Chapter 152 - Criticized
Edited by Animeart
The expression on his face was so fleeting that it made Lin Shu think it was his own delusion.
The next moment, Ling Fengxiao was still that Ling Fengxiao, so cold and beautiful. He reigned in a horse and immediately reached up to the high ground and looked down from above. His blood-stained garments fluttered and his body was straight and upright, leaving a long shadow on the ground.
If Ling Feng Xiao really asked.
Lin Shu thought, I’m not, I’m not unwilling to see you.
I just hate to see you like this.
Ling Fengxiao should always be proud and not be destroyed because of anything. In the Imperial Palace, the reason why he left Wutong Garden was because of this.
Such a lost and vulnerable expression shouldn’t appear in Ling Fengxiao’s eyes.
After returning to his senses, he looked down and saw the Ghost Town cavalry stepping into the fire refined living corpses herd. The number of cavalries far exceeded the corpse horde, and the strength of the Malicious Ghost Cavalry was higher than that of the fire refined living corpses. For a while, they were invincible.
Lin Shu also found the location of the wizard by this.
Most of the wizards who could manipulate living corpses practiced magic arts and were not good at close combat. Therefore, they only needed to watch the cavalry rush down and the place where the fire-refined living corpses gathered as if they were protecting something, then that was probably where the Northern Xia wizards were hidden.
He used the Sword Pavilion’s light body footwork, “Treading on the Snow” and floated down the top of the city wall, and a single form of “Moonrise Cold Stream”, he killed the corpse ma.s.s!
As a cultivator in Crossing the Tribulation stage, the fire-refined living corpses who were in the earlier stage of Yuan Ying could not stop him. With only a soft “Chi——” sound, the s.p.a.ce protected by the fire-refined corpses released a dark mist. The spell broke and revealed the black-cloaked wizard.
Lin Shu changed his move to “Sky Clouds Revolved to Snow”, and innumerable sword ray fell, blocking the wizard’s retreat.
Since he couldn’t retreat, he could only fight. The wizard launched a lightning-fast attack, and a cloudy and demonic purple ray flew out of his sleeve and shot towards Lin Shu.
Lin Shu has seen this technique in ancient books. Once it touched a person, it would immediately swim through the meridians like a maggot attached to a bone, blocking the flow of the spiritual force of the immortal cultivator!
He swung his sword to block the purple ray, smashed it with the sword intent, and then swung the sword repeatedly and shot out with sword intent. The ripples of the spiritual force dispersed quickly from the Folded Bamboo Sword, spreading the poisonous miasma all over his body.
Taking advantage of this moment, the wizard had intended to escape, but his path was blocked by a dark long sword!
Ling Fengxiao smiled, and the sword ray soared!
Although the wizard had a cultivation base of Crossing the Tribulation, he was attacked back and forth by the two of them, gradually fell to a disadvantage.
From the corner of Lin Shu’s eye, he saw that General Dugu was about to come this way and join the battle, but he suddenly turned his horse and stabbed his long spear into another pile of corpses!
As expected, another wizard in a black robe showed up after the black mist dissipated.
General Dugu gave a low chuckle and fought with the wizard. And Shangling Grandmaster floated down, to help General Dugu.
General Dugu was the strongest among the tens of thousands of ferocious ghosts, and he was not afraid of the wizard of Northern Xia. While fighting with the wizards, there was still a gap between him and the Shangling Grandmaster. “Grandmaster Meng! When you exterminated me and the whole city of Min Prefecture, have you ever thought of today?!”
Shangling Grandmaster said, “The Will of Heaven manages the people, I did not think of it”
General Dugu said, “You, Southern Xia dynasty, don’t have to kill yourselves. Long ago, I already antic.i.p.ated that there would be a great disorder under heaven!.”
While the two sides were fighting, another golden-red figure descended from the top of the city. It was the master of the Phoenix Village Grandmaster!
The Phoenix Village Grandmaster also raised her sword out to the wizard, and fought the wizard single-handedly!
Yue Ruohe’s figure loomed among the corpses, and he nodded in the distance, indicating that there were no other wizards on the field.
There were five people at the Crossing the Tribulation stage in Southern Xia, but there were only three in Northern Xia. They set the verdict and the ghost cavalry had an extraordinary battle force. They had already controlled the field and the overall situation had been determined.
After another hour of fighting, two wizards died and one was captured alive. The rest of the fire-refined corpses were also defeated by the ghost city cavalry. The sudden war ended with the victory for Southern Xia, and Jinguan City was defended to the end.
After everything subsided, they began to clean the battlefield. However, this was not Lin Shu’s responsibility.
Lin Shu left and returned to the city.
Lingsu took his sword, wiped the blood off the Folded Bamboo Sword, put it in its sheath, and used his skills to remove the ashes from Lin Shu’s white clothes.
This was where the sword attendant’s duty lay.
Looking at Lingsu’s action, Qinglu was itching to have a try, as if to have a finger in the pie.
For no reason, Lin Shu’s gaze pa.s.sed them and looked at Ling Fengxiao.
Ling Fengxiao leaned on a city pillar, his head lowered while he wiped his sword. The Phoenix Village Grandmaster was by his side and it was not clear on what they were saying.
After they recuperated, they once again gathered.
Ling Fengxiao said, “Thank you, General Dugu, for your high sense of justice.”
The voice was clear and very earnest.
General Dugu said, “As long as your Royal Highness does not forget what you promised me.”
Ling Fengxiao said: “Never forgotten.”
General Dugu laughed a few times. “The others, I just think they are talking nonsense, but I believe you a little.”
Ling Fengxiao, “I will live up to the General’s expectations.”
General Dugu said, “This general will be at your disposal in the future.”
After a while, the general seemed to think of something. “Your voice, it seems familiar. Have I heard it before?”
Ling Fengxiao remained silent for a while, and said, “Five years ago, I once knocked on the gate of Min Prefecture and asked the general for someone.”
“So it was you,” General Dugu said. “You were looking for your husband? My condolences.”
Ling Fengxiao did not speak.
General Dugu changed the conversation, “Grandmaster Meng! Why don’t you say a word?”
This general was always looking for the Shangling Grandmaster.
The Shangling Grandmaster said, “This lowly one is aware of the guilt of betraying the whole city of Min Prefecture, and I don’t have the face to talk to General.”
General Dugu said, “It’s good that you are aware of my Min Prefecture, but I hate you so much that I can only gnash my teeth.”
However, Xie Zishe wanted to speak for the Shangling Grandmaster, “But, if the Grandmaster hadn’t rushed to help Changyang City, my country would have been crushed by the Northern Xia renegades. With the skin gone, what will the hair attach itself to? By then, there will be no Min Prefecture.”
General Dugu gave a sneering laugh. “I don’t care if Southern Xia dropped dead? According to you, if this general succeeded in rebelling back then, this world would have been the peaceful world of the Dugu family.”
They were going to argue with each other. Anyway, they couldn’t fight, so Lin Shu didn’t bother to listen to them anymore.
Lingsu asked softly, “Pavilion Master, the matter here is finished, do you want to go back?”
Lin Shu felt that it was not the time yet.
First of all, if Northern Xia wanted to fight, it was impossible to simply attack once and retreat.
Secondly… After hearing these words, Ling Fengxiao glanced at him, and then at Lingsu.
In fact, as early as when Lingsu was wiping his sword and fixing his clothes, Ling Fengxiao looked at him, then at Lingsu, and then at Qinglu.
Moreover, he spent more time watching Lingsu than watching him.
Lin Shu felt that the way Ling Fengxiao was looking at Lingsu with a little bit of scrutiny.
He said to Lingsu, “I won’t leave for the time being.”
Lingsu responded, “Yes.”
After coaxing Ling Fengxiao by talking to Lingsu, Lin Shu felt that the little phoenix had withdrawn his gaze.
After the people on the other side talked, the topic turned to the current situation. In short, Northern Xia’s intentions were unclear and all preparations must be done properly.
Lin Shu was expressionless and did not partic.i.p.ate in any discussion. Others knew his temperament, and no one took the initiative to talk to him.
It’s just that General Dugu, who loves to pick a quarrel, turned his attention to him.
It seemed that when this General Dugu was alive, he was a mortal. Still a vulgar man, and it had nothing to do with Immortal Dao. It was only because he had reincarnated into a ferocious ghost that he had his current cultivation base. Therefore, he didn’t know what Sword Pavilion was, or even the Sword Pavilion Master.
“This, immortal lord,” General Dugu raised his eyebrows and said, “Why don’t you say a word?”
Lin Shu looked at him and had nothing to say.
Ling Fengxiao said, “General, he is not from my Imperial Court.”
“Oh,” the general said with interest, “You also invited him?”
Ling Fengxiao said, “…No.”
“Oh?” The general looked at Ling Fengxiao, he said, “Why did he help you?”
Lin Shu felt that the general meant to stir up trouble and said, “I’m here for Her Royal Highness.”
“Tsk,” The general said, “Your Highness, look. If the old one doesn’t go and the new one doesn’t come, this immortal gentleman is just a good match for you…”
Lin Shu felt that Ling Fengxiao’s expression was a little stiff.
Finally, they dispersed.
In the hazy dusk of the twilight sky, there were a few twinkling little stars.
The city was ablaze with lights and it was peaceful.
Ling Fengxiao walked to Lin Shu’s side.
After a moment of silence, he didn’t seem to know what to say. After a while, he looked at Qinglu and said, “This is…?”
Lin Shu said, “Disciple.”
Ling Fengxiao smiled. “We all have disciples.”
Qinglu looked at Ling Fengxiao somewhat hesitantly, then looked at Lin Shu. “Master…”
Lin Shu said, “You go down first.”
Lingsu said, “Yes,” and took Qinglu away.
From a distance, he heard Qinglu ask Lingsu, “Is it Master’s wife? Is it Master’s wife?”
Apparently…yes?
He and Ling Fengxiao didn’t break up clearly, they just hadn’t seen each other for three years.
However, it might be considered as separation.
In modern society, where Lin Shu lived before coming to this world, and if a couple lived apart for two consecutive years, then it could be determined that their relationship was broken and they could be divorced.
Standing on the tower with Ling Fengxiao at this time, combined with all the things he had done before, Lin Shu objectively deduced that he was equivalent to a sc.u.mbag who abandoned his wife and children, and was about to be criticized.
But Ling Fengxiao didn’t ask anything.
He said, “I plan to go to the Northern Borders.”
Then he added, “Jinguan City is guarded by General Dugu, so you can rest a.s.sured. But the Northern Borders… I still feel that Northern Xia will be invading there.”
Lin Shu asked, “What did you promise to General Dugu?”
To get the reckless General Dugu out of the city, he must have paid a corresponding price
Ling Fengxiao, “Actually, nothing.”
He took out a cold jade box.
When he opened the jade box, he saw a pale golden thousand-petal lotus, gleaming in the night.
It was the “Returning Yang” they had gotten in Ten Thousand Ghosts Abyss back then.
“Returning Yang” was a communication medium between life and death, and a substance formed from resentment and malice. If one were nourished by “Returning Yang”, they would gradually be able to form flesh and blood and eventually become ordinary people.
“I promised General Dugu that after the war was over, I would replant ‘Returning Yang’ in the city of Min Prefecture so that all those who had died in vain would be gradually able to come back to life,” Ling Fengxiao said, “Besides, there is one more thing.”
Lin Shu, “What is it?”
Ling Fengxiao said softly, “The realm of Clear Ocean and Quiet River.”
Lin Shu quietly listened to him.
“Twenty years ago, natural calamities and man-made misfortunes were also caused by many faults of the dynasty. The people of Min Prefecture were in dire straits. General Dugu was born among the people and led the public to fight against the dynasty. He said that Southern Xia was not benevolent and wanted to do justice for heaven. All the people called him ‘general’.”
Ling Fengxiao stroked the lotus flower lightly and continued, “Although what he did was a rebellion, he was sincere. He was not a person who coveted the throne. He was just dissatisfied with the dynasty and wanted the people to live and work in peace and contentment and no longer suffer from the harsh government. I know him well, so I could reason with him. I said that the source of harsh government lay in the separation of the North and South. Northern Xia was watching eagerly. Therefore, we needed to make good preparations, and the army used the most ferocious weapon, which would consume the people’s livelihood the most. If we wanted to prepare for war, expand troops and build fortifications, then we must increase taxes and military servitude. If the people don’t have a livelihood, they start from there.”
Lin Shu, “Yeah.”
A harsh government was fiercer than tigers, breeding people’s grievances, which had always been the case since ancient times. But for those in the Imperial Courtroom, adopting such a “draconian regime” was also the last resort.
Ling Fengxiao continued, “Although Southern Xia certainly failed to make the people live and work in peace, Northern Xia was even more ruthless. If one could choose between one of the two, General Dugu would still favor Southern Xia. I promised him that if I could recover the Northern Xia Dynasty, I would clean up the mountains and rivers and recreate the peaceful and prosperous times. Only then did he agree to lead his troops out of the city and help me.”
Lin Shu said, “Are you going to be the emperor?”
Ling Fengxiao said, “I won’t do it.”
Lin Shu originally wanted to ask him why but did not ask.
He knew that Ling Fengxiao never wanted to be an emperor.
“Xiao Lingyang doesn’t have many capabilities, but, after all, he still listens to me and the chancellors.” Ling Fengxiao said, “He is not the least incapable ruler. I think he can be a good emperor as long as there are wise chancellors to give some advice.”
Lin Shu said, “Xie Zishe?”
“With Xie Zishe, I disagree. But in the past three years, I have never suppressed her, but promoted her all the way,” Ling Fengxiao said, “She has the right strategy for governing the world, and she is a good minister, and… she is also a woman, even if she has monstrous authority, I am not afraid that she will usurp the power.”
That indeed seemed to be the case.
Xie Zishe came to help Xiao Lingyang. He didn’t have to be afraid that Xiao Lingyang would do anything ridiculous, and he didn’t have to be afraid that Xie Zishe would be two-minded. It was very suitable. Ling Fengxiao could take the credit for having paved the way for this unreliable brother. Xiao Lingyang could become a bright king even if he just lay down in the future. Even if he was not careful, he could live forever.
But this is not what the Empress wanted.
The Empress wanted Ling Fengxiao to be the emperor.
He looked at Ling Fengxiao, who was looking at the myriad of lights.
Just now, this person explained what he had done in the past three years.
Lin Shu wondered if he should also tell him.
But his life was too dull.
As he was thinking about it, he heard Ling Fengxiao say, “You…Why didn’t you see me yesterday?”
You may go undetected during the new moon, but at full moon you’ll be found out. What was supposed to happen would always happen.
Good and evil would be recompensed in the end, and the heavenly law, the good would enter reincarnation. A sc.u.mbag who abandoned his wife and children must be interrogated.
Lin Shu said, “It would have been hard for you to see me.”
Ling Fengxiao looked into the distance and said softly, “Not meeting doesn’t mean that I would feel any better.”
Lin Shu asked, “You were awake, why did you pretend to be asleep?”
Ling Fengxiao said, “You were unwilling to see me, I also want some face. Why should I wake up.”
Lin Shu, “I’m not unwilling.”
Ling Fengxiao said, “In the first year after you left, I went to dreamland many times, but there was no response. I thought that you no longer wanted me.”
Lin Shu said, “…I was in seclusion at that time.”
Ling Fengxiao raised his eyebrows and looked at him. After a while, he raised his lips and smiled, but lowered his eyes, unable to see his expression clearly, and said, “I’m going to the Northern Border, are you coming?”
Lin Shu, “Yeah.”
Ling Fengxiao seemed to want to say something, but he frowned and vomited another mouthful of blood.
Phoenix blood had begun to act up again, and Ling Fengxiao’s face was a little pale.
Lin Shu thought, when he left, he was still good by himself. After three years of not seeing him, he became a sick little phoenix. He vomited blood and was in a bad mood.
Although he was a sword cultivator with no emotions, he had not lost his sense of reasoning. After making an objective judgment on the situation, he came to an objective conclusion.
I’m guilty.
The author has something to say:
He believes he is a sword cultivator with no emotions.
Rose: *reads AN and sips tea*