Food gives me an entry, I will be invincible if I stay alive

Chapter 453 Speed ​​is of the essence in war; though separated by vast distances, they are within reach.
At Shen Shi (3-5 PM), the sun's shadow begins to slant.

Chen Xu, Feng Yuanbai, and Wu Zhengze discussed the matter in the small hall of the wooden house for a full two hours.

Of course, two hours may seem like a "long" time, but when you look at the important matter they are discussing right now, it is actually pitifully short.

A revolutionary decision was made and a complete plan was formulated based on only two hours of discussion.

Is this arrogance or recklessness?
Wu Zhengze once suggested that Chen Xu stay in Xiaowan Village for a while longer, at least before the news of Chen Xu's return spread widely, so that he and Feng Yuanbai would have some time to leverage their connections and mobilize resources.

Breaking through this barrier cannot be done by one person or a few people alone.

On this point, Feng Yuanbo also held the same opinion, saying:

"That's right. Since you didn't avoid people when you returned to your hometown, even if they wanted to take action against you, they would have to endure it for a while."

You can also come to Yunjiang Prefecture, step into the world, and make friends.

You could also pay respects to your mentors, such as Prefect Ding, Education Commissioner Su, or local celebrities like Mr. Shuyun.

Traveling and studying, composing poems, and holding literary gatherings—we'll postpone it for as many days as we can.

We should take this opportunity to contact those above and below us. The most important thing is to find the whereabouts of the great scholar Wen, and use the pretext of "cleansing the court of corrupt officials and rescuing the great scholar Wen" to justify our actions.

Xu Zhi, with your current reputation, your willingness to step forward would be a great help.

With you at the forefront, and with the great scholar Li Yanqing also involved, we will simultaneously contact the disciples of the Ziwei Academy, as well as scholars and prominent figures from various regions…

Furthermore, as far as I know, General Dou Yunfeng of the Zhenxi Army once received a great favor from the great scholar Wen.

General Guo Hanyang, who guards the Mermaid Abyss, has a deep-seated hatred for Liu Shao. Although the King of Suzhou of Jingheng Road has passed away, his daughter, Princess Yuyang, harbors considerable resentment towards His Majesty…

Feng Yuanbai recounted the stories of the world's virtuous scholars, sharing many secrets as if they were his own treasures.

He clearly explained who could be won over, who should be avoided, and who absolutely needed to be won over.

Later on, Wu Zhengze's gaze towards him became somewhat strange.

After Feng Yuanbo finished speaking in one breath, Wu Zhengze finally couldn't help but ask:

"Feng Mingfu, you...you haven't been harboring a rebellious heart all along, have you?"

Feng Yuanbo laughed heartily and drank another cup of Drunken Spirit Wine.

He drank too much today, and now his face is flushed and his forehead is covered in fine sweat.

But his eyes shone as brightly as starlight on a barren wasteland. He glanced sideways, his eyes glazed with drunkenness, raised his glass, and laughed, saying:
“Instructor Wu, you’ve misunderstood.”

What does it mean to have a rebellious streak?

No, no, this is simply following the will of Heaven! Hahaha…”

What a fine saying, "to follow one's destiny."

Wu Zhengze laughed and poured himself a cup of wine, drinking with Feng Yuanbai.

But Chen Xu said, "Since it is in accordance with the will of Heaven, I shall go straight to the Jade Capital."

"Xu Zhi!" Feng and Wu exclaimed in unison.

So, amidst the surprised and disapproving gazes of Feng Yuanbai and Wu Zhengze, Chen Xu also filled a glass with wine.

He said, "I know why Brother Feng asked me to visit a friend in Yunjiang Prefecture."

One purpose was to buy time, another was to attract attention, and of course, there was also the intention of protecting me as much as possible.

After all, in Yunjiang Prefecture, it would be much easier for certain people from afar to attack me than in other places.

But if the goal is to attract attention, what place can compare to Yujing Tiandu?

He sighed softly, "Yunjiang Prefecture is still too remote."

“But going to Yujing Tiandu would be like a lamb entering a tiger’s den,” Wu Zhengze immediately said.

Chen Xu laughed and said, "That's exactly what we want—to let the lambs go to the wolves!"

Master, I am not afraid of some people coming, but I am afraid of some people not coming.

If they are extremely cautious and unwilling to act immediately, I will have to worry about where to find them.

He then said to Feng Yuanbo:
"Brother Feng, speed is of the essence in war, and secrets must be kept in mind to accomplish things."

There is no truly foolproof solution in this world. Since you have said so, the first step we need to take now is to find Master Wen.

In that case, what could be faster and more convenient than me personally going deep into Yujing?
I don't believe that when I openly step in, some people will still be able to continue to endure and slowly plot.

Sometimes, only by taking action can one find a flaw in something.

Yes, speed is of the essence in war, and he is absolutely right.

But all of this has one premise.

Feng Yuanbai looked at Chen Xu, his gaze, which was like a spark, now held a complex and indescribable emotion.

He said in a deep voice, "Xuzhi, what you said is absolutely correct."

The only point is that since you are personally entering the capital now, both to draw the attention of the world and to lure the enemy into making a move, you must possess the power to overturn everything.

otherwise……"

Chen Xu smiled slightly and said, "Brother Feng, Master, on the Yuancang River, I too once bound a dragon and turned the waves back."

Although at that time, he relied on the power of the Leap Dragon Pill.

Although he no longer has the Leap Dragon Pill, his cultivation level has improved rapidly.

If he were to do it again, he might be able to recreate his divine power.

Feng Yuanbai's hand, which was caressing the wine glass, paused slightly.

Chen Xu looked at him, raised his glass to him, and said:
"Brother Feng came to find me because he had already taken my combat strength into account, and he was just waiting for me to say this."

Brother Feng, is that so?

Feng Yuanbo fell silent once again.

There are some things that Chen Xu can say or do himself, but his friend, no matter how good their relationship is, cannot mention them.

Therefore, Feng Yuanbo had no choice but to try and probe step by step, going through many twists and turns.

Of course, he had no ill intentions towards Chen Xu.

The reason he was testing the waters step by step was actually to find out the other person's intentions while strengthening his own resolve.

But Feng Yuanbai never expected that Chen Xu would make such a bold decision in the end.

Feng Yuanbo raised his glass, stood up, and bowed, saying, "No, Brother Chen."

You overestimated me, while I underestimated you.

I am ashamed and speechless. I can only offer you this meager drink, and punish myself with three cups.

After he finished speaking, he indeed punished himself by drinking three cups of wine.

After downing three cups of spirit wine, Feng Yuanbai let out a long laugh.

He put down his wine glass, and when he looked up again, his eyes were already filled with tears.

Chen Xu hurriedly got up to try to move aside, but the man held him back and he couldn't move aside.

With drinks flowing freely and hearts full of enthusiasm, what need is there for further words?

Sometimes, a long-term plan can't always be as effective as acting on impulse.

Since Chen Xu said he was going to Yujing, he immediately prepared to set off.

Of course, things that need to be explained before setting off should still be explained.

Chen Xu took out the spiritual rice and pills he brought from the Xuan Tian Star Realm, and also gave two pieces of eighth-grade protective inner armor to Feng Yuanbai and Wu Zhengze.

These things really shocked the two of them when they were taken out.

The spirit rice is grade eight Azure Blood Spirit Rice. The pills, besides replenishing true essence, also heal wounds, promote cultivation, and calm the mind…

A wide variety of products, all of extremely high quality.

Even with Feng Yuanbai's extensive knowledge, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise:
"The quality of these pills seems to be even three points higher than the top-grade pills refined by the Qingxu Dao Palace?"

He found it extremely hard to believe.

However, the facts are right in front of us, and we have to believe them whether we want to or not.

Feng Yuanbai blurted out, "Xuzhi, did you get all these things from that secret realm? Oh no, you'd better take them back quickly."

Such spiritual objects must never be revealed lightly!

"One must know that a common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime..."

"Am I not like that now?" Chen Xu laughed, referring to the fact that his merits were being coveted.

Feng Yuanbo was speechless once again.

He was so shocked by what Chen Xu had brought out that his mind was in a state of confusion; otherwise, he wouldn't have been so muddled that he kept repeating the same things over and over.

Wu Zhengze also wanted to refuse Chen Xu's gift, but Chen Xu simply said:

"You two shouldn't refuse each other; it would only waste time."

I am now heading to Yujing, and I hope I can reach the south gate of Yujing Tiandu before sunrise tomorrow morning.

The journey of thousands of miles, according to Chen Xu, only takes less than a day and night.

This is what Chen Xu meant by "speed is of the essence in war"!
It was indeed incredibly fast.

Wu Zhengze was somewhat dazed, not knowing from which moment Chen Xu's cultivation had truly soared like a Kunpeng to the heavens.

Wu Zhengze remembered that it seemed like only a short time ago, this disciple was asking him for advice on the application of literary energy.

But was that really not long ago?
Or has it actually been a very, very long time?
By now, Chen Xu has left me, the teacher, far behind.

Wu Zhengze was naturally pleased, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy.

He is not as good as Feng Yuanbo; he should have looked at Chen Xu with a fresh perspective long ago.

Wu Zhengze made a decision and said, "Xuzhi, I will accept all your gifts."

Go to Yujing with peace of mind.

Since your cultivation is not as advanced as yours, I will not presumptuously follow you on your journey to the Jade Capital.

I will stay in Xiaowan Village, so you can rest assured that you can entrust your parents and relatives to my protection.

I, Wu Zhengze, hereby swear by my Daoist heart that as long as I exist, I will never allow Xu's family to come into danger.

If there is any danger, I will protect you with my own body, unless I die..."

"Master!" Chen Xu loudly interrupted Wu Zhengze's oath.

He noticed that Wu Zhengze's eyes seemed to be glistening with tears as well.

Half an hour later, Chen Xu secretly left Xiaowan Village.

He was going to Yujing to appear before the world and attract all the attention.

But before arriving in Yujing, he had to keep his whereabouts a secret and not let anyone guess his purpose.

Meanwhile, Feng Yuanbai's contacts were also being made.

He has emergency communication methods, enabling him to quickly communicate with targets who possess similar methods.

In one round trip, the time required for transmitting messages over thousands of miles can be reduced to within half a day.

Meanwhile, Feng Yuanbai was also planning to go to Beijing.

With his cultivation level and strength, he could participate in the battle to "purge the court of corrupt officials".

Feng Yuanbai then took out several letters and tokens and handed them to Chen Xu, informing him which people he could trust and which people he needed to be wary of after entering Yujing.

Wu Zhengze also gave Chen Xu a token.

His own abilities limited him to the level of a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination), preventing him from advancing further, but the legacy he inherited from his master was actually quite remarkable.

His teacher was another renowned scholar who was as famous as Li Yanqing in his youth.

Unfortunately, Li Yanqing later wrote books and became a great Confucian scholar.

However, Wu Zhengze's teacher, Qi Junshan, never truly crossed that threshold.

Even so, Qi Junshan remained a renowned scholar of his time, enjoying a high reputation among intellectuals, far surpassing that of ordinary Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations).

He himself was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), but he was still one step away from becoming a great Confucian scholar.

However, among his disciples, five were successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations.

Only Wu Zhengze, the youngest, failed to pass the imperial examination and became a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest level of the imperial examinations) due to some unforeseen events in his early years.

Deep down, Wu Zhengze often felt ashamed and uneasy.

It was for this reason that he went with the flow and eventually came to Jichuan, a remote county, to become a county school instructor.

Wu Zhengze had thought that his life would continue in this uneventful and mundane way.

Unexpectedly, upon arriving in Jichuan, he encountered Chen Xu, a student who dared to turn the world upside down.

Life's encounters are truly unpredictable and hard to fathom.

Although Wu Zhengze felt ashamed of failing his master, he immediately wrote several letters and asked Chen Xu to take them to Yujing.

Chen Xu returned home silently once again.

By this time, many of the neighbors who had gathered at the Chen family's house had already left.

Everyone has their own sense of judgment. Although they really wanted to show off in front of Chen Xu, they also knew not to disturb him too much.

Otherwise, it might just annoy you, which would be a loss.

Although most of his neighbors had already left, Chen Xu did not show up directly upon returning home.

He secretly instructed his father, Chen Qianshan, and mother, Luo Yunniang, as follows:

"Father, Mother, I have some business to attend to and need to travel for a while longer. My eldest brother, third brother, and younger sister are all busy with their studies and spiritual practice, so please keep a close eye on them."

When I return, I hope everyone will have grasped the basics of cultivating inner energy.

He didn't say what he was doing out there, but only "explained the task" to his parents, who naturally perked up and found their target.

Without even asking any other questions, he immediately urged Chen Ping, Chen An, and Chen Xuan to study and cultivate themselves.

Chen Xu took the mouse and Wei Yuan with him, packed up his portable wooden house, and rode the wind towards Tiandu.

He flew very high, with wind and clouds in the sky, and the small town of Qihe quickly disappeared into the distance between the clouds and the sky.

This is also true for Jichuan County.

Both little demons perched on Chen Xu's shoulders. The little mouse was very excited, while Wei Yuan, though more composed, was also excited and curious about the trip.

The little mouse chirped excitedly, "Scholar, are we going to the Jade Capital to do something of great importance?"

This time, you can't pretend to take us with you and then abandon us again...

The two little demons overheard Chen Xu's conversation with Feng and Wu.

Although they didn't understand some of it, the parts they did understand were enough to excite and fascinate them, making them both excited and apprehensive.

Chen Xu laughed and said, "Since I made a promise to you two, how could I go back on my word?"

However, the journey ahead is fraught with peril…

“We’re not afraid!” the mouse interrupted him loudly, as if afraid he would say something like, “There’s danger, stay away.”

"We're not afraid at all! We promised that no matter where we go, we'll be together, we're determined to be together."

Scholar, don't worry about us holding you back. Since we planted trees with you by the canal last time, we've accumulated a great deal of merit.

These merits are now enough to support me to wake up Ninth Master twice more.

Let me tell you, when Ninth Master isn't injured, he's incredibly, incredibly, incredibly powerful!

And the hedgehog, its book box, activated by merit, is enough to protect us.

"Go and do great things, and we will do great things with you."

It held its head high, brimming with pride.

Chen Xu laughed and said, "It was indeed my fault. How could I have underestimated you two fellow Daoists?"

"Squeak squeak..." the mouse chirped happily.

In the midst of the exchange of voices, mountains and rivers all seemed small.

(End of this chapter)