Might and Virtue, Hidden Plots and Open Schemes

In the Locust Tree Courtyard, there were several long tables and cushions.

Hai Donglai, Blind Cheng, and several of Zheng Hui's most trusted guards were still waiting here.

The moon was cold and the wind was chilly in the night sky; a red shadow flashed on the wall.

Chu Tianshu had already climbed over the wall and descended. As he walked, he casually ripped off his cloak, shook it into a ball, and threw it on the long table.

"It seems things have gone well."

"Your shout just now was really loud," said the Blind Cheng. "Everyone here could hear it clearly."

Chu Tianshu picked up the teapot and took two sips.

"But I'm really not used to speaking so loudly."

He was born in the Jianghuai, unlike people in mountainous areas who have the opportunity to sing folk songs and practice their voices by shouting from afar from a young age. Although he developed strong cardiopulmonary strength after practicing boxing, which allowed him to produce a very loud voice.

But those are often roars or howls, rather monotonous sounds.

That time, when we lured Zhu Heng onto the island and shouted for so long, it was all thanks to the megaphone we had.

Without tools, maintaining such a high volume while speaking clearly is indeed quite unusual.

Chu Tianshu cleared his throat, recalling the feeling of shouting loudly just now, yet he also felt a strange kind of joy.

If I have the chance in the future, I can practice this skill.

The Blind Cheng sighed softly, "The collusion between the Duan Family and the Yuwen Family, Duan Zhong's schemes and tricks, are all kept in the shadows."

"If he were to accept the challenge this time, it would seem as if he were representing the martial arts of Nanzhao in a confrontation with the martial arts of the Great Tang."

"I'm afraid many people will still see him as a hero, and therefore hate Hai Donglai even more."

After nightfall, Hai Donglai stopped using the umbrella.

He also changed his clothes, into a dark red robe and a black belt.

Although it is also red, it is quite different from the bright and flamboyant red dress of the original.

When he sat behind the long table, dressed like this, fiddling with the tea set, he resembled a scholar.

"There are already enough people in the world who hate me; one more won't make a difference."

Hai Donglai, "One of the reasons why Physician Chu uses my name is precisely because my reputation is so bad."

Chu Tianshu chuckled but didn't reply.

That's exactly what he thought.

There are advantages to having a bad reputation.

The reputation of the Great Tang Inner Guard was so bad that even its own people were afraid of it.

Absolutely no one would Hai Donglai, the commander of the Great Tang Inner Guard, with the behavior of a normal Tang People.

Even if the Duan Family wanted to use this challenge to incite internal antagonism in Nanzhao, they wouldn't be able to.

For more than a decade, even decades, the reputation of "the Inner Guard are not like humans, they are all like demons" has been continuously spread.

At this point, you suddenly say that what the Commander of the Inner Guard did was on behalf of the attitude of the vast majority of Tang People.

Who could believe that?

Steward Zheng said worriedly, "This time, to deal with Righteous King and his scheming allies, challenging him to a duel is indeed an excellent method."

"But this life-or-death duel is very risky, and even if we win, there will be great hidden dangers in the future."

"Some generals in the army were wavering, and still regarded Duan Zhong as a great hero and senior among the Nanzhao soldiers. If Duan Zhong were to be defeated and killed in an open duel, it would likely arouse their shared hatred and indignation."

Chu Tianshu didn't take it to heart. He walked over to Hai Donglai, waited for him to finish brewing the tea, and then took a cup.

Judging from Hai Donglai's skillful manner, you can tell he has excellent tea-making skills.

Since Lu Yu, the Sage of Tea, became famous, the art of tea has flourished, and tea ceremony has become a form of enjoyment.

Hai Donglai's life was half about struggle and half about enjoyment, so naturally he also had some interest in tea ceremony.

Chu Tianshu gulped down two mouthfuls, unable to discern any difference between the tea and the tea he casually brewed in hot water.

"Will defeating Duan Zhong necessarily unite them in their hatred of the enemy?"

After finishing his drink, Chu Tianshu exhaled hot air and said, "I think it's more likely that we'll make them fear our power and then win their favor."

Only by first fearing authority can one learn to cherish virtue.

If you overthink things because of your own kindness, others may not appreciate your good deeds but will only think you are weak and easily bullied.

Within small groups, it is indeed possible that because the person receiving the virtue is of good character, a situation can arise where one can embrace virtue without fear of authority.

But in the face of the immense power of the Great Tang and the Nanzhao, relying on moral character is simply laughable.

The biggest reason for the change in Nanzhao's governance policy in recent years is their defeat in the great war ten years ago.

But it was Yimouxun failed back then, not Duan Zhong.

So this time, let Duan Zhong suffer a defeat too.

"According to your plan, on the day of the duel, you will definitely be facing Duan Zhong again."

Hai Donglai looked somewhat regretful, flipping his wrist. "I've never fought him, but back when I assassinated the Nanzhao general, several of his disciples were among them."

"His swordsmanship and palm-finger skills are both quite good."

"Their styles may seem different, but they are connected by a common thread. When all of them are pieced together, they might resemble Duan Zhong's appearance."

"I can practice a bit these next couple of days and show you."

Although Hai Donglai is not yet capable of intense combat, practicing his fighting style with only slightly above-average physical strength is not a burden.

Chu Tianshu nodded.

It's a pity; if an ally on the other side suddenly appears, we'll definitely have to work together to find a way to deal with them.

There's no way to guarantee that all the kills will go to you.

However, with Duan Zhong as the main figure, the others were also implicated and brought to the forefront because of Chu Tianshu's actions.

In that case, the Fortune good fortune you get should be quite substantial.

It should at least be enough for me to travel through time and also enough for me to bring back the Sanqi Divine Sword, which now possesses the Weapon Soul.

Tsk, if I travel through time with a sword in the future, will I have to pay for the token every time?

If only I could refine the Sanqi Divine Sword into an intangible and formless object, so that I could carry it with me at all times.

Chu Tianshu had just finished a match and was feeling relaxed, so he couldn't help but start daydreaming.

Greetings came from outside the courtyard.

"You all didn't go back to your rooms tonight, so it seems my midnight snack preparation was quite appropriate."

Lady Wenjing came over with a smile, carrying two food boxes.

"There's still some in the kitchen, I'll go get it later."

There are several kitchen helpers, but it seems there's something important going on at the Locust Tree Courtyard.

The guards of the Zheng family stood watch outside, refusing to let in too many people except for Lady Wenjing.

Moreover, the particularly loud challenge outside had distracted everyone, and they were all looking around.

Auntie Mo almost dropped the steamer on the ground.

Only Lady Wenjing remained calm and composed, preoccupied with her own affairs.

The first food box was handed to Chu Tianshu.

"I tried making this kind of flatbread that Physician Chu mentioned. You can take a look."

Chu Tianshu lifted the lid and saw a plate of golden, crispy, and glossy sesame seed cakes.

Although there were many ways to make flatbread at this time, the most common ones were still the large flatbreads of later generations, or similar to mutton naan bread.

Chu Tianshu loved Huangqiao sesame seed cakes, so he mentioned it, and unexpectedly, Lady Wenjing could actually make them.

"Good!!"

Chu Tianshu took a bite, and it was indeed crispy, with a thousand layers inside. He immediately beamed with joy.

"Okay, okay, I want to eat this again after I finish fighting that day!"

Click!

A crisp cracking sound echoed through the Righteous King.

Duan Zhong stepped on a broken lantern that was mostly burned.

The remaining parts of the bamboo lantern frame were also dried and brittle from the baking process.

Just by listening to the sound, you can tell that the lantern's frame is already extremely fragile.

Just like the Righteous King tonight.

Several guard leaders, their faces filled with shame, followed Duan Zhong, not daring to breathe loudly.

They survived not because they were exceptionally skilled in martial arts, but because the area they were guarding was further away, and they didn't encounter the intruder.

Duan Zhong didn't reprimand anyone. He quietly walked into the central hall and saw that the tables and chairs were destroyed and there were six or seven corpses lying in the mess.

One can imagine that while they were surrounding someone, they were all instantly sent flying.

Duan Zhong took a step and his figure suddenly rose up, passing through the roof of the main hall. In just one leap, he reached the wall of the side courtyard.

In the side courtyard, there was a pavilion that had collapsed halfway, and the bodies of the Three Elders of Diancang.

There were also a large number of guards standing beside Duan Rusu's body.

"It was the Three Elders of Diancang who first confronted Hai Donglai atop the pavilion; they were very dutiful."

Duan Zhong finally spoke, his tone tinged with sorrow.

"It's all because Rusu; it's so foolish."

Even if others were in the side courtyard, unable to discern the physical strength displayed by the person who threw the stone lion and smashed the screen wall, they wouldn't be able to tell just by their hearing.

"At least he should know that if the Three Elders of Diancang couldn't defeat that person even if they joined forces, he himself wouldn't be a match for him either."

Instead of thinking about protecting themselves first, they were thinking about getting the four of them to work together.

This isn't bravery; it's a lack of awareness of when to advance and when to retreat.

Some things truly cannot be backed down from, and should not be backed down from.

But you're facing an assassination attempt. If you don't retreat and hide, what are you waiting for?

Duan Zhong sighed and closed his eyes.

Sure enough, the Duan Family's hopes could only be placed on their grandchildren, and even their great-grandchildren.

But all of this is predicated on the fact that I must win this challenge.

Hai, Dong, Lai!

This person is indeed Taihang; even though Chang'an provided the route for the envoys, they couldn't find his route.

Little did they know that he was actually within the diplomatic corps.

It must have been him who led the delegation and fought against the Tubo.

He must have been injured as well.

Otherwise, given his past practices, he should have sought out Duan Zhong directly, instead of simply killing him at the Prince's residence and then leaving, and establishing a war treaty.

Duan Zhong opened his eyes. "This is also a deliberate attempt to give my allies time to react, isn't it?"

Duan Zhong had already seen through the purpose of the challenge.

However, Duan Zhong thought the intention was excellent.

It wasn't just the Duan Family that needed those people; those people also needed the Duan Family!

Whether it's the military governor of Huaixi or that man in Chang'an, they are both quite old, and this might be their only chance to accomplish what they want.

The Great Tang wanted to recover its lost territories, Tubo wanted to fight back fiercely; both wanted to seize this opportunity to succeed.

The change in Nanzhao was something that had to be brought about.

"Then come on. I've already sacrificed a nephew; you all must also contribute your strength to help me avenge this public and private grudge."

Duan Zhong looked up at the moon, and suddenly a layer of frost covered the prayer beads in his hand.

Not only were the prayer beads frozen, but the gold thread that strung them together was also frozen hard, like a gold ring.

But in the next moment, flames suddenly enveloped the golden ring, and a reddish-brown light emanated from each bead.

The temperature changed abruptly, and before the prayer beads could fully burn, they all shattered and scattered.

Duan Zhong's hands emerged fully from his half-closed sleeves, bathed in moonlight.

On his right hand, each finger Shangdu a silver-white ring, as if made of fine steel, worn near the base of the finger.

He also has a ring on the index finger of his left hand.

The six rings were usually dull, almost completely hidden by the skin color of his fingers and the shadows of his sleeves, and attracted no attention at all.

At this moment, the gleaming light of these rings perfectly complemented the moonlight.

It's as if every ring possesses the vibrant spirit of Weapon Soul.

(End of this chapter)