Xie Guanying spoke softly, “The Prince wishes to defend Beiliang, and has no choice but to confine himself within its borders, regardless of whether outsiders understand or not. I do not admire this, but since the Prince is the son of General Xu Xiao, I comprehend the necessity. Following this choice, Beiliang and Xishu might not become allies, but they need not become mortal enemies either. Pointless quarrels serve no purpose and hold no interest.”
Fixing his gaze on Xu Fengnian, Xie Guanying smiled and said, “Just like today, the six of us are sipping tea, savoring its aftertaste, rather than drinking wine, opening a jar of strong liquor, drinking it all, and at best getting drunk. It might be enjoyable while drinking, but the next day inevitably brings a headache.”
Xu Fengnian asked only one question, “Has Master Xie ever considered that millions more people in the Central Plains might perish?”
Xie Guanying fell silent, and after a long pause, retorted, “Then have you considered what it truly means to inherit General Xu Xiao’s deeper will—the will to shatter the foundations of the aristocratic clans?”
Xu Fengnian sneered, “Master Xie would say that from the Qin Empire to the Feng Dynasty, and then to the Nine States of the Spring and Autumn Periods, no emperor considered orthodox in the Central Plains came from humble origins. Only when such an emperor emerged could Xu Xiao’s conquest of the Central Plains be truly complete?”
After setting down his teacup, Xu Fengnian continued slowly, “Or, as Master Xie puts it, is this interesting?”
Meeting his words head-on, Xie Guanying replied, “When the Qin Empire dominated, Luoyang was the heart of China; during the Feng Dynasty, Qingzhou was the center. In the Liyang era, Jiangnan became the heartland. If one day, the deaths of millions could lead to the annexation of the entire Beimang, making the Beiliang northwest frontier the new Central Plains, what would be wrong with that? After success, centuries of peace would be secured. Those who die today would mean fewer deaths in the future.”
Xu Fengnian shook his head gravely, “Some calculations cannot be made this way.”
Xie Guanying did not grow angry at Xu Fengnian’s rebuttal, but smiled easily, “They say the Prince never makes a losing move, whether with the Six-Pearl Bodhisattva of the Lantuo Mountains in the West, or with Xuan Yuan Qingfeng of the Great Snowy Peaks in Huishan, or with Kou Jianghuai, the deputy general of Liangzhou who disguised himself as Kou Beishang, or even with Liu Niron, the young girl from the Fish Dragon Sect. Before coming to Linzhou, I made a bet with the King of Shu, wagering whether you would allow Huyan Daguan to appear openly. I lost. Clearly, the Prince’s journey south, though seemingly fierce, actually carries a fair measure of sincerity.”
Xu Fengnian smiled, “Master Xie, you are a strategist of statesmanship, but not a shrewd businessman, and you do not understand how I conduct my dealings. Moreover, you fall short of Huang Sanjia. All these years, you’ve merely echoed others’ ideas. Huang Sanjia treated the Spring and Autumn Period like a field to be cultivated, personally tending to it with vigor and flair. But you, Master Xie, are ultimately just a reader, and in the first half of your life, you were far from being an author. Among the strategists of the Spring and Autumn Period—Huang Sanjia, my teacher Li Yishan, Yuan Benxi, Nalan Youci, and even Zhang Julu, who was not strictly a strategist—you are far less… confined by rigid principles, for after all, blind faith in books is worse than having no books at all. Of course, you eventually could not resist the urge for redemption, trying to make amends for yourself. Thus, you searched the world, turning each page of the Spring and Autumn annals from the beginning, finally arriving at the historically insignificant Xishu, hoping to blaze a new trail.”
Xie Guanying’s expression faltered.
Xie Xie felt as if she were lost in a fog, unable to understand what this Xu was really circling around. Why would Master Xie, who was so adept at cultivating composure, truly become angry?
Suddenly, Xu Fengnian turned to look at her, smirking mischievously, “Auntie Xie, not understanding, are you?”
Xie Xie immediately felt a tightness in her chest.
Tan Tai Pingjing smiled knowingly.
As the world’s most skilled at observing the flow of energy, she could discern heavenly secrets from the faintest clues. For instance, Huang Sanjia’s role as a “writer” and Xie Guanying’s role as a “book carrier.” Huang Sanjia, making minor alterations within a grand framework, achieved longevity despite his manipulations, living to a ripe old age, perhaps even dying peacefully. This was enough to anger Xie Guanying, who had diligently carried the burden of reciting texts, much like two candidates in an imperial examination: one cleverly exploits loopholes to easily pass as a Jinshi, while the other, following the rules, barely earns a lesser title, how could he not feel indignant? Now another opportunity has arisen, and thus the latter seeks to take a chance, not only to surpass Huang Sanjia, but also to outshine fellow strategists like Xun Ping, Yuan Benxi, Li Yishan, Nalan Youci, and Zhao Changling, aiming to win with a clear conscience. The sages spoke of establishing oneself at thirty, being free of confusion at forty, understanding one’s destiny at fifty, being at peace with criticism at sixty, and acting freely without transgression at seventy.
The reason Tan Tai Pingjing left Liangzhou for Linzhou was that she had completely opposed Xie Guanying, believing his actions to be a reckless overstepping of boundaries—what the sages called “knowing the impossible and still striving for it.” As for Xie Guanying capturing the dragon of Xishu previously, that was merely a subtle sign of their parting ways, though she had not expected this moment to come so soon.
Xie Guanying, having his heavenly secrets exposed face-to-face, simply smiled it off, speaking lightly, “The Prince says Zhao Dun died too early, but I would say Zhao Changling died too early.”
He added, “As for Li Yishan, he died too late.”
Xu Fengnian said expressionlessly, “Likewise, as a strategist, Yuan Benxi died too late.”
Looking at the young man, Xie Guanying burst into laughter and asked, “Then may I ask, am I also dying too late?”
Xu Fengnian did not answer, but Xu Yanbing and Tan Tai Pingjing had already risen to their feet simultaneously.
Xie Xie was completely unafraid of the tense atmosphere, on the contrary, she felt a thrill at the chaos. As for her own life and death, she had long since cast them aside, and she did not believe that standing by his side would bring her any danger.
Having missed the Spring and Autumn of this man, she did not wish to miss any of his moves in the struggle for the world.
Just as Xie Xie thought Xu Yanbing and the head of the Nanhai Guanyin Sect would engage in a fierce battle, she was wrong again. Tan Tai Pingjing, the other woman, looked at her with the eyes of someone regarding a fool and asked, “Waiting here to die?”
As Xie Xie was about to speak, she was lifted like a chicken by the tall, white-robed woman and carried out of the courtyard. Even more astonishing to Xie Xie was that, accompanying them in leaving, was Xu Yanbing, who should have stayed in the courtyard to assist that man.
Could this Xu possibly be planning to face two opponents alone?
He must be mad?
Tan Tai Pingjing casually tossed Xie Xie aside, then looked toward the courtyard and asked, “Is everything really okay?”
Xu Yanbing replied flatly, “At worst, we let Huyan Daguan return in time.”
Tan Tai Pingjing sighed, “For an individual, that’s true, but for Beiliang, it’s already the worst possible situation.”
Xu Yanbing nodded, not denying, but then he turned and smiled, “But doesn’t the Mistress think this kind of Beiliang King is more satisfying?”
Tan Tai Pingjing helplessly said, “Putting aside everything else, the impact of this quarrel on the entire world will certainly be unprecedented and unparalleled.”
Xu Yanbing smiled, “The more so, the more worthy it is for someone like Xu Yanbing, who knows nothing of court politics or the grand scheme, to stand by Beiliang.”
Xie Xie sneered, “A martial arts grandmaster whose cultivation has greatly declined and whose reputation is undeserved, what courage can he show? Does he really think he is invincible in the world?”
Xu Yanbing, who usually never stooped to arguing with a mere woman, unusually retorted, “What does a woman like you know about anything!”
Xie Xie was stunned; she couldn’t very well argue that she actually understood “everything,” could she?
This trip to Linzhou indeed left this beauty, who had humbled many men in Shu, with some psychological scars. If it weren’t because that man also hailed from Beiliang, she would have grumbled about the “Beiliang savages” long ago.
In a bustling market, Huyan Daguan, who had been busy choosing some delicate items for his wife and daughter, rolled his eyes, no longer haggling with the shopkeeper, and left the store in a huff, disregarding whether it would shock the common people on the street. He grabbed Tie Mudie’er’s arm and leapt into the air, and in an instant, the two silently landed outside that residence. He complained to Xu Yanbing and Tan Tai Pingjing, “What’s going on here? Did they really start fighting?”
Xie Xie finally regained her composure, scoffing, “Oh, the loyal helper has arrived. Are thousands of Linzhou troops going to rush here in a hurry too?”
Huyan Daguan ignored the woman, looking toward the courtyard himself, and was quite surprised, murmuring, “Is this possible?”
Tie Mudie’er hesitated, probably wanting to ask but not daring to.
Huyan Daguan kept his eyes fixed on the upper part of the courtyard, instinctively speaking in the language of the Central Plains, “Back then I gave you two words, but you were too foolish to understand them thoroughly all these years. That’s why I had you follow Xu Fengnian, hoping you would first truly get close to this Grandmaster, who is almost your age, and then go beyond him.”
Tie Mudie’er, who didn’t understand what Huyan Daguan had said, looked confused.
Realizing his mistake, Huyan Daguan switched to a Northern Wastes accent with a bad temper, “Let me teach you two words: ‘unbelievable’! If you want one day to surpass Xu Fengnian in cultivation, you must first break free from his shadow. Back then, every time Wang Xianzhi saw Li Chungan fighting someone else, he would shamelessly watch. Many others did the same, but instead of becoming ‘unbelievable,’ they increasingly revered Li Chungan, and thus spent their entire lives looking up at the summit from the foot of the mountain. Only Wang Xianzhi gritted his teeth, followed closely, climbed high, and finally surpassed Li Chungan. Well, actually, back then they were evenly matched. At that time, Li Chungan was disheartened and willingly gave up his position for Wang Xianzhi. Later, Wang Xianzhi was particularly rare in that he did not stop, his cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds, reaching the highest level, still insisting on climbing to the peak of the mountain. Actually, I understand this principle, but I really don’t have the heart to do it. There is a young man in Yangzhou named Fu Ding, who now inherited half of Wang Xianzhi’s legacy in the Wudi City of the East Sea. However, after losing to Xu Fengnian, he has not yet become ‘unbelievable.’ But you, young man, are not much better off. It’s just how it is. Compared to me, your comprehension is truly disheartening…”
Listening to Huyan Daguan’s long-absent chatter, Tie Mudie’er smiled, revealing his teeth. In the world, the only thing more endearing to him than the cheap sword at his waist was probably this old man’s criticism and self-praise.
But after seeing the man truly fight for the first time, and after blocking two of Xu Yanbing’s spears within ten days, Tie Mudie’er had to admit that Huyan Daguan was indeed the most wasteful genius in the world.
Suddenly, Huyan Daguan sighed softly, “You’re such a fool, I no longer expect you to surpass Xu Fengnian in your lifetime, but you must follow closely behind him.”
Tie Mudie’er held back for a while, then finally plucked up the courage to say the words from the depths of his heart.
“My sword, my swordsmanship, from the very beginning, has been unique in the world. I don’t need to learn from anyone.”
After hearing this, Huyan Daguan was momentarily stunned. He turned to look at this young man who, like himself, had come from the Northern Wastes, and patted his shoulder, “I underestimated you. Very well.”
Huyan Daguan rubbed his chin, speaking with great seriousness, “No wonder I, Huyan Daguan, chose you. It must have been because our temperaments are similar. It made me often question myself over the years in Liyang, whether I had been blinded by greed and had my dog eyes clouded when I decided to guide you. Based on this alone, you, young man, are destined to become the strongest in the world!”
Nearby, Xie Xie was completely stunned. This shameless fellow was actually the Grandmaster of the Northern Wastes, revered as a one-man sect? The martial genius who was once considered a contender with Toba Pusa for the title of the strongest in the world?
Then Xie Xie felt somewhat dispirited and thought she should return to Shu as soon as possible. The men in this world, from those surnamed Xu, to Xu Yanbing, and then this Huyan Daguan, were all simply the worst!
In the courtyard.
Chen Zhibao remained motionless.
Xie Guanying sat upright and dignified, yet this scholar, who had attained great understanding through reading, still showed no sign of being in a dire situation.
Xu Fengnian looked into his teacup, and as thoughts stirred, ripples appeared on the water.
Once, the Northern Wastes swordsman Huang Qing, known as the Sword Qi Approaching, had offered half a sword, and sixteen visions of the Buddha were born.
Xu Fengnian said mockingly, “So there are such scholars,” then gently raised his cup, tilting his head back to drink all the tea in one gulp.
Then, Xie Guanying, who had seen all of life’s vicissitudes, witnessed a sight that made him exclaim in admiration.
In the courtyard, countless “guests” appeared out of nowhere.
An old man in a sheepskin coat seemed to stand atop a mountain peak, shouting, “Bring forth the sword!”
A middle-aged swordsman rode a donkey backwards, wielding a peach branch, with flying swords swirling around him.
A tall, white-haired old man stood with his hands behind his back.
An old man with long, drooping eyebrows sat cross-legged, appearing to be eating a sword.
A small old man with missing front teeth hunched over, carrying a box on his back.
Three Taoist priests of vastly different ages but strikingly similar expressions stood side by side.
Three Wudang Taoists in identical robes stood together; one was frowning while untying a fortune-telling slip, another was staring straight ahead, pointing his finger as if to sever a river, and the third was looking up with a sword on his back.
An elderly man with empty hands appeared, and with him came a sword.
Someone stood in the center of a thunder pool from which purple mist rose.
There was the imposing sight of the Red Armor of the Talisman Bearers.
A woman in green robes seemed to be leaning on a balcony, resting her cheek on her hand, gazing into the distance.
A mighty man held a spear and faced north.
An old man in a Python robehad red silk wrapped around both sleeves.
A tall old man wore a saber made of ice and snow at his waist…
More and more “people” continued to appear.
The fairly spacious courtyard was filled with people on the ground and in the air.
Even the stone bench beside Xie Guanying eventually had a sickly, emaciated scholar sitting on it, seemingly mocking Xie Guanying.
These dozens of figures together embodied the elegance and charm of the Spring and Autumn Annals’ century-long legacy.
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