Chapter 639: Agree to Battle at the Mountain Peak

Chapter 639: Assailing the Summit of Shanshan

"So, you youngster came all this way here today, just to ask me how I intend to eat this hot pot?"

"Of course."

"Is that important?"

"Of course it is. You, old sir, are renowned as a true connoisseur. You should know there's a proper order to eating hot pot—what goes in first, what comes later. There are countless rules and considerations. If the order is messed up, the broth will turn cloudy, and the flavor will suffer."

"Is that so? Then what if we plan to throw all the dishes in at once?"

"Then it'd be like eating mixed soup. When did you lot of old veterans become so uncouth?"

On one side, Jin Fei was busy trading barbs with you, while on the other, Zou Siu Jiu, buried in his bowl, couldn't help but roll his eyes. What was all this fuss about whether the New Forest faction was planning to strike first or second, who to move and who to hold back? What was the point of making such a big deal out of it?

Too lazy to listen to their rambling, Zou Siu Jiu simply focused on the food before him, clearing his own bowl and plate, then reached for the offal that Pei Xingqian had deliberately taken.

"You brat, you never had a proper meal before, can't even leave me any?"

Pei Xingqian, no longer able to maintain his composed demeanor, quickly lifted his hands to shield his bowl and chopsticks, fished out a piece of offal, and plunged it into the pot.

"Li Zong, you lone swordsman who trims his sleeves and sharpens his knives—what, did you learn these sour, slimy delicacies somewhere, and now you're quoting flowery language to me?"

Li Zong laughed heartily: "Old Pei, you're the scholar of 'Rites and Etiquette.' What I say must suit your taste."

"Who's calling someone an old fox? Some people you just can't get through to—you say something to them, and they'll bite you back. But you play these games, who'd dare bite you? That's just asking for trouble yourself."

Pei Xingqian scolded him with a smile, his eyes sharp as he glanced at the hungry Zou Siu Jiu, who was busy shoveling the crisp, tender offal into his mouth, chewing slowly, swallowing calmly, then sighing in relief.

"You're all outsiders here. If you've got something to say, just ask. I'll tell you everything."

"Alright, then I'll be direct: this time, Zhang Fengyue plans to strike first—Dragon Tiger Mountain? The Imperial Palace? Or Honghui?"

"None of the above."

Pei Xingqian shook his head, speaking plainly: "He intends to deal first with those in the New Forest Party who betray their own kind, who are wolves among sheep—traitors and cowards."

Li Zong and Zou Siu Jiu exchanged a glance, their minds racing to the same conclusion: clan leaders.

"Choosing to strike inward at this moment—Zhang Fengyue truly has guts."

"If that old man hadn't made such a decisive move, how could I abandon my post in Chongqing Prefecture and come here to help clean up the mess?"

Pei Xingqian paused, a look of admiration on his face: "Though I must say, his choice surprises me. It seems that old Director hasn't lost his wits entirely—he still sees clearly what's urgent and what's pressing. Truly, it's a blessing."

"Where do you think we should strike first?"

Pei Xingqian smirked as he looked at Li Zong, teasing: "I knew you'd come here with some ulterior motive. You're planning to strike first at Xufu in Lujiang, aren't you? That's why you came to probe the waters with me?"

"The tail end of the matter with Old Su remains. It's almost New Year's, and if we don't settle things properly, I can't face him with a clean slate to offer my thanks and apologies. How could I then stand before him to sweep the ashes of his funeral?"

"That makes sense."

Pei Xingqian's words suddenly shifted, his tone sour: "Though I must say, how rare. When did you become so polite? Before you beat that dog, you even thought to ask the master first?"

Li Zong smiled but said nothing.

"You don't say? I figured old Zhang helped you on the battlefield, so you're willing to give him some face. If you hadn't, how could you involve yourself with this killer? It's a death sentence for your ancestors."

Pei Xingqian huffed, his words turning bitter: "But you needn't worry. Yang Bai Ze is already handling things for you. Soon enough, that brat will come to you with a bow and offering."

Li Zong furrowed his brow: "Yang Bai Ze..."

"Stop worrying. With me around, he couldn't possibly lose out."

Pei Xingqian said calmly: "Old Zhang may be shrewd and not entirely honest, but one thing's certain—he never stingy with his actions. With his backing, little Bai Ze will have no trouble settling Xufu. The main challenge is just to put in a bit more effort, to make sure it's done properly, so no one can find fault."

"Alright, I'll leave Xufu out of it. Let's eat."

Li Zong finally picked up his chopsticks, only to find the table completely bare.

Meanwhile, Zou Siu Jiu, his face satisfied, took a sip of his wine, having emptied his belly of all the grease.

Li Zong, unable to bear Pei Xingqian's sullen gaze, smiled awkwardly and shifted the subject: "Old Pei, didn't Yang Bai Ze mention to me before that you used to dislike Zhang Fengyue? How is it he's chosen to help him this time?"

Pei Xingqian mumbled "I'll swallow my tongue and endure the guest," placing his chopsticks horizontally across his bowl.

"I don't dislike him—I dislike the gluttons and fattened beasts in the New Forest Party. Now that he's resolved to clean up the corruption among the clan leaders, it fulfills my long-held wish. Naturally, I must lend my support."

Li Zong spoke earnestly: "This is a dangerous task, old Pei. You must be careful."

Though not a scholar himself, Li Zong could still discern the hidden risks and crises beneath.

If the scholarly order were a towering tree with dense branches and leaves, its tangled roots would be the various clan leaders. These families, bound by bloodlines, might not be strong alone, but their complex web of personal relationships makes them formidable. An uncle from one clan might be a nephew from another; pulling out a radish could bring up mud, and eliminating one might anger many.

The so-called New Forest Party is merely the collective interest of these clan leaders. Zhang Fengyue, as the party's leader, might find it difficult to push through this internal purge, to achieve self-preservation. After all, this great tree has branches and leaves, but also hidden pests lurking in the shadows.

Li Zong thought of the man he'd met in Nanchang Prefecture, calling himself a member of the "Spring and Autumn Society," whose fingers gently turned the wine cup.

"Risk is inevitable, but one can't be bitten by a snake and fear a fishing line for ten years."

Pei Xingqian took a sip of his wine, coldly smiling: "Though these old masters of privilege, these days of ease, don't have much courage to dive into the mire. Most are just swaying grass on a wall; meet blood, and they'll cower. Still, I must thank you."

Li Zong looked surprised: "Why?"

"If it weren't for you, dealing with the Liaodong Lü and the Jinling Liu, giving them an early warning, letting some people realize the stakes, and clearly stating their stance, this matter would've been far more troublesome."

Pei Xingqian smiled: "Old Zhang's tacit approval of Su's actions helped you, which is why you're willing to give him some face. He's too old to explain things plainly to a junior like you."

"Indeed, there's so much going on here."

After eating and drinking to satisfaction, Zou Siu Jiu lazily said: "I say, old sir, do all you scholars have so many thoughts? Doesn't it tire you out?"

"Have you heard the saying?"

Pei Xingqian didn't move, his dark, contrasting eyes glinting at Zou Siu Jiu.

"What?" Zou Siu Jiu looked curious.

"Hunger sharpens the mind, and a full belly loosens the tongue."

Pei Xingqian coldly said: "When you host guests, try to move your chopsticks less. You'd gain a few more thoughts."

"."

Zou Siu Jiu's mouth twitched, ready to retort, but saw Pei Xingqian had already turned his gaze to Li Zong.

"Have you truly decided to wade into this murky waters? If you take back your words now, I can pretend you came here just for the meal, nothing more."

Li Zong fell silent: "Old Pei, do you think I'd come from afar just to joke with you?"

"I understand your meaning, but have you considered why the Imperial Palace dared to mock the Buddhist order with Zhang Xi's seal, letting him take the blame for years, yet now the two factions still coexist peacefully, even teaming up against the scholarly order?

Pei Xingqian spoke rapidly: "Instead of going after Zhang Xi the moment he reclaimed the Jade Capital's Divine Sovereign seat, returning to the Dao order's first rank, why not strike those occultists to vent his frustration?"

Li Zong narrowed his eyes, a hint of coldness in them: "Old Pei, you mean there's also a hidden order within the Imperial Palace?"

"Unless that's the case, what other possibility is there?"

Pei Xingqian said seriously: "Whoever dares to emerge at this time isn't easily matched! I'll tell you straight—I today, in this situation, don't even know if the scholarly order will win or lose. Do you understand?"

"I understand."

Li Qing raised her voice in rebuke: “But at this moment, someone is sending gifts in the middle of the storm—doesn’t that seem like a good thing?”

“That was a selfish act of the old man, not a gesture of the dining table.”

Ping Yong replied with calm sincerity, his voice steady: “If you truly wish to be apart from the affairs, if the old man’s last words were truly lost, then at the very least, you could take care of Yang Baize, and let him not lose his chance.”

But before Li Qing could respond, the old man continued: “If this matter is not discussed further, it’s no longer a matter of five or two years. Even then, the old man would have reached out to you, perhaps using some questionable methods to force you to leave. You’d be forced to abandon everything.”

Hearing these words, Li Qing did not react with anger, only with a quiet, thoughtful question: “Then why has everything changed?”

Ping Yong sat in silence for a long moment, sipping his wine, lost in thought. Perhaps he was still unsatisfied. The old man, undeterred, poured another cup and took a sip.

Maybe he hadn’t yet realized the depth of his own folly.

Li Qing felt a pang of regret. “Even if you had been on the mountain with the Sage of Mount Long, seeking blessings, would you still have been so eager to see you, Lord Ping?”

Ping Yong’s eyes softened, his voice gentle yet firm: “It was only because you were so eager that you ended up in trouble. You should have been careful.”

From deep within, Ping Yong exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable. “The path of the old man is clear. Let us not forget that the longest span of time for our people is a hundred years. Some say there are hidden plots here, deliberately blocking the path to immortality. But perhaps this is simply the mercy of the heavens. Let us not lose our humanity in the pursuit of eternal life.”

Li Qing nodded, his heart heavy with the weight of words. “Then let us remember that even the greatest schemes have limits.”

Ping Yong smiled faintly. “Indeed. And perhaps that is the most valuable lesson of all.”

The night deepened, the stars twinkling above like silent witnesses, as the two men stood in the quiet aftermath of a conversation that would echo through the ages.