Chapter 448: The Curtain Rises!

Another night’s sleep.

Another early awakening.

Again, he got up the moment he woke instead of lying in bed.

Again, he sat down at the writing desk.

Again, he wrote:

Clouds bring her robes to mind; flowers, her face.

And again, he sat there trying to remember what came next.

Tomorrow was the Princess’s wedding.

Count Zheng felt that perhaps it was time to find a different poem to copy from memory.

People said you only regretted not reading enough books when the moment came to use them.

It really was true.

Putting down the brush, Count Zheng went to fetch water and wash.

As he carried the basin out, he saw the Swordsmith sitting in the courtyard.

The Swordsmith sat cross-legged on the ground, carving a wooden sword.

Zheng Fan had once seen the Sword Saint carve wooden sword toys for his child.

When the swordsman carved, he used Longyuan.

One might say he approached an extremely childish task with extraordinary solemnity.

The Swordsmith used an ordinary carving knife.

His expression was relaxed and casual.

Yet somehow, it felt as though he were approaching an extremely solemn task with the attitude of a child at play.

Even now, Count Zheng still could not determine whether the Swordsmith could actually fight.

Last night, he had deliberately asked the Princess about the matter.

The Princess’s answer had been extremely direct:

They did not know either.

Then she added that her imperial brother probably did not know.

Because every time the Regent traveled with the Swordsmith, he had never reduced the defensive strength around himself.

So whether the Swordsmith could actually fight remained a mystery even the Chu imperial clan had failed to solve.

The Swordsmith raised his head and noticed Count Zheng standing there with the washbasin.

He smiled.

“Mr. Su rises quite early.”

Zheng Fan nodded.

“When I traveled with Master, I became accustomed to sleeping early and rising early.”

“Oh? I have heard Master Yao loves poetry, wine, and beautiful scenery. He can actually sleep early and rise early?

“In this world, people who sleep early and rise early generally fall into two categories.

“One kind works from sunrise to sunset, running themselves ragged for a mouthful of food without a moment’s rest.

“The other has reached old age and can no longer keep going, so all they can do is rest.

“Master Yao belongs to neither.

“He long ago escaped the stage where a man must exhaust himself merely to eat, yet he certainly does not believe himself old enough to do nothing but rest.

“People like that— are usually the least capable of sleeping early and rising early.”

Zheng Fan answered:

“My master likes waking early.”

“Why?”

“My master says that these days, only the morning sun allows him to once again experience the feeling of a single pillar propping up Heaven.”

A smile appeared on the Swordsmith’s face.

“That really does sound like Master Yao.”

Once a man grew old, he could no longer keep his back straight whenever and wherever he pleased.

He could only borrow a little strength from the morning and briefly reminisce about his youth.

Zheng Fan put down the basin and walked over to the Swordsmith.

The Swordsmith lowered both hands beside himself.

“If Mr. Su has something to say or ask, speak directly.”

“There is one question that has always troubled this junior.”

“Ask.”

“The jianghu is full of rumors about you.

“Can you actually fight?”

“You want me to give you the answer?”

“Yes.”

“You truly want to know?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me.

“If some random stranger walked into the brewery at Peach Blossom Wharf and asked the owner for his brewing formula, would the owner give it to him?”

“Of course not.”

“Exactly.

“So naturally, I won’t answer either.

“If I answered, how would I continue making a living afterward?”

Count Zheng asked again:

“But if someone put a blade to the brewer’s throat, this junior suspects the man would understand the situation.”

The Swordsmith pointed at Zheng Fan.

“Is Mr. Su carrying a saber?”

Zheng Fan shook his head.

“Then next time Mr. Su brings one, put it against my neck.

“I’ll tell you the answer then.”

“What are you two discussing?”

The Regent walked out.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

Zheng Fan saluted.

“We were discussing Uncle Chen,” the Swordsmith answered.

For a moment, the Regent did not understand.

“Who is Uncle Chen?”

The Swordsmith replied:

“I heard Mr. Su say Uncle Chen is a servant in Master Yao’s household who makes excellent soup.

“Master Yao is extremely fond of it, so he wakes very early every day to wait for Uncle Chen.”

“Master Yao does love good food. If so, then when I have the opportunity in the future, I should also taste—”

The Swordsmith immediately interrupted:

“Aiya.

“I feel like noodles this morning.”

“Then go make them yourself.”

“That was exactly my intention.”

Then the Swordsmith looked toward Zheng Fan.

“Mr. Su, come eat noodles with us in a while.”

“Many thanks, Sir.”

...

The Swordsmith made scallion noodles.

The noodles were fragrant.

The broth was fresh.

The ingredients were simple.

Yet the flavor had remarkable depth.

After washing, Zheng Fan sat down.

Four bowls rested on the table.

Three large.

One small.

The Princess was awake as well.

She sat at the table and ate from the small bowl.

Three men.

Three large bowls.

The Regent pointed toward his bowl.

“Why do I have so few scallions?”

Among the four bowls, the Regent’s had the least chopped scallion.

The Swordsmith answered:

“You need to attend court.

“I was afraid the smell would bother people.”

“I’m not attending court today.”

“You still have to meet people.”

The Regent heard this and nodded helplessly.

The Swordsmith rose, fetched a small jar, and began spooning lard into everyone’s bowls.

White lard melted into the noodles.

Once stirred through the fragrance completely bloomed.

Everyone began eating.

The noodles truly were delicious.

Anything capable of making Count Zheng—a man whose tastes had become increasingly refined and demanding—call it delicious had to be excellent.

The Princess’s bowl was small, so she finished first.

She put down her chopsticks and looked at the three men still eating.

“I’ve loved Elder Brother Dugu’s noodles since I was little.

“After this, I’m afraid even if I want them, I won’t be able to eat them often.”

The Swordsmith said casually:

“That’s not difficult.

“Noodles are easy to make.

“As long as there’s care behind them, when you want noodles in the future, have your Prince-Consort make them for you.”

“Pfft—”

Count Zheng choked.

He immediately lowered his head, covered his face, and began coughing.

A noodle had come out through his nostril.

After finally dealing with it, Count Zheng raised his head again, looking somewhat embarrassed.

“Too delicious.

“Too delicious.

“I ate too quickly, heh-heh.”

...

After breakfast—

Count Zheng had originally assumed this would be another perfectly ordinary day like yesterday.

Everything was supposed to revolve around tomorrow’s wedding arrangements.

Count Zheng trusted Siniang and Xue San, together with Fan Zhengwen, to improve upon Plan A and produce something even better.

That made Count Zheng himself rather excited.

As the leading actor he too was now looking forward to the premiere.

But Count Zheng was wrong.

After breakfast, the Regent mounted a horse and asked:

“Young Mr. Su, we intend to go hunting.

“That hunting lyric Master Yao sent earlier pleased me greatly.

“Would Young Mr. Su be interested in accompanying us today?”

When a ruler asked whether you were willing you did not truly possess a second option.

“How could I refuse!”

...

It was said that not long after Yao Zizhan assumed office as Governor-General of the Three Frontiers of Qian, he led a hunting party outside the city.

Generals from every garrison, army, and stronghold followed in swarms.

Personal guards came out in full force.

For a time, the spectacle was unparalleled.

That had not been done merely for amusement.

It had deliberately announced to the outside world that Qian’s Three Frontiers stood united.

Combined with the Governor-General’s hunting lyric, the effect had been driven to its absolute peak.

But this time the Regent of Great Chu’s “hunt” did not feel like a routine performance to Zheng Fan.

It felt more like a trap.

Hero Chen was summoned as well.

So four men rode out from the imperial villa.

Count Zheng deliberately paid attention and noticed that the Imperial Clan Guards did not follow.

It genuinely appeared that only the four of them had left.

Yet not long after riding out from the villa, everyone dismounted.

The old coachman Zheng Fan had seen before was already waiting there with the carriage.

Everyone climbed aboard.

Everything was exactly as it had been on the way here.

Even the seating positions remained the same.

But who rode in a carriage to go hunting?

The carriage rocked along the road.

Gradually the road disappeared.

The terrain became rough.

The carriage began jolting with it.

Inside, the Regent spoke:

“A road should be built here.”

The Swordsmith, leaning against the carriage wall with his eyes closed, nodded.

Zheng Fan lifted the curtain and looked outside.

The surroundings were desolate.

Ahead lay a frozen river.

Finally the carriage stopped.

And with it the jolting ended.

The old coachman spoke:

“Your Highness.

“We have arrived.”

The Regent got out first.

Then the Swordsmith.

Then Hero Chen.

Count Zheng came last.

After climbing down, Count Zheng instinctively stretched and rubbed his hips.

The Regent looked at him.

“Young Mr. Su has suffered.

“The road truly is poor.”

Zheng Fan smiled and shook his head.

“Your Highness need not say so.

“There was no road in this world to begin with.

“When enough people walked the same way— a road appeared.”

The Swordsmith drew in a breath.

He clearly loved that sentence.

The Regent pointed ahead.

Beside the frozen river stood a dilapidated inn.

A small ferry landing sat next to it.

“That sentence deserves wine too.

“Once I clear the inn out, I’ll catch a fish and drink with Young Mr. Su.”

Count Zheng, completely confused, silently retreated half a step and saluted.

“Many thanks, Your Highness.”

Then, the Regent faced the dilapidated inn.

And said:

“I have come.”

**Creak...**

The inn door slowly opened.

A man in black robes walked out.

His face showed traces of hardship and age, but every movement still carried a streak of frivolous ease.

He sat down on a stone block beside the entrance.

Then called:

“Fourth Brother.

“The last time I heard you use the word ‘I’ like an Emperor— our father was still alive.”

This man was none other than the Fifth Prince of Great Chu—

**Xiong Tingshan.**

Why was the Regent still only Regent?

Why, after defeating and capturing most of his brothers and winning over nearly all the great nobles of Chu, had he still refused to ascend the throne?

After all, men who managed to become Regent generally did not enjoy remaining Regent forever.

The reason was the Fifth Prince standing before him.

The Regent had not yet captured him.

Ever since the Marquis of Chu led his retainers into Chu territory under orders from the Son of Heaven of Great Xia, the Chu people’s wars with the hundred Shanyue tribes had never truly ended.

Perhaps the Shanyue could not compare with the barbarians.

But their toughness remained deeply troublesome.

Once the Chu people’s early victories made it impossible for the Shanyue to continue confronting them in open battle, the tribes withdrew into mountains, waters, wetlands, and ravines.

Using the terrain they continued resisting.

That made exterminating them enormously expensive.

And even when one group was wiped out another could easily rise again.

But the Chu people possessed wisdom.

More precisely, the three Marquises who had once been qualified to receive the Great Xia Son of Heaven’s orders to open new frontiers and drive out foreign peoples had all been formidable men, and their descendants had not done badly either.

One generation of Chu Emperor, confronting the stubborn Shanyue problem, adopted a different approach.

To dismantle their concentrated tribal structure, he first drew the Shanyue clans closer through conciliation.

Then he altered the organization of those clans and infiltrated their ruling strata from above, gradually replacing native tribal rule with regular state administration.

At the same time cultural assimilation intensified.

Chu romanticism and Chu aesthetics had never existed merely for romance’s sake.

They also helped create cultural identification.

One hand continued military suppression.

One hand replaced native chieftains with regular administration.

One hand steadily absorbed obedient Shanyue tribes culturally, sending their young chiefs and nobles to Ying Capital to study, read, write, and live among Chu people.

Under this combination of methods the Shanyue tribes declined year after year.

A century later, aside from several unstable regions and a few remaining hard bones that still needed to be gnawed down slowly, the Shanyue within Chu could no longer raise any meaningful storm.

Many Shanyue now even considered themselves Chu people.

Fifteen years ago, when the Fifth Prince Xiong Tingshan had only just reached adulthood, the Emperor of Chu assigned him to govern **Wutong Commandery**, northwest of the Great Marsh.

Wutong Commandery faced one of the final stubborn Shanyue regions.

One might even call it the hardest bone left.

But Xiong Tingshan had methods.

And ability.

He carried none of the airs of an imperial prince.

On one side, he maintained an excellent relationship with the Wutong garrison.

On the other, he treated the local Shanyue chiefs as brothers.

Later he even married a Shanyue woman and made her his principal wife.

The hardest bone in Great Chu softened beneath his hands.

Explaining every detail would take three days and three nights.

In short—

Xiong Tingshan spent fifteen years integrating Wutong Commandery and the many surrounding Shanyue tribes.

He transformed himself into the link binding them together.

And in doing so made an enormous contribution to Great Chu’s internal stability.

If the Emperor of Chu had died normally, with an undisputed Crown Prince and no war of succession between imperial sons if Great Chu had simply continued steadily forward then perhaps centuries, even a thousand years from now, Wutong Commandery would still contain statues of Xiong Tingshan.

He would be remembered as a symbol of harmony between peoples.

Far more effective than even Princess Wencheng.

But the problem was the Emperor of Chu had died suddenly.

The carriage called Great Chu had lost control.

The Regent had eventually seized the reins again.

But so long as this Fifth Brother refused to nod the Regent did not dare ascend the throne.

They were all imperial sons.

Who did not want that seat?

Why should you sit there instead of me?

The Regent had never truly taken his other brothers seriously.

Some had been puppets manipulated and supported by great noble houses.

Some had foolishly imagined that raising a banner would cause all beneath Heaven to flock to them.

Cleaning them up had not been difficult.

But the Fifth Brother was different.

The one hundred thousand commandery troops of Wutong Commandery obeyed him.

If he wished, one raised arm could immediately summon the young men of dozens of Shanyue tribes to fight for the realm.

With that as a spark—

Shanyue communities across other parts of Chu might also revolt.

The Regent did not doubt his ability to crush such a rebellion.

He possessed the support of the great nobles.

He controlled the court.

He commanded the Imperial Clan Guards.

If he still could not win under those conditions then he had no right to sit on the throne in the first place.

But once such a conflict began it would become an enormous internal hemorrhage for Great Chu.

And it might drag on for years.

Today, Yan watched hungrily from the north, sharpening its blades.

Qian in the west was drilling troops and rebuilding its military.

Could Great Chu afford such internal consumption?

“Fourth Brother.

“It’s been many years since we brothers last met, hasn’t it?

“The last time was Father Emperor’s birthday.

“I brought my wife to Ying Capital to celebrate his longevity.”

The Regent nodded.

“It has been a long time.”

“Back then, Father Emperor despised the fact that I married a Shanyue woman.

“He did not want to see me.

“He did not want to see my two children either.

“It was you, Fourth Brother, who spoke for me and made the arrangements.

“Only then did Father finally agree to see our family.

“Only then could my wife and children enter the imperial palace and take a look around.

“Fourth Brother, you have no idea.

“For years I had told my wife how magnificent the Great Chu imperial palace was.

“My two children grew up hearing stories about it too.

“If we had gone all the way to Ying Capital and still failed to enter— how embarrassing would that have been for me as husband and father?

“Hahahaha.”

Watching this, Count Zheng finally began understanding.

So that was it.

The Regent had come here to **clean house.**

But why bring *him* along?

Xiong Tingshan sighed.

“My mother was born a palace maid.

“Father Emperor got drunk one night and favored her.

“She was lowborn, so naturally I was never favored either.

“Father always felt I polluted the Fire Phoenix bloodline.

“So the moment I came of age, he threw me into Wutong Commandery.

“His original intention was probably to let me fend for myself.

“If I died, he could even use the death of his own son as an example for Chu subjects.

“Fortunately, my life was hard.

“I didn’t die.

“The miasma and poisonous insects of Wutong Commandery failed to kill me.

“Perhaps that is what old people mean when they say a cheap life is easier to keep alive.”

The Regent looked at his Fifth Brother.

“I do not truly regard those others as my brothers.

“But I have always regarded you as mine.

“For a brother of mine, maternal clan birth does not matter.

“Ability does.

“Those useless things have all been captured by me now.

“They’re locked in the water prison.”

“Hahahahaha!”

Xiong Tingshan slapped his thigh and laughed happily.

The two brothers remained a considerable distance apart.

They spoke as though reminiscing about old times.

But everyone knew the real business still lay ahead.

Xiong Tingshan’s laughter gradually faded.

He looked at the Regent.

“Ying Capital is in your hands.

“The imperial clan is in your hands.

“The Shaman Rectors support you.

“Most of Great Chu’s great nobles recognize you.

“Fourth Brother— why have you still not succeeded to the throne?”

“Because you remain.”

“Fourth Brother, do you always speak this directly?

“You make it difficult for your younger brother to answer.

“I can hardly draw a saber and cut my own throat right here in front of you, can I?”

The Regent shook his head.

“If you simply died like that, your wife would be angry.

“The soldiers of Wutong Commandery would be angry.

“The Shanyue there would be angry.

“The Yan people would be delighted.

“And in the end—

I would be angry too.”

Xiong Tingshan scratched his head.

“True.

“To die and make kin grieve while enemies celebrate— that would be damned worthless.”

After a pause, the Fifth Prince continued:

“It’s just that Fourth Brother has far too many requirements.

“Even dying needs a special design.

“You really make things difficult for me.

“But I trust Fourth Brother has already planned a proper ending for me, haven’t you?

“My Fourth Brother has always been best at calculating.

“Otherwise, how could Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother have barely raised their flags before you overturned the seats under their asses?

“Pity Father Emperor died too early and too suddenly.

“If he had properly arranged matters after his death, how much trouble would that have saved?”

The Regent nodded.

“If Father had lasted another half year—

I could have arranged his affairs after death for him.”

“Fourth Brother, you should have said so earlier!

“Hahahaha!

“I wasn’t satisfied with our old man either.

“The day I heard he died, I was so happy I drank three jars of wine.”

“Tell me what you want,” the Regent said.

“Wutong Commandery.

“A hereditary fief under my own rule.”

The Regent spread both hands.

“How is Wutong Commandery now any different from a feudal garrison?”

“I want an imperial edict.”

The Regent shook his head.

“Impossible.”

“Then there’s nothing to discuss, Fourth Brother?”

“The Emperor of Yan is trampling aristocratic clans beneath his horses.

“And Great Chu is supposed to publicly establish a new autonomous fief?

“That would be idiotic.

“I will not do it.”

“I knew Fourth Brother would refuse.

“So listen to your younger brother’s alternative?”

“Speak.”

“The Imperial Clan Guards did not come, correct?”

“For twenty li in every direction— there is not a single soldier.”

“Fourth Brother handles matters thoroughly, as always.”

Xiong Tingshan clapped his hands.

An old man wearing fishskin clothing emerged from the inn.

He carried a fishing spear.

His feet were enormous.

“Shanyue tribesman Meng Kui greets the Regent of Great Chu.”

The old man saluted the Regent.

The next moment the coachman who had driven the carriage stepped down.

He stood before the Regent and cupped his fists.

“Hong Menyang greets Your Fifth Highness.”

“Master Hong himself driving the carriage.

“Fourth Brother truly travels with enormous style.”

**Hong Menyang.**

A Third Grade Fist Master.

His Mountain-Splitting Fist had once shaken the jianghu.

Later, the court recruited him into the imperial palace as martial instructor to the princes.

Xiong Tingshan rose and saluted Hong Menyang.

“Little Fifth greets Master Hong.”

Hong Menyang stroked his beard and smiled.

But his gaze quickly shifted toward the Shanyue elder.

At that moment, another man walked out from the inn.

A middle-aged man carrying a saber.

Square face.

Not a single hair grew on his face.

He was cleaner-shaven than a monk.

“Wu Junqing greets the Regent of Great Chu.”

Standing some distance away, Count Zheng looked toward Hero Chen.

“A saber user?”

Hero Chen nodded.

“Among all saber traditions beneath Heaven, seven major schools are recognized.

“Wu Junqing is master of the **Broken Saber Sect**.”

“That sounds unbelievably chuuni,” Count Zheng commented.

But since he himself used a saber, Count Zheng continued:

“How strong?”

“Among the hundred weapons, the sword is honored.

“But a truly powerful saber wielder need not be weaker than a swordsman.”

“So...”

Count Zheng looked toward the Swordsmith sitting nearby.

The Swordsmith was digging in his ear.

Seeing Zheng Fan looking at him, he asked in confusion:

“Why is Mr. Su staring at me?”

Hm?

Shouldn’t you be going up?

**Whoosh!**

A sharp sound split the air.

A young woman in a flower-patterned dress appeared.

She held a handful of brilliant red flowers.

After appearing, she stood there grinning foolishly while eating the flowers one petal at a time.

“Who is that?” Zheng Fan asked.

Hero Chen shook his head.

“Don’t know.”

“Aren’t you from the jianghu?”

The Swordsmith spoke:

“Qin Yueyue of **Xinian Manor**.

“She likes eating flowers.

“Flowers soaked in human blood.”

She and A’Ming would probably have plenty to talk about.

Soon another man emerged from the inn.

He was short but powerfully built.

He wore leather armor and carried twin hammers.

After reaching the front, he struck the hammers together.

“Wutong Commandery Assistant General Mo Xilai pays respects to Your Highness!

“May my King enjoy health and fortune!”

Zheng Fan looked toward the Swordsmith again.

Surely now it was your turn?

Instead a plain-looking spear wielder walked out of the woods behind them.

Nothing about the man’s face or bearing appeared remarkable.

Xiong Tingshan immediately pointed toward him.

“Fourth Brother, didn’t you say there wasn’t a single soldier nearby?

“Why is Commander Liang here?”

The spear wielder saluted.

“To answer Your Fifth Highness:

“This criminal beat a young scion of the Dugu Clan to death in the street last month.

“His Highness has already stripped me of office.”

“That counts?” Xiong Tingshan asked, clearly dissatisfied.

**Liang Yue** nodded.

“Of course it counts.”

“Mo Xilai.

“What do you think?”

Xiong Tingshan asked the short man.

Mo Xilai licked his lips.

“I have long heard the fame of the Liang Clan Spear.

“Your family has served for generations as spear instructors to the Imperial Clan Guards.

“Your Highness—

I accept.”

Only then did Xiong Tingshan nod.

He no longer pursued the technicality.

Still he silently loosened his robes, exposing the skin of his chest.

Then he called:

“Fourth Brother!

“Your younger brother wants to play too.

“I know that gentleman from the Dugu Clan came with you.

“Call him over and have him face me.

“Hahahaha!

“The entire jianghu wants to know whether Great Chu’s Swordsmith can actually fight— whether his reputation is empty.

“Fourth Brother, surely you want to know too?

“Today, your younger brother will uncover the answer for you.”

Zheng Fan looked toward the Swordsmith again.

The Swordsmith finally grew irritated.

He glared at Zheng Fan.

“Joining the hecklers now?”

“This junior wants to know too.”

“Heh.”

The Regent did not call the Swordsmith forward.

Instead he personally stepped ahead to face his Fifth Brother.

“Fifth Brother.

“It has been many years since we brothers sparred.”

“Brother, do you know?

“When Master Hong taught us boxing as children, whenever the brothers sparred, I never dared use full strength.

“I feared hurting you.

“And if I hurt one of you princes, life inside the palace would only become harder for my mother.

“Brother.

“You are a man who sits in the halls of government.

“Even if your cultivation grade is high— your younger brother fought his way through the waters and marshlands of Wutong Commandery.”

The Regent shook his head.

“No matter.

“This time— do not hold back.”

The Shanyue elder spoke:

“Your Fifth Highness.

“Four pairs of fighters.

“How do we determine victory?”

Xiong Tingshan answered:

“The match between Fourth Brother and me does not count.

“The throne of Great Chu does not need to be occupied by some martial brute who only knows how to fight.”

The Shanyue elder seemed dissatisfied.

But in the end he nodded and accepted it.

Count Zheng saw the Swordsmith produce two gourds.

After pulling the stoppers, he discovered they contained not wine but fruit nectar.

He immediately wandered over and sat down beside him.

The Swordsmith shot Zheng Fan an annoyed glance and tossed him one gourd.

Zheng Fan caught it and drank.

The taste was genuinely good.

Unlike ordinary fruit juice, it was neither especially sweet nor sour.

But after one mouthful you immediately wanted another.

“What is this?” Zheng Fan asked.

“Tastes good?”

“Very.”

“Then that’s enough.

“Why ask so much?

“If you want more next time— one lyric for one gourd.”

“Deal.”

Count Zheng did not feel the slightest pain about plagiarized poems.

Once he returned, he could simply find the Blind Man and reconstruct *Three Hundred Tang Poems*.

“No.

“The lyric has to carry my name.”

“This...”

The Swordsmith drank from his own gourd and muttered:

“That’s how I traded with Yu Huaping back then.

“Though I didn’t use this gourd.

“I used a sword.”

Jianghu rumors claimed the Swordsmith had gifted the Sword Saint the Longyuan he personally forged.

In return for that favor, the Sword Saint supposedly praised him until his fame rose into the heavens.

Count Zheng pointed forward.

“So this is going to be a martial contest?”

“Isn’t it obvious enough already?

“Mr. Su still needs to ask?”

“No.

“This junior merely feels— this seems somewhat too much like child’s play.”

“Oh?

“In Mr. Su’s view, would it be more solemn if both sides gathered hundreds of thousands of troops and fought for two years before deciding victory?”

“That is not what this junior meant.”

“It is close enough.

“They are all princes of Chu.

“Why force matters until blood runs like rivers?

“Look there.

“That Shanyue elder represents the attitude of Wutong Commandery’s Shanyue tribes.

“The Broken Saber Sect is a major local sect of Wutong, so Wu Junqing represents the position of the native Wutong clans.

“Mo Xilai was born in the Wutong Commandery Army.

“He represents its one hundred thousand commandery troops.

“The three great forces of Wutong Commandery are all present.

“After this contest, whoever wins or loses— everyone can be convinced.

“No matter the result, they can pinch their noses and accept it.

“Is that not far better than hundreds of thousands of soldiers facing one another until Heaven darkens and blood flows into rivers?”

“It is.”

“Heh.”

...

Hong Menyang cupped his fists.

“Please.”

The Shanyue elder nodded and retreated half a step.

He raised his fishing spear.

“Come!”

Nearby—

Qin Yueyue stuffed several flower petals into her mouth.

While chewing, she asked:

“I hear the flesh of saber users always stinks.

“Does their blood stink too?”

Wu Junqing drew his saber.

“Miss is welcome to taste it.”

Among the hundred weapons the sword was honored.

Looking down on saber users had become an unwritten part of the jianghu’s hierarchy of contempt.

So almost every saber wielder walking along a road who saw a swordsman pass would first watch him leave with a disdainful gaze then spit at his back.

Count Zheng used a saber too.

So he immediately disliked this Qin Yueyue.

The problem was Qin Yueyue did not even use a sword!

Xinian Manor appeared to be a jianghu sect.

In reality it was a department under Phoenix Nest.

Sensitive prisoners were held there for interrogation and torture.

Qin Yueyue liked eating flower petals soaked in human blood because the place never lacked that particular raw material.

Much like A’Ming always looked forward to war.

During campaigns, fresh blood was everywhere.

After battle, he could even pick and choose.

Liang Yue leveled his spear.

Mo Xilai raised both hammers.

Both came from military backgrounds.

Neither possessed much jianghu ceremony.

They simply attacked.

And so Count Zheng sat beside the Swordsmith and watched three pairs of experts clash.

Hong Menyang’s fist force was rigid and overwhelming.

The fist aura he released suppressed the Shanyue elder’s iron fishing spear.

From the beginning, Hong Menyang held the advantage.

The elder could do little except defend.

On the other side, Qin Yueyue wielded a wolf-hide whip.

When it danced sand and stone flew.

Its reach created a domain of its own.

Wu Junqing could only circle outside, searching for an opening.

As for Liang Yue and Mo Xilai that fight was almost one-sided.

Mo Xilai had already lost one hammer.

Zheng Fan practiced martial arts himself.

So he understood why the difference between Liang Yue and Mo Xilai appeared so enormous.

Their cultivation levels might not be far apart.

But Liang Yue was an instructor.

His daily life revolved around drilling spear technique.

Mo Xilai was an Assistant General.

What he truly excelled at should be fighting inside military formations.

On the battlefield, who politely fought single combat with you?

People trained for formations became accustomed to the simplest, most direct killing methods.

If there was an opening one strike ended the enemy.

If there was none create distance immediately and guard against someone else stabbing you from the side.

Overall, aside from Qin Yueyue’s fight remaining evenly matched, victory in the other two contests had already begun tilting clearly.

“Unfair,” Hero Chen said.

He genuinely felt the contest was unfair.

Hero Chen was an honest man.

What he thought in his heart generally came straight out of his mouth.

Zheng Fan answered:

“Even on a battlefield, one Wutong Commandery trying to resist all of Chu would face exactly this kind of situation.”

Hearing this, the Swordsmith could not help speaking.

“Young Mr. Su possessing an insight like that surprises me.”

Zheng Fan smiled.

The Swordsmith drank more fruit nectar.

“Truthfully— the outcome was decided before this began.

Everyone is merely walking through the motions.”

That was a lie.

A lie spoken because an outsider sat nearby and some face had to be preserved.

Count Zheng did not expose it.

Xiong Tingshan and the Regent had not yet started fighting.

But the balance in the other contests was already clear.

The Fifth Prince smiled bitterly.

“Fourth Brother truly deserves to be Regent of Great Chu.

“Experts gather beneath your command like clouds.”

“Competing in this is already Fourth Brother taking advantage of you.”

As Great Chu’s current supreme ruler, naturally countless experts were willing to serve him.

On this point—

Xiong Tingshan, whose only foundation was Wutong Commandery, could never compare.

Xiong Tingshan lowered his stance.

“Fourth Brother.

“Are we still fighting?”

The Regent spread his arms.

He pulled back his sleeve.

Revealing the Fire Phoenix mark.

The mark began glowing.

Then, a phantom of flame appeared behind the Regent.

Count Zheng’s eyes widened instantly.

The sight gave him an overwhelming sense of familiarity.

This was the first time in this world he had seen someone other than himself able to drive a soul-form and use it for battle.

The Demon Child was a soul-form.

So the Regent was actually walking a road similar to Zheng Fan’s own.

Seeing it, Xiong Tingshan said:

“So bloodline truly does distinguish high from low.”

Core members of the Chu imperial clan could receive Fire Phoenix Essence Blood into their bodies.

Then they used that blood at the Great Marsh to attract demon beasts into following them.

Xiong Liqing’s Green Python had come that way.

It already counted as an exceptionally fine demon beast.

After all, ever since the Marquis of Chu first opened the frontier, not only had the Shanyue declined.

The demon beasts of the Great Marsh had declined with them.

It was the same principle as later generations of humanity continuously expanding its range and shrinking the habitats of wild animals.

Yet what the Regent attracted had not been a demon beast.

It was a **spirit.**

The soul of a demon beast.

A demon beast died.

Its soul did not disperse.

What remained became a spirit.

Any demon beast capable of leaving behind such a spirit was already extraordinary.

For the spirit itself to continue existing without dissipating was rarer still.

Its value could easily be imagined.

Count Zheng immediately began wondering:

If the Regent let the spirit possess him, would he end up like Zheng Fan after using the Demon Child completely hollowed out and forced to lie in bed like a corpse?

The Regent shook his head.

“Merely luck.

“Oh, right.

“Today I also brought one of Master Yao’s disciples.

“I wanted him here as a witness.”

“Fourth Brother arranges everything thoroughly indeed.”

Only then did Count Zheng understand why the Regent had dragged him here.

His current role was essentially that of a journalist standing nearby when a leader went out to shovel snow, responsible for taking photographs and writing the official report afterward.

So all of this had been arranged in advance?

The Swordsmith seemed to guess what Zheng Fan was thinking.

“If they truly intended to fight a war, it would have started long ago.

“Among the princes, some raised armies.

“Some proclaimed themselves Emperor.

“Everyone who wanted to act has already acted.

“Here, His Highness refused to ascend the throne.

“Over there, the Fifth Prince refused to raise troops.

“In truth...”

“To give both sides a step down?” Zheng Fan said.

The Swordsmith nodded.

“A very accurate description.”

“Then there is no need to worry,” Zheng Fan said.

“Worry?”

Zheng Fan answered firmly:

“As a man of Qian, right now I genuinely do not wish for anything to happen to the Regent.”

The present strategic situation was an alliance between Qian and Chu resisting Yan.

If something happened to the Regent and Chu fractured again that would absolutely not be something Qian wanted to see.

Do not be fooled by Zhong Tianlang raising hell along the frontier right now.

That was only because neither of Yan’s two elite cavalry armies stood in Yinlang Commandery.

If Great Yan again concentrated the elite of both Zhenbei and Jingnan Armies, as it had when borrowing a road through Qian the entire situation would change.

Even if Zhong Tianlang retained the courage to fight, his father Zhong Wendao would never agree to gamble away the cavalry Qian had finally accumulated with such difficulty.

Of course, from Count Zheng’s personal standpoint, he desperately hoped the Regent would die right here.

Earlier, part of his heart had genuinely been looking forward to that possibility.

Now that he discovered the Regent and Fifth Prince apparently shared a tacit understanding he could not help feeling disappointed.

But that too was natural.

These were all great states of the East.

Yan could not possibly produce every capable civil minister and general while the other countries produced nothing but wine sacks and rice bags.

“You still need to worry,” the Swordsmith said.

He lined up several wooden swords he had carved last night and this morning.

“The throne is simply too tempting.

“And human thoughts— can sway in a single instant.

“The Regent is gambling too.

“Gambling for Great Chu’s national fortune.

“In truth, the Regent has already won.

“Even if he mobilized armies, he could still pacify Wutong Commandery.”

The only reason he was willing to gamble was to help Chu avoid another round of internal bloodletting.

For the sake of a throne, brothers turning against brothers and fathers against sons had happened countless times throughout history.

Who dared be completely open?

And even if you yourself remained open who could guarantee the other side would not change?

Hero Chen asked:

“Then why fight at all?”

Zheng Fan answered directly:

“To give everyone an explanation.”

To give the Shanyue tribes an explanation.

To give the Wutong Commandery Army an explanation.

To give Wutong’s local powers an explanation.

Because many times it was not merely that you controlled them.

They were also the ones who pushed you to the very front.

If you could no longer give them a satisfactory answer they would replace you with someone else and push that person forward instead.

That was the Fifth Prince’s true position.

The Swordsmith studied Zheng Fan carefully.

This disciple of Master Yao genuinely felt different.

He could even say something like that.

Ahead the Fifth Prince had already reached the Regent.

The flame phantom surrounding the Regent suddenly exploded outward.

A barrier formed.

Count Zheng could clearly feel that the Regent’s spirit was much stronger than the current Demon Child.

Of course, the Demon Child had not advanced yet.

And could continue advancing in the future.

Their growth potential was fundamentally different.

Xiong Tingshan instead condensed all his qi and blood tightly around his body.

He forcibly broke through the Regent’s barrier and reached him.

His saber rose.

Count Zheng’s eyes widened farther and farther.

Inside, he shouted:

**Cut!**

**Cut!**

**Cut!**

As long as that saber truly went down—

Count Zheng could return to Snow Sea Pass, pack his things, and prepare to invade Chu together with the Marquis of Jingnan.

Xiong Tingshan’s saber did come down.

But after the outer barrier was pierced, it suddenly collapsed inward.

The flames slammed directly into him.

**Pfft!**

The saber tip pierced the Regent’s chest.

But before Xiong Tingshan could drive the blade fully in, the flames that had formed the barrier transformed into powerful bands and seized his entire body.

The saber left his hand and fell.

Xiong Tingshan was lifted high into the air bound like prey caught in a spiderweb.

Blood seeped from the Regent’s chest.

But he remained standing straight.

Zheng Fan pursed his lips.

That truly had been a hair’s breadth.

Yet another possibility immediately occurred to Count Zheng.

Perhaps even this strike this entire scene had already been designed by the brothers in advance.

The Regent deliberately let Xiong Tingshan penetrate the first barrier.

Deliberately gave him the chance to send the saber into his chest.

All to prepare the stage for what came next.

As an old hand at running schemes—

Count Zheng could already guess the next developments simply by placing himself inside the role.

Just as he had earlier answered Hero Chen’s question without hesitation.

Certain black-bellied methods were almost instinctive.

The Regent possessed that instinct.

So did Count Zheng.

Xiong Tingshan remained suspended in the air.

The Regent raised one clenched fist high.

If he merely relaxed his fingers the spirit’s force could tear Xiong Tingshan apart instantly.

The sight caused the other three contests to stop at once.

Hong Menyang withdrew his fists.

The Shanyue elder, who had already been reduced to desperate defense, propped himself up on the fishing spear and did not dare move again.

Qin Yueyue withdrew her hide whip.

Wu Junqing sheathed his saber.

Their fight had been relatively even, but Wu Junqing possessed deeper endurance.

Once he fully understood Qin Yueyue’s whip techniques, his counterattack should have begun.

Even so, Wu Junqing still chose to stop.

Because if the Fifth Prince died the Broken Saber Sect and Wutong’s native clans would lose all reason to continue struggling.

After all they could hardly completely throw themselves in with the Shanyue and rebel together.

Liang Yue lowered his spear.

Mo Xilai dropped heavily onto his backside.

Several wounds already covered his body.

He panted for breath.

Now everyone’s gaze fell upon the Regent and Xiong Tingshan.

The Regent radiated terrifying power.

Combined with his status the pressure inspired instinctive awe.

But Zheng Fan had personally experienced this kind of thing.

He knew the Regent was powerful but absolutely not this powerful in his normal state.

He probably was not Third Grade.

Fourth Grade, perhaps.

Maybe Fifth.

But the enhancement produced by the spirit was simply too obvious.

It was essentially a secret art that forcibly lifted one’s realm.

Zheng Fan had often experienced something similar when using the Demon Child.

At the same time, because the spirit itself was a soul-body, its influence on atmosphere and presence was even stronger.

The same wind felt completely different in summer and winter.

But the wind itself could be identical.

By this point—

Count Zheng had confirmed everything.

This was a meticulously designed political performance.

The only true uncertainty had been the saber Xiong Tingshan sent toward the Regent.

The Regent’s fingers did not open.

Instead his raised arm slowly lowered.

Xiong Tingshan descended to the ground.

Sweat soaked his entire body.

He looked at the Regent.

Then slowly knelt.

“Fourth Brother.

“Your younger brother submits.”

The Regent’s majestic gaze shifted toward the Shanyue elder.

“The Shanyue tribes of Wutong Commandery will remain as they are.

“The court will not interfere with matters concerning your tribal lands.”

The elder lowered his fishing spear and knelt before the Regent in submission.

The Regent turned toward Wu Junqing.

“The hereditary ranks of Wutong Commandery’s clans will each be raised by one degree.”

Wu Junqing planted his saber into the ground.

Then knelt.

“Many thanks for Your Highness’s great grace.”

Finally the Regent looked toward Mo Xilai.

“Select fifty thousand men from the Wutong Commandery Army.

“They will be incorporated into Great Chu’s Imperial Clan Guards.”

Mo Xilai immediately pressed his forehead against the ground.

“Long live my Emperor!”

Three men.

Three power blocs.

Once all three had been pacified, the Regent reached out and placed one hand on Xiong Tingshan’s shoulder.

Without avoiding outsiders at all, he said directly:

“I hear my sister-in-law is going mad wanting to become Empress?”

“Hahahaha.”

Xiong Tingshan laughed.

“Isn’t that the truth?

“Back when Father first banished me to Wutong Commandery, if I hadn’t met her, I probably would have died several times over.

“I owe her.

“Whatever she wants, as her husband I ought to help her fight for it.”

“Lin’er’s principal wife has not yet been chosen.

“Let Sister-in-law choose one woman from her own clan.”

**Lin’er** was the Regent’s eldest son.

He was currently Heir Apparent.

In the future he would most likely become Crown Prince.

Back then, when Xiong Tingshan returned to Ying Capital after marrying a Shanyue woman, the late Emperor had not even wanted to see him.

That alone showed how tremendous the waves caused by the Regent’s decision could become.

From this generation onward the blood of future Chu Emperors might very well carry Shanyue lineage.

“Fourth Brother.

“That courage of yours— your younger brother truly admires it.

“I believe she’ll have nothing left to complain about either.”

“A harmonious household allows all affairs to prosper.

“You have guarded Wutong Commandery for fifteen years.

“On behalf of the court, I thank you.

“But now you need to return to Ying Capital and help me.

“Help me deal with Tian Wujing.”

“Fourth Brother.

“So long as you dare use me— your younger brother dares give his life!”

“Young Mr. Su!”

“This foreign subject is here.”

Count Zheng immediately rose and answered.

“What you witnessed today— could you write an essay about it?”

“This foreign subject is fortunate to have witnessed such a scene.

“An elder brother loving his younger brother, brothers united for state and people.

“Your Highness and Your Fifth Highness truly are heroes of this age.”

Xiong Tingshan glanced at Zheng Fan and laughed.

“A scholar really does know how to speak.”

The Regent waved one hand.

“Master Hong.

“Escort Young Mr. Su back to the villa.

“I intend to remain with Fifth Brother a while longer.

“We still have old times to discuss.”

And so Count Zheng did not get to see exactly how the rest of the matter developed.

He and Hero Chen boarded the carriage.

Hong Menyang drove them back toward the imperial villa.

The Swordsmith did not return with them.

Zheng Fan understood why the Regent had brought him and Hero Chen along.

He wanted Zheng Fan’s mouth to carry news of Chu’s situation back to Yao Zizhan.

And through Yao Zizhan to the Emperor of Qian.

Great Chu was telling its ally:

Chu’s internal conflict had now been completely settled.

Next—

Qian and Chu could join hands against Yan.

Yet for all the Regent’s calculation there was one thing he could never have calculated.

The “Mr. Su Mingzhe” he believed he had brought along was a fake.

Because Count Zheng had never intended to impersonate Su Mingzhe in the first place.

There had been no grand plan to uncover.

Everything originated from Hero Chen having one spectacularly brainless moment.

No matter how deep the Regent’s schemes could he calculate the sudden change in intentions of an iron blockhead?

Besides that *Man Jiang Hong* had already proven Zheng Fan’s “identity.”

Literary talent in this world was one of the hardest, most reliable travel permits imaginable.

Both the Regent and Swordsmith possessed deep literary cultivation.

But neither knew Count Zheng could memorize poems from another world.

In their eyes only a disciple of Yao Zizhan could possibly produce verse of that level.

So in truth—

Count Zheng’s performance as Su Mingzhe had not merely avoided exposing the fraud.

He had played the role better than the real man himself likely could have.

And while setting aside what the Regent wanted “Su Mingzhe” to witness—

Count Zheng had also seen something he wanted to see.

Something that made him even more excited about tomorrow’s “wedding.”

Count Zheng was often possessed by the Demon Child.

So he understood that the Regent sending himself and Hero Chen away had another reason.

The Regent would soon begin suffering the violent backlash from letting that spirit possess him.

The wound on his chest was actually a minor issue.

The real problem was what came afterward his entire body would be severely overdrawn.

That spirit was far stronger than the current Demon Child.

Its side effects could only be worse.

Which meant the Regent would not appear at the Princess’s wedding tomorrow.

First, he might still be unconscious then.

Even if he woke, he would be exceptionally weak.

As a ruler he would never willingly reveal such frailty before his subjects.

Second, the experts around the Regent probably would not appear at the wedding either.

They would need to guard their weakened ruler at close range.

And that meant the difficulty of abducting the bride tomorrow had suddenly dropped by an enormous margin.

Then, another piece of good news arrived.

The carriage stopped.

They had encountered a Fan Residence convoy transporting red candles for tomorrow’s wedding banquet.

Hong Menyang hesitated.

But Zheng Fan immediately said considerately:

“Master Hong, Hero Chen and I can return to the imperial villa with this convoy.

“You should go back and wait upon His Highness.

“We cannot have His Highness miss the auspicious hour of the Princess’s wedding.

“Besides, we are already quite close.”

Hong Menyang immediately answered:

“Then Young Mr. Su and Hero Chen will have to suffer a little inconvenience.”

“Not at all.

“Not at all.”

Naturally, Hong Menyang would not tell Zheng Fan the Regent would never attend tomorrow’s wedding.

After watching Zheng Fan and Hero Chen board the Fan Residence convoy, Hong Menyang immediately turned the carriage around.

He needed to return and personally guard the Regent.

Great Chu’s Imperial Clan Guards were not nearby.

Men like him were the true final barrier protecting the Regent’s life.

Count Zheng entered the imperial villa directly with the convoy.

After entering, Zheng Fan did not immediately climb down.

Hero Chen saw him remain seated and stayed as well.

A short while later—

Xue San, Siniang, and A’Ming all entered the carriage.

Tomorrow was the day they would seize the Princess.

All three Demon Kings had already infiltrated the villa.

Only—

Siniang and Xue San were actually working.

A’Ming was genuinely just “blending in.”

Hero Chen sat nearby.

Zheng Fan and the Demon Kings made no attempt to hide their plotting from this man of Qian.

They discussed everything directly in front of him.

Hero Chen’s character was simply that dependable.

Zheng Fan rapidly explained everything that had happened that day.

At the end he emphasized the key point:

The Regent would most likely be completely exhausted until tomorrow.

Neither he nor the inner-palace experts protecting him should appear at the wedding banquet.

Count Zheng even suspected the Regent’s visit to the Princess had been secondary.

This place lay at roughly acceptable distance from both Ying Capital and Wutong Commandery.

It made an ideal negotiation point both sides could accept.

As ruler of a state, the Regent was unlikely to abandon an entire court’s worth of affairs merely for private family sentiment and travel here solely to see his younger sister married.

Especially when the Marquis of Jingnan was still continuously applying pressure at Zhennan Pass.

In fact, the Princess had hinted at the same thing last night.

She did not believe her elder brother could remain here so many days merely to attend her wedding and see his sister married.

Siniang and Xue San immediately began thinking.

The original plan had assumed the Regent would be present.

It had also assumed the inner-palace experts around him would be there.

The difficulty had fallen.

But the plan had to change accordingly.

Then Siniang suddenly spoke:

“Master.

“This servant has thought of a better method.”

“Speak.”

Siniang swept her gaze across everyone in the carriage.

“Master.

“Right now, only you know for certain the Regent will not appear at tomorrow’s wedding banquet.

“The Qu Clan does not know.

“The guests attending do not know.

“Even the Imperial Clan Guards outside the villa do not know.

“All they know is that the Regent traveled incognito to attend the Princess’s wedding.

“So...

“So tomorrow, this servant can disguise A’Ming as the Regent.

“Then Master can simply hold the ‘Regent’ hostage.

“With that guarantee in place— taking the Princess becomes far easier.

“We will possess much more freedom.

“And the effect will be far better.

“But Master will need to draw a facial portrait of the Regent for this servant.

“This servant has never seen him.”

Painting was Count Zheng’s actual profession.

No problem at all.

Inside the carriage everyone’s eyes lit up after hearing the suggestion.

Exactly.

The only people who knew the Regent would not appear tomorrow were them.

Even Hero Chen, sitting nearby and merely watching, could not help praising:

“Brilliant!”

But then, A’Ming raised one hand.

He asked:

“Why do *I* need to be disguised as the Regent?

“Someone else would work too, wouldn’t they?”

Siniang immediately answered:

“No.

“It has to be you.

“Think about it.

“When the time comes, Master will be holding the Princess with one hand and holding you hostage with the other.

“That puts you very close to Master.

“You can also block hidden weapons for him.

“What if the Chu people decide to take the risk?”

A’Ming opened his mouth.

What he heard made him deeply uncomfortable.

Yet he could not refute it.

Xue San added:

“There’s another advantage.

“If Master takes you hostage and the Chu people refuse to retreat, when we threaten them—

Master can do this.”

As he spoke, Xue San pulled out a dagger and waved it.

“Are you retreating?

“Retreating or not?

“When the time comes, if Master has a dagger, use the dagger.

“If he has an arrow, use the arrow.

“Just keep sticking holes into the hostage.

“Scare the living hell out of those Chu people.

“And we don’t even need to worry about the hostage actually dying.

“A few extra holes in A’Ming won’t kill him.

“Where else beneath Heaven could you find a hostage more practical than that?

“Heh-heh.”

“...”

A’Ming.

Xue San even offered the dagger to Zheng Fan.

“Master, why don’t you stab A’Ming a few times now and practice first?”

A’Ming pointed one finger at Xue San.

Xue San immediately craned his neck.

“What?

“What?

“I’m only suggesting a rehearsal for tomorrow’s performance!”

Inside, however, Xue San was screaming:

*Damn it!*

*Ever since entering Chu, I’ve been running myself ragged front and back!*

*And you bastard who’s done nothing but eat and drink somehow advanced before me!*

*Is there any justice left beneath Heaven?!*

Count Zheng did not actually stab A’Ming for rehearsal.

Even if A’Ming would not die from the injuries, regenerating them still consumed enormous vitality.

Vampires were not truly immortal.

So long as the brain remained intact, a high-level vampire merely possessed a much larger health bar than an ordinary person.

Count Zheng cleared his throat.

Then delivered the final mobilization:

“Heaven’s timing.

“Terrain.

“People.

“We have all three.

“Tomorrow— let’s make sure this wedding is held...

**in magnificent style.**”

————

[End of Chapter 448]