Chapter 76: Truly Worth It!
Li Yuanhu had remained sitting on the ground the entire time.
Arms folded.
Silent.
Eyes closed.
Simply waiting.
The residence of the Marquis of Zhenbei had always maintained seven Regional Commander posts.
Li Yuanhu held one of them.
He was famed throughout the desert for his twin hammers and his monstrous physical strength.
To use an imperfect comparison: if the Marquis of Zhenbei was the local emperor of Beifeng Commandery, then Li Yuanhu was one of the feudal lords beneath him.
But the previous day, when facing Shatuo Que Shi—a man who had already resolved to die—
Li Yuanhu had retreated one step.
Yes.
He had immediately realized his mistake and rushed back to save the imperial prince.
But retreating from a battle line still violated military discipline.
The Marquis was not here.
The Old Marchioness was.
If she wanted to punish him, Li Yuanhu could only lower his head and accept it.
Forget the fact that the Old Marchioness was the Marquis’s principal wife and personally held the First-Rank Mandated Lady title granted by the Emperor of Yan.
When Li Yuanhu was young, he had once worn clothing personally woven by the Old Marchioness.
For that alone, he would accept the punishment!
The Marquis’s household rules were severe.
From the first Marquis of Zhenbei smashing five hundred thousand Qian troops with thirty thousand iron cavalry until the present day, the residence had always upheld one iron law:
Advance.
Never retreat.
Li Yuanhu accepted the punishment.
But that did not mean he had no fury inside him.
Right now, he was waiting.
Waiting for the corpse hanging above him to “live” again.
Then he would hammer the barbarian bastard who had caused his punishment one more time!
Why not smash him to pieces?
Because...
“Your Highness, are they setting up a formation?” Zheng Fan asked.
“Oh?
“You understand formations?”
“I’ve never seen a pig run, but I’ve seen pigs mate.”
“...” the Sixth Prince.
Ahead of Zheng Fan and the Sixth Prince on the northern side of the ceremonial archway a group of men and women in long blue robes were busily working.
Some carried compasses.
Some carried formation flags.
A white-haired elder directed them.
“These are Sorcerers,” the Sixth Prince explained.
“Sorcerers?”
“The barbarians have barbarian shamans.
“They possess countless strange techniques.
“But we have Sorcerers and Qi Refiners.
“So whether in open warfare or strange arts and formations, we can suppress them.”
As he spoke, the Sixth Prince seemed to become interested.
He pointed toward the white-haired old man.
“I know that elder.
“His nickname is the Drunken Immortal.
“He once traveled through the capital and received an audience with Father Emperor.
“His techniques are exceedingly profound.
“In the State of Yan, you would struggle to find anyone superior to him in the mystic arts.
“Father Emperor once even had him read the bones of all seven princes.”
The Sixth Prince deliberately paused for effect.
He pointed toward his own face.
“He told my Eldest Brother:
‘A fierce tiger guards the frontier.’
“He told my Second Brother:
‘A hidden dragon lies in the wild.’
“Guess what he said about me?”
“Rich and comfortably idle?”
The Sixth Prince frowned slightly.
Curious, he said, “‘Rich, peaceful, and healthy.’
“But that’s close enough.
“How did you guess?”
“This subordinate doesn’t understand mystic arts.
“But I have a friend who spent half a year running a fortune-telling stall in Tiger Head City.
“Even earlier than that, he was a magnificent charlatan.
“He once created his own religion and had quite a few followers.
“He told me that whether you’re reading bones or telling fortunes, predicting good or bad luck, or examining someone’s marriage prospects, the secret comes down to ten characters.”
“Then I ask Teacher Zheng to enlighten me.”
“Nothing special.
“Speak human words to humans.
“Speak ghost words to ghosts.”
The Sixth Prince slowly chewed over the sentence.
The more he considered it, the more interesting it became.
Zheng Fan continued, “Actually, this subordinate hasn’t known Your Highness very long.
“But from Your Highness’s own mouth, I’ve already learned some of His Majesty’s plans.
“The Eldest Prince commands Tiancheng Commandery’s troops.
“That means His Majesty is preparing to cultivate him into a second Marquis of Zhenbei— someone who will guard the borders of The Great Yan Dynasty in the future.
“As for the Second Prince, he is the likely Crown Prince.
“That probably isn’t much of a secret in court or among the common people.
“So rather than saying the Drunken Immortal was reading fortunes, it would be more accurate to say he was simply restating His Majesty’s intentions in another form.
“Otherwise...”
“Otherwise what?”
“At the very least, the judgment he gave Your Highness should have been:
‘Harboring treacherous designs.’”
“You’re asking for a beating!”
“Oh?
“You two young friends are having quite a lively conversation.”
An elderly voice suddenly came from behind them.
Zheng Fan turned immediately.
The Drunken Immortal who had clearly been standing far away moments earlier had somehow appeared directly behind them without anyone noticing.
“This old man greets the Sixth Prince.”
Holding a fly whisk, the Drunken Immortal performed a Sorcerer’s salute.
The Sixth Prince cupped his hands in return.
He even stepped half a pace sideways, not daring to receive the full salute head-on.
The Drunken Immortal then looked at Zheng Fan with amused interest.
He smiled.
“This old man is quite interested in that friend you mentioned.
“To summarize our craft in those ten characters... he has truly grasped the essence of our profession.”
“This junior spoke arrogantly.
“I ask the Immortal Elder’s forgiveness.”
Zheng Fan suspected the Blind Man Bei would also be delighted to meet this old man.
Though in the Blind Man’s case, if he ever got the chance to knock the Drunken Immortal unconscious, he would probably be even happier.
He would likely use mental power to scan him while slicing him apart for research.
“No offense.
“No offense.
“Every word from your friend was a pearl.
“A pearl, indeed.
“Hehehe.”
The Drunken Immortal displayed an open-minded sort of self-mockery.
“Immortal Elder,” the Sixth Prince said.
“May I ask what this is?”
He pointed toward the arrangements being made north of the archway.
“This is the Tiger-Subduing Formation.
“This old man and his disciples have been arranging it for some time.
“We’re waiting to capture a tiger alive.”
When he said *tiger*, the Drunken Immortal deliberately glanced from the corner of his eye toward the corpse hanging from the archway.
The Sixth Prince was exceedingly perceptive.
He understood immediately.
Somewhat incredulously, he asked, “Immortal Elder means... this corpse can still come back to life?”
“Life and death follow fate.
“But cause and effect turn in cycles.
“The barbarian shaman’s path and our Sorcerer path are both roads that deceive Heaven.
“Resurrecting the dead.
“Forcibly controlling corpses.
“These are precisely the arts barbarian shamans excel at.
“Besides, while alive, this body belonged to a Third-Grade Martial Artist.
“Before dying, he killed hundreds of iron cavalry in one battle.
“His entire body became saturated with baleful energy.
“And he himself had studied barbarian curses in the past.
“It is no wonder the Royal Court’s Shrine could not resist this corpse.
“Truthfully, even this old man finds himself salivating over it.”
Shatuo Que Shi was going to undergo a corpse transformation?
Zheng Fan froze.
In truth, he had never imagined things would develop in this direction.
He had seen barbarian-shaman methods before.
Back when he, Xue San, and Liang Cheng were returning from the desert, they had encountered a female barbarian shaman.
In the blink of an eye, she had transformed two living people into walking corpses impervious to ordinary weapons.
Unfortunately, that female shaman had poor luck.
After escaping, she encountered Fan Li.
After asking him:
“Can you tell I powdered my face?”
Fan Li had split her apart with one axe.
Still in Zheng Fan’s heart, Shatuo Que Shi had already died.
He thought the man should simply be allowed to rest.
If even after death he could not obtain peace, then that life truly had been too bitter.
“So Regional Commander Li Yuanhu is sitting there waiting for a chance to take revenge?” the Sixth Prince asked.
The Drunken Immortal shook his head.
“The Old Marchioness merely ordered him to assist this old man.
“This old man already sensed the movements of those Royal Court priests in advance.
“I made preparations early.
“Right now, we are simply following their road and letting them do ninety-nine parts of the work.
“This old man will supply the final step.
“They spent an enormous price drawing baleful energy into the corpse.
“They issued the command long ago: once the corpse transforms, it will head directly north and enter the Royal Court.
“All of that was already within this old man’s calculations.
“Therefore, I deliberately arranged the Tiger-Subduing Formation behind the ceremonial archway.
“First, we will control the newly transformed zombie.
“Then, we will use the formation to grind away the baleful energy surrounding it.
“With Regional Commander Li Yuanhu stationed beside us, this old man will personally seal it in the end.
“From that day onward, the Marquis’s residence will possess another terrifying battle weapon one made from the barbarian Left Guli King himself!
“In the future, when the Marquis’s residence faces the barbarians again, the moment this battle weapon appears, whether through its actual killing power or its psychological effect, the barbarian side will be terrified!”
After all if their own Left Guli King had been refined into this thing and was then sent to kill them, the morale of the barbarian tribes would probably collapse.
The Sixth Prince immediately flattered him.
“The Immortal Elder holds every pearl of wisdom within his grasp.
“Your foresight is divine.
“This prince admires you.”
The Drunken Immortal smiled.
He stroked his goatee.
“How many tricks can beasts truly possess?
“They merely add to one’s amusement!
“When the Marquis first invited this old man here, I looked down upon barbarian shamans.
“I thought their methods were merely crooked side-paths.
“Yet after truly coming into contact with them, I was also astonished.
“To think such profound and mysterious techniques existed in this world.
“Unfortunately, in recent years, they have declined more and more.
“No matter how mysterious something seems— once you understand it, once you completely digest it, it becomes no more than that.
“Of all arts beneath heaven, the thing they fear most is two words: study them.”
“This prince has learned much.”
“This junior has learned much.”
Flattery could pass through any armor.
The Drunken Immortal had probably grown bored beyond measure.
Now that he finally found people to chat with and received rainbow-colored flattery from an imperial prince on top of it he visibly began floating.
At once, the Drunken Immortal took a sheet of rice paper from inside his robes.
He unfolded it.
In the center of the paper was a dot of black ink.
The ink was still spreading.
Growing denser and larger.
Across the center of the black ink ran a blue line, extending horizontally to the edge of the page.
Judging by its direction, it should point north.
“Hehehe.
“We must also thank the Marquis’s residence for responding with thunderous speed.
“Those priests probably had time only to hurriedly complete their summoning before the Zhenbei Army chased them into a desperate flight.
“So now they have simply left behind a foolish zombie as a gift for this old man.”
Seeing this, Zheng Fan felt somewhat melancholy.
But there was nothing he could do.
Li Yuanhu sat right there.
The Drunken Immortal might be a Sorcerer, but the fact that he had appeared silently behind Zheng Fan and the Sixth Prince earlier proved he was not some harmless old eccentric either.
With those two present, even if Zheng Fan sacrificed everything, he could not stop what was about to happen.
Unless...
Zheng Fan looked sideways at the somewhat foolishly adorable Sixth Prince beside him.
If I put a saber against his neck, could I force the Marquis’s residence to release Shatuo Que Shi’s corpse?
Hiss...
The Sixth Prince is such a kindhearted man.
Surely he would understand?
Naturally, the thought remained only a thought.
Unless Zheng Fan genuinely lost his mind, he would never do such a thing.
“Your Highness.
“Young friend.
“The moment is almost here.
“This old man must prepare.”
“Please, Immortal Elder.”
The Drunken Immortal left them.
He returned to the northern side of the ceremonial archway.
His disciples had already finished arranging the formation there.
“The Immortal Elder is a man of Yan,” the Sixth Prince said.
“But he loves freedom.
“He spends most of his time traveling among the four eastern states.
“Supposedly, three years ago, the Marquis sent him a letter and invited him into the desert to study the barbarian shamans.
“That was what finally brought the Immortal Elder and his disciples to the Marquis’s residence.”
The Sixth Prince pursed his lips.
Then sighed, “That is what a genuine superior understands.
“He knows what the people beneath him truly desire.”
A long moment passed.
Zheng Fan still had not replied.
The Sixth Prince could not help asking, “Lieutenant Commander Zheng, what are you thinking?
“Still thinking about the importance of cremating corpses?”
“Yes.
“That way, they wouldn’t get the chance to climb back out of their coffins.”
“...” the Sixth Prince.
“Your Highness, look!
“The corpse is rising!”
Zheng Fan pointed toward the ceremonial archway.
At that exact moment black and purple radiance began circulating around Shatuo Que Shi’s mutilated corpse.
Something was clearly about to happen!
At first, Zheng Fan had assumed the Marquis’s residence had hung the barbarian Left Guli King’s corpse there merely to display military might and intimidate the barbarian tribes.
Later, he discovered there was more to it.
They had been luring the snake from its hole.
The corpse itself was actually a treasure a treasure valuable enough to tempt the Royal Court’s Shrine.
Finally, Zheng Fan understood.
Even the Marquis’s residence wanted that treasure.
It was like an exquisite dish.
Someone else delivered the ingredients to your doorstep, then personally sent the chef to prepare it, only for you to keep the finished dish for yourself.
This barbarian Royal Court was even more considerate than that famous “Transport Captain” from later history.
...
“Regional Commander Li.
“Move a little this way.
“The formation’s core needs you to preside over it.
“Otherwise, if that zombie starts northward and the formation fails to withstand its body, all our work will be wasted.”
The Drunken Immortal spoke to Li Yuanhu.
“Why bother with all this nonsense?
“With this general here, he won’t be leaving this time.”
“That won’t do.
“That truly won’t do.
“This zombie has only just risen.
“It hasn’t been refined yet.
“Its body is damaged too.
“It can’t withstand even one hammer from Regional Commander Li.
“Regional Commander— this task was personally assigned by the Old Marchioness.”
“You dare use Madam to pressure me?”
The Drunken Immortal smiled without speaking.
Li Yuanhu stood helplessly.
He looked at the twin hammers he had previously thrown onto the ground.
He did not pick them up.
Instead, bare-handed, he walked into the position serving as the formation’s core.
The Drunken Immortal clapped his hands.
He adopted the posture of a transcendent master.
Then murmured, “Everything is ready.
“All that remains... is the north wind.”
Creak...
Creak...
Creak...
A piercing friction sound began spreading.
The wind around them grew stronger and stronger.
It was yin wind.
As though hundreds of people were shrieking inside it.
Suddenly—
Shatuo Que Shi’s corpse began trembling violently where it was bound to the archway.
BANG!
BANG!
The chains wrapped around him snapped apart!
“Activate the formation!”
The Drunken Immortal retreated several steps.
He too entered the formation.
Around them, his disciples began moving together while holding their formation flags.
The formation activated.
Layer after layer of earthen-yellow radiance began flowing across the northern side of the archway.
Previously, the Drunken Immortal had not dared make any alterations to the corpse.
He feared that interfering too early might prevent the corpse from being successfully awakened.
“Come!
“This old man has waited a long time for you!”
Expectation appeared on the Drunken Immortal’s face.
“ROOOOOOOAR!!!”
A roar erupted from Shatuo Que Shi’s mouth.
It carried an utterly desolate, ancient force.
“Excellent!
“That fullness of breath proves the baleful energy has stabilized inside the body.
“Its potential is enormous!”
BOOM!
The ceremonial archway shook.
Shatuo Que Shi completely broke free!
“Excellent!
“Even though the body is damaged, it remains powerful.
“Barbarian Martial Artists already possess stronger physical bodies.
“A Third-Grade Martial Artist’s body combined with a zombie body— this is the true strongest physique!
“Good!
“Good!
“Good!”
BANG!
Shatuo Que Shi landed on the ground.
Then, the next thing he did left the Drunken Immortal, everyone around the formation, and Li Yuanhu—who was personally bearing the formation core collectively stunned.
BUZZ!
BUZZ!
BUZZ!
BUZZ!!!
After landing, Shatuo Que Shi did not head north.
Instead without the slightest hesitation, he began racing south!
His speed was like thunder!
“AH!”
Li Yuanhu roared.
He wanted to chase.
But he was standing inside the formation core.
The formation had not been closed.
The moment he tried to force his way out, the Tiger-Subduing Formation’s power landed directly upon his body.
For a moment, even Li Yuanhu’s movement was restrained.
The Drunken Immortal stared in confusion.
He hurriedly took out the sheet of paper again.
On the paper there truly remained only one blue line pointing north.
Immediately, the Drunken Immortal bit the tip of his tongue.
He spat a mouthful of vital blood onto the page.
The tongue-blood pooled over the paper.
Then formed a red line.
Pointing... south!
“That makes no sense.
“That makes no sense!
“The Left Guli King never married.
“He left no descendants.
“How could there possibly be blood-offering kin of his remaining in this world?!”
...
“What are you kowtowing for?”
“It’s a custom where I come from.
“Whenever we see a prayer cushion or altar table, it doesn’t matter what god or Buddha is being worshipped, or whether we recognize them.
“We kowtow anyway.
“Just as a gesture.
“It only takes moving your head a few times.
“Nothing to lose.”
“Nothing to lose indeed.”
One man once arranged his own altar.
Lit three candles.
And offered sacrifice to himself.
Another man once made his own decision.
Dropped to the ground.
And kowtowed.
The offerings came from your tent.
The candles came from your tent.
And that kowtow was given personally by you.
I, Shatuo Que Shi, lived alone beneath this desert sky, solitary through my entire life.
But from that moment onward someone had offered me blood sacrifice.
I accepted your offering.
I will protect your peace.
Yes.
Truly worth it.
(End of Chapter)
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