Chapter 561: Opening the Peace of Ten Thousand Generations

The Changfeng Tower is the most mysterious place in all of Jiangnan.

But it is not the tallest building; nearby this Changfeng Tower stands another tall building, where Nangong Wumeng sits cross-legged, sighing, a wistful expression on her face.

Sorrow, oh sorrow!

Suddenly a voice came through: "What are you looking at!?"

This voice appeared so suddenly that it startled Nangong Wumeng; the woman's body visibly stiffened, rather like a kitten patted from behind, every hair standing on end.

Then she immediately grew stubborn, stammering: "Wh-what peeking!"

"I, I-I-I-I wasn't peeking, and I wasn't envious either!"

Then she came to her senses. Although her cultivation had stagnated these past few years, never breaking through to the realm of a Qizhongtian Sect Grandmaster, her foundation at the sixth heaven was in fact quite solid, especially because she often got lost, often accidentally finding the wrong place, stumbling upon certain red fruits, sweet and juicy, little child-like fruits growing on trees.

After eating them, her Wu Gong grew ever more abundant and powerful.

But the Grandmaster's realm is especially peculiar; it cannot be broken through by simply accumulating power. Even so, with her deep inner Qi, keen perception, and the Yin-Yang Rotation Sect's sect-suppressing divine weapon in her hand, ordinary Grandmasters couldn't catch her.

Yet this person had easily approached her and startled her. Then she saw a familiar face—it was the old Master Siming.

The old Master Siming chuckled, climbed up riding an old black tortoise, exhaled a breath, and said:

"This place is high, and the breeze is wonderfully comfortable!"

Nangong Wumeng looked at him and rolled her eyes. The old gentleman climbed up chuckling and said: "Scoot over a bit for me, will you?" Nangong Wumeng reluctantly moved aside. The old Master Siming sat down and exhaled a breath.

This unparalleled Grandmaster of the Yin-Yang school gazed out at this peaceful mortal world and exhaled a long, yearning breath. In his youth he had been close friends with Chen Wu Di, with the founding Emperor of the State of Ying, and with the Tuyuhun Khan Qibili.

Together they had vowed to tear apart the closed and chaotic world of the Red Emperor's era.

To establish a peaceful mortal realm.

At first they truly succeeded, but once they had succeeded, those very heroes who had carved out kingdoms for themselves forgot their former ideals. They had sworn to fight side by side, but when they later met, they came leading armies of a thousand men and ten thousand horses.

The old Master Siming went to see each of them one by one, only to be met with utter disappointment.

Now, several hundred years, bleak and gone, and the world has changed again.

The old Master Siming gazed at the Jiangnan scenery and could not help murmuring softly: "I wonder if this time we can succeed…"

This was the moment when this old man, who had lingered in the mortal world for several hundred years, was closest to his goal and dream, yet he also feared that upon waking from a daze, the dream would still be just a dream—a bubble of illusion, vanishing in an instant like smoke.

The old Master Siming heard a firm voice by his ear: "We will definitely succeed."

He looked over, and Nangong Wumeng's expression was serious.

Nangong Wumeng patted the divine weapon at her waist and said: "We've come all this way, from the tenth year of Tianqi, until now, to the upheaval of the world in the autumn of the eleventh year of Tianqi, to the later campaigns in the Western Regions, and now, the Red Emperor's line has ended…"

"We've overcome so, so many difficulties."

"We've paid so, so many sacrifices."

"We've also crossed countless mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas; we've accomplished one great feat after another. Now that we've reached this point, how could we possibly lose?!"

"We absolutely must win!"

The old Master Siming looked at the determination in Nangong Wumeng's eyes.

This woman, who had taken the elixir of immortality and still looked as beautiful and matchless as in her youth, had a steadfastness in her expression that marked her as a true warrior. She was called by Khan Qibili and the others the Fire Qilin's lucky star and star of wealth.

But at the same time, she was also the most reliable comrade-in-arms who had joined at the battle outside Zhenbei Pass, marching with the army across the realm, a warrior who had crossed battlefield after battlefield.

The old Master Siming grinned and said: "Hahaha, what spirit!"

"With this kind of vigor, you can accomplish anything. But tell me, after the world is finally settled, what do you plan to do?"

Nangong Wumeng answered without hesitation: "What else?! Of course I'll return to the mountains, rebuild my master's branch of the Yin-Yang Rotation Sect, take disciples and teach martial arts, re-establish our lineage's mountain gate and heritage, and then just get ol—"

This had always been her goal, and what she had always told others she would do after leaving the Fire Qilin army.

So when she answered, it was without hesitation, in one smooth breath.

But as she spoke, she began to slow down, no longer so firm, so resolute. By the end, she even grew hesitant and stammering, especially on the last sentence, which she could barely get out.

The old Master Siming burst into laughter, laughing until Nangong Wumeng grew a bit "annoyed," glaring at him with wide eyes.

The old Master Siming then said: "Old? How could you possibly grow old?"

"With your Wu Gong talent, and that damn fortune as if you were the God of Wealth's daughter descended to the mortal world, breaking through to the Tapo Sect Grandmaster realm is only a matter of time, isn't it? Besides, haven't you already taken the elixir of immortality refined by Hou Zhongyu?"

"Ahahaha, that was something Hou Zhongyu refined back in the day."

"I'm afraid even after another sixty years, your face will still look like this, unable to age. So, that dream of yours—I'm afraid you'll have to rethink it, give it careful consideration, and then decide."

Teased like this, Nangong Wumeng was stunned for a moment, then delighted, and said: "Th-this, well… that's true too. Since this Miss won't age, I certainly have to rethink it."

The old Master Siming said with a chuckle: "Didn't that kid Li Guanyi force you to sign a bunch of 'indenture contracts'?"

Nangong Wumeng glared: "What indenture contracts? They're clearly labor contracts!"

"He wants me to find so many, many gold mines and silver mines—where would I have such great ability to find so many mineral deposits!"

The old Master Siming laughed heartily for a while and said: "I do have an idea."

"It can resolve the worries in your heart."

Nangong Wumeng grew suspicious and leaned over slightly. The old Master Siming grinned and said: "Let me tell you, search everywhere for these gold and silver mines, and then just leave a few unfound, and tell him you simply can't find them, and then…"

Nangong Wumeng said: "And then…"

The old Master Siming said: "And then, you can justifiably and openly stay by his side!"

Nangong Wumeng's perception was very strong.

So when she finished hearing this sentence, several breaths passed before she realized what she had just heard. Her face instantly flushed crimson, and she sprang up, pointing at the old Master Siming and the old black tortoise who were laughing uproariously over there, stammering: "Who!"

"Who said anything about staying by his side!?"

"Besides, b-besides! He's going to become Emperor later—a sovereign who expands the realm and pacifies the world. I have no proper status, so why would I stay by his side!"

The old Master Siming and the old black tortoise exchanged a glance.

Both fellows saw a hint of amusement in their old companion's eyes.

The old man clapped his hands and laughed heartily: "Hahaha, wonderful! You still want a proper status! What kind of status would match your extraordinary fortune!"

Nangong Wumeng's face turned completely crimson.

This time, he couldn't even get out a single word without stammering.

The great gates of Changfeng Tower opened. Qin Huang had shed his armor, wearing only a round-collared robe, a jade belt at his waist, jade pendants dangling and chiming. He adjusted his round collar with one hand as he walked forward, then vaulted onto his horse, and sensed Old Siming and Nangong Wumeng over there.

He lifted his head and called: "Hey, Scout General Nangong Wumeng, time's up."

"Why aren't you at Tiance Prefecture checking in and signing the roster? What are you doing here?"

Qin Huang wore a smile. Nangong Wumeng let out a string of ah-ah-ah cries, then fled down another path, leaping into the air. His lightness skill and movement art were extraordinary and transcendent, but in Old Siming's perception, that figure—fleet as a startled swan, graceful as a wandering dragon—was as ethereal and beautiful as a banknote with a one-million-tael silver limit.

Old Siming couldn't help sighing in admiration: "Ah, what fortune is this!"

"If only I had such fortune."

"If you asked me to live in a grand mansion with gardens, to eat delicacies from land and sea, I'd be willing too!"

Li Guanyi laughed and said: "Delicacies from land and sea may not amount to much, but if Old Sir is willing, building you a large garden would be no difficult matter."

Old Siming rolled his eyes and laughed: "With a temperament like yours, how could I not know? Your so-called large garden is probably just like the way you tricked Nan Hanwen—building some academy or the like, wanting this old man to teach students for you."

"Sure enough, this Jiangnan Qin Huang never takes a loss."

"Worthy of being raised by that little girl Murong Qiushui."

Li Guanyi laughed heartily and said: "Then on behalf of my aunt, I thank Old Sir for the praise."

Old Siming laughed and scolded a couple of times, then waved his hand and said: "This old man has no such thoughts. All alone, coming and going freely—the current head of the Yin-Yang School lineage is still at the academy. Wait until the realm is at peace, then go find him."

"If this old man can drink a cup of fine wine on the day the realm is at peace—"

"That would be enough for me."

"I'd gladly travel the mountains and waters, roaming freely through the jianghu."

Li Guanyi watched Old Siming's retreating figure waving his hand, nodded seriously, and said:

"Old senior, you will see that day."

……………………

In Tiance Prefecture, many people had gathered.

Apart from Yue Pengwu, who needed to hold down Zhenbei Pass and could not spare himself to come, the core members of the Qilin Army were all here, having waited for some time. Arranged in civil and military ranks, each one wore a solemn expression, with a faint excitement between their brows.

With Yue Pengwu absent, Yue Qianfeng stood at the highest position on the generals' side.

On the civil officials' side, the foremost was Mr. Pojun, followed closely by Master Yan Daiqing.

Li Zhaowen and Chen Wenmian, because of their different status, were not arranged according to the usual civil-military order, but were given seats off to the side.

In the past, when the Qilin Army's Tiance Prefecture gathered its ministers and generals, there was always much to discuss among them. The atmosphere was mostly taut, with a thread of ease; though they didn't quite chat and laugh, they could still discuss matters.

But today seemed different.

None of these people had any inclination to make small talk at all.

One only saw Yue Qianfeng with eyes closed like a fierce tiger, Chen Wenmian like a grim gray wolf, Xiao Wuliang with a treasured sword at his waist, Wang Shunchen lightly stroking his war bow, Yan Xuanji like a mountain range, Khan Qibili with an expression deep and heavy as a desert wolf, Fan Qing calm and still, Ye Buyi and Zhou Liu each displaying sharp fangs and keen claws.

Pojun as arrogant as ever, Master Yan Daiqing with eyes closed and silent, Wen Lingjun's smile slightly withdrawn, Fangzi Qiao's smile calm and composed, Pang Shuiyun twirling his white beard, Yuan Zhi still like a swordsman-roaming-knight, Feng Xiao drinking alone, Zhou Pinglu lightly turning the pages of the Juan Sect records, Xiao Zhi thinking of the name list, Wei Xuancheng and Du Keming with solemn expressions.

Even at this time, the Seven Kings Ashina led many generals to garrison the northern grasslands; Yue Pengwu led Generals Ling Pingyang, Han Zaizhong, Yang Xingshi and others to garrison Beicheng, while Master Wen Qingyu had transformed into Saibei's Master Yan Daiqing, together with General Yuan Shitong and Xue Tianxing at the northern frontier passes.

Yet the lineup that remained at Tiance Prefecture could still warrant the saying: fierce generals like clouds, strategists like rain. Beneath them were other young, valiant warriors who simply had not yet carved out sufficiently formidable reputations across the realm.

All of them were merely waiting for this great battle, to step onto the stage of eternal history.

Li Zhaowen sat to one side, his phoenix eyes sweeping lightly over this lineup, and could not help but sigh with hidden admiration. Every person here was a famed general who had left their own battle intent and marks upon this chaotic age. Now gathered in one hall, what they sought was no ordinary battle.

What could make them all fall silent at this moment—

—was only that one kind of great battle.

The breathing in this place grew deeper and quieter. No one spoke; everyone merely maintained a sense of calm tranquility. Within this silence, a faint quality of grim killing intent gradually accumulated, gradually thickening.

The sound of footsteps suddenly came.

Li Zhaowen noticed that the eyes of these fierce generals and famed ministers suddenly lit up.

In an instant, the atmosphere seemed to grow even heavier, like a pack of fierce tigers, like dragons murmuring low. They all looked toward the doorway together; this sudden layering of presence was enough to frighten an ordinary war general into having his liver and gall split apart.

Crash— the great doors swung open.

Civil officials and generals all rose together.

The generals lowered their heads; the civil officials offered salutes.

All said in unison: "Your Majesty!"

Li Guanyi, wearing only an ordinary round-collared robe, walked through the midst of these strongest civil officials and generals under heaven, his expression calm, and said: "Everyone, please rise."

"Yes!"

Li Guanyi sat at the head seat. Li Zhaowen's seat was somewhat lower than his position, yet she only smiled slightly and said: "Guanyi." Li Guanyi exchanged greetings, then took his seat.

His gaze swept over those before him, and he said: "Everyone knows why we are here. This time, Jiang Gao executed Jiang Yuan; the great situation of the Ying Kingdom has changed violently. After Jiang Gao rose to power, he took bold and sweeping measures, completely overhauling Jiang Yuan's original policies. A great battle will come in a matter of days."

"What does everyone think should be done?"

The group exchanged glances. Yue Qianfeng said: "At this point, we all know we must fight, and the Ying Kingdom knows it too. The key of the matter probably lies in when to fight this battle, and how to fight it."

"We are merely war generals. The one to make this decision is only Your Majesty."

"Wherever the Qilin-patterned banner points, we shall charge forward with valor."

Li Guanyi said: "Good. Then I think—"

"Three days from now, we attack!"

Even Yue Qianfeng had not expected it to be so soon; his expression changed abruptly, and he instinctively said: "Three days?"

Qin Huang said: "Mr. Pojun has long since made troop deployments—more than enough."

"Light cavalry, simple march, take them by surprise."

"This battle is different from those before. In the past, the great wars of this realm were all wars of checks and balances between many forces—they needed to be slow, needed to be gradual. But now is different. Now is the final battle, you die or I live. Swift action is fitting, delay is not; early action is fitting, lateness is not."

"Right, certainly, just as you all imagine—if we continue to develop, our military provisions and grain will become more solid and substantial than now."

"But the Ying Kingdom will also continuously recover the vitality that Jiang Yuan had drained."

"We have been stockpiling grain, stockpiling arms and men — how long must we keep stockpiling before it ends?"

"Or should we stockpile for ten thousand years?"

The expressions of the many ministers and generals grew solemn; they perceived the Qin Emperor's resolve. The sovereign seated high rose — the youthful brilliance of his younger years had already transformed into a calm, commanding presence that surveyed all beneath heaven. He said:

"Arms and provisions — for this one battle alone, that is enough."

"The great trend of the world is such that everyone believes time is not on our side, believes that in five years, in ten years, we will grow stronger. But this is a kind of numbness, because under our pressure, under the pressure of this future, Jiang Gao and the Ying Kingdom will also undergo a new rapid rise."

"The variables of the future are too many."

"We must have the present."

"When Jiang Su and the Ying Kingdom believe we will choose to rest and recuperate, we strike — and we seize the initiative. And at this moment, the Ying Kingdom's domestic morale is in turmoil. Of heaven's timing, the earth's advantage, and human harmony, we hold the first and the third; our army's will is like iron. This is the best opportunity."

Li Zhaowen saw that in the eyes of General Yue Qianfeng and the others, a thin flame was gradually gathering — a flame kindled by the young sovereign before them. The Qin Emperor gripped the sword at his waist, his voice calm:

"When I was young, first learning the art of war, I could only recite a few famous lines from the military sages and thought myself knowledgeable in warfare — laughable. Now, having endured so many campaigns, I have come to understand a little."

"They say Buddhism and the Daoist gate speak of three realms."

"I see the art of war in three realms as well. The first realm: know the enemy, and on the battlefield you can engage them, countering move with move, leading your armies to gallop across the field — that is the first realm."

"The second realm is knowing oneself."

"Knowing what your own objective is, knowing the great trend and the strategy; in victory, not greedy for merit or reckless advance; in defeat, not wallowing in self-pity, restrained and calm. Take Yuwen Lie and the others of those years — they sought victory on the battlefield, yet lost their strategic judgment."

"Knowing both oneself and the enemy, one can be victorious in a hundred battles."

"But recently I have slowly come to understand the third realm — it is to guide the enemy."

"Guide the enemy's thoughts, guide the enemy's judgment, creating sufficient opportunity for one's own strategy. Only thus can one find life in a desperate situation, defeat many with few, and achieve great victory!"

"Now, all under heaven believe that our Great Qin will rest and recuperate."

"Yet we shall do the opposite — using this very belief, we strike swiftly."

Li Guanyi raised his eyes and looked ahead; everything before him seemed to grow illusory, as if it had transformed into that very world beneath heaven, crisscrossed and interwoven, where the heroes of the realm galloped across it like black and white, blades and swords keening, colliding ceaselessly.

The Turks, the Western Regions, the Southwest, the Central Plains, Yu Langwang, the Chen Emperor, the Ying Emperor, the Scarlet Emperor.

Heroes rose and fell in turn.

The grandeur and grandeur of this world beneath heaven, fully expressed.

He seemed to see Jiang Gao, to see Jiang Su.

The sound of sword-keening exploded outward. The Qin Emperor lifted his sword; the blade sang as it rose from its scabbard, shattering the eight hundred years of grandeur and romance. The Jiuli Bingzhu's divine weapon was raised, pointing ahead; on either side of the blade, the eyes of the civil and military officials reflected fierce flames.

The Qin Emperor said: "Heaven's timing, the earth's advantage, and human harmony."

"We already hold two of the three. The world is vast — eight hundred years of the Scarlet Emperor, three hundred years of chaos. This time, it shall be by our hand, swept clean with a single sword!"

His voice paused, then: "Things always advance through contradiction and twists."

"All things beneath heaven return to the void, to samsara; there can never be ten thousand years of peace. But we must leave behind the spark of ten thousand years of peace, leave behind a flame that no one in the thousands of years before us ever left. This time, let us set the example for those who come after."

The crowd instinctively raised their heads, looking at the Qin Emperor.

The Qin Emperor smiled slightly and said: "The people we have spent these years campaigning against — their ancestors were once heroes too. Our descendants, perhaps… no, they will certainly rot! This is the law of how things develop; we cannot escape it."

"But do not fear, gentlemen — they will take on the forms we despise, but beneath this heaven there will always be countless people who understand our ideals."

"The Dharma Aspect is the resonance of will and heaven and earth."

"Those who inherit our will — they are our successors!"

"Gentlemen, go forward without worry."

"Our will shall have those who come after to carry it on. See — those who follow are without end!"

The expression on the Qin Emperor's face softened and warmed as he said softly:

"In that case, even if later — eight hundred years from now — our final dynasty has already fallen into chaos, there will still be those who come after, who take up our swords and once again carve out a new era. I think, this is the true meaning of 'opening ten thousand years of peace.'"

"But that is, after all, a matter far too distant. Ten thousand years is too long — we only contend with the present."

"This work of heaven-splitting and earth-opening — let it be done by us!"

"Will you gentlemen walk this road with me?"

"And do this — the most romantic deed beneath heaven for ten thousand generations?"

The hearts of General Yue Qianfeng and the others pounded violently.

One realm beneath heaven, the four seas united, peace in all directions — this resplendent, absurd, impossible yet moth-to-flame dream that drew them to cast aside all caution, was now before their eyes, within reach.

Will you walk this road?!

Will you walk this road!!!

Faced with such an invitation, faced with this man's personal call.

He asked — this absurd, beautiful dream — will you carve it open together with your own hands?

How many could refuse?

They felt the grandeur swelling in their chests; almost instinctively they rose, in perfect unison, and stepped forward one pace. In an instant, dragons roared and tigers howled, the void trembled, and an aura of grim slaughter surged skyward.

Their expressions solemn, they struck their palms against their chests.

They bowed in unison and said: "Yes!"

In that instant, the killing intent rushed at her face. Li Zhaowen instinctively tightened her grip on her sword; her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, feeling an indescribable sense of cohesion and impact. Then she saw him — that modest, gentle Qin Emperor, who had never used his authority to oppress others.

This time, he had given the answer his ministers had longed for.

Five Dharma Aspects appeared, then transformed into pure golden divine dragons, coiling around the Qin Emperor. His sleeves hanging down, he pressed both hands on the hilt of that dark-gold longsword, his gaze lowered.

He stood at the pinnacle of the era, yet from Li Zhaowen's line of sight, the Qin Emperor seemed to stand before the tide of the era — his figure lonely, yet solitary.

Bearing a heart full of valor, facing an enemy that could not be overcome, he launched his resolve and his charge.

He said softly:

"I, the Emperor, am with you, gentlemen, and shall go forth together."

And so the morale soared like a rainbow.

Long exhales of breath rose one after another, never ceasing.

"Your Highness, an imperial decree from His Majesty!"

?? Begging for monthly tickets, friends~