A chill arose in Liu Zhijian's heart, and he said in disbelief, "The Xue family of Qixia Mountain is, after all... surely they wouldn't... isn't he afraid..."
Li Chengxuan could naturally see that Liu Zhijian instinctively repelled such schemes that took human lives. Though quite pleased by this, certain guidance was still necessary: "Today is not antiquity, when morality governed the world. Cultivators advocate that the Immortal Dao prioritizes self-interest, holding their own person as supreme. All things in the world are merely resources for cultivation."
"So long as one looks after their blood relatives and disciples, they are not considered a demonic cultivator."
"So long as one does not consume the blood qi of human pills, they belong to the righteous path."
"If one is further willing to be benevolent toward others and protect mortals, they can be called a sage of the age—destined to be praised to their face by fellow cultivators, yet mocked behind their back."
"When you go down the mountain to travel in the future, remember that you must never drop your guard against others."
Hearing this gave Liu Zhijian a sense of absurdity, feeling that it went completely against his values. This was not the immortal cultivation he had envisioned either. Shaking his head firmly, he said, "This disciple refuses to believe in such a way, nor do I wish to be a cultivator who holds only himself supreme. Even less will I harm the lives of others for the sake of cultivation."
This time it was Li Chengxuan's turn to be stunned. Yet who wouldn't want those around them to be good people? He nodded with a smile and said, "Everything before was merely my speculation; perhaps I judged others by my own narrow mind. Xue Yang might not genuinely harbor intent to harm me—he could simply be eager to claim credit, and asking me to go down the mountain might just be to ensure the plan goes off without a hitch."
Liu Zhijian was no three-year-old child; he naturally picked up on Li Chengxuan's attempt to placate him. Nor would he be foolish enough to let his master use his life to test Xue Yang's conscience. However, he still had some doubts: "To tell Master the truth, I have only initiated into the 【River and Great Mound Classic】 and have yet to practice any spells. My battle power is truly negligible; even if I go, I will be powerless to help."
"No matter. I have my own arrangements; Mount Taixuan still has some foundation left." Li Chengxuan smiled upon hearing this, offering no further explanation, only adding, "Over these next few days, remember to find a few books on sword techniques to practice. If you possess talent for the Sword Dao, perhaps you might obtain some opportunities."
Hearing this, Liu Zhijian nodded in agreement, then could not help asking, "Master, Deng Gang... is he truly bound to die?!"
"Yes." Li Chengxuan did not hide it, answering bluntly, "Human pills of this sort are selected from childhood and painstakingly nurtured. Various restrictions have long been planted in their bloodline and soul, making escape virtually impossible."
Pausing, he added, "If you had a 【Foundation Establishment】 cultivation base, you might have a chance to save him."
Liu Zhijian smiled bitterly, for the first time feeling the helplessness of having a low realm where one's destiny was not in one's own hands.
Now, he could only sigh at the strange twists of fate.
To think that he would actually have to face his first friend in the cultivation world with drawn weapons, locked in a life-or-death struggle.
...
Deng Gang leaped down from his silver-white steed and strode into the commander's main tent. Picking up the wine cup on the table, he drained it in one gulp, only then realizing the wine was still warm, which startled him.
He recalled that earlier, his generals and soldiers had failed to breach the city after a long siege.
Deng Gang had grown somewhat impatient, so he had set down his wine cup and decided to personally take the field to break the enemy and storm the city.
Unexpectedly, upon seeing him, the defenders in the city let out outcry after outcry, not even daring to engage in battle.
The civil officials and the commandery governor in the city were so terrified that they burst into loud weeping.
In mere moments, the fortified city was breached, and he returned victorious.
Upon returning to the tent, the wine was still warm.
Breaching a city while the wine remained warm—this was how a true man should be!
Deng Gang carefully savored this unspeakable sensation.
A moment later, Qiao Yuniang entered the main tent. Seeing Deng Gang staring blankly while holding his wine cup, her mind turned as she smiled and said, "Congratulations, Husband, on breaching another major commandery."
"Now, within the borders of the Huang Kingdom, only the capital city remains putting up a desperate resistance."
"Every other commandery and prefecture is singing praises of Husband's grand renown!"
Deng Gang snapped back to his senses, put down his wine cup, and sat sprawling imperiously upon his commander's chair, asking casually, "Tell me, how are they praising me?!"
"Oh, there are far too many—such as a divine general descended from heaven, savior of the common people, and the like. This humble woman cannot possibly remember them all." Qiao Yuniang gave a subtle smile, tilted her head in thought for a moment, and giggled, "However, the one spread most widely is a nursery rhyme: 'Renowned teachers and great generals should not boast; a thousand armies and ten thousand horses avoid the white robe.'"
"'Renowned teachers and great generals should not boast; a thousand armies and ten thousand horses avoid the white robe...'" Deng Gang recited softly under his breath, glancing down at his white robe, momentarily spellbound. "Is this... truly talking about me?!"
"Of course!" Qiao Yuniang stepped forward quickly, sinking coyly into Deng Gang's lap as she cooed, "It is not just the farming folk; even in the boudoirs of wealthy young ladies, they are singing of Husband's heroic valor and domineering might."
Deng Gang felt immensely satisfied as a surge of heat welled up beneath his abdomen. Grabbing hold of Qiao Yuniang, he said, "Yuniang, you had better serve me with all your heart, or I shall have to find a few more sisters for you."
Qiao Yuniang let out a soft cry, burying her face into Deng Gang's chest. Her eyes were filled with utter coldness, yet her voice remained sweet and coaxing: "Husband, do as you please... there is no need to spare this humble woman..."
Inside the main tent, a scene of spring passion instantly unfurled.
...
The capital of the Huang Kingdom.
The former sovereign had already abandoned the nation and fled, forcibly passing the throne to the Crown Prince.
By the time the Crown Prince ascended the throne, the capital had already been surrounded by the army, leaving him powerless to turn the tide and with no way of escape.
Left with no alternative, he could only exit the city to surrender.
Outside the capital city walls.
Deng Gang wore his signature white robe and held his silver spear, mounted upon a white steed, backed by an army arrayed in perfect order.
Rumble, rumble.
The city gates were pushed open.
The person leading the way was none other than the current Emperor of the Huang Kingdom.
Deng Gang glanced over, momentarily stunned, before bursting into loud laughter.
He saw that the Emperor of the Huang Kingdom possessed not a shred of sovereign dignity; he was actually bare-chested, a rope tied around his neck, leading a ewe with his hand to signify submission.
The spectating commoners and the rebel soldiers all burst into boisterous laughter.
Seeing his enemy emperor in such a disgraceful state filled Deng Gang with immense gratification, and he was about to step forward to humiliate him further.
"Husband, this is an ancient etiquette of the Central Continent..." Qiao Yuniang urged her horse forward, speaking softly: "When a sovereign surrenders, ancient etiquette dictates that his life be spared and his dignity preserved. Husband is someone destined to ascend the supreme throne; do not damage your reputation over a moment's impulse."
"There is such a custom?!" After listening and reflecting briefly, Deng Gang found it reasonable as well, privately warning himself that he had nearly become one who acts wildly upon achieving success. Lightly tugging the reins, he rode into the city: "Spare his life and enfeoff him as the Marquis of Hunde."
After entering the city, Deng Gang felt a mixture of familiarity and strangeness.
When he was young, he had eked out a living here with his uncle, enduring no small amount of hardship.
His uncle had once pointed out every spot, describing what a certain area had been like back when the Deng Kingdom still existed, which family it belonged to, what history it held, and how it ended.
Even today, Deng Gang remembered it vividly.
Turning a street corner, he arrived at Imperial City Street.
This was closest to the imperial palace, the place where the powerful and noble of the Huang Kingdom resided.
Back then, when his uncle and he came here, they had not only been driven away and verbally abused, but his uncle had also had his backbone broken by vicious servants while protecting him. A few days later, he died miserably in a squalid alley, crying out "Restore our nation!" three times before breathing his last, dying with eyes unclosed!
"Halt!" Deng Gang reined in his horse and looked into the distance, feeling a surge of foul hatred lingering unrefreshed in his chest. Waving his hand, he commanded, "All who reside on this street are traitorous scoundrels! Slaughter them all to the last—leave no survivors!"
"Understood!"
The troops behind him gave a thunderous response, unsheathing their blades and spears as they surged into Imperial City Street.
In mere moments, the most famous street of the Huang Kingdom was littered with corpses, blood flowing like rivers.
The mangled remains of those dukes, princes, and high ministers were abandoned on the street like dead dogs.
"Hyah!"
With a calm expression, Deng Gang rode his horse forward.
Beneath the horse's hooves lay the bones of public officials and nobles.
"Across the Heavenly Street, trampling the bones of high officials..."
"Uncle, I did it!"
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