Chapter 166: Chapter 145: A Strong Will Is Also a Weakness

Yazhou, Seven Stars Pavilion.

This was originally a place where the cultivator Cai Yuankui used for meditation, but after the officials’ exactions and the people’s suffering, it became a sanctuary for the common folk under Cai Yuankui—who himself called Savior Celestial Venerable, dominated Yazhou.

However, unlike the resounding title, Cai Yuankui practiced an evil secret technique.

Of course, in Cai Yuankui’s view, it was merely regular alchemy. It was just that others couldn’t quite understand his choice of ingredients. However, he never intended for others to understand—it was his own business.

But recently, he encountered someone who could understand him.

That scholar knew a great deal and was willing to refine medicine with him — more importantly, that scholar completely understood his actions. It wasn’t just ordinary agreement; that scholar truly believed that the elixir they refined could allow one to achieve immortality and ascension.

"It’s done! It’s done!"

When the cauldron of elixirs was completed, that scholar appeared even more excited than he was.

However, just when Cai Yuankui thought that the scholar might seize the opportunity of becoming immortal first, the elixir was handed to him.

The scholar did not seize the elixir but chose to share it with him.

This unexpectedly touched Cai Yuankui.

After consuming the elixir, Cai Yuankui sat cross-legged and began to prepare for his ascension.

But immediately, the blood gushing from his mouth and nose made Cai Yuankui realize that this elixir brought nothing but death.

"Why..."

Facing the approaching blade, Cai Yuankui found himself unable to lift even the Magic Sword.

Until his death, he never understood why that close friend betrayed him.

...

Majhou, Jishi Mountain.

Majhou, with its many hills and forests, naturally harbored bandits, among which the most formidable was the Iron-faced Asura, Yan Sanhu. Not long ago, Yan Sanhu wielded the Nine-Section Long Whip, massacring the three prefectures’ governor mansions and wreaking havoc along the entire Shu Road, embodying the bandits’ dream.

But only Yan Sanhu knew, the Great Chen court wouldn’t let him go.

Having done so much, the Great Chen court would certainly not spare him. Once the army arrived, it would be a tough battle—so these days, he was sharpening weapons and refining martial arts, all to drive away the soldiers in fear.

Everyone who turns outlaw understands that to survive, one must be fierce enough to instill fear in others.

"So, you are the envoy sent by the young emperor?"

Watching the refined young man before him, Yan Sanhu squinted his eyes.

"Though custom dictates envoys aren’t harmed during war, you’d better mind your words. I’m already considering using your skull as a bowl."

"King of Shu, that was a joke, how dare I criticize the King of Shu?"

The refined young man seemed a bit timid, clearly afraid of Yan Sanhu’s fierce presence.

But the words he spoke left Yan Sanhu stunned.

"You... what? What did you just call me?"

"King of Shu, or Emperor of Shu; you can be called by whatever you wish."

The young man still appeared nervous and timid.

"The Southern Chen emperor lacks virtue, losing people’s hearts. You are the true sovereign—the face alone shows you’re destined for greatness!"

"I... uh?"

Even as someone used to great storms, Yan Sanhu was momentarily dazed.

Initially, he thought it would be a life-and-death struggle with the Great Chen soldiers, but they truly feared him, even acknowledging him as emperor?

Whom should he fight with now?

Yan Sanhu suspected deceit, even attempting to pursue the soldiers, but they avoided confrontation, surrendered, and hailed him as the true Emperor of Shu.

This left Yan Sanhu increasingly perplexed.

Everyone feared him—it felt as though it had all ended. He no longer needed to fight to survive.

With the situation as it was, whom could he still engage?

"If Your Majesty is interested, how about facing him?"

While Yan Sanhu, bored and drinking fiercely in the hall, the scholarly young man returned with a strong man.

"As an after-drink amusement."

"Well... alright?"

Yan Sanhu finally picked up his Nine-Section Long Whip again.

But he faced an opponent wielding a massive rake.

Even when the rake pierced his torso, Yan Sanhu couldn’t fathom why, upon becoming Emperor of Shu, he had grown weaker.

...

The Rongzhou Spear Meet was originally a casual gathering for local residents in Rongzhou to practice martial arts, but recently, tax officials were excessively oppressive, prompting its leader Ma Xian to strike decisively, killing a tax official with a spear.

Knowing the matter couldn’t end peacefully, Ma Xian, aiming to restore peace in Rongzhou, also defeated five military experts after their arrival, so the court could witness the consequences of pushing people too far.

Being located in the northwest, life in Rongzhou was already tough, and continuous oppression was unbearable.

"All I do is for my fellow villagers!"

With spear in hand and mounted on his steed, Ma Xian decided to protect this land.

This land needed him, needed him to stand up.

At least at the beginning, Ma Xian thought so.

But recently, things had taken a different turn. Not only were the officials no longer collecting taxes, but they were even distributing money and grain. And those tax collectors were going door to door apologizing, saying they wouldn’t dare again—everyone praised Ma Xian’s name, saying he was truly the hero of this Rongzhou.

Yet Ma Xian himself felt somewhat puzzled.

Had the problem been solved just like that?

Then who was he supposed to fight against?

"Perhaps try fighting him."

A man in wide sleeves appeared before Ma Xian.

Beside him, a mad monk with a long staff grinned.

"Fight him?"

Looking at the mad monk in front of him, Ma Xian was confused.

"Why should I fight him?"

But in that brief moment of hesitation, the Nine-Section Long Whip had already smashed Ma Xian’s skull.

...

Inside the governor’s mansion in Yangzhou City.

The minor official, Li Nanfeng, was pacing the premises, admiring the garden’s beauty while chatting with the empty space beside him—everyone saw he was talking to himself, yet no one dared to point it out.

The reason being that in Li Nanfeng’s eyes, standing beside him was his wife.

His wife was standing there perfectly fine, how could anyone not see her?

"Certainly invisible..."

Just as Li Nanfeng intended to take his wife out to enjoy some familiar eateries, an old voice echoed before him.

"Isn’t there no one by your side? Why are you talking to yourself here?"

"My wife is right here beside me, can’t you see her?"

Li Nanfeng narrowed his eyes, his right hand already on the hilt of his sword.

"If your eyes aren’t working..."

"Your wife really isn’t by your side, for I just rescued her from the military official’s mansion."

Before Li Nanfeng, the elderly man dressed like a wealthy gentleman pointed beside him.

"If you don’t believe me, see for yourself, isn’t she your wife?"

"What..."

Li Nanfeng’s eyes widened in shock.

Indeed, the person appearing before him was his wife, though slightly haggard, but he could never forget that face—yet when he looked beside him, he saw the same face, these two people looked exactly alike!

How could it be? How could his wife possibly be two people?

"Impossible, impossible... how could you be fake? How could you be fake?"

As he spoke, Li Nanfeng raised his hand, gently touching the beloved wife who had been with him for days.

His hand passed through the shadow.

"Your longing is too deep, it’s become a disease from worry."

Seeing this scene, the old man sighed heavily.

"Well then, I came this time, originally to make a happy ending...your wife is right before you, why not recognize her quickly?"

"I, I, I I I..."

Li Nanfeng didn’t know how he walked over; he only felt his whole body trembling.

Some dusty memories resurfaced with the appearance of the person.

"You’ve suffered..."

Li Nanfeng tightly embraced his wife as both cried tears of joy.

Simultaneously, a heavy shield flew past their necks, severing their heads together.

"Two worthless beings."

A short-statured man emerged from behind the elder, kicking the two headless bodies into the garden pond.

Then he picked up the shield, looking back at the elder dressed like a wealthy gentleman.

"Our job might be the easiest... so Qian Lao, where to next?"

"To Yizhou then, to avenge my bitter child’s death."

The elder named Qian Yu remained expressionless, his eyes already turned towards Yizhou.

That was where the chaos began, and the burial place of his son, Qian Jin.

So what exactly did the experts in Yizhou want then?