Chong Xuansheng matured very early, earlier than most.

Even as a child, he displayed a maturity beyond his years.

He wouldn’t cry even when bullied.

If tripped, he would pick himself up.

If knocked down, he would lie there until everyone left, then rise again.

He didn’t compete, didn’t snatch, didn’t make a fuss, because he had no one to rely on.

Chong Xuan Yunbo was indeed his grandfather, but the Chong Xuan family was too vast. As the master of such a large family, the Marquis of Bowang, steeped in generations of glory, also bore immeasurable responsibilities.

Those responsibilities were so heavy that they consumed all of the old man’s energy.

For example, when Chong Xuan Futu refused to lead the army to conquer Xia, to atone for his “error,” he had already laid down his armor, his hair white with age, yet he still generously swore an oath, taking command of the expedition.

He had too many things to worry about, unable to spare much care for his grandson.

Chong Xuan Chuliang was stationed in the army year-round and rarely returned to Linzi. Although he would visit Chong Xuansheng whenever he did return, the number of times added up was still few.

But Chong Xuan Chuliang remembered that every time he visited this little fatty, he would always smile cheerfully, seemingly carefree and happy.

How could a figure like Chong Xuan Chuliang not know how this child was truly living? The resentment of the entire family’s decline was intentionally or unintentionally vented upon this son left behind by Chong Xuan Futu. The tangible and intangible resentment was a pressure that even a mature adult would find unbearable.

Even he himself found it difficult to endure, the very name of Earl Shenhuai – “Shenhuai.”

“Shen” meant cautious. “Huai” meant what one held in the heart.

He, Chong Xuan Chuliang, was a general, only concerned with building merit on the battlefield, risking his life for glory. Why should he need to be “Shenhuai”?

Yet living in such an environment, this little chubby boy would always smile so brightly whenever he saw him.

He then realized that Chong Xuansheng, still just a child, was deliberately trying to please him, trying to please the adult who was perhaps the only one in the family who was good to him. That was why he smiled so hard, striving to perform innocence.

This discovery once made Chong Xuan Chuliang very sad, because he realized that he had made a promise to his deceased brother, but he had not kept it. He had failed to take care of Chong Xuansheng.

He wanted to tell little Chong Xuansheng that if he felt wronged, he could cry in front of his uncle, that if he was bullied, he could complain to his uncle, and that his uncle would protect him and stand up for him.

But he didn’t say it, because he found that this kind of Chong Xuansheng was growing up faster.

Chong Xuan Chuliang considered himself to be a man with a heart of stone, capable of being ruthless to himself and even more ruthless to others. But Chong Xuansheng had never shown any grievance or cried in front of him, which was a regret that haunted him. He never married, never had children; Chong Xuansheng was his child.

But what child doesn’t cry to their father?

As Chong Xuansheng grew older, he became increasingly capable of taking care of himself. He was terrifyingly intelligent, possessed great talent for cultivation, and was able to seize opportunities. He also had a ruthless streak. Chong Xuan Chuliang once thought that he would never see this child’s vulnerable side.

Now he finally saw Chong Xuansheng shedding tears.

But how could this feeling be described?

Chong Xuan Chuliang slowly reached out and gently patted Chong Xuansheng on the shoulder.

Then, with a single large step forward, he stood face to face with Jiang Mengxiong!

He looked directly at the invincible military god of Qi, directly at the Great Marshal who guarded the nation, the number one figure in the Qi army.

His robes billowed, and his hair trembled slightly. The fighting spirit within him began to boil.

This slightly chubby, seemingly even soft, old man reached out, and instantly the wind shrieked, space trembled, and echoes reverberated throughout the heavens and earth.

A battle blade with an extremely high arc suddenly tore through the sky above Linzi, shooting towards him and landing in his hand.

And as he held the blade, it was as if a peerless ferocious beast had awakened!

The man was a vicious butcher, and the blade was named “Lifesnatcher”!

“Lord Chong Xuan!”

“Marquis Dingyuan, calm down!”

“Lord, you mustn’t!”

“Heavens!”

“Your Lordship, do not act rashly!”

Linzi was shaken!

Even Chong Xuansheng himself had not expected Chong Xuan Chuliang to go to such lengths for him!

To actually resort to force, intending to challenge the military god Jiang Mengxiong!

Holding the blade in his hand, his determination was undisguised.

He would forcibly kill Wang Yiwu today, because Chong Xuansheng had shed tears in front of him for the first time!

And in the eyes of Qi’s high-ranking officials, if Fierce Butcher truly fought the military god in Linzi, the matter would become too big!

Jiang Mengxiong was indeed a generation’s military god, but wasn’t Fierce Butcher also the mainstay of the Qi army?

On a smaller scale, this was a battle of wills between Fierce Butcher and the military god. On a larger scale, this was no less than a division within the army!

Chong Xuan Chuliang paid no heed to those who tried to dissuade him, those who were frightened, only staring at Jiang Mengxiong: “Great Marshal, I respect you greatly. But…”

“Wait.” Jiang Mengxiong reached out to stop him, turning his head to look at the woman lying in a pile of broken armor, lifeless.

The Great Marshal, so mighty, for the first time cast his gaze upon this inanimate woman.

“Is this girl the ‘Fourteen’ he spoke of?”

“Yes,” Chong Xuan Chuliang said.

“Is she important?”

A mere assassin, a mere woman, was she important?

Was she more important than the relationship between the Chong Xuan family and the Great Marshal’s mansion?

Was she more important than the overall situation of Qi?

Many people had an answer to this question. That answer was likely very “correct.”

However.

Everyone’s “correct” was never the same.

That was why the world had regrets, and that was why the world was wonderful!

Chong Xuan Chuliang held the Lifesnatcher blade, unwavering in the slightest: “She is important to Sheng’er, and Sheng’er is important to me. Therefore, she is important!”

He was the Marquis Dingyuan of Qi, Fierce Butcher Chong Xuan Chuliang. If he said she was important, then she must be important!

Even if she wasn’t important, she was now!

Looking at Chong Xuan Chuliang like this, Jiang Mengxiong didn’t know why, but he remembered the first time this man rose to fame.

Chong Xuan Chuliang first became famous throughout the world on the Qi-Xia battlefield.

And after he ventured deep alone, sweeping through the enemy’s rear and slaughtering countless foes, earning the name Fierce Butcher, the first thing he did upon returning to Linzi was to plead on behalf of Chong Xuan Futu.

At that time, facing the Emperor of Qi’s might, he was just as stubborn.

It seemed like decades had passed in a daze, how was it that Fierce Butcher hadn’t aged yet?

“I understand,” Jiang Mengxiong then nodded. “She is not dead yet.”

Chong Xuan Chuliang didn’t say anything. Although he was certain that Fourteen was already dead, Jiang Mengxiong wouldn’t resort to blatant lies at a time like this.

He was waiting for the answer.
Jiang Mengxiong did not keep him waiting for long, continuing as if talking to himself, “When I descended, I already suppressed the two-realm passage here, so no wandering soul can pass through.”

His tone was very ordinary. But onlookers like Zheng Shi had already gasped, even starting to regret their previous defiance.

What frightened Zheng Shi was not Jiang Mengxiong’s terrifying power in suppressing the two-realm passage from afar, but his “ruthlessness.”

The God of War was too ruthless.

Suppressing the two-realm passage in advance upon his arrival was clearly to ensure that those who harmed his disciple would have their souls obliterated, ensuring that even in death, their spirits could not escape, and they would never have another chance for reincarnation.

So forceful, so ruthless!

Regardless of how others felt, Jiang Mengxiong had already made his decision. He reached out and grabbed something from the void, pulling it out casually. The soul of Shisi appeared before everyone’s eyes.

In truth, this soul was already showing signs of scattering, but it was mended by a great power.

Jiang Mengxiong pressed down again, directly pushing the soul back into Shisi’s body.

At the same time, he flicked his finger, and a golden pill entered her lips. Before long, Shisi, who had already died, opened her eyes with a dazed expression.

The first thing she did upon opening her eyes was to grope for her sword, but after finding nothing, she seemed to remember that her sword had been shattered.

She then tried to get up, wanting to continue fighting.

But she only managed to lift herself halfway before being enveloped by soft, fleshy arms—Chong Xuansheng had embraced her.

Jiang Mengxiong had no intention of watching their romantic display, only asking Chong Xuan Chuliang again, “How is it now?”

His voice no longer carried any emotion.

“Uncle, let it be. Let us young people handle our own affairs,” Chong Xuansheng said at this moment.

Jiang Mengxiong personally saving Shisi had already shown enough concession. If it weren’t for the sake of the overall situation in the Qi Kingdom’s army, he might not have done so—the God of War was never known for his good temper.

And Chong Xuan Chuliang had already done enough.

In terms of both sentiment and reason, Chong Xuansheng did not want his uncle to risk his life for him. His hatred for Wang Yiwu was, of course, difficult to dispel, but he hoped to resolve it himself in the future. So he said that young people should handle their own affairs.

Chong Xuan Chuliang sheathed the Life-Severing Blade. “Marshal, your decision is fair. This Marquis has no objections.”

“The Son of Floating Pagoda is right. Young people should handle their own affairs,” Jiang Mengxiong nodded. “Then this matter ends here.”

Chong Xuan Yunbo breathed a sigh of relief. The safety of the family’s heir was the family’s bottom line. So he had to step forward and would not condone it.

But he was also very clear about Jiang Mengxiong’s strength and authority.

Although he did not hesitate to pressure the Qi Emperor to take a stand with the question of reducing his title, he was showing a sign of weakness. Why did he need the Qi Emperor to take a stand? Even if the Chong Xuan family exhausted its strength, could it truly shake the Town-Nation Grand Marshal’s estate? He knew the answer in his heart.

With the matter coming to an end, Jiang Mengxiong looked at Jiang Wang again, but did not make any move, only asking, “Young man, do you agree?”

Jiang Wang held his longsword, neither humble nor arrogant. “Of course, let it end here.”

“No, no.” Jiang Mengxiong shook his head slightly. “I mean, do you agree with the saying, ‘Let young people handle their own affairs’?”

In other words, this matter was over in his mind, but Wang Yiwu would definitely seek revenge in the future.

Jiang Wang said cautiously, “Grand Marshal, can I speak the truth?”

“Speak freely.”

“Then forgive my bluntness,” Jiang Wang said. “If it were really left to young people to handle… I would have already killed him.”

Many people broke out in a cold sweat for Jiang Wang.

But Jiang Mengxiong smiled instead.

Having already decided to let it go, he would naturally not go back on his word.

He simply grabbed Wang Yiwu and flew towards the outside of Linzi City.

*Yiwu* is arrogant and conceited. Having such an opponent may not be a bad thing, he thought.

However, no one noticed, or perhaps some noticed but did not say anything.

This was the first time since Wang Yiwu had emerged that no one cared about his attitude.

The grand drama ended, and the clamor dissipated.

After Jiang Mengxiong left, Chong Xuan Chuliang and Chong Xuan Yunbo also left together.

Chong Xuansheng insisted on walking on his own and refused to take a carriage.

Having just experienced life and death, Chong Xuan Chuliang had no choice but to let him. As for his injuries, they were not important. As long as he kept his life, even the most serious injuries could be healed. The Chong Xuan family was not short of money, nor were they short of spiritual medicines.

So he and Shisi supported each other, walking towards the direction of the Xia Mountain Villa.

Jiang Wang walked beside them.

Shisi was probably very unaccustomed to being without her armor, her eyes almost constantly fixed on her shoes.

But Chong Xuansheng’s injuries were not light, and because of the God of War’s golden pill, Shisi’s condition was still alright. So while they were said to be supporting each other, in reality, most of Chong Xuansheng’s large weight was pressing on Shisi’s small shoulders.

Regardless of how others saw it, they themselves were very accustomed to it.

They walked very slowly, and Jiang Wang could only slow down with them.

“I want to make Linzi remember this day forever,” Chong Xuansheng said.

“Remember what Wang Yiwu did, and how the God of War shielded him.”

He wanted everyone to know about this, so he dragged his injured body and made a display in the city.

The Ferocious Butcher and the God of War had made such a big commotion that almost the entire city of Linzi was alarmed. Although not many people actually showed their faces, their gazes were more or less focused on this side.

Ending things like this was an acceptable choice for everyone.

It was just that. All kinds of gazes inevitably gathered on Jiang Wang.

This handsome-looking youth could be called the most dazzling genius in Linzi today. And even in the entire Qi Kingdom, and in the entire Eastern Region.

Having defeated Wang Yiwu head-on, he rightfully occupied the historical position of the number one Ascending Dragon.

And having already obtained Divine Power, would he also become the number one in the Inner Palace?

Would he briefly streak across the sky, or would he eternally hang in the firmament?

“That person probably doesn’t care. The people of Linzi will probably only remember… that you were beaten very badly by Wang Yiwu,” Jiang Wang said.

“…” Chong Xuansheng said angrily, “I was seriously injured!”

Shisi also raised her head and glared at him.
“Alright, alright, alright,” Jiang Wang conceded, “You’re absolutely right! Linzi will certainly remember this day!”

Heavily leaning on Shi Si, Chong Xuansheng slowly moved forward, his tone now different. “Jiang Wang, remember this day. This is the day your name will spread throughout the world, you will be remembered by all. In this era of brilliant stars, you will be the most dazzling one. Trust me, you will draw everyone’s attention, you will become the pride of Qi.”

He sighed with emotion, and also with praise: “Inviting you to Qi was the most correct decision I ever made. You have already made me very proud, do you know that?”

“Sending dozens of Flying Crane Letters a day, tricking me into transferring my cultivation to you. That was also one of your correct decisions,” Jiang Wang retorted, sparing no effort to ruin the atmosphere.

“Correct decisions also include never dueling you again after you achieve the Great Completion of the Soaring Dragon Realm, so you can never earn back the cultivation you lost,” Chong Xuansheng said with glee.

Unashamed, but rather taking pride in it.

“Of course, I will remember this day,” Jiang Wang finally said.

He looked at the western sky, where the setting sun cast its final, orange glow. But there was only a single cloud, drifting there alone.

Though the sky was vast, the drifting cloud was without support.

Today was the thirteenth day of the tenth month in the 3918th year of the Dao Calendar.

This day was Jiang An’an’s birthday.

But brother and sister were at opposite ends of the world.

Two chapters combined into one, so there will be no update tonight.

Tomorrow I will write the volume’s concluding summary.