Chapter 752: A Sip Revealing a Century of Romance

Xie Guanying softly said, "For the prince to defend Beiliang, even if it means confining himself, it's a choice without an alternative, regardless of whether outsiders understand it or not. I don't appreciate it, but since the prince is General Xu Xiao's son, I understand. After this choice, even if Beiliang and Xishu cannot become allies, they can at least avoid becoming mortal enemies. Meaningless squabbles based on pride serve no purpose and are utterly uninteresting."

Xie Guanying looked at Xu Fengnian, smiling, "It's like the six of us today are drinking tea, with a lasting aftertaste, instead of drinking alcohol. A jar of strong liquor, once opened and consumed, would only lead to a drunken stupor. It might be enjoyable while drinking, but a headache is inevitable the next day."

Xu Fengnian asked only one question, "Mr. Xie, have you considered that millions more common people in the Central Plains might die?"

Xie Guanying fell silent. After a long pause, he counter-questioned, "Then have you considered what it truly means to inherit Xu Xiao's profound will to dismantle the foundations of the powerful aristocratic clans?"

Xu Fengnian sneered, "Mr. Xie, are you trying to say that from the Great Qin Empire to the Dafeng Dynasty, and then to the Nine Spring and Autumn Kingdoms, there has never been an emperor who truly represented the Central Plains' orthodoxy and came from humble origins? Only when such an emperor emerges will Xu Xiao's campaigns in the Central Plains be considered complete?"

Xu Fengnian slowly set down his teacup and added, "Or, according to Mr. Xie's reasoning, 'interesting'?"

Xie Guanying retorted sharply, "When the Great Qin reigned, Luoyang was the heartland of China. During the Dafeng era, Qingzhou was the Central Plains. In Liyang, Jiangnan became the Central Plains. If one day, millions, or even tens of millions, more people die, but it leads to the annexation of the entire Beimang and transforms Beiliang, this northwestern frontier, into the Central Plains, what is wrong with that? Once accomplished, it would bring centuries of peace. Those who die today would save countless lives in the future."

Xu Fengnian shook his head and said gravely, "Some debts cannot be calculated that way."

Xie Guanying did not get angry at Xu Fengnian's retort, maintaining a relaxed smile. "It's said that the prince never makes a losing deal. This applies to the Six-Pearl Bodhisattva of Lantuoshan in the Western Regions, to Xuanyuan Qingfeng of Huishan's Daxueping, to Kou Jianghuai, the Liangzhou deputy general who went north under an alias, and even to the young girl Liu Nirong from the Yulong Gang. Before coming to Lingzhou, I made a bet with the Shu King: whether you would allow Huyan Daguan to appear openly. I lost that bet. It shows that while the prince's journey south seems aggressive, it actually contains a degree of sincerity."

Xu Fengnian smiled, "Mr. Xie is a strategist for the state, but not a shrewd businessman. He doesn't understand how I conduct my dealings. Furthermore, Mr. Xie is inferior to Huang Sanjia. For all these years, he has merely picked up crumbs from others' tables. Huang Sanjia managed the Spring and Autumn period like a cultivated field, personally involved, making things flourish. But you, Mr. Xie, are, in the end, just a page-turner; for the first half of your life, you were far from a 'writer' of history. The strategists of the Spring and Autumn period—Huang Sanjia, my master Li Yishan, Yuan Benxi, Nalan Youci, and even Zhang Julu, who wasn't strictly a strategist—were all more... less constrained than you, Mr. Xie. After all, it's better to have no books than to believe everything in them. Of course, as you approached the end, unable to bear the loneliness, you tried to redeem yourself. So you searched everywhere, turning page after page of the Spring and Autumn Annals, which led you to Xishu, a place that has historically never amounted to much, hoping to create something new."

Xie Guanying's expression froze.

Xie Xie felt as if she were in a fog, unable to understand what this man surnamed Xu was circling around. Why would Mr. Xie, who was extremely skilled at maintaining composure, genuinely become angry over this?

Xu Fengnian suddenly turned to her, grinning mischievously, and asked, "Auntie Xie, don't understand, do you?"

Xie Xie immediately felt a tightness in her chest and shortness of breath.

Tantai Pingjing smiled knowingly.

As the person most skilled at discerning qi in the world, even the slightest clue was enough for her to uncover heavenly secrets. For example, Huang Sanjia's role as a "writer" of history versus Xie Guanying's duty of "reciting" it. Huang Sanjia subtly altered minor details without disturbing the grand scheme, and his ultimate fate was not an early demise but a peaceful passing in his seventies, which could be considered a good end. This was enough to infuriate Xie Guanying, who had meticulously and diligently recited history. It was like two candidates taking the imperial examination in the same year: one easily passed by exploiting loopholes, while the other, diligent and convinced of his equal talent, only achieved a lesser degree. How could he not feel resentful? Now, with another opportunity before him, the latter wanted to take a gamble, not only to surpass Huang Sanjia but also to outshine all his "contemporaries" in the scholarly world: Xun Ping, Yuan Benxi, Li Yishan, Nalan Youci, and Zhao Changling. He wanted to win with a clear conscience. The sages said: at thirty, one stands firm; at forty, one is free from doubts; at fifty, one understands the will of heaven; at sixty, one's ear is attuned; at seventy, one can follow one's heart's desires without transgressing what is right.

Tantai Pingjing came from Liangzhou to get involved in this mess in Lingzhou precisely because she and Xie Guanying, a fellow practitioner in some sense, had become completely opposed. She believed Xie Guanying's actions constituted a "great transgression"—doing what was known to be impossible or forbidden. As for Xie Guanying's earlier capture of the Xishu flood dragon, that was merely a subtle sign of their divergence, but she hadn't expected this day to arrive so swiftly.

Xie Guanying, whose heavenly secret had been revealed to his face, merely smiled and said dismissively, "The prince said Zhao Dun died too early. I, however, would say Zhao Changling died too early."

He added, "Li Yishan, on the other hand, died too late."

Xu Fengnian said expressionlessly, "As a strategist, Yuan Benxi also died too late."

Xie Guanying looked at the young man and burst into laughter, asking, "Then may I ask, did I, Xie Guanying, also die too late?"

Xu Fengnian remained silent, but Xu Yanbing and Tantai Pingjing had already stood up simultaneously.

Xie Xie was completely unafraid of this tense, volatile atmosphere; on the contrary, she felt a perverse pleasure, as if delighting in chaos. As for her own life and death, she had long since disregarded it, and she didn't believe she would be in any danger standing beside him.

Having missed this man's Spring and Autumn, she did not want to miss any more of his games for supremacy.

Just as Xie Xie thought Xu Yanbing and the sect leader of the Nanhai Guanyin Sect were about to fight fiercely, she was once again wrong today. Tantai Pingjing, also a woman, looked at her with an idiotic gaze and asked, "Waiting to die here?"

As Xie Xie was about to speak, the tall woman in white picked her up like a chicken and carried her out of the courtyard. Even more surprising to Xie Xie was the fact that Xu Yanbing, who by all accounts should have stayed in the courtyard to assist that fellow, also left with them.

Could that man surnamed Xu actually intend to fight one against two?

Is he crazy?

Tantai Pingjing lightly cast Xie Xie aside, looked towards the courtyard, and asked, "Is it really alright?"

Xu Yanbing said calmly, "The worst-case scenario is merely having Huyan Daguan rush back."

Tantai Pingjing sighed, "That might be true for him personally, but for Beiliang, it's already the worst possible situation."

Xu Yanbing nodded, not denying it, but then turned and smiled, "However, doesn't Sect Leader Tantai find such a Prince of Beiliang rather gratifying?"

Tantai Pingjing said helplessly, "Setting aside everything else, the impact of this reckless gamble on the entire world is surely unprecedented and will never be surpassed."

Xu Yanbing smiled, "Precisely because of this, it's worth it for an ignorant commoner like Xu Yanbing, who understands neither court politics nor grand trends, to choose to stand with Beiliang."

Xie Xie sneered, "A martial arts grandmaster whose cultivation has plummeted and whose reputation is undeserved — what kind of foolish bravado is this? Does he really think he's invincible?"

Xu Yanbing, who never stooped to argue with women, uncharacteristically swore, "You woman, you don't know a thing!"

Xie Xie was dumbfounded. She couldn't very well argue that she *did* understand "an egg," could she?

This trip to Lingzhou had indeed left a bit of a psychological scar on this great beauty, who was accustomed to being rescued by men from Shu. If not for the fact that that man was also from Beiliang, she would have secretly cursed them as "Beiliang barbarians."

In the bustling marketplace, Huyan Daguan, who had been busy picking out exquisite trinkets for his wife and daughter, rolled his eyes. He stopped haggling with the shopkeeper and sullenly left the store. Disregarding any shock he might cause the people in the street, he grabbed Tiemu Die'er's arm and leaped up. Moments later, the two silently landed outside the residence. He complained to Xu Yanbing and Tantai Pingjing, "What's going on? Can they really fight now?"

Xie Xie finally found her footing and sneered, "Oh, the capable helper has arrived! I suppose thousands of Lingzhou soldiers will also rush here in a frantic hurry soon?"

Huyan Daguan ignored the woman, glancing instead towards the courtyard. He let out a surprised "Huh?" and mumbled, "This works too?"

Tiemu Die'er hesitated, seemingly wanting to ask something but feeling too embarrassed.

Huyan Daguan kept his head raised, staring intently at the sky above the courtyard. He instinctively spoke in the Central Plains dialect, "I gave you two words back then, but you were so foolish you never fully understood them all these years. That's why I had you follow Xu Fengnian all this time – I hoped you would first truly approach this grandmaster who is roughly your age, and then forge your own path."

Tiemu Die'er, who hadn't understood what Huyan Daguan was saying, looked bewildered.

Huyan Daguan quickly realized his oversight and, switching to the Beimang accent, grumbled, "I'll teach you two words: 'Outrageous!' If you want your cultivation to surpass Xu Fengnian's one day, you must first break away from him. Back then, whenever Wang Xianzhi learned Li Chungang was having a duel, he would shamelessly go and watch. Many people did the same, but instead of becoming 'outrageous,' they only grew more reverent towards Li Chungang, spending their lives looking up at the mountain peak from its base. Only Wang Xianzhi, gritting his teeth, followed closely step by step, climbed higher, and eventually surpassed Li Chungang—oh, no, it was a draw back then. At that time, Li Chungang was disheartened and yielded his position to Wang Xianzhi. What was truly rare was that Wang Xianzhi didn't stop there. His cultivation soared rapidly, reaching the pinnacle, yet he still sought to be the peak among mountains. Actually, I understand this principle too; I just don't have the drive to pursue it. There's a young man in Liyang named Fu Ding, who has now inherited half of Wang Xianzhi's legacy in Wudi City of the East Sea. However, after losing to Xu Fengnian, he hasn't yet managed to become 'outrageous.' But you're not much better, it's hopeless—your comprehension compared to mine is truly despairing..."

Listening to Huyan Daguan's long-unheard chatter, Tiemu Die'er grinned. In the world, nothing felt more familiar to him than this old man's belittling and self-praise, not even the cheap sword hanging at his waist.

However, after seeing the old man truly make a move for the first time, enduring two of Xu Yanbing's spear thrusts within ten days, Tiemu Die'er had to admit that Huyan Daguan was truly the greatest squanderer of talent in the world.

Huyan Daguan suddenly sighed softly, "My foolish boy, I no longer hope that you will surpass Xu Fengnian in this life, but you must stay close behind him."

Tiemu Die'er hesitated for a long time, then finally mustered the courage to speak a sentence from the depths of his heart.

"I, Tiemu Die'er, my sword, and my swordsmanship, have been unique in this world from the very beginning. I don't need to learn from anyone."

Huyan Daguan paused when he heard this, then turned to look at the young man who, like himself, had come from Beimang. He patted his shoulder and said, "I underestimated you. Very good."

Huyan Daguan rubbed his chin and said earnestly, "No wonder I, Huyan Daguan, chose you. It turns out we have similar dispositions. It made me wonder these past years in Liyang, occasionally asking myself if I was blind and foolish to guide you back then. With this one point alone, you're destined to become the greatest under heaven—no escape!"

Xie Xie, not far away, was completely stunned. This shameless but very earnest fellow — was he truly the Beimang Grandmaster revered as a "one-man sect"? The one rumored to have once been capable of replacing Tuoba Pusa to contend with Wang Xianzhi for the title of the greatest martial artist under heaven?

Then Xie Xie felt a sense of dejection and helplessness, thinking it best to return to Shu sooner. These men in the outside world, from the one surnamed Xu, to Xu Yanbing, and now this Huyan Daguan, were truly all complete scoundrels.

In the courtyard.

Chen Zhibao remained motionless.

Xie Guanying sat upright and composed, yet this scholar, who had achieved a grand state through his studies, showed no signs of facing a formidable enemy.

Xu Fengnian gazed at the tea in his cup; as his thoughts arose, ripples appeared on the surface.

Once, Huang Qing of Beimang, famed for his potent sword energy, unleashed most of his sword techniques, manifesting sixteen visions of living Buddhas.

Xu Fengnian said, full of sarcasm, "So there are scholars like this," then gently raised his cup, tilted his head back, and drained the tea in one gulp.

Then Xie Guanying, who could be said to have seen all the vicissitudes of human life, witnessed a scene that made him gasp in admiration.

Countless "guests" suddenly materialized in the courtyard.

An old man in a sheepskin coat stood as if on a mountain peak, shouting, "Sword, come!"

A middle-aged swordsman rode a donkey backward, carrying a peach branch, his flying swords swirling around him.

A burly old man with snow-white hair stood with his hands behind his back.

An elder with two long, wispy eyebrows sat cross-legged, appearing to be eating a sword.

A short, gap-toothed old man walked bent over, carrying a satchel on his back.

Three Taoist priests, disparate in age but strikingly similar in demeanor, stood side by side.

Three Wudang Taoists, dressed in identical robes: one bowed his head, frowning as he interpreted divination slips; another stared straight ahead, extending a finger as if to cleave a river; and the third held a sword on his back, walking with his head held high.

An elderly man with empty hands arrived, and with his arrival, so did his sword.

Someone stood firm in the center of a thunder pool, where purple qi rose.

A talismankeeper in red armor exuded an imposing aura.

A woman in a green robe appeared to be leaning on a railing, propping her chin in her hand, gazing into the distance.

A towering man held a spear, facing north.

An old man in a python-patterned robe had red threads wound around both his sleeves.

A tall old man wore a cool, ice-snow blade at his waist...

"People" continued to appear without end.

The reasonably spacious courtyard was filled with people standing on the ground and suspended in the air.

Finally, even on the stone stool beside Xie Guanying, a sickly, emaciated scholar sat, seemingly mocking him.

These dozens of figures, appearing together, embodied the unrestrained elegance and spirit of the Spring and Autumn period over a century.