Chapter 485: The City Bathed in Blood (2)

Chapter 485: The City Bathed in Blood (Part Two)

The headquarters of the Propaganda Commissioner's Office in the Wa Region.

"Sir, entering the Wa Region at this time, aren't you worried that your whereabouts might be discovered by the New Donglin Party?"

A recliner was placed under the eaves; Xu Haichao, who was ostensibly the foremost figure in the Wa Region, stood beside it with his hands bound, smiling at the leisurely figure reclining in the chair.

"You brat, are you worried I'll expose you?"

The speaker had a head of silver‑white short hair, a square face, his arms pillowed behind his head, his posture relaxed.

It was deep night, yet a pair of Western barbarian tinted glasses—unfashionable in the Ming Empire—rested upon his lofty nasal bridge.

In the distance, the roar of cannons and the clamor of battle still boiled, while the flames consuming the city showed a tendency to spread toward this quarter.

Yet within this office, whether it was Xu Haichao standing or the old man lounging in the recliner, their tones were light, as if they were not amid the turmoil's heart but merely spectators to a farcical spectacle.

"To say I'm not worried would be false; if the New Donglin Party learned of my identity as a Spring and Autumn Society member, they wouldn't need anyone else to act—the old fogies of the Xu clan would surely, at once, grind my bones to ash, slice my brain into countless shards, inlay them into the tiles before the ancestral hall, and have my descendants forever trample upon them."

"Since you know the danger, why would you deliberately reveal your identity to meet Li Jun? Aren't you afraid he'll just sell you out?" the old man chuckled in reply.

"Who would believe the words of a lone martial sequence?"

"Moreover, if we could recruit such a promising seedling into the Spring and Autumn Society, taking a little risk would still be worthwhile."

"What the Spring and Autumn Society needs now is not a thug, but an opportunity to step from behind the curtains onto the stage."

"I have always remembered this, but though the New Donglin Party beast is now claw‑soft, tooth‑loose, and covered in sores, the closer it is to death the more frenzied it becomes; when it will show fatigue is still unknown. Rather than sit idly waiting, it is better to do something—preparedness never hurts."

"Having young people like you is a blessing for the Spring and Autumn Society." The old man nodded, his voice especially gratified.

"Sir, you overpraise me."

"Earlier I was still worried, fearing that if you learned I dared to admit a madman who offended imperial dignity into the Spring and Autumn Society, you would flare up in anger; now it seems I was overthinking."

"When even dignity has long ceased to exist, what is there to speak of majesty?"

"The old man's eyes behind the tinted glasses revealed neither joy nor anger as he said blandly: 'A Zhu Youhong full of ambition but lacking ability dying is just right—it frees a slot. Now the imperial house holds upwards of a thousand lives locked in embryos by the New Donglin Party, eager to be born.'"

"The New Donglin Party deserves damnation."

"Xu Haichao echoed with a sound, pondered a moment, then finally voiced his most pressing concern: 'Your personal entry into the Wa Region this time—does the Society have some major operation underway?'"

"It has nothing to do with official business; I merely wish to see an old friend off on his final journey with my own eyes."

"When Su Ce accepted the New Donglin Party's decision to disband the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I thought he had extinguished his former ambition and merely sought an outcome that, while not glorious, would be relatively stable."

"Xu Haichao lifted his gaze to the firelight illuminating half the night sky in the distance, his tone admiring: 'I never imagined he simply wanted to give those below a path to survival, while he himself chose such a gruesome end. Even more unexpected, so many would relinquish readily available riches and glory to follow him to death.'"

"The old man asked: 'Do you find it laughable or admirable?'"

"'Certainly admirable,' Xu Haichao replied without hesitation."

"'Yet in the eyes of the New Donglin Party, this is precisely the sort of result that would make them clap their hands and laugh!'"

"The old man snorted coldly: 'Using a martial sequence that could become a calamity to ensure the smooth completion of the first phase of his new policies. From the day Su Ce, disheartened, left Shanhaiguan and chose to come to the Wa Region to fulfill the Longwu Emperor's dying wish, Zhang Fengyue likely already had today's plan in mind.'"

"'How could that be?'"

"Xu Haichao exclaimed in shock at the words, then fell silent."

"If someone else were pulling the strings behind the scenes, Xu Haichao would surely think the old man was merely exaggerating."

"After all, a plot spanning decades could involve variations as countless as the sands of the sea; even the Yin‑Yang Sequence ranked among the top ten in the Eastern Imperial Palace could not guarantee that everything would unfold exactly as planned."

"But the one moving the pieces is Zhang Fengyue, who has cultivated the 'technique of numbers' among the Six Arts to a height unmatched in antiquity, and thereby ascended to rank two as the chieftain of the New Donglin Party!"

"Yet Xu Haichao also felt that everything made sense."

"'Zhang Fengyue, sir, do you think that once the present affairs are wholly concluded I might earn Zhang Fengyue's trust?'"

"Xu Haichao, no longer bearing his former nonchalance, spoke with a strained tone."

"'The rewards you deserve will not be few, yet having once served as a horse‑led lackey and now seeking the trust of one who has held the reins for a hundred years is as hard as climbing to heaven.'"

"The old man replied blandly: 'You need only let him know you are useful and effective; that is enough. There is no need to yearn for more.'"

"'We have schemed for so long—could it be that all we will obtain is this outcome?'"

"Xu Haichao felt unwilling, his brows knit, and a fierce intent suddenly sparked in his eyes."

"'Better to do something now.'"

"'The situation has reached this point; the outcome is set, and none can alter it.'"

"The old man said: 'Although that suit of ink‑armor was forcibly promoted to the fourth rank by the Chi Lord, Ba Du remains a third‑rank military sequence no matter how inept; Li Jun can still hold out in his hands only because the several factions distrust each other, each retaining reserves to guard against the others. Yet this stalemate will not last long—sooner or later one side will lose patience. Once the Chi Lord is reclaimed by the Ink Sequence, even if Su Ce could suppress both the Buddhist and Daoist schools in the earthly Buddha‑realm, he would still be doomed to a dead end.'"

"'If we now leap forth and stir up trouble, it will be nothing more than adding legs to a snake—inviting disaster upon ourselves.'"

"The old man shook his head: 'Not worth it.'"

"'Not worth it, Master Zou—I must have lost my wits.'"

"Clad in a Western suit, Zou Forty‑nine had his hands in his pockets as he strode down a deserted street."

"'As a promising young talent of the Yin‑Yang Sequence with limitless prospects, I might have been content to hide away and pull strings from the shadows, yet I behave like Li Jun’s iron‑headed hothead, bursting with zeal at the slightest provocation. Now my divinations grow ever less accurate, while rolling up my sleeves to gamble with life becomes ever easier.'"

"'It must be the genes of that Li Jun brat contaminating me—more heretical than the Confucian Sequence!'"

"Zou Forty‑nine muttered with his head down, his resolve growing firmer: 'After this job, I’ll stay far from him, find a place of clear waters and lush hills, reopen my Peace Inn, and give those bewildered women omens, read their fates.'"

"'Three‑five‑three, we meet again.'"

"Across the long street, a voice spoke."

"'Surely it’s you—no wonder, no matter how Master Zou calculates, this hexagram remains inscrutable as to fortune or misfortune.'"

"Zou Forty‑nine halted, lifted his gaze, and beheld a woman smiling faintly in the distance."

"'So you really are a woman, or have you possessed another body again? Zou Zi 108, Lü Chou.'"

"Lü Chou gave no heed to Zou Forty‑nine's teasing, smiling lightly as she asked: 'Since you know the road ahead is perilous, why come here to throw away your life for nothing?'"

"'Men's affairs are beyond a woman's comprehension.'"

"Zou Forty‑nine shook his head, then said in a low voice: 'But seeing as we are old acquaintances, could you give me a passage?'"

"'What do you think?' Lü Chou tilted her head, returning the question with a smile."

"'Back when our Yin‑Yang Sequence lived in ease, it was precisely these folk who joined forces to overturn our furnaces, seize our foothold in the Eight Min lands, drive us to scatter and flee, hiding our names. Now, having barely caught our breath, you rush forward with flushed faces, eager to acknowledge thieves as fathers.'"

"Zou Forty‑nine grinned, showing his teeth: 'Damn, you really have no spine.'"

"Lü Chou's face darkened suddenly, and she shouted sternly: 'Without us, would you really rely on someone like you to lead the Yin‑Yang Sequence to rise again?'"

"'Again with this talk—do you lot not grow weary of constantly stirring things up?'"

"Zou Forty‑nine drawled lazily: 'And even if we did rise, what then? Could you drive the Dao Sequence beneath the Three Teachings, making them taste the bitterness of living under others' roofs? Or could you reclaim all the millet‑dream illusions and expel every new‑school cultivator?'"

"'One ought to be down‑to‑earth, not cling to so many unrealistic fantasies—few are destined to be protagonists, so don’t load yourself with extra drama. We are all Yin‑Yang Sequence; if you find present life unsatisfying and feel resentful, I advise you to cast more lots. After witnessing much future despair, the present will brim with hope.'"

"Zou Forty‑nine's visage showed uncommon sincerity, yet the words that slipped from his mouth were biting to the extreme."

"'The Yin‑Yang Sequence calculates heavenly schemes and momentum—not to let us merely scrape by, but to have us walk in heaven’s stead!' Lü Chou snapped."

"'Saying that makes you no longer Yin‑Yang at all. It seems you all once met in frank sincerity; I offer you this friendly counsel: your thoughts are already leaning toward the Dao Sequence—beware of going astray, of suffering magical backlash, of genetic collapse.'"

"You"

“Since you're so devoid of ceremony, there's nothing left for us to discuss.”

Zou Sijiu cut off Lü Chou's words, his tone flat: “How do you want to fight? Enter the Yellow Millet, or enter the Dream?”

The moment his voice fell, the buildings lining the long street before Zou Sijiu disintegrated and reassembled like building blocks; massive stone pillars sprouted from thin air behind him, mortising together like tenons to form towering stone walls that soared into the clouds, encircling the entire street within.

Simultaneously, the ground beneath Zou Sijiu's feet undulated like a tide, and amidst the billowing dust, a Yin-Yang Bagua diagram sprang into existence.

And the very position where Zou Sijiu stood was none other than the Death Gate!

“I thought, bullying the weak with your strength, you'd cut me some slack, let me make the first move into your dream. Didn't expect you to be so petty, striking first to gain the upper hand.”

Zou Sijiu slowly withdrew his hands from his trouser pockets, undid the top button of his collar, then brushed his hair back behind his temples with a dash of roguish flair.

“But did you really think stepping into Master Zou's dream means you've got me beat? Stupid bitch, today I'll teach you a lesson—there are places you don't just go burrowing into!”

Zou Sijiu's eyes blazed like fire, the aura radiating from him growing ever more high-spirited and fierce.

“The Great Nuo walks the Dream; the Starving Beast devours Ghosts. My name is Zou Sijiu; by the name of the Fifth Yan of the Yin-Yang Sequence, I burn the Back Door fifty times, to kill the Dream Raider!”

A black flame leaped from Zou Sijiu's shoulder, and in a turn, it engulfed his whole body. His right arm raised level with his shoulder, five fingers clenched, and a long spear manifested within the flames, its cold, sharp point aimed straight ahead.

“However strong you may be, I have Li Dalang.”

The corners of Zou Sijiu's slightly pale lips still held that slouching, lazy smile, yet his pupils held a gravity and chill, a cascade of netherlight flowing slowly, reflecting a colossal, roaring beast lunging to kill!

Roar!

“Yuan Mingfei, originally a Buddha-attending celestial maiden under Dharma King Suonan of the Great Zhao Temple in the Buddha Sequence. She stole back her own consciousness from the Buddha Nation's mainframe while her Dharma King was achieving nirvana and reincarnating, and fled. Later, drifting to the imperial capital Chongqing, she became one of the Eight Generals of the Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Association, the 'Rumor General'. After the Luohan Temple case, she joined forces with Li Jun to kill Longtu, a Walker of the Great Zhao Temple sent to investigate, and vanished without a trace once more.”

“In the first month of the twelfth year of Jiaqi, you changed your appearance and sneaked back into the homeland, only to be captured by the Sandalwood Smoke Temple, reduced once again to a tool for their genetic refinement. Fortunately, the Lone Walker Martial Sequence arranged to couple with you suddenly broke his shackles and ascended, slaughtering the entire branch dojo, letting you escape with your life once more.”

“Your luck is truly remarkable.”

The Ming Wang gazed at the bewitching woman before him, speaking calmly: “A pity you always make the wrong choices. Had you not fled to the Wo District to join Li Jun, you might have lived a while longer.”

“A while? Not enough.”

Yuan Mingfei's smile was radiant, utterly serious: “I want to live for a very, very long time.”

“Since you want to live, why choose to betray in the first place? Dual cultivation with the Buddha is what countless celestial maidens dream of. Now you have committed a grave error, cutting yourself off from the Buddhist gates forever.”

The Ming Wang stood before a Lujutai platform, long and coffin-shaped, his single palm held upright at his chest.

“The Great Zhao Temple has made it clear to me, hoping I would show mercy and preserve your complete consciousness. They intend to personally implant you, this traitor, into a pig's body, casting you thoroughly into the Animal Realm, to dwell forever in the peasant pens. Eating filth to survive, keeping company with chickens and dogs, watching your own offspring become dishes on the table, never to be reborn.”

The Ming Wang looked at Yuan Mingfei with cold, ruthless eyes, speaking indifferently: “I have agreed.”

As his words fell, a single point of brilliant light bloomed at the fingertip of the Ming Wang's raised index finger.

Like a lone lamp lighting up in a dark room, it shone into Yuan Mingfei's eyes.

Silently, soundlessly, the Ming Wang's Buddha Nation unfolded.

“Cao Cang?”

“I'm here.”

A deafening roar of a furious ape pierced the sky, followed immediately by an iron staff, thick as a sky-supporting pillar, descending from the heavens and driving straight into a skyscraper.

Boundless black mist surged and spread, churning violently like boiling water; an arm like a mountain range reached out from the mist, crushing the high-rise to splinters with ease, reaching out to wrench that heaven-piercing iron staff free!

Roar!

A gale swept through, the sea of mist dissipated.

Blood-red eyes, golden pupils, black hair, fangs bared—a hundred-zhang rampaging ape appeared behind Yuan Mingfei!

Yet this mythic spectacle before him was not the cause of the Ming Wang's current alarm.

The true reason was that within his own Buddha Nation, he actually sensed another Buddha Nation belonging to someone else unfolding!

Two Grounded Buddha Nations faced off with the middle of the long street as the Chu River Han Boundary, evenly matched, distinct as the Jing and Wei rivers.

“The Great Zhao Temple told you so much, but did they tell you why Suonan suddenly achieved nirvana? Or why they never managed to cast me into the Animal Realm? The Great Dark Heaven—it's nothing special either.”

Yuan Mingfei looked at the Ming Wang, whose face was now dark and stormy, raised a hand and pointed forward, saying lightly: “Cao Cang, beat him to death!”