Chapter 545: Three Kingdoms

The White Horse from Liangzhou

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It was not surprising that Zhou Junchen harbored such thoughts. In his view, among the skilled fighters of the Beiliang army, the "Butcher" had already betrayed Beiliang to become the carefree King of Shu in Xishu. Yuan Baixiong, now the commander of the cavalry, held a high and weighty position, and was unlikely to "use a sledgehammer to crack a nut" by coming to the refugee lands. He even heard that Han Laishan, the personal attendant of the Old King of Liang's "Spear Immortal" junior brother, had become either a general or deputy general in Lingzhou. Thinking of this, Zhou Junchen felt a sense of melancholic sympathy for himself, knowing that his own fate wouldn't be much better than that of the young feudal lord outside the hall. That young man risked his life alone, trying to show enough sincerity to pacify Qingcang. His idea was good, and it might even succeed; at least, Zhou Junchen himself admitted he would be swayed by the offer of a provincial governor or general position. However, he suspected that a fatal flaw in the intelligence network had allowed Beimang to learn of their plans. Otherwise, the short journey from Liangzhou to Qingcang wouldn't have been enough to mobilize the Orange State Commander and the Rouran co-ruler to come together, especially with such precise timing. Thinking of this, Zhou Junchen found some grim amusement, muttering to himself, "Our Qingcang intelligence is like crumbled tofu, but it seems even your wealthy Beiliang isn't much better." The thought of becoming "brothers in misfortune" with the formidable King of Beiliang brightened Zhou Junchen's grim and gloomy mood slightly.

However, when the Lord of Qingcang witnessed the scene unfolding in the great hall, his heart quickly sank. After the young girl gnawed at the dragon chair like a hungry dog digging through a basket, she lost interest. She then stood beside Murong Baoding, holding a beautifully woven silk food pouch, and popped pieces of pastry bought from the bustling markets of Beimang's Southern Dynasty into her mouth. The chubby boy, like a money-crazed simpleton, climbed, rolled, kneaded, and pounded on the dragon chair, his eyes gleaming. After jumping off the chair, he tried to carry it away, but a dragon chair weighing a thousand catties was not so easily lifted. The boy was clearly quite annoyed. With his back to Zhou Junchen, his chubby flesh slightly quivering, he spread his hands and pressed them suddenly onto the two dragon heads on the chair's edge. Instantly, the gleaming golden dragon chair melted like ice and snow exposed to intense fire, dissolving at an astonishing, visible speed into a large pool of molten gold. The precious carpet on the steps glowed from the scorching heat as the molten gold flowed freely. The chubby boy's boots and trouser legs were completely incinerated, yet he himself remained unharmed. The boy then plopped down onto the ground, scooped up a handful of molten gold, his eyes greedy. As the molten gold flowed down the jade steps, it was supposed to pass by where the girl, Murong Baoding, and Hong Jingyan were standing. But the girl snorted coldly, and with her as the center, the swirling molten gold froze into a circle of golden nuggets in the blink of an eye. Mist swirled around the girl, exuding a greenish, frosty coldness. The girl was still clearly upset, probably annoyed by the gluttonous obsession of her plump peer. Ignoring the undiminished heat of the molten dragon chair beneath her feet, she took a series of small, quick steps and kicked the boy's backside, making him sprawl into the scorching molten gold. The boy turned and glared at her, but quickly turned his face back to the ground, happily scooping the molten gold towards his head with both hands. The girl's cheeks puffed out as she chewed on the somewhat hard pastries, kicking the plump, unsightly backside of the chubby boy repeatedly, splashing countless droplets of molten gold. These droplets solidified into golden "ice cubes" of varying sizes in mid-air, only to melt again upon falling back into the molten gold. Zhou Junchen watched, his face ashen, as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight. "Where did Beimang find such a pair of elemental monsters?" he wondered. "With Murong Half-Buddha and Hong Jingyan alone, Qingcang City could be turned upside down. Add this pair of mysterious spirits, and let alone little Qingcang, even the heavily guarded King's Residence in Qingliang Mountain could be breached and exited multiple times!"

Murong Baoding descended the steps and approached Zhou Junchen, chuckling softly. "What would you do if Beiliang knew that their new lord, who only just inherited his title a few days ago, died in your home?"

Zhou Junchen's mind raced. He cautiously replied in a clumsy, harsh Northern Mang dialect, "Does the Commander have a place to take me in?"

The Orange State Commander, who was half a head shorter than Zhou Junchen, smiled and slowly said, "Beimang is far less prosperous than Liyang's Central Plains, but it does have many fertile grasslands. It's still much more suitable for living than the refugee lands. My Orange State is one of the few wealthy regions in Beimang, so taking in a few Zhou Junchens is no difficulty. However, if you, Zhou Junchen, wish to continue living like a local emperor in Beimang, it won't be easy. The key lies in how many tens of thousands of refugees Qingcang, under the leadership of the Dragon King's Mansion, manages to migrate to Beimang. My primary objective in coming south this time is, of course, to kill the King of Beiliang. But if you, Zhou Junchen, can contribute to making this achievement even more brilliant, I can appeal to the Empress for rewards on your behalf. Perhaps even a Purple Gold Fish Pouch could be yours. As you must know, there are fewer than sixty Purple Gold Fish Pouches in all of Beimang; even Hong Jingyan, who commands the formidable troops of the three Rouran towns, only recently received his."

Zhou Junchen looked troubled. Governing the refugee lands was difficult precisely because the refugees there never valued concepts like propriety, righteousness, integrity, or shame. They especially didn't understand how to write the character for 'loyalty.' Here, it was common for brothers to turn against each other, and it was not rare for fathers and sons to become enemies or for spouses to kill one another. Controlling the refugees could only be achieved by force; the idea of ruling by virtue never applied. Whoever had more soldiers and brighter armor could do as they pleased with others. Zhou Junchen's 'jurisdiction' centered around the ancient military town of Qingcang, with its standing population of twenty thousand. The influence of the Zhou family of the Dragon King's Mansion drastically diminished once outside the city walls. If news spread tomorrow that the Dragon King's Mansion had been destroyed, the refugees outside the city, as long as they knew it wouldn't lead to immediate chaos or disaster, would simply pick their noses and continue with their lives, caring little whether Qingcang belonged to the Zhou family or someone else. Apart from his own 'Dragon Scale Army' of less than two thousand, Zhou Junchen wasn't confident in taking even a few of the four or five thousand personal guards, usually commanded by his trusted officers, to Beimang. For the refugees, life's hardships were simply how things were; it couldn't get much worse. Accustomed to being frogs in the well of the refugee lands, they weren't even willing to wander elsewhere. This is why Buddhism spread far more deeply and widely than Confucianism or Taoism in these lands. Since there was no hope for wealth in this life, they simply endured more suffering, hoping to endure all the hardships of their next life in this one, in anticipation of being reborn into a good family. In the refugee lands, where misfortunes abounded, those who could wander alone and safely were not formidable martial arts masters who oppressed others with their strength, but only the Buddhist ascetics who were as poor as the refugees themselves.

Zhou Junchen didn't dare to make any immediate promises. Murong Baoding, clearly well-versed in the unique circumstances of the refugee lands, didn't make things difficult for Zhou Junchen. He chuckled softly, "You have your difficulties, and I understand. From the perspective of ordinary refugees, even if they go to Beimang and enjoy temporary food and drink, there's no guarantee that one day they won't have to sacrifice their lives for Beimang. Once the war between Liang and Mang begins, the first wave of casualties will be those who defected. In other words, if you were to rely on Beiliang, it would be the same principle; the only difference would be dying by Beimang's arrows or Beiliang's hooves. Given that, it's naturally better to remain hidden in the refugee lands. They won't go to Beimang or Beiliang. You Central Plains people have a saying: 'Better a bad life than a good death.' That refers to the tens of thousands of your refugees who can all fight on horseback."

Zhou Junchen chuckled obsequiously, "The Commander has long seen through human affairs and worldly ways. If all Beimang's military power were in the Commander's hands, the Zhao imperial court would have no choice but to bow down and obey."

Murong Baoding said plainly, "Although you're flattering me against your true feelings, you've indeed spoken my mind. Tuoba Pusa's so-called 'military god' is merely a talent for leading troops, a mediocre skill at best. When it comes to deploying troops, Dong Zhuo is more formidable. But no matter how skilled or successful he becomes, his fate will be no different from Liyang's Xu Xiao. Unfortunately, Dong Zhuo rose too late. The Southern Dynasty's great generals ahead of him can still hold on for many years. It's uncertain if that Fatty Dong will ever reach the day where his merits are so high that they overshadow his lord, leaving no more titles to bestow."

Zhou Junchen's scalp tingled. With a pained expression, he whispered, "The Commander doesn't need to tell me these secrets. I am short-sighted and of shallow learning; I wouldn't understand anyway."

Murong Baoding, whose half-face was gruesome and terrifying, tugged at the corner of his mouth. He patted Zhou Junchen's shoulder with one hand. "Don't worry. The refugee lands are in a delicate situation, caught between two difficult choices. The 'gains and losses' for both Liang and Mang must be calculated in double. If I recruit one Zhou Junchen, then Beiliang not only loses a Zhou Junchen but will also have to face General Zhou, with a Purple Gold Fish Pouch at his waist, in the future. This is a transaction whose advantages and disadvantages even women and children understand; I wouldn't be so foolish as to act on impulse. When I was young, I did say the outrageous words that I would pile all the refugees' corpses at Qingliang Mountain. I was impetuous back then, always disdaining trends and believing I could single-handedly turn the tide, which led to many significant losses."

The boy and girl had run over to them at some point. The chubby boy's clothes had been mostly ruined by the molten gold, so he simply pulled off the adornments from his back to make a skirt, tying it around his waist to barely cover his private parts and pale backside. The boy looked at the greatly wary Zhou Junchen and asked with a grin, "Sir, do you have any money or treasures?"

Zhou Junchen, his face stiff, unclasped the beautiful mutton-fat jade ornament from his waist, reportedly obtained from a rock on Kunlun Mountain's peak. Unexpectedly, the boy, whose chest was covered in molten gold, merely glanced at it before expressing great disappointment. He quickly asked, "It has to be golden and shiny, like that chair, otherwise it's worthless!"

Zhou Junchen looked helplessly at Murong Baoding, who ignored him and moved to whisper with Hong Jingyan. Misfortunes never come singly, and before one wave settled, another rose. The plain-looking girl also walked up to Zhou Junchen, coldly threatening, "Do you have any food? If not, I'll turn you into an ice sculpture of a dead body!"

A money fanatic and a glutton?

Zhou Junchen, who had been the nominal emperor of Qingcang just yesterday, was utterly flustered, almost begging the two children to stop tormenting him. While speaking with Murong Baoding, Hong Jingyan 'looked towards' the young man and woman, who were secretly regarded as national treasures by Beimang. In the Central Plains, Qi practitioners were divided into northern and southern schools. The southern school, centered on the Guanyin Sect on isolated islands in the South China Sea, was highly respected, while the northern school was concentrated in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. Any powerful noble or high official who dared to privately employ a Qi practitioner would face the death penalty, even if Emperor Zhao was known for his tolerance of all matters. Li Mibi had once learned that the Northern school's dragon-seeking Qi practitioners, who had attached themselves to the Zhao imperial family, had been utilized by the celestial phenomena master Liu Haoshi for many years. However, it was unclear whether they were assisting him in breaking through to sainthood or creating some formation in Tai'an City. Beimang did not have many Qi practitioners; at their peak, there were perhaps only a hundred or so, a number possibly fewer than even the Guanyin Sect. Now, nine out of ten had perished. This tragedy stemmed from Murong Baoding's discovery of the biological brother and sister. Their surnames were assigned the two great imperial surnames, Yelü and Murong, with the boy named Yelü Caiyin and the girl Murong Caiyang. They were referred to in Qi practitioner secret manuals as "living alchemical elixirs for the sword." It was rumored that consuming one of them could lead one to either Heaven or the Underworld. However, Murong Baoding never believed such claims. He had offered them to his sister, the Empress of Beimang, who likewise scoffed at the Taoist notions of immortality and ascension. Regarding the siblings' fate, she playfully told her brother, "What Heaven gives, if not taken, will turn into disaster," and then gifted them to the Orange State Commander. The Empress even went so far as to use the nation's full power to ensure that, by a strange twist of fate, the siblings became the ultimate masters of Beimang's Qi cultivation. Yelü Caiyin excelled at controlling fire, while Murong Caiyang could instantly turn a great summer river into a long bridge of ice. Both were indescribably wondrous.

Murong Baoding asked with a smile, "Do you think Zhong Liang can kill that young man?"

Hong Jingyan calmly replied, "Zhong Liang is cynical and doesn't cherish his talent. His cultivation at most is comparable to Fifth Hao. In a one-on-one fight, Zhong Liang has a great chance of winning, but a high chance of winning doesn't necessarily mean he can kill someone."

Murong Baoding was the first to walk towards the hall's entrance. "He has a strong connection with the demon Luo Yang. Don't you have any thoughts about that?"

Hong Jingyan uttered a cryptic remark, "I want to kill him, but I'm afraid the Commander would stop me."

Murong Baoding dismissed it with a smile and changed the subject. "Beimang, Liyang, and Beiliang form a three-way standoff. Originally, as long as Xu Xiao was alive, the other two sides had to obediently defer to Beiliang. At that time, Liyang desperately wished for the young heir to die prematurely and carried out many attacks and assassinations, hoping Beiliang would collapse in its second generation. Later, to everyone's surprise, Beiliang quietly solidified its position, and Xu Fengnian's hereditary succession became unstoppable. Then Chen Zhibao entered the capital, and after resigning as Minister of War and being enfeoffed as King of Xishu, it was our turn, Beimang, who had been watching the show, to get anxious. Last year's large-scale conflict was a painfully brutal defeat for us at the hands of Beiliang. Among the countless civil and military officials of both our Southern and Northern Dynasties, only Taiping Ling and Dong Zhuo insisted on attacking the western front first, determined to clash head-on with Beiliang, where the new king was stationed, and with Chen Zhibao in Xishu. Consequently, Li Mibi's spy network shifted its focus from people like me to Xu Fengnian, hoping to kill the new feudal lord who no longer had Xu Xiao's backing. Then, with Beiliang leaderless, it would be much easier to bully. The tables have turned; now that it's largely confirmed Xu Fengnian won't rebel, Liyang's Zhao Gou has to grudgingly protect Xu Fengnian with all his might to prevent him from dying suddenly at Beimang's hands, lest it jeopardize the Northwest Gateway. What a huge joke! With Beiliang's three hundred thousand iron cavalry wearing down the Southern Dynasty, and Chen Zhibao eyeing them menacingly from Xishu, Taiping Ling's plans for an East-West confrontation will be much harder to implement. Even if they succeed, according to Taiping Ling, it would cost an additional two hundred thousand lives. This might be the brilliance of that man called Yuan Benxi in Tai'an City: civilians move their lips, while soldiers die on the battlefield. The current uninteresting 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' situation is such that if Beiliang doesn't move, neither Beimang nor Liyang dares to make a rash move. Without realizing it, this has brought twenty years of peace to the people of both dynasties. Heh, it's all Li Yishan's credit! Too bad this adversary is already dead; I can no longer speak with him face-to-face. All the words in my stomach, I can only grumble to you, Hong Jingyan."

Hong Jingyan chuckled, "Fortunately, there's still Chu Lushan."

Murong Baoding placed his palm against his cheek. "Yes, there's still Chu Lushan."

Having stepped across the threshold of the great hall, they saw the somewhat desolate scene in the plaza. Hong Jingyan suddenly said, "It's reasonable that Xu Yanbing is secretly accompanying and guarding the young feudal lord. His methods of intercepting and rescuing the Beiliang Commissioner's son at the border are not to be underestimated. Without you, Commander, I truly wouldn't be confident in killing someone in Qingcang. Since Xu Yanbing hasn't shown himself yet, it proves my earlier guess: Zhong Liang truly cannot kill Xu Fengnian. First, there was Xu Xiao, the 'Butcher,' who had no desire to be an emperor and simply wished to enjoy life. Then there was Chen Zhibao, who was determined to settle the realm in two battles. Then there's Chu Lushan, whose loyalty is hard to discern. And now, there's Xu Fengnian, who likes to 'pull chestnuts out of the fire.' Beiliang truly has many peculiar people and strange happenings. If you ask me, Beiliang should indeed be eradicated first, as planned by the Imperial Tutor."

Murong Baoding revealed the truth in a single sentence, "If you don't fight the nearby Beiliang, how will you compete with Dong Zhuo for military merit? How will you become the Southern Court King?"

Hong Jingyan retorted, "Does the Commander truly intend to make a deal with Beiliang?"

Murong Baoding said with a smile, "As long as this young man agrees, and as long as you, Hong Jingyan, don't interfere or cause trouble, the Northern Court King will be his in the future, and the Southern Court King will be yours. And once Beimang pacifies the realm, your Northern and Southern Courts won't be defined by the current Beimang Northern and Southern Dynasties, but by the present Beimang-Liyang division. Hong Jingyan, do you think he will agree? Xu Fengnian entered the city alone as a sign of his sincerity, and I traveled thousands of li south to this refugee land and spared his life. My sincerity should be considered considerable, right?"

Hong Jingyan said calmly, "If Xu Fengnian can pacify tens of thousands of refugees, he can certainly secure his position as the King of Beiliang. Similarly, if the Commander can tame three hundred thousand iron cavalry, you too can successfully claim the imperial throne after the current Emperor ascends to Heaven. But before that, if I were to disobey His Majesty, not only would I lose the Rouran military power I just gained, but I would also follow in Luo Yang's footsteps and be relentlessly pursued. On the surface, it would be better to honestly follow His Majesty's orders, kill Xu Fengnian to send him to join his father, and then compete with Fatty Dong, each relying on our own abilities, to seize people, grain, and territory in Beiliang. Whoever can conquer Xishu then becomes king..."

Murong Baoding directly interrupted Hong Jingyan, scoffing, "That old woman won't live much longer. You know how deeply the Yelü clan, Beimang's former rulers, resent her. If I don't succeed her, the Murong clan risks having their ancestral graves completely dug up by the Yelü clan. The old woman is extremely wary of me, her younger brother, and will certainly make arrangements for after her death. But when a ruler dies, their policies die like an extinguished lamp. Without her protection, and with the rift caused by my illegitimate son, Li Mibi is destined for a terrible end. Tuoba Pusa wants to kill me, but unless I fight him one-on-one, with his troop-leading ability, in a battle of one hundred thousand against one hundred thousand, I would undoubtedly lose. However, with more than two hundred thousand troops, he would undoubtedly face certain death. My secret alliance with Zhong Shentong is an open secret in Beimang's court. As the ruler of a nation, what can that old woman do to the Zhong family? The Zhong family is not like the Xu family; they are scoundrels who can rebel at any moment. This is also why I am willing to look upon Beiliang's Xu family with new respect."

The "Genglouzi" of the Chess-Sword Music Academy remained silent.

The sudden turn of events in the palace square was overwhelming, completely beyond the imagination of Queen Yu Rourou and Mao Gu. First, Grand Deacon Tang, despite having talismans for protection, died directly at the hands of the man named Xu. Then, Second Deacon Liang Zhong proved astonishingly powerful, striking the young feudal lord's face with a single ordinary iron spear, drawing blood from his brow and eyes. The ensuing situation became even more bewildering. After the Third Deacon, originally from the Southern Frontier, appeared, he didn't rush to join forces with the Second Deacon. Instead, he casually drew a brocade pouch from his sleeve with five deep purple fingers. Then, he flicked his sleeve, conjuring a sky full of peach blossoms that swept over the Second Deacon, so violently that two rows of peach trees beneath the palace walls became withered trees devoid of flowers. It was then that the two guest ministers, Mao and Gu, realized the true essence of the talisman array was not in the aggressive two waves of talismanic swords, but in the inconspicuous sticky, poisonous peach blossoms. Mao Bishan had already slipped away. Gu Feiqing, who had always been loyal to the Dragon King's Mansion, disregarded etiquette and hierarchy. He held his breath, pressed Queen Yu Rourou's shoulder, threw her out, and risked his life to close the palace gates. After taking only a few steps, black blood flowed from his orifices, and he collapsed, dead.

The Southern Frontier possessed the Immortal Gu, specifically for killing "immortals."

This "immortal" naturally did not refer to the roaming Land Immortals, but rather to those in the First Rank, Three Realms below them.

However, similar to many impressive but ultimately fragile techniques in the martial arts world, the Third Deacon's Peach Blossom Immortal Gu, though quite remarkable, failed to claim the life of the Demon Zhong. Instead, Zhong Liang pinned him to the palace wall with a single spear. Incredibly, the old man could let out a sinister cackle, pressing his hands against the iron spear, and 'pulling' his body inch by inch from the long spear. After falling to the ground, his voice hoarse, he sat and smiled at the young man who had been watching idly, saying, "By the command of my master, Li Yuanying, I respectfully welcome the King of Beiliang." Only then did he stare wide-eyed and die completely. It wasn't the spear that took the life of this dead man, but the Peach Blossom Gu itself. Nevertheless, Zhong Liang was not unharmed. He wiped away the black blood that had flowed from his ear canal to his temple with a finger. Though his life was not in danger, his cultivation was certainly affected. It was at this moment that Murong Baoding and Hong Jingyan emerged from the hall. Zhong Liang, with his full beard, was silently recuperating, while Xu Fengnian knelt before the elderly Beiliang dead soldier, closing the old man's eyes.

Xu Fengnian had once seen an illustration of Murong Baoding in the secret archives of the Tidal-Listening Pavilion. After standing up, he heard the Half-Buddha Commander ask with a smile, "By my side is Genglouzi, the sixth greatest expert in the world. I wonder where Xu Yanbing is?"

Xu Fengnian smiled without speaking.

Murong Baoding deliberately drew a sharp breath and asked meaningfully, "Did you truly come to Qingcang City alone? Are you using yourself as bait to catch a few big fish?"

Xu Fengnian replied candidly, "Indeed, I'm fishing, but it's for my own family; it's not about catching big fish. Xu Yanbing has certainly arrived, but I don't know where he is, nor do I know when he will appear."

Murong Baoding looked at the young man, who was calmly composed by the wall, and felt a genuine appreciation. He somewhat understood why the current Emperor Zhao was so singularly fond of Chen Zhibao. In the future, when he himself ruled the world from north to south, having such charismatic and distinguished ministers standing in the imperial court, simply seeing them there, serving him, would be immensely pleasing, let alone anything else.

Murong Baoding laughed heartily, "Xu Fengnian, you might not know this, but Yi Jie Liu is actually my true eldest legitimate son. As for the grievances between you and him, I can let bygones be bygones."

Xu Fengnian unclasped the 'Over-the-River Pawn' from his waist, held it horizontally before his eyes, and gently exhaled. One by one, purple lightning bolts rolled and bounced lightly on its scabbard.

The blade was adorned with nine interconnected thunderbolts.

These were all part of the priceless legacy 'he' had obtained from his battle with Liu Haoshi.

Xu Fengnian looked at Murong Baoding and Hong Jingyan, who stood side by side, and uttered words that even these two top masters of the era barely understood: "I had Wang Xianzhi's mindset eight hundred years ago."

The whole world as my enemy.

I have no match in this world.

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