Why do I have so many masters?-Chapter 604 - 227 Tiance Makes a Sudden Move to Strike at Chen Kai (2/2)

Perhaps the words Mei Wangsheng had spoken were simply too weighty, or maybe the inferior liquor he had consumed that day packed a powerful delayed punch, because Yuchi Jie found himself somewhat bewildered for a moment. Mei Wangsheng maintained his posture of respect and said solemnly,

"Last year, General Li Qidao made a visit to Wanling and showed me the Young Marshal's portrait, instructing me to wait patiently in Wanling City until we would meet. And indeed, today I have truly met the Young Marshal. General Li Qidao commanded that in front of outsiders I should not reveal the Young Marshal's identity, which is why I did not pay my respects earlier. Please forgive me, Young Marshal."

With that, he gave another deep bow.

By this time, Yuchi Jie had collected his thoughts and, looking at Wang Anfeng, his lips twitched slightly, but he said nothing. Instead, he stood to one side, internally coming to grips with the situation.

Wang Anfeng stepped forward, bent down, and helped Mei Wangsheng, who was still in deep reverence, to stand, and said gently,

"Why must you do this, sir? How could Anfeng possibly bear it?"

Mei Wangsheng composed the emotions in his heart, took the opportunity to stand up, and sizing up the young man before him, felt that he indeed matched the image in the portrait to the last detail. Li Qidao was a fierce general who slew countless upon his steed, yet he excelled in painting.

He was particularly adept at fine line painting, his images of adorned ladies were unrivaled. The Master of the Imperial Academy even famously drank three cups one evening in honor of Li Qidao's paintings, lamenting that although he was a warrior, he could wield a brush with such pure vigor and delicate hues, capturing the essences of colors. What face do we scholars have to continue painting?

After the dispersal of the Divine Martial Mansion, Mei Wangsheng returned to Wanling, the place of his upbringing; it had been a long time since he had seen a work from the hand of Li Qidao.

Back in the day, he had defied his father's orders, gone for several years, and eventually resigned his commission in anger, relegated to a civilian.

Thus, although his martial arts prowess and scholarly achievements were no less impressive than those of his elder brother and father, when others spoke of the Mei Family of Wanling, they only ever mentioned the three generations of fathers and sons. As for him, Mei Family's third master, he had never been included, yet people regarded him with the utmost respect when they saw him.

Those who survived from the Divine Martial Mansion were mostly like this.

Having witnessed the most magnificent scenery in the world in the first half of their lives, they cared little for the mundane strife of household and property, finding dissatisfaction everywhere they looked.

The Great Qin's attitude towards their historical contributions was also quite ambiguous, and these meritorious officers were not duly granted nobility or rewards. Therefore, others did not have to walk on eggshells around them, and perhaps there was even an undercurrent of jealous resentment, causing mutual disdain. After disarming, many from the Divine Martial Mansion encountered exclusion.

Mei Wangsheng, who stood before him, was exceptional; he could be described as someone who whiled away his time playing the zither and raising cranes, living a carefree life. Yet, it was apparent that within a family that had thrived for three hundred years, he was considered an idle person. He had no desire for an official career, yet his family allowed him to lead an idle life.

After a brief conversation, Mei Wangsheng looked around the rather simple but elegant room, his brow slightly furrowed. He mentioned that although he was an idle figure in the Mei Family, he still had a sufficiently large courtyard at his disposal. It would be better for Wang Anfeng to stay with him directly.

Though there would be no delicacies from mountains or seas to indulge in, it would certainly be more comfortable than staying in an inn, and much quieter too.

Wang Anfeng had no objections and nodded in agreement. When Mei Wangsheng had gone out to make arrangements, Wang Anfeng suddenly gestured towards Yuchi Jie, who seemed detached from the conversation, and said,

"Mr. Mei San, this is Yuchi."

A faint smile appeared on Mei Wangsheng's stern and conservative face as he replied,

"I have already noticed, this gentleman bears a resemblance to the esteemed Elder Yuchi."

Yuchi Jie, who had intended to remain silent, got dragged into the conversation and awkwardly paid his respects,

"The younger generation, Yuchi Jie, greets Mr. Mei San."

Mei Wangsheng did not answer but simply smiled,

"Now the resemblance appears even seven parts alike."

After a chuckle and telling the Young Marshal to wait a moment, he turned and left. Yuchi Jie breathed a sigh of relief and, looking at Wang Anfeng, who was gazing outside at the scenery, sighed inwardly with resignation before stepping up to stand beside him.

Without looking at him, their eyes were solely fixed through the window, observing the passersby outside as he said,

"Mr. Mei San Wangsheng, in his glory days, served the Great Qin as a Fourth Rank Bright Might General, commanding three thousand soldiers of the Iron Cavalry. Although born into a Noble Clan of the Confucian School, where his elders delved into the study of mathematics, he was most proficient in the Six Arts of a gentleman, particularly in chariot-driving and archery."

"He could control the connection between horse riding and archery, releasing one arrow followed by seven others in quick succession, each hitting its target. Once upon the city walls, he fended off an entire army with his archery, striking fear into their hearts with arrows that could penetrate a mountain of iron. His strategy was straightforward; skilled in both offense and defense, my own father praised his military as noble and direct, a perfect embodiment of a king's army, particularly adept at countering deceitful tactics."

"With such martial capabilities, he spent most of his time in the Divine Martial Mansion handling military strategy and managing documents. Whenever he reviewed military dispatches, he could finalize them while on horseback, and once he mounted his horse, he was also capable of slaying enemies."

"Finalize them while on horseback..."

Wang Anfeng murmured softly and then laughed,

"A Fourth Rank Bright Might General in the Divine Martial Mansion, holding any position?"

Yuchi Jie replied with a smile,

"Military Adviser in charge of affairs."

"After all, the Divine Martial Mansion had only a three thousand man force, and at that time, it was taking advantage of a loophole."

Wang Anfeng didn't know what he was feeling, just let out a sign.

After pausing, Yuchi Jie continued,

"Back at Jade Ruin Temple, Yan Bo also told me that it's better for you not to know your own identity right now, to avoid losing your composure and doing something you shouldn't. But now, I see you're very calm."

"How do you feel upon knowing the truth?"

Wang Anfeng smiled,

"I thought I would be very angry."

Yuchi Jie frowned, "You should naturally be angry."

"To be honest, being angry now would be normal, um... for instance, do you feel the urge to smash something right now?"

"Take advantage of being upstairs and smash away to your heart's content. Otherwise, I'm afraid that once you go downstairs, upon seeing those noble clan's sons, you won't be able to resist attacking them. With your martial arts, they won't last a few blows. By then, if Mr. Mei San gets dragged into it, the situation might blow up..."

Yuchi Jie said this in a joking manner, yet his expression was seriously contemplating.

Wang Anfeng looked at him, closed his eyes then opened them again, his hand touched the sword scabbard and then released it. He turned and grabbed onto the thick wooden windowsill, clearly exerting some strength in his fingers as if that would allow him to calm down.

It wasn't until there was a creaking noise that he suddenly realized what he was doing and withdrew his hand. On the windowsill were five imprints, Wang Anfeng exhaled and gazed into the distance for a long time before saying with a light laugh,

"It's complicated."

"To tell the truth, it's a mess, a complete mess. The master who taught me to read said, 'In times of great events, maintain tranquility; a raging inferno can turn into a pond of green lotuses.' I used to do it very well, but today I can't. I can't..."

"Yet beneath this complete mess, against my expectations, I feel very calm..."

"It's like I have always known, like the old community plays I watched during festivals. The content is the same every year; I already know the plots by heart, and I'm simply watching the players perform them step by step on stage."

"Only such an identity could explain the things I've encountered."

"Lord of Divine Martial Mansion, Marshal Tiance of Great Qin, the case that in the last ten years must be mentioned after every discussion about 'when the hare is dead, the hound is cooked; when the birds are gone, the bow is hidden', and so much so that almost invariably a line is added after those two sentences - 'when the enemy state crumbles, the schemers fall.'

"A duke of the Great Qin Country, a First Rank Military Officer."

"The famous general who has received the most honors and is also most inexplicably feared by Great Qin."

Yuchi Jie added, "Also, the only one among the five people who dominated the last era who didn't know any martial arts."

Wang Anfeng closed his eyes and said softly,

"Yes, it is..."

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"It's all..."

"Marshal Tiance, Lord of Divine Martial Mansion, Duke of Qin, First Rank General, the only person on the Jianghu list who doesn't know martial arts, yet stands above the peerless, suffocating the Jianghu as the fifth in the world... all these are him, Wang Tiance."

"It's all him..."

"It is."

Yuchi Jie looked at Wang Anfeng, hesitant,

"Are you... still okay?"

"Wang Anfeng, you seem to be talking more than usual today..."

Wang Anfeng fell silent, and for the first time, Yuchi Jie was unsure what to do. With hesitance on his face, the young man exhaled softly and said in a low voice,

"But in my heart, he's just that shameless, penniless scholar. Just that scholar."

"Nothing else matters."

PS1: Here comes the second update of the day...

PS2: This chapter said I would be back tomorrow, yes it should be.