Heart Survey

Chapter 2804 Mountain Moon Letter

When Dou Ningsun, the special envoy of the Central Government, was determined to seek advancement even at the cost of his life, he questioned Sheng Guo about the "Cage Case," only to receive a declaration from Sheng Guo that he was willing to submit to the Central Government...

In Yining City, the capital of Li Kingdom, the carriage of Lou Junlan, the special envoy of Jing Kingdom, was also received.

Jing Kingdom spared Ning'an City as promised, but Meng Ting, the nominal head of "Xingyi Court", was still sent back to the real world overnight and placed in the envoy team that had already set off.

Before Xu San went to Ning'an City, Lou Junlan had already crossed the Changhe River with his imperial credentials. Dou Ningsun, who was tasked with questioning Sheng Guo, was a last-minute replacement.

Once mobilized, the vast Central Empire is like a field of countless greedy tentacles, devouring everything in its path.

Even though Lu Ye, who had just reached the summit, returned in time, he could not change the outcome.

He overpowered Xu San with his fists, causing the Daoist heart of the carefree True Lord to waver. His newly created supreme divine power, the [Mysterious Chapter of Destiny], became famous throughout the world! However, he stopped before the "thief of equality" testified against him by the Mirror World Platform.

Even a king who reigns supreme is bound by the constraints of reality.

The magnificent celestial horse trampled Yining, dragging Meng Ting all the way here, leaving him unrecognizable. His hair was disheveled and tattered, his body covered in blood and mud. Only the Bloodless Chain, specifically designed to target the blood and qi of martial artists, hung in front of him, its collarbone pierced, still gleaming brightly.

The warrior's powerful physique saved Meng Ting's life, but also made him feel the humiliation more acutely.

Jing Shitai had already discovered that Wei Huai was Feng Shen, one of the culprits behind the Wei County Extraordinary Tragedy.

Lou Junlan, who had been investigating the Wei County massacre, was certain that a morbid person like Wei Huai would not let Lu Ye out of his sight. He would not allow Lu Ye's carefully pruned tree of revenge to deviate from its intended growth path.

However, for a peerless genius like Lu Ye, whose cultivation progresses by leaps and bounds, secretly spying on him is neither feasible nor sustainable. There is only one option: to keep the person by Lu Ye's side.

Like Wei Huai as a grandfather, and Meng Ting as a disciple.

The journey from the central government to the capital is long. An envoy from a superior nation should not endure hardship; instead, he should display his authority with deference.

The time spent traveling was enough for the professionals in the Central Prison to extract all the information they wanted.

Meng Ting, though nominally Lu Ye's chief disciple, is in reality the true lord of Ning'an City. While promoting Lu Ye's martial arts spirit, he also subtly influences Lu Ye and Ning'an City in his own way.

One important reason why Xu Xiangqian's earlier outburst of anger was so well received was that the people of Ning'an had long harbored resentment towards Jing.

This was partly due to Jing Kingdom's consistent arrogance, and also partly due to Meng Ting's instigation.

Lu Ye never expected this.

That disciple who already possessed martial arts skills and became his apprentice, freeing him from mundane affairs so he could focus on his cultivation; that friend who shared his ideals and often had similar interests… it turns out he really was connected to the Kingdom of Equality!
Meng Ting was not a formal member of the Equal State, but he was the one who left behind the eyes of the old man who raised him...

The wet, freshly gouged-out eyes were thrown in front of Fan Wushu.

Those bloodshot pupils, murky and clouded, lost their brilliance; in an instant, a pearl turned into a fish eye.

Fan Wushu, who was setting out the dishes, paused for a moment, then looked at Lou Junlan: "Special Envoy Lou, what does this mean?"

Meng Ting, who was covering his eye sockets, was still rolling on the ground howling in pain.

Xiao Linzheng, who accompanied the censor, personally gouged out the eyes. He then spoke up, saying, "The traitor Meng Ting, who was treated with utmost respect, still longed for his homeland. Even during his torture, he shouted 'Yining'—now that he has returned to his hometown, let him see it for himself. Only eyes that are not bound by constraints can see the truth. What does Chief Steward Fan think?"

He was dissatisfied. Dissatisfied that a prominent figure from this tiny country dared to express his discontent. What was even more outrageous was that this fellow bypassed him, the one who had been tortured, and went directly to question Lou Junlan.

Back then, it was Xiao Linzheng who, with the help of Wang Kun, illegally obtained the "Tai Xu Xuan Zhang" and was captured by Jiang Wang, which led to Chen Suan's imprisonment and subsequently triggered the uproar in Tianjing City.

In that world-renowned battle, he was just an insignificant figure, and even though he was caught up in such a turbulent situation, he was not seen by the world.

He had long ago vowed that he would be seen!

Having served in the Censorate for years and studied under Shang Shuyi, the Grand Censor of the Great Jing Dynasty, he commanded respect from all levels of society. Why then was he so easily overlooked in this small, easily conquered state of Li?

"The superior nation has its own laws and regulations. To capture and kill thieves is to do one's best, and there must be a reason for it." Fan Wushu sat upright in the main seat, still looking directly at Lou Junlan: "But to commit bloodshed at this banquet is neither proper nor pleasing to the eye... I wonder if the food is not to your liking, or if I, Fan, have offended our distinguished guest?"

This was a banquet held by the Li Kingdom to entertain the "envoy," hosted by Fan Wushu, the current number one figure in the Li Kingdom, which was already the highest level of hospitality.

Of course, in Xiao Linzheng's view, the one who should be accompanying him now is the King of Liguo.

This journey to the Dao was not solely for the sake of reason. Along the way, they also sent letters to the vassal states, summoning them to serve in the military. The Jing Kingdom, seeking to seize control of all Daoist lineages, needed to issue a warning to a nation like the Sheng Kingdom before making a formal request. For smaller states like Zhongshan, direct conscription was sufficient.

The reason for conscription was to consolidate the victory of Shenxiao and prevent a counterattack from the alien races of the heavens. These troops would be used to garrison Shenxiao and forever guard the heavenly gates. Of course, once the troops were actually assembled, what they did was not up to these small countries to decide.

By gathering all the troops in the land, one will naturally gain control of the land.

Looking back on this journey, at every station where the central government envoys traveled, which country's head of state didn't personally greet them?

Going back a few years, the State of Li was not necessarily stronger than the State of Zhongshan. Now, it's actually acting arrogantly!
“I told you, this equality is treasonous…” Xiao Linzheng nudged Meng Ting, who was rolling on the ground, with his foot: “It’s a Li Kingdom citizen!”

Lou Junlan held her wine glass and drank slowly.

Generally speaking, this kind of welcoming banquet was a meeting held before the court assembly. Although it was held privately at the Fan residence, it was still a state banquet.

The envoy explains his purpose, and the receiving country treats him well, with both sides keeping the situation in mind. Any points that need discussion are negotiated beforehand. By the time the meeting takes place in court, all the terms have already been agreed upon.

This avoids a complete breakdown in relations and is a diplomatic courtesy.

But her purpose in bringing the team to the country was not to "talk," but to "stir things up."

Muddy waters breed big fish.

The country is not a place where one can take whatever one wants, and starting a war here now would not bring much benefit, but this trip is unavoidable.

Fan Wushu is enough; there's no need to bring out that empty-headed Duan-surname ruler.

"The Demon-Subduing Heavenly Lord was born in Zhuang, and King Yama Qin Guang was born in You. Do they act on behalf of the two kingdoms of Zhuang and You? And would you go to them because of matters concerning the two kingdoms of Zhuang and You? Meng Ting was born in Li, but he cannot represent Li. I don't need to explain this point again."

Fan Wushu, his folding fan tucked into his waistband, sat upright, neither humble nor arrogant: "The superior nation may look down on me, and you, Vice Envoy Xiao, can speak eloquently even without drinking. But let's not bring up this completely unrelated matter. The reputation of the Li Kingdom is worthless, but the dignity of the superior nation is of utmost importance!"

Xiao Linzheng pointed at Meng Ting on the ground: "This person has been lurking in Ning'an City for a long time, bewitching people, inciting public opinion, and facilitating many conspiracies of the Equal Kingdom. He also secretly colluded with the demon race, causing damage to the reputation of City Lord Lu and attracting the Demon Slayer Division to come to his door... There was a close call that caused the hatred of loved ones to be saddened and the hatred of enemies to be happy!"

His voice rose a few decibels: "Speaking of which... Yining City and Ning'an City have very similar names. Could there be some connection that I'm unaware of?"

As for the conspiracy of the so-called "Equal Bandits" or "Equal Nation," Meng Ting really didn't have it; his strength wasn't enough, and his awareness was far from sufficient.

His task was simply to keep an eye on Lu Ye, instill the idea that "Jing State is a traitor to the world," and remind Lu Ye to hate.

But that does not prevent him from being imprinted on the flag of the Kingdom of Li as a symbol of equality.

Who told him to be a citizen of the Kingdom of Li?

Judging from all indications, Li Guo is definitely not clean, but there is still a lack of sufficient evidence.

They came here seeking answers to their questions. No matter how arrogant or rude they were, the most important thing was to hold onto the fishing line tightly and not let it slip away.

"When Chu Taizu raised the southern banner alone, my ancestors from Li State followed him in the campaign. After the war, when rewards were distributed according to merit, Chu Taizu granted the land of Li State to the Duan family for self-governance, and thus the state of Li State came into being. The name of Yining City is to commemorate Chu Taizu's righteous act of bringing peace to the world, and also to commemorate this friendship."

Fan Wushu looked at Xiao Linzheng with a deep gaze: "Does Your Excellency think this name has any connection with Ning'an City?"

Xiong Yizhen's raising of the southern banner alone effectively severed Emperor Jingwen's path to unification! The state of Liguo also had a glorious history, having contributed to the Jing'ai era.

Now that the Jing Kingdom is about to revisit the Six Kingdoms, are they afraid of suffering a crushing defeat in the southern region?

The State of Li has no right to be so forceful. But in the southern regions there is the Great Chu! And now there is also the State of Qi.

Although Xiao Linzheng harbored the ambition to wage war on behalf of the Central Empire, he lacked the qualifications to actually wage war. Hearing this veiled barb, he merely snorted coldly: "We've investigated some of Meng Ting's early experiences and confirmed that while he was still in Li Kingdom, he had already been in contact with core members of Pingdeng Kingdom. We have ample reason to suspect that Li Kingdom is one of Pingdeng Kingdom's dens of thieves. Furthermore, the person who instigated Meng Ting is most likely still hiding in Yining City!"

"As everyone knows, Li Kingdom is the land of the phoenix. If you were to name a nest, it would be the phoenix's nest. The entire nation strives to become the phoenix tree—look at the streets, smiles bloom like flowers throughout the city. Though Li Kingdom is small, it is a land of peace and prosperity!" Fan Wushu pointed out the window, looking seriously at Xiao Linzheng: "Yet the envoy has the discerning eye to consider Li Kingdom a den of thieves?"

These rambling and unfounded tricks made Xiao Linzheng laugh inwardly.

"Li Kingdom may not be a den of thieves, but it is obvious that thieves have built their den here. When Meng Ting left Li Kingdom, the Lord of the Mountain and Sea had not yet returned. Are you going to push all the blame for the Pingdeng Kingdom onto the Lord of the Mountain and Sea?"

He shook his head and said sarcastically, "You might as well just tell us that the Lord of the Mountain and Sea is the leader of the Equal Kingdom, and tell us not to ask the Kingdom of Reason anymore!"

Just then, a cool voice rang out from outside the door—"Why are you arguing?"

The woman who entered with graceful steps was a rare beauty.

She was cold as ice, yet possessed a dignified and solemn appearance.

Beneath this solemnity and coldness lies a charm powerful enough to extinguish the heart!
I heard that she was once a beautiful woman with a fragrant scent, but after "repenting," she came to the Kingdom of Li. She attained enlightenment, realized the Dharma, and called herself "Fish Basket Bodhisattva."

Xiao Linzheng only realized today how fragrant this beautiful woman was.

Even Wu Minjun, the noblewoman of the Wu family whom he had been longing for, lost her luster in his heart at this moment—anyway, this woman was becoming more and more distant from him, and now she had even moved to the underworld, rarely returning to his hometown.

"Chief Steward Fan, I'm not trying to be mean. Today you are the Grand General of the Army and a pillar of the state. Your every word and action represents the entire nation."

The beautiful woman who entered looked at Fan Wushu: "An envoy from a superior nation must have a reason for his actions. If you can understand, then understand; if you can't understand, then try to understand... Why can't we talk things out properly?"

“There was no arguing—” Xiao Linzheng looked at her carefully: “It was just a discussion! Brother Fan and I are both straightforward people, so our voices were inevitably a bit loud. This must be Master Yu Qiongzhi?”

This "Fish Basket Bodhisattva" walks the Bodhisattva path, yet harbors a worldly heart. He attains enlightenment through the Dharma, yet his body treads the mortal realm.

Since the establishment of the "Joyful Pure Land," people have been filled with joy day and night, fulfilling all the desires of believers—this is one of the important reasons why there is almost no resentment in the country and smiles are everywhere.

The Huanxi sect, which has a huge influence in Liguo and worships the Fish Basket Bodhisattva, adheres to the doctrine of "joy gives rise to goodness".

When people are happy, they tend to be more tolerant. If everyone showed tolerance towards each other, the country would be much more harmonious.

The growing pains that this country experienced during its rapid development were all soothed by joy.

The former "Qiongzhi" also adopted the surname "Yu" for herself.

Yu Qiongzhi approached gracefully, her face as white and cold as frost: "So the envoy recognizes me."

"Who doesn't know your reputation for beauty?" Xiao Linzheng laughed. "But I've always had a question: does your surname 'Yu' mean 'fish' in the sense of 'fish and water's pleasure, or 'fish basket bodhisattva'?"

Yu Qiongzhi's face was indifferent, but her posture was casual: "Isn't this a fish?"

Xiao Linzheng was taken aback.

As an envoy on official business, he was certainly not blinded by lust, but was surprised by Yu Qiongzhi's frankness.

Those from the lowest social classes always know they are not respectable, and prostitutes inevitably feel ashamed of their profession. Even the once-renowned "Fragrant Pavilion," considered the best brothel in the land, clearly distinguished between its sect and its business, and none of its fragrant beauties served customers with their bodies.

Qiongzhi was the only exception.

Nowadays, Yu Qiongzhi even gives alms with her own body, with virtually no barriers to entry. As long as one's "merit" is sufficient, even peddlers and laborers can taste her. It's not even as lucrative as brothels, yet she takes it all for granted.

Indeed, this path has already been followed!

"Speaking of which... Li Guo prides himself on 'governing the country with reason and following the law in all matters,' and has always separated politics and religion. In fact, there are more than just the Huanxi Sect in the country."

Xiao Linzheng stared into Yu Qiongzhi's eyes: "This is a family banquet at the Fan residence. I wonder where you've come from, Master Yu, in such a hurry?"

The Mirror World already possessed detailed intelligence regarding the power structure within the Kingdom of Li. However, upon personally arriving in Li, Xiao Linzheng discovered many details not found in the intelligence reports.

Yu Qiongzhi sat down with an air of nonchalance, displaying the demeanor of a grandmaster: "The Eastern Kingdom erected the Temple of the Holy Emperor at Laoshan in Nanxia. I represented the Kingdom of Li to attend the ceremony and have just returned home. Hearing of the visit of the Imperial Envoy, I came to pay my respects to His Majesty—truly an extraordinary sight!"

Emperor Jiang Shu of the Great Qi Dynasty was a man of great civil administration and unparalleled military prowess, who created a powerful empire in the east.

He should have been posthumously honored with the character "武" (Wu), but the State of Qi already had a peerless emperor named Wu. Using another character to describe Wu would be seen as competing with the former emperor for the same title, and it would be inappropriate to either overshadow or downplay him.

Finally, after deliberation by the Council of State, he was posthumously awarded the title "Sacred Literature".

The current Qi emperor personally drew out an honorific title, saying, "The Purple Star shines in the Eastern Kingdom, and the Primordial Phoenix resounds throughout the Central Heaven. Without the late emperor, there would be no such legacy for ten thousand generations." Thus, he was honored as "Grand Emperor."

The "Taihuang" in the Ziwei Zhongtian Taihuang Flag!
He was Emperor Shengwen, the founding emperor of the Great Qi Dynasty.

His posthumous title was "Shengwen," his temple name was "Shizu," and his honorific title was "Taihuang"... He was undoubtedly the first ruler in the history of the State of Qi, and there is hardly anyone in the entire modern world who can compare to him.

However, Yu Qiongzhi's deliberate mention of it was clearly just to bluff her way out of trouble.

Does the Central Empire intend to interfere with the affairs of the State of Li?
Logically, this shouldn't be the case. The situation is now very clear: the Jing Kingdom has taken the lead in initiating the process of unifying the six kingdoms, and other ambitious major powers have followed suit.

Everyone needs to clench their fists first before they can pool their strength to fight. The collapse of small states is about to begin; either they will offer up their allegiance in exchange for wealth and status, or their armies will arrive and reduce them to ashes.

It is absolutely impossible to wait for the major powers to fight to the death, sit back and watch them fight, and then take advantage of the situation to stir up trouble.

Countries qualified to participate in the Six Kingdoms game will first eliminate those who are not qualified before initiating the final battle.

The first to stand up and challenge the Jing Kingdom will inevitably be wiped out by the Jing Kingdom, regardless of the country's name!
In this situation, who will be the first to provoke the tiger?
This isn't Yanlao City; there's no need to gamble with the dignity of the Qi Kingdom. Would Qi be so reckless?
Unless it has an irreplaceable value to the country.

Xiao Linzheng pondered: "It seems that the State of Qi has no precedent for establishing a separate temple for the emperor."

Not only Qi State lacked this, but among all the major powers in the world, it seems only Mu State had a similar example. However, that was a political compromise under a theocratic system, where the founding emperor of Mu State, Helian Qingtong, was forcibly deified and had a temple built for him.

"It was Governor-General Su Guanying of Nanxia who requested the establishment of this system, saying it would facilitate the people of Xia's sacrificial rites. After all, it's not easy for ordinary people to travel between Qi and Xia," Yu Qiongzhi said casually. "As for the so-called 'precedent'... before Emperor Shengwen, Qi was not a hegemonic state. Any precedents were established by others. What's so strange about that?"

If she had been able to stay in the underworld back then, she and her brother Lin would now be top-tier Yang Gods wielding real power in the underworld. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, they ended up wandering thousands of miles.

Fortunately, after many twists and turns, and through unremitting efforts, we have finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

Lin Xiandi joined the Hegemon Kingdom, riding the wave of the Divine Firmament War. She also benefited from the flourishing fortune of the burgeoning Li Kingdom.

She was really annoyed by this unwelcome guest's arrival, as things were going well for her.

"Oh, by the way," she added, "The World-Free King Buddha Temple on Mount Kakubu is open to the world from today onwards. Our country's Xie Guiwan offered incense at the temple and participated in the entire opening ceremony. Would Vice Envoy Xiao be interested in offering incense?"

Her face was frosty, but her eyes held a smile: "Jiaowu Mountain is the place where the Chu Kingdom rose to power, and the Shizizai King Buddhist Temple is said to be very efficacious."

The secrets of the Kingdom of Li are indeed quite significant.

The Jing Kingdom's envoy had barely arrived in Yining City when both Qi and Chu made their statements!

Otherwise, how could a junior like Li Guo be qualified to attend the opening ceremony of the Shizizaiwang Buddha Temple? Nor would Yu Qiongzhi be qualified to attend the ceremony at the Shengwen Emperor Temple in Nanxia.

Xiao Linzheng secretly thought that the Penglai Dao Master should not worry so much and should seize the opportunity to kill the Dragon Buddha with one sword! Let all the Saints of the ancient starry sky be buried with him.

Chu lost its eternal glory, and Qi lost its Heavenly Consort; both of these individuals had the potential to transcend worldly concerns. Then there's Jiang Mengxiong, a military genius whose strategic brilliance would undoubtedly weaken the enemy significantly.

Even if the two Grand Masters were to perish alongside Xingqiong, it wouldn't necessarily be a bad deal...

It might even lead to the complete submission of the three major schools of Taoism.

But I also understand that this is impossible.

The one sitting there was, after all, the Lord of Penglai, not the Great Jingwen Emperor.

“I am very pleased that Master Yu understands the decrees of the Central Empire.” Xiao Linzheng changed his tone and smiled slightly: “Then, regarding our investigation into the traitors of equality… when do you think would be a more appropriate time to begin?”

"The bandits of Pingdeng are the greatest rebels in the world. We should pursue them relentlessly, sooner rather than later." Yu Qiongzhi appeared very frank, as if she were completely unafraid of scrutiny: "At any time."

Xiao Linzheng raised his head slightly: "Then now?"

Yu Qiongzhi nodded in greeting: "This matter concerns the common good of the world; our humble nation can only cooperate."

Xiao Linzheng was even more surprised and suspicious. He exchanged a glance with Lou Junlan, put on his long robe, and took the initiative to walk out: "Then I will trouble you, Master Yu."

As he turned around, he lightly kicked out, saying, "Don't disturb the host."

Meng Ting, who was wailing, froze on the spot, blood gushing from his mouth and nose, clearly indicating that he was not going to live.

Yu Qiongzhi half-squatted down and stroked his face with her hand: "Well done... Your sins in this life have been absolved. May you be reborn in a joyful state."

At that moment, she truly radiated compassion.

Only after the two had left the area did Lou Junlan, who had been quietly drinking, remove her hand from the hilt of her sword and tap it with her fingers. A clear light shone in her eyes, like a fish leaping from a deep pool.

The highest authority is not me; standing by the abyss, I know the fish!
She currently uses two "fish" frequently: one named "Hope," used for fighting, and the other named "Calculation," used for thinking.

[You are not a fish] Strength relies heavily on "knowledge and insight".

Although everything seen can be replicated, the degree of replication is closely related to one's knowledge and understanding.

Jiang Wang is the best choice.

In the Heavenly Palace of Morning Enlightenment, all of his knowledge was displayed, and anyone could learn from him in exchange for merit.

After winning the inner court championship at the Guanhe Terrace, he became the focus of attention. His battle photos from different realms were widely circulated throughout the land.

It's safe to say that no prodigy would fail to study him, and the channels for understanding him are the most abundant. The study of his combat techniques is a very popular school of thought within the Illusionary Realm.

It is precisely because of this solid foundation that Lou Junlan has had few rivals in battles within the same realm since completing the construction of this fish, making it extremely useful.

Similarly, she was also deepening her understanding of Chen Suan. Because they both belonged to the Jing Kingdom, and because the secrecy level was lowered after his death, information about Chen Suan was relatively easy to collect.

But the more I learned about Chen Suan, the more I felt that his death was shrouded in an unspeakable mystery.

This person is too clever; he almost never makes a mistake. The only time he "made a foolish mistake" was when he took responsibility for internal affairs of the Jing Kingdom, engaged in underhanded operations, violated the Iron Rules of Taixu, and incurred Jiang Wang's wrath, resulting in a five-year imprisonment and the waste of his prime years.

Even so, after his "release from prison," he quickly regained his power and soon obtained everything he was entitled to, his influence rivaling that of his earlier years.

Would someone like that not consider Rakshasa Bright Moon Pure when deciding to make a move against the Three Fragrance Pavilion?
Was he really killed by Rakshasa Bright Moon?

“The Fan family really has a rich collection of books.” Lou Junlan finally spoke, looking at the decorative books on the wall cabinet and smiling gently, “Not only do they have Jian Yaonian’s paintings and Yang Zhen’s calligraphy... they even have ‘Mountain Moon Notes’.”

Fan Wushu waved his hand, ordering someone to tidy up the room, and slowly poured her wine: "They're all just copies, not worth mentioning."

One moment they were at loggerheads, the next they were all smiles and laughter.

Of course, it was Xiao Linzheng who was on the verge of conflict. Lou Junlan, the chief envoy of the superior country, never raised her voice from beginning to end.

Lou Junlan asked in surprise, "I remember that the Fan family had the largest collection of Jian Yaonian's original works. How come they are all being called copies now?"

Fan Wushu smiled slightly: "Don't cherish this treasure. I'm giving it away."

Lou Junlan gazed at the wine ripples, her voice leisurely: "Is Steward Fan familiar with the novel 'Mountain Moon Letter'?"

The topic had gone too far, but Lou Junlan wouldn't say anything meaningless. Fan Wushu carefully considered his response: "In my limited understanding, this is just a readable novel about human nature, telling the story of a wealthy merchant who, at the height of his life, is betrayed by his wife, and ultimately achieves enlightenment and sees through the illusions of the world. The writing is passable, the plot is simple, and only the final scene of 'Asking Zen under the Mountain Moon' captures the essence... Its literary value is not high; it's only because it's a work from the late ancient period, offering a glimpse into that time, that it has collectible value."

He casually picked up the book and said, "Since you asked this question, there must be something unique about it that I haven't noticed."

Lou Junlan said calmly, "Before Gongsun Xi died, he said that the novelist Zhen Sheng Yu Zhou died in one of his novels. And all the sages have forgotten the contents of that novel."

"There are only three known clues. First, the Farmer's Sage Xu Xin heard Yu Zhou tell that story in the fields, but he didn't remember the content, only that 'the millet was sad and people were heartbroken'; second, when Yu Zhou wrote this novel, he consulted the Strategist Sage Pang Min for material; third, the Yin-Yang Sage Zou Huiming once possessed that manuscript, and he only remembered that it was 'extremely exaggerated'."

"Over the years, many people have been searching for the truth behind that novel. Among them, Dean Zuo Qiuwu of Qin Ku Academy and Dean Chen Pu of Mu Gu Academy have made the most in-depth progress. After Dean Zuo's death, Zhong Xuanyin, a member of Tai Xu Pavilion, took over his research..."

"What is certain at present is that the novel 'Mountain Moon Letter', as well as 'Red Mud Record', 'The Legend of the Swordsman with Pure Heart', and even the famous animal mask opera 'Red Tiger Bids Farewell to White Rose Fox' on the grassland, are all derived from it."

Fan Wushu had never heard of "The Story of Red Mud" or "The Tale of the Swordsman with a Pure Heart" before. As for "The Red Tiger Bids Farewell to the White Rose Fox," a classic grassland drama, he naturally hadn't missed it.

He frowned: "Leaving aside the origin of 'Mountain Moon Letter,' isn't 'Red Fiend Tiger Bids Farewell to White Rose Fox' derived from the story of Emperor Mu Huan? At most, it had some political metaphors at the time. To say that it also involves the story of Yu and Zhou seems a bit far-fetched."

"Emperor Huan of Mu was the grandson of Emperor Taizong of Mu, Helian Hong. His son, Helian Zhifei, was Emperor Ren of Mu. It was through their efforts that Emperors Wei and Lie gained the power to rewrite history. Would the dignified Emperor Huan of Mu do something like breaking up a good marriage? He was merely someone seeking answers." Lou Junlan said calmly, "Minister Zhong suspects that Emperor Taizong of Mu had some conjecture about this, and Emperor Huan of Mu used this method as a record. However, the long-term historical mission of the Mu Kingdom lay with the Cangtu God, so these matters were put aside."

Fan Wushu did indeed feel that he had "broadened his horizons," and the members of Taixu Pavilion were certainly not idle.

Although he was friends with someone who claimed to be a member of the Taixu Pavilion, it was only a self-proclaimed title.

I didn't see Zhong Xuanyin sharing these things with that person!

"Afterwards, I will definitely find 'The Story of Red Mud' and 'The Tale of the Pure Heart Swordsman' and read them carefully." Fan Wushu said seriously, "However... I don't quite understand the meaning of what the envoy upstairs told me."

“Gongsun Xi is dead, but he is right about one thing—if there really is a great terror, how should we deal with it?” Lou Junlan looked at him.

"I am self-aware," Fan Wushu smiled. "That is not something I should be considering."

Lou Junlan slowly said, "The rise and fall of your Fan family is a huge upheaval for you personally, and a magnificent event in the Li Kingdom. But in the Southern Region, it's just a few ripples. Looking at the world, it's not worth mentioning."

"The same applies to governing a country. What are you protecting? Will it still be worth mentioning a hundred years from now? A thousand years from now?"

"If there really is a catastrophe that destroys everything, then everything we are holding on to today may be insignificant."

"But the Six Harmonies Empire is an eternal cause, and the Six Harmonies Emperor is the strongest known being. If there is any power that can save the world, it is only this unparalleled name throughout history."

The Fan family estate was vast, complete with pavilions, terraces, verandas, and waterside pavilions—everything one could desire.

The Fan family's house is indeed very small.

Just like Li Guo in this turbulent world, he cannot resist anyone who comes to him.

Fan Wushu pondered the Jing people's purpose in silence, then slowly asked, "Has the Central Empire confirmed the existence of the Great Terror?"

"The major powers of the world are all taking action, and the smaller countries are offering their tributes in countless ways. But there are always some who fail to see the situation clearly, who think they are tough as nails and want to cause trouble... A change is about to begin."

Lou Junlan said leisurely, "When will this turmoil that has continued from ancient times to the present, this war with no peace, finally end?"

"A peace that will never come, a life of uncertainty for all living beings..."

"Isn't this also a great terror that runs through history?"

There was no one else in the room, only a table of barely touched dishes. The wine was still warm, but the atmosphere was growing cold.

"The reason why the superior nation feels uncomfortable is because many people have their own homes behind them. They have struggled all their lives and are unwilling to give up easily. How can they bear to abandon the foundation laid by their ancestors?" Fan Wushu said, "The eternal peace of the heavens is certainly a great ideal. How can the determination to protect one's home and country not be a lofty ambition?"

"Defending one's home and country is certainly a noble aspiration!" Lou Junlan smiled slightly: "Then we should stay away from strife, avoid fire and water, and avoid undeserved disasters."

She raised a finger and gently pressed down the book in Fan Wushu's hand: "Liguo is actually still very far from the Central Empire."

The wealthy merchant in "Mountain Moon Letter" initially wanted to protect his reputation, then his family, and later only his business... In the end, everything came to naught. His good-for-nothing children, cunning rivals, greedy officials, and corrupt world—everything was like an inescapable net that ensnared his life, his fate predetermined from the very beginning.

A false sense of dignity is like a paper window; a single spark can shatter it.

Whether Lou Junlan's description of great terror is true or not, we can ask Zhong Liyan to verify it later, but the moral of the story in "Mountain Moon Letter" is very clear.

Today, Liguo seems like a paradise, flourishing with flowers. But in essence, it's nothing more than a potted plant that anyone can prune.

Fan Wushu sighed thoughtfully, "Yes, the central government is very far away."

Qi, Chu, and Wei were all very close.

Lou Junlan then asked, "If the phoenix is ​​reasonable, is it still pure today?"

"Is the envoy referring to the Joyful Sect?" Fan Wushu asked with some seriousness, as if answering her question, but also as if comforting himself: "Today, governing the country is about seeking happiness. Joy is just one aspect of it."

Lou Junlan looked at him but didn't say anything more.

Fan Wushu finally got up and took out another book: "The Emperor is a learned man with a great love for reading. I have nothing of value to offer, so I present this book to you as a token of my appreciation."

The book in his hand was an old copy of "Jing Lue," with many creases, indicating it had been read countless times.

Lou Junlan frowned; this was not the clue she was looking for.

The glory of Yingtian's first family belongs solely to her.

She personally went to the Kingdom of Li, seeking a world-renowned achievement, not some trivial trifles. Even if she obtained Li's surrender document today, it would be nothing more than that. Holding the authority of the Central Empire, who couldn't conquer a few small countries?
She needed to know what Chen Cuo had done when he came to Liguo, and what kind of scheme Song Huai was hiding from the emperor.

But then he was startled and stood up, clutching the book tightly.

The page the book was turned to read—

"In the third month of that year, the Crown Prince shot a dragon-fox."

……

……

"Many years have passed..."

At the summit of Mount Kakubu, sat a man in shackles and chains. Thick, rusty chains hung down from the cliff face, clanging loudly in the mountain wind.

He held an ancient book in his hand, the cover bearing the vertical characters "The Tale of the Pure Heart Swordsman." The mountain wind did not stir the pages; he turned them slowly by himself.

Behind me stands the magnificent Shizizaiwang Buddha Temple, resembling a great Buddha seated in the mountains. This grand temple, personally overseen by the Great Chu National Preceptor Fanshijue, has grown ever more profound with time.

The temple was teeming with worshippers, and the temple bell tolled continuously. Its popularity was unparalleled in the world.

With the death of the World-Honored One, the position of Buddhahood is now vacant, and countless people throughout history have looked to this point.

Jiaowu Mountain, as the place where the Chu Kingdom rose to power, is located in the southern region, just like Mount Sumeru.

From the time of Xiong Yizhen, the State of Chu had been looking towards the western holy land of Buddhism, aspiring to attain the Buddha's enlightenment.

After more than 3,800 years, it was only in the generation of Emperor Xiong Ji of Chu that the so-called "World-Free King Buddha" was established.

Only at the top of the mountain, in this dilapidated temple, can one make out the name.

Only when Amitabha Buddha attains enlightenment in the Western Pure Land can the eternal monk of Mount Sumeru truly proclaim—

The path of the Buddha of World-Freedom has been traversed!
Its current splendor is a testament to its immortality.

“I almost forgot, time has meaning for you now.” The handsome man with gray eyes and aquiline nose stood beside the shackled man, facing the biting mountain wind, and grinned.

It's better to live in this world now; even eating wind and snow brings joy.

“From here you can see the Qiantang River, which is just a small pond, and you can also see the Li Kingdom, which is just a potted plant… The entire Southern Region is laid out before you.” The shackled man’s long hair fluttered, and his voice, which was not as strained as before, carried a sigh: “Sitting high and looking far, one can see the world as a game of chess, and the world as ants. Who can help but feel superior and arrogant?”

The gray-eyed man smiled and said, "You've already heard of Yongshou, so why would you care about the feeling of climbing up here?"

The man in shackles turned his gaze back to the book: "You don't understand."

The gray-eyed man laughed again: "You actually believe in some great horror?"

The shackled man seemed engrossed in a tale of chivalrous swordsmen, remaining silent for a long time. Only after turning a page did he casually speak again: "You don't believe me? Then how did Ji Yanshu die?"

"Don't mention that name to me!" The gray-eyed man stopped laughing: "Just because I crawled up from Ji Yanshu's corpse, everyone is trying to judge me by Ji Yanshu's standards."

"They want me to save the world, to be virtuous, to be great, to sacrifice... as if this is my mission!"

"To hell with him! I am me, and he is him!"

He dismissively waved his sleeve: "No one in this world gave me life and raised me, and I do not care about this world. I owe no one anything, and no one should owe me anything."

The man in shackles waited quietly for him to vent, then asked, "Do you know how to interpret the character '纨' (wan, meaning纨)?"

"Why are you asking this?" Qingyan raised an eyebrow in displeasure.

“纨 (wán) means plain or simple.” The man in shackles seemed to be deep in thought, then asked, “Do you know how to interpret the character ‘何’?”

"Anyone can be a husband, it's all about the word 'He'." Qingyan got annoyed and started spouting nonsense: "I don't know who my husband is, so it can be interpreted as 'who'."

“He means to bear.” The man in shackles remained undisturbed, pointing to the words on the book cover, and said calmly, “Knighthood is about taking on responsibilities.”

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Qingyan's eyes were gloomy.

Snapped!
The man in shackles closed the book in his hand. "We need to get to work. After this job, I'll be free, and you'll be free too."

"Hehe..." Qingyan chuckled inexplicably: "I've been reading history lately. Xiong Yizhen was indeed not a qualified emperor. He didn't kill you, but instead kept his so-called bullshit promise and kept you alive until today. He's not afraid that his descendants will be taken advantage of by you."

The man in shackles then turned around: "A qualified emperor cannot defeat that person. No emperor in the world fits the definition of an emperor better than that person. Xiong Yizhen was able to win precisely because he was not a pure emperor."

Qingyan scoffed: "Are you going to talk about popular sentiment again?"

“No,” said the shackled man. “I was just talking about… the methods of struggle.”

Following his gaze, Qingyan looked at the magnificent Shizizaiwang Buddhist Temple in the distance: "When he returns from the ancient starry sky, he only needs to follow the steps of propagating Buddhism and practicing Zen to obtain the use of Mount Sumeru. He will then have a great chance to transcend and achieve enlightenment."

The man in shackles shook his head.

Qing Yan underestimated Xiong Ji.

Compared to those vague and unrealistic ideas of transcendence, this is indeed a practical and feasible path, and can be described as magnificent and expansive.

But for an emperor like Xiong Ji, whose achievements once surpassed those of all previous generations of the Chu dynasty and whose ambition was to become the Son of Heaven...

The path of [World-Free King Buddha], while feasible, is not necessarily the best choice.

In the Buddha's definition, [Lotus-King Buddha] was the teacher of [Amitabha Buddha]'s previous incarnation, the monk Dharmakara, and was one of the Buddhas of the past. However, among the Buddhas of the past, [Dipankara Buddha] was the most revered, also known as "Dipankara Tathagata".

The Buddha of the World-Free King is inferior to the Buddha of Dipankara, and of course, he is also inferior to Amitabha Buddha.

He painstakingly helped Jiang Wuliang achieve enlightenment, so how could he be willing to be inferior to Jiang Wuliang?
In fact, what he saw was the entire Mount Sumeru.

He wants to pick the Maitreya's fruit!
This is the Buddha's position that is on par with the World-Honored One and Amitabha Buddha. Maitreya, who will lead the future, is the one who will succeed Shakyamuni Buddha after the World-Honored One's passing.

Jiang Wuliang was killed by Jiang Wang, who then abandoned Maitreya... The great battle in Linzi had cleared the obstacles for Xiong Ji, and all that remained was for Wang Fo to return.

All of this came to a standstill with the stagnation of the ancient starry sky, and then reignited as the Dragon Buddha began to decay.

The eternal passing defines time, and the years in the ancient starry sky can already be echoed.

Of course, the one in shackles will not say these things.

He simply gazed into the distance, his eyes filled with an unusually complex emotion. Finally, he sighed, leaped from the mountaintop, and released his shackles.

Thunder rumbled across the heavens and the earth.

"I, Boyong, am also..."

"Free the shackles today!"

I'm completely baffled. How did everyone guess that the person sentenced to life imprisonment was Boyong? I didn't give them any clues at all beforehand...

……

Thank you to reader "Mysterious and Unspeakable" for becoming the leader of this book's alliance, making him the 1051st leader of the Red Heart Sky Patrol Alliance!
Thank you to reader "Mingzun" for becoming the leader of this book's alliance, making him the 1052nd leader of the Red Heart Patrol Alliance!
……

See you on Friday.