Chapter 2286: Drying the Water, Killing the Grass

After Jiu Feng left, the strong individuals from various factions, both openly and secretly, also dispersed.

The small Li Country was left vast and empty.

Ge Fei, kneeling on the long street, wept sorrowfully, his face covered. No one paid attention to him.

Those who could influence him were too lazy to pay attention. Those who could not influence him dared not.

The sound of sobbing on the long street did not cease, the sky did not clear, and the light rain did not stop.

In an instant, Ge Fei suddenly felt very cold.

He slowly released his hands, pitifully like a withered thorn tree. In the accumulated water on the ground, there were a few spots of deep red, which were his dripping blood tears.

He blinked his eyes forcefully, and in the accumulated water, he saw a reflection —

It was a tall and majestic man. His face was like light and fire, impossible to look at directly.

Ge Fei suddenly stood up, wanting to flee, but instantly lost his strength. He looked up in horror, only to see an infinitely pressing hand palm — the edge of the palm seemed to be the end of the universe, the center of the palm was infinitely extending mountains and rivers.

And on the long street, the passersby only saw that extremely vicious True Person Ge Fei's Dao body suddenly become round, suddenly flat, being kneaded arbitrarily by an invisible big hand.

Crack crack, the sound of bones exploding.

Gurgle gurgle, blood pouring out.

In the horrified gazes of the people, Ge Fei tilted his head up —

His strangely ugly features became even more grotesque. His nose stood high, his nostrils constantly expanded outward, and his lips were everted. Two bumps sprouted from his head, and from the bumps grew curved horns like threads!

His body shape, which was kneeling on the ground, also expanded, directly bursting the Confucian robe on his body, revealing a body of tight muscles and white skin. His hands and feet turned into four cow hooves, supporting his huge body. A scaled tail grew from his buttocks, like a snake lurking.

He glared with large cow pupils, his eyes full of shock, unwillingness, and fear.

He was left with only these painful emotions because he was powerless and fundamentally could not stop his body's transformation.

Ge Fei of Yin Xiang Peak was already a True Person of this era.

But a True Person who had obtained the Dao was at this moment alive transformed into a mountain and sea monster, and not Candle Nine Yin!

What kind of terrifying method was this?

"Its shape is like a cow but with a white head, one eye and a snake tail, its name is 'Fei'. Where it walks, water dries up, where it walks, grass dies. When seen, the world has a great epidemic."

Ge Fei turned into the legendary disaster beast!

Ge Yu said before his death that Ge Fei was Ge clan's "Fei".

That was a description full of resentment and poison. He certainly did not think his words would become prophecy. Now Ge Fei truly turned into "Fei"!

The "disaster" of the disaster beast and the "fortune" of the auspicious phoenix offset each other at this moment. The ordinary commoners on the street did not suffer a calamity because of this.

But an existence like a disaster beast, staying in one place for long, would inevitably harm one side, causing thousands of miles of red ground.

Fan Wu Shu, who was still in the imperial palace discussing new policies, rushed here after receiving the news. Yet he only saw a big hand, grasping the Fei beast in the midst of changing form in its palm.

That hateful and painful struggling Fei turned into such a small and exquisite one, rolling back and forth inside the big hand.

Even the roars of despair and the struggles of anger seemed very cute.

Life is just like this; your pain is completely irrelevant to others. Bystanders will only take it as amusement.

Fan Wu Shu might have had a few points of pity, but he did not have time to sympathize. When he saw that impressive tall back, he heard that very majestic voice — "The question I asked you back then, do you have an answer now?"

Fan Wu Shu opened his mouth.

Then he heard that person say: "No need to answer me, the answer is in your heart."

With only this one sentence, that person, grasping the Fei in his palm, disappeared on the long street.

Only Fan Wu Shu was left standing in his original place, speechless for a long time.

That question back then — "The 'Li' of Li Country, what 'Li' is it?"

The one who asked —

Was King Zhao.

The three great leaders of Ping Deng Country: Sheng Gong, Shen Ying, and King Zhao.

They respectively represent "公" (gōng, public), "義" (yì, righteousness), and "理" (lǐ, reason).

These three characters are the foundation of "平等" (píng děng, equality).

Jiu Feng was born, and the world rose in waves.

Yue Country, Li Country, Chu Country, and Ju Cheng, on the surface and in the dark, moved everywhere.

Various forces, various strong ones, each harbored their own thoughts.

Hui Country Duke Manor was very peaceful.

Jiang Wang was eating evening meal here.

In the dining hall, there were only Hui Country Duke Zuo Xiao, Jade Rhythm Long Princess Xiong Jing Yu, Zuo Guang Shu, Qu Shun Hua, and Jiang Wang, five people alone. It was a proper formal family banquet.

After fixing Qian Tang with one sword, Jiang Wang came directly to Chu Country.

Grandpa Zuo personally went to Yue Country to demand the person; he did not want the old man to wait long.

Of course, he also did not forget to inform Wei Country Duke Manor, to inform them about Dou Zhao being lost in Abi Gui Cave — Shen Zui had already set out with his entire army, and Song Pu Ti also fell into Bing Xing Ruins with the Golden Bridge, going to find his unfilial great-grandson.

"Imperial brother has already made up his mind." Xiong Jing Yu served a small bowl of soup, placed it in front of Qu Shun Hua, and said casually: "Father, do you know about this matter?"

Qu Shun Hua held the soup, smiled sweetly, and in order not to affect the elders talking, only used her mouth shape to say: "Thank you, Mother."

Zuo Xiao held a bowl in one hand and chopsticks in the other, meticulously swallowed the rice grains, then said: "Chu Country's problem did not arise today. How could I not know?"

The location of Chu Country's problem is precisely the location of the Chu Emperor's determination.

Generally, kings with ambitions for the world would not be unable to see the ills of Chu Country. But after many years of intertwined roots, that is too complex a flesh and blood entanglement. A slight touch would injure muscles and bones.

Great Chu was established nearly four thousand years ago. How many romantic figures have all been unable to untie this deadlock, because everyone is in the game, flesh and blood connected. They can only watch the increasingly prosperous Chu Country, the extreme world of splendor, also become increasingly deformed.

"Now is a good time." Zuo Guang Shu spoke: "Shen Xiao is imminent, the overlord countries are not attacking. Nan Dou Tang has already been destroyed, and Yue Country is no longer a threat, not afraid of being used as a knife. Huang Wei Zhen has also successfully returned, old matters are not lingering — Uncle wants to push reforms, there is no better time than this."

Talking about serious matters, Qu Shun Hua also became serious: "Initially I originally thought that without my and Guang Shu's support, Chu Yu Zhi would be difficult to move and would soon be unable to stay. But not only did he survive in Chu Country, he and his Tong Yi Society still survived very tenaciously. At that time I knew that someone must be secretly supporting him. Now this person is already very obvious — the latest slogan shouted by Tong Yi Society, saying what 'Wealth can be inherited, nobility cannot be passed down. Emotion can be inherited, power cannot be passed down.' The essence is nothing more than weakening the clans. It should be the Emperor's meaning, representing the core of this new policy, thrown out to test the waters."

Zuo Guang Shu lowered his eyes and said: "Uncle protected Huang Wei Zhen's Dao with his own name, his attitude is already very clear. Chu Country has reached the time when it must change, and he can put down everything for this."

Jiang Wang was a little restless for a moment. Although this banquet was a family banquet, the people seated were top-level nobles of Chu Country. Their words involved Chu Country's state affairs, quite many secrets. He really felt inconvenient to listen too much.

Zuo Xiao glanced at him, pulling him back from the not-so-adapted "outsider" to the "insider": "You just came back from Yue Country, how do you feel about their new policy?"

Jiang Wang respectfully put down his chopsticks, shook his head: "I have no experience in governing affairs, and I am completely ignorant of these. Looking at whose policy always feels reasonable, anyone can pick out flaws. But truthfully ask me to say, I don't know how to do it."

"Since the beginning, there have always been many people who point out rivers and mountains. The people who know they are not qualified to point out rivers and mountains are instead the minority." Zuo Xiao smiled, not forcing him, and looked at Qu Shun Hua again: "How has your grandfather's mood been recently?"

Qu Shun Hua was stunned for a moment, thought, then said: "Same as usual, still goes to Huang Liang Tai to cook."

Zuo Xiao sighed for a long time: "Still he, Qu Jin Kui, knows how to enjoy blessings! Forget it, let me take the lead on this."

He was a decisive person. He raised his hand and flipped out a red tiger tally, placing it on the table: "Jing Yu, trouble you to go into the palace again, hand this tiger tally to the Emperor. The state has nurtured the Zuo clan for three thousand years, and the Zuo clan has also sprinkled fresh blood on the borders! Now we meet the great era of ten thousand ancients not having, this Chi Yan is the state. Then hand it over to the state!"

Jiang Wang listened in shock from the side.

Xiong Jing Yu was also shocked!

She had been quite tormented during this period. One side was her imperial brother, her maternal home, the Great Chu imperial family. One side was her son, the foundation for which her deceased husband and deceased son had struggled, the entire Hui Country Duke Manor, which would all be her son's in the future.

The state needed reform, and the Emperor wanted to cut the clans. She was in a dilemma between the two sides.

Earlier, she often lived alone in Shao Yuan, not caring about worldly affairs, just raising ants and looking at flowers every day. But since this year, she had frequently entered the palace, just wanting to always grasp the dynamics and avoid too intense conflict — although from history books, this was unavoidable.

Choosing the time when Jiang Wang returned to eat was also in the hope of taking advantage of Zuo Xiao's good mood, sorting out the context of this matter, and not intensifying the contradiction.

She thought her father-in-law might support the Emperor, but she did not think he would be so resolute, so unreserved, even handing over military power!

Chi Yan is a strong army of the world!

From the founding of Great Chu to now, the Zuo clan has been operating it. It can be said to be the foundation of the Zuo clan, the private army of the Zuo family. Placed anywhere, it is sufficient military force to establish a country!

She was a little heartbroken.

This was Guang Shu's future family property. In the future when he married a wife, fought with people... what wouldn't need to be more assertive?

"Father." Xiong Jing Yu pursed her lips and said: "Isn't it a bit too hasty? Imperial brother didn't even think about... moving Chi Yan. He sees Hong Lang and Guang Lie's contributions."

"No one can deny the Zuo clan's contributions, and I believe the Emperor will not either. But reform is not thorough, it is thoroughly not reform. Tolerate my Chi Yan today, will the evil faces be wanted or not tomorrow? Shen Zui? Hu Zhuo? Xiang clan, Zhong Li clan, Han clan, and so many other clans below, all are watching us. If there is hesitation at this time, the state will split in a moment." Zuo Xiao resolutely said: "We Zuo, Qu, Dou, Wu four great families prosper and decline with Chu Country. Chu Country's disease is also my Zuo clan's disease, the disease of the clans that enjoy the country. Today His Majesty is determined to cut the wounds and greatly contend in this era, how can I not serve!"

Jiang Wang originally thought the cutting of power would cause Grandpa Zuo's dissatisfaction. After all, this involved the fundamental interests of the Zuo clan, and this old Duke's temper was also famously fierce.

He did not expect Zuo Xiao to accept it so resolutely! Even willing to hand over Chi Yan!

What kind of broad mind is this!

At this moment, he just remembered.

Initially, when he was promoted in Tai Xu Pavilion, Dou Zhao, who represented the interests of Chu Country, just cast an approving vote.

Was that really Dou Zhao's own willfulness?

Or did the four great clans of Chu Country who enjoyed the country have the awareness of self-reform early on?

At that time, Dou Zhao, as the model of the heavenly pride of the Chu clans, had already expressed his attitude.

Perhaps the multi-party explorations of various surnames in Great Chu have already begun these years, and Huang Wei Zhen's return is the prelude!

The Great Chu Emperor has always been waiting for this moment!

Xiong Jing Yu stood up and bowed deeply: "Father is right, Jing Yu is shallow-sighted... I will go into the palace then."

She picked up that red tiger tally, as if feeling the blood of her deceased husband and deceased son stained on it, grasped it tightly in her hand, and hurried away.

Handing it over to the state is a earth-shaking major matter for both the Zuo clan and Chu Country, and it will certainly shock the world. It is probably also the most intense bugle call before the start of Chu Country's reform.

But Zuo Xiao was very calm.

He smiled at Jiang Wang: "Eat, what are you in a daze about."

"Oh." Jiang Wang obediently ate a few mouthfuls of rice, then thought of a proper matter: "Right, Grandpa Zuo. I want to use Zhang Hua Message Path, I don't know if it is convenient now?"

"Small matter. Authority for message paths at Earth level and below, Guang Shu can handle." Zuo Xiao said casually: "What do you want to do?"

Zhang Hua Message Path's authority is divided into four levels: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Like Zuo Xiao, he has the highest authority. Generally, the secrets of Chu Country that the Emperor can know, he can also know.

Jiang Wang said: "On the way, I saw nine phoenixes flying together, they seemed to be going to Tian Jue Peak — I want to know the current situation of Ju Cheng. I have a friend there."

"This does not need to use the message path again, just ask me." Zuo Xiao said: "That friend of yours, is it 'Huang Jin Mo'?"

"Yes." Jiang Wang said: "For Master Brother Zhu, that is the most important person in the world."

Zuo Xiao said: "She has already left Ju Cheng."

Jiang Wang thought: "Then Ju Cheng..."

Zuo Xiao looked at him: "You are asking, what punishment did Ju Cheng receive?"

Jiang Wang found it very difficult to forget that year when he hastily turned back, yet only picked up a half-broken spear in the nearly ruined city — life has many powerless moments, this is one he cannot forget.

"Wrong things must always pay a price." Jiang Wang said.

"Even if it is a prestigious school?" Zuo Xiao asked.

"Even if it is a prestigious school." Jiang Wang said.

Zuo Xiao did not comment, just said: "The matter of not redeeming the city that year, the Mo family has already admitted their mistake. It was the Mo family giant Qian Jin Hua, in order to research and derive Dao puppets, intentionally let Zhuang Gao Xian deceive him, and borrowed the death of true transmissions to capture Huang Jin Mo — this is the information actively made public by the Mo family."

Jiang Wang had vaguely guessed the truth before. Because Lu Mao Guan personally came to apologize, at that time the Mo family already had an apologetic face, but Huang Jin Mo was not willing to take a single step. There must be deeper hidden feelings involved, absolutely not as simple as a "misunderstanding".

But now that such a truth was truly confirmed, he still inevitably felt angry.

He couldn't help but ask: "Do the holy lands of the world's prestigious schools have such conduct?"

Zuo Guang Shu and Qu Shun Hua looked at each other, and also saw disgust in each other's eyes.

"The smell of copper is not considered smelly, the smell of the heart is the most smelly." Zuo Guang Shu said: "Qian Jin Hua is the leader of a prestigious school. Did he not think how many people's morals would collapse under the guidance of his actions? If the Mo family truly only seeks profit from him, he is hard to redeem even if he dies a hundred times!"

Zuo Xiao said calmly: "Currently, within the world's prestigious schools, this kind of error seems to be only this one family and only this one case of Qian Jin Hua. But whether there are others secretly, how many there are secretly, I also cannot say for sure."

The matters that made Jiang Wang, Zuo Guang Shu, and Qu Shun Hua, these young people, feel indignant, he had already seen too many in his life. Prestigious schools carry more expectations, so of course they should have higher responsibility. But how to say it — even the greatest ideal, specific to every individual, is tiny. Even the noblest thought, specific to every individual, is very complex.

"So, the price of the error?" Jiang Wang asked.

Zuo Xiao said: "Qian Jin Hua committed suicide to apologize. Now, the ancient faction's Lu Mao Guan has succeeded as giant. He has comprehensively denied the ideas since Qian Jin Hua was in power and re-established the Mo family's old rules. He has kept down the Zui Jun Hall as the Mo family's name of sin, letting the Mo family disciples remember and know shame and then be brave. Those Mo family disciples who participated in interrogating Huang Jin Mo are all in prison awaiting their punishment, waiting for Huang Jin Mo's accountability. If Huang Jin Mo has no subsequent claims, then they will be punished according to the Mo family's ancient rules."

Lu Mao Guan had always clearly opposed Qian Jin Hua from the beginning. They not only debated in thought, but also each occupied one side in the actual power system of Ju Cheng, almost bringing the struggle to the surface. After Qian Jin Hua completely collapsed, his actions were not surprising.

But the Mo family giant apologizing with death is really something that should shake the world — indeed, the world today belongs to a time of many events. Great matters that have been hard to see in the past hundred years are occurring in clusters during this period.

No matter how notorious Qian Jin Hua was, he was also the head of a contemporary prestigious school. Equivalent to figures like Zong De Zhen of Yu Jing Shan, Han Shen Tu of Gui Tian Palace, and Chen Pu of Mu Gu Shu Yuan.

With his status, his death was truly a bit hasty.

Such a person, even if he died for evil, should be attacked by the world together, punished by the world together, and die grandly. How did he just commit suicide so quietly?

Jiang Wang thought for a moment, then said: "I heard Huang Wei Zhen has already returned — do you know where he is now?"

Zuo Xiao stopped his chopsticks at this moment, his eyes very complex: "In Yun Xian Forest, there is a transcendent existence. Near the ancient era, the lives of various saints turned into that. It is said to be His handiwork. His name is still unknown to this day and is not clear in history. Huang Wei Zhen awakened Him, and is now watching Him, and... trying to kill Him!"

Huang Wei Zhen has already returned, has already transcended, and is now killing a transcendent?