So how was he supposed to deal with this?
Back in his room, Li Su rubbed his chin, his gaze uncertain.
This wasn't just about taking precautions against Western Xia in advance. There was another concern: whether he might change the plot.
If they failed to discover anything until Western Xia attacked, and only realized what was happening afterward, they would undoubtedly be too late to get there. In a way, that might actually be safer.
But if they went early and got caught up in the battle, things could become dangerous.
The world was vast, but staying alive mattered most.
This was only a World Fragment. Once the story of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils ended, so would this world.
But if they stopped the attack in advance, Western Xia might retreat quickly. After all, if their plan was discovered, and their forces pushed deep into enemy territory, they could end up trapped and surrounded. In that case, the war would naturally come to an end.
But how was he supposed to pass the news along?
Li Su frowned and thought it over again and again before finally making up his mind.
He would go to his master.
He had already revealed so much. Surely it was better to let his master in on it than to expose himself to outsiders?
Li Su got up and went straight to Monk Tianming's room.
"Xuankong? Is something the matter?"
Tianming, who had been chanting sutras, opened his eyes. Among all his disciples, Xuankong was the least likely to come to him, unless there was a problem with his cultivation or he had completed a stage.
Wait a moment.
He had only just started learning the Indestructible Diamond Divine Art. Could he already have mastered the first stage?
The Indestructible Diamond Divine Art had nine stages in all.
Each stage represented an entirely new height, a whole new level.
Even after getting started, the first stage shouldn't have come so quickly. Oh, right—before they left the mountain, Shaolin Temple had given each of them a Great Restoration Pill. But still, this was too fast. Far too fast. It hadn't even been a month!
If things kept going like this, he was really going to lose heart!
Li Su froze, then rubbed his cheek in mild embarrassment and picked up his charcoal pencil to start writing.
The first stage, at least, couldn't have come that quickly.
After all, he hadn't properly practiced for several days in a row. He had reached the limit, but still felt he hadn't hit his absolute maximum. A few more days of practice to consolidate his gains should do it.
The Great Restoration Pill had made his cultivation progress far faster than expected.
It wasn't as if swallowing it had instantly granted him ten years of internal energy. That made sense—ten years' worth was no small amount. A sudden increase like that would overwhelm even a Golden Arhat's body.
So after the pill was absorbed, most of its immense medicinal power had lain dormant in his body, gradually being absorbed and transformed through day-and-night cultivation.
Li Su estimated it would take at least two or three years to fully digest those ten years of internal energy.
Before Li Su had finished writing, Monk Tianming sighed helplessly and said, "Never mind. Listen carefully. This is the formula for the second stage."
While Li Su stared in astonishment, Monk Tianming recited a long passage.
"The third stage, the fourth, the fifth. That's all. I haven't studied the stages beyond those; we'll discuss them after we return to Shaolin Temple. But even if you master only the fifth stage, then aside from a few vital points—the eyes, the armpits, the lower abdomen, and a handful of others—your whole body will be as hard as iron and stone, impervious to blades and swords. Even a first-rate expert would be helpless if they couldn't strike one of your vital points."
After he finished, Monk Tianming felt as though his heart had cracked. Damn, it was too depressing. He didn't dare pass the teachings on one stage at a time anymore. If Li Su came back every so often along the way, he was genuinely afraid he wouldn't be able to take it.
Better to teach him everything now. Then, once they returned to Shaolin Temple, the abbot could share the heartbreak.
Li Su was stunned. He hadn't expected that coming to see his master would result in the other man passing on the first five stages of the Indestructible Diamond Divine Art all at once. It was an unexpected bonus.
"Master, I didn't come because of a problem with my cultivation."
Tianming looked at what Li Su had written and froze. Then he seemed rather "pleased." "Hm? You haven't mastered the first stage yet?"
Li Su's mouth twitched. He decided to ignore the old monk. I haven't mastered it, and you're that happy about it?
"No. I came because of something concerning Western Xia."
"Western Xia?" Monk Tianming's expression sharpened. He became serious. "Xuankong, have you discovered something?"
"It's like this, Master. At noon today..."
Li Su immediately wrote down the conclusion he had reached after listening to Murong Bo's analysis.
After reading it, Tianming's eyes widened, and he drew in a sharp breath.
As the saying went, those involved were blind, while those outside saw clearly.
In an instant, he understood.
A feint to the east, while attacking in the west?
So it really was a feint to the east, while attacking in the west?
If that was the case, it made sense. And if it really was, Jingzhao Prefecture was in danger.
Unlike Yanan Prefecture, which had been fortifying its defenses and evacuating the people as soon as Western Xia began mobilizing, Jingzhao Prefecture had done no such thing. If Western Xia truly broke through, it would send shockwaves through the entire Song Dynasty.
Tianming took a deep breath and immediately rose to his feet. Such a serious matter had to be discussed with Guan Tiannan and the others right away.
"Master!"
"Hmm?"
"I only thought of this by chance after coming back. If possible, could you avoid mentioning your disciple?"
"Why—" Tianming froze. Though he was a monk, he was no fool. He quickly understood. A towering tree caught the wind. Western Xia's stratagem was vicious, yet a fourteen-year-old child had seen through it. No matter how he had done it, it was bound to attract attention. Li Su might now be a second-rate martial artist, but even a slightly stronger third-rate one would probably be difficult for him to handle.
"I understand."
Tianming nodded, then suddenly remembered something. He said earnestly, "By the way, Xuankong, don't be too impatient with the Indestructible Diamond Divine Art. It's a difficult technique to cultivate. Even after getting started, the first stage takes plenty of time. Just take it one step at a time. Forget what I said just now."
Li Su's eyelid twitched. He smiled and wrote, "All right, Master. Though I feel the first stage is already complete, I'll keep practicing for a while longer and consolidate it."
Hearing this, Monk Tianming nearly stumbled. He drew in a breath. "Mm, good. You know best. I'll be off now."
The government residence.
Not long after Monk Tianming arrived, Guan Tiannan shut the door. He informed High Person Xuanxin and also summoned a young man.
As Tianming explained the situation, the others couldn't help but feel startled. The young man in particular changed color.
Western Xia had massed a hundred thousand troops along the four prefectures bordering Yanan Prefecture. The terrifying pressure had been suffocating, and they had responded by continually reinforcing their defenses and adding more troops, hoping to stand against them.
Now, hearing that it was a feint to the east, while attacking in the west, they instantly understood.
Especially given the situation as it stood, it was all but certain that this was the enemy's plan.
After all, it made sense. Given the Song Dynasty's current deployment around Yanan Prefecture, Western Xia would only be asking for a beating if it attacked there.
That didn't mean the Song Dynasty wouldn't suffer casualties. In truth, it would be hard for them to gain an advantage even in such a battle. But even at a one-to-ten casualty ratio, Western Xia would be the one paying the price, not the Song Dynasty.
After all, though the Song Dynasty bordered many countries, Western Xia was surrounded by them on almost every side. If it suffered heavy losses, Li Yuanhao would face more than defeat and damage. His country could be destroyed, and his family wiped out.
"Master, thank you. If this guess is right, then this intelligence is far too important to the Song Dynasty."
The young man sprang to his feet, his face alight with excitement. No news had come in yet, which meant Western Xia was probably still carrying out its plan. If they handled things well, they might be able to wipe out the elite forces Western Xia sent across the border.
If they succeeded, the Song Dynasty could enjoy two or three decades of peace from Western Xia.
As soon as he finished speaking, the young man turned and hurried out.
Tianming froze. After watching the young man leave, he couldn't help turning to look at Guan Tiannan.
True Person Xuanxin was equally puzzled. This was undoubtedly intelligence of the utmost importance. Was it really all right to let the young man hear it?
Guan Tiannan smiled. "This young man is named Zhong E, the son of General Zhong Shiheng!"