Chapter 227: Never to Be Changed |
Chu Jing’s words could persuade Zhang Yuchun, but they could not persuade Li Qingqiu.
Li Qingqiu glanced toward Chu Jing and said, “If making Sifeng the emperor were the ending, it would indeed benefit the Clear Sky Sect. But can you be certain that Zhu Xian becoming emperor would be a bad thing for us?”
Chu Jing immediately understood Li Qingqiu’s meaning and did not dare speak further.
Li Qingqiu shifted his gaze to Zhang Yuchun and said, “If Zhu Xian died before you supported him, then let the world follow its natural course. But if he died after you supported him, then no matter what motive lay behind it, you represented the Clear Sky Sect. This act would be a slap in the face of the Clear Sky Sect.”
Zhang Yuchun hesitated and said, “That may be so, but we cannot directly settle accounts with the person behind it, can we? Zhu Xian was not, after all, a member of the Clear Sky Sect.”
“It is not for me to reason it out. It is for them to prove their intentions to me.”
Li Qingqiu said domineeringly, his tone brooking no doubt.
“Thoroughly investigate why Zhu Xian died. If it is related to the Li Clan, then bring Li Da back.” Li Qingqiu issued the order directly.
Zhang Yuchun fell silent for a moment, then accepted the command.
“If he is willing, then follow his wishes. If he is not, choose another feudal lord of virtue and benevolence and spare no effort to help him pacify the world. This chaotic age should come to an end.”
Li Qingqiu replied. These words made Chu Jing secretly alarmed.
So domineering—accepting the benefits brought by the Li Clan while also warning them.
If he did not become emperor, it was truly a pity.
The two immediately stood up, bowed, and took their leave.
Li Qingqiu returned to the stone bed and continued cultivating.
……
Zhu Xian’s death shook the world. In the three lower provinces under him, people were gripped by panic, uncertain of what the future held.
The other feudal lords did not take the opportunity to cause trouble. The world instead fell into a strange kind of peace. No wars broke out, yet due to years of chaos, bandits ran rampant in various regions, and the common people still could not find peace.
Guzhou was considered the most peaceful place in the world. As the Clear Sky Sect grew ever stronger, Eastern Tomb Province and Southern Chu Province also began accepting the Clear Sky Sect’s protection. More and more commoners flocked toward these three provinces, causing them to flourish, as if they existed in a completely different world from the chaotic age.
In the twelfth month, heavy snow covered the Ancient Great Mountain Range, and heaven and earth sank into vast desolation.
That morning.
A young male disciple carried a coffin on his back as he ascended the mountain. Because he wore the sect robe of the Clear Sky Sect, the disciples along the way did not stop him. They merely watched him and whispered among themselves.
The disciple walked all the way toward the summit of Clear Sky Mountain. His expression was calm, his back bent, carefully ensuring that the corners of the coffin did not strike the steps.
“Junior Brother, do you need any help?” a disciple of the Enforcement Hall stopped him and asked with concern.
However, the coffin-bearing disciple ignored him, walked around him, and continued upward.
There was no sect rule forbidding carrying a coffin up the mountain, so the Enforcement Hall disciple found it hard to stop him.
Quite a few curious onlookers followed behind, wanting to see whom this coffin-bearing disciple intended to seek out.
Could it be that someone within the sect had harmed a fellow disciple?
If so, this would be a grave matter!
In the Clear Sky Sect, harming fellow disciples was the greatest crime, no matter the manner in which it was done.
Yet the coffin-bearing disciple passed courtyard after courtyard and even went by the Enforcement Hall without entering it. This only deepened everyone’s curiosity.
From the foot of the mountain, all the way through the Profound Heart Realm, it took him two hours. By then, his actions had already spread throughout the sect, and some disciples even flew on swords to carry the news to other peaks.
After passing the Profound Heart Hall, he still showed no sign of stopping, causing many disciples to halt in place.
They understood—this man was going to see the Sect Master?
What kind of grievance would require seeking the Sect Master himself?
Could it be that the murderer of the person in the coffin was someone high-ranking within the sect, so only the Sect Master could uphold justice?
The coffin-bearing disciple arrived before the steps of Lingxiao Courtyard and directly knelt down, the coffin still pressing on his back.
A disciple walked over, frowned, and asked, “What business do you have?”
He worked for Yuan Qi and usually stood guard nearby, responsible for receiving those who sought an audience with the Sect Master.
The coffin-bearing disciple clenched his teeth and said, “This disciple, Liu Jing, requests an audience with the Sect Master!”
“The coffin on your back is…”
“My mother’s body.”
Hearing Liu Jing’s words, the disciple’s expression changed slightly. He immediately told him to wait while he hurried up the steps.
Li Qingqiu had once instructed that if disciples had grievances, regardless of status, they could all see him.
From several zhang away, true transmission disciples and senior figures from the halls began to gather. Hearing that Liu Jing carried his mother’s corpse, no one dared step forward, afraid of getting themselves involved.
Chai Yunshang also arrived. She frowned as she looked at Liu Jing but did not speak.
The other party had bypassed the Enforcement Hall to seek Li Qingqiu. This was inevitably a dereliction of duty on the part of the Enforcement Hall, but since the other party had chosen this course, she could not stop it.
She wanted to see who dared commit the evil act of killing someone’s mother right under her nose.
Soon, the disciple who had gone to deliver the message hurried out from Lingxiao Courtyard, came to Liu Jing’s side, and said, “The Sect Master has agreed to see you. Come, I will help you carry it.”
Upon hearing that Liu Jing’s mother had died, the messenger disciple instinctively felt sympathy for him.
“No need. Many thanks.”
Liu Jing gave him a smile, then carried the coffin up the steps. Watching his trembling figure, everyone felt a heaviness in their hearts.
The messenger disciple escorted him only to the gate of Lingxiao Courtyard, then stopped.
Liu Jing saw Li Qingqiu’s back standing in the center of the courtyard. He took a deep breath, mustered his courage, and entered.
He walked behind Li Qingqiu, knelt, and bowed, saying, “This disciple Liu Jing greets the Sect Master.”
Li Qingqiu turned around and did not help him remove the coffin.
“Put your mother down. Do not let her be jostled any further,” Li Qingqiu said. His gaze was calm, giving no hint of what he was thinking.
Liu Jing immediately complied. Yet as he set the coffin down, his arms trembled, afraid that it might drop heavily.
After putting down the coffin, Liu Jing looked up at Li Qingqiu. Faced with Li Qingqiu’s gaze, he felt uneasy, as if all his thoughts had been seen through.
Even though his heart was in turmoil, he still steeled himself and said, “I beg the Sect Master to uphold justice for me, and for the world!”
Li Qingqiu looked at him and asked, “How should justice be upheld?”
Liu Jing took a deep breath and said, “If the sect is unwilling to shoulder the world, then choose a wise ruler and restore peace to the world as soon as possible. One wise ruler is not enough—there must be two, or even three.”
Li Qingqiu grew interested and asked, “You wish to split the Nine Provinces?”
“The reason the Great Li Dynasty collapsed, aside from Zhao Zhi’s brutality, was also because the land was too vast. Imperial authority could not effectively control all regions. The current Nine Provinces are not suited for unification, unless the Clear Sky Sect’s formations and magic implements advance to another level. Only then would the world be fit to be integrated. Precisely because the world is too large, feudal lords contend endlessly, and the chaotic age cannot be brought to an end.”
“Some say unifying the world brings longer-lasting peace, but beyond the Nine Provinces there are other dynasties. Under autocracy, there can also be dark years more agonizing than chaos. There is no absolutely good order, only a suitable order. The present world is not suited for another Great Li Dynasty. Two dynasties standing side by side, or three in balance, would be better. In that way, imperial authority could govern local regions more promptly, with the Clear Sky Sect maintaining balance. The world would still be at peace, and the dynasties could also restrain one another.”
Liu Jing’s proposal piqued Li Qingqiu’s interest.
Grand unification was an idea held by many, but those who dared speak like this were exceedingly rare.
Li Qingqiu himself also felt that the Nine Provinces were too vast. Guzhou alone was equivalent to nearly half of his previous life’s Huaxia. Yet the Nine Provinces lacked technology—information transmission, material transport, and troop mobilization were all troublesome matters for a Nine Provinces dynasty.
Just like the previous siege against the Northern Barbarians who occupied Cangzhou. The reason the feudal lords were defeated was because of exhausting travel. The armies and horses were weary, making it hard to wage war. It took nearly half a year before they could finally unleash their true strength.
“The Imperial Ancestor Emperor of the Great Li Dynasty was indeed great. He unified the Nine Provinces and laid down a new cultural foundation. In the future, the Nine Provinces will inevitably have to be unified again—but not now. At least not within a hundred years. Otherwise, even if forcibly unified, oppression of the common people would arise in every province and prefecture. Even if the people wished to appeal to imperial authority, it would not hear them. Even if the Clear Sky Sect stood aloof above the world, how many could cross mountains and rivers to ascend this transcendent Clear Sky Mountain?”
Liu Jing continued, his face filled with grief and indignation.
Li Qingqiu stared at him and asked, “What is your relationship with Liu Lin?”
“Liu Lin is my grandfather, but I have only met him once. My mother was not the principal wife. My father had no standing in the household, and I have cultivated on Clear Sky Mountain for many years. My mother was bullied into depression and died, yet I did not know. My father wished to see my grandfather, but because he was not favored, he could not meet him at all. There are many Liu Clan disciples in the sect. My aptitude is not the best, so the Liu Clan still did not care about me. Sect Master, this world is truly too vast for one person—so vast that it inspires despair.”
As Liu Jing spoke, his eyes reddened.
Seeing his frankness, the coldness in Li Qingqiu’s gaze eased considerably.
Liu Lin, one of the three great feudal lords, was someone who could contend with Zhu Xian for the world. However, Liu Lin’s reputation was not good. He occupied the west and focused on indulgence and pleasure.
Li Qingqiu actually had an impression of Liu Jing. Upon hearing his name, he recalled him. He remembered that Liu Jing had talent and was suited to managing human affairs. Of course, among the Clear Sky Sect at present, there were quite a few fate traits like this.
As he spoke, he had already summoned the Dao Lineage panel and searched for Liu Jing’s portrait.
He finally found it.
【Name: Liu Jing】
【Gender: Male】
【Age: 19】
【Loyalty (to Sect Master / Sect): 91 / 89 (Maximum 100)】
【Cultivation Aptitude: Average】
【Comprehension: Average】
【Fate Traits: Talent in Civil Governance, Sage-Hearted and Virtuous】
【Talent in Civil Governance: Possesses certain ability in politics and management, enjoys concerning himself with affairs of the world】
【Sage-Hearted and Virtuous: Possesses a great heart of compassion for all living beings. He is virtuous by nature. Whether as ruler or minister, he can perform excellently, accommodating both above and below, and regards the safety of all under heaven as his own responsibility】
……
【Talent in Civil Governance】 was not rare. There were many disciples with similar fate traits. But 【Sage-Hearted and Virtuous】 was unique. Thus, Li Qingqiu remembered his name and planned to promote him at an appropriate time in the future.
He had not expected that today, Liu Jing would come to see him carrying his mother’s coffin.
After understanding Liu Jing’s background and purpose, Li Qingqiu directly asked, “What do you want? What do you hope the sect will do for you?”
Liu Jing clenched his teeth and said, “I ask the sect to help me gain control of the Liu Clan and aid me in founding a nation. I wish to become emperor. I can truly take the people as my foundation and will never betray the expectations of the sect or of you. My dynasty will forever be your sword. I will restrain the world.”
“A hundred years later, my Liu Clan will surely be able to unify the world and bring about a true age of great peace, accomplishing what the Great Li Dynasty never did!”
“If I become emperor, then if my descendants are incompetent or lose the people’s support, the Clear Sky Sect and you may directly depose them. This point, I will write into the founding national policy—never to be changed!”
His voice was sonorous and forceful. His expression was not fanatical, but filled with supplication.