Chapter 2262: Old Swallows Under the Eaves

The “Liu Ji Niu Za Mian Guan” (Liu’s Beef Mix Noodle Restaurant) was tiny, but its business was excellent. There was no room to sit inside, so the tables and chairs were set up outside, occupying half the street.

Jiang Wang and Zuo Guangshu were sitting outside, eating noodles. Each had a small stool, and their noodle bowls were placed on the stools. They sat facing each other, without any pretense of formality.

June was the peak of summer heat. Diners fanned themselves vigorously with palm-leaf fans. Men unbuttoned the fronts of their shirts, and women rolled up their sleeves to their elbows. From time to time, bare-chested men walked by.

Although the two brothers were dressed as casually as everyone else, they still seemed too reserved. Zuo Guangshu, especially, didn't expose anything and actually stood out more.

Chu Yuzhi saw Jiang Wang and Zuo Guangshu but didn't come over to greet them. He only gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod before turning and leaving.

Zuo Guangshu continued eating his beef mix with his head down, seemingly unaware.

The young prince of Great Chu had traveled to various countries for years, seeking food everywhere, not purely for the pleasure of his palate. The greatest culinary desires in the world were found in places like Huang Liang Tai; there was no need to travel far.

As the heir to the Huai Guo Gong residence, his responsibilities also didn't allow him to live a leisurely life.

Only after obtaining the power of the Nine Phoenixes from the Mountain Sea Realm did he suffer from the influence of divinity. This unprecedented divine power had no precedent to follow and was extremely complex and difficult to grasp. This also led to his slow progress in the Divine Arrival realm—of course, "slow" was only relative to the top few individuals.

In Taixu Illusion, Ling Yue still firmly held the tenth position in the blessed land, Danxia Mountain.

Zuo Xiao suggested he experience more of the world, while Qu Jinkui's suggestion was more direct: go explore the food in the streets and alleys and breathe in the human world's smoke and fire.

Both absolute peak powerhouses saw the key to this divine power and taught him to control divinity with humanity.

Zuo Guangshu and Qu Shunhua's budding romance could also be considered a form of this cultivation.

For children of such top-tier noble families, walking through streets and alleys, rushing to markets and cities, and experiencing the lives of ordinary people was quite a novel feeling. Of course, they could only experience the enjoyable part.

"Isn't the Huang family also a Chu noble family?" Jiang Wang asked with some surprise.

Having traveled north and south for so many years, Jiang Wang deeply understood one thing—the hardest thing for people to fight against was their own interests.

This wasn't just a shallow description of benefits.

On a larger scale, as humans, the human race's position was the greatest interest. In a racial battlefield, how could one not draw a sword for the human race?

On a smaller scale, like Zuo Guangshu and Dou Zhao, these sons of famous noble families, although possessing noble morality and willing to bear noble responsibilities, were absolutely not "corpse-position vegetarians" as Chu Yuzhi put it. But how difficult was it for them to understand the position of commoners?

Could Dou Zhao understand Chu Yuzhi's father, who pushed a cart every day to sell noodles after retiring from the military?

Could Zuo Guangshu understand the bare-buttocked me picking locust leaves to sell for money in my childhood?

They could pity, they could sympathize.

But they couldn't empathize.

Jiang Wang had risen from the mud to the high ranks of an overlord country and then regained his freedom. The life of a commoner was his experience, and he had also felt the life of a noble. He saw different scenery from different positions, and he discovered that the world didn't seem to have consistent correctness. What was considered correct at each stage was different.

Sometimes "correctness" was just equivalent to "interests."

"Huang Weizhen didn't recognize kin, didn't form factions, didn't establish residences. The Huang family is listed as a Chu noble family, yet there are no others," Zuo Guangshu said very straightforwardly: "It's that the Chu noble families need the Huang family to be listed."

Jiang Wang ate a couple of bites of noodles without taste, and couldn't help but ask again: "So Yan Fa Ge..."

Zuo Guangshu pursed his lips and answered: "Yes. Huang Weizhen initially created Yan Fa Ge to give commoners and noble families the same opportunities—he hoped everyone had merit to practice."

In the beginning, Jiang Wang's deepest impression of Chu country was precisely Yan Fa Ge.

Zuo Guangshu once told him that the Yan Dao Tai in Taixu Illusion was inspired by Yan Fa Ge.

Having frequently visited Chu country, he also understood very well what Yan Fa Ge meant in Chu country. Chu people often used whether they had an independent Yan Fa Ge as a standard for a noble family's power.

In other words, Yan Fa Ge, which was meant to provide practice methods for all commoners, eventually became something monopolized by noble families.

This was a huge irony!

Jiang Wang also finally understood why Chu Yuzhi's actions garnered almost no favor from real power figures in Chu country. Because the dazzling heavenly talent Huang Weizhen of more than nine hundred years ago had already failed.

No matter how hard Chu Yuzhi tried, how could he surpass that year?

Did Great Chu Taizu, when he initially decided to leave the problem of noble families to later generations, think of such a result?

How strong was the inertia of history? When it accumulated over a long period of time, even an absolute figure like Huang Weizhen couldn't change the direction of the tide.

Under the eaves of the noodle shop lived a nest of swallows. They were already accustomed to human voices and weren't afraid of the diners. A group of small heads huddled together on the mud edge, dozing in the afternoon heat that hadn't dissipated.

Jiang Wang looked at the swallow's nest and thought of the recent failed new policies in Qi Ming, feeling a bit inexpressible: "I really want to know what Huang Weizhen experienced back then. It's a pity that the parts involving him only record that he created Yan Fa Ge, killed You Yu Heng, and so on. Other experiences are mostly vague, many are just circumstantial evidence."

Zuo Guangshu said: "Actually, when Mister Sima Heng wrote back then, he detailed Huang Weizhen. But later, the Mountain Sea Realm continued to sublimate, and Huang Weizhen showed signs of returning. Conclusions about him became vague."

Historical writing pays attention to definitive conclusions in the coffin. Now that Huang Weizhen's coffin lid wasn't firmly closed, everything in the past naturally had to be re-evaluated. This historical classic wasn't a one-time forever thing, but was constantly overturned and revised over time. Because historical truth often had many dimensions.

The "truth" in true history didn't mean it was never wrong, but that it forever adhered to truth.

Jiang Wang sighed: "Huang Weizhen's conclusion has become vague, and the positioning of Yan Fa Ge has also become vague."

Zuo Guangshu said: "Sometimes I feel the same way—the evolution of Yan Fa Ge itself is more unfathomable than the techniques derived from it."

Jiang Wang couldn't help but say: "Were the swallows under the eaves of commoners in the old days now raised in bird cages?"

"That's not wrong either," Zuo Guangshu said seriously, not trying to hide anything because of his own identity: "But the huge construction cost of Yan Fa Ge itself is destined to prevent it from being owned by commoners. Huang Weizhen himself did build several Yan Fa Ge and opened them to all people, but it was just a drop in the bucket. And after he died, they were taken back by the state."

The construction cost of Yan Fa Ge was indeed a problem that couldn't be ignored; it itself constituted a threshold, a complete class barrier.

But this was by no means the most core problem.

Because the cost problem was solvable. The truly unsolvable problem was that the Chu nobles were unwilling to solve this problem.

The unbreakable barrier between the noble families and commoners in Chu country was the fundamental issue.

Now more than nine hundred years had passed. What Huang Weizhen wanted to do initially, Taixu Ge was actually doing now, for example.

To discuss construction costs, the resources consumed by Taixu Illusion were far less than those of Yan Fa Ge. But this cost was borne by all forces in the present world together, especially Taixu Sect itself, which paid the most. Only through compromise and weighing by various forces was Taixu Ge established and promoted comprehensively.

From Jiang Wang's perspective, the promotion process didn't encounter too much resistance.

This made him wonder today, did everything Huang Weizhen did back then truly shake nothing?

"Was Huang Weizhen's death back then related to the path he chose?" In this bustling little shop, Jiang Wang asked again.

"Too much time has passed, and the truth of that year is buried. For a long time, the name Huang Weizhen was a taboo, but his contributions were always affirmed, and his legend always existed," Zuo Guangshu said: "Although I don't know the details of his death back then, I think someone like Huang Weizhen, if he himself didn't want to die, no one should have been able to kill him."

"Maybe his departure at that time was just for his return now," Jiang Wang looked at Zuo Guangshu: "Guangshu, what do you think of the changes Huang Weizhen might bring?"

Zuo Guangshu had clearly thought about this question. He said seriously: "From my personal perspective, I need to maintain the honor of the Zuo family, but I don't think the long-term foundation of honor is monopolizing all opportunities. I think people like Chu Yuzhi should have broader possibilities. I'm not afraid of competition, and if I have children one day, I hope they won't be afraid of competition either. And the way I uphold this hope is to teach them well, rather than preemptively driving away their competitors."

He only said "personal," only said "think" and "hope," because it's hard for a large ship to turn around, and even the helmsman is sometimes swept away by the waves. The Zuo family, from its founding to the present, has continuously branched out and become a massive family. Its roots are intertwined, deeply planted in various corners of this country. Today, Zuo Guangshu is Zuo Guangshu, and he can have his ideas. In the future, Zuo Guangshu will be Huai Guo Gong, and what he needs to represent is the collective will of the Zuo family.

Jiang Wang had already gotten his answer. He patted Zuo Guangshu's shoulder: "Remember to pay the bill, I'm going to Yue country."

Zuo Guangshu didn't ask him why he was going to Yue country, just looked at him: "If you were me, how would you choose?"

"I'm not you. I can't feel everything you feel, and all taken-for-granted choices are too foolish," Jiang Wang stood up and said: "Don't look for me for advice. But if you just ask for my personal choice—I will support all of Zuo Guangshu's decisions."

Zuo Guangshu was very moved and was about to say something.

Jiang Wang said again: "No matter when, as long as my Bai Yu Jing wine house is open for one day, there will be a place for you to boil water."

"Boss, the bill!" Zuo Guangshu took out five pre-exchanged copper coins and put them on the table.

He only paid for himself.

Cave Heaven Treasure, its original form was Taiyuan Zongzhen Heaven, ranking third among the ten great cave heavens.

The being inside Zhang Hua Tai named "Zhuo Ge Yi Xian" was the intersection of the calculation power of the twelve star gods. For thousands of years, day and night without stopping, He tirelessly processed various matters.

Chu people respected ghosts and gods. There were countless mountain gods and water gods in Chu land. The appointment, abolition, demotion... all orders for various gods came from Zhang Hua Tai.

So this shell was also called "Chi Shen Zong Wu."

The highest level of faith in the Southern Territory, led by Chu country, the "Zhang Hua Faith Path," relied on Zhang Hua Tai to unfold.

Therefore, Zhang Hua Tai also bore the heavy responsibility of being an "information hub."

And "Chi Shen" and "Faith Path," even with the participation of the strongest Cave Heaven Treasure in Chu country in the war, were still not all the responsibilities borne by Zhang Hua Tai.

One can imagine how much calculation power was needed to manage Zhang Hua Tai, coordinate everything, and arrange large and small matters in an orderly manner.

Zhang Hua Tai could also be seen as a government office that wasn't open to the outside. The resident officials here were around thirty thousand, and in recent years, they had even exceeded fifty thousand!

These people weren't warriors, didn't need to practice military formations; they all existed solely to assist the operation of Zhang Hua Tai.

Too many complex matters greatly squeezed Zhuo Ge Yi Xian's calculation power. As time passed and matters progressed, old problems constantly accumulated, and new problems constantly increased. Even this absolute peak powerhouse who existed since the founding of Great Chu often felt powerless. Zhang Hua Tai therefore constantly supplemented personnel to share the burden.

"The affairs of Yue country were not originally something I should handle. Originally, An Guo Gong was responsible. After Wu Ling died, he couldn't maintain reason in Yue country affairs. Then it turned to upper doctor Zhang Zheng. Zhang Zheng was too lenient towards Yue, and His Majesty then favored Feng Du Yin Gu Chi. But Gu Chi was too calculating and lacked strategy, not an opponent for Gao Zheng. To uncover the mystery, I had to go see the Yue country lord."

In the core of Zhang Hua Tai, above the surging star river, a figure in black armor, Xing Ji, spoke: "Everything I see, hear, and think is shared. His Majesty has His Majesty's ideas, and I won't comment. But are there some key intelligence that isn't open to me?"

In the center of the vast star river, a voice like this responded: "A star god has a star god's duty. You can command the spirits of the world because of your duty, because of Zhang Hua Tai, not because of you. Don't have demands you shouldn't have."

Speaking was a tree exceeding ten thousand zhang in height—to be precise, it was a tree with human five senses. Its bark was like armor, its roots like a sieve, and its branches and leaves rustled.

The first of the twelve star gods was named "Xing Ji." The last of the twelve star gods was named "Xi Mu."

Xi Mu was said to be a wooden fence that intercepted the heavenly river, the last barrier before the vast surging. The duty of a star god was also quite similar to this. Whether internal or external, He was always the last barrier.

Looking closely, that surge wasn't starlight, but complex information flows entangled into characters.

Xi Mu stood in the middle section of the river. All information floods surged from His roots and branches, completing the initial screening.

As a "work" that integrated the great achievements of star witches, He spoke impolitely to Xing Ji.

Xing Ji seemed accustomed to it and only said: "You seem somewhat dissatisfied with me?"

Compared to Xing Ji's aloofness, Xi Mu's voice had a heavy sense: "Gu Chi wasn't lacking in strategy, just naturally cautious and focused on preserving life. Your judgment of Gu Chi is narrow, and your understanding of Gao Zheng is also inaccurate."

Xing Ji wasn't angry, only raised a hand and pointed: "You can question me, but when I was in the Yue King's palace, I borrowed calculation power from there."

The position He pointed to was the endpoint of this information flood that resembled a star river. It was the majestic shell at the intersection of the calculation power of the twelve star gods, like a mountain blocking the river, eternally sitting there with the name "Zhuo Ge Yi Xian."

Their line of sight couldn't see that position, but they could all perceive it.

The tree's branches and leaves rustled, as if involuntarily letting out a cold laugh. Xi Mu grinned and said: "Calculation power cannot embody wisdom, especially when the calculation material you obtain isn't necessarily true."

"I can still judge whether the calculation material is true or false," Xing Ji only felt it was absurd: "Does Gu Chi dare deceive me? Can Wen Jingxiu hide from my eyes?"

Xi Mu 'hehe' twice: "Do you have to make me say it so straightforwardly? You are still calculated to be smart, so you can enter the scheme. You can judge the truth or falsehood of the calculation material, so you deeply believe without doubt. But all your calculation materials are prepared by others, and your calculation results are naturally also within the net."

Xing Ji sneered: "I'd rather listen to your accurate understanding of Gao Zheng."

Xi Mu used a branch to pat the information flood: "Gao Zheng's series of arrangements before and after his death wasn't to cover up the truth that 'Ge Fei is the key to Huang Weizhen's return,' but to solidify this so-called truth. Let us think, Ge Fei is the key to Huang Weizhen's return."

Xing Ji seemed to have heard a huge joke: "Do you mean to say that Ge Fei is not the key to Huang Weizhen's return? Then tell me, what is the key?"

"You are still so stubborn," Xi Mu said: "What is the key to Huang Weizhen's return, no one knows. Maybe it's Ge Fei, maybe not. But one point is obvious—Gao Zheng hopes we think that way."

"This is just your guess," Xing Ji's tone was cold: "You are Zhuo Ge Yi Xian, and I am also Zhuo Ge Yi Xian. Who is right, who is wrong?"

Two star gods confronted each other in the star river. They couldn't convince each other.

And the complex information flood still rushed all the way to the endpoint—the colossal shell named "Zhuo Ge Yi Xian," which had a huge empty hole in its abdominal cavity. The final part of the star river poured into here, and then diverted from the spine of this shell. The thirty-three spinal points were like thirty-three gates. The information river surged from here, rushing into the endless void, going to the places they should go.

It was hard to determine whether He was a person or a creation, but for a long time, He indeed existed with the name "Zhuo Ge Yi Xian."

Hua hua hua, waves of information flooded.

In the depths of the star river, points of faint light floated up.

Since the founding of Great Chu, a total of three thousand seven hundred and fifty-nine years have passed. In every major historical node, the "star river" in the core area of Zhang Hua Tai has left its shadow.

A distant echo of the present moment, passing through the barrier of time and space, completed a long, sigh-like response.

At this moment, the colossal shell named "Zhuo Ge Yi Xian" opened its eyes, like two clusters of star clouds, shining in the boundless universe.

"Vom—"

He suddenly opened his mouth and vomited violently.

The last time He lent calculation power to Xing Ji, allowing Him to act as Zhuo Ge Yi Xian, He had been on the verge of vomiting. This time, He released too much and finally couldn't control it.

His whole body bowed down, His face wrinkled into a ball, and He painfully opened His mouth, vomiting countless bizarre fragments. They were like a waterfall hanging upside down, pouring into the star river. Each fragment constantly changed pictures, like fleeting lives.

Xing Ji and Xi Mu were both silent.

What He vomited was called "lifespan."

The lifespan of a True Monarch was ten thousand years, but ten thousand years wasn't actually long.

This esteemed shell, sitting alone at the end of the star river, finally stopped vomiting and let out a voice: "Maybe neither of you is wrong, but you have been diverted and ignored truly important intelligence. Is it because it's too easy to obtain, even peddlers and walkers know it, so it wasn't valued by you?"

He was very painful when vomiting, but very peaceful when He opened His mouth. As if the star river on a summer night, flowing quietly.

Xing Ji and Xi Mu turned their heads at the same time and saw two noble characters leap up in the middle of the endless star river, each representing a series of intelligence. These two characters, one named "Ge," one named "Bai."

In the depths of the vast star river, a distant voice, as if ringing from the past, resonated with the shell sitting alone at the end of the star river, and said like this—

"Chu country has dominated the Southern Territory for a long time! Yue is from the Chu system. Chu's ills are also Yue country's ills."

"Gong Zhiliang tried everything to please Bai Yuxia back to the country and induce him to swallow up the Ge family. Bai Yuxia didn't do that, and the change didn't happen. But have you thought about what Gong Zhiliang's attempt was?"

"Have you discovered something? Yue country only has two families that can be called famous. The Ge family exists in name but is dead in reality, and the Bai family only remains in name."

"Have you seen what kind of place Yue country is now?"

"Everyone is discussing Huang Weizhen's return, thinking about the pros and cons of this matter, resolving grudges and untying knots, yet no one has truly thought about Huang Weizhen's path—Gao Zheng is thinking."

"Do you still remember Huang Weizhen's ideals when he was young?"

"Isn't there such a possibility—Gao Zheng left Ge Fei on Yin Xiang Peak and taught the Mountain Sea monster into one person just to keep Huang Weizhen's line of sight focused on Yue soil, to let Huang Weizhen see the bits and pieces of Yue country. He didn't bind Huang Weizhen, he knew he couldn't. He just gave Huang Weizhen a choice, gave Yue country an opportunity."

"He left a piece of free soil, an ideal land, for Huang Weizhen. Let Huang Weizhen choose."

"Everything else, including the explosion of contradictions between Huang Weizhen and the Chu noble families, including igniting Huang Weizhen's knot from back then, is just adding to the choice, minor details on this path. Gao Zheng left a blank canvas, and Huang Weizhen's Dao is within it!"

"Gao Zheng never thought of playing chess with us; he wanted to leave the chessboard to Huang Weizhen."

Xing Ji and Xi Mu had different guesses about Gao Zheng's layout.

And the true Zhuo Ge Yi Xian, who had been sleeping deeply in the star river for a long time, offered a third possibility—

Building a nest awaits the return of swallows, planting Wutong trees awaits the coming of a phoenix.

Jiang Wang had been to Lang Ya city several times already. His shopkeeper asked for leave to visit his hometown and ended up staying there.

He had to hire three more people again.

"Who takes leave like that? A leave lasts for several months! Only a few months a year?" Jiang Dongjia (Shopkeeper Jiang) was asking for trouble.

"Otherwise, just fire me," Bai Zhanggui (Shopkeeper Bai) said.

"If you don't come back, who will run the wine house, who will keep the accounts?" Jiang Dongjia tried to appeal to Bai Zhanggui's sense of responsibility.

"Otherwise, just fire me," Bai Zhanggui said.

"The wine house really can't do without you. Chu Yao the monster misses you, he thinks about you every day," Jiang Dongjia started playing the emotional card.

Bai Yuxia used the cup lid to scrape away the foam, his movements elegant, his tone indifferent: "Lian Yuanchuan can handle keeping accounts and so on. Let her fill in for a while. As for Chu Yao, when you leave, bring him a set of policy questions."

"How long is 'a while'?" Jiang Dongjia asked.

Bai Yuxia looked at the urgent raindrops outside the window: "Wait until the wind and rain calm down."

There was a lot of wind and rain in Yue land.

Recently, it had been heavy rain and thunder without stopping.

It was also unclear who was spreading the word that it was Qian Tang Jiang crying for Gao Zheng.

Jiang Wang put down his teacup and looked at Bai Yuxia: "I know you're not at ease about your aunt. I can personally send her to the Bai Yu Jing wine house. I don't think anyone will stop me."

After thinking, he added: "If you have relatives you can't abandon, you can also send them together to settle in Xing Yue Yuan."

"Let's just forget it," Bai Yuxia finally smiled a little: "I know my clan very well; not many can bear hardship—it's just me eating chaff and vegetables with you, how innocent are they!"

"What eating chaff and vegetables!" Jiang Wang was furious: "Didn't I give you a salary? Didn't I let you eat the leftovers from the guests in the wine house?"

"Alright, alright," Bai Yuxia covered the tea and saw him off: "You're busy all day, just don't worry unnecessarily. Hurry and go kill your heterodox cave True Monarch. I still have things to do here!"

"I'm serious. For the next period, maybe a few months, maybe a few years, Yue country won't be very peaceful," Jiang Wang wasn't willing to just leave like that and generously promised: "You can move your whole family to Xing Yue Yuan. At most, I'll support all of you."

Bai Yuxia was quite moved, but still shook his head and said with a smile: "Dongjia, did you really think about the accounts before saying these things? Do you know how many people are in the Bai family? Do you think I'll just carry my old mother and a package and leave? You said I can bring some relatives I can't abandon, which ones will I bring? How many fathers, husbands, wives, and children are there among them. Fathers definitely want to bring their children, husbands will definitely bring their wives, wives will also want to bring their parents, teachers will want to bring their students, friends will bring friends... In the end, it'll be the entire clan migrating. No matter how influential you are, Jiang Ge Lao, Wen Jingxiu can't possibly just watch you migrate so many people, right?"

Jiang Wang was momentarily stumped. He really hadn't thought about it that much. He just wanted to protect Bai Yuxia and Bai Yuxia's family.

Bai Yuxia said again: "Even if the Yue country emperor is afraid of you and allows you to bring so many people, have you thought about your own problems?"

"What problem do I have?" Jiang Wang frowned: "If you're talking about money, I can borrow from Qing Yu."

Bai Yuxia's tone was rather exasperated, probably because he had been depressed for too long and had suppressed everything in his heart before: "Why can you maintain such a detached position in Taixu Ge today? Because you don't have a cabinet department, you don't operate forces, and you embody public spirit in cabinet affairs as much as possible. But if so many people attach themselves to you in the future, the situation will be different. If you support them, they will become your branches, your vines. Whether you are willing or not, you will eventually be bound by them—how do you think noble families and powerful clans came about? You left Qi and still wanted to bring me, your retainer, and arrange a retreat for Du Gu Xiao. Now with so many people, can you manage them?"

Jiang Wang felt a bit restless.

Bai Yuxia continued: "My mother's surname is Wen, the same as Wen Jingxiu. Will she leave Yue country? The Bai family's roots have been in Lang Ya city for how many years? My father, my grandfather, my great-grandfather, my great-great-grandfather... are all buried here. Dongjia, is migrating a family such an easy thing?"

"Then what do you plan to do?" Jiang Wang asked.

"I am more clear about the situation in Yue country than you," Bai Yuxia's face finally showed the smile of a noble son: "Dongjia, you can certainly trust my ability to handle things, and also trust my wisdom a little."

"But—" Jiang Wang's tone was slightly heavy: "If Chu country truly wants to attack Yue, no one can save people on the battlefield, and neither can I."

"Rest assured... rest assured," Bai Yuxia concluded with an extremely light tone: "If that moment truly comes, I will definitely bring my old mother, find the exact flag of the Huai Guo Gong, and surrender immediately. I will be fine."

Although Bai Yuxia always referred to himself as Jiang Wang's retainer, Jiang Wang never interfered with his free will.

He had advised him to return to Xing Yue Yuan several times, starting from when he learned the results of the battle between Ge Fei and Zhong Li Yan. But Bai Yuxia's idea was very firm. Since he left home with Xiang Qian initially, he was no longer a person who followed the rules.

Perhaps, just as Bai Yuxia said, migrating a family wasn't such a simple thing. The Bai family had taken deep root in Yue land, and forcibly pulling them out would inevitably result in a fresh, bloody mess.

Jiang Wang couldn't force him to leave.

The rain still hadn't stopped. The Dongjia of Bai Yu Jing wine house said he was returning to Xing Yue Yuan, but through the rain curtain, only the silhouette of the mountain could be seen.

After saying goodbye to Bai Yuxia, he left Lang Ya city and came to Yin Xiang Peak again.

His boots stepped into puddles, and the ripples hadn't dispersed yet. Jiang Ge Lao, with his jade crown securing his hair, had already appeared in front of that nameless academy.

The academy door seemed to have been pushed open by the wind and rain. Ge Fei, wearing a Confucian shirt and neatly dressed, stood under the eaves of the main hall, looking up at the sky in a slightly dazed manner.

"Ah—long time no see!" He retracted his gaze and looked towards Jiang Wang.

This time there was no stuttering, no dodging. He appeared polite.

Perhaps it was the rapid increase in his power after getting the truth that gave him confidence.

Jiang Wang just stood outside the door and looked at him: "Are you Zhu Jiu Yin? Or Hun Dun?"

"A name is just a code," Ge Fei brushed his clothes: "This is also just a shell—what I'm called, what I look like, it's all unimportant. Don't you think?"

"Then I'll tell you what's important—"

Jiang Wang was too lazy to talk nonsense with him. Just as he initially told Gao Zheng, he didn't understand this game of chess, so he chose not to look. He just raised his index finger, drew a virtual line in the air, like drawing an invisible bottom line. "No matter who you are, no matter what you're planning, no matter what purpose you ultimately want to achieve. Bai Yuxia is my friend. You are not allowed to harm him, do you understand?"

"What are the consequences?" Ge Fei crossed his arms and said leisurely: "I mean, suppose I accidentally violate your requirement."

"You better not be so careless," Jiang Wang said slowly: "Because living isn't such an easy thing."

In Ge Fei's eyes, some dangerous emotions flowed: "Are you threatening me?"

Jiang Wang outside the door was very calm: "I'm just informing you of the result in advance. To prevent you from doing something stupid."

Ge Fei was silent for a long time, and finally didn't ask that sentence—'Do you think you can kill me?'

He asked: "What if Bai Yuxia comes to kill me?"

"You have two choices," Jiang Wang said.

Ge Fei said politely: "Please elaborate."

Jiang Wang said: "First, offer your neck for slaughter. Second, turn around and run."

Ge Fei laughed 'hehehe': "It seems you don't plan to give me a choice."

"He can kill you, but you cannot kill him," Jiang Wang said this sentence so calmly, without any further body language, but his eyes stared intently at Ge Fei.

That gaze was sharp as an edge, capable of cutting the rain curtain into pieces, slicing through the power of mountains and seas, and piercing Ge Fei's eyeballs, as if asking—'Did you hear clearly?'

Da! Da! Da!

Suddenly, the rain knocked on the tiles.

In this late summer deep mountain, every raindrop was heavy.

"I understand," Ge Fei finally said.

That gaze disappeared, and the figure in the blue shirt outside the courtyard door was also no longer visible.

Only a 'peng' sound, and a sudden gust of free mountain wind heavily closed the courtyard door.

Ge Fei took one last look at the sky, was about to go back into the house, but his footsteps paused again. He stared fixedly at the middle of the courtyard. On the rain-soaked ground, a deep crack slowly appeared.

Darkness unseen, or perhaps called "Abyss."

This chapter is 8k, of which 4k is for the great alliance Ban Zui You Zi and the great alliance Lu Pao Lao Zu 111.