Chapter 236: Chapter 125: A Change of Mind, Back to Qianmu Temple
After hearing Guan Xi out, Wang Ping motioned for Zi Hong to bring out the fine wine he had recently purchased, all while carefully contemplating the situation.
This stalemate between the Xiao Shan Lord and Wu Ma Daoist was most likely the result of Guan Xi’s machinations.
This incident seemed to change nothing on the surface, but in reality, much had already changed. It had forced both sides, whether actively or passively, to make their moves before the proper time.
"What is your goal?" Wang Ping knew the question was pointless, but he asked it anyway.
"To maintain the balance, of course, and to please the Saint."
As Guan Xi spoke, he extended a hand. A milky-white ball of light appeared in his palm. "You see? Compared to the first time we met, I can now stably control the power within my body. This is the power that comes from pleasing the Saint. Simple, isn’t it?"
His smile at that moment was completely pure.
Wang Ping took the wine from Zi Hong and broke the seal. He slapped two wine bowls out of his storage pouch, silently poured two bowls of wine, and said, "Try this wine."
"It’s very fragrant. A bit like the scent of Fiery Fruit. I imagine this is the famous Fiery Fruit Wine of Zhongzhou."
Guan Xi first cupped his hands in thanks to Wang Ping, then raised the bowl and drained it in one go. After the wine’s fragrance had spread from his mouth to all his senses, he let out a long breath and said, "This is truly a fine wine."
"In exchange for this bowl of wine, let me give you a word of warning. Shangjing City... you’d best not go for the time being. If you go, you won’t be able to change anything. If you don’t, the outcome will actually be better. Because the Ninth Lady is a capable person."
Hearing this, Wang Ping couldn’t help but study Guan Xi intently. The moment he’d received news that Zi Luan would be ambushed, the thought of laying low for a while had already crossed his mind.
Facing Wang Ping’s gaze, Guan Xi clasped his fist and said, "I have said all I can. I wish you a boundless future, Fellow Daoist. We shall meet again."
As his voice fell, his physical body transformed into a ray of milky-white light, merging into the light falling from the sky in a strange and secretive manner. In the blink of an eye, his aura was no longer perceptible.
"What miraculous power. It’s similar to the power Xingshan described during the Wang Family’s assassination in Shangjing City." Yu Lian looked up toward the direction where Guan Xi had silently vanished. "Why do I get the feeling his power is above the Third Realm?"
Wang Ping didn’t speak. He too stared in the direction Guan Xi had left, his expression turning extremely grim.
"Do you think I should listen to him?" he asked.
"Follow your heart."
Wang Ping withdrew his gaze and looked at Yu Lian. Yu Lian looked back at him. Then, he took out the divination blocks...
Six consecutive Yang Trigrams. The odds of that were minuscule!
"Tell me, why is it that whenever I leave Qianmu Mountain, divination always becomes so difficult?" Wang Ping held the divination blocks in his hand, looking at them against the sun like a child.
"Do your ancestors protect you when you’re at the temple?" Yu Lian asked quizzically.
"Haha!"
Wang Ping laughed loudly and cast the blocks again. It was another Yang Trigram. He couldn’t help but look up at the sky. This reminded him of what happened back at Yongming Port.
That time, it was the Xiao Shan Lord who had used a Heaven-Covering Talisman to obstruct the secrets of heaven.
"I think we should postpone the trip to Shangjing City," Wang Ping said softly, staring at the Yang Trigram on the ground. After a moment of thought, Yu Lian responded, "What will you tell Master?"
"I’ll find a way to convince him."
"I hope so."
Having made his decision, Wang Ping didn’t get up right away. He first wrote a letter to Zi Luan by hand. A favor like this was too good to pass up.
「Three days later.」
Zi Luan replied with a letter thanking Wang Ping for the information, without mentioning anything about them having had a plan in advance.
For the next two months, Wang Ping’s days were rather monotonous. There was indeed no intelligence from Daoist Zi Luan’s side in Lishui Prefecture. Wang Ping even tried probing Jiangcun a few times when he came looking for a drink.
Of course, it was also possible that they were both just excellent actors.
「Late April.」
News of Liu Zixiu’s assassination finally spread.
The world was shaken!
The Emperor personally issued an edict to strictly investigate the killer and posthumously ennobled Liu Zixiu as the Zhonghui Monarch, to be enshrined in the great hall of the Xia Dynasty and worshipped by the people and officials alike.
Rumors and gossip began to circulate. Some said he was assassinated by northerners, others claimed it was political persecution, and still others called it a conspiracy by the Imperial Family. In the Cultivation Realm, however, the most prevalent rumor was that the Xiao Shan Lord was behind it.
Wang Ping immediately wrote a letter to Yu Cheng Taoist, then sought out Xia Yao to exchange views on the Zhongzhou situation.
「Half a month later.」
He returned to Qianmu Mountain without a sound, but also ordered Zi Hong to travel to Shangjing City in secret.
"You were right. The current situation is too dangerous. With our power, it would be unwise to go rushing in." Yu Cheng Taoist sought out Wang Ping the moment he returned.
"However, I must make the trip. Otherwise, I won’t be able to suppress the thoughts in my heart."
Yu Cheng Taoist’s attitude was resolute. Seeing that Wang Ping wanted to speak, he held up a hand to placate him while saying, "I’m just going to take a look. As Liu Zixiu’s master, I believe no one would dare let anything happen to me at a time like this."
Wang Ping was still uneasy. He was afraid Yu Cheng Taoist wouldn’t be able to suppress his Heart Demon and would go after Li Yan alone.
"You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be back in half a year at the latest. I’m not foolish enough to go after Li Yan by myself. I didn’t spend all this effort laying my plans just to throw my life away."
That last sentence put Wang Ping’s mind at ease.
「One month later.」
Emperor Jianwu ordered all students in the nation to wear mourning clothes to show their respect for the Human Dao Saint.
Liu Zixiu’s Direct Disciple, Zhang Xinghuai, also returned to the academy at the foot of Qianmu Mountain. He brought with him the Emperor’s sacred decree. From then on, the academy was renamed Zhonghui Academy, and the town was renamed Zhonghui City.
「One day later.」
The hundreds of thousands of Government Army soldiers who had assembled in Shangjing City received their orders to march north.
At the same time, the heroic deeds of Wang Kang from a hundred years ago began to circulate throughout the nation. The people seemed to have absolute confidence in the war to the north.
Meanwhile, Wang Ping ended his seclusion and, at Daoist Zi Luan’s invitation, headed for Jinhuai Prefecture.
"Haha, I thought you had gone to Shangjing City! I never expected you to be hiding out in your own Dao Field this whole time. You certainly have the patience to stay put." Zi Luan once again personally came to the courtyard gate to welcome Wang Ping.
"After thinking it over, the situation in Shangjing City is just too complicated. I decided not to wade into those muddy waters."
"A wise choice!"
Zi Luan expressed his agreement, then brought up the previous matter. "I have you to thank for last time’s warning, otherwise we would have suffered a major loss... If I may ask, Fellow Daoist, where did you get that information?"
"I can only tell you that the news came from the True Yang Sect." Wang Ping’s answer was ambiguous. He then changed the subject, asking, "Is there still no news of Fellow Daoist Dan Chen?"
"Speaking of which, that’s been a real headache for me!"
Zi Luan gave a rare, bitter smile. "It’s only now that Fellow Daoist Dan Chen is gone that we realize his importance. The Daoist Scripture Hall can barely function anymore."
"Really no news?"
"None!"
The two fell silent for several breaths. After they entered the main house and sat down, Zi Luan broke the silence. "About the siege on Si Ran last time, we agreed you’d get a share of the spoils. You’re in luck. You can use them just as you’re advancing to the Third Realm."
