Chapter 37: The First Target
Around the Heavenly Book Mausoleum, there was an extremely swift river, much like the moat outside Luoyang City.
The sparse forest and flat ground between the two sides was actually a bridge over the river, but because the bridge was too wide and too thick, it was difficult to notice.
A restriction that had existed since ancient times made it hard to fly near the Heavenly Book Mausoleum.
Wang Po stood here, with the air of one man holding the pass against ten thousand.
The problem was that many military experts, assassins from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, and Taoists from the Everlasting Spring Temple had already entered the Heavenly Book Mausoleum.
Why was he still standing here?
Wang Po said, “If they can’t reach an agreement, I’ll make my move.”
Yes, that was the answer.
He stood here not to guard the Heavenly Book Mausoleum, but to be ready to launch an attack at any moment.
Hearing this, the princes’ expressions shifted slightly, and the Prince of Zhongshan’s gaze grew even darker.
The Prince of Xiang said bitterly, “The Holy Maiden wants to avenge the Empress Dowager. Are you really going to go along with her madness?”
Wang Po looked slightly surprised, not expecting that he still referred to the Heavenly Sea Holy Empress as the Empress Dowager.
The Prince of Xiang knew what he was thinking and said, “I’m not the Empress Dowager’s biological son, but I’m still her child. Back then, when I followed the Daoist Venerable into the capital, it was because I felt she had made a mistake, not because I held any personal grudge against her. Just like how I once promised Zhu Luo that you wouldn’t live, but look—have I ever done anything to you over the years? It’s all about the bigger picture.”
He spoke with great sincerity, so much so that even his brothers, who knew his true nature well, almost believed him.
Wang Po smiled but said nothing.
Seeing his reaction, a commandery prince could no longer hold back and cursed, “What are you so arrogant about? Today, you’ll die here!”
A large number of imperial troops had already gathered here, not to mention the many experts and masters, plus the Prince of Xiang, who was also at the sacred realm. In theory, it should be enough to kill Wang Po.
The problem was that war was always the most complex activity. Even a war against a single person was far from simple.
Not to mention the ever-changing forms of battle, even the timing of when to start the fight couldn’t be determined now.
The Prince of Xiang said, “You should know that nothing will come of this today. Why put on this act?”
This statement was somewhat inexplicable, but Wang Po understood. With a faint, knowing smile, he said, “Then why are you here?”
The Prince of Xiang sighed and said, “I have to show my intentions, at least.”
Wang Po asked, “What intentions?”
“Ambition, of course,” the Prince of Xiang said with a smile. “If the Daoist Venerable doesn’t doubt His Majesty, nothing will happen, and there’s nothing for us to do. But if suspicion arises, I have to be prepared.”
Wang Po said, “Your Highness is quite candid.”
Just as the Prince of Xiang was about to continue, dozens of exceptionally clear sword cries suddenly rang out from within the Heavenly Book Mausoleum.
Everyone looked over, their expressions turning serious.
As the Prince of Xiang had said earlier, the current situation seemed tense, but it was fundamentally different from three years ago. The two sides might not actually go to war.
If that were the case, then for whom were these sword cries sounding?
…
…
Shang Xingzhou stood on the Divine Path.
Xu Yourong stood at a higher point.
Shang Xingzhou took a step upward.
The Nanxi Zhai sword formation naturally responded, activating silently.
Countless streams of light appeared between heaven and earth, tracing countless indescribably mysterious trajectories.
Dozens of sword cries rang out.
These sword cries didn’t come from the friction between the blade and the air, but from the compression and release of air by the sword intent.
Soft and clear, yet profoundly deep.
Like a clear stream falling from a cliff into a deep mountain gorge.
Dozens of sword lights swirled around Shang Xingzhou without dispersing.
Shang Xingzhou extended a finger, and a soft glow emanated from its tip.
Steel tempered into a hundred refinements, softened to wrap around a finger.
The dozens of sword lights shifted from straight lines into slightly curved arcs, still undispersed, but leaving a tiny gap.
Shang Xingzhou’s left foot came down.
The sword cries vanished, and the sword lights faded.
A slightly cold spring breeze swept the dust on the Divine Path.
It was as if nothing had happened.
But Shang Xingzhou had already ascended one stone step.
He looked down at his Daoist robe.
A tear had appeared on the hem.
The power of the Nanxi Zhai sword formation had exceeded his calculations.
Xu Yourong was also somewhat surprised. According to her calculations, the tear should have been deeper.
When the Nanxi Zhai sword formation was first activated, couldn’t it even cut off a corner of his robe?
The battle didn’t begin then. This was only a test.
The final result left both sides dissatisfied, so they both abandoned the idea of a direct strike.
Shang Xingzhou said, “I’m curious how you convinced Wang Po.”
Xu Yourong replied, “I assured him that my method would result in the fewest deaths. He assured me that no matter what I did today, he would support me.”
Shang Xingzhou said, “It seems you understand his blade path quite well.”
Xu Yourong said, “I understand that guy even better.”
That guy was naturally Chen Changsheng.
He regarded Wang Po as his role model. Even after learning the Two Severing Blade Art, he still followed Wang Po’s blade path in his actions and conduct.
Xu Yourong understood Chen Changsheng, so naturally, she knew how to earn the trust of someone like Wang Po.
Shang Xingzhou said calmly, “Do you think you understand me well too?”
Xu Yourong said, “For three years, I’ve been trying to understand you.”
Shang Xingzhou acknowledged that her preparations were thorough.
A situation like today’s, or rather her method of threat, wouldn’t work on anyone else. It was only effective against him.
She knew what he valued most, and more importantly, she had the power to destroy those things.
Shang Xingzhou said, “At most, you can keep me here for half an hour.”
He took a step up the stone steps and reached this conclusion.
Xu Yourong said, “Half an hour is enough.”
Shang Xingzhou shook his head and said, “This is the capital, not Wenshui.”
This referred to the incident at the Tang family in Wenshui a few months ago—Tang Thirty-Six only needed an hour to find evidence against the Tang family’s Second Master and dismantle the entire Second Branch’s power. That was possible because of the old Patriarch Tang’s tacit approval and the overwhelming disparity in strength between the two sides, which made resistance impossible.
But this was the capital. The imperial court’s forces still held the advantage. If the two sides fell out, it would inevitably lead to a real war.
Xu Yourong said, “I’m already prepared.”
Shang Xingzhou asked with a smile, “How do you plan to fight this battle?”
Xu Yourong said, “First, I will kill the Prince of Chenliu.”
This was an unexpected answer.
She hadn’t chosen to seize the imperial palace first, nor to attack the court. Instead, she chose the most direct method—killing.
And the person she wanted to kill wasn’t the Prince of Xiang outside the Heavenly Book Mausoleum, nor the Prince of Zhongshan, who held great prestige in the military, nor those powerful divine generals in command. It was the Prince of Chenliu.
Although the Prince of Chenliu had a decent reputation, his cultivation level and strength weren’t outstanding, nor was his power the greatest.
Why did Xu Yourong choose him?
And why, after hearing her choice, did Shang Xingzhou’s gaze turn deep and dark?