Chapter 1439: The New Successor (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Shen Tang was thinking seriously.
After a few breaths, he came up with no result.
The newcomers were unsure what Shen Tang's expression meant, their confusion tinged with bewilderment and shock. Just as they thought Shen Tang was about to go back on his word, he said earnestly, "Gentlemen of your caliber... are often proud and dislike being bossed around. I never intended to bring you all under my command..."
The expressions on their faces were somewhat subtle.
The situation is settled; what's done is done.
Why is Shen Youli spouting this nonsense right now?
What does it mean to say "I never thought I could bring them under my wing"? Even if she couldn't help but show off, shouldn't she at least tell them that?
"...But I wonder why you all changed your minds?"
"It is because our lord possesses extraordinary talent."
You can't exactly say it's because you're afraid of some kind of Gu worm, can you?
They lived very, very close to the time of the Wu Kingdom; they had either witnessed it firsthand or heard about it from their elders who had experienced it all. While others built their empires from scratch through a long process of accumulation, the Wu Kingdom was different. It started with a winning hand, its elite troops and generals invincible, and all of this was inseparable from the Wu Kingdom's Gu scourge. Besides this, other Gu worms also appeared on the Wu Kingdom's battlefield.
Those who experienced it firsthand can't help but shudder when they recall it.
Shen Tang colluded with Gongyang Yongye, making the latter swallow the Gu worms in front of them, and the effect was immediate! Isn't this a blatant threat? A threat that they have no choice but to submit to the tyranny of Kangguo! As long as Kangguo wants, and as long as Shen Tang is willing, they can silently put Gu worm sugar pills into anything they can eat, whether it's water or food! It's impossible to guard against!
They can go without food and water for days, but can they go without food and water for a lifetime? You can only be a thief for a thousand days, how can you guard against thieves for a thousand days?
Staying here, Kangguo will have plenty of opportunities to strike.
What if they would rather die than submit?
Does Kangguo no longer have the Gu worms that control puppet corpses?
By voluntarily surrendering, they could at least be considered as Kangguo's own people, openly refusing the Gu-worm sugar pills. Even if Shen Youli regretted it afterward, wouldn't she need to consider the thoughts of other Kangguo officials and soldiers before trying to use Gu on them? This scandal, once exposed, wouldn't benefit her either.
In conclusion, surrendering is actually the safest option.
The initiative is still in our own hands.
Of course, these ideas cannot be exported directly.
No need to ask, the answer is simple: she possesses extraordinary talent, a peerless hero, a celestial being descended from heaven, a terminator of chaos, and a master of both literature and military strategy—a powerful ruler capable of winning their respect. Their attitudes completely changed because of her charisma!
These words were spoken with force and sincerity.
Shen Tang opened his mouth, then scratched his cheek sheepishly.
"Haha, you all have excellent taste!"
She was usually the one showering people with flowery compliments and direct praise; it was rare for her to be flattered so blatantly. Since the other person was being so direct, if Shen Tang were to question their motives, it would only hurt their feelings.
Shen Tang sent the person who had taken the Gu worm sugar pill to the southwest.
The remaining three remained in the army to await orders.
This arrangement caused a strange glint to flash in the eyes of the three, while they secretly breathed a sigh of relief—thankfully they had made the right choice.
Shen Youli was indeed no saint; she was always ready to turn on them. If they had believed her lies earlier, who knows what she would have done to them now. Even after they pledged allegiance, her guard remained high. She sent the unfortunate souls in shackles to the southwest—ostensibly for a position, but in reality, it was no different from imprisonment. They were completely at her mercy!
Fortunately, their surrender removed her excuse to use witchcraft.
With the addition of several skilled and charming martial artists, Shen Tang was naturally pleased. He immediately sent people to arrange camps for them, providing them with the best food and lodging, demonstrating the hospitality of a great nation. Little did they know that for a long time, they would have to eat and drink with trepidation, fearing that something might have been added to their food. They would personally boil water, hunt, and prepare food, enduring the worst possible conditions in terms of food and drink.
Gongyang Yongye didn't expect it to end so easily.
"Tsk, what a loss."
If he had known they were weak-willed, why would he have tried so hard to protect them?
He rubbed the area around his dantian and asked Ji Moqiu if he could remove the Gu worm from it. It wasn't that he was worried about being ambushed—he was currently fighting for Kang Kingdom, and their interests were aligned; as long as Shen wasn't out of his mind, he wouldn't need to cut off his own arm—but rather that having this thing lying in the most private part of his body made him feel uneasy.
Ji Moqiu remained silent, while Gongyang Yongye paused for a moment.
"Don't tell me you can't get it out."
Ji Moqiu sincerely said, "It is possible to extract it, but these kinds of Gu worms are very expensive. Wouldn't it be a waste to extract them?"
"Are you obsessed with money? I'll compensate you."
"It can save your life in a critical moment."
Ji Moqiu stated that it wasn't a matter of money, but rather the effort expended in refining this type of Gu worm. Aside from the fact that he could control the opening and closing of the dantian, it had no other drawbacks, only benefits. These included, but were not limited to, accelerating the recovery of any damage to the martial spirit during the Gu worm's lifespan, and also possessing a foundation-strengthening and energy-nourishing effect. After several battles, Gongyang Yongye's spirit was gradually recovering; perhaps one day he would be able to break through to the Chehou realm.
Keep it; it might just give the impact a boost.
Gongyang Yongye asked with a hint of doubt, "Really?"
Listen, this isn't some kind of evil Gu worm.
Ji Moqiu said, "There is absolutely no falsehood in this."
Gongyang Yongye began to waver.
"Besides this, does it have any other benefits?"
Ji Moqiu pulled out a notebook from somewhere.
"Tattoo the Danfu area?"
Gongyang Yongye: "..."
"It can also add luxurious dark patterns to your martial armor. Not only that, it can also increase the playability of your martial spirit totem... If you activate your martial energy, you can even make the tattoo float on the surface of your body, which is quite gorgeous." You can get tattoos all over your body without pain, and the patterns are flexible.
This notebook was given to him by his teacher. It was filled with various wonderful uses of Gu worms, and there were also annotations and insights from several high priests.
Ji Moqiu even took one pill voluntarily.
After a few movements, a platinum tattoo indeed appeared on my wrist.
Under the watchful eyes of Gongyang Yongye and the others, the tattoo's color gradually deepened from platinum to crimson, its shape gradually merging into a single dot, like a fish swimming beneath a fragile layer of ice, appearing and disappearing. It swam up Ji Moqiu's arm, climbing onto his neck and cheek.
Finally, it rests between the eyebrows.
The dots are elongated into slender diamond patterns.
It can even stretch out and become moving text according to his wishes.
His forehead was practically a display board...
Shen Tang's curiosity was piqued, and her almond-shaped eyes lit up: "This is so cool! I want one too!"
Ji Moqiu smiled broadly: "I'm glad Your Highness likes it."
Shen Tang keenly sensed a business opportunity.
"Wouldn't opening a tattoo shop allow you to monopolize the entire country?"
Shen Tang has a prisoner's tattoo behind her ear, which she has refused to remove for many years. Young people in Kangguo, chasing fashion, also imitate her.
In Kangguo, tattoos are actually a trend! Although the tattoos aren't the same design but rather patterns that people like, they are still tattoos, which once challenged the psychological acceptance of their parents. This trend eventually spread to the general public, and there is a considerable consumer group.
If this product can open up the market...
This is bound to set off a new trend!
Shen Tang rested her chin on her hand, pondering how else this thing could be used besides tattoos. As she thought about it, a brilliant idea suddenly struck her.
"Hey, I've got it!"
She raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
Red, eyeshadow-like marks gradually appeared under the eyelids.
It adds an indescribable sense of strangeness and grotesqueness to this face.
She rubbed her eyes with her fingers and asked with a smile, "How is it?"
This eye makeup is absolutely perfect!
Gongyang Yongye: "..."
He hesitated for a long time, unsure where to begin his rant, yet inexplicably felt sorry for the sorcerers. They were living in constant fear of being harmed by the Gu worms, but the people involved were having a blast. What they considered something to be avoided at all costs was, in their eyes, a makeup-perfecting gadget, all-natural rouge, and a fun toy.
He felt he was really old.
I can't keep up with these increasingly crazy young people.
Just as speechless as Gongyang Yongye was Wei Lou, who rushed over after hearing that Shen Tang had used unorthodox methods to subdue the enemy general.
He wanted to persuade Shen Tang not to rely on such unorthodox methods, but he was also unwilling to admit that she had so many schemes and calculations.
Wasn't the lesson left by the Wu Kingdom back then painful enough?
Maintaining a moral standard is difficult; falling into depravity is easy.
When he saw Shen Tang trying out various makeup looks in the mirror, he felt as if he had been silenced, questioning his existence and regretting his decision to come. Shen Tang tossed the mirror aside and gave Wei Lou a bright, cheerful look.
The treasure trove that Wei Lou gave her wouldn't reach her hands, but it was still money.
It's only right to give the second-highest spender on the spending leaderboard some respect.
Oh, the top spot goes to Jimo Qiu.
"What brings Mr. Wei here?"
"I heard that Lord Shen used Gu worms to coerce them into submission?"
Shen Tang: "No, right? Wasn't it consensual?"
She doubted their motives for surrendering, but also felt that the Gu worms weren't powerful enough to frighten several experts into submission. What difference would it make if they consumed it? The Gu worms would lose their effectiveness after three years, and even if they didn't, they couldn't kill them. If they were determined to give up, what could Shen Tang do with them? The worst that could happen was death.
Few generals who have cultivated to this level are afraid of death.
Death cannot threaten them into submission.
Wei Lou: "..."
Can we say she underestimated the terror that the Gu worms posed to people like them?
"...Back then, very few people were immune to Gu poison."
Not only was it its cunning and unpredictable abilities that she feared, but even more so its unpredictable and stealthy attacks. Sometimes death isn't scary; what's scary is not dying. The unknown is the most terrifying thing. Seeing Shen Tang's reaction, she kept most of her words to herself.
He changed his tune, saying, "...Although it is a heretical approach, it can be surprisingly effective if used properly. We should indeed use extraordinary measures to restrain those surrendered generals in the central region, lest they cause trouble."
Shen Tang tentatively asked, "So..."
Wei Lou struggled internally: "One must always be wary of others."
Shen Tang should provide insurance for those people who use witchcraft.
Shen Tang: "...That won't be necessary."
Ji Moqiu said that refining it was not easy and the cost was too high.
However, she still had a few in stock, which she could use to intimidate other surrendered generals in the future, saving herself the trouble of finding more.
She thought this to herself, but somehow she touched a nerve with Wei Lou. He actually gave her a subtle look of disappointment, hesitated several times before finally making an excuse and leaving. Shen Tang was completely bewildered: "Second-ranked student, you're like a needle in a haystack..."
Gu Chi also rushed over to offer his congratulations upon hearing the news.
"...How can you expect to have a proper conversation when you're talking at cross purposes?"
Shen Tang: "..."
Gu Chi was a tactful man. Seeing Shen Tang's displeasure, he immediately changed his tune, praising her eye makeup for making her even more radiant. Shen Tang angrily threw the tangerine into his arms. Gu Chi smiled and said, "Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty."
The emperor and his minister sat facing each other, chatting and eating oranges.
The content ranges from serious matters to gossip, covering everything.
Shen Tang suddenly remembered something.
"...Yesterday I heard from the High Priest that she was looking for someone. You are familiar with Shao Xuan, have you heard her mention any promising talents in the army?"
This topic is a bit convoluted.
Shen Tang said, "Yuan's Time Arrow."
Gu Chi instantly understood: "Has the Young Master Jimo found a successor?"
With lightning speed, Shen Tang snatched the peeled orange from Gu Chi's hand before Gu Chi could even grab it back: "If I had found it, would I be asking you? I'm asking you because I'm specifically looking out for you."
What's wrong with me taking oranges from him a few times?
He almost laughed in anger: "Chi has no children and no relatives in the clan. How could the so-called successor possibly fall to me?"
Why did you take his oranges and then make excuses?
Shen Tang asked, "What if we give it to Shao Xuan?"
Gu Chi paused in peeling the orange: "No."
This thing burns through your lifespan.
Even without the Arrow of Time, she can still reach the top in glory!
"You're making the decision for her?"
Gu Chi naturally couldn't, and fell silent for a moment.
He was in low spirits, so Shen Tang didn't tease him any further. She smiled and said, "No need to look so down. Would I harm you? I originally thought it would be better for this thing to be in the hands of a trustworthy person. Learning is one thing, but it doesn't mean you have to use it. Kangguo's war has now reached the point where it's trying to swallow up all the talents in the world. Apart from Shao Xuan, the female generals don't have enough foundation, and their growth time is too short."
If Bai Su has a trump card that can absolutely suppress everyone else...
Once Chu Jie retires, Bai Su can naturally take over.
"A single flower does not make a spring, but a hundred flowers blooming together make a garden full of spring." The balance of yin and yang—that's what she most desires. This balance won't be achieved quickly simply because of her personal will, especially in a world where power determines hierarchy and social order. Shen Tang sifted through the candidates; there were quite a few promising talents, but these talents all needed time to grow—at least twenty or thirty years, at most forty or fifty.
"...Sometimes, I even want to capture a few wild level 20 Marquises and have them enlighten me so I can quickly train a few..." Shen Tang chewed the orange pulp vigorously, her temper flaring.
Gu Chi said, "...Then I'll go and persuade Shao Xuan?"
Shen Tang waved her hand: "No, let me take another look."
The limited lifespan of the Time Arrow is indeed a thorny issue.
According to Ji Moqiu, the best successor is a woman with special blood, like Lady Yuan of that time, so as to avoid an early death. Otherwise, all the hard work of raising her would be wasted after a few battles.
It's not worth it; the price-performance ratio is too low.
"...Let's not rush into the matter of finding a successor." As Shen Tang said this, a clever idea quietly emerged in his mind, "The Arrow of Time should have quite a reputation in the upper circles of the Central Continent? Perhaps we can use it to our advantage and use it as a starting point to divide them."
Whoever is sensible will have the chance to inherit the Arrow of Time.
The world is never short of greedy people.
|ω`)
The weather has been changing so much lately. It's humid again, and the air feels incredibly damp. It's easy to get sweaty and smelly when you sweat.
PS: Recently, while watching short dramas, I came across a lot of complaints about them. One of the most memorable complaints was that the maids in the short dramas were too arrogant and domineering, and that the masters could kill them at will. I think it's strange that they weren't killed.
Oh no, what were you thinking?
The overbearing plot is indeed a bit outrageous, but to say that one can arbitrarily beat and kill those who mistreat servants is simply feudalistic thinking. Even a common man can splatter blood in a fit of rage; are they saying that those with nothing to lose are fearless, or that they're not afraid of being killed by their subordinates?
The emperor was almost strangled to death by a palace maid, so why not say that feudalism gave them the power of life and death? Maids and servants are, after all, human beings, and human beings are capable of outbursts.
That's probably—
If you can kill me in one go, you're this (thumbs up). If you can't kill me and push me to the edge, giving me a chance to get close, you're this (thumbs down).
If the feudal ethical system could truly ensure that the upper class would always remain the upper class, while the lower class would never have a chance to rise up and would resign themselves to their fate and die, then there would be no change of dynasties.
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