Chapter 88: Spear Emerges, Thousand Clouds (1)

The clouds in the sky were slightly clear, and the blue river was like a jade belt around the golden city. In the Chu capital, Shangying, the imperial street was wide and straight, leading directly from the Lingxiao Long Bridge to the four city gates. The high ramparts and the palace, which lay like a crouching dragon, echoed each other from afar, revealing an incomparably magnificent momentum.

Since the founding of the Yong Dynasty, the Nine Domains had been divided into fiefs, and the previous King of Chu had established his capital in Shangying. This majestic ancient city had stood through wind and rain for hundreds of years. No one could foresee the posture in which it would greet the earth-shattering, cataclysmic change about to descend upon the Nine Domains.

On the Gengshen day of the sixth month, the Eastern Emperor proclaimed the crime of insubordination by Ji Cang to the world and issued an edict to strip him of his royal title. On behalf of the King of Chu, the Shao Yuan Jun led the civil and military officials to the Le Yao Palace to welcome the Son of Heaven on his southern tour to Chu.

That night, the Chu army launched a night raid on Danzhou, taking the city without suffering a single casualty.

The following day, the Liefeng Cavalry captured Quchi again, made a hundred-mile dash to take Xingwei, intercepted the Xuan army at the Wei River, and won a complete victory, subsequently advancing on Yanci.

For days, reports of victory from the Chu capital had been frequent. The taverns near the Shao Yuan Jun's mansion were all exceptionally lively, with people guessing whether the Liefeng Cavalry would be able to take another city today.

At this time, only half of the ten days promised by Huang Fei to the Eastern Emperor had passed.

It was noon when the sound of rapid horse hooves galloped into the city. Four warriors in crimson robes rode straight toward the Jun mansion amidst the city's clamor. In a mere moment, three cannon shots rang out from the mansion, the central gate swung wide, and two columns of cavalry emerged like spreading wings. A Tiger Guard commander holding a pair of gold-bordered vermilion flags led the way, galloping into the palace.

"The Liefeng Cavalry has taken Yanci!" As soon as the vermilion flags appeared, the high pavilion was in an uproar. For a time, everyone was talking at once, discussing it heatedly.

"They've already taken four cities in a row; next, they'll surely attack the Xuan State directly! The Shao Yuan Jun's campaign to support the King and punish the rebels is truly like splitting bamboo!"

"The King of Xuan has no regard for the Son of Heaven; the Shao Yuan Jun naturally cannot tolerate him!"

"This time, the Nine Princess of the royal family has accompanied the Eastern Emperor into Chu. I hear it's highly likely she will be married off to the Shao Yuan Jun. These four cities of Danzhou are likely the Shao Yuan Jun's betrothal gift!"

"It's more than that. Didn't you see? The Great King bestowed the entire South Garden upon the Shao Yuan Jun to expand his mansion. Yesterday, the Jun mansion issued an order to dismiss over three hundred concubines. If not to welcome the Imperial Princess, then what for?"

"Tsk tsk, I wonder what kind of beauty this Nine Princess is, to make the Shao Yuan Jun treat her so."

At a square table by the window, Yan Ling raised his hand and tossed a peanut into his mouth. He looked at Ye Xuanshang, who was drinking wine expressionlessly beside him, and laughed in a low voice: "The news is true. Yesterday, the streets were bustling like a boiling pot, which was an eye-opener. I don't know where Huang Fei scoured up so many beauties—all of them delicate and charming—only to send them all out of the mansion. He really is ruthless. Hey, what are you planning?"

Ye Xuanshang withdrew his gaze from outside the window and asked, "Is there any news of Han Hui?"

Yan Ling leaned lazily against the back of his chair. "Nothing certain. Now both Chu and Mu are looking for him. A perfectly healthy man has just vanished into thin air. Tsk! This matter is likely related to the Mingyi Tower; otherwise, how could even I, the Golden Matchmaker Yan Ling, fail to find a lead? Why don't you just ask her directly?"

"Let's go." Ye Xuanshang was noncommittal. He raised his hand to finish the wine in his cup and rose to leave his seat. Yan Ling raised his eyebrows, tossed down some silver, and followed him out. Ye Xuanshang took a deep breath in the wind, turned his head, and smiled: "I have an appointment. We'll meet at our old place tonight."

Yan Ling waved his hand casually, said "Got it," and vanished in a flash. Ye Xuanshang headed toward the Ranxiang Lake alone.

The sky was covered in layers of clouds before one knew it, and soon a fine rain began to fall, shrouding the entire Chu capital in boundless misty colors.

A faint chill lingered, and there were no tourists by the lake. Ye Xuanshang strolled through the rain at a leisurely pace, his black robes making him appear all the more handsome, cold, and unbridled.

The ten miles of scenery at Ranxiang Lake were misty and hazy. A long bridge spanned the lake waves, and the mountains on the opposite side were hidden in dark green, appearing as if they had no end. The dense forests on both banks of the lake were like woven fabric, silent and still. Ye Xuanshang stepped onto the head of the bridge, and suddenly a person appeared on it. Under the drizzle, he wore wide-sleeved emerald brocade robes, and the silk sash at his waist fluttered in the wind, bathing in clouds and smoke. That person looked at Ye Xuanshang, hands behind his back, waiting.

Ye Xuanshang's pace remained slow, as if stepping to a specific rhythm, as he climbed the flying bridge step by step.

The rain was dense, dyeing the mountains, water, and misty lake in a vast, blurred color. Ye Xuanshang reached the highest point in the center of the bridge, stopped casually, and smiled with raised lips: "Second Royal Brother."

"Third Brother, have you been well?" The man nodded slightly, scrutinizing him.

Ye Xuanshang met his gaze and sighed: "I remember the last time I saw you was at Luofeng Mountain. In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed."

The man smiled slightly: "Six years ago, when Third Brother entered Chu, I was in seclusion, so I couldn't see you off. Third Brother wouldn't blame me, would you?"

"I didn't expect Second Royal Brother would come to the Chu State because of me today." Ye Xuanshang raised his hand. "I have always kept the gift you sent people to deliver at that time with me."

On the hilt of the Guili Sword, several fine golden threads were wrapped like a coiled dragon, passing through the top to hang a Canglong black jade pendant with a simple design. It had been washed bright by the dense rain, revealing traces of frequent fondling. The man's gaze paused for a moment, his wide sleeves fluttering endlessly in the wind and rain. "Third Brother doesn't seem to want to see me."

Ye Xuanshang said: "Since you have come, Royal Brother, then so be it."

The two seemed to be chatting about old times, but there was a sharpness in their words like rain falling silently.

"It seems you knew my intention early on." The man's smile gradually faded, and he looked toward the faint rain curtain with his hands behind his back. "After six years of tempering, Third Brother is no longer the hot-headed youth of that day; you are much more composed. He is right; the situation in the world today is unpredictable. If you return to the country, the Mu State will surely fall into great chaos, inevitably giving other countries an opportunity to take advantage. The disaster of national destruction will not be far off."

Ye Xuanshang smiled: "If he really wanted to persuade you to take action, Royal Brother, it wouldn't have been difficult. Moreover, having brought out such a high-sounding reason, you naturally wouldn't sit idly by, Royal Brother."

That person said, "I only agreed to help him once, but once is enough."

As the words fell, a white light flashed in his hand, and a silver spear with a snowy tassel appeared. He held it forward with one hand, the spear tip pointing from afar at Ye Xuanshang, who was a few steps away. His wide left sleeve fluttered, and the misty rain swirled like clouds. The fierce energy on the spear tip was completely different from his elegant posture and temperament, yet they merged perfectly. Against the backdrop of green mountains and water curtains, he was like a peak, and his spear was like a pine, appearing like a naturally perfect, beautiful painting without a single flaw.

The "Thousand Clouds Spear" of Ye Xuanjian, the direct disciple of the Mu State's Heavenly Sect, was as famous as the Chu State's Zhuri Sword and the Xuan State's Duose Zither, shaking the world of martial arts.

"If Third Brother can escape the Heavenly Sect's pursuit this time, I can guarantee that no one in the Mu State will dare to lay a hand on you again."

When the spear tip was revealed, Ye Xuanshang had already sensed the Heavenly Sect disciples hiding in the forest, weaving a net from all directions, cutting off all paths of retreat.

As the second son of the King of Mu and the heir to the Heavenly Sect, Ye Xuanjian had entered Luofeng Mountain since childhood to follow the Sect Master in diligent martial arts practice. For over twenty years, he had been single-minded, achieving profound attainments in the martial Dao. A single Thousand Clouds Spear was enough to intercept any expert in the world. The Heavenly Sect had always shouldered the responsibility of maintaining the orthodoxy of the Mu State. The Tai Zi Yu's personal visit to Luofeng Mountain to request Ye Xuanjian's intervention was a move of absolute certainty, never allowing Ye Xuanshang to return to the Mu State alive.

Although Ye Xuanjian revealed his weapon, he was in no hurry to attack. With one hand behind his back, he remained composed, giving Ye Xuanshang ample time to draw his sword and meet the enemy.

The falling rain could not withstand the biting energy of the spear tip, turning into a misty fog that scattered in all directions, revealing the originally clear and beautiful scenery of the lake and forest.

In the standoff, their brows were similar, emerald sleeves followed the wind, like facing a deep abyss, while the black-robed figure stood tall, as immovable as a mountain.

Ye Xuanshang drew his sword in an extremely slow posture, changing his usual wild and domineering aura. The Guili Sword on his back left its scabbard inch by inch. Anyone could see every movement he made, yet at the same time, no one could grasp the angle from which he was about to strike.

The Thousand Clouds Spear underwent a change, its sharp tip trembling slightly and emitting a "chi-chi" sound of energy. The rain mist dispersed by Ye Xuanshang's sword energy rose and surged, like a cloud dragon emerging from a cave, gathering and swirling endlessly beside the Thousand Clouds Spear, creating a spectacular sight.

The powerful, peerless offensive momentum and the transcendent temperament devoid of killing intent appeared simultaneously, creating a strange and indescribable feeling. It was clear that Ye Xuanjian's martial arts cultivation was truly above that of Tai Zi Yu, having reached the realm of heaven and man.

Ye Xuanshang suddenly laughed loudly: "Second Brother, when you return to the country, don't forget to tell Tai Zi Yu for me that I will definitely settle this old score of fratricide with him in the future!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Xuanjian's mind was shaken. Ye Xuanshang took this opportunity to move and retreat, breaking through the rain mist and throwing himself into the dense forest on both banks. Ye Xuanjian gave a soft, angry shout, and the Thousand Clouds Spear transformed into thunder, soaring into the air to pursue him.

The Heavenly Sect disciples hiding in the forest pounced toward the spot where Ye Xuanshang landed. A sharp smile curled Ye Xuanshang's lips. The Guili Sword was already in his hand. Without looking back, he listened to the sound to identify the position and struck the enemy's blade. As two Heavenly Sect disciples were shocked and retreated rapidly, the cold light of the Guili Sword surged, and the opponents were struck as if by lightning, vomiting blood and falling away.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 89 =====