Chapter 2261: Like Old Times

A Tai Xu Cabinet member is someone who bears the public opinion of the world. For the time being, let's not discuss whether there is support from any force or which side they support. The number is fixed at nine people; it cannot be increased or decreased.

The term of a Tai Xu Cabinet member is thirty years. When the term expires, the cabinet changes; no one can be an exception.

Under what circumstances will a Tai Xu Cabinet member be replaced before their term ends?

— When the original Tai Xu Cabinet member, for various reasons, is unable to exercise the rights of a Tai Xu Cabinet member or bear the responsibilities of a Tai Xu Cabinet member.

For example, previously, Li Yi went into closed-door cultivation, completely ignoring the Tai Xu Cabinet. Only under Jing Country's leadership did he let one Wang Kun serve as his representative. Other cabinet members then drove Wang Kun away and specially set a rule, planning to expel Li Yi as well. But this position still defaults to representing Jing Country's interests; Jing Country still needs to push someone else up.

Although Dou Zhao has also been absent from nearly two Tai Xu meetings, the situation is completely different.

Why would Chu Country push Zhong Li Yan forward to sit in this Tai Xu Cabinet member's position?

Why would Chu Country feel that Dou Zhao is no longer able to exercise the rights of a Tai Xu Cabinet member, bear the responsibilities of a Tai Xu Cabinet member, or strive for Chu Country's interests within the Tai Xu Cabinet?

This almost points to only one conclusion...

It is a conclusion that no one has ever thought of.

Because Dou Zhao is such a dazzling heavenly pride, a talent that covers the world!

Even if Dou Zhao goes to the world's most evil, absolute ground, stepping foot in Fallen Immortal Forest where countless strong individuals are buried. Even if Dou Zhao is a target pursued and killed by top-level True Persons like Lu Shuang He and Ren Qiu Li, his opponents are powerful to the extreme. Still, no one thought Dou Zhao would have an accident.

In people's minds, someone like Dou Zhao would, at most... at most, be heavily injured and leave.

Saying he fights more and more bravely, breaks through in life and death, and strongly kills Lu Shuang He, would actually make people feel some possibility, rather than being so suspicious. Because miracles are things that happen to that kind of person.

How could he?

Inside the entire Tai Xu Cabinet building, for a time there was no sound. Even Zhong Xuan paused his pen.

Looking at the position that is still empty now and will later be occupied by Zhong Li Yan, Jiang Wang finds it difficult to describe his own mood. He suddenly feels that Chong Xuan Zun should have attended today's meeting.

Chong Xuan Zun might forever regret not appearing here.

The Yellow River meeting in the three thousand nine hundred and nineteen years of the Dao Calendar was where he and Dou Zhao together forged the legend of parallel double prides.

Does the legend stop here?

Ju Kui's voice rang out again. Ju Kui's expression had already recovered its seriousness: "Please, everyone... resolve this."

Jiang Wang stood up: "I abstain from this proposal. Gentlemen, I still have matters, I will leave first."

He took one step out of the Tai Xu Cabinet, and in the boundless flowing light and shadows of Tai Xu, instantly appeared in Ying City.

He appeared outside the Huai Country Duke's mansion.

The doorman saw him and led him inside, while jogging in front and shouting: "Young Master Jiang has returned!"

Zuo Chao had already returned from the North Heaven Gate. Zuo Guang Shu was naturally also there. Even Xiong Jing Yu, who hadn't managed external affairs for many years and focused on raising ants in her secluded garden, had unprecedentedly come to the discussion hall.

No other reason, this matter of Dou Zhao truly stirred hearts!

It's no exaggeration to say that once this matter spreads, the entire Chu Country, the entire South Domain, and even the entire present world, will all be discussing it.

Just like the heir of an Enjoying Country family, Wu Ling's death was a deep-water thunderclap within Chu Country. An Country Duke is still there and can stabilize things. Dou Zhao's accident, however, will necessarily shock the world.

Frankly speaking, who between Dou Zhao and the contemporary Wei Country Duke, Dou Yun Xiao, can represent the Dou Clan more is a question worth considering in many people's hearts.

He is not only the young master of the Dou Clan but also a pillar figure of Chu Country's new generation, representing Chu Country's future.

"Did Dou Zhao really die?" Jiang Wang asked before even sitting down.

Xiong Jing Yu sat upright without speaking. Today, she was not as simple as usual. Wearing splendid clothes and with all ritual ornaments prepared, she likely planned to enter the palace to face the emperor.

In the past, when Zuo Guang Lie had an accident, it was on the battlefield. This was originally nothing to say, but Zuo Chao still disregarded court opinion and searched for Li Yi for a long time. This directly led to Li Yi disappearing without a trace until Guan He Terrace, where he only appeared with the identity of True Person Tai Yu.

The previous time Wu Ling had an accident, An Country Duke personally went to Fallen Immortal Forest and strongly descended upon Yin Xiang Peak, ordering Gao Zheng to throw Ge Fei to the ground for investigation. Before this, the Chu Heavenly Son personally communicated with An Country Duke for a long time.

Chu Country's four Enjoying Country families have a status different from other families. Even when the Xiang Clan was extremely prosperous and the famous general Xiang Long Xiang of that generation was still alive, the Xiang Clan only ranked second-rate.

This time, Dou Zhao's accident stirred an immeasurable influence. Xiong Jing Yu had to enter the palace at this time to first grasp the latest trends and feel her emperor brother's true attitude.

Zuo Guang Shu waved away the maid, placed a cup of tea in front of Jiang Wang, and sat down at the side.

Huai Country Duke, at the head position, slightly tired, pressed his forehead: "Before Song Zhen Jun caught Lu Shuang He and Ren Qiu Li, we still couldn't say this was the final outcome. But Tian Xiao is already broken, swept out of Fallen Immortal Forest by the ghost tide, and fell into the Soldier Ruins— only then did we learn of this matter. The true spirit of Dou Zhao left on the knife has also been extinguished."

Dou Zhao, this arrogant and unrestrained person, would not abandon his knife until he died. Because laying down the knife is equivalent to giving up the fight. Dou Zhao would forever not give up the fight.

Initially exploring the limits in the border wilderness, being chased by two True Demons, losing an arm and a leg, he still didn't lose his knife.

Zuo Chao said they still couldn't confirm this was the final outcome, but Chu Country had already sent Zhong Li Yan to replace the Tai Xu Cabinet member position, explaining that everyone in their hearts had already made a judgment.

Jiang Wang was silent for a while: "Can Song Zhen Jun catch Lu Shuang He?"

"Hard to say," Zuo Chao said. "Fallen Immortal Forest definitely doesn't favor anyone, nor does it care how strong you are. Wanting to find a person in Fallen Immortal Forest, luck is the most important thing. An Country Duke went to Fallen Immortal Forest last time, wanting to retrieve Xiao Ling's corpse, but didn't even find his traces."

Zuo Guang Shu asked: "Then how did Dou Zhao find Lu Shuang He and them?"

Jiang Wang sighed: "Because they were each willing to find each other."

Dou Zhao has a personality that fights heaven and earth. Facing Meng Tian Hai, he wanted to 'chop you for fifty-four thousand years'. Facing same-realm cultivators like Lu Shuang He and Ren Qiu Li, he would absolutely not retreat half a step.

While Lu Shuang He is a person with only the Dao in his heart, absolutely cold. He absolutely doesn't care about Dou Zhao's identity, and even less does he feel fear, dread, and other such emotions.

Their collision is necessarily needle against wheat awn, where neither side will retreat.

Xiong Jing Yu said at this time: "Although Dou Zhao is arrogant, he is absolutely not the kind of person who knows he will die and still goes to meaningless death. He certainly had preparations. Going to Fallen Immortal Forest was to use Lu Shuang He to sharpen his knife— but very obviously, Lu Shuang He and Ren Qiu Li's preparations were more sufficient. These two are top-level True Persons; there's really no reason to underestimate them."

This was a warning to Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang was silently at a loss for words.

Zuo Chao slowly said: "That broken Tian Xiao knife, I also went to see it personally. The fight traces displayed on the knife body are very dense, spanning a full forty-nine days front and back— the fight between Dou Zhao and Lu Shuang He, Ren Qiu Li was a process of continuously wandering, continuously touching, and continuously separating. Rather than saying it was a fight, it might as well be said it was a process of hunting and counter-hunting. They were mutual prey, and also mutual hunters."

Jiang Wang thought in his heart, that was truly a tragic fight.

He had a rough judgment of the strength of Lu Shuang He, Ren Qiu Li, and Dou Zhao. Of course, whether it was Lu Shuang He, Ren Qiu Li, or Dou Zhao, they were all absolute heavenly prides among ten thousand people. For figures who have reached this position, a judgment cannot be completely accurate.

But Dou Zhao had not yet reached the level of a top-level True Person, this point should be beyond doubt.

That is to say, with less war power than Lu Shuang He, Dou Zhao fought alone in Fallen Immortal Forest against the joint efforts of Lu Shuang He and Ren Qiu Li. The dangers inside Fallen Immortal Forest, which could bury them at any time, also became his weapon and barrier. Thus, pursuing and escaping for forty-nine days, every step walking on the edge of life and death, always maintaining peak fighting spirit.

Truly a warrior!

Being able to fight for so long in this hunt and counter-hunt game, Jiang Wang completely believes that Dou Zhao had many opportunities to escape, but he did not choose that— he firmly believed that he could become the final victor, even in collision after collision where he did not have the upper hand.

And Lu Shuang He?

Anyone, facing such a tenacious and terrifying opponent as Dou Zhao, would find it very hard to always maintain peak response. And any small negligence, in front of Dou Zhao, would be fatal. This final forty-nine days of pursuit was a huge test for both sides.

Lu Shuang He still persisted to the end and chopped Tian Xiao broken.

This slaughter that happened inside Fallen Immortal Forest, possibly without an audience, was necessarily the most wonderful Cave True war of this era. Because both sides fighting were contemporary True Persons who could create miracles and achieve the most extreme performances.

"What is your Tai Xu Cabinet's opinion?" Zuo Chao asked.

Jiang Wang understood what the old man was asking and seriously replied: "Dou Zhao entering Fallen Immortal Forest to find True Person Nan Dou was for Chu Country's affairs, not for the Tai Xu Cabinet's affairs. He himself publicly said it was a private grudge between him and True Person Nan Dou— the Tai Xu Cabinet will not interfere in a cabinet member's private grudge, nor will it do something because of a cabinet member who died in a private grudge."

"But?" Zuo Chao looked at him.

"But Lu Shuang He and I have a war agreement," Jiang Wang said calmly. "Dou Zhao was unable to help me solve this trouble, so I have to face it myself."

He didn't hate Lu Shuang He, but Dou Zhao's accident indeed made him feel regret.

This regret needs to be smoothed out with a hearty fight.

Lu Shuang He used a broken Tian Xiao to rekindle his emphasis on this duel— originally, he only viewed this war as scenery casually passing by on his cultivation path. Now, he is very willing to personally feel the edge of Chao Wen Dao.

What kind of sword weapon can chop Tian Xiao broken?

Looking at such a Jiang Wang, Zuo Chao said: "You are now already a contemporary True Person, you are also your own master, the reliance of many people. You have your own ideas for everything. In principle, I should not point fingers at you again."

Jiang Wang lowered his head: "I greatly need your teachings."

"I only have one requirement—" Zuo Chao said slowly. "Do not let Dou Zhao become the reason for your war, the reason for your duel with Lu Shuang He. There is and can only be one reason: that you have indeed walked to your limit in this realm."

Xiong Jing Yu also opened her mouth and said: "Jiang Wang, I don't want to make such an analogy, but in the Battle of River Valley, the Chu people made all the preparations they could, the Qin people also made all the preparations they could, and in the end, one side always had to lose— who was sure not to lose? The biggest lesson I learned in this matter is to never feel that you are the exception. The river of fate does not favor anyone; only those who walk to the end can influence the direction of fate's flow."

Jiang Wang stood up and bowed deeply: "Grandpa Zuo, Aunt, I have received all your teachings and care. I have my own considerations and will not mess around."

"You have toiled hard on the foreign race battlefield during this period. Follow Guang Shu around Ying City and relax your mood a bit," Xiong Jing Yu stood up and walked outwards: "I'll go to the palace to handle some matters. When I come back, I'll bring you some dan medicine to nourish your Yuan. Take it to the battlefield and eat it."

"What the hell kind of Tai Xu Cabinet member, this old man isn't interested!" Zhong Li Yan flipped over the rice table. "Now everyone is here to advise me. Whoever wants to be it can go be it!"

Zhong Li Zhao Jia farsightedly held his own rice bowl. In front of him was still suspended a dish he loved most: boneless snow fish, letting the mess happen everywhere.

This brat started flipping tables at the age of seven. No matter how he was beaten, he didn't change. To the point where he is now relatively used to it.

The Lord of Xian Gu used chopsticks to pick up fish meat while casually saying: "I remember you really wanted to be one. When the Tai Xu Cabinet was just established, you insisted that you could best represent Chu Country's interests, and even unilaterally announced your departure from Xian Gu— at that time, you hadn't even reached Cave True."

"Is this the same thing?" Zhong Li Yan said angrily. "That was when I wanted to fight for it back. Now they're asking me to fill in. Dou Zhao, that kid, couldn't even beat Lu Shuang He of Nan Dou Hall. What qualifications do I have to substitute?"

Zhong Li Zhao Jia used chopsticks to tap the bowl and leisurely said: "You couldn't even beat Ge Fei. It's not bad that you can substitute."

Zhong Li Yan gritted his teeth, wanting to curse something, but he indeed lost too miserably to curse. So he angrily went out the door.

He was definitely not convinced about losing to Ge Fei.

But later, he learned that behind Ge Fei was a mountain sea monster who had cultivated for nearly a thousand years. This thief, whose mountain sea realm changed from fantasy to reality, was the creation of the most romantic Huang Wei Zhen of the past three thousand years.

Although he was still not so convinced, he could reluctantly accept it.

Nothing more than accumulation of years, cannot be considered a hero! Perhaps Gao Zheng also poured something on that guy. Wait until he, Zhong Li the Great, is the same age as Huang Wei Zhen, then he'll try? District Ge Fei is nothing; he dares to chop Huang Wei Zhen.

"Where are you going again?" Zhong Li Zhao Jia asked, chasing his retreating figure.

Zhong Li Yan didn't turn his head: "Finding Dou Mian!"

"What are you finding Dou Mian for?" Zhong Li Zhao Jia didn't understand.

"Teach him a lesson!" Zhong Li Yan rushed out angrily: "I kindly brought him to be an envoy to Yue Country, giving him an opportunity to perform. He actually dared to embarrass me!"

Zhong Li Zhao Jia had half a mind to say, Dou Mian's performance in Yue Country wasn't how, but you yourself were pressed to the ground, not looking how faceful either. But he also knew that if he said this, the brat would rebel again. At this moment, it was exactly mealtime, and he was also lazy to personally hit his son. It was also good to let this brat be taught by the Dou family once; anyway, they wouldn't beat him to death. Thus, he remained silent.

But Zhong Li Yan rushed back angrily again.

"Again how?" Zhong Li Zhao Jia looked at him helplessly.

Zhong Li Yan sat down on a chair with a thud: "Damn, no meaning."

Yes ah.

Wu Ling is gone, Dou Zhao is also gone.

Really his mom no meaning.

Even if he beat Dou Mian into a pulp, his Dou Zhan Golden Body wouldn't be that thing.

Zhong Li Zhao Jia poked the immortal rice grown by Huang Tian secret, each grain like a pearl rolling into his stomach. He said without a trace: "Then I'll tell you something interesting?"

Zhong Li Yan sat sprawled with his limbs splayed out, resting the back of his head on the chair, like his dog head was on a guillotine, waiting for the guillotine to fall... showing a kind of world-weary posture.

Always unable to sit still, as if endless energy, always fighting heaven and earth's Zhong Li Yan, for the first time in his life, in front of the one he always thought he would replace, the Lord of Xian Gu, showed tiredness.

Where in the world are there people who are not tired? He just held one breath, needing to properly and squarely flip over Dou Zhao, repeatedly defeated but persistently fighting, teeth broken, words not soft. But now...

The fist that had accumulated power for so long seemed only able to strike into emptiness. In the time to come, he seemed only to be continuously swinging his fist at the air.

Zhong Li Zhao Jia looked at his rebellious son and slowly said: "If you don't want to fill in the Tai Xu Cabinet member position, wait until the next Tai Xu meeting, and Xiang Bei will go up. Do you believe it or not?"

"That mountain sea monster inside Ge Fei, is it Zhu Jiu Yin? At that time, I just felt that his death was a bit fishy."

Zuo Guang Shu has recently been very fond of eating some street snacks that have no benefit to the Dao body, just pure human fireworks. This is a hobby he developed while traveling everywhere with Qu Shun Hua.

Now he also brings Jiang Wang to drill into small alleys, one by one experiencing those highly reputable fly restaurants. Just like this bowl of beef offal noodles now, the beef tendon is soft and rotten, the beef tripe is tender and elastic, and the beef intestines are flavorful.

The Little Duke ate and talked, his mouth full of oil.

"How would I know?" Jiang Wang also slurped, busy answering: "This is such a key matter, did no one in Chu Country go to confirm it?"

"Ai," Guang Shu sighed slightly. "Grandpa said that in this matter of Huang Wei Zhen's return, the court doesn't want to do anything that might cause Huang Wei Zhen to misunderstand, nor does it want to produce any interference in this process. So, including An Country Duke, no one has contacted Ge Fei again."

Jiang Wang was a little stunned. The relationship between Chu Country and Huang Wei Zhen is very subtle...

He always felt that Huang Wei Zhen was Chu Country's biggest card, and Huang Wei Zhen's return was something that Chu Country was looking forward to with one heart, repairing roads and building bridges, sweeping couches to wait.

But Chu Country's attitude now is really not like they are intimately close with Huang Wei Zhen.

"Huang Wei Zhen he..."

Jiang Wang hadn't yet thought about how to ask, but Zuo Guang Shu already knew his question.

The Little Duke of Great Chu picked up a chopstick full of noodles, turned his head to look across the street, his eyes complex: "What Huang Wei Zhen did in the past is the same thing as him."

Following Zuo Guang Shu's gaze outside, he just saw a young man with a bent back, carrying a bag of rice on his shoulder, unloading it in front of a low house. The old woman at the door bowed repeatedly but was supported. A child playing in the mud on the ground received a wooden sword as a gift.

Hearing such a voice—

"We opened a charity school in Wutong Alley. Children can enter school for free and are provided with two meals..."

That young man just explained softly. As if sensing something, he turned back, just meeting Jiang Wang's gaze—

Chu Yu Zhi!

This chapter is nearly 5k. The rest is not yet written and will not be posted tonight. There will be an extra update tomorrow night.

This story has entered the concluding volume stage.

All questions will have answers.

Thank you, book friend "Long Xiang Si, Bo Xing Lang," for becoming the alliance master of this book! This is for the 742nd alliance of Red Heart Patrol Heaven!

Thank you, book friend "2 Yan Chong Chong Chong," for becoming the alliance master of this book! This is for the 743rd alliance of Red Heart Patrol Heaven!

Thank you, book friend "Ji Er Fei Ai Si," for becoming the alliance master of this book! This is for the 744th alliance of Red Heart Patrol Heaven!

Boss, how about you come into the group chat and say a few sentences? You're silently upgrading silver like this, I'm quite uneasy.