752. The Heaven and Earth Members Gather (I)

It was not just Zhuo Haoran, all senior military officers present were first stunned, then began to grumble and curse.

“The little emperor is still so stubborn? Is he tired of living, or is the dragon throne so uncomfortable he can’t wait for us to drag him down?”

“Damn it, what makes the Great Feng court so confident? The state treasury is empty, chaos reigns everywhere, and even the Jianzheng is gone.”

“Heh, if they’re not afraid to die, let’s just fight them. When we march into the capital, won’t that little emperor have to kneel and beg for mercy?”

Since the Jianzheng was sealed away and they had seized Qingzhou, the morale of the Yunzhou army had reached its peak, even to the point of arrogance, they believed it was only a matter of time before they conquered the capital and took control of the Central Plains.

Whenever they spoke of the Great Feng court, there was always a tone of disdain, as if looking down from above.

Thus, in the eyes of the commanders, peace talks were nothing but an act of charity and pity. How dared the Great Feng court take the initiative to refuse?

Did they really believe that when the Yunzhou army pushed into the capital and unparalleled beyond-mortal experts like the National Teacher and Agaruka Bodhisattva descended upon the city, the Great Feng could possibly resist?

Qi Guangbo’s expression was grave. Waiting for the officers to vent their emotions, he knocked on the table and said,

“The Tianjigong spies have sent word: Xu Qi’an forced Yongxing to abdicate and supported Eldest Princess Huaiqing to ascend the throne.”

Just moments before, the Yunzhou officers had been riled up, shouting non-stop. Now, after hearing Qi Guangbo’s words, they all fell silent, staring at each other, their faces full of astonishment and shock.

This news was indeed deeply shocking, catching them all off guard. Yet, the nature of it felt more like ‘nonsense’ or ‘absurdity’; he actually supported a woman to ascend the throne?

“Pft~” Someone could not hold back and laughed out loud,

“What, is that Xu fellow at his wits’ end? To pull such a ridiculous stunt?”

“That’s right, a woman ascending the throne as emperor, does he think the Central Plains isn’t chaotic enough? Even if the nobles in the capital fear his martial might and dare not rebel immediately, as soon as he leaves, that emperor is likely to be given poisoned wine or die mysteriously in the palace,” Zhuo Haoran sneered.

As a bloodthirsty butcher, he saw women merely as playthings, how could one deserve the dragon throne?

Yang Chuannan shook his head and gave a wry smile.

“If that’s the case, the hearts of the capital’s people will be even more unsettled, and it’ll be even harder for them to unite against us. Once the National Teacher refines Qingzhou’s fortune and marches north, it won’t be long before we smash the capital.”

The other commanders burst out laughing. Some mocked, some were dismissive, some teased; the failure of the peace negotiations no longer seemed to concern them so much.

Ji Xuan and Ge Wenxuan exchanged glances. Although confused and uncertain, they did not rush to chime in with the other commanders. Rather, they looked to Qi Guangbo.

“Indeed, supporting the Eldest Princess’s ascension is definitely a risky move.”

Qi Guangbo glanced around at everyone and slowly said,

“If I told you that not only did he support a woman to the throne, but in an extremely short time stabilised the government, and on the day the Eldest Princess ascended, the entire capital was in full bloom with flowers, the people taking it as a heavenly blessing, convinced her ascension was Heaven’s Mandate, and that she was to save a Great Feng in peril,

“What then do you make of that?”

The atmosphere of laughter in the hall abruptly turned silent.

All the officers had lost their smiles, looking solemnly at one another to see what their colleagues thought of this.

Ge Wenxuan said,

“He forced Yongxing to abdicate to support a puppet for peace of mind. But if it is a puppet, wouldn’t a naive child be a better choice? Why take such a risk and support a woman?”

Someone snorted.

“That empress must be stunningly beautiful, I suppose, perhaps she’s already Xu Qi’an’s lover. That Xu fellow’s licentious reputation is well known.”

Ge Wenxuan frowned and said,

“Anyone who can only see their enemy as an idiot is an idiot themselves.”

Ji Xuan pondered for a moment.

“According to intelligence on the Great Feng royal family, Eldest Princess Huaiqing is a renowned talent in the capital. She once studied at the Cloud Deer Academy, and served as a compiler during Emperor Yuanjing’s reign. She is no ordinary woman.”

Because of his own heritage, Ji Xuan paid particular attention to members of the Great Feng royal family. The officers present might not know the intricacies of a princess’s background, but he knew it thoroughly.

“Is that all?” Zhuo Haoran understood Ji Xuan’s point, that a brilliant Eldest Princess on the throne might be more formidable than Yongxing. But due to his prejudices against women, he still looked down on her.

Qi Guangbo knocked the table again and said:

“When the Tianjigong agent sent this message, the delegation to the capital was still there. Xu Qi’an detained rather than killed them, so he must want to negotiate with us.”

Everyone turned to Ji Xuan.

If it were an ordinary concubine’s son, he would not carry much weight and Great Feng would not dare to make exorbitant demands.

But this concubine’s son was Ji Xuan’s own younger brother (not a twin), and as a direct-line third rank martial artist of Yunzhou, Ji Xuan held a lofty position. Naturally, his younger brother was not just any ordinary scion.

Ji Xuan said in a deep voice,

“We shall leave it all to the Grand General’s decision.”

He took the initiative to step back.

Qi Guangbo said,

“In three days, gather our forces and move into Yongzhou’s territory. Besiege the city but do not attack, put pressure on the Great Feng court. Send an envoy to negotiate with Yang Gong, forcing them to release the men.”

Ge Wenxuan nodded.

“In this way, we can repatriate Young Master Ji Yuan at little cost.”

Gathering the army was both a display of strength and a means to snuff out Great Feng’s hope of making unreasonable demands.

The officers in the hall were all rubbing their hands in anticipation.

“I Can’t wait any longer.”

“The soldiers have been yearning night and day to attack Yongzhou.”

“They wouldn’t dare not hand over Young Master Ji Yuan.”

…

In a mansion less than three miles from the Provincial Administration in Qingzhou City, Xu Pingfeng was sitting cross-legged, with threads of force invisible to ordinary people converging on the mansion, turning into streams of light that poured into the white-robed arcanist’s body.

These forces accumulated in his dantian, forming a murky ball of Qi.

Xu Pingfeng clasped his hands around this cluster of Qi, slowly refining the ‘impurities’ within, making it ever clearer and more flawless.

The central skill of a fortune refiner was to refine and purify a province’s fortune, blend it into oneself, and then use this refined fortune to tap into the power of all living beings.

When fortune became full and dense enough to transform in quality, the fortune refiner could ascend to Master of Heaven’s Mandate, peer into the future, and become one of the greatest strategists in the world.

The sound of flapping wings came from the courtyard. A carrier pigeon landed steadily in the yard.

Xu Pingfeng opened his eyes, drew the still-murky Qi cluster into his dantian, then beckoned with his hand, “grasping” the carrier pigeon in the air. The pigeon had brought a message from Qi Guangbo.

After reading the note, Xu Pingfeng pondered briefly, then ran his fingertip across the paper.

The black writing vanished, turning into a single word:

Agreed!

He tucked the slip back into the bamboo tube on the pigeon’s leg, gave it a gentle toss, and then stood, taking a step to the left and entering the adjacent meditation room.

The room inside was as hot as midsummer. Agaruka Bodhisattva sat cross-legged, no longer headless, his head having regenerated.

“The peace talks have failed,” Xu Pingfeng said, smiling.

Agaruka Bodhisattva opened his eyes, his stern face showing no emotion, and said slowly:

“As expected, the Jianzheng kept a trump card in reserve.

“However, what trump card could give them the confidence to fight us?”

Xu Pingfeng stood with his hands behind his back, smiling faintly:

“You do not understand him well enough. Daring to fight us to the death does not necessarily mean he is confident. If driven to desperation, he may opt for mutual destruction.

“Even if he does have a trump card, it will not instantly elevate him to first rank, it is surely some method to temporarily boost his power. Plus, Luo Yuheng is about to undergo her tribulation and ascend to first rank, which will balance out some of their power.

“It simply gives him a little confidence.”

Agaruka Bodhisattva nodded slightly.

Xu Pingfeng continued,

“We march on Yongzhou in three days, then, we will see for ourselves.”

“Baidi has not yet returned to Jiuzhou?” Agaruka Bodhisattva asked.

“It will take some time yet,” Xu Pingfeng replied.

No one knew what that god-demon descendant was doing overseas, or what he was plotting.

Of course, if Xu Pingfeng deliberately investigated, he could still find some clues, but there was no need.

Doing so would only harm the alliance and bring more loss than gain.

…

The Sitianjian.

On the Bagua Platform, Xu Qi’an sat cross-legged by the desk, gazing at the myriad forms of life in the capital, contemplating the power of all beings.

Behind him, a flash of pure light appeared. In a flutter of white robes, Sun Xuanji arrived with Protector Yuan.

“How are your injuries doing?”

Xu Qi’an sat without turning, leaving his upright back to the man and ape, just like the Jianzheng once did.

Protector Yuan first looked at Sun Xuanji, then turned to look at Xu Qi’an’s back, saying,

“Almost healed.”

Xu Qi’an nodded, took a brocade pouch from his bosom and passed it over.

“The contents will tell you what you need to do next.”

Sun Xuanji accepted the pouch without opening it, silently looking at Xu Qi’an’s back.

Protector Yuan kindly translated, “Are you imitating Teacher Jianzheng? But I think you look more like Junior Brother Yang!”

Xu Qi’an gave a “heh” but didn’t reply.

Protector Yuan thoughtfully translated again,

“Silver Gong Xu’s heart tells me: ‘Don’t compare me to the Posturing King, I’m not cosplaying as the Jianzheng, I’m imitating Zhuge Liang… Damn, I let my guard down around this damned monkey, I’ll eat monkey brains tonight.’”

Protector Yuan was suddenly shocked, breaking away from his immersive mind-reading, and shrank behind Sun Xuanji, fearfully saying,

“Please give me a chance.”

Sun Xuanji unfurled the pouch, glanced at its contents, and replied with an “Mm”. The array under his feet spread out, and he teleported away with Protector Yuan.

Protector Yuan felt as if a great weight had been lifted, thinking he had escaped death.

At the same time, he realised his mind-reading supernatural power had improved again. When Silver Gong Xu did not restrain his thoughts, he could see through them.

For a moment, he did not know whether to be pleased or troubled.

As soon as Sun Xuanji left, Xu Qi’an rode the wind and set off for Lingbao Temple.

He had been back in the capital for several days but had yet to visit Lingbao Temple. At first, he was too busy and not in the mood. Later on, he was preoccupied with dual cultivation with Mu Nanzhi, deliberately avoiding the National Teacher.

After all, the National Teacher must surely know about his dual cultivation with Mu Nanzhi. To go now and court bad luck was not the instinct for self-preservation a fish pond owner ought to have.

But now he had to make a trip to Lingbao Temple.

…………

At Lingbao Temple.

Luo Yuheng sat cross-legged above the pool, eyes closed in meditation.

She wore a feathered robe and a lotus crown, with a striking vermillion spot at her brow.

Cool and otherworldly as a celestial maiden, the immortal aura cultivated from years of Daoist practice could easily outshine most women “born to the mortal world”.

In a pavilion by the pool sat a woman holding a small fox cub, clicking her tongue in admiration.

“The National Teacher is truly stunning, her skin is smooth as cream, her phoenix eyes and red lips, her icy skin and jade bones, a peerless beauty in this world.

“She really makes plain, ordinary women like me envious and resentful.”

She looked plain and middle-aged, but her tone was clearly one of jest, showing not the slightest hint of self-doubt.

“Jealous and resentful!” Baiji, with a swipe of her paw, echoed her.

Mu Nanzhi sighed,

“The National Teacher is beautiful, but it’s a pity that no man loves her. Rather sad, really.”

Baiji cooed, “So pitiful!”

Mu Nanzhi continued,

“Not like me, average looks, but at least I have a man who cares for me.”

Suddenly she shook her head, looking troubled. “Though that’s not always a good thing, such a lecher, he won’t let me off the bed.”

A vein popped out on Luo Yuheng’s smooth forehead.

She pretended not to hear, and continued to meditate.

Outside the courtyard, just a wall away.

Quietly slip away… Xu Qi’an used the Heaven Gu’s “Shifting Stars” ability to hide his presence, coming and going as he pleased, keeping his achievements out of sight.

This idiot Mu Nanzhi has gotten so full of herself since awakening the Flower God’s spirit… National Teacher, this is your karmic retribution! Who told you to bully and threaten her back then… Hmph, it’s none of my concern anyway.

Seems like it’s all the rage these days for sisters to compete like this, Flower God against National Teacher, Huaiqing against Lin’an, Lingyue against Yuanshuang…”

Xu Qi’an left Lingbao Temple.

An hour later, an orange cat leapt onto the wall, entering the quiet little courtyard.

Mu Nanzhi and Luo Yuheng both looked at the orange cat.

The cat was not flustered at all, carrying a letter in its mouth. It walked to the poolside with elegant steps and dropped the letter.

Then it turned to leave.

The National Teacher and Flower God frowned and tentatively called,

“Xu Qi’an?”

The orange cat paused, let out a cute “meow”, and continued on its way.

The two women, both still breathtakingly beautiful despite their age, withdrew their gaze.

Luo Yuheng beckoned the envelope to her, opened it and read, a cold smile emerging on her face.

“Whose letter is it?” Mu Nanzhi asked in feigned indifference.

“Xu Qi’an’s,” Luo Yuheng said coolly.

“What did he write?” Mu Nanzhi’s ears pricked up at once.

Luo Yuheng gave a slight, nonchalant smile.

“He’s begging for dual cultivation.”

…

At night, on the Bagua Platform.

Xu Qi’an cradled the Earth Book fragment, using the faint starlight to read the messages on its mirror-smooth surface.

【ONE: We’ve figured out the base of the Earth Sect heretics. They really are in Qingzhou, having joined up with the Yunzhou rebels. They are now in charge of the Qingzhou Investigation Office, and their main base is in the Qingzhou city office.】

【They still prefer to wear Earth Sect Daoist robes, easy to recognise.】

Wei Yuan’s spies are truly remarkable… sighed the Heaven and Earth Society members to themselves.

【NINE: Good, proceed as planned, everyone. Let’s pick a place to meet.】

【THREE: Let’s meet in the underground palace outside Yongzhou City. Everyone knows where it is, and since Yongzhou is next to Qingzhou, it’ll be convenient, no need to come to the capital.】

【EIGHT: The underground palace outside Yongzhou?】

Al-Asura did not know the location of the underground palace.

Chu Yuanzhen sent, 【Thirty miles south of Yongzhou city, there are mountains, you should find us there. Where are you now, Number Eight? If you’re close, we can fly over and collect you.】

Al-Asura declined by transmission, 【No need, it’s not far. I’m already in the Central Plains.】

It was only a few thousand li from Yongzhou.

【NINE: Then, at dawn tomorrow!】

The members replied in succession, 【Agreed!】

There will be good drama to watch tomorrow… Xu Qi’an put away the Earth Book fragment, melted into the shadows, and returned to his room.

The candle burned like a bean.

Mu Nanzhi, holding Baiji, was sitting at the table reading a storybook with illustrations and text.

“Why are you still up?”

As Xu Qi’an spoke, he started undoing his robe, ready to make the bed creak with the Flower God.

Mu Nanzhi sneered,

“Silver Gong Xu, why not go find your National Teacher for dual cultivation? What are you doing coming to me?”

Why would I seek out the National Teacher for dual cultivation? It’s not time for that, and in her usual state Luo Yuheng is quite staunchly opposed to anything intimate with me… Xu Qi’an couldn’t make sense of what she was jealous about.

Weren’t you acting all high and mighty during the day, competing beautifully?

“What are you going on about?” Xu Qi’an said, annoyed.

Mu Nanzhi simply “hmph”ed, not bothering to respond.

752. The Heaven and Earth Members Gather (I)

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