Sincerity Has Spirit

That morning, the sky was filled with warm yellow clouds and the sunlight was bright but not dazzling.

In the capital city, traffic flowed busily, people clamored, and thousands of wisps of smoke rose straight into the sky.

The green hills and trees outside the city are a feast for the eyes.

Right at the boundary between the city's interior and exterior, the black sedan stopped and the door opened.

Cao Bokun got out of the car.

This man, who was once the most powerful person in the Nine Provinces after the fall of the Yuan family, was only wearing a black silk jacket with silver thread and a pair of cloth shoes with many layers of soles.

He looked like a wealthy gentleman with some family fortune. His hair and beard were thick, black, and shiny. He had slightly deep-set eyes, high cheekbones, and a slightly thin face, but his cheeks were fleshy and his complexion was rosy.

The only truly eye-catching feature was probably the sheathed longsword he held in his hand.

A black wooden scabbard painted with gold dragons and phoenixes, Baiyu gauntlets, and a hilt wrapped with Hongxian.

Because of his short stature, the four-foot-long sword beside him was particularly conspicuous.

The guards at the city gate had already been instructed to be extra careful in observing the crowds coming and going these past few days.

Upon seeing the sword, even before recognizing Cao Bokun's face, they already knew who the newcomer was.

Some people rushed over in a flurry of activity to greet Cao Ying, while others hurried to the telephone installed on the city gate tower to call and inform her.

Surrounded by a crowd, Cao Bokun walked a short distance into the city and saw Cao Ying leading his men on horseback.

The people on the street avoided him, and no one dared to speak loudly.

"Big brother!"

Cao Ying dismounted, embraced Cao Bokun, and laughed heartily, "You're finally back! Why didn't you give us a specific time so we could have made arrangements to welcome you?"

Cao Bokun was cautious by nature, and after his assassination attempt, he became even more reluctant to let others know his exact whereabouts.

Cao Ying only knew that he might come back in the next few days, but she didn't know exactly which day.

"I'm just worried you'll make too much of a fuss. The country is facing many difficulties right now; we should prioritize frugality."

Cao Bokun patted his younger brother on the shoulder, speaking earnestly.

"We must save on extravagant displays of hospitality and farewells wherever possible. We must set an example so that those below us can follow suit."

"During the past year or so I've been in Liaodong, and I had someone write a daily log for me, which briefly records my daily life."

"Meals consist of no more than five dishes and one soup, and clothing is limited to no more than eight sets for each season. I walk whenever possible, only taking a carriage when absolutely necessary, and rarely ride a horse."

"Horses are living beings too; we should show them compassion and set an example for all people."

Cao Ying's smile faded, and she nodded repeatedly.

Guo Baozhi laughed and said, "The deeds of heroes and great men are always unknown to the world, which is why they are attacked by those charlatans who seek fame and fortune."

"Since Lord Cao is so honest and upright, I think this record of his daily life should be summarized and published in the newspaper immediately."

Cao Bokun stroked his beard and said, "General Guo is indeed a promising talent, a truly great one."

Cao Ying then realized the meaning behind her elder brother's words.

"Brother, where is this daily record? I'll send someone to get it done right away."

"Don't rush."

Cao Bokun glanced at him and said, "When you release it, don't use the title 'Daily Records.' People are still quite sensitive about that these days. Let's just call it 'Diary' for now."

The group continued talking without stopping.

Cao Bokun wanted to walk, so the soldiers behind him quickly drove the horses to the side of the street to make way.

A large crowd pushed them forward.

Cao Bokun said, "I heard that the Han Prefecture has agreed to peace talks and is even willing to come to the capital?"

"Yes, they even said that the delegation mainly consisted of only four people, with the rest being a small number of security personnel."

Cao Ying scoffed, "I think they're just putting on a show; they might not actually dare to come."

Cao Bokun only glanced at him.

"Take away that murderous look on your face. A person destined for greatness keeps things to themselves, not on their sleeve."

Cao Bokun said, "I am also heartbroken by Ying'er's death. Shaolin was Shaolin greedy nor lustful. Apart from being a little short-tempered, he had no flaws. I am equally saddened by his tragic death in Luoyang."

"But there are no eternal enemies in this world. Since we are inviting them to negotiate, we should show some sincerity."

Cao Ying asked anxiously, "Brother, is it possible for us to turn from enemies to friends with the Han Prefecture?"

In his haste, the guns, belt buckles, and other metal objects on all the soldiers around him suddenly began to shake violently.

Across the street is a shop called Boguzhai, where the antiques in its collection jingle loudly.

The shaking of the small tripods caused the artificially aged patina on their surfaces to fall off.

The famous swords and ancient blades shattered their scabbards with a clang.

The sword in Cao Bokun's hand also emitted a soft hum.

Cao Ying was startled when he saw that his elder brother's sword had been disturbed, and the surroundings immediately fell silent.

"So this is the divine power of Patriarch Jiaoli? It does indeed possess some skill..."

Cao Bokun patted his brother on the shoulder again, showing no resentment, and said something.

"During the Former Qing, the court was weak, and in Liaodong, there were frequent uprisings by rioters. At that time, I was promoted and entered the inner circle of officialdom because of my merit in leading troops to suppress the rioters."

"Back then, when I killed people there, I would often throw the bodies into snowdrifts and ravines. The following year, when the ice thawed, the water in the ravines would be blocked by the bodies."

"Even I found that scene unbearable to witness, but aren't the people of Liaodong now completely submissive and working diligently under my rule?"

Cao Bokun spoke gently and reminisced about the past.

"Later, another rebellion broke out, and I was ordered by Lord Yuan at the time to lead troops to places like Niangzi Pass to suppress the rebels with an iron fist."

"But look, the following year, Lord Yuan shook hands with the rebels."

"Even now, many of our subordinates were once considered rebels."

Cao Ying remained indignant. "We were the winners back then, but we've never suffered such a huge loss."

"You weren't in a high position in the military back then, so you didn't know. We suffered quite a few losses, but we had the means to overcome them all."

Cao Bokun's steps were unhurried, but his tone became heavy.

"The Han Prefecture has already established a foothold in Shaanxi and controls Western Henan. Once they occupy Eastern Henan, they can immediately coordinate with Jiangdong."

"When Jiangdong attacks the Two Huai Regions region, if the Han Prefecture coordinates even slightly well, the area between Huaihai will become a huge battlefield."

"At that time, our foundation in Qilu was completely unprotected, and it might have been destroyed by them. Have you calculated how much loss that would have resulted?"

Cao Bokun said coldly, "Therefore, we must use certain methods to give them a break."

"The changes in Yu Province far exceeded our expectations, which is why we lost our initiative. But if we are given more time to adjust our plans, it's hard to say who suffered the loss."

"So this time, if they dare to come, we dare to talk."

"The longer you chat, the better."

After thinking it over, Cao Ying decided to suppress her anger.

I've listened to my older brother for so many years, how could I possibly be wrong to listen to him again?

But if this delaying tactic drags on for too long, won't it put us at risk?

Back then, Patriarch Jiaoli, as the God of the Pear Garden, vied for the influence of the Five Chang Gods over the opera troupe.

Back then, the sects that worshipped Patriarch Jiaoli were not ruthless enough or loyal enough. They only thought about delaying, thinking that the Five Rampancies were too big a target and would be attacked by all sides sooner or later.

But what happened? The Patriarch Jiaoli was first swallowed up by the Five Rampancies and suppressed for so many years.

Even now, separated from the rest of us, there is no chance for revenge.

Upon realizing this, Cao Ying was filled with rage.

He didn't even want to think about the Cao Family being swallowed up because of this delay!

Cao Ying was usually a person whose face would turn blue when he got angry, and when he first gained divine power, the blue color was even more obvious.

Lately, however, he has become increasingly angry, yet his expression remains unchanged.

Seeing that he had calmed down, Cao Bokun didn't say anything more.

The group was almost at the Presidential Palace.

The area around the mansion was completely silent, with all doors and windows closed.

"Um?!"

Cao Bokun slowed his pace and scanned his surroundings.

Ordinary people should hold their breath when they see them, so as not to offend the nobles.

However, the people living around this mansion were all wealthy.

There were important military and political figures, influential figures in the literary world who were specially kept, and also experts, sorcerers, divine doctors, and foreign doctors gathered by the Cao Family.

These people are worlds apart from ordinary people.

When Cao Bokun used to live here, he was happy to have people from the neighborhood come out to greet him whenever he went out, unless it was something urgent.

This was exactly what the people wanted, and it suited his wishes perfectly.

But why is it so deserted today?

"Seventh Brother, I told you to be more discreet with these people when you're handling things. Have you bothered them again?"

"No."

Cao Ying also found it strange, so she simply walked to a door and knocked on it.

Hey, this doorman is so lazy! He knocked on the door three or four times, but no one responded.

When someone inside finally unlatched the door, Cao Ying kicked it open.

"You lazy, good-for-nothing!"

The man was kicked and tumbled into the courtyard, crashing into the screen wall. He cried out twice in pain, then rolled on the ground, his voice growing muffled.

Cao Bokun suspected that he had kicked the man to death, but with a glance, he could tell that the man had at most broken two ribs and no internal organs were damaged.

That's strange.

The pain of broken bones is something no ordinary person can endure.

After breaking his ribs, the man became muffled and stopped shouting.

Cao Bokun turned directly past the screen wall and walked into the courtyard.

Sitting in the main room was an elderly Western man with curly, silver hair, dressed in a long gown, playing with a snuff bottle in his hand, slumped in his chair.

"Sir Henry, it's been a long time."

Cao Bokun glanced at it and laughed, "Why do you look so listless today?"

The old foreigner responded, but instead of getting up, he wiped away his tears.

"It's Lord Cao! I'm so sorry for not greeting you properly. Alas, I've come from afar, a traveler far from home."

"As long as I remain on this land, wherever I meet distinguished guests, I should be considered to be giving them a warm welcome."

Cao Bokun asked doubtfully, "Sir, could it be that you are homesick?"

"Homesick? Not really, there's nothing special about my hometown."

This old foreigner was a passionate antique enthusiast, often collecting Divine Land by the boxful.

Although he lived in the capital, he would often go to the remote mountain villages outside the capital; he was a very energetic guy.

Why do you look so lifeless now, and why do you speak so slowly, taking your time with every word?

Guo Baozhi quickly said, "These people heard that we had made offerings to the two great gods, Jiaoli Pear and the Ghost King, and went to pay homage to their divine countenances. They must still be immersed in those memories and haven't recovered yet."

Cao Bokun remained unmoved.

"I see."

Cao Bokun looked back at everyone and suddenly said, "What about Yuanzai True Person? When he was in charge of the Five Rampancies Dharma Sect, even though every household in the capital worshipped the Five Rampancies, there were no major problems."

Worshipping the Five Rampancies may increase desires for killing and windfall gains.

But for those who have lived in Beijing for a long time, it's not surprising that everyone has some way to vent their frustrations.

Moreover, the Five Chang Gods had high standards back then. Unless someone was a cultivator or a martial arts master who had entered the gate of martial arts, it would not respond to anyone who worshipped it.

Now that the three gods are standing together, they should be able to control each other more effectively, so why does it seem like something bad is going on?

Cao Ying said, "Yuanzai's old wounds are difficult to heal, and he is currently focusing on recuperating."

"Did you fail to provide the Yuanzai True Person with all the precious medicines from the treasure trove?"

Cao Bokun said unhappily, "Very well, I will go see him personally later. I must make sure he fully recovers from his injuries before the peace talks begin, so as not to disappoint this old minister."

Guo Baozhi sensed Cao Bokun's wariness, but he still just smiled.

He did try to provoke Cao Bokun, but the man's aura was extremely imposing, and he probably had already managed to control Cao Cao's Origin Canon power.

It's not wise to rush things.

Let's wait and see. When peace talks begin, there might be an opportunity for someone else to benefit.

On the day Cao Bokun returned to Beijing, newspapers began publishing selections from his diary extensively.

Advocating that citizens be dignified, self-reliant, diligent, and hardworking will surely bring them good fortune.

If the peace talks are successful, the Han Prefecture and Jiangdong will extinguish their ambitions, and the world will be peaceful and prosperous overnight, with the people living in peace and contentment.

Wherever the newspapers went, there seemed to be a lot of discussion.

In contrast, the capital city was strangely uneventful.

This place is still bustling, of course.

Restaurants and theaters are still bustling with customers, and the streets are teeming with rickshaw pullers and newspaper boys.

However, many of the wealthiest gentlemen and ladies seem to be less active than before.

In just a few days, there were even more incidents of murder committed in the streets in a fit of rage, and as the news spread, people became even more tense.

Ten days after Cao Bokun returned to Beijing.

Chu Tianshu appeared outside the capital.

Behind him was a long convoy of cars in the countryside, and beside him was a wooden box almost as tall as a person, with the wind rustling the grass around him.

Even before he entered the city, he seemed to be able to sense its atmosphere.

Sun Feng'an leaned out of the car window. "Why did you suddenly get out of the car?"

"Experience the wind here."

Chu Tianshu gazed at the city, stretched out his hand in the wind as if grabbing a handful of the wind's tail, examined it closely, and suddenly smiled.

"I once saw a small city where the feng shui energy was so varied and chaotic it was outrageous."

"But those auras are still lifeless."

"And this city before us... it really piques my curiosity. If we drag this out for six months, will they start fighting each other first?"

Cai Shanjun also opened the car door and got out.

"Cao Bokun is no ordinary man; he will eventually turn his blade against us."

Cai Shanjun carried his guqin, saying, "Besides, even if we see bloodshed in the capital, I'm afraid ninety-nine percent of the time it will come from people who shouldn't have shed that blood."

Chu Tianshu smiled and patted the red sandalwood box beside him.

This box contains six famous longswords that have been passed down in Jiangdong: White Rainbow, Purple Lightning, Evil-Warding Sword, Meteor, Azure Darkness, and Hundred Li.

There are also three knives.

During the Jian'an period, Cao Pi ordered the creation of three Hundred-Forged Treasure Sabers, one of which was four feet three inches and six fen long, weighed three catties and six liang, and was decorated with patterns resembling a divine tortoise, and was named Spirit Treasure.

The second one resembles the color of cinnabar Hidden Splendor and is named Danxia. It is four feet three inches and three-tenths inches long and weighs three catties and ten taels.

Its third edge is like bright frost, the blade and hilt are called Plain Substance, it is four feet three inches long and weighs two pounds nine ounces.

But these three swords and six blades are all from people who are utterly devoid of wisdom and compassion.

The main object inside the box is a healing sword imbued with a spirit.

"That's right, my Sanqi is very picky now, just like me, it doesn't like that strong, fishy smell that's hard to distinguish between black and white."

"Let's go into town!"

(End of this chapter)