Chapter 541: Guest Etiquette

White Horse Leaves Liangzhou

White Horse Leaves Liangzhou

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The commandant, clad in old Tang armor, pondered the meaning of the two names. He found nothing profound or intimidating in their meaning; in fact, he felt they were rather unrefined and utterly ineffective at scaring anyone. Disappointed, the commandant pointed his blade at the man in coarse hemp. Over twenty spearmen swarmed forward. The young man on horseback remained composed, his right index finger gently tapping the back of his right hand, which firmly gripped the reins. Just as the spearmen were about to thrust their spears and turn the man and horse into pincushions, a rider burst from the imperial city, letting out a thunderous roar to stop the charge. However, two agile spearmen couldn't halt in time and swiftly delivered their iron spears. With a loud thud, these two city guards were sent flying backward, person and spear, as if a mighty arrow had pierced their chests, exploding in a gush of blood. They fell to the ground, dead. The Tang-armored commandant, possessing keen insight and a good eye for skill, realized that if the hemp-clad wandering knight's invisible killing technique didn't belong to a minor martial arts grandmaster, he'd gouge out his own eyeballs. He turned his horse, bowed respectfully, and clasped his hands towards the general who had galloped out from the imperial city gates, saying, "Your subordinate greets General Zhengdong!"

The middle-aged general, revered as General Zhengdong, subtly glanced at the wandering knight's face, noticing a cold sneer at the corner of his mouth. The rugged man's weathered face surprisingly flushed. His title of "General" was, of course, a wild and unconventional appointment. Cai Junchen, the Lord of Qingcang, bestowed official titles like second or third-rank positions to commend meritorious subjects, costing him not a single copper coin. Besides him, General Zhengdong, there were also generals Anxi, Zhenbei, and Xunnan, completing the cardinal directions. East of Qingcang lay Beiliang, which was why General Zhengdong He Dajie had often been mocked by colleagues and political rivals over the years, who suggested he was waiting to achieve a great victory there. Though nominally a Great General, He Dajie actually commanded only fifteen hundred to sixteen hundred troops, with fewer than half of them armored. He Dajie ignored the city guard commandant's sarcastic remark and, with a solemn expression, clasped his hands towards the man in coarse hemp, stating with strained composure, "My King wishes to invite young master into the palace for a discussion. What are your thoughts?"

The wandering knight nodded, still seemingly unaware he was entering a dangerous den. He held the reins with both hands and looked towards the city gate. The light hooves clattered crisply on the blue jade slabs. He Dajie followed behind the rider, his expression complex, his mind turbulent. As this person approached the city, a secret message had already reached the Dragon King's Residence, scaring their King of Qingcang, who was known for his nightly revelries and late mornings, quite badly. He hastily kicked away a few naked, tender young women beside him, rolled out of bed, and, after donning a crude, poorly made dragon robe, was about to convene a court meeting. In the city, besides He Dajie, there was also General Xunnan Jiang Heng, along with the Queen and a few "civil and military officials" (literally "cats and dogs, two or three") who were arguing endlessly over a portrait. Jiang Heng insisted on first slaughtering this former Prince of Beiliang before discussing anything else, arguing such an opportunity was rare and might not come again. After all, the new King of Beiliang already intended to bury hundreds of thousands of refugees with the old king; death was inevitable either way. If they killed the fellow in the portrait, even if it angered Beiliang's iron cavalry, they could at worst escape to Beimang's Southern Dynasty with his head and several thousand elites. Cai Junchen had specifically asked his trusted confidant, who oversaw spies in Qingcang, whether Beiliang was massing troops at the border. The answer was negative: the man in the portrait had left Liangzhou alone, entering Qingcang City by himself. This made the timid and cautious Cai Junchen even more uncertain. Was this fellow tired of living? Did he truly believe that by relying on his identity as the King of Beiliang, he could "win people over with virtue" in the land of refugees, forcing Cai Junchen to cast aside the dragon robe he had only worn for a few years and prostrate himself in submission? To willingly be a lackey for an inexperienced youth? Unable to resist the urging and clamor of most of his civil and military officials, Cai Junchen gritted his teeth. He had initially resolved to dispatch all the masters from the Dragon King's Residence and two thousand iron cavalry to ensure the young man's demise at the imperial city gates that very day. However, both the Queen and He Dajie disagreed. They argued that if the person surnamed Xu chose not to be the King of Beiliang, a position at the forefront of the Liyang vassal kings, then coming to Qingcang City wouldn't be as simple as seeking death. Even if he harbored ill intentions, being alone in the heavily fortified Dragon King's Residence, with its forest of swords, halberds, and arrow towers, he wouldn't be able to stir up trouble. It would be better to meet him, hear his intentions, and then weigh their options accordingly, as there would be no harm and only benefits. As a result, He Dajie was rebuked by an old official, who called him soft-hearted like a woman. Fortunately, with the Queen's backing, he was able to ride out of the palace to welcome this new King of Liang, who was still in mourning attire.

After passing through the city gate, there was another palace gate. Xu Fengnian suddenly laughed, "He Dajie, I heard that you, and also that gate commandant Yang Runyu just now – his father Yang Youxue, used to be subordinates of Gu Dazu, Beiliang's Infantry Deputy Commander, in Southern Tang."

He Dajie became instantly wary, choosing his words carefully. He said stiffly, "Old matters are not worth mentioning. It's naturally good that old General Gu has become a high-ranking official in Beiliang, but it's not for this general to offer congratulations."

Xu Fengnian chuckled softly, "Beiliang's Infantry Deputy Commander is merely a second-rank official. Only Yan Wenluan and Yuan Zuozong hold the same rank as your General Zhengdong. Speaking of congratulations, it should be Gu Dazu coming to congratulate you."

He Dajie, deeply ridiculed, let out a cold snort.

The palace gates swung wide open, and out came a dozen or so people. The official embroidered badges depicted either cranes and pheasants or qilin and lions. Surprisingly, the person in the center was not Cai Junchen, but a noblewoman in a phoenix crown and embroidered robes. While it was hard to say if she possessed the demeanor of a queen, the thumb-sized pearls adorning her entire body certainly made her appear wealthy. This imposing group, had they been in Liyang, would have faced confiscation of property and execution of their entire clan based on their ostentatious attire alone. Inside the palace walls, two arrow towers had been constructed. Soon, archers drew their bows and fired arrows, delivering a warning shot to Xu Fengnian. They were the long-lost "Consecutive Arrows of Western Shu," specifically the "Mother-Son Linked Arrows"—two arrows of different lengths, shot fiercely towards Xu Fengnian's face. The Mother-Son Arrows were merely an introductory technique within the Consecutive Arrows of Western Shu. Xu Fengnian swept his sleeves, catching both arrows one after another. He held them horizontally across his chest, breaking them inch by inch before casually dropping them to the ground. He then saw Jiang Heng, the General Xunnan, reputedly Qingcang's top master, draw his blade and descend the steps, swaggering towards him. Xu Fengnian turned to He Dajie and laughed, "Is this Qingcang's hospitality?"

He Dajie replied with a straight face, "Whether it's a welcoming toast or a penalty drink depends on one's skill."

Xu Fengnian smiled, dismounted, and Jiang Heng charged forward like a wild horse, his blade whirling, an undeniably aggressive presence. Yet, when he was still three *zhang* (about 10 meters) from the young King of Beiliang, everyone witnessed an incredible sight. General Jiang's blade work was like a rainbow, both beautiful and brimming with killing intent, clearly gaining the upper hand with its initial momentum. But before he even brought his blade near the coarse-hemp-clad visitor, gushing columns of crimson blood erupted from his body like springs. This was a tragic scene, like a warhorse charging into a formation of *modao* (long-handled sabers). Others found it inexplicable, but General Xunnan himself was utterly bewildered and cried out in pain. He quickly halted his suicidal blade stance, intending to retreat decisively and avoid the sharp edge. Six holes had been poked into his body by unseen sharp weapons, and he didn't even know whom to complain to. Could it be that the young man before him, whose hands were still tucked into his sleeves, clearly two *chi* (about 0.6 meters) away from his twin waist-blades, was a master of hidden weapons, skilled in the "Sleeve Universe" technique? Jiang Heng had initially hoped to gain some prestige for the Dragon King's Residence, allowing Qingcang to better negotiate with Beiliang. This thought was now completely abandoned. His priority became to retreat and stop the bleeding. But then his vision blurred and turned black. General Xunnan's life was abruptly cut short. Xu Fengnian, holding Jiang Heng's bleeding head in one hand and gripping the collar of the headless corpse with the other, flung it heavily diagonally upwards, sending it crashing into the arrow tower where the archers were, instantly shattering the railing. Behind Xu Fengnian, General Zhengdong He Dajie swallowed hard. He couldn't help but feel a sense of shared dread. He and Jiang Heng had always been at odds, but Jiang Heng had died instantly upon meeting Xu Fengnian. There was no guarantee that He Dajie, who had not yet reached the Minor Grandmaster realm, wouldn't be next.

Xu Fengnian threw the head, which rolled all the way to the bottom of the steps. He smiled faintly, "You refuse the welcoming toast, but prefer the penalty drink."

He Dajie's face turned grim, and he silently dismounted.

Xu Fengnian raised his voice slightly and walked slowly forward, "Tell Cai Junchen to get out here. My entry into this city has already given Qingcang enough face. If you dare to be shameless, Jiang Heng's fate awaits you."

The foxy woman, dressed as a queen, raised her arm. Behind her, no fewer than two hundred armored guards surged from the palace gate, forming a formation at the bottom of the steps. Almost simultaneously, countless archers appeared on the palace walls. A dozen or so old men and burly figures, reeking strongly of the pugilistic world, also stood beside the woman. The elite forces of the Dragon King's Residence had been fully deployed. Xu Fengnian looked around. The imperial city gate had already closed, and outside the gate, hundreds of armored soldiers with spears swarmed into the city. It seemed they were determined to set up a grand "closing the door to beat the dog" trap. The woman pushed away a master guard who was cautiously protecting her, glanced at the head at the bottom of the steps, then raised her head and smiled coquettishly, "King of Beiliang, Qingcang's hospitality isn't meager, is it? If you can still handle this, this humble one respects heroes the most. What's the harm in me personally serving you for a bath and change of clothes?"

Xu Fengnian beckoned with a finger, signaling the Dragon King's Residence to make its move.

The first batch of over thirty armored guards surrounded him, coming in for the kill. Xu Fengnian stood with his arms crossed, unmoved.

With a whoosh, the heads of the thirty-odd guards in the first circle were sent flying high. The second wave of armored guards had no time to halt before their heads, too, flew into the air. These two groups of people were decapitated from their shoulders as if a playful child had swung a blade to harvest rice.

The beautiful woman, who looked like a courtesan queen from a brothel, was truly ruthless. There wasn't a hint of fear on her pretty face as she issued orders: "Continue the charge! All commandants draw your swords and supervise the ranks. Anyone who retreats without orders will be killed on sight, and their clan exterminated afterwards! The one who achieves the first merit today shall receive half of General Xunnan Jiang Heng's fortune."

Xu Fengnian closed his eyes, concentrating.

After three waves of armored guards had been decapitated, they seemed to have learned a lesson. Their encirclement formation became sparser, yet they still couldn't escape their fate of losing their heads. Fortunately, the number of fallen soldiers was quickly replenished by the armored guards from within the palace city. The square between the palace city and the imperial city continued to see an increasing number of armored guards.

An old swordsman with a goatee approached the woman and reported softly, "Your Majesty, it appears to be the extremely rare Flying Sword technique of the martial world. If I am not mistaken, it bears some resemblance in form and spirit to the Wu Family Sword Tomb's style."

The woman frowned, "Whatever this 'flying sword' business is, I just want to know when this suicidal charge will end!"

The goat-bearded swordsman, with a sidelong glance at the expanse of pale, plump flesh at the woman's chest, his Adam's apple subtly bobbing, continued to speak respectfully, "This young man's internal energy cultivation, compared to the superior Flying Sword technique, is not particularly astonishing. I surmise that after two or three hundred deaths, this fellow will be at the end of his tether. At that point, Your Majesty can have the external martial artists charge fiercely, and victory should be secured."

The Queen scoffed, "Just external martial artists might not be enough. I believe we'll still need master swordsmen like you, Old Master Mao, to support the formation."

The short, thin old swordsman gave a forced laugh, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. For Your Majesty's sake, Mao Bishan will go through fire and water without hesitation."

A burly man with a long sword on his back stepped over the palace gate threshold and walked to the woman's side. He stood to her left, with Mao Bishan (also highly regarded by the Dragon King's Residence) to her right, and said gravely, "Your Majesty, after the Wu Family Sword Tomb's Flying Sword technique reaches its divine and profound stage, it doesn't require much internal energy to support it. A thought is enough for the flying sword to arrive. Continuing to send people to their deaths like this is not wise."

Mao Bishan clicked his tongue, "Oh, Gu Feiqing, since when did you become so knowledgeable about the Wu Family's Flying Sword technique, which is supposedly never passed down to outsiders? Could it be that you've been hiding your true abilities all these years, and your surname isn't Gu but Wu? Sharing the same background as the Peach Blossom Sword God, perhaps you're the illegitimate son of a sword immortal from the Sword Tomb?"

Gu Feiqing didn't even look directly at the old man who had been expelled from a famous Taoist sect years ago. He calmly stated, "I am merely relaying the exact words of Grand Enshrinement Tang from the palace."

Upon hearing the title "Grand Enshrinement Tang," Mao Bishan immediately became silent, as if frozen.

Everyone currently in power in Qingcang knew that Cai Junchen's rise to power, despite his humble beginnings, was largely thanks to Queen Yu Rourou, who was adept at using her charms. Over the past two decades, Cai Junchen rose from a penniless refugee, serving under four different powerful lords. Through Yu Rourou's "diplomacy," he was always highly valued. Then, each time his power grew, he decisively betrayed his masters. In the uninhibited land of refugees, there was a saying that circulated: "Thousands of frosts, ten thousand snows, pear blossom sword; a four-surname slave, a wife-selling man." However, if it were only the soft-waisted Yu Rourou, Cai Junchen, with his mediocre swordsmanship, wouldn't have achieved what he had today. Many years ago, he met a benefactor surnamed Tang, whose knowledge was vast and whose martial arts cultivation was unfathomable. The original Qingcang City Lord, Ruan Shandong, would not have been captured at the last moment if not for the Tang man's decisive intervention, which saved Cai Junchen from failing his rebellion and being slaughtered instead. This great figure was revered as the Old Enshrinement by the couple, though he had ceased taking action in recent years. Besides him, the Dragon King's Residence had two other Enshrinements, whose cultivation was equally unfathomable. For instance, Mao Bishan was already nearing the Second-Rank Minor Grandmaster realm. Each time he saw these three Enshrinements, whose ages varied greatly, he felt fear.

Xu Fengnian opened his eyes, reached out a hand, and, manipulating qi, seized an iron spear. He had lost his patience and was ready to storm the palace.

In the land of refugees, merely being able to kill wouldn't achieve much, but without the ability to kill, nothing could be accomplished.

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