novelapdf Chapter 115 The Heaven Sword
Chapter 115 The Heaven Sword
Chapter 115 The Heaven-Slaying Sword (10,000-word chapter)
Chu Xun looked up and saw Liao Shouyi just walking into the courtyard.
His face showed a mixture of anticipation, nervousness, and confusion.
His aged face, coupled with armor marked with the scars of countless battles, evoked a sense of sadness.
Liao Shouyi pondered the meaning of that one word, "Xun Ge'er," for five whole years.
Ever since the divine soldiers descended from the sky, he had been wondering why Chu Chen had been accepted by Dege'er.
Is it simply to find someone to come back and inherit the family business?
Isn't Zhang Jingheng, the Minister of Revenue, a more suitable candidate than a random stranger?
The longsword that helped him guard Liaoyuan City for five years was a true divine weapon.
Even with frequent use, the sword will develop more cracks until it eventually shatters completely.
But without a doubt, even the Wu Kingdom, which was famous for forging weapons, did not possess this skill.
Why would someone so young, capable of forging divine weapons, become a farmer's grandson?
The question remains: is it merely to inherit this small fortune?
Such a divine weapon, if placed in the martial arts world, would be fought over for thousands or even tens of thousands of gold pieces.
How much wealth can a rural farmer accumulate?
This perplexing question points to a seemingly impossible answer.
Chu Chen is Chu Xun.
When you accept this as the answer in your mind, many problems seem to be easily solved.
Why did the Song family all die on the day Chu left?
Why would a young man capable of forging divine weapons come to Pinecone Village?
Why did a crow travel thousands of miles to deliver a divine weapon to him when they had only met a few times?
Why would the crow listen to him?
Why does he also love drinking Baijia Laopu liquor?
Various details may seem unrelated, but when put together, they reveal a completely different story.
So when I returned to Songguo Village after many years and stood in the courtyard that I had known since childhood...
Liao Shouyi saw the young man with the hammer and instinctively called out.
"Xun-ge'er?"
He noticed the young man's calm expression and asked indifferently, "Who are you calling?"
Liao Shouyi looked at him and sighed softly.
He then asked, "Those swords in the southwest, you had the crows deliver them, didn't you?"
"7
This time, Chu Xun did not deny it, and said, "It was me."
"It works very well. On behalf of your soldiers and the people of Jing, thank you." Liao Shouyi stretched out his right hand and pounded the armor twice.
This is a military etiquette, and nowadays there are very few people who can make Liao Shouyi take it so seriously.
bang bang —
The same heavy, deep pounding sound came from outside the courtyard.
Liao Shouyi was accompanied by a team of guards, about thirty or forty men.
They had all experienced the bloody battle in Liaoyuan City, and no one knew better than them how much of a role those divine weapons played.
"Why did His Majesty the Emperor agree to let you leave Liaoyuan City?" Chu Xun asked.
"The Wu Kingdom has withdrawn its troops," Liao Shouyi said.
Five simple words that say it all.
Once Wu withdrew its troops, he had to leave Liaoyuan City, otherwise the emperor would become even more suspicious.
Of course, homesickness was also a major reason.
"Should we return it?" Chu Xun asked.
Liao Shouyi seemed to remember something, and took out a New Year picture from his pocket and unfolded it.
The painting depicts a majestic general, and below it is inscribed the title "Heaven Blesses the Brave and Safeguard the Nation, General Liao Shouyi."
Liao Shouyi grinned and said, "Look, I've been drawn on it."
Chu Xun was somewhat dazed, remembering that Shi Tou left home to join the army just to become the general depicted in the New Year's paintings.
When he returned that year, he said, "Once I'm painted on a New Year's picture, I'll never leave again."
From the thirtieth year of the Jing Kingdom to the present, a full forty-six years have passed.
From a young man of nineteen to a frail old man of sixty-five, he finally succeeded.
Having fought a lifetime of wars, now at sixty-five, it's time to retire and return to my hometown.
After Liao Shouyi left, Chu Xun looked down at the sledgehammer and the meteorite iron in his hand.
"So much time has passed."
When the Duke of Wei returned, not only Songguo Village, but the entire Zhangnan County was in an uproar.
The county produced a Minister of Revenue and a Duke.
I heard that the leader of the refugee army also came from here.
By the way, even the late Duke Tang Shijun of the Ming Dynasty served as the county magistrate here for eight years.
Many people say that Zhangnan County is a blessed land with outstanding people and beautiful scenery.
In just a few decades, so many dukes and high-ranking officials have emerged.
It is so magnificent that it rivals the grandeur of the founding period of the Taizu Emperor.
Among the jubilant crowd, an old man dressed in simple clothes and carrying a hoe gazed into the distance at the procession heading to Songguo Village to offer their congratulations.
The tenant farmer next to him chuckled and said, "Old Kui, you arrived late, so you don't know yet, do you? The Duke of Wei, our Jing Kingdom's God of War, is from Pingshui Town!"
"Master Chu was quite remarkable back then. If you ask me, Songguo Village is a place with a lot to say about it."
The tenant farmer next to him chimed in, "That's right, that's right. I'm thinking of moving to Songguo Village too. Maybe my son will become a high-ranking official someday."
"Your son is no good. He has a big head and a thick neck. He'll be a cook at best."
"screw you."
The old man they called Old Kui withdrew his gaze and sighed, "The Duke of Wei is indeed formidable."
Their desperate defense of Fenggu City forced the refugee army to join forces and attack the capital city.
He knew better than anyone how formidable this Duke of Wei was.
Officials at all levels are making visits.
Fenggu City had even prepared a mansion, intending for Liao Shouyi's family to move there.
Liao Shouyi refused outright. He had already experienced wealth, power, and even danger in his life.
Now that I'm old, all I want to do is stay in my hometown with my wife and enjoy family life.
Those in his guards who wished to return to their hometowns were allowed to do so, while those who did not were granted household registration by the county and each was allocated ten mu of military farmland.
In the twenty-eighth year of Chongming, Emperor Chongming died suddenly due to consuming too many "elixirs of immortality".
Because the crown prince was imprisoned and died too suddenly, he did not leave a will.
Below, a group of princes were fighting fiercely for the throne.
Kyoto, and indeed the entire Jing Kingdom, has once again descended into chaos.
Each faction has a prince it wants to support.
Among them, Zhang Li, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, supported the young Fourteenth Prince, while Zhang Jingheng, the Minister of Revenue, supported the kind and generous Seventh Prince.
These two are the frontrunners in the fight for the throne.
Zhang Jingheng sent a letter hoping that Liao Shouyi could lend him a hand.
After all, Zhang Li wielded considerable power, and many officials at all levels in the court had been bribed or intimidated by him.
Zhang Jingheng alone, though capable of fighting, cannot guarantee a stable outcome.
He couldn't bear to see the national policies implemented over the years abandoned halfway. If the army represented by Liao Shouyi supported him, the Seventh Prince would be able to secure the position with ease.
Therefore, Liao Shouyi had no choice but to make a trip to the capital city.
Before he arrived in the capital, Zhang Li, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, gathered spies and many skilled assassins to assassinate the Seventh Prince and Zhang Jing.
Inside the Seventh Prince's residence, hundreds of men in black exuded a murderous aura.
The guards of the Seventh Prince and Zhang Jingheng appeared much weaker in comparison.
Even though Zhang Jingheng had been wary of Zhang Li for years and had built up a team in advance, he was ultimately no match for the old eunuch who had served Emperor Chongming for many years.
Just as the two sides were about to engage in fierce combat, a strange sound came from the sky.
A loud crash followed immediately by a deafening roar, and seven long swords descended from the sky, landing in front of Zhang Jingheng and the Seventh Prince.
The sword swayed slightly, and white light and shadow appeared and disappeared.
Zhang Jingheng looked up at the bird that flashed by, a smile spreading across his aged face.
He reached out and drew a sword, then casually swung it.
A white streak shot out from the sword, cleaving several assassins ten meters away in two.
The legend of Liao Shouyi defending Liaoyuan City with only two thousand soldiers thanks to a divine intervention is already widely known.
Now, seeing these seven longswords, the assassins were filled with fear and unease.
"It's a divine weapon!"
"The divine bird brought them divine weapons!"
Zhang Jingheng pointed his sword at the assassin and shouted, "Kill!"
"Enter the palace and execute Zhang Li!"
After a fierce battle, the old eunuch Zhang Li was no match for him.
While rallying his ministers to resist "injustice," he led the fourteenth prince, under the protection of spies, out of the capital and secretly headed to Liaoyuan City.
They planned to collude with the Wu Kingdom and Ma Huaian, promising half of the Jing Kingdom's land in exchange for the support of the two powers.
The following day, Liao Shouyi arrived in the capital city, and the Jing Kingdom army naturally turned against him.
The seventh prince ascended the throne three days later, and the reign title was Changning.
It is a rural path in Taihe County, Nanming Prefecture, about 800 li away from Kyoto.
This place is near Taihe Mountain, where there is a Taihe Gate, famous for its palm techniques.
Legend has it that the founder received teachings from an immortal, and the highest level of Taihe Palm is enough to split an entire mountain.
Of course, no one has ever seen such a palm technique before.
But the disciples of Taihe Sect are indeed formidable. Every year, they set up a martial arts arena here to compete and make friends with heroes from all over the world.
Recently, it has been the season for martial arts competitions, and many martial arts practitioners have come to participate in this grand event.
Even in the suburbs of the county town, there are teahouses, inns and other similar businesses, and they do quite well.
At this moment, in a small roadside teahouse.
A few old wooden tables, a few bowls of coarse tea, a few long benches, and a thatched hut—it all looked quite simple.
A man around thirty years old, with a knife at his waist, came over and called out, "Boss, a bowl of tea, please."
"Coming right away, please wait a moment."
The man sat on the stool, pondering whether, if he could become famous after going to Taihe Mountain, he should continue fighting in the martial arts world or return to his hometown to open a martial arts school and take on disciples.
Something seemed to fly by in the sky. The man looked up and was somewhat taken aback.
That thing looks like a crow?
But it's a bit too big.
"Sir, your tea is here."
The man looked back and saw his boss, who was about the same age as him, placing a bowl of tea on the table in front of him.
The tea is clear and pure; you can't see the tea leaves, but you can smell a delicate fragrance.
He couldn't help but ask in surprise, "This isn't coarse tea?"
The owner chuckled and said, "It's just tea, there's no difference between coarse and fine."
The man picked it up, and even though it was very hot, he couldn't help but take a sip.
He then nodded in approval: "Not bad, not bad. To be able to drink such a good bowl of tea in the countryside, it is truly worthy of Taihe Gate."
""
Just then, a few more martial arts figures came in wanting tea, so the owner poured a few more bowls and brought them over.
The group took a sip and exclaimed softly, "This tea is quite good. Do you have any tea leaves for sale? Buy some for each of us."
The shopkeeper shook his head: "We don't sell tea."
Several江湖人士 (jianghu figures) immediately felt displeased: "You have tea but no tea leaves? Do you think we're fools?"
People who practice martial arts have abundant qi and blood, and most of them have a volatile temper.
Adding to the heat, the group stood up, looking quite menacing.
Upon seeing this, the man drinking tea shouted, "If they say they don't have tea, it means they don't want to sell. Why force them?"
The group turned to look, and one of them said coldly, "You like meddling in other people's business and playing the hero? Do you have the ability?"
In the martial arts world, it's not uncommon for people to start a fight over a single disagreement.
There is a saying that in literature there is no first place, but in martial arts there is no second.
Everyone wants to prove that their skills are better than others.
The man wasn't angry. He put down his teacup, looked at the group, and said, "I am Xie Ji, the Soul-Chasing Blade. I wonder if I have the ability to handle this?"
The men's expressions changed upon hearing this. Xie Ji, the Soul-Chasing Blade, was quite famous in the martial arts world.
Although he was only a third-rank martial artist, his Soul-Chasing Blade Technique was unmatched.
He once challenged a second-rank martial artist and actually won.
Those people were only around the fourth rank in strength, relying on their numbers to their advantage.
If they really encountered a master, they wouldn't dare to say a word and would quickly slink away.
Xie Ji snorted and turned to look at the boss, seeing that he showed no fear.
After a careful examination, he couldn't detect any martial arts cultivation level, which surprised him somewhat.
"Aren't you afraid?"
The boss shook his head: "There's nothing to be afraid of."
Xie Ji laughed heartily, "You do have some guts, and the tea is good too. It's a pity you don't practice martial arts, otherwise you might have a name in the martial arts world."
The boss smiled and said, "You're not bad either; you might achieve great things in the future."
Just then, a horse-drawn carriage came along the road ahead.
There were guards in front of and behind the vehicle.
Xie Ji glanced over and exclaimed in surprise, "Which family has come? So many experts!"
There are four people who are of the first rank, and the rest are all of the second rank or above.
Their temples were bulging, clearly indicating they were masters of both internal and external cultivation.
Inside the carriage, there was another, more subtle gaze upon them.
Although he couldn't see the person, Xie Ji still groaned, as he was actually injured by the other party's aura.
I was horrified and quickly turned my head away.
Inside the carriage were Zhang Li, the Grand Eunuch in charge of ceremonial affairs, the Fourteenth Prince, and a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm who had been invited at great expense.
This route was carefully selected by Zhang Li.
They avoided the main roads and had spies scout ahead of them the entire way to ensure they wouldn't be noticed.
After traveling eight hundred li without encountering any pursuers, Zhang Li felt half relieved.
He turned to the eleven-year-old fourteenth prince, who had been traveling by carriage for several days and was filled with anxiety and impatience, and said, "Your Majesty, please don't worry, we will arrive in a few more days."
Despite being just a prince, Zhang Li called himself emperor, revealing his ambition.
The old eunuch, his face full of wrinkles, glanced with sinister eyes at the innate master sitting next to the fourteenth prince, who was resting with his eyes closed.
Then she eagerly handed a piece of pastry to the Fourteenth Prince: "Your Majesty, please have some first. After we pass Liaoyuan City, there will be endless delicacies to enjoy."
The fourteenth prince disliked this kind of pastry, finding it too dry, and tried to refuse it by pushing it away.
Zhang Li's expression suddenly turned cold: "It's not good for Your Majesty to not take care of your own health like this."
The fourteenth prince was so frightened that he couldn't help but shiver.
Not daring to refuse again, she quickly took the pastries, her eyes red as she ate them with her head down.
He was still young and didn't understand what being an emperor specifically meant; he only knew that he could do whatever he wanted.
But Seventh Brother treats me very well, so why does he insist on becoming the emperor himself?
Just then, Xie Ji saw his boss walking towards the carriage and quickly called out, "Boss, come back quickly!"
However, the boss acted as if he hadn't heard, and walked straight to the road, blocking the carriage's path.
Seeing the cold, murderous eyes of those experts, Xie Ji sighed inwardly.
Pity.
When the carriage was stopped, a guard outside the carriage reported: "Lord Zhang, there is someone blocking the road ahead."
"Alone?" Zhang Li stared at the Seventh Prince eating pastries, casually picking up a crumb that had fallen and putting it in his mouth, saying, "Just kill him."
"Your Majesty, please enjoy your meal. There are more pastries available."
No matter who the other party is or what their status is, if they dare to come alone, they are just throwing their lives away.
He didn't forget to pat the fourteenth prince's hand beside him: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, with this old servant here, no one can touch you."
The fourteenth prince felt extremely wronged, but dared not say anything.
Hearing a series of thuds outside the car, Zhang Li became suspicious.
Wasn't it supposed to be just one person? Why are there so many sounds of people falling to the ground?
He immediately sensed something was wrong and looked at the Grandmaster beside him, saying, "Mr. Liu, if you don't make a move, when will you?"
To the old eunuch's surprise, Liu Hongsheng was filled with fear, and large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He didn't dare to move at all.
The Innate Grandmaster has surpassed the limits of the human body and crossed to another level.
They are more likely than others to feel the threat of death.
Even though they saw nothing and no one attacked, the deadly threat was crystal clear.
Zhang Li's face was cold: "I hired you for ten thousand taels of gold to protect me, are you going to go back on your word!"
Liu Hongsheng gritted his teeth inwardly. If it were any other time, he really wouldn't want to risk his life.
But beside him were the powerful eunuch Zhang Li and the fourteenth prince, plus he had accepted 10,000 taels of gold from them.
It would be unreasonable to do nothing at all.
Just as he was about to speak, he said, "I wonder what's outside—"
Before he could finish speaking, Liu Hongsheng let out a muffled groan, and a thick mist of blood burst from his body, instantly splattering the entire carriage.
It's a pity that such a great master of innate arts died a violent death before he could even finish a sentence.
Zhang Li gasped in shock; this was a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm.
How could one of the few top experts in the entire Jing Kingdom die so quietly?
They didn't even know how he died.
Zhang Li gritted his teeth and was about to pull the Fourteenth Prince out of the carriage to escape when, in the next moment, he felt his whole body swell up as if it had been inflated.
Then, the same blood mist burst from his body, and he collapsed like dried bacon.
The fourteenth prince stood frozen in the carriage for a long while before letting out a terrified scream.
"Shut up, or I won't hesitate to kill another prince." A voice reached my ears.
The fourteenth prince was terrified. He had seen many powerful masters and all sorts of novel killing methods.
But I've never seen anything like this before.
Extremely mysterious.
Extremely powerful.
He immediately covered his mouth in fright, not daring to make a sound, his eyes filled with endless fear.
On the teahouse bench, Xie Ji was already stunned by what he saw.
Those second-rank and first-rank experts suddenly burst into blood mist and died instantly.
What kind of tactic is this?
He doesn't understand.
I've never even heard of it.
Those were second-rank and first-rank martial artists, and they died just like that?
Seeing the boss approach, Xie Ji instinctively gripped the hilt of his knife.
"You drank my tea, but you haven't paid for it yet," the shopkeeper said.
Xie Ji felt a little flustered, but he gritted his teeth and calmed himself down before reaching for his silver.
The shopkeeper waved his hand and said, "No need to pay for the tea, how about you do me a favor?"
Xie Ji didn't know how he could help someone who could kill so many experts in an instant.
The shopkeeper pointed to the carriage and said, "There's an eleven-year-old boy inside, the fourteenth prince of Jing Kingdom. Please take him to the government office."
As he spoke, the shopkeeper produced a sword from somewhere and handed it over: "You've come all this way and wasted your time, so I'll give you this sword. If you can comprehend its meaning, you might even advance to the first rank, or even become a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm."
Xie Ji instinctively took it, and immediately felt that the sword was much heavier than he had imagined.
He didn't understand why the other party, who was so capable, didn't do it themselves.
But seeing the boss standing there, Xie Ji felt immense pressure.
The idea of going to Taihe Gate to fight in the arena and becoming famous overnight has long been forgotten.
Staring into those calm, still eyes, all he could do was nod and say, "Okay."
The boss smiled, said nothing more, and turned back to the thatched hut.
There was no movement for a long time. Xie Ji went over to ask which government office it was sent to, but there was no one else in the room except for a young apprentice who was fast asleep on a broken wooden bed.
Xie Ji was stunned for a long time, while the young man slowly woke up.
He rubbed his eyes and saw him standing at the door, so he asked, "Would you like some tea, sir?"
Xie Ji then came to his senses and asked, "Where's the boss?"
"Boss?" The young employee looked at him questioningly. "That's me."
The teahouse was originally run by his father, but he got into a fight with someone and was beaten to death, after which the teahouse became his.
Xie Ji immediately realized that this boss was not the same as the other boss.
He didn't dare ask any more questions and turned to walk towards the carriage.
After taking a few steps, he looked down at the longsword in his hand, a hint of curiosity in his heart.
With a casual wave of his hand, a white sword shadow flew out and cleaved a bottomless ravine into the ground.
Xie Ji was stunned on the spot, and then overjoyed.
"Divine weapon!"
There are not many legendary weapons in the martial arts world, and he was fortunate enough to have seen one.
It's called a divine weapon, but it's really just sharper and harder.
The sword in his hand could unleash "sword energy" at will.
I remembered what the "boss" said before he left: if I could gain some insight from this sword, it wouldn't be impossible for me to advance to the first rank or even become a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm in the future.
Xie Ji had no doubts left, only inwardly overjoyed.
With such a divine weapon in hand, if one could truly comprehend even a fraction of its power, it would be more than just a matter of advancing one's rank.
Invincible under heaven is nothing to worry about!
But after examining the longsword several times, he still couldn't find the name.
"Such a divine weapon, how could it not have a name?!"
Xie Ji pondered for a moment, then recalled a story from a previous dynasty that a storyteller had told him.
Legend has it that a former emperor once invited several people on an outing and asked them to make some grand pronouncements.
One of them, named Song Yu, said: "The square earth is my carriage, the round sky my canopy, and my long sword stands upright, reaching beyond the heavens."
Although Xie Ji was not a scholar, he really liked this passage and found it particularly spirited.
Now that I have obtained this divine weapon, my eyes lit up.
"How about we call you the Heaven-Slaying Sword?"
The sword was bright, with a white sword shadow appearing and disappearing, as if in response to the name being quite good.
On the official road, Chu Xun, who had already walked more than a kilometer away, seemed to have heard something.
He chuckled softly, "The Heaven-Slaying Sword? You certainly know how to name things."
The attempt to ambush Zhang Li was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
First, Tang Shijun paved the way to save the people; later, Liao Shouyi guarded the southwest; and Zhang Jingzhi was in internal strife.
Although Chu Xun did not share their ambition to benefit the world, he did not want his close friends and relatives' efforts to be in vain.
Eunuchs should do what eunuchs do. Why are they meddling in other people's business?
You don't have the surname Wei.
After Emperor Changning ascended the throne, he issued an edict to establish a prime minister, a position of first rank, in accordance with the policies of the previous dynasty.
This position was naturally given to Zhang Jingheng, who had rendered meritorious service in supporting the emperor.
Although the Duke is also a first-rank official, he is completely different from the Prime Minister.
He was truly second only to the emperor, above all others.
Even when the emperor makes a decision, he must consult with the prime minister repeatedly.
The second year of Changning.
Chancellor Zhang Jingheng returned to his hometown.
None of the officials were accompanied.
It was stated beforehand that this trip back to my hometown was a private matter, and those who were arrogant at first but obsequious later would be demoted and have their salaries reduced.
"Do your own job well; flattery and fawning are not the duties of Jing officials."
Liu Yuqing and Zhang Shaoheng returned with him and first went to the old house in Pingshui Town.
The house is regularly cleaned; while not spotless, it at least looks presentable.
Afterwards, Zhang Jingheng and his family arrived at Songguo Village.
The villagers were even more excited when the prime minister arrived than when Liao Shouyi returned.
This is the highest-ranking official in the history of Songguo Village, without exception.
Above that, there's the emperor.
Zhang Shaoheng visited Songguo Village when he was a very young child, still a toddler learning to speak.
Now, when I come back, I am a middle-aged man in my forties.
He was serving as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, he should become Minister of Works, a second-rank official, in two years.
Even Zhang Jingheng's grandson has now passed the imperial examination and is working as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy.
The villagers spontaneously came to welcome them, and the family of three knelt down as soon as they entered the village.
Although Zhang Jingheng told them that they were all from the same village and there was no need for formalities.
But who would dare to stand up casually?
A prime minister of the first rank, with the title of duke, could kneel for as long as he wanted.
Zhang Jingheng had no choice but to go over and personally help the white-haired Qi Ermao and the others up.
"I used to play with you all, but now we're all old and frail. Don't be so distant."
Qi Ermao was so excited that tears streamed down his face.
Liao Shouyi walked over and laughed, "That old rascal wants to kneel down to everyone he sees, just ignore him."
Qi Ermao, embarrassed, was supported by his son and didn't know what to say.
He only thought to himself, "Back then—I also had the chance to become that kind of person."
The group arrived at Chu Xun's residence, where there was a constant tinkling sound.
Qi Ermao hurriedly told his son to go and knock on the door. "The Prime Minister is here, why are you still forging iron?"
Zhang Jing raised his hand to stop him, instructing his wife and children to tidy their appearance and take the matter seriously.
Qi Ermao hurriedly said, "Prime Minister, there's no need for this. He's just a junior; how could he—"
Liao Shouyi turned around and glared at him, saying, "You talk too much!"
Qi Ermao awkwardly shut his mouth and stopped talking.
Zhang Jingheng then stepped forward and knocked on the door. A clear voice came from inside: "Come in."
The casualness of the words made Qi Ermao and the others uneasy.
Even if you are relatives, as a junior and a grandson whom they have adopted, you should not treat him with such disrespect.
Only Zhang Jingheng and Liao Shouyi didn't take it seriously.
They all knew how capable the man in the courtyard was; the fact that Jing Kingdom had survived to this day was no less thanks to him than to any of them.
To a certain extent, it could be said that without him, the two of them might not have achieved such great success.
Upon entering the courtyard, one sees a middle-aged man with fair skin, dressed in a thin short jacket, wielding a large sledgehammer and refining the extraterrestrial meteorite iron in front of him.
"Just a few more strokes and it'll be done. Sit down for a bit," Chu Xun said.
He continued hammering away, and Zhang Jingheng and Liao Shouyi didn't seem to mind.
Zhang Shaoheng glanced at it, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but didn't.
Although you are a relative of the same generation, my father is the Prime Minister, so you have been somewhat disrespectful.
It is inappropriate from a public or private perspective, and from a moral or rational standpoint.
At that moment, the trouser leg was tugged a few times.
Zhang Shaoheng looked down and was surprised to see that a weasel had somehow pushed the stool over.
He tugged at his trouser leg and patted the stool, gesturing for him to sit down.
Zhang Jingheng turned around and glanced at his son, whose face was full of surprise, and smiled, "Sit down, don't let their good intentions go to waste."
Liu Yuqing remembered it clearly. After sitting down, she looked at the crows on the eaves and turned to Zhang Shaoheng, saying, "Do you remember? When you were little, you loved playing with them."
Zhang Shaoheng opened his mouth, but he was too young to remember anything from that time.
Looking up, I saw several field mice pushing their way out of the vegetable garden in the corner of the yard.
The weasel ran over, picked up the radish, washed it clean next to the water vat, and then brought it over.
Looking at the sleek weasel in front of him, Zhang Shaoheng subconsciously took the radish.
Zhang Jingheng turned around and scolded, "A gentleman acts according to propriety; one cannot judge a book by its cover. Have you become muddle-headed in your official duties?"
Zhang Shaoheng felt his head was spinning. He understood the logic, but was a weasel considered a person?
His lips trembled, but he still awkwardly cupped his hands towards the weasel and said, "Thank you."
The weasel blinked and bowed to him in a very proper manner.
Zhang Shaoheng's mouth gaped even wider, and he couldn't help but gasp.
This weasel—it's probably becoming a spirit!
Liao Shouyi, sitting in front, looked down at the weasel and stared at it: "Isn't there a cucumber? Why are you giving me a radish instead?"
I've told you so many times, I love cucumbers.
The weasel stepped forward, took the carrot from his hand, and went to gnaw on it.
Chu Xun only taught them to entertain the guests, not to entertain them again and again.
Liao Shouyi simply went to the vegetable garden to pick cucumbers himself. Several field mice popped their heads out and squeaked at him, as if in protest.
Liao Shouyi didn't care about any of that. He picked a few green and tender cucumbers, ran to the water tank to wash them clean, and came back to eat them with great relish.
It's crisp and sweet, and even the seeds inside are a bit chewy. Isn't it tastier than radish?
Enraged, several field mice scurried over, stood on his feet, tugged at his trouser legs, and squeaked incessantly.
Zhang Jingheng chuckled, "You, at your age, why are you getting so worked up over a field mouse?"
Chu Xun, who had already put the meteorite iron back into the furnace, took a towel from the weasel to wipe his hands and walked over, laughing, "He just likes to tease these animals. It's alright."
Zhang Jingheng subconsciously tried to get up, but Chu Xun naturally pressed his hand down: "We're all family, let's talk while we're seated."
The villagers peered over the walls and through the cracks in the doors, staring in disbelief.
Do you know who you are talking to?
Why are you acting like an elder? Aren't you afraid of dying?
Even Liu Yuqing was somewhat surprised, but seeing that her husband didn't mind, she thought for a moment and chose to remain silent.
Chu Xun looked at Zhang Jingheng and asked, "How does it feel to be the Prime Minister?"
Zhang Jingheng shook his head: "Not so good. I plan to retire and return to my hometown in a few years when people's lives improve."
Liao Shouyi took a bite of cucumber, which was crunchy, and said, "When you resign and come back, let's build a pond together and raise tens of thousands of koi for fishing."
Zhang Jingheng was both amused and exasperated. He had little interest in fishing, and besides, koi carp didn't taste good.
"I'd rather be like my uncle, traveling the world, seeing different cultures, and appreciating the beauty of nature."
Liao Shouyi took another bite of cucumber, muttering indistinctly, "There's nothing to see, it'll all come back in the end anyway."
Zhang Jingheng didn't speak to him again; a scholar encountering a soldier is like trying to reason with someone who can't win an argument.
He glanced at the furnace beside him and the piece of meteorite iron, and asked, "How do you know how to forge iron?"
Chu Xun said, "Someone taught me in my dream, and I learned it in a few days."
Zhang Jingheng was surprised to hear this, and Liu Yuqing was also surprised.
Teaching someone in a dream? That's utter nonsense.
To her surprise, her husband looked at her with admiration and even longing, saying, "I've seen stories of being taught in a dream, but I never thought it was real."
Chu Xun smiled and said, "If you want to learn, I can teach you."
Zhang Jingheng waved his hand: "At my age, I can't lift a hammer anymore, so forget it."
He paused, his expression becoming much more serious, and asked, "You really don't want to be an official? If you do, I can recommend you for the position of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince."
Grand Tutor, Grand Preceptor, and Grand Eunuch were all ranked among the Three Dukes, all holding the highest rank of officialdom.
They often accompanied the emperor and princes, and although they did not have much real power, they were still highly respected.
Chu Xun shook his head: "No time."
Every day they are busy collecting metal energy, condensing the essence of Ren water, and forging meteorite iron from outer space.
They have to be wary of attacks from the incense gods even when there's nothing to do, so they don't have time to assist the royal children.
Zhang Jingheng sighed, not finding it surprising.
The person in front of him presented him with a sword twice: once it made him a war god in the army, and once it enabled the seventh prince to ascend the throne.
With such methods, the position of Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, which others envy, may not be anything in his eyes.
There's an uproar outside! You won't even take the position of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince!
They were all talking about it, and Qi Ermao wished he could rush in and answer for Chu Xun.
What an honor this is! Even if it's only for a day, the smoke from the ancestral graves will rise from Songguo Village all the way to Kyoto.
Only Zhang Jingheng and Liao Shouyi seemed to have expected this and did not show much surprise.
After chatting in the courtyard for a while, Chu Xun personally cooked a few dishes.
They also called over Qi Ermao and other veteran acquaintances, and poured them some of Bai Family Old Shop's Yu Nian Niang (a type of brew).
Zhang Jingheng stopped talking about matters of state and started chatting about everyday life.
Two days later, Zhang Jingheng returned to the capital.
As the prime minister, he has too many things to do; he's lucky if he can have a couple of days of leisure.
Before leaving, Zhang Jingheng held Chu Xun's hand and said, "After this parting, I don't know when we'll be able to meet again."
"If you really don't come back, don't forget to visit me then."
He is 64 years old this year, an age when people are considered "rarely seen in ancient times," and his health is not as good as before.
In addition, due to excessive concern for government affairs, they aged faster than the average person.
Once I leave, there may truly be no chance to meet again.
Chu Xun nodded and solemnly agreed.
The older generation of relatives have all passed away, and most of the same generation have also passed away. Next, it will be the next generation, including Liao Shouyi, Qi Ermao, and Zhang Jingheng.
In fact, Liao Shouyi should have died many years ago; it was Chu Xun who forcibly changed his fate.
However, defying fate only exists in violent or unjust deaths.
If someone dies of old age, there's nothing anyone can do about it.
Within three generations, they are still considered close relatives.
After three generations, people will naturally drift apart.
Therefore, if Zhang Jingheng were to die peacefully of old age, Chu Xun would naturally go to see him off.
The third year of Changning.
Li Chang'an passed away in Pingshui Town.
Although he had been away from Songguo Village for many years, his family still called over the villagers they knew when he was on his deathbed.
Chu Xun was naturally one of the relatively unfamiliar people among these people.
Li Chang'an lay in bed. He was now considered a relatively well-known wealthy household in Pingshui Town, and he also held the title of Juren (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).
The villagers were quite accommodating, offering some words of blessing during their visit.
When Chu Xun arrived, Li Chang'an, who had been listless, suddenly grabbed him.
"Is Chu Xun your grandfather?" Li Chang'an asked.
Chu Xun nodded: "Yes."
Li Chang'an's face grew increasingly pale: "If you ever see your grandfather, tell him that I no longer wish to be an official."
Chu was surprised; he hadn't expected him to say that.
Li Chang'an's pale face revealed a mysterious expression.
"Do you know that I have already been a high-ranking official?"
"Being an official is really meaningless!"
Li Chang'an died laughing; he had spent most of his life thinking about becoming an official.
If I can't do it myself, I'll have my son do it.
If the son can't do it, then let the grandson do it.
Only after waking from the dream did he suddenly realize the truth.
But on his deathbed, he couldn't help but want to compare himself with Chu Xun.
We both come from farming backgrounds; your family has a lot of money, and so does mine.
But I was once a high-ranking official!
Even if it's just in a dream!
Chu Xun was both amused and exasperated. This Li Chang'an—
The underworld messengers came and took his soul away, without Chu Xun giving them a "goodbye".
Firstly, I'm not very familiar with Li Chang'an, and secondly, with this kind of personality, it might not be a good thing to be reborn as a human in the next life.
After five years in Changning, Qi Ermao could no longer hold on.
He lived to be seventy-two, which is considered a long life.
On the day he passed away, Chu Xun came to visit him.
Qi Ermao forced himself to stay calm and told everyone in his family to go out.
Then, looking weakly at Chu Xun, she said, "Didn't you say I could see Xun-ge'er again? Don't lie to me. Where is he?"
Chu Xun sat on the edge of the bed and asked in a low voice, "Do you still remember when you were four years old, you wanted to touch the spirit pearl grass by the door, and I stopped you and even gave you a piece of candy?"
Qi Ermao tried hard to recall if such a thing had happened.
I'm too old to remember.
But he felt something was off, and after racking his brains to think about it, he suddenly widened his eyes.
"The candy you gave me? You, you are—"
Chu Xun extended his right hand, palm up.
The moisture from heaven and earth gathered together and transformed into a scene of a four-year-old child squatting at the door, wanting to touch the grass.
A young man came out of the house, stopped his hand, and then handed him a piece of candy.
Qi Ermao stared in disbelief. What kind of magical technique was this?
As the moisture dissipated, a piece of candy actually appeared in my palm.
Chu Xun peeled off the candy coating and asked, "Do you still have the energy to eat?"
Qi Ermao's eyes were red and swollen. Only now did he finally understand.
Xun Ge'er has never left.
The candy was put into his mouth, and he chewed hard, but unfortunately he had no teeth and no strength, so he could only barely taste a bit of sweetness.
As Qi Ermao chewed, he asked vaguely, "Xun-ge'er, can I be your son in the next life?"
Chu Xun thought about it and decided not to lie to him.
"I'm afraid not."
"That's true, you've never had a son."
Qi Ermao's mouth moved for a while, then stopped moving altogether.
He has always been a hardworking and honest person, and has never done anything outrageous.
Even in death, he died simply and ordinarily.
The underworld messengers arrived wielding black chains and hooks, but before they reached them, they heard Chu Xun's instructions.
"He's a good man; let the judge help him find a good family."
Qi Ermao's soul left his body and looked over in confusion.
Chu Xun patted him on the shoulder: "Go ahead."
This isn't the first time this has happened, nor will it be the last.
Two more years passed, and it was the seventh year of Changning.
Chu Xun was forging iron at home when Liao Licheng's son, Liao Xingbang, rushed over excitedly and asked, "Uncle Chen, have you heard?"
The martial arts alliance leader has been decided!
He picked up the broom next to him, waved it in his hand, and finally made a gesture of sheathing a sword.
Head held high, chest puffed out, he shouted out loud.
"With the Heaven-Slaying Sword unleashed, who can rival it!"
>