A Scroll of Infinite Glory

"Although we've killed a few enemies, the crisis isn't over yet; in fact, it's gotten even more complicated."

Guan Luoyang reached this conclusion at the Zhenwu Temple.

Qiu Di said, "At least the traitor has been eliminated."

"I don't think so."

Guan Luoyang shook his head and said, "The Ghost Festival ceremony is a far-reaching event, and it should be a relatively important time in their plans. However, they don't care about Wei Dinggong's life or death at all. Do you think they would entrust such an important matter to someone they don't value?"

Qiu Shi understood and said, "Indeed, although Wei Dinggong has remarkable skills, he doesn't actually have much of a chance against Grand Master Shangyang Lian or Huangtou Taigong. His chances of becoming the final winner in the duel are not high. His activity is more likely that he has been pushed out as a target by others, but he himself is unaware of it."

Qiu Di said, "But Grand Master Yang Lian and Old Man Huang Tou, one is fiercely opposed to evil, and the other is already quite old with a good reputation. If they get involved with evil sects... not many people will believe it."

Guan Luoyang said, "We need to be more careful with those two, but it may not be just those two. Perhaps there are others who, after discovering that I am causing trouble, are not confident of victory and are deliberately hiding their methods and not using their full strength."

Qiu Di was greatly disappointed: "How could this be? I thought that tonight we would have removed an important thorn in our side, and that we would have taken the first step in our revenge, dealing a heavy blow to the other side. In the end, we only killed a scapegoat."

"That's not quite right. With the existence of the Wei Ding Gong incident, we can legitimately remind all the monks of various sects to be on high alert, to screen out people like Da Duo, and even remind the government to mobilize more manpower for protection during the Ghost Festival ceremony."

Guan Luoyang pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "Nine times out of ten, they want to assassinate the King of Yue, and even kill the Provincial Administration Commissioner and the Provincial Judicial Commissioner."

Qiu Shi's expression was somewhat grave: "Judging from their actions, there's no other explanation besides this. But bandits plunder for wealth; assassinating the Prince of Yue and the Provincial Governor would only enrage the Ming Dynasty, prompting the government to pursue them at all costs. Such an act would do far more harm than good. Unless…"

Qiu Shi didn't finish his sentence, but Guan Luoyang finished it for him.

"Unless they want to rebel."

Guan Luoyang stopped pinching his nose and pressed his right hand against the upper half of his face, saying in a muffled voice, "Only those who want to rebel would use assassination as a means to create chaos in Jiaozhi so that they can take advantage of the chaos to gather troops, attack cities and seize counties."

"rebel?"

Qiu Di was taken aback. He had lived in Jiaozhi since childhood and was used to peace. The scale of the Five Prefectures Water Bandits was already a rare disturbance, but it was far from being a rebellion.

That's just how people are. Even knowing that there are two great dynasties standing in opposition in the north and south, and knowing that not far overseas, there are foreign barbarians occupying the land, and that the world has never been at peace.

Even decades ago, there were large-scale wars between the Ming Dynasty and the Jurchens involving tens or hundreds of thousands of people. When Chen Yonghua recovered Jiaozhi, there were also battles fought.

However, as long as you haven't experienced it yourself, it will always feel very distant. When you first hear the word "rebellion," it even feels a bit unreal.

But Qiu Di looked closely and saw that his senior brother and Guan Luoyang, although one was worried and the other seemed very agitated, both seemed to be certain of the speculation about rebellion.

Qiu Di couldn't help but believe it, and she also felt a little panicked: "If there really is a rebellion, then it's not something we can handle. The next thing is... should we send a message to Wudang?"

"The imperial court is about to launch a northern expedition, and the elders of Wudang have already gone to the riverbank. Besides, sending letters back and forth takes too long, so there's no time to do it."

Qiu Shi said, "I will send a letter to the Three Departments, detailing the previous events and earnestly requesting that they take it seriously. Even if they do not completely believe in the rebellion, it concerns the safety of the King of Yue, so they will surely react."

Qiu Shi hurriedly went back to his room.

Qiu Liang and Daoist Zhiyuan, among others, are inviting masters from various sects to witness the handling of Wei Dinggong and to question those who had previously sided with him.

Qiu Di stood in the courtyard, feeling a sudden chill in the air, her mind a jumble of thoughts.

A lot has happened recently, but it seems he hasn't been able to interfere with any of it. He doesn't know what he's done or what he should do next.

"We'll deal with whatever comes our way, like soldiers coming and water coming. After all, we're not some wise men who know everything. Besides telling the people in charge what we know, all we can do is focus on two things."

Upon hearing this sound, Qiu Di looked towards Guan Luoyang.

Guan Luoyang lowered his hand, exhaled deeply, and said, "Wait to kill, and also, train."

He turned to Qiu Di and smiled, "It's almost dawn, why don't we stay awake and go practice at Qianriyuan together?"

Qiu Di nodded in agreement, and after taking a few steps, she realized, "But, Brother Guan, your eyes are bloodshot, you don't look well. Was that battle too exhausting?"

"Yes, a little, but I'm not like this because of that battle. Sigh, I should be fine after training and venting a bit."

Guan Luoyang quickened his pace.

After the battle, the agitation of Qingniao's vital energy did not cease. The purple-robed Taoist's dangerous move inside the inn intensified this agitation, even affecting his thoughts, and his chest was filled with a desire to destroy something.

Damn it, how can this kind of thing affect one's mental state?

Damn it, why are you all so weak? You couldn't let me fight to my heart's content!

How infuriating! Why didn't that swordsman just stand right in front of me?

Guan Luoyang realized that his thoughts were getting increasingly strange, and he could only think of going to Qianriyuan to vent his anger as soon as possible. However, on his way down the mountain, he suddenly smelled a strange and rich fragrance.

With red eyes, Guan Luoyang showed no manners whatsoever. He reached out and pushed open the door next to him, tearing the lock off with his push.

Qiu Di was startled and stopped behind him. That courtyard was where medicinal herbs were stored.

Most medicinal herbs need to be dried in the daytime, but some special herbs need to be soaked in night dew and exposed to moonlight.

Therefore, the wooden shelves in the courtyard were filled with many baskets and bamboo sieves, all of which were piled with medicinal herbs.

Guan Luoyang stopped in front of a type of medicinal herb; the basket contained what appeared to be many dried pythons.

"ha……"

Guan Luoyang exhaled, his eyes redder.

He felt a hunger that came from his very bones.

………………

A lamp was placed on each of the four corner pillars in the main hall, and a bronze mirror was inlaid on the pillars behind the candles to reflect the light, making the hall brightly lit.

Besides Hua Mi and the old man, tall and burly men stood guard at each of the gates, dressed in tight-fitting clothes and holding steel swords. Their breathing was so low that it was almost inaudible, as if they were afraid of disturbing the conversation of the masters here.

But in this silence, if you listen carefully, you can hear a faint sound of water coming from underground.

The climate in Southeast Asia is so hot that, in order to make themselves more comfortable, locals not only wear less clothing, but also dig pools in their homes.

A water tank is something that keeps the water warm in winter and cool in summer. Once it's dug out, you can feel a noticeable temperature difference as soon as you come in from outside.

For spacious mansions like this, the methods used are even more ingenious. Underground water channels are laid out, crisscrossing and spreading throughout every room. Stone bricks and slabs are used to separate and cover them. Small holes are deliberately left in the floor tiles in the corridors and the four corners of the rooms, so that the wind from the water channels blows up through the holes, making it cool and refreshing.

The old man with a pigtail braid was slightly plump and had a smile on his face. He had been waiting in the hall for so long, but he didn't break a sweat. He was neither arrogant nor impatient and said, "The chieftain has set up a banner to test the waters. He must have already obtained more accurate information from the Zhenwu Temple."

"The matter of fighting for the token encountered an unexpected variable and was essentially ruined. I simply reused those useless people to probe the depths of that variable."

Hua Mi sat with her legs crossed, large areas of her skin exposed. Her dark brown skin glowed with a delicate luster under the light, making her look less like a notorious bandit who had been famous in the fifteen prefectures for many years and more like a young female martial artist in the prime of her life.

The casually uttered words, revealing a hint of ruthlessness and cruelty hidden within that beautiful body, still revealed a glimpse of the truth.

The old man with the braid said, "Although they are not very efficient, those who can practice their magic to the point of actual combat are all promising talents. The chief has used up such a group of talents so easily. He has a lot of courage, but it is also a bit of a pity."

"Failure does not diminish one's worth. I am also a failure. But after Zi Yilang's failed attempt to kill Jiu Ying, he lost his courage and couldn't even play a complete piece of music. After Wei Dinggong's failure, he was irritable and indecisive. Their inability to control themselves is the main reason for their loss of value."

Hua Mi flicked open the lid of the teacup, made a hand seal, and the tea in the cup clumped up, a bright green color, and flew into the air before landing in her mouth. After swallowing a few times, she said, "These people have gone from being talents to burdens, and may even become our weakness. Letting them test the root of this variable is making the best use of them."

The old man with the braid thought for a moment, "That's true. In a tightly woven scheme, the most noteworthy element is the unpredictability; not knowing the details is the most dangerous. I wonder what the chief has found out about that person's background?"

"That person is a martial artist. His swordsmanship has the shadow of Emei. His movement and strength are like those of the Southern Shaolin lineage, but they are also somewhat mixed. Although he possesses magical power, he is extremely unfamiliar with using it. He probably only knows how to directly enhance his physical body with magical power. It is hard to imagine him using spells in actual combat."

Hua Mi commented cautiously, "His achievements in the Water and Fire Immortal Robe and the Zhou Tian Breathing Technique are not to be underestimated, but I already know that when the time comes to act, killing him will not be difficult."

The old man with the braid said, "I'm afraid he's still hiding something?"

"I tested him with my most dangerous sword strike. A young man facing that strike cannot hide his moves. Now we only have about ten days left before we actually make our move. In such a short time, there is no way we can make enough progress to turn the tide."

Hua Mi tapped her fingertips on the table, her tone resolute, "But since the matter of the magic contest to seize the order has been ruined, the arrangements for the Ghost Festival ceremony on that day will have to be changed, and we will have to rely on another aspect. I need to ask Eunuch Chen to go and pay a visit to that person."

This old man with a braid was a high-ranking eunuch from the capital of the Jurchen dynasty in the north. His ancestors were originally from the Wanyan clan of the Jurchens, but they changed their surname to Chen at the end of the Jin dynasty. Although he had no descendants, he was still considered to have a prominent status among the Jurchens.

His personal trip to Jiaozhi can be considered as representing the Jurchens on their behalf. When he conspired with Hua Mi and the others, he was able to make many effective promises.

Old Eunuch Chen chuckled, "Could it be that you're going to see the chieftain's younger brother, the current head of the Yao family?"

Hua Mi denied it, saying, "Wrong. Although he has been building up his power in Qinghua Prefecture for a long time, there is someone else who can interfere in the Mid-Autumn Festival Dharma Assembly in Chengyin Prefecture. I have had quite a bit of contact with that person, but I still need Eunuch Chen to accompany me to give him one last bit of determination."

"Alright, let's go then."

Judging from his physique, Old Eunuch Chen was a gentle and slow-paced person, but when he decided to do something, he wouldn't waste a single moment.

"In July, the people of Jiaozhi rose in rebellion, and subsequently our army crossed the river to march south, echoing each other. These matters must be settled within this year. Judging from the recent movements of the Southern Ming, they are likely to launch an attack this year as well. We must seize the opportunity before them and act decisively; we cannot afford to delay."

In fact, it was common knowledge that the Ming Dynasty wanted to launch a northern expedition. The Jurchen Dynasty had never been afraid of it, because from a geographical point of view, the north was mountainous and the terrain was high and dangerous. They could defend the pass and wait for the enemy to tire themselves out, which gave them a great advantage.

In the thirteenth year of the Yongli reign of the Southern Ming Dynasty, a hero known as the Prince of Yanping led a large army to recover Jiangnan and confront the Jurchen dynasty from the north and south. He then led his troops north twice, but suffered repeated defeats and died with regret.

But the problem is that the current emperor of the Jurchen dynasty is ambitious and eager for quick success. To put it nicely, he is brave, diligent, and fearless; to put it bluntly, he squanders the wealth accumulated by his father and grandfather and is stubborn and self-willed.

Instead of defending the strategic location, he wanted to launch a southern expedition first, hoping to gain a resounding reputation in history and demonstrate his civil and military achievements.

It should be noted that since the Jurchens occupied the vast northern territory, although they have had powerful enemies there for many years, they have not become complacent in their archery and horsemanship, but they have lost some of the fierce spirit of their ancestors.

Taking millions of common people from the north to support hundreds of thousands of Jurchens—in such a privileged environment where everyone is superior, who could possibly resist the inertia in their bones?

On the other hand, the Ming Dynasty has been improving transportation and publishing newspapers in recent years, sweeping away the extravagance and self-indulgence of the previous emperor. The whole country is determined to launch a northern expedition. The Jurchen emperor wants to launch a southern expedition first, using his own weaknesses to attack the enemy's strengths. With morale rising and falling, how can he possibly win?

Fortunately, some important officials in the Jurchen court still had influence with the emperor and advised him to postpone his actions and secretly send people to make contact, plotting to seize the southern Jiaozhi region, incite internal strife, and undermine the maritime trade that the Ming Dynasty valued most.

The plan is to wait until the Ming Dynasty is thrown into disarray before launching a large-scale attack on the border, thus coordinating with forces from within and without, which would allow the great undertaking to succeed.

This explanation was what Eunuch Chen told Hua Mi and the others when he contacted them. It was clear, reasonable, and full of the truth, so it was very inspiring.

However, there was still more to say in those words.

According to some ministers on the Jurchen side, even if Hua Mi and his group's rebellion is ultimately suppressed by heavy troops, as long as the turmoil in Jiaozhi can be sustained for more than five months, the overseas Jurchens will incite other forces in Southeast Asia to take the opportunity to intervene.

For decades, those red-haired devils seemed to have gotten along well with the Ming Dynasty and had formed a relatively stable trading relationship. However, that was because they were terrified of the Zheng family's fleet, which originated from great pirates, between the first and twentieth years of the Jianwu era, and were wary of them.

If those ambitious and greedy red-haired people see a big enough opportunity, they will definitely tear up the so-called trade agreement, interfere in Jiaozhi, and even spy on Yunnan.

When things developed to that point, the Ming Dynasty was truly in disarray in its rear, caught in a pincer movement, and beset by crises. Only then did the Jurchen emperor truly have the hope of inheriting his ancestors' legacy and conquering the Ming Dynasty in his generation.

With this thought in mind, Eunuch Chen followed behind Hua Mi, intending to meet that important figure with a mysterious identity.

Hua Mi was accompanied by more than ten attendants, and Chen Lao, the eunuch, was also accompanied by guards he had brought from the Jurchens. The group left the hall and wandered around, but instead of heading to the main gate, they went to the deepest corner of the mansion and walked to an inconspicuous little guest room.

The old eunuch Chen was somewhat puzzled: "Could it be that that important person has already received the news and is waiting in this room?"

Hua Mi didn't answer, but went straight to open the door. The moment he pushed the door open, Eunuch Chen knew that he had completely guessed wrong, because there was nothing in this small guest room, not even a floor.

There is only one big hole.

There are steps inside the cave that lead downwards, until they reach the dark depths of the underground that are indistinguishable to the naked eye.

Among Hua Mi's entourage, someone lit a torch and led the way as the group entered the tunnel.

The tunnel is damp, but it is supported by wooden stakes and planks engraved with spells, which will drive away snakes, insects and rodents that burrow into the soil and keep the entire tunnel flat.

The tunnel is also quite wide, enough for two people to walk side by side at the same time.

At first, Eunuch Chen remained calm, but after walking for a quarter of an hour, he still hadn't seen the other end of the tunnel, and his face gradually betrayed his surprise.

Hua Mi walked ahead without turning around, as if she knew his emotional changes, and said at the right time, "This tunnel is seven miles long, and it leads directly from here to a villa of that important person. It's about another mile to go."

The old eunuch Chen asked doubtfully, "With the aid of incantations and the assistance of feng shui masters who surveyed the underground soil and rocks, a tunnel seven or eight li long wouldn't be uncommon. But there was a major earthquake in Cheng Yin Prefecture just a few months ago, how come this tunnel is still intact?"

Hua Mi said, "Because it was dug after the earthquake, to be precise, I dispatched fifty men to complete it in one day."

Old Eunuch Chen was slightly startled: "Fifty men, digging a tunnel seven miles long and this wide in a single day?!"

"Indeed. The Ming Dynasty has stationed tens of thousands of troops in Jiaozhi. With only my little brother's operations in the Thanh Hoa area, he might be able to seize the initiative temporarily amidst the chaos, but how could he possibly withstand the Ming army's counterattack and hold out until he can coordinate with the Jurchens?"

Hua Mi glanced back at Eunuch Chen, her voice carrying a hint of sneer, making Eunuch Chen feel somewhat seen through. However, he remained expressionless and simply listened.

"That man was worried that we weren't strong enough, so I sent these fifty men to dig this tunnel to show him. We have five hundred warriors like them, who can dig the ground empty-handed, travel several miles a day, carry a thousand pounds on their backs, and are impervious to swords and spears. That's the source of our confidence in our alliance with Eunuch Chen."

Old Mrs. Chen's heartbeat quickened as she listened.

If there were truly five hundred such warriors, they could probably be worth tens of thousands of troops on the battlefield, and their surprise attack would be even more effective than that of a ten-thousand-strong army.

In that sense, the Jurchens had greatly underestimated these people before.

However, there is a significant question here: such a high level of elite troops could not have been easily assembled by either the Jurchen Dynasty or the Ming Dynasty.

Do Hua Mi and his group really have such a foundation?

"Is Eunuch Chen still somewhat skeptical?"

"Haha, how could I not believe what the chief says? The stronger our allies become, the happier I am."

"You'll understand when the Ghost Festival arrives, even if you say one thing but mean another."

Hanami walked slowly forward, revealing an indescribable ambition and confidence.

Therefore, the fake Taoist priest whose true nature had already been exposed was just a mere martial artist, not a grand master sent by Wudang as the last line of defense, so he was not worth paying any attention to.

How could he possibly stand against five hundred masters, each equivalent to a grandmaster?!

On the day of the Ghost Festival Dharma Assembly, Hua Mi will not only be eyeing the few important figures at the assembly, but... the entire Cheng Yin Palace!