Why do I have so many masters?-Chapter 597 - 220: White-Robed Obstruction (1/2)

The person on the dais slightly curved their fingers, tapping gently on the table surface; their expression remained indifferent. It wasn't until the subordinate below had finished recounting the experiences of Wang Tiance's son over the past few years that they seemed to come back to their senses, and said,

"He's been missing for more than two years?"

The man below said in a deep voice,

"Yes."

"After disappearing for two years and seven months, he returned to Fufeng County and broke through the one hundred levels of Fufeng Tower in one fell swoop, confirming that his cultivation had directly leaped from Eighth Rank, surpassing the Longmen, to become a Sixth Rank Martial Artist."

The man on the dais had streaks of white at his temples but looked extremely handsome and chuckled,

"In just two and a half years, to be able to cross the Longmen and still retain the ability to fight, it seems that this Young Marshal has a master guiding him."

"But it's unknown who it might be."

The subordinate below did not dare to speak.

Slowly, Su Zhengcheng said,

"General Li Qidao was seen in the Southern Frontier at that time and did not bring the Young Marshal with him; and the rest are not qualified to guide the cultivation of the Master of Divine Martial Mansion's only son. So it must be someone else."

"This Young Marshal's opportunities are not bad."

He patted his hands together and laughed as if in great admiration, then once again spoke, "In that case, compile all the traces of Grandmaster Level experts' interventions within the four counties surrounding Fufeng over those two years and send them to me."

The subordinate clasped his fists, voiced his assent in a grave tone, and then slowly stepped back. After he had taken only a dozen or so steps, the voice of Su Zhengcheng came from behind him, asking,

"Great General Yu Wenze, have you found us out?"

"...This, your subordinate does not know."

"Heh, that's right, how could you know about this matter? You may withdraw for now."

With a light chuckle and a shake of his head, Su Zhengcheng waved his hand to dismiss the subordinate, then sat alone at the head seat, with a contemplative and slightly amused expression, his fingers tapping on the table, murmuring,

"Yu Wenze..."

In the many cities and counties of Great Qin, the most powerful are undoubtedly the Prefectural Governors, who could be described as great officials in frontier commands. Besides them, the major noble clans within the county cities are entwined in complexity; often with hundreds of years of foundation, they are colossal entities that ordinary people cannot ignore or shake.

Beyond these, there were others who stood above.

There was someone here, whom neither the noble clan officials nor the Jianghu Martial Artists could completely ignore.

Great Qin had seventy-two counties, each with a high-ranking expert from the court presiding over it.

The weakest among these individuals were Fourth Rank masters ranking within the top three, either wielding Spirit Soldiers or relying on great formations, comparable to Grandmasters within the city, known as Pillars of the State, safeguarding the peace of the land.

Even among these seventy-two people, Yu Wenze of Fufeng was renowned.

He himself was a veteran general of Great Qin, capable of fighting Grandmasters without relying on external forces. He had participated in the war of Qin's conquest of the neighboring states twenty years ago, capturing thirty-one cities, slaying enemy generals, and earning illustrious military achievements. He had also saved the life of the then Crown Prince on several occasions.

The Crown Prince regarded him as a trusted favored general, and his eldest daughter became his disciple, learning martial arts and military strategy from him.

Unfortunately, "A new emperor brings a new court," is not just a phrase lightly written by Scholars; most of the time, it arrives like late autumn rains, swift and fierce, with no consideration for past loyalty.

Before the new emperor had even ascended the throne, he was dispatched from the Capital City by an imperial edict.

Sent away by the emperor himself, he once entered the palace to inquire about the reason, and the brooding yet magnanimous emperor granted him a cup of wine. Feeling innocent, he drained his glass; whenever offered, he drank, going through three cups in succession.

It was a great honor to be served wine by the emperor himself, with the Great Eunuch pouring at the palace.

He drank openly and freely.

The next day, he left the Capital City and settled in Fufeng, becoming a Pillar of the State—a Great General of Great Qin, holding high office but far from the Capital.

To this day, Yu Wenze was still not completely clear about the Former Emperor's intentions when he was granted the wine.

However, having faced countless battles and matched wits and strength with others, he could somewhat guess: amidst the sound of the pipa, there lay a murderous intent; had he shown even a moment's hesitation when drinking that day, he might not have been able to leave the Tai Chi Palace.

Had that Great Eunuch been on the battlefield, he had a dozen ways to surround and slay him, but within three steps' distance, he could only face his execution; there was no other way.

Today, the third-ranked master among the world's experts, and the only one who could withstand the speed of his attacks, was the Supreme one atop the Kunlun Mountains. Even a single drop of the liquid he poured could instantly penetrate mysterious iron battle armor and the flesh of Grandmasters.

Yu Wenze sat in the Quiet Room.

A secret report lay on the table; his eyes were slightly closed, his expression still stern. The passing three years had not left a trace on his handsome pale face; his lips were light and thin. Black hair combed up and fastened with a blue jade hairpin, his demeanor and posture meticulous in every way.

The report stated that a troop was spotted riding black water Flood Dragons coming from Wangxian County, and many in the court knew that those who rode the black water Flood Dragons belonged to the Flood Dragon Guards, who searched for rare treasures for the Supreme Former Emperor.

Yu Wenze closed his eyes.

Flood Dragon Guards.

Others might simply think that Wangxian County's Fufeng has some unique treasures for which these Flood Dragon guards would make the trip, but he could guess the true purpose of the Flood Dragon guards, and so he felt all the more that this secret report was burning hot and untouchable.

He was within the Quiet Room of Fufeng County, yet the scene that sprang to mind was from the years past when he had stepped out of the Tai Chi Palace, the setting sun sinking west, the sky painted with a color like blood, blending into the oppressive black clouds, almost choking one's breath, with clothes under the armor already soaked through.

Reflecting on it now, the Supreme Emperor's warm words while urging drinks were laced only with a coldness in his pupils.

He once believed, as did the courtiers back then, that the Supreme Emperor adored his eldest son.

Yet in recent years, Yu Wenze gradually came to understand that the Supreme Emperor was a father partial to his eldest son and also a fierce emperor cultivating the power of Great Qin. When these two merged, Great Qin's longevity would always come far before personal sentiments.

When the Crown Prince had already died, he acted decisively to eliminate the Crown Prince's former supporters, and now, when Great Qin is threatened, he would not hesitate a moment longer than he had when bestowing rewards back then.

For this reason, these past ten years, the Supreme Emperor of Great Qin deliberately delegated power, indulging in drunken pleasures daily, immersed in the bosom of women, allowing the people of the world to slowly forget this Emperor Qin, who once commanded the world and stood against other states with his strength alone.

Yet, he could not forget the image of the one who once sat high on the dragon throne.

Perhaps because for the sake of Great Qin, he had to forget the death of his eldest son, forget the deeds of his second son, personally remove the thorns for the second son while bearing ill repute, and thus harboring pain and guilt in his heart, he showed extreme affection for the children left behind by his eldest son.

As for the real perpetrator who murdered the eldest son, hatred in his heart must have already reached its peak.

Thinking of the young man who stormed up the hundred floors of Fufeng last year, Yu Wenze's expression turned somber for a long time.

Then, he opened his eyes and picked up the brush to dip in ink on the desk.

Inside Heaven Capital City.

The family retainer, Ding Song, from the Princess's Mansion used his waist token to enter the Tai Chi Palace, quickening his pace, looking neither left nor right as he made his way straight to the Cloud-watching Pavilion.

The Cloud-watching Pavilion was beside the Xianchi Palace and Shujing Palace amidst three lakes, where the scenery was beautiful. Over the past few years, the Supreme Emperor often enjoyed playing music and admiring the views there, occasionally inviting Princess Li Wanshun to join him.

Once, when Ding Song was accompanying at the side, he revealed his rough and bold pipa playing skills learned from the borderlands, which the Supreme Emperor quite liked, often summoning him to play together.

Before he could reach the pavilion, the sound of the pipa reached his ears, coincidentally playing to the second stanza's midsection, the small segment about the performance of martial arts in front of the palace, identical to the usual routine without a single error, easing Ding Song's heart.

This time he was not late.

Catching his breath and fixing his attire, he slowed his pace and headed towards the Cloud-watching Pavilion.

The eleven prefectures of Jiangnan Road are all bustling hubs.

Departing from Guangwu County and traveling south for over two hundred li, one could reach the Guan City of Danyang County, where, although the scenery along the way is mostly desolate, the differences between the North and South are gradually visible.

Just speaking of the mountains and rivers observed along the way, they seem more graceful than those in Great Qin's north but lack the vast and lofty expanse; looking into the distance, a faint green haze covers everything, prompting Yuchi Jie to joke that the view unintentionally brings to mind a girl dressing in front of a mirror.

Lin Qiaofu, taking it very seriously, questioned how could there be a girl with green hair. This made Yuchi Jie burst into laughter, nearly tumbling off his horse.

With one hand clutching his stomach and the other wiping tears, laughing that it's fortunate men and women can't be generalized together, or else in those cities and county cities, one might find many girls with green atop their heads, reflecting no winter, no frost, no snow, as if indeed it's spring year-round.

Lin Qiaofu, not understanding his words at all, was unwilling to show timidity in front of the increasingly familiar young master, and earnestly said:

"Many women? Generalizing men and women together?"

"Could it be that the hair of many men in those big cities is green?"

"So that's how it is!"

The young lady had an epiphany.

"Hahaha! Good, what a good explanation!"

Yuchi Jie finally managed to stop laughing, but seeing Lin Qiaofu's earnest expression, he couldn't help but burst out laughing again, hands clutching his belly, begging for mercy from the pain, swaying as he was truly about to fall off his horse.

They were not the only ones on the road; travelling merchants and scholars also laughed upon hearing this, but they did not explain, which puzzled Lin Qiaofu even more.

Pulling at Lv Baiping's clothes, Lv Baiping resignedly bent down and whispered a few words into her ear, turning the young girl's cheeks visibly crimson. Pointing at Yuchi Jie, she stuttered for a long while, finding it hard to speak.

Wang Anfeng retracted his gaze with a faint smile on his lips.

The Scripture Pavilion of the Holy Land of Swordsmanship probably would not have these jests from the marketplace.

Further ahead, the three mountains rose gracefully. From the main road, a mountain path branched off, winding upwards with the allure of secluded paths. Named the Sanshan Pavilion, a young man stood in front of the pavilion, dressed plainly, bamboo staff in hand, sandals on feet, as if he were a spring scholar.

Surrounding scholars praised his bearing, likening it to a pine tree.

The young man took a step forward, his bamboo staff gently lifting.

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.

Right hand pale, he lightly grasped one end of the staff, while the other end pointed towards those approaching on the road, a seemingly casual thrust.

Yet it brought forth a majestic three hundred zhang of Sword Qi.

PS: Presenting today's first chapter, which was quite difficult to write and hence, posted late. Please forgive me... (This chapter says no more writing, flip the table, if you have thoughts, please share in the comments _(:з」∠)_)

Thank you to Fa Hai Lei Yin for the generous reward, the book has gained another alliance leader, very grateful (bowing)