Chapter 660: Movements from All Sides (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"Qiu Dalang is killing me by attacking my spirit."
Xu Jie remained indifferent to Qiu Cheng's death, while Wu Xian sighed deeply. He also came from a prominent family and was used to the drama of brothers fighting each other. The previous conflict between the Qiu brothers was well-known gossip, so he naturally believed that Qiu Cheng was forced to his death by Qiu Dalang.
"What did you say, my sir? 'To kill someone is to destroy their spirit'?" Lady Mi had just finished embroidering the last stitch of her nightgown. She raised her hand to beckon her son, who was reciting his lessons, to try it on to see if it fit. She vaguely heard Wu Xian say something, but she didn't hear it clearly.
“As for Qiu Dalang, he suffered terribly at the hands of Qiu Erlang. I never thought that the tables would turn. Now, he finally got his chance to get rid of the troublesome Qiu Erlang without bloodshed... It’s like brothers have come to this…” Wu Xian’s gaze fell on the mother and son interacting warmly. He seemed to be thinking of something, and the faint smile on his lips gradually faded. “It’s really sad.”
Lady Mi didn't know who Qiu Dalang and Qiu Erlang were, but she knew they were brothers, and one of them had even killed the other. This information was enough. It was probably the phrase "fratricide" that triggered Wu Xian's most sensitive nerve—
As he grew older, his two legitimate sons began to have their own agendas, and with the interference and instigation of their maternal clan, the two brothers would quarrel from time to time. They never gave their half-brothers and sisters-in-law a kind look and would often order them around.
Wu Xian repeatedly tried to discipline his two sons, but they had reached their most rebellious age. No matter how Wu Xian tried to reason with them or use his authority as a father to forcefully suppress them, the results were minimal. In fact, when Wu Xian tried to get rid of the people around the two brothers, they rebelled even more fiercely.
His second son, in particular, argued with him in public more than once.
They even ridiculed Wu Xian.
[Does the father want his son to get along with his brothers?] The second son is a brave and skilled martial artist, already an adult in stature despite his young age. His appearance is a blend of his parents' best features, handsome and athletic, though perhaps his face reflects his inner character, as it has a somewhat harsh look. [Wouldn't it be helpful to teach him by example?]
One sentence made Wu Xian's blood pressure spike.
The second son asked Wu Xian to demonstrate "teaching by example," but Wu Xian instead used ruthless methods to fight against his brothers, and after winning, he built the Wu family business on its foundation over many years. If even the father couldn't do it, how could he expect his son to be harmonious?
Lady Mi knew Wu Xian's taboos, so she didn't raise her children to be successful or talented. Instead, she repeatedly taught them to be of one mind and to be in harmony with each other.
It was this act that made her stand out from the other concubines, and Wu Xian's favor towards her remained unchanged for many years. Consort Mi was always humble and cautious, and never showed the slightest bit of arrogance or audacity.
Wu Xian now prefers brotherly love and respect.
Seeing his low spirits, Consort Mi gave her son a subtle look. The youngest son understood and clung to Wu Xian, smiling innocently: "Father, Father, what do you think of my nightgown? Mother sewed it for me by hand."
Wu Xian glanced at it: "It's a bit too big."
The youngest son said, "Then let Fourth Brother wear it."
The "fourth brother" he mentioned and his youngest son were born of the same mother, Lady Mi, and the two brothers did indeed have a good relationship.
Wu Xian teased him.
"Why not let Mother change it again?"
“But Fourth Brother is more suitable, there’s no need to change anything.”
Wu Xian's smile widened: "Then you're gone?"
The younger son said, "Mother loves her son, so it will happen."
Wu Xian picked up his youngest son, clearly pleased with the answer, but still teased him, saying, "Your mother loves you, but your father also loves your mother. You're all gone now."
The youngest son looked dejected, which made Wu Xian burst into laughter. Lady Mi looked at the father and son with a gentle smile.
Wu Xian teased his son and then spent a night with his beloved concubine.
The candles on the wife's side remained lit all night.
This night was the fifteenth.
When Wu Xian's subordinates learned of the news, their reactions varied, but they all noticed Shen Tang's quietly growing power and regarded him as a threat that could not be ignored. Those who were close to Shen Tang's faction were more or less ostracized, both openly and covertly.
For example, Xu Jie and Zhao Feng.
The former, due to the inability to reach a consensus on the ownership of Heyin Commandery, has had less and less contact with Tianhai in the past two years, and the Xu family's attitude is not as proactive as before. The latter, on the other hand, is not a military general of the Tianhai faction, and has been subject to a lot of exclusion.
Perhaps because of their similar circumstances, the Xu and Zhao families started to interact more frequently, which in turn eased the conflict between Qin Li and Xu Jie.
Yi Ru, Zhang He.
When the news arrived, Huang Lie and Zhang He were drinking and chatting.
The two men reacted differently after hearing the message.
Huang Lie toyed with the wine cup, saying with amusement, "Gong Xichou is a member of the Gongxi tribe. Given his talent and the secret techniques of the Gongxi tribe, it's normal for him to have such strength at such a young age. But what's with this Shen Youli? She's strange in every way..."
Zhang He frowned, remaining silent.
Huang Lie had a guess in mind and tentatively asked, "Could it be that this boy is another 'Gong Xi Chou' or another 'Shao Chong'?"
Shao Chong, Gu Ren's beloved thirteenth brother.
The Allied Forces fought against Zheng Qiao, and he contributed a great deal. However, when he went berserk with killing, he would indiscriminately dismember people, friend or foe, with his bare hands.
Zhang He simply shook his head in silence: "It's hard to say."
Shen Youli has Gong Xichou's talent and strength, but she doesn't have Shao Chong's side effects, and she won't go crazy and lose her mind at the drop of a hat.
Huang Lie laughed and said, "You'll know when we meet in person."
Go south, Guren.
Gu Ren received the message, glanced at it, and then put it aside.
It's not that I don't want to care, but rather—
A terrifying, overwhelming aura swept in all directions. Gu Ren had just steadied the swaying desk and documents when the ground began to tremble violently again, the beams creaked, and dust fell in a flurry. Gu Ren's face darkened as he staggered out of the council hall.
"Something terrible has happened, my lord—"
Gu Ren interrupted: "I saw it!"
"But General Shao Chong—"
Gu Ren said, "I'll go right away!"
When he arrived, his other sworn brothers were all there, each guarding their own area, looking disheveled. The brave warriors were wounded, the scholars were utterly exhausted. In the center lay his thirteenth brother, writhing on the ground in agony, his clothes torn.
His once smooth, wheat-colored skin now had an eerie reddish tinge, as if it had been boiled in scalding water. His skin swelled up with pustules, and as these pustules moved across his body, his expression became increasingly ferocious. His fingers gripped the ground, sinking deep into it.
puff--
A "pus-filled lump" burst open, and upon closer inspection, it wasn't "pus" at all; it was clearly a "flesh worm." With each clump that emerged, Shao Chong's expression softened a little.
When he was exhausted, he rolled his eyes.
He lay on the ground, his fate unknown.
Gu Ren stepped forward and draped his own clothes over Shao Chong. Twelfth Brother Chao Lian stepped forward, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, clutching his chest, clearly suffering a serious injury: "Eldest Brother, if this continues, we fear we won't be able to control Thirteenth Brother next time he erupts."
Shao Chong's skills have improved too quickly.
During the Battle of Xiaocheng, he was only at the thirteenth-rank middle level; now he's at the fifteenth-rank junior upper level, and that's still in a calm state. If he enters the boiling blood state, he can forcibly enter the sixteenth-rank senior level. This kind of strength is beyond what his brothers can suppress.
Gu Ren's approach to the scholar's way has a remarkable effect.
But we've already overdrawn our resources too much in the past few times.
“There’s still a month until next time, we’ll find a way… We’ve come this far, we can’t give up no matter what.” Looking at his brothers, he said gently, “You should all go down and take good care of your injuries, otherwise Thirteen will blame himself again when he wakes up.”
Everyone responded, except for the sixth brother, whose expression showed struggle.
"Brother, should we take Thirteen to see Zhang He?"
Gu Ren flatly rejected the proposal.
"no!"
Chao Lian said, "How is this any different from a lamb entering a tiger's den? Zhang He and Huang Lie are close, and Huang Lie's heavy shield warrior is..."
The Gu worms within Shao Chong's body, the Gu scourge of the Martial Kingdom that Zhang He once researched, and Huang Lie's heavy shield warriors—all three are intricately connected by Gu worms. Shao Chong is exceptionally unique; his strength originates from Gu worms, but it's not solely due to them. Which leader wouldn't want to replicate him on a large scale? But there's only one Shao Chong in the world; he is unique.
He is irreplaceable.
The sixth brother said helplessly, "He can't hold on for next time..."
If you can't hold on, you'll explode and die.
Chao Lian thought of someone: "Perhaps Gongxi Chou..."
He then contradicted himself after saying that.
Gong Xichou has always wanted to kill Shao Chong, so there's no way he would agree to help. Even if he did agree, where would he find him now?
Shao Chong was unaware of his brothers' worries. When he woke up, he felt refreshed and comfortable, his clothes were brand new, and he could smell the calming medicinal fragrance. As he tried to recall what had happened before he fainted, his stomach rumbled loudly.
"Thirteen, you're awake?"
"Twelfth Brother!" Shao Chong jumped up.
Chao Lian avoided his bear hug.
"So energetic right after waking up?"
Shao Chong rubbed his stomach: "Twelfth Brother, I'm hungry."
Chao Lian said, "Have the servants prepare it for you in the east kitchen."
Shao Chong pouted and said pitifully, "But Thirteen wants to eat the fried dough sticks from East Street, the scallion pancakes from West Street, the sweets from South Street, and... there doesn't seem to be much to eat on North Street..."
Chao Lian patted Shao Chong's head, who was a little taller than him, and shook his money pouch: "I knew you were greedy. Let's go."
The next moment, he let out a cry of pain.
He was almost tackled to the ground by Shao Chong in a bear hug and tiger pounce.
The area around Gu Renzhi was considered prosperous.
Shao Chong ate while holding the food in his arms and watching intently, with Chao Lian following behind to pay. After Shao Chong had eaten about three-tenths full, the two brothers found a small street stall and sat down. Shao Chong pushed his favorite foods toward Chao Lian, saying, "Twelfth Brother, try this! This is delicious, and that is delicious too..."
Chao Lian savored it slowly and deliberately.
As we ate, we noticed it was getting quiet.
Why isn't Shao Chong talking anymore?
Looking up, he saw his thirteenth brother turning his head to look at someone.
Chao Lian followed the gaze and looked over there.
A rather thin young man stood next to the stall.
Black hair, long eyelashes, fair skin, and red lips.
He wore an extremely wide, dark blue robe, with mysterious gold patterns painted on the lapels and cuffs, while the rest of the robe was covered with barely perceptible dark embroidery. A belt was tied around his waist, and an old wooden staff made of intertwined wood was tucked behind his back, with red flowers swaying in the breeze.
Shao Chong's gaze was fixed on that little red flower.
He quietly reached out his hand.
(ω)
Could you give me another hundred or so votes? I want to round it up, sob sob sob.
PS: I'm currently at the top of the monthly ticket rankings, and I'm pretty sure I'll reach five stars in February. Hehe, I'm thinking of getting myself a five-star badge.
P.S.: Just kidding, without any brushes blocking the way, can we imagine a twelve-peat now?
(End of this chapter)
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