Journey to the West: Sun Wukong's Advice System-Chapter 233: Blinding Method and the Chongling Uprising

Chapter 233: Chapter 233: Blinding Method and the Chongling Uprising

Hundreds of horsemen descended upon them, clad in varying attire and wielding diverse weapons, their formation scattered—a clear sign that these were retainers of the privileged clans.

Seeing the pursuers merely a hundred steps away, Liu Xiu remained calm and composed as he instructed Deng Yu and Zhu You to dismount the ox cart. To their astonished gazes, he took out a firestarter and lit the straw piled on the cart, then set the ox’s tail ablaze.

The ox went mad in an instant, taking the flaming cart in a furious gallop straight toward the hundred-plus pursuers.

As they moved toward each other, the speed increased.

The clan retainers, who had their eyes fixed on Liu Xiu’s head, were caught off guard.

With the bellowing enraged ox charging, men and horses were sent sprawling in an instant; many pursuers were trampled to death or injured.

"Kill!" Liu Xiu drew his sword from its sheath and charged like an arrow, his form nothing like that of a scholar, the foremost student of the Imperial Academy, or the widely praised erudite tutor.

He moved with swift speed, treading in the Mystifying Steps Technique, his sword dancing as he reaped heads amidst the chaos.

Deng Yu and Zhu You, setting astonishment aside, also charged into battle, one with a sword and the other with a spear, both possessing exceptional martial skills.

The trio formed a formation and managed to instill fear in the hundred men, with only half managing to escape into the woods, leaving a field of corpses behind.

"Thrilling, truly thrilling!" Zhu You laughed loudly, his body covered in blood.

Liu Xiu and Deng Yu exchanged smiles, both feeling immensely satisfied.

"Have you noted which clans these retainers belonged to?" Liu Xiu asked Deng Yu.

"I have," Deng Yu nodded.

"In that case, quickly return to Wan County and deliver the lists of these clans to Li Tong. Tell him to seize the opportunity and act," Liu Xiu said.

Without further words, Deng Yu saluted with a fist and immediately sought a swift horse, taking an alternate route back to Wan County.

Meanwhile, Liu Xiu and Zhu You selected two fine horses and continued towards Caiyang County.

With horses whipped to speed, they were indeed much faster than the ox cart.

Half a day passed and the pair found themselves within the borders of Caiyang County. Beyond the Bai Shui River lay their home.

However, just as they approached Bai Shui, a loud pursuit came from behind.

"Wen Shu, it’s the Nanyang army!" Zhu You, with sharp eyes, spotted hundreds of cavalrymen in pursuit from afar, closing the distance faster than they were.

"Cross the river first," Liu Xiu said, unflustered as he spurred his horse forward, wading directly through the river.

Zhu You hurriedly moved up to guard him, but his heart was still filled with urgency; the Bai Shui River wasn’t wide, and the current wasn’t strong, obviously unable to stop the pursuers behind them.

And the Nanyang troops were far more formidable than the previous clan retainers they’d encountered, numbering in the hundreds; the two of them stood no chance against them.

After crossing Bai Shui, they ascended the southern bank to Lion Mountain.

By this time, the Nanyang troops had also reached the riverside and were descending into the water en masse.

But instead of continuing to flee, Liu Xiu stopped atop Lion Mountain.

Just as Zhu You was about to urge him on, he stared in disbelief.

Liu Xiu waved his sword and tossed it into the river with a flick of his hand.

Splash!

As soon as the sword touched the water, the river began to boil, steam billowing.

The multitude of Nanyang cavalrymen was immediately scalded, screaming in agony; they quickly retreated to the northern bank.

"Xiu... Wen Shu, what kind of skill is this?" Zhu You asked, eyes wide open.

"It’s just a Blinding Method," Liu Xiu replied indifferently, without elaborating further, though inwardly, he recalled what his master Sun had once told him.

Master Sun had said that he always managed to turn danger into safety because he had a heavenly destiny; the twenty-eight celestial lodestars protected him, and the deities of land and Water God would heed his command.

He had thought it to be a joke until Master Sun, right before his eyes, put a whole mountain into his pocket—that’s when he believed.

Since then, his outlook on the world had broadened even more.

Soon after, under the watchful eyes of the Nanyang soldiers, the pair crossed Lion Mountain and left with long strides.

They concluded that even if the river water was cold, the pursuers would not continue to chase them.

Because ahead was Chunling Township, the stronghold of the Chunling Liu clan.

If the soldiers of Nanyang Commandery really dared to attack, they would not be afraid in the slightest.

It wasn’t until dusk that the two of them reached Chunling Township where they were met by someone leading dozens of household retainers and followers. That person shouted from a distance, "Wenshu, why didn’t you say anything about coming back? I would have gone to meet you."

Liu Xiu’s smile broadened; the person approaching was his elder brother, Liu Yan.

Very soon, all the clansmen of the Chunling Liu family knew of Liu Xiu’s return.

The Chunling Liu clan, descendants of King Ding of Changsha, Liu Fa, though declined, was still a prominent local family.

These clansmen of the Liu family had also heard about Liu Xiu’s scholarly pursuits in Chang’an and knew that he was now called a great master of the esoteric learning.

The clan elder, Liu Liang, Liu Xiu’s paternal uncle who raised the three brothers to adulthood, immediately called together the clansmen that evening to hold a banquet in celebration of Liu Xiu’s return.

During the banquet, everyone praised Liu Xiu’s exceptional learning, saying that he would certainly become a great Confucian scholar like the national preceptor Liu Xiu and leave his name in history. freёnovelkiss.com

Zhu You sat on the side, wanting to say that Liu Xiu was even more extraordinary than they imagined.

But seeing that Liu Xiu had no intention of speaking up, Zhu You also refrained from revealing too much.

However, it didn’t take long before someone else revealed it all.

Right as the Chunling Liu family banquet was in full swing, the county magistrate of Caiyang County, Wu, barged in accompanied by a contingent of bailiffs and jailers.

The clan elder Liu Liang, having once served as the county magistrate of Xiao County and with all the clansmen present, was not afraid of the other party and demanded, "County Magistrate Wu, what are you doing here?"

County Magistrate Wu sneered, "I am here to arrest Liu Xiu by imperial order!"

By imperial order?

The complexions of the Chunling Liu clansmen all changed as they looked towards Liu Xiu.

Liu Xiu clenched his fists, feeling a wave of sorrow. Although he had guessed that the Sash Decree had been exposed when he saw the pursuers earlier, he feared that the national preceptor Liu Xiu was no longer alive.

At that moment, clan elder Liu Liang said sternly, "There is no Liu Xiu here, leave immediately!"

County Magistrate Wu snorted coldly and pulled out an Edict for a Sea Arrest, saying, "Liu Xiu of Nanyang has conspired with twelve others, including the national preceptor Liu Xiu, in Chang’an, plotting rebellion.

The national preceptor and his conspirators have been put to death, only Liu Xiu of Nanyang remains at large. His Majesty has issued an order for his capture. Whoever kills Liu Xiu of Nanyang will be ennobled as a marquis of ten thousand households!

If you harbor rebels, you shall be deemed co-conspirators!"

Upon hearing these words, the members of the Chunling Liu clan were greatly startled; they could hardly believe what they were hearing, and some began to hesitate and worry.

Liu Yan, however, laughed heartily, "Haha, Wenshu, you’ve got yourself involved in quite the affair!"

Liu Xiu smiled faintly and first addressed the jailers, "You all come from impoverished backgrounds; consider the increasingly difficult times over these years, think about the lands that have been taken by those monks, and then ask yourselves if you’re content?

Or perhaps, would you rather have my head, Liu Xiu’s, to become a marquis of ten thousand households?"

The jailers looked at each other. Caiyang County had three Buddhist temples that were also the largest landlords, almost all of them were tenant farmers of these three temples and had long suffered their oppression.

Seeing this, County Magistrate Wu, sensing danger, bellowed, "Liu Xiu, do not bamboozle the people with your talk!"

Liu Xiu shook his head gently and said to Liu Yan, "Big brother, kill this dog of an official."

Liu Yan laughed loudly; he had always wanted to do something great, and today he finally got his wish. He immediately led the numerous guests and followers to strike down County Magistrate Wu, and any bailiffs who tried to resist were also killed.

Not one of the poor jailers fought back.

The clansmen of the Liu family present all understood that Liu Xiu had truly rebelled!

Finally, Liu Xiu stepped forward, drew his Longsword, and proclaimed loudly to the numerous clansmen of the Chunling Liu family, "Wang Mang is tyrannical, and the common people can barely survive. He has also built a thousand Buddhist temples, greedily consuming the flesh and fat of the people; they are nothing but evil spirits!

When I was in Chang’an, the Crown Prince of the Great Han wrote a decree with his blood, declaring that Mang the usurper did not receive the mandate through abdication, but rather seized it, and called upon the world to execute the usurper!

The national preceptor Liu Xiu and numerous righteous scholars joined in striking at the usurper but unfortunately perished.

I, Xiu, am willing to uphold their legacy, widely recruit brave warriors from all over, slay the usurper Wang Mang, restore the enterprise of our great ancestor, and secure peace for all eternity!"