My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

Wu County, execution ground outside the city.

The sun was scorching, making the stone slabs on the ground scorching hot.

Yu Ji knelt in the center of the execution ground, his white hair disheveled, his face calm.

Behind him, the executioner held a large, gleaming sword, its blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

All around, a dark mass of people knelt on the ground, their cries shaking the heavens.

The people dared not cause trouble, but their silent tears were more powerful than any shout.

Sun Jian stood on the execution platform, his face ashen.

His hand rested on the Crimson Sky Sword, his knuckles turning white.

He dared not look into the eyes of the common people, dared not look at the old generals kneeling in the crowd, dared not look at the civil officials standing below the high platform with solemn expressions.

He only looked at Yu Ji.

The old Taoist priest knelt there, like a withered tree, ready to fall over with a gust of wind.

But his back was ramrod straight.

"The time has come." The executioner's voice trembled.

Sun Jian took a deep breath, about to speak.

"Spare his life!"

A loud shout, like a thunderclap, rang out.

The crowd parted automatically, and a troop of cavalry swept into the execution ground like a whirlwind.

The leading general, dressed in white robes and silver armor, with a face as handsome as jade, was none other than Taishi Ci.

He dismounted, holding aloft a scroll of yellow silk, and proclaimed loudly, "The imperial edict has arrived!"

The entire room fell silent.

Sun Jian suddenly stood up, his expression changing drastically.

Taishi Ci strode up to the execution platform, unfurled the imperial edict, and loudly read: "I have heard that Yu Ji of Jiangdong has spread heresies and misled the people, committing a crime deserving of death. However, matters of execution should be decided by the court. I hereby order the relevant officials to escort Yu Ji to Shuntian and hand him over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard for strict interrogation. This is my decree."

Sun Jian's face turned ashen, and he remained silent.

Taishi Ci put away the imperial edict, looked at him, and smiled slightly: "General Sun, why don't you accept the edict?"

Sun Jian stared intently at him, his chest heaving violently.

This is not Liu Xie's decree, but Ji Xuanyuan's decree.

Ji Xuanyuan wanted to save Yu Ji.

But why did he save Yu Ji?

Is an old Taoist priest worth all this trouble?

"General Sun."

Taishi Ci's voice was not loud, but every word was clear: "The Prime Minister has another appointment to make."

He took out a scroll from his sleeve, unfolded it, and read aloud: "Sun Jian has pacified Jiangdong and made outstanding contributions. He is hereby granted the title of Governor of Yangzhou and Marquis of Wu, with a fief of ten thousand households. His son, Sun Ce, is brave and skilled in battle and is qualified to succeed him as Governor of Yuzhou, to guard Huainan. This is the imperial decree!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

Governor of Yangzhou?

Marquis of Wu?

Did Sun Ce succeed as Governor of Yu Province?

Is Ji Xuanyuan going to grant Jiangdong and Yuzhou to the Sun family?

Sun Jian was stunned.

He originally thought that Ji Xuanyuan would take the opportunity to suppress him, but he never expected... he never expected such a generous reward.

With the titles of Governor of Yangzhou and Marquis of Wu, Sun Jian could rightfully rule Jiangdong, rightfully levy taxes, and rightfully expand his army.

With the addition of the four southern commanderies of Jingzhou, Sun Jian was already the undisputed overlord of the south.

"General."

Taishi Ci's voice pulled him back to reality: "Why haven't you received your appointment yet?"

Sun Jian snapped out of his daze, gave Taishi Ci a deep look, and knelt on one knee: "Your subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude."

Behind him, Sun Ce, Sun Quan, and the civil and military officials of Jiangdong all knelt down.

Taishi Ci stepped forward and personally helped Sun Jian up, saying with a smile, "General, the matter of Yu Ji will be left to the court to handle. You can focus on guarding Jiangdong. The Prime Minister said that as long as you are loyal to the court, Jiangdong will always belong to the Sun family."

Sun Jian didn't speak, he just nodded.

Taishi Ci waved his hand, and two soldiers stepped forward to help Yu Ji up from the ground and put him on the prison cart.

Yu Ji did not struggle, nor did he even glance at Sun Jian.

He simply sat in the prison cart, eyes closed, silent, his face as calm as still water.

The prison van slowly drove out of the execution ground. The people knelt by the roadside, weeping silently.

Some people tried to rush forward, but were stopped by Taishi Ci's men.

Sun Jian stood on the execution platform, watching the departing prison cart, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

"Father."

Sun Ce walked to his side and whispered, "Why did Ji Xuanyuan save Yu Ji?"

Sun Jian shook his head, his gaze distant: "I don't know either."

Several days later, in Shuntian, at the Tiance Prefecture.

Yu Ji knelt on the cold floor tiles, his white hair hanging down, covering half of his face.

His hands were tied behind his back, the heavy shackles pressing down on him so that he couldn't straighten his back.

But his back remained perfectly straight.

Ji Xuanyuan sat behind the desk, looking down at him with a calm and composed gaze.

"Yu Ji".

Ji Xuanyuan spoke up: "Tell Sun Jian that whoever kills you will not have a good end."

Yu Ji raised his head and looked at Ji Xuanyuan.

There was no fear or anger in those eyes, only an indescribable calm.

"If I kill you, will you die peacefully?" Ji Xuanyuan's voice was very soft, as if he were asking a trivial question.

Yu Ji remained silent.

He simply looked at Ji Xuanyuan with an all-seeing gaze.

Ji Xuanyuan suddenly smiled.

He stood up, walked to Yu Ji, and looked down at him: "When you say he didn't have a good end, is it because after your death, Sun Jian's old wounds recurred, and he was ultimately assassinated by a powerful family?"

Yu Ji's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

His body trembled slightly, as if something had struck a vital spot.

But he quickly regained his composure, lowered his eyelids, and stopped looking at Ji Xuanyuan.

"You may kill me or torture me, Prime Minister, as you see fit." His voice was hoarse, but every word was clear.

"I'll say it again: whoever kills me will not have a good end."

Ji Xuanyuan was neither angry nor upset.

He simply stood there, quietly watching Yu Ji, his gaze as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.

"Yu Ji".

He spoke slowly, "Do you think I don't know what you're thinking?"

Yu Ji looked up.

Ji Xuanyuan stood with his hands behind his back, his voice calm: "Sun Jian's old wounds have not healed, and years of fighting have already taken their toll on his body. The powerful families of Jiangdong hate him to the bone and will take action against him sooner or later. You only saw this, so you used the name of 'destiny' to clothe yourself in the cloak of a god. You said 'those who kill you will not have a good end,' which is just because you are certain that Sun Jian will not live much longer. Your so-called 'prophecy' is nothing more than seeing through the situation."

Yu Ji was startled, and his expression changed drastically.

Ji Xuanyuan looked at him and smiled slightly: "Am I right?"

Yu Ji remained silent.

He just knelt there, trembling all over, like an old tree that had been broken by the wind.

Ji Xuanyuan did not press the matter further.

He turned around and slowly walked towards Yu Ji.

One step, two steps, three steps.

With each step closer, Yu Ji felt the pressure on his shoulders increase.

It wasn't the oppression of swords or the coercion of power, but a tremor from the depths of the soul.

When Ji Xuanyuan walked up to him, Yu Ji felt that he was not facing a person, but a crawling dragon.

The dragon coiled above the entire city of Shuntian, its eyes slightly closed, its breath like thunder.

Yu Ji trembled all over, and cold sweat poured down his face.

Behind that true dragon stood countless demons and monsters.

The demon god Chi You was covered in blood.

A green dragon coils up, swallowing and exhaling clouds and mist.

When Yinghuo (the Fire Star) took human form, her red hair blazed like fire.

The white tiger crouches, exuding a murderous aura.

The Ghost King had disheveled hair, and a chilling wind blew.

A qilin rides on clouds, surrounded by auspicious omens.

The Iron Star Lord has a body as hard as iron.

White Tiger Star Lord, his spear is as swift as lightning.

The Thunder God, holding a golden halberd.

Some of them were drooling, staring intently at Yu Ji as if he were a lamb to the slaughter.

But they didn't move; they just waited quietly.

Waiting for the sleeping dragon to issue its command.

Ji Xuanyuan reached out and placed his hand on Yu Ji's head.

That hand was very light, as light as a feather.

But Yu Ji felt that it was a mountain, pressing down on him and making it hard for him to breathe.

"Yu Ji".

Ji Xuanyuan's voice rang out above him: "I will not kill you."

Yu Ji was startled.

Ji Xuanyuan continued, "You have saved the people and rendered meritorious service to the nation. I will not take your life for spreading your heretical words. But remember, from this day forward, there are no immortals in this world."

He leaned down, looked into Yu Ji's eyes, and said, word by word, "If I ever hear anyone calling you 'Immortal Yu' again..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the chill he exuded made Yu Ji feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

Yu Ji trembled all over, and cold sweat poured down his face.

He lowered his head, his forehead touching the ground, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible: "This...this humble Taoist...understands."

Ji Xuanyuan straightened up, turned around and walked back behind the desk.

He didn't look at Yu Ji again, but simply said, "Go down and treat the people properly."

Yu Ji knelt on the ground and did not get up for a long time.

He didn't know how he left Tian Ce Mansion, nor how he got back to the post station.

All he knew was that he had seen the real dragon.

That crouching, sleeping, true dragon that could awaken at any moment.

That night, Yu Ji knelt in the post station, facing a solitary lamp, murmuring to himself: "A cure for the world... to save others... to save myself..."

He didn't know the answer.

All he knew was that from this day forward, he was no longer a god.

Several days later, outside Shuntian City.

Yu Ji stood on the official road, carrying a tattered medicine box on his back.

His white hair was ruffled by the wind, and his crane cloak was covered in dust.

Behind him stood the majestic city gate of Shuntian City.

Before him lay the vast land and countless people in need of medical help.

He didn't turn around and strode forward.

Tian Ce Mansion, study.

Ji Xuanyuan stood by the window, watching the figure receding into the distance outside the city, remaining silent.

Guo Jia walked in and said softly, "My lord, Yu Ji has left."

Ji Xuanyuan nodded: "I know."

Guo Jia hesitated and said, "Why doesn't my lord kill him? This man spreads heresies and misleads the people; keeping him in the world will only bring disaster."

Ji Xuanyuan turned around, looked at him, and smiled slightly: "Fengxiao, do you think Yu Ji is a deity?"

Guo Jia was taken aback, then shook his head and said, "Of course not."

Ji Xuanyuan nodded: "Of course he is not a god. He is just a Taoist priest who can cure diseases and an old man who can observe celestial phenomena. The people believe in him not because he has sorcery, but because he has really saved people."

He walked to the map and traced his finger across the Jiangdong region: "Sun Jian killed Yu Ji because he was afraid. He was afraid that the people would trust Yu Ji but not him, that the scholars would respect Yu Ji but not him, that the soldiers would worship Yu Ji but not him. But he didn't know that the people trusted Yu Ji not because they were stupid, but because they needed someone to save them. Sun Jian couldn't give them peace, food, or hope, but Yu Ji did, so the people trusted him."

He turned around and looked at Guo Jia: "I did not kill Yu Ji not because he was innocent, but because even if I killed him, the people would still believe in the gods. Rather than killing Yu Ji, it is better to let the world know that the one who can save them is not a god, but me."

Guo Jia remained silent for a long time, then bowed deeply: "My lord is wise."