Records of Mysterious Things in the Southern Dynasties

Chapter 411: Survival from Death
Shouyang, only four hundred li from Jiankang, was like a thorn in the heart of the Southern Dynasty. As long as it remained in the hands of the Northern Dynasty, it could threaten the ruling center of the Southern Dynasty at any time.

No wonder the Great Liang Dynasty has been longing to recapture Shouyang since its founding.

For Ren Yuan now, four hundred li is just a short distance away. He returned to Jiankang City on the very day he received the order.

Upon returning, he immediately went to the Gouchen Division.

Although he no longer had the waist token of the Gouchen Division, he was still able to travel freely with his face and arrived at Zuoyin Garden to pay his respects to its new master—the Fifth Dimension, who was also dressed in white robes.

"Greetings, Fifth Marshal." Ren Yuan smiled and bowed.

"Haha, Ah Yuan, don't be like that." Fifth Wei warmly helped him up and said happily, "His Majesty only appointed me as acting head of the Gouchen Division, not as the commander of the Zhai."

"It's just a matter of time," Ren Yuan said with a smile. "Is there anyone in the Gouchen Division more suitable than Fifth Brother?"

"That's a bit of a stretch... but it doesn't seem to be true." Fifth Dimension touched his nose, and the two of them burst into laughter.

"Two smug little devils." Nangong, now the deputy commander, still personally served tea and water. He retorted to Fifth Dimension with annoyance, "Everyone has gone to war with Commander Chen. Now Gouchen Division is just an empty box. Of course, no one will fight you for it."

“Hey, Nangong, you can’t say that.” Fifth Wei laughed nonchalantly, “Gouchen Division was originally a place for Commander Chen to cultivate talent. How can we, as fine men, be lackeys for life?”

"Then why don't you still do it?" Nangong Jiao gave him a charming glare.

“Someone has to take the position,” Fifth Dimension said with a matter-of-fact smile. “And we also need to continue training talent.”

"Actually, I miscalculated. I shouldn't have agreed to take on this task in the first place." He then poured out his grievances to Ren Yuan: "Everything else is fine. With Nangong and Yanfei helping me, nothing too bad will happen. But having to report to the emperor every now and then is killing me."

“The Emperor doesn’t care about me, and I can’t take Nangong with me. As a result, I forget things every few days. Sigh…” Fifth Wei said with a frustrated look, “Just this morning, I was speechless again when the Emperor questioned me. I could only say that I would go back and check before reporting back.”

"And then you got a severe scolding from the Emperor?" Ren Yuan asked with a look of sympathy.

"His Majesty is so well-mannered, of course he wouldn't curse," Fifth Dimension said with a wry smile. "But that disappointed look in his eyes made me feel like a piece of trash."

“How about we switch? I’ll go fight against Commander Chen, and you can be the commander of the Gou Chen army.” He looked at Ren Yuan with a sincere expression.

"Do you think this is child's play?" Nangong said helplessly, "Don't listen to his nonsense."

“Sister Nan is the most astute. We’re both military commanders, but my position as Commander You is a world apart from Commander Gouchen.” Ren Yuan laughed and said, “If you trade with me, wouldn’t Fifth Brother suffer a huge loss?”

"It's not a loss at all. You're making a name for yourself, while I'm just staying home and guarding the gate. In a few years, I'll only be able to look up to you from behind," Fifth Dimension laughed.

"Let me live to see that day," Ren Yuan smiled, then changed the subject, asking, "Is there any follow-up to Xiao Zong's matter?"

He didn't say it aloud, but he was still uneasy, fearing that Xiao Yan would relapse into his old ways. "Has His Majesty rekindled his old feelings?"

“You were absolutely right,” Fifth Dimension laughed. “When the Emperor heard of Xiao Zong’s defection, he was furious and demoted Wu Shuyuan to commoner status, stripping him and his son of their imperial lineage and changing their surname to Bei. But soon after, the Emperor forgave them, not only restoring Xiao Zong’s Xiao clan status but also bestowing upon his son Xiao Zhi the title of Marquis of Yongxin. After some time, the Emperor issued another decree pardoning Wu Shuyuan and restoring her title…”

"His Majesty is truly... strict with others but lenient with himself." Ren Yuan was afraid of this, but it was precisely because of this that he had to kill Xiao Zong to eliminate future troubles.

Of course, Wu Shuyuan and Xiao Zhi still exist, which are still a considerable hidden danger... "I don't think so." Fifth Wei sneered and lowered his voice, "The night before Wu Shuyuan came out of the Cold Palace, she suddenly fell ill and died. The Emperor did not let the Gou Chen Si investigate, and hastily burned and buried her. She was not even allowed to enter the ancestral mausoleum."

"Hmm." Ren Yuan nodded, understanding. The founding emperor, a pure political machine, couldn't be viewed through the lens of ordinary human emotions. All his actions served political ends; he wouldn't act solely on sentiment.

Restoring Xiao Zong's status as a member of the imperial clan and bestowing a marquisate upon his son were all aimed at maximizing the preservation of the imperial family's dignity and position.

The same applies to restoring Consort Wu's title. However, the very existence of this woman would tarnish the reputation of the royal family, so Xiao Yan did not want to see her appear again... Therefore, Consort Wu 'coincidentally' died of illness.

~~
After leaving Zuoyin Garden, Ren Yuan headed straight for Xuanji Tower.

Having presented the proof given by the fifth dimension, the gatekeeper, who was holding a knife, made way for him.

This time, Ren Yuan brought a bunch of bottles and jars, and each old monster received a set.

“That’s against the rules,” the old hunchback refused. “Without rules, everything will be in chaos.”

“Keep one portion, and take the rest back,” said the old woman.

"I am no longer a member of the Gouchen Division, so there is no need for me to abide by the rules of the Gouchen Division." Ren Yuan said with a smile, "Besides, I plan to break through to the Nine Apertures this time and condense into a Yang God. It is only right that I give more to you seniors."

"That makes some sense." The old monsters nodded in agreement. What's the point of rules compared to a gift?
"Nonsense." The old hunchback stared at Ren Yuan and said, "You're crazy. I've never heard of anyone going directly from seven orifices to nine."

“I’ve spoken with Commander Chen and the Fifth Army Commander, and they think it’s possible.” Ren Yuan said seriously, “Commander Chen said that the process of going from seven orifices to nine orifices is a process of opening the gate of the mysterious female, transforming the yin spirit into the yang spirit, which can be accomplished in one go with the help of the Xuanji Tower.”

"So you want us to increase our efforts?" The old hunchback understood.

"Yes." Ren Yuan nodded and said, "Please grant my request, senior."

“Of course we’re fine with it; we’re not the ones suffering.” The old hunchback glanced at him and said, “The question is, can you handle it?”

"We definitely can," Ren Yuan said in a deep voice.

"Oh, young man, what's the rush?" the Poison Granny sighed. "You've only been open to the seven orifices for a short time. Even a peerless genius shouldn't be so reckless."

"Time waits for no one, Mother-in-law," Ren Yuan said softly.

Ever since he foresaw his own death, he knew very well what kind of enemy awaited him.

Even if you try your best to improve yourself, the hope of changing your fate is still very slim, but if you don't try your best to improve yourself, you will definitely die.

So now, the thing he fears least is death.

Either way, it's certain death; the only option is to fight for survival.

(End of this chapter)