Longevity Candle

Chapter 65 Migration
Emperor Yongning stood up and kicked Zhang Ning to the ground.

Zhang Ning hurriedly got up, knelt down again, and dared not show the slightest disrespect.

"I sent you to Nanyun County for the purpose of carving out a road through the mountains today, but your vision has only extended to Nanyun County."

That vast, fertile land, the land of Yunmeng, where crops are harvested three times a year, can't you see it?

Yes, many people have died, but so what? In the pursuit of imperial power, people die every single day.

"I value your talent and spared your life, yet you are hindering my grand ambitions..."

"As long as we conquer Yunmeng, Ningguo will never suffer from hunger again, which will benefit future generations. Why can't you see that?"
You were born in a peaceful era; you have no idea how many people would starve to death during a natural disaster when the Qian Kingdom was in chaos!

"You only see one sentence in books: 'When the year is great and people are starving, they eat each other.' Do you think that's just a line from a history book? It's a bloody reality..."

Emperor Yongning cursed and beat the top scholar with his fists and feet.

He was furious that the top scholar he had personally selected was limited to a single county.

Zhang Ning was stunned; his mind was a mess, and he felt completely lost.

"If you can clear the mountains for me, I will release everyone in Nanyun County. If you can conquer Yunmeng Kingdom for me, I will not need to send troops or worry about feeding the millions of people in the world!"

"Tell me, can you?! Speak!"

"This sinful subject...cannot." Zhang Ning lowered his head in shame: "This sinful subject is incompetent and unable to share Your Majesty's burdens."

"Shut up if you're incompetent!" Emperor Yongning said coldly.

"Your Majesty, are you confident that you can conquer Yunmeng? Although I am incompetent, I have been in Nanyun County for many years and have some knowledge of Yunmeng."

Although Yunmeng was embroiled in war, it possessed a strong and well-equipped army, abundant food supplies, and a considerable number of capable warriors.

Zhang Ning said in a low voice, "According to what this humble servant understands, once we have leveled the mountains and widened the roads, the war will likely be over, and at that time..."

"At that time, we will face a founding emperor who has fought his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, won't we?" Emperor Yongning sneered.

Zhang Ning remained silent.

"A scholar is utterly useless!" Emperor Yongning scoffed. "Guards, throw him out! Pardon his crimes, but never employ him again!"

He was disappointed, disappointed in Zhang Ning. He had such high hopes for Zhang Ning, the top scholar back then, why was he so useless?

The imperial guards entered the palace and dragged Zhang Ning out.

"Your Majesty, why not give the top scholar another chance?" an old eunuch whispered.

"You've been with the founding emperor for a long time, how can you say such a thing?"

Emperor Yongning sighed, "How can we accomplish great things if we are always looking ahead and behind, afraid of this and that?"

"He was also worried about His Majesty. Yunmeng is indeed not weak, and several martial arts masters have emerged from there." The old eunuch said, "Moreover, the Seven Star Army Formation was also incomplete after the founding emperor passed away, and the Big Dipper Army is no longer as powerful as it once was."

"I know I was a bit hasty, but my life is too short."

Emperor Yongning sighed helplessly, "If I don't do it, will subsequent emperors, after enjoying the prosperity of the country, still have the courage to do it?"

"In this land, as long as the ruler is a mortal emperor, what does it matter if he is defeated?"
"I cannot view the whole situation solely from the perspective of the Emperor of Ningguo. You know better than I why the Master of Taiping Dao abandoned the throne!"

The old eunuch fell silent. He had lived through that era and knew that it would be difficult for another Li Qingping to emerge in the world.

Emperor Yongning sighed deeply: "Please, Taiping Dao, open the Taiping Shu."

"What if behind him are those spirits from the Taiping Dao back then?"

"They sent Zhang Ning to stop me, which means they are afraid and do not want the two countries to make contact. I will not let them have their way!"

Whoever dares to interfere in worldly affairs, paving roads through mountains and building bridges over rivers, will be punished!

"Yes."

The old eunuch bowed and declined.

Zhang Ning was thrown out of the capital. He was lost and didn't know where to go.

He traveled alone towards Nanyun County. Before long, a wisp of pink light enveloped him, and he rode away on a cloud.

"You shouldn't have come. His Majesty already knows that the Immortal Master saved me," Zhang Ning said urgently.

"He can't possibly chase after me. Apart from the emperor, I can simply avoid everyone else; they can't stop me anyway."

Hu Ling is very confident.

In the capital, a new chapter of peace unfolds, radiating brilliance and connecting with the dragon's aura, manifesting the phantom of a white fox.

They successfully returned to Nanyun County, and Taiping Yiye subsequently lost all contact with them.

An elderly man in a Taoist robe said with a solemn expression: "To isolate the connection with the Book of Peace, unless it is the Book of Peace itself, it can only be a great spirit or a Taoist master with profound magical power."

"His Majesty has ordered that all the experts of the Taiping Dao be dispatched to search for the whereabouts of the Immortal Fox. The Emperor also commands that they be used in conjunction with the Taiping Book to suppress the Immortal Fox."

"According to the order!"

Hundreds of Taiping Dao masters left the capital and headed towards Taoyuan Village.

After putting Zhang Ning down, Hu Ling said, "I'll go and ask my master to take you to Peach Blossom Village."

"Don't make things difficult for your master. I've changed my mind," Zhang Ning said. "I won't ask for anything anymore."

"Since you ask for nothing, why not return to the Peach Blossom Spring?" Hu Ling wanted to take him away.

Zhang Ning shook his head: "Don't make things difficult for me, Hu Ling. I've heard that it's hard for immortals to lower their eyes. I'm already extremely fortunate to have you lower your eyes even once. His Majesty has already pardoned my crimes. I'm powerless to change anything, but I want to do what I can."

He left, and Hu Ling couldn't persuade him to stay. He had been away for quite some time and it was time for him to go back and report to his master.

Back in the mountains, Hu Yan opened his eyes and said calmly, "Have you given up?"

“Master…” Hu Ling was stunned.

"You're quite bold, daring to go to the capital. You're even bolder than your master," Hu Yan said coldly.

"I……"

Hu Ling opened her mouth, unsure how to defend herself, and knelt down.

“If it weren’t for his excellent character, I would have killed him long ago,” Hu Yan said coldly. “Prepare to relocate.”

"Relocate?" Hu Ling's body trembled. "Master, why relocate?"

"This is Her Majesty's will." Hu Yan's eyes were filled with anger: "It's one thing for you to have contact with him nearby, but you actually dared to go to the capital. Do you know that this will bring us disaster?"

“When you came back, the Taiping Book moved. Although I don’t understand the function of the Taiping Book, it hadn’t moved for so many years, but it suddenly moved. This means that there is a relevant Taiping Book that has sensed it.”

“A peaceful chapter?” She stared blankly at the peaceful chapter beside the lamp, which still shone with light.

“I have already notified Taoyuan Village to pack up. We’re heading into the deep mountains.” Hu Yan’s eyes were cold and sharp. “Your mission is to take Qingdeng with you. Even if it means crippling your claws, you must take Qingdeng with you and prevent it from falling into the emperor’s hands.”

"Ling'er understands."

Hu Ling dared not argue; she knew she had gotten herself into big trouble.

She held the blue lamp in her paws; the scorching heat charred her fur, and even her magic couldn't stop the intense heat.

She gritted her teeth, held the green lamp, and headed into the deep mountains.

Seven martial arts masters, carrying the Seven Star Sword, came from Peach Blossom Village, picked up the Book of Peace, and followed beside her.

Four white foxes arrived and used their magic to help relocate Peach Blossom Village.

They arrived at a valley, next to which was a cold pool connected to an underground river, where alligator spirits lived.

Hu Ling's hands were severely burned, almost unrecognizable, and the high temperature had even damaged her internal organs.

Hu Yan felt sorry for her after all, so he asked Jiuwei for a lot of spiritual medicine before her injuries were stabilized.

(End of this chapter)