Chapter 358: Persimmons and Oranges

From start to finish, Xu Fengnian did not see the commander of the Yanjiu Lake Navy. After disembarking, he entered a carriage from Jianling Military Town in Longyao Province. Only when Xu Fengnian lifted the window curtain did he see a strong, unidentified captain appear on the ship's bow. Xu Beizhi, who was sharing the carriage, lowered his gaze from the now-closed curtain and softly said, "A troop of Yanjiu Lake cavalry will escort us to Lurong City, north of Maolong, openly using the post road."

Xu Fengnian leaned against the carriage wall, the Spring Thunder short sword resting on his lap, unsure when it would next be unsheathed. Qingniao, who had been behind him just moments ago, was now armored and had blended into the cavalry escort.

Xu Beizhi slowly began, "Maolong has become a new strategic dividing line in the standoff between the Liang and Mang Dynasties. After Dong Zhuo withdrew from Hulu Pass, no one was willing to go to their deaths. Huang Songpu and Empress Murong had no choice but to send an urgent memorial, an eight-hundred-li urgent dispatch, requesting troop reinforcements. Generals Liu Gui and Yang Yuanzan are still observing the situation. Huang Songpu's power is no longer what it once was; he is nominally the King of the Southern Court, commanding four hundred thousand Southern Dynasty troops. Not only do Liu and Yang not need to kowtow to him, but even Dong Zhuo's sixty thousand personal guards have always completely disregarded his authority. This time, Huang Songpu completely humbled himself, using many years of accumulated precious favors, just to mobilize ninety thousand elite cavalry. Being a grand general in the Southern Dynasty is truly difficult: if you don't lead troops, everyone is willing to be cordial and worship you like a Bodhisattva; but if you truly gain military power, they will stab you in the back, wishing for your defeat and hoping you lose everything. Such deeply rooted flaws were brought by the survivors of the Spring and Autumn Period. In recent years, the Imperial Tent in the Northern Court has again circulated the idea that Southerners should not be generals. If Empress Murong hadn't forcefully suppressed this, and if Liu and Yang hadn't also submitted their own secret memorials, not wishing for Northerners to interfere in Southern affairs, the Southern Dynasty would have been held back. Otherwise, Huang Songpu might not even have had the opportunity to confront your Beiliang Iron Cavalry."

Xu Fengnian noticed a scroll in Xu Beizhi's hand. He took it, glanced at it, and a strange smile appeared on his face. Xu Beizhi returned a knowing smile and began to explain, "This is the *Laozi Converting Barbarians Sutra*, fabricated by a young Taoist from the Celestial Masters' Residence on Mount Longhu. It roughly says that the Daoist Patriarch, riding an ox, left the pass, leaving only three thousand words for his disciples and followers, then crossed the shifting sands to the West and transformed into the Buddha. The concept is rather artful, but the writing is quite good; perhaps Emperor Zhao, who was given the title Mr. White Lotus, personally refined it. Now that the Holy Monk Nagarjuna has passed away and the White-robed Monk has remained silent, Liangchan Temple is in utter chaos. Moreover, the Green Scroll Daoists in the palace know far better how to support each other than the monks, and the 'Sick Tiger' Yang Taisui has not appeared for a long time. In my opinion, this suppression of Buddhism, which originated in Northern Mang, is proving even more brutal in your Liyang Dynasty. Beyond other measures, the directive allowing only one temple per prefecture and county will surely lead to a fierce internal struggle among the famous temples within the same jurisdictions."

Xu Fengnian calmly stated, "Who allowed Buddhism not to share the emperor's surname like Mount Longhu? Who allowed so many scholars during the Spring and Autumn Period to flee to Buddhism, far outnumbering those who embraced Daoism? Who allowed the Liyang Dynasty to control the overall situation and begin a drastic purge? Furthermore, this is how Esoteric Buddhism from the Western Regions can see hope of infiltrating the Central Plains. This is how Prince Zhao Kai, carrying the bottle, can cross Jiange Pass into the plateau, retreat safely, and return with achievements. As a result, Beiliang's northern front is suppressed by Northern Mang, its eastern and southern fronts are already entangled with Gu Jiantang's former subordinates, and now with a Western Region that is flirting with the court, Beiliang will truly find itself surrounded by enemies. It's like striking a snake at its seven inches—Beiliang has suffered a major hidden loss, and many of my master's carefully laid plans might now come to naught."

Xu Beizhi did not delve into Beiliang's plans for a retreat, merely smiling as he asked, "Will Beiliang become a Western Pure Land?"

Xu Fengnian softly shook his head, "This leverage is simply too significant. Xu Xiao is highly unlikely to openly contend with the imperial court. At most, he can turn a blind eye to monks fleeing into our territory, and that would already be the greatest protection he could offer. Furthermore, 'one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers.' No matter how large Beiliang's temple is, it cannot accommodate two different groups of monks chanting. The Buddhist forces from the Western Regions are now completely disconnected from Beiliang. This is perhaps why Zhang Julu feigned ignorance regarding the suppression of Buddhism: he avoids the infamy while reaping the benefits. Whatever makes Beiliang uncomfortable, that 'green-eyed fellow' will certainly do. Since you didn't ask, I can tell you the full story: the Western Regions and Shuzhao were originally two strategic 'cunning rabbit's burrows' my family painstakingly created, but now one of them will be lost."

Xu Beizhi frowned, "It's still debatable whether Zhao Kai, being of illegitimate birth, can truly succeed."

Xu Fengnian still shook his head. "I encountered him during my second journey and nearly died by his hand; he is extremely cunning. With him holding sway in the Western Regions, effectively acting as a new vassal king, it will certainly cause Beiliang considerable discomfort."

Xu Beizhi smiled playfully, "Didn't Jin Lanting, the Grand Eunuch from Beiliang, gain his official position in the capital through your father's personal promotion? Why did he bite the hand that fed him? His dramatic resignation and death-defying remonstrances, though seemingly trivial matters, were, in my opinion, far more ruthless than the tearful pleas of those former Grand Secretaries and high officials. Although he no longer holds office, he made a sensational impression in the imperial court, earning widespread praise from both officials and commoners. Some even call him 'Jin Qingtian' – 'Jin the Upright Official' – and it appears Zhang Julu also intends to cultivate him. The Yan family has already become royal in-laws, and the Jin family will soon follow, establishing roots in the capital within a few years. It seems your Beiliang consistently produces ungrateful individuals, yet they all end up doing quite well."

Xu Fengnian glanced at Xu Beizhi and sneered, "Scholars, you see, all aspire to serve the imperial court. But have you ever heard of any old Beiliang soldiers turning around and cursing Xu Xiao?"

Xu Beizhi was speechless.

Xu Fengnian bent down and pulled a lacquered box from a travel bag at his feet. It contained a head coated in lime. Xu Beizhi quietly shifted his body, shrinking into a corner and moving as far away as possible.

"The old man in sheepskin once told me that reaching the Celestial Gate means attaining the realm of a land immortal. If it's a false realm, climbing past the Celestial Gate would take a very long time. Luckily, Old Man Li didn't lie to me."

"Finger-profound masters in this world are few and far between. Full-realm Finger-profound masters like you are even rarer. And those who die as miserably as you did are certainly one in a million."

"I wonder if I'll ever have the chance to unleash a blade strike like that again in my lifetime. I suspect that even if I were given true Finger-profound realm mastery, I might not be able to replicate it. You truly had bad luck. Xu Xiao once said that good fortune is also a form of strength. It's no wonder that Deng Mao, whom you defeated years ago, became one of the Ten Great Masters, while you remained stagnant in the Finger-profound realm for over a decade."

Listening to Xu Fengnian's incessant chatter with the severed head, Xu Beizhi could no longer bear it. His face pale, he clutched his nose and pleaded, "Could you please close the box?"

Xu Fengnian picked up the box and offered it towards Xu Beizhi, who, startled, recoiled and bumped into the carriage wall.

Xu Beizhi indignantly retorted, "The dead deserve respect! Fifth Hu was a long-renowned senior figure in the martial arts world. Can't you stop desecrating his head?"

Xu Fengnian, his hair now completely white, put down the box and continued muttering to the unblinking head, "Although Tichong Mountain commands so many Rouran Iron Cavalry and is destined to be a mortal enemy of Beiliang in the future, at this moment, you and I could have minded our own business. I could have taken my maidservant and gone far away, and you could have remained your general and mountain lord. But no, you chose to come and wipe us out. If I don't kill you, then who should I kill?"

"During this journey to Northern Mang, every bit of the spiritual intent I painstakingly cultivated for my blade was ruined by you. How about you come back to life and let me hack at you one more time?"

"Hey, are you a man or not? If you are, open your eyes and say something clear!"

Xu Beizhi, standing nearby, could no longer tolerate the incessant chatter of that scoundrel, "Xu Persimmon," and angrily burst out, "Can you just be quiet for a moment?!"

Xu Fengnian bent down, picked up the box, and extended it towards Xu Beizhi, saying, "Come on, Xu Tangerine, say goodbye to Fifth Hu."

Xu Beizhi turned his head so sharply that he bumped into the carriage wall, feeling like he could commit murder.

Xu Fengnian closed the lid, put the box back into the cloth bag, and burst into hearty laughter.

"Very funny, is it?" Xu Beizhi said indignantly.

Xu Fengnian pursed his lips and countered, "Not funny?"

Xu Beizhi lowered his voice, angrily lamenting his companion's lack of seriousness, "How will you inherit the title of Beiliang King in the future? How will you contend with so many formidable enemies?"

Xu Fengnian lay horizontally in the spacious carriage, casually crossing his legs, and softly said, "I'll take it one step at a time. What else can I do?"

Xu Beizhi wished he could smash the man, whom the attendant referred to as "Xu Persimmon," with the book in his hand. But when he inadvertently saw Xu Fengnian's completely white hair, he silently lowered his hand.

Xu Fengnian sat up, lifted the curtain, and waved to Qingniao, who was armored and carrying a spear.

When Qingniao, a mix of emotions and confusion on her face, approached, Xu Fengnian, with a fierce, enraged expression, declared, "If I, your Young Master, didn't find you so vibrant, with such a good figure, knowledgeable in household management, and possessing truly exceptional martial arts, if I couldn't find a better girl or a more thoughtful maidservant than you, I would have long ago abandoned you in the Rouran Mountains and fled! Once we return to Beiliang, diligently practice those 'four-character techniques.' In the future, when you solidly slay a few Finger-profound realm masters, never forget to state that you are this Young Master's chief maidservant! Remember that!"

Qingniao nodded gently and smiled sweetly.

Peace returned to the carriage.

Xu Beizhi read a few more pages of the scripture, which was entirely slanderous towards Buddhism, then couldn't help but look up and ask, "Do you treat all your subordinates like this?"

Xu Fengnian countered, "Are you a superior person?"

Xu Beizhi chuckled, "I'm just a wanderer, so of course I'm not a 'superior person.' But you are."

After lying down, Xu Fengnian gazed at the carriage ceiling and softly said, "That's why you will never understand how Beiliang's three hundred thousand iron cavalry reached where they are today."

No longer bothering with Xu Beizhi, Xu Fengnian hummed the crude "Mountain Patrol Song," then transitioned to a nameless tune, "What makes a true man? Chopping off a head and turning it into a urinal! What makes a great hero? Can he perform a peerless skill like 'Monkey Stealing Peaches'? What makes a hero? Can he conjure a large pancake when he's penniless..."

Xu Beizhi, utterly spoiling the mood, interrupted and asked, "May I ask a question?"

Xu Fengnian stopped humming and nodded.

Xu Beizhi asked curiously, "Do you still possess the strength of the First Grade realm at present?"

Xu Fengnian gave a wry smile. "That's hard to say. You see, I have a saber manual. Originally, it was meant to be studied progressively; you'd learn one move and then turn a page. But a while ago, I accidentally skipped directly to the very last page. It's supposedly a saber manual, yet the final page, titled 'Lingxi,' actually discusses the Sword Dao realms. As it happens, I've cultivated twelve flying swords. Within a range of three to ten *zhang* from me, as long as they are not Finger-profound realm masters, if one comes, I'll kill one; if a hundred come, I can still kill a hundred."

Xu Beizhi calmly said, "Impressive."

Xu Fengnian turned his head, puzzled, "Are you praising me or belittling me?"

Xu Beizhi lowered his head and returned to his book.

When he suddenly looked up, Xu Fengnian had, at some unknown point, picked up the box again and was displaying the dusty head in front of himself.

The elegant and refined scholar Xu Beizhi momentarily forgot his scholarly decorum, gripping his book and fiercely swatting at that scoundrel.

Xu Fengnian laughed as he retreated, put away the box and cloth bag, then lay down with his hands clasped behind his head as a pillow. "Xu Tangerine, how do you like this new nickname I've given you?"

Xu Beizhi bestowed a single word upon him: "Scram."

Xu Fengnian turned onto his side to rummage through his cloth bag.

Xu Beizhi quickly sat up straight, then solemnly nodded and declared, "This nickname is excellent!"

Xu Fengnian gave a thumbs up, praising him, "You understand the big picture and know when to advance and retreat. Clearly a top-tier strategist. Xu Tangerine, I'm counting on you to be Beiliang's public face in the future!"