"Ah, TSK, TSK. It’s such a pity your Emperor of Yan doesn’t practice swordsmanship."
Wei Zhonghe simply smiled without responding.
"That madman from Jin State, with a single word, propelled that sword-crafting Sword Zealot into the ranks of the Four Great Swordsmen. If His Majesty the Emperor of Yan also practiced swordsmanship, couldn’t we casually appoint eight, or even eighteen, Great Swordsmen in this world?"
Wei Zhonghe continued to smile silently.
Baili Sword, seeing no response, continued in an extremely puzzled tone, "Are you really not going to bother about that old bull?"
Wei Zhonghe shook his head, smiling. "No."
"Then does it mean this old man has traveled a thousand li, starving and freezing, to come here for nothing?" Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel[f]ire.net
The old master had invited Baili Sword to accompany him precisely for protection. Because the old master needed to get close to Yanjing, he required time and someone to guard him.
Wei Zhonghe pointed behind him. "If Mr. Baili is willing, there is warm wine and hot food prepared beneath the city wall."
"No, no, no, no..." Baili Sword shook his head. "That would be too improper. That old bull inside is too stingy. Let’s just stand here. If you don’t move, I won’t either."
Wei Zhonghe nodded. "Okay."
"Hmm, but it’s still too boring. You’re a eunuch, so I can’t even tell you any crude jokes. How dull."
Wei Zhonghe continued to smile without speaking.
"Isn’t Li Liangshen in Yanjing?"
Wei Zhonghe shook his head. "General Li is not in Yanjing."
"Improper, truly improper. You all clearly knew I was coming, yet you didn’t ask Li Liangshen to keep me company. This is too disrespectful. I’m genuinely afraid my sword-heart might start to stir, and I won’t be able to control it."
Wei Zhonghe, still maintaining that seemingly eternal smile, said, "If Mr. Baili’s sword-heart starts to stir, you are most welcome to come and explore the Great Yan street scene. My Great Yan may not be as vast as Qian State, but the street scene of Yan is equally fascinating."
"Hmph, I don’t have that kind of leisure."
"Mr. Baili could also visit Yinlang County, or go to the three borders of Qian State. Our Great Yan’s iron cavalry await Mr. Baili there."
"Are you threatening me?"
Wei Zhonghe nodded. "So, you finally understand."
"Well, now! Your Great Yan’s iron cavalry must be quite something!"
Wei Zhonghe continued to nod. "They are indeed quite something."
Just as the two were conversing, from inside the thatched cottage, a loud shout suddenly rang out, a roar akin to thunder echoing, "This old man, Master Zang, greets His Majesty the Emperor of Yan!"
"This old man, Master Zang, greets His Majesty the Emperor of Yan!"
In the courtyard outside Qiming Hall, the spectral image of an old man appeared. Around the old man, eighteen lotus flowers flickered faintly.
As soon as the old man materialized, a dozen or so red-robed grand eunuchs immediately surrounded him.
Xue Yi stepped forward three paces, faced the old man, and said, "Master Zang, your reputation precedes you."
In the East, the way of the Qi cultivator flourishes, from street-corner fortune-tellers scraping a living to those whose words can decide a nation’s destiny. Unlike the Four Great Swordsmen, of whom each of the Four Great Nations has one, among Qi cultivators, only one stood at the apex: Master Zang of Qian State.
"Reputation precedes me?" Master Zang looked at Xue Yi standing on the steps before him, a sneer playing on his lips. "You? If you hadn’t sustained your wretched life by leeching off Yan State’s National Destiny for decades, you wouldn’t even be qualified to stand before this old man!"
Xue Yi nodded. "That is indeed true."
The way of Qi cultivators was most prevalent in Qian State because many emperors, both in Qian State and its predecessor dynasties, had been infatuated with them. What superiors favor, inferiors will passionately pursue. Xue Yi himself was not the most talented Qi cultivator; his current level of attainment was only possible because two generations of Yan Emperors permitted him to cultivate by drawing upon the National Destiny using the Yan Cauldron.
Master Zang’s gaze passed through Xue Yi to the Emperor of Yan standing behind him. "Your Majesty, Emperor of Yan," he said, "this old rustic wishes to propose a transaction with you."
The Emperor of Yan said nothing.
Master Zang chuckled and continued, "Your Majesty, Emperor of Yan, look. The Dragon Vein of your Great Yan’s National Destiny is truly enviable."
The moment he finished speaking, three of the eighteen lotus flowers around Master Zang shattered.
The next moment, an illusory Black Dragon appeared above Qiming Hall, like a mirage. The Black Dragon coiled, its head raised skyward, exuding an aura of absolute dominance over the world!
Months ago, all sufficiently capable Qi cultivators across the land who had risked paying an immense price to divine the national fortunes were stunned by the sheer might of this Black Dragon! This signified that Yan State’s power, like a blazing fire fueled by oil, had reached its zenith!
When Tian Wujing exterminated his own clan, his granduncle had also spoken similar words to him.
Zhao Jiulang was still holding a rice cake. He took a bite, glanced up, took another bite, and looked up again. He felt a surprising sense of satisfaction, for he knew that he, too, had contributed to this Black Dragon.
Xue Yi spread his hands. Streams of black Qi swiftly rose from his body, resonating with the Black Dragon in the sky.
"Master Zang, with me here, I’d like to see if you can sever the Dragon Vein of my Great Yan!"
The disdainful smirk did not leave Master Zang’s face. "Fine," he said. "I truly don’t believe you can stop me. However, I came here only to make a deal with the Emperor of Yan behind you. Your Majesty, Emperor of Yan, I can refrain from severing your Great Yan’s Dragon Vein. But I demand that you immediately order your armies to withdraw and personally issue an imperial edict: for the remainder of your reign, you are forbidden from marching south to attack Qian State!"
As he spoke, another lotus flower beside Master Zang disintegrated.