Bitter Realm: My Feet Step Through the Flames of War

"So you are Ji Xiashang, a favorite of the former Tiandu Martial Lord."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xiashang felt a sense of unease. He hadn't expected that Jun Haitang, who had only been away from Shennao Changyi for a few days, would have such a clear understanding of the current situation in the Bitter Realm. On the contrary, Tiandu knew very little about this Ti Jun, one of the Six Kings.

Raven Soul didn't find much information about Blue Queen, only that she possessed poison skills and was adept at using her beauty to seduce men.

"What are you pondering, sir?"

Although Jun Haitang stood up straight, she leaned to one side, weakly and helplessly resting in Ji Xiashang's arms, with one of her jade-like hands climbing onto Ji Xiashang's shoulder.

"I am looking at this scenery, and the most remarkable thing is that the tide is reliable every year. It is well-deserved to be called a famous place for thousands of years."

"How does it compare to the Western Sea of ​​Tiandu?"

“Each has its own merits. If you have time in the future, you may visit Tiandu.”

"Call me Haitang."

"Ah, I dare not be disrespectful to Di Jun."

"The crabapple tree is pleased, covered in frost and dew, and brings wine and food. Mr. Ji and I will have a small drink together."

"As ordered."

The setting sun melts into gold, and the mountains and forests are silent.

The two maids quickly brought over a table, served exquisite snacks and tea, and then carried over Jun Haitang's chaise lounge.

Jun Haitang sat half-reclined, half-sitting without any restraint, revealing half of her chest. Then she lit a water pipe and began to puff away.

Don't look at anything inappropriate.

Ji Xiashang turned his gaze away, pouring himself a drink while thinking about the task Wu Jun had given him: to gain Jun Haitang's trust. What secrets did Jun Haitang hold?

Is it her body of ten thousand poisons, or her secret base for producing poisons?

Jun Haitang finished smoking the entire bag of hookah before speaking: "You've come for the Six Kings' Creation Plan?"

"To be honest, among the six kings, Gui Fang Chi Ming and Xian Wang have both been captured by Tian Du. Yan Wang has suffered repeated defeats and is now at his wit's end."

"So, what do you need me to do?"

"That depends on what you have."

"I only have myself. Do you want me, or does the Martial Lord want me?"

Jun Haitang stepped down from the couch and straddled Ji Xiashang, her jade-like hands moving gently.

Ji Xiashang stared at the incomparably beautiful face before him and said in a deep voice, "Dijun, you cannot conquer me by degrading yourself, much less conquer my lord."

What did you say?

“Before I came here, I checked your records and found no evidence of your wrongdoing. As long as you withdraw from the Six Kings Alliance, the Heavenly Capital will never be your enemy, so you don’t need to do this.”

"Then what are you doing?"

Ji Xiashang was speechless. What was he doing here? He himself wanted to know.

"I apologize for my intrusion. It is getting late, so I will take my leave."

Jun Haitang leaned down and said arrogantly, "What do you think Cloud Recesses is, a place you can come and go as you please? It's not that easy!"

"this?"

"How about this: you watched Haitang dance, so you dance for Haitang in return, and I will let you leave."

"Dance?"

Knowing it was an unreasonable request, Ji Xiashang, with his arms outstretched, couldn't very well push Jun Haitang away, so he had no choice but to agree.

Fortunately, his weapon was a sword.

The gentleman's teachings, the imperial decree, today I perform a sword dance for a woman.

"I've made a fool of myself, drink up!"

The two swords, like dragons, burst forth from the sky, one red and one white, stirring up waves across the lake and shaking down the stars from the heavens.

The moon's throat is on the branch, the frost-covered spine is on the oar, and the Big Dipper hangs faintly in the cold blue.

The dragon's soul is pure, the tiger's tail is white, and the autumn sun shines on the sea, making them the same color.

"What a fine sword, what a fine dance! It has broadened Haitang's horizons."

After the dance ended, Jun Haitang asked Ji Xiashang to stay, and the maid prepared a separate room for him.

They stayed for three days.

On the first day, Jun Haitang coiled around him like a snake, subtly probing and trying to find out Tian Du's secrets.

Tian Du didn't really have any secrets: Springfield Flower Kindergarten, the self-service restaurant, the humane water dungeon, the relief center...

I've said everything I could.

The next day, Jun Haitang spent the whole day asking Wu Jun and Wu Hou questions.

"With so many women in the capital, does Emperor Wu truly only have Empress Wu as his woman?"

"Of course."

On the third day, Jun Haitang sat up much better and had fewer problems. The two of them quietly enjoyed the scenery.

Ji Xiashang discovered that she was at her most beautiful when she was quiet.

Pure as plum blossoms, cold as ice and snow.

A thousand miles away, someone came to the other side of the water to visit the master of the zither, Yu Qingjue.

"My name is Qin Que, and I have come here because of your reputation."

"Are you one of the participants in this year's Supreme Banquet of Strings?"

"Indeed, although I did not win the title of Qin Master at the Supreme Banquet, I am burdened with a deep-seated grudge and hope that you, sir, can pass on the Fuxi Divine Heaven Sound to me."

Behind the screen, the master of the zither spoke calmly and serenely: "In your understanding, what is the Way of the Zither?"

Qin Que replied with great confidence: "I am the qin, and the qin is the Dao. Please enlighten me, sir."

“The essence of music is the Way, while the formless is the instrument. You are the music, so let me feel your Way.”

Mr. Qin Que sat down calmly and plucked the strings of his zither. The music flowed like a clear spring over stones, or like a secluded orchid in bloom.

"When you asked me a question, I answered with my zither. I wonder if you could understand the meaning behind my words?"

Suddenly, Qin Que swept his left hand across the zither, and the sound of the zither echoed, turning from calm to dangerous, mysterious and chaotic.

The voice inside the pavilion remained calm: "The Way resides in the fingertips, the zither is the world."

Suddenly, Qin Que's fingers slowed down as he plucked the strings, and the music flowed like a torrent rushing into the sea, completely concealing his murderous aura.

"Ask again."

"The way of the zither is the way of the world. The five notes, Gong, Shang, Jiao, Zhi, and Yu, correspond to the ruler, ministers, people, and affairs. If the five notes are not disordered, there will be no discontent in the world."

As soon as the words in the pavilion were spoken, Qin Que suddenly saw the river water forming strings and the waves on the water forming soldiers.

"This is?"

"When the palace is in chaos, it becomes desolate, and its ruler becomes arrogant; when the merchant is in chaos, it becomes barren, and its officials become corrupt; when the horn is in chaos, it becomes worrisome, and its people become resentful; when the constellation is in chaos, it becomes sorrowful, and its affairs become laborious; when the feather is in chaos, it becomes dangerous, and its resources become scarce; when all five are in chaos, and they successively overthrow each other, this is called negligence."

Qin Que, amidst the imagery of the Dao, pondered the words of the Qin Master and unconsciously fell into deep thought.

As soon as the figure behind the screen moved, the soldiers in the water immediately began to fight each other.

"The chaos of the world can be quelled in the blink of an eye; restoring order and restoring order is as simple as snapping one's fingers."

Having said that, the image of the Dao disappeared, and Qin Que returned to reality.

Then the master of the zither continued, "Your zither is excellent; it is loud yet not noisy, soft yet not fading away. It is truly superb. Unfortunately, your heart is not righteous, and you have committed too many killings."

Qin Que was startled; he had already forcibly concealed his murderous intent while playing the zither.

"Please enlighten me, sir."

“Remember what I have said: the zither is used to restrain evil and to rectify people’s hearts.”

Qin Que realized he had been rejected, so he got up and put away his zither.

A voice came from behind the screen again: "Your talent is superb, but you are too obsessed. You are not the person I am looking for. If one day you can let go of the hatred in your heart, you will surely be able to surpass your current level."

"Thank you for your guidance, sir. I have troubled you for a long time. Now it is time for me to take my leave. Please."

After Qin Que left, Mu Meisheng, one of Yu Qingjue's four great qin attendants, came to report: "Master, I heard that a distinguished guest has arrived at Cloud Recesses and has stayed for three days without leaving."

"Mei Sheng, are you spying on Jun Haitang?"

Mu Meisheng was startled and hurriedly explained, "It was because Meisheng saw that Master cared about her that she paid attention to her on Master's behalf."

"That doesn't have to be the case."

Mu Meisheng bit her lip and continued, "That person is Ji Xiashang from Tiandu, and now the whole martial arts world knows about it..."

"Tiandu? Oh no!"

A figure flashed behind the screen, and Yu Qingjue had vanished.

A light autumn rain, like silk threads, drifted across Chaoxin Lake.

Under the huge blue umbrella, Ji Xiashang and Jun Haitang each reclined, one smoking a hookah and the other drinking light wine.

Like a kindred spirit, like an old friend, like a harmonious and fitting painting.

Upon seeing someone arrive, Ji Xiashang rose to greet them, but Jun Haitang ignored him and continued to smoke.

The man before him was furious, even exuding a strange murderous aura. Ji Xiashang cautiously asked, "Who are you, sir?"

"Yu Qing Jue".

"So it was Seven Fingers Stirring the Waves. I've long admired your name. I'm honored to receive your toast."

"People of Tiandu, I only want to know what your purpose is?"

"I have no particular purpose."

"It is unbecoming for a man and a woman to be alone together, which would damage Haitang's reputation. Please leave Cloud Recesses immediately."

A blush crept across Ji Xiashang's face. If it weren't for Wu Jun's arrangement, he would never have stayed here.

"The Master of the Qin is right. I am afraid of Xia Shang's rashness. Farewell."