Chapter 832: It's Time to Fight

Tang Luo had already formulated a plan for the Jia clan's rise.

When the time was about right, it could be put directly into action.

For now it was a period of rest; after all, the Jia clan's female generals had just returned.

Before long they would have to go to the battlefield; beating up some aristocratic scions to blow off steam was only right and proper.

"This... really go?" Hearing Tang Luo's words, Lady Jia nearly tore the chair armrest off.

"Naturally we must go." Tang Luo smiled. "At that time, a whole family of twenty Dukes — certainly imposing."

"Still twenty Dukes." Lady Jia said irritably, then changed expression. "Can't you just live properly, pass your days in peace?"

She truly disliked fighting and killing, and was even more unwilling to see her descendants risk their lives on the battlefield.

The Jia clan's wealth and honor were already enough for them to enjoy leisurely for several generations.

Now a Grandmaster-or-above Jia Rong had appeared; what was the point of the Flower-Fruit Mountain Thirteen Guardians?

As long as the Jia clan itself didn't stir up earth-shattering trouble, they could remain "wealthy idlers" until Great Qian perished.

Counting the time, two hundred years of wealth and honor were certainly assured; as for what came after, Lady Jia wasn't willing to care.

In fact, she could only manage until Jia Lan's generation; unless another "Jia Baoyu" who took after his ancestor appeared further down.

All the way to the end it was a road of wealth, honor, and peace; Lady Jia truly couldn't understand why the man before her insisted on continuing to climb higher.

Perhaps this was the difference between men and women?

"Even if the Jia clan is willing, and Great Qian is willing, the other two states certainly are not." Tang Luo revealed a faint smile.

"This... where does that come from?" Lady Jia asked.

The great battle that year which left Jia Daishan with severe lingering injuries was the largest conflict between the three states in these decades.

Since then, the three states had all entered a stage of recuperation, with only occasional friction.

Border defenses never ceased, but the largest battle was just the one last year against the Yin State (Great Yin) — a battle of a thousand-odd men.

Great Qian won; the Li clan's Qilin, Li Qi, gained his marquisate thanks to that "great battle."

This "thousand-odd men" didn't mean you field one thousand, I field one thousand, totaling two thousand together.

Rather, you five hundred, I five hundred, adding up to one thousand.

A state war blown up out of nothing.

One could see the borders were "peaceful."

"Oh, Great Yin's so-called 'One Hundred and Eight Stars' have already ascended the throne, rubbing their hands ready for action." Tang Luo said casually. "Heavenly Chief Star Song Jiang replaced Cheng Yong (Great Yin's former emperor)."

"How could it be like this!"

Lady Jia was struck dumb with shock.

She had also heard the name "One Hundred and Eight Stars."

Actually it wasn't a pleasant name; it counted as "rebels."

One could even say they had already gathered crowds and rebelled; later Great Yin repeatedly appeased them, finally granting amnesty.

Everyone thought that after amnesty these people would surely be divided and dealt with, not a single one meeting a good end.

Unexpectedly, a few years later, the leader of the One Hundred and Eight Stars, Song Jiang, actually seized the imperial throne.

He who usurps a state becomes a marquis?

No, he who usurps a state becomes an emperor!

"Who knows." Tang Luo said casually. "It's just a matter of these few days; before long news will certainly arrive. In a few months at the shortest, a year and a half at the longest, Great Yin will inevitably launch a war with Great Qian."

The news was brought by Zhu Bajie.

He had stayed in the three states — no, in the Ding State — for a period of time, and afterward spent his days in Great Yin watching the excitement.

All sorts of power struggles, open contention and secret maneuvering, smiles hiding daggers, stabbing in the back, bloody slaughter — Zhu Bajie, who observed the whole process, remarked these people were truly idle.

"Why?" Lady Jia asked.

"Even with the 'Late Emperor's' edict, Song Jiang sitting on the throne still lacks legitimacy; he needs a great victory to secure his position." Tang Luo put it concisely.

"Then why must they attack our Great Qian..." Lady Jia spoke halfway, then stopped herself and shook her head.

Why attack Great Qian? Because Great Ding's martial strength is very strong; they can't beat them.

Great Qian, though not weak, is inferior to Great Ding in terms of "martial power value."

Not to mention anything else, just from the number of peak martial experts — Grandmasters — previously Great Qian had eight openly known Grandmasters.

Great Yin had fourteen; of course, after a round of replacement and purge, only ten remain now.

While Great Ding has a full seventeen or eighteen; Great Qian and Great Yin added together can barely match them.

Great Yin went through an internal struggle and inevitably declined somewhat; they'd have to be fools to provoke Great Ding at this time.

Naturally they must pick a soft persimmon to pinch, and Great Qian is that soft persimmon.

"Then isn't that very dangerous?" Lady Jia said. "Who knows how many will die."

Great Yin is determined to win a victory; the tragedy of the war is imaginable. Even if Great Qian wins in the end, it will likely be a pyrrhic victory.

"Danger is certain." Tang Luo said. "But if we're talking about how many will truly die, that's not necessarily so."

Lady Jia wasn't stupid; at this moment her mind started turning. After pondering a moment she nodded: "Not too many will die."

The reason was none other than Great Ding standing by; no one dares let too many die.

Once too many die, Great Ding's three unparalleled heroes will surely make a move.

At that point the situation will be out of anyone's control.

"The rank-and-file soldiers below won't die too many, but the martial generals above may not die few." Lady Jia's eyes narrowed, extremely sharp. "I'm afraid even one or two Grandmasters are within the acceptable loss range."

"Roughly." Tang Luo's tone was casual, neither confirming nor denying.

"You must guarantee those girls' safety; otherwise don't even think about going!" Lady Jia's gaze fixed on Tang Luo. "If you don't give a promise, I'll stake this old face of mine and still not agree."

This old lady wasn't a good clan head, but no matter how you put it, for a portion of the younger generation she was absolutely a good elder.

If he can protect them, he absolutely will.

Especially toward Jia Baoyu, it has reached the point of "doting on a son like killing him."

"Hahaha."

Tang Luo, however, burst into loud laughter, completely ignoring Grandmother Jia's imposing pressure.

It made Grandmother Jia's face flush red and turn pale in turns; Ying'er at her side hurriedly patted her back to calm her breath.

After laughing, Tang Luo didn't speak either, merely signaling Ying'er with a glance.

Ying'er gave a light laugh and said: "Old Ancestor needn't worry, the Great King protects us very tightly."

"Great King?" Grandmother Jia froze for a moment, then realized she meant Sun Wukong, that "wild monkey" Tang Luo had invited from who knows where.

His strength is at least at the Grandmaster level.

He created a mountain inside the house, and turned her beloved orioles and swallows into a troop of unruly monkeys, angering Grandmother Jia so much she couldn't eat or sleep well for several days.

The thought alone made her angry.

"He really will protect you all?" Grandmother Jia looked at Ying'er and asked.

Ying'er nodded; she couldn't very well say just how the Great King was protective of his own, but in any case it was no worse than Grandmother Jia.

In Sun Wukong's words: "Those who come out of our Flower-Fruit Mountain only beat others, they've never been beaten."

This style, Xue Baochai and Lin Daiyu had learned ninety percent of it.

"I'm going too." Tang Luo's words delighted Grandmother Jia, "To watch the excitement."

The second half of the sentence immediately made her face darken again; she hastily waved her hand, urging this headache of a great-grandson to leave quickly.

The healed injuries, the extra years of life — all would be wasted away by anger.

Returning to Ningguo Mansion, the main hall was filled with smoke and fire.

Before the Eight Trigrams Furnace, flames rose from the firewood; Sun Wukong and Ao Yulie were roasting and eating here.

Yang Jian rarely came out once, expressionless, but his hand also held a bamboo pole, roasting a pair of chicken wings there.

"Master, when is Second Senior Brother coming back?" Seeing Tang Luo approach, Ao Yulie handed him the roasted meat in her hand.

Tang Luo took it casually and stuffed it into his mouth, mumbling indistinctly: "Not coming back. Before long there'll be a fight; we'll rendezvous at the border."

"The 108 Generals of Liangshan, hmph." Ao Yulie said, "Wonder what they'll be like."

"There aren't 108 anymore." Tang Luo said, "Quite a few died."

"Master, why don't my lads come over, come eat some roasted meat together." Sun Wukong, regardless of his greasy, soot-covered hands, scratched his head, incidentally maintaining his Super Saiyan hairstyle.

Yang Jian and Ao Yulie at least used bamboo skewers to string theirs up.

Sun Wukong roasted directly holding it in his hands; the sight made Tang Luo and the other two, plus Howling Celestial Dog, all wear looks of disdain.

Yang Jian really couldn't bear to watch, and cast a "Cleansing Spell," making Sun Wukong brand new from head to toe.

Sun Wukong grinned at Yang Jian.

"Today seems to be the appointed duel day?" Tang Luo thought a moment and said.

After Li Qi of the Li clan rested for a few days, as everyone expected, he began challenging the Jia clan girls; the first was Lin Daiyu.

The venue was the Martial Arts Tower; in Li Qi's words, this is a pure fight between martial artists.

She won't use her Marquis title to pressure people.

After all, the Jia clan girls are merely commoners without rank.

Not counting the Nine Phoenix Marquis title, Li Qi, Lin Daiyu and the rest all belong to the younger generation; naturally they should settle things at the Martial Arts Tower.

The father's generation above — if they truly had issues needing martial contest, the venue wouldn't be the Martial Arts Tower, but the Heavenly Martial Parade Ground.

"I actually didn't know?" Hearing this, Ao Yulie instantly grew interested, tossed aside what was in her hand, "Going to take a look."

"Actually not notifying this Great King." Sun Wukong also tossed his chicken wing — threw it into his mouth, swallowed it whole, and chased after Ao Yulie.

Yang Jian's face turned cold; two bastards, didn't even know to clean up before leaving.

"Going or not?" Tang Luo invited Yang Jian.

"Not interested." Yang Jian waved a hand, instantly cleaning the main hall spotless; only the exquisite dish before Howling Celestial Dog with roasted food remained.

"Fair enough, staying inside the furnace you can see too." Tang Luo said.

Without leaving the Eight Trigrams Furnace, one knows all under heaven — Eight Trigrams Furnace Limited Edition · Zhuge · Yang Jian.

"I'm not that bored." Yang Jian didn't admit it, turned and became a streak of light, re-entering the Eight Trigrams Furnace.

Tang Luo picked up Howling Celestial Dog, who had wolfed down all the food, and also walked out leisurely.

Leaving Ningguo Mansion, unlike Ao Yulie and Sun Wukong who flew off directly, Tang Luo boarded the prepared carriage, taking some time to reach the Martial Arts Tower.

The Martial Arts Tower was very lively at this moment.

Nine Phoenix Marquis vs. Jia Clan's Thirteen Guardians.

If not for the overly great backgrounds of both sides, the capital's gambling houses would have opened betting pools.

Even so, private wagers among aristocratic scions were not few.

Since the Martial Arts Tower's founding, this was the first time it was this lively; those from less prominent families didn't even have the qualification to sit down at this moment.

The Jia clan carriage stopped at the gate, and no one paid attention.

Perhaps it was other members of the Jia Thirteen Guardians arriving; right now the Thirteen Guardians on the ninth floor hadn't all arrived.

But seeing a young man holding a small beast step down from the carriage, everyone froze.

Who is this?

The Jia clan's "boudoir-bred male" has finally "stepped out the gate"?