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    Edict of Peace 95

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    Chapter 95: Law Physique, Breakthrough!

    The seven Khans of the Tujue sneered, retaliating with an elbow strike to Po Jun’s waist. He replied in Tujue, “How would I know? I’m seeing the heart of your Central Plains for the first time.” “Compared to me, aren’t you more familiar with the power distribution here?”

    Po Jun stared intently at the young man confronting the renowned general Yu Wen Lie. In the ensuing silence, Yu Wen Lie, astride his warhorse, approached Li Guanyi. The horse’s head towered over the boy; man and beast formed a monolithic presence, towering and imposing, looking down on the youth.

    The remaining palace guards flanking Li Guanyi were unsteady, half-kneeling on the ground.

    The youth felt only rage. It was the primal fury of a living being, stripped bare, the defiant courage to draw his sword and strike even against a superior foe—the first lesson taught to him by General Xue. His right hand lightly rested on his sword hilt; he would strike once Yu Wen Lie drew near.

    Yu Wen Lie’s warhorse stopped just outside the range of Li Guanyi’s blade.

    Behind Yu Wen Lie, a colossal White Tiger, as massive as a mountain, lowered its gaze. Li Guanyi’s own White Tiger Law Physique reared and roared. Everything around them seemed to lose its color and coherence; only the two White Tigers remained, locked in a silent confrontation.

    Two tigers contending, their destinies intertwined, impossible to coexist.

    Yu Wen Lie’s killing intent was decisive. He loosened the reins, and the monstrous beast, whose hooves had crushed countless cavalrymen, breathed like a dragon. Yu Wen Lie, after a moment’s thought, followed his battlefield instincts. He was a brave and domineering general. He had once struck the pillars outside the palace gates, boasting that he would personally bind the monarchs of all nations outside Ying Country’s grand hall. The Chen Emperor’s authority meant nothing to him. Even before the Chen imperial palace, he would trample this threatening youth under his warhorse’s hooves.

    The youth’s hand pressed against his sword hilt. His chest burned with rage, his eyes bright. Though young, he possessed the courage to draw his sword.

    The roars of the two White Tiger Law Physiques were so low and deep that they caused ripples in the air. Those with strong spiritual senses could hear the tiger’s roars echoing through the void.

    Li Guanyi’s fingers remained on his sword hilt.

    A voice broke the tense standoff. A carriage stopped, and a man of about thirty, looking like a frail scholar, emerged. Dressed in fine clothes, his eyes slightly downcast, he exuded a gentle, scholarly aura. His gaze fell upon the scene. He said, “General Yu Wen, why have you stopped?”

    This was an intervention.

    Yu Wen Lie paused. He disregarded the Chen Emperor’s authority, but he respected the Crown Prince’s orders. He pulled on the reins, causing the warhorse, poised to rear and strike the youth with its hooves, to take a half-step back. His killing aura subsided.

    He lowered his gaze, saying, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, I merely encountered an exceptional youth.”

    Yu Wen Lie sighed, “How many years has it been? Since Grand Marshal Li, has Jiangnan produced such a valiant young officer?”

    He held the reins, looking at the youth with ramrod straight back. Though a great killing intent resided in his heart, this didn’t diminish his appreciation. He patted his warhorse’s head, asking, “Young man, what is your name?”

    Li Guanyi exhaled, “Li Guanyi, of the Xue family.”

    “The Xue family? No wonder you possess such an aura.”

    Yu Wen Lie seemed to understand, sighing, “Li Guanyi… the same surname as Grand Marshal Li Wanli.” “But lacking his fortitude.”

    He dismounted, his tall figure reaching eight feet. Looking down at the youth, he tossed his reins to a nearby guard. Only then did the eunuch in charge of ceremonies recover from the near-conflict. Unbeknownst to him, he was drenched in cold sweat.

    He himself was at the third level of martial cultivation, similar to a junior officer leading a thousand-man army. Yet, his cultivation was honed within the palace, and he had never witnessed such terrifying killing intent. His face paled, but he maintained a smile.

    The eunuch reached out, pulling the young officer behind him. Standing in front of Yu Wen Lie, he said softly, “Our Chen’s young officer has attracted General Yu Wen’s attention.” “Officer Li is one of the outstanding young talents of Chen, both in literary and martial arts. General Yu Wen’s ‘courtesy’ today, I shall report to His Majesty.”

    The eunuch emphasized “young” and “courtesy.” Then, he slightly moved aside, revealing the Vermilion Bird Gate. “Distinguished guests, please.” The Vermilion Bird Gate swung open. The Ying Crown Prince and his brother continued in their luxurious carriages. Li Guanyi gasped, his hand slowly releasing its grip as the colossal White Tiger slowly moved away.

    When the Tujue carriages arrived, the seventh Khan said, “Is that Li Guanyi of the Xue family?” “Such a young hero, I wish to meet him as well. I will find an opportunity to visit your Xue family later, hoping to meet you.” After a moment’s thought, following Tujue customs, he tossed a gold ingot to Li Guanyi.

    As the carriages entered, the seventh Khan turned to Po Jun, who was leaning back in his seat, leisurely eating grapes, “You wanted to see this Li Guanyi, didn’t you? Why are you suddenly not in a hurry?”

    Po Jun looked at the seemingly genial Tujue seventh Khan, “I never said I was going to look for him.”

    Po Jun knew the Tujue seventh Khan might do something extraordinary to keep him. He slightly lifted the carriage curtain, looking at the calm youth. Li Guanyi noticed the gaze and looked up, seeing a handsome young man smiling slightly at him.

    Po Jun smiled faintly, lowering the curtain, “But the Xue family is among the top three wealthiest merchants in the world—worth a visit.”

    “As for now, the Chen Emperor’s banquet should have plenty of beauties—I can’t miss that.”

    Throughout history, gentlemen have compared beauties to wise rulers. He had found his true beauty. Knowing the youth’s location, his heart was at ease. The Xue family couldn’t escape.

    He couldn’t avoid the Chen Emperor’s banquet for now, but he planned to find an opportunity in the next few days to seek out the youth. To assess his intelligence and spirit, before the Yao Guang faction.

    Teacher, teacher, most of the White Tiger Sect’s successes have come from the Yao Guang faction. You are all incompetent. This time, it’s up to me. You are too slow, too clumsy, not decisive enough, and your aim is poor!

    That day, the Chen Emperor himself presided over the banquet. Guests from the Western Regions, Ying Country, and the grasslands were present. The Ying State Duke’s Mansion was also represented. Li Zhaowen, originally planning a visit to the Xue family, was angrily summoned back by her father, still in men’s attire, having entered through the White Tiger Gate. Now, she sat there leisurely drinking tea, thinking that the elite of various factions were acting out a play of peace and prosperity. Their harmonious interaction was no different from little girls playing house.

    She sighed, wishing she wasn’t in the suffocating palace, but rather with Li Guanyi at the Xue family, discussing the world’s affairs.

    The Dangxiang prince was timid, lacking the courage to face such a gathering of heroes. However, the young Khan of the Tiele tribe skillfully played an ancient instrument, exhibiting carefree elegance.

    After several rounds of drinks, the Chen Emperor asked the guests about their observations. The Dangxiang prince praised the beautiful scenery and lush vegetation of Jiangnan. A Living Buddha declared that the people of the Central Plains possessed Buddha-nature, like a Buddhist kingdom of old. He wished to bring the Buddha’s teachings to these people.

    When it was Yu Wen Lie’s turn, he said before the assembled civil and military officials, “Upon entering the Vermilion Bird Gate, Chen’s guards were all timid, except for one young man who resolutely held his sword—Li Guanyi.” “Plants, Buddhist light, treasures—none compare to this person.”

    Li Zhaowen, who had previously found the banquet uninteresting, suddenly perked up. Her ears seemed to twitch as she looked at Yu Wen Lie with newfound interest. She thought that Yu Wen Lie, as expected of a renowned general, possessed sharp discernment. Sadly, he was too old, already renowned and accomplished—surpassing even her father. He couldn’t be recruited. What a pity.

    The eunuch had already reported the earlier incident to the Emperor. Though angered by Yu Wen Lie’s audacity, the Emperor was also pleased with Li Guanyi’s performance, which saved some face. He smiled benignly, “This person is a relative of my Imperial Concubine’s family. He excels in both literary and martial arts. He once wrote a poem praising swordsmen, which General Yu Wen should have heard.”

    Yu Wen Lie’s expression softened. “I have indeed heard that poem. It possesses the magnanimous and sorrowful spirit of Ying Country. May I ask your Majesty, how old is Li Guanyi?”

    The Emperor glanced at the eunuch, who, consulting the resume provided by Xue Daoyong, replied, “Fifteen years old.”

    Fifteen… that doesn’t match. Yu Wen Lie finally dismissed the idea of [“son of Grand Marshal Li”].

    He also abandoned the thought of killing the youth that night. If the youth were Li Wanli’s offspring, he would have disregarded the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, riding through the streets and trampling the boy to death. In the eyes of a renowned general, everything had its value and weight. A mere youth who could become an opponent wasn’t worth defying the Crown Prince’s orders.

    But even the order of the Ying Emperor couldn’t compare to the weight of the five words: “son of Grand Marshal Li.” He had only one response to the son of Grand Marshal Li: kill him. To treat a potential threat with the utmost respect was to kill him without hesitation. To let him grow was a betrayal of oneself and one’s country.

    Yu Wen Lie raised his cup, “A young hero. In ten years, if chaos returns to the land, I will likely meet him on the battlefield.”

    This statement, implying that Chen, Ying, and Tujue would clash in the future, was inappropriate for a peace celebration. The faces of the civil officials darkened, while the generals’ eyes sharpened. Chen’s newly risen general, Liu Zhong, stared intently at Yu Wen Lie.

    But such a formidable general as Yu Wen Lie didn’t care. The Chen Emperor’s expression wasn’t pleasant, but he didn’t lose his temper. The feast was lavish: one type of tea, four types of dried fruits, four types of candied fruits, four types of desserts, four types of cold dishes, one type of assorted box, four types of appetizers, one type of soup, four types of imperial dishes, then four types of desserts to ease the palate, followed by four more imperial dishes, repeating this pattern several times, before finally reaching one type of fruit and one type of fragrant tea. Every dish was exquisite, more like works of art than food. The young Tiele Khan raised a bowl of soup and drank it down in one gulp, praising, “Truly delicious!”

    “It’s duck tongue soup. I’m glad you like it.”

    The Tiele Khan said, “Duck tongues can be made into a dish?”

    The maid replied, “Yes, it takes 163 duck tongues to make this one bowl.”

    The Tiele Khan said, “What about the rest of the duck?” “Bring it out quickly!”

    The maid, looking at the bronze-skinned, handsome and carefree young Khan, was startled, a subservient yet lovely smile appearing on her face. “The rest of the meat, Your Highness is joking. How could we offer that to the esteemed guests?”

    The young Khan froze. He thought back to the post stations he’d seen, and the collapsed elderly people on the ground. He fell into a daze, thinking of his remaining thousand-odd Tiele soldiers, falling into a melancholic silence. He sighed, “Truly, a saintly emperor.” “Such extravagance, I’ve never heard of it.”

    As the banquet dispersed, the two Ying princes visited Yu Wen Lie. The Crown Prince comforted him, “You harbored killing intent towards Li Guanyi, didn’t you? At this time, you shouldn’t rashly make enemies. The world has been in turmoil for three hundred years; the people desire peace, not war. Those with talent should be recruited, not antagonized. I shall visit this young hero in the future.”

    “And I will help resolve any grievances.”

    The Second Prince, Jiang Yuan, smiled in agreement, “And I will kill him!”

    After the princes left, Yu Wen Lie wrote a letter to Ying’s capital, describing the princes’ behavior:

    “The Crown Prince is benevolent and tolerant, but not a ruler for troubled times.”

    “The Second Prince is ruthless and ambitious, but not the eldest son.”

    “Ying Country…”

    Yu Wen Lie sighed as he put down his pen, removing the last two lines. He simply recorded his observations. Finally, he looked up at the sky. The Divine General was silent, but he sensed the hidden conflict in Ying Country. His only course of action was to pacify the world before things escalated.

    The White Tiger lay at his side. He reached out to stroke its Law Physique, but paused, sensing a weakening in his own.

    “Who?!”

    An ambush!

    Li Guanyi knew nothing of the events in the palace. After watching Yu Wen Lie leave, he exhaled, feeling utterly exhausted. The eunuch said softly, “Officer Li, please go and rest.”

    Yu Wen Lie…

    Li Guanyi breathed out heavily. He mounted his horse and rode swiftly back to the Xue family. The Xue family steward was waiting, “Master…”

    Li Guanyi asked, “Did the Second Young Master of the Ying State Duke’s Mansion arrive?”

    The steward replied, “Mr. Changsun Wuchou came. He said His Majesty had a banquet, and the Second Young Master was taken away by the Duke, unable to keep his appointment, so he came to apologize.” Li Guanyi nodded, “I’m tired today and want to rest. Don’t prepare dinner for me.”

    The steward agreed.

    Li Guanyi returned to his courtyard, pushing open the door, and let out a long breath. The aura around him suddenly shifted. Killing intent, sharpness, and a faint tiger’s roar.

    The White Tiger Law Physique appeared beside him, roaring, its fur bristling, its breath like starlight. In Li Guanyi’s chest, the Bronze Tripod was fully charged. According to his experience, the Bronze Tripod had a limit to its accumulation for the same Law Physique. The same Law Physique, the same realm, the Bronze Tripod could only accumulate the elixir once.

    But Yu Wen Lie’s Law Physique was also a White Tiger, yet it caused the Bronze Tripod to change. His realm and strength surpassed those of Yu Qianfeng and Xue Daoyong.

    He was the strongest person Li Guanyi had ever encountered. And this strongest person harbored immense killing intent towards him. The impact of the Law Physique had caused the Bronze Tripod’s elixir to accumulate to fullness, and even beyond—almost overflowing.

    Li Guanyi exhaled, the events of the day flashing before his eyes. Chen’s extravagance, the Tiele youth, the youth with the Phoenix Law Physique. Zu Wenyuan, the Qilin (Chinese Unicorn), the monk, the Daoist. And the invincible Yu Wen Lie.

    A corner of the world had unfolded before him. The White Tiger’s Law Physique roared. Li Guanyi softly murmured.

    Power…

    The youth breathed, his mind moved, and the Bronze Tripod crashed down. The surging elixir descended; the feedback from the terrifying fifth Divine General, who had led the war that destroyed a nation, instantly enveloped Li Guanyi.

    But this time, it enveloped him and the White Tiger Law Physique together.

    As Li Guanyi’s own aura rapidly changed, the White Tiger Law Physique suddenly roared, emitting boundless light!

    Transformation, sudden change!
    (End of Chapter)

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