Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 985 The King of Liang is Here Again

Finally, he concluded with utmost solemnity:
"What a place with outstanding people and beautiful scenery."

Just by casually flipping through the numerous intelligence fragments that Baoantang had collected over the years about the North, especially the Yellow River basin, he came across a bunch of content that made even a "worldly" person like him feel a little apprehensive.

Those buried histories, intertwined legends, and faint traces of ancient, powerful beings...

It can only be said that the northern land has too many "stories".

The Yellow River basin is practically a "storybook" filled with epics and myths, where every page could reveal an earth-shattering event.

As the Stone King listened, the faint light that had ignited in his stone eyes due to the divination result of "calm and peaceful" quickly dimmed as Xu Xuan continued his narration.

As if it had already foreseen its miserable fate as cannon fodder or background character in this "story collection," even its rocky body seemed to hunch over a bit.

"Well, Brother Shi, there's no need to worry too much." Xu Xuan comforted him, "Many big shots whose names you and I know have actually disappeared into the long river of history, either ascending, falling, or falling into obscurity. The truly active ones are, after all, a very small number."

His words weren't entirely meant to comfort.

Having endured three years of "trials" in Jiangnan, they have become accustomed to this kind of headwind at the start, struggling to survive amidst the giants of the region, and even snatching chestnuts from the fire.

Although he had some concerns about the trip to Liang, he felt a strong sense of challenge and eagerness to try.

You should know we're not vegetarians! We eat people!
Jiangnan is a place where all sorts of people mingle, and the waters are deep. Over the past three years, I've slain demons, set fires, gone to the underworld, and fought against Arhats. My experience points and resilience have been maxed out!

Besides, risks and opportunities coexist, and there will always be benefits after a calamity.

Didn't I just forcefully pry a piece of the Great Sun Crystal off the Black Mountain Demon's hand?

I wonder what unexpected "supplies" and opportunities I might find in this ancient Central Plains.

Moreover, many of the holy emperors, sages, and saints of the human race are sleeping on this land. I, Xu Xuan, am, after all, a good son of the human race with impeccable lineage. Perhaps I can even receive some of the blessings left by my ancestors and take off from there!

Thinking about this, I'm even a little excited.

Stone King: ...Hehe.

You take off, I'll land.

Composing themselves, the two headed towards the city gate of Xiayi County.

Before even reaching the gate, one could see a large crowd gathered at the city gate, making it several times more bustling than a typical county town.

People of all kinds were there: farmers carrying loads, gentry riding in horse-drawn carriages, and travelers with bags on their backs. Various vehicles came and went, and shouts and conversations filled the air, creating a lively scene.

Xu Xuan was naturally curious, as this was not the usual scene in a typical county town.

So he stopped a passerby who looked like a local and politely asked, "Excuse me, sir, why is the city so lively today? Is there some kind of grand event?"

Seeing Xu Xuan's distinguished bearing, the passerby was quite polite, smiling as he replied, "This young master must be from out of town, no wonder you didn't know. We're all just passing through Xiayi on our way to 'Chaotai'! It's almost the last day, so if we don't come and see the excitement soon, it'll all be over!"

As for what "pilgrimage to the altar" means, the passerby enthusiastically explained it, which involved an ancient legend that has been circulating in the area for a long time.

It turns out that Emperor Ku, one of the Five Emperors of ancient times, had a son named Ebo, who was once enfeoffed in this place as "Fire Official".

This position sounds simple, but it carries great responsibility, mainly involving the preservation and management of fire-starting materials.

In the early days of primitive life and the dawn of civilization, fire meant warmth, light, cooked food, and safety. It was the lifeblood of the tribe's survival and continuation, and those who could serve as "fire masters" were all highly trusted and capable people.

After Ebo died, in order to commemorate his achievements, people built a temple to the fire god on the tall earthen platform where he had preserved fire during his lifetime, which is what later became known as the Ebo Shrine.

The ancestral hall features a magnificent main hall, a solemn worship hall, symmetrical east and west side halls, and towering bell and drum towers, and has always been a popular place of worship.

This place is located in Suiyang, the capital of the Liang Kingdom.

Legend has it that the seventh day of the first lunar month is the birthday of Ebo.

From this day forward, people from the surrounding counties and prefectures would spontaneously come to "pay homage to Ebo Terrace," or "Chaotai" for short, which gradually formed a grand and lively ancient temple fair. This temple fair often lasted for more than a month, until it gradually dispersed in early February.

This is considered one of the largest and most distinctive folk activities at the beginning of the year in the Central Plains region.

Of course, in order to add to the legendary nature of the story, later generations fabricated a story called "Ebo stealing fire," portraying him as a hero similar to Prometheus in the West who stole fire from the heavens for mankind.

Xu Xuan found this outrageous; it completely disregarded the fact that their own human ancestors, such as Suirenshi, were the first to discover fire by drilling wood! Such a lack of respect for copyright!
Xu Xuan was somewhat interested in this rather chaotic mythological genealogy, while the Stone King became somewhat saddened after a passerby mentioned time.

Early February...the Taiwan Affairs Conference concluded...

It's quite counterintuitive, really. Although the journey north felt like a constant battle, with endless challenges, going up and down mountains, and constantly switching between the underworld and the mortal realm, the experience was long and tortuous.

But in reality, from leaving Jiangnan to arriving at Xiayi in Liang State, it has only taken a little over a month.

It just so happens that the month-long Taiwan trade fair is nearing its end...

The timing of this timeline is truly something else.

Xu Xuan and the Stone King exchanged a glance, and without saying a word, they reached a tacit understanding.

Bypass Suiyang and head directly northwest!
The name "Fire God Temple" sounds very meaningful, full of ancient sacrificial and mythological elements.

In such a place steeped in history, who knows what related instances might be hidden?

Given their current state, it is really not advisable for them to provoke such ancient beings that could have serious consequences.

Moreover, Suiyang was the capital of the Liang Kingdom, with a prince from the Sima family residing there. It was a place where powerful figures from all sides gathered, attracting many eyes and ears, and entangled with various causes and effects.

A slight misstep could lead to unnecessary political turmoil or power struggles, causing unnecessary trouble.

Even if we have any ideas about the Fire God Temple, we can wait until the imperial examination is over and we finish our business in Luoyang before we go back and work on it.

Even the 'very entertaining' good friend provided by the magistrate of Ji County can be put on hold for now.

However, as the saying goes, the tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop.

Wherever Xu Xuan goes, disaster will surely follow! Just as they passed through the bustling Xiayi County and were about to turn onto the westward official road, a group of soldiers in gleaming armor and carrying long spears suddenly appeared and blocked their way.

The leader was a young nobleman dressed in extremely luxurious and dazzling clothes.

He wore a purple-gold crown inlaid with jewels, a gold headband with two dragons chasing a pearl, a white python robe with five-clawed dragons riding on the waves, a jade and red leather belt, and light blue satin boots with pink soles.

It was truly dazzling with jewels and exuded an air of nobility!

Looking at his appearance, he was handsome with striking features, but his eyes held a fierce glint, and his nostrils flared with authority. In his every glance, the arrogant air of a proud son of heaven seemed to overflow, without any attempt to conceal it.

Beside him was a servant dressed in a blue robe and a small hat, who looked like a steward. The servant was holding a scroll in his hand, carefully comparing it with Xu Xuan's appearance, and then gave the young master a barely perceptible nod.

Having received confirmation, the young master immediately plastered a fake smile on his face, stepped forward, and asked in a deliberately crafted tone that couldn't conceal his inherent arrogance:
"Is it the legendary Physician Xu, known as 'unpredictable and mysterious'?"

The wording of the address seemed normal, even somewhat flattering, but the scrutiny, provocation, and hostility in the tone were clearly audible even to the Stone King standing nearby.

Xu Xuan's spiritual senses stirred slightly, and from the other party's dazzling attire and grand entourage, he clearly sensed a rich and pure aura of nobility, as well as the unique spiritual energy of the imperial family that was faintly connected to the fate of the Great Jin Dynasty.

It seems he's surnamed Sima, and holds a high position.

As for why the other party had a portrait of him, and how they were able to accurately intercept him in Xiayi County... there's no need to ask such questions.

Since they were top-tier nobles in Liang, they must have some intelligence capabilities. And since his identity as a scholar who had traveled north to participate in the imperial examination was public knowledge, it was not surprising that he was being targeted.

Therefore, faced with this clearly hostile obstacle, they skipped all pleasantries and probing and got straight to the point:
"What disease?"

His tone was flat and calm, without the slightest ripple, as if he were simply asking about the weather today.

Logically speaking, if someone calls you a "miracle doctor" and blocks your way, nine times out of ten they are there to ask for medical advice and medicine. Asking about their symptoms directly is the most efficient way to get information.

Xu Xuan wasn't incapable of speaking; when he wanted to, he could become someone's good brother in just a few words, but when he didn't want to, even a few words were considered polite.

This overly direct reaction, even carrying a hint of "you're here for a medical consultation, so stop wasting your breath," caused the young master, who had prepared a whole host of opening remarks and was planning to make a strong first impression, to suddenly lose his composure, his lips twitching, and he almost couldn't maintain his fake smile.

This guy... how can he be so clueless?! Doesn't he realize what my outfit represents?! Or is he deliberately trying to embarrass me?!
The quick-witted servant beside him immediately jumped out, chin held high, and introduced in a boastful and admonishing tone:

"How dare you! Open your eyes and see clearly! My young master is Sima, the General Who Pacifies the South and Chief Secretary of the Inner Palace of Liang..."

Before he could finish speaking, the young master waved his hand dismissively, dismissing his subordinates, and said in a feigned "humility," "Hey, don't be rude. These insignificant positions are just arrangements His Majesty made for us juniors out of respect for my father. They are nothing, not worth mentioning."

These words, seemingly humble, actually made it clear that "my father is the King of Liang," and were just waiting to see Xu Xuan's face show surprise, fear, and even fawning.

After listening, Xu Xuan's face remained expressionless; he simply gave a faint "Oh," and then precisely summarized:
"The Crown Prince of Liang".

His tone was as flat as if he were confirming that the roadside stall was selling steamed buns.

This bland and unsurprising reaction almost broke the defenses of the master and servant on the other side!

After all that back and forth, showing off our official positions and hinting at who our fathers are, all you come up with for me are these four words?!

They don't even offer a respectful title like "Your Highness"?!
Xu Xuan, however, felt that this level of confirmation was sufficient.

The General Who Pacifies the South? That's the eighth rank in the military hierarchy. Below that are all miscellaneous generals. It sounds impressive, but it's actually not very prestigious.

As for the Chief Secretary of the Inner Palace? That's an official within the Prince's Palace, and in the entire Jin Dynasty's official system, he's not even in the top tier.

That's it?

Even if you ask me to flatter you, I don't know how to begin.

Besides, if we're really talking about the length and intimidation of titles, let's just name a few: "Security Hall Master," "Pure Land Sect Master Fahai," "Partner of the Jiangnan Water Lord," "White Lotus Saint Father," "Spokesperson for Jiangnan Culture"... Which one isn't more impressive than your string of county and state titles?
If you single out a "White Lotus Saint Father," he would be an invincible figure within a specific circle.

It's not that Xu Xuan has become too ambitious and looks down on relationships at the county and state level.

The Liang Kingdom is simply too close to Luoyang.

Being within the sphere of influence of the empire's core power makes every move easily magnified and scrutinized, making it too difficult to navigate, with too little room for maneuver and too sensitive.

Moreover, the other party held a high position and was a member of the Sima clan.

what does this mean?
This means that the moral bottom line of these nobles is inherently so low as to be outrageous, making them extremely difficult to truly grasp and control.

Therefore, in Xu Xuan's value assessment system, this seemingly prestigious but actually troublesome "relationship" is not as practical as a weed by the roadside.

On the other side, the Prince of Liang was secretly annoyed to see that his display of his name did not seem to have the expected deterrent effect, and the other party remained as indifferent as ever.

But he was too lazy to beat around the bush anymore, and went straight to the point, his tone carrying an unquestionable command:
"My father, the Prince of Liang, requests that you come to his residence for a chat."

He paused, then added two words, urging him on:

"Let's go."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xuan immediately understood.

It seems that the Prince of Liang himself, or some extremely important person in the Prince's palace, has contracted some intractable disease, and the situation is so critical that they have reached the point of desperately seeking any treatment.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have come to me, a "miracle doctor" who, although somewhat famous, is still young and whose roots are in Jiangnan.

They would never allow the arrogant and domineering Crown Prince to condescend to personally "invite" them, let alone maintain a semblance of politeness.

Well, after going around in circles, it seems I have no choice but to make a trip to Suiyang City.

However, Xu Xuan's eyes became somewhat subtle, carrying a hint of barely perceptible amusement and...expectation?
Is it really appropriate for you, the heir apparent of the Liang Kingdom, to come directly to me?

You should know that I have some connection with the title "King Liang".

The former King Liang in the underworld has already been dealt with by me and his entire family in a "match-3" game. I wonder what kind of "doctor-patient relationship" will develop between him and the current King Sima Liang in the human world.
Looking forward to.JPG.

(End of this chapter)