"General Deng!"
As they watched him being escorted away, both soldiers and civilians called out almost in unison.
"General Chen!"
"You promised that those who surrender won't be killed! But… but please, don't harm General Deng!"
"That's right!"
"General Deng has been righteous and selfless since coming to Laizhou! He's done countless good deeds for the people!"
"Silence, all of you!"
Sha Wenlong barked impatiently. "His life or death is none of your concern!"
"Cui Congyi, Sha Wenlong!"
Chen Sanshi gave his orders clearly. "Zhaotong has surrendered. Our rear is now secure. I order Cui Congyi to lead the Tiger Guards to Green Ridge Mountain and establish camp there—block the Qing reinforcements from advancing. Sha Wenlong will take 3,000 men and return to the camp 30 li outside the city to settle the surrendered troops. Without my order, no one is to enter the city!
"Also, Heir Apparent Cao Fan will take 20 cavalrymen and ride immediately back to Yongle Prefecture to report to Grand Commander Meng. The rest will remain in Zhaotong under my command. And—keep Deng Feng in the city under guard."
"Yes, sir."
Cui Congyi obeyed reluctantly and left with his troops.
"Not allowed into the city?"
Sha Wenlong cursed under his breath but didn't dare disobey.
Outside the gate, he turned to Cao Fan with unease. "Your Highness, the way Chen arranged this—sending you back to Yongle with only twenty riders—don't you think he might have ulterior motives?"
Cao Fan frowned. "You think he would dare?"
"Why wouldn't he?"
Sha Wenlong lowered his voice. "He's splitting us apart on purpose."
"No matter."
From the shadows, a calm voice answered.
Pei Tiannan stepped forward, bowing. "Your Highness, I will personally escort you back to Yongle Prefecture."
"What about the situation in the city?" Cao Fan asked.
"It's just a single incense burner."
The smiling tiger Pei Tiannan smirked. "We'll have Yunxiaozhi and his people gather what's useful. As for everything else… in my opinion, Zhaotong can't be touched anymore. Better to move on to another place."
"That's the safest plan," Sha Wenlong agreed. "Then we'll do it that way."
Soon, all moved according to orders.
Cui Congyi led the Tiger Guards as the vanguard toward Green Ridge Mountain. Sha Wenlong remained outside the city to supervise the surrendered soldiers—strictly forbidden to enter. Cao Fan departed with his 20 men toward Yongle Prefecture.
Chen Sanshi watched them leave.
Among Cao Fan's entourage, there was one presence—vast, immense, and powerful.
Who else could it be but the Martial Saint, Pei Tiannan?
Even that eunuch surnamed Feng was riding with them.
That meant only the two Taoist priests from Ciyun Temple remained inside the city.
From memory, Chen recalled that one of them was at the Meridian-Connecting stage, protected by a Fire-Incense Dao technique, his purple qi fairly strong; the other was at the Transforming Strength stage, with faint traces of incense qi.
Now that Chen Sanshi had reached mastery in Meridian-Connecting cultivation and Sword Qi Technique, the two of them were no longer threats.
After arranging the city's military positions, Baldy Lai appeared quietly and slipped away toward the Guanyin Temple of Child-Giving in Zhaotong Prefecture.
——
Yongle Prefecture.
Prince Tang, Li Gong, stood in full armor as 20,000 cavalry formed ranks behind him.
Another 30,000 soldiers were assembled and ready.
The war drums thundered, shaking heaven and earth, their roars merging with shouts that rolled like waves.
A deputy general rushed forward. "Your Highness! Excellent news—the forces of Meng Quji outside the city are preparing to retreat! They're abandoning their siege engines and food supplies!"
"Good! Keep watch and report back immediately! The moment they begin to pull back, we'll storm out and strike like thunder!"
Li Gong raised his sword high. Just as he was about to give the order, a black hawk descended from the sky and landed on his arm.
"This…"
"It's a message from Deng Feng? Why would he send word now? What's so urgent?"
He tore open the note.
The handwriting inside was rough and hurried—written not in ink, but in blood.
"Deng Feng has failed. Zhaotong Prefecture is about to fall. I can only die to atone. Your Highness, be cautious."
"Fall…?"
Li Gong's ears rang. It was as if a swarm of wasps had invaded his skull. His expression flickered between disbelief and fury. "Fall? What nonsense is this? Yesterday everything was fine—how could Zhaotong fall overnight?"
"What?"
The deputy general's face went pale. "That's impossible, Your Highness! Not in a single night—unless the city walls collapsed…"
"Or…"
Li Gong's eyelids twitched. "He surrendered!"
"That's even less likely!"
The deputy shook his head, gripping the bloodstained letter. "If he surrendered, why would he write that he was dying in shame?"
"Report!"
"Your Highness!"
"Urgent intelligence from the other prefectures!"
"Last night, chaos erupted in Zhaotong Prefecture. General Deng couldn't suppress it. In the end, he was captured alive by Chen Sanshi and is now being held prisoner in the Sheng army's camp!"
"The eight other prefectures report that if reinforcements don't arrive soon, they too will surrender!"
"They dare say that to me? Insolent fools!"
Li Gong's fury exploded. "The commander hasn't fallen, yet the city turned traitor? Did we overestimate Deng Feng—or does that cursed Chen have some kind of sorcery?!"
"Please calm down, Your Highness!"
The deputy general's voice shook. "What should we do now? With Deng Feng captured, the eight prefectures will surely collapse just like the previous 27 that surrendered. We'll be left as an isolated stronghold!"
"Don't panic! His Majesty is already on the way!"
Li Gong, though furious, regained his composure swiftly. "Besides, I just received word—the southern Xu Kingdom dogs have crossed into our territory without permission!"
The deputy's face twisted in disgust. "Those Xu bastards are like hyenas at the scent of blood!"
"Yes—but that could work in our favor."
Li Gong's tone turned cold. "They'll reach Hulao Pass much faster than expected! The Sheng army may have taken all of Laizhou, but they don't have wings. To regroup, marshal, and redeploy their troops will take time.
"And don't forget—they'll have to send a large force to Green Ridge Mountain. They can't risk leaving me surrounded, so at most, they'll send a few thousand men to Hulao Pass."
"Southern Xu… 100,000 troops!"
"With just a few thousand men, can we really hold them off?"
"When you look at the numbers, the advantage is still ours. All this does is give the Sheng army a bit of room to maneuver."
"Pass my order—full alert throughout the army! Prepare for a fierce assault from the Sheng army!"
"And…"
"Find a way to get word to Deng Feng. Tell him to end his own life immediately! I don't want him embarrassing himself any further!"
"A Profound Manifestation expert at the peak of his realm, just two years away from breaking through to Martial Saint—captured alive by a mere Meridian-Connecting lieutenant? How does he still have the face to live?"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
——
Outside the city.
Within the Great Sheng army's camp.
"The Crown Prince will personally arrive to oversee the war within half a month."
Hearing this report, Meng Quji's expression darkened. "And it's precisely now that we're forced to retreat…"
"Indeed," Zhan Taiming muttered. "This is going to look bad on His Highness."
Fan Tianfa, commander of the Tiger Guards, spoke up. "Grand Commander Meng, should we try to hold out a little longer?"
"We can't!"
Meng Quji pointed at the map spread before them. "Look carefully! If we don't pull back now, we'll have no chance later! Withdraw first, reassess, then strike again when the opportunity returns! As for His Majesty's pressure, I'll take full responsibility! Remember this—so long as we don't lose, we can always find a weakness in the enemy!"
He paused, frowning.
"But still… by this timing, why hasn't Sha Wenlong returned with Chen Sanshi yet? We can't afford to wait any longer!"
"Report!"
"Grand Commander! His Highness, the Heir Apparent, has returned with about twenty cavalrymen!"
"Only twenty?"
Meng Quji stormed out of his tent.
"Grand Commander."
Cao Fan dismounted and saluted.
"Where are the others?"
Meng Quji scanned behind him. "Where's the rest of the force?"
"There are no others," Cao Fan replied. "Zhaotong Prefecture… has fallen."
"Songs from all sides… and Deng Feng captured alive?"
Meng Quji, Fan Tianfa, and Zhan Taiming exchanged stunned looks. How could Zhaotong have fallen overnight while Deng Feng still lived? It made no sense at all.
"Well, well…"
After listening to Cao Fan's full account, Meng Quji couldn't help but smirk. "That boy actually pulled it off."
"Whew…"
Not far away, Fang Qingyun—who had vouched for Chen Sanshi—finally let out a long breath.
No matter how much he trusted his junior brother, he hadn't seen things firsthand. All his confidence was speculation—and with the clock ticking, he couldn't help but worry.
He sighed. "That General Deng was truly remarkable. He alone stood against the entire tide of Laizhou's surrender. If not for him, all our previous efforts would've gone to waste."
"Agreed," said Fan Tianfa. "With him gone, our next operations will go much smoother."
"What a pity," Zhan Taiming lamented. "Too loyal for his own good. Even captured alive, he'd never serve Great Sheng. According to regulation—if a captured general refuses to surrender and holds no further strategic value, he must be executed within seven days."
"Thank heavens General Fang pleaded on his behalf!"
Meng Quji said with feeling. "Otherwise, we might have made a grave mistake."
"The situation's still far from ideal."
Fang Qingyun brought everyone back to focus. "We need to plan our next moves carefully."
"Right."
Meng Quji grabbed Fang Qingyun's wheelchair with one hand, lifting both man and chair effortlessly before setting him in front of the campaign map. "General Fang, we've got two priorities."
"First, we must find a way to crush Li Gong in Yongle Prefecture."
"Second, we must block the enemy at Green Ridge Mountain."
"From what I know, Qing's Martial Saints are running thin. They still need to guard their borders against other foes, so they can't spare many. That's why their emperor is leading his troops personally."
"Besides Cui Congyi, General Fan—you'll need to move to Green Ridge Mountain as soon as possible."
"Meanwhile, we'll wait here for the Crown Prince's reinforcements before launching a full assault on Yongle Prefecture. But there's one problem…"
"What about Hulao Pass?"
"The Southern Xu Kingdom's 100,000 troops could arrive any day now. How do we handle that?"
"The Prince of Zhen'nan is holding off two of their Martial Saints in the south, along with half their elite. According to intelligence, those 100,000 troops are led by two Xu princes at the Profound Manifestation Realm."
"Our own Profound Manifestation experts are limited, and since we threw everything into the siege, Hulao Pass is almost unguarded."
"By current estimates, the only force that can reach Hulao Pass in time is Chen Sanshi's 3,000 Black Armor troops. The rest of our forces, once regrouped and redirected, will need at least three months to arrive."
"This battle… will be a hard one."
"Hard or not, we'll fight it."
Fang Qingyun raised his bamboo flute and pointed at Hulao Pass on the map. "That pass is one of the top four natural fortresses in the world—so strong that one man can hold it against ten thousand. And though the enemy has 100,000 soldiers, a large portion are new recruits trained in the last two years. With 3,000 Black Armor cavalry, we might just hold for three months."
"That's still a big risk."
"The greater the risk, the greater the reward."
"My opinion," Meng Quji countered, "is to abandon Hulao Pass and hold Zhaotong Prefecture as our line of defense. We can split the fronts and lock the enemy in a prolonged stalemate."
"That would drag the war out for at least two years," Fang Qingyun argued. "Do you realize how much grain and silver that would drain? But if we can hold Hulao Pass for just three months, during that time we'll crush Li Gong's forces, forcing the Qing emperor at Green Ridge Mountain to retreat. Southern Xu will also be forced to withdraw. So yes—defending Hulao Pass remains the best choice."
"And if we can't hold for three months? General Fang, can you guarantee we won't lose it?"
Fang Qingyun hesitated. "If I had to put a number on it… fifty percent chance."
"Exactly!"
Meng Quji snapped his fingers. "Even you, General Fang—the man famous for daring gambles—think a fifty percent chance is too low, right?"
"Grand Commander, this matter is too critical for just the two of us to decide," Fang Qingyun said calmly. "Here's what I suggest: we consult both His Majesty and the Crown Prince. Let them decide—whether to split the territory and fight a long war, or risk everything on defending Hulao Pass and crushing Yongle Prefecture swiftly to reclaim the three prefectures."
"Good!"
Meng Quji didn't refuse. "His Highness the Crown Prince isn't far from us, and His Majesty goes to Kunlun Mountain every year around this time to meditate on the Dao. It's much closer to the border than the capital. If we use the Crown Prince's divine hawk, the speed will be even faster. There's enough time. Let's do it."
——
Tongnan Prefecture.
Inside the Crown Prince's residence.
The Crown Prince, now past sixty, was playing a game of go with a monk dressed in black.
A eunuch quietly approached, placing a tray of food beside the board.
Despite being the Crown Prince—the acting regent of the empire—his meal was exceedingly simple: just two small plates of vegetables and a bowl of rice.
"After all these years, Your Highness is still as frugal as ever."
The monk turned his prayer beads and set down a white stone. "You eat even more sparingly than this humble monk."
"If I don't save where I can," the Crown Prince said, picking up his chopsticks, "how can I set an example? My officials, even my own son, must learn restraint. If everyone spends freely, where will the silver for this war come from?"
He scooped half his rice into the monk's bowl before eating the rest.
The monk's eyes softened. "It's been years since I last saw Your Highness. You can't even finish one bowl of rice now?"
"Age catches up," the Crown Prince coughed a few times, turning his head to wipe his mouth with a handkerchief. "It's fine. Let's keep playing. Eat, play, talk—nothing wasted."
"Alas, Your Highness has labored too much since becoming Regent," the monk said as he placed another stone. "You've worn your body down."
Just then—
"Your Highness!"
"Urgent message from the divine hawk!"
"Read it aloud," said the Crown Prince, eyes still on the board as he slowly took a bite.
"Yes, Your Highness."
The attendant unfolded the letter and began to read each word carefully.
As the details were revealed, both the Crown Prince and the monk's expressions shifted. They forgot all about their game, fully absorbed in the report.
"What a genius! Chen Sanshi is truly a heaven-sent commander!"
Admiration filled the Crown Prince's voice. "From capturing the Yu Wen prince alive to the Four-Sided Victory Songs—each deed is unmatched in history! I daresay his name will live on for thousands of years—longer than mine, longer than the emperor's!"
"Why say that, Your Highness?"
The monk placed another piece gently. "With this monk by your side, Your Highness might yet last thousands of years yourself."
"Old Yao," the Crown Prince sighed, setting his chopsticks down. "Unlike my father, I've never sought the empty dream of immortality. I just want to accomplish something meaningful in this life. The realm bleeds from endless wars; corrupt officials and greedy sects trample the people. This world needs cleansing. But I can't rise higher. I want to, yet my strength falls short."
The monk asked softly, "Then what does Your Highness intend? Hold Hulao Pass, consolidate in Laizhou—or after the Great Offering, withdraw to the border and wait for another chance?"
"Splitting the territory will drag the war on for at least two years. The treasury isn't bottomless. It's taken forty years to save what we have. If we fight another two or three years, it'll take a decade to recover—and that's before the northern tribes make their next move. But if we retreat now, who knows when another opportunity will come?"
The Crown Prince's eyes hardened. "We'll hold Hulao Pass. It's worth the risk. Whether we can keep it or not doesn't matter for now. I just want to know one thing—if we succeed and reclaim the three prefectures, what are our chances atop Mount Ziwei?"
"In the capital, there's no chance of victory," the monk calculated. "But at Mount Ziwei… we have about seventy percent odds. It's not certain. You can still reconsider, Your Highness. There's time."
The Crown Prince said nothing.
He stared at the board in silence, finishing his meal one small bite at a time. When the bowl was nearly empty, he poured tea into it, swirling the last drops of oil and rice together before drinking it all.
Setting down the bowl, he slowly picked up a black stone. After a brief pause, he slammed it down firmly, the entire board trembling with the impact.
"Since we're playing this game," he said, voice low but resolute, "we'll play it to the end."
——
Kunlun Mountain.
A blessed cave-heaven.
Once, this was a natural cavern. Years ago, when Emperor Longqing came here on a pilgrimage, he rested inside—and there, he dreamed of an immortal.
Afterward, the emperor ordered craftsmen to carve the cavern into a secret palace hidden within the mountainside. Every year since, he returned here to meditate for a time.
"Your Majesty!"
Chief Eunuch Huang Hong of the Directorate of Ceremonies entered in haste, carrying a memorial. "Battle reports from the eastern front."
Emperor Longqing, dressed in what appeared to be a plain Daoist robe—but made from the finest silk—sat cross-legged, eyes closed. He gave no response.
Understanding the ritual, Huang Hong began reading softly.
The contents detailed the situation at Hulao Pass.
At the end, he summarized: "Holding Hulao Pass carries great risk—but the potential reward is immense. Both General Fang and His Highness the Crown Prince support this strategy. In the Crown Prince's own words: 'Your son is willing to go to the front himself. Even if it costs my life, I will reclaim the lands of Great Sheng and fulfill Father's dream of performing the Imperial Offering atop Mount Ziwei.'"
At that, Emperor Longqing finally chuckled. "My son… filial as ever."
"Your Majesty," Huang Hong asked cautiously, "how shall this battle be fought?"
"Fight it as they say."
The emperor's voice was calm, almost detached. "Tell them—even if Hulao Pass falls—they are to fight to the very end, no matter the cost. I don't care about casualty numbers. I only want Mount Ziwei."
"Has there been any news of Sun Xiangzong's whereabouts?"
"None, Your Majesty," Huang Hong replied, bowing his head. "Since the army's expansion, he's vanished without a trace."
"Then send Fang Qingyun to Hulao Pass," the emperor said flatly. "I don't believe that man, crippled or not, has run out of tricks. This will force him to show what he's truly capable of."
"That's indeed appropriate," Huang Hong nodded cautiously. "But… what about Chen Sanshi? Should he go as well? You once said he's still young and should be reserved for greater things. If he dies at Hulao Pass, wouldn't that be a waste?"
"Mount Ziwei," the emperor replied, his tone turning cold, "is the greatest thing."
Emperor Longqing spoke slowly, unhurriedly. "Even if he only holds for two months, Chen Sanshi's death will still be worthy. I'll see his family properly cared for and posthumously grant him a noble title."
"Yes, Your Majesty. This servant will make the arrangements."
——
Zhaotong Prefecture.
Before the Guanyin Temple.
A man and woman walked hand in hand up the steps.
"My lord, must we come to pray now? The city's still unsettled after the war…"
"You don't understand!" the man said seriously. "The master of this temple said today is an auspicious day. If we come pray today, she'll surely conceive! And besides, the war's over. General Chen entered the city without disturbing a single citizen. Everything's peaceful now. What are you afraid of?"
"Oh…"
"Go on inside. I'll wait here. Remember—you must pray for three full hours. Be sincere!"
The woman nodded, lifted her skirt, and gracefully entered the temple.
"Tsk, tsk."
A shadowy figure appeared by the gate—Baldy Lai.
"I say, old man, don't bother praying to Bodhisattva. Why not pray to me, Zhang Laizitou? I guarantee your wife'll get pregnant faster than any idol inside!"
"Huh?"
The middle-aged man, dressed in fine clothes, turned in confusion. The newcomer's ugly face, scarred cheek, and the saber on his hip made him look like a wandering vagabond. "What do you mean by that?"
"What do I mean?"
Chen Sanshi sneered. "I mean my tool's a lot more useful than a monk's."
"Ah?"
The man's expression changed as the words sank in. "You—you're saying the children people pray for here aren't blessed by Bodhisattva… they're the monks' bastards? Impossible! The monks here are virtuous men, revered by all. How could they—"
Chen Sanshi ignored him. He leapt lightly over the wall and vanished into the courtyard.
The middle-aged man hesitated, unease twisting in his gut. When he tried to enter through the main gate, a monk barred his way. That only made his fear worse. After pacing for a moment, he finally braced himself, dragged a stone over, stepped on it, and clambered over the wall.
It was the middle of the night. The temple was silent and pitch-black, save for the faint flickering candlelight inside the main hall where the Sending-Child Guanyin was worshipped. A young woman in a pink dress knelt on a cushion before the statue, bowing devoutly and burning incense.
"Hmm—rumble…"
As she silently made her wish, a hidden panel behind the statue creaked open. From the darkness, several tall shadows emerged—one after another until seven or eight burly monks stepped out, surrounding her completely.
In that moment, the woman understood all too well why this temple's "child blessings" were so effective.
Her face flushed crimson. She scrambled to her feet, trying to flee.
But the head monk seized her sleeve. "Amitabha. Madam, where are you going?"
"I—I'm going home."
"Going home? But don't you want a child?"
"I don't want it anymore!"
"Stop right there! Madam, do you think you can leave?"
"Be obedient," the monk said coldly. "We'll perform a ritual for you—eight of us. You'll be blessed, and you'll definitely conceive!"
"Ahhh!"
"I'll kill you all, bastards!"
The husband, having just climbed over the wall, witnessed everything. Rage consumed him. He charged forward bare-handed.
"Hmm?"
"Lustful monks! You beasts!"
"Donor, do not slander us!" the lead monk shouted. "We were only going to perform a blessing ritual—"
"Bang!"
Before he could finish, he lifted his leg to kick the man—but in that instant, a cold flash of steel sliced through the air. He felt a chill at his thigh, looked down, and saw half his leg missing. Blood spurted wildly as he collapsed screaming.
"Ahhh!"
He howled in pain, clutching the stump.
"Slash! Slash! Slash!"
Chen Sanshi's long Miao saber whirled in a blur. Blade light filled the hall like a blooming lotus. In only a few breaths, blood spread across the floor. All eight monks of the Incense God Sect lay dead.
"Someone's killing! Murder!"
The husband grabbed his wife's hand and fled in terror.
Chen Sanshi didn't rush to retrieve the mystic pearl. He already knew the incense's divine energy here had been siphoned away. The real reason he came was to draw the hidden ones out—and strike a bigger prize.
As expected, a voice rang out coldly behind him.
"So, you're Zhang Laizitou—the famous hero Zhang."
Two Daoists entered the main hall, one before and one behind—Yunxiaozi and Ling Xuzi.
"That's right."
Chen Sanshi deliberately imitated a coarse, wandering tone—completely unlike his real self.
"Great Hero Zhang," Yunxiaozi narrowed his eyes, his tone wary. "Our Incense God Sect has no grudge with you. Why have you repeatedly stolen our incense and slain our followers?"
"You thieves of incense steal divine power and deceive the people," Chen Sanshi barked. "You bring harm to the world! Every man should rise to kill your kind. Don't think I don't know you're acting under the Crown Prince's orders!"
"What?!"
Yunxiaozi's face went pale. "How… how do you know that?!"
"There's nothing in this world Zhang Laizitou doesn't know," Chen Sanshi said coolly, though inside his thoughts were racing.
He had only bluffed—yet they confessed instantly.
So it really was the Crown Prince behind this.
He'd come partly to harvest incense energy for his Sword Qi Technique's next breakthrough, but more importantly—to uncover whatever plot the Crown Prince was scheming.
This was a battlefield. He couldn't allow traitors working from the shadows.
"This…"
Yunxiaozi's expression shifted rapidly. He'd planned to kill this intruder and silence him, but the man's ability to absorb incense so swiftly was terrifying. He didn't dare act rashly.
"Great Hero Zhang," he said cautiously, "why make an enemy of us—or His Highness? With your strength, you could join us. When our great work succeeds, you'd be honored as one who followed the dragon's rise."
Followed the dragon's rise?
Chen Sanshi froze for an instant.
The Incense God Sect served the Crown Prince.
And now this phrase—follow the dragon.
The Crown Prince… was plotting rebellion? Regicide?
He kept his face calm. "Don't make me laugh. I'm a man who seeks immortality, not power. I've no interest in court politics."
"Great Hero Zhang, don't refuse so quickly."
Yunxiaozi raised his hands placatingly. "How about this—you let me return and report to His Highness. A man of your skill would be greatly valued. I'm sure the terms he offers will tempt you."
Chen Sanshi didn't reply. He simply shifted his stance—ready to strike.
"There's no need for violence!" Yunxiaozi said urgently, backing away, hands trembling slightly.
Yunxiaozi stepped back repeatedly. "Great Hero Zhang, how about this—four months from now, meet us at the Mountain God Temple in Taihu Prefecture. We'll discuss again. You can decide whether the offer satisfies you or not before committing to anything."
"Agreed," Ling Xuzi added quickly. "Since you claim no interest in court affairs, I trust you won't spread what you've heard. The rest… can be discussed later."
——
Taihu Prefecture.
Chen Sanshi had studied the military maps countless times. Of course he knew where that was—right next to Mount Ziwei.
That meant if the Crown Prince was truly planning rebellion, he would act at Mount Ziwei—after the three prefectures were reclaimed.
So that was it.
The information from Xunxian Tower had been right all along—the Incense God Sect was indeed preparing a major move in the "capital." But "capital" didn't refer to a place—it referred to a person: the Emperor himself.
"As a token of sincerity…"
Yunxiaozi pulled a small incense burner from his sleeve. "These divine flames are a gift for Great Hero Zhang. Consider it our gesture of goodwill. As for the past, our Incense God Sect will no longer pursue the matter. How about that?"
"Tch."
Chen Sanshi glared at him. "Get lost already!"
"Let's go!"
The two exchanged a look and retreated at once.
Only after confirming through his Qi-Observation Technique that they had gone far away did Chen Sanshi kneel down to inspect the incense burner.
It was no larger than his palm, yet purple mist coiled around it, brimming with divine energy. The base was marked with a faint blood-red sigil.
"These divine flames… enough to push my Sword Qi Technique to the next level."
He took out his black pearl and drew all the incense energy into it, leaving the burner empty. Then he tossed it aside.
The mark on it could be used to track him—best not to keep it.
And after experimenting before, he'd realized that refining spiritual crops with these incense burners wasn't nearly as effective as with the Xuan Iron Cauldron. They weren't made for alchemy anyway, so it was useless to hold onto it.
He wasn't short on medicinal paste anymore either.
Tonight's harvest had been quite rewarding.
Only… one thing puzzled him.
Why did the Crown Prince have to choose Mount Ziwei for rebellion?
After a short moment of thought, it became clear.
Whether for a coup or an uprising, one needed men—lots of them. The Crown Prince's influence in the capital couldn't compare to the Emperor's. Any troop movements nearby would draw attention instantly.
But Mount Ziwei? That was perfect.
After the war ended, the Emperor would inevitably come there to perform the Fengshan Ceremony. And with soldiers still stationed nearby after the three-prefecture campaign, no one would suspect anything. Combine that with the early arrival of hidden agents like Pei Tiannan—it all fit together perfectly.
Still…
The war wasn't even over, yet the Crown Prince was already setting the stage.
What if they lost later? Or failed to reclaim the three prefectures?
Would he still stage his rebellion?
Forget it.
None of that mattered to Chen Sanshi.
As far as he was concerned, both sides were rotten. The old Emperor who poisoned him and caused the Yunzhou tragedy deserved death, and the Crown Prince who used living sacrifices was no better.
Whoever sat on the throne made no difference.
The only thing worth considering was how to exploit the Incense God Sect further—how to trick them into giving him more resources while keeping himself safe.
And from the way Yunxiaozi treated him… it seemed they really thought he was some powerful master.
Of course, Chen Sanshi wasn't just bluffing.
His Qi-Observation Technique let him gauge others' strength clearly.
That Yunxiaozi's incense-based inner energy wasn't even as strong as his own. If it came to a real fight, his Sword Qi Technique could easily cut him down.
The royal family truly had no kinship left.
After a brief sigh, Chen Sanshi leapt from the temple roof into the darkness.
No matter how chaotic things got, the current battle still came first.
At least now he was sure—unlike Yunzhou, the Emperor wouldn't stab him in the back this time. He could finally fight without holding back.
From his observation, the eastern front remained dire.
Great Sheng lacked both troops and high-ranking generals. On paper, it was still the strongest nation, but surrounded by enemies on all sides, it was stretched too thin to defend everywhere effectively.
That Deng Feng…
If only he could be persuaded to surrender, it would be a huge advantage.
Chen Sanshi had already looked into him carefully.
The man was upright, one of the rare few uncorrupted by greed or cruelty. He never exploited the people or colluded with officials.
Which was exactly why he'd been exiled from the capital to the frontier years ago.
A good man—but men like him always had stubborn spines.
If Chen Sanshi hadn't come prepared, bringing Cui Congyi and Sha Wenlong to act fast, Deng Feng would have killed himself before they even reached him.
Whether he could now be persuaded to join them remained to be seen.
If not—then the battlefield would decide their fates.
In war, there were no friends. Only enemies.
When he returned to his quarters, Chen Sanshi stayed silent and spent the entire night cultivating his Sword Qi Technique.
[Technique: Sword Qi Technique (Mastery)]
[Progress: 855/1000]
By the time dawn broke, he finally spoke.
"Xia Cong, bring me Deng Feng's records—his life, his service history, everything."
"Yes, sir!"
——
"General Deng, you should surrender. It's best for everyone," Sha Wenlong said impatiently, iron whip in hand.
Before him, Deng Feng sat stripped of armor, wearing only a blood-stained underrobe. His hands and feet were nailed to a wooden cross, his body wrapped in Black Armored chains.
Sha Wenlong sneered. "You know the rule. High-ranking generals are too much trouble to keep as prisoners. If you don't surrender within seven days, you'll be executed publicly!"
Deng Feng kept his eyes shut, silent.
"Deng Feng!"
Sha Wenlong barked. "You're a defeated general! The Great Sheng court's already promised you a marquisate if you submit. What more do you want? Fine, if your spine's that stiff—what about your family? Bring them in!"
Moments later, over a dozen people were pushed into the tent—his elderly mother, his wife, concubines, two sons, and three daughters—all bound and trembling.
Deng Feng didn't move.
"General Deng," Sha Wenlong said, "if you want to die, that's your business. But do you really want your family to die with you?"
This time, Deng Feng finally opened his eyes.
But instead of pleading, he sneered. "Do it! Kill them. Kill me too!"
"You—!"
Sha Wenlong froze, stunned that even this threat failed.
"Do it!" Deng Feng roared.
Deng Feng suddenly shouted, urging him on. "When they lived, they enjoyed my protection. Now that I've lost, it's only right they die with me! Why haven't you killed us yet?"
"Fine, old man, I'll kill them right now!"
Sha Wenlong, already burning with pent-up rage, had finally found someone to vent it on. Just as he raised his whip to strike, a white-robed young man stepped into the tent.
"Sha Wenlong, that's enough."
"Chen… General Chen."
Sha Wenlong clenched his teeth, barely holding back from speaking the name too casually. "Deng Feng refuses to surrender. Might as well kill him!"
"Get out," Chen Sanshi ordered coldly. "And take General Deng's family with you. Treat them well. If even one of them—especially the women—suffers so much as half an insult, I'll write a memorial to court and have your entire family executed."
"…Understood."
Sha Wenlong bit down on his fury, bowed stiffly, and led Deng Feng's family away.
Chen Sanshi gave another order. "Xia Cong, clear everyone out to at least 200 steps from this tent. No one enters that range without permission."
"Yes, sir!"
Once the area was cleared, Deng Feng sneered. "So, Chen, you think sparing my family will win me over?"
"No," Chen Sanshi said flatly. "I never planned to win you over like that. I just know killing you now is pointless. I'll wait until the seventh day and execute you then. That's my way of showing respect."
He sat down calmly, flipping through the documents on the table, saying nothing more.
Deng Feng, however, couldn't stay silent for long. "Chen Sanshi! I only lost to you by half an hour! At dawn, your army was already preparing to retreat, wasn't it? That means if the city had held for just half an hour more, you would've lost!"
Chen Sanshi smiled faintly. "You're right. Every word."
He paused. "But that half hour, General Deng, was a chasm—a heaven-splitting gulf you could never cross."
This battle… even he wasn't sure where his confidence had come from, but deep down, he had grasped something fundamental about warfare.
Something beyond tactics—an understanding drawn from countless campaigns and the wisdom of strategists long past.
In the end, the people and soldiers inside the city sought only one thing: a way to live. Once that path appeared, what meaning was there in continuing to fight?
It was only because Deng Feng's personal prestige was too great that the city hadn't surrendered sooner. Otherwise, the gates would've opened by morning without any need for trickery.
"Enough."
Deng Feng turned his head away. "Victory and defeat are fate. Do it—kill me. Deng Feng will never be a traitor or a coward."
"Loyalty and righteousness," Chen Sanshi said softly, lifting the dossier. "Fine words, General Deng. But let me ask you—what is the purpose of defending a city?"
"Of course, to protect the people!"
"Then tell me," Chen Sanshi said, "now that the city has fallen, have the people been harmed? Not only that—those corrupt officials you couldn't touch because of the court's power were executed this very morning. The people cheered. Doesn't that mean their lives are better now than before?"
Deng Feng's lips trembled. "…."
"Or do you believe," Chen Sanshi continued, "that letting more civilians die would somehow count as protecting them?"
"I fought to serve the dynasty!" Deng Feng snapped back.
"Oh?"
Chen Sanshi opened the next page of the dossier. "In the 192nd year of the Qingli Era, when you were only 16, you wrote a poem that shook the literary world. Do you remember it?"
He began to recite slowly:
'Diligently I study the wisdom of sages, to restore lost virtue and bring peace to all.
With a three-foot sword of azure steel in hand, I'll sweep away all filth beneath the heavens.'
"Tell me, General Deng," Chen Sanshi asked quietly, "which matters more to you—serving the dynasty, or fulfilling this grand vow you made as a youth?"
"Are those two things… in conflict?" Deng Feng frowned.
"Of course they are," Chen Sanshi said firmly. "From what I've seen, the Qing Kingdom is rotten with corruption. Taxes rise every year. The people are miserable. At least a dozen uprisings break out annually. In such a decaying, irredeemable court—do you truly believe peace for all ages can be achieved?
"Even to bring life and dignity to the common people—to cleanse the filth of the world—you've already failed. Otherwise, why did those officials inside the city have to wait for me to kill them?
"Serving the Qing court and creating peace for the people—aren't those two goals contradictory?
"If you stay loyal to the Qing court, aren't you betraying your own ideals?
"Or…"
He paused, his tone hardening. "Are you just a hypocrite—greedy for fame and vanity? All your so-called loyalty and righteousness just a mask to preserve the reputation of 'six generations of loyal service'?"
"Shut your mouth!"
For the first time, Deng Feng lost control. The man who had sat in silence like a corpse now exploded with fury. "You—what right do you have to insult me like that?!"
"Isn't it true?" Chen Sanshi rose to his feet. "If, by your loyalty and valor, the city had truly held… then the aristocratic prefect's son—the one born of royal blood—would still be in power. Still robbing, still abusing, still defiling women. And what would your memorials achieve? At best, they'd lose rank for a few months, maybe be reassigned to another province to continue their evil.
"Wouldn't the victims of their crimes have every right to say it was you, General Deng, who caused their suffering—because you defended that city?
"So I ask again—does serving the Qing court and creating peace for the world not contradict each other?
"Even if you served them for another 1,000 years, could you ever realize your dream?"
"Ridiculous! Utter nonsense!"
Deng Feng seized on the only counterpoint he could find, shouting, "You're saying all this just to make me surrender! Yes, Qing is full of corruption and cruelty, but what about your Great Sheng? The Yunzhou Massacre—nearly a million civilians slaughtered in ten days! Even I can see what that means. If Qing is rotten, then Sheng is worse!"
"General Deng," Chen Sanshi said coldly, enunciating each word, "did I ever say I serve Great Sheng? Or that I claim to be loyal to them?"
Boom!
The words struck Deng Feng like a thunderclap. His mind went blank, his body stiff.
"You… what do you mean by that?"