Investiture of the Gods: Childhood Sweetheart Daji, Starting with Quasi-Saint Cultivation

Snow falls and melts again, flowers wither and bloom again.

Eighteen years have passed in the blink of an eye.

In the martial arts training ground in the backyard of the Marquis of Jizhou's residence, the morning mist had not yet dissipated.

"call out--!"

"Snapped!"

After the sharp sound of the arrow leaving the bowstring, comes the dull thud of it hitting the bullseye.

The bullseye of the wooden target, a hundred paces away, was densely covered with arrows.

Su Yunbai put down the hard bow in his hand and exhaled a breath of white air.

At eighteen, he stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his face bearing the rugged features of the northern frontier, yet also possessing a refined air due to his pampered upbringing.

Years of martial arts training have given him broad shoulders and a well-proportioned physique, which, even when dressed in simple, fitted clothing, exude a steady strength.

"good!"

Loud cheers echoed from under the eaves.

Marquis Su Hu of Ji Province, dressed in ordinary clothes, stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration.

"Yunbai, your archery skills are now on par with any of the archers under my command. You can hit a target from a hundred paces away without ever missing."

Su Yunbai turned around and bowed respectfully: "Father, you flatter me. Without your careful guidance since childhood, I would not be where I am today."

These words come from the bottom of my heart.

For eighteen years, Su Hu treated him no differently than his own son.

He personally taught him to read and write and to read history.

He personally taught him the martial arts and military strategies passed down through the Su family.

In terms of food, clothing, daily necessities, and even hiring famous teachers, everything was the same as Daji's.

Because he was a man, he devoted even more effort to military affairs and political matters.

To outsiders, he was Su Hu's most valued and proud adopted son, and the future pillar of the Jizhou army.

Only Su Yunbai himself knew what suffocating undercurrents lurked beneath this heavy fatherly love.

"We are father and son, no need for formalities." Su Hu stepped forward and patted his shoulder firmly. "Now that you are proficient in both literature and martial arts, I am very pleased. However..." He changed the subject slightly, looking towards the depths of the Marquis's residence, "you still need to pay more attention to your sister."

Su Yunbai's eyes darkened slightly, and he nodded: "Yunbai understands."

My elder sister. Su Daji.

The one who used to follow him around like a little tail.

Save the best snacks for him.

The girl who would secretly shed tears because he got injured while practicing martial arts.

She has blossomed into a stunning beauty renowned throughout the north.

However, in Su Yunbai's eyes, this stunning beauty was like a magnificent noose that was gradually tightening.

He knew. He always knew.

From the time I was old enough to understand, I heard those scattered rumors about Chaoge.

From the complex and indescribable look in Su Hu's eyes when he occasionally glanced at Daji.

From the subtle aura of "deification" and "destiny" emanating from this world, he pieced together a terrifying truth.

His adoptive father, Su Hu, had long been dissatisfied with some of the actions of King Di Xin (King Zhou) of the Shang Dynasty.

They were not entirely without vigilance against the increasingly powerful Xiqi.

His sister, Su Daji, possessed unparalleled beauty, and lived in a chaotic world.

It is itself a bargaining chip, a weapon, or a... death warrant.

Su Hu may be hesitating, making plans, or struggling.

Is he trying to use women to secure his favor?

Or is there a deeper meaning?

Su Yunbai couldn't see it all, but he could feel the invisible net tightening.

Meanwhile, Daji, his innocent and kind older sister who only knew how to act spoiled towards him and their parents, was unwittingly walking towards the center of that net.

He had wanted to say this to Su Hu and to Daji countless times.

They say that the distant Chaoge is a den of tigers and wolves, that the soon-to-be-ascended King Zhou is not a good match, and that there may be an even more terrifying power struggle between gods and immortals behind it all.

But what did he say?

Is it true that he comes from another world and knows about so-called "destiny"?

That would just be considered hysteria.

Given his current status, he is an adopted son who has received countless favors!

How could one question the godfather's decision and disrupt this seemingly harmonious but potentially life-or-death arrangement?

A sense of powerlessness, like a cold vine, had entangled him for eighteen years.

He could only practice martial arts more diligently and study military strategy and political affairs more hard.

Secretly develop some insignificant personal connections and power of your own.

Like an ant trying to fight a storm, he desperately piled up sand, hoping to build a dike to protect his sister.

"Yunbai," Su Hu's voice pulled him back to reality, "new news has arrived from Chaoge."

Su Yunbai's heart tightened.

"His Majesty (Emperor Yi) is seriously ill, and I'm afraid... it will be within the next year or two. It's a foregone conclusion that Prince Shou (Emperor Xin) will ascend the throne." Su Hu's gaze turned towards Chaoge, his expression unfathomable.

"The world may be about to change."

Su Yunbai remained silent.

With Emperor Yi's death and King Zhou's ascension to the throne, the prelude to the great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods... is about to begin in earnest.

His time is running out.

"Go back now. Your sister cooked a new soup today and said she learned how to make it and she wants you to try it when you get back."

A gentle, fatherly smile appeared on Su Hu's face, as if they had just been discussing ordinary family matters.

"Yes, Godfather."

……

As you walk through the familiar corridor, before even reaching the dining hall, you can smell a slightly burnt aroma.

"Little brother! Come quick!" A voice as bright as spring sunshine rang out.

Daji wore an apron, and her face was still covered in soot from the stove, but this did not diminish her beauty at all; on the contrary, it added to her liveliness.

She held up a ceramic bowl, presenting it to Su Yunbai like a precious treasure, her eyes sparkling:

"I stewed it for a whole hour! Try it!"

"Are you hungry? Let's eat something!"

Looking at the smiling woman before him, Su Yunbai felt as if the heavy shackles in his heart were tightening even more.

He took the spoon and tasted it.

smell……

It's a bit strange; the saltiness is uneven, and there's a faint burnt taste.

"How is it?" she asked expectantly.

"Delicious." Su Yunbai smiled and slowly finished the whole cup. "Sister's cooking is getting better and better."

Daji beamed with delight, as satisfied as a cat that had stolen a fish. "Then next time you practice martial arts, I'll stew it for you again!"

Seeing her smile, which was free of any gloom, Su Yunbai secretly clenched his fist in his sleeve.

How long can he continue to protect this warmth?

……

Several more months passed, and it was late autumn.

A piece of news that shook the world spread to every corner of the Great Shang Dynasty at the fastest speed.

King Di Yi passed away in Chaoge.

Prince Shou succeeded to the throne and became Emperor Xin.

The new king is young, strong, and exceptionally brave; he should bring a fresh start.

However, another piece of news that followed immediately shocked countless feudal lords and nobles!

Especially for those with beautiful women of marriageable age in their families, a shadow fell over their hearts.

The new king ascended the throne, honored his mother, offered sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, and then...

……

He led his civil and military officials to the Nuwa Palace to offer incense and pray for blessings.

This is the usual practice.

However, it is said that the statue of Nuwa was of unparalleled beauty, and when the new king saw it, he was captivated and suddenly aroused lust.

He then ordered brush and ink to be brought, and on the whitewashed wall of the imperial palace, he inscribed a poem:

"The phoenix and luan jeweled tent is a magnificent sight, adorned with exquisite gold leaf decorations."

The distant mountains are verdant, and the graceful sleeves of dancers reflect the rosy clouds.

Pear blossoms, glistening with rain, vie in their delicate beauty; peonies, shrouded in mist, display their alluring charm.

But if she possesses a captivating beauty and the ability to move freely, she can be brought back to Chang Le to serve the king.

The poem spread, and the whole world was in an uproar.

Blasphemy! Arrogant and deluded!

Countless criticisms, anxieties, and speculations surged beneath the surface.

However, some people who are well-versed in politics and power struggles sensed something even more complex.

The study of the Marquis of Jizhou's residence.

Su Hu looked at the poem copied on the secret report in his hand, his face as solemn as iron, and remained silent for a long time.

Outside the window, withered leaves were swept up by the biting autumn wind and rustled against the window frame.

Su Yunbai stood to the side, his gaze fixed on his godfather's tightly clenched fist, the knuckles of which had turned white.

He knew that what was bound to happen had finally arrived.

King Zhou wrote a poem that disrespected the gods, which enraged Nuwa.