A Scroll of Infinite Glory

Chapter 129 Diviner

The streets and alleys were orderly, and after the light rain, the sky was as blue as jade.

From the seventh floor of the octagonal, upturned building, Meng Wanghou looked down at the crowds, which looked like ants, bustling with vendors and people coming and going.

Qushuanglou is the most famous restaurant in the city, especially renowned for its "Xingxian Wine". It is said that each jar of wine is brewed for more than ten years, and the wine is as thick as syrup with a faint floral fragrance. Only 150 jars are sold every March. One cup can keep you warm for three days.

Even in Luoyang, the eastern capital city nearly a hundred miles away, people would come early every March, drawn by its reputation, just to taste this famous wine.

Being able to book the entire seventh floor of Qushuang Tower to enjoy wine and the view is indeed a grand affair that even the descendants of some kings and nobles in Luoyang would admire and praise.

Meng Wanghou's outer robe was edged with gold thread, and the vine patterns embroidered with gold thread were all over it. The clothes were obviously light and thin, but they had a dull feeling that was different from ordinary clothing. There was also a jade belt around his waist, a purple and gold crown to bind his hair, and black sideburns.

Even with a bluish birthmark occupying half of his forehead above his sharply defined eyebrows, it did not diminish his noble and profound demeanor.

However, this man, whose name included the title of a king and who possessed the air of a king, had no official position in the imperial court. Instead, he had a fearsome reputation in the martial arts world—he was none other than the Southern Envoy of the Fire Luo Path.

"The spring chill is still in the air. Since Brother Meng has spent a fortune to book this place, why not enjoy the warmth of the stove and fine wine here, instead of standing by the railing, exposed to the damp, cold wind after the drizzle?"

A man dressed as a fortune teller has silently appeared in the elegant yet luxurious halls and rooms of the building.

The man wore a square scarf on his head, cloth clothes and straw sandals, and a blue cloth sling hanging on his right shoulder. It looked like a rectangular strip of cloth with a pocket at each end, one hanging in front of him and the other behind him.

He took a seat behind a low table, settling comfortably on a cushion. He removed his satchel, which contained counting rods, tortoise shells, copper coins, and writing implements.

Meng Wanghou turned to look at him: "Bu Suanzi, I am burdened with a heavy responsibility, and I should have taken action in the next couple of days. You sent an urgent secret report, urging me to postpone it and arrange a meeting. What is the reason for this?"

Bu Suanzi exhaled a puff of white breath, rubbed his hands together, picked up the wine pot that was warming on the small stove next to him, poured himself a cup, and said, "Han Yu made great contributions ten years ago and was known as the number one general from a poor family. He is cunning and shrewd, and should not be underestimated."

"Hmph, just a decrepit old man who has been retired for several years."

Meng Wanghou said, "A famous general, even a famous general needs both generals and soldiers to be able to perform his duties. At most, he is an old and frail first-rate warrior who may not have any remaining ferocity."

"Even so, I never underestimated him. I brought three protectors and dispatched forces within the sect to make various arrangements to lure out several threatening figures from the Ironclad Hall's Luoyang branch, either killing them on the way or tricking them into going far away."

"Isolating him here will ensure that my actions are foolproof."

Among the righteous sects in the world today, the most prestigious are Lao Jun Mountain and Shaolin Temple, but the most powerful and with the most disciples is definitely the Iron Robe Hall.

Ironclad Hall originally originated as a loose sect formed by a group of veterans during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty. In the Tang Dynasty, military service began at age 21 and ended at 51. During busy farming seasons, soldiers farmed, and during slack seasons, they practiced martial arts and breathing exercises. Those who had participated in major battles could retire after ten years. Some veterans who had practiced martial arts in the army remained energetic and ambitious after retirement, so they established this sect and also engaged in businesses similar to escort agencies.

These people may not have deep family backgrounds, but they definitely have a lot of connections with officials. Later, they gradually grew stronger and even the imperial court wanted to support them. They were known as the "leaders of all the escort agencies in the world". Some generals who had never retired were able to directly hold positions in the Iron Robe Hall.

Ten years ago, during the Southwest War, one of the five grandmasters of the righteous path was Su Xing, the then head of the Ironclad Hall and Duke of Zhuang.

Although the Ironclad Hall no longer has a grandmaster-level expert in charge, its power is still not to be underestimated.

After Han Yu resigned from his official post and went into seclusion, his power naturally diminished, but his reputation and connections remained. Both of his sons held positions in Chang'an, and the Luoyang branch of the Iron Robe Hall valued him highly, sending some experts to take turns guarding the city to take care of the Han family.

King Meng first devised a plan to eliminate these obstacles before preparing to take action, which can be described as extremely cautious.

"Unfortunately, things change in an unpredictable way, and fate is unpredictable; an unexpected event occurred."

Bu Suanzi spoke casually, took a sip of wine, and his face lit up with joy. He stroked his beard and praised, "Indeed, fine wine."

Lord Meng disliked his habit of telling fortunes and deceiving people, and his tendency to keep things mysterious. He simply said, "What's the matter? Tell me before you drink."

"Alas, I traveled day and night to come and help you, only to have a cup of wine and still have to endure your cold words."

Although Bu Suanzi said this, he had already stopped drinking. "This matter has to start with Qiu Ruzui. A while ago, she used the jade mirror to sense that the Lushan Sect was going to find a treasure that would threaten her, so she sent Yang Jichang, Fan Kelian, and Kang Fulai to deal with this matter."

"Unexpectedly, the Taoist temple that Chen Shouzhen of the Lushan School found contained three young, top-notch masters. Caught off guard, they killed Yang and Kang and captured Fan Kelian."

"After the accompanying disciple, who was in charge of disguising himself and gathering intelligence, brought this message back, the sect was originally preparing to rescue him. Since Qiu Ruzui was not there, I was put in charge. However, just as I was gathering manpower, another message came in."

At this point, Bu Suanzi seemed to show a hint of regret on his face. "The principle of the accompanying disciples is not to show themselves or make contact, so they take turns looking around in different identities and as ordinary people. However, since there was no movement in the Taoist temple all day the next day, they tried to send some children over to test the waters."

"The Taoist temple is now deserted."

These words sounded ordinary, but Meng Wanghou understood their meaning almost instantly.

The sudden disappearance of the Taoist temple members under surveillance must have been a deliberate act by top-tier martial arts experts to escape with others. The fact that they did this indicates they were aware of the presence of the Fire Luo Sect's accompanying disciples.

Presumably because they couldn't immediately ascertain the identities of these accompanying disciples and didn't want to waste time, they adopted this method to evade surveillance.

However, the existence of the Fire Luo Path's accompanying disciples is itself a secret.

The fact that the people in the Taoist temple would know about this matter must be because Fan Kelian revealed it. In other words, Fan Kelian will also reveal everything he knows about the Huoluo Taoist sect.

The regret on Bu Suanzi's face was for Fan Kelian.

Meng Wanghou chuckled: "To get Fan Kelian to confess so quickly, the people in that Taoist temple you mentioned are probably connected to the imperial court."

"Very likely." Bu Suanzi nodded. "They have been apprentices for many years, and their martial arts have reached a high level. In fact, all three of them have surpassed their master, yet they are not well-known in the martial arts world. It is indeed as if they have been tempered by the government."

Meng Wanghou said, "So you think they already know I'm going to make a move against Han Wengong."

"Of all the information Fan Kelian knows, your matter is the most important one recently."

Bu Suanzi gently twirled the end of his goatee and said, "If they have already arrived at the Han residence, then relying solely on you and the three protectors you brought will not be enough to accomplish this task."

Chen Shouzhen, three first-rate individuals, plus Han Yu himself.

Although Meng Wanghou was confident, he would never dare to say that he and his three subordinates were absolutely certain of defeating the other party based solely on his own words.

"But even with you included, we're only evenly matched with them in numbers. Whether we can win or not is another matter, but if they try to escape, we probably won't be able to stop them."

Bu Suanzi readily admitted, "That's right. So I had already consulted with my superiors before I set off. I was the first to arrive, and within three days, four more guardians should be on their way."

Lord Meng pondered for a moment and said, "Wait three more days?"

Seeing that he was deep in thought, Bu Suanzi reached out and poured another cup of Xingxian wine, slowly savoring the warm and thick wine.

"It wouldn't hurt to wait three more days before making a move against Han Wengong."

Meng Wanghou finally spoke, his eyes flashing slightly, a chilling light seemingly flowing between his pupils, "However, if what you say is true, Chen Shouzhen went to the Han residence, then we still have some other things to do in the next three days."

Bu Suanzi asked, "What?"

Meng Wanghou said, "Besides Chen Shouzhen, the Lushan Sect has another top-tier master, his uncle, Tao Ran Jin Yu Zhao Wangui..."

………………

When the northern and southern envoys of the Fire Luo Road, Lord Meng and the fortune teller met, it was just as they had guessed.

—Guan Luoyang and others have arrived at Han Wengong's residence.

And we've been here for a night and half a day already.

They brought witnesses of the Fire Luo Dao protectors to warn Han Wengong, and were subsequently invited by Han Wengong to stay at his residence.

The Han family was originally from a poor family, and Han Wengong was even known as the number one general from a poor family in the dynasty.

However, "humble family" does not refer to commoners, but to aristocratic families that have declined in status. Han Wengong's father and brother had both served as officials in the court, but he lost his father at the age of three and was raised by his brother, who was later demoted.

When Han Yu's fame spread throughout the court and the country, his once-declining family naturally experienced a resurgence.

This old Han family residence was also renovated and expanded, becoming the residence where Han Wengong lived out his days in peace after retiring from officialdom.

The courtyard allocated to Guan Luoyang and his family alone has gardens, pavilions, ponds, corridors, green bricks, black tiles, carved doors, and white walls.

Each of the several people's rooms had a lotus-shaped water clock to keep track of time, and outside the window, there was either a clump of sword bamboo or an old plum tree.

Under the plum tree, on a rattan chair draped in a soft fox fur, Anfeiyu lay on it, listening to music while training his activation contract.

The superpowers granted by Rainbow Stones represent a system with immense potential. In the world of "Star Journey," the origin of Rainbow Stones, there are even seven-star powerhouses.

However, the process of developing these abilities is by no means easy. Many people in that world will remain at the level they were when they first obtained the Rainbow Stone. If they suffer a huge psychological blow and cannot withstand it, the Rainbow Stone will turn gray and lose its power.

At this point, the advantages of those who reincarnate become apparent.

After obtaining the Rainbow Stone, Anfeiyu, in another mission world, also cultivated a system called "Intent Energy," which can enhance the strength of one's will through some simplified training.

After forming a temporary team, he received Guan Luoyang's Mind Power Method, which was more personalized and refined compared to the "Mind Energy" system created by aliens.

His activation contract has evolved from manipulating gases and liquids to now being able to activate solids, and even attempt to activate light.

The sunlight filling the courtyard gradually coalesced into golden butterflies as Anfeiyu practiced, seemingly leisurely but actually diligently.

One butterfly after another gathered and took flight from his left side, their forms purely composed of light, fluttering and dancing like a dream.

After a swarm of hundreds of butterflies gathered and hovered in the courtyard, suddenly, several butterflies flew past the window hidden by the bamboo grove and disappeared into the room.

Anfeiyu's eyes flickered, sensing something was amiss.

These butterflies, which he activated with his abilities, were originally entirely under his control, but those few just now seemed to have been interfered with and attracted by another force.

Gaa!

The rattan chair creaked and swayed slightly. An Feiyu got up and looked towards the window.

The window was open, and one could vaguely see inside. Guan Luoyang was sitting on the bed cultivating.

The golden butterfly touched his body and suddenly disintegrated, swallowed by his body.

An Feiyu noticed that although the sunlight was shining through the window and the room was well-lit, Guan Luoyang's room seemed inexplicably dim, especially near where he was, where the light was faintly thin and distorted.

Recalling the time when they sparred and trained together, Guan Luoyang would go to the top of the snow mountain every day at noon to stare directly at the sun in order to cultivate the Fire Golden Eye Sword, which seemed somewhat similar to this scene.

Anfeiyu had a sudden inspiration and commanded all the golden butterflies to fly in swarms over the window toward Guan Luoyang.

A beautiful light filled the room, and the fluttering butterflies caused the light and shadow on everything in the room to change in a beautiful way: the golden gauze curtains on the bed, the wardrobe and tall candlesticks on the wall, the brass basin on the wooden shelf, the teapot and the overturned porcelain cup on the table...

Guan Luoyang's body, however, seemed to have transformed into a bottomless abyss, indiscriminately devouring the golden, fluttering light, causing all the golden butterflies to return to their nests and plunge into it.

The sunlight streaming through the courtyard was continuously borrowed and flown into the room under the control of the anemone.

The sun slanted from east to west, gradually shifting its position. The emerald sky grew increasingly yellow, and the earth was enveloped in a gentle twilight. Even the withered plum branches seemed to soften.

An Feiyu shook her head, took two steps back, sat back in the wicker chair, her face full of fatigue, and rubbed her temples.

The last butterfly was swallowed up, and Guan Luoyang pushed open the door and handed him a porcelain cup.

"You can still train, but I can't keep going."

An Feiyu took the porcelain cup. "I never expected that my ability could actually help you practice your skills."

Guan Luoyang turned to look at the setting sun, stretched his limbs, and said in a good mood, "I didn't expect that either."

In the past few days, following the energy circulation route of the Illusionary Sun True Skill, he has successfully consolidated his dantian. The "qi" drawn from the outside world by this skill can indeed coexist with and even merge with the Azure Bird's primordial energy.

However, it's still a little short of being proficient enough to achieve that level of effortless, unintentional, and automatic looping.

With success in sight, Guan Luoyang practiced even harder.

The combined operation and mutual stimulation of his brain and dantian (lower abdomen) had made him aware that his recent progress had increased significantly.

In the past half day, Anfeiyu had gathered sunlight into butterflies for him to absorb, which increased the efficiency of the circulation in his dantian and qi sea.

"Perfect timing. I condensed the butterfly for training anyway, so having those things swallowed by you won't affect my training results. In fact, it might even stimulate my potential. It's a pity I only recently reached the point where I can activate sunlight."

Anfeiyu took a sip of tea, and as soon as the tea went down, a vigorous and warm energy spread throughout him, instantly relieving the fatigue from continuously using his abilities.

"Hey! What's this water?"

He looked at the remaining half-cup of tea, took another sip, and the feeling from before returned; it was indeed not an illusion.

"It's this bead."

Guan Luoyang turned around, holding the Feather Rebirth Pearl between his fingers. "It's a four-star tonic, containing a lot of vitality, but it can only be consumed by soaking it in water. It was quite useful to me before, but now I use the time I spend digesting it to practice my skills, and my progress is no less than its."

An Feiyu realized something: "Hey, don't..."

jingle!

The bead was tossed into the porcelain cup in his hand.

Guan Luoyang said, "I'll take the beads, but I only have one thermos that I've used. You'll have to find another one yourself."

An Feiyu stopped what he was doing, stared at the bead for a while, and laughed, "This isn't like knowledge, which can be easily copied and exchanged. It's a four-star medicine. Even if it's a temporary gift between teammates, it's still a bit too much."

"Then consider it payment, my advance payment."

Guan Luoyang looked at his hands, clenching his knuckles, and felt the power circulating from his brain and dantian surge into his palms.

In the instant he clenched all five fingers, he felt as if his palm contained the light of the sun and the sturdiness of a warship.

Even if it's just an exaggerated metaphor, the feeling of being completely in control, and then becoming stronger after understanding, surpasses all the previous experiences of receiving initiation from ancient paintings, swallowing snake gallbladders, being injected with drugs, and having my brain stimulated by pulling wires from machines.

It's more like the transformation he underwent when he first met Tian Gongyu, from an ordinary teenager to someone with immense strength.

Although for those in the cycle of reincarnation, no matter what method is used, they will become stronger, and they should not have any discriminating thoughts.

But Guan Luoyang just prefers this feeling.

He looked at his fist with delight and said, "With this, your training will be more efficient, and it will also help me train more efficiently."

Since that's what she said, Anfeiyu stopped being coy.

The servants of the Han family always invited them to dinner.

Guan Luoyang and An Feiyu left the courtyard and encountered Chen Shouzhen on the way.

An Feiyu glanced around and asked, "Where's Brother Che?"

Chen Shouzhen laughed and said, "I originally discussed with Wen Gong about asking for reinforcements from several other forces, but unfortunately they are all far away, and correspondence takes a lot of time. The generals and镖头 (bodyguards) of the nearby Ironclad Hall have probably been deliberately transferred away, and the other government officials and soldiers are of no use."

"Unexpectedly, fate is on our side. This afternoon, I heard that my Uncle Zhao was a guest at the Sword Casting Manor on the outskirts of Luoyang. So I sent Jin Feng to deliver the message."

Seeing An Feiyu's thoughtful expression, Chen Shouzhen added, "Jin Feng is the most suitable candidate. This time, I've even disguised him and asked a servant who usually delivers hay to the Han family to switch identities. Even if someone is watching the Han family, he should be able to get away with it without any problems."

Although it was still a bit risky, it was as thorough as possible, and the risk was worth taking. After a brief consideration, Anfeiyu stopped thinking about it.

Guan Luoyang suddenly asked, "Is the Sword Forging Manor very famous?"

Chen Shouzheng's expression shifted slightly, and he looked at the two of them with some hesitation. He said, "Old Master Wu Pingqiang of the Sword Casting Manor is a first-rate expert, and he was also a disciple of the Ice Glacier Sect back then..."

The Ice Glacier Sect has a short history, having been established only seventy years ago. Its founder, the Ice Glacier Elder, was extremely skilled at forging divine weapons and had seven true disciples, with Snow Dragon being the youngest.

The Ice Age Elder was also a grandmaster, but unfortunately, he failed to break through the void and went mad with evil spirits, dying suddenly. Then, a master of the demonic sect came to the Ice Age Sect, intending to seize the various divine weapons in the storehouse, killing the Ice Age Sect disciples and scattering them.

The eldest disciple, Wu Pingqiang, fled to the Central Plains and sought refuge at Lao Jun Mountain. Later, he went to the outskirts of Luoyang and established his own sect, which is this Sword Casting Manor.

Guan Luoyang shook his head: "Now is not the time to ask about this background. What I want to ask is, is your martial uncle's presence at the Sword Forging Manor known to many people, or is it a very secretive affair?"

"Every three years on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, a famous sword will be born at the Sword Forging Manor. We invite heroes to come and appraise the sword. I heard that this year's sword is even more extraordinary. Uncle Zhao has an old friendship with Master Wu, so he was invited more than two months in advance."

At this point, Chen Shouzhen's expression turned serious. He said, "Brother Guan, do you mean that the Huoluo Dao might also know my martial uncle's whereabouts and would guard the key roads around the manor in advance to intercept and kill the messengers we sent?"

If it were the Huo Luo Dao as perceived by the righteous people of the past, Chen Shouzhen probably wouldn't have thought of this aspect.

After all, Sword Forging Manor is dozens of miles away from here, and generally no evil sect would consider other forces dozens of miles away when attacking a target.

However, after reading Fan Kelian's confessions, he gained a deeper understanding of the strictness and meticulousness of the Huoluo Dao, and once reminded, he began to overestimate it.

"It's not necessarily possible to send people to guard the entire manor dozens of miles away in advance. But if they know your martial uncle's whereabouts and deduce that we've arrived at the Han residence..."

Guan Luoyang opened his palms. "It's a 50/50 chance. One possibility is that we should launch a strong attack on the Han residence immediately."

An Feiyu said, "Since they deliberately diverted the Ironclad Hall's people, the original manpower they prepared can probably only handle the Han family. With us added, their chances of success are slim."

"That's the second option: to intercept and kill, but not your junior brother..."

Guan Luoyang said, "It's about killing your martial uncle."

(End of this chapter)