The fake prince was exposed at the beginning, and I took office as emperor on the spot

Chapter 220 Reunion with the Eldest Princess (Part 2)

Ding Xingfeng hadn't listened to all that gossip for so many years at the foot of Baima Temple Mountain for nothing.

Since he could secretly know the movements of various cultivator forces, and even some information that ordinary people could not grasp, he could also know some of the actions of the Demonic Sect over the years.

The former "Martial Saint" was a true pillar of the imperial court. After retiring, Old Man Ding went deep into the martial arts world. It would be very easy for him to find out things that he could not know before.

Especially regarding Emperor Yong'an, this old fellow who could be considered both his benefactor and enemy, friend and superior.

It can also reveal some unusual information.

Moreover, he followed Gu Fangchen around and saw more and more about the Demonic Sect than before.

Discovering the Demonic Cult's actions also effortlessly fulfilled Emperor Yong'an's desire for a "balance of power."

Ding Xingfeng had long suspected that Emperor Yong'an must have secretly controlled a portion of the Demonic Sect's power, or was cooperating with them.

However, when Ding Xingfeng heard that Emperor Yong'an, Xiao Ding, was the "Master of Hengchang Dao", his pupils still contracted, unable to hide his shock.

—Any citizen of the Great Wei would probably be unable to remain calm upon discovering that their emperor was actually the leader of a demonic cult.

Upon hearing this, Ding Xingfeng took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, calmed himself down, and then revealed his biggest concern:

"Is the 'Master of Hengchang Dao' Emperor Yong'an, or is Emperor Yong'an the 'Master of Hengchang Dao'?"

This question is critical.

This is asking whether Emperor Yong'an was the "Master of Hengchangdao" from the beginning, or whether he was replaced by someone else midway.

Gu Fangchen shook her head and said:
“That doesn’t make any sense.”

"He was Emperor Yong'an, and he was also the founding emperor of the Great Wei. Zhou, Qi, Xia, Ning, and Wei—after the ancient dynastic break, he was the founding emperor and the last ruler of each of these five dynasties."

"I know what you want to ask."

"'Hengchang Dao Master' is a first-rank official, not a second-rank official."

This is part of the truth of the plot that Gu Fangchen deduced by combining various known information.

Upon hearing this, Ding Xingfeng's eyes widened in disbelief.

Just like when he first met Gu Fangchen, the moment he heard her say she wanted to take a gamble with him.

This is a lot of information...

It's so big that if I were to say it out loud, I'd probably be considered crazy.

But Ding Xingfeng had witnessed Gu Fangchen's extraordinary qualities and had already taken her seriously as his disciple, so he quickly accepted the situation.

However, they only received a superficial understanding of the information and did not consider Gu Fangchen to be crazy.

Ding Xingfeng asked in a somewhat numb, deep voice:

"This time, you're not going to say it's because there are always some people in the world who can easily control the fate under this sky, are you?"

Gu Fangchen had used this phrase to fool Ding Xingfeng several times.

Even if he had said the same thing this time, Ding Xingfeng would probably have believed him.

However, Gu Fangchen shook her head in disbelief:

“This time, I do have some evidence to prove it, but relatively speaking, there is too much information, and ancient books are difficult to find. If you are interested, Lao Ding, you can use the index I give you to search for it later.”

He looked around and, seeing that there were paper and pens readily available on the table in the hall, he immediately picked them up and wrote down all the information he had compiled himself.

Ding Xingfeng glanced at it and felt a chill run down his spine.

It detailed the contents of at least fifty books, researching the lives and origins of ten emperors from five dynasties, down to the specific book, volume, page, and line.

He was a real roughneck, a soldier by trade, who had never seriously studied in his life. Seeing these densely packed characters made him dizzy.

Gu Fangchen spent fifteen minutes writing before she finished the report.

As he wrote these things, his gaze became more and more focused.

He hadn't thought anything was wrong before, but now that he thinks about it, it's quite unusual... With his memory, how could he remember all this complex information so clearly and without forgetting it?

This has reached the point where they have a photographic memory.

However, the most crucial point is that he can't remember his origins in the modern world.

He could remember every blade of grass and every tree in the game "Mirror in the Dust," every detail was crystal clear, but his memories of himself and everything about that modern world were very vague.

If I had to describe this feeling, it would be like having a dream.

In the dream, everything seemed to follow its own logic, and it felt natural. But after waking up, I slowly realized that something was wrong and began to forget about it.

Gu Fangchen's eyes flickered, and she looked thoughtful.

His biggest question was why he was thrown into the modern world and then rescued.

If the goal is simply to know the different paths the plot takes, then one step is clearly unnecessary.

It is precisely the existence of the "modern world" that makes it possible.

If we want to deduce reincarnation, wouldn't it have the same effect to simply throw him into that cycle of reincarnation?

Why go through all that trouble?

It is clear that what is "redundant" may be the key.

“‘Redundant’...that’s the key.”

Gu Fangchen suddenly paused, muttering to herself, then her heart stirred and her pupils contracted.

The ink from the pen tip dripped down, leaving a dot on the paper.

He has now proven, through the arrow he shot at Suler, that he can indeed turn everything in the illusion into reality.

His current forgetfulness of the "modern world" is exactly the same as his behavior after leaving the illusion!
What if the so-called "modern world" is also a man-made illusion?
The information in the game "Mirror in the Dust" is a projection of reality, which is why he remembers it so well and was not disturbed by the illusion.

Everything related to the "modern world" is an illusion.

For example... the game itself, and the game mechanics.

Since he can turn things in the illusion into reality.

Gu Fangchen looked up at the few golden characters above her head.

This explains the existence of the so-called "random job experience system".

This thing, perhaps from the very beginning, was not a golden finger bestowed by God, but something he brought out of the illusion himself.

I'm really thinking about it.

"What's wrong? Is something amiss?"

Seeing that he had been silent for a long time, Ding Xingfeng asked with a serious expression.

Gu Fangchen shook her head:
"I just figured out something that had puzzled me for a long time."

Seeing that his expression was normal, Ding Xingfeng didn't ask any further questions. He simply looked at the words written on it and said in a low voice:
"If all five dynasties were created by him alone, then is this his 'principle of balance'?"

As one of the strongest individuals, Ding Xingfeng naturally and quickly discovered the deeper information contained within it.

"Ah."

Gu Fangchen nodded:
"That's what I thought too... but for some reason, he added another variable, turning the unchanging into the changing."

He stared at the abrupt ink dot on the paper and murmured:
"Everything changes, but change itself remains constant."

"Perhaps he is elevating his own 'Tao'."

But the "Tao" is a parasite, a flame that burns everything. If the "Master of Hengchang's" debate on the Tao was because of the "Heavenly Gate" or this truth, then shouldn't he have distanced himself from the "Tao"?

And why choose to continue practicing it?

The answer to this question can probably only be found by meeting "Master Hengchang" in person.

But if we count... there are now two missing individuals of the first rank—or perhaps above the first rank.

"Hengchang Daozhu" is one, and Ning Caiyong is another.

Gu Fangchen's brow twitched.

Hiss—could these two be in that so-called "furnace"?

Upon closer reflection, it's quite possible. Looking back now, Emperor Yong'an's attitude towards him was more akin to "guiding."

So, this time, by letting Xiao Sheng kill him, he might have been trying to guide Gu Fangchen to discover something.

Upon hearing this, Ding Xingfeng agreed, then shook his head and sighed:
"That's it, that's all."

"Judging from this, it is estimated that Xiao Sheng was the one who killed him. He took the opportunity to escape. If he doesn't cause chaos, the country will fall into chaos on its own."

"This world is nothing but a mess of chaos; it's all the same no matter who controls it."

"I have never stopped for decades, but it has all been in vain... I might as well wait for a day of peace, and then I will go back to the White Horse Temple and become a fisherman."

Gu Fangchen noticed the desolation and self-mockery in his expression, which suggested he was completely disheartened, and she could understand it.

After years of seclusion, Ding Xingfeng has returned to the public eye and taken back control of the Tiger Seal. He must be filled with unfulfilled ambitions that have been rekindled in his heart.

However, he now learns that the fame he fought for and the land he guarded were already in the hands of the demonic sect.

Even if Gu Fangchen could tell him that Emperor Yong'an's purpose was not limited to these.

But it didn't work.

A demonic cult is a demonic cult.

For Ding Xingfeng, what he wanted could never be recreated.

Gu Fangchen could deceive him, but given the current situation, it won't be long before the true nature of Confucianism is exposed.

Ding Xingfeng could also see that Confucianism was manipulating Xiao Sheng behind the scenes; otherwise, Xie Qian would not have accepted his request to go to Yaoshan to pay homage.

It really doesn't matter who has it; there's no hope whatsoever.

Gu Fangchen recalled the six endings and deeply agreed.

What he once thought was the true ending now seems to be a false ending, and he can only find a breakthrough on his own.

Gu Fangchen reached out and patted Old Ding on the shoulder, smiled, and said:

"No matter what, I will definitely do what I promised you. In a few days, I will take the head of that immeasurable man."

Ding Xingfeng raised his head and suddenly said out of the blue:
"The clothes you're wearing are only for nobles and princes of the Qingman tribe. They're quite valuable. It seems Sule thinks highly of you. Who knows, he might even marry the princess to you in the future."

"It's really impressive that you still remember to take the head of Maha Boundless."

Gu Fangchen: "..."

He chuckled and said, "Anyway, just wait and see what great fortune awaits you!"

……

As she left, Gu Fangchen turned around and saw Old Man Ding's back as he hurriedly turned away from the wall. She smiled knowingly.

Old Ding... he's all talk and no action.

Afterwards, Gu Fangchen left Jinlin City and went to Fancheng, where the White Dragon Army was located.

On the way, Gu Fangchen paused, suddenly muttering to herself.

If the "Master of Hengchang Dao" already knew the truth, then he was definitely not simply practicing his own "Dao".

After all, judging from the fact that he created himself, it is clear that he was fighting against the so-called "Tao".

Therefore, he is not maintaining a simple balance of power.

Given Ding Xingfeng's personality, he actually had no ambition whatsoever. His weaknesses were all too clear, and all he wanted was fame and fortune. That's why he was able to climb up from a lowly soldier to become a "Martial Saint".

This trade-off no longer holds true.

So why did Emperor Yong'an insist on putting Ding Xingfeng in such a predicament?

His death directly ignited the entire situation in the Great Wei, exposing the whole mess to everyone. Ding Xingfeng was naturally utterly disheartened.

Even if Ding Xingfeng were to personally kill Maha Wuliang and regain his title as "Martial Saint," he probably still wouldn't be able to reclaim his Dao heart.

Gu Fangchen's expression changed slightly.

Yes, in the frame-up incident back then, Ding Xingfeng not only lost his military power, but also his "Daoist heart".

He already knew Ding Xingfeng's "Dao".

It was in that so-called "win-win method".

Ding Xingfeng's "Tao" is too simple and unpretentious, combining strength and speed. To reach the peak, one simply needs to "observe more and practice more".

He gained enlightenment through fighting on the battlefield and through daily battles.

And this "path" is called—

"Be diligent and never slack off".

Those who are diligent and tireless are required to perform their duties.

"hiss……"

Gu Fangchen took a breath.

Ding Xingfeng was also one of those nine preachers!
However, his "Dao" was cut off by "Master Hengchang" before it was completed!
Gu Fangchen's thoughts suddenly became clearer.

Therefore, it is likely that "Hengchang Daozhu" has been trying to sever the connection between the preacher and "Dao".

He's trying to stop those who try to put out a fire by adding fuel to the fire, only to get burned himself...

……

"Crack... Boom!"

Xiao Yinghao heard the sound of lightning and thunder in the sky, snapped out of her reverie from the battle report, and stretched.

The eldest princess was working in her bedroom, so naturally she no longer wore heavy armor. Instead, she wore a light red dress, the soft fabric sliding down her body, instantly revealing her full curves, which spread out heavily.

Her long legs were crossed, and her waistline was extremely high, making it look exaggerated to the extreme.

She put down the battle report in her hand, stood up and was about to go wash up when she suddenly remembered that the window was not closed, so she turned around to close it.

As she walked to the window and took a deep breath of the cool night breeze carrying the rain, she became slightly lost in thought.

It was late at night when some incredibly audacious guy asked him to come see her in the middle of the night. He actually dared to sneak in, even while she was taking a bath...

Thinking of this, she sighed, raised her hand to close the window, but when she looked down, she met someone's gaze.

Gu, who was clinging to the edge of the bed, blinked:
"Hi~"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: I saw some people guessing that the protagonist was assimilated by the natives. Don't let others get the wrong idea. I won't let the protagonist deduce the wrong path; he is a native.
(End of this chapter)