Chapter 171

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Protagonist:

Xuan Ge

The deep night crept over the Qin Gong window lattices, dyeing the interior oppressive and silent.

Under the faint warm light, Yao Guang and Yue Yu sat facing each other; the vast Ke Ting held only the sound of their breathing.

Yue Yu's fingertips rubbed the cup rim, silent for a long while, then finally broke the stillness, tone solemn and direct:

"Yao Guang, you should know clearly — Xuan Yao's matter is no longer something you and Xuan Ge can control."

Yao Guang lowered her eyes, silent; her eyes churned with barely concealed anger and unwillingness, knuckles clenched white, not even noticing the red marks digging into her palms.

Seeing this, Yue Yu softened her tone, coaxing gently: "Don't throw yourself into disorder; the method Jing Yuan gave is already the optimal solution for now.

Xuan Yao going with him to Luofu — if he advances he may one day command Shen Wu; if he retreats he can still firmly hold authority over Yu Que or Luofu, preserving himself."

This is a helpless choice after weighing pros and cons.

Even with General Jing Yuan escorting him all the way, Xuan Yao will forever be unable to catch up to Xuan Ge's peak.

He can only accumulate solid achievements and reputation on Luofu, slowly stand firm, and shed the heavy pressure the myriad beings of Huan Yu forcibly impose on him.

No one can escape this prejudice; even Yue Yu herself subconsciously feels it.

Xuan Yao is the legitimate son of the Divine Might General — he should be born strong, should surpass Xuan Ge, should naturally inherit the Divine Might name.

These invisible shackles bind the swaddled infant tight; even clear-eyed people know Xuan Yao is burdened by the Aeons of Erudition and the Hunt.

Yet on the political stage of Huan Yu it can only be painted as the beautiful tale "Erudition favored him first, the Imperial Bow protects her calf."

Yao Guang slowly lifted her gaze; her gentle eyes pierced through the window lattices and the night, staring straight toward the courtyard pavilion, watching that lone figure teasing the child in his arms, voice choked:

"But I... don't want to compromise, don't want my child to grow up from childhood living in shadows and under pressure."

Yue Yu's heart softened; she reached out and lightly grasped Yao Guang's ice-cold hand, voice deep and soothing:

"We never compromise with Aeons."

"The Marshal has long since secretly ordered — if Xuan Yao cannot inherit Shen Wu in the future, Xian Zhou will let him choose freely."

"Aside from you and Xuan Ge, all other Heavenly Generals, Han Yuan Jun, and the various Dragon Venerables have agreed."

"Let Xuan Yao follow me for now — only... the one who suffers most will be Xuan Ge."

Scalding tears slid down Yao Guang's cheeks.

She understood this painstaking care, and understood even more the heart-piercing pain of Xuan Ge as a father having to send his child away with his own hands.

In the courtyard pavilion, the evening breeze brushed lightly, bamboo leaves rustling.

Ling Sha, Jing Liu, Da Li Hua, Xing Xiao, Huan Long, Chang Ye Yue, Luo Rui Ya, Yi Sha, and the others all stood silently outside the pavilion.

The women watched Xuan Ge inside the pavilion without a word.

He wore his long hair loose, having shed the general's uniform that symbolized the Divine Might General's authority.

Xuan Ge wore only a loose common robe, gently cradling Xuan Yao in his arms, softly coaxing him — utterly devoid of his usual killing aura.

At the courtyard gate, Ren leaned against the vermilion doorpost; his gaze passed through the sparse bamboo shadows and fell on Xuan Ge.

Ren let out a heavy sigh, voice so low only Dan Heng beside him could hear:

"The eldest nephew should have been carefree..."

Dan Heng crossed his arms, watching the father and son in the pavilion, and also sighed lightly:

"No choice — this is the fate of Xuan Ge's offspring."

"Even without the twin Aeons descending, without the Divine Sense Zhi Yan, just bearing the title of Divine Might's legitimate son, his pressure has never been small."

This is an unjust disaster; if Xuan Ge were just an ordinary Xian Zhou Heavenly General, everything would be different.

But he is the Divine Might General who shakes Huan Yu, an existence that weighs Huan Yu down so it cannot lift its head.

His child, from birth, has had no retreat.

Xing Xiao and Huan Long exchanged a glance; though their hearts held some pity for Yao Guang.

More was contempt for the Hunt and Erudition.

The Aeon of Destruction they believe in would never be so petty.

If Nanuk wants to play, he plays thoroughly; if he takes a fancy to Xuan Ge's child, he directly bestows a Chosen position.

With the power of an Emanator, moreover able to sway the Destruction Path — why would he sneak around imposing invisible shackles like this?

In the pavilion, Xuan Ge lowered his eyes, gazing at Xuan Yao in his arms; the little one blinked a pair of gilded eyes identical to his own, obedient to the point of heartbreak.

He extended his index finger, lightly teasing his son's soft lips, eliciting crisp giggles from little Xuan Yao.

Little Xuan Yao reached out chubby little hands, wanting to grab Xuan Ge's hanging hair strands.

Xuan Ge lowered his head obligingly, bringing the hair strands to his hand.

Unexpectedly, Xuan Yao did not tug randomly; instead, with his tender little hands, he carefully wound the hair strand into a simple small knot.

Xuan Ge smiled knowingly, yet his eyes hid a heartache that would not dissolve.

From his waist he took off the Divine Might waist token symbolizing supreme authority, shook it gently before Xuan Yao's eyes, and coaxed softly:

"Look at this — want it?"

Little Xuan Yao laughed even more happily, little hands flapping nonstop, trying to grab the swaying token; he tried twice and couldn't reach, his little mouth pouting slightly.

Seeing this, Xuan Ge was about to withdraw the token, but the little one rose slightly and immediately reached out, firmly clutching the heavy Divine Might waist token.

Xuan Ge gently placed the token in his son's arms, watching his eyelids droop, drowsy, and murmured low, voice full of self-blame and guilt:

"Heh, your father is trash, is scum — but even a scum father will exhaust everything to protect you for a lifetime."

He turned his head, looking at Luo Rui Ya who had been waiting quietly at his side, and instructed softly:

"Luo Rui Ya, take him to find Yao Guang."

"Older Brother~"

Luo Rui Ya stepped forward slowly, carefully receiving the soundly sleeping Xuan Yao.

She looked at Xuan Ge's desolate expression, wanting to go up and coax the General.

But she noticed the General's eyes hid worries, and ultimately said nothing more, turning and walking toward the Qin Gong with the child in her arms.

Xing Xiao and Jing Liu, seeing this, wanted to step forward and keep Xuan Ge company, but were lightly stopped by Luo Rui Ya looking back:

"The General has important matters to handle, everyone return first, don't disturb him."

Though the audience had worries, they could only give up, turning and leaving one after another.

Xuan Ge tidied his clothes, striding toward the General's Mansion.

Ren and Dan Heng said not a word, silently following behind him, the three figures stretched very long in the night.

Inside the General's Mansion, Jing Yuan's projection had long been waiting here, he gazed toward the direction Xuan Ge came from, his long-suspended heart relaxing slightly.

He feared Xuan Ge would drive himself into a dead end, feared this close friend would walk a single path to the bitter end.

"Xuan Ge, my proposal....." Jing Yuan's words were unfinished, Xuan Ge had already moved.

His fist wrapped with condensed causal power, without the slightest hesitation, one fist ruthlessly smashed into Jing Yuan's face.

Jing Yuan caught off guard, was struck retreating two steps in succession, blood instantly seeping from the corner of his mouth.

Jing Yuan covered his cheek, not only not angry but instead raising his eyes to look at Xuan Ge, grinning.

Then raising a hand, one fist ruthlessly smashed into Xuan Ge's abdomen, saying in a low voice:

"What are you two spacing out for? This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity! Beat him!"

Ren and Dan Heng glanced at each other, smiling at each other, rolling up their sleeves and striding toward Xuan Ge.

"Bastards! All of you go die!"

Xuan Ge's eyes bloodshot, long-suppressed anger and powerlessness completely erupting, bare-handed charging at the three, wrestling together.

He utilized causal power, bestowing this power onto Jing Yuan's projection.

Letting the projection possess a true body's touch and pain sensation, every move ruthless, yet also hiding utmost grievance.

None of the four held back, fists and feet flying, heavy collision sounds incessant.

In just a moment, Xuan Ge's face was covered in bruises, blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth, a sorry figure.

Jing Yuan spat a mouthful of blood, staring at Xuan Ge, deliberately provoking:

"Six years later, I will personally go to Yu Que to take my disciple."

"Rest assured, by then Xuan Yao's talent, character, and ability to lead troops in battle, every aspect will completely blow you, this old bastard, out of the water!"

"Less yapping, watch the fist!"

Xuan Ge's figure suddenly flashed, appearing before Jing Yuan and Dan Heng.

Jing Yuan subconsciously raised his hand to block, Dan Heng tried to retreat and withdraw.

But Xuan Ge's this punch was a feint to begin with, fist momentum suddenly changing direction, one leg sweeping horizontally, ruthlessly lashing Dan Heng's waist side.

Dan Heng fundamentally had no time to dodge, his whole body heavily smashed into the General's Mansion's wall, shaking the wall body until dust fell rustling.

Dan Heng struggled free from the wall, he felt Xuan Ge's this kick nearly kicked a walking lantern out of him.

Ren spaced out for a moment, was grabbed by the wrist by Xuan Ge, and smashed onto Dan Heng's body.