Peace Order
Chapter 323 - 144: Mo Zhe’s Chivalrous Tao, the Ruler’s Royal Tao, This Body’s Vendetta - 2

Chapter 323: Chapter 144: Mo Zhe’s Chivalrous Tao, the Ruler’s Royal Tao, This Body’s Vendetta - 2

The youth tapped the sword with his fingers, while his other hand patted his knee, creating sounds like bird chirps, yet the rhythm belonged to that of a traditional tune, equally elegant and pleasant to the ears. Yet suddenly, it transformed, from the refinement of Jiangnan, into a more exhilarating and grandiose spirit.

It was as if the breeze that brushed through Jiangnan had reached Kunlun, then bringing along the bone-chilling millennium coldness to the world. The musician, spellbound, gazed at the young boy, her eyes glittering with admiration.

Li Guanyi smiled, "How about that? If you get better, I’ll teach you."

The musician stared at this young ranger, her mouth opened slightly as tears streamed down her face.

But, with a choked laugh, she whispered softly:

"People like you... don’t live long..."

Suddenly, there was a loud shout: "All right!" Li Guanyi turned to look. The middle-aged doctor rose from his seat, rummaged through a box, and quickly crafted a wooden mechanical hand, identical to that of the young musician. Li Guanyi was stunned and exclaimed, "A Mo Family Mechanism?"

"You’re not a doctor?"

Guan Shier responded, "When did I ever say I was a doctor?"

"I am a disciple of the Mo School. Miss, your hand may be unusable, but luckily, I have materials here originally meant for crafting fine weapons and treasure weapons. These materials allow Inner Qi to circulate within them; theoretically, as long as your meridians are aligned, and you practice your Cultivation Technique, you can control the hand with Inner Qi."

"Then, not to mention movements like any normal person, you can even perform more mystical actions."

"Playing the guqin like projecting Sword Qi, flicking fingers as if casting Divine Abilities."

The musician paused, a glint of longing in her eyes that eventually faded away.

This device must be very expensive.

She looked up at Li Guanyi, holding back her tears, then spoke softly, "Young master..."

"I don’t like it here, let’s go."

"My wrist is fine as it is now, I don’t want a wooden appendage sprouting from it."

Li Guanyi caught the change in her eyes, but Guan Shier suddenly cursed aloud, "Nonsense! Worried about not being able to afford it, and saying you don’t want to burden this young man further by pretending you don’t want the hand?"

"What a contrived mess! When did I ever say you needed to pay?"

The musician fell silent, then asked, "But why?"

Guan Shier said indifferently, "Because I am a Mo Zhe."

Those six words seemed to answer everything with their profound significance.

Guan Shier stated, "Would I still belong to the Mo School if I refrained from helping others?"

"Universal Love and Non-aggression have never been just lip service."

"Alright, I’ve given you the reasons, give me your hand!" He grabbed the musician’s hand, attempting to connect the mechansim, the meridians, and the Inner Qi using a secret technique of the Mo School.

Li Guanyi exhaled deeply, sitting beside his sword, staring vacantly at the heavy rain falling outside the Ghost Market, knowing well that he could never become a subject of any Emperor or Marquis; those mature rulers were fundamentally different from him.

When Li Guanyi saw evil, it was the rampant plundering of others.

Yet, he realized, this was not the great evil.

People like Jiang Yuan treated other humans as completely different creatures—beyond good and evil. Such people—whether without ambition or powerless—were bearable, but once both possessed heroic spirits, they could absolutely never coexist.

The rain kept pouring down more heavily.

Inside the traveling palace of the Prince of Ying, Jiang Gao was browsing through documents when someone knocked. Jiang Gao glanced up, saw a tall figure outside, dismissed the attendants by his side, and then stood up to open the door himself, allowing the rain to scatter in, revealing Yuwen Lie, calm and composed in a white robe, holding a bamboo umbrella.

"It’s General Yuwen, please come in."

Jiang Gao’s demeanor was gentle, seemingly unsurprised by his visit, inviting Yuwen Lie inside.

Today, Jiang Gao had asked Yuwen Lie if he would attend, but Yuwen Lie had declined.

"He won’t relax if he sees me, Your Highness. Besides, there’s a rivalry of pride between him and me; your casual conversation with him is not suitable for my presence."

"If things work out afterward, you can invite me to a banquet then. At that time, he and I will drink till we can no more, and by then you can also extend your favors to him. Why insist on this particular moment now?"

Jiang Gao poured tea for Yuwen Lie, and then said, "Today I saw that Li Guanyi is indeed a rare talent of this world. Though he’s only fifteen, he is prudent in his comings and goings; give him another ten years, and he might well stand alone on the battlefield."

"Even today, he always says he has no great ambitions, but I see it."

"His ambition is grand."

Additionally, I need to apologize to you, General."

Jiang Gao said, "Today I did not keep him, and also reminded the General of your killing intent towards him."

Yuwen Lie was noncommittal, spoke lightly while sipping his tea, "After all, you are the Crown Prince; I had guessed you might do this. Additionally, Prince Jiang Guang seems to have left a shadow at your side; he informed me of your actions today."

Jiang Gao couldn’t help but laugh, "Ayuan is still the same."

"Troublesome brother, thank you for informing me, General."

He bowed respectfully.

Yuwen Lie said, "Your Highness doesn’t seem to be worried that I might shift my allegiance to Prince Jiang Guang because of this."

Jiang Gao spoke warmly, "Integrity and transparency, that is the way of a sovereign."

"So, would the Great General, having the merit of conquering cities and destroying nations, choose to accompany someone with whom he could honestly deal, even if destined to be enemies, or follow someone who even conspires against his own elder brother?"

Yuwen Lie looked at the gentle Crown Prince before him.