A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 104 On the verge of breaking out

Inside the room, Haitang introduced Duan Tianya to Gu Xu, "Daoist, this is the elder brother I often tell you about, Duan Tianya."

Gu Xu nodded to him upon hearing this, while Duan Tianya clasped his hands in a salute and said, "I have long heard Haitang and the others speak of the Daoist's demeanor; to meet you today is truly an honor."

After Gu Xu entered, Duan Tianya didn't even detect a trace of his aura. This Taoist priest's skills had reached an extraordinary level.

"Number One in the Heavenly Court, I've long admired your name. It's an honor to meet you."

After exchanging greetings, Haitang let Gu Xu sit in the seat of honor, and the others also sat down.

"Master, we were just discussing the Ten Great Generals. You are very knowledgeable, do you have any advice for us?" Haitang asked hopefully.

No one is perfect. Although the Ten Generals each had their own shortcomings, they were unwavering in their commitment to righteousness. They repeatedly defended against foreign enemies and protected the Ming Dynasty. This time, they were coerced by the Divine Marquis, which was out of their choice. It would be a great pity if they were to become victims of power struggles.

"Although these ten generals were forced into this situation, wrong is wrong, and there is no room for leniency. If they disobey the imperial decree and return to the capital on their own, they will only face death; there will be no other choice."

Gu Xu's words shocked Haitang. Even the Taoist priest said so, it seemed that they had no chance at all.

"Haitang, the Taoist priest is right. Loyalty to the emperor and love for one's country is the first principle for generals. If even this cannot be guaranteed, no matter how talented he is, he is a threat to the country. Such a person should be destroyed rather than allowed to live."

Duan Tianya looked at Haitang and said in a deep voice.

Neither Guihai Yidao nor Cheng Shifei spoke, but they both agreed with what Duan Tianya said.

"Haitang, you don't need to worry. After eliminating these ten people, the border guards won't be in chaos. The emperor should have already placed people there. With Brother Wan's help, stabilizing the situation shouldn't be difficult. The most important thing now is the situation in the capital."

"Does the Taoist priest mean that the Marquis is going to fight to the death?"

"Indeed, the Divine Marquis himself possesses extremely high martial arts skills, and he also has the secret weapon of the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends under his command. Each of them may not be as good as your four secret agents, but if three or five of them attack together, you will probably have to hold them off for a while. If there are more of them, you will have no choice but to retreat temporarily."

"The Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends," Duan Tianya asked in confusion, his heart sinking.

“Brother, the Divine Marquis has always treated us as pawns, discarding us at will after using us. These Thirty-Six Heavenly Generals and Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends were secretly trained by him. When we were attacked by Yi Dao before, the Daoist Master wiped out all thirty-six Heavenly Generals.”

Seeing this, Haitang promptly cleared up his confusion by telling him about these people.

"Ha, the Divine Marquis is truly cunning and scheming. If we hadn't discovered his plot beforehand, he might have actually achieved his goal."

Duan Tianya chuckled to himself, then thought of Liu Sheng Piaoxu's dying words: from beginning to end, his life had been controlled by Shenhou. He had thought it was a gift from heaven, but it turned out to be a perfect deception.

"Master, if the Divine Marquis makes any unusual moves, the Eastern Depot will likely take action. Cao Zhengchun certainly won't let this opportunity pass."

"We don't need to worry about the Eastern Depot. I do know a little about Cao Zhengchun's plans. Once his mission is complete, the position of Director of the Eastern Depot should be changed. Haitang, your mission is to protect the Emperor."

Duan Tianya and the others fell silent upon hearing this. They knew that the Taoist priest had intentionally asked them to avoid the Divine Marquis. After all, it was not a good thing for father and son to fight each other. In the eyes of those with ulterior motives, regardless of the reasons, they would only look at the result and see them as a bunch of ungrateful bastards who had murdered their father. How could the emperor feel at ease with such people?

"Master, I must participate in this battle against the Divine Marquis. My master instructed me to defeat him."

Cheng Shifei stood up and looked at Gu Xu with a determined expression. He was not afraid. Anyway, he would not become an official in the future. At worst, he would just wander the world and make his home wherever he went. It would just be hard on Yunluo.

“It is only right and reasonable for me to avenge my master, and I will naturally not stop him,” Gu Xu nodded.

Cheng Shifei secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If the Taoist priest had taken action against Zhu Wushi, he probably wouldn't have even had a chance to make a move.

"Cheng Shifei, I have another piece of information about your background."

"My background?" Cheng Shifei was somewhat puzzled. Wasn't he just an orphan? What secrets about his background could he possibly have?

Upon hearing this, Haitang and the others exchanged glances. Finally, Duan Tianya said, "Daoist, we have some private matters to discuss, so we'll take our leave first." With that, the three nodded to Gu Xu and left the room.

"Master, what exactly is the story of my background?" Cheng Shifei asked hurriedly.

“Gu Santong is your father, and Su Xin, the woman who hid in the ice coffin, is your mother,” Gu Xu said, looking at him and enunciating each word clearly.

"What?" Cheng Shifei was shocked. His master was actually his own father, and the woman that Shenhou loved was his own mother. This was simply unbelievable.

"It's absolutely true. Back then, the Divine Marquis and your father, Gu Santong, were together..."

An hour later, Gu Xu recounted the whole story in detail. Cheng Shifei went from being shocked to calm, but when he heard about Shenhou's despicable behavior, he could hardly contain his anger, and a murderous aura involuntarily overflowed from his face.

"Cheng Shifei," Gu Xu called out softly, suppressing the murderous aura emanating from Cheng Shifei and bringing him back to his senses.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Taoist priest," Cheng Shifei said apologetically. Knowing that his parents had been tricked by Zhu Wushi and ended up with their family destroyed, their wives and children separated, he could not control his emotions.

"Zhu Wushi, you deserve to die," Cheng Shifei thought, his heart filled with nothing but murderous intent towards Zhu Wushi.

Gu Xu glanced at Cheng Shifei and said, "Zhu Wushi has trapped your mother in the Dragon Guard Manor, so she's not in immediate danger. But for your mother's life, you still have something to do."

"What is it?" Cheng Shifei asked.

"Princess Yunluo's mermaid pearl contains the last Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom, which is your mother's life-saving treasure. You must obtain it and give it to your mother after the crisis is resolved to ensure she survives."

"Okay," Cheng Shifei readily agreed. Although the emperor forbade him to see Yunluo, he couldn't care less about that now.

Outside the capital, carriages drove in one after another, and the soldiers guarding the city dared not stop them when they saw the flags flying on them.

"Brother Wang, what's the origin of this carriage? They didn't even need to check it," a junior soldier asked an older soldier beside him.

"See the character 'Liu' written on it? That's General Liu Dai, the great general of the frontier. Who would dare to inspect his carriages? Wouldn't that be asking for trouble? The remaining nine carriages also belong to generals who guard their respective regions."

The soldier suddenly realized that this person had such a powerful background. It seemed he should learn more from Brother Wang in the future, lest he offend someone he dared not mess with one day and not even know how he died.

"The generals have all come to the capital together this time. Judging from this lineup, they seem to have ill intentions. Hey, why should I, a mere soldier, care so much?" Brother Wang dismissed his thoughts and began to ponder whether to have roast chicken or braised pork for dinner.

royal palace, royal study
"Your Majesty, Eunuch Cao is requesting an audience outside."

"Let him in"

Outside the Imperial Study, Eunuch Wang bowed to Cao Zhengchun and said, "Eunuch Cao, His Majesty invites you in."

Cao Zhengchun nodded and entered the imperial study. He saw the emperor reviewing memorials inside and, without looking up, asked, "Eunuch Cao, is there something you need?"

After bowing, Cao Zhengchun said, "Your Majesty, I have received news that the ten generals entered the capital three hours ago. After settling in, they went to the Dragon Guard Manor one after another, and have not yet come out."

Upon hearing this, the emperor put down his red pen, raised his head, and said in a deep voice, "It seems my uncle is impatient. Eunuch Cao, have the necessary preparations been made?"

"By order of the Emperor, the arrangements have been secretly completed inside and outside the capital."

"Very well, these ten generals cannot be spared. How are things on the frontier?"

"The ten deputy generals on the frontier have all received the Emperor's secret order to consolidate military power after Liu Dai and the others depart, ensuring no unrest occurs. Furthermore, they have 13,000 taels of silver in support, which is sufficient to weather this period."

"Now I can rest assured. I entrust the security of the palace to you, Eunuch Cao. I hope you will not disappoint me," the emperor said calmly, staring at Cao Zhengchun.

"This servant swears to protect Your Majesty with my life," Cao Zhengchun immediately knelt down, expressing his utmost loyalty.

The emperor nodded in satisfaction and said, "Get up."

After Cao Zhengchun kowtowed in thanks, he stood up and stood respectfully to the side. The emperor walked down the steps and stood in the room looking at the dim sky on the horizon. The wind howled and made the lanterns on the eaves sway incessantly.

"A heavy rain is coming; I don't know if it will be able to clear all this silt away."

Dragon Guardian Villa
"I need the help of all the generals to ascend the throne," Zhu Wushi said bluntly, not even bothering with pleasantries.

When Liu Dai and the others heard this, although they had expected it, the fact that it was said so plainly still made them somewhat uneasy.

The other nine all looked at Liu Dai, who met Zhu Wushi's gaze and said with difficulty, "We have been indebted to the Divine Marquis for many years, and now it is time for us to lend a helping hand. I wonder if the Divine Marquis has any specific plans for action?"

Hearing Liu Dai's words, Zhu Wushi nodded secretly, thinking that Liu Dai was quite sensible.

"I know you each have your own personal guards, totaling at least a thousand men. I have a great use for these men. As for the imperial palace, although there is the Eastern Depot, my Dragon Guard Manor is not to be trifled with. In three days, I will take advantage of the court assembly to surround the Hall of State Affairs and force the emperor to abdicate. You will then be responsible for taking over the palace's defenses. Do you understand?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Dai immediately stood up, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This humble general obeys the order."

Upon seeing this, the other nine men also stood up and pledged their loyalty.

"Very well, once this is accomplished, I will never forget your contributions. I will reward you according to your merits. Whoever does well will receive more. If anyone dares to hold me back, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Zhu Wushi spoke in a chilling tone, and an astonishing aura erupted from his body, pressing down on Liu Dai and the others, making the ten of them breathless.

Seeing that the time was right, Zhu Wushi withdrew his imposing manner and said calmly, "You can all go back now. As for any questions, you should know how to explain yourself."

Liu Dai and the others agreed in unison and then left the main hall.

"It seems that the Divine Marquis has gone mad," Liu Dai said with a bitter smile. The only wrong thing he had ever done in his life was getting on the Divine Marquis's ship. Now he could only hope that the ship would sail safely to the distance.

Inside the welcoming inn, Gu Xu was practicing the Pure Yang Profound Technique, with five-colored light swirling behind him. A phantom slowly emerged from behind him, its face identical to Gu Xu's.

"After cultivating for so long, my primordial spirit's manifestation hasn't made much progress. It seems this world's level isn't high enough; I can only break through in a higher world."

Once a cultivator solidifies their primordial spirit's reflection into a tangible form, it's as if they have gained an ally of equal strength, greatly enhancing their combat prowess. Moreover, the true body and the reflection learn from each other, allowing them to clearly see the path ahead.

"Once this matter is resolved, I should depart. Before I leave, I'll give this emperor one last gift."

Meanwhile, Cheng Shifei sneaked into the palace again. This time, the palace was much more secure than before. If Cheng Shifei's skills hadn't improved so much, it would have been difficult for him to spot the few sentries hiding in the shadows and sneaking out of Yunluo's palace.

After evading the guards, Cheng Shifei quietly entered the palace and released the signal that he had agreed upon with Yunluo.

A few soft bird calls successfully woke Yunluo up. After getting dressed, she ran out of the bedroom with a look of surprise. When she saw Cheng Shifei, she immediately jumped on him, and Cheng Shifei quickly hugged her.

"Yunluo, it's been a while, you've gained weight again," Cheng Shifei joked, which resulted in Yunluo's two-finger twisting flesh technique.

"Ouch!" Cheng Shifei knelt down and begged for mercy, and Yunluo finally let go.

"You, Cheng Shifei, you said you'd come to see me, and you're only showing up now. Tell me, do you not like me anymore?" Yunluo looked at him with an expression that said, "I won't let you off the hook until you give me a reasonable explanation."

Cheng Shifei quickly took her hand and sat her down at the table. He then recounted in detail what had happened after they left. When Cheng Shifei mentioned that the Mermaid Pearl contained the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom, Yunluo immediately got up and went to the dressing table.

A short while later, Cheng Shifei saw Yunluo return with a small purple wooden box.

“Here is the Little Mermaid Pearl. It was a gift from my brother to me for my eighteenth birthday. You can take it,” Yunluo said, pushing the wooden box to Cheng Shifei with a pained expression.

This pearl was already rare, and it was decorated with a mermaid pattern carved by a skilled craftsman. When illuminated by candlelight, it could project a magnificent seascape. But now, for the sake of the Heavenly Fragrance Bean, it had to be painfully abandoned.

"Yunluo, since this pearl contains Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom, there must be a way to retrieve it without damaging it. Perhaps Haitang has a way, or at the very least, there's Master Guxu."

Cheng Shifei understood that this was Yunluo's beloved possession and naturally did not want to destroy it, so he suggested that Haitang take a look.

"Then take it. I've given it to you, so you don't need to ask me what to do with it."

Cheng Shifei didn't say much upon hearing this, but simply tightened his grip on her hand, and Yunluo slowly leaned against Cheng Shifei's shoulder.

Opening the box, a pure white, crystal-clear pearl shimmered softly in the candlelight. On the opposite white wall, a seascape was projected, with the sea seemingly undulating as the candlelight flickered, propelling the fishing boat into the distance, while a school of fish leaped behind the boat, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

"Yunluo, I will come to find you after I have accomplished my great task. At that time, I will definitely ask the Emperor to grant you my marriage."

Cheng Shifei gripped Yunluo's hand tightly, making a firm and resolute promise. Yunluo blushed at his words.
After saying a few more words, Cheng Shifei bid farewell to Yunluo. Although she was reluctant to part with him, she knew what was important and just told Cheng Shifei to be careful and protect himself.

Cheng Shifei patted his chest and assured everyone that nothing would happen. Taking advantage of the guards changing shifts, he slipped out of the palace.

Inside the Imperial Study, Cao Zhengchun was reporting to the Emperor about the matter of questioning the ten generals that day.

"Ha, even their wording is the same. They're not even bothering to hide their true intentions. It seems my uncle is confident of victory," the emperor said sarcastically, tossing the memorial aside.

"Have the families of Liu Dai and others been brought under control?"

"It's under control. They haven't even spared our hometown. We can only act upon His Majesty's order."

"Ten people have committed treason, and their entire families should be punished," the emperor said calmly.

“Yes,” Cao Zhengchun replied.

"Your Majesty, according to intelligence obtained by the Eastern Depot, Zhu Wushi is very likely to make his move at the grand court assembly in three days."

"It's a good thing he can endure for three more days," the emperor sneered. The court assembly three days later was the most crucial day. All civil and military officials of the second rank or above had to attend. This was a purge; those who obeyed would live, and those who resisted would die.

"Keep it a secret from the Empress Dowager, and also from Princess Yunluo; they must not suffer any harm."

"This servant obeys."

After Cao Zhengchun left, the emperor in the imperial study suddenly saw a phantom standing there.

"Taoist Master, is that you?" The emperor was not surprised but delighted, looking at the illusory figure.

If we were to name the person the emperor trusted most, there was no one else besides Gu Xu. The emperor had long since realized that Gu Xu's claim of being entrusted by the late emperor to help him was merely a pretext.

The emperor initially thought Gu Xu had some ulterior motive, but now that Gu Xu genuinely helped him, he had no other purpose, which gradually made the emperor lower his guard.

"This humble Taoist has come here solely for Zhu Wushi. Your Majesty is free to do whatever you wish. As the saying goes, 'No destruction, no construction.' Your Majesty only needs to observe. You may also use this matter to test the officials in the court and purge a group of scoundrels. Perhaps this is a great gift from Zhu Wushi to Your Majesty."

The emperor watched as the phantom's mouth remained tightly shut, yet every sound reached his ears without being missed, which greatly surprised him.

"I understand what you mean, Daoist Master. I am very grateful for your hard work in coming to help. Thank you in advance."

The emperor descended the steps and bowed, but the phantom figure only turned halfway, receiving only a half-bow.

"Your Majesty, please take care. After this matter, Your Majesty's rule will be unhindered, and a bright future lies ahead. I hope Your Majesty will not forget your original aspirations and will strive for the well-being of the nation."

After uttering its last words, the phantom vanished from the emperor's sight without a trace.

The fantastical scene aroused the emperor's longing, and he began to think about seeking immortality. However, he remembered the fate of many emperors who had sought immortality before, and recalled the Taoist priest's advice. The emperor immediately put the idea aside and began to consider the palace coup three days later.

"The next battle is the main event, Imperial Uncle, please play a supporting role for me this time."

Three days later, the court assembly began.

All civil and military officials gathered in the Hall of State Affairs. After the emperor received the emperor's greetings on his throne, officials from the six ministries submitted their memorials.

Just as the court assembly was halfway through, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the Qianqing Palace. Grand Secretary Zhang frowned, and before he could speak, he saw a guard with a blood-stained face stumble in.

"Your Majesty, the Divine Marquis has rebelled!"

(End of this chapter)