Chapter 164: The Phoenix

Li Guanyi invited Po Jun to sit, then brewed tea for him; Po Jun praised it and said:

"Fine tea."

His gaze flicked to the corner—sure enough, that Bai Mao was nowhere to be seen—and he sighed in regret. After finishing the peerless tea brewed and poured by his lord, Po Jun said: "The scheme has succeeded, my lord."

The young strategist set down his teacup and said:

"The Emperor of Chen has seized Dan Tai Xianming's chancellorship; at this moment, while maintaining the Great Sacrifice's progress, he has begun consolidating imperial power with ruthless iron will—suppressing part of the civil official faction and part of the aristocratic clans, while dividing the rest."

"At the same time, he is even negotiating with Ying State and the Turkic."

"This is his strongest moment—and yet also the moment Chen State is weakest. Many of Chen's systems have weakened due to his centralization of power and replacement of controllers; this decline will take time to recover."

"And the Great Sacrifice will prolong this state of weakness."

"In other words, the moment to rescue the Fire Qilin has arrived."

Po Jun exhaled, extending a finger: "This is no longer about strategy. All strategies have merely served to weaken the enemy, strengthen ourselves, and create opportunity—there is no better chance in the short term."

"On the day of the Great Sacrifice, I will place the Seven Kings' chariots outside Zhu Que Gate. After you rescue the Fire Qilin, you can flee swiftly in the carriage—I've prepared a change-of-vehicle point along the way to erase all traces, allowing you to vanish."

"And depending on how events unfold, you must have multiple options."

"If nothing else occurs at that time, hide the Fire Qilin in safety, then return immediately; but if circumstances change…"

Po Jun drew a deep breath: "You must drive the chariot and leave Jiangzhou at once."

"Do not hesitate."

"Leave now."

Li Guanyi looked at Po Jun before him; the young strategist's eyes seemed to churn with storms, yet his voice remained gentle: "From a single glimpse, one sees the whole picture—I sense something major will occur during the Great Sacrifice."

"Seize the chaos, flee immediately—that is the correct path."

"Use the Xue family's influence to conceal you, rely on your title as protection, and within a short time, take the Fire Qilin beyond Jiangzhou's control into the wilds. Don't bother saying the Fire Qilin's disappearance will make you suspect—its loss alone is enough to enrage the Emperor."

"At that point, he won't care about evidence."

Po Jun licked his lips, violet sparks flashing in his eyes:

"After Dan Tai Xianming's provocation, this man's reason is already trembling. A schemer, one who should be deep and composed, suddenly loses his calm—that is the beginning of collapse for us."

"The Fire Qilin's disappearance will shatter his composure entirely."

"Strike the final blow to his mental defenses! Ha—he will break. No matter how cunning a tyrant, his emotions will rage uncontrollably now."

"Thus, my lord, whether it's the Emperor, Dan Tai Xianming, or other strategists—strong or weak—our performance isn't fixed. Clever strategists make foolish moves; foolish commoners sometimes produce brilliant ones. Performance fluctuates within a range."

Li Guanyi looked at Po Jun: "And you?"

"You mean me?"

Po Jun smiled faintly, matter-of-factly:

"I have no low point."

"I have only my normal invincibility, and my exceptional peaks."

"Dan Tai Xianming and the Fire Qilin will plunge the Emperor into a low state of collapsed calm—his judgment and thought will weaken drastically. I will create a time gap to establish your alibi, then arrange a 'fake death' for you."

"After the fake death, you will be presumed to have fled due to dereliction of duty amid court upheaval—not a major issue. Most likely, they'll use your title as scapegoat, since the time gap I've prepared will ensure he doesn't suspect you at first."

"At least, you won't be his primary suspect."

"This state will grant you ample time—and free the Xue family."

"I can also use the Emperor's rage to clear out some nails in Chen's court…"

"Don't worry about me—I've borrowed the power of the Seven Kings of Turkic."

"No matter how mad the Emperor becomes, he won't disrespect Turkic or Ying State."

"Hmph—other schemes, calculations, or cultivation aside, on this point, he's inferior to the Seven Kings."

Po Jun judged: "The Emperor is no ordinary man. He possesses spirit, imperial strategy, and a grand ambition to unify the world; he has the heart of a tyrant who endures for his goals."

"Everything he does has precedent in history—many warlords and rulers have done the same: a king on the steppes once pledged his wife to the enemy in exchange for three thousand cavalry to roam the land. What the Emperor does is ordinary in the vast sweep of history."

"He has only one flaw…"

Po Jun said:

"Incompetence."

Li Guanyi smirked—this man was as sharp-tongued as ever.

Po Jun's smile faded slightly; he said seriously: "But this is only strategy. Strategy is auxiliary—it cannot be absent, yet must not be fully trusted."

"My lord, this Great Sacrifice holds too many unknowns. This is not two armies clashing—it is a collision of multiple factions. No strategist can foresee everything under such conditions."

"I will act according to circumstances—and so must you."

"If you encounter any situation, act freely."

"Don't worry about cleanup."

"I will tidy up the aftermath for you."

"Only—be wary of Dan Tai Xianming."

Po Jun's expression grew unusually solemn: "A strategist without emotion is the most terrifying."

"Dan Tai Xianming has relinquished his chancellor's seal—meaning he is no longer bound by the Emperor's greatest constraint."

"I feel he is not truly cornered. Suddenly, I recall—he once attended the Star Gazing Sect's examination for Po Jun's lineage, failed, returned in disgrace, caught in heavy rain, yet still read calmly inside a ruined temple."

Li Guanyi asked: "Was his strategic ability deemed insufficient by Po Jun's lineage?"

Po Jun said: "No."

"My master once said."

He hesitated slightly, then spoke:

"The elders of previous generations thought Dan Tai Xianming's strategy was too aggressive."

Po Jun's lineage consists of strategists who seek to engulf the world in war—yet they deemed young Dan Tai Xianming too aggressive? Li Guanyi's expression darkened slightly. Po Jun added: "Also, I have already revised the General-grade Tie Futu armor."

"Add components to the inner armor to fit your body shape."

"Once you grow older, you can remove these components and return to the standard heavy armor. I've stored these parts in Guanyicheng; in Jingcheng, it would be difficult for you to carry this armor, but in Guanyicheng, it doesn't matter."

"After this matter, I must depart for Yingguo to stir the world. You must head south to Jiangnan. I hope you will cultivate the Divine Art. The world is vast—Wu Gong alone cannot accomplish great deeds, but without superior martial arts, even if you rise temporarily on borrowed momentum, you cannot sustain it."

"Aside from strategy, her talents are ordinary, but her array techniques rank among the top in the Yao Guang lineage over the past few centuries. Though still young, she passed the Yao Guang sect's trials and is permitted to descend the mountain. It is said that before leaving, she defeated her own master and grandmaster using array techniques."

"Regardless of other matters, with her by your side, I believe you can easily escape any danger."

"Additionally…"

Po Jun's expression was calm as he laid out each detail to Li Guanyi, leaving nothing out. Finally, he exhaled, looked at Li Guanyi, rose, and smiled: "That is all Po Jun has to say. I cannot stay here any longer."

"My lord, the world is in turmoil. This parting marks our reunion in another age."

"I hope that by then, you will have transformed into a dragon."

"You need not see me off. The world is vast—our paths must now be walked alone."

The young strategist smiled faintly, bowed with ease, and departed calmly toward the world. Li Guanyi watched Po Jun vanish into the distance. The Great Sacrifice had not yet begun, and when this world's grand gathering ended, the young strategist would enter the fray alone.

He would step into the greater vortex where the world's greatest general, the Emperor of Yingguo, resided.

Then, he would personally ignite the first flame of chaos.

Po Jun's strategy, if not a grand success, would end in utter defeat.

He never seeks mediocrity!

Back at his lodging, the Seven Kings of the Turkic were drinking. This handsome steppe king placed his curved blade on his knee and cut lamb meat with a gem-encrusted dagger, eating it after boiling it in Bai Shui and dipping it in sauce.

He sang a light folk song. Seeing Po Jun return, the Seven Kings laughed freely:

"Mr. Has your meeting concluded?"

Po Jun lowered his gaze and smiled: "You saw through me, as expected."

The Seven Kings gazed at the handsome strategist and roared with laughter: "I have eyes too. But it doesn't matter—you'll still accompany me into the Central Plains, won't you?"

"To enter the Central Plains is to secure my foothold on the steppe, to marry the Princess of Yingguo, return home, and contend with my father and brothers. This path will be drenched in blood and shadow, with threats at every turn. We have ample time to understand each other."

"If, after such a long time, I still cannot win your heart, cannot make you willingly serve under me, then Ashina must let you go—to follow the true lord you seek."

"If I lack such magnanimity, how could I ever hold the countless tribes of the steppe within my heart?"

Ashina tossed the dagger in his hand to the strategist before him.

The steppe king sat cross-legged, smiling softly: "Regardless."

"I will not harm Mr."

He pressed both hands on his knees and lowered his head, eagle-like, like a steppe sovereign:

"From now on, I beg you to guide me along this path."

Po Jun thought: If I drove a dagger through him now, would this mighty king fall? Such a hero, roaming heaven and earth, would surely become an enemy. But he tossed the dagger in his hand and sighed:

"Such breadth of spirit—no steppe hero should underestimate him."

"Those fat kings beneath golden tents won't be your match."

The Seven Kings looked at him and laughed: "Chaos on the steppe is my chance—and also a part of your strategy, isn't it?"

Po Jun's lips curled. He flipped the dagger and plunged it into the map on the table:

"Fine."

………………

Li Guanyi tucked away the map Po Jun had given him. He felt the air thick with impending storm, changed into ordinary clothes, and went to the Changfeng Tower. Li Li Zhaowen had already prepared a feast. She wore a pale moon-white robe, a golden-threaded hairpin, and gazed out over the street.

The wind brushed her hair and robe, adding three parts gentleness to her striking beauty.

"Brother Li has come?"

She turned, composed and smiling, bowed: "I haven't yet congratulated you, Brother Li—your Wu Gong is extraordinary, your fame resounds across the region!"

Li Guanyi said: "Just luck."

Li Li Zhaowen laughed: "Luck won't earn you this reputation. It won't let you defeat the famed Sword Saint Xu Huiyang time and again, nor fight evenly with Yuwen Hua after he activated his Dharma Form technique—and win."

"Ah, don't be modest. Come, sit!"

She pulled Li Guanyi down, exchanged cups, and after three rounds of wine, dismissed the attendants: "Today, I invited you for two reasons: one, to congratulate you; two, to warn you…"

Li Li Zhaowen said: "Jingcheng is a time of turmoil. In Jiangzhou, martial experts grow ever more numerous. Forces from Yingguo, the Turkic, the Western Regions, Chen, and Zhongzhou gather like dark clouds—no one knows when they'll burst open."

"Brother Li, your prestige is at its peak. Under these circumstances, you're bound to be caught in the storm."

"It would be wise to withdraw now, avoid this period."

Li Li Zhaowen's voice was gentle, sincere. Li Guanyi thanked her. The dragon-and-phoenix-like "youth" smiled faintly, then produced another object: "Also, after the Great Sacrifice, I will depart. This is the gift I promised you."

"What did Er Lang give you? So mysterious…"

Li Guanyi took it, glanced at it, and his expression became solemn.

Li Li Zhaowen opened her folding fan with a snap, smiling gently:

"The Number One Tower of Jiangzhou—how?"

Li Guanyi immediately returned it:

"Too valuable."

He was greedy for wealth, but he knew how dangerous such an asset could be.

He might end up selling himself.

"No, it's not valuable. Your worth far exceeds the Number One Tower of Jiangzhou."

Li Li Zhaowen placed her hand on the deed, pressing it onto the table. Now both Li Guanyi and Li Li Zhaowen's hands rested on the deed. Their eyes met. Li Li Zhaowen gazed at the young man before her, then stepped back half a pace.

Then, after a moment's thought, she smiled faintly: "How about we continue our wager? First, you agreed to the Great Sacrifice duel—so I pledged the Changfeng Tower to you."

"Second, next time you see me—"

"I'll reveal my true identity. Deal?"

Li Guanyi replied, "The second young master of the State Duke's mansion, is that right?"

Li Li Zhaowen blinked in surprise, then laughed, rising to her feet, unfurling her folding fan to cover her lips and face, only smiling: "Wrong, wrong."

"Aren't you?"

"Not at all, not at all—I am no second young master of the Duke's mansion. Next time, if we meet again."

Li Li Zhaowen's folding fan concealed her lips as she laughed until her sides ached, her eyes gleaming with amusement, saying leisurely:

"Then you will know naturally."

Li Guanyi said, "Why are you like this, Second Brother?"

Li Li Zhaowen stepped forward playfully, her jade belt slightly lifting, left hand behind her back, right hand snapping her folding fan shut with a sharp *pop*, then lifting it to hook the boy's chin, moving with calm, unhurried ease:

"I view heroes of the world as beauties."

"Brother Li, I intend to claim you for myself."

Li Guanyi stared, dumbfounded, shivering with revulsion. Li Li Zhaowen burst into loud laughter, tears nearly streaming, saying, "Just a joke, just a joke! Come, come, let's keep drinking! After the Great Sacrifice, we may not meet again for a long time."

Li Guanyi thought for a moment, then calmly accepted the Changfeng Lady's contract. He drank with Li Li Zhaowen until sunset, then returned to the Xue household and handed the Changfeng Lady's contract directly to Xue Lao, leaving the old man to handle it. The elder looked at Li Guanyi with a strange expression.

"Did you just sell yourself?"

Li Guanyi retorted sternly: "How could that be?"

The next morning, Li Guanyi went to report for duty at the Jinwu Guard, but when he arrived, he saw Zhou Liu, Ye Buyi, Gong Zhenyong, and others with strange expressions; many young Jinwu Guards were barely holding back laughter. Finally, someone couldn't contain it and burst out laughing, and soon all were roaring.

The entire Jinwu Guard was filled with cheerful energy.

Li Guanyi was baffled. "What's going on?" He asked many times, but Zhou Liu only clapped him on the shoulder, pounding it hard, gasping for breath between laughs. Only Ye Buyi shoved a scroll into Li Guanyi's hands—even Ye Buyi couldn't keep from smiling.

"Laugh, laugh, laugh—I didn't laugh this hard when I made money."

Li Guanyi muttered as he opened the Juan Sect scroll.

He saw himself.

Li Guanyi, ranked sixty-seventh on the Jianghu Famous Heroes List.

Hmm, that made sense—the Famous Heroes List measured combat records, accumulated over time, much like climbing leaderboards in the games of Li Guanyi's past life. Yuwen Hua and Geshu Yin had never wandered the Jianghu; Li Guanyi's halberd had only defeated Xu Huiyang.

Sixty-seventh? Not bad. Why laugh?

Then he saw the nickname—

【Great Chen Jinwu Guard】

"????"

Li Guanyi froze.

He checked again and again.

"Great Chen Jinwu Guard, Li Guanyi?"

The others erupted in even louder laughter. Zhou Liu rolled on the ground, laughing. General Gong Zhenyong cursed a few times: "What's so funny? What's so funny? Stop laughing! What kind of behavior is this? Laugh, laugh, laugh!"

"Get up!"

He kicked Zhou Liu.

Then he walked over, slapped Li Guanyi on the shoulder, glanced at the scroll, bit back a grin, and said seriously: "It's just—pfft... ahem, uh, just, when addressing your official position externally, pfft ha, hahaha, addressing your official position, fine."

"Very fine, hahaha!"

"Hahaha! Jianghu Famous Hero No. 67, Great Chen Jinwu Guard—Jinwu Guard? Hahaha! What a title!"

General Gong Zhenyong couldn't hold back his laughter.

Li Guanyi grimaced, wanting to find the guest of the Heaven's Tianxia Diyi Lou and beat him up.

Do we have a grudge?

What kind of nickname is this?!

After laughing for a while, General Gong Zhenyong ordered the youths to stand at attention: "One more day—tomorrow is the Great Sacrifice. The Jinwu Guard's duties are critical…" He gave many instructions. Li Guanyi listened to the Fire Qilin Palace's arrangements, planning when to slip over.

Gong Zhenyong said, "Also—"

"During the Great Sacrifice honoring the Chen ancestors, the Red Emperor's appearance might overshadow the ceremony. Thus, on the first day of the Great Sacrifice, the Chi Xiao Sword will remain within the Forbidden Palace."

"We Jinwu Guards will guard it."

"Li Guanyi, Zhou Liu, Ye Buyi—you three are responsible!"