Chapter 180

"Report!!!"

At the temporary residence of the Crown Prince of Ying, Jiang Gao, a cry rang out, followed by a man sprinting in, a magnificent bird perched on his shoulder with feathers like flying fire, both hands clutching a letter, its parchment adorned with two blood-red feather wings symbolizing its weight.

"It's the Grand Tutor's letter."

Jiang Gao took the letter, his expression one of reverence.

Several days had passed since the grand sacrifice in Chen, and the world seemed to have returned to its former state—as if nothing had changed, the people still lived as before, still chattered about trivial matters, yet many crucial things had clearly shifted.

But these so-called crucial matters seemed of no importance to the common folk.

The Emperor's loss of face troubled the people less than stale cabbage.

Jiang Gao unfolded the letter; the handwriting remained calm, as if the Heavenly First Divine General himself sat before him. Jiang Gao froze slightly—Yuwen Lie sat there sipping tea, having also read the letter, and both remained silent.

The Grand Tutor ordered them to return.

Yuwen Lie stared at the letter, his gaze sweeping over each character:

"Chen has fractured. Chancellor Chen Fu is a ferocious wolf; Xue Daoyong is a rampaging tiger of chaotic times; Chen Dingye is a mediocre, inept ruler. It was Dan Tai Xianming's presence that led him to misjudge himself, convincing him he could balance the civil and military officials, the aristocratic clans and imperial in-laws."

"Dan Tai Xianming made Chen Dingye believe that as long as he focused on the art of balance, all things would lie within his grasp—yet he forgot that balance requires a strong enough pillar to divide civil and military power; when that pillar departs, the prior equilibrium collapses instantly."

"Now, Chen is in chaos, the Western Regions are severed, and the Xue family's tiger controls the court."

"Dan Tai Xianming's scheme is complete. Return swiftly. The Seven Kings of the Turkic have requested an alliance—previously, we told them the timing was not right, but now even the Emperor has approved. Return with them."

Yuwen Lie reached this point and felt the storm beneath these calm words—the great tide of the world had shifted during this brief sacrifice. The Grand Tutor and the Ying Emperor had agreed to the Turkic pact.

Thus, the Turkic would be split into eastern and western halves.

Yuwen Lie fell silent.

【With the Western Regions fallen, the Turkic shattered, Chen in chaos, and Ying strong in troops and horses under a sage ruler and the Heavenly First Divine General—this is the strategy to weaken one state and strengthen the realm.】

He had once thought this strategy absurd and ridiculous.

Now, this absurd strategy unfolded before him in such grand scale—a perfect war opportunity no divine general like Yuwen Lie could ignore, the closest the Central Plains had come to unification in three hundred years.

At the end of the Grand Tutor's letter, one final line was written.

"Light an incense stick and pour a cup of wine before Dan Tai Xianming's grave."

"Congratulate him."

"He got what he wanted—the eternal infamy!"

Jiang Gao sighed, looking at Yuwen Lie. "General, it is time we set out for home. This grand sacrifice has shown us the heroes of the world—but the world is vast, and our footsteps cannot linger here."

Yuwen Lie smiled faintly. "Very well."

………………

The Seven Kings of the Turkic, upon learning Ying was willing to negotiate, rejoiced and sought out Po Jun. Po Jun sat quietly drinking wine; seeing their joy, he said: "This is no good thing. They intend to split the Turkic—so their target is clear."

"That old dragon of Ying can no longer wait."

The Seven Kings frowned, then spoke bluntly: "Master, enlighten us."

Po Jun lounged lazily, pointing to his mouth, signaling thirst. The mighty Seven Kings of the Turkic laughed heartily and poured him tea themselves. "Master, stop hiding—speak."

Po Jun said: "They are about to strike Chen."

"They cannot let Chancellor Chen grow stronger, so they must pierce through Chen—force Chen to act against Chancellor Chen's faction. The Ying Emperor is old, a hero of the same era as Xue Daoyong."

"His martial skill is not weak. With the mandate of heaven's fortune, his Son of Heaven martial arts are no worse than a Grand Master's—but he cannot match those ancient beings with endless lifespans."

"He fears death."

"More than that, he fears that after his death, his two sons will kill each other."

"I've spoken with them. Jiang Gao was raised to be a sage ruler—bright, upright, nurturing peace and rest. But the Second Imperial Prince, Jiang Yuan, was prepared as a contingency—should the great cause remain unfinished, to halt warfare and preserve the people's peace by retreating to a corner."

"Thus, one is benevolent, the other is Mu Zi Yi."

"Two of the world's top ten divine generals—one supports the Crown Prince, the other the Second Imperial Prince."

"The Ying Emperor wants to unify Chen's Central Plains before he dies, to prevent his sons from slaughtering each other."

The Seven Kings' faces darkened: "With the Emperor's renown, after unifying the Central Plains, I fear I won't even have time to grow strong before I'm forced to become his son-in-law. They say being a son-in-law is worse than being a man—being the Emperor's son-in-law is worse than being a eunuch. Master, this cannot be allowed."

Po Jun laughed. "It won't be like that. Ying has its own problems."

"Rest assured—I will help you on this point."

The young strategist's pupils glowed purple, his smile gentle: "As long as you follow my orders."

He lifted his gaze toward the distance.

The young strategist's lips curled.

【Chop the whole world into pieces and feed it to Ying. Dan Tai the old dog, your scheme underestimates me too much. They say you're reckless—but I've thought it over, and you're still too conservative. Why merely destroy Chen? Ying was once Wei—five hundred years ago.】

【Even with a sage ruler, the roots are tangled and rotten.】

【Now that Chen is shattered】

【Why not shatter Ying too?】

【If I say we should destroy the Western Regions, throw the world into chaos, let the flames of war rise as heroes vie for dominance—then subdue all regional champions, and seize the realm with righteous glory, no less than the Red Emperor!】

【Destroying one state merely serves the interests of another. My ambition is greater than yours.】

【I mean to seize the world!】

Po Jun said: "Seven Kings, it is time we depart."

He rose, gazing into the distance, and clapped the Seven Kings on the shoulder, smiling:

"Look—how vast the world is. Chen is prosperous, its music and flutes soften the spirit—but Seven Kings, have you forgotten the joy of galloping across the steppes? Have you forgotten your ambition to conquer that land?"

"If you haven't forgotten, pick up your blade and remount your horse."

"We are still young, but we will grow old. Every day we linger in this splendid beauty, we drift farther from our goal."

"You and I are still young, while the heroes of this world are dying one by one."

"It is our time now."

The Seven Kings' eyes lit up; he decisively abandoned the luxurious comforts of this Central Plain, forsaking the beauties, scenery, delicacies, and fine artifacts that did not exist on the vast grasslands. That night, the Seven Kings personally sharpened his blade, held a secret meeting with Jiang Gao, and then resigned from the Chen state.

The living Buddha of the Western Regions and Chen Chengbi attended Zu Wenyuan's funeral.

In this turbulent age, no one remembered the departure of the foremost master of Calculation Dao; his passing was like a single leaf falling. The living Buddha chanted the Sutra for the Departed, finally watching until the incense burned completely to ash.

Chen Chengbi, recovering from his wounds, gazed at the distant sky; his white hair hung down, his old face grim and desolate. "Hey, old monk."

The living Buddha opened his eyes.

Chen Chengbi said: "Do you believe in reincarnation and rebirth?"

The living Buddha said: "I don't know."

Chen Chengbi said: "Aren't you the living Buddha? How could you not know?"

The monk said: "If I say there isn't any, my Buddhist practice seems foolish. If I say there is, then I must discard the vague, dubious elements of the living Buddha lineage—I have never actually seen a reborn body. Since I've never seen one, I can say it exists, or I can say it doesn't."

"But whether it exists or not, if it truly does, Zu Wenyuan's intelligence would surely find it better than you or I."

Chen Chengbi grinned. "You're right."

He stood up. The old monk asked: "Where are you going?"

Chen Chengbi said: "Where?" He looked at the distant sky, a faint look of confusion crossing his face. Then he laughed, scratched his head, and said: "Where? I really don't know how to answer that question."

"On the day of the Great Sacrifice, that fellow Shenyunsuan suddenly went mad."

"Wherever Zu Wenyuan went, he followed. That day, he smashed all his counting rods, then came to the Daoist temple, and burned every single calculation scripture—the texts he claimed he would write, the strongest Calculation Dao scripture in the world—right before Zu Wenyuan's eyes."

"Then he cried and laughed wildly, saying something like, 'I'll never catch up to you. I'll never be as good as you.'"

"Then, like a madman, struck by some great blow, he ran off crying and laughing, no one knows where he went…"

"What about my eldest niece? Did she figure something out today?"

"I don't know. You understand—I'm not interested in any of this."

"She just suddenly moved out of the library hall. As for where she went, I heard she thought Xue's little girl was good, so she told Xue Lao she'd stay at the Xue household for a while to teach the girl Wu Gong."

"Hey, I bet she was worried my furious nephew might do something to the girl, so she went ahead. Though he's useless, the Emperor is still the Emperor. Some things, engraved for so many years, can't be forgotten."

"Just a while ago, this place was so lively."

"But suddenly, Li Guanyi left, Xiao Wuliang left, Pu Yang that old rascal came and went, Dan Tai Xianming suddenly lost his head. The world was bustling, and now it's suddenly quiet—I still can't get used to it."

"I think I'll go to the Jianghu."

Chen Chengbi smiled: "I'm already old."

"Zu Wenyuan is dead, you're an old monk too. Youth fades in the Jianghu—we all must return." He rose, took one step, his sleeves swirling, and suddenly stepped forward several zhang, his white hair fluttering: "I'll just wander the Jianghu."

"I'll go see Miss Gongsun. I heard Elder Murong and the Sword Saint's duel is about to happen—I'll go watch. Old monk, the Jianghu is vast, the world is wide. You and I—we'll part with mountains high and waters long."

"Until we meet again in the Jianghu."

The old man laughed loudly, but was already gone somewhere unknown. Yet those words made the old monk smile, clasping his hands together, closing his eyes in resignation—as if, with his eyes shut, his friends still stood before him.

The heroic young general, the handsome and carefree Wang Hou, the gentle-smiling Daoist Priest, the beautiful maiden, and the simple little monk.

But when he opened his eyes, former enemies were dead or gone, old friends and companions had all scattered.

Past events vanished like smoke and clouds.

All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows; like dew, like lightning—thus should they be viewed.

His eyes were calm and gentle; he clasped his hands together, lowering his gaze:

"Amitabha."

In the Daoist temple, the bell rang.

When we contemplate the Dao, why distinguish among the Three Teachings?

…………………

After the traitorous minister Dan Tai Xianming died, his body was meant to be taken away, but the hot weather made the Regent consider that transporting him to the Western Regions would cause decay. So he found a hillside and buried the old Confucian scholar who had lived through turbulent times.

Chen Wenmian bowed three times before leaving.

The place was quietly protected. Even those who despised Dan Tai Xianming's deeds feared the Regent's military might, worried that doing anything to the dead man might draw the gaze of the old Yu Langwang—so they simply ignored the site.

But today, a visitor came.

Xue Daoyong walked up, dressed in a blue robe, his white hair lightly stirring, still bearing an imposing air. In his hand he carried a flask of wine. He looked at the tombstone, lifted the flask, poured a cup, and placed it calmly atop Dan Tai Xianming's grave.

"Your words saved me much effort. You bought time for Guanyi. Tai Ping Gong is revered by all under heaven—those who wish to kill him are as numerous as those who revere him. His path is not easy."

"I thought a traitor like you must have found it simple."

"But once you reached this position, you realized: your path wasn't easy either. Hahaha. Human hearts are like the deep abyss of the sea; wealth is merely a stone thrown to test the depths. Desire is like a Taotie—endless."

"I suppressed the aristocratic clans and officials, yet they held me in check."

"Since ancient times, powerful ministers never die well!"

"Because human hearts differ, gathering and changing with time."

"You're dead, but I'm not. Wait ten years—see if that boy returns. Though the wanted notice was issued, I've suppressed its effect to the lowest. But in this chaotic Jianghu, too many crave the Fire Qilin."

"In this turbulent world, warriors seeking fame by killing Tai Ping Gong's son are as countless as fish crossing a river."

"The future path must ultimately be carved out by himself."

"But Dan Tai Xianming."

"You knew perfectly well that my Xue family's code forbids involvement in politics. Yet after you left, the path laid before me was to follow yours."

"Truly a cunning old fox."

"If you were to come back to life now…"

Xue Daoyong recalled that rainy night many years ago—the young scholar, beaten black and blue, yet still stubborn-mouthed, wolfing down steamed buns so fast he nearly choked, yet declaring he'd one day spare Xue Daoyong's life.

The tiger of the chaotic age smiled:

"I'd beat you to death again!"

"But now, you're already dead."

In the end, I'll toast you with a cup of wine—this hundred-year grudge, I'll curse you till my dying breath, you old dog, but…

Xue Daoyong turned, gazing at the world, and said:

"If only we all lived in an age of peace."

"How good."

The old man poured the wine from his cup onto the ground, turned, and walked away, his steps slow and steady; he never returned to this place for the rest of his life. He walked far, entering the imperial palace, where a eunuch of the Court of Ceremonies announced his title from afar—its voice echoed through the majestic, splendid palace of Chen.

"Announce: Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Director of the Secretariat, Chancellor, bearer of the imperial purple-gold fish pouch."

"Xue, Duke of Guo, Xue Daoyong, enters court!"

"Sword and boots on the palace steps!"

"Enter court without bowing!"

"Waive the kowtow!"

"Grant authority equal to the Three Excellencies!"

Xue Daoyong walked farther and farther, his steps never slowing.

We each have our own paths to walk, our own battlefields to rush toward.

A bird spread its wings and flew far from the Chen imperial palace. The Crown Prince of Ying and the Seventh King of the Turks laughed heartily, as if they had met too late. Their carriages departed Chen together, heading toward Ying, the dominant power of the Central Plains, where their strategies would soon clash.

Li Li Zhaowen went with them.

Yuwen Lie pondered the Crown Prince's Way of Kingship and the Second Prince's Way of Tyranny—which better suited Ying in this age? Lost in thought, Yuwen Lie failed to notice Li Li Zhaowen, smiling behind them, studying the two imperial princes, a golden-red vertical mark on his forehead.

Chen Chengbi stepped into the Jianghu. Chen Qingyan returned to the Xue family.

As the Chen carriage neared the Western Regions, the last Khagan of the Tiele returned with these things to his tribe, then spoke with his elders. On the third day, an ancient banner was raised once more in the Western Regions.

【Golden Crescent Blade Cavalry】!

The king of all light cavalry in the world, shattered the twilight of history, and returned to this age.

Yet this ancient banner stirred only a modest ripple.

At the same time, the Regent's military might once again reached the three-hundred-li region once belonging to Tuyuhun. The aged Wolf King, accompanied by his son, gazed coldly down upon the vast world as an eagle flew past their shoulders.

Later historians speaking of this grand Chen sacrifice always felt the recorded events were filled with unbelievable coincidences. The age was shrouded in dark clouds, and heroes—both old and young—gathered like stars.

They briefly converged, then scattered again toward different directions.

Many died in this event, yet the heroes who would later blaze with brilliance across history all survived through a myriad of coincidences—as if blessed by fate. This place seemed a starry sky, each streak of light radiating outward, as if to illuminate the entire night.

But no matter what, it was undeniable: this sacrifice became the turning point of the entire world. What had been intended as a banquet to devour the Western Regions now became the final glory of the Chen giant, its dying moments marked by brilliant names.

The situation shifted: the old balance sustaining the chaotic age became one dominant power among many weak ones.

The aged Emperor of Ying raised his sword, and with his mightiest divine general, turned his gaze upon the world. The old heroes marched toward their final battlefields, while the young champions began to bare their fangs.

…

Ding—ding—ding—!

The clear clang of the bronze gong drew everyone's attention. This was a checkpoint in Chen; all wishing to leave for another direction must pass through here. The storyteller recounted the grandeur of the sacrifice.

He spoke of kings, marquises, generals, and ministers; of talented scholars and beautiful maidens; of the world's turmoil; of old heroes still burning with fierce spirit; of Yue Pengwu's great roc spreading its wings; of Dan Tai Xianming, the treacherous minister, beheaded, his head rolling on the ground. The crowd was spellbound, cheering wildly.

A boy reached out and placed several copper coins on the table.

"Boss, settle up."

He bought three meat buns. He had a newly bought ox-drawn cart, piled high with straw. He sat atop the straw, a long-haired cat curled on his shoulder, devouring the buns as the cart trundled forward slowly.

Walls bore notices of all kinds.

Notices from the Jianghu, notices for renting rooms, notices denouncing wives for adultery.

Notices forbidding chamber pots to be emptied from second-story windows.

The largest notice was a wanted poster, depicting a man with a full beard. Someone solemnly declared: "Remember this—his name is Li Guanyi! Former Captain of the Gold Guard!"

"Fifteen? Or was it how old? Fierce as hell—he killed Chancellor Dan Tai Xianming, escaped after the deed, even broke through the city gate. Fierce, I tell you."

The townsfolk stared at the poster's leopard-like head, ringed eyes, and full beard: "Fifteen?"

"He doesn't look that mature even at twenty-five."

The poster-attacher glared: "Then how else could he do such a thing?"

A villager frowned: "But doesn't this look just like that other wanted man—Yue Qianfeng?"

He was kicked away.

Another poster went up: the Jianghu ranking list. Someone counted aloud: "Young Xiao Jian Sheng Xu Xu Huiyang has emerged from seclusion, won every battle—he's now ranked twenty-eighth."

"The Blade Fool ranking has also risen."

"Hmm, that Li Miss on the Beauty List has climbed to fifty."

"Huh?"

Suddenly someone gasped in disbelief. All turned to look—they saw a name.

Someone read aloud: "Ranking improved. Current rank: thirty-first."

"Won the Sacrifice's Martial Contest, defeated Ge Shu Yin, Yuwen Hua, Young Xiao Jian Sheng Xu Xu Huiyang."

"Killed Dan Tai Xianming, rescued Yue Pengwu."

"Fought Lu Youxian, broke through the city and escaped."

"Came with righteousness, departed with delight, free and unrestrained, lawless and wild—worthy of the title ·Mad."

"Mad Spear!"

"Li Guanyi."

The cart halted at the gate. The city guard ordered the man feasting atop the cart to step down. The man pulled out a travel permit and handed it over. The guard, upon seeing it, was stunned—it was issued personally by one of the Twenty-Four Sacrificial Masters of the Imperial Academy. He asked, startled: "Who are you?"

The man raised a finger, adjusted his conical hat. He was a youth.

His temple hairs fluttered slightly, bound by a wooden hairpin. He wore a faded blue Daoist robe, washed pale, a jade pendant around his neck, a Songwen ancient sword at his waist. As the crowd buzzed over the name "Mad Spear," the youth calmly removed his hat.

I am Daoist Li Yaoshi.

The world suffers a great plague!

We must heal it!

"Daoist Li Yaoshi? Good, you've passed!"

A credential personally issued by one of the twenty-four Jiujiu rank officials—everyone knew its weight, so no one bothered to inspect his ox cart. The young Daoist Priest rode away slowly on the ox cart; behind him, the city thrived with bustling life, and a youth ran after him, singing with laughter:

"Youthful heroism!"

"Befriending heroes of the five capitals. Heart and gallbladder laid bare, hair bristling with rage. In a moment's conversation, life and death are shared."

"A promise weighs a thousand gold!"

The golden curved-blade cavalry of the Western Regions reappeared; the Regent's military might rose. The ferocious tiger of chaotic times became the chancellor who held the nation in his grasp. The brilliant strategist shattered himself to split a kingdom, while the young prodigy military advisor infiltrated the Turkic ranks, journeying toward the Central Plains alongside the two Imperial Princes who followed the Way of Kingship and the Way of Domination.

The young Daoist Priest lifted his gaze, gazing at the sky, growing ever more distant.

His temple hairs stirred slightly.

The winds and clouds of the world arise from us!

………………

Meanwhile, in the Eighteen Provinces of Jiangnan.

Divine Weapon Murong Mansion.

An old man with white hair finally arrived—it was Master Siming, who had vanished before Li Guanyi's eyes for several days. The old man had no martial skill; he had run day and night without rest to reach this place, and to hell with any Murong clan youths blocking his path—shut your damn damn gate!

Master Siming stormed straight into the forbidden grounds.

He knew what Zu Wenyuan intended to do, and what Li Guanyi would soon face: an ambush in the jianghu. That conspiracy was no less sinister than court intrigues. The old man headed straight for the greatest chance of survival.

He kicked out with a straight thrust, shattering the Murong family's forbidden gate open.

Though pinned down, he struggled like a salted old fish, shouting:

"Sword Mad Murong Longtu!"

"Your granddaughter and great-grandson are still alive!"

His voice was cut off before it ended, but it had already reached the Sword Mad, who had long since entered his final, deathly seclusion and grown impossibly ancient.

He suddenly opened his eyes.

The Murong family's ninety-six Mystic Weapons rang out in unison.

Divine aura surged to the heavens!!!

【End of This Volume】

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