Chapter 453: Great Qi

【Xie Yuan's face was anxious, this court gazette actually said that his father Xie Ling and eldest brother Xie Mu were missing!】

【"Brother Guan, you have always had the best ideas, Father and Big Brother... they... will they be okay?"】

【You pressed his trembling back of the hand, "Sixth Brother, this matter has no news yet..."】

【Before the words fell, suddenly heard the sound of jade pendants. Looking up, Xie Qiyue of the Second Courtyard was walking quickly, holding her skirt, even the pearl hairpin on her temple shaking messily.】

【You greeted, "Cousin Qiyue."】

【Xie Qiyue responded, when she first heard you call her "Cousin," she felt awkward in her heart, now after the Grand View Garden, Flower Garden, Clan Meeting and many other things.】

【Now hearing it again, there was no repulsion in her heart, and she felt it should be so, even feeling that having such a calm and practiced cousin was originally a very solid thing.】

【Xie Qiyue knew about the court gazette in the mansion, so she guessed that Xie Yuan would definitely go to you, so she rushed over.】

【Xie Qiyue looked at Xie Yuan sitting on the stone chair, looking lost, not only a bit heartbroken, the usually cheerful Xie Yuan became like this, "Xie Yuan, don't be anxious first, things aren't that serious yet."】

【You also said, "Sixth Brother, don't worry, if something really happened, today's court gazette wouldn't be written so vaguely, and if the Red-Eyed Army succeeded, it would definitely be spread all over the world."】

【"The Red-Eyed Army originally won by borrowing the time and place, even if the ten thousand-strong army was lost, there must be many people who could escape, you should also know the strength of the Ninth Realm of martial arts."】

【Xie Yuan only then calmed his mind, his father's strength, suppressing that generation of the nine great surnames in Above Bianjing, caring leads to chaos, today the Xie Mansion received the news, the Old Matriarch in the Grand View Garden almost fainted, and his mother was also panicked.】

【"Brother Guan, are you saying Father has already escaped? Then where will he go?"】

【You shook your head, "This is unknown, but since there is no bad news, it is a good omen."】

【Xie Yuan only then nodded, looking at you again, knowing that you and your father had a distant relationship, not close, so you would be so cold.】

【At this moment!】

【Outside the courtyard gate, a few more people came.】

【It was actually the group of people met at the Grand View Garden that day, Xie Qiyue hurriedly welcomed them in, "Fourth Cousin, you are here."】

【Zhang Yunzhi, Li Shuwan, Xue Hong, this was also Xie Qiyue worrying about Xie Yuan, so she called Fourth Cousin and them together.】

【Zhang Yunzhi was not as dazed as before these few days, her brows and eyes recovering from composure.】

【Xie Yuan did not get up, sitting on the chair and greeting a few people, recovering a trace of spirit.】

【"Qiyue, I said it, with Young Master Guan here, even the biggest thing will be sorted out, you don't need to worry."】

【Xue Hong and Li Shuwan curiously examined the courtyard, he was here for the first time, quite surprised.】

【You greeted everyone to take their seats.】

【Under this shocking crack, it was like a huge stone thrown into Above Bianjing.】

【In the morning, the cabinet had already held a court meeting, and the Academy also summoned the students and masters of Above Bianjing into the Cultivation Building.】

【The usually prosperous West Wing Building was also rarely not crowded.】

【Xie Yuan suddenly raised his head, remembering one thing: "Brother Guan, you once said that the Red-Eyed Army would definitely break Above Bianjing, I didn't believe it. Now they have swallowed the entire Jiangnan Road.", he clenched his fists, "In your opinion, what will they do next?"】

【The total annihilation of the ten thousand-strong army was a heavy blow to Great Qi, but it definitely couldn't be called hurting the muscles and bones.】

【Zhang Yunzhi also thought of the day you predicted that the Red-Eyed Army would break Above Bianjing, now breaking Xie Ling's ten thousand-strong army, it has already become famous in the world, the original observers worried that the Red-Eyed Army would definitely die in Yunyue Ze, now their confidence has greatly increased, and responders are like a tide.】

【The Red-Eyed Army breaking Chang'an has already taken the first step.】

【"Young Master Guan, how did you foresee it?"】

【Li Shuwan and Xue Hong, were also curious, for this Young Master Guan, she already knew in the family, this person is the Second Master's sword path successor.】

【You just shook your head and said, "This is the operation of heaven, it is difficult to say clearly."】

【"We are just in the trap, who dares to speak wildly about the changes of heaven and earth, and how can we judge the rise and fall!"】

【"However, the next action of this Red-Eyed Army is not difficult to guess."】

【Xue Hong's eyes flashed with brilliance, becoming more curious, as the most outstanding descendant of the Xue family, he and several brothers who were generals in the clan, repeatedly deduced the situation in Jiangnan Road, although each had their own opinions, they also deduced a context.】

【Xue Hong couldn't help but ask, "I don't know, how does Young Master Guan see it?"】

【After Sister Wu Tong poured tea for everyone, she retreated to the side.】

【Zhang Yunzhi knew the etiquette and took the tea cup, surprisingly discovering that this girl Sister Wu Tong had become more and more spiritual after a few months—the skin without powder and daisy revealed a lustrous luster, not wearing jewelry and jade instead set off a clear and beautiful temperament.】

【What is strange is!】

【The clear and elegant aura that made people's hearts fold on you, now converged completely, at first glance no different from those ordinary students in the Academy.】

【Li Shuwan heard this, her beautiful eyes condensed slightly, her slender fingers tapped, thinking slightly.】

【The Red-Eyed Army took Jiangnan Road, although separated by Shannan and Henan two roads, with great rivers and dangerous passes standing tall, and guarded by Great Qi's heavy towns, it is truly easy to defend and hard to attack.】

【According to common sense, one should cultivate Jiangnan Road, borrow the power of the great victory to widely recruit soldiers, and slowly plan for the future.】

【You thought about it, and said slowly, "The Red-Eyed Army will definitely not stop, but will drive straight in."】

【"Three things are imminent: one is to seize water transport, two is to take official granaries and money and grain, three is to issue a declaration of crusade."】

【Xue Hong's pupils shrank, these words were not different from what they expected, but no one dared to be as certain as you.】

【"Young Master Guan has true insight." He took out a roll of silk from his bosom, "The declaration intercepted by the Suspended Mirror Division this morning, please take a look."】

【Where the silk book unfolded, the vermilion handwriting was like blood: "The blue sky hangs down, the mysterious yellow is upside down! Great Qi lost its virtue, the nine surnames stole the tripod!"】

【"The temple families suck the people's fat and blood, the noble slaves ride horses to trample the alleys, the starving people fill the roads, and children's bones fill the gullies!"】

【"The Ji Palace has become a den of demons, and the official robes are all patterns of jackals and wolves!"】

【"Now the red eyes are clear, cleansing the nine surnames, abolishing harsh policies, opening ten thousand generations of peace, returning equality to the world..."】

【Xie Yuan read it word by word, these words, just like the reflection of the two hundred years of Great Qi's accumulated ills.】

【Pointing the spearhead without taboo directly at the nine great surnames, although it pushed them all into the opposite side, it also gathered the world's resentment into a prairie fire.】

【Xue Hong smiled, "Young Master Guan, since according to Young Master Guan's statement, this Red-Eyed Army will eventually break Above Bianjing, then how many days will it take?"】

【Xie Yuan thought about it and said, "Separated by two state roads, Shannan and Henan two roads are stationed with troops, even if the Red-Eyed Army is unstoppable, it will take a few years."】

【You were particularly certain, "It must be the momentum of autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves."】

【"In less than half a year—"】 【453-

【"Above Bianjing shall see golden armor reflecting the sun, and red banners covering the sky."】

【Li Shuwan asked hesitantly, "Young Master Guan, do you believe that Red-Eyed Heavenly King Ban Sheng has such ability? Or is it that Red-Eyed strategist, Wawan?"】

【"The various masters of the Academy once said that Ban Sheng uses troops like a god; looking back at the thousand years of military strategists since the Warring States period, he should also be ranked in the top ten."】

【"That Wawan has an even more mysterious background; almost no one knows where he came from, and his name has only been seen in the Academy's records of students from various regions."】

【You shook your head, "It is not these two who are formidable, but the people of the world."】

【A paulownia leaf drifted down in the courtyard, and you said softly, "The hearts of the people no longer lean toward the Great Qi... people can no longer survive."】

【"Have you all seen the world outside?"】

【The few were silent; they came from noble backgrounds, had lived in luxury since childhood, and were born stepping on golden stairs and jade steps, so how could they know the suffering of the starving people lying in the streets.】

【Zhang Yunzhi said, "The current thirteen provinces are indeed precarious, with uprisings occurring everywhere; it has almost become a trend."】

【The Great Qi is like a person who has turned gray-haired overnight.】

【She continued, "However, yesterday, the Director of the Imperial Observatory, who sacrificed twenty years of his life, and the masters of the Academy all observed the celestial phenomena at night."】

【"In the Ziwei Enclosure, the Arching Star is very bright; it is a sign of military force, and although the Emperor Star is dim, it has not fallen."】

【"The Great Qi should still have four hundred years of national destiny—"】

【The Director of the Imperial Observatory is a cultivator of the tenth realm of the Primordial Spirit, the Yang Spirit, and is a Yin-Yang practitioner who has lived for more than two hundred years.】

【In those days, he also said through celestial phenomena that nine stars appearing in the sky at the same time foretold the current Nine Great Surnames.】

【Now, the high-ranking families of the nine surnames believe this deeply, while as for the starving people across the land and the rising flames of war, they merely watch coldly from the sidelines.】

【Xie Yuan's brow grew even more troubled: "Father's whereabouts are unknown, and now we have encountered this chaotic world."】

【Xie Qiyue comforted him: "Uncle has deep blessings and will surely turn danger into safety."】

【Everyone changed the subject!】

【Xue Hong said with a smile, "I know Young Master Guan's martial arts are extraordinary, and I would like to spar with you."】

【Zhang Yunzhi and Li Shuwan's eyes flickered upon hearing this; the two women had already learned from their fathers that Xie Guan was the successor of the Second Master.】

【Ordinary people in Above Bianjing do not know, but some high-ranking people among the nine surnames already know.】

【As the leader of the nine surnames of Above Bianjing among their peers, Xue Hong had long been itching to try after learning of this.】

【After all, he is the successor of the Academy's Second Master; how could one not spar with him?】

【Li Shuwan was also curious; mainly because of the turmoil at Yanbo Lake, Xie Guan's reputation was truly terrifying, having slain Xiao Yu of the ninth martial realm, three enemy crown princes, and more than a dozen powerhouses of the upper three realms.】

【It was truly impossible for Xue Hong and the others to believe that a youth who had not yet reached adulthood could have such ability!】

【They always felt it was a fantasy; even if one started cultivating from the womb, it would be impossible.】

【You looked at Xue Hong, who mobilized all his Qi and blood, seemingly afraid of being looked down upon by the other party, revealing his cultivation at the peak of the seventh martial realm, which should be the leader among his peers.】

【Xie Qiyue frowned and said, "Xue Hong, what are you making a scene for? Who in Above Bianjing can beat you!"】

【Facing Xie Qiyue's voice, Xue Hong, who had just been full of momentum, suddenly deflated.】

【Li Shuwan's voice came, "Qiyue, you don't know the ability of this Ninth Brother of yours."】

【"He is someone who hides his true strength very well!"】

【Xie Qiyue found it hard to believe and turned to look at Zhang Yunzhi, seeing her nod gently.】

【She looked at Xie Guan; he didn't look like a martial arts expert at all.】

【You thought for a moment and then agreed.】

【A sharp light burst forth in Xue Hong's eyes, and the true essence around his body suddenly boiled as a pitch-black blade edge condensed in his hand. The blade was wrapped in a scarlet baleful aura; it was the "Slaying Karma" technique of the Demon-Slaying Division, and also his strongest killing move.】

【The baleful aura instantly covered the entire small courtyard, as if a black wind had arrived.】

【Xue Hong was in the midst of his Qi and blood surging and his essence and blood stirring.】

【Without any warning, the black wind dissipated and stopped abruptly.】

【Xue Hong's pupils shrank sharply; he felt his shoulder sink, and the boiling true essence around his body melted away like snow meeting the scorching sun. What made him even more horrified was that strands of sword Qi were condensing at his dantian, and a half-inch sword tip spitting cold light had vaguely taken shape.】

【With just a single thought, that sharp sword transformed from his own true essence would burst out of his body.】

【Xue Hong loosened his fist, his knuckles turning white, and his Adam's apple bobbed several times, but he couldn't squeeze out half a word. This leader of the young generation in Above Bianjing was now finding it difficult to even say the words "I admit defeat."】

【He was defeated too quickly, so quickly that he hadn't even seen how the other party made his move, so quickly that it felt as if he had only blinked once, and the outcome had already been decided.】

【Xue Hong let out a breath, ". I lost."】

【He looked at you with burning eyes, "How much of your strength did you use?"】

【"Three parts of my strength, I suppose."】

【Xie Qiyue's small mouth opened slightly, her face filled with extreme surprise.】

【Although Li Shuwan and Zhang Yunzhi had expected it, their faces were still filled with astonishment.】

【Xue Hong didn't speak again and sat down in silence; his usually upright back actually revealed a bit of desolation.】

【Madam Zhuge of the main courtyard came to look for Xie Yuan, and everyone followed her away.】

【When Zhang Yunzhi and her group were about to walk out of the West Garden, they looked back and saw the youth still standing at the doorway.】

【It seems that every time, Xie Guan is like this.】

【Li Shuwan sighed, "Unexpectedly, Yunzhi, the person you found casually is such a hidden dragon."】

【Zhang Yunzhi remembered what the youth said when he left with an umbrella in the Grand View Garden, "Although I am untalented, I want to go and see the scenery in the sky and witness the vastness of the long wind."】

【She was in a trance for a moment!】

【You watched the group disappear from sight and walked back into the courtyard.】

【Sister Wu Tong approached; she had just heard you say on the side that the Red-Eyed Army would break through Above Bianjing, and there was only half a year left!】

【Sister Wu Tong naturally believed her young master's words without question.】

【"Young Master, what shall we do when Above Bianjing City is broken?"】

【"The world is vast, Sister Wu Tong, you should just go and see it."】

【Sister Wu Tong said, "As long as I follow Young Master, anywhere is fine."】

【A ripple suddenly spread in the water vat in front of the house, and Madam Ruan poked her head out of the water; if she hid in the water, even a cultivator who had ignited the divine fire would find it difficult to detect her aura.】

【What was astonishing was that in the past month, the abscesses on her head had mostly subsided, fine soft down had grown between her sparse black hair, and her dark yellow skin had gradually begun to look human.】

【It was you who used the "Yang Talisman Scripture" to remove some of the cold poison and Yin energy from her body. Coupled with no longer soaking in cold water, no longer feeding on essence and blood, and eating cooked food prepared by Sister Wu Tong every day, her vitality naturally recovered day by day.】

【The current Madam Ruan holds a copper mirror all day long, and there is an irrepressible joy in her brows and eyes.】

【Perhaps realizing that the people in the courtyard had no malice, she gradually dared to walk around.】

【It just so happened that this lady was particularly curious about the smoke and fire of the human world; seeing Sister Wu Tong making a fire to cook, she would crowd forward to learn, but she always ended up with her face full of soot.】

【Sister Wu Tong shook her head at the sight and simply forbade her from touching the stove again. She then just followed quietly behind Sister Wu Tong.】

【Every afternoon you have to extract the Yin-cold energy for her; if it weren't for the "Yang Talisman Scripture," the cold energy in her body would have already entered her body and even invaded her lungs and viscera, and you would be helpless.】

【Madam Ruan was particularly afraid the first time and almost fled the small courtyard, but thinking of the sword Qi in her body and her life being in the hands of others, she had to walk forward as if "going to her death."】

【Unexpectedly, being illuminated by the brilliant golden light in the youth's hand was not only painless but also warm.】

【Even so, during the second treatment, she still frowned tightly, fearing that this was another more secretive restriction.】

【It wasn't until half a month later, when she combed her hair in front of the mirror in the morning, that she was surprised to find that the abscesses had mostly subsided, fine down had emerged on her head, and even her cultivation, which had been stagnant for many years, had made some progress.】

【From then on, every day before the time came, she would move a small stool herself and wait spontaneously.】

【She also changed her form of address—"Master."】

【Madam Ruan waited for you to finish cultivating and then held the copper mirror and crowded over eagerly.】

(End of chapter)