Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 114 The Origin of the Death Squad

In October of the 34th year of the Tianli reign, the Wu family's tribute procession departed from Changcheng, carrying a staggering 10 taels of gold and various exotic items from the south. These included a pair of live rhinoceroses, ninety-nine giant alligator hides, and all sorts of gemstones. The escort alone numbered five hundred men.

According to imperial regulations, a team could not be entirely clad in iron armor, nor could it carry more than a hundred powerful crossbows. Even so, this "escort" team moved with measured pace, displaying the imposing presence of a strong army. Along the way, no one in the martial arts world dared to intercept this unannounced "escort team."

The Wu family army used cloth armor, but iron plates were added inside the key areas such as the chest and limbs to impede slashing. Of course, this couldn't stop piercing, but multiple positions could be added. Flat, hardened naan breads were stored in pockets near the chest and abdomen, which could also deflect arrows.

The emperor already knew about the escort team's departure. He even confirmed the number of gold coins in each sealed box. Therefore, he dispatched palace guards to guide the way and instructed local officials not to cause trouble.
Emperor Xu was somewhat aware of the character of his officials. Without someone from the palace to guide him, such a large sum of money would definitely have been seized by officials along the way.

Thirty thousand taels of gold is not a large sum compared to the court's current annual expenditure of eight hundred thousand taels of gold, but it represents the submissive attitude of the southern border warlords. The court does not need to be overly defensive in the south, which can reduce expenditures by several hundred thousand taels of gold.

Having settled a major matter that had weighed on his mind for a year, the Emperor was in the mood to leave the palace again.

"Enjoying flowers and praising butterflies."

…a trend of extravagance…

In the middle of the hexagram, the Taoist appeared in the Li family's residence.

Inside the courtyard, Miss Li was cursing: "You lowly servant, touching the incense with your filthy hands!"

From inside the room came the terrified voice of a maid pleading for mercy: "Miss, spare me! I was in such a hurry, I couldn't find the silk package, please spare me!"

Miss Li now needs to immerse her body in a special incense every day. This incense is placed in a sandalwood box, and when the servants take it out, they must not touch it with their hands. Instead, they must take it out with silver clips, wrap it in silk, and place it on a tray before bringing it to the servants.

Some servants had previously been dismissive, hastily taking things out of the box with their bare hands and placing them on a tray, thinking no one would see and their mistress wouldn't be able to tell. However, Miss Li immediately smelled the sweat on them and had them beaten to death. As for the maid in the present situation, she had also taken a chance and ended up breaking a taboo.

Just as Miss Li drew her sword, preparing to cut off the maid's hand, a soft laugh from the Taoist priest rang in her ears.

Miss Li sheathed her sword and said coldly to the maid, "Get out!"

The Taoist priest affixed the "Idleness-Dispelling Talisman" to the room and went straight into Miss Li's boudoir.

The once fierce Miss Li has now become gentle and graceful, bowing gracefully: "Nightmare Butterfly greets the Sect Leader."

Xian Daoren looked at Miss Li, nodded, and said, "It seems you have already seen him." — Through the state of the Nightmare Butterfly left on Miss Li, Xian Daoren knew about her pregnancy.

Xian Daoren had originally chosen Li Lihua, intending to place a seed for the Wu family. He had calculated that Li Lihua's marriage was with Wu Fei, but for some reason, things changed, and the thread of fate was severed.

More importantly, after being led astray by the Taoist priest, Li Lihua developed some "fickle" tendencies, becoming disdainful of even a mound when she saw a high mountain.

Oh, right now Gaoshan is "Xiandaoren", but when she first met Wu Fei half a month ago, he was just an ordinary person chewing on "five grains", and she felt nothing.

…Xian Daoren attributed these changes to his junior sister Qian Zuan…

Miss Li is still unaware that she has actually fallen into Wu Fei's trap. After the Nightmare Butterfly was eaten by the Vermilion Bird, all of her related memories disappeared.

Therefore, when Xian Daoren asked, "Have you met Wu Fei yet?", he hesitated and replied, "Reporting to the Sect Leader, I met him from afar three months ago, but these days his whereabouts have been uncertain, and I have been unable to—"

As soon as he finished speaking, he grabbed Miss Li's wrist, listened carefully for a moment, and then channeled some of his magic power into Li Hua's body. As this power flowed, scales and wings appeared on Li Li Hua's back.

This "scaled and horned" transformation technique was a magic left behind by the ancient Jie Sect. When this power flowed to Li Hua's lower abdomen, it was extinguished like a flame. Immediately afterwards, Li Li Hua's face showed horror as she said, "This, it's happening again!"

The "again" that Li Lihua mentioned refers to the "hidden danger" within her body that frequently weakens her magical power.
Currently, having been awakened by the sect leader, she appears pitiful. —Regarding the situation where this fetal energy devoured the "Myriad Transformations Dao Power," Xian Daoren was aware of it, because his junior sister had been completely destroyed while pregnant.

This Miss Li has only been practicing for a few years, of course she can't withstand the essence left by Wu Fei. After feeling the domineering power of the Vermilion Bird, Xian Daoren said leisurely, "Since you didn't meet him, did that person (Jia Qiayang) realize that the fetus in your womb was there?"

Miss Li said shyly, "Sir, he... he didn't notice." (Clearly, telling her about being intimate with another person in front of her beloved was something she couldn't help but feel.)

The Taoist priest touched her fair forehead and cast a calming spell on her: "Tell me slowly."

The purple in Miss Li's pupils faded, and she began to recite her words like a machine. She described how the life force of the fire egg in her womb had recently become so strong that it had caused the blue seal to be broken through layer by layer.

A few minutes later, Xian Daoren whispered, "Pregnancy in a dream? This supernatural power, could he be a descendant of Emperor Xi? No, he is a descendant of the Vermilion Bird, belonging to the lineage of Emperor Chi."

But then he instructed Miss Li, "You should also contact your former husband."

Li Lihua, who was standing to the side, was clearly confused and asked weakly, "Master, I saw that person was a mortal."

The Daoist Master turned his head and said, "You've only been a Daoist for a few years, and you're used to using magic to subdue people. You don't yet understand the true meaning of practice. Certainly, powerful magic can manipulate objects and create lifelike forms, but the path of the Dao is not just about magic; it also requires a 'Daoist heart' to guide your actions. The perspective gained through practice is cultivation. The person you're destined to marry (Wu Fei) is no less skilled than me. The unorthodox artifacts he creates can split mountains and shatter rocks, revealing the subtle and the extraordinary. Your little tricks were probably seen through before they even got close to him. Besides, do you really think he has no magic?"

Li Lihua quickly retorted, "I observed that his steps were heavy and labored. If he possessed magical powers, how could he be walking in the dust?"

After cultivating Taoism, Li Lihua was able to defy gravity and float on the wind. Therefore, she regarded "transcending the mortal realm" as a standard for cultivating immortality. In her imagination, immortals were all pure white and untouched by dust.

The Daoist Master, somewhat impatient, said, "Cultivation is about understanding and comprehending the Dao, not about magical power. Whether a cultivator is willing to transcend worldly affairs is for the purpose of overcoming calamities, not for pleasing others."

At this point, Xian Daoren stopped explaining. The dust on Xuan Chong's body was no ordinary dust; it was dust that even he feared.

The dust on Xuan Chong's body has no effect on mortals, but it can ignite when it falls on immortals, demons, or any other extraordinary individual.

As someone chosen by both blue and purple, Li should theoretically be unable to withstand being ignited, but the child in her womb allowed her to ward off the extraordinary flames.

However, Li clutched her abdomen, wanting to ask if there was a way to remove it. The next sentence was, "I don't want to get involved in worldly troubles; I wish to seek out an immortal to cultivate in seclusion."

However, seeing the purple light reappear in Li's pupils and knowing her true thoughts through mind-reading, Xian Daoren prematurely activated the butterfly, preventing her from speaking.

The Taoist priest commanded, "Give birth to this child."

Li Lihua was stunned. Xian Daoren snorted coldly: "What, you're unwilling?"

Li Lihua: No, no, no, it's just that I, I... (She felt wronged, a sense of being abandoned and disliked by someone she admired.)
However, what followed was even more destructive to her character. Xian Daoren pinched her cheek: "You knew all along that I would answer you like this. You deliberately wanted to cultivate the emotion of love turning into hate. (Li Shi, having been chosen by both Blue Moon and Purple Moon, was no longer so innocent.)"
The Taoist Master gazed at her: I might as well let you know a little more.

The Daoist Master's leisurely gaze followed the blue flames igniting in Li Lihua's pupils. After this eye-to-eye communication, her eyes revealed fear and helplessness. The Daoist Master explained to her that all her tricks were merely childish self-entertainment. In this grand game, she was nothing more than an insignificant pawn. Only by letting go of useless emotions and adapting to change could she become a lasting piece. But if a pawn unleashes harmful emotions on the player, it will be crushed in the next second.

The Taoist priest said, "Tomorrow, Emperor Da Yao will be out seeking pleasure, and I will recommend you to him. You must use your abilities to try and get into the palace."

Li Lihua looked dazed. — She had been with several men, but had always managed to regain her virginity.

The Daoist Master then leisurely announced, "My teachings state that all things are in constant flux, and the Great Yao (a concept in Chinese astrology) should also undergo some changes."

…a golden dividing line…

In the East Market area, Wu Fei led his disciples to inspect the market. Wu Juwang used a wooden abacus provided by Gongshu Wang to calculate the passing vehicles. On the cloth map in front of him, each vehicle was marked. Meanwhile, wooden phoenixes flew in the sky. In this way, with the aerial drones and the silk display screen, this young man clearly calculated all the goods transported by the major gangs in the East Market.

To survive as a pickpocket in the city, one must be incredibly shrewd. Naturally, they are clever. They also know that being valued by Wu Fei is far more important than being a pickpocket on the street.

Therefore, they put a lot of effort into their work.

In the first two instances, Wu Ju handed over the recorded information on the goods traded in the East District to Wu Fei, who nodded and then began calculating with counting rods. After completing the calculations, he used a knife to carve the results onto the bamboo rods, leaving a specific aura on the knife marks to prevent spiritual energy from altering them.

Wu Fei casually asked Wu Juwang, "Did you deliver the intelligence to Liutian Lane before you came back?"

As Wu Fei finished speaking, Wu Ju knelt down with a thud. He then kowtowed and was about to smash his head against the floor tile, but just as his head touched the tile, Wu Fei threw a piece of burlap between his forehead and the tile.

Wu Fei asked with considerable curiosity: "Is this one of your rules in the gang? Get up, I don't have that many 'deadly' mistakes around me." According to Wu Ju's self-harming method, his head would bleed.

Note: Liutian Lane is the intelligence exchange point for the Da Yao Dark Guards. The day after Wu Juwang was accepted as a disciple by Wu Fei, the Emperor of Xu knew all about Wu Fei's followers. After living with Wu Fei for ten days, Wu Juwang was taken in as an informant by the Dark Guards.

After Wu Ju was pointed out by Wu Fei, he was terrified; because in his past line of work, such betrayal would have been fatal.

Wu Fei looked at him and said, "Since it was your choice, I can tell you that you can be bolder about things with Liutian Lane. When you go to exchange information, don't be so worried every day. I can see what you've been doing these past few days."

Wu Ju lowered his head and asked tremblingly, "My lord, you?" His little eyes tried to probe Wu Fei's attitude.

Wu Fei pulled him up and then spoke to him gently: "Memorize the sixty articles of military law regarding execution orders."

Wu Ju then recited them one by one.

Wu Fei looked at his adopted son, who was awaiting his fate, and found it both infuriating and amusing: "Remember, when you work for me, only violating these rules will be 'deadly,' and if you do, I won't be able to protect you."

Wu Ju nodded obediently, "Yes, Master, I will definitely remember." But then he couldn't help but ask Wu Fei, "Master, aren't you angry?"

Wu Fei smiled at him: "First, the person you reported my information to is His Majesty's man. I do need a channel to let His Majesty know what I'm doing next; second, you're just a child, why would I hold a grudge against you?"

Wu Ju opened his mouth.

Wu Fei appealed to his emotions and reason: "I will tell you in advance about anything that truly threatens my life and make arrangements for you. If you can't even foresee the perilous situation around you, then you are not fit to be a general."

Wu Ju nodded, wanting to praise Wu Fei's wisdom and prowess.

Wu Fei stopped him from being so mercenary, not intending to let him get away with it so easily. Instead, he said very seriously, "But you must remember that every choice you make that you think is 'shortcut' will actually be paid for by your future self."

In the past, when you were living hand to mouth, you didn't have to think about tomorrow. But now that you're with me, you have next year, the year after, ten years from now, and even the rest of your life.

Your decision to make contact with the secret guards, and the reason you made that choice, is, as I suspect, because they have discovered your weakness, which you cannot address and are forced to make a deal with. And now you know you can't hide it from me.

Of course, you should understand that I've labeled you, and you're currently labeled as such, which is harmless to you. But what about the future?

Wu Fei gazed at the child and slowly said, "If I really need to do something very important in the future, I will exclude you. At that time, don't blame me for not giving you a chance, and don't envy those who are less talented than you for doing better."

Wu Juwang was stunned for a moment. Then he knelt down: "Master, can you teach me?"

Wu Fei's actions didn't stop him from kneeling down. Instead, he asked, "Do you trust your master?" (Wu Fei was determined to teach him the real stuff and had a clear conscience about this gesture.)
Wu Ju nodded, and Wu Fei looked at him sternly: "You need to think this through carefully, from your own perspective, whether I am trustworthy. Is it possible that this master you call might one day betray you for personal gain?"

Wu Ju looked closely at Wu Fei and tentatively replied, "Master, you wouldn't do that, would you?"

Wu Fei's gaze turned cold, and then he released a murderous aura, causing Wu Fei to immediately collapse to the ground.

Wu Fei: "You need to think this through yourself. Keep your head down. When making important decisions, if you can't hide it on your face, bury your head and make sure no one can see what you're thinking."

Wu Juwang lowered his head, but quickly realized what was happening and raised it again, looking at Wu Fei with sincere eyes, saying, "Master, I've made up my mind. I believe you. You couldn't have sold me out. I was blinded by greed and shouldn't have kept it from you." (Wu Juwang was very clever; he put his knowledge to good use when persuaded to lower his head.)
Wu Fei was very satisfied with the child and said very gently, "Master, I'll also be frank with you. Before facing a major decision regarding interests, if there's a possibility of sacrificing your interests, I will discuss it with you in advance and ask you carefully to find a solution together. If there really can't be a solution, then we'll part ways. Before our good relationship can continue, we can quickly separate and fly away, so that bad feelings don't cause us to break off our friendship."

Wu Ju nodded.

Wu Fei paused, then asked, "Are you willing to work with me to resolve the matter of the secret guards?"

Wu Ju nodded and spilled everything out. This included the fact that five of the twenty-three children were also being held captive. The entire intelligence network of the secret guards around Wu Fei had been betrayed.

In that instant, Wu Fei made a grasping motion in the air, and a dazed parrot waved in front of him, telling him that the parrot had been drugged before he entered. When the parrot regained consciousness, he would have to rehearse it as if the parrot knew nothing, and make it report the correct message.

Wu Fei listened carefully and gave him instructions, telling him how to do things and to make sure he didn't get hurt. He asked him if these were just a few of his "weaknesses in interpersonal relationships," and if there were any others.

As for these weaknesses, Wu Fei told him that he would help him resolve them within six months. In the meantime, he must adhere to the precepts and not give up on himself or get involved in other hidden dangers.

Wu Fei solemnly reminded him: "You absolutely cannot let the secret guards control you over gambling and taking drugs. The secret guards are capable of such things, and once you get involved, you're doomed. You'll no longer be human but a dog, and it won't be a pity if you're killed. You must be vigilant in such situations." Wu Ju nodded like a chicken pecking at rice. Wu Fei thought for a moment and then gave him a piece of fire-repelling jade. He told him to keep it close to his body.

As a general, one should not demand that subordinates be so loyal as to absolutely sacrifice themselves for you, offering their all without reservation at a single command; that is a romantic fantasy for some women.

Wu Fei: "A qualified and loyal subordinate is one who prioritizes ensuring their superiors' right to know. And it is the leader's duty to shoulder the responsibility for those subordinates who have been given that right to know."

(End of this chapter)