girl let me check

Chapter 481 Proof Before the Lamp
"Wei Han once advised me to eliminate the powerful families as soon as possible, and I regret that I did not listen to him."

"Unfortunately... it's too late to regret it."

The golden bell shattered, and Fang Qianyi's illusory figure vanished, but Fang Tang, standing before the shards scattered on the ground, remained in a daze for a long time.

She was still trying to process the shocking secret she had just heard.

It turns out that Fang Qianyi had indeed considered eliminating the aristocratic families, but he lost his leverage because the demonic seed in his trusted lieutenants had entered his body, so he had no choice but to fight the aristocratic families to bring peace to the world.

It turns out that the Northern Expedition in the third year of the Kaiwu era was not a disastrous defeat as recorded in history books. On the contrary, the Great Zhou army severely damaged the foreign cavalry, preventing them from invading the empire's northern border for a thousand years. Their demise was actually due to Fang Qianyi's blood sacrifice.

And then there's Buddhism... It turns out that behind the massive anti-Buddhist campaign of the seventh year of the Kaiwu era, there was actually such a consideration.

The girl stood before a pile of golden fragments, the light from the Taiji Hall's roof casting dappled patterns, her black hair turning orange.

"Grandpa Sword Saint," she murmured to herself, "did you know about these things...?"

"know."

Gu Cangluan's figure appeared like a ghost.

“When Emperor Wu was still alive, I served as the Palace Inspector for a long time and carried out many missions for him.” Gu Cangluan looked up, the underground palace dome still closed as iron. “Compared with those who laid the foundation for the empire, I am just a junior.”

“But they all left before me… The strategist disappeared without a trace, General Xun died in the northern desert, and even His Majesty could not withstand the karmic fire and died in his prime. By a twist of fate, only I, the nameless person who had always followed behind them, became the last person to know these secrets.”

Fang Tang's eyes stung with tears. She heard the weight of time and despair in Gu Cangluan's words. This Mingwu, who appeared at the very beginning of the Great Zhou Dynasty, had unknowingly protected the empire for a full thousand years.

"Is there... anything else you want to tell me?"

“One last thing.” Gu Cangluan nodded, turned and walked towards the rear hall. “Please follow me, Your Majesty.”

Fang Tang then noticed that, compared to the Changming Southern Palace, the Taiji Hall in this underground palace had an additional rear hall that had never been there before.

Gu Cangluan pushed open the door, and a heavy, rotten smell wafted out, revealing the scene inside the hall.

Fang Tang's breathing became slightly erratic, and her eyes trembled.

The hall was several tens of feet square, covered with a jade pool with gold trim. Inside the hall, in the jade pool, were rows of white bones, numbering about a thousand.

With their spines tilted forward and hands clasped together, everyone does it without exception.

Brown fabric remnants still remain on the skeletons, and a pagoda stands in the center of the jade pool, accompanied by the skeletons, majestic yet eerie.

"This is……"

“Tianlong Temple in Luoyang was the largest temple in the previous dynasty, known as the Buddhist sect of the world.” Gu Cangluan sighed, “In the seventh year of Kaiwu, His Majesty wanted to destroy Buddhism, and Tianlong Temple was the first to be targeted. I led the Imperial Guards to Luoyang, blocked the streets and roads, and tried to minimize the impact of this matter.”

"But when I led my men into the temple, I found that all the monks were already sitting peacefully in the courtyard under the abbot's leadership. I asked the abbot what he meant, but he did not answer. He just sat quietly in the center of the courtyard, holding his robe, with his head bowed and eyes closed."

"We had no choice but to carry out His Majesty's orders, so we massacred Tianlong Temple. The abbot of Tianlong Temple was a highly accomplished Buddhist practitioner at the time, and I thought it would be a fierce battle. But who knew..." Gu Cangluan paused, then sighed sadly, "Including him, none of the monks of Tianlong Temple offered any resistance, and they all offered their necks to be slaughtered."

"It wasn't until all the monks were killed that I saw a poem written in gold powder on the wall inside the temple."

"Already feeling the wrath of Heaven, I still act with righteous courage. I testify before the lamp of Buddhist verses, and my heart shines with the incense of death."

"Death together makes it clear..."

Fang Tang pondered the poem for a moment, and a guess had already formed in her mind.

"These monks... already know about the predicament of our ancestors?" She pursed her lips, her feelings somewhat complicated.

“If I don’t go to hell, who will?” Gu Cangluan shook his head. “Since they had guessed that His Majesty was unwilling to give up his legacy, these monks chose to die to put their minds at ease, so as to prevent the newly settled world from being plunged into bloodshed again.”

"I've long heard that Buddhists cultivate a clear and tranquil mind, but I never imagined they could take life and death so lightly." Looking at the piles of white bones before him, Fang Tang felt heavy-hearted and said softly, "They are the heroes of the Great Zhou."

"Beneath the dragon throne lie countless bones, yet these people were able to be transformed into relics and buried in the Chengling Mausoleum," Gu Cangluan said. "If this crisis can be resolved, I urge Your Majesty to clear their names."

"This is also... the last wish of the Martial Emperor."

Fang Tang nodded solemnly, making the matter a promise: "I will."

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

At the end of the street, the bell tolled; it was already three-tenths of the morning.

Gu Cangluan coughed heavily: "Your Majesty, you should go."

"It's still early, why don't I chat with you a little longer?"

"The fortune of the Chengling Mausoleum is so strong that it is necessary to distort space and time to retain it. Although only a moment has passed inside, seven days have passed in the outside world."

"Seven days?" Fang Tang was shocked.

Fortunately, I had anticipated this situation and informed Ling Wan beforehand. But if they can't find me for seven days... won't my teachers be frantic with worry?

She hurriedly took out the Bright Moon Reed Catkins, but as expected, communication was blocked. Just as she was turning back in disappointment, she saw the sword tassel at the end of the jade pendant in her hand gleaming faintly.

This is... a keepsake given to me by my teacher.

The tassel of the sword flashed, proving that its connection with the teacher's Zhaoyuan sword had not been severed, which also meant that the teacher could sense that there was no major problem on his side.

Fang Tang felt much more at ease instantly.

Gu Cangluan escorted Fang Tang all the way to the exit of the underground palace, and said goodbye, "This old man is too weak to leave the underground palace. The responsibility of saving the world is now entrusted to Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will take care."

Fang Tang asked, "Grandpa Sword Saint, do you plan to stay here forever?"

“Heh…” Gu Cangluan was silent for a moment, then laughed, “In a thousand years, my relatives and friends, my king and the country have all turned to dust, leaving me to live on alone. This is a feeling that I really cannot bear any longer.”

"Now that the task entrusted to me by the Martial Emperor has been completed, I have nothing left to regret."

Fang Tang was extremely anxious. Did Gu Cangluan mean he wanted to pass away peacefully? This was absolutely unacceptable!
We need to think of a way to dissuade the old man from this idea.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind: "Grandpa Sword Saint, I know your descendants. In terms of seniority, she should be your granddaughter from more than ten generations away. The Qi Cang Sword is in her hands."

"She is also a genius in martial arts. At the age of twenty, her destiny was declining, yet she still broke through to the seventh level."

"Oh?" Gu Cangluan was taken aback, his gaze becoming intense, clearly intrigued. "Does she know Gu Jian?"

"I think so." Fang Tang nodded confidently. "After I've dealt with this important matter, I'll bring her to Grandpa to see, how about that?"

Gu Cangluan clasped his hands in thanks: "Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful."

"Oh, not at all." Fang Tang quickly waved her hand, then asked cautiously, "Grandpa Sword Saint, do you... have any worries now?"

"Heh... Your Majesty is as fond of joking as ever." Gu Cangluan laughed heartily. "Living a few more years is no different from living. Since Your Majesty has spoken so earnestly, this old man will naturally comply."

"Okay, it's a deal."

Fang Tang smiled and returned the greeting to the old man.

As the outside light intensified, she took one last look at the desolate yet magnificent Chengling Mausoleum. The girl silently murmured in her heart, "Ancestor... I will fulfill your wishes, I will save our Great Zhou Dynasty. I will."

……

……

On the ninth day of the eleventh month, outside Luoyang City.

Today is the day for peace talks between the two countries. The Zhou delegation arrived early at the altar north of Luoyang to await the arrival of the Northern Desert delegation.

"Any news from the imperial mausoleum?" Fang Weihan asked in a low voice.

"No." Xiao Jin shook her head helplessly. "After Fang Tang entered the Chengling underground palace, it was as if she had vanished into thin air. Not a single message could be sent out. Even our Xuanzhong Guards can't get in. Who knows what her situation is like inside?"

“Both the tassel of the Zhaoyuan Sword and the bright moon reeds indicate that her vital signs are normal. She may have encountered some situation that prevents her from leaving,” Fang Weihan guessed. “Wait two more days, and after the peace talks are over, I will go down to find her.”

"Didn't they say that no one except the Emperor of the Great Zhou is allowed to enter the Chengling Mausoleum?" Xiao Jin squinted her eyes and poked him with a grin.

"I am the retired emperor," Fang Weihan explained succinctly.

“You guys with the surname Fang are really perverted…” Xiao Jin arched her delicate eyebrows and licked her lips lightly, “But I quite like Brother Fang like this.”

Fang Weihan glared at her: "We have important business to attend to today, so stop causing trouble."

He was afraid that Xiao Jin would do something outrageous at the peace talks—or rather, given her personality, it was very likely.

"Okay," Xiao Jin snorted and turned to walk away.

Fang Weihan was located five miles outside the altar, with the Zhou army formation behind him consisting of the Eastern Palace Guards, the Changming Imperial Guards, and the Xuanzhong Guards. However, the civil and military officials led by Xie Lingwan and the Changyuan Iron Guards led by Tao Yan and Tao Yunjiang were not there; they were at the altar further back.

This was also a prior arrangement between the Zhou and the Northern Desert sides, so that if the situation changed and the Northern Desert was not sincere in its peace talks, both sides could provide timely support.

Beneath the dust, banners fluttered, and the Great Zhou army stood in formation on both sides of the road, ready for battle. A troop of light cavalry galloped in from the east, and the leading general dismounted.

"Commander Wei," Chen Yu said, clasping his hands in greeting, "The main delegation of the Northern Desert delegation is already ten miles away, including Tuoba Liang, Tuoba Liu, and Murong Hui. Shall we go and greet them?"

"No, let's wait for them to come by themselves."

Chen Yuxian and the others smiled knowingly and clasped their hands in greeting: "Yes, sir."

After a long while, around noon, when the sun was high in the sky, the Northern Desert delegation finally arrived late.

To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, Fang Weihan had ordered the evacuation of residents within twenty miles north of Luojing City. The sky was clear at this moment, and from his vantage point, the formation of the nomadic tribes was clearly visible.

Lightly armored cavalry led the way, their banners embroidered with the sunset and eagle totem of the Tuoba royal court; dozens of chariots, pulled by rhinoceros horses, moved through the formation, with the brown-yellow carriage belonging to Tuoba Liang; the jet-black Vajra Iron Cavalry brought up the rear, their hooves striking the ground with a sound like muffled thunder.

Upon witnessing the foreign army, many of the new recruits under the Eastern Palace Guards murmured amongst themselves.

"These alien races have so many Vajra warriors? What are they trying to do by bringing them all here? Show off their power?" Chen Yuxian said disdainfully.

Master Zhao clicked his tongue in amazement: "It seems that the battle of Xiangyang only caused them minor damage, but it didn't truly convince them."

“The number of Vajra is only a little over a hundred, which should not be their entire strength. And those who died under the walls of Xiangyang were all elites of the Shangyuan royal family. To the foreigners, it is indeed not a place to bury their bones.” Fang Weihan looked at the Tuoba chariot in the grassland army formation. “However, if they really have the intention of suppressing the momentum of our Great Zhou, then do as we said yesterday.”

"Yes!" The generals clasped their hands in a fist salute.

The alien vanguard split into two groups, and the royal chariot slowly came to a stop below the high platform. Fang Weihan and the others jumped down, and amidst the rising dust, the yellow canopy of the chariot was lifted, and the two stepped down from the platform, coming face to face with them.

One man was imposing, with a scar near his eye, bare-chested, and muscular, with a luxurious crescent-shaped dagger that looked like it was cast in gold hanging at his waist. The other man wore a black mantle with an indigo wolf totem embroidered on the collar, and his narrow eyes were fixed on Fang Weihan like a venomous snake lurking in the grass.

Fang Weihan recognized the two men: Chanyu Tuoba Liang and strategist Murong Hui.

With a smile, Tuoba Liang raised his hand and punched his left chest with his fist, as if it were a grassland etiquette.

"The King of Guangling of the Great Zhou Dynasty is truly... seeing is believing."

"You flatter me, Chanyu." Fang Weihan's expression was calm and composed, neither humble nor arrogant. "Military Advisor Murong has been scrutinizing me ever since. Is it because I am honored?"

These words were quite impolite, so much so that the Xiongnu guards beside Tuoba Liang looked displeased, their murderous aura surging, and their hands were already resting on the hilts of their swords.

"What do you want?!"

Chen Yuxian and the others immediately drew their swords half an inch away, coldly facing the people from the grassland.

Murong Hui said in a gloomy tone, "Your Highness is joking. I just want to see what kind of young talent could personally kill the two leaders of my grasslands, Helian and Yuwen, and even someone like Wang Boguang would fall to your hand."

"I heard that Strategist Murong was burned by dragon fire in Ye City and was seriously injured. Now that I have seen him, I thought he had already recovered."

Fang Weihan chuckled.

"It seems that the strategist has damaged his eyesight and can only see a little bit, no different from a rat's eyes."

"Be bold!"

The grassland guards flew into a rage and drew their swords. Murong Hui's face turned purple, his cold eyes seeming to want to devour Fang Weihan alive. Even Tuoba Liang, who had been all smiles, now had a smirk on his face.

"Your Highness, the King of Guangling, our people have traveled here to negotiate peace with the Zhou Dynasty. Since we are seeking peace, our two nations are equals, not bound by a vassal state," Tuoba Liang said in a deep voice. "The Great Zhou has lost its manners and has wantonly insulted our people's pillars. Is this how the Central Plains dynasties treat their guests?"

The atmosphere was tense, and those further away, though unaware of what was happening, could also sense the change in the situation. Faint noises drifted on the cold wind, standing out starkly in the otherwise silent surroundings.

"guest?"

Zhao Yuan drew the sword from its sheath inch by inch, the blade gleaming with a resounding clang, its cold edge radiating divinity like the glow of the bright moon. He raised the longsword, and suddenly the sky darkened, as endless stars descended, like a celestial emperor casting a disdainful glance.

Murong Hui's sinister expression crumbled in an instant, turning into terror and disbelief.

"Oh!"

The foreign guards could no longer withstand this overwhelming divine might; their weapons fell from their hands, and they were forced to kneel and stagger on the ground within a small space.

"What do you mean by 'guest'? Do you mean those who slaughter the people of my five states are guests? Do you mean those who set fire to my Central Plains as guests?"

Carrying Zhao Yuan, Fang Weihan walked forward step by step. Tuoba Liang's forehead veins bulged, and he used all his strength as a Mingwu Seventh Rank cultivator, but he couldn't move an inch.

According to intelligence, Fang Weihan is also at the seventh level of cultivation. How could he be so powerful?
He was filled with horror and could only watch as Fang Weihan got closer and closer until he placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I have never welcomed you to set foot on my border.”

Fang Weihan pressed down on Tuoba Liang's shoulder with one hand and held the long sword horizontally in front of Murong Hui's neck with the other.

"Recognize your own identity."

He said coldly.

"Shangyuan has been destroyed, and the Lu family has rebelled. The Great Zhou has no more worries about the rear. If the foreign tribes want to fight, we don't mind accompanying them to the end."

(End of this chapter)