Chapter 368: That Year, Today, In This City

Li Fei rose from the main hall and left, returning the way he came to where the car was parked.

After he got back into the car, the three vehicles slowly drove out of the mansion.

More than half an hour later, the vehicles returned to the Martial University.

Upon entering the school gate, they stopped as usual to undergo inspection by the guards.

"Hello, are you student Li Fei?"

A guard walked to the rear window of the dark gold 'Qilin' and spoke to Li Fei inside.

"I am."

"Someone left an item at the guard station, specifically to be handed to you."

"What is it?"

"A book."

As he spoke, the guard handed over a delicately packaged book.

Li Fei took the book and asked, "May I ask who sent it?"

"The other party did not leave any information."

The guard shook his head.

"Alright, thank you."

After thanking him, Li Fei looked at the book in his hand—*The Tragedy of Heaven's Pride*.

He was stunned the moment he saw the title.

This was a bit too pointed.

Flipping through the book, he discovered it was a very serious history book, specifically recording those peerless geniuses who had appeared throughout the history of martial arts over the past millennium, only to fall prematurely in various ways.

Hence, the book was titled *The Tragedy of Heaven's Pride*.

The strong are all geniuses.

But geniuses are not necessarily able to become the strong.

In this book, Li Fei even saw the person whose record he had broken.

This person was named Situ Jian, a member of the Zhou Kingdom's royal family over eight hundred years ago.

From the time he had his implant installed until he broke through to the Dao Foundation realm, it took him just over a year, and 'Returning to One' took 92 days.

This record had lasted for over eight hundred years without being broken!

One must know that today, eight hundred years later, the development of martial arts has improved significantly compared to back then; implants are more mature, there are more elixirs available, and the speed of breaking through at every stage is much faster.

From this, one can see how high Situ Jian's talent was.

Yet, this peerless genius named Situ Jian died in the second year after breaking through to the Dao Foundation realm, not even reaching the peak of the Dao Foundation realm, nor having begun to challenge the realm of Martial Arts Master.

Regarding Situ Jian's death, the official history records that he suffered qi deviation during cultivation and died suddenly.

There are many versions in unofficial history: murdered by someone, poisoned by someone, plotted against by the Crown Prince of the Zhou Kingdom at the time, etc. —there are all sorts of reasons.

The book *The Tragedy of Heaven's Pride* records the most dazzling geniuses of every era, but without exception, none of these geniuses lived to the day they could fully realize their talent.

At the end of the book, the author wrote a short story, which was his own personal experience:

In the seventh year of Hongguang, the author visited a small village where the people had made a living by catching snakes for generations.

Because the vast majority of snakes in the surrounding area were venomous, the people in this village generally died young.

After talking to many people in the village, the author was surprised to find that those who lived the longest were those with very mediocre snake-catching skills. Those with the best skills and the best aptitude had all died first.

At the end of this short story, the author wrote in a meaningful tone:

"Looking across the long river of history, the vast majority of the strong who have stepped to the pinnacle of martial arts are, in fact, not the most dazzling geniuses of their respective eras."

Seeing this sentence, Li Fei could not help but think of Hao Yi.

His teacher, too, had been the most dazzling genius in the entire Datong Prefecture and even the entire Feng Province over thirty years ago, yet the final outcome was not good.

"The tree that stands above the forest will be destroyed by the wind"—the words left behind by the ancestors still hold a lot of truth.

Although he did not know who had sent this book, the intent of admonition and warning within it was already very obvious.

Li Fei actually knew that relying solely on the title of 'Number One in History' could not directly intimidate people, which was why he had immediately requested to see Shi Caiming and then applied for the Martial University to provide him with protection.

What he wanted was to use his identity as a peerless genius to borrow strength to strike back.

It was just that he had not yet figured out why Yan Shijin had rejected him so decisively.

After getting out of the car, Li Fei took the *The Tragedy of Heaven's Pride* in his hand and made a trip to the Academic Affairs Office.

He walked into Wen Ke's office and said straightforwardly:

"Professor Wen, I want to know about all the deeds related to my teacher Hao Yi from over thirty years ago. Are there records of them in the school?"

The incident Hao Yi caused back then had too great an impact, and the consequences were extremely severe, directly leading to many officials being imprisoned and even forcing a Garrison Commander to retire early.

Such deeds were naturally not allowed to be widely circulated, so the government had been deliberately blocking the news and erasing the traces Hao Yi had once left behind.

So much so that thirty years later, it had become very difficult to investigate the events of that year clearly.

The Tiger Blade Gang had only managed to find a rough idea back then.

The General Inspection Court certainly had detailed records, but with Li Fei's current clearance, he definitely could not see them, so he could only obtain them through the Martial University.

Wen Ke looked at Li Fei: "There are records, but they require clearance."

"Then do I have this clearance?"

Li Fei took out the token and showed it to Wen Ke.

Wen Ke was silent for a moment, then said: "Go directly to the Archives. If you are allowed to see them, they will give you the materials."

"Alright, thank you, Professor Wen."

Li Fei thanked her politely, then left the Academic Affairs Office and went to the Archives.

Just like when he went to the Security Office, he first requested to see the person in charge, then took out his token and requested to browse the materials from that year.

The person in charge also said he needed to ask his superiors for instructions.

After waiting for a few minutes, he walked back with a complex expression:

"The higher-ups said the materials can be given to you, and they also asked me to pass on a message."

Li Fei: "What message?"

The person in charge: "Don't push your luck, kid."

Then he immediately added: "I'm just passing on the message."

Li Fei's expression was calm: "Alright, I understand, thank you."

This message was definitely sent by Shi Caiming.

Although the other party was willing to support him, there were limits.

If Li Fei were to use this token to stir up trouble again, he would most likely be refused.

Next, the person in charge of the Archives handed a thick file bag to Li Fei:

"You can only read it here. This material cannot be taken out, nor can it be recorded."

"Alright."

Li Fei nodded and took the file bag.

He speculated that what he held in his hand was most likely the true 'dark history' of Datong Prefecture, so it definitely could not be leaked.

The person in charge of the Archives left the office, leaving Li Fei to browse the materials alone.

Perhaps he did not have the clearance to see these materials either.

While Li Fei was reading the top-secret materials from that year in the Archives, in the Government Affairs Building, a copy of *The Tragedy of Heaven's Pride* was also placed on the desk of Garrison Commander Bian Jingru.

He picked up the book, flipped through a few pages, then put it down and looked at the Chief Inspector of the General Inspection Court, Qu Xun, who was sitting opposite him:

"You sent this book to him?"

"Yes, he should have received it by now. I hope he can be a smart person."

Qu Xun said.

The copy of *The Tragedy of Heaven's Pride* in Li Fei's hand was sent by someone he had dispatched.

"With the evidence and witnesses we currently have, we can already close the case. It's just that we haven't been able to catch any significant Western spies, and there is still a lack of persuasiveness if we want to implicate the Iron Blade Sect."

Qu Xun looked at Bian Jingru, "If the investigation team wants to use the influence of the Martial University to delay the handling of the case, we can give up on dragging the Iron Blade Sect in and choose to close the case directly! Besides, the Martial University is our Datong Prefecture's Martial University; it's not up to Shi Caiming alone to decide."

"Hmm."

Bian Jingru nodded and suddenly asked, "Don't you think the investigation team has been too quiet since Zhang Shiwei was caught?"

Qu Xun was startled upon hearing this and recalled the movements of the investigation team over the past few days.

Throughout the entire process of investigating Zhang Shiwei, the investigation team had sent people to participate, but the whole time they were merely bystanders, offering no opinions and not jumping in to point fingers.

This had allowed the progress of the case in Datong Prefecture to proceed exceptionally smoothly.

It seemed that the people from the investigation team really were just there to supervise the handling of the case in Datong Prefecture and wanted to find out the truth as soon as possible.

But neither Qu Xun nor Bian Jingru believed the other party's purpose would be so simple.

Now that the content Zhang Shiwei had provided had almost all been verified, and the entire case had reached the point where it could be closed, the investigation team still had not made a move.

At first, Qu Xun thought this was because their side had acted fast enough, and the witnesses and evidence left behind by the content Zhang Shiwei provided were clear and distinct, making it difficult to overturn.

But now, with Bian Jingru saying this, he also felt that the investigation team was 'quiet' to an abnormal degree.

"What if Shangguan Xiao really isn't the true culprit?"

Bian Jingru muttered.

He and Qu Xun did not have a 'God's-eye view'.

From the perspective of him, Qu Xun, and the others, the collusion between Shangguan Xiao and Zhang Shiwei was very clear, the evidence was sufficient, and the true culprit was almost certain.

Moreover, unlike Li Fei, they completely believed that Shangguan Xiao could choose to murder her own father in order to obtain the Zhang family.

This kind of thing is not rare; it fits their perception perfectly.

Their hearts were black to begin with, so they can view others as equally black.

But what if Shangguan Xiao was truly framed by a set-up?

This possibility emerged in both their minds, and combined with the investigation team's abnormal behavior, they began to reason in reverse.

"My lord, could it be..."

Qu Xun's expression suddenly turned very ugly.

Bian Jingru remained composed and said slowly:

"If this is truly a trap, we are already riding a tiger and cannot get off."

"Then we..."

"If I haven't guessed wrong, the real target should be coming to Datong Prefecture. Let's wait and see."

"In the ninth year of Hongguang, July, Jiao Zhijiang, the helmsman of the Datong Prefecture Stop-the-War General Institute, covered up his nephew's murder. Later, to silence the witness, he sent men to wipe out a family of twenty-seven. This matter was exposed by Hao Yi, who personally escorted the only surviving witness back to Datong Prefecture. On the way, they were intercepted; three Dao Foundation realm martial artists and over a dozen Qi Transformation realm martial artists died at Hao Yi's hands. In August, Jiao Zhijiang, the helmsman of the Datong Prefecture Stop-the-War General Institute, was imprisoned."

"In the ninth year of Hongguang, September, Hao Yi reported Dai An, the Deputy Inspector-General of the Datong Prefecture Inspection General Institute, for abusing power for personal gain, covering up multiple imperial court officials, and accepting large amounts of bribes. That same month, Lu Yinjie, the 'Cloud-Splitting Hand' ranked fifth on the Feng Province Wind and Cloud List, publicly challenged Hao Yi to a duel. At this time, Hao Yi had just broken through to the Dao Foundation realm less than four months prior."

Hao Yi accepted the challenge, won the battle, and ascended the Feng Province Wind and Cloud List in one fight. In November, Dai An, the Deputy Inspector-General of the Datong Prefecture Inspection General Institute, was imprisoned."

"In the tenth year of Hongguang, May, Hao Yi reported a total of eleven officials, including Liu Zhong, the Inspector-General of the Datong Prefecture Supervision General Institute, and Zhang Shoulin, the Deputy Inspector-General, among whom were two seated officials and nine appointed officials."

In July, Hao Yi was surrounded and attacked outside Datong Prefecture by six Dao Foundation realm martial artists, including three of rank 3, two of rank 4, and one of rank 5. In the end, Hao Yi killed four of them and scared off the other two. After this battle, Hao Yi topped the Feng Province Wind and Cloud List."

In September, multiple officials from the Datong Prefecture Supervision General Institute were imprisoned, and the Inspector-General Liu Zhong retired early two months later."

"In the eleventh year of Hongguang, May, Hao Yi was included on the candidate list for the Kyoto Wind and Cloud General List."

That same month, he publicly reported a group of officials, including Luo Pingjun, the Garrison Commander of Datong Prefecture."

In the office, Li Fei looked at his teacher's glorious battle record from those years.

Shangguan Xiao's description was not the least bit exaggerated; Hao Yi really had offended almost every big shot he could back then!

It was truly difficult to find out who was most likely the mastermind behind this in such a short time.

While Li Fei was browsing Hao Yi's past battle records, at the East City Gate of Datong Prefecture, a middle-aged man wearing a grey robe, with a serious expression and black leather gloves, passed through the gate.

After passing through the gate, he stopped and stood in place, looking at this city that had become so unfamiliar, his expression complex.

Thinking back to those years, he was the most dazzling existence in this city, the subject of discussion in every household, the embodiment of all romantic flair!

But now, there were few people left in this city who still remembered him.

"You shouldn't have come."

A voice came from not far away.

An old monk wearing a yellow monk's robe walked toward him.

Ever since the Emperor Wencheng planned to exterminate Buddhism and exalt Daoism over a hundred years ago, the status of Buddhism in the Great Lan Dynasty had plummeted.

There was only one temple in the entire Datong Prefecture, called 'Baoyun Temple'.

The old monk walking toward him was the abbot of Baoyun Temple—Master Yunshen.

Master Yunshen had not left Baoyun Temple for many years; today, he broke his rule to come out and welcome his old friend from those years—Hao Yi.

"Then why did you come to welcome me?"

Hao Yi looked at Master Yunshen, a rare smile appearing on his face.

"I came to urge you to turn back."

Master Yunshen walked up to Hao Yi with a sorrowful face, pressed his palms together, and spoke.

"Becoming a monk has made you not fun at all."

Hao Yi used his leather-gloved hand to touch the other's bald head, joking as he spoke.

Although Buddhism was not prominent in the Great Lan Dynasty and the incense at Baoyun Temple was not particularly flourishing, to some believers, Master Yunshen was a truly high-ranking monk, virtuous and respected.

It was hard to imagine that anyone would dare to be so 'impolite' to him.

Master Yunshen was not angry; he only sighed, his expression becoming even more sorrowful:

"So many years have passed, and many people have changed, but only you remain the same as you were back then."

He knew he could not persuade this old friend, but he came anyway.

Just as Hao Yi knew he shouldn't have come, but came anyway.

Hao Yi withdrew his smile, looked at the bustling traffic ahead, and said faintly:

"This city has changed too. I wonder if that peach forest at Baoyun Temple is still there?"

Master Yunshen nodded: "It is still there. I remember that back then, it was in that peach forest that you defeated the 'Cloud-Splitting Hand' who was ranked fifth on the Feng Province Wind and Cloud List at the time, and ascended the Wind and Cloud List in one stroke."

Hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Hao Yi's face:

"That's good. At least the peach blossoms are still there. You don't mind taking me to see them, do you?"

Master Yunshen turned around and made a gesture of invitation.

Since he could not persuade his friend, he could at least accompany him to see the peach blossoms.

In this city on this day that year, the human face and peach blossoms reflected each other's red.

After many years, Hao Yi returned to Datong Prefecture, and his first task was to go to Baoyun Temple to see the peach blossoms.

Requesting monthly votes.

(End of chapter)