Chapter 5 There are some people you can't kill, but I can. ...
Zhangxi Town, nestled among the mountains, is almost insignificant. If it weren't for the rumors that weapon master Yu Yong occasionally appears here, this place would be virtually unknown.
"Brother Jing, why do you think all the great masters throughout history have liked to live in the mountains? It must be so lonely."
"Once you find Mr. Yu-yong, you can ask him?"
The tranquility of the forest was broken by two young men. They used their lightness skills to rush forward, but judging from their demeanor and tone, they were neither hurried nor impatient. Especially the man with a scar on his face, who appeared to be in his early twenties. His features were exceptionally handsome, yet indifferent, as if he had been immersed in the thick fog of distant mountains for days.
"I dare not, you ask for me."
"I shouldn't have agreed to let my aunt bring you out."
What did I do to you?
"It's so noisy."
"..."
No one knew that the two simply dressed young men who were bickering and running through the dense forest were actually Ji Yujing, the guardian deity of Lingdong, and his cousin Ye Xiao, who was also incredibly talkative and had top-notch lightness skills.
They came to Jangsi in search of the reclusive weapons master, Elder Yu Yong.
After wandering around in the mountains for about the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, the two stopped in front of a three-story earthen building. It was rugged and mysterious, just like the style of the people living inside.
"Mr. Yuyong, Ji Ci from Lingdong requests an audience." Ji Yujing concealed his real name. But when his voice, imbued with inner strength, rang out, the main gate of the earthen building opened not long after.
A tall, thin boy emerged from the earthen building. "My master asked me to ask Mr. Ji what you have come here to ask for?"
This tall, thin boy was Mr. Yu-Ning's youngest apprentice, named Nen-San. He also had two senior apprentices, named Nen-I and Nen-Er respectively.
Ji Yujing: "I pray for peace and tranquility throughout Lingdong and the world."
Year 3: "Master's second question: If you, Mr. Ji, were to fight an evil dragon with the body of an owl, what do you think your chances of winning are?"
This time, Ji Yujing remained silent for a moment before answering: "Ji Ci doesn't know the odds of winning, nor does he wish to ponder them."
For something that absolutely must be done, thinking about the odds of success seems meaningless to him. He has too many things to plan and simply doesn't have the energy to concern himself with such trivial matters.
"I can only say that the day of defeat will be the day Ji Ci dies."
As they spoke, Ji Yujing's gaze passed over the boy and landed on the lintel behind him. In ordinary households, a plaque hangs above the door, clearly displaying the family's prestige, whether humble or illustrious.
However, there is no plaque above the door of Yu Yong's residence. He hid most of his life's glory and his unique skills under the faded earthen building.
Is it despair, or a desire to protect oneself?
As to the answer, Ji and Jing had no way of knowing at that moment.
But as soon as he finished speaking, he got what he wanted.
The tall, thin boy suddenly turned to the side and gestured for him and Ye Xiao to come in.
Upon seeing this, a smile appeared on Ye Xiao's handsome face.
He couldn't help but look at his brother and give him a thumbs up.
Ji Yujing did not respond, but his slightly relaxed facial features revealed his mood. Regardless of whether he could persuade Yu Yong to come out of retirement in the end, it would be excellent to be able to meet him.
The two brothers entered the earthen building, led by the tall, thin boy.
Stepping out of the long, narrow, and chilly corridor, the three returned to the sunlight, and the scenery inside the earthen building came into view for Ji Yujing and Ye Xiao. The building had three floors, each with several rooms of varying sizes. At first glance, it appeared simple and unadorned, but upon closer inspection, an air of elegance emanated from it.
The tall, thin boy then spoke up, "Master said he only saw one person, and Mr. Ji wants to go up himself."
"Second floor, Huai De's room."
Upon hearing this, Ye Xiao immediately said, "Brother, you should go ahead. I'll have some tea with my little brother down here."
As soon as he finished speaking, he stretched out his long arm and placed it heavily on the tall, thin boy's shoulder. His warm enthusiasm made it seem as if they were old friends who had known each other for a long time.
The tall, thin boy didn't push him away.
Ji Yujing faced the two people, a slight smile playing on his lips, before heading straight upstairs.
He quickly found Huai De's room, but the door was tightly closed.
Ji Yujing didn't knock on the door immediately, his gaze lingering on the two characters "Huai De" on the plaque. He had practiced calligraphy since childhood and still maintained this habit, so he knew the weight of this piece of calligraphy. Although no one had left their name as the writer, he was certain it came from the Xiao family of the far north, truly a piece worth a thousand pieces of gold per character.
Having seen it, he clasped his hands in a fist salute towards the door and bowed slightly: "Lingdong Ji Yujing requests an audience with Mr. Yuyong."
As soon as he finished speaking, he vaguely heard someone laugh from inside the room. "Come in."
Ji Yujing pushed open the door and entered. To his surprise, the room was not as cold as he had imagined.
On either side of the room are two walls of books, reaching the beams. Near the right wall of books, there is a tea table. Unlike ordinary tea tables, it is curved and wide. Even more unusual is that there is a well next to the curve, so water can be drawn whenever needed.
The tatami mat has a complete tea set, made of porcelain with a cool color tone.
There were also some unfinished weapons and stacks of blueprints.
The gentle aroma of tea wafts through the air, creating a wonderful atmosphere.
"As expected of Mr. Yu-Ning." Ji Yu-Jing said with a smile when their eyes met.
Mr. Yu-Naga: "Come and sit down."
Ji Yujing: "Thank you, sir."
As he spoke, he strode toward the tea table and sat down next to Mr. Yu-Ning a moment later.
Old man Yu Yong then handed him a cup of hot tea. His eyes were smiling, and his demeanor was kind and gentle, as if he were just an ordinary old man who had met a boy from the same village.
"I didn't know your name was Ji Ci."
Ji Yujing smiled and replied, "Ci is my courtesy name. You don't know Ji Ci, so why did you let me in so easily?"
Mr. Yu Yong: "Although I do not know Ji Ci, in Lingdong, there is only Ji Yu Jing who aspires to peace and tranquility and has the ability to find this place."
Ji Yujing may have a million names, but he is who he is, and those who know him will never mistake him for someone else.
The praise was brief: "Try my tea, it comes from the far north. Old Xiao had someone bring it to me, saying it has a very poetic name, 'Calling Snow'."
Ji Yujing picked up his cup and raised it towards Elder Yuyong, saying, "The characters 'Huai De' were also written by Elder Xiao, weren't they?"
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed across Yu Yong's eyes. "You noticed that? You're quite different from the legends."
Ji and Jing took two sips of tea and loosely held the teacup in their hands.
His hands were bronze in color, and his skin was rough; one could tell at a glance that he was a man who did everything himself, regardless of hardship.
How are they different?
Yu-Ning glanced at his hand, then looked up and landed on the prominent long scar on his face.
"Legend has it that you act erratically and are unpredictable and uncontrollable."
Legend has it that Ji Yujing, the ruler of Lingdong, was all brawn and no brains. But upon seeing him now, it's clear that this is not the case.
If he were to don an exquisite robe and remove the disguise of the scars on his face, Ji Yujing would truly deserve the title of "elegant gentleman," both in his demeanor and mannerisms. He could even identify the writer of the characters from their handwriting, knowing that the writer had long since withdrawn from the world.
After listening, Ji Yujing chuckled coldly, "If legends were believable, the world wouldn't be like this now."
The atmosphere instantly turned extremely cold.
After a long while, Yu Yong finally broke the silence, saying bluntly, "You have great ambitions and the ability to break the deadlock, which I greatly admire, but I cannot grant your request."
Yu Yong knew better than anyone why Ji and Jing had come, having experienced much in the past.
"Sir, you possess extraordinary skills and care for the people. Are you truly content to remain secluded in a remote place forever?"
After listening, the old man Yu Yong just smiled faintly, his laughter tinged with sadness. "Ji Yujing, perhaps after some time, when you are closer to the imperial power, you will understand that the situation is like a torrent, and the discontent of one person is like dust, not worth mentioning at all."
Years ago, he, like Ji Yujing, was full of lofty ambitions. His greatest wish was that his family patriarch, Huo Weijiang, could break out of the southwest and that his name would surely be mentioned among the heroes of the world.
As a result, the Huo family formed a marriage alliance with a prominent family and became the rulers of the southwest.
Disheartened, he wanted to leave the southwest and find another wise ruler, but overnight he lost all his family members.
"Ji and Jing, how many of those who contend for the world are not ruthless?"
“I’ve been through it once, and I paid a price that I’ll regret for the rest of my life. Now, I don’t trust anyone.”
"Unless you kill Lin Qingdai."
The name "Lin Qingdai" left Ji Yujing speechless.
He was familiar with the name; he had known for several years that the Ji family had a marriage agreement with the Lin family, one of the four great families in the capital.
The Lin family has two daughters: the eldest, Lin Qingwu, and the younger, Lin Qingdai.
In other words, if the marriage agreement is successfully fulfilled, Lin Qingdai will be his sister-in-law. However, his knowledge of this name does not come entirely from this; it is mostly derived from legends that cannot be fully believed.
Legend has it that she was the apple of the eye of the Second Prince Song Yunlan, and the Crown Princess chosen by the royal family.
Legend has it that she was beautiful and graceful, and if she considered herself the second most beautiful woman in Xun Kingdom, no one would dare to claim to be the first.
Legend has it that she was extremely intelligent, able to recite what she read after reading it, and was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and medicine.
In short, this girl is like a goddess descended to earth, perfect in every way, and the most beautiful splash of color in this land.
Ji Yujing didn't believe it, or at least not entirely, but that didn't stop him from remembering the name.
After a moment, he came to his senses and asked the old man Yu Yong, "Why did you kill her? A young lady from a respectable family could never have made an enemy of you."
Upon hearing this, the old man Yu Yong chuckled softly, a hint of sadness in his voice: "In this world, is it only by making enemies that one will be killed?"
No.
"Most of the time, it's just a word from someone in a higher position."
"I hate Huo Weijiang to the core. In my eyes, he is no different from any other powerful figure or royal family, unless you have the guts to assassinate Lin Qingdai."
Only by killing Lin Qingdai could he prove his courage and decisiveness, daring to stand against the powerful families and the royal family, leaving himself no way out.
Only in this way would he consider returning to public life.
What happened years ago was something Ji Yujing, a young man in his early twenties, was destined not to know the whole story, but it wasn't difficult for him to deduce Huo Weijiang's intentions from the rumors. If Mr. Yuyong couldn't be used by him, then he would only have one path: death. Now that the overall situation was still uncertain, no force with ambitions to seize the world would allow him to be used by others.
He's survived this long because he's tough and ruthless.
It's understandable that he disliked the current situation and hated ambitious people, but...
"I will not kill Lin Qingdai."
"In taking control of the country, I, Ji, will never step on the corpses of women."
Mr. Yu-Ning's lips twitched slightly. "If that's the case, finish this cup of tea and you can leave."
Ji Yujing seemed not to hear him and continued speaking, her tone unmoved by the rejection, her expression calm, "There are some people you can't kill, but I can."
Their eyes met, and Ji Yujing clearly saw the astonishment in Yu Yong's eyes. His thin lips moved almost imperceptibly. "If you are willing to lend me a hand, I will wipe out the Huo family's direct descendants for you."
"A blood debt must be repaid in blood."
As Ji and Jing finished speaking, the vast Huai De Room fell silent.
After a while, old man Yu Yong suddenly burst out laughing. After a short laugh, there was a continuous string of trembling sounds.
More than twenty years have passed since the destruction of his family. He has gone from his prime to gray-haired, and finally, someone has come to him with a resolute and unyielding attitude, saying, "I can kill the direct descendants of the Huo family for you. Blood debts must be repaid in blood."
He was utterly fearless in the face of a large mountain that loomed over the southwest.
"If you are still not at ease, I will give you one-third of the Ningdong Army's tiger tally. The day you leave the mountain will be the day you have the ability to restrain Ji and Jing."
There was clearly an easier way, but Ji and Jing disdained it.
Like those 100,000 elite soldiers, he earned what he wanted through his own efforts, even if it meant risking his life at every step.
"Ji Yujing, you should leave."
After another long silence, old man Yu Yong spoke again, his voice low and hoarse, as if it had been polished by sand and gravel.
On the same day, around noon, the emperor had lunch in the Minghu Palace.
The palace faces Minghu Lake. Sitting in the hall, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the serene and enchanting lake scenery. Now, in late spring, the weather is neither too hot nor too cold. The lakeside is lush and green, and hundreds of flowers sway in the gentle breeze, silently vying for beauty. Dining by the lake is truly a wonderful experience.
Initially, the emperor was undoubtedly in a good mood, but this good mood did not last long. Li Jiajing, a veteran of three reigns, suddenly requested an audience. As everyone knows, Li Jiajing was a former subordinate of Wu Tingshan, the western garrison commander, and they had a deep friendship.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Taining let out a cold snort, and then said, "Summon them."
"Xiao Qi, clear away the food and serve tea."
Xiao Qigong, the chief eunuch who had always been by the emperor's side, complied.
After a flurry of activity, when Li Jiajing appeared at Minghu Palace, there was only a pot of tea and a teacup on the dining table.
Inside the hall were two small, carved incense burners, burning spices made from dried osmanthus flowers. Wisps of smoke rose, and the faint fragrance of osmanthus quietly permeated the air.
Li Jiajing entered the hall and bowed to the emperor.
Emperor Taining smiled and said, "Minister Li, please rise."
That's all.
The emperor did not offer a seat, knowing that important officials from both dynasties were about to arrive; there was still only one cup on the table. The meaning was clear: this meeting displeased the emperor.
Li Jiajing straightened up, his gaze lingered on the porcelain cup for a moment, and then he understood everything.
If he had a choice, he wouldn't want to come either. His Majesty now only wants to firmly control the country and the throne. He suspects everyone and despises all those who covet the throne.
Currently, the Second Prince is highly praised in the court and among the people, with many openly and implicitly stating that he is the most suitable candidate for Crown Prince. This is an acknowledgment of the Second Prince's abilities, but for the emperor who has been reluctant to appoint a Crown Prince, this is oppression. Having been accustomed to being obeyed for many years in a high position, how could the emperor tolerate this? It is perfectly normal for him to dislike the Second Prince.
Under such circumstances, speaking up for him would be tantamount to displeasing His Majesty, and hoping to gain favor would be a pipe dream. However, General Wu had done him a favor, and the Empress had come to him for help, so he couldn't avoid this trip.
Thus, I had no choice but to bite the bullet and say: "Your Majesty, I have a few words to say about today's marriage between Lin and Ji."
Emperor Taining: Why didn't you mention this at the morning court session?
Li Jiajing: "There are some things that are not suitable to say in the imperial court."
Emperor Taining did not make things difficult for him any further. "Then speak," he said.
Li Jiajing: "Ji Yujing is currently very powerful and has an unpredictable and difficult-to-control personality. At this time, a marriage between Ji and Lin is tantamount to giving wings to a vicious tiger. I'm afraid that in the future..."
Emperor Taining didn't give him a chance to finish speaking.
He asked him, "Then, according to Minister Li, how should this matter be handled?"
Li Jiajing then delivered the prepared statement: "Your Majesty, I believe the Lin family can have a third legitimate daughter."
This was also the Empress's intention. A girl who had lost her parents and was of marriageable age was selected from among the lesser noble families or low-ranking officials, and was adopted by Lin Yansen and his wife. Later, she would replace Lin Qingdai and marry into Lingdong.
"Miss Lin is frail and has grown up being pampered. It would be better for her to be raised under the watchful eyes of a family in the capital."
As he finished speaking, Minghu Palace fell silent.
It was eerily quiet, and even the spring breeze didn't feel warm.
Cold sweat silently seeped down Li Jiajing's back in hidden places. After a long while, the silence was broken by the emperor's commotion. He picked up the teapot and poured himself tea, the water overflowing the cup without stopping. No one dared to speak up to stop him, but thankfully, he stopped after a short while.
The emperor suddenly looked at the overflowing cup of tea and the tea-soaked table with disgust. "Xiao Qi."
Xiao Qi gave a signal to the guards around him, and they quickly went over and worked together to move the table away. They didn't dare breathe too loudly during the process. With the eyesore gone, the emperor's expression finally improved.
He also began to respond to Li Jiajing: "Using weeds to replace peonies, what are you, Ji Yujing, then?"
The emperor's voice was extremely soft, and his speech was extremely slow, yet every word he uttered seemed sharp and pointed, striking directly at Li Jiajing. The pressure was so intense that even Li Jiajing, whose temperament had been tempered by countless battles, couldn't help but tremble.
"It was my oversight that led to this, and I am guilty."
Emperor Taining seemed not to hear his apology. His gaze remained fixed on him, yet it was not fixed, as if he were looking through him at someone else.
"What you can think of, do you think the Lin family wouldn't think of? Why do you think they don't do it?"
Li Jiajing remained silent.
Emperor Taining didn't care. He continued, "They didn't do that because they knew that angering Ji and Jing would bring no benefit to Xun Kingdom, the royal family, or the aristocratic families. It's because they still have a sense of shame. If a family doesn't even follow the dying wishes of its ancestors and betrays its promises, then it's not far from its decline."
The emperor's voice grew louder and louder as the story progressed, like waves crashing against rocks, one higher than the next.
Unable to withstand the emperor's cold and imposing aura, Li Jiajing knelt down in a slightly flustered manner, his face turned to the ground: "Your Majesty, it was this old minister who was confused."
After a long silence, Emperor Taining spoke again, his voice surprisingly gentle, "If you know you're confused, go home and retire. I have my own arrangements for the Silver Shield Army."
"Go."
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Your Majesty." Li Jiajing retreated, his face ashen. Neither he nor the Empress had anticipated such a fierce reaction from His Majesty.
But it's no use saying anything now; his life's achievements have come to an abrupt end. Well, at least he's repaid the Wu family's debt of gratitude, and can finally relax.
After Li Jiajing left, Xiao Qi hurriedly ordered someone to put the table back in front of the emperor and to replace the tea with fresh tea.
He poured Emperor Taining a cup of tea, his movements swift and steady.
After making sure everything was in order, he said gently, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. Your health is the most important thing."
Emperor Taining ignored him, and after a while, he took the initiative to ask him, "In your opinion, which daughter of a low-ranking noble family or a low-ranking official is suitable to be the Second Prince's consort?"
Xiao Qi: "..." How dare a servant like him interfere in the prince's marriage? Even if the emperor asked, he wouldn't dare.
Thinking of this, Xiao Qi knelt down without hesitation.
"Your Majesty, please spare this servant."
Emperor Taining stared at him for a moment, but ultimately did not make things difficult for him.
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