HomeGuardians of the DafengChapter 102: The Final Diary

Chapter 102: The Final Diary

Just after asking this question, Xu Qi An remembered the rule that “those who peer into Heaven’s mechanisms will be bound by them,” and promptly fell silent.

“Grandmother, what did you see?” Li Na instinctively asked, then immediately remembered the Insect Tribe’s rule: see through but don’t speak through!

The Insect Tribe’s seers had always followed this rule.

Li Na knew the consequences of revealing Heaven’s mechanisms—the entire tribe would go to the seer’s house for meals.

Everyone’s attention focused on Heaven Insect Grandmother, specifically on her face, each making their interpretations:

She was looking south, so her vision of the future must relate to the Southern Borders, to the Insect God…

Her expression showed gravity, but even more confusion and bewilderment, suggesting she hadn’t fully interpreted the future she’d seen…

Heaven Insect Grandmother’s complexion wasn’t too bad, so at least it couldn’t be too terrible a matter. Oh, looking carefully, her features were quite beautiful—she must have been an outstanding beauty in her youth…

As various thoughts crossed everyone’s minds, Heaven Insect’s Grandmother’s expression gradually softened. Leaning on her staff, she spoke in a kindly tone:

“I just saw some puzzling futures that I can’t elaborate on. For now, I cannot judge whether they are good or bad, but rest assured, they don’t involve direct, terrible disasters.”

Hearing this, the transcendent experts in the hall nodded in understanding—this was roughly what they had expected.

The meeting had produced two conclusions—advancing to Martial God might require fortune; the Carving Knife knew the method of advancing to Martial God!

The next objective was clear—wait for Zhao Shou to advance to Second Grade and help remove the Carving Knife’s seal.

Huai Qing summarized: “The Insect Tribe’s northern migration cannot be delayed. When you chiefs return to the Southern Borders, immediately gather your people to move north. The Yong Province market city is barely adequate to accommodate the seven branches of the Insect Tribe, so you’ll need to expand it yourselves. After the autumn harvest, winter will arrive. The court will provide grain, cotton clothing, and other supplies.”

Dragon Painter was delighted that room and board would be provided.

She then turned to the other transcendent experts and said gravely: “Everyone focuses on your cultivation to prepare for the great catastrophe.”

After the meeting dispersed, Li Na took her father Dragon Painter to see her brother Mo Sang, who was now a Hundred-Household Commander in the Imperial Guard, responsible for security at the palace’s South Gate.

Like Miao Youfang, he was one of the Empress’s trusted subordinates.

Approaching the South Gate, Dragon Painter saw his son, whom he hadn’t seen for half a year, wearing full armor and patrolling the city wall.

“Mo Sang!”

Dragon Painter bellowed for his son.

His voice rolled like thunder.

The Imperial Guards on and below the wall were startled, instinctively gripping their sword hilts while looking around for the source of the sound.

Mo Sang leaped down from the wall and reluctantly ran over. Before he got close, his voice carried over:

“Father, this is the palace, you can’t shout, you can’t shout…”

Li Na nodded vigorously: “Father, Brother thinks you’re embarrassing him.”

Dragon Painter’s eyes bulged, and his fan-sized hand slapped Mo Sang to the ground, shattering the blue bricks.

“Don’t hit, don’t hit…” Mo Sang repeatedly begged for mercy, saying resentfully:

“Father, I’m an Imperial Guard Commander now. I have so many subordinates watching—leave me some face.”

“What face!” Dragon Painter glared, speaking gruffly:

“I’d beat you the same way in front of your tribesmen. Is there a problem?”

“No problem, no problem…” Mo Sang readily agreed, muttering inwardly: Father is such a brute.

Dragon Painter glanced at the Imperial Guards in the distance who were closely watching and pointing while smiling. His expression softened slightly as he asked:

“How high an official is a Hundred-Household Commander?”

Mo Sang immediately became animated, boasting: “A Hundred-Household Commander is sixth rank, commanding one hundred and twenty men. It’s hereditary—Father, do you know what hereditary means? It means when I die, you can inherit… ah no, no, when I die, my son can inherit.

“Now when I go out, common people must call me ‘Sir’ or ‘Lord.’

“Even high officials in court must treat me with respect. I’ve shed blood for Great Feng, and I’m directly under Her Majesty—no one dares offend me.”

He puffed out his chest, full of pride.

His expression and posture were like a successful son showing off to his father, hoping for praise.

But Dragon Painter just snorted: “If you can’t make it here someday, remember you can always come back to farm and hunt.”

With that, he left with his precious daughter Li Na.

Mo Sang pouted, then turned to shout at the group of Imperial Guards:

“What are you looking at, you little brats!”

After walking some distance, Dragon Painter stopped and looked back at the now-blurry South Gate, silent.

Li Na carefully glanced at her father and saw rare tenderness and satisfaction in this rough and impetuous man’s eyes.

On a sunny afternoon, autumn’s restlessness filled the air.

In a pleasure house in the inner city, Song Tingfeng, wearing his Silver Gong official uniform, held a wine pot in one hand while drumming the railing with the other, accompanying the tune from the stage on the first floor.

Zhu Guangxiao was as gloomy as ever, drinking and eating by himself, occasionally fondling the beauty attending him.

Across from him sat Xu Yuanhuai, equally stern-faced and cold as ice. Perhaps due to the guest’s too-cold demeanor, the attendant beside him seemed somewhat nervous.

“Beauty, don’t be so nervous!” Song Tingfeng came to his senses and, while embracing his own “server,” said with a smile:

“Once you enter the room and get in bed, you’ll see how wild he can be.”

Xu Yuanhuai, long used to Song Tingfeng’s personality, continued drinking without expression.

Song Tingfeng shook his head and sighed:

“How boring!

“Two closed jars! It was better when Ningyan was here. Haven’t practiced spearmanship with him in ages. Yuanhuai, you’re nothing like him.”

Xu Yuanhuai still ignored him.

Song Tingfeng continued: “You’re also at the age to marry. Has your family found a matchmaker for you?”

Xu Yuanhuai shook his head: “The family is chaotic enough. My mother worries every day that my sisters-in-law will fight. I don’t want to add to her troubles by taking a wife—we’ll talk about it in a few years.”

Besides, things were fine as they were now.

Xu Yuanhuai put down his wine cup, picked up the woman beside him, and went into the inner room.

Song Tingfeng squinted his eyes, slightly tipsy, and continued listening to the music.

A peaceful and prosperous age—how wonderful.

“First Year of Huai Qing, Ninth Month, Third Day. Frost and Dew.

“I can’t help but want to write in my diary again. For me, for my friends, and the people of the Central Plains, this is probably the last moment of peace before the storm.

“When the great catastrophe comes, all living beings will suffer. All creatures of the Nine Provinces will be sacrificed, becoming offerings for the super-grade beings to replace the Heavenly Way.

“But before that, I can use my pen to record bits and pieces about them. Mm, I made myself a charcoal pen to improve my writing speed. Regrettably, even with the charcoal pen, my handwriting is still ugly.

“The Insect Tribe’s migration is complete. They’re temporarily living in the market town, with food and supplies provided by the court. Room and board are included, and they’re very well-behaved. The only drawback is that the Strength Insect branch people eat far too much.

“Mm, during this inspection of the Insect Tribe, I had several in-depth exchanges with Luan Yu. She proposed becoming my concubine and returning to the capital with me.”

“What a foolish woman. Isn’t being the leader of the Emotion Insect branch good enough? The capital has the fox spirit, Luo Yuheng, the Empress, and the Flying Swallow Lady—the waters are too deep for her to handle.

She should just hold onto her future.”

“First Year of Huai Qing, Fifth Day of the Ninth Month.

The Northern Border’s fortune was plundered by the Shaman God. The Demon and Barbarian tribes were annihilated, their remnants entering Chu Province to become part of Great Feng.

The Nine-Tailed Fox should have sailed away with the divine beast descendants by now. All matters are settled, just waiting for the great catastrophe.

Ling Yin has advanced to Seventh Grade. Dragon Painter asked me to take her to the Southern Borders to absorb the Insect God’s vital energy—her talent is terrifying. Give her ten years, and this half-step Martial God will be irrelevant.

Besides me, Ling Yin has the best talent in the Xu family, followed by Ling Yue.

A few days ago, Ling Yue officially took the tonsure, joining the Lingbao Temple as True Person Banyue’s direct disciple. Ling Yue has an extraordinary talent for cultivation, and joining Lingbao Temple is a good choice—better than marrying and becoming a sheltered young wife.

Aunt nearly tried to commit suicide by jumping into a well to force Ling Yue to change her mind, but didn’t succeed.

Understandably, Aunt’s mental state exploded because Second Brother’s marriage to Wang Simu has been delayed. In Second Brother’s words: How can one start a family before the super-grade beings are destroyed?

With the catastrophe approaching, he has no thoughts of marriage. After all, if Great Feng can’t withstand the disaster, everyone will die, making marriage meaningless.

But Aunt still wants the Second Brother to marry early so she can have grandchildren. After all, her eldest daughter has become a Daoist nun, and though her nephew in the main branch is promiscuous with many wives and concubines, none have produced offspring.

If not Second Brother, should she pin her hopes on Ling Yin?

Given Ling Yin’s style, when she grows up, she’s more likely to say: ‘Mother, your child is going to conquer the world. I’ll come back to see you after I’ve unified the empire!'”

“First Year of Huai Qing, Sixth Day of the Ninth Month.

Today, Yuan Shuang also joined the Bureau of Astronomy, becoming the Director’s disciple. But not his direct disciple—Sun Xuanji accepted her on the master’s behalf, making Yuan Shuang a member of the ‘Mute Faction.’

As long as she’s not the Director’s direct disciple, everything is fine. After all, wanting to become the Director’s disciple requires a decade of brain damage to even consider—it’s not a good thing.

Among the Heaven’s Society members, Asura has gone into seclusion. They say he’s had a breakthrough in the Vajra Manifestation and is preparing to challenge First Grade.

Li Miaozhen is traveling the world, accumulating merit through righteous deeds. Before leaving, we drank until dawn—we won’t meet again before the catastrophe.

Master Hengyuan is now the abbot of Azure Dragon Temple, joining the Mahayana Buddhist sect. He’s converted to the Chan system, assisting the Deliverer from Suffering Arhat in writing sutras and doctrines.

The Holy Son has completely given up, except for regularly going to the Bureau of Astronomy to ask for kidney-strengthening pills. Usually can’t see him around.

Li Na and Ling Yin remain as carefree as ever, laughing and playing—it’s good to be simple, the simple have no worries. Mm, as I write this, an orange cat passed by the window. I suspect it’s Daoist Jinlian, but I’m too embarrassed to expose him.”

“First Year of Huai Qing, Eighth Day of the Ninth Month.

Went to the Bureau of Astronomy and brought Zhong Li to the Xu residence.

Unexpectedly, Chu Caiwei has managed the Bureau quite well. Her greatest achievement is doing nothing—is this the powerful principle of governing by non-interference?”

“First Year of Huai Qing, Tenth Day of the Ninth Month.

Lin’an got her period—sigh, not pregnant. Luo Yuheng, Ye Ji, and Mu Nanzhi’s bellies show no movement either. It seems the problem is with me.

Difficulty having children is fine, but I’m worried it’s reproductive isolation… saying it this way makes it sound like I’m not human.”

“First Year of Huai Qing, Eighteenth Day of the Ninth Month. Frost Kill.

In Great Feng’s calendar, today we worship ancestors within three generations. Under Second Uncle’s leadership, Second Brother and I worshiped Grandfather.

Afterward, I saw the Second Uncle taking Yuan Shuang and Yuan Huai to secretly worship the unfilial son.

In the afternoon, had tea with Lord Wei. He said if there’s still a future, he wants to resign and return home, travel the four seas with the Empress Dowager. I thought, don’t make promises you can’t keep—beware of empty promises about northern frontier cattle and sheep.

But thinking of my promise to Mu Nanzhi, I fell silent.

Forgot to bring Zhong Li when meeting Wei Yuan, and she got hit in the waist by the blind-running Xu Ling Yin, breaking two ribs.”

“First Year of Huai Qing, Sixth Day of the Tenth Month.

One month until the catastrophe. Specially visited some old friends. Captain Wang and the Quick-Hand brothers haven’t changed much—for them, ordinary life is the greatest happiness.

Magistrate Zhu was promoted but was posted to Yong Province.

Lü Qing is now the Chief Constable of the Six Doors, and her position and cultivation getting higher and higher, but still unmarried. Why bother, sigh!

Miao Youfang is doing well in the Imperial Guard, having reached Fourth Grade, just waiting to accumulate seniority or military merits to be promoted to Commander.

In the afternoon, listened to music at the pleasure house with Song Tingfeng, Zhu Guangxiao, and Brother Chun. To prevent Brother Chun from going crazy, I deliberately sent the little pitiful one back to the Bureau of Astronomy.

Guangxiao’s wife is pregnant. Song Tingfeng remains single—I know what he wants, know he yearns for the bustling small paths covered in frost at dusk and dawn. That’s why he won’t marry.

The Night Watchmen’s Office holds many of my memories. Thinking about it now, even the Zhu father and son are important parts of those memories. That strike against the Zhu family opened my brilliant, extraordinary life.”

“First Year of Huai Qing, Eighth Day of the Tenth Month.

Visited the Northeast and Southern Borders today. All life has vanished within a hundred li of Jing Mountain City, the Shaman God’s power constantly spreading—mortals cannot survive under His pressure.

The natives of the Southern Borders and most animals have completely transformed into insects. Fortunately, we’ve been going to the Southern Borders with the Insect Tribe chiefs to eliminate insect beasts, so no transcendent insect beasts have emerged.

The Nine Provinces don’t have much time left.”

“First Year of Huai Qing, Eleventh Day of the Tenth Month.

This is my final diary entry. I want to write some words just for myself.

I remember when I first came to this world, I felt mostly lost and afraid of the Nine Provinces filled with transcendent power, so I only wanted to live a mundane life with multiple wives and wealth, unwilling to pursue power and strength.

Unfortunately, from the day I awakened, my fate was already determined.

At first, what pushed me forward was destiny and crisis, forcing me to frantically improve myself just to survive.

Joan of Arc, the Shaman God Religion, the Buddhist sect, the Director, Xu Pingfeng—these people, these forces were always chasing me, pushing me…

Later, at some point, I began trying to actively do things for the people around me, for the common folk of the Central Plains. For this, I could fly into a rage, could risk my life.

Perhaps it started when I struck that blow against my superior for a little girl; perhaps it started when I shouted ‘I won’t be an official’ for Lord Zheng and the people of Chu Province.

But regardless, now I understand clearly what I want.

Lately, I often recall various experiences from my previous life. I can still clearly remember my parents’ appearance and smiles, the bright lights of the big city, remember the hurried office workers.

I suddenly realized that although life in my previous life was tiring, at least most people could live in peace and happiness.

But the common people of the Nine Provinces, the living beings of the Nine Provinces, live in a world where imperial power and strength reign supreme, where the weak are naturally at others’ mercy.

And this isn’t even the most cruel part—the revival of super-grade beings is the true world-ending disaster.

What I’m doing now can be described in four sentences—Establish the heart of Heaven and Earth, establish the destiny of the people, continue the lost learning of past sages, and open peace for ten thousand generations.

Those four sentences I wrote to show off in front of Second Brother ended up running through my life—my short three years of life.

Fate is truly wonderful.

Finally, among the women I’ve had emotional entanglements with, I love Mu Nanzhi the most, perhaps because of her beauty, perhaps because of her personality—it’s unclear, love itself is unclear.

I feel most protective of Zhong Li—she’s always so unlucky, and when injured she looks at you with doe-like vulnerable eyes. What man wouldn’t feel tender toward her?

I respect Li Miaozhen the most, just for one saying: Do good deeds, don’t ask about the future path.

The previous me couldn’t do it, the current I can. And she has always been doing it.

I cherish Lin’an the most—she’s a lotus growing from the mud. Born to the royal family, yet still maintaining an innocent and carefree nature. Her goodness to me is wholehearted and sincere.

The person I value most is Huai Qing—she’s an undisputed strong woman, with ambition, aspirations, and capability, but not ruthless. She has flesh and blood, thanks to Wei Yuan and the Purple Yang Resident.

Their teachings have had an important guiding influence on Huai Qing.

I’m most grateful to Luo Yuheng—besides Lord Wei, she has shown me the greatest kindness. From killing Joan of Arc to wandering the jianghu, to the Yun Province rebellion, she has always stood by me, risking herself for me.

For a woman, a priceless treasure is easy to seek but true love is hard to find; for a man, what reason is there not to love a woman willing to weather storms with you?

And Ye Ji is the only woman who makes me feel like a feudal era ‘master.’ This makes this half-step Martial God sound quite pathetic, but it’s true. Except for Ye Ji, the other fish aren’t easily managed—no, they’re torches.

One wrong move and I’ll get burned, falling into relationship hell.

Mm, currently, the woman I most want to sleep with is the Nine-Tailed Fox.

A peerless enchantress, unparalleled in beauty.

Of course, I don’t plan to act on this thought now, after all, she’s overseas, beyond my reach.

Xu Qi An!”

The thirteenth day of the Tenth Month.

Cloud Deer Academy. Zhao Shou, wearing crimson official robes and his official cap, meticulously climbed the steps to the Lesser Sage’s Hall.

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