Chapter 537: Advocate of Reason
Chapter 537: Advocate of Reason
Outside the courtyard, a black palanquin accompanied by over a dozen mounted knights approached, their arrival causing wailing ghosts and eerie noises to echo within a radius of several dozen li.
However, just as they reached a distance of three li from the courtyard, they suddenly heard a peculiar clamor of gongs and drums, followed by the emergence of a group of figures from the nearby bushes.
Carrying the palanquin were two robust yellow-skinned men, and inside sat a blue-robed old lady adorned with flowers, tipsy from drinking, with an egg yolk hanging from the corner of her mouth. She held a smoking pipe and loudly exclaimed:
"Halt!"
"Where are you going? Disturbing the spirits and unsettling the people. Don't you know that the sun has risen, and people need to work in the fields?"
"..."
"Hmm?"
The black palanquin came to a stop, and both the occupant of the palanquin and the attendant by their side, along with the general on horseback, exchanged glances. The lantern bearer beside them couldn't hold back any longer and shouted, "How dare you block the path of a noble companion..."
"..."
"What are you doing?"
This question should not have been asked, but they couldn't help themselves. The person blocking their way was indeed peculiar.
"What are you doing?"
Seventh Aunt suddenly became furious. She tapped her smoking pipe on the palanquin's armrest and said, "I, Seventh Aunt, have come to reason with you!"
It was better when the group didn't listen, but now that they had, they seemed even more confused. Inside the black palanquin, a faint voice filled with disbelief could be heard: "So, that... person actually asked you to..."
"..."
"..."
"What? Can't Seventh Aunt reason with you?"
The night breeze seemed to quieten, and the occupant of the palanquin remained astonished. Seventh Aunt, however, grew irritated. If it were any other matter, Seventh Aunt's broad-mindedness would have let it slide.
But to say that Seventh Aunt was unreasonable was going too far.
After all, since Seventh Aunt moved to this place a few days ago, she had been living by the principles of 'reason', and many fellow villagers believed in her.
Hearing Seventh Aunt's words, the person in the palanquin seemed to be deep in thought, while the Heavenly Mandate General by their side glanced at the black palanquin, his expression turning slightly cold, revealing his irritation.
He slowly reined in his horse and took a few steps forward, saying in a low voice, "We have no intention of disturbing the people, nor do we wish to offend the Immortals. We are merely here to find a person in the courtyard ahead."
"That courtyard displays a red lantern, indicating it belongs to Red Lantern Lady, so it's probably not the Immortals' sacred place. Since the Immortals are concerned about our disturbance, we'll extinguish the lantern and go to the courtyard to find the person. Is that acceptable?"
"So what if it belongs to Red Lantern Lady?"
Upon hearing this, Seventh Aunt grew impatient and said, "Red Lantern Lady is our little sister."
"You came here talking about rules, but you've only been well-behaved for a few days. Now you're killing people and stealing supplies everywhere, disturbing the people, and breaking the rules?"
"The villagers all curse you. You don't even leave a mouthful of life-saving supplies for them. Only Seventh Aunt, with a kind heart, doesn't hold it against you. But now that I'm here, I won't give you any face."
"If you say it's not possible, then it's not possible. You came from somewhere, so just return there!"
"..."
"You..."
Hearing this, the Heavenly Mandate General frowned, and the person in the palanquin spoke with a trembling voice, "Very well, is this how you represent the Hu family in reasoning?"
"You... if you've taken on the role of reasoning, how can you not recognize me?"
"..."
"Huh?"
Seventh Aunt glared at the palanquin with her small green bean-like eyes, hesitating for a moment before exclaiming, "This person must be crazy!"
"You're in the palanquin with the curtains drawn. How can I recognize you?"
"..."
The person in the palanquin, hearing this stubbornness, seemed to deliberately add a touch of ridicule, becoming so angry that they couldn't speak.
But seeing the stalemate, the Heavenly Mandate General's face turned cold. He suddenly shook the reins, and the tall horse galloped directly towards them.
The horse was several times taller than Seventh Aunt, and its approach in the night was intimidating. Seventh Aunt's expression changed, and she took a step back, startled. The person in the palanquin was also shocked by this development.
Just as the Heavenly Mandate General was about to ride up to Seventh Aunt, a gust of yin wind blew from behind her, and a small girl in a red robe with two braided pigtails appeared in the dark night.
The key point was that this little girl carried a massive demon-slaying saber on her back. She quickly approached and handed something to Seventh Aunt: "Here! For you."
Seventh Aunt was startled by the rudeness of the person on horseback, and she remembered Hu Ma's previous instructions: if she encountered someone unreasonable, she should return to the courtyard to fetch the saber. However, the other party's urgency left her unable to leave immediately.
Seeing Little Red Tang deliver the saber, Seventh Aunt was delighted and eagerly reached out to take it. But to her surprise, the saber was too heavy, and she couldn't grasp it, causing it to fall to the ground.
"Chi!" The sound of the blade being drawn from its half-sheathed wooden scabbard echoed, and the sword plunged straight into the ground beside it.
The sword emitted a buzzing vibration, and even the black bone clenched in the demon head at the hilt trembled. In an instant, malevolent energy surged forth.
The Heavenly Mandate General's expression changed dramatically, and he quickly raised his sleeve to cover his face. The black palanquin he was riding in, along with the maidservant by its side and his subordinates, were all startled by the sudden surge of malevolent energy.
It was as if a wailing ghost was crying out within their bodies. The flags behind them fluttered violently, and the horses beneath them stood upright, trembling.
"How could there be such a sinister object?"
The Heavenly Mandate General's heart was filled with terror, his eyes turning red. He reached out to touch the weapons on the side of the horse.
"Stop!"
But at that moment, amidst the chaos, the person inside the black palanquin suddenly shouted. Her fear seemed to stem not only from the curtain fluttering in the malevolent energy but also from seeing Little Red Tang, who had brought the sword, as if her soul had been shaken.
For a moment, her legs went weak, and she felt an urge to rush out of the palanquin and kneel forward. However, she hesitated, unsure of what to do, and managed to hold herself up. Her courage had completely dissipated.
When she spoke again, her voice was tinged with panic and fear. She shouted, "Go! Retreat quickly! Don't be rude!"
"What?"
The Heavenly Mandate General turned his head abruptly, staring at the black palanquin in disbelief. His eyes were filled with anger.
"I said, go!"
The person in the palanquin had lost their composure, and their gaze pierced through the curtain, "Have you forgotten what we discussed before coming to Mingzhou?"
The Heavenly Mandate General fell silent, and after a while, he slowly closed his eyes, as if suppressing the anger in his heart with all his might. Finally, he reined in his horse and waved his hand to signal his dozen or so subordinates.
Without saying a word, he allowed the calmed horse to slowly turn around, carrying him bit by bit, swaying and shaking, into the depths of the night.
"Hey? They're gone?"
The Seventh Aunt in the palanquin was also taken aback. She curiously glanced at the departing figures and waved the shoe in her hand, "You're lucky you left quickly, or else I would've given you a good shoeing."
The person riding beside the palanquin also arrived with an imposing aura, maintaining a silent and oppressive demeanor as they left. After traveling for three or four li, someone finally broke the oppressive atmosphere and spoke. The Heavenly Mandate General listened, and the voice seemed normal.
"Why?" he asked.
The person in the palanquin remained silent, seemingly too lazy to respond. After a long while, they asked, "What do you mean, 'why'?"
"You are a noble companion, while I am just an elected member of the Truth Sect."
The Heavenly Mandate General intentionally sidled his horse closer to the palanquin, his gaze turning cold as he looked up at the top of the palanquin. "You should be high above, from a wealthy and influential family, with an accurate perception of matters."
"But why, after being in Mingzhou for so long, have you been afraid of everything? Why can't you do what you should have agreed to long ago?"
"... "
"Are you blaming me for stopping you?"
The person in the palanquin took a long time to respond, and their voice carried a clear displeasure. "But in your eyes, she's just a small demon, yet you don't realize she's representing that person in the Advocate of Reason!"
"If the Advocate of Reason can't convince you, then the substitute has come."
"... "
Upon hearing the words "substitute," even the Heavenly Mandate General paused slightly before saying, "I'm from the Truth Sect, and I've always shown respect to the experts in the sect. I know you're waiting for a sage here..."
"... But his attitude is indeed too arrogant."
"... "
Sensing his dissatisfaction, the person in the palanquin also fell silent. After a long while, they sighed, "I don't know why he's so patient..."
"I can understand his grievances, pleas for help, complaints, and temper tantrums, but why won't he show himself?"
"Not only are you anxious, but so am I, as well as the three uncles and the person they invited to Mingzhou with great difficulty. Each day of waiting consumes their patience..."
"... "
Hearing this, the Heavenly Mandate General gave a sarcastic laugh but remained silent. However, the person in the palanquin seemed to be growing angrier, "We're willing to wait because we understand his grievances and are willing to accommodate him..."
"But now, he's giving away the position of Advocate of Reason so easily..."
"He doesn't understand what these four advocates represent, and he's too inexperienced to have the qualifications to take on that responsibility..."
"... "
Even the Heavenly Mandate General was surprised by the heaviness in her tone. He opened his mouth slightly, intending to speak, but the person in the palanquin's voice suddenly became stern:
"Stop complaining. Do your job. We also need to meet him soon and let him understand the situation..."
(End of Chapter)
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