Chapter 57: The Shadow of War (Two Chapters Combined)

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Chapter 57: The Shadow of War (Two-in-One)

Whoosh—

Crack-crack-crack!

Deep within the imperial palace, a giant firework bloomed across the sky. Stars scattered like rain, transforming the night into a sea of light.

All across the capital, fireworks shot into the heavens one after another. The pitch-black canopy of night was instantly illuminated by the people's enthusiasm.

Then came the explosive clatter of firecrackers, like a grand war of gunfire. Even with one's ears covered, the sound still pierced straight through the eardrums.

At Prince Fu's residence, the young prince and Yulan each held a stick of incense as they set off fireworks in the courtyard. Every explosion drew shrieks and laughter from the pair.

The princess consort watched from the side, smiling warmly, her gaze unusually gentle.

But it was not long before the young prince tossed a firecracker into the carefully tended flowerbed and blasted her favorite clump of tulips into shreds.

Her tenderness shattered in an instant. Gathering up her skirts, she chased her incorrigible son around the courtyard.

The young prince had originally intended to seek his master's help, but when he saw his master smile at him, he was so frightened that he forcibly halted in his tracks.

He then ran toward Yulan, crying, "Sister Yulan, save me!" He began circling around her, turning the chase into a game of eagle catches the chicks with the princess consort.

Yu Xian sat on the steps, watching the three of them play. A smile touched the corners of his lips.

Compared with the gloom that had hung over the residence during the New Year celebrations the previous year, and the unease everyone had felt toward the future, the people of the residence had now grown accustomed to life in the capital.

People had to look ahead.

Time was the finest medicine for all wounds.

This was his third New Year in the mortal world, and his fourth year since arriving here.

Yu Xian extended a hand. A streak of green light, like a little fish, darted between his fingers.

It was the Blood Jade Sword, which had undergone a complete transformation after his breakthrough.

The Blood Jade Sword was now a genuine low-grade magical artifact. It had acquired the ability to heal itself, rather than being as fragile as an artifact embryo, which could easily be damaged by the slightest bump or collision.

After an ordinary magical artifact was damaged in battle, so long as its foundation had not been destroyed, it could slowly recover on its own if placed within its owner's dantian afterward for nourishment.

Of course, the process took quite a long time.

For a great Foundation Establishment cultivator like Yu Xian, however, a low-grade magical artifact was embarrassingly shabby.

Not even high-grade magical artifacts were worthy of the attention of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Only spiritual artifacts of an even higher level were truly suitable for them.

Yet Yu Xian did not dislike his Blood Jade Sword in the slightest.

He turned his hand and produced a piece of gold essence. The Blood Jade Sword wrapped around it and swallowed it in a flash, like a cat catching the scent of fish.

Before long, wisps of fine gray sand drifted down from beneath the green radiance.

They were the impurities left behind after the Blood Jade Sword fused with the gold essence.

As mentioned before, blood-refined artifacts had all sorts of shortcomings, but they also possessed one advantage that ordinary magical artifacts could never replace.

They could grow.

So long as the artifact's owner was willing to pay the price to nurture it, a blood-refined artifact could, in theory, grow alongside its master.

However, the cost was enough to refine several magical artifacts of the same rank, while also delaying the owner's cultivation.

That was why this method had gradually fallen out of use and become a form of artifact refinement employed by low-level cultivators.

"I nourish the artifact with Foundation Establishment spiritual power every day, and I've begun feeding it gold essence to strengthen its foundation. At most, it will take half a year for the Blood Jade Sword to advance to a mid-grade magical artifact."

Estimating the sword's current strength, Yu Xian arrived at a rough conclusion.

For a Qi Refinement cultivator to raise a low-grade magical artifact to the mid-grade would require at least ten or twenty years of accumulation.

But he was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

That period would be drastically shortened.

In fact, apart from a bizarre exception like himself, no Foundation Establishment cultivator would be willing to use their painstakingly cultivated spiritual power to nurture a low-grade magical artifact.

By Yu Xian's estimate, five years in the mortal world would be enough to raise the Blood Jade Sword to the high grade.

If he had sufficient materials, advancing it to the supreme grade might not even be impossible.

"Husband, come play with us."

Yulan ran over with a bright smile.

Yu Xian glanced at Eunuch Li, who stood at the courtyard gate like a wooden statue, his gaze filled with silent resentment. He shook his head.

"Forget it. You all go ahead."

Well, he would show the old man a little consideration and refrain from provoking him.

Life was not easy for an old man at night.

"Then I won't play either."

Yulan obediently sat down beside Yu Xian, resting her head against his shoulder as she murmured softly, "Husband, I keep feeling as though everything now is a dream. How wonderful would it be if every year from now on could be like this? Am I being too greedy?"

Yu Xian smiled.

"You can be a little greedier."

Yulan smiled shyly along with him, then suddenly said, "I wonder how Sister Yi is doing. I used to be afraid that she would take you away from me, but after she left, I began to worry about her instead. If she had not left back then, we would certainly be even happier now."

Yu Xian paused and glanced sideways at her.

There was a trace of innocence on the girl's face as she prayed tenderly for the safety of a distant sister.

Just then, a firework exploded across the night sky.

Beneath the blooming flames, the heavens became extraordinarily beautiful.

Yu Xian gently kissed Yulan and whispered in her ear,

"Then let us wish her good fortune together."

…

After the New Year, the capital seemed to press down on a fast-forward button.

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The peace of the past was briefly shattered by a piece of news.

Taking advantage of the lax defenses on New Year's Eve, the Guangnan rebels had sent their entire army of two hundred thousand across the Cang River by force. They had crossed the river three days earlier, and the fall of Cangbei Commandery was imminent.

More than a year ago, after capturing Changning Commandery, the rebels had advanced with irresistible momentum, taking eight commanderies in the south one after another.

Then they had been stopped by the Cang River's natural defenses and had been forced to divide the realm with the imperial court, each ruling on one side of the river.

Everyone had assumed that the rebels would next repair their arms and accumulate strength, allowing peace to last for at least several years.

No one had expected them to be so bold as to risk everything in one desperate gamble.

Once Cangbei Commandery fell, the dozen or more commanderies in the central region would have no natural defenses left. The rebels could then drive straight in, directly threatening the safety of the capital.

The news arrived by urgent courier, and the entire capital erupted in uproar. Only then did people realize that war had drawn so close to them.

Even Yu Xian, within the prince's residence, could sense the grave atmosphere.

In the main hall's council chamber, Eunuch Li said, "Manager Yu, I haven't slept at night for days. Tell me, how did the imperial dynasty's several hundred years of rule collapse so quickly? We've only enjoyed a few days of peace. Alas…"

At some point, Eunuch Li's hair had turned completely gray. His entire person radiated an air of old age.

Yet Yu Xian knew that the direction of this war had never truly depended on victory or defeat on the battlefield.

No matter how invincible the rebels' forces appeared, as long as the old monster seated within the imperial palace was willing to act, the rebels would disintegrate in the blink of an eye.

But the rebels had been gaining momentum for several years, while cultivators of the Lin family had repeatedly intervened during that time. Why had the Jiang family shown no reaction at all? What exactly had held them back?

The resources of the Yue Kingdom were no small matter to a cultivation clan. How could they possibly abandon them so easily?

After some thought, Yu Xian set the question aside.

Whatever schemes the two families were pursuing, with his current strength, he was at least barely qualified to watch from the sidelines.

Besides, he did not believe the Jiang family would remain cowards forever.

"Manager Yu? Manager?"

Eunuch Li's voice brought Yu Xian out of his reverie.

"Oh. What is it?" Yu Xian looked at him.

Eunuch Li smiled bitterly. "Rumors are spreading throughout the city. How should our residence respond? Manager, you must give us some sort of plan."

Though he was extremely reluctant to admit it, the backbone of the residence was now the handsome young man before him, whom outsiders dismissed as nothing more than a pretty face.

That was also why he was willing to hold his nose and cover up the relationship between the princess consort and Yu Xian.

Yu Xian comforted him. "Eunuch, there is no need to worry. The Yue Kingdom has stood for more than four hundred years. What kind of storms has it not weathered? Though the rebels are sharp, their foundations are shallow, and they cannot sustain themselves for long.

"Besides, if even the capital is in danger, we will have nowhere else to go. So we should live as we always have and continue as before.

"However…"

Yu Xian stroked his chin and added, "Some preparations are still necessary. I will have to trouble you to take people outside and purchase food and seeds. We need enough to last everyone in the residence at least three years.

"In addition, clear several acres of unused land within the residence and plant vegetables. That way, even if trouble breaks out beyond our gates, we can shut ourselves in and remain self-sufficient."

"Good."

A little light immediately returned to Eunuch Li's face.

"Manager Yu, you truly are thorough in your considerations. But should we recall some of the guards as well? We dismissed most of them before. Is the residence's security now somewhat inadequate?"

Yu Xian waved his hand.

"I alone am enough to protect the residence. Too many people only create more eyes and ears, which would be counterproductive."

The Prince Fu residence in the capital was nothing like the original estate in Changning Commandery, which had occupied more than ten thousand acres. Here, it covered only a few dozen acres.

In the past, even housing hundreds of guards, more than a thousand servants, and an entire academy of retainers had not made the residence seem crowded.

Now, the capital residence had only a dozen or so maids and servants responsible for sweeping and cleaning, along with a small squad of guards kept mainly for appearances.

Seeing Yu Xian's confidence, Eunuch Li asked no further questions and went to make the arrangements.

…

"Wonderful news! Wonderful news!"

Eunuch Li rushed through the courtyard gate, his face alight with excitement, only to see the princess consort and Yu Xian embracing in broad daylight in the courtyard. His voice abruptly died in his throat.

"Ahem. Eunuch, don't misunderstand. I was teaching Her Highness martial arts, so a few intimate movements were unavoidable."

Yu Xian withdrew the hand he had placed on the princess consort's bottom and explained with utmost solemnity.

"After all, the world is dangerous now. Her Highness is a delicate woman. Only by learning some martial arts can she protect herself."

Heaven knew it—this time, he truly had been teaching the princess consort martial arts.

She had no foundation in martial arts whatsoever, so naturally he had needed to examine her bones and correct her posture.

Some of the movements had crossed the line…

That part, however, had been intentional.

Hearing this, Eunuch Li awkwardly forced a smile.

"I did not misunderstand."

"Good that you didn't. You just said you had wonderful news. What is it?"

Seeing how understanding Eunuch Li was, Yu Xian nodded in satisfaction.

Only then did Eunuch Li remember the matter at hand.

"General Yan Chunqiu led three thousand personal troops on a thousand-mile march to reinforce Cangbei City. Before the enemy lines, he challenged the rebels' generals and personally slew three of them in succession, forcing the rebels to retreat fifty miles.

"Our army's morale has soared. Cangbei City has held.

"Old General Yan is the God of War of Great Yue. In his younger years, he once led troops to suppress a major rebellion in Guangnan, put down a revolt among the Miao people, and even fought the border troops of our neighboring Chen Kingdom.

"With him taking the field this time, the rebels certainly won't be able to remain arrogant."

Though the news was clearly cause for celebration, Eunuch Li suddenly felt dispirited.

If someone had been willing to rescue Changning City back then, the people of the residence would never have been forced to abandon their homeland and depend upon an outsider.

Even the princess consort had…

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Eunuch Li swallowed the rest of his thoughts, filled with secret bitterness.

To convince himself otherwise, he had even chosen to believe that the princess consort had humbled herself before Yu Xian only for the sake of everyone in the residence.

"Cangbei City held?"

Yu Xian's heart stirred, and he smiled.

"That truly is good news."

"But the rebels have not been destroyed, so we must not let down our guard. The several cellars already dug within the residence should still be filled with food."

If the imperial court truly intended to intervene, it would never allow an ordinary general to face the rebels in single combat. Its response would surely be as overwhelming as thunder.

Still, there was no need to shatter Eunuch Li's spirits.

…

One month later.

Eunuch Li returned to the residence with a dejected expression and told them what he had heard outside.

"Old General Yan was assassinated. An expert among the rebels intervened. The old general and two hundred personal guards were unable to withstand the attack.

"Where are our grandmasters? Why did no one protect Old General Yan?"

A Grandmaster of the innate martial path possessed tremendous strength. Clad in heavy armor and leading an elite squad, one could fight through ten thousand troops and emerge victorious seven times over.

Eunuch Li knew nothing of cultivators and assumed that a martial grandmaster among the rebels had made the attack.

"With Old General Yan gone, our army has lost its backbone. Who can stop the rebels now?"

Eunuch Li was deeply pessimistic.

Yu Xian, however, silently shifted his gaze toward the towering palace walls.

It seemed that the old general had received no support from the imperial court and had gone into battle alone, determined to defend the nation, only to die before accomplishing his mission.

In Yu Xian's view, the old general had managed to hold the rebels back for an entire month. That alone meant the rebels had been excessively cautious.

Perhaps they had spent a month confirming that no Jiang family cultivators would intervene, then eliminated the old general in a single night.

So what, exactly, had held back the Jiang family cultivators?

Yu Xian grew increasingly curious.

But he quickly suppressed that curiosity.

Curiosity killed the cat. His current pace of life was quite pleasant, and there was no need to change it.

"The imperial court has deep reserves and abundant talent. We must trust the court."

Yu Xian offered Eunuch Li a few empty platitudes of comfort.

He could see that the old man had been under so much pressure that he was probably suffering from some sort of mental illness.

"Eunuch Li, you've worked hard these past few days. Why not rest here in the residence for a while?"

"That won't be necessary. I'm fine."

Another half a month passed.

Eunuch Li returned to the residence in a daze, muttering,

"We've lost. Everything is lost!"

Pfft!

He threw his head back and vomited a mouthful of blood, collapsing on the spot.

…

"All right."

In Eunuch Li's bedroom, the air was tinged with the faint smell of urine.

Yu Xian remained calm as he withdrew his palm. His spiritual power settled instantly into stillness.

His Concealment Technique had grown increasingly profound and unfathomable.

"Your Highness, there is no need to worry. Eunuch Li merely suffered an attack from excessive anger. I have already used my power to clear the stagnant blood obstructing his heart meridians. If he rests in bed for a few days, he will be fine."

"You've worked hard."

The princess consort stepped forward anxiously and took out a handkerchief to wipe the nonexistent sweat from Yu Xian's brow.

"Hey, we've both been driven from our homes. Eunuch Li is one of the few old retainers left in the residence. If I don't help him, who will?"

Yu Xian winked at the princess consort and took her hand.

"I didn't study Doctor Huang's medical texts for nothing. Besides, someone has already given me my reward, haven't they?"

"There are still people here."

The princess consort's face flushed with embarrassment, but she did not pull her hand away.

"We are perfectly innocent. Why should we fear being seen? We haven't finished today's lesson yet. Your Highness must not slack off."

Yu Xian took the princess consort's hand and led her toward the door. Just before stepping outside, he paused and said, as though casually,

"Eunuch Li is old. He must not overexert himself in the future. Once he recovers, find him a young eunuch to attend him."

"I'll do as you say."

Not long after the two of them left, Eunuch Li opened his eyes.

He felt a warm current flowing through his body, driving away the exhaustion and aches that had accumulated over the past several days.

It was Manager Yu who had saved him.

Eunuch Li pondered for a moment, then sighed and murmured,

"Your Highness, this old servant has wronged you."

With that thought released, the pressure weighing upon his entire body suddenly dispersed. His spirits improved at once, as if he had come back to life.

End of Chapter