537: Chapter 87: Who Can Escape from Karma?
537: Chapter 87: Who Can Escape from Karma?
Bamboo leaves swayed gently, Meng Kejian knelt on one knee, an expression of utmost respect on his face.
In the distance, the Yuanzhou Iron Cavalry responsible for the blockade around Qixia Mountain also rushed over upon receiving orders; they all knelt down, creating an overwhelming and chilling aura.
All these occurrences unequivocally highlighted the identity of the scholar clad in green.
The youngest Shangzhu Country of the Da Li Dynasty, Lord of the Iron Cavalry of Yuanzhou, Yu State, and another state.
Chen Chong.
“Great General, by your command, all defenses around Qixia Mountain have been withdrawn,” a commander among the Yuanzhou Iron Cavalry spoke softly.
“What?”
Upon hearing this, Venerable Bai Yu’s expression changed once again.
Sitting on his horseback, Prince Jiangning could no longer contain his restlessness.
Xie Zhisu dismounted and, after maintaining courteous civilities with a bow, frowned and queried, “General Chen, what is the purpose behind withdrawing the defenses at Qixia Mountain?”
The green-robed scholar sat in front of a bamboo table, his gaze resting on the empty cup before him.
The wine had been drunk to the last drop.
A few remnants of wine scattered on the ground, taken by the wind, leaving the fragrance of Drunken Immortal Brew lingering in the woods.
Several commanders of the Iron Cavalry, familiar with the scent, had peculiar expressions and stayed silent with their heads bowed.
“Just moments ago, Chen and Xie Zhen made a bet.
If he could finish five cups of ‘Drunken Immortal Brew,’ I would let him leave Qixia Mountain,” said Chen Chong.
Chen Chong’s fingers gently grazed something.
The porcelain cups resonated with a clear shattering sound, the bamboo table fracturing inch by inch.
The Drunken Immortal Brew had been fully consumed, the bet was decided, and these porcelain cups became superfluous, thus shattering into pieces on the ground.
“How could you do such a thing?”
Venerable Bai Yu could not help but interject anxiously: “You let Xie Zhen go?!”
“Insolence!”
A cold and indifferent rebuke rang out behind Venerable Bai Yu.
Meng Kejian, who had been kneeling, now coldly rose to his feet, his hand resting on Bai Yu’s shoulder, not hiding his killing intent: “Dare to be disrespectful again and see what happens?”
“I…”
Venerable Bai Yu took a deep breath, realizing the inappropriateness of the situation.
In Jiangning, he was used to being unchallenged, after all, Xie Zhisu’s influence in Jiangning was not inferior to Chen Chong’s in Yuanzhou.
But this was the Li Kingdom, and Qixia Mountain was teeming with Iron Cavalry, incalculable in numbers.
Even though Jiangning had prior dealings with Nalan Xuance, with Chen Chong’s personal guard present, if someone were to take the lead, these brash soldiers could possibly do anything.
Even without Chen Chong’s direct intervention.
Just by forming the Cage Immortal Array, and if these Iron Cavalry charged, they would be enough to exhaust him to death!
“It is my lack of strict discipline,” Prince Jiangning Xie Zhi also realized something was amiss and quickly apologized on behalf of his subordinate: “General Chen is young and accomplished, please do not take offense.”
“It’s of no concern,” replied Chen Chong.
He calmly stated, “I understand why you are upset; not long ago, Jiangning sent a significant gift to Nalan Xuance, so in your opinion, this interception at Qixia Mountain should not end so abruptly as a return favor…”
Prince Jiangning responded neither humbly nor arrogantly, “That’s the reasoning.”
“No, it’s not like that…”
“Your gifts have reached the hands of Nalan Xuance.”
Chen Chong slightly smiled and said, “Therefore, the matter of killing Xie Zhen…
should rightly be done by him.”
Prince Jiangning frowned, having heard these words not long ago.
Clearly, Meng Kejian dared to make such a statement because he had Chen Chong’s blessing.
Is this a reminder that my gestures have been insufficient?
“I heard that Jiangning gave Nalan Xuance a thousand Thunder Fire Talismans, a thousand sets of fine iron armor, and ten meticulously crafted talisman formation manuscripts from the Taoist sect.”
Chen Chong spoke slowly, lowering his gaze, “Nalan National Master, as a descendent of Xuanwei Island who is Mastering Talismans, would have no use for these Thunder Fire Talismans.
The fine iron armor will eventually be awarded to other noble families, and he would not even regard the talisman formation manuscripts…
The National Master is already exhausting his mind and Spirit; where would he find the Heart Power to study these?”
“What do you imply?”
Prince Jiangning asked upon hearing this.
“Receiving money to avert disasters for others.”
Chen Chong calmly said, “But without receiving money, there is no reason to carry out tasks for others.
The grand gifts you gave to Nalan Xuance, not a penny reached the Three States Iron Cavalry.”
“That doesn’t matter…”
Veins throbbed on Prince Jiangning’s forehead; he lowered his voice and transmitted his question, “If you truly desired it, why didn’t you inform me beforehand?”
Since he was able to give one set of gifts to appease Nalan Xuance.
Giving a second set would be no different.
As long as Xie Zhen dies here, Prince Jiangning would be willing to make another painful concession!
“Saying it out loud, Your Highness may not believe it…
but I, Chen, actually believe in fate.”
Chen Chong raised his head and spoke indifferently, “If Your Highness wished to give, you would naturally have done so already.
Sincerity brings divine response, why the need for prior notice?”
“You…”
Xie Zhisu was infuriated yet speechless.
All these years of cautiously biding his time, his realm had indeed improved substantially.
However, the young scholar before him was capable of grappling with Yin God Perfect Demons.
In reasoning, he was unmatched.
In a fight, even less so.
This loss, Xie Zhisu could only swallow.
Prince Jiangning took several deep breaths and finally calmed his Heart Lake, unable to comprehend, he said, “Letting Xie Zhen go is one thing…
but Nalan Xuance has been planning for years, and by deciding to ambush the Fan Yin Temple’s envoy on Qixia Mountain, he is formally declaring war against the Buddhist sect.
With matters having reached this point, how can you let go of that little monk beside Xie Zhen?”
The previous ambush, he had seen it clearly.
Buddha’s Son Miao Zhen intervened to save the little monk inside the carriage of the Golden Light Array.
That little monk is the “core figure” of this diplomatic mission!
“Let go is to let go.”
Chen Chong remained composed and said, “An hour later, the Iron Cavalry will still be present.
If they can escape Qixia Mountain, could they really flee from the Li Kingdom?”
He extended his five fingers, slowly turning them over.
With a flip of the hand, clouds; with the back of the hand, rain…
These may sound arrogant, but being the Lord of the Iron Cavalry from Yuan Province, Yu State, and Shangzhu Country, Chen Chong indeed has the right to such arrogance.