Chapter 154

Everyone was upset after the escape, but General Lu didn't take it seriously. About ten people took advantage of his drunkenness to mutiny and seize power, but they didn't succeed and met a terrible end. The captive swallowed, "General Lu is at his wits' end. Perhaps some of his brothers will support him to the bitter end, but I… I don't want to die."

"A lost dog!" Zhao Qinghe kicked him. "Report to my lord the route Lu Yao and the other rebels took after escaping Wuling Pass."

The captive bowed his head to the ground. "Please show mercy, Lord He!" He then obediently revealed all the information.

After listening, He Chunhua and his sons learned that after the Raven Royal Court recaptured Wuling Pass, the rebel army lost its backbone. Seven or eight individuals gathered their remaining forces and fled. Lu Yao managed to assemble over a thousand people, which was the result of a previous annexation. This time, he responded to Pei Xinyong's initiative to gather at Xianling Village, naturally hoping to seize the position of commander-in-chief, then occupy territory near the western water source, and gradually strengthen and expand his power.

He Lingchuan's questions persisted. "How is that different from Wu Shaoyi's original intention?" Lu Yao had even mocked Wu Shaoyi for wanting to be just a minor warlord, but wasn't he himself just planning to establish a local stronghold?

"It's different," the captive explained. "General Lu hopes to use the water source as his base and gradually annex the surrounding prefectures and counties. He believes that the Raven Kingdom is weak and, with its troubles in the north, will inevitably relax control over the western regions. We – no, he – will have a great opportunity. When his reputation grows, the Raven Royal Court will have no choice but to recognize him, perhaps even bestowing titles and begging us to deploy troops."

"Perhaps, perhaps he could even become a king or a marquis and receive the Nine Bestowments," he said drily. "General Lu said that many powerful figures in the past established their power this way."

He Chunhua couldn't help but sneer, "The Nine Bestowments? Is he worthy?"

The father and sons understood. Lu Yao's plan was to establish a regional power base and exert pressure on the central government.

Lu Yao clearly understood that when a nation's fortune declines, local powerful figures often rise. With soldiers and provisions at their command, their influence rapidly expands, creating a dynamic where their power grows as the royal court's diminishes. When the court becomes too weak to oppose them, it can only resort to appeasement, offering titles or rewards. Even then, such figures might not be satisfied and, driven by ambition, might establish their own kingdoms.

He Yue nodded. "People like Lu Yao, once they've tasted power, can never go back. They're destined to follow that path to its bitter end."

He Lingchuan picked a large wooden stool, sat down, and said leisurely, "This fellow is truly lawless."

He Chunhua glanced at him. Why did the boy's tone sound somewhat envious?

The captive continued, "Actually, after meeting the Prefect in Xianling Village, General Lu was overjoyed. He planned to seize your official seal and the State Token, and then become the Governor of Xiazhou himself."

The three — father and sons — were all startled by this. He Yue scoffed, "Pipe dreams! Divine power is bestowed by the ruler; how could he possibly gain its blessing?"

The captive stammered, "General Lu said he had his own methods to usurp Lord He's birth data and identity, thereby allowing him to take over his official position and wield divine power." Seeing the expressions on He Chunhua and the two sons' faces, he quickly added, "As for how he would do it, none of us know. General Lu refused to say."

He Lingchuan slapped the wooden stool. "No wonder Lu Yao pursued us relentlessly, as if we had set fire to his entire family! So, he harbored ambitions of putting on a cap like a monkey!"

It turned out that Lu Yao had been eyeing his father ever since they first entered Xianling Village, and He Yue felt a shiver of dread.

Zhao Qinghe, from the side, urged the captive, "Anything else? Recount what you told me about the Holy Master to my lord!"

The captive asked for a cup of water, moistened his parched lips, and then said, "We don't know the exact details about the Holy Master's situation. However, before Tianwang Mound was breached, the Holy Master called General Lu for a private discussion."

Tianwang Mound was the rebel army's last stronghold in Wuling Pass, and it was impenetrable. He Chunhua had read the battle reports and knew that the Royal Court army had paid a high price to capture it.

"General Lu brought four or five people, including me, and we waited about two zhang outside the room. We couldn't hear a single word of what was said inside. The battle outside grew increasingly perilous; Tianwang Mound was on the verge of falling. Urgent reports from the front line came four or five times, but due to the Holy Master's order, we couldn't enter the room."

"About an hour later, General Lu pushed the door open and walked out, his eyes red. He announced that the Holy Master had passed away."

"Everyone was stunned. Several generals rushed over upon hearing the news, wanting to investigate the room, but Lu Yao, with all his men, guarded the chamber, not allowing anyone to take a single step inside. General Wu Shaoyi even got into a fight with Lu Yao over this. Suddenly, the city fell, and the Royal Court army stormed Tianwang Mound. The generals, realizing all was lost, turned and left."

When an army is at its wits' end, it desperately hopes for its pillar of support to emerge and turn the tide. Instead, that pillar snaps, unable to prop up the sky for them; in fact, it threatens to crush them first. He Lingchuan could understand the rebel army's utterly exasperated feelings.

He couldn't help but ask, "From what you're saying, did Hong Xiangqian not die, but merely spread false news?"

"He's dead. Lord Ke Jihai sent Hong Xiangqian's head to the capital, and it was passed around for countless verifications; everyone identified it as Hong Xiangqian himself." He Chunhua tapped his fingers on the pile of firewood a few times. "Unless he had a doppelganger who looked exactly like him."

He Lingchuan said casually, "What's strange about a body double? I know many people keep doubles; they can be useful at critical moments."

"Oh?" He Chunhua's gaze deepened. "Then tell me, who are they?"

"Uh..." He Lingchuan choked, then quickly turned to the captive. "I could get this information from other rebels. Do you have any more solid details?"

"Yes, yes," the captive swallowed. "Actually, when General Lu led the team to surround the chamber, I went with him into the secret room. I… I saw the Holy Master's body lying on the ground, decapitated!"

He Chunhua was incredulous. "Lu Yao killed Hong Xiangqian?!"

Hong Xiangqian held a high position among the rebel forces. According to information He Chunhua had gathered previously, Lu Yao was originally a street ruffian. As a youth, he had violently killed seven people and injured nine on the street before being arrested. After his trial, he was set to be executed in the autumn. It was Hong Xiangqian who recognized his talent and aptitude, personally rescued him, and taught him martial arts and tactics. One could say he had given Lu Yao a second chance at life.

Why would Lu Yao suddenly betray him?

"But… but there was no blood on the ground, not a single speck; it was perfectly clean. Although only the Holy Master's head remained, his expression was very peaceful, as if he were sleeping. The items in the secret room were also undisturbed; there were no traces of a struggle or fight whatsoever." The captive swallowed. "General Lu just called us in to tidy up the secret room, so I don't think he had specifically cleaned it beforehand."

He Chunhua listened intently. "And then?"

"By then, Tianwang Mound had fallen, and a large number of government soldiers were pouring in. We didn't have much time, so we had to follow General Lu's instructions: we wrapped the Holy Master's headless body tightly, added several large stones, and sank it into the Mingtai River. As for the Holy Master's head, I don't know what General Lu did with it."

He Chunhua slowly said, "Lord Wu Di and Lord Ke Jihai found Hong Xiangqian's hiding place. It wasn't heavily guarded; instead, a brocade box sat on a table. When opened, it contained Hong Xiangqian's head. Inside the box was also his handwritten letter, stating that he confessed to being the instigator of the disaster to atone before the world, and asked the government soldiers not to trouble the people of Wuling Pass."

Upon hearing this, He Lingchuan immediately said, "So, they didn't personally cut off the head? Then its authenticity is questionable."

He Yue, however, shook his head. "Although the two lords were surprised and suspicious, they used many methods to verify it, and it was indeed Hong Xiangqian's head, so it was sent to the capital. In truth, once it's announced to the world that Hong Xiangqian was defeated and died, whether he's actually dead or alive doesn't make much difference. He and his rebel army will never again pose a threat."

He Chunhua's expression was grave. He slowly said, "Listening to what this man said, I have a thought. Perhaps Chuan'er wasn't entirely wrong."

He Lingchuan immediately looked pleased. "So I was right after all? Aha! But right is right, and wrong is wrong. What do you mean by 'not entirely wrong'?"

"Hong Xiangqian might not be dead, but he's not exactly alive either," He Chunhua hesitated noticeably, then said cautiously. "I suspect he asked Lu Yao to enter the secret room and perform the 'Soldier's Release' technique for him!"

"Soldier's Release?" He Lingchuan heard the term for the second time and immediately thought of the old turtle demon.

If demons can undergo 'corpse release,' does the same apply to humans, just with a different name?

"It's using a weapon for release, to help the primordial spirit escape the body," He Chunhua said, enunciating each word. "Simply put, it means having someone decapitate you to free your primordial spirit!"

He Lingchuan turned to see his second brother's brow furrowed, realizing this piece of knowledge was probably too obscure, even for the young scholar.

"So, Hong Xiangqian's primordial spirit escaped? This 'Soldier's Release' shouldn't just be a simple decapitation, right?"

"Of course not. He would need to concentrate all his essence, energy, spirit, and blood into his head. That way, when Lu Yao struck with the blade, Hong Xiangqian would have the chance to escape the confines of his physical body. Timing is crucial; too early or too late, and it would simply be murder." He Chunhua explained, "This process must have been successful because there were no bloodstains on the ground, indicating that all the vital essence and blood in his body had condensed into his head. Hong Xiangqian would have been unable to move, and only by Lu Yao wielding the blade could his primordial spirit be conceived and emerge. Most importantly, 'corpse release' cannot be accomplished by oneself; it must be done with the help of another."

"So, Lu Yao was Hong Xiangqian's true confidant?" He Lingchuan asked, curious. "What can a primordial spirit do after leaving the body?"

What he was thinking, however, was: If the old turtle demon's 'corpse release' was also this complicated and couldn't be done alone, did it rely on the Crocodile God's power?

Although the risk was considerable, that physical shell no longer offered any room for further cultivation, did it?

If so, that was truly a clever scheme.

"Body snatching," He Yue interjected this time. "I've heard that a primordial spirit cannot remain exposed in the wild for long and must find a body to inhabit quickly. An unborn fetus is ideal."

He Lingchuan shrugged. "So, that means Hong Xiangqian won't be able to cause trouble for at least ten years."

"Not necessarily. Lord Ke said that Hong Xiangqian possesses supernatural abilities comparable to the Imperial Preceptor. Perhaps he had already prepared a suitable body in anticipation of unforeseen circumstances." He Chunhua asked the captive, "After Lu Yao left Wuling Pass, did he come into contact with any pregnant women or children under three years old? Those who were eaten don't count."