Chapter 523

Dawn light was faint, the chill piercing to the bone.

Under the protection of Chao Gai and fifty elite soldiers, Chen Wen left Black Cloud Stronghold.

He did not choose the several large manors where Chao Gai had hit a wall yesterday, but turned toward the southwest, to a Li family manor nestled in a mountain valley, not too large in scale.

He was not unprepared for this journey.

Although the Shi Yong ability could not directly conjure grain, it allowed him to faintly sense the subtle differences in the 'vitality' and 'harvest' qi of different regions.

In the direction of the Li family manor, the Fortune Momentum halo representing 'continuity' and 'potential' was not dazzling, yet it appeared more stable and resilient than those of the several nearby manors.

This perhaps meant that negotiation was possible there.

However, just as the party marched on, Chen Wen's brows furrowed slightly.

It was not due to the road ahead, but arose from a profound and mysterious perception.

In his perception, on that blurry Fortune Momentum star chart composed of countless bright or dim points, a distant southern region, previously unnoticed, suddenly blazed with a fervent, concentrated Fortune Momentum point!

This point differed from the murky, defeated aura of chaos and decay after the False Song court fled south;

nor did it resemble the hopeful yet somewhat immature Fortune Momentum embryonic form within the Northward Aspiration army's controlled area.

It was more like a sword sheathed, its edge concealed yet emanating an unshakable, irresistible aura!

Around the point, faint phantoms of gleaming weapons and iron horses flickered, bearing a tragic and resolute meaning.

"This is..."

Chen Wen's heart felt a solemn chill.

He could sense that the importance of this newly emerged great Fortune Momentum point likely far exceeded the ordinary.

It might even be no less than some key nodes he had marked earlier within the False Song realm.

"Another hero swept up in this tumultuous age?"

"Judging by this aura, it is certainly no mere pond dweller."

He silently pondered, firmly committing that direction to memory.

Almost at the same moment, a hurried hoofbeat sounded from behind.

A messenger from the Chen dynasty, who had made contact through special channels, dust-covered, caught up with the party.

"My lord!"

The messenger swiftly dismounted and respectfully presented a sealed wax letter.

"Lord Zhang Cheng ordered his subordinate to rush this day and night, reporting that these are the latest southern developments, of utmost importance."

Chen Wen took the letter and waved for the messenger to rest first.

He broke the wax seal and quickly scanned it.

The letter was personally written by Zhang Cheng, its contents detailed.

Besides the routine report on the Chen dynasty's internal stability, the new emperor Chen Hong's praise for the recent battle achievements of the Northward Aspiration army, and the news that a batch of secret supplies had been dispatched via special channels, the letter emphasized the situation after the False Song court fled south.

Among them, a name was specially circled—Yue Fei, Yue Pengju.

The letter mentioned that, in the chaos after the False Song court fled south, he gathered scattered troops in the Huainan region, trained the army, repeatedly repelled small Jin forces and Jin-defecting puppet troops, and his reputation grew.

Although his force was not large, its discipline was strict, its combat ability considerable, and its resolve to resist the Jin extremely firm; within the False Song military system, it was considered an anomaly.

"Yue Fei... Yue Pengju..."

Chen Wen silently recited that name.

In his mind, the newly emerged southern Fortune Momentum point, like a sword drawn from its sheath, seemed to faintly coincide with that name.

"Indeed, it is him."

Chen Wen understood clearly in his heart.

Although he did not know the person's future deeds, based solely on the manifestation of this Fortune Momentum and the description of his actions in Zhang Cheng's intelligence, this man was certainly no mediocrity.

Perhaps he would become a crucial 'node' in this southern turmoil.

He put away the letter, already having a plan in mind.

Once the food and fodder crisis is somewhat eased, he must promptly send someone south to contact this person.

If they could unite, the resistance against the Jin might gain an additional pillar of strength.

As his thoughts flowed, he unconsciously directed his perception toward another corner of the Fortune Momentum star chart in his mind—

That was a point he had vaguely marked in his youth, during the False Song Emperor Zhenzong's era, on the border of Linchuan in Jiangxi Circuit.

At that time, that point emitted a unique 'Wen Qu' aura, faint yet bearing a potential for reform and flourishing.

He remembered having once associated it with a child named Wang Anshi.

According to the normal flow of time, even if that 'Wen Qu' point had not yet reached its peak, it should now be gradually becoming prominent, its light growing brighter.

However—

When his consciousness reached that intended position, what he felt was instead a near‑void blankness!

There was no expected gradual brightening of the 'Wen Qu' starlight;

no fluctuating Fortune Momentum of reform and flourishing;

only a deathly silence.

It seemed as if nothing worth noting in terms of Fortune Momentum nodes had ever existed there.

It seemed as if the trajectory of the one named Wang Anshi had been forcibly erased from the scroll of time by an invisible great hand, or… covered over.

"Has it disappeared?"

Chen Wen's heart sank sharply.

This is absolutely not a normal phenomenon!

A node bearing great destiny's momentum might have its course shifted by various factors, but it could absolutely not be so abruptly and thoroughly obliterated without trace.

Thinking of the False Song court's illogical rapid turnover;

Thinking of the Iron Crow Army's master, eager to push forward "history";

A cold speculation rose in his heart.

"That's right……accelerate……"

"In order to quickly advance to the 'historical stage' they desire, and to eliminate any branches that might produce 'variables'……"

"They not only accelerated time, but also brutally……pruned those nodes that appeared 'redundant' or 'likely to go off on a tangent' during the acceleration process?"

"Wang Anshi……might be one of them?"

"Because he was not supposed to play an important role in this accelerated 'Jingkang' era, so he was……directly erased from existence?"

Thinking this, Chen Wen felt a chill rise from his spine.

The Iron Crow Army and its master, to uphold their so-called 'script', act with such cruelty, such ruthlessness!

This made him pay more attention to the newly emerged 'Yue Fei' node in the south, while also arousing a strong sense of urgency.

Such an important anti-Jin force, in the Iron Crow Army-led, hastily constructed 'script', what fate will it face?

"We must figure it out as soon as possible……"

He muttered to himself.

"Mr. Chen, we're about to reach Li Family Village ahead."

Chao Gai's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Chen Wen lifted his head, gazing toward the faintly visible manor walls in the valley ahead.

For now, we must first resolve the urgent supply problem.

Then we can free our hands to deal with the south's even more treacherous and unpredictable situation.

He took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing all his thoughts about the southern light point, Yue Fei, and the vanished Wang Anshi node.

His gaze became sharp and focused once again.

Li Family Village will be the first touchstone for him to test a certain idea and resolve the survival crisis of the Northward Aspiration Army.

The troop continued forward, horse hooves striking the frozen ground, emitting a dull sound.

Yet in Chen Wen's heart, waves had already been stirred.

The sword of the south has already been drawn;

and in the depths of history's shadow, the invisible pruning continues.

The path of the Northward Aspiration Army is destined to collide more fiercely with this predetermined 'script'.