The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 99 - 96: Diverting Trouble Eastward

Chapter 99: Chapter 96: Diverting Trouble Eastward

"He eavesdropped on the Mountain River Academy..."

Qingyu really had to admire Lu Qifeng’s audacity. With Meng Shanhe presiding over the Mountain River Academy, even the Divine Captors of the Six Gates didn’t dare to cause a disturbance, yet Lu Qifeng had the nerve to meddle with this tiger’s tail.

"This... Divine Constable Lu is truly... haha, truly..." Qingyu found himself at a loss for words.

"Truly a disgrace, right?" Luo Yan said.

"Haha..." Qingyu forced a bitter smile. Saying that Lu Qifeng had disgraced himself was something Luo Yan, his close direct disciple, could say, but he, an outsider, certainly could not.

"The intention of my master was to probe the reality of the Mountain River Academy a bit, and he even carefully limited the scope to the central part, the courtyards where ordinary students usually live their daily lives, not daring to pry into the academy at the mountain’s peak."

"But he didn’t expect that, despite being so careful and cautious, he would still be detected by Meng Shanhe."

"If a warrior of the Divinity Realm decided to release their Divine Sense, covering the entire Datong Mountain would not be a problem, and detecting my master would be a piece of cake. However, such warriors of the Divinity Realm wouldn’t bother with such trivialities. Meng Shanhe usually stays in seclusion, claiming so, and even within the peak academy, he’s rarely seen. Him detecting my master wasn’t because Divine Sense incidentally revealed my master’s presence..."

"What’s the reason, then?" Qingyu asked.

"Thinking it over and combined with our purpose, there’s only one reason..." A smile appeared on Luo Yan’s face.

"Emperor Martial Art," Qingyu said.

"Exactly, Emperor Martial Art. Do you know the origin of Emperor Martial Art?"

Qingyu said, "I’d like to hear the details."

"Emperor Martial Art, originating in the Ancient Era, was first created by the first Human Emperor of the Human Race. It’s said that the Ancient Human Emperor could combine the Emperor Martial Art with the thoughts of his subjects, seeing through his subjects’ eyes, overlooking the world, and comprehending all matters of the world in one glance. Once the world was in the Human Emperor’s heart, he could truly grasp Qiankun, using it as a driving force to endlessly advance his cultivation."

Looking down upon the world, with the universe within one’s heart—such a state of mind is a tremendous fortune for a martial artist. Emperor Martial Art, truly worthy of its name.

"The tales of ancient times are too distant and, after years of transmission, are inevitably mythologized and modified," Luo Yan continued, "but the miraculous nature of Emperor Martial Art is indeed real. The Record of Daily Life of Emperor Daqian states, ’The Grand Ancestor sat long in the Purple Extreme, and all matters of the Heavenly Capital, no matter how trivial, were like patterns on the palm, entirely within the Grand Ancestor’s gaze.’"

"So, Divine Constable Lu speculated that Meng Shanhe cultivated Emperor Martial Art?" Qingyu said.

"Not necessarily."

Not necessarily? After speaking with such conviction before, now you tell me it’s not necessarily?

"Emperor Martial Art is not as mysterious as the Jianghu sorcerers say, where one cultivates using the so-called Emperor Dragon Energy. Ruling the world as the Emperor is a form of cultivation in itself. That understanding of harmonizing with the world, commanding all living things, can immensely elevate the Emperor’s mental state and rapidly boost his cultivation. Thus, the so-called Emperor Dragon Energy is not some elusive fate or luck but the very True Qi of an Emperor. This method is similar to the ancient Confucians’ Humanity Lineage cultivation method; perhaps the Grand Ancestor also developed Emperor Martial Art from this."

"Meng Shanhe may not necessarily know Emperor Martial Art, but he must have records to comprehend that profound trend. He has merged his own ’Vast Righteous Qi’ with the countless aspirations of the academy’s students, creating the unique environment of the Mountain River Academy. Combining this unknown record with the ’Peaceful World’ currently in the Imperial Family’s hands would not be difficult to recreate the majesty of Emperor Daqian."

"I see..." Qingyu silently muttered to himself.

Lu Qifeng’s earlier words hadn’t been clear, but his departure from Northern Zhou was perhaps minor in comparison. The true significant matter was returning to the Daqian court and reporting face-to-face to Emperor Daqian himself.

Previously uncertain about the existence of Emperor Martial Art, they had only sent spies to investigate. Now, Lu Qifeng’s inadvertent blunder had confirmed the hopes for reviving Emperor Daqian’s ’Peaceful World.’ It was foreseeable that subsequent actions would not be limited to sending spies; if Qingyu couldn’t find anything soon, Daqian wouldn’t settle for merely sneaking a spy in, but would take more drastic measures.

To speak frankly, once Lu Qifeng returned to Daqian and reported the matter, it wouldn’t be impossible for warriors of the Divinity Realm to come knocking on their door.

Seeing Qingyu’s expression, Luo Yan knew he must have understood the intricacies and said, "When the master returns to Daqian and asks us to act, it’s an opportunity for you and me. If we can find more clues before other court officials arrive, you’ll have rendered a tremendous service, and promotions and noble titles will be well within reach."

No, to be precise, it’s you who will have done the great service. You are the one in charge, not me.

Qingyu was just a spy of a somewhat special nature, no different in essence from those who had fallen in the Mountain River Academy previously. If any great merit were to be claimed, it would still principally lie with Luo Yan, the one in charge.

Run around until exhaustion, even risking one’s life, while Luo Yan reaps the benefits? That was something Qingyu wouldn’t do. Therefore, thinking quickly, he came up with a plan to deflect the trouble: "Lord Luo. The True Qi I developed through the ’Heavenly Principle Inner Saint Method’ may be similar to the ’Vast Righteous Qi’ of the Confucian true lineage and might deceive ordinary students and instructors, but it won’t escape the dean’s or Meng Shanhe’s scrutiny."

"However, there is one person. He can either feign or possibly actually cultivate ’Vast Righteous Qi.’ If he can be made to serve our purposes, we will surely find more clues before the court’s warriors arrive."

"Oh?" Luo Yan said with interest, "Such a person exists? Who is it?"

Qingyu said with a smile, "Han Wenxin."

"He is a Core Disciple of the Mountain River Academy and has been there for three years. In these three years, he must have personally met Meng Shanhe. He is a Core Disciple. But from my interactions with him, Han Wenxin’s ’Vast Righteous Qi’ is identical to that of Ninth Prince Feng Jiu, yet lacks the demeanor of a Confucian who has cultivated ’Vast Righteous Qi.’ He is currently serving Sixth Prince Feng Chaonan of Northern Zhou."

"A Confucian disciple embroiled in a prince’s struggle for power? Interesting. Is he really not bound by the stodgy heart of a gentleman?" Luo Yan was intrigued by this Han Wenxin.

"Exactly," Qingyu said, "A Confucian wouldn’t compare oneself to a contemporary Duke Wenxin. Moreover, Sixth Prince Feng Chaonan is arrogant and vengeful, yet can humble himself before those he values, putting interests above all else. Such a person would hardly be the enlightened ruler that Confucians envision. Han Wenxin, if truly a gentleman of integrity, would not serve him."

"Very well, then we shall first investigate Han Wenxin’s background. If there truly is a way to deceive Meng Shanhe, the special environment of the Mountain River Academy will no longer be an obstacle for us," Luo Yan decisively stated.

Hearing this, Qingyu revealed a knowing smile.

Being able to use the strength of the Six Gates to learn the details about Han Wenxin and distracting Luo Yan’s attention onto Han Wenxin, allowing himself to slack off in peace, was killing two birds with one stone. Why not go for it?