Chapter 44

When Zong Zi Heng packed up and went to bid farewell to his mother, Shen Shi Yao was drinking tea and talking with Zong Zi Xiao's mother, Chu Ying Ruo.

"Mother, Consort Chu." Zong Zi Heng saluted one by one. Of all his brothers, he’s closest to Xiao Jiu because their two mothers have a good friendship. But that day his mother said those words and the way she looked as if nothing had happened today made him a little uncomfortable when facing Chu Ying Ruo.

"Zi Heng is going out again?" Chu Ying Ruo said, "No wonder Xiao Er has been sullen these past two days."

"I'm going on a trip to Jingzhou, I shouldn't be out for too long. You tell Xiao Jiu that I'll test him on his homework when I return, so that he doesn't slack off."

"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him." Chu Ying Ruo smiled faintly. Such a light smile looked like a gorgeous flourishing flower blooming on her face, very beautiful.

Chu Ying Ruo was born in a small sect. Although her family was not well known, she was born with a beautiful face. That year at the Jiaolong assembly, everyone was astonished by her beauty. And now, even though she’s already a mother, she was still rumored to be the number one beauty in the immortal world.

Initially, Chu Ying Ruo already had a marriage contract, but Zong Ming He snatched her away. Of all the concubines, she was the most favored, so what Zong Zi Xiao enjoyed from a young age was not much different from the son of the first wife.

Such a woman was naturally unpopular when she entered the palace. In particular, she had a pair of charming hanging fox eyes, a very aggressive beauty that would not naturally please the same gender. At that time, only Shen Shi Yao became friends with her. They were both regarded as a thorn in the Empress’s side, so they naturally embraced each other.

Shen Shi Yao sighed lightly, "I worry when you go out, but I can't shut you up. Go on, take good care of yourself outside."

"Mother, you can rest assured."

"Sister, there is no need to worry, Zi Heng has already cultivated to the seventh Chongtian of the Zongxuan Sword, ordinary people can't deal with him."

"Easy to dodge the spear in the open, hard to avoid a stab in the dark*.” Shen Shi Yao said meaningfully, "Back then, weren’t he and Zi Xiao attacked by someone? Otherwise how could they have almost lost their lives."

Chu Ying Ruo's pupils were suddenly covered with a layer of cold frost: "Yes, fortunately, they were lucky to have a good life. Zi Heng, when you are out and about, people's hearts are dangerous, so you must not fail to take precautions."

"Yes."

With a stifled breath, Zong Zi Heng walked out of Wuji Palace as fast as he could, then immediately rose up with his sword and went straight up to the clear sky. Looking at the Wuji Palace he left behind him, getting smaller and smaller, further and further away, and looking at the vast and lofty sky and land in front of him, he felt his heart and mind enlightened.

That dazzling palace was like a magnificent cage that only trapped one's mind and body in a cramped corner. The more you live there, the narrower it became. That day, when he was overwhelmed by his mother's tears and the Empress's harsh treatment, he almost forgot that he did not want to be here at all.

He was a man who wanted to live a life of pleasure. To be free, to know the greatness of the world, to love the grass and the trees.

---

Chu land, a land and water route, with thousands of miles of fertile fields, where fishing, herding and farming are all developed. It is a land every soldier wants to compete for since ancient times.

This rich and fertile land is divided between two sects, Jingzhou’s Chunyang Sect and Wuling’s Wuyun Sect.

In fact, a thousand years ago, these two sects belonged to the same lineage. The ancestor who started the sect was an eminent monk. Later on, the martial and sword cultivators gradually formed their own sects and even began internal strife, eventually splitting into two.

The Chunyang Sect inherited the monastic philosophy of the original sect, which was based on the Five Precepts and Ten Virtues of Buddhism, and practiced them for centuries.

The Wuyun Sect, on the other hand, takes its name from the Five Aggregates of Buddha's teachings*: form, sensations, perceptions, formations and consciousness. The person with these views is the reason for the birth of Five Aggregates. But all laws are empty, and karma is not, so there is no need to demand the extinction of human desire. This is why they are the opposite of Chunyang Sect, with fewer rules and regulations and an attitude similar to that of the monks who said, "Wine and flesh go through the gut, but Buddha stays in the heart*".

The two sects in Chu land have fought endlessly for centuries until the Daming Zong clan ascended to the throne and became emperor, and only under this pressure did they maintain a subtle peace.

When they arrived at the Chunyang Sect's Luojinwu, the disciple guarding the gate went to report, and Xu Zhi Nan personally came out to greet them.

"Brother Xu."

"Your Highness, long time no see." Xu Zhi Nan greeted him with a smile. As he looked at Zong Zi Heng, he couldn't help but sigh, "Three years ago, Your Highness was still in the form of a teenager, but now you seem much more mature."

Zong Zi Heng disapproved, "I call you big brother, if you call me that again, you truly treat me as an outsider.”

"Haha, okay. Zi Heng, please come in."

In fact, Xu Zhi Nan's age was comparable to Zong Zi Heng's father’s, yet he only looked a few years older in vain. Over the past three years, the two of them had written to each other constantly, and when they met at first, there was no unfamiliar feeling.

They asked each other about each other's recent developments.

"I've heard that the Huaying Sect is interested in tying the knot with you." Xu Zhi Nan said, "You and Miss Hua are a good match. The man is talented and the woman is beautiful*. This is a blessing in disguise, a virtue has its rewards ah.”

Zong Zi Heng did not intend to tell outsiders about the disagreements between the Empress and concubines and between brothers, he said evasively, "I have only heard about this matter, my father has not yet decided."

"I think it's not far off."

"Brother Xu, how is the Chunyang Sect doing these days?"

"Everything is fine."

"What about the Lion Alliance?"

"Well, we just found traces of Chen Xing Yong in Yan City a few days ago. We don't dare to act rashly and alert the enemy, so we just have people keeping an eye on him secretly."

Zong Zi Heng narrowed his eyes, "It's been three years, I finally have the chance to take revenge myself."

"This matter still needs to be carefully deliberated and make a thorough plan. Chen Xing Yong is too cunning, and with that magical treasure, we actually let him escape twice."

"Gong Shu Ju is indeed difficult to deal with." Thinking about his experience at the inn back then, he still had palpitations. At that time, although he was young, he was outstanding and he was escorted by two high-ranking cultivators, so how could he have been forced to almost die by a nameless person from Jianghu? All because of that Gong Shu Ju. He said, "Isn't there any way to break that magical treasure?"

"I have asked the Cangyu Sect. That magical treasure does have flaws. The range of the spell cast relies entirely on the spiritual power of the cultivator, and once there are more people, he cannot pay attention to one thing without neglecting the other. At that time, Chen Xing Yong separated the four of you into three spaces, and the people in all three spaces were not good enough to deal with. That should be his limit, so to deal with Gong Shu Ju, we need more people, preferably more than theirs."

Zong Zi Heng nodded, "We can definitely catch him this time. There's no time to lose, let's go to Yan City now."

Xu Zhi Nan said soothingly, "Don't rush yet. If many people go together, it is inevitable that they will attract attention. I have already sent my junior brother to Yan City to scout out the situation, he should be back soon, so it's not too late for us to move when we have discussed the matter."

"Senior Brother." A disciple came in to report, "Senior Brother Cheng has returned."

Xu Zhi Nan smiled, "Look, speak of the devil, let him come and see me."

In a moment, a disciple of the Chunyang Sect walked in, his face was cold and unsmiling, "Senior Brother, I'm back."

"Yan Zhi, you've worked hard. Zi Heng, this is my junior brother, Cheng Yan Zhi, Yan Zhi, this is Emperor Ning Hua's son His Highness."

Cheng Yan Zhi arched his hand, neither haughty nor humble, and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Zong Zi Heng nodded and thought to himself: These Chunyang Sect disciples, the higher the level of cultivation, the better looking they really are. All of them are tall, handsome and dignified. If they stand in a row, they will look more like blood brothers.

"Yan Zhi, tell us the situation."

"At the moment, Chen Xing Yong and his seven subordinates have been found in Yan City. They have been in Yan City for at least six days. We have been monitoring them day and night, but other than eating, they barely leave the house, not sure what they’re doing. It looks very much like they are waiting for someone."

"Waiting for someone." Xu Zhi Nan mused, "Are they waiting for their next target to strike, or are they waiting for a buyer?"

"Both are possible." Cheng Yan Zhi said, "However, we have been hunting down the Lion Alliance for the past two years, and they hardly dare to commit any crimes. We have lost a few people in the past few months, so I guess they should not dare to harm anyone at this time."

"So that means they’re waiting for the buyer?" Zong Zi Heng said coldly, "Behind the Lion Alliance, who exactly is behind this heartless trade with them?" Li Xiang Tong's arrogant face came to his mind. In fact, his mother was right. In terms of motive and strength, Li Xiang Tong is very suspicious.

"No matter who it is, if we find out, it will definitely set off a reign of terror." Xu Zhi Nan said gruffly, "The one who can afford to buy human cores and secretly shelter the Lion Alliance is bound to be a big shot."

Cheng Yan Zhi said, "Then it is all the more important to find out the truth. With such scum in the immortal cultivation world, they must be eradicated."

"Zi Heng, it's getting late. You can stay overnight at Luojinwu first, tomorrow we will leave for Yan City."

"Okay."

---

Zong Zi Heng could not sleep at all as he thought about the recent events. Could Chen Xing Yong be caught this time or not? Could he get rid of the evil from the immortal cultivation world and avenge him and Xiao Jiu? And who was the person behind Chen Xing Yong, and who relied on this vicious method to cultivate?

In the middle of the night, some commotion came from outside the door. Zong Zi Heng was in a daze and immediately woke up again. He rolled out of bed and ran out to see several clusters of fires on the vast martial arts training ground of Luojinwu. They were scattered all over the place and they looked as if they were looking for something.

Zong Zi Heng walked over and asked one of the disciples, "What's happening?"

"Your Highness?" One of the disciples said, "Someone has trespassed though the barrier, and from what the other brothers have said, it was a child, but that child is nowhere to be seen. We are looking for him, afraid that he will be hurt by the barrier."

"A child?" Zong Zi Heng was a little confused.

"Quick, it seems to be there."

"Why are you trespassing into the Chunyang Sect? Do you know that this barrier could kill you!"

"Hey, kid, we don't want to hurt you, put down your sword."

"Go away, don't make me hurt you." The voice was brittle and childish, yet arrogant.

Hearing that voice, Zong Zi Heng's eyes went black and he shouted in anger, "Zong Zi Xiao!"

 

 ----

Easy to dodge the spear in the open, hard to avoid a stab in the dark*. [明枪易挡，暗箭难防]---it is hard to guard against secret conspiracies

Five Aggregates of Buddha's teachings* [五蕴]--- Skandhas; The five aggregates or heaps are: form (or material image, impression) (rupa), sensations (or feelings, received from form) (vedana), perceptions (samjna), mental activity or formations (sankhara), and consciousness (vijnana). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skandha

Wine and flesh go through the gut, but Buddha stays in the heart*[酒肉穿肠过，佛祖心中留]---So long you have Buddha in your heart, it is okay to eat meat and drink wine.

The man is talented and the woman is beautiful*. [良才女貌]---usually this phrase is used to praise a couple

 

Edited on 24 Mar. 21 (Emzie)

 

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