The figure that climbed up the corner of the wall was none other than the most senior 司命 of the Yin-Yang School, his hair white as snow. He grinned widely at Li Guanyi and waved his hand, then with a sudden "ah," he tumbled forward, accompanied by a flow of light invisible to the naked eye. The 玄龟 appeared, catching the old man.
“It’s been a long time, ah hahaha, young friend.”
The old man was in high spirits upon seeing Li Guanyi.
Li Guanyi did not wish to inquire how this elder had come to the Xue family.
The Eastern Land Star-Gazing School was one of the three sects outside the world, and the Yin-Yang School was a prominent school; their methods were somewhat similar, focusing on the divine and qi. It was not difficult for the elder, who was clearly older than 瑶光, to possess such abilities.
Li Guanyi exchanged a few words with his aunt, took some silver, and led the elder to a tavern outside. The elder ordered a slightly better wine today, which cost three wen a cup, a stark contrast to the one-wen wine.
This meant that the water mixed in was less.
The elder tilted his head back and gulped it down; the strong liquor burned his throat, bringing a flush to his face.
Smacking his lips, he praised, “Not bad, not bad.”
“It’s much better than the imperial wine in the palace. The palace wine is too mild, lacking any kick. It only gets one slightly tipsy; it’s not as stimulating as this kind of wine. If it can’t make one drunk, then it’s not much different from sweet milk.”
Li Guanyi did not agree with the elder’s viewpoint.
He was merely curious, “It’s been almost half a month; how did you come back, old man?”
The 司命 quite liked this address, laughing heartily, “Of course, it’s because matters have been resolved. If I didn’t come back, would I have to shamelessly go to those high-ranking officials to discuss this and that? Young friend Zhu has entered the court, overseeing the 钦天监, and that brat Wang Tong has also become a Grand Scholar.”
“That brat Yue Qianfeng has achieved his goal, but I don’t know when he’ll return.”
“The ones in the palace, dressed in red and purple, have lost but still pretend to be amicable, feasting and toasting, while deep down they must be wishing to flay each other alive. Yet they still force smiles. I, this old man, was truly afraid I wouldn’t be able to hold back my laughter, so I came back to find you.”
The elder spoke of the palace affairs with a smile.
The 玄龟 poured another cup of wine, speaking without any deliberate concealment, but the people around them ignored the old and young pair. It seemed to be a method of the Yin-Yang School; among the various schools and sects, close combat was certainly not the strong suit of mere martial artists.
However, cultivation was not solely for combat.
They possessed many profound techniques.
The elder drank a few cups of wine, then picked up a few peanuts with his chopsticks, tossing them into his mouth and chewing slowly, “The current situation has reached a stable state; both sides are waiting for a turning point. To speak of the mysterious, it’s about the grand ceremony of the Chen Kingdom in about forty to fifty days.”
“Humph, the grand ceremony is generally held between ten to twenty years after the emperor ascends the throne.”
“It’s to pay homage to the ancestors and the deities of the land, to show that one has been diligent over the years, ensuring the country’s peace and prosperity. It’s a matter of seeking credit, yet it costs an unfathomable amount of silver. This time is special; it seems all the countries will attend.”
“The prince of the Jiang clan from the Ying Kingdom, the king from the Turkic grasslands, and the royal family of the Tuyuhun in the Western Regions.”
“Moreover, there are even more small tribes.”
“With so many nobles coming and going, the Chen Kingdom must host them. With the grandeur of the Chen royal family, the hosting expenses will undoubtedly be substantial. Such a grand event is a national ceremony, equivalent to military matters, often accompanied by a general amnesty.”
“It’s to report to the ancestors about one’s achievements. In such circumstances, it’s inappropriate to shed blood; only in such a situation is there the greatest opportunity for Yue Shua to be pardoned. However, the other countries coming here surely aren’t just to congratulate the Chen Kingdom on its prosperity.”
Li Guanyi asked, “Is it to remove Marshal Yue?”
The elder nodded, “The national pillar of the Chen Kingdom is a mortal enemy to the Ying Kingdom.”
“Their coming to the Chen Kingdom naturally harbors intentions to seek benefits for their own country.”
The elder sighed deeply, “A pot of porridge.”
Li Guanyi asked, “With Marshal Yue’s strength, why is he imprisoned?”
The elder replied, “He is powerful, but the strength of military strategists and martial artists is not without its solutions. With the accumulation, means, and extraordinary individuals of a major nation, one can outsmart the unwary; even martial artists can fall. Moreover, the prime minister of the Chen Kingdom is a highly accomplished Confucian scholar.”
Li Guanyi said no more, only feeling that the upcoming grand ceremony of the Chen Kingdom in over a month was indeed troublesome.
The elder laughed, “You’re not going, so what’s there to sigh about?”
Li Guanyi replied, “I have to go.”
The 司命 paused in his drinking motion.
Li Guanyi continued, “The emperor has issued an edict; I must go.”
He recounted the situation to the elder.
The elder’s eyes widened, then suddenly he became angry, slamming the quilt in his hand onto the table, cursing, “The descendants of Chen Xingguo, how have they lost the character of their ancestors? To maintain the balance of civil and military in the court, they want to strip the general of his military power; for the feelings of the aristocratic families, they want to pull a young man like you onto the stage?!”
“His ancestors still had some spirit.”
“With martial achievements like that, how have his descendants become such soft-hearted cowards!”
“Fools! Fools!”
The elder cursed, then suddenly doubted himself, saying, “Could it be that I urinated on his ancestor’s grave back then, extinguishing the ancestral smoke? That shouldn’t be, clearly that tree was flourishing.”
Li Guanyi smirked.
The old man cursed for a while, then said, “The emperor recites your verses, and those literati and military scions in the capital have long looked down on you. It’s just that you are in Guan Yi City, where the Xue family holds great power, so they cannot easily leave the capital. Once you arrive in the capital, they may come looking for trouble.”
“However, you need not worry; in terms of martial skills, you are certainly stronger than them.”
“As for reputation, humph, Wang Tong and Zhu Wenyuan will return soon. If you are willing, you can learn from them for a while; with the reputation of great scholars backing you, in this era, martial skills can ensure safety, while a renowned literary name can command respect from all factions.”
“They do this to attract great talents from across the world.”
“Only in chaotic times does literary fame have such an effect. Wang Tong and Zhu Wenyuan are currently in high demand, their fame immense; the aristocratic families and those adorned in purple robes in the court must lower their heads slightly. If you possess such a literary reputation, even if the scions of those families hate you, they wouldn’t dare act excessively.”
“At the very least, they wouldn’t resort to any despicable means.”
Li Guanyi nodded.
He understood these things.
In chaotic times, self-preservation requires not only martial skills but also reputation. He already had some martial skills, but his fame was not prominent. Li Guanyi thought about the situation in Jiangzhou City and felt that having a literary reputation was better than having none. Moreover, many disciples of Master Wang were from the aristocratic families of the Ying Kingdom.
Joining under his banner would provide a name.
When he eventually went to the Ying Kingdom, at the very least, he could rely on the reputation of his fellow disciples to get by.
And if there were truly great changes, this would also be a source of strength and support.
With both advancement and retreat, it was a perfect step.
Isn’t this what they say?
Wait until I grow strong, then there will be changes?
Wait, … why am I thinking of this?
Li Guanyi paused, dispelling the sudden thoughts that had surfaced in his mind. He had initially only wanted to live a good life with his aunt, to lead a peaceful life, but this latter thought seemed to have changed somewhat.
Perhaps he had been influenced.
Li Guanyi rubbed his forehead, aware that people could influence one another. He suppressed these distractions.
Pouring a cup of wine for the elder, he said, “Then I will be here, sweeping the mat to welcome, waiting for the two seniors.”
The elder laughed heartily, “Sweep what mat?”
“They’ve long wanted to meet you, and there’s also a fellow from the Mo family who might come looking for you. If they weren’t in a hurry to enter the capital and had to act in front of those high-ranking officials, they would have come to find you much earlier.”
“Where would there be time for this old man?”
“However, you will definitely be fine, hahaha, after all, you are the one found by the Eastern Land Star-Gazing School’s White Tiger Sect.” The elder teased, raising his wine cup. Just as he was about to drink, Li Guanyi said, “I’m afraid I’m not truly a member of the White Tiger Sect.”
The elder spat out his drink.
Coughing violently, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve, saying, “You, how do you know? No, I mean, what are you talking about?”
The elder’s reaction confirmed Li Guanyi’s viewpoint.
He said, “I seem to have seen the true White Tiger Sect through the light of the White Tiger Seven Stars.”
“Will there be a conflict between him and me, old man?”
The elder hesitated, not hiding anything on such a matter, and straightforwardly said, “There will definitely be. After all, regardless, you also bear the light of the White Tiger. The light of the White Tiger Seven Stars will bring an enhancement of power. For heroes competing for the world, more power is never a bad thing.”
He gave an example: “Just like the throne, brothers and fathers can kill each other and poison one another.”
“Ordinary families will quarrel over inheritance until they no longer communicate.”
“And the position of the White Tiger Sect represents too much—power, reputation, status. In chaotic times, it may even be more important than the throne. A thousand gold can turn brothers against each other; do you think this position and fate won’t lead to conflict?”
Li Guanyi smiled, “It certainly will.”
The elder wanted to comfort the youth.
In his eyes, Li Guanyi sometimes resembled a drifting dandelion, carrying a sense of distance from his homeland, filled with vigilance and unease. However, when he saw Li Guanyi raise his wine cup, the youth thought for a moment and said, “Then let us fight.”
The elder was taken aback.
Li Guanyi said, “I need the power of the White Tiger Seven Stars.”
“Only by possessing this power can I live better in chaotic times. Moreover, even if I want to share this power with him, he wouldn’t feel at ease unless he kills me, right? So, there’s no choice, nor do I need to choose again.”
“Then let us fight.”
“To the death.”
The elder saw Li Guanyi unconsciously revealing his desires and ambitions.
This was the same youth who, upon their first meeting, displayed talent and intelligence but instinctively drew his weapon to protect his kin, like a lion revealing its fangs for the first time, roaring at its destined enemy. He had changed, perhaps due to encountering someone.
The elder suddenly laughed heartily:
“Hahaha, good, this is how it should be.”
Finally, he showed a hint of a heroic demeanor.
This sentence the 司命 did not say aloud; he merely drank cup after cup of wine, then suddenly remembered something, smiling as he said, “Speaking of which, I came back for another matter. Now that you have entered the realm, I should pass on the methods of my Yin-Yang School to you.”
“The foundation of everything is the duality of yin and yang; entering the Yin-Yang School signifies true achievement.”
“You can cultivate the true transmission, and this true transmission is the 望气术.”
Li Guanyi was puzzled, “望气术?”
The elder stroked his beard. The 望气术 was the direct transmission of the Yin-Yang School. The Yin-Yang School was one of the prominent schools; there were countless self-proclaimed disciples of the Yin-Yang School in this world, some reading feng shui, some observing fortune, and some calculating fates.
However, most had little skill. The true 望气术 could observe feng shui, fortune, and military affairs; it was essential for military strategists of the Yin-Yang School.
But these esoteric matters were certainly not to this young man’s liking.
The elder noticed the wariness and rejection on Li Guanyi’s face.
This youth did not like mystical things, nor did he enjoy reading. That earlier burst of heroism seemed like the elder had drunk too much wine and misjudged him. How could he make this youth take the initiative to learn the complex 望气术?
The 司命 stroked his chin, revealing a smile, “Yes, 望气术.”
He extended a finger, speaking slowly:
“It can guarantee a hundred percent chance of picking up money!”
The 玄龟 was stunned.
The youth said, “Old man, do you think I’m such a greedy person?”
The 司命 was taken aback.
Li Guanyi shook his head, a hint of regret in his eyes, and said calmly:
“Money is just for living well, not everything in life; you’ve got the focus wrong.”
The 司命 wondered if he had misjudged the situation.
Li Guanyi clenched his fist against his lips, coughed, and sat up straight, saying, “But I think having more skills is never a burden. Learning another skill is a good thing; don’t you think so, old senior?”
Thus, the elder pointed at Li Guanyi and laughed.
What an interesting young man!
Where could one find such a talented youth?!
In this world, there are many charming figures.
Heroes differ, yet each generation has its own; that’s why he doesn’t wish to die beneath the green hills.
The elder laughed and drank, becoming drunk in the mortal realm.
On this day, the 司命 seemed particularly happy, ultimately drinking to excess. Li Guanyi helped him to his lodgings, where the elder leaned against the wall, retching in front of the latrine for a long while, then complained of a splitting headache, repeatedly declaring he would never drink this three-wen wine again.
The water was diluted.
He was tipsy!
He taught Li Guanyi the basics of 望气术. Li Guanyi indeed found two copper coins, and the joy of picking up money on the road was more delightful than earning it. The following days were peaceful until the seventh day when a reply arrived from the borders of the Ying Kingdom in Longxi.
Changsun Wuchou rushed to deliver the letter to Li Guanyi.
Li Guanyi breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, a reply had come.
He was unsure what the second young master had accomplished; he was quite worried that the second young master might rush out impulsively, resulting in injury. Before he could even open the letter to check on the second young master’s situation, he was found by the close guard of Xue Daoyong.
He said the elder wanted him to go to the 听风阁.
The close guard was unusually patient this time, standing by waiting.
Li Guanyi thought for a moment, placing the letter in his bosom, and followed the guard.
The 听风阁 was quiet, with doors and windows closed. When Li Guanyi entered, the elder sat there, illuminated by the luminous pearl, studying the map of the world intently, not even noticing Li Guanyi’s arrival.
His expression was grave.
Li Guanyi sat down, and only then did the elder turn around to look at him, saying, “Guanyi, you’re here.”
“How is your martial training going?”
Li Guanyi did not mention that he had made minor progress in the 玉臂神弓决, planning to delay a few days before speaking.
He simply replied, “It’s alright.”
Xue Daoyong nodded, saying, “Today, I received news that the world is about to change.”
Li Guanyi asked, “What news could cause such a change in the world?”
The elder looked at him and pushed a letter over, succinctly stating:
“Tuyuhun.”
“Has perished.”
“Guanyi, do you have any clues?”
(本章完)