War God of Great Gan

Can you imagine what it felt like to have a mosquito buzzing by your ear all afternoon, yet be unable to swat it?

The two soldiers before him were in exactly that predicament. If not for the military orders they bore, they would have dearly loved to turn around and give Gu Yuanqing a beating.

"Young Master Gu, you truly have quite the leisure. But why torment two ordinary soldiers?" Chen Chuanshan's voice suddenly rang out from beyond the courtyard gate.

A flicker of delight passed through the two soldiers' eyes, though their bodies remained rigidly upright.

Gu Yuanqing was not surprised in the slightest. What could possibly be hidden from him on North Spring Mountain? Chen Chuanshan had been here for half an hour already; he had even listened to Gu Yuanqing finish singing a song.

"General Chen, you jest. I have merely been shut in this courtyard for too long and grown terribly bored, with no one to speak to, so I wished to find someone for a casual chat. It is rare for the General to speak so much with me today, is it not? In the past, whenever we met, you would not say a word," Gu Yuanqing replied blandly.

"You two may go down the mountain," Chen Chuanshan ordered.

"Yes!" The two soldiers gladly accepted the order, bowed, and hurried away. From afar, one of them could be heard grinding his teeth as he said, "If I hadn't noticed the commander arriving just now, I would have struck him!"

Gu Yuanqing watched the two leave with some reluctance. It was rare for him to have the chance to speak so much with anyone. Though they gave no response, simply watching their expressions was rather entertaining.

Only after the two had left did Chen Chuanshan slowly say, "Today, you may move freely about North Spring Mountain. However, tomorrow morning, you must go to the rear mountain and stay there for several days."

"The Repentance Cliff of the North Spring Sword Sect?"

"It used to be Repentance Cliff. Now, it is merely a somewhat quieter place."

"What if I am unwilling?"

"Young Master Gu, I am only carrying out orders. Do not make things difficult for me." Chen Chuanshan narrowed his eyes slightly. Gu Yuanqing was merely a wealthy young master, seemingly somewhat capable, but Chen Chuanshan did not take him seriously. What he had to be wary of was the Grandmaster who might stand behind him.

He had received word from the Imperial Palace that, on that night, the Grandmaster enshrined in the palace had not been on North Spring Mountain. Coupled with the fact that both the elder of the Lingxu Sect and the young man whose arm had been severed were suppressed by a Grandmaster only when they attacked Gu Yuanqing, Gu Yuanqing's background could be roughly guessed.

Gu Yuanqing smiled. "I was merely speaking casually. It is nothing more than changing places to live. That night, I had the General to thank for stopping them. However, I have one request and hope the General will give it some consideration."

"Please speak."

"I have lived in this courtyard for over a year, after all, and have grown somewhat attached to it. Perhaps I may even continue living here in the future. No matter what, please do not let anyone else move in. General, surely that request is not excessive?"

Chen Chuanshan hesitated for a moment. "I am not the one presiding over matters on the mountain this time, but I will do my utmost to arrange it."

"Then many thanks, General!"

Chen Chuanshan nodded slightly, turned, and left.

As Gu Yuanqing walked through North Spring Mountain, he found that it felt different from before. Seeing it with his own eyes differed somewhat from what he had seen through Mountain Observation.

From the look of it, quite a few people should be coming. Otherwise, there would be no need to make such a great fuss and clear out so many rooms.

Gu Yuanqing guessed it was related to the Demon Realm Seal below. Other than that, he could think of nothing that might cause such a major change.

Early the next morning, Gu Yuanqing packed his important belongings into a bundle and carried it in his hand, leaving the rest for the two old servants to sort through. Under the watch of a group of soldiers, he headed to the rear mountain.

Repentance Cliff on the rear mountain lay at the farthest corner of North Spring Mountain, accessible only by passing through a long, narrow passage between the rocks.

It was a platform spanning roughly ten zhang in every direction, pressed close against precipitous cliffs. Only a few newly repaired houses had been built against the rock wall.

Blocked by the mountain itself, it offered no view at all of the Front Mountain, as though it were completely cut off from the world.

Gu Yuanqing placed his luggage inside the largest room. Standing at the edge of the cliff, he glanced down, then gazed toward the mountain range opposite him and nodded.

"Changing places to live is actually not bad. A change of scenery, a change of mood. The only problem is that the wind here is truly a little strong."

Above the cliff, wild winds swept through, making clothes flutter and preventing one from opening one's eyes fully.

In any case, Gu Yuanqing settled down here. Even the two old servants came to Repentance Cliff. Soldiers guarded both ends of the narrow passage, and all daily necessities would be delivered by others.

That afternoon, through Mountain Observation, Gu Yuanqing saw a man ascending North Spring Mountain amid a throng of attendants. At last, he knew who was presiding over this place.

"Prince Qing Li Cunguo. It is actually him."

Gu Yuanqing was truly quite surprised. This was the current Emperor's own uncle. It was said that one of the reasons the current Emperor had been able to inherit the throne was Prince Qing's wholehearted support.

Several decades ago, Prince Qing had another title: the War God of Great Gan!

He had campaigned north and south for decades. For the Great Gan Dynasty to possess its present territory and its present peace, Prince Qing deserved the foremost credit.

In Gu Yuanqing's impression, Prince Qing had not participated in court affairs for many years. He merely oversaw matters of the Imperial Clan Court, spending the rest of his time peacefully enjoying his old age in his princely residence. Gu Yuanqing had not expected that the matter of the Demon Realm Seal would bring him out this time.

This white-haired old man walked with a trembling gait, his back slightly bent. At a glance, he looked nothing like the War God he had once been. Yet the Imperial Guards behind him, whether generals or soldiers, all looked upon him with eyes full of reverence.

"Prince, this large courtyard was once the residence of the North Spring Sword Sect Leader. Do you find it satisfactory?"

"It is merely a dwelling. So long as it can be lived in, that is enough. What is there to be satisfied or dissatisfied with?" Prince Qing's expression was calm as he led the group inside. The moment they entered the courtyard, the steward behind him waved a hand, and the servants who had followed immediately set about their respective tasks.

"Then please rest in this courtyard, Prince. Once the people from the various major sects have arrived on North Spring Mountain, this subordinate will come report to you."

Prince Qing said, "General Chen, do not be in such a hurry to leave. I heard that a young fellow named Gu Yuanqing lives on North Spring Mountain. Bring him here for me to have a look."

"This..." Chen Chuanshan hesitated. Gu Yuanqing had been imprisoned deep in these mountains by an Imperial Decree conveyed by Eunuch Xu of the Imperial Palace. No one was permitted to speak with him. By rights, even Prince Qing should have been included in that prohibition.

"There is no need to make things difficult. The Emperor knows that I wish to see him."

"This subordinate will bring him here immediately." Chen Chuanshan clasped his fists and accepted the order. He believed Prince Qing would not falsely invoke an Imperial Decree over such a matter.

Gu Yuanqing, who had been watching this side all along, was taken aback. See me? Could it be because of Miaoxuan? He had never met Prince Qing before, and that was the only reason he could think of.

Before long, Chen Chuanshan came to Repentance Cliff.

"Young Master Gu, an honored person wishes to see you."

"Then let us go." Gu Yuanqing rose calmly.

A trace of surprise flashed across Chen Chuanshan's face, but he said nothing more and led Gu Yuanqing toward Prince Qing's courtyard.

The steward was waiting outside the courtyard gate.

"General, the Prince has instructed that Young Master Gu is to enter on his own."

Chen Chuanshan clasped his fists. "Then this subordinate will take his leave first. Matters below the mountain are of great importance, and I dare not remain away from my post for too long."

"Please do as you wish, General."

Before leaving, Chen Chuanshan instructed his men again, "You few, wait outside the courtyard for orders. Should the Prince need anything, notify me at once."

Gu Yuanqing entered the courtyard alone and arrived at the main hall. The first thing he saw was the white-haired old man seated in the place of honor.

"This junior pays respects to the Prince." Gu Yuanqing cupped his fists and bowed.

Prince Qing glanced at Gu Yuanqing, lifted his tea, and took a sip. Suddenly, he straightened his body, and his bearing changed abruptly. If he had been an old man peacefully enjoying his twilight years a moment ago, then with that straightened back, the former War God of Great Gan seemed to return. A murderous aura from a Corpse Mountain Blood Sea surged forth and pounced toward Gu Yuanqing. Leaning forward slightly, he slowly said, "You are Gu Yuanqing?"