Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 25: Fire
Deep in the southern borderlands, south of the Lingjiang River, a giant azure bird swiftly streaked across the sky. The bird's owner, Angri, dressed in a style strikingly different from the Da Yao people. How could a proper Taoist priest like Da Yao have such an unrefined mustache, resembling rat whiskers? Clad in a blue-green feathered robe, he surveyed the surrounding mountains and terrain.

This place is called Cloud-Cutting Valley. Because the mountain range is undulating and arranged in a north-south direction, the clouds are broken into pieces here, hence the name Cloud-Cutting Valley.

The Li Huo Sect established its sect here. They carved ever-burning lamps into the cliffs on both sides of the mountain. Every night, the flames dangled like necklaces across the mountains, a magnificent sight. However, he wasn't there to admire the scenery. During their migration from beyond the heavens, he and his people were afflicted by the "Primordial Wind," their bodies crystallizing uncontrollably. The flying beasts they brought from the Haotian Realm had also mutated, forcing them to be mostly disposed of.

Although both originated from the Haotian Realm, Angri's branch did not choose to merge with Pu'e's branch. There are two reasons for this.

Firstly, the Dragonborn protected themselves well when traversing the Primordial Winds, so they did not suffer severe Primordial Transformation. However, the Ravenfolk, with their scout characteristics and frequent role as pioneers, were exposed to the Primordial Winds more often, resulting in more severe Transformation. They need to recuperate in a peaceful environment.

Secondly, the Dragonborn chose to descend from a point very close to the Great Yao Dynasty. This strategic deployment, so close to the core power of the Xi Human Realm, makes it difficult to avoid conflict with local forces. And if the conflict escalates, the Hunyuan Wind from outside could take advantage of the situation. Moreover, the Dragonborn are too powerful, and Ang Ri doesn't want to be driven by them again after returning to the Xi Human Realm.

Indeed, the Xiren Realm is also one of the origins of the Yaren. Ten thousand years ago, the Yaren were a major tribe in the southern border region.

Even now, traces of their own race can still be found in the far south of the Southern Frontier, in the region of the Rich Sea, where the Feathered People's Kingdom is located. However, after ten thousand years of separation, the racial and cultural differences between the Crow People and the Feathered People are even greater than the differences between the immigrants from the Haotian Realm and the Great Yao People. Ang Ri has also crossed the Thorn Forest to seek help from those "kindred spirits," but those Feathered People do not consider the suddenly appearing visitors from outer space to be their own kind.

Just as Angri was reminiscing about the past, the giant bird beneath his feet let out a soft cry.

Angri patted the giant bird beneath him and asked, "Did you sense the Holy Flame's message?"

The giant bird responded: "I sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit, but it was very faint and has already departed."

This large, azure-blue bird has a wingspan of eight zhang (approximately 33 meters) and a body length comparable to that of a golden bull. Of course, the bird's size is exaggerated; in reality, its total weight does not exceed one ton. Even for a flying species, it is a behemoth. Its claws are thicker than an adult's arm and can cut through rhinoceros hide with a powerful swoop. And its beak is not the hooked beak of a raptor, but rather resembles that of a crane.

Using an Earthly species as an analogy, it's like the crested ibis. This flying monster is called the "Taiyue Luan," and it's related to the Vermilion Bird, a deity from the Southern Mountains ten thousand years ago. However, its current appearance doesn't seem to have evolved in the Xiren Realm, especially that striking wisp of blue feather—one wonders what it encountered in the Haotian Realm!
In fact, the end of the Haotian Realm was the time when the corrupting influence of the Primordial Chaos was at its strongest over the past thousand years. There were also other strange birds in the Haotian Realm, and the Taiyue Luan interbred with them, so its appearance is now different from its ancestors.

Angri flew over the Cloud-Cutting Valley, but was quickly intercepted by the red fiery clouds above the valley.

That makes sense. Phoenixes don't roost in anything but precious lands, and how come the spiritual veins where the Vermilion Bird, which has countless connections with the phoenix, has been located haven't been occupied by local forces?
Angri fell to the ground, blocked by the fiery clouds, and landed in front of the gate of Yunqie Valley. The stone tablet in front of the gate was inscribed with three large characters: Li Huo Sect.

…The perspective shifts to the north, across the north bank of the Ling River, to the area inhabited by various ethnic groups in northern Southern Xinjiang…

Outside Yongji Pass, Wu Fei led a team of eight hundred men on a tentative armed reconnaissance mission to the south.

The troops led by Wu Fei were not there for actual combat. Combat would require a massive supply of arrows and several months' worth of provisions for the entire army. Such a large-scale supply operation necessitates the construction of temporary stockades and warehouses. Even the medicine and alcohol needed for wounded soldiers would have to be considered, but none of these were available!
Moreover, preparing all of the above requires a considerable amount of manpower and resources. As Sun Tzu's Art of War states, "The expenses of the common people should be reduced by seven-tenths; the expenses of the public should be reduced by six-tenths."

Although Yongji Pass has recently made some money by setting up toll booths, Wu Fei, who is very frugal, doesn't want to squander it like that.

Wu Fei's 800-man unit carried only seven days' worth of supplies—the bare minimum. Many of these men possessed extraordinary skills; some could identify thousands of species of plants and insects in southern Xinjiang, knowing their toxicity and antidotes. Others could distinguish which streams in southern Xinjiang were drinkable and which were poisonous by smell.

Xuan Chong: As a student who has been working on projects since I was a child, I have developed a set of habitual procedures for all the jobs I do for the first time.

If the conquest of southern Xinjiang was a major exam, then this current campaign is like a mock exam.

Before leading several thousand troops deep into enemy territory, they need to first observe the situation at the entrance.

Along the way, Wu Fei strictly ordered all soldiers to maintain discipline and not to harass the local people! If it were an army of several thousand, such a "no harassment" rule would be complete nonsense. But it was acceptable now. When they encountered various ethnic groups in the southern border region, Xuan Chong would personally interrogate them, and after the interrogation, each ethnic group would give them a bag of salt and send them home.

Through such exploration, the roads and the areas of activity of various tribes were determined on the geomantic map.

In the main camp, Wu Fei took the landscape divination chart and completed the relevant information.

At the same time, he asked the sorceress Yao Sangu, who was holding a lantern, "Third Aunt, has your Lotus Fire Guiding Spell yielded any results?" (At some point, Wu Fei stopped calling her Fairy and started calling her Third Aunt directly. Of course, if they were even closer, he would call her Third Girl.)
The third aunt held up a lotus-shaped lampstand, her dignified appearance reflected in the flickering light, like a goddess in a temple.

After two cups of tea, the Third Aunt breathed a sigh of relief, removed her holy appearance, and replied to Wu Fei, "General, along the way, I have already used the magic of the mountain spirits to ensure that the army's journey is smooth and rain-free."

Wu Fei glanced at it and politely expressed his appreciation for the "method." But inwardly he thought, "Are you trying to fool me?"

However, after seeing the flames flickering on her slender fingertips and confirming that it wasn't a trick of hiding lamp oil in her palms, but rather the heat emanating from the entire mountain forest, Wu Fei temporarily believed her divination.

Wu Fei sniffed, his body's sixty-eight "body detectors" allowing him to sense the moisture and wind changes in the mountains. He could roughly determine their location based on his perception, preventing him from being completely led by the nose.

"Report!" A message came from outside the tent. Xuan Chong immediately went out to handle it. When Wu Fei saw the soldier who made the report, he knew that intelligence about the local core forces had been released.

A few minutes later, in the main camp, Wu Fei looked at the soldier, who came from a merchant background in the southern border, and after receiving the definite information, he pondered, "The Li Huo Sect?"

Wu Fei had known before that there was a group of extraordinary people gathered south of the Lingjiang River in the Southern Frontier, who worshipped fire as a sacrifice, but he was still quite surprised to find out that this group was from the Li Huo Sect.

This sect was originally a prestigious and righteous sect in the Central Plains, but a thousand years ago, it was summoned to the palace to participate in the refining of the "elixir of immortality." Some things happened, resulting in the deaths of some members of the royal family due to the elixir. The sect was labeled as an evil sect, and its lineage was changed from the original orthodox "Li Huo" to a heterodox external alchemy sect.

Since they have become a "heretical sect" and have hidden themselves in the miasma-filled southern border region, they must not be any immortal sect! The methods they employ are bizarre and dangerous.

Wu Fei had a plan in mind: This was no ordinary sect; it was a demonic sect that had gone astray and was blocking his army. He had to strike hard.

A few years ago, Wu Fei still harbored some fantasies about immortal sects, much like a loser's adoration of a goddess. Now, having gradually come to understand the irreconcilable conflict between the spirit and the demonic forces, Wu Fei felt a surge of desire to lead a large army to storm the gates of all immortal sects. Wu Fei reviewed records of miasma disasters that had occurred at Yongji Pass decades ago, the most recent record being:

In the 16th year of the reign of Emperor Xu (ten years ago), in spring, there was much miasma, and the morning sun was often foggy, making the sky dark. In the past, ferocious beasts from the deep mountains and marshes often raided villages, preying on the people and disrupting trade.

…The Li Huo Sect is indeed not some kind of immortal sect…

Angri had already entered the sect, and what he saw along the way was horrifying. The lights that appeared to surround the mountains from afar were actually lit by oil from the corpses.

At the center of the magnificent lantern array in the Cloud Cutting Valley of the Li Huo Sect, there was a huge sinkhole. The sinkhole contained extremely high heat. Beside the sinkhole, groups of servants from the Southern Frontier were pushing pulleys along the tunnel, and stone containers were being lowered down, raising clouds of dust from the tunnel.

Of course, these servants wore no shackles; they were there voluntarily, just like devout believers.

After being retrieved, the ashes were in a state of alternating black ash and red rekindling. Angri looked at the state of these servants and his eyes lit up, because although these servants varied in size, the strange state they possessed had been contracted within their bodies, a state of complete control.

Angri understood that this was the effect of the Holy Flame, which could remove the contamination of the Primordial Qi.

The warriors, their bodies glowing with red runes, lifted the stone mortar to a stone platform, where they poured ashes into the center. As the ashes spread out, a scene of black ash and reignited sparks appeared, forming a yin-yang symbol. The red sparks extinguished, turning into black ash, which was then rekindled by the red sparks, causing the yin-yang symbol to rotate.

Meanwhile, the numerous disciples of the Li Huo Sect, who resembled believers, immediately disregarded the intense heat after kneeling and began to devour the alternating ashes from the "extinguishing and reigniting" process.

Angri snapped out of his daze and looked at the disciples of the Li Huo Sect. He sensed a surge of vitality emanating from them.

An evil aura emanated from the cave. Ang Ri frowned, because he had sensed something similar in the Haotian Realm. In the western part of the Haotian Realm, there was a group of beings that sustained their lives by absorbing the essence of human blood. The guy in the cave who called himself "Fire Ancestor" gave Ang Ri the same feeling. However, this "Fire Ancestor" was currently being suppressed by the Holy Flame.

…After the ceremony…

Ang Ri: "I have come to offer my birthday wishes to the Fire Ancestor on the orders of the Moon Queen."

During the fire ritual, an ancient voice echoed from the cave designated as a sacred site: "Disciple of the Azure Phoenix Goddess, it's a pleasure to meet you."

The sound waves emanated from the cave, causing the lights of the surrounding mountains to flicker. Although the Li Huo Sect was far removed from the Central Plains, its rituals and calendar remained the same. The "sun and moon" held unique meanings within the ritual and sacrificial system.

Therefore, after Ang Ri revealed his faith in the Moon Queen and demonstrated her magical attributes, the Li Huo Sect Patriarch respectfully addressed her as "Your Majesty," but he would never acknowledge the title "Moon Queen."

As the "Moon Queen" envoy of the Haotian Realm, Angri was clearly dissatisfied with such a title. The phoenix that was connected to him from hundreds of feet away let out a soft cry and trembled slightly.

Angri, however, refrained from discussing this topic and instead prepared to discuss what he wanted to discuss.

Angri made his request, and after a long while, three lights suddenly appeared in the cave. The shadows cast by the three lights swayed as if they were discussing something. After a while, the light returned to a single lamp.

Under the flickering lights, an aged voice replied, "Recently, there have been large waves on the Lingjiang River. These waves are blowing from the north. If your clan wants to return, they must stand firm in this wind."

…The perspective shifts back to the north…

At the end of April in the 26th year of the Tianli era, before the rainy season arrived, Wu Fei led his troops back to the interior of the pass in a flash.

The various tribes, who had initially expected the northern Yao people to launch a brutal attack, finally breathed a sigh of relief after ten days of tension, upon receiving news of the Yao people's return. However, they also secretly cursed the Yao general who had been causing trouble and wandering around aimlessly, predicting he would face retribution sooner or later.

However, inside the pass, a large group of speculators complained after they realized that Wu Fei's expedition had "returned empty-handed" and that no slaves or local specialties had been brought back to them, his "family members." Amidst the rumors, the nickname "Little Sparrow" was spreading like wildfire again.

Wu Fei understood that this "nickname" was probably like a wildfire that could never be extinguished.

Since it can't be extinguished, there's no point in wasting energy. The more you struggle, the more you seem to care. As the only commander left behind by the Wu family in the southern border, the most important thing is to stabilize the situation step by step and withstand the gossip.

Wu Fei was well aware of the ideological differences within the Wu family: who should be the next "head of the family," Wu Fei or Wu Hengyu?
Wu Fei wasn't worried about Wu Hanluan; Wu Hanluan would make the most favorable judgment for the Wu family based on the needs of the situation. And what about those irrational judgments? They were often those of impractical members of the family who deliberately stirred up trouble to demonstrate their influence. They were the variables!
My aunt was embroidering a handkerchief nearby. Peaceful and serene, the blue needle and thread danced between her fingertips.

Wu Fei: Regarding the position of the military commander, it's impossible for me to say I don't care. I'm even more aware of my role in the army! As long as I fulfill my role, I'm irreplaceable. And that role is to defend the home front! Defending the home front requires stability; I will never act without absolute certainty.

After returning to the pass, Wu Fei had been sending people to search for secrets about the "Li Huo Sect". Strangely enough, all the information about the Li Huo Sect in the Great Dao was about how it was good at refining pills four hundred years ago, and then ended at some point four hundred years ago.

Something unusual must be going on, so Wu Fei increased the bounty to one thousand strings of cash. In return, he received what seemed like very important news: his spies were being watched by the Demon Suppression Division. Clearly, this news had violated some taboo.

A few days later.

Just as Wu Fei was making wild guesses, Wu Hanluan sent him a letter containing secrets about the "Li Huo Sect," and that his cousin, a member of the Wu family who worked as a pill refiner in the palace, had some information.

After reading the information contained in the sealed box, Wu Fei breathed a sigh of relief: "Then it's not surprising."

I suddenly felt like I'd forgotten something today.

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(End of this chapter)