Chapter 678 Maya's Story

Capital city.

A sudden heavy rain soaked this historic city. Due to the notice posted in advance by the Imperial Observatory, the people in the city returned home early and closed their doors.

The heavy rain soaked the streets in the city and raised low "smoke".

Inside the Imperial Astronomical Observatory, a building in the city that is almost as tall as the bell tower of the Tianshi Mansion, an astronomical official is busy at work.

On the observatory at the highest point of the building, a third-rank supervisor sat cross-legged under the arched eaves above his head, gazing at the dark green bamboo forest outside the city.

"Master, here are the things you requested."

Behind him, a boy came up with a wooden box, carrying it laboriously. He put it down on the ground with a thud, and even pretended to wipe his sweat, pretending to be very tired.

"It's summer now, and it's raining heavily. It's not easy to move here from Dali Temple. Are you so anxious to see it?"

It has been almost two months since Zhao Duan left the capital.

Not long ago, the Dali Temple sent people to the Imperial Observatory and invited an astronomer to come over. They said that when they were sorting out the materials confiscated in the Shenlong Temple, they accidentally found a box of dusty books.

After a quick look, it seems to be related to astrology, so I asked a professional to identify it.

Shenlong Temple has a huge industry.

At first, only a cursory search was conducted, and the entire inventory has not yet been completed.

After the star official came back from the Dali Temple, he looked excited and reported to the supervisor, which led to the bringing of the box of things.

"If you are thirsty for knowledge and it's inconvenient to go out on a rainy day, isn't it the perfect time to study?"

The elderly supervisor turned around and said with a smile.

He stood up, walked to the box, and sat down again.

The seal on the surface of the box has been removed. It looks like the box is quite old. When it is opened, it is full of dust. I don't know how many years it has been sealed.

The old supervisor carefully took out a yellowed book, opened it and examined it carefully, revealing a look of surprise:

“It really is the Maya manuscript!”

The boy asked in confusion, "What is that?"

The old supervisor stroked the cover of the book and said with a smile:

"Tell me, how old are the earliest surviving books on stargazing and astrology?"

The boy did not hesitate:

"Six hundred years ago. The Qi Kingdom was in dire straits, and the capital was burned down. All important materials and books from before were burned and destroyed. Therefore, the earliest records left in the Imperial Observatory today only date back to six hundred years ago."

The old supervisor shook his head and said:

"No. Although the Qi Kingdom burned books back then, there are still valuable materials left among the people.

At that time, Shenlong Temple had not yet achieved its later achievements, but it had already taken shape. There was a small temple in the capital city, where the impoverished monks inherited some of the heritage left by Maya Xingzhi a thousand years ago, including some manuscripts.

In his later years, Maya Xingzhe was obsessed with stargazing and astrology, and left behind many writings. Although most of the original manuscripts are gone, it is reasonable to say that there are a few handwritten copies left in Shenlong Temple.

The boy was very surprised:

"Is this all? The records of Maya Xingji from a thousand years ago?"

The old supervisor nodded, with respect in his eyes:

"Fortunately, we knew about this. Otherwise, if it had been discarded carelessly by those ignorant officials of the Dali Temple, it would have been an immeasurable loss."

Raindrops fell from the eaves of the buildings like beads.

The old man's ears were filled with the sound of rain. He opened the ancient manuscript and read carefully. On the first page, there was a sentence written:

"Where the disaster star falls is the extreme point of Mubei."

…

…

Emperor Taizu of the Yu Kingdom!

In a small courtyard deep in the Mubei Forest, under the big, fiery red banyan tree, Emperor Xu Taizu said this with a smile.

The heads of the people standing at the door buzzed at the same time.

Even though I had already guessed it in my mind along the way, the huge shock in my heart when I actually saw the living legendary figure in history with my own eyes was still like a tsunami, and it was difficult to calm down.

"Old Xu..." Zhao Duan widened his eyes, comparing the old boxer in front of him with the middle-aged Xu Manzi in "The Picture of the God of War", and his emotions were in turmoil.

The empress beside him froze completely, staring blankly at the ancestors whom she had only seen in the scroll, with mixed feelings in her heart.

Zhang Yanyi was also moved. This godlike figure rarely showed a look of genuine respect, standing with his hands behind his back, with the demeanor of a typical junior student.

"Master..." Tuoba Weizhi was stunned for a moment. She was the one who accepted it the fastest. She took the initiative to step forward and bowed.

Tuoba Weizhi fell asleep and woke up again and again in La Garden. In her perception of time, these six hundred years were not very long...

Therefore, when I saw Xu Taizu, it was the most natural, as if we were meeting again after a long separation.

Xu Taizu nodded slightly at her, then smiled and shook his head:

"Since our last separation, I have said that you are no longer my servant."

"Ancestor... I..."

At this moment, Xu Zhenguan's eyes were slightly red, and he was about to step forward, almost losing his composure, but Zhao Duan stretched out his hand and suddenly grabbed it:

"etc."

Zhao Duan was extremely vigilant: "His identity has not been confirmed yet!"

The empress also suddenly realized that the Mubei Forest was too mysterious. How could she believe it just by seeing a person?

Upon hearing this, Emperor Xu was not angry, but smiled and said:

"I'm quite alert. Hmm, let me think about how to prove my identity... Yeah..."

He seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly raised his hand. The next moment, the dragon soul that had been sleeping like a dead snake in Zhao Duan's qi sea suddenly woke up, struggled to break through the qi sea, and happily coiled around the old boxer under the tree.

The dragon soul, who was always dignified and aloof in front of outsiders, was now like a puppy, circling around the old boxer in a fawning manner, leaving everyone stunned.

Xu Taizu stroked Longpo's "dog head" and looked at Zhao Duan with a smile:

"Can this be proven?"

Zhao Duan pondered for a moment and asked tentatively, "Odd changes, but even remains the same?"

Empress:? ?

Xu Taizu was silent for a moment, his eyes becoming somewhat strange, a strange look, as if they were meeting again after a long separation...

He suddenly smiled, raised his hand and waved, and the dragon soul automatically coiled around the banyan tree above his head. Then he exhaled and said seriously:

"Although I'm not from that world, but... the symbols depend on the quadrant."

That’s right!

Zhao Duan's heart suddenly relaxed, and at the same time he keenly grasped a very crucial piece of information:

Old Xu in front of him seemed to have guessed his biggest worry, so he spoke straight to the point and took the initiative to declare that he was not a time traveler.

"Ancestor!"

Next to him, Xu Zhenguan, after confirming the authenticity of the person before him, finally stopped hesitating and stepped forward, bowing deeply with an excited look on his face.

"The current emperor of the Yu Kingdom, the unworthy descendant Xu Zhenguan, pays homage to the ancestors!"

Xu Zhenguan felt uneasy when he said this.

Because although her ancestors seemed to have predicted her existence in the human world, it was difficult to judge what they would think of her as a woman ascending the throne and becoming emperor.

Xu Taizu seemed unsurprised by the Empress's presence. A trace of kindness flashed in his eyes. He personally helped the Empress up, looked at her carefully for a moment, and suddenly said with a smug smile:

"It seems that my descendants are quite capable. With generations of improving their genes, my Xu family's descendants are finally not as sloppy as I am."

Phew... Zhao Duan almost lost his breath after hearing this, and the empress's expression was also dulled, as if she did not expect that the ancestor's character was indeed as "easy-going" as recorded in the palace history books.

Zhang Yanyi pretended not to hear clearly and bowed respectfully:

"Zhang Yanyi, the current heir of the Tianshi Mansion, greets Senior Xu."

Xu Taizu turned his head to look at the old Taoist priest, his eyes fixed on the scroll of heavenly book at his waist. He nodded slightly, his eyes showing emotion:

"Many years have passed, and it seems that the Tianshi Mansion and the royal family are still on good terms."

Zhao Duan was filled with doubts and couldn't help but ask:

"You really are the old...Emperor Taizu? You knew we were coming? You knew me? And how have you survived for six hundred years? Why did you guide us here? What is all this for?"

Too many, too many questions.

What he actually wanted to ask was the mystery of his own time travel, but since there were outsiders present, he didn't say anything.

Xu Zhenguan also came to his senses and said excitedly:

"Ancestor, the outside world is not peaceful right now. Since you are still alive, why haven't you shown up?"

The breeze passed through the boxing gym, the leaves on the big banyan tree rustled, and the sunset was particularly gentle.

Xu Taizu met the gazes of the monarch and his minister, smiled, and said slowly:

"Nian Nu, go get the tea I made from inside. How about we sit down and talk slowly?"

Pei Niannu said nothing and turned and went into the house.

Soon, she came over with a tea tray and placed it on the stone table. Seeing this, the others had no choice but to be patient and sit around the table.

Xu Taizu sat in the main seat, looking around at the anxious faces of the people. This old boxer who had experienced many vicissitudes of life smiled and said:

"I know why you're here, and don't worry. Since I've brought you here, I won't hide anything you want to ask or know.

But before that, I want to know what the situation is like outside now?

Since you are willing to risk your lives to come here, I guess the outside world must be in chaos and facing an invincible enemy, right? "

Zhao Duan's heart moved. It seemed that Old Xu, who lived here, did not understand the changes in the outside world.

Xu Zhenguan hesitated, exchanged glances with him, and after receiving Zhao Duan's affirmation, the empress spoke:

"Reporting to our ancestors, it has been over six hundred years since the founding of the Yu State..."

She was not sure how much her ancestors knew, so she simply used simple language to recount the major events of the past six hundred years in the form of a timeline.

Then, he recounted the details of the Xuanmen coup three years ago, his ascension to the throne, the subsequent rebellion of the kings, and the unrest in the Buddhist sect.

Xu Taizu listened quietly, and Pei Niannu beside him also pricked up his ears, seeming to be very interested.

Finally, when the empress finished speaking, Xu Taizu's eyes revealed a look of emotion:

"So much has changed that I hardly realize six hundred years have passed in this world."

Xu Zhenguan said anxiously:

"Ancestor, the Dharma King of Buddhism has launched a war with our Yu Kingdom. The fighting is in full swing. The banyan trees in the Tianshi Mansion are mostly withered and yellow. We suspect that Buddhism may produce a 'human immortal', so we have risked coming here to seek a solution."

Xu Taizu seemed to understand what she meant and shook his head.

"I cannot leave here, nor can I help you quell the chaos. My time has long passed. Now this world is yours. I can neither, nor will I, interfere with the cause and effect."

Xu Zhenguan was stunned.

Beside him, Zhao Duan couldn't help himself and simply said:

"Old Xu, stop talking nonsense. We don't have much time and we can't afford to waste it. Every day we waste, countless people will die in the war.

You have arranged so much, you wouldn't bring me here just to ask what happened outside, right?

I don't care how you're still alive. Let's be frank. We've already answered the questions you asked, so now it's your turn to answer."

Xu Zhenguan was startled and kicked him lightly under the table, staring at him:

How can you speak to your ancestors like that?

Zhao Duan pretended not to see it, and only stared at Xu Taizu, as if he was a yellow-haired man entering the house, threatening and intimidating his old father-in-law...

Unlike Xu Zhenguan who was too young in generation, Zhang Yanyi considered himself a junior. As a time traveler, Zhao Duan did not have that much respect for the people in this world. He believed that if someone respected me an inch, I would respect them a yard.

Old Xu seemed to have helped him a lot and could be considered his master on his path to cultivation, but Zhao Duan did not feel much gratitude in his heart.

Because he knew very well that all this was arranged by the old boxer in front of him.

As the one who was arranged, he certainly had reason to be angry.

"I know that the reason I embarked on the path of cultivation in the royal family was probably due to your guidance. The reason why Longpo came to me after six hundred years must also be your instruction.

Pei Niannu has been with me all this time. Now that I think about it, she's more like a pair of eyes you arranged to be by my side. Even Tuoba Weizhi was arranged by you six hundred years ago, waiting for my move."

Zhao Duan leaned forward slightly, staring intently at Xu Taizu, and said calmly:

"Along my journey, I've encountered so many people who wanted to be chess players, and every one of them wanted to use me as a chess piece.

Frankly speaking, I don't like this feeling. You are the ancestor of Zhenguan, and I can let it go for her sake, but I came here today and I must get an answer."

Quiet.

As the sun sets, Xu Zhenguan looks at him in surprise beside the stone table, as if he had not expected Zhao Duan to be so strong at this moment.

At this moment, the empress suddenly realized that everyone in her group came here with a purpose.

His purpose was to confirm Taizu's life or death and to find a way to defeat Buddhism.

Zhang Yanyi was seeking a way to become a "human immortal".

Tuoba Weizhi and Pei Niannu were tools, carrying out the tasks taught to them by their ancestors many years ago.

And Zhao Duan...

What he wanted was an answer, an answer that could solve the mystery of his life and unravel all the "arrangements".

Thinking of this, Xu Zhenguan's gaze towards him softened.

Then, she thought about it seriously and made an offensive move. She sat next to Zhao Duan, stretched out her right hand, held his left hand, and looked at her ancestor calmly.

It's like a silent way of taking sides and expressing one's stance.

Emperor Taizu Xu faced the "questioning" gazes of the emperor and his ministers with a calm expression.

He slowly drank a sip of tea, put down the teacup, sighed softly, and said:

"I have a story, do you want to hear it?"

"What story?" Zhao Duan's heart moved and he asked, "Is it about you?"

Xu Taizu shook his head, his eyes looking at the fiery red sunset outside the yard, as if lost in memories:

"A story about Maya Walker from a thousand years ago."

(End of this chapter)