Volume 1, Chapter 6: Ye Liuyun

Tonight, Black Stone City is exceptionally lively. The streets are brightly lit, and the area around the granary is packed with commoners, many of them weeping with gratitude.

"This Prince Liyang is a virtuous lord indeed!"

"Indeed! They say he is the Seventh Prince of old; our Liyang Prefecture is destined to regain its former glory!"

"Some people were spreading rumors that he was merely a puppet for the Great Qian Kingdom and had long since defected, returning only to utterly annihilate Liyang. I say those rumor-mongers are the true traitors!"

"Exactly! Those who spread such lies are likely spies for Great Qian."

In groups of two or three, the townspeople whispered and discussed these matters along the streets.

Meanwhile, at the State Preceptor’s mansion, Sima Yun paced back and forth, his expression anxious. The food on the table remained untouched, having lost its warmth, the fat congealing on the surface.

"State Preceptor, it has been a full day! There is still no report. Have Jiang Yu and Jiang Han gone off drinking again?"

The Great Qian State Preceptor did not respond, keeping his eyes closed. Sima Yun grew even more agitated. Whenever this old man remained silent, it usually meant something catastrophic had occurred. Moreover, he had sat there like this for the entire day, motionless. If not for the faint sound of his breathing, Sima Yun would have assumed he had already passed on.

Unable to bear it any longer, he leaned in close and urged impatiently, "State Preceptor, say something!"

*Hoo!*

Annoyed by the interruption, the State Preceptor finally opened his eyes and exhaled a long, heavy breath. "Prime Minister, have you not always been known for your composure?"

This remark stung Sima Yun; the old man was clearly mocking him. Usually, he was composed, but with two fifth-rank experts and the finest horses bred by the imperial court, traveling five hundred li a day should have been effortless. Their failure to return suggested they had either encountered disaster or were slacking off. Yet, he feared the former; whenever they were delayed in the past, they would always send word via carrier pigeon.

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. He picked up a cup of spirits and drained it in one gulp. The fiery liquid did little to soothe the anxiety in his heart.

*Clang!*

Just then, a loud crash erupted outside the room—clearly the sound of someone smashing through the doors. This was followed by a maid’s scream: "Ah! What are you doing? This is the State Preceptor’s mansion!"

"Who dares intrude upon the State Preceptor’s residence! Are you seeking death?"

"Get out of the way!"

"Move aside!"

As two urgent, sharp cries followed, Sima Yun recognized the voices of Jiang Han and Jiang Yi. He rushed to the door and flung it open, immediately spotting the two men, their hair disheveled, gasping for air, and covered in bloodstains.

At that moment, his heart, which had been hanging by a thread, finally sank.

"Move aside!"

"These are my men!"

Sima Yun roared, driving away the guards surrounding the pair.

*Thump!*

Jiang Yu and Jiang Han knelt simultaneously, trembling as they spoke:

"Prime Minister! Grandmaster!"

"Prime Minister, Ye Liuyun has come!"

Upon hearing this, Sima Yun’s pupils dilated in shock, and even the Great Qian State Preceptor scrambled to his feet, ushering them into the room. Once they had regained their composure, the State Preceptor took their trembling hands and asked in disbelief, "You say... Ye Liuyun has come?"

The two nodded heavily and recounted everything that had transpired. The State Preceptor stumbled, collapsing onto the floor.

"State Preceptor!"

"State Preceptor!"

The three rushed to lift him up and helped him back onto his meditation mat. The event was so shocking that even Sima Yun found it hard to believe. The residences of the five Grandmasters were all monitored by spies; the moment any of them moved, Great Qian would receive word immediately. However, judging by the pair’s injuries and their description, only a Grandmaster could be capable of such a feat.

To send hundreds of White Tiger troops fleeing with a single shout, and to force two fifth-rank experts to suffer internal injuries and a regression in cultivation—this was beyond the reach of any ninth-rank expert, no matter how close to the Grandmaster level they might be. Even the most renowned figure below the Grandmasters—the world’s fastest sword, the Third Young Master—would have had to actually draw his blade to achieve such a result.

After a long silence, the State Preceptor let out a long sigh. "Great Qian is in grave danger!"

Jiang Yu and Jiang Han felt a tremor in their hearts; they believed the Preceptor was making a mountain out of a molehill. Even if Ye Liuyun had truly appeared, he could not possibly help Liyang destroy Great Qian. Sima Yun felt the same. He said slowly, "State Preceptor, do not spread such alarmist talk."

"The world is currently divided into five parts. Aoli, Great Qian, Northern Mang, and Da Li have formed an alliance, creating the four most formidable armies in the world. Any one of the Four Saintly Armies would make even a Grandmaster tread carefully. The Heavenly Suppression Army of the Liuli Empire could even sweep across the world. How can you speak of the nation being destroyed?"

"Could it be that Liyang Prefecture has produced someone capable of rivaling all five nations?"

Faced with this challenge, the State Preceptor was speechless. "This is a divination I reached by sacrificing my own vitality. It is impossible to explain it to common mortals like you!"

"Hah!" Sima Yun scoffed dismissively. "Nonsense!"

"I am leaving! This matter is of great importance and must be reported to the King."

With a flick of his sleeves, Sima Yun departed the mansion with Jiang Yu and Jiang Han. The State Preceptor seemed to have aged even further, sighing helplessly, "Why does no one believe me..."

The night passed without incident.

The next day, before the Great Qian monarch had even held court, the hall was already in an uproar. Both civil and military officials were discussing one thing: Ye Liuyun’s personal arrival in Liyang Prefecture. Sima Yun and the State Preceptor were among them.

"Prime Minister, in your opinion, is this true?" an old official whispered.

"Indeed, Prime Minister! This matter was experienced firsthand by your own men; do tell us more." Another official chimed in.

Sima Yun was surrounded by old officials, their beards practically brushing against his face. He cursed inwardly, annoyed that the older they got, the more they loved gossip. He glanced at the State Preceptor, who stood isolated from the crowd. It was only because the Preceptor was known for his wild talk—constantly predicting doom—that the King was always furious with him. To associate with him was to invite trouble.

*Ahem!*

Sima Yun coughed twice, signaling frantically with his eyes. The two officials looked suspicious, asking one after the other, "Prime Minister, are you ill?"

"It’s alright, Prime Minister. Come to my estate tonight; I know of a secret remedy!"

Sima Yun was speechless, his eyes rolling nearly to the back of his head, yet the two old men remained oblivious. He squeezed out a whisper, "The King..."

Hearing the word "King," the two officials’ faces changed instantly, and they hurriedly straightened their robes, standing respectfully. Only then did they notice that the other ministers had already returned to their places.

The King of Great Qian, Song Changqing, was already seated upon the throne. Clad in a black robe embroidered with tiger patterns, his figure was imposing, radiating an aura of natural authority as he turned two walnuts in his hand.

He raised his eyes slightly, his gaze piercing as he scanned the ministers in the hall.

"My subjects, the entire court is discussing the matter of Ye Liuyun appearing in Liyang Prefecture. I have already heard of this." The King’s voice was steady and powerful, echoing through the hall.

The ministers bowed their heads, daring not to speak.