Chapter 15: Chapter Fifteen: Arrival in Shangjing

Wang Fu stroked his beard and smiled: “Within the borders of Da Zhou, just two demon kings—how could they possibly injure your father? Your father didn’t come because he’s chasing the severely wounded White Horned Eagle King.”

“Both demon kings escaped? Isn’t it dangerous for my father to pursue them?” Li Yu furrowed her brow in concern.

“I’ve already destroyed the Red-Eyed Wolf King!”

Wang Fu laughed triumphantly.

“Ah!” This outcome took Li Yu by surprise.

Wang Fu possessed a Semi-Sage’s ink treasure—the Scroll of Heaven and Earth—while the Red-Eyed Wolf King held the quasi-Devil Sovereign’s artifact, the Demon Pagoda. Neither could reasonably hope to kill the other.

Wang Fu extended one finger and said: “Your grandmaster came too. He struck only once—shattered the quasi-Devil Sovereign’s artifact, the Demon Pagoda. So…”

Lu Fang listened to their conversation, stunned beyond words.

Only a Semi-Sage could shatter a quasi-Devil Sovereign’s artifact. It must be him.

Many stories circulate about the great female scholar Li Yu.

Among them is the tale of her lineage: her master is the great Confucian Wang Fu; her grandmaster is the Semi-Sage Xu Han Yi.

This Semi-Sage’s life was legendary indeed!

He began as a military general, winning countless victories in southern campaigns and northern expeditions, yet attained the Semi-Sage realm through Confucian cultivation—and was the founding teacher of Emperor Ji Feng of the current Zhou dynasty. Later, he turned to Daoist cultivation and summoned the miraculous phenomenon of purple qi descending from heaven.

He is known as the greatest beneath the Sage.

He is the most promising candidate in Da Zhou’s last thousand years to become a Sage.

“Come, I’ll take you back to the Bozhou encampment first.”

Wang Fu swept his sleeve, and a scroll appeared out of thin air, instantly swelling to the size of a carriage and hovering midair. He leapt onto it.

Lu Fang and Li Yu were lifted by a gust of wind and placed atop the scroll.

Whoosh! The scroll shot toward Bozhou.

…

The northern border of Da Zhou.

A male eagle with twin white horns circled the sky, letting out a piercing cry: “Who killed my cub? This feud cannot be reconciled!”

The White Horned Eagle King possessed the clan technique “Eagle Soaring Through the Heavens.” Even wounded, escaping the pursuit of the Confucian Li Mao Tong was effortless.

Not to mention the pre-established retreat array.

But to learn that his most cherished son, Ying Li, had been slain—this he could not accept!

Among the younger demon race, Ying Li had earned the seal of recognition from the Devil Sovereign Dream King, rivaling even the demon prodigies.

In a century, or at most three to five centuries,

Ying Li was destined to become a peerless demon king. To die thus in Da Zhou—how could the White Horned Eagle King not rage with fury?

“Da Zhou should be erased from this world! The Ten Thousand Demon Hall must declare war on Da Zhou!” The White Horned Eagle King raged helplessly, then flew away from Da Zhou’s northern border toward the demon stronghold, the Demon King Hall.

…

At the center of the Bozhou encampment, before the newly set-up teleportation array.

“Yu’er, you and your Master Lu will return to Shangjing first. Once I’ve eradicated all the mountain spirits and wild demons who aided the demons in assassinating the ‘Prophecy Man,’ I’ll return with the army.”

Li Mao Tong instructed Li Yu.

Li Yu nodded, casting a complex glance at Lu Fang beside her, who kept his eyes downcast.

Yesterday, Wang Fu had received his master’s command and taken Lu Fang as his disciple—suddenly, their generational rank had shifted. Now Li Yu had to call Lu Fang “Master Uncle.”

The drop in status was too great!

Wang Fu chuckled and patted Lu Fang’s shoulder.

“Younger brother, hurry and write ‘Dream of the Red Chamber.’ Such a wonderful story—even I love reading it, let alone Master himself.”

The Semi-Sage Xu Han Yi was elusive, appearing only in glimpses.

He had happened to visit the encampment yesterday. After reading the first chapter of “Dream of the Red Chamber,” the lame Taoist’s “Song of Good and Ill,” and its annotations, he immediately decided to take Lu Fang as his disciple.

The two had never met face-to-face—he entrusted Wang Fu to formally accept Lu Fang.

“Ah, I’ll remember.”

Lu Fang replied.

He felt light-headed. Being accepted as a disciple by the Semi-Sage Xu Han Yi was an unimaginable stroke of fortune.

He even wondered if he were still trapped in the nightmare world.

The greatest beneath the Sage!

The founding teacher of Emperor Ji Feng of the current Zhou dynasty!

The most promising candidate in a thousand years to become a Sage—even within Daoism, he held considerable status.

To become this Semi-Sage’s disciple—how many princes, dukes, and generals of Da Zhou would kill to earn such an opportunity? Yet Lu Fang was personally chosen. Who in all of Da Zhou could have imagined this?

Once this news spreads, the entire world will be shaken.

After final instructions, Lu Fang and Li Yu stepped onto the teleportation array. Li Mao Tong and Wang Fu jointly channeled their righteous qi to activate it. The array glowed with spiritual light, enveloping them.

Pop!

The two vanished from the array.

“Whoa!”

Lu Fang stumbled, barely keeping his balance. When he steadied himself, he found himself before a massive city wall, surrounded by armored guards holding long spears.

“By His Majesty’s decree, escorting Lu Fang back to the capital.”

Li Yu produced a token. The surrounding guards immediately lowered their spears. The lead officer verified it and granted passage.

“Stay close to me.”

Li Yu said, then walked into the city without looking back.

Lu Fang hurried after her, unconsciously raising his head to gaze at the wall ahead.

The towering city gate stood majestic; every two meters along its length stood a guard with a spear. Above the massive gate, thirty feet high, were carved three characters: “Shangjing.”

He had thought it would take a month’s journey to reach Shangjing.

One blink of the teleportation array—and from distant Bozhou, he stood in Shangjing. No wonder this was a fantasy world.

“I’ve arrived in Shangjing!”

Lu Fang cried inwardly. Seeing Li Yu already disappearing into the bustling streets, he rushed after her.

Beyond the gate lay the capital of Da Zhou: Shangjing.

Cobblestone roads stretched before him; on either side stood ornate shops with carved beams and painted rafters. Luxurious carriages darted like shuttles; crowds surged like a river—truly a scene of golden age prosperity.

At Li Yu’s urging, they first returned to the Li residence, bathed, changed clothes, and tidied themselves before boarding a carriage to the imperial palace.

“When you meet His Majesty, don’t speak out of turn. Answer only what’s asked. The palace staff will teach you the proper etiquette later.”

Li Yu warned him.

“Won’t you come with me?”

Lu Fang hadn’t felt nervous before, but her serious tone now made him uneasy.

He was about to meet the Emperor of Da Zhou—the most powerful man in the world.

In that moment, thoughts flooded his mind.

“Serving a sovereign is like treading with a tiger!”

“What if I accidentally offend His Majesty? Will my entire clan be executed?”

“Of course, I’ll go with you to meet His Majesty.”

Li Yu noticed his unease and reassured him: “Don’t worry too much. Just be careful with your words.”

Even if you say something wrong, His Majesty, out of respect for your grandmaster, won’t punish you.

Li Yu did not say this aloud.