Meng Qi: I was able to kill endlessly, but I would not die, ah
Ning Changyuan: โโฆโฆโ
Originally, Daoist Ning wanted to cheer, but then he noticed Meng Qiโs expression.
All right, since your relationship was unusual, learning a few moves from each other did not seem like a big deal.
In fact, hundreds of years ago, when many great martial artists emerged, they were not confined to any single school or sect. Whoever clung stubbornly to their ancestral heritage without progress would soon fall behind in the martial world and be relegated to the second tier. Close friends and fellow masters often tested each otherโs skills. After many bouts, there was always a move or two they could learn completely in both form and spirit.
Who wasnโt a martial arts genius back then?
As long as you carefully pondered and repeatedly studied, you could use what you learned to intimidate others, securely so.
As for why it was just for show, it was because these were single techniques, making it hard to deploy them in sequence.
First, they did not align with your own martial path, so forcing yourself to switch styles was awkward. Secondly, there was no need; after learning from countless schools, you still aimed to create new martial arts.
Even if you mastered the form and spirit of the moves, Mo Li still could not replicate them barehanded. He needed raging flames for support to recreate the grand power of the scorching sun.
Recalling that fiery dragon that appeared in a flash, Daoist Ning felt that Mo Liโs display was truly unexpected.
It was not just conveniently similar and then forced to be called a dragon; it genuinely looked like one.
Not to mention that the head and tail were complete, even the dragonโs whiskers and eyes could be seen. Its diving momentum was intimidating, like a living creature. This definitely was not something a normal martial expert could do. Could it be that he frequently painted dragons in his daily life, and now he was so adept with his internal energy?
Ning Changyuan possessed decent painting skills himself; otherwise, he could not have handled forgery. At that moment, he grew intensely curious as he sized up Mo Li, thinking that it was not obvious he was a dragon-painting enthusiast. People often liked painting horses, tigers, or cats, or even bamboo, chrysanthemums, orchids, and plum blossoms. Dragons were not uncommon either.
Apart from dragons and tigers, other subjectsโฆ really did not look presentable in a contest.
Imagine raging flames rolling, and a chubby cat jumped outโwould that not be ridiculous?
Ning Changyuan turned around, and the Holy Lotus Sect followers, who were all terrified, backed off another step, wishing they could master the rumoured Earth-Escape Daoist spell.
โWhere do you think youโre going!โ
Not wanting to let the old White-Bone man who used Gu poison escape, Ning Changyuan pursued him with sword in hand.
The Holy Lotus Sect was in total disarray this time. That single sword strike shook everyone. They realized the tide had turned. The martial prowess of Ning Changyuanโs trio was too formidable; even if they had superior numbers, at least half of them would have to die before there was any chance to turn the tables. Who could guarantee it would not be themselves who died?
That ragtag crowd finally lived up to the name, scattering in all directions, including the rebel soldiers.
โDragon, it was a dragonโฆ so why did it look like a demon?โ
โWhere is the Star Lord?โ
Those who had been killing blindly finally snapped out of it. Gazing at the toppled carriage, the fear long suppressed began to flood back.
Ahead stood fortified city walls, and there was a โdragonโ that could reveal its true form. Outside these walls, in the vast land of Jingzhou, there was also wealth and grain. Why should they die here? Oh, according to the Holy Maiden and the Dharma Protectors, once they took the Nanjing Commandery seat, they could use the City God Templeโs ceremonial ground to summon heavenly warriors and generals to exorcise the demon and overcome the calamity.
Demon or not, clearly, this calamity was not going to be overcome!
Like a retreating tide, the rebel army pulled back. Even those who wanted to maintain order could not control it.
All the generals serving the Tianshou King gnashed their teeth, thinking that as long as they lived, there was still hope. If they died here today, there would be nothing left to rely on.
Even though the former Yizhou troops were unwilling, as everyone around them fled in terror, they had no choice but to be swept away. They looked up at the city walls, looking at Mo Li and Meng Qi with a venomous hatred in their eyes.
So close, just a little bit closer.
โCough, cough.โ Zheng Tu also glared at Mo Li with the same gaze.
Blood had rushed into his lungs, but every cough tugged at his broken ribs, causing piercing pain.
In addition, his internal injuries had damaged his organs, meaning he did not have long to live.
Zheng Tuโs wound-covered face gradually twisted. He narrowed his eyes and let out a strained laugh: โYou think you won?โ
Mo Li did not glance at him again; he turned and went to find his blade.
โโฆWithout me, without the Honourable Master Luoโฆ what a pity. Even without the Tianshou King, this rebel army would still exist. A hunting dog that had tasted blood would never be content returning to its old ways.โ Zheng Tuโs voice gradually regained strength, and his face flushed with colour, banishing the gloom of his earlier defeat.
He was about to die; willing or not, he had to face that outcome.
But Zheng Tu refused to admit defeat. Only his ambition had failed, and the situation in Jingzhou, Jiangnan, and even the entire realm was already beyond salvation.
โKill them!โ Zheng Tu jeered while turning his head toward the fleeing masses, panting like a bellows. โBefore you people, they are mere ants, easily crushed. But how many can you kill? Even if you drop dead from exhaustion, some will always escapeโฆ cough, coughโฆ and what about the Tianshou Kingโs troops that were previously scattered all over Jingzhouโฆโ
Those rebel officers had already slipped into the crowd to survive; it would be impossible to find them now.
Everything Zheng Tu had plotted so carefully would not end with his death.
The Tianshou Kingโs army met crushing defeat at the Nanjing Commandery seat. None of the generals saw eye to eye, so they parted ways, each gathering the remnants of their forces and once again raising the Holy Lotus Sect banner, drifting across Jiangnan as bandits. They intended to emulate the uprisings of old that were suppressed, then split into factions, which triggered chaotic times and competing warlords. Eventually, some survivors would join local government troops, the Yellow Turbans.
The King of Jingโs jurisdiction in Jingzhou was practically in name only, giving these rebels excellent conditions to keep fighting. At the same timeโ
โCough, cough, Jingzhouโฆ such a fine place, such a big piece of fat meat. Would the Qi Dynasty not desire it? Would King Ning not desire it? Would King Wu be content to just sit at home and watch others fight over it?โ Zheng Tu sighed, a twisted grin on his face. โGo ahead and kill, but you will never wipe out all the ants. In the face of the grand fortunes of the world, you lot are merely mayflies.โ
Mayflies trying to shake a great treeโhow laughably ignorant.
Ha, what did being the greatest swordsman under heaven matter? What good was being a top master?
To Zheng Tuโs surprise, Meng Qi did not rage or tremble; instead, he sheathed his sword and walked over unhurriedly.
โYou might as well guess how Daoist Ning managed to get here.โ
โโฆโฆโ
Wasnโt it just the Fengxing Pavilion? Zheng Tuโs mind shifted, and he sneered, โSo you expected the Fengxing Pavilion to gather the martial world to fight against the government troops?โ
โWrong. We were collaborating, at least the Jiangxia garrison wasnโt spineless,โ Meng Qi spoke slowly, โThe Qi army wouldnโt be happy taking over Jiangnan either, since they couldnโt even sort out their own court affairs. We only needed to exaggerate that the plague was rampant in Jiangnan, that the afflicted resembled starving ghosts, and that troops from the north couldnโt adapt to the climate. As long as Ning and Wu were willing to pay, once the Qi army had its fill of hacking away like cutting melons, they would retreat north of the river.โ
In the end, Jingzhou did not only have helpless commoners left to slaughter.
It also had Yunming Academy, and hundreds of able-bodied men eager to avenge their murdered families.
โFoolish,โ Zheng Tu spat out blood-tinged foam and said with difficulty, โYou underestimated the worldโs ambitions. Let me tell you the truth: setting aside King Wu, there was a huge variable lurking in Jingzhouโฆโ
โYou meant the so-called experts from the Xiliang Mรณjiฤtรญ Temple, and their leader Ayanpuka? They died!โ
โโฆโฆโ
Meng Qi raised his eyebrow at Zheng Tu. Before the latter could react, he added in a cold tone, โOr perhaps you wanted to mention the viper hibernating under King Ningโs command, Mister Qiu, who controlled countless people with profit? Oh, he died too!โ
He spoke while casually opening his palm, then curled his fingers one by one. His expression brimmed with scorn.
Though he did not say it outright, he almost had โI did thatโ written on his forehead.
Zheng Tu spewed blood all at once.
He could dismiss the Xiliang people, but he had not anticipated Qiu Siโฆ
Of course, Zheng Tu did not know Qiu Siโs death was already imminent. In his view, Ayanpuka was a lunatic like his master, the Ancestor Zhao Zangfeng, both obsessed with dragon veins. Meanwhile, Qiu Si was a real strategist. Though Zheng Tu did not grasp many details from afar, they had already put him on high alert.
How could this be? Impossible!
โIndeed, the surging rivers never stopped, the world kept going, and new warlords and schemers emerged one after another. But for now, few could surpass you, the Tianshou King, and Qiu Si,โ Meng Qi said lightly. โWhoever arrived, we would stamp them out, drown them in these raging eastern currents!โ
Zheng Tuโs last shred of determination was crushed. He clenched his teeth and, on the brink of death, still tried to dig a pit for Meng Qi: โโฆCough, cough, fine, then I want to see how long you could last. No one stayed undefeated forever. Could you keep surviving?โ
This world was already incurable; one after another, the ambitious rose to power, while the ignorant masses were exploited to the limitโthis was fate.
Anyone who wanted to save the world would just die from exhaustion first!
Zheng Tu twitched slightly. Just as a smile appeared on his face, he heard a barely audible voice.
โWhy couldnโt I?โ
Zheng Tuโs eyes widened, staring hard at Meng Qi.
Was this man a lunatic, or a madman like Zhao Zangfeng?
His vision blurred. His throat rasped, yet he could not utter another word.
As Meng Qi spoke, he raised his palm and shattered Zheng Tuโs heart.
โI thought he had more tricks,โ Meng Qi said regretfully as he looked at the corpse.
Ning Changyuan, who returned carrying the White-Bone Elderโs head, remarked, โโฆโ
Although he did not know what had happened, he imagined Zheng Tu might have yanked on the chains of the Underworld officers, refusing to go without kicking Meng Qi once.
โWhen I set out, Master Qiu gave me a firework to signal once the rebel army retreatedโฆโ
Ning Changyuan turned toward the city. The flames seemed to be dwindling, yet something felt off.
โTh-Those heroes down at the city wallsโฆโ
Someone atop the walls called out timidly.
Meng Qi did not respond. He spoke with a somber face, โDaoist Ning, I leave this place to you. Once the Fengxing Pavilion folks arrive, temporarily organize the troops. Donโt let any of Jingzhouโs nobles enter Jiangxia. The priority now is to eliminate what remains of the Tianshou Kingโs forces across Jingzhou. We canโt let the Jingzhou officials stall us again. I will seek out the Qi army.โ
Ning Changyuan agreed. He cast a glance at Mo Li, returning empty-handed, and hesitated, โDoctor Mo, could it beโฆ you didnโt find your blade?โ
Mo Li shook his head slightly, showing some regret.
โIt broke.โ
It was not a famed weapon forged by a master smith. In total, Mo Li had only used it for five years.
Ever since he began learning martial arts, as his body and internal force improved, he replaced his weapons until settling on those two dull blades. They were the ones he carried out of Zhushan County, seeing him through countless battles.
โSomeday I will find an artisan to forge two fine blades for A Li,โ Meng Qi promptly unfastened the Heartfelt Sword from his waist and forced it upon him. โFor now, why not use my sword? I could also teach you my swordsmanship in full.โ
Daoist Ning silently lowered his gaze.
โBoundless Virtue, indeed. He took off his outer robe and belt without hesitation.
Authorโs Note:
Zheng Tu howled: Fighting against this chaotic world, you were mere ants, mayflies, foolishly trying to stop a chariot.
Zheng Tu cursed: In the raging flood of history, countless warlords rose; if you wanted to kill them all, you would tire to death first.
Meng Qi raised an eyebrow: Let them drown in that flood, just like you.
Meng Qi sneered: I might never kill them all, but I would never die either.
