Chapter 217: General, or Master of Dominion?

"The Qilin Child of Jiangzhou?"

Yuan Zhi burst into laughter, spat out the straw in his mouth, and slapped the sword at his waist: "I know him—he's a wandering swordsman!"

Wen Lingjun replied: "He's from the House of the Duke of Xue, but I suspect he is the son of Tai Ping Gong Li Wanli."

Wen He sneered, lounging lazily: "Zhou Pinglu is going to be annoyed again."

Zhou Pinglu frowned, then slowly relaxed, saying quietly: "What do I have to be annoyed about? Our kingdom's youngest male of Qinwu County, the first victor of the Grand Sacrifice Duel, exceptionally brave and martial—he was meant to be Chen's future general."

The drunken teenager said: "Of course I know him—the general who made the Immovable Vajra Lord Yuwen Tianxian stumble as a boy."

In the distant land of Zhongzhou, the brightest among the scholars all named the boy's existence at once—this alone showed they were not the scholars who had spent decades buried in books, and it also proved that Pang Shuiyun's scheme had succeeded.

His name had begun to stir.

Fang Ziqiao smiled: "Then, gentlemen, as you speak of heroes of the world, what do you make of this one?"

Wen He answered: "Ziqiao, we speak of the world's 【Masters of Dominion】. Though he rose to fame young, he cannot be compared to the Regent, the Emperor of Ying, or the Great Tian Kehan of the Tujue."

Fang Ziqiao sat down calmly; he was closest to Wen Lingjun, who handed him a cup of tea.

The eldest disciple of Master Wang Tong smiled: "It's just idle chatter—no need to take it so seriously. Why not discuss this man in detail?"

He glanced at the chessboard, idly picked up a piece, and said: "After defeating Yuwen Tianxian, he led his troops into the mountains. Now word has come—he commands the Fire Qilin Army and has shattered the Yin-Yang Wheel Turn Sect."

Wen He raised an eyebrow, a rare smile touching his face: "He holds a grudge."

"I think Xiao Zhi and he have a lot to say to each other."

Fang Ziqiao asked: "Oh, where is that fellow?"

Zhou Pinglu pressed his fingers on the zither strings and smiled: "I heard he went to visit his uncle and is now in Jingcheng, the capital of Ying. They say among the Seven Kings of the Tujue, there's a handsome but foul-tempered strategist—and when they met, they clashed immediately."

Wen Lingjun was surprised: "Oh? Xiao Zhi clashed with him?"

Zhou Pinglu shook his head, smiling: "Yes, it seems Xiao Zhi is on the back foot. This young strategist is extremely arrogant, so Xiao Zhi is furious—his name is probably already worn thin in Xiao Zhi's books."

"But this man likely isn't just seeking revenge."

The teenager lying there took a sip of wine, belched, and mumbled drowsily:

"His goal is Jiang, burp..."

Wen He said coolly: "The Eighteen States of the South."

Wen Lingjun said: "From a lone band of soldiers to holding a single city—thus establishing himself in the world, unifying his troops, avoiding encirclement by Chen and Ying, this strategy makes perfect sense on a grand scale."

These youths, the oldest no more than twenty-three or twenty-four, the youngest sixteen and never having left the academy, deduced the young warrior's strategy across the distant mountains between Ying and Chen, based only on fragmented, unclear intelligence.

Zhou Pinglu said calmly: "It's risky—but correct."

"Yet even so, he has merely transformed from a lone bandit into a lord of one province. But the Eighteenth State of the South is narrow and elongated, mostly eroded by Chen and Ying. Even if he holds it, he merely survives in the world."

"Lingjun, what do you think?"

Wen Lingjun smiled: "Indeed. Such a strategic chokepoint is vital in the hands of a great power, but in the hands of a man with no roots, it's like a child carrying a thousand gold pieces through a chaotic world—likely unsafe."

Wen He said lazily: "Not necessarily."

"If he seeks to claim land, he could leverage his army for leverage, then defect to a kingdom when the world shifts, and become a duke or marquis—but he'd likely meet a bad end. Only a fool would do that."

"But if he's ruthless enough, he seizes the river crossing ahead."

"Load corpses into massive ships, let them drift downstream to spread plague, then distribute medicine to win hearts—this hard-and-soft approach makes naval warfare impossible here, between north and south… hmm?"

He looked up at his friends around him and said:

"Why are you all staring at me like that?"

The drinking boy looked as if he'd seen a ghost, jolted sober.

He shifted his buttocks, sliding his body over beside Wen Lingjun—the elegant, incense-scented one—his face screaming: What the hell is this man saying?

Yuan Zhi tucked his sword behind his back and laughed heartily:

"Nothing—just suddenly thought Wen He's neck looks awfully easy to chop."

"I accidentally sheathed my sword."

Fang Ziqiao discussed the Qilin Child with these men but did not press further—he knew their nature; forcing the issue would gain no interest. What he sought was merely for them to know, plainly and openly, that a 【Qilin Child Li Guanyi】 now existed—that was enough.

Playing chess need not be rushed.

So Fang Ziqiao left calmly.

The others dispersed.

But the earlier candor was gone. They had easily deduced Li Guanyi's path based on the grand tide—but each had his own schemes. Zhou Pinglu fell silent for a long time; as he played the zither, the music grew disordered. A beautiful girl beside him said:

"My lord, why is your zither playing so careless today?"

The young man sighed deeply: "Ying is to the north, the battlefield still unsettled. Li Guanyi's journey south is like raising a tiger. The fate of the world is unknown—I worry for my country. How can I have the heart to play the zither?"

The girl asked, puzzled: "My lord, do you have no strategy?"

Zhou Pinglu fell silent for a long while, then wrote a letter to his father and elder brother in Jiangzhou, urging them to petition Chen Dingye: "Li Guanyi has the bearing of a tyrant, with a host of tiger-and-wolf troops—he will never remain long under another's command. In my view, we must use softness, not force."

"His only vulnerability lies in one thing—I hope my father and brother report this to Your Majesty."

"Rehabilitate Tai Ping Gong. Issue a self-censure edict. Marry him to Xue's eldest daughter, the Princess Yunmeng. Relocate Li Guanyi to Chen, build him a lavish palace, indulge him in luxury—this will distance him from the battlefield, drain his heroic spirit, and divide him from his troops."

"His strategy: maintain peaceful relations with Li Guanyi. Absolutely, absolutely."

"Absolutely do not allow border troops to advance into the Eighteen States of the South!"

"His army is newly formed; if he marches alongside his troops on the battlefield, he will become a dragon gaining clouds and rain—no longer a fish in a pond."

"Also, how is Zhou Liuying? I haven't seen him in a long time. I heard he gained an opportunity and received transmission from Prince Ji Yanzhong—the Crimson Dragon Calms the Nine Provinces, a supreme art of the world. Don't treat him as you once did—with mockery and disdain. I hear his cultivation is nearing the Third Heaven."

"At his age, this is exceptional. Beware arrogance. Do not be conceited."

"I will bring him some things back."

Zhou Pinglu immediately sent the letter racing back.

The patriarch of the Zhou family submitted the petition.

Naturally, Chen Dingye rejected it outright.

Chen Dingye's temper grew increasingly violent: "A mere child—what does he know of the great trends of the world?"

"Our Great Chen holds tens of thousands of li of land, hundreds of thousands of armored soldiers, and generals as numerous as rain—do we really need to humble ourselves to court a single Li Guanyi?!"

"Do not speak of this again!"

Upon returning, Zhou Liu saw his cousin's letter and flew into a rage: "Why is my elder cousin still saying such things to me?! Though he praises Guanyi well enough, what nonsense is this anyway!"

Zhou Liu resented his young prodigy cousin deeply.

The drinking youth, watching Wen Lingjun's silent expression, smiled and asked: "You didn't finish what you were saying, did you?"

Wen Lingjun sighed and said: "Yes."

"After Li Guanyi reaches the Eighteen Southern Provinces, he will have a foothold in the world—but even then, it will not be enough. If it were me…" He extended his finger and placed a stone on the north and another on the Western Regions, saying:

"The Eighteen Southern Provinces must not be surrendered!"

"Yet, in the Western Regions, beyond the passes, a stone must be placed—so that when the great change comes, we may sweep down along the river, linking the passes above and the Western Regions below, bypassing the Central Plains' relay stations, and riding the current of Dajiang River up and down."

"It is far from matching Chen or Ying in territory and population."

"But with one-tenth of the population, holding ground and choking their throat so they cannot advance—"

"When the great change arrives, we may stand like a tiger on one side, then move toward the Central Plains and the Great Emperor—thus, hegemony may be achieved. But…"

The drinking youth mused: "So you're not going to join Ying—because TanTai Xianming's scheme to weaken Chen has succeeded, and you're going to Ying to contain them?"

Wen Lingjun sighed, fell silent for a long while, then said: "My family has received the grace of the Red Emperor for eight hundred years—how could I offer strategy to the warlords of this chaotic age? Chen and Ying are already disloyal; Li Guanyi, the Fire Qilin, is no different from Chen Baxian, the Tuyuhun, or other such men."

"Fang Ziqiao admires him—I cannot voice my own opinion."

"Feng Xiao, you know me."

Feng Xiao laughed carefreely: "Forget it. I don't care about any of this. The world hasn't changed yet—we're just talking nonsense on paper. Let's drink. Let's drink."

"Besides, Prince Ji Yanzhong himself is traveling the land with the Chi Xiao Sword."

"Perhaps when he returns, he'll tell you there truly is someone worthy of the Chi Xiao Sword's allegiance—then it will be the Red Emperor's decree, and you will surely aid that person. Of all who judge the great affairs of the world, only one man rivals you."

Wen Lingjun recalled the brash boy who had once stormed the Imperial Academy as a child.

The gentle gentleman pressed his forehead and smiled warmly: "I hope I never see him again in this life."

"The Grandmaster of the School of Diplomacy and I—we both got beaten by him."

Feng Xiao grinned: "I gave him sweet water, so he didn't beat me then."

"Then that guy gave me a candy—inside was wine."

He smacked his lips.

"Ah, I've grown to love drinking because of him. Besides, whether Li Guanyi is a falling star or a Fire Qilin still needs proof."

"Yes—see if he can lead his forces to the Eighteenth Southern Province."

"If he can reach it, and his losses don't exceed thirty percent, then he is the true Fire Qilin of the world."

All of them accepted this standard and fixed their gaze downward. With such ambition, such vision and boldness—if he could execute this strategy—he would rise among them not as a mere general, but as a 【Mighty Lord】.

This was Fang Ziqiao's open strategy—he trusted their judgment.

……………………

Within the mountain gate of the Yin-Yang Wheel Sect, the Fire Qilin Army had finally integrated the sect's resources; its numbers swelled, and combat troops rose from 2,800 to 3,000, while the number of alchemists in the logistics corps increased to 331.

Lei Laomeng successfully expanded his beast-based logistics corps to 300.

That counts as logistics.

Shi Dalin wanted to refute him: "With giant bears carrying crossbow machines, wolf packs tracking blood trails, and thirteen falcons as scouts—how can you call that logistics?"

Lei Laomeng replied confidently: "My commander is Second Heaven Realm—so as the Fire Qilin Army's logistics, isn't it perfectly reasonable for me to ride a black bear, carry a Mo Family siege crossbow, and follow wolf packs?"

"This is the Fire Qilin Army!"

"The Fire Qilin Army, whose commander is forever Second Heaven Realm!"

Shi Dalin stared, dumbfounded. When he returned, he fell into deep thought.

When Li Guanyi went to see Nangong Wumeng, the woman ranked the most beautiful in the world by the First Tower of Heaven was visiting graves. Li Guanyi approached; Nangong Wumeng stared at the tombstones without turning and whispered: "These are where my master and my master's master sleep."

"I'm an orphan. My mother was apparently a courtesan—I don't know who my father is. She didn't want me to become a courtesan either, so she placed me in a basket and let the current carry me away. My master found me and brought me back."

"I grew up here until sixteen, then my master told me to leave. That day, the wind was fierce. She quietly walked out with me, but we were discovered. She told me to lower my head, keep walking forward, and not look back—she would follow me."

"I ran and ran until dawn."

"I never saw my master again."

As Li Guanyi listened to Nangong Wumeng speak—as if muttering to herself—he saw her tears falling in heavy drops. The boy reached out, took three incense sticks, and offered them, saying: "So you've come back."

Nangong Wumeng smiled faintly: "You're terrible at comforting people."

"Shouldn't you say, 'I'm here for you'?"

She turned her gaze—her eyes still slightly red from crying, stunningly beautiful, half-smiling, half-sad—as she looked at the boy in his black armor, jade pendant hanging at his waist, his brow calm. Li Guanyi knew this woman was weak but bold; he simply replied: "That's not comfort."

"Anyway, if you want to cry, I won't tell anyone."

Nangong Wumeng closed her eyes, held back her tears, stood up, and feigned carefree ease: "Forget it. You're a wooden head. I've taken you to the Yin-Yang Wheel Sect's secret treasury. The world is vast—we should part ways."

Li Guanyi was not surprised. He asked: "Where are you going?"

Nangong Wumeng said: "There are still dozens left in the secluded cultivation lineage—all ascetic disciples. I was raised by my master—I can't abandon them. I plan to take them, find some mountain, build a small Daoist shrine, and cultivate there."

"Then, day by day, I'll watch the sun rise and moon set, farm by day, and gaze at the moon at night."

"When I'm old, I'll say: 'Our Founding Master once walked a stretch of the path with the gods of the world's generals.'"

"So, General Li."

She hastily wiped her eyes, turned, clenched her fist, and smiled brilliantly:

"Ascend the world."

"I'll wait until you become famous across the land—then I'll brag to my disciples and grand-disciples!"

Then she waved goodbye, walking away with her back to Li Guanyi. The boy tossed her a bundle. She reached out, caught it—it was heavy, the sound of silver coins jingling clearly. She frowned: "What's this?"

Li Guanyi said: "Here's your pay and travel expenses for this period."

"Thanks to you, we avoided many dangerous mountain paths."

"Building a Daoist temple isn't a simple matter."

"Consider it my final gift."

Final gift…?

Nangong Wumeng smiled cheerfully: "Then thank you, General, for your sponsorship. I'll erect a stele for virtuous lay followers, and write your name right at the top—big and bold!"

"Once you become famous, the temple will be packed with incense and worshippers!"

Li Guanyi couldn't help but laugh at her.

Nangong Wumeng waved her hand and led those people away from the Fire Qilin Army—they were all martial artists, young, with pure internal qi, especially remarkable for their endless stamina and extraordinary lightness skills. Nangong Wumeng led them through the mountains until they found an abandoned old Daoist temple.

They rested there, repaired the temple, and tidied the rooms.

All were martial artists with internal qi; in this remote place, though lacking luxury, they could still live. After a night of exhaustion, the young disciples fell asleep, but Nangong Wumeng couldn't sleep.

She opened the package Li Guanyi had given her—inside was a large bundle of silver.

Unfolding it, Nangong Wumeng's expression softened.

Well, well, the money-loving General gave a lot this time.

She calculated carefully.

With this silver, she could buy all kinds of materials—enough to repair the old temple several times over, plus medicine, seeds, vegetables, farming and cultivation—true quiet cultivation.

She took out more items: pills and powders from Shi Dalin.

Following the Commander's style.

The Fire Qilin Army's medics had abandoned pills as inconvenient.

As long as the ratios were right, pills and powders were identical—just pack them in barrels!

All were ultra-high concentration and purity; when used, follow the Commander's advice: mix with different amounts of water.

Due to the concentration, there had been cases where beasts were given hemostatic powder and died from the pain.

Thus, the team led by Qi Laogui was officially promoted to "Fucking Veterinarians."

Lei Laomeng had provided a formula to repel wild beasts.

Unconsciously, a faint smile touched her lips—then she accidentally dropped the pouch. Clang! The eighteen-year-old girl instinctively reached out and saw what lay hidden in the inner pocket.

Her body stiffened slightly.

The temple was ancient; moonlight and starlight streamed through the broken roof.

Inside the pouch was a ruler.

Entirely translucent, neither gold nor jade, glowing with clear yin-yang qi.

Under moonlight and starlight, the yin-yang qi flowed and swirled without pause.

Yin-Yang Cycle Sect.

Divine Weapon · 【Yin-Yang Cycle Ruler】

The girl, orphaned of her sect, her teacher, and her ancestors, opened her mouth silently, pressed her hand to her lips, stared at the young General's final gift, and tears spilled uncontrollably from her eyes.

………………

The Fire Qilin Army marched on.

Yuwen Hua had grown accustomed to the Fire Qilin Army's formation-based marching—this unprecedented method, now a default, had slowed slightly due to the loss of martial artist scouts.

Lei Laomeng pondered long, then an idea surfaced in his mind.

He went to seek wisdom from Yuwen Tianxian, staying awake night after night.

He successfully activated the All-Weather 3D State Beast Scout Regiment Talent Tree: aerial scouts using hawks, terrestrial scouts using wolf packs.

Coupled with the Medic Team's discovery of the link between bee swarms and medicinal powders.

He unlocked the 24/7 3D Wild Beast Scout Corps talent tree.

On this day, ahead, they seemed to have found a mountain rift—just as they prepared to advance, a sword fell, halting the soldiers and sparing them from a deadly cliff drop. The Fire Qilin soldiers reported to Li Guanyi.

The young General looked at the sword and sighed.

He rode his warhorse toward the source. It was deep autumn; golden and crimson leaves drifted down. The armored warhorse moved slowly through the leaf-strewn woods. The young General raised his gaze—and saw a woman in apricot-yellow robes perched on a tree.

She sat atop the branch, tossing her dagger up and down, smiling at the General.

Li Guanyi said: "Miss Nangong?"

Nangong Wumeng didn't ask why he'd left the divine weapon behind—she already knew this army wasn't a bandit force. She fell silent, then tilted her chin. The beauty of the world said: "I told you—you still need me. Without scouts, isn't the Fire Qilin Army blind?"

Li Guanyi looked at the defiant woman: "You want to come back?"

The direct question flushed her cheeks. She opened her mouth, stammering: "I just… I just couldn't bear to leave. After settling the younger brothers and sisters, I felt… I felt it was wrong to abandon you…"

The young General, clad in heavy armor, laughed amid the falling leaves: "Too bad."

Nangong Wumeng glared at him: "What?"

The youth smiled: "Such a textbook tsundere—if I were already a city lord, I'd reward you with silk and brocade. If I ruled the world, I'd call you the truest beauty. But now? I'm just a wandering army commander. All I can offer is this."

His warhorse stepped lightly, hooves dancing on the ground. Golden and crimson leaves swirled around him. The young general's dark hair fluttered slightly at his temples. With a smile, he said:

"Welcome back."

………………

In this vast world, the Fire Qilin Army's movements weren't worth much notice—but in Zhongzhou, a group of people began watching Li Guanyi and the Fire Qilin Army as closely as they watched the Regent.

On this day, everyone noticed a small problem.

Wen He held a chess piece, silent for a long while, then said:

"Yuan Zhi, where the hell is that guy?!"

Zhou Ping, Wen Lingjun, and Feng Xiao all fell silent.

Fang Ziqiao smiled with gentle calmness:

"Ziqiao, I do not know."

On that day, the young man who chewed a blade of wild grass and wore a kind smile, born of ordinary origins,

vanished within the Academy, the unparalleled military formation prodigy.

No one knew where he had gone.