Great Li Martial God

Ji Song’s clouded gaze narrowed, and Master Youshan began to speak slowly, saying, ”Ever since that Eighth Prince was brought back to the capital, Cang Yinyue, whose martial Dao cultivation had not even reached the Grandmaster Realm, unexpectedly brought down a wanted criminal whose strength was on par with a Martial Dao Grand Master.”

”After that, Cang Yinyue was seized by experts from the Cangyuan Marquis household and locked inside the residence, yet that very same night, both the Cangyuan Marquis household and Imperial Consort Ji suffered their respective catastrophes.”

Hearing this, Ji Song furrowed his brow and was just about to speak, but Master Youshan seemed to have anticipated his thoughts, saying, ”All of these things could be called coincidences, but perhaps they are not coincidences at all.”

”And there is one thing that virtually no one knows. The Tianji Pavilion’s informant in the capital’s Floating Boat City once saw that Eighth Prince visit Floating Boat City, and someone personally witnessed him appearing to display an extraordinarily formidable martial Dao cultivation.”

”After learning of this, I sent people to investigate and verify the matter, and discovered to my surprise that the power behind Floating Boat City had already changed hands at some point. Both the previous City Master and Deputy City Master had disappeared without a trace.”

Having said this, Master Youshan looked at Ji Song’s gaunt face and sighed, saying, ”Master Ji, I have a feeling that all of the seemingly arrogant behavior that Eighth Prince has displayed may not stem from ignorance or foolishness. He may simply have a foundation beneath him that we are not aware of.”

Ji Song’s expression shifted through several changes, and his gaze bore deeply into the middle-aged man before him, saying, ”Is Master Youshan suggesting that the killer of my daughter was that Eighth Prince?”

Master Youshan gave a light nod, then shook his head again, saying, ”I am not saying the killer was him. However, the killer is certainly connected to him.”

Hearing this, Ji Song suddenly fell silent. He knew that Master Youshan, as the Pavilion Master of the Tianji Pavilion, was naturally no ordinary figure.

Though the man did not possess the terrifying ability to divine heavenly secrets that the old Tianji elder had, his capacity for commanding the Tianji Pavilion gave him a far sharper and more precise intuitive grasp of many situations than ordinary people could ever attain.As such, these words the man had spoken were certainly not without foundation, and must have been said with considerable confidence behind them.

Yet just at that moment, Ji Song’s entire body suddenly gave a jolt.

In the span of a single instant, he seemed to lose all semblance of his composure, and then his throat trembled slightly as he said, ”In that case... this old subject, by allowing Zhu to go and make trouble at the Tianjin Guards, was actually the one who brought about his death...”

Master Youshan looked at him and let out another heavy sigh, saying, ”Had I been able to know all of this in advance, I would have found every means possible to stop the Third Prince at the time, and perhaps this tragedy would never have come to pass.”

The moment those words fell, grief and remorse beyond what he could contain caused Ji Song’s entire aged frame to waver and sway, nearly toppling him from his chair.

Master Youshan quickly reached out to steady him, but for a moment even he did not know what to say.

After a while, Ji Song seemed to finally grow calm. He slowly raised his head and looked at Master Youshan before him.

Yet meeting Ji Song’s gaze, Master Youshan was briefly taken aback.

In that moment, from within the clouded eyes of this old man standing at the threshold of death, he saw something, a kind of absolutely frenzied resolve.

”Please help this old subject kill him.”

Ji Song suddenly rose from his chair and moved to kneel sharply before Master Youshan, but was held firmly upright before he could go down.

”This old subject has nothing left of himself but this decaying frame, and no other wish remaining in this life. If I cannot avenge my two daughters and Zhu, I fear I will not be able to close my eyes even in death.”

Ji Song spoke each word slowly and deliberately, his dry, withered hands gripping Master Youshan’s with the desperate grip of a drowning man clutching at his last hope.

Master Youshan was silent for a moment, then gently helped Ji Song back up, and at last let out a rueful sigh and said in a warm, quiet voice, ”The kindness Master Ji has shown is something Youshan keeps close to his heart. I will take on this matter.”

”However, whether it can be done, I cannot promise. I can only do my utmost. I ask for Master Ji’s understanding.”

Hearing this, Ji Song raised his head abruptly, and immediately bowed low with solemn formality, saying, ”Master Youshan’s word alone is more than enough.”

...

Hooves clattered and wheels turned, stirring clouds of dust into the air.

Li Musheng and his companions, pressing on toward Lan Province, had made a reasonably unhindered journey so far, and with another half day’s travel would be able to reach Sheng Province.

Though Falling God Peak lay within Lan Province, its influence extended throughout four provinces, Lan, Yuan, Zi, and Sheng, making it the undisputed dominant force among the hundreds of martial world factions across this vast expanse of territory, an unassailable colossus.

Even merely approaching Sheng Province, Li Musheng and the others could already feel clearly how supreme and untouchable Falling God Peak’s power and standing were in this region.

For instance, whenever they encountered a Falling God Peak disciple on the road, dressed in the sect’s cloud-peak black robes and wearing their mountain-treading boots, every person they passed, whether ordinary folk or martial world practitioners, stepped aside and gave way without exception.

When Falling God Peak disciples went to inns and taverns for food and lodging, neither innkeepers nor waiters dared even raise the question of payment. Whether the disciples chose to pay at all, or how much they gave, everyone could only greet them with smiling faces and not a word of complaint.

In short, in this entire stretch of territory, there was one rule that went almost universally unspoken: in all matters, Falling God Peak came first.

Even Great Li constables and local officials did not dare provoke a Falling God Peak disciple in the slightest.

Li Musheng had taken in the general picture of all of this along the road, and while he had not personally witnessed any Falling God Peak disciples actively bullying or mistreating common people, he had come to understand somewhat why the Great Li imperial court wanted to move against them.

Because no matter how one looked at it, the air of lofty superiority that Falling God Peak disciples wore, looking down on everyone around them as though through their nostrils, was simply asking to be beaten.

”Hmm... it’s a good thing I am always rather humble and have never once looked down on others.”

Li Musheng reflected on himself with a high degree of self-satisfaction.

Had Fu Qiwen been there to hear his private thoughts, however, he would likely have raised both hands and both feet in vigorous protest.

”Whoa!”

Wu Shang and Cheng Zhong up ahead suddenly reined their horses to a stop, and seeing this, Cao Gaoshan pulled on the reins as well, bringing the carriage to a steady halt.

”Sir, the road ahead seems to be blocked. Allow me to go ahead and assess the situation.”

Wu Shang turned back to report at the first opportunity, then dismounted and quickly moved toward the front.

At the same time, a clamor of voices drifted from the main road ahead, along with the occasional impatient braying and snorting of donkeys, horses, and mules.

Murong Xiaoya lifted the carriage curtain and looked out ahead, only to see pack animals loaded with goods and traveling merchants filling the road in an impenetrable press, blocking the way completely.

Seeing this, she furrowed her brow slightly but said nothing, letting the curtain fall back and sitting in her seat, lost in her own quiet thoughts.

At this point, Hu Rui’an unrolled the silk map in his hand and looked it over, then suddenly furrowed his brow, saying, ”Julu River is just ahead. It seems we will shortly be passing through the territory of the ’Zhanliu Manor.’”

Hearing this, Li Musheng cast him a sideways glance. He appeared somewhat ill at ease.

Li Musheng’s expression took on a quizzical look, and he asked, ”Is there something particular about Zhanliu Manor, Commissioner Hu?”