Jiang Wang did not understand. Why was Chong Xuan Sheng so certain that Lin Youxie was still in Lushuang County?

Could it be that, having eliminated all other possibilities, the single remaining one must be the truth?

He, however, placed complete trust in Chong Xuan Sheng’s judgment. Thus, he spoke slowly, “But the Patrol Inspection Office has already scoured Lushuang County… if there were clues, they wouldn’t have missed them.”

Jiang Wang pondered for a moment, feeling it was improper to mislead his disciple. He extended his index finger and tapped the boy’s forehead. “What are you thinking? Your Master is telling you not to listen to those honeyed words. Only the evaluation of me after I’ve been dust for a hundred years holds true weight. Their praises now are spoken for you to hear, but ultimately, they wish me to hear them.”

Chu Yao rubbed his forehead. “Then are they very bad?”

“Why do you say so?” Jiang Wang asked with interest.

“Because they are all insincere, not speaking those words with true hearts,” Chu Yao said. “Didn’t you say we should treat people with sincerity?”

“Sincerity should be a requirement for oneself, not an obligation imposed on others,” Jiang Wang chuckled. “For them to serve under the Marquis’s Estate, to wish to make an impression before me, to seek my recognition – these are but common human sentiments. How can they be called ‘bad’?”

“But lying is always wrong, isn’t it?” Chu Yao persisted.

Jiang Wang said slowly and leisurely, “For instance, you have two little companions. One tells you every day that you are clever and lovable, exceptionally talented. The other tells you every day that you are dark and thin, like a scorched piece of wood. Who would you rather play with?”

Chu Yao said very seriously, “My little companions would never scold me.”

“Then who you would rather play with is not blindingly obvious?”

Chu Yao, like a little adult, touched his chin, as if deep in thought. “So, Master, you also like to hear pleasant words, and that’s why they praise you like that, right?”

Jiang Wang laughed heartily. “This is called ‘if the superior has a preference, the subordinate will be certain to follow’. Chu Yao, you should take this as a warning.”

“Master,” Chu Yao asked earnestly, “What kind of person do you hope I become? You’ve never told me before.”

Perhaps out of gratitude, he wished to strive to become the person his Master desired, to make his Master satisfied. Yet, his Master seemed never to have imposed any requirements upon him. This was the second time he had asked this question.

Therefore, Jiang Wang also thought seriously for a moment before saying, “…Truly, Master has no specific desire for you to become a certain type of person. No goals or responsibilities are given to you. As long as you do not commit evil or crime, and do not harm others, you can become any kind of person you wish.”

“But you are the Marquis of Wu An of Great Qi.”

“And so?”

“You don’t wish for your disciple to lose face for you, do you?”

“How could you lose face for me?”

“For example, if I cannot win against others, if I am not as clever as other disciples, if my methods aren’t as effective…”

“If you feel these things bring shame, then it is only you who loses face, not your Master,” Jiang Wang said. “Because you have your life, and I have mine. If you cannot defeat others, if you do not strive as hard as others, that is your affair. How does your Master lose face?”

Jiang Wang looked at him and said, “Your Master tells you, in what situations will I feel shame? If you use Master’s banner to commit evil and crime outside. If you study with Master, yet lose your good morals. If you are harmed by others, and Master cannot protect you… In these times, Master will feel shame.”

Chu Yao said, “Master, you are not like them.”

“In what way am I not like them?” Jiang Wang asked.

Chu Yao said, “My mother told me that I must strive desperately, I must be very sensible, and I must be particularly careful with my words and actions, so as not to bring shame upon you. Uncle Lian Da told me that you are not a person of low standing, and since I have become your disciple, I cannot be too mediocre, otherwise I would lose face for you.”

Jiang Wang said in a grave tone, “Your mother is a good mother, your Uncle Lian Da is a good friend, but your Master is not necessarily a good Master. Of course, we all hope you do well, but you don’t necessarily have to listen to everything we say. Because we are all very ordinary people, and we are not always right.”

Chu Yao looked at him, seemingly understanding and yet not understanding.

Jiang Wang thought for a moment and said again, “When that aunt-in-law of yours brought people to your doorstep and cursed your mother, how did you feel?”

Chu Yao said, “I was very angry.”

“When you grow up, if you see a large group of people bullying a small child, how will you feel?”

Chu Yao thought for a moment and said, “I will also be very angry.”

“For that bullied child, right?”

“I feel great pity for him.”

“What will you do? I mean, if you cannot defeat those people.”

“I will sneak off and report it to the authorities.”

Jiang Wang laughed. “You are already the person Master hopes you become. Maintain the courage of anger, do not forget the spirit of compassion, and do good things within your ability… This is Master’s expectation of you.”

“You don’t need to be like me in the future, to seize the first place in the Yellow River Meeting, to be the foremost in the world, right?” Jiang Wang shook his head.

“You don’t need to be like me, to be conferred a Marquis and serve as a minister, right?” Jiang Wang shook his head again.

Only Chu Yao blinked his eyes. “A few days ago, I learned about ‘sacrificing oneself for righteousness.’ It said that was the conduct of sages and wise men. Why do you only teach me to do what I can?”

Jiang Wang said seriously, “Sacrificing oneself for righteousness is, of course, very noble. I admire such people. But I will not demand that you become such a person. I will not demand that anyone become such a person. That kind of great divine deed should come from the awakening of the heart, not from the dictates of others.”

Chu Yao said again, “I heard them say that the time you blocked the floodwaters was an act of sacrificing yourself for righteousness, that you did something very great.”

“Whether it was great is debatable. At that time, I fundamentally wasn’t thinking much. Even if such a situation were to occur again, I might not necessarily dare to do the same. Your Master is alive and bears the concerns of many people; I cannot lightly abandon my life. What Master wants to tell you is, if you hold the highest moral standards in your heart, that should only be a requirement for yourself. A senior once told your Master, ‘To demand of others with your standards is already harsh. To demand of the world with your standards, then you are evil and unaware; you are a demon among demons.’ Master often reflects on this, and I give this sentence to you.”

Teaching a disciple was not something Jiang Wang had a strong purpose for. He merely did his best to take care of Chu Mi’s family.

He never felt himself to be an absolutely correct person. He even had no certainty whether he could become a good Master.

He had absolutely no intention of sculpting Chu Yao in his own image. Apart from martial arts training, he usually only told Chu Yao “what not to do,” and rarely told Chu Yao “what you must do.”

He did not believe himself to be a person who had seen through worldly affairs and understood the principles of life; he himself was only twenty-one years old. His only mastery lay in martial arts, which had been verified by countless battles. Self-reflection and teaching could not be passed on. Therefore, when discussing life with Chu Yao, he treated it with great caution.

But as these dialogues with Chu Yao unfolded, he clearly felt his own presence in the distant starry dome’s Four Star Towers becoming clearer and more vivid.

Within the Ursa Major domain, his own star light flowed.

When he conversed with Chu Yao, the Starlight Holy Tower would transmit his insights towards the Main World.

Understanding is also cultivation.

The process of transmitting and inducing insights back into the Main World is also a process of sorting out one’s past path.

How was his teaching of Chu Yao not also a process of examining himself?

Following the unimpeded southern route, he was about to reach Shao Kang Prefecture.

However, at the entrance of Rugu Village, they suddenly stopped.

Guarding this place was Liang Country’s first-rank Duke, the old general Huang Deyu.

That year, when Kang Shao raised the banner of restoration, he was Kang Shao’s most powerful supporter. With great merit in the restoration, he was able to enjoy the same honors as the country.

Of course, within a small country like Liang, the weight of dukes and marquises was far less than in Xia Country. Although Huang Deyu was conferred a duke, his cultivation had stopped at the God Arrival realm, and he was unable to break through to higher realms. The power of the country could assist cultivators in breaking through, but it did not guarantee that they could break through. Even the best system requires the support of outstanding talents.

Thus, Qi Country, even in the Lei East Domain, still desired to welcome all rivers and seas.

The only previous intersection between Jiang Wang and Huang Deyu was probably that Huang Deyu’s direct grandson, Huang Su, had also participated in the Yellow River Meeting in Dao Calendar Year 3919.

“Marquis,” the Tiqi leading the way returned his horse at this moment and reported in front of the ox cart, “The Liang Country people say they will not allow our army to pass. You can only go to Jian Ge by yourself… Look, do we not have to force our way through?”

The cart driver lifted the curtain of the cart.

Jiang Wang looked at the eager expression of this Qi general officer outside and said somewhat amusingly, “Why do we just have to force our way through? It’s as if I’ve brought you all to attack cities and seize territories.”

This Qi general officer scratched the back of his neck and said embarrassedly, “It’s mainly that these little Liang people are too ignorant. How dare they stop even your ceremonial guard? A guard of two hundred people also counts as an army. Why are they guarding like this?”

“Alright,” Jiang Wang waved his hand. “You all go to the Ming Kong Cold Mountain station. I will go to Jian Ge alone.”

“Marquis, how can you not have a few attendants with you?” Qi Jiang said urgently. “This subordinate will go negotiate with them again. I don’t believe they’ve eaten leopard gall!”

“When entering a village, follow the local customs. Since this place is already Liang territory, guarding their rules is also not harmful…” Jiang Wang looked at him calmly. “Go back.”

As the saying goes, a minister dies when his lord is insulted. He was naturally angry at the targeting Jiang Wang had received, but he dared not disobey Jiang Wang’s command. He could only hatefully pull the horse’s head, wave his arm, and lead the team back towards Ming Kong Cold Mountain.

“You also go back,” Jiang Wang smiled kindly and patted the cart driver.

The cart driver was a thin, small man. Hearing this, he hesitated to speak.

Jiang Wang laughed gently. “They say they won’t let me bring soldiers, so I won’t bring soldiers.”

The cart driver could only loosen the rope, leap onto the back of a Tiqi’s horse, and return. Jiang Wang then said, “Chu Yao, can you drive the cart?”

Chu Yao said loudly, “Of course I can! The white ox is very clever; I don’t even need to drive it!”

“Very good, Master’s grand entrance depends on you,” Jiang Wang patted the back of his head. “Go drive the cart, follow the map. You won’t get lost, will you?”

“Don’t worry, Master!” Chu Yao, full of interest, squeezed out of the ox cart.

The ox cart moved forward along the dry road.

This road, which once connected Shao Kang and Jin An Prefectures, was now cut off. A checkpoint had been set up at the Jin An border, guarded by fully armed soldiers.

The Liang Country people also knew whose carriage this was. Seeing only a nine-year-old child driving the cart, they did not block it further.

The checkpoint was already open.

However, the armored soldiers on both sides of the dry road each slanted their long spears. Thus, the passing lane became a small road lined with spears.

Cold light flashed, and suddenly, a killing aura filled the air.

When Chu Yao drove the cart here, his initial excitement had faded, and he looked back nervously, only to find that Master had already closed his eyes to rest. “Master’s grand entrance depends on you.”

The thin boy thought this sentence in his heart and conveniently helped Master pull down the cart curtain a little.

“Ox brother, ah, ox brother,” he said softly, “Don’t be afraid. Don’t lose face for my Master!” This white ox was of the highest spiritual grade among those on the grasslands. If it truly went mad, even ordinary Mansion cultivators would find it difficult to control. Of course, it was not afraid of these standing soldiers.

It proudly let out a “moo,” lowered its head, and stood still.

Chu Yao also sat up straight, his eyes fixed forward, recalling in his mind the scene of Master inspecting the iron cavalry at Mount Lao. He imagined himself also reviewing the troops.

Thinking this way, he truly wasn’t nervous anymore.

He could even look left and right a little, casting glances of praise or criticism.

Those soldiers, some cold, some fierce, also felt involuntary surprise in their hearts. They only thought that those who were not guilty were people from the Marquis of Wu An’s Estate. Although it was a child, his courage was still very strong. Displaying military might was good, indicating attitude was good.

The road lined with soldier weapons, extending for a hundred paces, did not take long to traverse with the white ox’s company.

Soon, the ox cart formally entered Jin An Prefecture, leaving several checkpoints far behind.

Without hearing Master say anything, Chu Yao took out the map and carefully compared it, moving forward with the white ox with purpose.

Along the way, the scenery of late summer and early autumn imprinted itself on the child’s keen eyes.

This southern tour was also for himself. Before long, an armored general leading a cavalry force of several hundred came rolling dust and smoke from a distance, charging straight towards this ox cart. Chu Yao was a little nervous, but did not make a sound.

The white ox stopped.

Lowering its hooves and horns, it let out a threatening lowing sound.

“Hu!”

The leading cavalry general pulled the reins, and his steed stood upright, stopping abruptly, displaying excellent military discipline. The cavalry behind him all followed suit.

This posture was indeed intimidating.

At least, Chu Yao was a little stunned at first.

The cavalry general, in bright helmet and armor, bowed towards the carriage and said loudly, “Kang Wenhao, Deputy General of Xiu Ping Prefecture of Great Liang, seeks an audience with the Marquis of Wu An of Qi Country!” Xiu Ping Prefecture was the name given to Jin An Prefecture by Liang Country; they simply changed the name.

And this cavalry general in charge of the pass, though young, seemed to be the deputy general of Yang Ping Prefecture.

But he had bowed at the mountain gate.

Yet, there was no sound from inside the ox cart.

Kang Wenhao waited there, silent.

The several hundred cavalry remained silent. Chu Yao couldn’t help but turn his head and whisper, “Master, someone is seeking an audience with you. He seems to be a high official!”

Silence continued for a moment before a response came from inside the carriage compartment.

“Chu Yao, have I asked you to do anything else?”

Although the words carried a hint of criticism, Chu Yao felt a surge of power upon hearing them.

He shook the reins with his small hand. “Make way! My Master doesn’t want to see you all!”

The white ox also pulled the cart forward on its own, seemingly oblivious to the people blocking the road ahead.

Kang Wenhao’s face was not pleasant to look at. The cavalry he had brought this time, although only three hundred strong, were drawn from Liang Country’s most elite troops.

As the saying goes, “with a sharp blade in hand, the killing heart arises naturally.” With a strong army at his command, it was difficult for him to maintain a good temper. And as the fifth son of the current Liang Emperor, when had he ever been so ignored?

But after a moment of silence, he could only turn his horse’s head and clear the way.

Three months later, early spring.

Content. Blood-colored rain fell upon the mortal world, heavy with sorrow.

The earth was hazy. A ruined city stood silent in the dim red blood rain, devoid of life.

Within the city walls lay broken ruins, everything withered. Collapsed houses and countless green-black corpses and torn flesh could be seen everywhere, like scattered autumn leaves, withering silently.

The once bustling streets were now desolate.

The sandy roads, once crowded with people, were now silent.

Only blood-soaked mud mixed with broken flesh, dust, and paper remained, indistinguishable from each other, a horrifying sight.

Not far away, a damaged carriage was deeply embedded in the mud, full of sorrow. On the carriage shaft, an abandoned rabbit doll hung and swayed in the wind.

Its white fluff was already soaked red, full of gloomy strangeness.

Its muddy double pupils seemed to hold some lingering resentment, staring alone at the mottled stone blocks ahead.

There, lay a figure.

This was a youth of thirteen or fourteen years old, his clothes torn and covered in dirt, a damaged leather bag tied around his waist.

The youth’s narrow eyes were unmoving. Bone-chilling cold penetrated his old clothes from all sides, assaulting his entire body and gradually taking away his body temperature.

Even with rainwater falling on his face, his eyes did not blink. He stared like a hawk with cold eyes at the distance.

Following his gaze, about seven or eight zhang away, a skinny, bald vulture was gnawing on the rotten carcass of a wild dog, observing its surroundings alertly from time to time.

It seemed that in the midst of these dangerous ruins, the slightest rustle of wind would cause it to instantly take flight.