Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 193 The Celestial Master's Fortune Telling in the Eastern Capital
A light drizzle brushed against the morning mist; the autumn rain was damp and cold, seemingly penetrating his skin and reaching the depths of Li Jiancheng's heart.

On the bamboo slope at the entrance of the mountain temple, he gazed northward in the rain.

No matter how magnificent the scenery of Longmen Mountain or the sound of the bell at Ma Temple may be, it cannot conceal the bewilderment and disappointment in his eyes.

"Dongdu, is it really gone just like that?"

Listen to him mutter a few words.

Er Wenhuan, Qiao Gongshan, and Xie Shufang behind him couldn't help but step forward: "Young Master!"

As members of the Five Generals of Changlin, the three of them did not go to Luoyang to carry out missions, and their morale had not yet been severely damaged.

Seeing the eldest son's dejected state, she wanted to speak up and encourage him to cheer up.

The three then turned to look at Xue Wanche and Feng Li, as if they had spotted two defeated roosters.

Li Jiancheng did not respond.

Qiao Gongshan looked sternly at Xue Wanche: "Brother Xue, are you exaggerating?"

Feng Li shook his head: "How could we deceive the eldest young master?"

Xue Wanche gestured towards the Zen temple behind him:
"You also saw those two corpses. In your memory, how many years has it been since such a master has died in the Holy Land of Martial Arts? Moreover, when they died, the Celestial Master had only killed Qu Ao, and the battle of the ten masters besieging Rong Mansion at the birthday banquet had not yet begun."

"The number of martial arts masters killed or wounded in this battle surpasses that of any other martial arts conflict in the past thousand years."

"What's frightening is that after he slaughtered the Rong family and caused a bloodbath, he didn't stop and went to the Ziwei Imperial City to fight the Great Venerable of the Northern Desert."

At this point, even a tough guy like Xue Wanche shuddered:
"One of them controlled a three-headed serpent, and the other controlled a fire giant. The huge fire sword cut off the three serpent heads. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed such a strange martial arts tale."

"After the Great Venerable fled in defeat, the Good Mother died and blood gushed out, splattering across the heavenly street. I have never seen such a martial arts master killed in my life."

"Yes."

Feng Li sighed: "The Celestial Master's ferocity in killing far surpasses that of the other three Grandmasters."

"Looking back on his trip to the Rong Mansion, it was definitely not motivated by those rumors in the martial arts world that 'not going would be considered cowardice.' The fact that his enemies gathered together actually suited his wishes, which is truly a strange thing."

"The news of the birthday banquet and the Ziwei Palace will soon spread. It is conceivable that it will not be long before he becomes famous throughout the world again."

Everyone felt very heavy-hearted.

The battle of Dongdu was extremely crucial.

When the legends of the Jianghuai and Bashu regions reached the north, most people only heard about them and were far from witnessing the awe-inspiring sight firsthand.

This loss will not only affect the Eastern Capital, but will also influence the attitudes of many gangs and sects in the north.

If these people all submit, they will have no further chances.

"Withdraw all the personnel from Dongdu."

Qiao Gongshan was startled: "Young Master, what's going on?"

He mistakenly believed that Li Jiancheng had given up completely.

“The Luoyang gang has many spies. Now that they have all surrendered, our people will not be able to stay once the Eastern Capital is stable.”

"Young Master," Qiao Gongshan asked, bowing respectfully, "what are your plans for the next step, and what attitude should we take towards the Celestial Master?"

"Don't worry."

Li Jiancheng saw through their thoughts: "Let's wait for this lecture first."

The only reliable place right now is the sacred land of martial arts.

Seeing Xue Wanche and Feng Li's slightly dilated pupils, he added, "Once the matter in Dongdu is settled, I will consult my father, and he will make the final decision."

The five generals of Changlin nodded in agreement.

The eldest son's attitude was rather subtle; it seemed he wasn't determined to fight to the bitter end.

"By the way, do you know why the Dugu family has changed so quickly?"

Li Jiancheng was filled with suspicion.

He arrived at the Dugu family's side first and even probed Dugu Feng's intentions.

Unexpectedly, the other party's attitude took a sharp turn, causing the situation in Dongdu to completely spiral out of control.

Even if you lose, you should lose with understanding.

Xue Wanche and Feng Li were unaware of the situation. They then discussed the old lady's health condition and speculated that she had recovered.

Qiao Gongshan suggested, "Young Master, we are all relatives after all. At this point, there's no point in hiding anything. Why not be more direct and have someone ask?"

Li Jiancheng accepted the suggestion: "You handle things properly, so you can go ahead."

Qiao Gongshan was taken aback, then quickly replied, "Yes."

Li Jiancheng left the five men behind and went to find his second brother.

Xie Shufang was somewhat worried: "Will the Celestial Master send troops to attack Jingnian Temple?"

Erwen Huan said:

"This is a good thing. It may force all the masters in the temple to Guanzhong. Many masters from the temples where the Four Great Monks reside, the White Horse Temple, and Longmen Yique will become our helpers."

"With their direct assistance, we can pacify the north in a short period of time. Even if he unifies the south then, the outcome of the war between the north and the south will still be uncertain."

Qiao Gongshan shook his head:
"You're dreaming too much. You should worry about the Holy Land suddenly changing its mind. If they give the He Shi Bi to the Celestial Master directly at the Buddhist assembly, the Patriarch can choose an auspicious day and hand over Chang'an without hesitation."

Speaking of this, it's truly disheartening.

Xue Wanche and Feng Li did not exchange a word.

The scenes they had witnessed in Dongdu flashed through their minds. If what Qiao Gongshan said was true, it might not necessarily be a bad thing.

Fighting to the death with this monster-like creature must be incredibly stressful.

Without the help of top experts, they couldn't think of any way to block the massive flaming sword that was slashing down at them.

The five of them chatted for a while.

Following Li Jiancheng's instructions, Qiao Gongshan led several people to the capital.

Li Jiancheng himself found Li Shimin near the Immortal Bronze Hall.

The two started talking about what happened in Dongdu yesterday.

After several attempts to probe, Li Jiancheng noticed a change in his second brother.

He frowned inwardly.

Although the opponent is difficult to deal with, it's not like there's no chance of winning at all.

怎得
My second brother seems to have lost his spirit and ambition.
"Second brother, what do you want to say to Father when you get back?"

Li Shimin said, "I don't know Father's reaction after learning about the situation in Luoyang, but it's not advisable for him to declare himself emperor for the time being."

In Chang'an, Yang You was nominally the emperor, but in reality, he was merely a puppet installed by Li Yuan.

In the imperial court of Chang'an, the time was ripe to seize the throne and become emperor.

Li Yuan was waiting for them to bring back the He Shi Bi jade. He was intolerant of others and had long planned to have Yang You 'die of illness'.

Li Jiancheng understood the unspoken meaning in his words.

If he had declared himself emperor earlier, like other rebel kings, it would have been one thing. But now, by taking the He Shi Bi jade and declaring himself emperor, he has cut off his own escape route and made it clear that he intends to fight the Celestial Master to the death.

The second brother's conservative strategy is fine.

However, given his past personality, these words don't seem like they came from him.

While he was pondering, he suddenly heard Li Shimin ask, "Brother, I saw someone under the Ziwei Palace."

"Who?"

"That person was originally wearing a mask, but the mask was later broken in the brawl, revealing a faceless man."

Li Shimin stared at him: "I heard you say earlier that you had people planted in Wang Shichong's residence. Was it him?"

Li Jiancheng couldn't hide his surprise.

"I suspect he promised you something like he would use Wang Shichong to help us take over Luoyang."

Li Jiancheng remained silent.

"This person is treacherous and untrustworthy. Brother, you must be careful."

"I see."

Li Jiancheng responded and turned to head into the Zen temple.

The sound of chanting scriptures drifted from afar, and the atmosphere was different from usual.

"Knock knock~~!"

The tolling of the bells on the clock tower seemed to have been tinged with loneliness and sorrow because of an autumn rain.

The bodies of Liaoyuan and Fanyuncang have both been cremated.

A group of senior monks are performing a ritual to send the deceased to the Pure Land.

Both nuns, Yixin and Juexin, harbored a lingering anger.

Fan Qinghui carried her junior sister's ashes to her residence, with Shi Feixuan following behind her.

After passing several monasteries and finding no one else around, Fan Qinghui slowly waited for her disciple to approach before giving her some instructions:

"Feixuan, you must be extremely careful when you go out in the future. The world is now very dangerous and unpredictable, unlike it was decades ago. Your master can no longer see through it."

"Your martial aunt's skill is not bad, but I never expected that she would die in Dongdu on this trip down the mountain."

Shi Feixuan smoothed the faint sadness in her eyes and said in a clear voice, "Master, have you ever thought about why your uncle died?"

Fan Qinghui paused for a moment, gesturing for her to continue.

"It wasn't because of their skill, but because their opponents took advantage of their weakness and attacked. This is completely different from what happened in Nanyang. If we weren't enemies with the Taoist Celestial Masters, the Shadow Assassin would never have dared to make a move."

“He knew very well that even if he killed someone, we still had to deal with the Celestial Master and couldn’t spare the energy. The Celestial Master wouldn’t repay evil with kindness and help us hunt down Yang Xuyan.”

"Such incidents are likely to become more and more frequent."

Fan Qinghui said calmly, "Go on."

Shi Feixuan raised her eyebrows slightly, her words becoming more pointed than Fan Qinghui had expected: "The actions of the two grandmaster uncles are also for the sake of the sect, but could some changes be made?"

Fan Qinghui had never heard her beloved disciple question the sect's decisions.

Therefore, she stared at her disciple, who stood before her with an ethereal beauty, with a hint of nervousness: "Feixuan, what do you want to say?"

“I believe that, given the current situation, even if the He Shi Bi is handed over to the ‘right person’ by our grandmaster, it will not have the expected effect and will instead exacerbate the conflict between the two sides.”

"Has Master thought about what will happen next?"

Fan Qinghui said, "Are you doubting the First Ancestor?"

“Master, I’m telling you about the current situation.”

She directed Fan Qinghui's gaze toward Luoyang:

"The Eastern Capital has already been acquired by the Celestial Master. In comparison, the He Shi Bi is ultimately just a symbol. People will not believe any prophecy of a prosperous era just because of a piece of He Shi Bi. It is foreseeable that if we continue down this path, Jing Nian Chan Temple and Ci Hang Jing Zhai will both be thrown into the battlefield."

Fan Qinghui then asked, "What do you think we should do?"

Shi Feixuan said, "We should talk to the Celestial Master before the lecture, preferably with my master. Neither of the two grandmasters is suitable."

Fan Qinghui finally understood: "Give him the He Shi Bi jade, is that right?"

Faced with her master's scrutinizing gaze, the usually submissive Cihang Saintess's eyes flickered slightly away.
"Feixuan should not offend the teachers, but sometimes she thinks that if he could quickly quell the chaos, the people of the world could avoid the flames of war, and Jingzhai could also be spared an unpredictable danger."

Fan Qinghui did not respond to her words.

She could see that her disciple's innocence and simplicity, and his genuine compassion for all living beings, were undeniable.

Thinking about it this way, the saintess is still too young. She shook her head slightly.

However, the doubts in my heart were dispelled.

Perhaps it was this ethereal state of mind that allowed her to display unparalleled talent in sword cultivation.

Fan Qinghui changed the subject: "Have you encountered any difficulties in your practice lately?"

Shi Feixuan shook her head.

Fan Qinghui said with a look of relief, "That's good. Once you've mastered the Sword Manual, even the Celestial Master won't dare to set foot in Zhongnan Mountain."

"Feixuan, you should focus on your cultivation. You don't need to worry about anything else."

"Yes."

The saintess responded softly, slowing her pace to fall behind Fan Qinghui.

The death of his uncle did not change his master in any way; on the contrary, it intensified the animosity between his uncles and grand-uncles.

As for the first ancestor, Dini
Judging from my own experience, you are more correct.

After her mindset changed, she was no longer the obedient saint who believed whatever her teachers instilled in her; she was more willing to trust her own eyes and her own thoughts.

Neither the pursuit of truth nor the compassion for people suffering under war should be exploited.

Grandmaster Uncle had selfish motives, and even the silent Zen Master Liaokong had selfish motives.

The He Shi Bi jade is located in the Immortal Bronze Hall.

Compared to the He Shi Bi jade, isn't that magnificent and dazzling bronze palace also a treasure?
Brother Dao naturally had his own selfish motives, but he was always outspoken and open.

If what he said is true, then what's wrong with letting the world be determined by him?
As Shi Feixuan pondered, the face in her mind became clearer and clearer. She recalled boating on the Three Gorges, amidst the misty moonlight over the Twenty-Four Peaks, a figure in white descending straight to Yangzhou.
Fan Qinghui, of course, had no idea what her disciple was thinking.

On this day, no one in the entire Jingnian Zen Temple could calm their minds.

Amidst the deafening chanting, there was also the sound of monks practicing martial arts, their movements cutting through the air.

They are preparing for the lecture.

At the same time, a rather lively gathering was taking place in Yanshi City, which was shrouded in autumn rain.

Shen Luoyan, Li Mi's chief strategist, was adding dishes to the banquet table.

This is her first day in prison.

Doing odd jobs in the kitchen.

"Old woman Shen, why do I always suspect that you secretly poison the food?"

Kou Zhong grinned mischievously, but Shen Luoyan ignored his mockery.

As a prisoner who has been arrested and is serving her sentence, she cannot afford to make a second mistake, otherwise she risks being sold into a brothel.

She believed that, given the cunning and ruthlessness of a certain Taoist master, it was entirely possible for him to do such a thing.

Those at the banquet table were not surprised by Kou Zhong's words, knowing that he was that kind of person.

The most peculiar feeling must be that of Ba Feng Han.

He glanced from time to time at the young man drinking with Du Fuwei, Shi Long, Mu Daoren, and others, never expecting such an encounter.

Perhaps it's because of the three dragons of Yangzhou.

The Celestial Master did not hold his actions against him that day.

The feeling of being defeated by a Martial Venerable is completely different from being defeated by this person, and it turns out that my feeling was correct.

At the birthday banquet, he witnessed even more unbelievable martial arts.

In the northern desert, he was already one of the top geniuses of the younger generation, with only Ke Dazhi able to rival him.

Unexpectedly, since entering the Central Plains, his proud talent and combat prowess have become a joke.

When facing strong opponents, Ba Feng Han never lacks the spirit of challenge.

But how can one defend against a strike that contains a mental storm?
Ba Feng Han poured himself a drink, one cup after another, unable to suppress the melancholy in his heart.

Before long, Shen Luoyan brought over another large plate of dishes.

Crow Taoist was a gluttonous old man. When he suddenly stood up, many people put their hands on the table, afraid that he would overturn the table.

Dishes like Luoyang tea, Luoyang carp and Yi bream, and golden minced meat and jade slices are not exactly novel.

The Crow Taoist was very knowledgeable and recognized the rare item at a glance: "Who prepared this swallow's nest dish?"

The so-called "swallow dish" is actually a large radish. The chef cuts it into thin strips and pairs it with a broth made from delicacies from land and sea, such as shark fin, sea cucumber, and chicken.

It is made into a soup that resembles bird's nest and has a delicious flavor, hence the name "fake bird's nest".

Shen Luoyan said, "This was made by Chai Xiaohe."

Chai Xiaohe was also one of the generals arrested last night. He was originally the magistrate of Gong County in the Sui Dynasty, but later joined Wagangzhai.

Hearing that there was a banquet in Yanshi today, he volunteered to go, and unexpectedly, he really had the skills.

Zhou Yi had long known that the Crow Taoist loved all kinds of delicious food, so he also became interested.

He had eaten the so-called swallow's nest dish at Dugu's house the day before yesterday.

Upon tasting it, I was quite surprised.

The soup was as smooth as jade, as soft as silk, and dissolved in an instant.

Upon closer tasting, a subtle, refreshing sweetness unique to radishes emerges, like a clear spring in a secluded valley, washing away the heaviness of the rich flavor and bringing a transcendent, light quality.

Everyone was stunned by the smell.

Curious, Liu Heita picked up a nearly transparent radish shred, feeling it had been cut by a master knife expert.

The Wood Taoist said smugly:

"The kitchen knife that Chai Xiaohe uses was crafted by me. Even an ordinary person can cut with the same skill as a martial arts master. Because of its icy coldness, it can lock in the water, unlike any ordinary kitchen knife."

Zhou Yi didn't understand why he was making kitchenware.

Only after asking did they learn that it was actually sent by the Wood Taoist to the Crow Taoist. After Chai Xiaohe was captured, he claimed that he was skilled at preparing Central Plains cuisine, but he couldn't find a good knife, so the Wood Taoist gave him the knife.

This wonderful coincidence left a deep impression on Zhou Yi regarding the bird's nest dish.

At the same time, he was also deeply impressed by the forging skills of the wood craftsman and named the kitchen knife "the legendary kitchen utensil".

After the banquet, Kou and Xu, along with Liu Heita and Su Dingfang, went to the city tower of Yanshi.

Zhou Yi knew their purpose.

"Heavenly Master."

Liu Heita greeted him from a distance with clasped hands, his words filled with anticipation.

"They have already told me about your situation."

Seeing Zhou Yi's smiling face, Liu Heita immediately showed excitement and knelt down: "May I ask the Celestial Master if there is a way to save my life?"

Kou and Xu, along with Su Dingfang, were both surprised and astonished.

Dugu Feng had heard Zhou Yi mention this before, and now she smiled slightly as she stood beside Zhou Yi.

He stepped forward and helped Liu Heita up.

"Actually, Ning Sanren only calculated half of it."

"And the other half?"

Zhou Yi met his pleading gaze and calmly said, "The other half is related to King Xia."

Upon hearing that the Xia King was involved, Su Dingfang, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but prick up his ears.

Liu Heita respectfully said, "Please enlighten me, Celestial Master."

“Ning Sanren said you would only live to be twenty-eight. The fate of the Xia King was even more arduous than yours. He would pass away before you, and then you would bear the hatred of the Yan and Zhao regions and fight for them. In the end, Ning Sanren’s prophecy came true.”

Not to mention Liu Heita and Su Dingfang, even Kou Xu looked surprised.

Even fortune tellers couldn't predict things this clearly.

Liu Heita suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, and he had a vague feeling that the Celestial Master had truly seen through his fate.

No wonder even Ning Sanren sighed upon seeing such a tragedy.

"Master, is there a solution?"

After saying this, both Liu Heita and Su Dingfang looked at Zhou Yi.

In my mind, I had a vague idea of ​​what he was going to say.

Unexpectedly, he gave a knowing smile.

"You don't need to look for the solution in me."

Liu Heita's heart sank: "Could it be... hopeless?"

"No, neither you nor King Xia can predict the future at this moment. There is no direction at all. If you were to live in seclusion now, what would be so strange about living to the age of twenty-eight?"

Zhou Yi said confidently, "If you don't believe me, you can go find Ning Sanren. He'll definitely tell you that your fate has changed."

Liu Heita was taken aback.

Like Su Dingfang, he thought Zhou Yi would try to persuade the King of Xia to surrender, but he didn't say a word in that direction.

"I dare not disbelieve the Celestial Master's words of wisdom, but I have done nothing wrong, so why has my fate changed?"

Zhou Yi turned his gaze to the autumn rain outside the city:
"The martial arts holy land has always been against me because they say that the way of heaven is orderly and must be followed according to prophecies. But I have disrupted all of this and become their biggest enemy."

"So, it's not just you; perhaps everyone is affected."

Liu Heita wasn't a fool; he understood what he meant.

Although it seemed unbelievable, I clasped my hands in gratitude.

Zhou Yi waved his hand: "Even if you believe me, you don't need to thank me, because I did it for myself, not for anyone else."

After listening, Liu Heita felt not only admiration but also a sense of relief.

Zhou Yi couldn't help but ask, "Do you think this is good or bad?"

Liu Heita's face was full of sincerity:
"For me, this is a great thing. I once regretted listening to Ning Sanren's words. If I didn't know the future, I would just die. Why would I look back and forth? I even dared not express my feelings to someone I liked because I was worried about the future."

At this point, he gave a somewhat embarrassed laugh.

He then said earnestly, "Thank you, Celestial Master, for clearing up my doubts."

"I will also inform King Xia of this news and look forward to the arrival of the Celestial Master in Leshou."

After saying that, he took his leave.

Su Dingfang also bowed and bid farewell, then followed Liu Heita away.

"What are you two planning?"

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged a glance: "Brother Zhou, we plan to stay in Dongdu for a while, and then head to Hebei."

Kou Zhong grunted in agreement and patted his chest, saying:
"We'll persuade Dou Jiande and Zhai Rang, the two leaders, for Boss Zhou, and while we're at it, we'll take care of Liang Shidu, Liu Wuzhou, and Luo Yi. This is a small goal we've set for ourselves."

"Afterwards, we will roam the martial world. The world is vast, and we want to test the limits of martial arts!"

His words revealed a sense of longing.

Zhou Yi didn't think there was anything wrong with it, so he said some encouraging words to them.

Next, they went to the kitchen of the puppet master.

The Crow Taoist was listening to Chai Xiaohe explain how to make swallow's nest soup.

Zhou Yi then started chatting with Shi Long.

Through the wooden Taoist, Shi Long learned that he aspired to organize the Taoist teachings.

When asked about Shilong's thoughts.

The old man smiled and said, "Let me accompany those two lads. I got along well with Dou Jiande, and he might take my advice."

"Once the world is at peace, I will come to listen to your wonderful teachings."

It's clear that Shi Long dislikes those two troublemakers.

But as they spent time together, they developed a deep bond as the old dragon took care of the young dragon.

"Where is Fellow Daoist Namu?"

The wooden Taoist looked at him and said irritably, "I'll go run errands for you."

"Once the affairs of Dongdu are settled, I will accept Song Yinzi's invitation to seek out Taoist friends from all over the Three Mountains and Five Peaks to hold a Taoist conference."

Zhou Yi nodded and suggested a good place to go.

"I have destroyed the evil Taoist priests of Lao Jun Temple. Now we can restore one of the three great scenic spots of Luoyang."

Master Mu suggested: "Laojun Temple has always been the lineage of the true teachings of the demonic sect. Orthodox Taoism is quite opposed to their practice of sexual intercourse between men and women. Why not rename it Tianshi Temple?"

Zhou Yi had no objections.

After Mu Daoren finished speaking, he was dragged away by Wuya Daoren to tinker with some "kitchen utensils".

A short while later, Zhou Yi heard a commotion outside. It turned out that Ba Feng Han was fighting Hou Xi Bai, and Kou Xu and the others were cheering.

The atmosphere was lively, but he returned to the Yanshi city tower.

What's on your mind?

Dugu Feng held his hand and tilted her head to look at him.

Zhou Yi smiled but didn't reply.

Dugu Feng's gentle voice drew closer: "Is it because you've reached the peak that you feel lonely in life?"

"No, I was just thinking that everything we have now is hard-won and we need to cherish it. Besides, with you by my side, where would loneliness come from?"

As he spoke, his eyes reflected the girl's beautiful face.

"anything else?"

"Also, I'm looking forward to a time when the world is at peace. Actually, running around is quite tiring, and I hope my enemies will give me less trouble."

"Then it wouldn't be called a rivalry."

Little Phoenix smiled at him: "Was the fortune you told Liu Heita just made up?"

"No. Actually, I also know a little about fortune telling."

"Then calculate it for me."

Zhou Yi saw the thirst for knowledge in her watery eyes: "You really want to hear it?"

"Want to hear it."

"Yes, you will have a lovely daughter."

Dugu Feng blushed, hugged his arm tightly, and leaned against him, saying, "You're just guessing. You don't understand fortune telling at all."

There were quite a few people walking around.

After laughing and joking for a while, the two saw several scouts with exceptional lightness skills returning from the east.

Judging from their attire, they were skilled fighters from the upper recruitment camp.

Soon, Zhou Yi arrived at the camp of Du Fuwei and Shan Xiongxin.

"The troops from Xingyang are being reinforced at Hulao Pass. The fact that they are not heading towards Yanshi indicates that they have already grasped the situation there."

Who is the general leading the army?

Zhou Yi really wanted to hear the name "Li Mi," but he also felt it was impossible.

as expected
Du Fuwei said, "It is Pei Renji and his son Pei Xingyan."

"Pei Renji was brave and skilled in battle, and adept at riding and archery. He participated in the wars that destroyed the Chen Dynasty and attacked the Tuyuhun and Mohe. With him guarding Hulao Pass, it was no easy feat to take it by force when the army in Xingyang was amassed."

Shan Xiongxin said, "Besides that, there are two other important pieces of news."

"Tell me."

"First, Li Mi contacted Yuwen Huaji of Wei Commandery. They were originally enemies, but in this critical moment, the possibility of an alliance cannot be ruled out. The 100,000 Xiaoguo troops may march south at any time."

"Secondly, the Indian sorcerer monk is very likely in Hulao Pass."

Zhou Yi asked seriously, "Where did you hear that? Has he shown up?"

"No, this is just speculation."

Shan Xiongxin and Du Fuwei both looked at Zhou Yi:
“Our people have been keeping watch. Yesterday, the various tribes from beyond the borders who escaped from Dongdu went to Hulao Pass one after another. That old man from the South Sea has not come out since he entered the pass.”

It seems that Vonganda might indeed be here.

The two waited for Zhou Yi to make a decision.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "The matter of the He Shi Bi jade is not yet resolved, and we cannot fight on two fronts. I will send people here first to defend this place with you. After I have settled the Jingnian Temple, we will then call for its closure together."

Shan Xiongxin was startled: "The Celestial Master plans to break through Hulao Pass directly and then fight Xingyang again?"

"Yes, I have this plan."

Du Fuwei cautiously said:

"We marched all the way to Yanshi. Many counties around us are still under Li Mi's control. Perhaps we can attack the surrounding areas first and leave this tough nut to crack for last."

Given the Celestial Master's current prestige, most county and prefectural officials will surely surrender upon hearing of his arrival. In this way, Li Mi will lose his constant supply of provisions, since their methods of conscripting men are endless.

Zhou Yi nodded slightly: "I'm just giving it a try. If it doesn't work, we'll take a more prudent approach."

Upon hearing this, Shan Xiongxin and Du Fuwei had no further objections.

Zhou Yi stayed in Yanshi for two more days.

It was the fourth day after the Nine-Headed Insect was beheaded.

Huangfu Wuyi, Zhao Congwen, Yang Gongqing, and Song Mengqiu led their troops from Luoyang to Yanshi.

Firstly, to guard against a surprise attack by the Hulao Army, and secondly, to prepare for the capture of the pass.

After arranging everything, Zhou Yi returned to Luoyang.

The continuous battles did not scare away the martial arts practitioners; on the contrary, they attracted even more people to come.

During the Rong family's birthday banquet, those people harbored ulterior motives and often stayed hidden in the inn.

The martial arts practitioners entering the city nowadays don't seem to have that many schemes.

They came to see the spectacle, so naturally they wandered around.

So much so that both sides of the Tianjin Bridge were crowded with people, and it was impossible to tell that this was after a war and chaos.

The martial arts practitioners who entered the city did not expect that their original intention was to inquire about the two major battles.

But it just so happens that we've stumbled upon a huge, exciting event.

On the east side of Tianjin Bridge, a teahouse with a sign that read "Qizhou Tuanhuang" suddenly became noisy.

"Is it true that the Evil King and Queen Yin will visit the Jingnian Temple in three days to see the He Shi Bi jade?!"

A burly man from Beihai shouted in a loud voice.

"How could it not be true? Even the elders of the Luoyang Gang are discussing it!"

"If we calculate it, there were still eight days until the lecture, why would Jingnian Temple bring out the He Shi Bi jade? The evil king and queen were clearly looking for trouble."

Someone chuckled and said:

"What a rare thing! Although these two are among the top masters in the world, no one has dared to venture into the sacred land of martial arts for many years. Their courage is beyond the comprehension of ordinary martial artists."

Some rational martial arts practitioners said, "Jingnian Temple has many experts. They made preparations in advance, so even the Evil King and the Empress Yin would not be able to succeed."

In the teahouse, a local from Dongdu laughed:
"The Buddhist community is competing with the Celestial Master. With his passing, this lecture series will most likely never have a chance to take place."

They loved watching the drama unfold: "If I were the Venerable Liaokong, I would have already handed over the He Shi Bi jade with both hands, otherwise I would have ruined my reputation in my later years."

Some people thought he was exaggerating, but many others agreed.

Those in the know commented:
"The Celestial Master has captured Yanshi and is currently deploying troops with Li Mi around Hulao Pass. A major battle could break out at any moment, and it is unlikely to involve the conflict at Jingnian Temple."

As soon as Li Mi was mentioned, someone outside the teahouse suddenly shouted:

"Hurry to Dingding Gate! I heard someone has written a 'Proclamation Against Li Mi of Wagang Village'!"

"What's the big deal? What's so special about a manifesto? Who wrote it?"

"Zu Junyan, Zu Junyan!"

Upon hearing this name, the people in the teahouse immediately became interested.

Zu Junyan was Li Mi's subordinate and had even attended a birthday banquet at Rong Mansion. It is said that the Celestial Master asked him to write this proclamation, but Zu Junyan frankly said that it would be difficult to do.

Difficult to handle? But it's done now, isn't it?
Those martial arts figures who knew about the birthday banquet laughed heartily and headed straight for Dingding Gate.

Around noon, crowds gathered at the foot of the Dingding Gate tower.

"Young Master Zhou, I have finished writing the proclamation. Would you like someone else to read it?"

Dressed as a scholar, Zu Junyan, with a bruised and swollen face, was in a terrible state. He stared at the strangely handsome young man in front of him, his eyes filled with fear.

This 'Young Master Zhou' gave a cold laugh, flicked his fan to create a sword-like flourish, and pointed towards the city tower.

"It's noon now. I'm listening from below. If you had even slightly lowered your voice, you can imagine what would have happened."

Zu Junyan knew he had encountered a ruthless person, and in the end, he still stood on the Dingding Gate tower.

Mr. Mi, I'm sorry.

On this day, following "A Proclamation to Luozhou on Behalf of Li Mi", Zu Junyan wrote another proclamation, "A Proclamation to Punish Li Mi of Wagangzhai".

One campaigned in Wagang, the other in Luoyang. One campaign was launched against Luoyang, the other against Wagang.

It can be said that the beginning and end echo each other, and the upper and lower parts contrast each other. When it comes to the ability of the secretary to wield the pen, no one in the world can surpass him.

Around noon, Zu Junyan, in front of everyone in Luoyang, loudly recited:
"Li Mi, the self-proclaimed Duke of Wei, is a cunning and treacherous man, by no means a good person."

"They have seized the strategic pass of Wagang, falsely claiming to be a righteous army, outwardly appearing loyal and obedient while inwardly harboring treacherous intentions. Now, Heaven has despised their evil, and the people are angered by their treachery. Therefore, this proclamation is issued to enumerate their crimes and make them known to all under Heaven!"

In front of a large audience, Zu Junyan angrily denounced Li Mi for four major crimes.

"Firstly, he betrayed his master and ate his benefactor's food; his nature was that of a vicious beast."

"Secondly, it is to usurp authority and claim supremacy, defying the natural order."

"Thirdly, they oppressed the people and levied exorbitant taxes, their cruelty surpassing even that of Jie and Zhou."

……

Not far from Dingding Gate, Zhou Yi couldn't help but laugh.

Looking at Zu Junyan atop the city wall, I heard him say:

"Fourthly, he is fickle and treacherous beyond compare throughout history. He initially allied himself with Yang Xuangan, but fled upon seeing his defeat. He then joined Wagangzhai, only to plot against their leader and usurp the throne. He is utterly fickle, devoid of any integrity or loyalty. He is two-faced and has lost all sense of shame!"

Zhou Yi said to Dugu Feng beside him, "If Li Mi finds out about this, can we rouse him from his shell?"

"Not necessarily, but it will definitely infuriate him. This proclamation was written by his own secretary and spoken by him personally, so he will surely be infamous for eternity."

Zhou Yi asked again, "What are you looking at?"

The little phoenix's lips curled up slightly, a smile just beginning to bloom, as she carefully observed the direction of Dingding Gate: "I'm looking for someone for you. Only your dear sister could be so considerate."

……

(End of this chapter)