Chapter 2258: Yearning

In the solemn and respectful sacrifice ceremony, a moment of divine thoughts crossed the sky, information sufficient to shake the court and the country, shuttling between the high levels of Yueguo.

Yue Jia Jia Kui Bian Liang urgently reported: "Yin Xiang Peak has unusual movements. The Right Censor seems already awakened, and is currently engaging in battle with the Chu Kingdom envoy, Zhong Li Yan! Should we immediately activate the protective national array to interfere? The Yue Jia army formation is already prepared. This general can also lead the army at any time!"

Bian Liang, forty-five years old this year, is precisely a pillar general on Yueguo's military side. The Yue Jia he commands has a core force of only three thousand, but auxiliary soldiers exceed thirty thousand. These three thousand core armored soldiers are all extraordinary, practicing special techniques inherited and continuously improved by Yueguo for generations, and are proficient in the mainstream array diagrams at the forefront of the military path. They can be called well-trained, always attacking without fail, and in battle must seize the flag. They are Yueguo's foremost assault force.

No matter from which aspect to discuss, Bian Liang, who commands such an army, is an absolute high-level figure in Yueguo.

But whether this Ge Fei is that Ge Fei is another matter, and he doesn't know it.

Since ancient times, if a secret is not kept confidential, harm arises.

Before Gao Zheng died, only he and Emperor Wen Jing Xiu knew about the Ge Fei matter. After Gao Zheng died, the only additional person informed was Gong Zhi Liang—this was because Wen Jing Xiu, as the Son of Heaven of Yueguo, was watched by the world, his every move difficult to be free. To plot and arrange, he had to let Gong Zhi Liang participate and move the pieces on his behalf.

"Not in a hurry," Gong Zhi Liang said lightly. "The Right Censor's awakening is a good thing. He is indignant at being bullied by the Chu envoy and strikes out of hatred. If he can't win, so be it. Since he can fight, why should we interfere?"

Upon hearing this, Bian Liang knew the depth of the situation.

This matter was originally extremely strange. Firstly, Ge Fei's divine soul was torn and divided into the Five Ministries Sea and the Ignorance Fog. According to common sense, there was absolutely no possibility of return. Secondly, why would Ge Fei fight with Zhong Li Yan? This in itself was very strange. Thirdly, why could Ge Fei have the strength to battle with Zhong Li Yan? From divine arrival to cave true is not a simple crossing. Especially the cave true realm requires cognition of the world. There is no reason to be mad for several years and instead break through. Fourthly, Ge Fei's awakening is not necessarily a good thing for the current Yueguo, because the awakened Ge Fei first needs to give an account to Great Chu's An Guo Gong. If this account is not proper, the entire Yueguo must face Wu Zhao Chang's anger.

Gong Zhi Liang wouldn't have thought of these problems, yet he was so calm and unperturbed.

He is not Gao Zheng, who remains unchanged in color when a mountain collapses before him. Even if Gao Zheng were still here, he might not necessarily be able to solve these problems!

This Yue Jia Jia Kui wrinkled his brow: "Is the State Minister hiding something from this commander? Is it because this commander is no longer worthy of trust?"

These words openly questioned the State Minister, and secretly questioned the Son of Heaven.

In this solemn sacrifice ceremony, these words and their hearers were few. Besides the three of them, there was also a Great Zong Zheng, namely the royal elder. In any case, they were all the top layer of Yueguo, absolutely trustworthy individuals.

Wen Jing Xiu's voice rang out at this moment: "Yue Jia is my inner armor, entrusting life and family. This is first-class trust! If I don't believe you, Bian Liang, who else can I believe? Only this situation is Gao Xiang's legacy. He repeatedly instructed before starting the situation not to allow any ripples. After all, the waves of Qian Tang illuminate Jiao Wu! This matter involves court regulations. I have only discussed it with the State Minister. The Queen does not know, the Crown Prince does not know, and no one in the world knows."

Bian Liang's heart was greatly shocked. He didn't think Gao Zheng actually had a legacy situation. But this was also too natural. Gao Xiang was originally a talent that could pass through heaven and earth. That person died so calmly, which is what makes people suspicious!

He immediately said: "If it is Gao Xiang's legacy situation, we should wait and listen to orders. Truly asking me to participate would instead easily spoil things. State Minister, please forgive Bian's rudeness!"

Gong Zhi Liang also immediately responded: "Bian Shuai's red heart is for the country. This is the utmost courtesy. Gong only has respect in his heart."

"You are all my arms and bones, and you all understand my heart. We must join hands now and overcome difficulties together." Wen Jing Xiu appeased the great general under his command in an open and sincere manner, and immediately ordered: "Zhou Du Du is already preparing for war in Qian Tang. Decree him to exhaust his water army. We must make the worst plans. Bian Shuai, immediately activate the protective national array and lead the army to stop the great battle on Yin Xiang Peak, preserve the Right Censor, and also not harm the Chu envoy's life. Simultaneously seal the west gate and guard against Chu's border closure. That side of Book Mountain, I will personally write. Yueguo has respected ritual for many years, acting as its barrier, they cannot repeatedly sit and watch."

After a series of divine consciousness transmission commands, Wen Jing Xiu then turned back on the altar and gazed at Chu Kingdom's vice envoy, Dou Mian, as if looking towards Ying City, which was claimed to be the "world canopy."

He knew the Chu Son of Heaven would not watch him, but he was indeed looking towards the Chu Son of Heaven's direction.

"Vice Envoy Dou! You are from the Guo Gong's household, a direct descendant of a noble, a proud talent of a hegemonic country. Can you answer me a question—" Wen Jing Xiu spoke: "You have come to our country this time, saying it is to mourn our country's too ancestor. But why did your Great Chu chief envoy arbitrarily appear on Yun Lai Peak, and why did he greatly strike against our country's Right Censor?!"

Until he went mad, Ge Fei's official position was always Right Censor. After he went mad, either out of hope for him, or to wait for him, this official position was never abolished, and even the salary was normally given to the Ge clan.

So the upper and lower levels of Yueguo still refer to him as the Right Censor.

Dou Mian was completely confused.

He even took a while to realize that "Yun Lai Peak" was the official name of Yin Xiang Peak, and the Right Censor referred to Ge Fei.

But how would he know why Zhong Li Yan went to Yin Xiang Peak, and why he would fight with Ge Fei?

Wasn't Ge Fei mad?

What's the point of a madman and a fool fighting? Isn't this like turtles hitting black turtles—infighting in the same room?

But Wen Jing Xiu's momentum at this moment was so aggressive, and the civil and military officials of Yueguo were all watching, quite having a posture of being dismembered by chaotic knives if he didn't answer properly—sincerely, although Dou Mian's identity was honorable and his family background prominent, Wei Guo Gong's fu would certainly avenge him, but what was the meaning of avenging him after he was gone?

"Report to the Son of Heaven of Yueguo!" Dou Mian's mind raced. While cursing Zhong Li Yan's family inwardly, he dared not stop his mouth: "First, I must emphasize that I am only the vice envoy on this trip, and I have been in Willful throughout. I fundamentally do not know what happened at your country's border. According to me, the most important thing at the moment is to grasp the key to the problem, which is why Zhong Li Yan fought with Ge Fei? They might have a misunderstanding, or a verbal dispute could have occurred. Of course, sparring is also possible. There are many possibilities here. We need to respond cautiously based on our attitude of being responsible for the diplomatic relations between the two countries. How to do it specifically still depends on how your country does it. Just as I emphasized, I am only the vice envoy on this trip, and I have been in Willful throughout. I fundamentally do not know what happened at your country's border."

Wen Jing Xiu patiently listened to him finish, then waved his hand: "Since Vice Envoy Dou doesn't know anything, then I can only wrong you for a period of time—hold him well and take care, do not allow harm to his life."

After saying just this sentence, the Yueguo emperor left the ancestral temple.

The ritual official stood on the high platform, not knowing if this sacrifice ceremony, conducted halfway through, should continue.

"Continue!" Gong Zhi Liang instructed, then turned and left.

Hua la la, like the ebb tide of Qian Tang. Most of the civil and military officials in the ancestral temple scattered in an instant.

Only the ritual official himself remained, along with some insignificant minor officials, completing the latter half of the sacrifice ceremony in a desultory manner according to the procedures. But including them, no one truly cared about the anniversary of Great Yue's founding emperor's death.

"Heaven does not grant a year, the soul forever sleeps. Mourn I..."

Flags fluttered, the sacrifice platform was solemn, and the voice in the wind was as if sobbing.

Yueguo's protective national array was activated very quickly, from which one could also slightly glimpse Yueguo's military preparations.

Located next to a hegemonic country, they indeed could not afford to be negligent.

Once the array was activated, Yueguo became a copper wall and iron bastion, its thousands of li of rivers and mountains all one body.

Bian Liang organized his army without any delay. Upon leaving the ancestral temple, he immediately integrated the soldier's malevolence, turning into a white dragon, traversing the country, and flying towards Yin Xiang Peak.

But before this, that vast peak of blood qi had already tilted.

Zhong Li Yan, whose heavy armor was beaten until only a few pieces remained, fell from the sky and crashed before the army. He smashed a deep pit into the thick yellow soil.

Several breaths after this, that heavy sword named "South Yue" flipped over several times and inserted itself upside down beside him.

Ge Fei's disheveled hair scattered as he descended from the sky. His eyes no longer showed the ferocious wild-beast-like look, but a kind of nearly empty, cold indifference. He looked at the heavy sword and said to Zhong Li Yan, who was lying on the ground: "This famous sword is really having a hard time following you. It gets knocked away three days out of two. Do you hear its wailing?"

Zhong Li Yan, who was on the verge of death, gritted his teeth and cursed: "You are absolutely not Ge Fei! Dog thief, borrowing his skin to deceive me, what kind of skill is that? This old man was careless and only gave you an opportunity!"

Gao Zheng was already dead. He, Master Zhong Li, should have originally traveled across Yueguo horizontally, yet he was beaten half to death by a mere Ge Fei!

What kind of shame was this!

Even if Gao Zheng came out to feign a corpse, even if Yueguo's emperor Wen Jing Xiu personally struck, he could still feel a bit better.

To think that a heaven's pride like him, who was as famous as Dou Zhao and Jiang Wang, actually capsized in this small ditch of Yueguo, extinguished by a wave named "Ge Fei". Truly, his life's reputation all flowed east. He would be ashamed to face the elders of Xian Gu!

Ge Fei said indifferently: "If it makes you feel a bit easier to accept that I am not Ge Fei, then think of it that way. I don't care about the thoughts of the weak."

"You son of a b*tch—" Zhong Li Yan was so angry he almost jumped up.

But Ge Fei heavily stepped on him, pinning him back to the ground.

Ge Fei's boot stuck to his left face, and his right face stuck to the mud.

Unwilling to suffer humiliation, Zhong Li Yan struggled continuously, but Ge Fei repeatedly struck, collapsing his power to struggle.

"Right Censor!" Bian Liang, who was organizing the army in formation, spoke: "This person is the chief envoy of Chu Kingdom. You cannot harm his life!"

Bian Liang was also shocked and uncertain at this time.

Ge Fei not only had the strength to directly confront Zhong Li Yan, but also battled and won!

Zhong Li Yan said this Ge Fei was not the true Ge Fei, and he agreed with him in his heart.

So although his words were polite and his posture close, he did not forget to let the army maintain an alert formation.

Ge Fei coldly glanced at him, did not move his boot, and only said: "When he lifted his sword to chop me, no one told him not to harm my life."

Bian Liang was lean and fit, and usually considered himself strong, but seeing Zhong Li Yan's blood qi continuously collapsing today, layer upon layer like the collapsing tide of Qian Tang, he then knew what strong was. And even such a strong Zhong Li Yan was beaten by Ge Fei in this way.

He hurriedly said: "I led the army here and opened the protective national array, just following orders to protect you. I may not have known you had such strength beforehand!"

"Following whose orders?" Ge Fei asked.

Bian Liang said: "The Son of Heaven's imperial order!"

Ge Fei moved his boot: "Then let's see what other commands the emperor has! In addition—"

He lowered his head and looked at his body, slightly frowning with discomfort: "Get someone to bring me a new set of clothes. My body is already worn and dirty."

He added: "I want a Confucian shirt."

In a huge bronze mirror, Ge Fei's obstructive features were reflected.

When the vision of this bronze mirror was pulled open, the three thousand Yue Jia army with their orderly formations, Zhong Li Yan lying on the ground in still wet blood, were all clearly present. Not far away, Yin Xiang Peak stood quietly there. Wen Jing Xiu, who was observing the scene in the bronze mirror, seemed to feel a kind of gaze. He lightly grasped his five fingers, then loosened them root by root.

After leaving the ancestral temple, the Yueguo emperor came directly to this specially arranged cultivation hall. He sat alone on a stone platform, quietly appreciating the scene in the bronze mirror.

The good play had already begun, and he was waiting for another qualified audience.

Just as Ge Fei said, 'I want a Confucian shirt,' dots of starlight fell from the high sky, penetrating the palace walls, leaping over the glazed tiles, and manifesting in the hall.

This was a majestic star god, its whole body black, wearing full armor, everywhere engraved with strange star patterns. Everything on this star god was covered in armor, only within the dark, deep helmet, a pair of wise, star-shining eyes were revealed.

It was shockingly Xing Ji, ranking first among the twelve zodiac star gods.

Wen Jing Xiu had not yet taken off the crown and robes from the sacrifice ceremony. He just sat there quietly, gazing at this star god, gazing at Zhuge Yi Xian, whom the star god represented.

Yueguo's national power was on his body, the power of the great array was clustered around him, the entire Yueguo imperial palace responded to him... He held the supreme power of this country, was in the most core position of this country, and had the courage to confront anyone.

There were no guards in the hall, because no one in Yueguo was stronger than him. He had already manifested the strongest individual posture of this country.

The star god and the monarch just gazed at each other for a long time, as if neither cared about everything reflected in the bronze mirror, including Zhong Li Yan's life and death.

It was only when Bian Liang, who was at the foot of Yin Xiang Peak, could not help himself and sent someone towards the capital to ask for orders, that Xing Ji finally spoke. He asked: "When can Yue Jia be free of Chu Feng?"

Wen Jing Xiu looked at him and said frankly: "Cannot."

"Then what's the point of manipulating these meaningless things?" The armored star god's rings guarded left and right: "National power, great array, soldiers, inner palace experts... Where is the meaning?"

He represented Zhuge Yi Xian's question, asking about this moment, but of course not only this moment.

Wen Jing Xiu only said: "I am the lord of the state and land, receiving responsibility for the world. Although I know I am no match, I cannot lead the neck to be slaughtered."

Xing Ji said: "Clearly knowing you are no match, yet still resisting stubbornly. Vainly injuring tens of thousands of people without any use, you, this emperor, where do you place the common people of Yue land?"

"Injuring people is not me, evil deeds are not me," Wen Jing Xiu shook his head. "If Chu Feng does not arrive, the common people of Yue land will also be at peace. If there are no external thieves, and the world has no affairs, I am willing to place the common people in a land of peace."

"A dignified monarch of a country, saying such naive words, truly laughable!" Xing Ji sneered: "Suppose there is no Chu, is it difficult to have no Qin? Suppose there is no Qin, perhaps Wei, Song have no Feng? Is it difficult, as you say, that the world must all endure and yield, not wanting to harm your Yue people?"

Wen Jing Xiu looked at him and said: "If as you say, then weak countries are not necessary to exist. I only have one word to ask—the former years' Chu too ancestor, why did he not become a minister?"

"Arrogant!" Xing Ji instantly showed a ferocious state, as if that great world witch who had roamed the Southern Domain for several thousand years projected his majesty at the vast end, making this magnificent palace suddenly feel the fragile feeling of being on the verge of collapse—"You also dare to compare yourself to my dynasty's too ancestor?"

Wen Jing Xiu was still like an ancient well without ripples: "The body cannot reach, the strength cannot reach, but the heart yearns for it."

Can the Son of Heaven in the Positive Calendar teach without executing, not sin and die?

The hegemonic country that most needs to maintain the national system and can most represent the present world's prosperity will, of course, not act so recklessly.

Although the intersection of the two countries has no obstacles, now Chu country is invading Yue, is it reality? What name will the teacher take? Will Book Mountain intervene? Will Jing country and Qin country interfere?

Xing Ji seemed to know that Wen Jing Xiu had a reason to rely on.

At this moment, the star god's voice scattered, and Zhuge Yi Xian's voice descended: "Ge Fei's matter, your Yueguo needs to give an account!"

"Ge Fei?" Wen Jing Xiu turned his head to look at the person reflected in the bronze mirror, and said indifferently: "Despite killing him. I do not know who is occupying this body now!"