“Hidden pieces?”
The incarnation of the Vaidurya Bodhisattva asked in a relaxed tone, giving the impression that he might know or not know anything.
“Teacher Jianzheng is a Master of Heaven’s Mandate, most skilled at laying out plans. Long ago, I thought that as long as I removed Emperor Zhende’s three incarnations and Wei Yuan, things would be set.
“Fortunately, I never underestimated him. Countless times, during my secluded deducing, I gradually discovered some hidden pieces brilliantly concealed.”
Xu Pingfeng paused, raised his cup and drank tea, then said with a smile,
“The Wulin Alliance is precisely one of Teacher Jianzheng’s hidden agents. It is akin to an army raised in the jianghu, not under the authority of the court but possessing formidable battle power.
“Most of the time, it is merely a Jianghu faction. But once the day comes when the court is corrupt and the army fails, this secret force in reserve will play a critical role.
“Specifically for quelling rebellions.”
The Vaidurya Bodhisattva nodded. “So, the Wulin Alliance secretly pledged itself to the Jianzheng long ago?”
He did not know much about this Central Plains jianghu sect; the Wulin Alliance did not merit the attention of a first rank Bodhisattva.
Xu Pingfeng shook his head. “No, that old bastard would never pledge himself to anyone. What a pity, a pity…”
The Bodhisattva played with his brilliantly glazed teacup, waiting for the white-robed arcanist to continue.
“That man once made an agreement with the founding emperor. Should the court one day become as rotten as the late Zhou, he would rise up against it and overthrow the Great Feng.
“At first glance, he might seem like a recruitable ally.
“But actually, he is not. The Great Feng today is not the same as the old Zhou. The Zhou dynasty’s fortune had completely run out, its rot was well set in and could not be saved.
“As for the Great Feng, after Yuanjing was slain and the new emperor ascended the throne with aspirations of reform, in the eyes of many discerning people, it was a sign of the dynasty’s rejuvenation. This winter calamity is just a natural disaster, natural disasters will pass, and besides, the court is actively providing disaster relief.
“This proves the court is not corrupt beyond all saving.
“Furthermore, in that old bastard’s opinion, this was caused by the Great Feng’s loss of Dragon Qi. Helping the court regain its Dragon Qi is certainly preferable to initiating a war that would sweep through the Central Plains.”
Xu Pingfeng lifted the teapot and poured more hot tea into his cup, sighing,
“What I regret is that the old bastard is a martial artist who’s set on reaching the peak of martial arts. His pursuits are different, so he is destined never to be our ally.”
If he were ambitious, faced with such an excellent opportunity, he would never let it slip by.
Such a man would be a true ally.
The Vaidurya Bodhisattva listened silently, showing no expression.
Xu Pingfeng waved his hand. On the table, the tea tray, porcelain, and other items swiftly twisted and changed shape, being forcefully refined into a chessboard and two boxes of pieces.
He rolled up his sleeve with one hand, and with the other pinched up a porcelain chess piece and placed it on the board with a click.
“Among the Great Feng’s beyond-mortal experts, we have the Jianzheng, the Daoist Leader of the Human Sect, the Confucian Zhao Shou, and Xu Qi’an.”
With each name, he laid down a piece.
“Zhao Shou’s mission is to give Confucianism a backbone and restore its glory. To him, it matters little who sits the throne, he would even prefer to see someone replace the current royal family.
“That way, scholars of the Confucian school would have their day. Moreover, Confucianism has declined to where he is the only third rank. If he competes for the Dragon Qi, he risks death.
“He may not fear his own death, but Confucianism cannot afford to lose him. So, he is no concern.”
Xu Pingfeng put Zhao Shou’s chess piece back in the box.
“Luo Yuheng’s tribulation is imminent. Though she has become my daughter-in-law and initially suppressed her karmic fire, this means she draws ever closer to her heavenly tribulation. Now, she must balance her ever-growing magic and karmic fire. If she fails, her heavenly tribulation will strike at once.”
He also returned Luo Yuheng’s piece to the box.
“Xu Qi’an’s cultivation has not recovered. At best, he is at the early third rank now, or perhaps even weaker. He does not warrant our concern.”
He tossed Xu Qi’an’s piece lightly back into the box.
“The old bastard from the Wulin Alliance is not in the right state himself. After the battle in the capital, I expect his condition to grow worse. He is now likely on the verge of failing his Hedao, facing the risk of his body collapsing.
“So, to save the Wulin Alliance, the Jianzheng must intervene personally. The deadlock in Yunzhou naturally resolves.”
The Vaidurya Bodhisattva folded his hands together and said blandly,
“It seems you have long since prepared the sabre to destroy the Wulin Alliance.”
Xu Pingfeng smiled, “I was not ready before, but now, I have been waiting precisely for this opportunity.”
…
On the border of Qingzhou, in a ruined temple on the outskirts.
Having meditated in seclusion here for several days, Jingxin opened his eyes, slowly stood, and walked out into the courtyard.
He stood quietly, gazing into the distance. After a long time, Jingyuan, returning from alms begging, came back.
Vajras may not have needed to eat, but they were still fourth rank, still beings of flesh and blood and still needed to eat.
The two brothers exchanged glances, and Jingxin sighed,
“I can no longer enter meditation.”
Jingyuan understood at once, but still asked, “Why?”
Jingxin spoke quietly,
“A heart demon invades.
“These days, the struggle outside Yongzhou repeatedly flashes through my mind, the scene of my brothers being felled by his sabre.
“Fear and anger constantly scorch my heart, leaving me unable to calm my mind.”
Jingyuan was silent for a moment, his face stern. “What was your great vow?”
Jingxin did not try to hide it. “I chose the Executioner of Evil phala.”
The Executioner of Evil phala had two powers: Severing all worries in the world; slaying all enemies in the world.
The first could sever one’s own worries or those of others.
The second was pure violence, erasing the opponent’s existence at its root, in plain words, killing.
Jingyuan said coldly,
“Senior brother, this is your opportunity.
“Your worries originate from him. If you can end them because of him, you will attain the Executioner of Evil phala and reach the position of Arhat.”
Jingxin’s eyes looked bewildered. “To kill him… that is easier said than done.”
Making a great vow was a necessary stage to attain a phala, and the vows related to the Executioner of Evil phala had two models.
First: Kill a great enemy of Buddhism, or slay a personal nemesis.
Making a vow to kill a great enemy of Buddhism was extremely difficult, such beings would not be opponents a fourth rank sadhu could even face.
To kill one’s nemesis was just as tough; for them to be a nemesis, then they would pose a risk to your life nonetheless.
Second: Slay one’s own heart demon.
At first glance, this path seemed simple, but actually, it was even more elusive. One could live a whole life without ever grasping one’s own heart demon. Some sadhus died without ever touching it.
Jingxin’s greatest hope of attaining the fruit and becoming an Arhat lay in killing Xu Qi’an, yet also the greatest chance of dying doing so…
Jingyuan lapsed into silence.
Only those with great fortune and opportunity could ever attain the Arhat fruit.
Just then, a Tianjigong spy, wrapped in a black robe and wearing a hood, walked up the mountain path to the ruined temple.
Jingxin and Jingyuan immediately stopped talking, turning to look.
“I wish to see the two Vajras.”
The spy spoke.
Has the order from senior uncle and master arrived? Jingxin folded his hands,
“Please come in.”
The spy nodded and strode into the temple.
The small temple was humble. In front of the broken earthen statue of the mountain god, two dark-gold-skinned Vajras sat cross-legged, burning halos at the back of their heads.
“The palace lord has sent a secret letter for the two Vajras.”
The spy produced an envelope from his robe and offered it with both hands, respectfully.
Vajra Du’nan opened his palm, allowed the envelope to fly into his hand, opened and read it, then grunted,
“Anything else?”
The spy immediately took out a metal box, bowed and said,
“The palace lord asked me to give this to you as well.”
Du’nan accepted it without opening it and nodded, “We understand.”
On hearing this, the spy bowed and left the temple.
Outside in the courtyard, Jingxin and Jingyuan watched him go, then entered the temple together.
Vajra Du’nan glanced at the two,
“Vaidurya Bodhisattva has ordered us to proceed at once to Jianzhou and destroy the Wulin Alliance.”
The Wulin Alliance? As disciples of Western Buddhism, Jingxin and Jingyuan were very unfamiliar with this Great Feng Jianghu organisation.
Vajra Du’nan did not answer, but instead opened the metal box.
A brilliant gold radiance lit up Jingxin and Jingyuan’s eyes, causing them to instinctively shut them.
At the same time, a vast and overwhelming power that shook the soul filled the temple.
The air grew hot, as if facing a volcanic eruption, their lungs burned.
“Clap!”
Vajra Du’nan snapped the metal box shut at the right moment, activating the formation engraved on the surface, shielding them from this terrifying power.
“This is one drop of Vaidurya Bodhisattva’s essence blood. It will allow me or Du’nan to temporarily manifest the Vajra Aspect.”
The ugly Asura Vajra Dufan provided the explanation.
A drop of Vaidurya Bodhisattva’s essence blood… Jingxin and Jingyuan exchanged glances and held their breath.
Du’nan then said, “The palace lord wants us to head north to Yuuzhou and meet up with Ji Xuan and the others.”
…
So Jianzhou had such a history, I’ve never even heard of it… Li Lingsu felt enlightened. He took a bite of his tanghulu, and had to admit that he truly admired Xu Qi’an a little.
This man had the National Teacher on his left, the princess consort on his right, and plenty of breathtakingly beautiful confidantes in the capital, he was a scoundrel.
But whether in cultivation or in knowledge, he far surpassed his peers.
As the Holy Son of the Heaven Sect, pride came naturally to Li Lingsu, and he had every right to it.
Before entering the jianghu, he had prided himself as one of the brightest among the younger generation in Jiuzhou, among the very top, and that was indeed the case.
However, in this generation, there was Xu Qi’an.
He had outshone every outstanding youth.
Even veteran experts who had long made their names could not help but sigh: the younger generation is truly formidable.
“I see…”
Miao Youfang was listening keenly and said, “I never heard storytellers mention such an interesting history before.”
Although he could read, he had not studied much, at most just taught the basics.
Most of his cultural knowledge came from storytellers, just like the old Battle of Shanhai Pass, which was still being retold in taverns and teahouses today.
Miao Youfang had heard many historical tales and records from the storytellers, and therefore believed they knew all history.
“Do you know how secret, how important, how valuable the things Xu Qian just said are?”
Li Lingsu snorted, habitually bantering and bickering.
“And what would you know?” Miao Youfang bickered back as usual, then said, “Go on, let’s hear it?”
Li Lingsu snorted,
“These secrets might not be directly useful, but they are certainly of the highest level, the kind of inside stories people without real status could never access. This helps you see the essence of the world, and to cultivate yourself.
“Heh! You, at present, are always saying things like ‘damn’, ‘this grandpa’, and ‘sleeping with women’.”
You say that I have no culture to behold, well with one “fuck you” I can travel the world… Xu Qi’an concluded inwardly.
Miao Youfang did not care. “A martial man is not supposed to be refined.”
Li Lingsu was momentarily at a loss for words. After a pause, he finally said,
“But you are different now. Becoming Xu Qian’s attendant is a turning point of your life. If you keep being uncouth, you’ll never be accepted among the best.”
Miao Youfang glanced at Xu Qi’an, did not bicker, and thought aloud,
“Then how should I change?”
Xu Qi’an laughed, “First, work on your refinement. For instance, don’t blurt out rough words all the time. Instead of saying ‘you’re a scoundrel’, say ‘are you Li Lingsu?’”
To think a scoundrel would mock me as the scoundrel… Li Lingsu chuckled, “Senior Xu, you really are modest.”
Xu Qi’an pointed at the Holy Son and said to Miao Youfang,
“See, there’s another example, learn from him.”
The little white fox had been quietly listening to the three men’s banter, then looked up at Mu Nanzhi, and said sweetly,
“Auntie, do I need to learn this too?”
Mu Nanzhi pursed her lips, “You’ll only pick up nonsense, ignore them.”
Xu Qi’an glanced smilingly at the reincarnated Flower Goddess, and she glared back at him with those bright, moist eyes.
“You know Jianzhou so well. Have you travelled there before?”
Xu Qi’an finally voiced his long-held curiosity.
Li Lingsu nodded, “Jianzhou is not too far from the Heaven Sect. After my junior sister and I descended the mountain, our second stop was Jianzhou.”
The Heaven Sect is close to Jianzhou… Xu Qi’an took note and asked,
“Did you have a romantic attachment there?”
Li Lingsu avoided answering.
This only made Xu Qi’an more curious. Li Lingsu never saw himself as a playboy, and was never shy about romantic escapades with women. It was rare to see him act so secretive.
So it can’t be a simple love story, it must have been an affair he’s unable to speak of… So the problem must lie with the woman in question, someone else’s wife?
At that thought, Xu Qi’an instinctively turned to look at Mu Nanzhi.
“What are you staring at me for?!”
Mu Nanzhi’s willow brows shot up in anger.
Once the topic of lovers was mentioned, Xu Qi’an would turn to her, clearly putting her in that position.
The proud and noble reincarnated Flower Goddess would never admit to being someone’s beloved.
Miao Youfang laughed, “I heard Jianzhou’s Wanhua Tower is full of beauties, each a peerless stunner. Brother Li, if you were truly a romantic, you certainly wouldn’t miss out.”
Xu Qi’an nodded slowly, “That’s true. Jianzhou’s Wanhua Tower is indeed full of beauties, bright, lively maidens, charming sirens, and mature, alluring ladies… Especially that Tower Master, Xiao Yuenu, what a stunning woman.
“That figure, that face, that temperament, that allure…”
He suddenly noticed Mu Nanzhi’s dark expression, and quickly changed tack, “None of them could compare to even a strand of Nanzhi’s hair.”
And that was not flattery. Even a beauty like the National Teacher was still inferior to the reincarnated Flower Goddess.
It was not about features or temperament, but something beyond words.
Xu Qi’an thought of it as the Flower Goddess’s unique “enchantment.”
Yet it was undeniable that Xiao Yuenu’s overall rating was easily top of the top.
“So many beauties at Wanhua Tower…” Miao Youfang said longingly.
Li Lingsu said nothing, urging his horse off into the distance.
Miao Youfang quickly rode after him, fawning,
“Brother Li, do you really have a lover at Wanhua Tower? I haven’t even found a wife yet. Introduce me, will you? You’ll be my dear brother, no, my dear father…”
Xu Qi’an watched the two clowns chase after each other, as Mu Nanzhi’s sardonic voice sounded beside him:
“Someone’s heart, has it already flown off to that Xiao Yuenu?”
“Yes, yes, I’ve already taken her with my spear from a thousand li away.”
And because of that, Xu Qi’an’s head was pelted with pebbles the rest of the way.
…
Yuuzhou.
Ji Xuan and the others returned from searching for the Dragon Qi host, only to find there were nine uninvited guests at their temporary lodging.
All were dressed in black robes, with a difference: eight of them looked slightly bulky, as though armour lay hidden underneath.
The last one, however, was of normal build.
They were the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations, and a Tianjigong spy.
Before entering the yard, Ji Xuan had already sensed someone in the room, and greeted them without surprise:
“We’ve kept you waiting.”
He brought in Liu Hongmian, Xu Yuanshuang, and the rest, and took a seat on the other side with a stern face,
“What happened?”
Without some emergency, the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations and the local spy would not have converged.
The Yuuzhou spy picked up a secret letter on the table and flicked it over.
Ji Xuan took it doubtfully and began to read.
After reading, his face turned grave.
“Seventh brother?” Xu Yuanhuai asked.
Ji Xuan handed the letter over.
Xu Yuanhuai’s eyes widened in disbelief after reading,
“Father wants us to wipe out the Wulin Alliance?
“There are hosts of the nine dragon qi in the Wulin Alliance…”
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