Chapter 537: New Year's Money

The roar of the Bai Hu shook the plains.

The long spear was grim and sharp; Yuwen Lie thrust his heavy spear, the bundled force like a storm, raising wave upon wave of surges, and with just one forward lunge and thrust, over a hundred people were sent flying.

A woman of breathtaking beauty cried out in panic, "General!"

"General Yuwen, show mercy with your spear. I was forced here by my clan and family; I have my own bitter reasons I cannot speak of!"

"I am willing to give myself to you."

"I am willing, willing to be your slave or your maid, I beg you, General…"

This woman was exceedingly beautiful, her eyes brimming with tears on the verge of weeping, like an orchid swaying in the wind, stirring ripples in the heart—but that ink-dark divine spear did not hesitate in the slightest, not even a trace of softening appeared.

In just an instant, he ran her through.

The divine steed leaped, soaring over her head.

The divine steed's neighing was like a dragon's cry as it landed upon the earth, then walked forward at an unhurried pace. Leaves rustled all around. Yuwen Lie held Ji Ning'er in his left arm, gazing ahead at the changed scenery—elegant mountains and forests, gently flowing water. The divine general's voice was cool:

"If we go on, in less than half a day's travel, we will reach the former lands of Chen."

"Ahead is already the territory of the Fire Qilin army."

"You two need not follow any longer."

Wind rose behind them, and a Daoist and an old monk stepped out.

They were precisely the sect masters of the Daoist and Buddhist branches of the Academy—Daoist Ziyang Zhenren, who had seen his own Dao above the Nine Heavens, and the Central Earth Living Buddha of the Buddhist school. Yuwen Lie had personally escorted Ji Ning'er and Ji Yanzhong for several days now.

The many forces of the Central Province that tried to intercept them ahead were all smashed apart and cut down by the Great General of Divine Might.

Before the Bai Hu, there are no innocents.

Ziyang Zhenren and the old monk, entrusted by Gongyang Su Wang with the rear guard on this side, had originally planned to wait until they rescued Red Emperor Ji Zichang and then withdraw together under protection. Now that they knew Ji Zichang's choice, they immediately decided to come escort Ji Ning'er.

They had not expected that Yuwen Lie, who should have been silencing them, would actually choose to personally see them off. The two hid in the shadows and followed along—on one hand to avoid meeting Yuwen Lie and creating complications, and on the other to move covertly and remove hidden traps and assassins.

Ziyang Zhenren swept his horsetail whisk aside, his voice even: "The General's righteousness and valor are unmatched."

"This poor Daoist is impressed."

Yuwen Lie did not look at these leaders of Buddhism and Daoism.

He was a divine general who had entered the world to support the realm.

Those who cultivated in seclusion could not enter his eyes.

Ji Yanzhong's eyes were faintly bloodshot, and he looked more aged and haggard than before. These past days, he had not rested day or night, simply gripping his sword and remaining on guard against his surroundings.

Perhaps, at this most extreme point of contention in the entire realm, a Martial Path Realm of the Seventh Heaven could no longer be considered a force capable of turning any situation around, but he still instinctively did this.

Perhaps it was because, if he did not force himself to do something, his heart and mind would grow ever more anxious and pained. If he did nothing, then his last conversation with Ji Zichang, and Red Emperor Ji Zichang's resolve, would keep surfacing in his heart, bringing wave upon wave of a faint, stabbing ache.

Ji Yanzhong said, "Many thanks to General Yuwen for escorting us all this way…"

The old man's voice was hoarse.

Yuwen Lie looked at Ji Yanzhong, dismounted, drove his heavy spear into the ground, bent down, and was about to hand Ji Ning'er to Ji Yanzhong. His ink-black cloak hung down. The child slept peacefully in his arms, but as he passed her over, her small hand grabbed onto the crimson tassel on the divine general's armor and would not let go.

Ji Yanzhong said, "Little Princess…"

"We've arrived. Time to go."

Ji Ning'er was only half-awake, but like all children at such a moment, she would not let go.

A trace of warmth appeared on the divine general's cold, handsome face.

He reached out, unfastened the red tassel knot that symbolized peace and certain victory in a hundred battles. His palm was still sheathed in dark silver armor as he placed the thing into the child's arms, his voice flat: "Since you like it, I'll give it to you."

"As a parting gift."

Ji Yanzhong said, "She seems to trust the General very much."

"Will General Yuwen not continue to see her off a little further?"

Yuwen Lie withdrew his hand: "No. If I meet Li Guanyi, there will inevitably be a battle."

Ji Yanzhong said, "The Qin Wang is not such a person."

Yuwen Lie glanced at him and said lightly:

"It is I who would strike."

Five words—the divine general's arrogance and disdain.

That pride, consistent from beginning to end, was already displayed in full. Ji Yanzhong fell silent, feeling overawed. It seemed he had much he wished to say, but not a single word could come out.

His nature was gentle and magnanimous, but for that very reason he seldom had his own resolve.

The ancients said that a person of great talent is like an awl in a pouch—once it moves, it will pierce through the pouch on its own.

In an age like this, winds rise and clouds surge, waves towering ten thousand fathoms.

The more intense the conflicts and contradictions of an era, the more these extraordinary people stand out—whether Chen Fubi, Lu Youxian, or Chen Dingye, Ji Zichang, or Yuwen Lie here before him.

Different natures, different standpoints, yet all shone brilliantly in their age, their fame echoing through the ages.

A lord's heart like iron, walking amid the surging waves of a chaotic era.

Compared with their clear-headed resolve—

Ji Yanzhong's heart would be filled with a sense of guilt and inferiority.

He was, in the end, tolerant and magnanimous, and in the end, that concealed a certain softness. A tolerant old man of peaceful times, in an era of surging waves and great upheavals, becomes one who looks ahead and behind, hesitant and indecisive.

Yuwen Lie said, "Besides, she is no longer a princess."

"Those who survive are not princesses."

Yuwen Lie's voice was flat.

"In the war for the realm's peace—if we win, then in the peaceful age that follows, she may simply live the life her parents wished for her. And if we lose, then there is nothing more to say."

"This is the last time we meet."

Yuwen Lie reached out and brushed aside and smoothed Ji Ning'er's hair.

The little child was asleep, half-awake and afraid of the cold.

The killing intent and biting chill of what seemed like armor made her feel a cold sensation.

She instinctively shrank her neck, dodging Yuwen Lie's fingers.

Yuwen Lie fell silent, removed his gauntlet, and his pale, slender fingers touched the child briefly before withdrawing. His eyes were calm and tranquil: "Your Majesty's realm is vast enough to shelter a mere child, but it can no longer shelter the rebel of the Red Emperor."

"Ji Yanzhong."

"Take care of yourself."

"Tell Li Guanyi that on the battlefield, I await his Tiger Howl Heaven-Slicing Halberd."

The dragon steed's whinny was like an ink-black dragon. The divine general vaulted onto the horse, his great cloak billowing like a black cloud. Seated atop the dragon steed, his hair bound by a jade crown, his brows aloof and indifferent, he spoke no words of farewell, nor any other threats.

He merely pulled the reins.

No hesitation, no reluctance, no lingering.

The divine steed turned and thundered away. Through these mountains and rivers, the great cloak swept up bamboo leaves, the dragon horse churned the waves, the ink-black heavy spear tore apart the troubled age. The Divine Might General Yuwen Lie, beneath that brief moment of softness, once more gripped his spear and rode toward his own ending and the chaos of the era.

See the man—unto death, his heart remains like iron.

Then try his hand, to mend the riven heavens.

Whether he succeeds is not the most important matter; what matters is whether, amidst the surging chaos of this age, there exists the resolve to raise one's hand and mend the heavens.

If he fails, then he dies!

A man's valor and ferocity—there will never be a third path.

Yuwen Lie rode into the distance. The child, who had been protected all this while by the divine general's Bai Hu astral energy, suddenly felt a sense of alienation and unease, and reached out crying loudly. Yuwen Lie did not look back, but the Bai Hu suddenly roared, its voice clear and bright, echoing through the mountains and rivers.

Thus the peaks resounded, the forest leaves rustled, as if in farewell.

Ji Ning'er suddenly laughed again.

Even in farewell, a person proud and aloof to the extreme remains thus.

Ziyang Zhenren was silent for a long while, then said: "The Bai Hu of the Celestial Star, the killing star of the troubled age. If Yuwen Lie does not die, perhaps one day he too, like Jiang Su and Chancellor Chen Fu, will find his own path upon the battlefield and in the chaos, and step into legend."

"Three hundred years of troubled times, until now, shall be unified."

"Truly, heroes such as these—if they lived in a prosperous age of peace, they should have been confidants and friends. In a time of peace, the Qin Wang and Yuwen Lie would drink together, Emperor Ji Zichang would play the qin, Chen Dingye would compose ornate prose, and Chancellor Chen Fu and Jiang Wanxiang would guard the realm."

"What a pity, what a pity. Reading the annals of history, one only feels that in the troubled age, it began with bustle and excitement, and later withered into loneliness."

"Like waves ten thousand fathoms high, ceaselessly crashing—these heroes of the troubled age, amid such surging billows, will all rise with the tide and accomplish deeds that awe both past and present."

"Old Imperial Uncle Ji."

Ziyang Zhenren looked toward Ji Yanzhong over there, calling out several times before Ji Yanzhong finally came to his senses. He forced a smile and said: "Ziyang Zhenren, what is it?"

Ziyang Zhenren looked at this old man, and at last a trace of sorrow and pity surfaced in his eyes.

For an old man without the heroic spirit of the troubled age, in just these few days he had lost his homeland, lost his native soil, lost his pillar and everything that once represented the identity of 【Ji Yanzhong】.

He had lost his past, lost everything he had believed in this life, lost everything he had protected in this life—leaving only this child.

This is a cruel thing.

Not everyone is one of those heroes who can leave their mark upon the annals of history; not everyone, after enduring all this, still possesses a will like steel. Even heroes counted among the ages will have their moments of dejection.

The old monk said: "... Beyond the world, there is still a place of pure tranquility."

"In the mortal world, Ji Yanzhong is already dead. This child is entrusted to the Qin Wang. Old friend, come with us to leave the world and cultivate, finding peace and ease, and go see the peace of the coming generations."

Ji Yanzhong was silent for a long while, a complex smile appearing on his face, and said:

"Very well."

They set out together toward the Qin Wang's location. In fact, along the way, they learned that the Qin Wang was not in the Jiangnan region at this moment, but in Jiangzhou City. The timing was precisely when the Qin Wang and Jiang Su had joined forces to campaign against the Turks.

Originally, the heroes of the world's troubled age fell one by one.

Now only two forces, blazing with the fiercest flames, faced each other in rivalry.

The blades and swords were already drawn—there was no room left for maneuver.

The Qin Wang's forces, on one hand, had to guard against the world's invincible God of War Jiang Su turning his weapons to attack the Fire Qilin Army; on the other hand, they had to gather strength to sweep clean the filth within Chen's territory, while simultaneously campaigning against Chen Dingye.

This was by no means a simple matter. The newly subjugated Chen lands, and half of the Turkic grasslands taken, had only just submitted to Tiance Prefecture and the Qin Wang, and within them lurked an extremely large number of unstable factors.

Added to this was the terrifying pressure brought by the God of War Jiang Su.

The pressure on Tiance Prefecture was immense.

Master Yan Daiqing's grievances had recently soared to the heavens.

After the three consecutive campaigns of 【Subduing Chen】, 【Breaking the Turks】, and 【Executing the Emperor】—

Those several hundred thousand of the Fire Qilin Army had honed their blade-edge and killing chill to perfection—all were veterans of a hundred battles, fierce and valiant.

But money and grain had also been burned through far too much.

Logistics was not merely a matter of money.

It also ate grain.

Rather, at this stage of fighting, money was not in short supply; grain was what mattered.

Especially with the armies transporting grain and supplies—these logistics corps normally had to farm, but now in a state of war, it amounted to the loss of a large batch of labor. At the same time, these logistics units transporting grain consumed provisions themselves—both men and horses eating—another enormous drain.

Money still remained, but grain could not withstand one final, desperate great battle.

What was to be fought next was truly two 【realms】.

The circulation of gold and silver would likely plummet drastically.

The jianghu is a reflection of the court, the battlefield an extension of the hall of state—but in Master Yan Daiqing's eyes, these three were one. In the end, it all came down to a single matter. Now nearly thirty, Master Yan Daiqing, tempered out of the troubled age, had long understood much.

The three were as one, yet with economy and money as the central axis.

Many changes could be discerned from subtle shifts in the market—such as grain prices, such as stockpiles. And the current situation was that exchanges across all fronts had been swiftly severed; no one observed the old rules any longer, and economic and market goods could not circulate.

Once it reached this stage, it was a fight to the death.

Master Yan Daiqing drew a slight breath; his eyes were solemn.

It felt like a spark of lightning streaking down his spine.

"Combat-ready state…"

He suddenly realized, belatedly.

He understood why the Xue family, whose merchants had spread across the realm, had—while the Chen Kingdom had not yet been fully taken—secretly begun selling off their businesses and properties in Ying, suffering many losses, yet quietly recalling much of their real assets.

Master Yan Daiqing noticed this point because of Master Wen Qingyu's frustration.

This young generation's acknowledged number-one strategist had realized it.

Those problematic members of the Xue family had been promoted and transferred to parts of Ying Kingdom; at that time, with the great war raging in Chen, Ying was peaceful, and those Xue family members with problems who had been transferred to Ying were quite happy.

In this happy state, they embezzled the Xue family merchant guild's assets over there.

While also bringing back what Xue Daoyong needed.

Now that the situation was gradually growing tense, the Xue family merchant guild over there could barely operate, having been gradually taken over by Ying, and the members of the various Xue family merchant guilds had also been dealt with; Master Wen Qingyu went to visit Xue Daoyong and privately brought up the matter.

Xue Daoyong was full of regret, saying: "Even if those people took dirty money and have blood on their hands, they are still members of my Xue family. Though I may be a fierce tiger, even a tiger does not eat its cubs—how could I kill them with my own hands?"

"Let Jiang Wanxiang help me remove these people."

The old man bit down on a tea stem, spat out the dregs, and laughed:

"Does Mr. Wen kill people with his own blade?"

Master Wen Qingyu curled his lip, his expression unchanged: "I use their own."

"Let them kill themselves."

The old man said cheerfully: "You're not convinced."

"Your mindset still isn't steady enough."

Master Wen Qingyu: "…………"

His smile grew all the warmer.

The fierce tiger of the chaotic age laughed heartily; this hero, who in his own era had reopened the Western Regions trade routes and multiplied the Xue family's fortune several times over, rose and clapped Master Wen Qingyu on the shoulder.

Master Wen Qingyu: "What do you mean?"

The fierce tiger of the chaotic age smiled cheerfully: "Young man, practice more."

"Hahahahahaha!"

And in this situation, His Highness the Qin Wang gave orders to collect the gold and iron from Chen Kingdom and the grassland Turks, seemingly planning to cast the Nine Tripod Cauldrons; however, the casting of the tripods was a massive undertaking, extremely time- and labor-consuming, and he had even mobilized the entire Fire Qilin Army's 【Fortune】.

He had genuinely gotten quite a few good things from the Chen Kingdom's imperial household.

His Majesty the Qin Wang was in a good mood.

In Jiangzhou City, Li Guanyi had gathered enough materials to cast the Nine Tripod Cauldrons, and at the same time placed the things Nangong Wumeng had previously found on the table—there was a Nine Dragon Jade Bi of exceptional material, and several jade auspicious coins.

These were what Li Guanyi intended to give to his goddaughter.

Having dug them out yesterday and packed them today, Li Guanyi planned to write a letter to tell Emperor Ji Zichang about these matters; he couldn't, after all, keep telling him that it was Li Guanyi embezzling the child's New Year money.

Cough cough cough, what embezzlement—can a godfather's actions even be called embezzlement!

This is called, called temporary safekeeping!

Yes, it's just a father temporarily keeping them for her; he'll definitely give them all to her in the future. Me? The Qin Wang? How could I possibly be the sort to borrow money and not return it?

Li Guanyi picked up his brush and wrote.

"It's been a long time, Brother Changwen—"

"How have you and your wife been, in all the four corners of your life?"

"I have finally avenged my parents—at least, avenged them in part. I have conquered the Turkic grasslands, no longer having worries at my back, and sent Chen Dingye to his final end. The world is bleak; in a daze, ten years have passed."

"The raging fire that trapped me in my youth has finally been quelled."

"But the realm is not yet at peace; there is still one last hard and vicious battle to fight. I once thought that as long as the world was at peace, anyone would do, but later I gradually came to understand that we, having come this far, hold this view at the end."

"It is for our fallen comrades, and for the most shameful betrayal of the past and of ourselves."

"I had a teacher who said that a revolution must be thorough."

"This is not a dinner party. This final battle must be fought, and it must be won—only then can the realm be reshaped. But I also know that in the tide of the times, many problems will inevitably arise again."

"Nevertheless, the times ultimately move forward in twists and turns."

"How could a true man shrink back because of this?"

"When the realm is at peace and settled, you are free to leave, to go anywhere in the world, to be yourself. Don't be the Scarlet Emperor anymore—just be Ji Zichang, or, if you feel that name represents bondage, then be Changwen."

"It's fine for Ning'er to stay here with me. When the time comes, you can take your wife traveling everywhere, and I'll take the child to train in martial arts and watch over this place. If you miss her, just come back and find me anytime."

"Heh heh, but be careful—children are very affectionate!"

"Especially with me!"

"Not to boast, but I'm very popular with children. Be careful Ning'er forgets about you two later, so don't go too far. Well, actually, it's because I think I might not be that good at taking care of children."

"But with Auntie here, there definitely won't be any problems."

Li Guanyi wore a gentle smile; he and Emperor Ji Zichang were on excellent terms.

From that drunken night under the great tree of the academy several years ago.

To now, the Qin Wang who held dominion over a region.

He set down the New Year money and continued writing: "I've found a few jade pieces for the child—consider them gifts."

"Ahem, could we perhaps offset part of the New Year money with these?"

"These are fine things, you know!"

"Anyway… I hope that when the realm is at peace—"

"Li Yaoshi and Changwen can still drink together. I'll wait for you under that great tree, and we'll get thoroughly drunk again."

"The world is vast—go where you will!"

"No longer need you be bound."

Li Guanyi set the things down, but at that moment, a faint whiff of blood reached him. The Qin Wang's brows rose, and he said coldly:

"??? Who!"

"Amitabha…"

At the old monk's Buddhist invocation, Qin Wang looked at the Central Land Living Buddha and the Purple Yang True Person, and then immediately saw the soul-stricken Ji Yanzhong, and also the child held tightly in Ji Yanzhong's embrace.

Li Guanyi's smile froze.

The dragon's roar nearly exploded.

Ji Yanzhong only saw a blur before his eyes; Qin Wang had already appeared in front of him, sleeves billowing, eyes slightly widened, an expression of forcibly restrained calm on his face, saying: "…Ning'er."

He looked at Ji Yanzhong: "What happened?!"

Ji Yanzhong looked at Qin Wang, and in a tone so calm and numb that even he himself could not react to it, said: "Your Majesty."

"Jiang Wanxiang has forced the palace."

"The Red Emperor, His Majesty, burned himself, severing the legal lineage of the Red Emperor's line."

Qin Wang's expression was wooden, and he said: "And the Empress?"

Ji Yanzhong said: "Noble Consort Wen accompanied His Majesty."

He raised both hands: "This is… what he hoped, that you would protect Ning'er."

Qin Wang did not know how he had reached out to hold the child; he found himself unusually calm, not a single ripple of emotion in his mind, only a sense of detachment and indifference, as if his primordial spirit watched from above as his body moved.

Ji Yanzhong took out a scroll of imperial edict from his embrace, touched it, and the old man said:

"This is the edict His Majesty gave you… no."

"This is, His Majesty's last thing."

Qin Wang did not move; his inner force circulated, and the scroll unfurled, containing only a simple ten or so characters.

【The world is vast; take what you will.】

【From now on, you are no longer bound.】

【Yaoshi, proclaim yourself emperor.】

Qin Wang quietly looked at these words. Ji Yanzhong did not see any emotional fluctuation from him, only that Qin Wang carefully held Ji Ning'er. The child woke up, looked at him, and suddenly said: "Ah, you're my godfather!"

Qin Wang looked at the child and said: "Yes, that's right, how did you know?"

Ji Ning'er said happily: "Daddy and Mommy said so, that there's really very powerful immortal magic."

"Immortal magic?"

"Mm!"

Ji Ning'er nodded hard, her smile radiant: "Daddy and Mommy had me drink something very sweet, saying it was a treasure given by immortals. As long as you drink it, you can sleep, and when you wake up you'll see godfather."

"Then, Daddy and Mommy said they wanted to play hide-and-seek with me."

"They'll quietly disappear and let me look for them slowly."

"Godfather, godfather, I found you!"

"You're so amazing!"

"Hmph, you can definitely stay with me and find Daddy and Mommy."

Ji Yanzhong lowered his head. The gentle, magnanimous, yet ultimately only an ordinary person, the old man's tears streamed down his face, his heart cut like a knife. The old monk pressed his palms together, unable to bear listening further; the Purple Yang True Person only sighed.

Qin Wang's voice was gentle as he said: "Mm, did they say anything else?"

Ji Ning'er thought seriously, then suddenly smiled: "Yes! Daddy said there's still a gift for godfather. He said godfather, you take Ning'er, lots and lots."

She had Qin Wang hold out his hand, and mysteriously placed something in his palm.

Qin Wang opened his palm; inside was a copper coin.

A New Year's lucky coin.

He was stunned.

All those great affairs of the realm, all those surging tides of the world, those fierce, magnificent, brave, domineering things suddenly dissipated. He stared blankly at this one New Year's coin, as if hearing a whisper, feeling a simple, plain emotion.

May you be peaceful year after year, safe year after year.

Suppress the years, suppress the years.

Qin Wang opened his mouth, not knowing why, but this one New Year's coin was like a blade. That restrained, suppressed emotion burst forth like a flood; his heart suddenly clenched, aching terribly.

His body trembled; tears at the corners of his eyes fell uncontrollably.

Yet Qin Wang had to grit his teeth.

Those on either side bowed their heads, not daring to look up at the overlord in such a state. Only the small child was puzzled, reached out her hand, used her palm to wipe the tears from his face, and comforted him: "Godfather, godfather, don't cry."

"Does it hurt somewhere? Let me blow on it, no pain, no pain."

"It doesn't hurt."

Li Guanyi wept openly.

The imperial edict was swept up by the fierce wind, together with Qin Wang's letter.

【The world is vast; you may go freely】

【The world is vast; you may take what you will】

Yet it was only a difference of one character, and it was also, in this life, a farewell.

Qin Wang's vision blurred and distorted, as if he saw amid raging flames, fire soaring to the skies, saw scenes from the past—grave-robbing, taking treasure, the overlord—until it finally fell to that year beneath the great tree, that cup of wine.

The wild and unrestrained young lord, the disheveled and weary Central Province Red Emperor.

In that year's long wind, they met each other.

The raging fire burned everything away.

That young man, who still seemed barely past thirty, smiled gently and said:

"I am Changwen, a disciple of the Academy, greetings, brother."

"Yaoshi…"

He raised his head and smiled within the blazing flames.

Then was burned to ash by the blazing flames.

"Ascend the throne."

?? Begging the gods for support in the rankings campaign, friends~

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