Heavenly Street

A chill rose in Liu Zhijian's heart. Hardly able to believe it, he said, "The Xue Household of Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain is, after all... They shouldn't... Isn't he afraid..."

Li Chengxuan could naturally see that Liu Zhijian instinctively recoiled from schemes to take another person's life, and he was rather gratified. Still, some guidance was necessary. "This is no longer the High Antiquity, when morality governed the world. Cultivators hold that the immortal path prizes the self, and that the self is supremely precious. Everything in the world is a resource for cultivation."

"If someone looks after their blood relatives and disciples, they don't count as an Evil Cultivator."

"If they don't consume Human Pills or Blood Qi, they're on the righteous path."

"If they're also willing to be kind to others and shelter ordinary mortals, they can be called a saint of the age-someone their fellow cultivators will praise to their face and mock behind their back."

"When you go down the mountain to gain experience in the future, remember: you must always guard against others."

Liu Zhijian found it absurd. It clashed with his entire view of the world, and it wasn't the immortal cultivation he had imagined, either. He shook his head and said firmly, "I don't want to follow that path, Master, or become some immortal cultivator who holds himself supremely precious. Still less would I take another person's life for the sake of cultivation."

This time, Li Chengxuan was the one taken aback. But who wouldn't want good people around them? He nodded and smiled. "Everything I said before was only conjecture. Perhaps I was judging him by my own petty standards. Xue Yang may not actually mean me harm. Perhaps he's simply eager to earn merit and only wants me to go down the mountain to make absolutely sure the plan succeeds."

Liu Zhijian was no three-year-old. He naturally heard that Li Chengxuan was trying to reassure him, and he wasn't foolish enough to let his master risk his life testing Xue Yang's conscience. Still, he had some doubts. "To be honest with you, Master, I've only learned the basics of the River and Great Mound Scripture and haven't practiced any techniques yet. I really don't have much fighting strength. Even if I go, I'll want to help but be unable to."

"It's all right. I have my own arrangements. Supreme Mystery Mountain still has some resources to draw on." Li Chengxuan smiled but offered no explanation. He only said, "Over the next few days, find a few sword arts to practice. If you have a talent for the sword, you might just gain a fortuitous opportunity."

Liu Zhijian nodded in agreement, then couldn't help asking, "Master, is Deng Gang... certain to die?!"

"Yes." Li Chengxuan made no attempt to conceal it. He answered plainly, "Human Pills like him are selected in childhood and then carefully raised. All sorts of restrictions have long since been planted in their bloodlines and souls. Escape is all but impossible."

After a pause, he added, "If you had reached Foundation Establishment, though, you might have a chance of saving him."

Liu Zhijian gave a bitter smile. For the first time, he felt how low his cultivation was, and how little control he had over his own fate.

All he could do now was sigh at the strangeness of fate.

He was actually going to cross blades with his first friend in the world of immortal cultivation, in a fight where one of them would die.

Deng Gang leaped down from his silver-white steed and strode into the commander's tent. He picked up a cup of wine from the table and drained it in one gulp, only to discover that the wine was still warm. He couldn't help pausing in surprise.

He recalled how the soldiers under his command had previously attacked for a long time without taking the city.

Growing impatient, Deng Gang had set down his wine cup and decided to enter the battle himself, defeat the enemy, and take the city.

To his surprise, the defenders had cried out in alarm as soon as they saw him and hadn't even dared to meet him in battle.

The civilian prefect in the city had been so frightened that he broke down wailing.

In mere moments, Deng Gang had taken the fortified city and returned in triumph.

Back in the tent, the wine was still warm.

Taking a city while the wine was still warm-this was how a true man should live!

Deng Gang savored the indescribable feeling.

A moment later, Qiao Yuniang entered the great tent. Seeing Deng Gang holding his wine cup and lost in thought, she quickly smiled. "Congratulations, husband, on taking another major prefecture."

"Now, within Huang Kingdom, only its capital is still putting up a desperate resistance."

"In all the other prefectures and provinces, there's no one who isn't singing your praises!"

Deng Gang came back to himself and set down the cup. Sitting squarely in the commander's seat, he said casually, "Tell me, what are they saying about me?!"

"Oh, there's far too much. A divine general sent from heaven, the people's savior, and so on-I can't remember it all." Qiao Yuniang smiled, tilted her head in thought for a moment, then smiled with pursed lips. "But the one spreading most widely is a children's rhyme: 'Famous generals, don't pen yourselves in tight; ten thousand horse and foot flee the white robe's sight.'"

"Famous generals, don't pen yourselves in tight; ten thousand horse and foot flee the white robe's sight..." Deng Gang murmured the words and looked down at the white robe he wore. For a moment, he was utterly transfixed. "Are... are they really talking about me?!"

"Of course!" Qiao Yuniang hurried forward and sat in Deng Gang's lap, acting bashful. "It isn't just the common folk. Even in the bedchambers of wealthy young ladies, they're singing of your might and mastery, husband."

Deng Gang was immensely pleased, and heat stirred in his loins. He grabbed hold of Qiao Yuniang. "Yuniang, you'd better serve me well, or I'll have to find you a few more sisters."

Qiao Yuniang gave a coquettish cry and buried her head in Deng Gang's chest. Her eyes were filled with coldness, but she said in a sweet voice, "Do as you please, husband... You needn't be gentle with me..."

The great tent was soon filled with the colors of spring.

The capital of Huang Kingdom.

The previous ruler had abandoned the kingdom and fled, forcing the throne upon the crown prince.

By the time the crown prince took the throne, the capital was already surrounded by an army. There was no way to turn the tide, and no way to escape.

With no other choice, he could only leave the city and surrender.

Outside the capital.

Deng Gang sat atop a white steed, wearing his signature white robe and carrying a silver spear. Behind him stood a disciplined army.

Rumble.

The city gates were pushed open.

The man at the head of the procession was the current emperor of Huang Kingdom.

Deng Gang glanced at him and froze, then burst out laughing.

The emperor of Huang Kingdom had none of a sovereign's bearing. His chest and back were bared, a rope was tied around his neck, and he led a ewe by the hand to show his submission.

The onlooking commoners and the soldiers of the righteous army burst into laughter together.

Seeing his enemy, the emperor, in such a humiliating state, Deng Gang felt immensely gratified and was about to go forward and heap further indignities on him.

"Husband, this is an ancient rite of the Central Continent..." Qiao Yuniang rode forward and spoke softly. "When a ruler comes out to surrender, the ancient rites require that his life be spared and his dignity protected. You are destined to ascend to the throne, husband. Please don't damage your reputation over a passing emotion."

"There's such a custom?!" Deng Gang considered her words and found them reasonable. He silently warned himself that he had nearly become a man who ran wild as soon as he gained power. Lightly drawing the reins, he rode into the city. "Spare his life and grant him the title of Marquis of Muddled Virtue."

After entering the city, Deng Gang found it both familiar and strange.

As a child, he had come here with his uncle to make a living, and they had endured considerable hardship.

His uncle had pointed things out to him one by one: what each place had looked like when Deng Kingdom still stood, which household it had belonged to, what history it had, and what had become of it.

Deng Gang still remembered it vividly.

Turning a street corner, he came to Imperial City Street.

It was the street closest to the imperial palace, where Huang Kingdom's rich and powerful lived.

When he and his uncle had come here all those years ago, they had not only been chased away and cursed at-his uncle's spine had been broken by vicious servants while protecting him. A few days later, he had died a miserable death in a shabby alley. Before dying, he had cried "Restore the kingdom!" three times, unable to close his eyes in death!

"Halt!" Deng Gang reined in his horse and gazed into the distance. He felt a bitter grievance gather in his chest and refuse to disperse. With a wave of his hand, he ordered, "Everyone living on this street is a treacherous villain. Kill them all. Leave no one alive!"

"Yes, sir!"

The officers and soldiers behind him roared their assent. Blades and spears came out, and they poured into Imperial City Street.

In mere moments, Huang Kingdom's most famous street was strewn with corpses, and blood flowed like a river.

The mangled bodies of princes and ministers were cast into the street like dead dogs.

"Hyah!"

Deng Gang's expression was calm as he rode forward.

Beneath his horse's hooves lay the bodies of nobles and ministers.

"On the heavenly street, I have trampled the bones of nobles and ministers..."

"Uncle, I did it!"