Chapter 358: Your Promise to Me, Let Us Attend the Banquet and Listen to the Qin Melody

Within Xiyicheng, the atmosphere was peculiar; the earlier joy and relief upon Li Duke's return had gradually faded. Regarding this campaign, the Duke had already organized the Juan Sect records and submitted them to the imperial court, granting rewards to all officers involved.

Yet none of these officers spoke in detail about the many circumstances of the Western Regions campaign; whenever the topic arose, they fell silent. And when the Anxi City army arrived in force, the city's mood grew tense.

When facing the hundred-thousand-strong army, such a fierce general had been the guarantee of their own survival—an absolutely vital ally. But when Li Guanyi charged alone, he became the ultimate honor every warrior and commander longed for.

With blood boiling, they would naturally rush to support him, flank him.

Now, however, they had all returned to Xiyicheng; he was no longer a battlefield commander, no longer a Captain, no longer bound to them by a single thread of life and death—but rather the lord of one household, the legitimate son of one clan, each a noble of merit.

That man who charged the formation was the one who killed Li Xuanye.

Times change.

All come for profit, all go for profit.

When they needed the might of this bold merchant-general, they resented Li Xuanye for stirring up trouble for no reason.

But now that they had all returned to the border stronghold of Zhenxi Xiongcheng, they began recalling the days when they had listened to music with Li Xuanye in brothels, sipped tea, and discussed the world—and began to think that the Central Plains merchant, Mu Zi Yi, had been too reckless, too brutal.

Human hearts are so contradictory.

Yet despite this, Li Duke showed extreme warmth and courtesy toward this allied force that had come to this place, personally riding out more than ten miles to greet them and having fine wine prepared long in advance.

Li Duke laughed heartily:

"Ha ha ha, young nephew, you've kept this old man waiting long enough!"

Then, seeing the troops Li Guanyi brought, he praised them endlessly, saying:

"Excellent troop formation. Excellent spirit."

Li Guanyi's forces, Fan Qing and Qi Bi Li's troops, led the way, each clad in superb armor, wielding weapons. Li Guanyi dismounted, observing the old Duke's commanding presence, glancing at Li Zhaowen, who smiled and nodded.

He then grasped Li Duke's arm and laughed: "Duke, you look in fine spirits."

Li Duke boomed: "Ha ha ha, thanks to your grace, young nephew."

"You, Tian Ge Er, saved me from the midst of ten thousand soldiers—only then could I still be here, drinking and listening to music. Otherwise, I'd already be a rotting corpse in a tomb, how could I be here to welcome you?"

"Come, come—I've prepared a banquet here, waiting only for you to enter."

"All these valiant soldiers have been assigned quarters."

Fan Qing spoke up voluntarily, solemnly: "We are armored and armed—we cannot enter this great city. Please, Duke, grant us an area outside to rest and regroup."

Li Duke urged repeatedly, but failed; his face showed deep admiration, praising them endlessly as having the demeanor of ancient renowned generals, yet inwardly he was wary, even pained—this army outside meant Li Guanyi entering alone posed no threat whatsoever.

He thus permitted Li Guanyi's forces to camp nearby, supplying them with food and wine at the highest standard. Fan Qing and the others accepted only food and supplies; not a single jar of wine was opened.

Li Duke sighed for a long while, yet still praised: "Such character—like that of an ancient virtuous general."

He personally ordered a set of armor and a long spear of Precious Weapon rank selected from the armory and bestowed upon Fan Qing. After seeking Li Guanyi's approval, Fan Qing respectfully and courteously accepted the armor and weapon.

The people and officials of Xiyicheng, seeing the solemn, imposing military bearing of Anxi City's Tian Ge Er troops and recalling their legendary exploits, were stirred. Even those with other thoughts could do nothing—suddenly, the atmosphere turned peaceful.

At the grand banquet in the Duke's mansion, both host and guests were thoroughly pleased. Li Duke joked, sang, and recited poetry as always, even playing the pipa himself, ordering courtesans to dance and sing. When his spirits rose, he remembered his age and wept silently.

The Duke's many advisors and Xiyicheng's officials all tried to comfort him.

Only Xia Hou Duan sighed heavily, drinking alone in silence. When his gaze met Li Guanyi's, Li Guanyi raised his cup in salute from afar; Xia Hou Duan lowered his head again, his sorrow deepening.

After the feast, Li Guanyi conversed with Li Zhaowen. Li Zhaowen first congratulated Li Guanyi on his fame spreading across the land, then scanned him up and down, raising her hand as if to pinch his shoulder.

But she paused, hesitating.

Then suddenly, something felt wrong.

In the past, when she wanted to check on a brother like this, what was wrong with that? Why hesitate now?

So calmly, she patted Li Guanyi's shoulder, gripped his arm, and pressed her fingers to his pulse—composed and bold. As she naturally felt his pulse, she asked: "I heard Brother Li encountered the Yu Langwang. They say you fought him over a dozen rounds—were you wounded?"

Li Guanyi nodded, extending his hand. Days had passed since that battle, yet his breath still carried a faint instability. The Yu Langwang's aura was magnificent, his combat power terrifying—he must have intended to capture Li Guanyi alive, which is why he didn't launch a surprise attack at first.

Li Zhaowen gripped Li Guanyi's arm, her gaze sharp:

"What do you think of the Yu Langwang, Brother Li?"

Li Guanyi fell silent for a long while, then answered: "If it were one-on-one combat, and I used all my methods, relying on my great-grandfather's sword art and this divine weapon, I might escape with grave injuries. But if commanding troops, I would be utterly defeated."

"Second Young Master, what news about the Yu Langwang since?"

Li Zhaowen said: "In these few days, after fighting you, the Yu Langwang deliberately spread word of your prowess. The Tangxi Kingdom's ruler died suddenly during a banquet. The nobles in the city, learning from battle reports that the Yu Langwang was absent, believed this was their greatest opportunity."

They tested several times, found no sign of the Yu Langwang's return, and thus threw all their strength into launching a breakout with elite guards, sending multiple secret orders to the elite Tangxi forces still resisting the Yu Langwang's rule in the regions he controlled.

They planned to attack from within and without, piercing through the Yu Langwang's forces.

At first, all went smoothly—even their first clash gave them a slight advantage. The Tangxi nobles rejoiced, believing they could abandon this problem and depart safely. But then…"

Li Zhaowen's voice halted.

No need to say more.

Li Guanyi said: "The Yu Langwang seized the chance and lured them all out?"

Li Zhaowen whispered: "Yes. Every Tangxi noble—man, woman, old, young, good or evil—was executed. Central Plains people were taken into the army alive, unharmed."

"Villages and towns along the way were set ablaze. This time, they killed the nobles and officials, but spared ordinary civilians—forcing all Tangxi people to relocate and burning their original towns."

"The Tangxi Kingdom was terrified, dared not resist. Meanwhile, the former Western Alliance, learning of the Tangxi King's death, rushed forward greedily and reached the stronghold guarded by Xiao Wuliang—where they fell into an ambush and clashed."

"Xiao Wuliang repeatedly challenged enemy generals, personally slaying over a dozen foreign officers. The Western Alliance's momentum slowed. Now, resistance within Tangxi grew weaker, while the Western Alliance, misled by the rumor that 'the Yu Langwang had left Tangxi,' pressed forward recklessly."

"They are now entangled in battle with Xiao Wuliang and unlikely to extricate themselves soon."

Li Zhaowen said: "The situation in the Western Regions is nearing its end."

"Tangxi is dead, its nobility utterly destroyed. The Nineteen Tribes Alliance rushed forward. Xiao Wuliang holds the stronghold. The Yu Langwang suddenly turned back, then launched a swift surprise attack, catching both sides off guard—and still deliberately held back, waiting for the right moment."

"Now he controls the gates of Tangxi and blocks the throat of the desert. His military might is vast, overwhelming, and faintly bears the aura of Wang Bazhi."

"His name grows ever more fearsome."

Li Zhaowen's expression grew silent. Her hand clenched tightly—clearly stirred by this surging tide of change. Her face flushed, eyes bright, shimmering with light, and she said: "Brother Li, do you know why the Yu Langwang returned so swiftly?"

Li Guanyi stared at his palm and chuckled bitterly:

"Because this is precisely my 'price for survival.'"

Li Zhao Wen said, "Hm?"

Li Guanyi recounted the events of that day: "Such a favorable grand situation, and my head on a platter—what would the Wolf King choose? No need to say more. If you fight me, even if losses are minimal, my death will cause Anxi City to ally with all the tribes."

"And when all the powers of the Western Regions turn against him, Jiang Su will not miss this chance; the Duke's Mansion will seize the momentum to launch troops, and Chen's old turtle, Chen Guo Lu, will inch forward with deliberate slowness."

Li Guanyi clenched his five fingers and whispered, "This is the grand tide. The art of war follows the tide: the highest form is to outmaneuver, the next to break alliances, the next to fight armies."

"What I have done is to break alliances."

"The Wolf King is strong, but has no foundation. As long as I stand here, Anxi City stands as an enemy to the Seven Western Tribes—Qiang, Dayuan, and Shatuo must all guard against me, and I must guard against them. Yet Ying State allies with me while simultaneously balancing Chen State at a distance."

"What the Wolf King needs is this fragile balance."

"Conversely, if the Party Xiang King had not died, and Party Xiang's state remained stable, the Western tribes would not be in such a hurry. Had he captured me, the situation might not have spiraled so swiftly."

Li Zhao Wen looked at Li Guanyi and smiled faintly:

"Is the matter of Party Xiang State connected to you, Elder Brother?"

Li Guanyi said, "In a way."

Li Zhao Wen clapped her hands and laughed: "So that's it! Heroes rise and fall with the tide—this turbulent storm involves you and me. But if Elder Brother Li finds himself in trouble, Li Zhao Wen will not stand idly by."

"Don't worry, don't worry!"

Li Guanyi laughed heartily: "Between you and me, brotherhood—I trust you completely."

Li Zhao Wen said, "What you say is what I think."

"But where will Elder Brother Li go next? The grand tide in the Western Regions has surged to this point. If you wish to stand in the Western Regions, you cannot stop. Once the Wolf King truly gathers momentum, he will become utterly unmatched."

Li Guanyi nodded.

The world all says he walked away unscathed from the Wolf King.

But only he knew—he had finally seen—

How terrifying it was to gather military might capable of crushing and slaughtering the legendary top generals of the martial world. The aged Wolf King could do it; Yuwen Lie could rally forces to oppose the Longsheng Guest. Then what majesty and spirit must Jiang Su, the very first divine general of this world, possess?

Every general who has set foot upon the Divine General List.

Before encountering the absolute pinnacle.

Each has his own story of sweeping forward, utterly unmatched.

This is the ultimate opponent of the Western Regions.

Li Guanyi clenched his five fingers, feeling his heart pound fiercely beneath his chest. After smashing through enemy armies and sweeping across all directions, his weight in the Western Regions had finally touched that of the world's supreme beings.

But this is only a part of the world.

Beyond the Wolf King lies the ruthless Jiang Su, the bold Jiang Wanxiang, the Great Khan who commands the Eighteen Khan Kings of the grasslands, the third divine general Gao Xiang, peerless archer of Saibei.

The haughty Yuwen Lie, the night-riding Night Gallop Cavalry.

In such a world, heroes rise like dragons and tigers, tearing and colliding—that is the final song of this chaotic age.

Each side is locked in bitter strife, none easy to deal with.

The Wolf King has indeed seized that sliver of grand tide; he already bears the aura of a hegemon. Li Guanyi cannot stop. He must ride without pause, galloping across this world. The Wolf King's Wu Gong reaches the Ninth Heaven; he commands fifty thousand Azure Wolf Cavalry, and dozens of thousands of other troops.

If Li Guanyi wishes to stand against the Wolf King,

He needs true elite troops—or far greater numbers of armies.

"I will not remain long in Xiyicheng."

Li Guanyi looked at Li Zhao Wen and said, "I returned only to take a few people, and to bid farewell to you, Second Brother. Besides this, I have something to give you." Li Guanyi placed a jade stone into Li Zhao Wen's hand:

"How you handle this object is entirely your own decision."

Li Zhao Wen smiled and nodded: "Consider it a gift?"

Li Guanyi looked at her and said, "…Consider it so."

Li Zhao Wen activated the jade stone.

Slowly, her calm composure vanished. This prodigy, born with exceptional literary and martial talent, her expression hardened piece by piece. When the jade's strange art finally dispersed, Li Zhao Wen fell silent for a long while.

Li Guanyi watched her—this friend, once radiant and noble as a dragon and phoenix since their first meeting—now seemed dazed, the brilliance in her phoenix eyes dimmed. After a long silence, Li Zhao Wen carefully tucked the jade away.

She forced a smile at Li Guanyi: "... My family matters have embarrassed you, Elder Brother Li."

Li Guanyi gazed at her and said, "Between you and me—we are friends, brothers."

"No need to say such things."

Li Guanyi rose and said, "I showed this jade only to you."

Li Zhao Wen's heart eased. She slipped the jade into her sleeve, composed herself, and smiled: "Too bad—if you'd given this to my father, knowing his nature, he'd have stuffed your mouth with gold and silver."

Li Guanyi chose his words carefully: "Duke Li is magnanimous and composed, possesses the shrewdness of a statesman and the bearing of an aristocratic clan—I deeply respect him."

He paused, then spoke plainly:

"But my ally is not Duke Li—it is you, Second Brother."

"This object—I naturally give it to you."

Li Zhao Wen paused, then smiled: "Is that so?"

She traced the jade with her fingers and smiled faintly: "Then I accept your offer of alliance. Rest assured—on my own name, when you face the Wolf King in battle, I will persuade my father to petition Your Majesty and bring troops."

"The Wolf King is a divine general of the last era."

"You and I are still young. Our combined ages are less than his. To join forces is only natural."

"If so, shall we make an alliance pact?"

Li Zhao Wen extended her hand and smiled: "When you face him in battle, I will personally lead troops to meet you. If you alone cannot stand against such a legendary general of the past, then I will stand with you."

"We fight side by side."

"On the battlefield, what cannot be fought?"

Li Guanyi said, "Then what must I do?"

Li Zhao Wen thought, then suddenly said: "If one day I must do something the world condemns, something the masses curse—I hope, at that moment, you will be behind me."

"At least, please don't think of me as someone unforgivable."

Li Guanyi looked at his friend, who no longer had his usual spark, and said slowly:

"Fine."

"The world is vast—wherever Li Guanyi goes, there will always be a place for you, Erlang."

Li Zhao Wen smiled: "Then I look forward to it."

The two raised their hands and slapped them together three times.

Li Zhao Wen tossed the jade stone in his hand and laughed: "Enough, enough—perhaps this is just my own wild imagination. Perhaps it won't happen. Perhaps it won't come to that."

"But Li Brother, when will you leave this place?"

Li Guanyi answered: "As soon as possible."

Li Zhao Wen looked at him, teasing as he always had: "Fine then, Li Brother—you've seen the vast world, learned of legendary generals, and now you no longer wish to stay in Xiyicheng and chat with your old friend?"

"But that's fine. The world is turbulent, and I'm trapped here. You go and see it for me. If I'm needed, no matter how many mountains and rivers, how many armies, I'll pick up my spear and come to join you."

The two made a pact to confront the Wolf King together.

Li Guanyi went again and met Hao Yuan Xia, the sole surviving heir of the Tangxi royal family. The young prince now looked lost; seeing Li Guanyi, he forced a faint smile: "You've come."

Li Guanyi sat down. Hao Yuan Xia brought tea. Li Guanyi fell silent, then said:

"Your father is dead."

Hao Yuan Xia remained silent for a long while, then sighed:

"I don't even know how to address him anymore. He is my father, my biological father—but I grew up with my mother."

"My mother was gentle and beautiful. To me, Father was the man who returned every so often—the bravest warrior of the tribe, a man of towering dignity. Only after all that was he my father."

"When I was just over eleven, he sent me far away, thousands of miles from home, as a hostage. My mother wept as she saw me off, while he married the Princess of Chen."

"When I returned home, my mother had been dead over a year. The Wang Hou had become that princess, barely older than I. I heard my mother had wept so long for me that she went blind, and her body weakened until she died."

"But when I studied Chen's histories, I saw that my mother's timing of death matched perfectly those of past Wang Hous who had lost their value. Perhaps, when I was sent to Chen, I had already died in his eyes."

Hao Yuan Xia fell quiet, eyes closed: "How absurd. The Lord should not have died—he sought immortality, yet died before his own son."

"I want to return to Tangxi. Take me with you. Bring out the Tangxi people." Hao Yuan Xia's cheek twitched slightly as he whispered: "I want to see that father—that enemy—that man who may have killed my mother."

"That man who killed my father, leaving behind only the title 'Martial Emperor of Great Xia in the Western Regions.'"

Thus Li Guanyi petitioned the Marquis of Li for leave, refusing all treasures.

The Marquis of Li was cunning, calculating—he knew Li Guanyi's goal was to enter the world. The Wolf King was already laying the foundation for hegemony. If Li Guanyi wished to turn the tide and confront the Wolf King, he must seize the rest of the Western Regions now.

Every moment was precious; not a second could be wasted.

The Marquis of Li did not wish this. Such a situation conflicted with Ying's strategic interests. Li Guanyi must not fall—but neither could he be allowed the ambition to contest the Western Regions and the world.

From Ying's perspective, Li Guanyi must not be weak—but he must not be strong.

He wished Li Guanyi would sink into obscurity, never rise again. For days he invited Li Guanyi to drink, to feasts.

At banquets, he often gifted gold, silver, and artifacts.

He introduced Li Guanyi to beauties and renowned scholars, delighting in their merriment—but refused outright to let him go.

Li Guanyi opened the third silk pouch of Po Jun. Inside, detailed deductions stated: if Li Guanyi achieved great military merit, the Marquis of Li's sharpness might deduce the Lord's true identity.

Observe his reaction.

If he lets the Lord leave, then he has not guessed.

If he delays with every excuse, insisting the Lord remain, then he has guessed the Lord's identity. The Marquis of Li's nature avoids conflict—he uses this method to drain the Lord's spirit and trap him here, causing him to miss his chance.

At this moment, negotiation is useless. Better not to negotiate at all.

Sometimes, at the extremes of grand momentum, refusing the choices given by the rules is itself a choice.

Very much like Po Jun rolling up his sleeves and drawing his sword.

Li Guanyi chuckled, thought for a moment, then took wine himself and visited the Marquis of Li. After drinking several cups, Li Guanyi requested leave.

The Marquis of Li seemed drunk, laughing: "Go, my dear nephew, go! Come again tomorrow—I've acquired a coral tree from the Southern Seas, several zhang tall. At night, lit by candles, its form is exquisite—you mustn't miss it!"

Li Guanyi smiled: "The leave I'm requesting is to depart from Xiyicheng."

Li Guanyi had already decided—he would overturn the table and leave.

He pressed on: "Earlier, you promised gold and silver, and rewards from the Emperor of Ying. Could you advance them to me? I need to leave. My business has been idle too long—I'm worried."

The Marquis of Li laughed it off: "Now? It's inconvenient. The Emperor governs the world, with ambitions to pacify all under heaven. With so many state affairs, especially concerning the Western Regions, a response cannot come so quickly."

"Besides, I simply cannot afford so much gold and silver."

"My dear nephew, I am poor!"

The same Marquis who had just spoken of the coral tree now feigned ignorance.

He then warmly gripped Li Guanyi's arm and urged:

"Dear nephew Tian Ge Er, why not stay a while longer? My Xiyicheng is vast—fine wine, beauties, all are here. You, a man of such bearing, a hero—why leave this city to suffer in the desert?"

"A true man earns fame across the four directions."

"Why not enjoy yourself?"

Li Guanyi asked: "Truly, you won't let me go?"

The Marquis of Li chuckled: "Dear nephew, don't be impatient."

Li Guanyi's smile slowly spread across his face, his eyes warm as he held the Marquis's hand: "Then please call me by my other name."

Instantly, the Marquis of Li's drunkenness vanished.

He stared at Li Guanyi, silent for a long while, then said:

"Dear nephew Tian Ge Er, why must you do this?"

He paused: "How much do you want?"

Li Guanyi said: "Seven-tenths of the reward, as previously stated."

Duke Li looked at him and said, "I'll give you ninety percent."

"These past few days, we've gotten along well, haven't we?"

"Although I very much wish to keep Tian Ge'er, my nephew, unfortunately, unfortunately, there's no such opportunity. Well, well, next time you must drink more with me, hahaha."

Before leaving, Li Guanyi had originally planned to go to the Duke's mansion to bid farewell to Li Zhaowen.

Changsun Wuchou sent a letter; the writing was clear—exactly Li Zhaowen's free-spirited hand: "Brother Li, do you still remember our agreement? A beauty, the finest in the world, will play the qin and perform the martial melody I composed myself."

"Come see for yourself—I'll bid you farewell."

Li Guanyi said, "It's just playing the qin and listening to music—why make it so complicated?"

"Will Changsun come too?"

Changsun Wuchou stared at his nose, then his heart, and his stomach twisted—he said, "I won't go."

"The Second Young Master asks the Lord to go in person."

Li Guanyi smiled carefreely:

"Fine, still playing hard to get."

"Then I'll listen to my brother's melody."

"Let's see how he shocks me!"

Li Guanyi rode Sa Lu Zi, nonchalantly.

He set off cheerfully.

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