Chapter 532: Northward

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He Xinliang

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"This Work" by Fenghuo Xizhu Hou (Zongheng Novel Platform)

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The stall was empty, leaving only Xu Fengnian and the bamboo steamer that no longer held any steamed buns. The four-sided Daoist, who had just departed, was like the three Kirin Immortals manifested from "One Qi Transforms Three Pure Ones"; whoever appeared before him could be considered the Grand Tutor of Beimang. Xu Fengnian knew what surrendering the bronze coin implied, and he stared blankly, his mind filled with the four phrases. Wudang Mountain was undoubtedly a fortunate place for Xu Fengnian. Had it not been for the Great Yellow Court of the old Sect Master Wang Chonglou, he would not have been able to traverse those two martial worlds later. Moreover, with Li Yufei now residing on the Great Lotus Peak, Wudang showed signs of revival. After his carefree spirit journey, he had told Li Yufei about the young child he saw by the riverbank during his out-of-body experience. Li Yufei had not yet returned to the mountain, and Xu Fengnian wondered if he had found the child.

On the summit of Gu Niujiang's Great Snow Peak, Xuanyuan Jingcheng had warned him not to let Huang Man'er enter the Celestial Phenomenon Realm. Given Xu Fengnian's character, let alone Celestial Phenomenon, he did not even dare to let Huang Man'er enter the Finger Profound Realm. So, he bluntly told Xu Longxiang that he was forbidden to enter the Finger Profound, which was only one realm away from Celestial Phenomenon. As for the "thread of life" mentioned by the Kirin Immortal, its true meaning was elusive, and Xu Fengnian knew not what it referred to.

Regarding himself as a "Land Immortal" or Wang Xianzhi, Xu Fengnian did not ponder deeply. Yuan Qingshan's final prophecy stated that after assisting someone to ascend, Li Yufei would slay all the immortals fishing from the clouds, closing the Heavenly Gate for all practitioners in the mortal realm. From then on, immortals would be immortals, and the mortal world would be the mortal world, distant from each other, whether in mutual disdain or joy. Xu Fengnian was even less interested in this; as long as the re-incarnated ox-rider could successfully ascend before then, there would be no problem. Family affairs, state affairs, world affairs—as Xu Xiao's eldest legitimate son, bearing the surname Xu, these three matters had long been inextricably intertwined. Other princely heirs inherited their titles without further ado, at most having their ducal titles reduced to county princes by their fathers. However, north of Beiliang, a million cavalry from Beimang lay in wait, eyeing them covetously.

Xu Yanbing softly remarked, "At such close range, if Yuan Qingshan intended to kill Your Highness, I might not have been able to stop him."

Xu Fengnian smiled. "That's why I simply sent Uncle Xu to buy those buns, to show the Kirin Immortal our sincerity."

Xu Yanbing felt a pang of regret. If he hadn't needed to protect His Highness, encountering the Beimang Grand Tutor—undoubtedly a Land Immortal—without testing his skills would have been a waste.

Xu Fengnian suddenly stood up, his face shimmering with alternating purple and gold hues, radiating an iridescent glow. He said with a bitter smile, "We've wasted a lot of time. Uncle Xu, please take me to Daomaguan."

Xu Yanbing also noticed the Prince's unusual state. He smiled, grabbed Xu Fengnian's collar, and with a light shout, hurled him towards the Daomaguan city wall.

On the city wall of Daomaguan, the Deputy Commander of Lingzhou, Shi Qian'gao, and the Imperial Inspector, Li Guiweng, exchanged silent glances, both seeing apprehension in the other's eyes. This made the usually boisterous Shi Qian'gao even more agitated, as Li Guiweng was famously known as the "Clay Bodhisattva of Lingzhou," rarely showing any signs of panic. Both men were trusted confidants of the Grand General. Shi Qian'gao had nearly died in the Battle of Jinghe years ago; Xu Xiao had pulled him from a pile of corpses and guarded him for two days and a night, astonishingly bringing Shi Qian'gao back from the brink of death. He always said he owed the Grand General his life. Later, when his second son, Shi Liping, a commander in the Partridge Battalion, died on the battlefield, Shi Qian'gao never showed an ounce of regret.

Li Guiweng came from a prominent local family in Beiliang, a branch of the powerful "Li of Luoyang" clan. For centuries, whether in times of peace or chaos, family members would travel to the ancient city of Luoyang annually to worship their ancestors. After Xu Xiao took control of Beiliang, the Li family was the first to pledge allegiance to the Xu family. Li Guiweng excelled in composing literary works and was highly regarded by Li Yishan of the Tidal Listening Pavilion. However, the Li family had once done something clumsy and counterproductive, which severed their long-standing ties with Beiliang's chief strategist.

The anxiety of Shi Qian'gao and Li Guiweng gradually spread to Zhou Xian and Han Tao. If an unexpected situation arose and implicated this grand military review in Beiliang, they, a Deputy Commander and a Provisional Captain, would not be able to bear such enormous responsibility. Shi Qian'gao paced back and forth on the city wall like an ant on a hot griddle, repeatedly punching his left palm with his right fist. Li Guiweng was slightly calmer but also stood on tiptoe, gazing into the distance along the post road. Zhou Ziru, Daomaguan's most prominent young master, shot a glance at his father. Zhou Xian quietly approached his son. Zhou Ziru whispered, asking if they should dispatch scouts to investigate the situation. He was met with an angry glare from his father. Zhou Ziru quickly realized that such secret military intelligence was none of their business to interfere with self-importantly. In officialdom, doing nothing meant no merit, but at worst, no promotion; doing too much often led to mistakes and could cost them their official hats.

The city wall shook violently. Li Guiweng stumbled, almost falling, and rubbed his eyes, as if he had seen something strike the wall. A boulder thrown by a siege engine? Shi Qian'gao quickly walked to the edge of the wall, peered out, and his eyes widened.

A person was "embedded" in the city wall, and this person seemed to be alive!

Xu Fengnian, stuck in the hole, exhaled a long plume of purple-gold mist, feeling much more comfortable. He exited the hole in the wall, gripping the surface with one hand, and lightly drifted onto the city wall. Zhou Xian and Han Tao were on high alert, drawing their swords swiftly, ready to apprehend this unknown assassin. The elite armored soldiers below the city wall also swarmed up. Unexpectedly, Shi Qian'gao and Li Guiweng, who held the highest ranks, immediately knelt and called out, "Greetings, Your Highness the Prince!" Li Guiweng's skill in bowing was particularly impressive; it flowed smoothly yet conveyed a cautious respect, a level of mastery a civil official would only achieve with a rank of at least fifth grade. Zhou Xian and Han Tao could not match this finesse, but upon hearing the words "Your Highness the Prince," their legs turned to jelly. They promptly knelt, announced their official positions, and shouted with all their might, as if competing to see who could be louder. Li Guiweng felt as if thunder had erupted beside his ear, making the Youzhou Imperial Inspector both amused and exasperated.

Xu Fengnian smiled, bidding everyone to rise. He saw Zhou Ziru. When Xu Fengnian had previously entered and exited Daomaguan wearing a mask, Young Master Zhou certainly hadn't recognized him. As for Zhao Yousong and the little fatty, their "recognition" had been vague, based only on his saber and voice. Xu Fengnian exchanged a few polite pleasantries with Shi Qian'gao and Li Guiweng. As they descended from the city wall, Zhou Xian, emboldened, deliberately kept his son close, hoping to make a familiar impression on His Highness the Prince, not expecting to speak with him, content with just a vague recognition. To his surprise, His Highness turned his head and spoke, "Zhou Ziru, when I passed through Daomaguan last year, entering and exiting Beimang, I learned that you are good at leading troops. I will speak to Huangfu Ping when I return and have you become his personal guard. What do you think?"

Zhou Ziru was a high-ranking descendant of generals within the Fish Dragon Gang, but a stronger force always curbs the strong. Before His Highness the Prince, the "evil dragon of Beiliang," he was nothing more than a shrimp or crab soldier, too stunned to maintain his usual smooth demeanor. Fortunately, the Deputy Commander Zhou Xian, having navigated the treacherous waters of officialdom for a long time, still had some composure. He quickly pulled his son down to kneel and express gratitude. Who in the world didn't know about Beiliang's "banner-bearer faction," whose members often achieved remarkable success later on? Qi Dangguo, the adopted son of the Grand General, and Lin Quan, the wealthiest man in Qingzhou, had both once been flag-bearers of Beiliang's iron cavalry. Serving as a great person's personal guard was similar in effect. Huangfu Ping was currently at the height of his power in Youzhou; if Zhou Ziru became the Youzhou General's confidant, Zhou Xian would no longer worry about his son's inability to bring glory to the family name.

Xu Fengnian invited Zhou Ziru to walk alongside him. Zhou Ziru walked as if on thin ice. Xu Fengnian asked with a smile, "Is there a Lingzhou gang called the Fish Dragon Gang that frequently passes through Daomaguan?"

Zhou Ziru's heart tightened. Relying on his excellent memory and that unspoken extra attention, he nodded and said in a deep voice, "Reporting to Your Highness, if this subordinate remembers correctly, the Fish Dragon Gang has six recorded crossings. Their last exit was during Minor Snow, and their entry was two days after Minor Cold."

Xu Fengnian hummed in acknowledgement, noncommittal, which made Zhou Ziru apprehensive. Could this Fish Dragon Gang be involved with Beimang spies? After his last humiliating capsizing incident in his own backyard, he had, out of consideration for the Fish Dragon Gang's conduct, turned a blind eye to many expensive goods entering and exiting Daomaguan under his instruction. In this era of information blockage, even urgent military dispatches traveling five hundred li could vanish without a trace, let alone other minor rumors. The complete fallout between Xu Fengnian and General Zhong Hongwu in Longqing Commandery, Lingzhou, was a major event and widely known. However, because it happened at the obscure Fish Dragon Gang's location, few in Youzhou were aware of the details. This was mainly because Liu Nirong, who succeeded as gang leader, never leveraged His Highness the Prince's name afterward, and no one in Longqing Commandery dared to gossip about it. In the past, a few sarcastic remarks about His Highness the Prince wouldn't have mattered, but now that even old General Zhong had been dealt with so miserably, who would dare to joke with their own lives?

Fortunately, His Highness the Prince did not keep the Zhou father and son trembling for too long. Before leaving the pass, he said to the two local strongmen of Daomaguan, "I have a friend in the Fish Dragon Gang. Vice Commander Zhou and Lord Han, please look after them in the future."

With a future high-ranking dignitary, second only to the Emperor in the capital, giving such a directive, Zhou Xian and Han Tao naturally swore their utmost dedication.

The Youzhou Deputy Commander, Shi Qian'gao, was to accompany them outside the pass, while the Imperial Inspector, Li Guiweng, was not. When he heard that His Highness intended to bestow upon him a precious flower painting by a Southern Tang monarch, Lord Li couldn't stop smiling. The painting was indeed valuable, but receiving it directly from His Highness gave Li Guiweng immense confidence in the Youzhou official circles. When mentioning the painting, His Highness casually brought up Hong Shandong, the Prefect of Yanzhi Commandery, remarking that he had a good reputation as an official. Li Guiweng watched the three riders depart, stroking his beard in contemplation. The Imperial Inspector didn't particularly favor or dislike Hong Shandong; the man was a favored student of the Liangzhou Governor and a prefect of his own commandery, so Li Guiweng had no authority over him. However, since he had caught His Highness's eye, Li Guiweng didn't mind adding icing to the cake. Hong Shandong had always wished to serve as a Judicial Officer in Youzhou, hoping to transition from local government to the central administration of Youzhou. However, for years, the Youzhou Governor had blocked him, keeping him stuck in his prefectural post. Although Li Guiweng was an assistant official to the Governor, he was still the Imperial Inspector, sometimes called "Little Governor," not a mere subordinate. Li Guiweng had good relations with several Youzhou officials of comparable rank. If he were truly determined to advocate for Hong Shandong and jointly promote him, it was not impossible. Offending the Youzhou Governor to curry favor with His Highness the Prince—which was more important? For Li Guiweng, a staunch supporter rooted deeply in the Xu family's faction, there was no need to ponder further.

Inside the pass, a young woman was being pulled by her child as they hurried towards the Daomaguan pass. The clear-eyed child kept muttering, "Mama, if we don't hurry, Young Master Xu will leave the pass!"

The young woman, quite striking even among the women of Yanzhi, pursed her lips and hummed softly. She told herself that she just wanted to tell the young master that she could probably repay the two hundred taels of silver she owed him sooner, as long as she accepted the task assigned by the Jinlü Weaving Bureau and became a weaver. However, her fellow villagers said that Lingzhou was indeed wealthy, but also full of dissolute young masters, countless of them. Especially the Prince of Beiliang, they said, was very fond of women and was currently serving as the Lingzhou General there. What if one of them took a fancy to her? What was a rootless, single woman, far from her home, to do? Die? What about Yousong? She also didn't know why the Jinlü Weaving Bureau, which she had never heard of, had taken a liking to her craftsmanship, saying they wanted her to weave clothes. If not for the weaving bureau official being elderly and kind-faced, Xu Qing, who had been a widow for many years, would have outright refused.

For a woman from the countryside like her, what wealth could compare to the peace and safety of her child and herself?

In the end, the mother and child did not see Young Master Xu's figure at the quiet city gate. Zhao Yousong looked disappointed, squatting on the ground in a sulk. He didn't know if he was blaming his mother for walking too slowly or blaming himself for his poor leg strength, thinking he should have run by himself.

The young woman bent down and stroked her child's head, saying softly and apologetically, "Yousong, it's Mama's fault."

After his sulk, the child couldn't bear to let his mother feel guilty. He looked up with a radiant smile.

She whispered, "Mama has made up her mind. In a few days, I will go to the weaving bureau in Lingzhou so I can repay that young master's silver sooner. Mama will find someone to look after the farm, and you can study diligently at the school."

Zhao Yousong pulled a long face, unsure what to say. He wanted to say he didn't want his mother to leave, but he knew better than anyone that once his mother made up her mind, no amount of persuasion would work. Over the years, so many grandmothers and aunts had tried to persuade his mother to remarry, but she had never agreed. In truth, he really wanted to pluck up the courage to tell his mother that if she found someone she liked, she should marry him. He really wouldn't mind, as long as his mother was happy. Zhao Yousong stood up, looked towards the city wall, and murmured, "Mama, why do you think Young Master Xu went outside the pass?"

Xu Qing shook her head, saying nothing.

A simple three riders left the pass, without any iron cavalry escort. However, Shi Qian'gao felt no concern. With the Grand General's retainer, Xu Yanbing, by his side, and numerous scouts along the way to Hulu Pass, he was confident there would be no mishaps. Moreover, it was said that His Highness was a master who had slain the Northern King and the co-lord of the Rouran cavalry. Who would dare to cause trouble here?

For some reason, Xu Fengnian reined in his horse and turned to look south. Daomaguan was just a black dot in his sight. Xu Fengnian lifted his head, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. The early spring sunlight was gentle, with no wind or snow, and the world was quiet and peaceful.

Before he went to Beimang, he had drunk with Xu Xiao on the peak of Qingliang Mountain. In his inebriated state, he had irreverently told Xu Xiao, "You're getting old, but don't you dare die secretly."

At the time, Xu Xiao had readily agreed, saying he hadn't yet held a grandson and couldn't bear to die. He even boasted, without a second thought, that he didn't want to die, and even the King of Hell wouldn't dare to take his life.

Yet, Xu Fengnian had witnessed more clearly than anyone Xu Xiao's increasingly severe aging, day by day, until the father and son had to stop and rest when climbing mountains together.

Before becoming fathers themselves, most young men find it hard to imagine their own fathers growing old, so very old.

Xu Fengnian opened his eyes and continued riding north, for nearly a hundred thousand Beiliang iron cavalry, participating in the grand review, awaited him ahead.

There was one thing Xu Fengnian had never told anyone, not even Xu Xiao.

If one day Beiliang were to be overrun by Beimang's hooves, then he, Xu Fengnian, would certainly have already died fighting on the border.

He would die north of Xu Xiao's grave.

Hide replies: I am Wanli Jun, always humorous 2014-12-07 21:25: I am Wanli Jun, always humorous 2014-12-07 21:25: ... 2014-12-07 21:25: qian 2014-12-07 21:25: 2014-12-07 21:32: 2014-12-07 21:35

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