Zhu Tian: A journey of spiritual practice starting from Joy of Life

Chapter 284 The Mirage is About to Begin

Leng Feibai was immediately speechless by Xiaomeng's words, and looked at his junior sister with a strange expression.

Xiaomeng burst out laughing when she saw Leng Feibai's embarrassed expression.

"Don't you know whether I'm married or not!"

Leng Feibai raised his hand and flicked the forehead again, saying irritably, "Before coming to Tianzong, I was only fifteen years old. After coming to Tianzong, I was either in seclusion or guiding disciples in their cultivation. I didn't have any free time."

Xiaomeng winced in pain, clutched her forehead, and glared at Leng Feibai with a complaint.

Upon seeing Xiaomeng's gaze, Leng Feibai felt a headache coming on; he was all too familiar with that resentful look.

He had seen it in the eyes of Sang Wen, Si Lili, and Qin Hongmian back then.

As for Haitang Duoduo, sorry, she has always been straightforward and speaks her mind directly, never resorting to such tricks.

This is also why Leng Feibai's favorite flower is the crabapple blossom.

"Junior sister!"

Leng Feibai said helplessly, "Here's a suggestion: just say what you want to say. I don't like guessing!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Xiaomeng and the four women who were watching Leng Feibai from another dimension all showed speechless expressions.

"Hundreds of years have passed, and this guy's personality hasn't changed at all!"

Haitang Duoduo covered her head and said, "This guy, I really don't know what his junior sister likes about him!"

Looking at Haitang Duoduo's expression, Si Lili chuckled, "Perhaps, like you, Duoduo, you've been won over by your husband's excellent cooking."

"Lili, you're joking with me again!"

Haitang Duoduo put down the apple in her hand, turned around and pounced on Silili to tickle her.

Sang Wen and Qin Hongmian exchanged a glance and shrugged helplessly.

Sang Wen then said, "Don't forget, Fifth Sister was raised by her husband since she was a child, so it's not surprising that she likes him!"

"Sang Wen, you called too early!"

Haitang Duoduo let Si Lili go, saying, "Whether this little girl will become our fifth sister is still uncertain!"

"Who knows!"

Qin Hongmian smiled and said, "My husband never thought of marrying me at first, but in the end, he still ended up with me."

After hearing this, Haitang Duoduo did not reply. She picked up the apple she had just been munching on and continued eating.

"Brother!"

Looking at Leng Feibai's face, Xiaomeng couldn't help but say, "I'm very curious, how did you manage to marry your first four wives with your personality?"

"I don't want to answer that question!"

Leng Feibai didn't say anything more, but turned to look in the direction of Xianyang City and said, "The Qin army's attack on the Mo family's mechanical city failed this time, and Ying Zheng is probably furious. I estimate that a second wave of envoys will arrive in Xianyang City soon."

As soon as he finished speaking, Leng Feibai seemed to remember something and turned to Xiaomeng, asking, "By the way, how is Senior Brother Chisongzi?"

Xiaomeng's expression darkened upon hearing this, and she shook her head, saying, "It's probably going to happen in the next few days. The other senior brothers have already gone to prepare for Senior Brother Chisongzi's funeral!"

Leng Feibai didn't say anything after hearing this, and turned to look at the horizon.

A storm is brewing, but who knows when that wrecked ship, Mirage, will set sail?

Two hours later, inside Xianyang Palace, the battle report delivered by Gongshu Chou's mechanical bird landed on Ying Zheng's desk.

"boom"

With a loud crash, the enraged Ying Zheng swept all the bamboo slips off the table and onto the ground.

Below, Li Si knelt on the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably.

At this moment, they already knew that Wei Zhuang was no match for Gai Nie, and led the people of Liu Sha to retreat.

And reports of the Qin soldiers who attacked the Mechanized City suffering heavy losses, and the complete annihilation of the Six Sword Slaves and the Luo Wang assassins.

This battle report ignited Ying Zheng's anger, and he immediately launched into a tirade against Li Si.

After a moment, seeing that Ying Zheng remained silent, Li Si tentatively said, "Your Majesty, although this attack on the Mo family's mechanical city was unsuccessful, the Mo family's hiding place has been exposed. As long as we send another large army there, surround them without attacking, and drag it out until their supplies are exhausted, we can take the opportunity to attack the city and kill them in one fell swoop."

Ying Zheng listened to Li Si's reply, his eyes flashing with a cold light, but before he could speak, a palace attendant suddenly rushed in.

"Your Majesty, the Right Grand Preceptor, Lord Xinghun, has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng immediately shifted his gaze from Li Si to the eunuch and uttered a single word.

"Xuan!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xinghun, accompanied by a palace attendant, entered the hall and knelt down on both knees.

"Your subject Xinghun greets Your Majesty."

Ying Zheng looked at the Star Soul below and said calmly, "Right Grand Preceptor, you may rise. But the Eastern Emperor has something to tell me."

Xinghun raised his head, and a sinister tone flew from his mouth.

"The Mo family's leader has already been afflicted by my Yin-Yang school's Six Souls Curse, and he probably won't live much longer. As for the remaining remnants, they're like grasshoppers in autumn, they won't be able to hop around for much longer."

Upon hearing this, a glint of shrewdness flashed across Ying Zheng's face. "Oh, so the Mohists won't be a problem for our Great Qin in the future?"

"The Mohist school is now nothing more than a minor ailment, not a real problem."

Xinghun's sinister voice remained undiminished, "Furthermore, Lord Donghuang asked me to convey to His Majesty that all the conditions for launching the Mirage Project have been met."

As soon as these words were spoken, Ying Zheng's calm expression instantly turned excited, and he stood up abruptly.

"Project Mirage can begin."

Ying Zheng said excitedly, "So, the Yin-Yang School will soon be able to find the elixir of immortality for me, allowing me to live forever."

"good."

Looking at Ying Zheng, Xinghun continued, "The Mirage will soon be able to travel to Sanghai. We will have to trouble Your Majesty to wait a few more days."

The moment the words "Sanghai" were uttered, it was as if Li Si had been handed a lifeline.

Li Si quickly seized the opportunity and knelt down again, saying, "Your Majesty, the Left Grand Preceptor just mentioned Sanghai, and I have something I must say."

Upon seeing Li Si's expression, Ying Zheng immediately suppressed his excitement and reverted to his previous serious demeanor, asking, "What does the Prime Minister wish to say?"

Hearing Ying Zheng's tone, Li Si tried to calm himself down and quickly said, "The Mohist school has declined, but there is still the Confucian school, which is one of the two major schools of thought. They are based in Xiaoshengxianzhuang near Sanghai City."

Upon hearing the word "Confucianism," Ying Zheng's expression immediately turned sour. "Confucians use literature to disrupt the law, and knights-errant use martial arts to break the law."

Ying Zheng looked at Li Si and said, "Our Great Qin relies on Legalism to govern the country. These Confucian scholars are indeed not conducive to the stability of Great Qin. However, now that the Mo family's mechanical city has been breached, it is enough to intimidate those Confucian scholars."

Upon hearing this, Li Si immediately knelt on the ground and said, "For the long-term peace and stability of the Great Qin, I am willing to go to Sanghai City to warn Xiaoshengxianzhuang, so as to prevent them from harboring rebellious intentions."

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng felt as if he had drunk a bowl of honey water, and his dissatisfaction with Li Si lessened somewhat.

Thinking of this, Ying Zheng's tone softened somewhat, "Then I'll trouble the Prime Minister to make a trip to Sanghai to oversee the Mirage Project and, incidentally, to find out the situation at Little Sage Village. Also..."

At this point, Ying Zheng's tone changed slightly, and he said seriously, "You and the Right Grand Preceptor will go ahead to Sanghai City to check the situation. After some time, I will send Fusu and the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office with the elite of the Luo Wang and Ying Mi Wei to Sanghai City to support you." As soon as these words were spoken, Li Si's heart was stirred.

The Shadow Guard and the Net were arguably Ying Zheng's right-hand men.

This time, Ying Zheng actually sent them all to Sanghai City.

This shows how much Ying Zheng valued the Mirage project.

"Your subject understands..."

Before Li Si could finish speaking, another eunuch rushed in, "Your Majesty, Prince Fusu has arrived!"

The moment those words were spoken, everyone present was stunned.

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng's eyes flashed with doubt, then he waved his hand and said, "You may all leave. I need to speak with Fusu alone!"

After saying this, Li Si and the others didn't say anything more and turned to leave.

At the palace gate, Fusu and Li Si and others met.

After exchanging greetings, those who were to enter the hall went in, and those who were to leave left.

"Fusu!"

Ying Zheng looked at his kneeling son, waved for him to rise, and then said, "What brings you here to see me?"

"Father!"

Fusu cupped his hands and said, "Your subject has heard that the army has encountered trouble in its attack on the Mo family's mechanical city..."

Before Fusu could finish speaking, Ying Zheng interrupted him, saying, "The Mohists will soon no longer be a problem for my Great Qin."

These words immediately shut down Fusu's words.

Upon hearing this, Fusu quickly changed the subject, "Father, although the Mohists are no longer a threat to Qin, the Taoist lineage has long decided to join forces with the Mohists against Qin. In that case, Father should make a decision as soon as possible!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of relief flashed across Ying Zheng's face. He also recalled the Taoist master from the Heavenly Sect that Fusu had mentioned to him not long ago after returning from Mount Taiyi.

"Are you sure Qingyangzi is willing to descend the mountain and help the Great Qin to subdue the Daoist Human Sect?"

Fusu quickly replied, "When I last visited the Heavenly Sect, I saw the sect leader, Chisongzi, and found him to be as frail as a candle in the wind. After secretly inquiring, I learned that after the battle at the Guanmiao Terrace between the Heavenly and Human Sects, Chisongzi was injured by Xiaoyaozi, leaving him with a chronic illness that was difficult to recover from. As a result, the entire Heavenly Sect harbors deep hatred for Xiaoyaozi, the sect leader of the Human Sect. Furthermore, the Snow Clearing Sword, which is of utmost importance to both the Heavenly and Human Sects, is still in the hands of the Human Sect. Therefore, I am 70% confident that I can persuade the Heavenly Sect to come down the mountain to help us."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ying Zheng's lips curled up slightly. "Since you're prepared, then go ahead and do it. In a while, there's an important matter that requires your attention in Sanghai City. Once you return from Tianzong, you can set off for Sanghai City."

After hearing this, Fusu bowed again, turned around and left the palace.

But neither Ying Zheng nor anyone else knew that at that moment, a moth the size of a fingernail was perched on the roof beam directly above the palace, eavesdropping on everything that was happening inside.

Meanwhile, in Tianzong's room, Leng Feibai chatted with the nearly dying Chisongzi for a few minutes before receiving a message from the clone he had sent to Xianyang.

Leaning against the wall, Chi Songzi, his eyes glazed over, looked at Leng Feibai and coughed a few times.

Leng Feibai snapped out of his daze, quickly poured a glass of water, and brought it to Chisongzi.

"no need!"

Chisongzi refused in a low voice, "Junior Brother Qingyang, from now on, Tianzong will be in your hands and Junior Sister Xiaomeng's care."

"Brother!"

Leng Feibai put down his teacup and said, "If Ying Zheng wants us to deal with the Human Sect, what should we do?"

"Now that the sect leader is Junior Sister Xiaomeng, you should go and discuss it with her."

After Chishongzi finished speaking, he instinctively wanted to lie down.

Leng Feibai stepped forward to help him and tucked the blanket around Chisongzi.

"From now on, I'll be leaving the Heavenly Sect in your care, junior sister!"

After Chishongzi finished speaking, he quietly closed his eyes. Only Leng Feibai's presence remained in the room.

Goodnight, senior brother, sweet dreams!

After Leng Feibai finished speaking, he stood up and left the room.

Outside the room, all the elders of the Heavenly Sect, including Xiaomeng, were waiting.

As soon as Leng Feibai came out, everyone went up to him.

Let's send our senior brother on his way!

Leng Feibai remained silent and closed his eyes.

Upon hearing this, a moment of sadness appeared on the faces of the elders, and then they dispersed.

Before long, the disciples who had prepared in advance carried a stretcher into the house, helped Chisongzi wash his body, and carried him to a pile of firewood on the edge of a cliff behind the Tianzong Mountain.

The Heavenly Sect believes in following the natural order. When a member of the sect dies, they are cremated here on this cliff, and their ashes are scattered into the river below the cliff and carried away by the river.

Looking at the red pine cones on the pile of firewood, Leng Feibai sighed, took the torch from a disciple beside him, and his loud voice echoed throughout the entire cliff.

"Gazing afar at the leisurely misty clouds, the seven-colored sunset shines with its splendor. A sorrowful longing arises, for where is the voice and countenance of the departed? Brother, may you rest in peace!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Leng Feibai threw out a torch, letting the raging flames burn Chisongzi's body to ashes.
As Chisongzi's ashes were washed away by the stream below the cliff, Xiaomeng and the rest of the Tianzong group bowed in reverence before dispersing.

That evening, at Leng Feibai's residence.

Xiaomeng and Leng Feibai sat at the dining table in the courtyard, silently eating the food in their bowls.

"Brother!"

Xiaomeng swallowed the food in her mouth and looked at Leng Feibai, asking, "What do you think Xianyang will do next?"

"That depends on how long the Mohists can hold out!"

Leng Feibai casually said, "If the Mohists are still resisting, then Ying Zheng will have to increase his troops to wipe them out as soon as possible. But if the Mohists are destroyed, then Ying Zheng should take action against the Little Sage Village in Sanghai City. After all, the relationship between Legalism and Confucianism is not good."

Xiaomeng nodded after hearing this, and Leng Feibai changed the subject, asking, "When is your ceremony to take over as sect leader scheduled?"

"Ten days later!"

After Xiaomeng finished speaking, she put down the empty bowl in her hand, looked up at Leng Feibai and said, "Senior brother, what do you think about the Human Sect's affairs?"

Leng Feibai listened and remained silent for a while before saying, "You are the leader of the Heavenly Sect, and it is your business how you decide. I'm listening, but I want to remind you of one thing. Don't get too close to the imperial court, otherwise the Heavenly Sect will eventually become a weapon in their hands to eliminate dissidents."

Xiaomeng nodded after hearing this, then got up and left Leng Feibai's courtyard.

After Xiaomeng left, Leng Feibai fell into deep thought.

The three clones he had left behind in the Mechanized City had already relayed the news that Yan Dan had been afflicted by the Six Souls Curse back in the afternoon.

But to Leng Feibai's surprise, Yan Dan did not pass on his life's work to Jing Tianming before his death. Instead, he passed it on to Ji Yan and made him temporarily assume the position of Grand Master.

Then, just like in the drama, Ji Yan had the Azure Dragon mechanical beast activated and everyone evacuated the Mo Family Mechanical City, heading towards Sanghai City.

Sensing the message transmitted by his clone, Leng Feibai shook his head and said nothing more. He then instructed his clone, who was lurking in Xianyang City, to go and check on the Luo Wang organization. After all, with the Six Sword Slaves dead, who was the guy now following Zhao Gao?

(End of this chapter)