Chapter 1961: Chaotic Nation

"Whimper..." Xiaowu looked down at the white fox in her arms. She released her aura, and the white fox clearly recognized her. It was the little fox she had raised during her time at the former site of the Lei Xiao Sect. For fifteen years, Qin Sang had been in secluded cultivation, comprehending the Lei Altar. Both Suzaku and Luohou were somewhat afraid of her, and during that period, only the small creatures allowed into the mountains by the spiritual array kept her company. Among them, the one who stayed with her the longest and was the most intelligent was this little fox. Before their departure, Qin Sang had asked Xiaowu if she wanted to take the little fox with her, but Xiaowu had refused then. She never expected to reunite under such circumstances.

The woman and the fox looked at each other. The little fox's eyes were filled with delight, appearing even more intelligent than before. Xiaowu reached out and gently stroked the little fox's head. "Squeak!" The little fox let out a sound, its eyes half-closed, looking as contented and pleased as ever. The mountain wind rustled through the forest. A gentle breeze blew, warm sunlight bathed her, and the sound of the wind was in her ears. It felt as if she had returned to old times. Xiaowu's expression gradually softened. She looked around, briefly sensing her surroundings, and realized she had flown out of the Yan Kingdom without knowing it, over unfamiliar land.

Where should she go next? Xiaowu remained silent for a moment, then a destination came to mind: the Yan Kingdom's capital, by Jade Waist Lake, at the Green Sheep Teahouse. As for the questions in her heart, there was no immediate answer, but there was no need to rush. Perhaps she would find an opportunity in the future to unravel all her doubts.

White clouds drifted lazily. Xiaowu traveled on a cloud, holding the white fox in her arms. From time to time, a fox's cry echoed from the clouds, as if narrating its experiences over the years.

Upon returning to the Green Sheep Teahouse, the Qin Manor's servants were waiting there and immediately rushed back to the manor. Soon after, Yulang arrived in haste. Learning the truth, Yulang's last shred of hope shattered. Master Chen had poured his heart and soul into serving the people; after death, his soul might have been imbued with spiritual light, entering the divine path. However, on the battlefield, unless a fragile soul was immediately guided after death, it could not withstand the soaring blood and malevolent auras, either being dispersed on the spot or corrupted into a malevolent spirit.

Xiaowu handed Yulang the letter left by Chen Zhenqing. Yulang gazed at the eight simple characters for a long time before carefully putting it away. He then stood up and said, "Senior Sister, I'm leaving." "Okay," Xiaowu replied, standing to see him off. She sealed her own cultivation and that of the white fox, reverting to the state of mortals. Stepping out of the teahouse, Yulang paused, looking toward the imperial city, and declared solemnly, "I will ensure the Yan Kingdom's power far surpasses that of Daliang. We will defeat them honorably on the battlefield to commemorate Master Chen!"

Urgent reports reached the capital, shaking the court and the public. At the same time, various factions within the capital began stirring. Daliang's army mobilization, so coincidentally timed, raised suspicions. At this moment, Yulang and the Crown Prince's faction had already sensed something amiss. A storm was brewing, and some matters might be resolved soon. Yulang tightened his robe, took a deep breath, and disappeared into the darkness.

From that day on, patrons of the Green Sheep Teahouse noticed a lazy white fox that had appeared from somewhere. It would sometimes lie on the proprietress's lap, sometimes on the counter, accompanying her all day long. It was always languid, hardly bothering to react to guests' attempts to play with it, merely giving them disdainful looks. Yet, the patrons remained entertained, charmed by the fox's exceptional intelligence and endearing nature. However, the tea patrons soon had little mind to spare for a white fox. News of Daliang's invasion and the border crisis reached the capital, causing widespread panic. In a short time, the Yan Kingdom lost eight prefectures in Luzhou. Daliang's army advanced like a broken bamboo, and Yan's defenders retreated repeatedly. The entire Luzhou was nearly overrun, and people in neighboring states feared for their safety, frequently sending urgent requests for aid. The situation worsened day by day.

"Precisely at this time, the Emperor's illness worsened. He neglected state affairs, and memorials submitted to him vanished without a trace, shelved indefinitely." Amidst his busy schedule, Yulang returned to the teahouse and, as before, candidly spoke to Xiaowu about the treacherous situation and his plans. "The Yan Kingdom is beset by internal and external troubles. The Crown Prince lacks prestige, the various princes harbor their own ulterior motives, and the court officials are adopting a wait-and-see attitude. In the imperial court, the numerous high-ranking officials endlessly debate, delaying crucial military opportunities!" Yulang sighed softly, his voice tinged with weariness. Though a cultivator with abundant energy, even he felt overwhelmed at the center of this power struggle. "Beyond the borders of Daliang, other nations are also beginning to stir..." "Finally, a decision has been made to dispatch a large army, but unfortunately, I cannot personally lead the troops eastward!" "We've found clues; as expected, one of the princes must be colluding with Daliang, working from within and without! They are exploiting Yan's internal and external difficulties to seize the throne!" Yulang's tone grew colder. "Changes have occurred in the Imperial Palace. Tao Teng's Imperial Guards were secretly moved into the Imperial City overnight, almost preventing him from sending out a message."

One ordinary morning, the capital's streets were suddenly filled with armed soldiers, moving hurriedly, their armor clanking loudly as they traversed the thoroughfares. Ordinary citizens sensed the approaching storm, barricading their doors and windows. All the undercurrents that had been hidden beneath the surface suddenly erupted on this day! Later reports circulated that that night, the Imperial City was engulfed in towering flames that burned through the night. Throughout the capital, fires blazed everywhere, and cries of battle shook the heavens. Countless mansions were burned down or razed, and many families vanished overnight. The capital's city gates were tightly shut, with crossbow chariots prepared and aimed outside. At some unknown point, a large army had gathered outside the city, and the armor style of their soldiers was almost identical to that of the defenders on the city walls. A great battle was on the verge of breaking out. Though all were citizens of Yan, they faced each other like sworn enemies.

The next day, at dawn, the capital, after a night of chaos, returned to tranquility. Yulang, covered in blood, arrived at the Green Sheep Teahouse. Outside, he stripped off his armor, plunged into Jade Waist Lake to wash away the bloodstains, changed into civilian clothes, and once again became a refined young gentleman. "Did you succeed?" "Yes, we succeeded!" Yulang affirmed, his expression not showing excitement, but rather a sense of relief. He had descended from the mountains to experience the mortal world, traveling for a year, studying for three, and serving as an official for eleven years after becoming the top scholar. He had never dared to relax, strategizing every step, and finally, this day had come! He had almost grown accustomed to mundane life; only when he met his senior sister would he recall the past and remind himself of his true identity and origin.

"Unfortunately, the Third Prince escaped. We miscalculated slightly; he was the mastermind behind the collusion with Daliang. The Second Prince was used without realizing it, which is both sad and lamentable!" Yulang took a sip of tea, shaking his head with a soft sigh. "The Late Emperor was sagacious and had made arrangements long ago, so the current Emperor's succession to the throne was smoother than expected. It's precisely because of this that the Third Prince decisively retreated when he saw the situation was unfavorable. Many of his forces have yet to surface, and he certainly won't give up. However, the Emperor's succession is legitimate, and he has the support of the people. Even if the Third Prince spreads deceptive rumors, he won't be able to stir up too much trouble. My only fear is that he will continue to collude with Daliang, harboring malicious intent, and it will be the common people who suffer. Moving forward, the Yan Kingdom faces both internal and external challenges. Tao Teng and I have discussed that one of us will remain in the capital, and the other will go out to suppress the rebellion."

"Unacceptable!" the new Emperor flatly refused in the Imperial Study. "I know, my esteemed minister, that you are accomplished in both civil and military arts, and your martial prowess is considerable. However, on the battlefield, swords and blades have no eyes. You should remain high in the imperial court, strategizing from afar! As for leading troops to suppress rebellions and repel foreign enemies, there are Duke Yuan and others." As expected, soon after the Third Prince escaped the capital, he raised a rebel banner in Yingzhou, which borders Daliang in northern Luzhou. He declared himself emperor, claiming the current emperor was a wolf-hearted usurper who had imprisoned the Late Emperor, forged imperial decrees, and seized the throne unlawfully. Besides the Third Prince, several other escaped princes responded in various states, temporarily creating a considerable momentum that caused disarray among the people of Yan. Coincidentally, Daliang's army, which had invaded Yingzhou at this time, suddenly halted its offensive and remained idle. They did not act like enemies; instead, they seemed to be bolstering the Third Prince's prestige.

After the morning court assembly, Tao Teng and Yulang were again summoned by the Emperor to the Imperial Study to discuss suppressing the rebellion. Tao Teng stepped forward and said, "A good minister is one who can dismount to govern and mount to command! The top scholar is a reincarnated literary star, and his prestige among the literati is unmatched. When the people of the world see the top scholar appear on the battlefield, they will know what is legitimate and what is a demonic force disrupting the nation. As the saying goes, 'a just cause enjoys abundant support, while an unjust cause finds little,' and thus the rebel forces will surely be swept away with ease." "Your humble servant is willing to share Your Majesty's burdens and contribute my meager strength," Yulang also stated. The Emperor paced a few steps, then sighed softly, "My dear Minister Qin, you must be careful! Both of you are the pillars of the nation, my two wings. The loss of either of you would be a loss to Yan, and a loss to me!" As he spoke, the Emperor picked up a roll of silk from his desk and said, "Prefect Chen sacrificed himself for the nation, and I have always kept that in mind. I have decided to draft an imperial decree posthumously enfeoffing him as Marquis Zhongyi, with hereditary succession. What are your thoughts, my two beloved ministers?" The two were overjoyed, "Thank Your Majesty!"

Inside the commander's tent, Yulang, clad in armor, sat steadfastly like a bell, examining the stream of secret reports and letters before him. Standing beneath the tent were several robust and capable individuals. One of them indignantly reported, "The surrender letters were delivered into the city but were burned by the rebel commander on the spot! He even dared to openly insult us! This man is stubbornly resisting, not knowing his own limits. General, please instruct us on when to attack the city!" As Yulang listened to his subordinate's report, a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes. He had not gone directly to Yingzhou; the Emperor had ordered him to suppress rebellions elsewhere. These other locations were not like Yingzhou, which had Daliang as a strong ally. They only had conscripted local troops and hastily gathered young men, often lacking complete armor. When he led the Imperial Guards here, the main army was supposed to sweep through like autumn winds, and enemy commanders were expected to surrender upon sight. The reality, however, was vastly different from what he had imagined. He personally led one army to attack Youyang Prefecture ahead, while two deputy generals each led another, with all three armies advancing simultaneously, yet they all encountered fierce resistance. Raising a rebellion was a heinous crime, punishable by extermination of the family! Now, if they opened the city gates and surrendered, they would be pardoned. However, to his surprise, the garrisons of all three cities fought fearlessly. The princes they followed could not possibly withstand the Imperial Guards' offensive; unless the Third Prince led his troops from Yingzhou to reinforce them, otherwise defeat was inevitable.

Suddenly, a thought stirred in Yulang's mind. A mortal might not have considered it, but as a cultivator who had descended to experience the world, when encountering such clearly illogical events, he couldn't help but ponder deeper. What power made these rebels unafraid of even death? He thought of Tao Teng and himself. If the Yan Kingdom's Capital City God could allow them into the mortal world, would it also allow other cultivators to enter and disguise themselves as mortals, just like them? At the time, Yulang had felt that the Capital City God was far too casual. With the jade pendant given by the Capital City God, unless they willingly exposed themselves, even Big Brother Shi couldn't tell if they were cultivators or mortals. During the struggle for the throne, Yulang hadn't noticed any officials or soldiers who were clearly cultivators. He surmised that within the Imperial City, directly under the Capital City God's domain, no one dared to act recklessly. Now that they had left the capital, and secular methods were proving ineffective, someone was finally losing patience. Were they trying to sow chaos in the world? Yulang frowned. Unfortunately, his Senior Sister had sealed her cultivation, and Big Brother Shi claimed to have encountered a bottleneck, requiring a period of secluded cultivation. Otherwise, if someone among the rebels had revealed their cultivator identity, it would be easy to investigate.

"Reporting, General! A secret report from Yingzhou states that the false emperor's influence has suddenly weakened, and he has chosen to fortify his city. The Daliang army within our Yan Kingdom has also become indecisive. Not only has Daliang not sent more troops, but there are signs they are secretly withdrawing forces back home, as if something has changed domestically..." Another secret letter arrived. Yulang looked at the letter on his desk. This matter was actually anticipated. The Daliang monarch was a few years older than Yan's Late Emperor, and it was likely time for him to pass away, which would inevitably lead to a struggle for the throne. The Emperor was thinking of turning the tables on Daliang. Yulang had previously mused that the Daliang monarch was deeply cunning, striking first by sending an army to disrupt Yan, so that Daliang could focus on its internal troubles without fear of Yan taking advantage. This sudden realization made Yulang think more and more, almost breaking into a cold sweat. Was this succession struggle, which entangled two nations, truly as simple as it appeared on the surface? How many cultivators were secretly involved, and what were their objectives? Were they, like him and Tao Teng, trying to realize their ambitions, or merely experiencing the mortal world, or did they have other ulterior motives? What was the purpose of the Yan Kingdom's ghosts and deities? And Tao Teng's master, whom he hadn't had a chance to visit, what was his background? Yulang inexplicably felt a surge of anxiety. He stood up, leaning on the desk, pacing back and forth in the tent. It was as if an invisible giant hand was clutching him, Tao Teng, the Emperor, the princes and officials, the common people—the entire Yan Kingdom! Yulang instinctively opened his mouth to speak. There was always a dark cloud overhead, like the canopy of the military tent, pressing down lower and lower, making it hard for him to breathe. This dark cloud was the cultivation world!

The mortal world was in turmoil. The cultivation world was also not peaceful. In the southwest of the Yan Kingdom, where mountains were perilous and ravines deep, dense fog swirled through the ancient forests, enveloping the peaks like white clouds, stretching endlessly. It would only dissipate by noon each day, only to reform in the afternoon. Amidst the mist, several figures flew unhurriedly. Beneath their feet was a bamboo leaf-shaped magic artifact, emitting a faint green light that enveloped them, ensuring not a single ripple of energy was leaked during flight. Despite the protection of the artifact, they flew very low, almost skimming the treetops. The person at the very front, controlling the artifact, was Yin Heqian, the head of the Yin family. Behind him were other experts from the Yin family. Yin Qiao'er, whose cultivation was insufficient, had not come this time, but her aunt, Nianhui, was among them.