Chapter 149: Pavilion Front Green Clothes

**Playing with Beacon Fires for the Lords**

Xu Fengnian's scalp tingled. What was fated to come, came eventually. But among the countless remnants and orphans of Western Chu, why did it have to be this man in a green robe?

Cao Changqing. Records of his life in the fallen Western Chu dynasty are sparse. It is known that he came from a commoner family, was frail as a child, and gained fame in the capital through his exceptional skill in chess. Later, when summoned to the imperial court, the Western Chu emperor, on a whim, posed a grand question about life and death. Even seasoned elders, let alone a mere child, might struggle to articulate such a profound concept through chess. Cao Changqing, however, responded with: "The board, square and ordered, is like righteousness; the pieces, round and lively, are like wisdom; when played, they are like talent unleashed, giving life to the game; when still, they are like contentment, ending the game." The emperor personally bestowed upon him the title "Little Contentment of the Cao Family," and his family was exceptionally promoted into the scholar-gentry class. Because his family resided in Longli County, Cao Changqing later became known as Cao Longli.

At the age of twelve, he played three games against the Imperial Grand Master Li Mi. He lost the first two games when playing first, but the last match was a grueling battle that lasted two hundred moves. He grew stronger as the game progressed, leading Huang Sanjia to remark that Li Mi, the Western Chu Imperial Grand Master who struggled to find worthy opponents, called Cao Changqing a "heaven-sent genius" capable of dominating the chess world for thirty years. In his youth, despite being a prodigy, Cao Changqing was not skilled in archery or horsemanship. He served as a waiting attendant in the Imperial Hanlin Academy, without official rank, simply awaiting the emperor's summons for a game of chess. Cao Changqing received comprehensive instruction from Imperial Grand Master Li Mi, and his scholarship became unrivaled within the Hanlin Academy. In his youth, this "Cao Longli," who struggled with bows and riding, began to oversee the Imperial Household Department. However, he remained trapped within the confines of an imperial attendant's role. After Imperial Grand Master Li Mi's death, his favorite disciple, Cao Changqing, once again faded into obscurity. Before the age of thirty, he remained unknown, hidden deep within the palace. During that era, among the Spring and Autumn states, Western Chu boasted the most talented scholars—"Only Chu has talent!" Cao Changqing immersed himself in the art of chess for twenty years within the imperial palace, earning his third title: "Cao Touxiu," derived from the saying "a tree that stands out in the forest," highlighting the vastness of his talent. He entered the capital as a child, and it wasn't until he was thirty-two that he was sent alone to the southern frontier to command a military unit, resisting the barbarians. He frequently devised ingenious strategies, winning every battle despite being outnumbered, which earned him the title "Cao Beima." Tragically, during the Battle of Xileibi, Western Chu's fortunes had waned; the dynasty was crumbling. Cao Touxiu, like a lone pillar, could not stem the tide. The world only knew he fled into the rivers and seas. It was puzzling how Cao Changqing, known to be unskilled in archery, horsemanship, swords, and blades, transformed into a martial arts grandmaster capable of matching a million men. He earned the honorific "Cao Guanzi" for his mastery of chess and "Cao Qingyi" for his martial prowess. Over twenty years, he consistently ranked among the top three in two martial arts evaluations, unrivaled in influence. In the first ten years, this green-robed figure from the fallen dynasty assassinated no fewer than twenty high-ranking officials of the Liyang Dynasty. Each time, he arrived alone and gracefully, then departed with his victim's head. In the subsequent ten years, he entered Tai'an City three times. On two occasions, he infiltrated the imperial palace, facing two successive emperors and killing hundreds of armored guards. Most recently, he came within fifty steps of the current emperor. Had it not been for Han Diaosi, the "Human Cat," guarding the emperor, Cao Qingyi might have plucked the most esteemed head in the world from amidst a thousand soldiers. It is said that Cao Qingyi once smiled and asked an emperor, "An emperor's wrath can indeed cause millions to die in the Spring and Autumn states, but what about the wrath of a common man like me? As long as there is one man in green robes, you may gain the world, but you will never find peace."

What spirit must a martial artist possess to reach such a level? With the fall of Western Chu, titles like "Cao Deying" (Cao Contentment) and "Cao Longli" are no longer widely known. Only "Cao Guanzi" and "Cao Qingyi" remain. The former refers to Cao Changqing, who is unrivaled in both the martial arts world and the chess world. The latter is the only "mad scholar" in the world who views the Liyang emperor's head as a mere trifle. Simply speaking of either one of these titles is enough to inspire awe. This former Western Chu official, rumored to wear only plain clothes and dislike music, was now kneeling before the pavilion, kneeling before the fallen princess. Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, Teacher: his family had long been destroyed along with his country, and his esteemed teacher Li Mi had also passed away. Now, besides the eternal Heaven and Earth, who else was worthy of Cao Changqing's kneel? The answer was right before him.

Xu Fengnian couldn't fathom why this green-robed man had seen through Jiang Ni's identity with a single glance. Had some mysterious, obscure cosmic fortune revealed the secret? Or did "Little Mud Doll" simply resemble her parents, the former emperor and empress of Western Chu, too closely? None of that mattered. For the Prince, the most crucial concern was whether his group could withstand Cao Qingyi, who was widely recognized as a traitor and remnant. He estimated that he and Ning Emei, with his great halberd, would merely be able to delay the long-established grandmaster, ranked among the top three in martial arts evaluations, much like their encounter with Wang Mingyin, the eleventh-ranked fighter, in the reed marsh. Ultimately, it would depend on whether the old Sword God, Li Chungang, would exert his full strength. The problem was that the old man in the sheepskin cloak had only promised Xu Xiao to ensure the Prince's survival. From the old Sword God's perspective, he would eagerly wish for the "Little Mud Doll" to escape the confines of the Beiliang Prince's manor so she could learn swordsmanship from him. Why would he be willing to fight Cao Guanzi to the death?

In the pavilion, Xu Zihu narrowed her "autumn water" eyes, her expression somewhat grim. This time, in Yang Province, during her brother's sensitive period of widespread killings, a debate on kingship and hegemony was taking place. Yangchun City in Huting Commandery had gathered no fewer than a thousand scholars from other regions, and within Baoguo Temple alone were hundreds of prominent gentry from Yang Province. This meticulously planned grand maneuver was undoubtedly orchestrated by several old Grand Preceptors, awaiting her brother's next provocation of the Jiangnan scholar community. Then, they could rally widespread support. While it was true that Liu Liting, backed by Concubine Gong, couldn't stir up much trouble, a collective counterattack from the Jiangnan scholar group, especially if supported by thirty thousand students from the Imperial Academy, would amount to countless vats of saliva, enough to drown someone. If, at this moment, the secret of Beiliang secretly harboring and raising a Western Chu princess were exposed, Xu Xiao, no matter how much he disregarded laws and rituals, would surely get a headache. Xu Zihu glanced at Jiang Ni, whose face was as white as snow, then her brows relaxed. She stretched leisurely, calmly awaiting the turn of events. "Let Fengnian break this deadlock," she thought.

Was over a decade of meticulously crafting a decisive move not enough?

Although there were few outsiders around the pavilion, Cao Changqing's arrival still drew curious glances and whispers from a distance. Xu Zihu quietly instructed Ning Emei to disperse some of the Yang Province gentry attempting to approach. She moved closer to Jiang Ni. In case that formidable green-robed man intended harm to her brother, she could use the fallen princess beside her as leverage. Deep down, Xu Zihu did genuinely care for Jiang Ni. The small kindnesses shown over the years were not entirely feigned. Of course, there was also an element of defying her younger sister, Xu Weixiong. Because Xu Weixiong often bullied her, Xu Zihu deliberately showered some affection on Jiang Ni. The two girls' personalities were truly unlike those of biological sisters.

Jiang Ni was not like the Prince. Growing up as a dependent in the Beiliang Prince's manor, no one taught her how to navigate life or feign civility with a mask. After being verbally abused or secretly pinched by the manor's servants and maids until her skin was bruised, she blamed no one. Instead, she simply followed her feelings, harboring resentment towards the perpetually cynical Prince who always smiled at her, appearing hateful and detestable. If she didn't hate him, who would she hate? Her memories of Western Chu, an empire whose territory was once larger than Liyang's, had long blurred. Many times, lying on her cold bed in the palace, it was already a struggle to recall the warm faces of her royal father and mother, and thinking of them often brought tears. As for the majestic and opulent imperial palaces, they were even more distant. She didn't want to think about any of it. Every day upon waking, what she needed to think about were merely the tiring, trivial chores. What princess has chilblains on her hands? When Jiang Ni heard the green-robed scholar's words, it was like a bolt from the blue. She stumbled back several steps. Then, seeing the old Sword God block the stone steps, she became even more flustered. Her gaze leaped past Old Man Li, whose back was as straight as an ancient pine, then past the kneeling scholar who hadn't risen, and finally landed on the Prince. The fallen princess, drenched in sweat, was utterly bewildered and dazed. What should have been her moment of triumphant pride was instead a display of such dejection. This surely would chill the hearts of Western Chu scholars. In the past twenty years, besides several waves of collective migrations similar to the Hongjia Exodus to the north, countless Western Chu scholars remained in their homeland, refusing to serve new rulers, and tens of thousands more died for their loyal writings. How could she possibly be worthy of the heroic deeds of these pillars of Western Chu, who time and again, in groups of hundreds, nobly faced death?

Fortunately, at that moment, she only needed to face Cao Changqing alone.

This man, a national prodigy of astonishing talent, was not angered by the young princess's discomposure. As he lowered his head repeatedly, he sensed the genuine fear of Jiang Ni, whose true name was Jiang Si. There was no disappointment, only an inexpressible mix of grief, indignation, and self-reproach.

Cao Changqing, whose scholarly elegance surpassed that of any famous figure in Jiangnan, remained on his knees, his hands braced on the ground. Others only noticed the frost-white at his temples, but this did not diminish the unparalleled grace and charm of "Cao Guanzi," a man of immense talent. Considering his tumultuous life, it only added to the first-rate scholarly demeanor of this pillar of Western Chu. The Cao family's most "contented" son, at thirty-two, led troops out of the capital. His final game with the emperor was a legendary event: the powerful Grand Eunuch personally removed his boots for the game, and the Western Chu Emperor's uncle poured wine for the two players. Among all scholars in the world, such a scene was truly unprecedented and would never be seen again.

Cao Changqing slowly raised his head, his tear-filled eyes gazing at the princess who, in his memory, was just a lively little girl. He had once held her small hand. Within the myriad layers of the palace, he laid out chess pieces, arraying them as formations, discussing strategies for the realm with the monarch. Yet, "Cao Contentment" did not seek wealth or high office; he merely sought a beautiful woman's smile by the emperor's side! In his most spirited youth, carrying his qin, he serendipitously encountered her in a corner of the garden. As the setting sun dipped behind the mountains, she approached slowly, humming a folk tune. At the Qizhao Pavilion, she slowly rolled up her sleeves, and each black and white chess piece she gently placed landed heavily on his heart. Later, she became the Empress. In his final decisive game against the emperor, she saw that His Majesty was about to lose. She then disrupted the complex board by bringing a red cat into her arms. The emperor reprimanded her, but she only smiled sweetly and innocently, just as she had in their younger days. He had to lower his head and look away. Otherwise, with Cao Deying's talent, he could have easily replayed the game, "counting the captured pieces to see who had the most," but what good were the most pieces on the board then? That day, Cao Changqing rose gracefully and left the capital alone, never expecting that once he left, they would never meet again.

Cao Changqing remembered her, and naturally, he remembered her daughter, the innocent little girl who was just like her.

He looked up.

"She truly resembles her."

When he lowered his head again, Cao Changqing's cold, clear voice resounded once more: "Who dares to stop me?"

Xu Fengnian gave a wry smile. "This great Bodhisattva is truly unreasonable. It's impressive to possess such power, like Chonglou, that even the one in the capital is helpless. It's not shameful for me to feel aggrieved." His mind raced. He might not fear Wang Mingyin, the eleventh-ranked master, but in the four realms of the first rank, the monstrous Wang Xianzhi was like an ethereal immortal, leaving all others behind. The next two, the new Sword God Deng Tai'a and Cao Guanzi, were widely recognized as great figures with divine abilities, very close to land immortals. There was a clear distinction in their realm compared to the remaining seven on the list. This meant that once Cao Guanzi exerted his strength, he could not simply be considered one and a half or two Wang Mingyins. Moreover, this was not Beiliang territory, where hundreds of armored soldiers and thousands of cavalry could be easily mobilized for an encirclement. Even if surrounded by thousands of armored troops, a grandmaster as unique as Cao Guanzi, if he was determined to leave, or to kill a few people before retreating, would not fight to his death from exhaustion like the Sword Saint of Western Shu, who essentially drew a circle around himself. This was the true terror of a Heaven-Phenomenon realm master. "Embodying Heaven and Earth" (Fa Tian Xiang Di) signified attaining the Dao. This "Dao" was not the narrow Dao of Daoism, but rather a state akin to sainthood.

The old Sword God scoffed, "Cao Changqing, you're welcome to try."

Cao Changqing's palms, previously braced on the ground, suddenly clenched into fists. Dust erupted. Two swirling tornadoes burst forth with a roar! Rings of intense energy, centered on Cao Changqing's green robe, swept outwards. The fur on Li Chungang's sheepskin cloak instantly ruffled and turned. Xu Fengnian, standing behind Cao Changqing, was forced back three steps by the invisible surge of energy. Gritting his teeth, he pressed his hands on his sword hilt, his feet digging two pits into the ground before he managed to halt. Cao Changqing merely rose gently, without any other movement. Yet, Xu Fengnian, who had only recently entered a commendable state in martial arts, couldn't withstand this pressure and was forced back another dozen steps. Li Chungang instantly ascended to the peak of his sword intent.

Cao Changqing looked at Jiang Ni and asked softly, "Princess, do you wish for these people to live or die?"

At these words, Xu Zihu flew into a rage, then her face went ashen.

If Li Chungang were still the Sword God, the foremost swordsman of his time, he might have been able to stop the unstoppable Cao Guanzi today. But in today's martial world, Qi Xuanzhen had already ascended to immortality. Besides Wang Xianzhi, who would dare claim victory over this unkempt scholar before them? Who in the world could ascend to the peak of Martial Emperor City? Only Cao Qingyi.