Chapter 289: Feigning Passage Through Miao to Conquer Shu, Withdrawing from the West to Aid the South (First of Three)

Fifteen days later.

Hu Yanjun arrived late, accompanied by his disciple Yu Nanlin.

"Master Guanxuan, my apologies for the delay."

As soon as Hu Yanjun entered, he bowed repeatedly in apology.

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and gestured for him to sit.

"No harm done—I'm just a idle man. Sit down, Brother Hu."

Hu Yanjun sat and noticed, besides Feng Jihu, Wu Qingbo was also present, and said,

"Last time we met, Brother Wu said we'd meet again—but I didn't expect it so soon."

Cheng Xinzhan was slightly surprised.

"You two know each other?"

Hu Yanjun explained,

"We met just outside the mountain the last time I came to see the Sect Master."

"That's quite a coincidence—Qingbo is a close friend of mine, staying here permanently. You'll likely see him every time you come."

Cheng Xinzhan chuckled.

Hu Yanjun, hearing this, first froze, then burst into laughter.

"Why are you laughing?"

Hu Yanjun patted his chest to steady himself and said,

"When we first met outside the mountain, Brother Wu asked me what kind of person the Sect Master was—he was testing whether I'd been speaking ill of you behind your back!"

Wu Qingbo merely bowed slightly and smiled it off.

After this brief interlude, Hu Yanjun turned back to Cheng Xinzhan and said,

"Truly, my apologies, Sect Master—I promised a time and still arrived late. I never expected such a major upheaval to occur on that very day."

"Is it about the south?"

Cheng Xinzhan asked.

Hu Yanjun nodded.

"Yes. I'm sure you've heard—the Miao region has fallen, and the southern forces are now advancing straight toward our Shu borders. The entire Shu region is in turmoil; the Alliance has held daily councils, and only today did I finally break free."

"Oh?"

At this, Cheng Xinzhan said,

"What are the Daoist Alliance's plans now? May I ask? Though if it's confidential, no need to say."

Hu Yanjun thought a moment, then said,

"I can't reveal the finer details, but the broad direction I can share—it won't be long before the whole world knows anyway."

"I'm all ears."

Cheng Xinzhan said.

"The overall strategy must change. Previously, we pursued westward advance and southern defense—with advance as primary, defense as secondary. Now, with the southern forces so fierce, the strategy of westward advance and southern defense remains, but defense becomes primary, advance secondary."

"So a large portion of our forces will be withdrawn from Xikang to Shunan."

Hu Yanjun admitted frankly.

Cheng Xinzhan replied,

"But Xikang's demon-purging has reached its final critical stage. Xuexin Temple, on the border between Xikang and Tibet, doesn't count. Within all of Xikang, there's only one White Bone Chan Monastery left."

"If we withdraw forces now, given Xikang's vast, sparsely populated Five Rivers region, I fear that once our Daoist high cultivators leave, the demons who've lain low near Xuexin Temple and White Bone Chan Monastery—and those who fled earlier—will surge forth like bamboo shoots after the Awakening of Insects."

Hu Yanjun nodded repeatedly and sighed.

"You're absolutely right—Xikang has truly reached its critical juncture. After years of hard work, we were about to reap the harvest. But the southern border is an emergency of ten thousand fires!"

"The Alliance has debated for days, unable to decide. But with only Shu's own strength, we simply cannot resist the south while advancing west—losing one to save the other is the immediate danger."

"Alas! This year's Awakening of Insects has truly shaken us—Green Robe Old Devil chose his timing so perfectly!"

The speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it to heart. Cheng Xinzhan suddenly wondered: had Green Robe Old Ancestor struck not only by exploiting the season, but also with the intent of diverting attention—attacking Wei to save Zhao?

"Yet the situation won't wait for us to deliberate. On the very day of the Awakening of Insects, Xin Chenzi personally led tens of thousands of demon troops northward, passing through Lou Mountain Pass and striking straight toward the Yangtze River, nearly destroying the Lingyun Sword Pavilion that Emei had stationed at Lingyun Mountain near Jiangjin."

"When this news returned, Miaoyi Lady overruled all opposition, declaring, 'First ensure you cannot be defeated, then wait for the enemy to become vulnerable.' She established the core strategy: withdraw from the west to aid the south."

Hu Yanjun said.

Cheng Xinzhan immediately understood—the Lingyun Sword Pavilion in Shunan was where her beloved son Qi Jinchan was stationed. No wonder she panicked.

So he smiled upon hearing this.

Hu Yanjun knew what he was smiling at, and smiled along.

"Will you be going south as well, Brother Hu?"

Hu Yanjun nodded.

"Yes. In Shu's current situation, the west and east have Wuling and Xikang as buffers, but only the north and south face the Demon Cult directly. The north—Longyou and Guanzhong—still have orthodox sects; the northern faction lacks strength for a major southern push. But the south is nearly entirely unified under Green Robe Old Devil, connected directly to the sea, with endless demon reinforcements—this is the true heart of the threat."

"The Alliance plans to build nine fortresses along the northern bank of the Yangtze, at the Shu-Miao border, to resist the southern faction. I'll be going to help build them."

At this, Hu Yanjun sighed again.

"To be honest, the southern faction's sudden feint through the Miao to attack Shu caught us completely off guard. The Miao and Zhuang have fought for years—deep hatred doesn't begin to describe it—yet they allowed the southern forces passage."

Cheng Xinzhan understood the Miao's position and said,

"Because in past years, neither side could defeat the other. But this time, Green Robe has utterly cut off their retreat by seizing heaven's timing and human unity—they had no choice."

Hu Yanjun nodded.

"That's true. And we owe Emei a debt—before the Daoist Alliance even acted, they had already established Sword Pavilions everywhere. Honestly, we thought Emei had overreached. Now it's clear Miaoyi True Person foresaw this. Without the Cuiping, Lingyun, and Heliang Sword Pavilions guarding Shunan and controlling the Yangtze, the southern demon troops would have stormed straight into Bashu."

"Then, Brother Hu—do you think Miaoyi True Person placed her two children in Shunan years ago because she thought it was safe, or because she foresaw this demon threat and meant for them to become the pillars holding back the flood?"

Cheng Xinzhan said, half-smiling.

Hu Yanjun's eyes flickered, then he laughed heartily, brushing it off.

"How could we mortals fathom the True Person's thoughts? By the way, Sect Master—has my flying sword been repaired? With war imminent, I need it to drink deep of demon blood."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded with a smile, waved his hand—and the flying sword on the rack flew to him, hovering before Hu Yanjun.

Hu Yanjun took the sword, glanced down—no trace of the green flame spots remained. He infused it with magic power and tested his spiritual tether—no resistance at all. Overjoyed, he exclaimed,

"Sect Master, your skill is truly divine!"

Cheng Xinzhan smiled faintly.

Hu Yanjun tucked the sword away, then pulled a golden box from his robe and offered it to Cheng Xinzhan.

"Thank you, Sect Master, for your aid. I have a small gift to offer in return."

Cheng Xinzhan waved his hand.

"Meeting is fate. You're the first Qingcheng Daoist I've ever known. This was nothing—no need for gifts. Forget it."

But Hu Yanjun refused to accept refusal.

"Sect Master, you're mistaken. My sword delayed your cultivation for days—how could I offer nothing? And if the first Qingcheng Daoist you meet is one who knows no manners, my sect will punish me. If you find the gift too slight, please accept it anyway."

Seeing Hu Yanjun's insistence, Cheng Xinzhan no longer refused. He summoned the golden box, didn't open it, and stored it within the cave stone.

"Then I shall accept it shamelessly."

"That's as it should be."

Hu Yanjun smiled and turned to Yu Nanlin, giving him a glance.

Yu Nanlin understood, rose, pulled a wooden box from his robe, walked to Feng Jihu's side, and offered it with both hands.

"Thank you, Daoist, for your guidance. I've since fully recovered and returned to repay your kindness."

Feng Jihu tried to refuse.

"This was nothing—just a few words. No need for gifts."

Yu Nanlin, having risen through Yu family's rigorous selection to join the famed "Thunderfire Golden Sword" sect, though proud and aloof, was sharp-witted. He replied at once:

"To you, Daoist, those words were nothing. To me, they were life-altering. My thanks isn't measured by your effort—it's measured by my gain."

Everyone in the pavilion brightened. Cheng Xinzhan turned to Hu Yanjun beside him and said,

"Brother, you've taken a fine disciple."

Hu Yanjun was delighted—those words weren't his own.

Feng Jihu smiled and said,

"Your insight is fresh and enlightening. Then I shall accept it."

When the girl returned to her seat, the atmosphere in the pavilion grew warmer. After the attendant refilled their tea, the group resumed casual conversation.

"Brother, you mentioned withdrawing from the west to aid the south—how far will this withdrawal go? You can't abandon Xikang entirely, can you?"

Cheng Xinzhan asked.

"Naturally not."

Hu Yanjun said,

"Still the same eight words: 'Westward advance, southern defense—defense primary, advance secondary.' Advance is secondary, not abandonment. As you rightly said, if we retreat too fast from the west, the demons will return. All our years of effort will be wasted."

"Westward advance is our Daoist Alliance's millennia-old plan. We intended to cleanse the entire region, then reorganize the land and rivers, gradually transforming Shu into Xikang, step by step, into a blessed land."

"So driving out demons is only the first step. The real labor lies in reorganizing the mountains and rivers. Xikang's Five Rivers converge, its mountains cut across—this is a rare treasure. But for millennia, demons have ruined it. Once we properly restore its mountain and water veins, it will become a blessed land equal to 'Du Guang's Wilds.'"

"But now, our Daoist Alliance lacks the energy to follow the plan step by step. Xikang may be splendid, but our foundation is in Shu—Bashu cannot fall."

"So for Xikang, first we must slow our pace. We no longer seek full control—halt expansion. First, secure the lands we've already cleansed."

"The original northern border of Xikang was meant to reach the source of the Yalong River and the Yellow River. But since White Bone Chan Monastery remains unconquered, and the northern faction continually reinforces it, we now plan to establish a new northern boundary south of the Queer Mountain glaciers, along the east-west Zengqu River. Forces currently besieging White Bone Chan Monastery will gradually withdraw—some to Shunan, others to hold the new northern boundary against demon incursions."

"The original western border of Xikang was meant to reach the Nujiang River. But Xuexin Temple has held the riverbank, conserving strength—we lack the power to dislodge them in the short term. So we'll retreat westward to the Jinsha River, just as in the north: some forces to Shunan, others to hold the river line."

Hearing this, Cheng Xinzhan asked,

"Will the Lesser Western Realm be directly anchored at the Jinshajiang, abandoning the Lancangjiang entirely?"

Hu Yanjun shook his head,

"The Kangxi Nujiang, Lancangjiang, and Jinshajiang flow together, and they're too close. After the Nujiang lies the Maha Sect—placing the Lesser Western Realm on the Lancangjiang is too risky."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded at this,

"True."

"The original plan for the western and southern border of Kangnan was to reach the southern stretch of the Jinshajiang—that is, the segment where the river turns from southward to eastward—requiring the annexation of some Dianwen territory. But Kangnan's terrain is extremely complex; many small demonic temples remain uncleaned, and demonic disturbances within Dianwen are severe, so the Lesser Southern Realm will retreat directly to the line of Baima Snow Mountain, Lugu Lake, and Qionghai."

"As for the eastern border, there's no debate—it stays at the Daduhe, directly bordering my Shu lands."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded, calculated briefly, then said,

"In that case, the 'Lesser Kang' occupies only four-tenths of the territory the Profound Sect originally envisioned for Kang."

"Given the current situation, it's already a success if the Lesser Kang can hold and manage what it has."

said Hu Yanjun.

(End of Chapter)