang also laughed softly. "True. A battle every three years; I really am impatient to see your Zhuri Sword again."

Huang Fei said, "I also want to get a glimpse of the mysteries of the 'Ye Zi Secret Record' as soon as possible."

Ji Cang flicked his sleeves and took the jade cup, his long eyes slanting toward him. "Although the 'Ye Zi Secret Record' is in the Chu state, the key part is hidden in the royal palace of my Xuan state. If you want the two volumes to become one, you know my conditions."

"Yes," Huang Fei said decisively. "If I don't follow you into Xuan, then I must defeat the sword in your hand. Last time I defeated you by half a move, but I gambled on the battle of the Nine Yi. This time, it's going to be for real."

Hearing this, Ji Cang laughed out loud. "Do you think you can be so lucky every time?" Before his voice had faded, he suddenly raised his sleeves to strike backward. A blood-colored golden light shot out from behind the curtain like a spirit snake, and someone outside screamed in surprise. Following the sharp sound of brittle jade falling to the ground, Bai Shu'er stood frozen by the curtain, her face pale. The teacup she had been holding had long since shattered on the ground, splashing her Xiang water silk skirt into a mess.

With long sleeves fluttering and flaming clouds slowly falling, Ji Cang finally turned his head, his eyes like demonic blades cutting across that beautiful face. He said coldly, "What were you doing outside?"

Just now, a sleeve had brushed past her face, and several strands of black hair were cut off, now scattering on her shoulders. The person before her had a jade face, enchanting and indistinguishable between male and female, almost like a heavenly demon descending to the world, terrifying Bai Shu'er so much that she could not say a single word, only turning her head in panic to look for Huang Fei. Huang Fei had been sitting there indifferently, his handsome eyes half-lowered, raising his cup to taste the wine. Only then did he raise his head, smiling gently, and stepped out from behind the curtain, whispering a few words in her ear.

The magnificent red tassel on his crown cast a lingering, shallow shadow in the light of the setting sun, gently swaying across the woman's porcelain-like face, accompanied by a dashing, faint smile. Bai Shu'er's wonderful eyes lowered slightly, filled with tears of grievance. She glanced at him gloomily, then turned and walked away charmingly. Huang Fei turned back into the cabin with his hands behind his back, laughing and sighing, "Only you could be so abrupt to a beauty; you truly have no heart to cherish fragrance and jade."

Ji Cang withdrew his gaze from Bai Shu'er and said coldly, "Every beauty has a face like a peach blossom but a heart like a scorpion. You should be careful."

Huang Fei smiled and shook his head. "You don't know. A woman is ultimately a woman. When it comes to ruthlessness, they will never be as good as a man, let alone other things." Without waiting for Ji Cang to refute, he raised his hand to gesture outside. "Let's change to a quieter place to talk."

A light boat had already been prepared beside the painted boat. Huang Fei smiled at the still-shocked Bai Shu'er, boarded the boat with Ji Cang, and disappeared into the depths of the lake waves in the blink of an eye. Bai Shu'er, with several young maids, bowed at the side of the boat to see them off. After a long while, she raised her head, stood up, and slowly wiped her collar with her sleeve. A trace of blood seeped faintly from her beautiful neck, half-coagulating on her slender fingertips.

(End of Chapter)