Chapter 968 – Battle of the Northern Frontier (5)
“Although the Lord’s Zi Wei Emperor Qi is continuously increasing, if it weren’t for thieves stealing it, her fortune would be even more prosperous.”
Wei Ci couldn’t help but frown at this thought.
To clarify the situation, he sent letters to several hermit masters.
Master Liaochen was out of the river, while other masters were hidden from the world. He managed to catch only Master Liu Ru.
Wei Ci couldn’t guarantee the skills of others, but Master Liu Ru was like a half-master to him—a paragon of the charlatan world!
Master Liu Ru smiled as he tidied up the chessboard.
“You’re not in the game, young friend. Simply observe from the sidelines. Why must you distress yourself?”
Wei Ci shook his head, “Though I’m not in the game, the most important person in my life is stuck in the quagmire.”
How could he just stand by while his Lord was deeply entangled?
Master Liu Ru chuckled knowingly, “Ah, the youthful passion for love in the mortal world.”
Wei Ci’s face flushed with embarrassment, feeling as if his thoughts had been laid bare.
“Young friend, forgive the old Daoist for being presumptuous. You’ve already transcended the Three Realms, carrying great opportunities, with Emperor Qi protecting you. Why get tied up in mortal disputes? It would be better for you to seek enlightenment alongside this old Daoist, living carefree.” Master Liu Ru tried to coax Wei Ci into renouncing the worldly life.
What a good seedling, wasting his talent on bitter rivalries!
Wei Ci sighed, “What good is being outside of the mortal realm when my heart is deeply tied to that person?”
Master Liu Ru was cruelly fed a trough of dog food.
He said, “If your heart is set, the old Daoist should not interfere in your love.”
Wei Ci wanted to explain, but Master Liu Ru continued, “The old Daoist has carefully read your letters and does know a thing or two…”
Wei Ci bowed respectfully, “I ask for the master’s guidance.”
Master Liu Ru shook his head regretfully.
He said, “For this matter, the old Daoist only has one suggestion—let nature take its course and do not meddle.”
Wei Ci was puzzled, “That monster steals the national fortune and takes away others’ Emperor Qi, committing such a great sin, why…”
Frequent disasters in Dongqing have caused suffering among countless common people—wasn’t that due to the theft of the national fortune?
Master Liu Ru remarked, “Precisely in consideration of the common people, young friend, you should let nature take its course.”
Wei Ci pressed on, “Please clarify, Master.”
“Your Lord Liu Xi is the fated child chosen by heaven; unless there is an unexpected turn, she shall become the ruler of the world, correct?” Though phrased as a question, Master Liu Ru spoke as if it were a statement, “The monster stealing the national fortune and Emperor Qi is greatly connected to your Lord. Who exactly it is, this old Daoist’s skills are insufficient to determine, but I can definitively say that both are mutually connected and suffer together…”
Wei Ci’s eyes widened in shock. How could this be?
According to Master Liu Ru’s words, that monster couldn’t be touched?
“When the car reaches the mountain, there will surely be a road; when the boat reaches the bridge, it will go straight. Young friend, you need not worry too much. Your Lord has an extraordinary background. Such calamities are merely obstacles that she can surpass.” Master Liu Ru smiled comfortingly at Wei Ci, “As the world’s ruler, trials are inevitable. Your Lord is not an ordinary person; she likely already knows the monster’s identity and is secretly plotting…”
Wei Ci was speechless, “I would trade my own life for hers—”
The unknown is indeed the most frightening.
Facing these unpredictable variables that did not exist in his previous life, how could he not worry?
No matter how Wei Ci tried to pry for more information, Master Liu Ru remained tight-lipped, much to his frustration.
After two days of disturbance, Wei Ci prepared to leave.
Master Liu Ru saw him off for three miles.
At the moment of parting, he suddenly asked, “Young friend, do you know about Zhuangzi dreaming of butterflies?”
Wei Ci was puzzled, “In ancient times, Zhuang Zhou dreamt he was a butterfly, vividly fluttering, unaware he was Zhuang Zhou. Suddenly he woke up—was he Zhuang Zhou dreaming he was a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuang Zhou? Is this the allegory Master refers to?”
Master Liu Ru sighed, “Yes, Zhuangzi dreaming of butterflies, and butterflies dreaming of Zhuangzi… young friend, remember this well.”
Wei Ci was momentarily dazed.
What did this mean?
What was Master Liu Ru trying to hint at?
Before he could think it through, Master Liu Ru added, “Last night I observed the celestial signs, the Emperor Star shines brightly, auspicious in the north. You can rest easy.”
Wei Ci returned with a belly full of questions.
However, following Master Liu Ru’s guidance, his Lord had the ability to handle that monster, and she should be safe.
Even so, Wei Ci’s heart remained anxious.
Why would the monster, who steals national fortune and Emperor Qi, be upon his Lord, causing them to suffer together?
He desperately wanted to return to her side; only by seeing her safe and sound could he finally feel at ease.
What Wei Ci didn’t know was that shortly after he left, Master Liu Ru felt a sudden unease in his chest.
He calculated with his fingers, his expression changing drastically, and hurriedly packed his belongings to travel.
As soon as Master Liu Ru departed, a group of men in black arrived, but they found nothing.
These individuals were unwilling to give up; they searched every corner of the thatched cottage as if looking for something.
If Xie Qian were here, he would realize that Master Liu Ru was the mysterious expert who had given him the yin-yang jade pendant!
Meanwhile, after returning, Wei Ci heard that Sun Wen had successfully completed his mission, temporarily putting these worries aside.
The most pressing issue was still the Northern Frontier; everything else could be discussed later.
“I pay my respects to my Lord.”
Upon his return, he immediately went to see Jiang Pengji.
“Zixiao, you’ve returned from visiting friends?” Jiang Pengji said, “Your complexion seems off; did you encounter a difficult matter?”
Wei Ci reined in his excess expression, “Thank you for your concern, my Lord, I am well.”
“That’s good…”
Jiang Pengji didn’t press the issue, instead instructing the kitchen to prepare lunch for Wei Ci and sending someone to invite Qi Guanrang and the others.
“Dao is far beyond expectation, and he also brought back terrain maps of the Northern Frontier, along with the locations and approximate strengths of the various tribes. With this information, we will be better equipped to handle the Northern Frontier. Now that Zixiao has returned, we must put the war in the Northern Frontier on the agenda.”
Wei Ci’s eyes opened wide in amazement.
He knew Sun Wen was impressive; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to outshine countless young talents, firmly holding the first seat among the Nie Clan’s strategists.
But he had not anticipated that Sun Wen could play both sides so cunningly, manipulating the Northern Frontier single-handedly!
After finishing his meal, Qi Guanrang and the others also arrived.
Jiang Pengji stated, “Today, I summoned you all for a reason that I’m sure everyone understands. The three tribes of the Northern Frontier have long coveted the Central Plains. If it weren’t for the Horse Plague that severely weakened their forces, they might have already marched south. Their ambitions are great, and with the Central Plains divided and warring among themselves, we cannot ensure that the Northern Frontier won’t take this opportunity to strike. As the Governor of Wanzhou, stationed at Chongzhou, I am naturally the Northern Frontier’s primary target to eliminate. As they say, the first strike is the strongest. Rather than waiting for the Northern Frontier to regain its strength, it is better to take the opportunity to go to war and end them.”
With that, Jiang Pengji specifically praised Sun Wen. If it weren’t for him inciting internal strife among the Northern Frontier’s princes, designing the escape of the Northern Frontier’s prince back to his territory, causing them to fight among themselves, the difficulty of taking the Northern Frontier would have increased several percent.
