Chapter 1299: Starlight Ripples

"Ah, yes," within the Star River Pavilion, Chong Xuan Sheng spoke, "When you journey to Hanging Temple, remember to bypass the Star and Moon Plain."

Jiang Wang furrowed his brow, "Why so?"There was no reason to pass the Star and Moon Plain without entering; he still wished to converse with Grandmaster Guan Yan, and the Fiery Bone Lotus needed to accumulate stellar power.

"There will be great movements there." Chong Xuan Sheng uttered only this single phrase, and spoke no more.It seemed the matter already involved the secrets of the Hall of Military Affairs.Strictly speaking, with Jiang Wang's current official rank and position, he was indeed qualified to hear such secrets, but he was, after all, alone and abroad at this time.As a disciple of a military lineage, Chong Xuan Sheng possessed this understanding.Jiang Wang pondered the geography of the Star and Moon Plain and the configuration of the Western Xiang and Eastern Xu nations for a moment, and could roughly surmise some things.The negotiations between Qi and Jing seemed to be proceeding unfavorably...Was Qi extracting too heavy a price, or was Jing overly arrogant? Could it be that Jing was truly preparing for a two-front war? To stand against two great hegemon nations simultaneously with its own strength?

Jiang Wang thought for a moment, then said, "For the sake of the nation, I have traveled a thousand li out of my way, concealing my identity, enduring many hardships. Upon reaching the Star and Moon Plain, I must again make a detour... Should not the higher authorities provide some compensation?"

Chong Xuan Sheng looked at him with a face full of astonishment.

"Hahaha, merely a jest." Jiang Wang let out a dry laugh.

"And yet you jested quite earnestly." Chong Xuan Sheng said coolly.

"One knows not until one comes, the scenery of the grasslands is quite pleasant." Jiang Wang avoided the subject, "I gazed upon the Supreme King's Court from afar, truly magnificent and imposing!"

Chong Xuan Sheng followed his words and asked, "How so? Did that sworn brother of yours not even show you around the Supreme King's Court?"

"He is in Liyuan City," Jiang Wang replied.

No matter how astute Chong Xuan Sheng's strategies, no matter how terrifying Jiang Wang's combat天赋, upon the chessboard of the world's hegemon nations, they were but pieces, and not even pieces of great weight.Many matters were beyond their ability to influence.

This topic was indeed difficult to continue, thus Chong Xuan Sheng changed tack, "Suddenly, I recall something. The matter of that Gu Shi Yi you mentioned last time, I only recently unearthed his intelligence and conducted a simple background check. These past few days, matters have been truly numerous, I nearly forgot!"

During this period, he first had to help Jiang Wang cleanse the stain of treason, and after a hard-fought exchange with Zhang Wei Yu, achieved a splendid victory. Immediately thereafter, Jiang Wang encountered trouble, with only an urgent letter and a single sentence sent back.The matter involved Zhao Xuan Yang of the Jing Kingdom, and to speak of it was the great crime of consorting with demons.He had to investigate the situation and actively campaign to promote Qi's tough stance against Jing. Once Jiang Wang was freed, he had to help seek benefits from the Qi court...If there were to be major movements between Qi and Jing, it was precisely the time for military families like the Chong Xuan clan to exert their influence. As the direct descendant of the Chong Xuan family, he also had to work hard to secure leverage for himself...

Thus, all these matters combined were indeed exceedingly busy.

Jiang Wang felt truly somewhat apologetic, and brimming with enthusiasm, he said, "Brother Sheng, you have truly labored hard!"

"Alas." Chong Xuan Sheng sighed, "My back and waist have been constantly aching lately, I wonder if it's due to overwork..."

Jiang Wang paused for a moment, then whispered, "Your family matters with Fourteen, it is not proper for me to interfere..."

"What are you thinking!" Chong Xuan Sheng slapped the stone table, incensed, "It's all because I've been busy with your affairs!"

"Then you absolutely must try my exclusive massage technique!" Jiang Wang resolutely rose, walked behind Chong Xuan Sheng, and diligently began kneading his shoulders, "Huang She Li has some sort of Twenty-Four Techniques, I secretly learned two moves during our exchange. I'll loosen your muscles and bones, making you comfortable from head to toe!"

If Huang She Li were to know that her Twenty-Four Techniques for Saving the World were being used by Jiang Wang to massage someone's shoulders, she would surely be unable to hold her Purifying Demon-Subduing Pestle, and would instead have to shatter Jiang's finger bones - unless it was to massage her.

"You mustn't! You mustn't!" Chong Xuan Sheng feigned protest, "How could I, Chong Xuan Sheng, possess such virtue and ability, to have the World's Foremost Inner Mansion knead my shoulders... and beat my back?"

Jiang Wang, being sensible, began to beat his back, "You must! You absolutely must! Brother Sheng, you worry so much every day, you must pay attention to your health. These several hundred catties of flesh you carry are the embodiment of wisdom, a treasure of the Qi Kingdom, and must not be lost under any circumstances. Pray take good care of yourself!"

Chong Xuan Sheng let out a satisfied哼, "Where were we just now?"

"Gu Shi Yi," Jiang Wang reminded him.

"This person, Gu Shi Yi, is the foremost expert in the Zheng Kingdom." Chong Xuan Sheng was thoroughly enjoying himself, and said languidly, "This man possesses a chivalrous heart and upright gall, and enjoys the reputation of being the greatest hero in the world."

"He himself is also from the direct lineage of the Zheng Kingdom's imperial family, but he has no interest in the throne, does not enter officialdom, and does not compete for imperial resources. In his youth, he traveled the world alone, delighting in righting wrongs, and helping the weak against the strong, thus establishing a not insignificant reputation.He changed his name to Gu Shi Yi, taking 'Yi' (Righteousness/義) as his teacher.When his father was gravely ill and wished to pass the throne to him, he actually left his seat to avoid it, refusing to accept the decree. He said that he possessed only the righteousness of traveling alone with his sword, but lacked the ability to bear the responsibility of the nation. 'Above me is my elder brother, below me are my virtuous nephews, I shall not accept.' His words were roughly thus.He later, after the new emperor ascended the throne, left the country alone, precisely to avoid being used as a pawn by others. Only after the new emperor's power was consolidated did he agree to return.He did not utilize a single bit of the Zheng Kingdom's imperial resources, relying solely on himself, yet he cultivated to the level of a true master in this age. He is indeed a rare and exceptional man in the world, with outstanding talent and an independent spirit. By generation, the current emperor of Zheng is precisely the nephew of this Gu Shi Yi.However, although he is the foremost expert in the Zheng Kingdom, he basically does not concern himself with any matters. He accepts neither titles from the Zheng emperor nor recruitment from other nations. He wanders abroad year-round, indulging in the worldly dust. Only after ten or eight years does he return to stay for a period."

How difficult it was for a person from a small nation to achieve the state of Dao Manifestation, one need only think of Ji Cheng, who was blocked at the Divine Arrival state, to understand that the difficulty lay not merely in the cultivation path itself.

Remembering Gu Shi Yi's unrestrained and decisive slap, Jiang Wang could not help but say, "He is indeed an extraordinary person!"

"Let us, for the time being, consider him a good person who practices chivalry and righteousness!" Chong Xuan Sheng said.

"How do you say that?" Jiang Wang asked.

"Although his reputation is very good, this thing called reputation..." Chong Xuan Sheng gave a tut, "You were also rumored to be a traitorous villain and a demon spawn. Now you are a national hero and the unjustly accused missing genius of Great Qi."

He smiled, "It is very easy to manipulate!"

"Judge actions, not intentions; if we judge intentions, how can anyone be complete?" Jiang Wang, however, said, "If we must speculate whether there are other motives behind everything, then it will be difficult to trust anyone."

"Of course. That is why I said, let us temporarily consider him a good person." Chong Xuan Sheng said indifferently, "As for what purpose he had in saving you, we may as well wait and see after further contact in the future. If there is no further interaction from now on, then there is no need to mention it either."

Jiang Wang, however, said, "I am very grateful to him for saving me. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will try my best to repay him. As for what kind of person he is, I have only met him once, and I dare not judge, much less suspect. Therefore, let us walk and see!"

Chong Xuan Sheng smiled, "At least we are consistent in our outcome."

"Yes," Jiang Wang also smiled.

In many instances, they might be two entirely different people.But they were both very clear-headed, knowing that the world did not contain only people like themselves. They knew that their own life principles were not the only standard for life.They walked in the same direction, but did not follow in lockstep.Both of them walked on their own paths.

When he withdrew from the Illusory Realm of the Great Void, Jiang Wang's thoughts stirred, and he looked up at the sky.That long, penetrating river of stars seemed to ripple with a subtle wave.He didn't know why, but he thought of Qing Huo Qi Ming from the Floating Continent.

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