Peace Order

Chapter 1793 - 79: Seizure and Protection, Choices

Gongyang Suwang’s movement was far too abrupt.

He thrust himself into prominence.

The sound of weapons forming ranks suddenly turned shrill; one weapon after another leveled flat, edges exuding sharp intent and cold gleam, centering on the two contemporaneous top‑ten Divine Generals, Yuwen Lie and He Ruoqinhu, locking onto Gongyang Suwang.

In single combat, Gongyang Suwang surpassed Yuwen Lie by half a measure.

And steadily suppressed He Ruoqinhu.

Yet in times of chaos, the overbearing terror of Military School war‑generals lay precisely upon that grim killing field; the Military God General was invincible wherever he went. In such an environment as this moment, Gongyang Suwang too would hardly escape death.

But he remained calm and unhurried, performing the parting rites for the Red Emperor, taking no account of the circumstances he himself was in or of his own safety, only gazing at the fierce Formation arrayed before him, and at Jiang Wanxiang between the two Divine Generals, head tilted back, staring up at that surging Nine-story Pagoda.

The aged Azure Dragon’s face was flushed red by the blazing fire.

He seemed to have stood there dazed and absent for a long time.

He had already forgotten that a monarch and a power‑wielding minister, at such a moment, ought to be throwing the situation into confusion, preventing the immense impact of the Red Emperor’s passing from spreading outward, clutching this news entirely in their own hands and suppressing its negative effects upon them to the utmost.

He merely stood quietly, watching that fierce, brilliant flame.

He had given Ji Zichang a dignified choice, bidding him leave behind this Qi Fortune and imperial title, and go to do the things he wished to do, yet Ji Zichang’s choice had been one Jiang Wanxiang had not foreseen.

Matters of life and death are of the utmost gravity.

After a long while, he turned his gaze sideways toward Gongyang Suwang, who on that side was encircled by the formation of Divine Generals, white hair swaying in the firelight. Jiang Wanxiang said calmly, "Gongyang Suwang, first under Confucianism, I still remember the first time I met Mister in those days, you were but a middle‑aged scholar."

"And I was no more than a youth in fine clothes on a spirited horse."

"Now the years have slipped by; you and I have both come to this age, to this situation."

Gongyang Suwang only said, "The affairs of the world are ever uncertain."

Jiang Wanxiang bore no particular killing intent toward Suwang; he only said, "I still have some matters I must further discuss with Mister Suwang. Before a raging fire is not a fitting place for conversation; may Mister turn aside to the Academy, and afterward I shall pay my respects in person."

Gongyang Suwang said, "Emperor Ying, why is it that today you no longer style yourself as ’Zhen’?"

The aged Azure Dragon gazed upon that blazing fire and answered with a smile, "Having beheld an Emperor today, I understand that all the heroes and worthies, all the myriad places beneath heaven this day, yet amount to no more than a single sovereign."

Gongyang Suwang gripped his sword and, under the oppressive stares of Yuwen Lie and He Ruoqinhu, turned and departed at an unhurried pace, drawing the attention of those two Divine Generals. The many remains of the imperial clansmen who had died here were gathered up, and all the civil and military officials were placed under watch.

The only Divine General who, just now, had still made the instinctive motion to halt the fire—Yuwen Lie—was stopped by Jiang Wanxiang, for this surging, blazing conflagration was precisely the flame that represented eight hundred years of the Red Emperor’s national fortune, and to a Divine General with a cultivated Primordial Spirit and mighty physique, it was tantamount to a deadly poison.

Yuwen Lie stared into that fierce blaze, the fire’s reflection burning in his pupils.

In the end, it was regret.

This aloof Divine General, though in a state of vigilance, still inclined his head slightly, like a fierce tiger lowering its skull, and offered that as his salute.

He Ruoqinhu was seasoned and shrewd; once Gongyang Suwang had retreated half a step before the greater tide, he stepped forward half a pace and said, "Your Majesty."

"The strongest of the Ji clan, Ji Yanzhong, is not to be seen here."

He lowered his voice; the famed generals of the realm galloped across the land, with all things in the Central State within their calculations. He said, "This humble general has heard that Princess Changle, Ji Ning’er, was born and is exceedingly doted on by Ji Zichang and his consort, and is furthermore the adopted daughter of Prince Qin, Li Guanyi."

"In this general’s view, in resolving himself thus, Ji Zichang must have had the thought of burying the Qi Fortune of the eight‑hundred‑year Red Emperor line, but men are no plants or trees; who can be without feeling? Though an emperor’s heart be like iron, a sovereign’s heart like a prison, though he possess the courage by his own strength to topple a dynasty, within such an iron heart there may yet be a single wisp of tenderness toward his own flesh and blood."

"I fear that Ji Zichang and his wife are using their lives as bait."

"Then entrusting her to Prince Qin."

"So long as any descendant of the Red Emperor line survives, our Daying will find it difficult to fully suppress all that has occurred today. Your Majesty, the hand must be ruthless, the grass cut with the roots removed. The great affairs of realm and state, the name to endure for a thousand autumns after, rest upon men such as us."

"I beg Your Majesty to grant me a written command, permitting this humble general to go personally."

"To remove Ji Yanzhong and that Princess Changle together."

The bowed Yuwen Lie suddenly raised his head, the fierce general’s eyes filled with a chilling menace.

He Ruoqinhu’s expression remained unchanged.

Jiang Wanxiang fell silent, then said, "...Yuwen."

Yuwen Lie stepped forward half a pace and bowed his head. "This humble general awaits Your Majesty’s command!"

Jiang Wanxiang said, "You have heard what Lord Qinhu has said."

"Yes."

Jiang Wanxiang said coolly, "This matter I entrust to you. Do not let me down."

Yuwen Lie bowed his head. "This humble general obeys the decree!"

The Divine General strode out in great steps.

...

Ji Yanzhong’s breathing had grown somewhat hurried. Clutching the child in a death‑tight embrace, he pushed his movement technique to its utmost limit. Having left the city, this Martial Artist at the Grandmaster realm, peak of the Seven Heavens, immediately found the carriage he had prepared long beforehand.

It was a carriage drawn by Dragon Colts, the carriage body fitted with the Mechanical Skills of the Mo School.

Even on rugged roads, it could still travel smoothly forward.

Beside Ji Yanzhong lay a sword, its long blade keen, sheathed within the sword scabbard. The carriage sped with great swiftness. This elder of the Red Emperor line forced himself not to think on what Red Emperor Ji Zichang was about to do, fixing his entire mind instead upon the child.

At Prince Qin’s place.

At Prince Qin’s place, Li Guanyi would certainly be able to protect this child well.

But even as they raced along, Ji Yanzhong’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.