Chapter 137: Why be so startled?

The words had just fallen,

The people in the courtyard all changed color.

Although besides Hu Zai Xing and a few others, no one present recognized that token.

However, the thirty-character incantation just spoken was known to everyone under heaven during the early Fang La uprising.

Narayana Primordial Man, Sulu God Gate Transformation; Shakyamuni in Tushita Palace, Yi Shu Divine Light Appears; Manichaeism Great Dharma King, Final Envoy of Light.

These represent the "Five Buddhas" figures of Manichaeism and an Envoy of Light, the true decision‑makers of Manichaeism.

"How could the Sun Moon Divine Sect be related to Manichaeism? Could they really be Manichaeans?" Meng Zong Zheng frowned, looking at Hu Zai Xing on the ground with a complex expression.

The construction outside Jiugong Mountain has been going on for over half a year; originally it was just rumored that a master had opened a sect there, later rumors also spread that the Sun Moon Divine Sect was involved.

If they truly have ties to Manichaeism, then isn't the rebel stronghold already built right at my doorstep? As the governor of Xiangyang, how could I escape responsibility?

Damn it! Even lying at home I could meet disaster from the sky!

Thinking this, Meng Zong Zheng became flustered, nearly blurting out a curse in anger.

Meanwhile, the red‑clothed eunuch had already lost his soul, his face ashen: such a secret matter spoken so openly—can we still survive tonight?

Compared to Meng Zong Zheng and the red‑clothed eunuch, whether it was the fallen Hu Zai Xing and Chen Xiang, or the other guests tonight, they finally all breathed a sigh of relief.

Who would want to die if there were no need?

The newcomer's identity has been revealed; the token in hand is the exclusive emblem of the Manichaeism World Honored One! Anyone who is an elder of Manichaeism naturally recognizes it.

The token looks like jade but isn't jade, looks transparent but isn't transparent; within it a cluster of flame flickers faintly, in the night the firelight shines forth vividly, as if real fire.

This cannot be faked!

"Do you recognize this honored one?"

Seeing the crowd below still dazed, Niu Dingtian couldn't help but frown and ask again.

The meaning is already clear: if you acknowledge my identity, you are naturally my people, and tonight will likely pass without incident.

If you do not, humph~

As for mentioning the Sun Moon Divine Sect, it also lets this group prepare themselves mentally.

As for whether the secret is leaked or not, whether there will be trouble—that's a joke; dead people don't leak secrets.

Moreover, with his current strength, he already fears no palace experts.

"Subordinate Hu Zai Xing, Chen Xiang, pay respects to the Honored One!" Hu Zai Xing and Chen Xiang hesitated no longer, clasping their fists in unison.

Now forced by reality, the two can no longer board the pirate ship; they can only follow this one path to the end!

The remaining people also did not hesitate, clasping their fists: "Subordinates pay respects to the Honored One!"

Afterwards they all gathered together, supporting the injured Hu Zai Xing and Chen Xiang as they retreated to the center of the courtyard; previously, within Xiangyang City, the two held the highest ranks in the sect.

The archers seeing this hesitated as well, not daring to intervene—partly because the commander had not spoken, partly because they themselves were unwilling.

Meng Zong Zheng's face gradually darkened; he had not expected that the brothers he had just defended would slap him in the face with facts.

Yet after thinking, he still forced himself to endure; this matter should not be handled by him personally.

If that angel had not meddled and simply taken the person away, today's mishap would not have occurred.

Seeing this, the red‑clothed eunuch's eyes darkened, yet he dared not say more.

The ancestral teaching says a true man can bend or stretch; he who knows the times is an outstanding talent.

If we can return alive to the capital tonight, we will surely settle accounts with these rebels after summoning the ancestors!

Thus, suppressing fear and clutching at luck, he forced a smile: "Since it's all a misunderstanding and it's not late yet, honored sir, if you have nothing else we'll take our leave?"

Speaking,

he tried to move his feet.

"Huh?"

A figure in a green robe, wearing a ghost‑face mask, Niu Dingtian stood on the roof at this moment; behind him was pure black night, his aura drifting and unfathomable.

Just as the red‑clothed eunuch lifted his foot, a detached voice echoed in the courtyard; the eunuch's face changed drastically, and he froze stiffly in place.

"You want to leave after hurting my people?" Niu Dingtian's gaze swept over, utterly cold.

Since it's temporarily inconvenient to enter the palace to settle accounts, let's first collect some interest from this eunuch.

Thinking this, his form moved without a visible motion, and in an instant he flashed to the ground in the courtyard.

His gaze finally settled on the old red‑clothed eunuch's face, and he said indifferently: "Is this courage from your ancestors, or from Zhao Kuo?"

As these words fell, everyone's faces changed dramatically.

Even knowing Niu Dingtian is a Manichaean, no one imagined he would openly defy imperial authority, calling the emperor's name before the public; in this age where imperial power is supreme, such an act would shock the ordinary soldiers present beyond imagination.

Meng Zong Zheng's eyelids twitched; he could only pretend not to have heard, clasping his fists and urging: "Please calm your lordship, it's merely a misunderstanding."

"We brothers are heroes who have slain the Jin; the court has issued no order to execute Commander Hu and Commander Chen, so I dared to argue on principle."

"It seems the honored one mistakenly believed the slander of his subordinates; now that the misunderstanding is cleared, we might… we might just let it go?"

Although he also disliked this eunuch, the latter was after all an imperial envoy sent from the inner court of Lin'an.

If he were to die here pointlessly, regardless of any connection, as governor of Xiangyang he would not escape blame.

Meng Zong Zheng finished speaking; the red‑clothed eunuch seized the moment, not minding shame, and gave a fawning smile toward Niu Dingtian: "Your lordship is magnanimous; why not treat us as a mere fart and let us go?"

These words are an old cliché; in the imperial palace courtyards he has uttered them countless times.

However, everyone who has heard this, apart from his master and the ancestors, now has graves overgrown with tall grass.

Beside the Manichaeans, they felt anxious.

Whether it was Hu Zai Xing, Chen Xiang, or the others, they were not foolish enough to think the eunuch would spare them after returning.

Niu Dingtian's eyes flickered, his meaning inscrutable, and he suddenly smiled: "General Meng has spoken; I will give him face, but mistakes must be punished so they remember."

Saying this, before anyone could react, he flashed a phantom and slammed straight into the red‑clothed eunuch.

Speaking, before everyone had reacted, he flashed an illusory phantom and directly blasted head-on towards the red-clothed eunuch.

Spare my life!

Pfft~

Bang~

Just as the red‑clothed eunuch's plea for mercy ended, he felt a tremendous force surge into his body.

After a mouthful of hot blood spurted out, his whole body went limp from the blow, and he flew to collapse not far from Meng Zongzheng's feet.

Seeing this, Meng Zongzheng involuntarily let out a breath of relief: 'As long as he's not dead!'

However, just as he was rejoicing, the smile beneath Niu Dingtian's mask suddenly turned eerie.

Immediately thereafter, as his lips parted slightly, a series of soul‑capturing eerie sounds issued from his mouth: 'This eunuch colludes with the Jin people, plotting to seize Xiangyang, General Meng—why don't you act!'

General Meng, still not acting~

General Meng, still not acting~

General Meng, still not acting~

It is the Nine Nether Soul Seizing Grand Art!

Meng Zongzheng's body stiffened abruptly, his eyes glazed over, and instinctively he drew his waist‑borne long saber, walking slowly toward the red‑clothed eunuch.

'Meng Zongzheng, are you rebelling?' the red‑clothed eunuch exclaimed, his face shocked, his soul fleeing in terror; in his fury his voice grew hoarse.

Seeing Meng Zongzheng step by step approach, he tried to mobilize his energy to resist.

But the eerie force had already sealed his inner breath tight; no matter how he struggled, his body could hardly move an inch.

Sizzle~

Finally, amid the incredulous gazes of all the soldiers in the courtyard, Meng Zongzheng's long saber pierced straight through the red‑clothed eunuch's chest.

The fresh blood that sprayed out dripped slowly from before Meng Zongzheng's forehead, the warm sensation at the corner of his mouth finally bringing him back to his senses.

His eyes filled with shock, he flung away the saber's hilt as if to flee, stumbling backward step by step.

With a face full of disbelief, he muttered: 'How… how could this happen? … How… when did I, the official, strike?'

'Kill the treacherous eunuch!' Niu Dingtian suddenly bellowed, 'Everyone, hear my order—loose arrows!!!'

Loose arrows!

Loose arrows!

Loose arrows!

This mighty shout rang like resonant Buddhist chants, exploding in the soldiers' minds.

Instinctively, everyone turned their arrows toward the red‑clad figure on the ground, drew their bows, and shot.

'Cease fire!!' Meng Zongzheng suddenly realized, hastily raising his hand and shouting a stern halt!

But,

it was already too late.

Whoosh~ whoosh~ whoosh~

Thwip~ thwip~ thwip~

A volley of arrows saw nearly a hundred arrowheads continuously pierce the red‑clothed eunuch's body with soft thuds.

After the arrow rain, the person on the ground was dead beyond death.

General… this…

After regaining consciousness, nearly a hundred archers stared in unison at the angel‑like figure bristling with arrows, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Just moments ago, everyone only felt a muddled haze in their minds, and uncontrollably turned their bows and shot.

Afterward, they beheld the gruesome sight before them.

'You…' Meng Zongzheng spun around, pointing at Niu Dingtian, eyes blazing, teeth gritted: 'Why? You just said you'd give me face!'

At this moment he finally realized: it was Niu Dingtian's bewitching voice just now that made him unable to resist drawing his sword and striking.

Thinking of the Manichaean Sect's eerie, horrifying methods, his limbs turned ice‑cold in an instant, but were gradually replaced by fury: 'He is the imperial heavenly envoy! Why kill him? Why must you still kill him!'

By the end of his questioning, Meng Zongzheng was already hoarsely shouting at Niu Dingtian.

It's over! All over!

At this moment, his heart was filled with despair.

The imperial envoy died obscurely in Xiangyang, and moreover he died directly by his hand; even with a hundred mouths he could not explain it away.

Could it be that he would explain to others that a single word had bewitched his mind, leaving him uncontrolled and causing him to kill?

Who the hell would believe that?

Niu Dingtian, however, said calmly: 'General Meng, don't sully an innocent's reputation—when did you ever see me kill this eunuch? Just now it was clearly you who struck.'

Furthermore, this eunuch conspired with the Jin people, aiming to covet Xiangyang, while General Meng, with discerning eyes like a torch, uncovered the plot and bravely thwarted the eunuch's scheme—a great merit!

Why such panic?

Hearing this, Meng Zongzheng's face instantly changed to a wondrous expression.

And the rest of the people, unconsciously exchanging glances, suddenly found the courtyard plunged into an eerie stillness.

Niu Dingtian said calmly: 'The eunuch's martial prowess is unimaginable; only through the brave cooperation of General Meng and his troops could we barely slay this villain.'

Of course, if none of you wish to claim this credit, then it was Jin State spies who laid an ambush to assassinate the Xiangyang commander, and the heavenly envoy sacrificed himself to save him, ultimately dying heroically.

In that case, it would still be best to early report to Commissioner Zhao of the Jinghu Administration.

Having said that,

he waited for Meng Zongzheng's decision.

He believed that as long as one is a person, they would know how to choose in the present situation.

Although he does not fear the court's elite masters, facing the court head‑on is still better to delay as long as possible.

If we wanted to hide tonight's matter, it would actually be simple.

Those present from the Manichaean Sect, since it concerned their own lives, naturally would not leak it.

However, if only Meng Zongzheng alone were dragged into trouble, no one could guarantee that his subordinates' soldiers would not talk later.

Therefore, he could only have everyone present exert some effort on this eunuch.

This was the idea that arose when he observed the conflict in the courtyard from the shadows—no one would be more reliable than one's own people.

As for the court's reproach? The Jinghu Circuit Commissioner's reproach? As long as everyone stays hidden in Xiangyang and does not go out, refusing to admit it, what can you do to me?

Whether they came to deliver an edict or to make arrests, the long and arduous journey through mountains and rivers makes accidents inevitable.

The tighter the court presses, the more tightly this Xiangyang commander and the many officers present will stick together.

Unless the court really disregards everything and brings overwhelming force, but at present this possibility is minuscule.

Meng Zongzheng's face struggled for a moment, he sighed, and said: "As an official of the Song, as long as I remain in his service for a day, I will never follow the Manichaean Sect in raising a banner and rebelling."

This is his last bottom line; even if he decides to collude with this person before him, his inner resolve will never be abandoned.

Niu Dingtian seemed not to care, smiled, and said: "Whether the Manichaean Sect opposes the original deity is none of my concern, after all I am not yet its leader. However, the Sun and Moon Divine Sect on Nine Palaces Mountain is under my command as the sect master."

"To uphold righteousness, act on heaven's behalf, expel the barbarians, restore China—this is the sect's tenet, never to change."

"So, if the officials do not force rebellion, I will not rebel; from now on I will only stand with the people of Xiangyang, helping each other to resist the barbarians!"

In fact, he never intended from the start to directly raise a banner and rebel; he can do what rebels do, without any hesitation.

But unless absolutely necessary, he will never raise the banner and openly oppose the Song, for that would only benefit the Jin State and the Mongols, bringing him more loss than gain.

Moreover, in a few years the Jin State will be unable to withstand Mongol incursions, relocating its capital southward, and will then continue to invade the Great Song in order to seek compensation for its losses in the north.

And Xiangyang is precisely the frontline position.

Upon hearing this, Meng Zongzheng's heart relaxed instantly; this was a pleasant surprise he had never imagined. Those beside him, such as Hu Zai xing, felt the same.

The following events are also simple,

Meng Zongzheng steeled himself to cut himself with a knife, not wanting to fall short of the required appearance.

Afterwards,

Several people quickly pulled out the arrows, lifted the mutilated corpse, and began running toward the prefectural office of Xiangyang City to report the death. (End of chapter)