Worldwide Awakening: My Soul Kinds Are Lost-Chapter 494: The Fox Borrows the Tiger’s Ferocity - Step 1_1
At night, Zhang Lin left with one hundred and thirteen people from the North Gate. The Qingxi Army, which was supposed to meet them, had already been waiting for a long time.
The Leader of the Qingxi Army was conversing with Jinhu, and no demeaning incidents occurred.
"Let’s go. The issue has been resolved. Temple Master Zeng has arranged five hundred men to escort us to Mount Tai. Next, we can travel under the banner of the Holy Emperor’s birthday. No one would dare to rashly hinder us," Jinhu said, having quickly returned.
Upon hearing these words, Zhang Lin breathed a sigh of relief. But before he could speak, Jinhu spoke again.
"Your lives were saved by the Holy Emperor. Ensure the Holy Emperor’s birthday is managed properly. If anything goes wrong, don’t blame me for being ruthless," he said.
"I know that many of you do not believe in the Holy Emperor. The Holy Emperor is compassionate and will not mind this."
"But we will," Jinhu warned.
Everyone meekly agreed. Who would dare to openly defy Jinhu here? They also had to consider their surroundings; if they truly disrespected the Holy Emperor, the Temple Master could have them killed instantly. Moreover, five hundred armored cavalry surrounded them. These five hundred were the core soldiers of the Qingxi Army. In total, the Qingxi Army had only one thousand such cavalrymen, and now half of them had been dispatched, which clearly demonstrated the piety of the Leader of the Qingxi Army towards the Holy Emperor.
They did not depart immediately as it was still nighttime. So, they temporarily stayed in the Qingxi Army’s encampment and enjoyed a satisfying meal.
Back in the city, they had been on the verge of starvation after their food supplies ran out. Thankfully, they were not among the lowest-ranking individuals but belonged to the middle-to-upper echelons, so they still had something to eat. It was rumored that those at the very bottom had resorted to cannibalism—a truly horrifying thought.
Zhang Lin and Li Zheng were in a slightly better state; since they only had themselves to feed, they still had some surplus provisions and hadn’t truly starved. However, they too began to eat heartily. The upcoming journey to Mount Tai would not be easy; at the very least, it would be a bumpy ride.
Moreover, time was tight. Only three months remained until the Holy Emperor’s birthday, and the journey itself would take at least a month. Arriving even a day earlier would allow them to begin their work sooner. If they messed this up, the consequences would be unimaginable.
After some more activity, they soon fell asleep. However, none of them dared to sleep too soundly, as this was, after all, their former enemy’s camp. Who knew if they might be beheaded in their sleep? Lacking any sense of security, their sleep was naturally light.
But sleep they must. They were to set out for Mount Tai the next day, and if they lacked energy due to insufficient sleep, no one would wait for them or slow the pace on their account.
After seeing everyone off to rest, Jinhu returned to Zeng Quankang, the Leader of the Qingxi Army.
"Are they all settled in?" Zeng Quankang asked. He was not a mere memory construct but a true believer, a Class B believer at that. Thus, Wang Linchi’s support had been indispensable for his Qingxi Army to develop to its current state.
There were other similar Rebel Armies, differing only in size. Supporting enough of these groups, like cultivating a field of leeks for future harvest, certainly had its benefits.
"Everything is arranged. With the Current Imperial Advisor, the Imperial Command Envoy, and many other talented individuals, the matter of the Holy Emperor’s birthday is settled," Jinhu responded.
"But these people are all from the Great Families. I fear they can’t be trusted, can they?" Zeng Quankang, having come from the lower classes, naturally wasn’t fond of the Great Families.
"Their trustworthiness is irrelevant. As long as they do their jobs, it’s fine. Their very lives are in our hands," Jinhu replied nonchalantly.
Hearing this, Zeng Quankang laughed. "That’s true. It’s just a pity that I won’t be able to participate in the Holy Emperor’s birthday celebrations."
Zeng Quankang was no longer a lone individual but the Leader of the Qingxi Army. If he were to go, he would undoubtedly have to bring his troops. This would mean crossing the territories of many fellow Rebel Armies, which was fundamentally impossible. Even if he were granted passage, it would unnerve the other Rebel Leaders.
Unless he fought his way through.
However, that was completely out of the question. His Qingxi Army ranked among the top ten Rebel Armies in the Central Plains, but there were even more formidable Rebel Armies than his. Still, being in the top ten was already very powerful, meaning his every action could trigger various unforeseen consequences.
For this very reason, he could not go.
As for going alone, he would be an easy target for assassination. If he were to die, the Qingxi Army would inevitably collapse, and its territory would be carved up by other factions.
"What’s this about being fated or not? If this birthday celebration is handled well, all Class B devout will receive the Holy Emperor’s grace," Jinhu said.
Zeng Quankang showed little reaction. He didn’t know he was a Class B devout. After the Dai Temple was destroyed, anyone wishing to offer incense and ascertain their rank as a devout follower had to travel to the ancestral temple on Mount Tai.
However, since starting his rebellion, Zeng Quankang had never been there, so he remained unaware.
"Then congratulations in advance, Brother Jin. When the time comes..." Zeng Quankang initially thought Jinhu was showing off, but Jinhu interrupted him.
"We should congratulate each other, Leader Zeng," Jinhu said with a smile. "Offering incense merely lets you yourself know your level of piety. How could the Holy Emperor not know your rank as a devout follower?"
"We Class B devout all possess the ability to sense other Class B devout, thereby preventing armed conflict among ourselves."
This, however, left Zeng Quankang puzzled. "I am a Class B devout, so why can’t I sense that you are also a Class B devout, Brother Jin?"
"Try harboring some ill will towards me," Jinhu said, smiling.
"Ill will? How could I harbor ill will towards you? We are both devout followers." Naturally, Zeng Quankang harbored no such malice.
"It is precisely because there is no ill will that you cannot sense it. This ability is to prevent us devout from killing one another. If there is no malice, it naturally cannot be felt."
"Previously, I had considered, in the name of being a fellow devout, taking you hostage to clear a path for us. It was only then that I sensed resistance and realized you were a Class B devout. You’ll understand if you try it yourself next time," Jinhu explained.
"Is it truly that miraculous?" Zeng Quankang asked, quite surprised.
"Haha, you don’t believe me, Leader Zeng? Let me offer another piece of proof. Do you recognize this?" As he spoke, Jinhu took out an Amulet.
"Of course, I recognize it. I personally distributed them to three Class B devout in the past." Zeng Quankang certainly recognized it; every Class B devout possessed one. Indeed, it was because Jinhu had presented this very Amulet that he had agreed to meet and assist him.
"Hold this Amulet and clear your mind of all distractions," Jinhu said.
Zeng Quankang did as Jinhu instructed. The next instant, the Amulet began to emit a soft blue glow.
"If the Amulet doesn’t light up, that person is not a follower of the Holy Emperor. White light indicates Class D, green light is Class C. The blue light we both emit signifies Class B. The highest, Class A, is purple light."
As he spoke, Jinhu took the Amulet. It too emitted a blue light, though his was slightly more brilliant than Zeng Quankang’s.
"The more brilliant the glow, the more pious you are within that class."
"It seems our piety is quite comparable, Leader Zeng," Jinhu couldn’t help but smile.
Zeng Quankang’s glow was genuine, but Jinhu’s, naturally, was faked. He wasn’t human, merely a memory construct. Wang Linchi had granted him the necessary permissions for the Amulet to activate in his hand; normally, it wouldn’t glow for him at all.
"Miraculous! Truly miraculous to the extreme!" Zeng Quankang was ecstatic.
He was overjoyed, not only because he had been acknowledged, but also because he would receive corresponding blessings during the Holy Emperor’s birthday celebrations.
"I just wonder what blessings the Holy Emperor will bestow this time..." he asked curiously.
"Ten years of lifespan, a Divine Art, and for exceptional merit, one can also be granted a Spirit Glyph," Jinhu replied without hesitation, then added, "There might be others, but I am not entirely sure. The specifics will depend on the scale of the birthday celebrations."
"Oh, and by the way, if convenient, refrain from any military action on the day of the birthday, as well as the three days before and three days after—for a total of seven days."
Zeng Quankang didn’t ask why. It was undoubtedly because the Holy Emperor cherished peace during his lifetime. So he nodded. "That’s not a problem at all."
"Can this news be spread?" Zeng Quankang asked again. He, too, wanted to perform exceptional service and obtain a Spirit Glyph, even if he didn’t know what it was. If he could persuade more people to refrain from warfare, wouldn’t that be even better for earning merit?
"It can be spread. This isn’t some unspeakable secret. The wider it spreads, the better!" Jinhu replied. He was, of course, executing his plan of ’the fox borrowing the tiger’s might.’
"Good, good, good!" Zeng Quankang exclaimed three times, his elation evident. He then said, "I will immediately write several letters to rally support and add momentum to the Holy Emperor’s birthday celebrations!"
Given the influence of his Qingxi Army, many other Rebel Armies would likely show him some deference. As for whether his efforts would ultimately succeed, that remained to be seen. Failing after trying was one thing; not trying at all was another. There was a chance of failure if one tried, but no chance of success if one didn’t.
