[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-peace-decree":3,"chapter-the-peace-decree-the-peace-decree-chapter-79":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Peace Decree",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2328254,4553,"Chapter 79: Technique, Breakthrough!","the-peace-decree-chapter-79",79,"\u003Cp>Leaving Zhao Da and Qing’er stunned, Li Guanyi rode off with Xue Shuangtao on two horses meant for pulling carts—no saddles, no reins, dangerously unstable—but they remained docile, sensing the presence of Bai Hu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good and cowardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they reached the main road and left behind the wide thoroughfares, Li Guanyi placed two fingers to his lips and whistled; the two horses halted. He dismounted with swift precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horse carrying the young mistress also stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no saddle or reins, she gripped the horse’s mane tightly, uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her small face turned pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horse struggled to buck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet within the realm of living perception, behind the smiling, gentle boy stood an awe-inspiring presence too terrible for any creature to defy—even more fearsome than the tigers she had once seen—so it submitted quietly. Li Guanyi extended his hand; Xue Shuangtao placed hers upon his wrist, and he helped her dismount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard from Brother Zhao that Xue family horses know the way home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“People like Brother Zhao could easily track these two down. Let’s set them free—otherwise, they’ll be found.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi released the horses, letting them gallop freely. Xue Shuangtao took a long while to calm down, her eyes scanning the surroundings: the streets here differed from those she had walked before—narrower, not so broad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Shuangtao checked the time, still tense and worried, and whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I can’t keep fooling around with you. I must return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi gripped her wrist and grinned: “No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve been kidnapped by me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—if Old Master gets angry, I’ve got a way to make him happy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Shuangtao frowned, confused. Li Guanyi pulled her along: “But you need to change clothes. This outfit’s too lavish—it suits noble scions’ circles. Change into something simpler.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Shuangtao murmured: “I only brought a little over ten taels of silver.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably not enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi burst out laughing: “More than enough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi dragged her to a cloth shop, bought plain garments and fabric, swapped layers here and there, stripping away her ornate, luxurious gown until she wore a simple dark gray dress and comfortable, unadorned shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cloud-like hair was pinned with a wooden hairpin costing three cash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi packed all the clothes and jewelry into a satchel, changed into plain attire himself, stretched comfortably, then haggled with the shopkeeper—so fiercely that the man, who’d expected to fleece them, began doubting his own sanity, sighing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young brother, you’re ruthless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, after this haggling, I won’t make a profit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nonsense. Want me not to buy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cloth shopkeeper felt he’d met a seasoned opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth smiled with half-lidded eyes, turned at the sound of footsteps, and looked at Xue Shuangtao again: the former descendant of a Duke, the top-three merchant heiress of the realm, now looked like an unadorned girl from a modest family—yet when her brows lifted, she remained a beautiful maiden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi slung the bundle of clothes and ornaments over his shoulder and led Xue Shuangtao out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they stepped out of the cloth shop, they were just two ordinary youths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Xue Shuangtao felt like a student skipping school for the first time—nervous, yet exhilarated by defying what she dreaded. Her eyes sparkled faintly. Li Guanyi led her forward, through narrow alleys, then turned slightly: ahead lay a lane, willow-lined banks, and a stone bridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stream flowed past, where young women washed clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They laid garments on uneven washboards and beat them with wooden clubs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Younger children ran past, laughing merrily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lively, radiant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi turned to the wide-eyed girl and smiled gently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is also Guanyicheng—far from the places you’re forced to endure. A freer Guanyicheng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Shuangtao said: “But there…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi laughed: “Don’t worry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zhao will know how to handle it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though he hides it well, he’s definitely an old hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Da watched the two youths ride off, eyes wide. Finally, even the salt-roasted peanuts in his hand lost their flavor—not just bland, but chokingly dry. Qing’er, in her blue dress, stomped her foot: “Li Guanyi! Li Guanyi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You—you—you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why didn’t you just take me too, wu wu wu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I wouldn’t have to face those girls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qing’er’s face was full of reluctance and bitterness. Zhao Da grinned: So the iron pot was still stuck on him? He knew well: noble girls’ gatherings looked polite, but were worse than noble boys fighting each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Shuangtao, though daughter of the Xue family, came from commerce, not politics. The sons of officials held complex feelings toward the Xue family: they feared their wealth, yet looked down on them as “imperial in-laws” and “merchants,” elevating themselves by belittling them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without this, they couldn’t maintain their haughty airs before the Xues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under such circumstances, Xue Shuangtao truly disliked these gatherings—but had to attend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Zhao Da retrieved the two horses, he widened his eyes, clapped his hands, and laughed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha, Li’s little brother does things flawlessly! Hahaha, Miss Qing’er, we’ve got it easy today!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qing’er was puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Da repaired the carriage and drove to the noble girls’ poetry gathering. He couldn’t say Xue Shuangtao had been kidnapped—instead, he claimed she’d received another invitation and regretfully couldn’t come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year’s poetry outing had started early because Xue Shuangtao was to enter the imperial palace. Her absence left the girls with nowhere to direct their energy; those who had secretly planned their barbs now delivered them with elegant, veiled sarcasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qing’er understood—but couldn’t refute them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned red with anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Zhao Da raised a hand to stop her, smiling warmly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The young mistress couldn’t refuse the other invitation, so she couldn’t come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She has a gift of apology for you all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The daughter of the Guanyicheng magistrate whispered: “So we’re just supposed to wait here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A noble person has noble matters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But what kind of noble guest could make Miss Xue unable to refuse?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell us—we’ll understand. If she truly couldn’t come, we won’t blame her. But if she’s deliberately absent, Miss Xue is becoming arrogant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone murmured softly: “After all, she’s just a merchant’s daughter who doesn’t read.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, just forgive her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noble girls laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their laughter was refined, like butterflies fluttering lightly among flowers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it made one gasp for air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone tried to defend Xue Shuangtao—but couldn’t silence them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qing’er opened her mouth but couldn’t say Li Guanyi had taken Xue Shuangtao away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Da smiled, stepped forward, and raised both palms, holding a gilded waist plaque: a tiger’s mouth gripping it like an imperial token—a military officer’s insignia. Li Guanyi had placed it on the horses. On the back were the words “Zhenwei.” He announced loudly: “Allow me to inform you all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He holds the seventh-rank official position in Guanyicheng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A disciple personally taught by Minister Wang Tong, granted the title of Silver-Green Guanglu Doctor by imperial decree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A name mentioned by Grand Secretary Zu Wenyuan of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, also granted the title of Silver-Green Guanglu Doctor by imperial decree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By His Majesty’s edict, granted soft armor!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By His Majesty’s edict, specially listed among the seventy-two seventh-rank military officers serving in Chen’s grand sacrifice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By His Majesty’s personal gift: a third-rank rhinoceros-horn belt with ornamental fittings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seventh-rank military officer of Guanyicheng, Zhenwei Captain of the Great Chen State.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Guanyi, Lord Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One title after another descended—familiar, yet heavy with unfamiliar authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qing’er saw the smiles on the noble girls’ faces slowly vanish. Shock replaced them, then faint envy—fingers clutching handkerchiefs tightened unconsciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the sunlight, these fluttering butterflies suddenly seemed transparent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air grew breathable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qing’er suddenly realized: the boy who grinned so boldly, so smugly, so sweetly, was already a towering figure among his peers—he could ride out with spear and saber to slay enemies, and dismount to write poetry that left others awestruck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She saw the noble girls’ expressions shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From mocking Xue Shuangtao, their eyes now held envy. Qing’er felt a surge of satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled sweetly: “Lord Li Guanyi personally invited her—she couldn’t refuse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Xue family will offer proper apologies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When matters settled, Qing’er found a secluded spot, doubled over laughing until her stomach ached. Zhao Da sat on the carriage eating peanuts. Qing’er laughed so hard tears streamed down, wiping them with her finger: “But Uncle Da Bing, how did you know to use this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Da said: “Li’s little brother slipped this into the horses’ saddlebags, then let them go. He knew these two horses—I’ve raised them since they were foals. They’d come straight to me. He may act recklessly, but he knows his limits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qing’er nodded, realizing her young mistress had always treated noble officials’ sons with kindness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This finally brought relief: “I wonder where they went.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Da said: “Maybe they went to some scenic spot outside the city?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I think it’s going to rain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wonder if they’ll make it back in time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t leave the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi took Xue Shuangtao walking through the narrow alley, watching the spring scenery, the stream flowing past the streets, children slightly younger than them skipping rope, hopping in grids, playing with knotted strings—free from restraint—and Xue Shuangtao gradually relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That side was already destined to be missed anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Might as well enjoy ourselves fully here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, we’ll miss both.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They played with the youths of Linlin, and Li Guanyi saw that young lady also lift her skirt and lightly hop in the grid—a childish game, yet she played it joyfully when no one knew her identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knocked down fruit from the trees, wiped it once, and ate it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They rolled up their pant legs, stepped into the stream, doing things a noble daughter shouldn’t do; Li Guanyi spun a giant top and easily won the children’s round stones and straight wooden sticks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A martial cultivator of the Entry Realm, practicing the supreme explosive technique, Jade Arm Divine Bow Art—just raising his hand, the top spun rapidly, and the surrounding children gasped in awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Shuangtao held a string, watching the kite drift through the sky; this kite wasn’t made of silk, just paper with some simple drawings—since childhood, she had only trained with the bow and the qin, rarely running wild like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She watched the kite rise higher and higher, momentarily seeing her past—then suddenly veered off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rain fell, and the paper kite, never meant to withstand such time, grew heavy, spun, and tumbled from the sky; Li Guanyi returned the round stones to the children, paid five copper coins, and bought the top and the kite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Lady…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Shuangtao glared at him with wide eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi grinned and said, “Let’s go, find shelter from the rain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Shuangtao asked, “Where to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi thought a moment and said, “There are street vendors here too; when it rains, everyone goes to a slightly off-path teahouse—one copper coin buys a pot of tea. We set up stalls outside selling candied figures and sweet soups, and people sit inside drinking tea and chatting, like a temple fair.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Shuangtao and the boy stepped inside; she saw many people already there—men and women, elders, even a merchant in silk robes, shaking water from his clothes as he asked the old shopkeeper for tea, laughing that today there weren’t many, so everyone was sheltering from the rain, and he would treat everyone to tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere immediately grew lively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was already afternoon; food vendors began calling out to customers; people drank tea, chatted, ate snacks costing one or two copper coins; strangers who had just met quickly grew familiar, speaking of poor harvests, the scenery of Jiangnan, how life was still decent now that there was no war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The children who had flown kites earlier squatted by the door, watching the rain fall—drip, drip, drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the rain strike puddles, bursting into tiny flowers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The merchant pulled out precious Western Region figs and tried to sell them, along with a Western Region huqin—but no one understood it; Li Guanyi leaned over and suddenly laughed, saying, “Uncle, give me a few figs, and I’ll play you a tune, how about that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The merchant looked at him, then at the girl beside him—though dressed plainly, still strikingly beautiful—and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He generously pulled out the figs and tossed them over. “No problem, young man, take them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi wiped the fruit and passed it to Xue Shuangtao behind him, then sat cross-legged without hesitation, seized the huqin, and plucked the strings; the merchant said, “This is a Western Region huqin, different from the Central Plains version—boy, can you play it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guanyi gave an offbeat reply, grinning: “As long as it has strings, it can be played.” He plucked a few notes, found the tuning, then sat cross-legged, sleeves hanging, and when he played again, the sound was crisp and clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spring rain in Jiangnan fell, tapping on the stacked clay jars outside the teahouse—ding, dong, ding, dong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy sat on a hu chair, one leg propped up, sleeves dangling, body swaying slightly; the huqin’s rough, hoarse melody rose and spiraled through Jiangnan’s roads; people fell silent; the boy’s expression suddenly changed, his spirit flowing naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Free and easy as the wind—even the women sheltering from the rain stared, entranced; the boy’s music shifted from the Western Region’s ruggedness to elegance, returning to Jiangnan’s gentleness; Jiangnan’s breeze was tender; the boy opened his mouth, his voice clear and bright, singing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Southeast’s splendor, the three Wu capitals, Guanyi has been prosperous since ancient days. Misty willows, painted bridges, wind-blown curtains, green canopies, ten thousand households in uneven rows. Cloud-trees circle the sandy embankments, furious waves roll like frost and snow, the heavenly moat stretches boundless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Markets lined with pearls and jade, households filled with silk brocade, competing in luxury.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Layered lakes and mountains, clear and lovely, with osmanthus in autumn’s third moon, lotus blossoms for ten li. Qiang flutes play in the sunshine, lotus songs float through the night, laughing fishermen and lotus-picking children. A thousand horsemen escort the high banner, drunk, listening to flutes and drums, reciting and admiring mist and clouds. One day, painting this fine scene, returning to the Phoenix Pool to boast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was clear, his brow bright with a smile; Xue Shuangtao stood holding the fruit, watching this youth of the mortal world; a flower seller laughed, found a beautiful blossom in his basket, and tucked it behind the boy’s ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The music flowed freely; outside, rain fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brow soared—this was Jiangnan’s wandering swordsman, a single thread of righteous qi, a thousand li of swift, joyful wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiangnan’s rain is still so hazy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy set down the huqin, his demeanor free as the wind—utterly different from before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another day of mist and rain in Jiangnan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had ascended to the Second Level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realm breakthrough!\u003C\u002Fp>",2480,"2026-06-20T19:20:33.127Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","156264d4f160d552d22e6b20d20384c1ded46715f4e56475c850368033d43e1c","the-peace-decree-chapter-80","the-peace-decree-chapter-78",593,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-peace-decree-cover.jpg"]