Chapter 31: Chapter Thirty-One: The Di List

Is there any justice in this world?

There’s no justice at all.

The name Yu Yun clung to him like a cursed talisman, tightening endlessly.

Dou Changsheng took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions; he knew himself well—this misfortune had struck again.

If the future Dou Changsheng were here, he wouldn’t even know the military pay had been lost at Sanyang Mountain—he’d happily be welcomed up the mountain by the Sanyang Sect, make a modest display of skill, win first place outright, and leave with perfect ease.

This is fate.

Dou Changsheng thought of other brothers who didn’t even have the System, yet were still plagued by misfortune, and instantly felt balanced.

Not as good as those above, but better than those below.

Dou Changsheng flatly refused to take on the case: “The theft of military pay has shaken the court—this is a major case; the imperial court will surely assign a senior minister to investigate, while I am merely a rustic from the mountains.”

“What virtue or ability do I possess to investigate such a massive case of stolen military pay?”

“Miss Tang has misunderstood.”

Tang Qingyan’s expression was sincere, her tone earnest: “I know you bear a heavy burden now, and this is our first meeting—I’ve heard the saying, ‘Knowing a person’s face doesn’t mean knowing their heart.’”

“People hide their true intentions; it’s only natural you won’t reveal your plans to me.”

“I won’t pry into how you intend to act—only tell you this: if you need aid near Sanyang Mountain, consider me.”

“I come from Southern Chen, not Northern Jin—I have no deep ties to any major power in Northern Jin.”

“My journey north is to repay a debt of gratitude.”

“Dou Changsheng, be extremely cautious—those in Northern Jin, especially those with old ties to General Yu.”

“General Yu’s imprisonment is far too complex—gratitude cannot compete with money, power, or interest.”

“Chen Qingyao, the Demon Chancellor, is no upstart who rose through favoritism—he is a contemporary of the Demon Master Lin Xuanqi; when the Demon Master dominated the Jianghu, that decade belonged to him.”

“Since his rise, the Demon Master surged forward without pause, sweeping all before him; after appearing on the Ren List, he immediately climbed to the Di List, and today he stands as the number one on the Di List.”

“That is unquestionably invincible—but among his peers, one man, though repeatedly defeated, still clings closely behind.”

“Chen Qingyao calls himself the Ghost Valley Divine Lord, ranked third on the Di List.”

“These two dominated the top three of their generation’s Ren List, hailed as the strongest Ren List in recent history.”

“Remember, sometimes an entire generation of the Ren List produces not a single name on the Di List’s top ten.”

“Northern Jin is a great nation—its chancellor is no ordinary figure.”

“Northern Jin now faces internal strife and external threats, all stemming from the sudden death of the former emperor and the young emperor’s ascension.”

“When the former emperor ruled, he labored tirelessly—within, he had Chen Qingyao; without, he had Yu Yun; he repelled the Hu Ren to the north and suppressed the Chen Dynasty to the south—what majesty that was.”

“Since the young emperor’s ascension, the state has declined daily; ministers and generals are at odds, fighting each other.”

“Whether Chen Qingyao or Yu Yun—if used well, they can revive the nation; if used poorly, they can destroy it.”

“Great ability is not always a blessing.”

Tang Qingyan’s emotions grew complex, her eyes dimming with dark light; finally, she sighed: “The Heavenly Demon Palace was originally controlled by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but after the Demon Master Lin Xuanqi emerged, the palace turned the tables, seized control of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and eroded the imperial court.”

“Countless people across Southern Chen secretly collude with the Heavenly Demon Palace.”

“Even my Tang clan has been forced to send our kin to join the Heavenly Sword Sect, relying on its prestige to secure safety from Jiangdu.”

“Every household has its own hard-to-sing song.”

Tang Qingyan’s lament revealed how hard great nations were, and how much harder small ones were—neither the state nor the throne was controlled by the monarch; power had been usurped by ministers, yet they dared not take the final step—stealing the throne by name would be too shocking, violate ritual law, and invite intervention from great powers.

In this world, martial artists run rampant; for a hundred years they are like roadside weeds, unnoticed—but after a hundred years, one man alone enters the imperial palace three times, starting from Chaotian Gate, breaking through every gate in succession, walking with righteous might all the way to Taiji Hall, treating ten thousand troops as if they were nothing.

The Demon Master Lin Xuanqi has become Southern Chen’s pain.

Compared to the Demon Master, this Demon Chancellor’s influence is incomparably weaker.

Had it been the Demon Master, there would be no northern dispute—he would have long since broken through the passes, marched north into the grasslands, and debated the Dao with the Hu Ren wolf lord.

Southern Chen has grown strong because of him, showing signs of overtaking the other four nations—but the long-term consequences are endless.

Tang Qingyan set aside her complex emotions and continued speaking to Dou Changsheng: “The situation at Sanyang Sect is complicated—the stolen military pay is certainly tied to them.”

“Be careful when you ascend Sanyang Mountain.”

Tang Qingyan reached into her sleeve and pulled out a paper crane, folded from red paper, and personally handed it to Dou Changsheng: “If something truly happens and you need support...”

“Activate this paper crane with your primordial internal qi.”

“It carries my spiritual intent—it will fly and find me.”

“Once I receive the message, I will set out immediately.”

“But use this item carefully—do not use it before a Divine Sage, or you will surely be detected.”

Dou Changsheng carefully tucked it away, his heart turning cold—for that single sentence had revealed something: this Tang Qingyan, who had both legs severed and appeared disabled, was in truth an immensely powerful master who had reached the Divine level.

The Jiangdu Tang clan—a sword-forging family.

Though powerful, this clan still lived under the shadow of the Heavenly Demon Palace—enough to show that nowhere in this world is truly safe.

This was perfectly normal—anyone bold enough to travel north from the south to the capital must possess considerable strength.

After Dou Changsheng put away the paper crane, Tang Qingyan added: “I’ve already sent word to Sanyang Sect—they know you’ve arrived, and they will surely send disciples to invite you up the mountain.”

“No outsiders may ascend—only you may now.”

“Go there, and be cautious in all things.”

After being warned repeatedly, Dou Changsheng stepped out of the room to find someone already waiting—he turned back to look inside and saw the chamber was empty, the teacups vanished, as if he had been alone there from the start.

Tang Qingyan was either a figment of Dou Changsheng’s imagination, or a ghost he had encountered.

“Young Master Dou.”

“Wine and food are prepared on the mountain—all the young masters have arrived; the Sect Master requests your ascent.”

PS: “Five Qi Sealing” has been revised—I made a mistake; it was meant for future Dou Changsheng, not present Dou Changsheng. Dou Changsheng already knows “Five Qi Sealing,” so this is an upgraded version. The change is minor—just one added sentence. My apologies. Welcome corrections. Also, I’ve been running naked for a week—no idea if the resurrection match will succeed and earn me another recommendation.

I plan to write eight thousand characters for fun once I ascend.

Tomorrow too—eight thousand. If I don’t make it, forget I said anything.

I hope I can make it!