Edict of Peace 71
Chapter 71: The World Changes
It was Si Wei, the oldest member of the current generation of Yin and Yang Masters, who climbed onto the corner of the wall. His hair was white as snow, and he grinned, waving a hand at Li Guanyi before yelling “Oops!” and tumbling forward. An unseen stream of light accompanied his fall, and a Xuanwu (black tortoise) materialized, gently catching the old man.
“Long time no see, hahaha, young friend.”
The old man seemed delighted to see Li Guanyi.
Li Guanyi didn’t want to ask how the old man got into the Xue family home.
The Donglu School of Stargazing was one of the Three Sects Beyond the World, while the Yin and Yang school was a prominent school of thought. Their approaches were somewhat similar, both focusing on the cultivation of divine energy and Qi. Yao Guang could enter silently, and given Si Wei’s significantly greater age, such an ability wasn’t difficult.
Li Guanyi informed his aunt, took a few taels of silver, and took the old man to a nearby tavern. The old man ordered a better quality wine, three cash a cup—a world of difference from the one-cash-a-cup variety.
It simply meant it had less water added.
The old man tilted his head back and drank it down in one gulp. The strong liquor burned its way down his throat, bringing a flush to his cheeks.
He smacked his lips appreciatively. “Not bad, not bad.”
“Far superior to the imperial wine in the palace. Palace wine is too soft, lacking staying power. It only leads to mild intoxication. This wine, however, is stimulating. If it can’t make a person thoroughly drunk, then it’s no better than sweet milk and cheese.”
Li Guanyi didn’t agree with the old man’s assessment.
He merely asked curiously, “It’s been almost half a month. How come you’re back, old man?”
Si Wei seemed to like this address, laughing heartily. “Naturally, because the matter is concluded. Should I have stayed and shamelessly chatted away with those high-ranking officials? Young Master Zu has entered the court and now manages the Imperial Astronomical Observatory, and that boy Wang Tong has become a Grand Scholar.”
“Young Master Yu Qianfeng has also achieved his goal, though I wonder when he’ll return.”
“Those red-robed officials in the palace lost, yet they still pretend to be harmonious, engaging in endless banquets. Their hearts are filled with hatred, wishing they could flay each other alive, but they still force smiles. I, an old man, was afraid I’d laugh myself to death, so I came back to see you.”
The old man chuckled as he recounted palace gossip.
The Xuanwu had also been served a cup of wine. He spoke without trying to conceal anything, yet those around them ignored the old man and the youth. It was undoubtedly a skill of the Yin and Yang lineage. While the various schools of thought and the Three Sects Beyond the World were no match for martial artists in close-quarters combat, their cultivation wasn’t solely for fighting.
They possessed subtle and mysterious techniques.
After several cups of wine, the old man picked up some peanuts with his chopsticks, tossing them into his mouth and chewing slowly. “Things have settled down for now. Both sides are waiting for a turning point. It’s rather mysterious, but it all comes down to Chen Kingdom’s grand festival in forty or fifty days.”
“Hmph, this grand festival usually takes place ten to twenty years into an emperor’s reign.”
“It’s meant to appease the ancestors and the tutelary deities, a boastful display of the emperor’s diligent rule and the nation’s prosperity. It costs an unimaginable amount of money. This time, however, it seems every nation will be attending.”
“Prince Jiang of Ying Country, the Khan of the Turkic steppe, and members of the Tuogu Hun royal family from the Western Regions.”
“And countless smaller tribes as well.”
“So many nobles, all requiring accommodation and entertainment by Chen Kingdom. With the extravagance of the Chen royal family, the costs will be astronomical. Such a grand event, equivalent to war in its scale, often involves a general pardon.”
“It’s to report their achievements to their ancestors. Under such circumstances, bloodshed is inappropriate. This is the best chance for Yue Pengwu to be pardoned. However, these other countries wouldn’t come just to celebrate Chen Kingdom’s prosperity.”
Li Guanyi said, “They’re here to eliminate General Yue?”
The old man nodded. “A pillar of Chen Kingdom, but a mortal enemy to Ying Country.”
“Coming to Chen Kingdom, they naturally harbor intentions to secure their nation’s interests.”
The old man sighed. “It’s a complete mess.”
Li Guanyi asked, “With General Yue’s strength, why is he imprisoned?”
The old man replied, “He is powerful, but the strength of military strategists and martial artists is not insurmountable. A major nation possesses accumulated resources, various methods, extraordinary individuals, and unexpected tactics. Even martial artists can fall prey to cunning strategies. Moreover, Chen Kingdom’s chancellor is a highly accomplished Confucian scholar.”
Li Guanyi remained silent, finding the Chen Kingdom grand festival in a little over a month rather troublesome.
The old man laughed, “You’re not going, so why sigh?”
Li Guanyi said, “I have to go.”
Si Wei’s drinking movement paused.
Li Guanyi continued, “The emperor has issued an edict, and I must attend.”
He explained the situation to the old man.
The old man’s eyes widened, then he suddenly became angry, slamming his cup heavily on the table and shouting:
“How come the descendants of Chen Xingguo lack the spirit of their ancestors? To maintain a balance between civil and military officials in the court, they want to strip the general of his power; to appease the noble families, they drag a young man like you into the limelight?!”
“His ancestors had some guts.”
“He achieved such accomplishments through martial prowess, how did his descendants become such spineless cowards?!”
“Fools! Fools!”
The old man cursed, then suddenly doubted himself, saying:
“Could it be that the urine I took on his grave extinguished the ancestral spirits? It shouldn’t be. That tree is thriving.”
Li Guanyi twitched his mouth.
After his outburst, the old man said:
“The emperor recites your poetry, and the sons of court officials and military officers already dislike you. But you’re in Guan Yi City, where the Xue family holds significant power, so they can’t easily leave the capital. Once you arrive in the capital, they might create problems for you.”
“But you needn’t worry, your martial arts are superior to theirs.”
“As for reputation, hmph, Wang Tong and Zu Wenyuan will be back soon. If you’re willing, study under them for a while. The prestige of great scholars will protect you. In this era, martial arts ensure self-preservation, but possessing a renowned reputation that shakes the world will earn you respect from various factions.”
“They do this to attract great talents.”
“Only in times of turmoil does literary fame have such an effect. Wang Tong and Zu Wenyuan are now highly sought after, with immense reputations. Noble families and court officials in ornate robes must bow slightly to them. If you gain such a reputation, those noble families’ children, even if they hate you, won’t dare to act rashly.”
“At least, they won’t resort to underhanded tactics.”
Li Guanyi nodded.
He understood.
In times of chaos, self-preservation required not only martial prowess but also reputation. He already possessed some martial skill but lacked fame. Li Guanyi considered the situation in Jiangzhou City and realized that having a reputation was better than none. And many of Master Wang Tong’s disciples were from noble families in Ying Country.
Becoming a disciple and obtaining a title.
Even if he went to Ying Country, he could at least rely on his fellow disciples’ connections.
And if there were major changes, this would be a source of strength and support.
A perfect move, with advantages and safeguards.
Wasn’t that the saying?
When I grow strong, strength brings change?
Wait a minute… why am I thinking about this?
Li Guanyi paused, dismissing the thought that had suddenly popped into his mind. He had initially intended to live a peaceful life with his aunt, but this thought seemed to have changed things.
Perhaps he was being influenced.
Li Guanyi rubbed his forehead. People influence each other. He suppressed these distracting thoughts.
He poured a cup of wine for the old man, saying:
“Then I shall welcome the two seniors here.”
The old man laughed. “Welcome them how?”
“They’ve been wanting to see you. A fellow from the Mohist school might also come. If they weren’t in a rush to enter the capital and still had to act with court officials, they would have come much sooner.”
“It wouldn’t have been my turn, old man.”
“But you’re certainly fine, hahaha. After all, you’re the White Tiger Grand Master found by the Donglu School of Stargazing,” the old man teased, raising his cup. As he drank, Li Guanyi said, “I’m afraid I’m not the true White Tiger Grand Master.”
The old man spat out his wine.
He coughed violently, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. “You… how do you know? No, I mean, what are you saying?”
The old man’s reaction confirmed Li Guanyi’s suspicions.
He said, “I seem to have seen the true White Tiger Grand Master through the light of the White Tiger Seven Mansions.”
“Will there be a conflict between us, old man?”
The old man hesitated, but didn’t conceal the truth. “There will be. After all, you also bear the White Tiger starlight. The starlight of the White Tiger Seven Mansions will enhance your strength. For heroes vying for the world, strength is never enough.”
He gave an example: “Like the throne, even brothers and father and son can kill each other with poison.”
“Ordinary families fight over inheritance until they’re estranged.”
“The position of White Tiger Grand Master represents too much: power, reputation, status, and in times of turmoil, it’s even more important than the throne. A thousand gold can make brothers turn on each other. Do you think this position and destiny will not cause you to fight?”
Li Guanyi smiled. “Of course, it will.”
The old man wanted to comfort the young man.
In his eyes, Li Guanyi was sometimes like a tumbleweed or dandelion, detached from his homeland, full of apprehension and unease. But when he saw Li Guanyi raise his wine cup, the young man thought for a moment before saying, “Then let us fight.”
The old man paused.
Li Guanyi had carefully considered it. He said, “I need the power of the White Tiger Seven Mansions.”
“Only with this power can I survive the turmoil. Besides, even if I wanted to share the power with him, he wouldn’t rest easy without killing me. So, there’s no choice, and there’s no need for one.”
“Let us fight.”
“To the death.”
The old man saw Li Guanyi unconsciously revealing his desires and ambitions. The gifted and talented child, who had initially drawn his weapon to protect himself at their first meeting, was like a lion baring its fangs for the first time, roaring at its destined enemy. He had changed, perhaps due to meeting someone.
The old man suddenly laughed.
“Hahahaha, good, this is good.”
He finally has a little bit of a heroic demeanor.
Si Wei didn’t say this aloud. He simply drank cup after cup, then suddenly remembered something, and chuckled, “Speaking of which, I returned for another matter. You’ve entered the realm, so I should pass on the Yin and Yang school’s methods to you.”
“The foundation of everything is Yin and Yang Qi. Only those who enter the realm of the Yin Yang school have truly achieved something.”
“You can cultivate the true teachings. This true teaching is the art of observing Qi.”
Li Guanyi questioned, “The art of observing Qi?”
The old man stroked his beard. The art of observing Qi was the Yin Yang school’s most secret teaching. The Yin Yang school was one of the prominent schools of thought, with countless self-proclaimed disciples, some practicing feng shui, some observing fortune, and reading destinies.
But most lacked genuine ability. The true art of observing Qi could interpret feng shui, fortune, warfare—essential for Yin Yang strategists.
But these mysterious arts were definitely not something this young man would like.
The old man saw the wariness and rejection on Li Guanyi’s face.
This boy didn’t like mystical things, nor did he like reading. The heroic spirit a moment ago was as if the old man had been drinking too much and mistaken. How could he get this boy to actively learn such a tedious art?
Si Wei stroked his chin, a smile spreading across his face. “Yes, the art of observing Qi.”
He extended a finger and said slowly, word by word:
“You can find money with one hundred percent accuracy!”
The Xuanwu stared blankly.
The young man said, “Old man, do you think I’m that greedy?”
Si Wei froze.
Li Guanyi shook his head, a hint of regret in his eyes, and calmly stated:
“Money is for living well, not for everything in life. You’ve got the wrong idea.”
Si Wei wondered if he’d misread the situation.
Li Guanyi clenched his fist against his lips, coughed, and straightened his back, saying:
“But I think that it’s better to learn many things. Learning an extra skill is always a good thing, isn’t that right, senior?”
The old man pointed at Li Guanyi and burst into laughter.
What an interesting young man!
What a remarkable young talent!
The world is full of fascinating people.
Heroes may differ, but they exist in every generation. That’s why he didn’t want to die beneath the green mountains.
The old man laughed, drank, and became intoxicated.
Si Wei seemed particularly happy that day, ultimately getting very drunk. Li Guanyi helped him to his lodgings. The old man leaned against the wall, vomiting near the latrine for a while, then complained of a splitting headache, vowing never to drink three-cash wine again.
Too little water added.
Too strong!
He taught Li Guanyi the basics of the art of observing Qi, and Li Guanyi did find two copper coins. The joy of finding money on the road was even greater than earning it. The following days were peaceful, until the seventh day, when a reply arrived from beyond the border in Longxi, Ying Country.
Changsun Wuchou rushed to deliver the letter to Li Guanyi.
Li Guanyi breathed a sigh of relief.
The reply had finally arrived.
He wondered what the Second Young Master had accomplished. Li Guanyi was quite worried that the Second Young Master might have acted rashly, resulting in injury. Before he could open the letter and check on the Second Young Master’s condition, he was found by Xue Daoyong’s guards.
They said the elder wanted him at the Listening Wind Pavilion.
Unusually, the guards waited patiently nearby.
Li Guanyi pondered, tucked the letter into his bosom, and followed the guards.
The Listening Wind Pavilion was quiet, its doors and windows closed. When Li Guanyi entered, the old man was seated there, a night pearl illuminating a map of the world. The old man was intently studying the map, unaware of Li Guanyi’s arrival.
His expression was grave.
Li Guanyi sat down, and only then did the old man turn, looking at him and saying, “Guanyi, you’ve come.”
“How is your martial arts training?”
Li Guanyi didn’t mention that the Jade Arm Divine Bow Technique was almost complete, planning to wait a few more days.
He simply said, “Fairly well.”
Xue Daoyong nodded. “I received news today. The world is about to change.”
Li Guanyi asked:
“What news could change the whole world?”
The old man looked at him, pushing a letter across the table. Concise and to the point:
“Tuogu Hun.”
“Is gone.”
“Guanyi, do you have any idea?”
(End of Chapter)
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