508 Kinds of Hearts II

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!!"

As night fell, on the Ping Yuan, First Squad people fled in panic and disarray, running wildly into the distance.

The leader, clad in armor and wielding Steel Spear, looked no different from any other ordinary military officer.

But if someone could see his face clearly, they would recognize him as King Mu Li had been repeatedly ambushed and killed before.

"Your Prince, Wushan Prefecture is just ahead! Should we go in or not?!" a general suddenly shouted.

King Mu Li glanced back at the remaining fifty or sixty people. As soon as Fan Heng made his move, more than a dozen experts from the Reverse Time Society appeared around them. After a fierce battle, only they were able to leave alive.

At first, he was full of confidence and planned to go to Wushan Prefecture to take revenge on Yue Dewen.

After suffering repeated setbacks, he looked up and saw that Wushan Prefecture was just a stone's throw away, and he could enter the city at any time.

But a sense of apprehension arose in his heart instead.

We've encountered so many obstacles before even entering the city; what will happen once we do?

"No, turn around! This place is no place to stay any longer. He Country immediately!"

He made a decisive decision.

The anger he had felt towards Yue Dewen had now completely transformed into tension and apprehension due to the constant dangers they faced.

The most important thing now is to get out of danger as soon as possible.

Immediately, the group changed course and ran away in another direction.

As they watched from afar, the Wushan Prefecture City gradually receded from sight and disappeared from view, Central Capital felt a sense of security.

Halfway through the journey, we passed through a canyon and heard the sound of flowing streams and rivers.

Everyone was thirsty, and many of their water pouches had been destroyed in the fierce battle.

"Your Prince, why don't we stop here to replenish our water supply before making a final push to leave the border?" someone suggested as they approached.

King Mu Li sighed, feeling unbearably thirsty. Looking around at the desolate mountains and wilderness, with not a soul in sight, he somewhat relaxed his guard.

"Alright. Everyone go and rest a bit. This is the last time. After that, we'll cross the border in one go before stopping!"

"Yes, sir!"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

They immediately turned and headed towards the stream in the mountain valley.

For some reason, the further they went, the more white mist appeared around them.

The fog grew thicker and thicker, and within a few hundred meters, it was already pitch black.

Everyone felt a sense of foreboding.

"This... this seems to be Mist of Doubt!!"

One of the Spirit Meridian Military General couldn't help but speak up.

"Mist of Doubt." King Mu Li paused, his expression turning grim.

Since he started heading towards Wushan Prefecture, he had had no good luck along the way.

And now, even just wandering around the woods to fetch water, you can encounter Doubtful Cloud Mist?!

"Don't panic! I am a member of the Spirit Person Imperial Clan. No god or Gods and Buddhas dares to be presumptuous before me! Keep moving forward!"

Immediately, he took a silver Token from his waist, held it high, and led the way forward.

The Token was engraved with intricate patterns, and a sky-blue rhombus-shaped gemstone was inlaid in the center.

The gemstone is surrounded by a ring of small, Ling Script, like a wreath.

It means: 'Da Ling Flying Heaven Saint Patrol Supervised'.

King Mu Li held up the Token, and the mist in front of him began to slowly dissipate, forming a clear passage three meters wide that led straight ahead.

Without hesitation, he immediately walked straight ahead.

The others were overjoyed and quickly followed.

Before long, the group arrived at a canyon.

Inside the canyon, a stream gurgled, rocks were scattered everywhere, and the two walls were steep and gray, covered with withered vines and new green shoots.

A gentle breeze blew, the fog dissipated, and everything returned to normal, with a faint floral fragrance wafting out.

"Quickly fill the water container. We should have passed that spot by now. Everyone, take a short break," King Mu Li said swiftly.

"Yes!" everyone responded.

The group was exhausted. But they still forced themselves to fill their water bags with the remaining water, while some went downstream to wash their faces and hair.

Just as their nerves relaxed a little, another figure slowly approached from the distance along the stream.

The man was tall and imposing, with long black hair, a dignified demeanor, and wore a black brocade robe, exuding an extraordinary aura.

Seeing the group fetching water from afar, the man slowed down and casually offered a reminder.

"If you are taking water, please remember to boil it before using it. The streams here contain poisonous miasma, which will be harmful to people if it seeps into the water."

This man was Zhang Rongfang, who had just finished playing chess with Xue Tong. Because Master Yue had concealed his identity for him, he had changed his appearance somewhat when traveling.

At this moment, none of the group recognized him. After all, the portraits circulating were of Zhang Ying, not Zhang Rongfang.

Upon hearing this, King Mu Li and his entourage were all taken aback, and then they all stood up.

"Sir, are you a local?" King Mu Li raised his hand to stop his men from stepping forward, and took the initiative to speak first, bowing respectfully.

"Exactly, I had nothing to do, so I came here to find friends to play chess with," Zhang Rongfang replied casually.

"In such a desolate wilderness, you were able to traverse freely all by yourself; you must have achieved great success in martial arts," King Mu Li exclaimed.

"It's alright, Farm Style, good enough to defend against wild beasts in the wilderness," Zhang Rongfang replied.

He saw that the group of people were dressed in fine clothes, and many of them were armored and led soldiers, so they were obviously from the army.

The Red Turban Army currently in Riot, burning, killing, and looting everywhere. It seems highly likely that this group of people is in such a sorry state because they are trying to suppress the Riot.

Zhang Rongfang sighed inwardly.

"I wonder why you all have entered this place? This canyon is full of poisonous miasma, and ordinary people should not venture in rashly."

Upon hearing this, King Mu Li was overcome with grief.

He let out a long sigh.

It's a long story.

Seeing that he didn't want to talk about it, Zhang Rongfang didn't press further.

"In that case, please leave as soon as you have taken the water. I will take my leave first."

"Please wait, sir. Could you please show us the way to the border of the He Country?" King Mu Li hurriedly asked.

Unable to enter the city, and with their troops exhausted, finding a guide would be difficult. Since they happened to encounter someone, they naturally seized the opportunity to ask.

"If you're going to the He Country, head southwest from this canyon. It should be about 300 li away," Zhang Rongfang estimated the distance and enthusiastically gave directions.

"Thank you, sir," King Mu Li said.

"Are you all from the He Country? You've come all this way, it must be tiring," Zhang Rongfang asked.

"Alas, the world is in chaos now. I don't know when everything will be calmed down and An Ning will be restored. We came here hoping to rebuild our land, but we have suffered a complete defeat. What we have seen, heard, and encountered along the way still weighs heavily on our hearts, and we are extremely distressed," King Mu Li sighed.

"When war rages, it is always the most vulnerable people who suffer," Zhang Rongfang sighed.

The two chatted for a while, both expressing their sighs about the current situation.

King Mu Li wanted to inquire about the Human Immortal Temple in Wushan Prefecture, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

He could tell from the appearance of the Reverse Time Society that even if he got the clues now, he wouldn't have the strength to investigate further.

The departure of top experts around him seemed unintentional and forced, but in reality, it was intentional.

As he chatted with Zhang Rongfang, he felt a deep sense of frustration. The thought that his years of hard work had been wasted on someone else's benefit made him feel like he was about to vomit blood.

Sensing the other person's emotions, Zhang Rongfang offered a few words of comfort and then glanced at the sky.

"It's getting late, I'll take my leave now." Zhang Rongfang said nonchalantly, and walked in the direction he was leaving.

This area is considered the outer edge of the Wish Woman Canyon, and people are often drawn in by the sound of the stream to fetch water, so encountering others is quite normal. He didn't think much of it.

"Farewell." King Mu Li clasped his hands in return.

He watched Zhang Rongfang walk away into the distance, a wave of emotion washing over him.

In the end, he didn't ask about the Human Immortal Temple or Zhang Ying.

Thinking back on my journey, I remember arriving with a large army, soldiers as numerous as the sea and generals as plentiful as rain.

When they arrived, they were just a defeated and disheveled army.

A wave of sorrow suddenly rose in my heart.

"Sir! Do you know what the future holds for this world?" he suddenly shouted at Zhang Rongfang was walking away.

"All living beings are like ants, how can we speak of the world?" Zhang Rongfang paused and replied.

"Gods and Buddhas reign supreme, while humans are merely chess players. How can we not speak of the world?" King Mu Li.

"That's the realm of Gods and Buddhas, what does it have to do with you?" Zhang Rongfang laughed upon hearing this.

If King Mu Li had heard these words on a normal day, he might not have thought much of it, but at this moment, amidst his grief, it felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck his heart.

Does this world truly belong to them, or to the Gods and Buddhas? As a member of the Imperial Clan, he suddenly thought of many things.

Suddenly, he seemed to understand why Reverse Time Society No God Worshipping.

I would rather walk the path of madness and live alone in the wilderness than enjoy wealth, honor, and prosperity.

He suddenly understood.

I was not defeated by others.

Why was Yue Dewen able to unite so many former adversaries?

The underlying reason lies in Gods and Buddhas.

He was not defeated by men, but by gods! To Worship God Worship God is to Worship God.

If God wants him to fail, how can he not fail? Thinking of this, King Mu Li suddenly burst into laughter.

Decades of scheming and calculation have led to this tragic end.

"Heaven's Will is cruel. Heaven's Will is cruel indeed."

Overwhelmed with grief, he opened his arms and looked up at the sky.

In truth, he understood that even if he returned now, the world was already settled, so what could he do? The Great Dao Sect had supported the new emperor's ascension to the throne, the tide had turned, and it was too late.

"Heaven's Will plays tricks on people, it will turn the world upside down! As the saying goes, when Heaven has murderous intent, dragons and snakes rise from the land; when man has murderous intent, heaven and earth are overturned!"

Zhang Rongfang spoke loudly, as if he had figured something out.

"We are upright men, standing nine feet tall! Are we born to be subservient and servile?!"

King Mu Li was jolted, as if struck by lightning.

His eyes immediately turned to Zhang Rongfang.

"Sir, how do you know the power and strength of Gods and Buddhas?"

"Have you seen it?" Zhang Rongfang asked in return.

King Mu Li remained silent.

"I've never seen it either," Zhang Rongfang said with a smile.

He pointed to the distant mountains.

"Do you see those mountains and rivers?"

"Both are born from the universe and nature, so what is the difference between humans and mountains and rivers?"

Why are mountains and rivers born free from constraints, while humans are bound by Gods and Buddhas?

"Why??" King Mu Li was taken aback. This was an angle he had never considered before.

"Because people are small, but mountains are big!" Zhang Rongfang laughed.

"If a person is as steadfast as a mountain, who in this world can bind them?!"

"As solid as a mountain," King Mu Li murmured repeatedly. "But how can a person become as solid as a mountain?"

"An ancient text says: ' Three Flowers Gather on Crown and the Five Energies Merge to Origin, one's mind becomes clear and empty, and one can become an immortal!'"

"The immortals are like mountains of people!"