Chapter 373
A newly appointed general pointed to the empty weapon racks in the room and asked curiously:
"General, I remember the Celestial Masters' Manor gave you a precious bow, where is it now?"
Zuo Xuanliao, the garrison commander of Jade Gate, was a kind and amiable Old Man at home. Upon hearing this, he grinned.
"Duke Wei took the bow away after drinking."
"Duke Wei?"
The officer stood up and spoke up for his superior, saying:
"He took the precious sword that the General had gone to great lengths to find years ago, why is he doing it again this time..."
Zuo Xuanliao smiled and interrupted the other party:
"That was a bet we made when we were drunk, and the loser accepted the consequences. Besides, Lungmen has been supplying Jade Gate with supplies for so many years without ever being late. For that reason alone, I should give Duke Wei a few gifts. From now on, you should stop gossiping behind his back. If he wants them, he can have them."
"General, I didn't chew it..."
Zuo Xuanliao raised his hand, signaling the other party to stop:
"Alright, hurry up and go downstairs, we have guests."
The officer turned around in surprise upon hearing this, and immediately saw Grandmaster Chongyue standing outside the door. He held this powerful figure, who was proficient in a wide range of martial arts, in high esteem, and bowed in farewell.
"General, I shall take my leave now."
As he was leaving, the general nodded to the grandmaster. The grandmaster smiled and nodded in response.
After everyone left, only the two people remained in the room.
Zuo Xuanliao stood up and poured himself a cup of hot tea. After rinsing the cup, he poured himself another.
"Grandmaster, please have a seat."
"Um."
After Chongyue took his seat, Zuo Xuanliao sat down. Knowing why the other had come, he went straight to the point:
"Grandmaster, you already know about that matter, don't you?"
"I know, my younger sister sent a message saying she's found a way to resolve the issue of sealing the Sui Beast."
As a border pass, Jade Gate has always shouldered an extremely important responsibility: to fight against Great Beast.
As time passed, the seal on the Sui Beast weakened, and its consciousness gradually revived.
Therefore, Jade Gate needs to be prepared to fight against Him, and even be prepared to perish together with Him.
Zuo Xuanliao took a sip of tea and put down the cup:
"Right now, I'm troubled by two things. First, where to relocate the civilians and warriors of Jade Gate City before the great battle. Second..."
At this point, he glanced at Chongyue:
Secondly, what do you plan to do with your sword?
This Grandmaster in the eyes of the world is actually the eldest of the twelve fragments of the Sui Beast —'Shuo'.
Chongyue realized long ago that he didn't want to be one-twelfth of anyone else; he only wanted to be himself. So he sealed the part that belonged to Sui within the sword.
With war against the Great Beast imminent, this sword, containing one-twelfth of the Sui Beast, has become a hot potato.
"Why."
Chongyue sighed, shook his head, and said:
"In the end, this troublesome problem has fallen on my shoulders again. To be honest, I haven't decided who to give this sword to yet. If the person recommended by my younger sister can pass the test, perhaps I can entrust it to Him for safekeeping."
Because of the twenty-eight strategies discussed by the Great Yan court, Zuo Xuanliao knew that the emperor intended to deal with the Sui Beast. However, so far, he had not received any concrete implementation plan.
He didn't know who Ling recommended, but felt it was somewhat hasty:
"Grandmaster, should we just hand over the sword as soon as that person passes the test? It's part of the Sui Beast! Isn't it a bit reckless to give it away so easily?"
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Chongyue the other party's concerns and explained:
"The test is just the first step. I have other considerations regarding whether that person is worthy of my trust."
Zuo Xuanliao shook his head, still feeling that the Grandmaster's approach was somewhat inappropriate.
The matter of the Great Beast should not be taken lightly.
Entrusting a sword containing Sui Beast Fragment to someone unfamiliar to the military would be fraught with uncertainty.
This uncertainty can be exploited by those with ulterior motives to accelerate the awakening of the Sui Beast.
Sixteen years ago, a mysterious organization called the "Mountain Sea Cult" appeared in Jade Gate. They claimed to be apostles of Great Beast beasts and searched everywhere for traces of Great Beast. They boasted that all of the mountains, seas, and eight wastelands belonged to them.
The composition of the Mountain Sea Cult was extremely complex. There were incredibly fanatical believers, as well as those who used the name of the Great Beast to commit rebellions. However, this organization was personally wiped out by Zuo Xuanliao, eliminating any future threat.
The Great Yan Dynasty, a thousand years ago, hunted down the gods, bringing an end to the era in which these Great Beast roamed freely.
Even after going to such lengths, it still hasn't eliminated the mysterious belief some people hold in the behemoth.
Even if the Mountain Sea Cult didn't exist, there would be similar organizations in this world. They worship the immense power of Great Beast and regard them as gods. They not only search for their traces but also attempt to resurrect them and break their seals.
Sometimes Zuo Xuanliao couldn't understand why they harbored such deep hatred for humanity.
They wouldn't be satisfied until they awakened the Great Beast, causing widespread destruction and leading this land to its demise.
"Grandmaster, I believe you've been in Jade Gate for hundreds of years and have seen many promising talents. Is there really no one in our army, or even in the imperial court, who is qualified to safeguard this sword? Why must we find an outsider?"
Upon hearing this, Chongyue remained silent for a long time.
But sometimes silence itself is an answer.
The awkward atmosphere didn't last long, as continuous footsteps were approaching.
"What were you talking about just now? Why did you all stop talking as soon as you saw me?"
Zuo Xuanliao looked closely and realized that the newcomer was none other than the Grand Tutor of the court. To his left was Miss Ling, the Chongyue, and to his right was Liang Xun, the Prefect of Shangshu.
The fact that a high-ranking official from Shangshu) appeared at Jade Gate is intriguing in itself. Furthermore, given Zuo Xuanliao's advanced age, it's not hard to guess that this person was the one the court had sent to replace him in guarding Jade Gate.
"Oh my, it's the Grand Tutor! I'm so sorry for not greeting you properly."
The Grand Tutor was kind, yet it exuded an air of authority without anger. This was the demeanor of a superior cultivated through long immersion in officialdom.
"Marquis Pingsui is a meritorious official who guards the border of the Great Yan, so it is understandable that he is busy with affairs. If you are discussing important matters, I can excuse myself."
Zuo Xuanliao dared not drive the man away, and said with a forced smile:
"Grand Tutor, that's not true. We were just discussing the ownership of the Grandmaster's sword. I heard it was going to be given to an outsider, and I feel that's not appropriate."
The Grand Tutor and the Commander appeared together, so he naturally learned Shi Lei's approximate strength from her. Faced with the questions raised by the Jade Gate garrison commander, he had to provide a reasonable explanation:
"Marquis Pingsui, you should know about the fact that a fragment was transformed into one hundred and eighty chess pieces, right?"
The Sui Beast Fragment he mentioned belongs to Ling's second brother.
Zuo Xuanliao did not respond, but simply nodded to indicate that he knew about the matter, and then waited for the other party to continue.
"Giving the sword to Si Sui Tai would have been the best option at the moment. But he's too close to Si Sui Tai, which increases the chances of something going wrong. It would be safer to entrust it to someone with sufficient strength."
Despite his resentment, Zuo Xuanliao had no choice but to accept the arrangement given the Grand Tutor's explanation.
"Since it's the Grand Tutor's decision, I naturally have no objections. However, does this person truly possess the ability to safeguard the sword? How will the test be conducted? I need to know the relevant details and results."
Having guarded the frontier for many years, Zuo Xuanliao was acutely aware of the immense disaster that the Great Beast posed to the Great Yan. It was precisely for this reason that he exercised such caution in the handling of his sword.
Upon hearing this, the Grand Tutor's smile remained unchanged. He slightly turned his head to look at Chongyue, who remained silent:
"Then I wonder if the Grandmaster has decided on the content of the test. If not, I can provide a suggested plan."
"Oh?"
The Grand Tutor turned his head and gave him a look, and Liang Xun, who was beside him, immediately took out a document and presented it with both hands.
Zuo Xuanliao tore open the plastic seal and immediately recognized it as a weather report from a Catastrophe disaster Catastrophe Messenger.
The image above shows that a strong sandstorm is currently heading towards this area. It is moving very fast and is expected to directly impact Jade Gate in 2 to 3 days.
According to the assessment provided by the Catastrophe Messenger, this Catastrophe is at a level that Jade Gate can barely withstand.
Seeing Zuo Xuanliao put down the document, the Grand Tutor knew he had finished reading it, and then he spoke:
"The one to whom the Grandmaster entrusted the sword is also the one who resealed the Sui Beast. Although your Miss Ling has praised him highly, I believe more in seeing is believing."
Intelligent people don't need to be explicitly told what to say.
Zuo Xuanliao immediately understood that the Grand Tutor wanted him to deal with the Sandstorm Catastrophe that was about to hit Jade Gate.
But since it's called a Catastrophe, it's not an ordinary calamity. No matter how strong one's physical abilities are, it doesn't necessarily mean they have the power to stop Catastrophe. You can't exactly stand on a city wall to stop a sandstorm from sweeping in, can you?
Noticing Zuo Xuanliao's slight frown, the Grand Tutor instantly sensed his doubt and smiled kindly:
"Marquis Pingsui, this is a necessary test for him. If he can resolve the Catastrophe on his own, I will acknowledge his ability to participate in sealing the Sui Beast. If he cannot even resolve the Catastrophe, his participation will be questionable. At that time, the sand control measures at Jade Gate will continue to be implemented as normal. Only by proceeding on two fronts can you minimize the losses."
Zuo Xuanliao nodded in agreement, finally approving the plan proposed by the Grand Tutor.
The Sui Beast is an internal threat amidst the internal and external troubles of the Great Yan Dynasty, and it will take a terrible price to completely eradicate it.
Although he didn't quite believe this person could solve the Catastrophe on their own, if they really could, then the chances of sealing the Sui Beast would be much higher.
"Then we shall do as the Grand Tutor says."
Seeing that Zuo Xuanliao had agreed, the Grand Tutor smiled and nodded, then extended an invitation to Chongyue beside him:
"Grandmaster, may I speak with you in private?"
"No problem, this way please."
After speaking, he led the Grand Tutor and the Commander away from the scene to find a convenient place to talk.
In an instant, only the two people remained in the room.
Zuo Xuanliao, not intending to stay inside any longer, smiled and extended an invitation to Liang Xun:
"Lord Liang, would you mind accompanying me for a walk?"
"No problem, General Zuo, please."
Zuo Xuanliao led him through the central garden to the shooting range of the general's mansion.
Seeing that there were soldiers present, Liang Xun pulled his hand out of his pocket.
Before long, a soldier brought over the general's longbow and iron arrows. Zuo Xuanliao drew the bow and pulled the thick bowstring taut like a full moon. However, he lacked the courage to shoot down the Heavenly Wolf; his right hand trembled uncontrollably. The arrow also shook, making it impossible to keep his aim steady.
"Do!"
The iron arrow shot out swiftly, half of it disappearing into the haystack. However, it still missed the bullseye by quite a bit.
Liang Xun, disregarding the number of rings, praised:
"General, your archery skills are superb!"
Zuo Xuanliao couldn't stand these flattering words. He handed his longbow to the soldier beside him and said:
"Lord Liang, you flatter me. I am well aware of my physical condition. I used to be able to wield a sword, but now I can't even hold a bow properly. Even if I don't have to personally go to the battlefield to fight the enemy, it is still somewhat inappropriate to let a sick person serve as the commander of Jade Gate. The future of Great Yan ultimately belongs to you young people."
Liang Xun dared not nod in agreement, his attitude remaining humble:
"General, these wounds are a testament to your decades of guarding Jade Gate. Who in the court is unaware of this achievement? I have come to Jade Gate this time on the orders of the Grand Tutor to assist you in managing the affairs of Jade Gate."
Hearing this, Zuo Xuanliao gave him a meaningful look and said with a forced smile:
"Did the Old Man Grand Tutor mean 'assist'?"
Liang Xun was taken aback at first, but quickly realized what was happening.
Whether it's assistance or substitution, if he responds directly, he'll be in the wrong no matter what he says. The best approach is to smooth things over and avoid taking any responsibility.
"The general should understand what the Grand Tutor means."
Zuo Xuanliao understood perfectly, and his goodwill towards such scheming and manipulative court officials vanished instantly.
"I had heard of Lord Liang in Jade Gate long ago that he was diligent in his duties and cared for the people during his time in Shangshu. I just don't know if Lord Liang has ever experienced a real battlefield."
Liang Xun's attitude was humble and impeccable.