[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-peace-decree":3,"chapter-the-peace-decree-the-peace-decree-chapter-105":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Peace Decree",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2328280,4553,"Chapter 105: Entering the Array to Meet the Qilin","the-peace-decree-chapter-105",105,"\u003Cp>The military advisor’s expression flickered slightly, and he breathed a sigh of relief—he had not expected this young man from the Xue family to be so upright and principled, saving him considerable trouble. He hurriedly said, “Good, good, then I’ll write it that way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wounded martial aristocrat on the ground roared in fury: “I don’t want your pity!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader struggled to his feet and said, “I’m going to the Qilin Pavilion too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My crimes are not your burden to carry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, these were sons of martial aristocratic families—there were always those with stubborn pride. With one man leading, the rest of the martial youths gritted their teeth: facing the cold palace or forbidden palace guard was less important than their honor, and more importantly, they were not those empty vessels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were genuine young martial officers, here only because of a single word from Yuwen Lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi suddenly turned, kicked out a leg—the young man’s face changed, he crossed his arms to block himself; his martial skill was decent enough, but he relied solely on physical strength, no internal Qi projection, no sword qi or blade aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Purely with flesh and bone, he was no match for even a single blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was flung two zhang away, his palms trembling, teeth clenched, eyes blazing at the boy ahead—Li Guanyi held his sword with one hand, channeled the technique taught by his aunt, and a faint air of noble pride appeared on his face as he said coolly, “What I have done, I alone shall answer for—you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The defeated have no right to speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you're not satisfied, come fight again next month!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial aristocrat caught his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being swept by Li Guanyi’s dragon-tendon, tiger-bone physique, he still managed to rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat upright, eyes defiant—not defeated, merely resentful: “Fine! This month, you win. Next month, we fight again—if I win, I’ll take the punishment and guard the Qilin Palace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others’ faces changed: “This, Young General—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man looked barely seventeen or eighteen; he waved his hand sharply, silencing them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze burned steadily at his peer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi knew he had passed this test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had not been reassigned to the Qilin Palace—he had simply defeated these martial youths, then chosen to accept the Jinwu Guard’s punishment and go to the Qilin Palace, a natural progression, unlikely to raise suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, most court officials knew that Emperor Chen wished to use Li Guanyi as a whetstone to hone the martial aristocrats, and that Yuwen Lie’s words had been a backhanded insult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only natural these martial youths sought trouble with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi turned, gripped his sword, faced away from them, then extended his right hand, pointing at the young man—he paused, then thrust his finger sharply downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He replied: “I’ll wait for you to lose again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial aristocrats nearly exploded in rage—but even as they ground their teeth, they could not help but shout “Good!” at his bearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young martial aristocrat steadied himself on his weapon and shouted: “Li Guanyi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next time, we will guard the Qilin Palace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember that!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The military advisor and the other Jinwu Guards, who had been slacking off for years, froze—they stared at these bruised, battered youths shouting wildly, and for a moment felt as if they were dreaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They felt dazed, absurd—how could these men willingly choose to guard a palace with no profit and no excitement?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stared at those bruised, swearing, yet radiant faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unconsciously, they touched their own cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only rough skin and thick beards met their fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, a heavy, suffocating ache rose in their chests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They turned away and cursed: “They’re insane.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wanting to fight for the Qilin Palace?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they knew—it wasn’t about the position. It was about the fire in these youths’ hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The military advisor bent low, picked up the scroll, recalling the faint, almost imagined tiger’s roar—he hadn’t seen it, but he had truly felt a whisper of dread. He had intended to fabricate this report, but Li Guanyi was sent by Imperial Consort Xue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only faithfully record everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including the martial youths’ provocation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And how Li Guanyi alone had knocked down nine sons of martial aristocratic families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them: the eldest son of the Zhenwei General, the second son of the Longxiang Guard Commander, the son of a royal commandery princess, a distant nephew of the current Emperor—the strongest among them was the son of the Deputy Commander of the Yechi Cavalry, the young man who had spoken up, called “Young General.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yechi Cavalry was one of the empire’s elite armies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alongside the Tie Futu and Hu Man Cavalry, they were known as the Three Great Iron Cavalries of the realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such armies were always commanded by imperial clan members—the Deputy Commander was thus the true de facto leader of the Yechi Cavalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were nearly half the most elite young martial aristocrats of Chen Guo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they had been beaten down by a boy from a consort’s family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The military advisor recorded it faithfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including the words and demands his own wife had given him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He submitted it honestly to the Jinwu Guard’s superiors, who were laughed at by the Yulin Central Colonel: “Clever little rat—you don’t want to offend anyone. I know a mere military advisor is often powerless.” He tossed it back, scolding: “Go be a groom, then. This matter is dropped.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Lao heard of Li Guanyi’s handling of the matter, drank heartily, and laughed uproariously—then, without anger, he clapped Li Guanyi on the shoulder and said bluntly: “Next time, keep hitting them. These people only respect you when you knock them down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must beat them into submission before they’ll listen to reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But—do you truly intend to guard the Qilin Palace?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi said: “One man’s deeds, one man’s responsibility.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A word spoken cannot be recalled, even by four galloping horses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Dao Yong nodded: “The Qilin Palace… is the most complex of the seven forbidden palaces. Rumor says His Majesty gathered sorcerers from across the land, lured them to Chen Guo with vast rewards—and then they vanished. If they’re not dead, they’re in the Qilin Palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These sorcerers each possess unique methods, blending physical cultivation with arcane arts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many taboos exist. If you serve there, you must be cautious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this, the great martial aristocratic families fell silent. The martial youths, who had planned to beat Li Guanyi and return to the Yechi Cavalry, now stayed in the Jinwu Guard, training fiercely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They held their breath, determined to fight Li Guanyi again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During a banquet held for them, one martial youth smiled and flattered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard that the Xue family’s outsider son dared provoke several Young Generals—and was banished to the Qilin Palace to suffer. What an overreaching toad! A mere consort’s kin, daring to challenge our great martial lords who’ve won countless victories for Chen Guo!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial youth who had been beaten was drinking—he suddenly swung his wine jar down, roaring:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who are you calling a toad?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beaten youth stammered: “I meant him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The memory flared again—he flew into rage, instinctively grabbed a nearby stool and hurled it—their brawls were common in the capital, but this time it was serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were at a banquet, among their own group, and could still control it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the neighboring group of noble families mocked them: “You’ve trained since childhood—and still can’t match our brothers? Did you learn your martial arts in brothels?” The nine youths flew into rage, no swords or blades—just stools. They knocked down over thirty men before regaining confidence in their strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The son of the Yechi Cavalry’s Deputy Commander lifted his wine jar, tilted his head, and drank deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth who habitually swung stools, Zhou Liuying, still cursed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it—he beat us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s a toad. What are we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you calling us worse than toads? Worse than dogshit?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial noble stammered: “I didn’t say dogshit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How dare you talk back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swung the stool backward—knocked him unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Liuying suddenly felt this common, everyday violence was utterly satisfying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The son of the Yechi Cavalry’s Deputy Commander set down his wine jar, looked at the other martial youths who had joined the faction of Chancellor Dan Tai Xianming, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next month, we fight Li Guanyi again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Until then, I don’t want to hear a single word spoken against him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If anyone dares, I, Ye Buyi, won’t mind giving him a proper lesson!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This seventeen- or eighteen-year-old youth stood tall, his gaze calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wielded his long horizontal saber with ease—could flip on horseback, ride and shoot, draw both bows at once, never miss a shot within a hundred steps, ride at full gallop, and cleave through three layers of iron armor in one strike—he was hailed as one of Chen Guo’s outstanding young warrior scions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had it not been for Yuwen Lie’s words that day, stirring his pride, he might never have joined the Jinwu Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Guanyi’s strength—how could it be so immense?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like the mighty generals recorded in ancient histories, capable of charging enemy lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brawling in the palace was forbidden; using internal Qi projection was an even greater crime. Yet nine men couldn’t hold down one—and it was deeply humiliating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned against the tavern window, drinking, lowered his head—and saw the boy in blue robes, sword at his waist, riding a chestnut stallion past. Ye Buyi sneered, hesitated, then said: “Li Guanyi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his wine jar awkwardly: “The scenery and wine here are excellent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But there’s no one to drink with.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Would you like to join me for a jug?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi lifted his whip, pointed ahead: “I’m going to a Daoist temple to read.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Buyi sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought this man who had knocked down nine of them was lying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi thought a moment: “But if there are sweets—only slightly sweet—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please give me one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Ye Buyi sat by the window and muttered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sweet, but not too sweet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your demands are too high.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned around and shouted: “Didn’t you hear me? Go get it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Ye Buyi tossed down a silk-wrapped bundle; Li Guanyi caught it and hung it on the side of his chestnut mare, waved upward without a word, then mounted and rode off alone. Ye Buyi said nothing either, merely raising his wine jug to drink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was merely their way of communicating during this period.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Ye Buyi declared they were friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi thought about it and agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as friends, they still had to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering Qilin Palace, Li Guanyi initially performed his duties quietly and dutifully—daytime guard duty, and in his spare time, he visited the Daoist temple to study arrays under Zu Wenyuan, never doing anything out of the ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The palace guards under the Jinwu Guard also knew this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This new Jinwu Guard had been exiled here after fighting with other Jinwu Guards; they feared he had a bad temper and had been on edge, but gradually realized he was merely silent and uncommunicative, spending most of his watch hours practicing inside his quarters, and hated being disturbed while training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had even thrown one tantrum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the guards stopped bothering him; fortunately, aside from that, he was easy to get along with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day, after roll call, duty, and completing his basic Qilin Palace guard duties, Li Guanyi went alone to the quiet garden to cultivate. The other guards dispersed, afraid to disturb him. Li Guanyi closed his eyes for a long while, sensed no one approaching, and exhaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment had come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had lain low for days, waiting for everyone to accept the personality and habits he displayed—now, all guards would assume he was cultivating and wouldn’t come near; the Jinwu Guards would think him a proud scion of a noble family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi could determine, through the transformations of the Four Symbols Sealing Array, that the array’s core was unoccupied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every day, he left at this time and returned an hour later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This window was the opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi’s eyes glimmered with faint qi; within them, the flow of energy was visible. The Four Symbols Sealing Array unfolded in his perception—he was no longer the bewildered novice who had first encountered this array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had found the direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came the array’s core—the shifting pattern of the array brushed past the youth’s temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the variation he and Xiang Yaoguang had devised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This array involved yin-yang, the five elements, stellar configurations, and mathematical calculations. Li Guanyi saw remnants of broken weapons and even some white bones—traces left by those who had tried to breach the array over the past decade; its danger kept even palace maids from entering to clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this deadly array, in Li Guanyi’s eyes, was like strolling through a courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He passed through the outer garden, pavilions, and terraces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then entered the palace, avoiding the dead zone where yin-yang and the five elements generated thunder, held his breath, stepped forward, and placed one foot squarely on the very spot that had been dead—yet in that instant, it became alive, while every other place remained dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Li Guanyi reached the array’s interior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had taken only the time to drink a cup of tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the Qilin had been imprisoned for ten years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi raised his hand, gently pressing his palm against the crimson carved wooden door. He paused, then slowly pushed it open. A scorching rush of energy struck his face; his vision whitened, and only after a moment did he adjust to the brightness—and then he froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Four Spirits formed the array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet within it, the five elements still flowed, and at the center, the yin-yang diagram spun endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight colossal pillars stood there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bronze pillars, wide enough for three men to embrace, stood at the eight trigram positions within the palace, each engraved with inscriptions. The palace floor had been excavated into a sunken pit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qilin was chained in the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unlike Li Guanyi’s expectation—the Qilin he imagined was a majestic, powerful divine beast—what he now saw was a wreck: its body bound in chains, one horn broken, its scales engulfed in flickering flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when the flames shifted, he saw countless sword scars etched into the Qilin’s scales.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when it opened its eyes did its crimson-gold gaze still radiate divine majesty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its voice was low: “Jinwu Guard…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. Finally come to send troops to kill me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chains rang out as the Qilin struggled to rise, its gaze icy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then it saw this Jinwu Guard, helmet and faceplate on, sit down before it, set aside its sword—and the array began to loosen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qilin’s killing intent halted abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It saw the Jinwu Guard reach out, grip the golden faceplate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then lift it off—revealing a tear mole at the corner of the eye, and a face with a touch of familiarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, it’s me. My name is Li Wanli.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qilin froze, its eyes wide. In a daze, it seemed to see that young man from years past—removing his faceplate, grinning with bold spirit, reaching out his hand. Beneath the sunlight, that face blurred, then transformed into the youth before it: Li Guanyi sat before the Qilin and set the faceplate down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In its most broken moment, it met the son of an old friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qilin was lost in thought, wondering if this was a dream about to end, if that person still lived, if he would laugh and speak to it again—past and present intertwined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth spoke softly, and in that moment, it seemed as if its old friend had spoken again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, Qilin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve come.”\u003C\u002Fp>",2640,"2026-06-20T19:20:33.127Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e5dba3fd0de2abc11ef14e086d158b715b8450f2ca36744bdf2ad13623116f07","the-peace-decree-chapter-106","the-peace-decree-chapter-104",593,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-peace-decree-cover.jpg"]