Chapter 90: The Old Fox and the Furious Emperor of Wu

Chapter 90: The Old Fox and the Furious Emperor of Wu

"Mhm, we can!" Li Xuan nodded and continued, "Feel free to bring me some storybooks, miscellaneous notes, and medical technique books to pass the time."

"Yes, Master!" Xu Yan agreed.

"Master, since Brother Meng is off to the Kingdom of Wu, I'd like to return to Donghe County as well," Meng Chong added. With Meng Chong on his way to cause trouble for the Emperor of Wu, they wouldn't be able to continue their mutual validation of the Trigram insights for a while. Xu Yan planned to go home and use his sword intent to help his parents speed up their bone tempering process.

"Go ahead." Li Xuan nodded in approval.

The next day, Shi Er brought over a stack of books. These were precious collections of the Celestial Mother Sect, recording various techniques used in the jianghu, along with some medical books.

In the afternoon, Xu Yan also sent over some books.

Li Xuan started by browsing through the medical books to understand the medical systems of the borderlands and even the inner realms.

"No acupuncture points or moxibustion... no concept of monarch and minister in herb pairing..." Li Xuan mused after perusing several medical books. The more he read, the more feasible his envisioned new branch of martial arts seemed.

If successful, it would once again revolutionize the martial arts of this world.

"Now, I just need to further refine the theory and find one more disciple to help me realize it." Li Xuan thought to himself.

...

Tianping Mountain earned its name due to its broad and flat peak.

High-level cultivators from the Kingdom of Wu gathered here to hold a jianghu assembly, aiming to capture Meng Chong and claim the reward offered by the Emperor of Wu.

Renowned cultivators from all over the kingdom emerged, lured by the chance to become the Alliance Head and lead the kingdom's jianghu experts to capture Meng Chong in the Kingdom of Qi, earning the title of "Jianghu Marquis."

With this title, they would gain a respectable identity, along with a county as their fiefdom—a solid foundation in the jianghu world.

Only top-tier cultivators were qualified to participate in the assembly at Tianping Mountain, and today, their figures kept appearing at the mountain's foot.

"Isn't that Iron Forefather? He's here too!"

"Iron Forefather is a legendary cultivator from twenty years ago in the Kingdom of Wu. I never thought he'd come out of retirement."

"Of course, who wouldn't be tempted by the title of Jianghu Marquis?"

"Indeed, whoever becomes the Alliance Head will be crowned the Marquis and become the leader of this generation's jianghu!" The cultivators couldn't help but exclaim in awe.

Their faces were filled with envy. They only lamented their own insufficient strength, which disqualified them from vying for the position of Alliance Head.

Only the most exceptional cultivators were eligible for this contest.

At the summit of Tianping Mountain, the heroes of the jianghu gathered. Hundreds of famous cultivators from the Kingdom of Wu had assembled.

Among them were rivals and sworn enemies.

However, this time, they had set aside their personal grudges to compete for the position of Alliance Head. They were strategizing on how to secure the position first and then call upon the heroes of the jianghu to kill their enemies...

"We invite the renowned elder of the Kingdom of Wu, Forefather Wu, to preside over the jianghu assembly!" A cultivator with a resounding voice announced.

On the high platform, an elderly man with a hunched back and a frail appearance was helped into a chair.

"It's Forefather Wu!" The cultivators below the platform whispered among themselves.

"Isn't Forefather Wu nearly a hundred years old?"

"Yes, and he's the only one qualified to be the judge."

The cultivators couldn't help but marvel at the unexpected presence of Forefather Wu as the presiding elder of this assembly.

He was a true legend of the jianghu. Although he was old and his strength had diminished significantly, his reputation in the jianghu of the Kingdom of Wu was unparalleled.

Moreover, Forefather Wu had five direct disciples, each of whom was an exceptional cultivator. One of his disciples was even a top-notch expert serving in the royal palace.

In addition to his disciples, he had three exceptional cultivators as his grand-disciples.

This spoke volumes about Forefather Wu's status in the Kingdom of Wu.

"The competition for Alliance Head will be based on both strength and moral character. You cannot lack either," Forefather Wu declared in a deep voice, setting the conditions for the contest. "A lack of moral character will bring disaster to the jianghu, and insufficient strength will fail to uphold the prestige of our kingdom's jianghu."

"I believe no one here disagrees with these conditions?" Forefather Wu continued, looking at the crowd.

The cultivators voiced their agreement and expressed their support for Forefather Wu's rules.

"The contest for Alliance Head should be conducted in a friendly manner. We must maintain harmony and avoid any damage to the overall strength of our kingdom's jianghu," Forefather Wu added.

Then, his tone shifted, carrying a hint of ridicule as he said, "I recently heard that our counterparts in the Kingdom of Qi are busy searching for some master to learn true martial arts from. What a joke!

"They actually believe the stories written by those pedantic scholars!" Forefather Wu scoffed.

The crowd burst into laughter.

"Indeed, I've heard about this as well," someone chimed in.

"Those Qi folks must not be thinking straight. It's probably just some fraudsters spreading these tales," another cultivator remarked.

"Hahaha! After the assembly, when we go to capture that Meng Chong, let's give those Qi cultivators a good scolding!" The crowd at Tianping Mountain couldn't contain their mirth.

Forefather Wu tapped his walking stick on the ground and announced, "Now, let the contest for Alliance Head begin! Who will be the first to take the stage?"

Suddenly, a loud and clear voice reverberated through Tianping Mountain.

"I will!"

A figure descended from above, as if falling from the sky, and landed on the high platform.

...

Meng Chong finally arrived at the foot of Tianping Mountain after departing from Yunshan County. He looked up at the mountain and realized that he couldn't see any cultivators from the mountain's base.

The assembly had probably already started.

He dismounted, intending to climb the mountain, when he suddenly paused.

He surveyed his surroundings and then looked at the horse beside him.

"I left my horse here at the foot of the mountain. What if someone rides away on it while I'm gone? It's not worth much, but it belongs to my senior brother," Meng Chong thought to himself.

There were plenty of thieves and scoundrels in the jianghu, and Meng Chong didn't want to lose face if someone stole his horse while he was up on the mountain. He glanced at the steep path leading up the mountain, realizing it would be challenging to ride the horse all the way up.

Meng Chong scratched his head, a sudden idea flashing through his mind.

He looked at the horse beside him, bent down, and hoisted the horse onto his shoulders before starting to climb the mountain.

Horse: This is so exhilarating! Being ridden by a human again!

Meng Chong, carrying the horse, appeared on the high platform at Tianping Mountain.

The crowd of cultivators from the Kingdom of Wu was stunned, their eyes widening in disbelief.

They watched as the robust and valiant young man carrying a horse on his shoulders descended from the sky and landed on the high platform.

Forefather Wu, seated on the high platform, was startled. He nearly failed to catch his breath, his face turning red as he gripped his walking stick tightly.

"Where did this horse-carrying young man come from?" he thought, alarmed.

"You scared this old man to death!" Forefather Wu exclaimed, his voice filled with anger. "Who are you, young man? Do you know the rules? State your name!"

Meng Chong scanned the crowd and coldly replied, "I am Meng Chong, the very person you intend to capture. Here I am, standing right before you. Whoever wants to capture me, come and try!

"After I finish beating you bird people, I'll be on my way to claim the reward from the Emperor of Wu!"

Meng Chong!

The cultivators were taken aback upon hearing his name, and many of them began to have second thoughts.

The robust young man carrying a horse clearly possessed extraordinary strength.

"So it's Meng Chong!" Forefather Wu exclaimed with delight. "Whoever captures Meng Chong will become the Alliance Head! Go for it!"

With a wave of his hand, Forefather Wu quickly backed away with the support of his walking stick, eager to distance himself from any potential chaos.

A formidable expert lunged and wrapped his arms around Meng Chong, attempting to subdue him, but it was like hugging a mountain, impossible to move.

"Watch me!"

Whoosh!

A shooting star dart flew towards Meng Chong, aiming directly for his shoulder blade, intending to pierce through it and completely incapacitate him! Bang!

The star dart hit Meng Chong, but it fell straight down without even ruffling his fur.

"All together now!"

A swarm of Jianghu experts pounced.

Meng Chong stood still, carrying the horse, as the crowd of experts rushed towards him, unleashing their ultimate moves. Finally, some grabbed his legs, while others pulled on his arms, their faces turning red with exertion.

They formed a human wall, enclosing Meng Chong within.

Even the horse he was carrying had people jumping on it, almost completely submerged by the wall of people.

From a distance, Old Wu, the cunning old fox, was startled by this scene.

The horse-carrying youth exuded a formidable and valiant aura!

This was not a place to linger!

As a veteran of the Jianghu, he had lived to a ripe old age for a reason.

"Disciple, let's go!" he immediately called out to his attendant disciple.

"Yes, Master!"

His disciple also sensed something amiss and quickly lifted Old Wu onto his back before darting away.

Boom!

Suddenly, the high platform collapsed.

A dazzling iridescent golden light burst forth, and a terrifying aura swept through the area.

Figures flew in all directions from the center of the platform.

They fell from the sky like dumplings, plopping to the ground.

"Pfft! Impossible, how can he be so strong!"

"It's over, I think my ribs are broken!"

"What? Your ribs are broken? Great, now I can take my revenge. Old thief, prepare to die!"

"..."

On Tianping Mountain, the Jianghu heroes lay scattered, and some even spotted their enemies among the fallen, seemingly badly injured. Seizing the opportunity, they revealed their sinister faces.

They pounced to kill their foes!

More of the Jianghu crowd stared in awe at the horse-carrying youth, their eyes filled with fear at the terrifying aura he exuded, like a heavenly god descending.

The iridescent golden light shone brilliantly, and even the horse he carried seemed to glow with otherworldly energy.

Plop!

"What kind of martial art is this?"

"How can there be such a powerful expert in this world?"

"The legendary master from Qi Country, could it be true?"

"Why doesn't my Wu Country have someone like this?"

The Jianghu crowd was bewildered and terrified.

Meng Chong looked down at the fallen experts surrounding him and ignored those taking the chance to kill their enemies. With a stern gaze, he coldly declared, "Who else dares to try and capture me, Meng Chong? Come at me if you dare!"

Silence.

No one dared to make a sound.

"Where's the Alliance Head Token?"

Meng Chong asked, continuing his interrogation.

With the Alliance Head Token, he could rightfully claim the title of "Jianghu Marquis" from the Wu Emperor.

Meng Chong always acted with reason and evidence, ensuring that the Wu Emperor would be convinced.

"It's... with Elder Wu!"

Finally, someone whispered a reply.

Meng Chong scanned the crowd, and the old man was gone.

"Old fox!"

Meng Chong coldly harrumphed, leaped into the air while carrying the horse, and flew down the mountain.

Along the way, he spotted a bronze token stuck in a large tree.

The corners of his mouth twitched. That old man, Elder Wu, had good reasons for living so long.

When Meng Chong had studied martial arts in Wu Country, he had heard of this renowned figure of the Wu Country's Jianghu. Indeed, Elder Wu was a cunning old fox with insight that couldn't be matched by ordinary people.

"This old fox!" Meng Chong muttered.

He reached out, plucked the Alliance Head Token from the tree, and, after descending the mountain, put the horse down.

Then, he set off directly for the capital of Wu Country.

On Tianping Mountain, the crowd of Jianghu experts clambered to their feet in disarray, each of them still shaken by the encounter.

They had almost died!

"Hahaha, I finally got my revenge!"

"Meng Chong, you're a good man!"

"Damn you, how dare you kill my master! I won't let this go!"

Chaos reigned on Tianping Mountain, and many more Jianghu experts were deeply shaken.

Could there truly be such masters in this world?

Was the legendary peerless martial art from Qi Country real, and not just a fabrication of fraudsters?

...

In the capital of Wu Country, the Wu Emperor was in a foul mood. Cooped up in his palace, he felt like he was suffocating.

However, every time he wanted to go out, his ministers would stop him.

The ministers were also having a hard time. They carefully selected the servants and attendants in their mansions, fearing that someone like Meng Chong might infiltrate their households.

Relatives and clan members with whom they had a strained relationship would directly submit a petition to the emperor, severing all ties with them.

Moreover, when traveling, they had to carefully select their bodyguards, and their carriages or sedan chairs had to be reinforced to prevent arrows from piercing through.

Even in the capital, every time they went to court, they did so with trepidation, fearing that an assassin might suddenly rush out, seeking revenge.

When had life become so difficult?

It had all started with that damned Meng Chong's assassination attempt on the Wu Emperor.

What was even more infuriating was how the Wu Emperor's bodyguards had let Meng Chong escape!

Recently, there were rumors that a major event had occurred in Qi Country. The newly appointed Grand Secretary, the Crown Prince's mentor, the sworn brother of the Qi Emperor, and the former Minister of Personnel, Guo Rongshan's grandson, was said to be a powerful martial artist.

A formidable existence that could single-handedly suppress the entire Qi Country's army.

Naturally, the ministers of Wu Country didn't believe these rumors.

"It's just an excuse made by the incompetent Qi Emperor because he's being controlled by Guo Rongshan, who is pulling the strings of the government."

"I heard that Guo Rongshan's grandson is obsessed with storybooks since childhood. He treats those fictional tales and biographies as truth and travels around in search of masters. They say he has a mental illness."

"That Guo Rongshan is truly formidable. Quietly, he took control of Qi Country's government, and now even the Qi Emperor has to heed his wishes."

"Be careful with your words! If our emperor suspects us, our lives will become even more difficult!"

Before the start of the court session, the ministers of Wu Country whispered among themselves.

With a gloomy face, the Wu Emperor entered the court.

"Has Meng Chong been captured?"

The first thing he asked about was Meng Chong.

The Minister of Justice replied with a stiff face, "Your Majesty, the Jianghu experts have gathered at Tianping Mountain for the reward. We believe it won't be long before Meng Chong is captured and brought to justice."

"You are all useless! My Wu Country's reputation has been completely ruined!

"A reward of 100,000 taels of gold, a 3,000-year-old wild ginseng, and ten precious elixirs! With such a generous reward, Meng Chong still hasn't been captured. What use are you all to me?"

The Wu Emperor flew into a rage.

The ministers lowered their heads, looking at their feet, and remained silent. This scene had become a routine occurrence at every court session. They would wait for the emperor to vent his anger before proceeding with the discussion of state affairs.

They were used to it!

"Why aren't you speaking? Are you all mute?"

The Wu Emperor roared in anger.

"Your Majesty, please take care of your health!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, your health is of utmost importance!"

The ministers tried to appease the emperor, but their attitudes were somewhat perfunctory.

It was like they were just going through the motions.

After all, this wasn't the first time.

"Aside from these words, you useless bunch, what else can you say? I want Meng Chong captured!"

The Wu Emperor banged on the table and shouted.

"Wu Emperor, I'm here. Are the rewards ready?"

Just then, a voice rang out from outside the main hall.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end