Chapter 2169: Pear Blossom Tune

The song being sung on stage is the newly released Pear Blossom Song, which features new lyrics penned by Hai Tang Mister, a highly renowned figure in the entertainment scene of Ying City.

Of course, among the influential families of Chu, it's a semi-open secret that Hai Tang Mister's true identity is Qu Yan, the fifth son of the Duke of Yu's mansion and the paternal uncle of Qu Shun Hua. He was dismissed from office for uttering lewd words in court and has since been living a life of leisure at home. As long as he doesn't cause trouble under his real name, the Duke of Yu's mansion doesn't interfere.

Ren Qiu Li listened quietly for a while, her voice filled with melancholy. "Is this war unavoidable?"

Lu Shuang He's face was expressionless. "What have you calculated?"

"How can I calculate this war!" Ren Qiu Li looked at the alluring Chu woman on the stage. "Only Long Sheng Jun, he hopes you will quickly achieve Dao."

Lu Shuang He simply said, "Long Sheng Jun has Long Sheng Jun's path, doesn't Seven Kills have Seven Kills's path?"

Ren Qiu Li continued, "I know you don't want to be that second, this is your heart's obsession, the reason you haven't achieved Dao all these years. You are emotionless towards everything but Dao, yet this is the one thing you can't let go of. But being second, isn't it still first? At least in this period, the era belongs to you."

"That's not something you would say." Lu Shuang He slightly furrowed his brows. "What exactly do you want to say?"

Ren Qiu Li said, "The identity of Too Xu Pavilion members is more significant than we imagined. Or rather, these Too Xu Pavilion members have done better than we imagined. Regardless of their original intentions, whether it's habit or truly embracing the world, they have indeed achieved 'De Ze' (virtue and benefit). First there was the Star Road method, then the Too Xu Xuan Chapter, and then the Miscellaneous School heart methods, all from Too Xu Pavilion. The world sees them as a source of benefit, and countless people have benefited, everyone remembers their names..."

"Xiao Shu, who died several years ago and was basically not missed by many before his death, is now worshipped by almost ten thousand families in Dan Ground, and is called the last glory of Dan Country by many."

"Yan Ren Xian, the True Monarch Old Ancestor of Dan Country once numbered as 'Red Emperor' and on par with our 'Long Sheng Jun,' is hardly remembered anymore. The last emperor of Dan Country can only be found in history books. The only person from that country remembered by the people is surprisingly Xiao Shu, a person who did not reach godhood—you still don't understand the influence of Too Xu Illusion?"

Lu Shuang He said, "The Star Road method indeed has its merits. Especially for those with mediocre aptitude."

"You know this isn't the key point." Ren Qiu Li said, "You have never cared much about these things, but do you know what people call those nine people now?"

Lu Shuang He quietly turned his head, his gaze waiting for an answer.

Ren Qiu Li said, "Honored as 'Ge Lao'!"

"Not just one family, not just one place, but universally across all domains." Ren Qiu Li rarely used such a surprised tone. "This group of people, except for Ju Kui and Zhong Xuan, are generally not over forty years old, yet they are honored as 'old' by the world! Especially Jiang Wang, who is only twenty-six years old, and in another twenty days, will just be twenty-seven!"

She asked, "Do you know what this means?"

"It means his virtue and prestige are high, unmatched in the world. If he dies in a duel with me, I fear I will be scorned by the world—"

Lu Shuang He said lightly, "So what?"

Ren Qiu Li said cautiously, "Long Sheng Jun's meaning is likely that he hopes you will consider the reputation of South Dipper Hall."

Lu Shuang He said indifferently, "Then tell him that if he feels I, Lu Shuang He, am a burden to South Dipper's reputation, South Dipper Hall can remove my name."

Ren Qiu Li naturally couldn't respond to the South Dipper Hall master with these words, but she also knew that Lu Shuang He's heart was as firm as iron and could not be shaken. She sighed lightly. "Then, can this war wait until after Jiang Wang's term ends?"

Lu Shuang He said, "The choice of when this war begins, I have already given it to him. Asking me is meaningless."

Ren Qiu Li, who was initially thinking about the impact of this war on South Dipper Hall, was now thinking about Lu Shuang He's safety. "You should go find him as soon as possible. Jiang Wang is no ordinary person. With the identity of a Too Xu Pavilion member, there are too many sources of power he can borrow from. His growth speed is astonishing."

Lu Shuang He shook his head. "I want to wait for him to come find me. Only at that time will he be most confident, truly well-prepared. Then this war will have meaning. I am not here to kill people, much less to kill a person named Jiang Wang. I am only seeking Dao."

"What if he never comes?" Ren Qiu Li asked. "You'll just wait like this your whole life? You have the time to take a disciple... maybe even cultivate one."

"I have his promise," Lu Shuang He's voice was calm. "He will not not come."

Jiang Wang's promise... even Ren Qiu Li couldn't question that.

But she said, "What if Jiang Wang waits until he achieves Dao before coming to find you? Your fate is intertwined with Seven Kills, it's not without a solution. How many strong individuals can he pry open now? As long as he wants to find a way, he always can."

"Then it proves that this youngest Cave True cultivator in history has no confidence to fight me to the death at the Cave True level," Lu Shuang He said indifferently. "I can safely achieve Dao."

Ren Qiu Li was silent for a moment, then said, "It seems you truly think very highly of him."

For a figure like Lu Shuang He to actually be able to eliminate her 'I obsession' because of Jiang Wang's avoidance of war, this was already more than just thinking highly of him. It was a certainty that Jiang Wang would one day have the power to kill him at the Cave True level.

At first, she thought this was a battle Lu Shuang He had to win, a process he had set for himself to sharpen his sword.

Only at this moment did she realize that regarding this appointed war, Lu Shuang He was also waiting with a determination to die. Waiting for another person to reach this peak of Cave True, and then one person must fall.

Perhaps this kind of mood, this kind of 'hearing Dao in the morning' will, is the reason Lu Shuang He possesses ultimate killing power.

"It's not that I think highly of him, it's just that he happens to have walked to my front," Lu Shuang He said. "I want to create unprecedented Cave True killing power, to surpass Xiang Feng Qi and exist. There must be such an opponent in front of me. If there wasn't, I would have to create one myself... Looking now, there is no better choice than Jiang Wang. I believe this is just the arrangement of fate."

Diviners are always particularly sensitive to the word fate.

Ren Qiu Li thought for a while, then finally skipped this topic. "What do you think of the current Chu Emperor?"

Lu Shuang He said, "He has harmonized the clans with one hand, stabilized the state, grasped military power with the other, concentrated imperial power, controlled Yun Xian Forest, stripped Long Sheng Jun of his imperial title, and has been continuously advancing and expanding since he ascended the throne. He was originally a contemporary hero and should have the name of a sage monarch—if he hadn't lost the River Valley War."

The tone he used to speak of Jiang Wang and the Chu Emperor was exactly the same. Although he was a Dao enemy to the former, the latter was the source of pressure South Dipper Hall had faced for so many years.

Ren Qiu Li said, "Si Ming True Person said a while ago that although South Dipper Hall has a long history, we now also have to consider the Chu Emperor's face."

Si Ming True Person Fu Zhao Fan is the first of the South Dipper Six True Ones, and Long Sheng Jun's most trusted person. When Long Sheng Jun was traveling in the outer heavens, he was essentially in charge of the major affairs of South Dipper Hall.

Lu Shuang He's face was expressionless. "Qin Country has rebuilt the Yu Abyss Great Wall, and Tai Zu Ying Yun achieved transcendence that year. The Son of Heaven of Great Chu here probably won't just sit idle. Our Long Sheng Jun, who has been hiding in the outer heavens for so many years and only recently returned, also seems restless?"

The River Valley War was truly a war of national fate. The victorious Qin Country is prospering day by day, while the defeated Chu Country's contradictions have erupted. From the end of the war in Dao Calendar 3917 to the present Dao Calendar 3927, in the whole decade in between, Chu Country has had almost no major actions, only licking its wounds. The Chu Son of Heaven's energy has all been focused on regulating domestic affairs... It is indeed time to make a move.

"You are not respectful enough to the hall master," Ren Qiu Li said.

Lu Shuang He shook his head. "He doesn't need my respect, he wants me to quickly achieve Dao."

Ren Qiu Li did not speak. After realizing Lu Shuang He's true thoughts, she also didn't want Lu Shuang He to continue waiting for that war.

Lu Shuang He's gaze fell on the stage again. "Then let them find a way to quickly help Jiang Wang enhance his power. So we all don't need to wait any longer."

Through the current world entrance Du E Peak, one can enter the South Dipper Secret Realm. This place is vast and boundless, with the void as a curtain, the universe as a backdrop, suspending six huge stars. These six stars are named Order Star, Yin Star, Good Star, Fortune Star, Seal Star, and General Star. Except for General Star where Seven Kills True Person resides, each has common people multiplying.

At this time on Order Star, in Si Ming Hall. Long Bo Ji, the contemporary true successor of Si Ming Hall, was kneeling on a cushion, and asked softly, "Master. Do you think this time... Seven Kills Martial Uncle will listen?"

Si Ming True Person Fu Zhao Fan sat cross-legged in front, only leaving a back figure, his voice leisurely. "If even Tian Ji True Person cannot convince him, then no one in the world can convince him."

Long Bo Ji said, "Your meaning is that Tian Ji Martial Uncle's words still carry weight with Seven Kills Martial Uncle."

Fu Zhao Fan said, "My meaning is that no one in the world can change Lu Shuang He's decision."

"Then why—"

"Why still let Ren Qiu Li make this trip?"

"Disciple does not understand."

Fu Zhao Fan said blandly, "He should know how the sect tolerates him. Although he is heaven-hearted and emotionless, he cannot escape cause and effect."

Long Bo Ji lowered his head. "Disciple understands."

Fu Zhao Fan said, "Before Yi Sheng Feng was still here, you handled the relationship with him poorly."

Long Bo Ji explained, "I already tried my best to be good to him, but this person is cold and emotionless, and truly cannot be befriended."

"You don't need to be friends with everyone. Not everyone can be friends. Different people have different positions, and different people have different distances," Fu Zhao Fan said slowly. "Just like these six stars are suspended here, they don't need to be connected, but they collectively constitute South Dipper Hall."

Long Bo Ji thought for a moment. "Disciple probably understands."

Fu Zhao Fan continued, "Your friendship with that Zhong Shan Wei Sun is quite good?"

Long Bo Ji has a name in Too Xu Illusion that no one would have thought of—Shang Guan.

During a viewing session in Hong Meng Space, he accidentally got to know two other friends. One was named Zhao Tie Zhu, the other Jia Fu Gui. They watched that person together, who was then named Du Gu Wu Di.

They "had fate to know each other," and "made friends with sincerity," using false names to get to know each other. Du Gu Wu Di was a miraculous passerby who almost never appeared in Hong Meng Space again, so that's beside the point. As spectators, Shang Guan, Zhao Tie Zhu, and Jia Fu Gui were like-minded and chatted speculatively, often gathering together later. In Hong Meng Space, they were also a notorious group. But relatively speaking, Long Bo Ji, as Shang Guan, had a deeper friendship with Zhao Tie Zhu. After all, they had exchanged real identities and were in contact in reality, even sitting together at the Dragon Palace Banquet!

Jia Fu Gui, on the other hand, was unwilling to exchange identities from beginning to end, remaining very mysterious. He was just a friend within Too Xu Illusion.

"Disciple is friends with that Zhong Shan Wei Sun," Long Bo Ji replied cautiously to his master's words.

Fu Zhao Fan didn't say anything more, only saying, "Go. No matter what you want to do, you must remember that the most important thing in the world is the word 'divide inch'."

Long Bo Ji respectfully bowed and exited Si Ming Hall.

It wasn't until he walked out of Si Ming Hall and flew to the area where the common people resided that he suddenly remembered—today is the first day of the Lunar New Year. There wasn't a hint of the New Spring feeling inside South Dipper Hall.

As a child, the first day of the Lunar New Year was the most anticipated day. He could wear new clothes, eat many good foods, and play happily with many little friends... Since entering the mountain gate, this day has just been an ordinary day.

Perhaps after ten, twenty, thirty years, he would slowly get used to it.

He shook his head, slightly tidied his clothes, and went towards the Ritual Hall. There was a guest visiting today, and he, the true successor of Si Ming Hall, destined to hold all matters of South Dipper Hall in the future, had to personally welcome them. Because the guest represented the Three Points Fragrance Building.

If it were the Three Points Fragrance Building of the past, he naturally wouldn't need to care. To put it impolitely, the people of the Three Points Fragrance Building had no qualification to visit.

But now it was different.

The Three Points Fragrance Building, which had bravely cut ties with Chu Country, had formally announced its independence as an extraordinary force at the Dragon Palace Banquet four years ago. Only under the strong suppression of Chu Country did the power that the Three Points Fragrance Building had latent underwater for many years gradually become known to people.

People now discovered that this establishment, which had the most branches in the world and was almost synonymous with "wind and moon" and squandering money, was not only a gentle haven but also had the power to guard this wealth and gentleness.

The Three Points Fragrance Building has seven Heaven Fragrance and eleven Heart Fragrance, each an expert. Moreover, there are two great Feng Fragrance True Persons, who claim to be the Feng Fragrance ones for the building master, fighting against external thieves and displaying strong True Person combat power to maintain the development of the Three Points Fragrance Building. These two True Persons, one male and one female, are named Fa Luo and Zhi Mi.

The building master of the Three Points Fragrance Building, whose fame once spread throughout the ears of heroes around the world, claimed to be the most beautiful in the world, but was always elusive, like a dragon seen only by its head. She even made a strong appearance, fighting with the Chu Country royal family's True Monarch, honored as 'Fu Wang' Xiong Ding Fu, in front of Sword Edge Mountain in Xia Ground. The battle was so intense that the sky collapsed and the earth cracked. In the end, it was Ruan Qu who brought out the Si Xuan Ground Palace and stopped them, advising them to leave.

The name of the Three Points Fragrance Building's building master also became known to more people from this incident—Luo Sha Ming Yue Jing. This is a very rare name, both the name and surname are very rare. There have been those with demon as a surname, quite a few with sea as a surname, extremely few with monster as a surname, and with Luo Sha of the Yu Abyss Asura Clan as a surname, and with such great fame, until now, it seems only she exists.

Of course, Luo Sha Ming Yue Jing could not come to South Dipper Hall. If she were to come, only Long Sheng Jun would receive her. The person Long Bo Ji was to see today was the first of the Heart Fragrance, an existence numbered as "Mei Yue".