Achieving the Dao from the Hundred Schools of Thought

As soon as the group appeared outside the city, the messenger from Zuili had already gone to inform them.

Upon arriving at the city gate, the gate was wide open, and two generals in heavy armor knelt to welcome the prince.

"Welcome, Second Young Master!"

Wang Zidi walked at the front of the group, with Zhang Zezhong, Zhuang Weiyang, and Zhao Xiuwen following closely behind.

With a broad smile, Prince Di bent down to help the leading general to his feet.

"I've long heard of General Zhong Muli's bravery and skill in battle, and seeing him today, I can confirm it's truly extraordinary! Hahahaha!"

After speaking, the prince smiled and walked towards the young general beside him.

"This...Zhong Bai?!"

When the young general saw that the prince recognized him, he revealed a sly smile.

"Second Young Master! Hahahaha!"

Prince Di paused for a moment, then punched Zhong Bai hard in the chest, his smile becoming more genuine.

"You brat, you're actually General Zhong's son?! Like father, like son..."

"Ahem!"

The solemnity on Zhong Muli's face faded considerably. He coughed a few times, interrupting Wang Zidi's raucous words.

"Second Young Master, please enter the city before we discuss this further."

Prince Di realized he had spoken out of turn, gave an embarrassed smile, and nodded repeatedly.

"Enter the city first, hahaha, enter the city first."

As the prince spoke, the group entered the city with Zhong Muli, and Zhong Muli arranged for them to go to the military camp with their troops.

Zhang Zezhong was momentarily confused, so he nudged Zhuang Weiyang with his elbow and asked:

Do you know Zhong Bai?

Zhuang Weiyang gritted her teeth and said, "More than just acquaintances?! We're old acquaintances!"

Zhuang Weiyang was filled with despair, feeling hopeless about the future.

Why is it this guy?!

Zhong Bai, from a military family, I should have realized his true identity long ago!

Seeing that Zhuang Weiyang's expression was not good, Zhang Zezhong stopped asking questions.

But Zhong Bai came uninvited.

Taking advantage of his father's inattention, the boy darted in front of Zhuang Weiyang and flashed a fawning smile.

"Brother-in-law..."

"Shut the fuck up! Who the hell is your brother-in-law?!"

Zhuang Weiyang was immediately jolted, shoving Zhong Bai away, her heart breaking: How did I end up here and still see this bastard?!

Zhong Bai is Zhuang Weiyang, who embarked on the path of Taoism last year.

Zhuang Weiyang celebrated this by getting drunk for three days and three nights straight—that bastard was finally gone!

Back when they were classmates, Zhuang Weiyang was careless and got bewitched, which led her to make such a bad friend.

From then on, the peaceful and tranquil days of liver health were gone forever.

This kid isn't a bad person, his brain is just incredibly weird!

A series of bizarre experiences flashed before Zhuang Weiyang's eyes.

"Brother Weiyang, you said that military cultivators kill with their fists and feet, while political cultivators kill with their mouths... My fists are very hard, but are their mouths hard?"

"Brother Bai, I don't know either."

……

Three days later, the headmaster of the academy, holding a ruler, asked Zhong Bai who had instructed him to beat the sixty-year-old teacher without cause.

Zhong Bai closed his eyes and remained silent, looking as if he were about to die a heroic death.

The master was furious and swung his sword three times. Zhong Bai's righteous indignation vanished, and he shouted:

"Weiyang! It's Weiyang!"

Zhuang Weiyang: ?

There are countless similar cases!

As for the claim that he was a brother-in-law, that's utter nonsense! Back then, Zhong Bai was fortunate to have Zhuang Weiyang tutor him during the military strategy assessment, which is how he passed the test.

After the assessment, Zhong Bai was deep in thought, then suddenly realized something and excitedly said to Zhuang Weiyang:

"Brother Weiyang! Such a great kindness is beyond my means to repay! I have an older sister in my family, and I am willing to give her to you, Brother Weiyang! This would not only fulfill my desire to repay your kindness, but also allow us to be brothers. It would truly be a wonderful thing!"

Zhuang Weiyang thought Zhong Bai was joking and laughed it off.

A few days later, a female general arrived.

This female general was eight feet tall, with a heroic face and sharp eyes. Her gaze swept across the room like a fierce general breaking through enemy lines, staring intently at Zhuang Weiyang.

"So, it was you who proposed to me?"

Zhuang Weiyang: ?

Seeing that Zhuang Weiyang was confused, the female general loosened her grip on the sword hilt with her right hand and bowed to Zhuang Weiyang.

He turned and left without hesitation, displaying the demeanor of a general.

A few breaths later, Zhong Bai's howl echoed from the neighboring courtyard:

"Sister, please put away your sword!"

"Are you going to kill your own father?"

"Wei Yang made me do it all!"

……

"Brother-in-law? Brother-in-law!"

Zhong Bai's repeated calls of "brother-in-law" quickly brought Zhuang Weiyang back to her senses.

Zhuang Weiyang instinctively jumped back, creating distance between them, and warned:

"Zhong Bai! Don't talk nonsense! Didn't your sister beat you badly enough?!"

Zhong Bai first looked around to make sure Zhong Yue wasn't nearby before laughing and saying, "Zhong Yue is my own sister, how could she hit me..."

"call out!"

The long arrow pierced the air and embedded itself in the brickwork in front of Zhong Bai.

It was only three inches away from hitting Zhong Bai's forehead squarely.

Zhuang Weiyang's hair stood on end, and she was astonished:

Zhong Yue is still the same as before, resorting to violence at the slightest provocation!

To be able to hear a sound from such a distance, Zhong Yue must have already advanced to the Bright Radiance Realm, with her inner fire illuminating all directions!

The realm is divided into "faint light", "candlelight", and "bright light".

The faint light is the fire of the heart that is ignited, illuminating the five internal organs, and the fire of the heart can strengthen the physical body.

A candle flame is the outward manifestation of the heart's fire, just like a candle flame in the dark, driving away evil spirits and illuminating the invisible.

The radiant one's heart fire burns eternally, illuminating all directions! Wherever the heart fire shines, magic can reach.

This arrow was likely shot by Zhong Bai as he recited her name, and Zhong Yue, sensing his presence from afar, used her archery skills to release it.

An arrow struck, and Zhong Bai shut his mouth, no longer daring to speak nonsense.

Upon seeing this, Zhong Muli immediately knelt down on one knee and begged Prince Di for forgiveness.

"My daughter is ignorant of etiquette and has disturbed you, Second Young Master. Please forgive her!"

Prince looked at Zhuang Weiyang, winked at her, and then helped Zhong Muli up.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. Wei Yang and Zhong Bai are classmates, and I've all met Zhong Yue. So naturally I don't mind the banter between Zhong Bai and his sister."

Zhuang Weiyang looked at Wang Zidi and felt a sense of peace in her heart.

Nothing more than a dead heart.

Zhang Zezhong, standing to the side, was puzzled and asked, "Brother Weiyang, does the Second Young Master also know Zhong Bai?"

"They're more than just acquaintances; they often get drunk and act crazy together!"

Zhang Zezhong: "..."

The group headed towards the young master's residence.

The Prince's Mansion was built last year to welcome Prince Di.

The furnishings in the mansion were identical to those of the young master's mansion in Suzhou.

With its carved beams and painted pillars, pavilions and towers, and lush vegetation, the courtyard is a beautiful sight to behold, complementing the meticulously crafted rocks.

Prince Di stepped inside and was momentarily lost in thought.

"Second Young Master, are you satisfied?"

The prince stood there, stroking the railing of the corridor.

The workmanship of this railing is the same as that of Suzhou.

There's no going back...

Only then did the idea of ​​being sent to Zuili as the governor of Wu truly take root in Prince Di's mind.

"Second Young Master, is there anything you're dissatisfied with? I'll have someone..."

Prince Di waved his hand, interrupting Zhong Muli's cautious probing.

"No need! This is fine...this is fine."

As soon as he finished speaking, the prince turned around and strode towards the main hall.

Zhuang Weiyang understood that Wang Zidi was not used to being away from home and having to take on responsibilities on his own all of a sudden.

But he couldn't comfort Prince Di, because he himself hadn't adapted yet.

Upon entering the main hall, all of Prince Di's emotions vanished.

Seated in the main seat, he issued commands to Zhong Muli:

"Where is Zhuli Zhengxiu? Why hasn't he come to pay his respects?"

Zhong Muli clasped his hands in a salute: "Reporting to the Second Young Master, I have already sent someone to inform Lord Zhao Zhennan, and Lord Zhao is on his way at the moment."

Zhuang Weiyang stood to the side, eyes downcast, nose up, mouth down, mouth down, pretending to be a wooden doll.

Next, Zhuang Weiyang was unable to offer Wang Zidi any further assistance.

Prince Di arrived with the military tally, so Zhong Muli naturally had to obey him.

How can one govern a region without military power?

But the executive power... well, that depends on him.

It's not that this power is difficult to seize, but that it cannot be seized! As a prince, if Prince Di forcibly suppresses the Zhao family, who are part of the Crown Prince's faction, it will inevitably arouse suspicion among the court officials.

What, you've had enough of being a young master, now you want to be granted land and made a king?

But if they cannot subdue the Zhao family, how will they govern their fiefdom in the future?

As Zhuang Weiyang was pondering, an official dressed in a blue-green robe with a fiery red jade pendant hanging from his waist walked forward slowly and deliberately.

"Your subject, Zhao Zhennan, Minister of the Court of Juli and Commander of the Court of Juli, pays respects to the Second Prince!"

Zhuang Weiyang couldn't help but look up and think to herself: This name is quite long.

Situ is a title for a local official who is in charge of civil affairs and land matters, and is often held by a political figure.

"This General Zhong is still a Sima, yet he doesn't talk about it all the time. This Zhengxiu is such a nuisance."

Prince Di usually disliked these formalities, but now he had no choice but to comply.

He slowly stood up, paused for a few moments in front of Zhao Zhennan, and then helped Zhao Zhennan up.

"Lord Zhao is a pillar of our Wu Kingdom, and together with General Zhong, one a scholar and the other a warrior, they guarded Zuili. My father understands your hardships, and so do I! There's no need for such empty formalities."

Zhao Zhennan smiled and said, "Propriety must not be disregarded."

Prince Di returned to his seat and looked at Zhong Muli.

"I am new here, so please tell me about the situation in Zuili, General Zhong, so that I can be prepared."

Zhong Muli seemed to have been prepared for this question, and answered fluently:

"The troops of Zuili number 30,000 and are stationed in three different locations, all of which are areas where our Wu Kingdom must be extremely cautious."

"Firstly, there is the East Sea Dragon Palace. This humble general has been leading 20,000 troops to guard the coast of the East Sea, a hundred miles east of Zuili, to prevent the dragon race from landing!"

"The second is the source of the Min River—Taihu Lake. My daughter, Zhong Yue, is in charge of guarding it, with 5,000 soldiers and 32 thunder and fire chariots."

"Thirdly... there is my son, Zhong Bai, who will lead the remaining troops to guard Zuili to prevent demons from storming the city and the Yue people from invading. Also... he will be there to support Zhong Yue and me at any time!"

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Weiyang's lips twitched involuntarily.

Zhong Bai? Zhong Yue, who is in the Bright Radiance Realm, is being supported by someone in the Subtle Light Realm? Zhong Muli, who is in the Second Realm?

Upon hearing that Zhong Bai was capable of undertaking such a great task, Prince Di couldn't help but reveal a mocking smile.

Zhong Muli remained calm, coughed twice, and his meaning was clear.

Second Young Master, you have to consider the owner before beating a dog. Why can't I, as the father, even beautify my own child?

Prince Di immediately stopped smiling.

"Ahem, um... not bad, General Zhong's entire family is loyal and valiant, very good, haha, very good."

"Lord Zhao, what about here...?"

Zhao Zhennan had already prepared his answer, and said loudly:

"Second Young Master, everything is well in Zuili! The laws being followed are all in accordance with the laws of Suzhou."

"The public fields are being managed as usual, and all the summer harvested rice has been transported to Suzhou!"

The prince subconsciously sat up straight and asked again:

"Is the remaining grain enough to feed the people in the city? How much rice is left in the granaries?"

Zhao Zhennan's expression froze for a moment.

Zhuang Weiyang knew that this question had touched on the topic of sex scenes.

The rice grown in the public fields is extremely precious.

The public fields were designated by the king himself and were blessed with the fortune of the Wu Kingdom. The rice in the fields was planted by the people of Wu themselves, embodying the hard work of the people throughout the year.

The rice grown there is naturally exceptionally precious.

Rice from public fields was used to worship sages and deities, and to maintain the Sage Palace.

This rice, when eaten, can sharpen hearing and vision, prolong life, and bring one closer to the Tao.

For the demon race, it is an even more divine creature that has shed its wildness!

The rare and precious herbs in traditional Chinese novels only have such limited effects.

Most cases of official corruption involve people transporting rice.

Zhao Zhennan looked helpless: "Second Young Master, Zhuli has been engaged in wars for years, and much of the public land has been abandoned. Production has only just resumed, so there's hardly any surplus rice."

Zhuang Weiyang scoffed at this answer.

There's nothing left. So, where did you get the warm jade at your waist, Lord Zhao?

Zhuang Weiyang recognizes this material; it's a commonly used material for crafting Tier 1 items in the game, mostly dropped by monsters.

In reality, you can't find this kind of treasure without exchanging something for it.

Prince Di also didn't believe it and immediately let out a cold laugh.

"Lord Zhao, how did this sorceress come to my elder brother's residence? Could it be that you captured her?"