Chapter 1693: Shu General (I)

Smoke Valley Desert.

Rain poured from the sky, turning the surrounding land into a sea of mud. A convoy raced along a secluded path through the darkness.

However, the sound of weeping filled the convoy. A pitch-black coffin rested inside one of the carriages, while the cultivators around it bowed their heads and wept in solemn grief. At the head of the procession stood a man dressed in white, looking utterly bereft.

It was not until a cultivator beside him spoke that he abruptly came to his senses. Lowering his gaze, he asked, "Where are we?"

The other man reassured, "Rest easy, clan head... War and disorder are everywhere, and the roads are filled with refugees. Our convoy is also moving swiftly. It will take less than a day to cross the desert."

Zhuang Pingye nodded silently, his expression still dazed.

The turmoil in Wu State had not begun yesterday. The Zhuang Family had heard about it for some time, yet they had never considered leaving. After all, this was the Golden Feather Sect's territory! No matter how chaotic the world became, could the unrest truly reach the heartland of the Golden Feather Sect? Could it possibly engulf the entire desert? The family's old elder, Zhuang Cheng, was still away helping Golden Feather Sect suppress the disorder... How serious could the trouble possibly become?

At the time, his wife, Li Xinghan, had been in seclusion. Zhuang Pingye had traveled south, and secretly concealed his identity at one of his usual marketplaces to hire a songstress. There, he suddenly heard that an army had invaded the desert, followed by the news that the old elder was critically ill. Only then did he come to his senses. Abandoning everything else, he had raced home as fast as he could.

Zhuang Cheng had been lying on his bed when he returned. The old Daoist had begun as a rogue cultivator, and gained renown throughout the desert for his talisman swords. He had made plenty of minor mistakes throughout his life, but never any grave ones, and in his later years, he had raised the Zhuang Family to the height of its prosperity.

Yet, gravely wounded in the great battle, he had barely managed to escape home and was clinging to his final breath. Zhuang Cheng paid no attention to this junior of his. Instead, he summoned Li Xinghan from seclusion to discuss the situation.

After comparing what they knew, the two sensed that something was deeply wrong. Without waiting for a reply from the lake, the old elder made the final wise decision of his life.

Flee... Flee at once!

The Zhuang Family was one of the great clans of the desert, as well as a long-established Foundation Establishment Realm clan. They had once managed to grasp the coattails of Moongaze Lake and enjoyed tremendous prestige, with no rival to their influence in the prefecture. Yet they abandoned everything they could not carry. They did not even dare to fly. Instead, they loaded their clansmen and spirit items into more than a dozen carriages, slipped out of the city under cover of night, and headed east.

The old elder, Zhuang Cheng, had not yet breathed his last. Afraid that the phenomenon caused by his death might attract attention, he sealed himself inside a coffin to await his end. The rest of the family did not pause for even a moment as they sped away.

Even now, Zhuang Pingye's hands and feet remained cold. He entered the carriage and saw that his wife was still beside the coffin, channeling mana into it.

Trembling, he asked with concern, "Do you need to rest...?"

Li Xinghan shook her head. Her features had grown much more mature, and her years managing the household had lent her an air of capable composure. At that moment, however, her thoughts were deeply troubled.

So the Golden Feather Sect was not absorbed through a peaceful transfer... Instead, they began a wholesale slaughter, which caused several errors in the family's judgment...

The Zhuang Family knew little about the changes unfolding in Wu State, but Li Xinghan had received some information. She knew that the Golden Feather Sect would most likely be incorporated into the new dynasty.

Since the Zhuang Family belonged to the Golden Feather Sect, those at the lake had no intention of overstepping their bounds by issuing instructions. However, no one had expected the forces from the west to begin massacring their way across the land!

She sighed inwardly, and locked eyes with her disheveled husband without saying a word. It was not as though she knew nothing of Zhuang Pingye's affairs outside the home. She also understood that when he first came to the lake, he could not possibly have fallen in love with her at first sight.

Whether he kept mistresses hidden away or merely sought pleasure elsewhere, he was at least clever enough to handle everything discreetly and never embarrass her. Over the years, the two of them had managed to treat each other with the courtesy of honored guests.

At first, she had found it somewhat difficult to accept, but she had gradually grown accustomed to it. Between helping him manage the clan's affairs, cultivating, and practicing the sword, she barely had enough time for herself. Naturally, she had no intention of forcing someone to change his nature. More likely than not, it would only have left everyone uneasy and thrown the entire household into chaos.

The sword is what I love most, so I should not demand that he love me above all else.

Yet now, the situation had turned on its head. Perhaps because he knew he might have to spend the rest of his life surviving at the mercy of his wife's family, Zhuang Pingye spoke in an exceptionally gentle voice. The quiet dignity and self-possession once ingrained in his bones had vanished, replaced by a nervous fear that she might settle old scores with him later.

Yet the sight only stirred a trace of pity in Li Xinghan. The memory of the old elder clutching her hand and pleading through his tears came vividly to her.

Thus, she merely gestured and said, "You do not need to be afraid. Since the old elder managed to drag his grievously wounded body all the way back from the front lines to the desert, some divine ability must have been at work. The Golden One Upper Sect could not possibly be unaware of it... They were likely bound by some agreement that prevented them from intervening openly, so they could only lend their aid from the shadows."

Zhuang Pingye was an intelligent man; he understood as soon as she pointed it out. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, though he continued watching her. Li Xinghan, however, was focused on the view outside. When the sounds of battle suddenly erupted in the distance, her expression changed slightly.

"That place we just passed was Smoke Valley Temple!"

Zhuang Pingye was startled. "What?!"

Lowering his voice, he said, "You mean... A force from the west must have taken a shortcut and reached this place ahead of us...

"Either they intend to stop the desert's cultivators from fleeing to the lake... Or they are guarding against the lake taking advantage of the chaos to seize territory in the desert!"

Li Xinghan nodded. "I believe they are afraid the lake will learn what is happening... They want to catch them by surprise and attempt to seize Mount Xiping!"

The husband and wife waited silently inside the carriage. The rain grew steadily heavier until even the hoofbeats before and behind them were drowned out, yet their journey remained unobstructed. Then the wind and rain abruptly fell silent, and a figure suddenly descended before the carriage.

A strong, commanding voice rang out. "I, Ding Weizeng... have come on the orders of his highness, the King of Wei, to receive and escort the lady!"

The King of Wei...

Li Xinghan was slightly surprised, but she naturally recognized Ding Weizeng. When Zhuang Pingye saw her nod, the tension drained from his entire body, and he let out a long breath.

He glanced unsteadily at his wife as Li Xinghan said politely, "Thank you for the trouble, Guest Cultivator Ding!"

The soft curtain was lifted, allowing a faint spray of cold rain to drift inside. Zhuang Pingye greeted the guest cultivator with an ingratiating smile, then hurriedly placed both hands on the coffin and tapped it gently. There was no response from within, only cold and utter silence.

Li Xinghan turned her head aside, and shed a tear or two for the old man. Zhuang Pingye bowed to Ding Weizeng, his mind numb and dazed. His left hand awkwardly stroked the coffin as though trying to comfort the person within, while an immense emptiness opened inside him.

His father, the old elder who had commanded respect throughout his life... must have quietly breathed his last inside the coffin midway through their journey, burdened by worry until the very end.

————

Smoke Valley Temple.

Torrential rain poured across the desert, covering the muddy ground in murky gray-black water. The collapsed city walls lay submerged beneath the flood, with only a few broken remnants of ancient stone protruding above the surface. Thunder rolled across the sky with earth-shaking force.

At the other end of the desert stood orderly ranks of soldiers in silver armor. Dark green banners fluttered in the wind, each emblazoned with a golden word: [Shu]. Imperial carriages were arrayed across the heavens in an imposing sight, their wheels towering ten meters high amid the clouds.

On the other side, multicolored clouds billowed, though the assembled troops were far fewer. Li Zhouwei stood among the clouds, a royal cloak covering simple black robes embroidered with golden patterns at the sleeves. Beside him, a bronze-skinned, powerfully built man stood amid the surging heavenly light, holding aloft a great green-purple banner bearing a qilin emblem.

Several cultivators stood in the pouring rain at the foot of the mountain, supporting one another and looking thoroughly bedraggled.

Smoke Valley Temple had originally been built where the ancient city walls stood. Its strategic position had drawn the attention of the Li Family, and it had long maintained close ties with them, effectively becoming their vassal. Although its importance had declined greatly after the ancient walls collapsed, it remained a vital foothold leading into the desert.

The cultivators of Smoke Valley Temple had all originated from the western shore. After being helped to their feet by members of the Li Family, they embraced one another and wept.

Great Shu...

The dark green banners stood out vividly. Clearly, the Xiao Family of Wu, which had wrested the imperial mandate from Chu, had now been stripped of even its last remaining veneer. The entire army still carried an intense, blood-soaked killing intent, bearing testament to the carnage it had left along its path.

This dynasty certainly commands greater fear through slaughter...

Yet with Li Zhouwei standing in the sky, the troops standing amid the pools of blood began to grow uneasy. Light flickered in the air for a moment before one man rode the wind out from the army and approached him.

The man halted in the sky. Keeping a proper distance, he cupped his hands in greeting.

"I am Hongyan[1] of the Ni Family, Founding Count of Qige in Great Shu and Military Commissioner of the Desert Pacification Army... Greetings, my lord!"

Daoist Master Hongyan of the Ni Family...

Li Zhouwei had heard of him before. The Ni Family had always served as the right-hand arm of the Sword Gate, governing the lands of Shu on its behalf. Daoist Master Hongyan had attained divine ability many years ago, and had always been a staunch supporter of the Supreme Yang Dao lineage.

However, with the tide of history now flowing in a different direction, he had naturally entered the service of Shu State. Judging by his titles, his was no minor appointment, though he had now been dispatched to Smoke Valley.

Li Zhouwei nodded slightly and replied, "Minghuang, King of Wei of Great Song."

Daoist Master Hongyan looked somewhat embarrassed and forced a smile. "So it is the King of Wei... Your highness has crossed the mountains and brought an army here. Is there some important matter you wish to discuss?"

The young man smiled. With his hands clasped behind his back, he asked, "The people in the temple belong to my lake, yet somehow I am the one who has brought an army here?"

Daoist Master Hongyan took a step back and raised his brows, about to say something. However, wary of being so close to Li Zhouwei and knowing it would be difficult to respond if matters turned hostile, he said quietly, "Allow me to report this to the Great General."

Before he could even turn around, another man arrived on the wind. His eyes opened beneath raised brows, and his gleaming silver armor gave him an imposing appearance.

He stopped beside Hongyan and frowned. "Why do you hesitate, Military Commissioner?"

Li Zhouwei regarded him coldly, only for the man to meet his gaze without yielding in the slightest. Staring directly at him, the man asked, "And who might this be?"

This left Daoist Master Hongyan in an awkward position. He stepped forward again, but instead of answering the man, he looked toward Li Zhouwei and tried to ease the tension. "King of Wei... This is Lord Li Muyan, a Meritorious Minister of Profound Martial and Divine Assistance..."

Li Zhouwei gave no response. He could not be bothered to spare Li Muyan another glance. The man had not attained divine ability for long, but he seemed to have received some unknown blessing. Still, he carried himself impressively enough, with one or two traces of mystics showing through.

What drew his attention far more was the silver glint of the carriage in the distance. There should still be someone else inside.

Li Zhouwei could not help but wonder, Is that the Emperor of Shu or someone else?

There had still been no news from the Golden Feather Sect. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, they should have joined forces with Changhuai. One represented the Golden One Dao Lineage, while the other was the immortal mountain of Changhuai. Together, their strength was terrifying.

Behind him, Li Zhouda looked somewhat surprised, and a trace of coldness entered his gaze.

The Li Family of Mount Tan...

How could Li Muyan possibly not know who Li Zhouwei was? However, his expression stayed cold as he said dismissively, "King of Wei? I am returning after taking Mount Xiping under the Great General's orders. I know of no King of Wei."

1. Hongyan is not his given name but his Dao title. This is Daoist Master Hongyan. ☜

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