The Barbarian King's Adopted Son

Although he guessed that the other party would definitely ask him to take the sword, and might even have to ask Murong Qing to intercede, Si Ming did not expect the other party to be so direct. Contrary to his refined appearance, he acted ruthlessly.

Si Ming hesitated for a moment before asking, "Does Marshal Mu's mention of Li State and its people also include your country's officials and court ministers?"

Mu Wu remained silent for a moment, then said with difficulty, "Some things, ultimately, have to be done by someone."

Si Ming said, "Given the Li State, Marshal Mu's actions are politically incorrect."

Mu Wu repeated "politically incorrect" several times, smiled, and then firmly stated, "For the sake of governing the country, the greatest political correctness is to defeat the Barbarian Hu and restore our lost territories. All other voices are just the buzzing of mosquitoes and flies. A Li State should have principles to follow and principles to refrain from. How can we let the opposition of others extinguish the righteousness in our hearts?"

"What if your government orders you to withdraw your troops?"

"When a general is in the field, he may disobey the emperor's orders. Besides, with the Grand Tutor in charge at court, how could we allow treacherous officials to deceive the emperor's wisdom?"

Sensing the unwavering determination in the other person's tone, Si Ming suddenly realized he had made a mistake. He had applied the Yue Fei model to Mu Wu, which was essentially a case of "marking the boat to find the sword."

In a world where extraordinary martial prowess is paramount, the greatest asset of a powerful individual is not the organization or force behind them, but their own abilities.

Yue Fei knew that Emperor Gaozong of Song and Qin Hui wanted to kill him, but he could only surrender. Besides the influence of his loyalty to the emperor, he also had no other choice. His family members were all controlled by the court and could not possibly join him in rebellion or in purging the court of corrupt officials.

However, Mu Wu himself is a Spirit Transformation expert. Even the Barbarian King could only defeat him but not kill him. Even if his subordinates are controlled by the court, he can still raise the slogan of "purging the court of corrupt officials." At worst, with his strength, if he were to hide in the deep mountains and forests, the court would be helpless against him.

"Since Marshal Mu has made up his mind, then let's go all out and solve the problem once and for all." Si Ming suddenly revealed a mischievous smile.

I would like to hear more details.

"If the Barbarian King doesn't interfere, that's fine. But if he's present when the divine sword is born, we might as well leave him here forever."

Even though Mu Wu was mentally prepared, he couldn't help but show surprise upon hearing this. He hadn't expected his opponent to go so far, bypassing the cannons and chariots and directly trying to seize the command.

"... The Barbarian King is a true Void Returning Great Grandmaster Refining Realm, not someone to be trifled with. He can't gain an advantage simply by numbers. Don't underestimate him just because you've fought against the residual Fist Intent on Wanyan Huang. The Fist Intent used by someone else is vastly different from your own. Even if the power is equal, there will be a huge difference in actual combat, like the difference between a stationary wooden dummy and a living person."

Mu Wu felt that Si Ming was likely arrogant and overconfident due to his early fame, so he had to offer a tactful piece of advice.

This kind of mentality is not uncommon. He had it when he was young, thinking that he was omnipotent and that he could succeed in anything as long as he was willing to work hard. However, the reality is that even if you work your hardest, you may not succeed.

Si Ming didn't care and said, "I know what Marshal Mu means. Actually, my plan is very simple. All I need is to gather three Void Returning level combatants."

In theory, a combined attack by three martial artists of equal skill level would have a high chance of killing the target on the spot and preventing their escape, unless the target possesses some kind of escape Secret Method.

Of course, if you can consistently defeat your opponent, then one helper to intercept them when they try to escape is enough.

Mu Wu paused for a moment, then suddenly realized, "If there's a chance to kill the Barbarian King, the Grand Tutor will definitely be willing to help, and Young Hero Si's strength is beyond doubt. The remaining one depends on the Juntian Divine Sword."

"That's right. As long as the legend of the divine sword is true, we can gather three experts at the Void Returning level. Although they have cultivation but lack the corresponding realm, they are definitely not on par with true Void Returning Great Grandmaster. However, they are more than enough to intercept them. According to my estimate, we have at least a 60% chance of success."

Mu Wu decisively said, "Even if it's only 30%, it's enough to take the risk."

Once the Barbarian King is killed, it will be like cutting off the Barbarian Hu army's fuel supply. Don't be fooled by their current seemingly prosperous state; without the Barbarian King as their mainstay, they will weaken and be extinguished in the blink of an eye. The Li State's counterattack will be just around the corner.

Even if they couldn't kill him on the spot, severely injuring him and forcing the Barbarian King into seclusion to heal would still have a huge impact on the future battle.

Si Ming added, "Tactical planning and personnel communication will all be handled by Marshal Mu. I'll just focus on providing the necessary support. You are the master here, and you'll have access to intelligence from all sides."

"Young Master Si's noble character is deeply appreciated. I will certainly make proper arrangements and will not let you down."

Time was of the essence, so Mu Wu stopped exchanging pleasantries and quickly took his leave.

Murong Qing walked over and said to Si Ming, "If you agreed to this to help me, there's no need. I've only met my cousin a few times, and we're not that close. Helping him if I can is fine, but I don't want you to put yourself in danger because of it."

If Si Ming's idea succeeds, the person who will benefit the most will undoubtedly be Murong Qing's cousin. He will not only obtain the Juntian Divine Sword and become one of the most outstanding masters in the world, but he will also make a tremendous contribution by killing the Barbarian King. He will have gained both substance and prestige.

Si Ming, "Indeed, I agreed to help with that intention, but it was just something I did as a favor. The more important reason is that the Barbarian King Remote Heaven Society, especially that mysterious leader. I really want to see if I can force him out and see if he will help when the Barbarian King is in danger, or if the Barbarian King is the leader himself."

"But as a Grandmaster Candidate, wouldn't it be too troublesome for you to get involved in this matter?"

"Wrong. This is the perfect opportunity for me to get involved, and I can also escape my current stance—how can I call myself a martial arts practitioner if I don't seize some divine skill or treasure?"

Chapter 881 The Barbarian King

The moon rises above the willow branches, and in the woods behind White Cloud Temple, Zhang Baobao, now Song Jingping, is waiting for someone.

His memories of being adopted by the Barbarian Hu in his childhood are hazy. Now, he remembers more of his experiences as a 'Buddhist disciple' chanting sutras and practicing martial arts at White Cloud Temple.

For some reason, Song Jingping did not shave his head and still kept his long hair. He had thick eyebrows and handsome eyes, and was tall and handsome. Even though he was dressed in a simple monk's robe, it did not hide his radiance. He looked a lot like Murong Qing, who was dressed as a man.

A moment later, a figure suddenly appeared in front of Song Jingping. It was a rugged-looking, short and stocky man who exuded a fierce and cold aura. He was clearly a barbarian. He took out something he had carefully protected from his bosom and handed it to Song Jingping.

"Is this a letter from my godfather?"

Song Jingping took the envelope but did not rush to open it. Instead, he first channeled his Fist Intent, causing phantom images of birds, beasts, fish, insects, and many other creatures to rise from his body, exuding Savage Wilderness aura, in order to counteract the Fist Intent imprint remaining on the envelope.

If the mark is not removed before opening the letter, not only will the letter self-destruct, but the remaining Fist Intent will also immediately attack the person opening the letter. This is a unique information security method used by the strong in this world.

The letter contained only a few words, but Song Jingping read it for a long time. After regaining his senses, he sighed and said, "This day has finally come."

Then he said to the man, "Go back and tell my godfather that I will keep my appointment on time."

The short, stocky man nodded, said nothing, turned and left quickly, disappearing into the night.

Song Jingping rubbed his hands together, shredding the letter into dust. Then, looking up at the moon, half-hidden by clouds, he sighed, "Master, do you think the world will condemn me for recognizing a thief as my father?"

"They may not understand at first, but eventually they will realize that your choice is the best way to end the chaos. At that time, they will feel gratitude instead of guilt. Until then, you must learn to endure humiliation and hardship."

A monk emerged silently from the darkness behind, patted Song Jingping on the shoulder, and softly comforted him, "I'll give you a Buddhist verse: If the world slanders me, deceives me, insults me, laughs at me, belittles me, despises me, hates me, and cheats me, how should I deal with it? Just endure it, let it be, let it go, avoid it, be patient with it, respect it, and ignore it. Wait a few more years and you'll see."

Song Jingping stood silently for a long time, then shook his head and said self-deprecatingly, "I've been honing my skills for this all along, yet I still hesitate and feel flustered when it's time to unsheathe my sword."

Xunan, "This is only human nature, especially since you are still young. Suddenly, you've been placed on a stage called 'the world,' and you hesitate rather than feel fear, which is already commendable. Don't be too hard on yourself. Just remember that what you're about to do is for the sake of all living beings, not for personal gain. It is a great act of merit. Even if you face a thousand criticisms, you must continue on this path. Besides, millions of Buddhist followers are your support; you are not alone."