Chapter 1202: True Master, Save Me!
Wuchang.
Zhu Huadie, the tenth Prince of Chu of the Great Ming Dynasty, sat on a gilded folding chair, a ceremonial seat granted by the Hongwu Emperor, his face a mask of profound terror.
Zhu Huadie was the twin brother of the ninth Prince of Chu, Zhu Huakui. He had originally been enfeoffed as the Prince of Xuanhua, a remarkably low-key minor prince who barely left a trace in historical records.
However, not long ago, the ninth Prince of Chu, Zhu Huakui, had been attacked by a "monster" in the dead of night, and was literally scared to death beneath his bed.
Zhu Huakui had no heirs, yet the princely title of Chu could not remain vacant. Thus, the civil officials had no choice but to summon Zhu Huadie, the Prince of Xuanhua. They practically dragged him onto the gilded folding chair of the Prince of Chu, then declared to him, "From today forward, Your Highness is no longer the Prince of Xuanhua, but the Prince of Chu."
Zhu Huadie felt a crushing weight of responsibility!
He knew how his brother had died.
He'd heard that during the rebel uprisings, when common folk fled to Wuchang, his brother had not only refused them entry but even shot and wounded one with a crossbow. This atrocious deed had drawn universal resentment, supposedly causing the vengeful spirits of the people to transform into a monster. It was said that this creature had infiltrated the princely estate in the dead of night and killed his brother.
With such a chilling precedent, how could Zhu Huadie dare to act so recklessly?
Fearing that the common folk might still be hesitant, Zhu Huadie had a huge banner hung above the city gates, bearing the welcoming words: "My home's gates are always open; I await you with open arms."
Of course, the common folk didn't stand on ceremony; with war and chaos raging outside, who would bother with politeness? They poured into the city in a tumultuous rush.
Wuchang instantly became densely crowded.
The city's residents expected grain prices to skyrocket immediately. To their surprise, a colossal transport fleet would periodically pass along the river. Each time it passed Wuchang, it would deliver vast quantities of grain into the city. Personnel were arranged to distribute gruel and aid the populace, and they even opened a grain store, selling provisions at fair prices to the common folk.
In any case, if you had money, you could buy grain at a fair price. If you were unwilling to spend money, you could still eat the relief gruel; it just wasn't as satisfying as buying your own.
Thus, Wuchang held its ground amidst the chaotic situation.
Grain prices hadn't soared, and there was no unrest in the city. Although refugees crammed every street, everyone managed to survive.
Now, the person enduring the most hardship in Wuchang was, ironically, Zhu Huadie.
Before going to sleep each night, he would peer under his bed a hundred times.
Every time he sat on the gilded folding chair, his heart pounded wildly.
He burned incense and worshipped Buddha daily, bowing to all the gods and immortals across the heavens, praying only that the deities would protect him from the monster's visit.
He was already sixty-six years old, and this constant torment was truly exhausting for his heart and mind.
“Report!” A princely guard rushed in, panting, “The Eight Great Kings’ bandit army is loitering outside the city again.”
Zhu Huadie waved a dismissive hand. “What is there to fear about the Eight Great Kings? Right now, the monster is the most terrifying thing! Have you summoned the Daoist Master I asked for?”
“Well... Ma Tianzheng, the enlightened True Master of the Quanzhen Longmen sect, will arrive soon,” the guard stammered. “Scouts report he is traveling by boat and should be here in about half an hour.”
Zhu Huadie was overjoyed. “Ah, he’ll be here in just half an hour? Why didn’t you inform this prince sooner! Quick, prepare the sedan chair! This prince must personally welcome Master Ma.”
Zhu Huadie quickly straightened his attire, making sure he was impeccably neat. He assembled the most ceremonial honor guard and the highest-ranking procession, then headed towards Wuchang’s water gate.
Meanwhile, the main bandit army of the Eight Great Kings was still lingering outside Wuchang’s north city gate.
The Prefect of Wuchang stood on the city wall. Around him were useless, decrepit garrison soldiers, along with some militiamen whose combat ability was pathetic. He felt an immense burden of responsibility. He turned to his subordinates and asked, “Has the Prince of Chu not arrived yet? We need his guards to help defend the city.”
A subordinate reported, “The Prince of Chu’s honor guard has emerged.”
The Prefect of Wuchang was greatly relieved.
But his relief lasted less than two minutes when another subordinate reported, “The Prince of Chu’s honor guard is heading towards the south water gate.”
The Prefect was utterly astonished. “The bandit army is at the north gate; what is he doing heading to the south gate? Is he trying to escape? A prince cannot leave his fiefdom without authorization; even attempting to flee is a capital offense!”
A subordinate replied, “It seems he’s going to welcome someone.”
The Prefect was speechless.
Just as he was about to curse, a prominent rebel general outside the city began to shout insults. “Prefect of Wuchang, I advise you to immediately send out all the gold, silver, jewels, grain, and wealth from the city! Otherwise, on the day the city falls, we will slaughter every last living thing in your wretched town!”
The Prefect roared, “Damn you all! You’re all madmen, every single one of you! You’re all bloody well forcing my hand! This official will fight you to the death!”
Meanwhile, at the south water gate.
Zhu Huadie, the Prince of Chu, stood on the city wall, watching a small boat slowly approach in the distance. Onboard stood a Daoist priest, Ma Tianzheng, possessing an ethereal demeanor and an extraordinary, almost otherworldly presence.
Over the years, Ma Tianzheng had traveled widely, spreading the prestige of Dao Xuan Tian Zun, and had become a renowned True Master. His detached, transcendent aura alone, even without speaking, was enough to captivate many.
Upon reaching the dock, ordinary people would inevitably disembark with some clumsiness.
But Ma Tianzheng was different. He was a master of grand theatrical flair, and with a swift slap to the scabbard on his back, his three-foot azure blade slid out with a crisp zing. He gripped the hilt in a reverse hold and executed a dazzling flurry of sword moves.
Flowing with the sword, he seemed to float down from the boat, landing on the shore where he performed another swift set of Quanzhen sword techniques, intoning, “Heaven and Earth boundless, the cosmos obeys my will, hasten as per the Supreme Venerable Lord’s decree!”
With a casual flick, he tossed the sword into the air. The blade spun twice in mid-air, then descended with a zing, and incredibly, landed perfectly back into its scabbard on his back, snug and secure.
This single feat of showmanship, Ma Tianzheng had practiced for twenty years to perfect!
The spectacle was simply breathtaking.
Zhu Huadie was instantly captivated. He felt he had found the right person. “True Master, save me!” he pleaded.
Ma Tianzheng asked, “I hear Wuchang is plagued by a monster?”
Zhu Huadie immediately burst into tears. “Yes, yes, a monster is plaguing us! This prince dares not sleep night after night; every evening, I check under my bed a hundred times...”
Ma Tianzheng hushed him. “Quiet! Hold on, do not speak yet. Allow this humble Daoist to perform a divination.”
Zhu Huadie instantly fell silent. Not even the Emperor could command such obedience from him.
Ma Tianzheng’s hand formed a spiritual seal, his fingers shifting in a continuous, complex motion. A moment later, he suddenly let out a breath, a soft whoosh. “This humble Daoist understands,” he declared.
Zhu Huadie was ecstatic. “What have you understood, True Master?”
Ma Tianzheng said, “Come with this humble Daoist.”
With that, he flicked his Daoist robe and led the way into the city.
Although it was clearly his first time in Wuchang, he walked with remarkable confidence, as if he were intimately familiar with the place, navigating the streets and alleys without the slightest hesitation.
Zhu Huadie quickly followed him, a large retinue of princely guards trailing close behind.
No one knew what Ma Tianzheng was truly up to; many of the guards secretly wondered, “Isn’t this just a charlatan, here to swindle the prince out of his money?”
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