Peace Order
Chapter 558 - 35: Jiangzhou Qilin’er, Known Across the World by My Name_3

Chapter 558: Chapter 35: Jiangzhou Qilin’er, Known Across the World by My Name_3

"The world is but a single gamble!"

"I’m all in!"

......

The Sky-reaching Sect and the Kunlun Sword Sect also received similar news; thousands witnessed the Qilin Army’s actions and behavior, naturally spreading the word. At the same time, the Qilin Army’s reputation for both brutal slaughters and strict benevolence spread far and wide.

The Sect Master of the Sky-reaching Sect remained silent.

Some disciples suggested preparing a batch of assets as reparations to be presented to Li Guanyi.

Although he participated in the Qilin Hunting Conference, he hadn’t completely fallen out with Li Guanyi, so this might be seen as a way to smooth things over.

This old Grandmaster, a once-ambitious figure who had carved out an extensive domain for the Sky-reaching Sect, pondered for several days.

In the end, he simply couldn’t bear to let go of the domain he had built up little by little over a period of 60 years, and he muttered to himself:

"I have disciples, students, and martial arts halls all over the Northern Domain, and I’m one of the major sects in the world; even if Li Guanyi is arrogant, right now he’s just a fugitive, a lone force deep within enemy territory, what can he accomplish? Even if he manages to escape from between the two countries..."

"As one of the major sects located in the Northern Domain of Chen Country, if he wishes to come here, he must cross the territory of Chen Country, where famed generals and powerful armies are stationed. If he brings an army here, it’s tantamount to declaring war on Chen Country. Just a few thousand armored soldiers are nothing more than ants in the grand scheme of this world’s great nations."

"And if he comes alone, without leading a large force, I am a centenarian with extensive cultivation,"

"and I wield a mystical weapon in my hand."

"Just a youngster, what is there to fear?!"

"I will not retreat!"

The Kunlun Sword Sect’s Nu Jianxian was silent for a long time before he decided to leave the sect.

This Nu Jianxian was one of the rare individuals who, although he had never proclaimed himself to be the absolute best in the world, could sense the terrifying Sword Intent that had burst forth one day among the first-class experts. He said to the Sect Leader and elder brother, "The trouble in the Martial World was caused by me, I will handle it myself."

"After all, the Qilin Hunting Conference was aimed at Li Guanyi, so it’s only natural that he would seek revenge. I was raised by the sect and cannot involve it in my personal affairs; I will handle this myself."

"For a swordsman, to die by the sword of such a predecessor..."

"In this life, I have no regrets."

Then, as he was about to shoulder his sword and show up alone, the Sect Leader and three other elders knocked him out and dragged him back. Otherwise, he might have indeed gone off to meet his death. After much persuasion, Nu Jianxian remained silent, feeling it was best to wait for that predecessor to come in person.

After reflecting, he thought of what Li Guanyi had said about Yan Daiqing, passing him a sword.

This martial artist, who was as straightforward as his sword, seemed to have an epiphany and decided to leave the sect, making his way to Jiangzhou City in Chen Country, where he met Yan Daiqing, who was practicing his sword alone.

Yan Daiqing asked with puzzlement, "Senior, what brings you to seek me out?"

Nu Jianxian said, "Someone asked me to pass on a sword to you."

Yan Daiqing was greatly confused; he was a close confidant of the former Crown Prince Chen Wenmian, and his family had raised him with the expectation that he would one day become the supporting Prime Minister. But they had inadvertently cultivated a sense of integrity in him, which had not changed even after Chen Wenmian’s departure. Following a sweep by Chen Dingye, Yan Daiqing’s father was taken down from power.

His family inevitably declined.

Yet, while those who had once sided with Chen Wenmian were cursing him for his heartlessness, Yan Daiqing remained contemptuous. After finishing his drink, he declared, "Sovereigns should act like sovereigns, ministers like ministers, fathers like fathers, and sons like sons. Without a proper sovereign, there’s no place for a minister."

"Without a proper father, a son has no place either."

"The sovereign is the minister’s guide; if the sovereign is corrupt, the minister may serve another country."

"The father is the son’s guide; if the father isn’t kind, the son may leave for another land."

"Everything that Chen Wenmian did was in accordance with the core principles of Confucianism. How could he be wrong?"

Yan Daiqing scoffed, "But as for you all, who once fawned over Chen Wenmian and now slander him behind his back after his departure, if distancing oneself from family ties could absolve one’s family, then so be it, but why be obsequious first only to become arrogant later?!"

"Ridiculous!"

The young Confucian scholar flung his cup and left.

The next day, his words were reported, and Yan Daiqing was stripped of his office, demoted to commoner status. His former friends stopped seeking him out, and his doors were suddenly empty. Although he seemed content on his own, he was still young at heart and inevitably felt the internal frustration and bitterness.

Now, unbelievably, a friend had asked such a Grandmaster to teach him martial arts.

Yan Daiqing quietly inquired, "May I know who the benefactor is?"

Nu Jianxian replied, "Li Guanyi."

Yan Daiqing, abandoned by all, remained frozen for a long time, unable to speak.

Nu Jianxian thought for a moment and then said, "He says you are his friend."

"Thank you for the sword you gave him."

Looking around, none of his old friends were to be seen.

Yan Daiqing opened his mouth but then burst into loud laughter.

...

Those reputed in fame, even if they did not travel the world, still shook all quarters with their renown.

There were times of change everywhere, and although the Academy was on the periphery of the vortex, within Central State, the highest place of All Schools, there was a special courtyard that only the outstanding young talents from various sects could enter.

A young man’s voice laughed as he said, "The world is undergoing great changes now, the Regent King’s military might is sharp as a knife, the Dangxiang are no match for him, and will soon be swallowed up. If the Regent King conquers the Western Regions and fully recovers, he will become a great enemy of Ying."

"So, if it were me, Ying Country would start to restrain the Regent King as he takes over much of the Western Regions..."

"And this duty will inevitably fall upon Duke Mansion of Ying Country."

"So, the Li Family will definitely have a decisive battle with the Regent King. As for the timing, it depends on how fast the Regent King conquers the Dangxiang, maybe two years at most, or as little as half a year. By then, I guess it’ll be our turn to enter the fray, where do you plan to go?"

This question seemed to have a magical power, those playing chess and playing the zither all stopped.

A gentle young man whispered, "As for me, naturally, I’m going to Ying Country."

"I’m from a noble family’s son of Ying Country, after all. Besides, the Emperor of Ying reigns over Central Plains with the confidence to swallow the world whole, a famed ruler indeed. You might as well join me."

He spoke gently and calmly, his sleeves fragrant.

A young man next to him took a deep breath of the scent and said, "Brother Lingjun, you smell so nice."

Wen Lingjun shook his head and quietly stepped back half a step.

This youth appeared sickly but was covered in the smell of wine, sitting against a column with a wine jar in his hands, he burped and said, "With your mind for strategy, I’ll go wherever you go."

A plain-looking young man spoke indifferently, "Stop drinking."

"If you keep this up, you’ll die before any of us."

The drunken youth laughed loudly, "No problem, dying from drinking would be too good, but Wen He, where do you plan to go?"

This youth, known for his ruthless and cunning play, replied "To the Regent King, of course."

He furrowed his brows:

"Coming from the Western Regions, with such an overlord, it’s only natural for me to return and assist him. Plus, with Chen Country as a buffer, as long as the Regent King withstands the first block from Ying, he can grow significantly and there’s a possibility for him to conquer the world."

The drunken youth commented, "If that’s the case, Zhou Pinglu wouldn’t be happy."

The handsome young man stroking the zither calmly said, "My family has been officials for generations, I cannot leave Jiangnan."

The chess-playing youth, Wen He, blandly remarked, "Zhou Pinglu’s lineage has been noble for generations, indeed he couldn’t abandon Chen Country. However, the ruler of Jiangnan currently lacks qualification. When you return, be careful to not get handled, and it’s best to leave yourself a way out."

He looked towards a casually dressed Ranger and asked, "What about you, Yuan Zhi?"

"Ah? Me?"

The Ranger, chewing on a blade of grass, scratched his head and said, "I don’t have any grand aspirations, I only left home because I killed someone. Then Gongyang Su Wang brought me here, but I’ll have to go back home, to see my mother."

"Ah, as long as one of you becomes an official, just remember me, that’s all."

Wen He replied, "With your mastery of Military Formation, as long as your Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation doesn’t appear on the battlefield, I’ll surely prepare a place for you."

They were the earliest among the younger generation of the Academy to realize that a huge change was coming to the world and were the first to determine they would head towards it. They discussed heroes, heroic rulers, and planned their futures.

There were those who, for their family’s sake, had to return to Chen Country.

Some planned to return to the Western Region to bring their ambitions to life and assist the Regent King.

And others intended to rush to the Emperor of Ying’s side; they discussed these potential world-conquering rulers, when suddenly footsteps were heard, and the door to the courtyard opened. A gentle young man walked in and said, "Gentlemen, please hear me out."

The Ranger laughed and exclaimed, "Ah, it’s Fang Ziqiao!"

"Have all three of you returned with Mr. Wang Tong?"

Wen Lingjun inquired, "I wonder, Brother Fang, who do you speak of?"

Fang Ziqiao smiled and with ease addressed this exceptional generation of the Academy:

"Gentlemen."

"Do you know of Jiangzhou’s Qilin’er?"