Chapter 277: Fated Promise, Heart-to-Heart Talk

The Whale Fisher stared at Jiang Su, belched into his wine, then laughed.

"Fine by me."

The silver-haired girl's gaze was calm.

Master Siming grinned, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.

No, fisherman, don't you dare log off now.

If you agree, you won't have a daughter anymore.

The Whale Fisher leaned against the red pillar of the pavilion, holding his wine cup, and said: "Ying State is a great nation; its Crown Prince's Lady is clad in brocade and feasts on jade. What reason do I have to refuse?"

"But there's one thing I need the Divine General's help with."

Jiang Su asked: "What?"

The Whale Fisher spoke coolly: "Kindly ask your Ying State Emperor to come over, then crawl through my crotch." He pointed beneath his groin, smiling, and added: "And bark like a dog twice. I might consider it."

Jiang Su's expression hardened slightly. "Are you joking?"

The Whale Fisher sneered: "You're the one who started joking with me."

He tilted his head back and said: "My daughter already said she has no father or mother. What's the point of me saying anything? Besides, who she marries or follows is none of my business. It's her choosing to follow someone, not me getting married."

"Why ask me? What good does asking me do? Her legs are her own."

"What, after I agree, do I go marry your Crown Prince? No, no, no. It's your Crown Prince who should marry me."

The beggar, who had roamed the land since childhood, glanced sideways at Jiang Su and grinned.

"Oh oh oh?"

"What, does your Crown Prince sell hooks?"

Jiang Su's temple twitched. The beggar's mouth was truly foul. He ignored the legendary martial artist's other words and said coolly: "Since ancient times, ruler and subject, father and son."

"Parental decree and matchmaker's word—that is the orthodox way."

"You are her father. If you say it, he must obey."

The Whale Fisher dug into his ear with a finger. "I'm just a beggar. I don't know your rules. I was drugged into fathering her. That woman drugged me without asking me. When we conceived that child, we didn't ask her either."

The silver-haired man lowered his gaze: "When she did that to the child—"

"She never asked if she wanted it."

"Now you want me to hand her over to some thirty-year-old man? What's your meaning?"

Anger flickered beneath Jiang Su's brows.

"At thirty, a man is at the height of his heroism!"

The Whale Fisher burst into laughter: "Thirty years as Crown Prince? What kind of hero is that? His father was a true hero. If your thirty-year-old Crown Prince counts as a hero, then Li Guanyi—that brat—became a Marquis at sixteen with military merit. Isn't he peerless?"

Jiang Su had not yet spoken.

The Whale Fisher's face turned livid. He spat repeatedly.

It was a common habit among common folk: when you spoke ill fortune, you spat it out.

Jiang Su frowned slightly, then his expression softened. "So it seems the Whale Fisher has already found a suitable groom. Why not say so earlier? Now that you bring it up, it's my fault. Here."

Jiang Su raised a cup of wine, calm and magnanimous, and said:

"Then may those two children grow old together, forever happy and loving."

Master Siming involuntarily drew in a sharp breath.

He glanced at the frozen Whale Fisher.

Master Siming turned to the silver-haired girl and noticed she showed not the slightest ripple at those words. He blinked, suddenly recalled something, and his face softened with pity.

The Whale Fisher overturned the table and roared:

"Fuck!"

"Jiang Su, you old bastard, if you can't speak properly, shut your mouth!"

Even with his legendary restraint, General Jiang Su now felt anger.

He had come here gently, offering an invitation; if refused, he would have bowed with dignity. But this Whale Fisher's arrogance had finally ignited Jiang Su's fury. The Divine General sneered:

"Whale Fisher, you're quite fiery."

The Whale Fisher sneered: "Try me."

In that instant, a palm seized the Whale Fisher's face.

The Whale Fisher's internal energy erupted—then was crushed outright.

General Jiang Su gripped the Whale Fisher's face and slammed him into the pavilion, smashing the rockery, then drove his body downward. In this move, the Qi within a radius of several li was suppressed. The Whale Fisher's arrays flickered into view, one after another, shattering layer by layer.

General Jiang Su pulled the Whale Fisher and pressed him straight down.

The earth split open.

The Whale Fisher's head was driven directly into the ground.

Jiang Su's eyes held suppressed icy killing intent. The earth shattered layer upon layer. The body he gripped dissolved into vapor, reassembling through arrays—but on the silver-haired man's right cheek, a clear abrasion remained.

The Whale Fisher raised a hand and wiped his cheek, his gaze sharp.

Jiang Su rose, composed and unruffled, and opened his palm.

General Jiang Su.

Before the Master Jiankuang, the Four Legends.

Strongest in single combat, peerless in physique. His offense and defense were the best among the Four Legends.

Only the Master Jiankuang's sword, which sought no immortality, could pierce his cultivation body.

The Whale Fisher said: "General Jiang Su, peerless under heaven. Interesting."

Jiang Su replied calmly: "Now I'm second under heaven."

Jiang Su stared at his palm, where blackened scars marred his skin, as if struck by lightning. He murmured in wonder: "To construct arrays so swiftly under my attack… truly interesting."

"The first in formation arts is no falsehood."

"I give you seven breaths to form your array."

"You are the head of formation arts; if you do not set up a grand array, you are no match for me. But if you are given one or two hours, I fear I would struggle with every step."

Jiang Su casually lifted his wine flask, then raised his hand and summoned a divine spear into his grip, casually driving it into the ground, tilting his head to drink, calm and composed, saying softly: "Let me see if you have any stronger techniques."

Mu Zi Yi burst into loud laughter: "I don't need to form an array to fight you."

Jiang Su smiled: "Young man, interesting."

The spear instantly pierced through empty space and appeared before Mu Zi Yi.

An array manifested, shifting the spear away.

Jiang Su appeared before Mu Zi Yi and struck with a single punch; a sound like a dragon's roar exploded, and in an instant, countless arrays appeared, then faded one after another. This sudden battle was not Mu Zi Yi's strength.

But this was not a fight to the death, and he blocked with array techniques.

"This place is too confined."

Jiang Su said: "I haven't fought in a long time. Before facing Elder Murong, I need to find my rhythm. Though I don't know why you're so troubled—hahaha! —it looks like it's Li Guanyi?"

Mu Zi Yi sneered: "It's your lord's own prince who sells fishing hooks."

Jiang Su shook his head and swept his spear.

The clouds in the sky were ripped apart.

The vast expanse of sky was calmed.

Their figures were no longer visible.

Master Siming looked up and murmured: "This is a mess. How long will this fight last?"

The silver-haired girl shook her head: "Who will win?"

Master Siming replied: "A draw."

"If they truly fought to the death, it'd likely be six-four or seven-three. In single combat, the Military God is stronger than the fisherman, though still inferior to the Sword Mad Old Man—this is because the Military God devotes much of his energy to his army."

"The fact that Elder Murong sought out Jiang Su that day speaks volumes."

"Only Jiang Su had the right to stand before Elder Murong that day."

"Only Jiang Su could force Elder Murong to abandon his divine weapon after drawing it."

"Only Jiang Su could bring such pressure upon Elder Murong."

"And then push Elder Murong to take that final step."

"Others in the Dao Sect may have stronger internal energy, stronger spiritual essence, more ethereal techniques, and greater mastery of the Dao—but in actual combat, they are no match for Jiang Su, the strongest of the Military Path. Your father… cough."

"I mean, the fisherman."

"Array techniques are unpredictable; given enough time, they might even recreate eighty percent of the Sword Mad Old Man's sword intent or the Military God's martial aura—but in a legendary martial duel, there is never enough preparation time."

"Moreover, he is still young. He attained the Legendary Martial Realm at forty, and is now only in his fifties—looks like a youth. His internal energy, movement, and martial techniques cannot compare to the Sword Mad Old Man or the Military God."

"But array techniques are too unpredictable to say who will win."

"Either could win. Either could lose."

"But don't worry—this assumes they've both lost their minds in rage."

Master Siming said: "Right now, the Sword Mad Old Man has issued a challenge. Both have the pride of martial artists."

"They're just testing each other. As long as they don't truly ignite their fury, they'll likely fight hundreds of rounds to a draw… wait—could the fisherman actually lose his temper?!"

Old Master Siming's scalp prickled.

The Military God Jiang Su is always composed in speech.

But this time, he kept striking right at the fisherman's weakest point.

It was as if he were dancing Hu Xuanwu right on the fisherman's sore spot.

The fisherman, a beggar by birth, despises nobility, has a foul, stubborn temper, and is wildly defiant. Old Master Siming now feared these two might fly into a rage and start fighting outright.

The silver-haired girl shook her head and turned to leave, when Old Master Siming scratched his head and asked: "Do you know what marriage and union signify?"

The silver-haired girl replied: "I can understand it, but I cannot empathize."

The girl's voice was calm, undisturbed.

Old Master Siming grimaced, realizing that since this child's birth, at just one or two years old, her own mother had offered her as a sacrifice and vessel, seeking to use the divine form and secret transmission to create a power approaching or equaling the Legendary level.

Even when he and Mu Zi Yi stormed the array and rescued the child,

her emotional fluctuations had already been stripped away.

It was akin to the second stage of the Daoist state of Supreme Detachment.

This was precisely the source of her greatest magical talent.

Only by stripping away emotion could one observe all things with cold, rational clarity.

Old Master Siming did not understand why that gentle, devoted woman from the Western Regions had become so cruel. He had once seen her, when she was about the same age as Yao Guang, barefoot dancing upon a drum, chanting the Lotus Sutra.

Back then, she was nearly two different people from the later Mo Sect leader.

But Master Siming had seen too much.

Heroes became tyrants; tyrants fell and rose again; commoners collapsed and died, or transformed into dragons amid blood; the gentle grew cold and harsh; the sincere turned deceitful. The chaos of the world was a great dyeing vat—more absurd than anything.

The old man touched Yao Guang's silver hair and sighed, unsure whether her brilliance was a blessing or a curse—such a path shortened one's lifespan. He had hoped to stir her emotions, but it was difficult.

Even when Yao Guang looked at Li Guanyi, there was no outward emotional response.

From their first encounter in Yicheng,

Yao Guang's reaction to Li Guanyi,

was a calculated, cold imitation according to the "First Generation Yao Guang Manual."

The Western Regions—the place Li Guanyi must go next. If Yao Guang were to go, it would likely become a problem, for the Mo Sect has deep ties to the Western Regions.

He turned his gaze toward the direction Mu Zi Yi had left.

If the Whale Fisher knew Yao Guang was going to the Western Regions.

This legendary martial artist would surely be enraged.

There's no such thing as guarding against thieves for a thousand days; even the Whale Fisher's protection might not guarantee complete safety. The safest choice was always to stay far from the source of danger—but Yao Guang probably wouldn't leave that boy Li Guanyi.

Master Siming already felt a headache just imagining what would happen then.

What should be done now?

Of course, just forget this damn mess!

Just dump it on Qin Wu Hou later.

He asked casually: "What if that fisherman had betrothed you to the son of the Great Emperor of Ying?"

The silver-haired girl's voice remained unruffled: "Run."

Master Siming said: "Run away…?"

True enough—Yao Guang retained little emotion, yet her heart was crystal clear.

He looked at the silver-haired girl before him and said: "You have no Wu Gong. The imperial palace will surely have sorcerers and witchcraft practitioners. If you want to run, it'll be difficult."

The silver-haired girl walked past Master Siming with calm steps.

"I'm not alone."

She extended her finger, pointing at the high wall ahead, and replied: "If this is the palace wall, then when I jump down from here, Li Guanyi will surely be waiting below, outside."

Yao Guang struggled to climb onto this high wall.

The wall sealed off the inside from the outside, sealing off the mortal world's red dust and the locked-in scenery of Jiangnan. The wall stood over one zhang tall. Yao Guang sat atop it, wearing the long robe of an Astrologer, her hood pulled tight.

As the girl climbed up, the sound of hooves rang out.

"Hm? Yao Guang?"

The silver-haired girl looked up. A warhorse, nearly as tall as a dragon, with silver hair, trotted forward. The young Qin Wu Hou, clad in court robes, rode the dragon-horse. The wind stirred his brows slightly. The boy on horseback. The girl seated on the wall.

Li Guanyi's face bore an expression of shock.

After leaving the palace, he had not taken a carriage but chosen a warhorse, wanting to return swiftly. Yet he could not gallop freely, so he rode slowly along the main road—this was precisely a royal garden he passed through.

Yao Guang stood up, looked at him, swayed unsteadily, then spread her arms.

She jumped down from this very, very high wall.

Li Guanyi reached out and caught the girl in his arms. Her hood flew up and fell away; silver strands swept past his eyes. Master Siming, who had been worried enough to step onto the Turtle Manifestation and climb up, now saw this scene.

Under the sunlight, the city of Xia Mo lost its lazy, sweltering scent. Distant clouds slowly unfurled. The silver-haired girl's hood fell away. Without hesitation, she jumped down, her expression serene.

The silver-haired girl did not answer Master Siming. When Li Guanyi asked her why she was here, the girl blinked her eyes, saying nothing of what she had seen or heard, only speaking calmly: "I was waiting for you."

"Hm? I never said I'd come back this way?"

"Because I am an Astrologer."

"Are there stars to observe during the day?"

The silver-haired girl clenched her fist and lightly tapped Li Guanyi.

Li Guanyi smiled carefreely.

He had Yao Guang sit in front of the warhorse, greeted Master Siming, and rode off. Master Siming leaned his arm on the wall, raised an eyebrow, and said: "Oh, I see."

"Hmm, without hesitation."

"The Original Yao Guang Manual surely doesn't mention anything like this."

"I must have misjudged her."

"Did my friend the Fisherman and I truly break the Mo Sect's Legacy Array—or… did Yao Guang's mother, inside the Legacy Array, deliberately preserve part of her daughter's consciousness?"

Master Siming frowned slightly, lost in thought.

The Western Regions…

That place is too vast, too barren. I don't want to go.

Yet the old man stepped on the Turtle, and the Turtle, angered, immediately dissolved into primordial energy.

The old man let out a cry and plopped straight down!

Then another cry.

His face turned instantly pale as he gasped sharply—only to realize the atmosphere around him had turned rigid. He looked up and saw armored guards, wielding battle halberds, surrounding him in a tight circle.

The old man, crouching there, grinned: "Listen."

"I came here to shit. Do you believe me?"

The guard captain smiled faintly: "Show me."

Master Siming: "…………"

"I am the Scholar Palace's Simi. Have you ever heard my name?!"

The guard captain sneered: "Never heard of you!"

"Left and right!"

"Arrest him!!!"

When Li Guanyi and Yao Guang returned together, everyone around them wore strange expressions. Li Guanyi dismounted, extended his hand, and Yao Guang grasped his arm and leapt down. Soldiers of the Fire Qilin Army took the horse away.

Li Guanyi changed from his solemn, heavy court robes into simple, plain clothing, gripping the Chi Xiao Sword. The Chi Xiao Sword remained utterly obedient, making not a single chime along the way.

Like a stray cat slipping onto a cart and holding its breath.

Striving to shrink its body into the shadows.

Making not a sound, terrified of being discovered and put down.

Li Guanyi drew the Chi Xiao Sword. This divine weapon was extremely sharp and hard, possessing the traits of Dragon Essence Sword Qi—ideal for combat. His fingers brushed the blade, then he sheathed it, fastening it to one side of his waist.

The Chi Xiao Sword let out a clear chime.

Then it actively tapped against the Qiu Shui short sword strapped to the small of his back.

Looking utterly delighted.

Ling Pingyang looked hesitant and said to Li Guanyi: "My Lord, this, this…"

Seeing Ling Pingyang's hesitation, Li Guanyi said:

"Pingyang, what's wrong?"

Ling Pingyang gathered his thoughts, then let out a bitter laugh: "I'm not good with words—please come see for yourself." He led Li Guanyi inside, and suddenly a strong smell of alcohol reached his nose.

Li Guanyi froze, seeing Wen He drinking tea beside the table.

And slumped beside him, a young man.

The young man had a gentle, tranquil appearance, his body mingling the scent of alcohol with a faint fragrance.

Li Guanyi froze and said: "Mr. Wen He, who is this…?"

Wen He said: "Oh, isn't this someone your Lord knows?"

He smiled carefree: "My mistake—I didn't explain clearly. This is Wen Lingjun. After you took control of Jiangnan, you submitted a memorial to the Central Plains, and this strategy of claiming the Mandate of Heaven under the title of Marquis was written in a letter by him to you."

"We had a fine drink together, and he insisted on coming here."

"It was simply too generous to refuse, too generous to refuse."

"So I just brought him along!"

Li Guanyi's gaze fell on the ropes tied around Wen He, and as he smelled the peculiar alcohol scent, his Immortal Life Meridian Body automatically began circulating to detoxify.

Li Guanyi reached out and pressed his fingers against Wen Lingjun's pulse.

He looked at the young man and said: "Mr. Wen He, did you two drink together?"

Wen He smiled: "Fine wine."

Li Guanyi said: "Mr. Wen He gave Mr. Wen Lingjun wine laced with Ma Fei San."

Wen He laughed: "My Lord truly understands me."

"We are truly the same kind of people!"

Li Guanyi paused.

He felt his moral boundaries severely challenged, sighed, and said: "Mr. Wen He, don't do things like this again." Wen He smiled: "Don't worry, don't worry—Wen Lingjun is a gentleman; he won't blame My Lord."

"Besides, he himself supports the legitimacy of the Red Emperor. My Lord holds the Chi Xiao Sword, while the imperial house carries eight centuries of lineage—each holds a portion of prestige."

"He was merely hesitating."

"And now that a man who has always received imperial grace has begun to hesitate, it means he no longer trusts the imperial house. What I've done is merely to ride the current—My Lord need not worry; now that he's here, he can't go back."

Li Guanyi said: "Is Mr. Wen Lingjun coming to join us?"

Wen He said: "I've already forged his handwriting and sent letters to all his friends at the Academy, saying he's come here. A gentleman's word is binding—he won't regret it."

Li Guanyi: "…………"

Mr. Wen He really should be kept locked at home!

Wen He smiled: "I was only jesting earlier. When he wakes here, all you need do is reveal your talent and grandeur. Wen Lingjun is a statesman of the highest caliber—not blind. He will choose you, not that court which has lost all direction."

"The Dao Debate at the Academy in half a month is crucial for you."

"No one in the world can match Wen Lingjun's dignity, calmness, and poise. My Lord, this man belongs in our ranks."

"The Chief Secretary of Tiance Prefecture—he is the only one fit for it."

"With his talent, one day he may become Minister of the Left."

Wen He showed no sign of fatigue, then smiled and said:

"Then, this great talent of the realm, I leave to you, My Lord."

"I went to great trouble to bring him back—don't let him run off."

"Truly, it was no small effort to bring him back."

Mr. Wen He departed calmly. Li Guanyi sighed helplessly, carried Wen Lingjun back to the guest chamber bed, and sat beside him, pressing his hand against Wen Lingjun's wrist, using the 【Ze Tian Guai】 from the Book of Imperial Cosmic Order to heal him.

This was one of the healing methods passed down by ancient Daoist masters of the Martial Path, especially skilled in healing.

It uses one's own vital qi to stimulate the injured person's body to restore itself.

Endless renewal.

Li Guanyi, whose vital energy was already immense, wielded this technique with exceptional mastery.

Wen Lingjun felt dazed and confused.

His last memory was the scene on the imperial road, his hesitation, his struggle—and then, then Wen He arrived…

No, Wen He arrived?!

Wen Lingjun's spine chilled; he tried to struggle, but his body wouldn't move. Instead, a calm, water-like internal energy slowly flowed into his wrist, dissolving his anxiety. Exhausted, his mind settled, and he drifted into sleep.

Unaware, he slept for a long time. When Wen Lingjun regained his spirit, he felt parched and murmured drowsily: "Water…"

A gentle, faintly familiar voice said: "Here's water, Master."

Wen Lingjun had no time to ponder where he'd heard that voice—he snatched the cup and drank deeply. The cool water flowed down his dry throat, reviving his consciousness. He opened his eyes to a strange room and froze.

He looked down and saw slender fingers pressing his pulse, transmitting internal energy. His mind cleared instantly—he knew at once: the one who had healed him all night was this man beside him.

He raised his head, eyes filled with sincere gratitude, and said:

"Thank you…"

His voice halted. His gaze shifted—the young man beside him, wearing a blue robe and a wooden hairpin, smiled at him: "Master, you're awake?"

That face.

Wen Lingjun's voice caught.

The young man in the Daoist robe, gentle in bearing, merged in his mind with the figure he'd seen yesterday—hand on the Chi Xiao Sword, clad in solemn court robes, golden crown, Fire Qilin embroidery, regal and commanding—the Marquis. Wen Lingjun said:

"Qin Wu Hou…"

?? Please vote for monthly tickets, friends!