In the Great Feng dynasty, matters between men and women were complex, with nuances too intricate to describe in detail. Even in terms of addressing such relationships, different terms were used depending on the people involved and the situation.
For example, a normal relationship between a man and woman was called “ascending Mount Wu together”; an illicit relationship was referred to as “listening to music in the brothels”; a certain relationship between two men was known as “the passion of the cut sleeve”; a threesome with one man and two women was called “one dragon and two phoenixes”; while a threesome with two men and one woman was termed “double-barreled attack”.
There were even more sophisticated terms.
The relationship between Xu Qi An and Fu Xiang’s physical body was referred to as: [Underlined].
The relationship between Xu Qi An and Huang Xian’er was called: [Underlined].
“Sex life” was Xu Qi An’s subconscious quip, a term that transcended the era. Even the erudite and talented Huai Qing couldn’t accurately grasp its meaning, only surmising that it wasn’t a polite expression.
After this slip of the tongue, Xu Qi An felt somewhat embarrassed, finding himself longing for the “recall” function from his previous life.
Fortunately, since Huai Qing didn’t understand the term, she didn’t pursue it further. She continued her message: [I’ve already reviewed the records from the 26th year of Zhende in the Southern Garden. Two incidents occurred that year. First, in the autumn of Zhende 26, the beasts in the Southern Garden suddenly disappeared en masse, their whereabouts unknown. Only traces of animal activity remained in the deep parts of the garden.
[The second incident involved Prince Huai and His Majesty, who were still princes at the time, going on a hunting trip to the Southern Garden. They were attacked by a bear, resulting in the death of nearly all their accompanying guards. In a fit of rage, Prince Huai tore the bear apart with his bare hands, earning him praise from the late emperor as the future pillar of Great Feng.]
She paused for a few seconds before sending another message: [I suspect that Prince Huai and His Majesty ventured deep into the Southern Garden that year precisely because they couldn’t find any prey in the outer areas.
[Additionally, the late emperor’s health had always been good, but due to his years of indulgence in women… his health deteriorated rapidly in his later years. The astrologers from the Court of Astrology could only extend his life by one year before he passed away.]
Xu Qi An messaged back: [What do you mean by the mass disappearance of beasts from the outer areas of the Southern Garden? Did the animals escape?]
Number One replied: [That’s unlikely. Animals have strong territorial instincts and wouldn’t leave their territories without being forcibly driven out. Moreover, this wasn’t an isolated incident, but a mass disappearance.]
After saying this, she fell silent. She didn’t disconnect but also didn’t continue messaging, apparently waiting for Xu Qi An’s thoughts on the matter.
Xu Qi An pondered for a moment before messaging: [I’ll continue investigating this matter. Can we meet privately so I can discuss it with you in detail?]
Number One: [No.]
With that, she disconnected.
Hah, she doesn’t know that I’ve learned her identity… Xu Qi An smirked.
He put away the fragment of the Earth Scroll and lay on his bed, hands behind his head, habitually reviewing and analyzing the information.
“The late emperor indulged in women for years, keeping his body in a sub-healthy state. According to the law that those blessed with the Mandate of Heaven cannot achieve immortality, the late emperor should indeed have died…”
“What the Emperor and Prince Huai encountered deep in the Southern Garden that year wasn’t a bear. The fact that all the guards were killed is proof of that. If it wasn’t a bear, what could it have been?”
“Moreover, Prince Huai was still a young man at the time. No matter how formidable he was, he couldn’t have been stronger than the elite palace guards. Yet all the elite guards died while he and the Emperor survived. This doesn’t add up.”
“A more plausible guess is that during that crisis, he and the Emperor avoided death for some reason. This reason could only be that they were spared. If they had narrowly escaped, the Emperor and Prince Huai should have reported it to the palace afterward, prompting the late emperor to send experts to deal with the situation. But the official historical record of this incident states: Prince Huai tore apart a bear with his bare hands, earning praise from the late emperor as the future pillar of the nation.”
“This suggests that the Emperor and Prince Huai, either passively or actively, concealed the truth.”
…
On the same night, in the northern border region, at Moon Bay.
Bonfires blazed fiercely, with low tables set out laden with roasted beef and mutton, as well as fermented mare’s milk.
The men and women of the barbarian tribes danced around the bonfires, their songs rough and the atmosphere lively.
After autumn set in, the temperature in the north began to plummet sharply. The coarse wind stung Xu Xin Nian’s delicate face, causing some discomfort.
On Pei Man Xi Lou’s recommendation, he smeared sheep fat on his face to protect against the dry northern climate.
Xu Xin Nian’s strategy had been effective. The sudden northern offensive by 30,000 Great Feng troops had caught the Jing Kingdom off guard. In the battle just two days ago, working in conjunction with the barbarian tribes, they had annihilated 3,000 Fire Armor troops, 1,400 light cavalry, and 5,000 infantry of the enemy.
For the northern barbarians, this was the biggest victory in two months of resistance. Naturally, the Great Feng troops received an enthusiastic welcome and preferential treatment from the barbarians.
However, Xu Er Lang knew that everything has two sides. For this surprise attack, to increase marching speed, the 30,000 troops had only brought four days’ worth of rations.
If the supply lines from the rear were cut off, the 30,000 troops could very likely face a situation of depleted ammunition and food. Moreover, since the battlefield was constantly shifting, it would be difficult for the logistics units to catch up with their troops while transporting supplies.
It was more likely that they would encounter Jing Kingdom forces.
Although the two barbarian tribes claimed they could lend supplies, once the war broke out in earnest and the camps were scattered, who would have time to look after others?
At that point, they could only retreat to the border and wait for another opportunity, which would miss many tactical advantages.
Xu Er Lang wasn’t accustomed to drinking fermented mare’s milk, sipping it in small mouthfuls as he watched the barbarian men and women dancing.
In the two barbarian tribes, the presence of women in military camps wasn’t unusual. Firstly, these women could effectively meet the men’s physiological needs.
Secondly, the women of the two barbarian tribes also possessed considerable fighting prowess.
Pei Man Xi Lou glanced at Xu Er Lang, who sat upright with a serious expression. Smiling, he beckoned over a charming barbarian woman and instructed, “Take good care of our friend.”
Then, addressing Xu Er Lang, he said, “Life in military camps is dreary and dull. The soldiers have to fight and kill on the battlefield during the day, so they need to release their tension at night. Brother Ci Jiu, she’s all yours tonight. Don’t hold back.”
The alluring barbarian woman sidled up to Xu Er Lang, pressing her soft, full bosom against his arm while giving him seductive glances.
Xu Er Lang frowned, repeatedly pushing her away, insisting that he wasn’t that kind of person.
With the two armies facing each other at a critical moment, how could one indulge in carnal pleasures… I certainly won’t touch a barbarian woman, who knows what she might be… Though her bosom is quite soft… No, no, no, I can’t think like that, I’m a scholar… At least, at least she should bathe first…
After the feast, Xu Er Lang maintained the integrity of a Great Feng scholar and didn’t give the barbarian woman any opportunity.
Returning to his tent, he only removed the heaviest outer layer of armor and his boots before collapsing into bed.
Chu Yuan Zhen appeared silently inside the tent, sitting in a chair, hugging his sword, and feigning sleep with closed eyes.
Those who had fought against the Witch God Cult had developed a habit: when resting at night, they would pair up, with one sleeping while the other kept watch. If they noticed the sleeping person dying silently, they would immediately sound the alarm.
The reason for all this was the fourth-grade witches called Dream Witches, who excelled at killing people in their dreams.
However, for Dream Witches to use this technique, there were limitations in terms of distance and number of targets. Often, they would be discovered after successfully killing only a dozen or so people.
During the Shanhai Pass campaign, Wei Yuan developed a set of methods to counter Dream Witches. He would disguise several fourth-grade experts and sorcerers as scouts to patrol outside the military camp.
Once the alarm was sounded in the camp, the sorcerers would first search for and lock onto the Dream Witch’s position, while the fourth-grade experts would surround them.
For Dream Witches to kill using this technique, they couldn’t be too far from the military camp. With the speed of fourth-grade experts, aided by the sorcerers’ enemy-seeking abilities, they could often achieve a decisive victory in one strike.
Sacrificing the lives of a small number of soldiers to take down a fourth-grade Dream Witch was an extremely profitable exchange.
In his drowsy state, Xu Er Lang found himself back in the capital, sitting at the dining table with his family.
Suddenly, his father, Xu Ping Zhi, clutched his throat, his face turning sickly as he died, black blood oozing from the corners of his mouth. Then it was his mother, his sister Ling Yue, and his elder brother…
Xu Er Lang was shocked and looked towards his younger sister, Ling Yin. Ling Yin’s round face broke into a sinister smile: “You’ve been poisoned to death, just like them.”
In Ling Yin’s hand was a packet of arsenic.
“Ling Yin, you…” Xu Er Lang couldn’t believe it.
“Hmph, none of you ever gave me good food. You all deserve to die,” Ling Yin said, speaking words that fit her character.
I never thought I’d die at Ling Yin’s hands… Just as Xu Er Lang was about to speak, his abdomen suddenly cramped with pain, black blood seeping from the corners of his mouth as his life rapidly ebbed away.
At that moment, a purple light flashed before Xu Er Lang’s eyes, and in Ling Yin’s eyes as well. She let out a muffled groan, her form quickly dissipating.
In the military tent, Xu Er Lang’s eyes snapped open as he sat up abruptly, gasping for breath.
“It’s a Dream Witch!”
He spoke hoarsely, pressing his hand to his chest where he wore a jade pendant given to him by the Purple Yang Recluse.
A jade pendant imbued with the righteous energy of a great Confucian scholar over many years.
Just then, the sound of cannon fire erupted, exploding outside and inside the military camp. Flames shot skyward, illuminating the night.
Then the ground began to shake as if countless iron cavalry were approaching, surging forward with murderous intent.
They had encountered a retaliatory attack from the Jing Kingdom.
…
Late at night.
At Ding Guan City on the northeastern border.
The crescent moon hung in the sky as Wei Yuan, wearing a deep blue cloak, stood atop the city walls of Ding Guan, looking down at the smoke-filled city. Cannon fire had torn apart houses and streets, with cries and shouts rising and falling.
Under the cover of the night, Ding Guan City was receiving a baptism of blood and fire. Great Feng’s cavalry and infantry had charged into various streets of the city, engaging in close combat with the stubbornly resisting Yan Kingdom defenders.
The sounds of killing were everywhere.
Wei Yuan withdrew his gaze and looked at the severed head he held in his hand. The eyes were wide open, an expression of terror and fear forever frozen on the face.
The commander of Ding Guan City, Tu Wo Hei.
He shook his head in disappointment and casually tossed the head down from the city wall, saying indifferently, “Not quite up to par!”
Then, Wei Yuan’s gaze slowly swept across the horse path, which was strewn with the corpses of soldiers. The thick blood had dyed the badly damaged city walls red.
Behind him, over a dozen high-ranking generals stood in silence, not uttering a word.
Some of his old subordinates maintained calm expressions, thinking that if they couldn’t even take a single city, they might as well not fight at all.
The other generals who hadn’t served under Wei Yuan before were now truly experiencing what it meant to use troops like a god.
Wei Yuan rubbed the blood between his fingertips and said in a gentle voice, “Relay my order: Massacre the city!”
The cool autumn wind blew, the moonlight clear and bright. As Wei Yuan’s deep green cloak fluttered, his pupils reflected the leaping flames of war, one after another.
…
The next day.
Xu Qi An got up yawning and squatted under the eaves to wash his face and brush his teeth.
By the time he finished his ablutions, Zhong Li had just come out carrying her wooden basin to begin her morning routine.
Originally, Zhong Li would squat under the eaves with Xu Qi An to wash up, but once, quite unfortunately, Xu Ling Yue witnessed this.
Xu Ling Yue immediately felt guilty upon seeing this. Senior Sister Zhong was a guest of the Court of Astrology, and letting a guest squat under the eaves to wash up was a discourtesy of the Xu family.
That very day, she ordered the servants to prepare a new room, cleaning it spotless and making it beautiful. Then she came to invite Zhong Li to move in and had a heart-to-heart conversation with her.
The heart-to-heart was thorough, the words were gentle and polite, and the content was: My elder brother isn’t married yet, so you’d better stay away from him.
Zhong Li had moved into the new room that day, feeling quite wronged. But when Xu Qi An returned, he brought her back. However, Zhong Li was a clever girl. Although she and Junior Sister Cai Wei were known as the “Dumb and Dumber” of the Court of Astrology, it was Chu Cai Wei who was truly dumb. Zhong Li was quite intelligent.
The clever Senior Sister Zhong could sense the hostility of the Xu family’s eldest daughter towards her, so she quietly kept her distance from Xu Da Lang. Of course, giving massages in the room or sitting side by side talking were things the Xu family’s eldest daughter couldn’t see.
After breakfast, Xu Qi An once again shooed Zhong Li out of the room, saying, “You stay outside and behave. Don’t wander around, don’t talk to strangers, don’t… get hurt.”
Zhong Li nodded vigorously, indicating that she was experienced and would take good care of herself.
After Zhong Li left, Xu Qi An took out the Talisman Sword and activated his primordial spirit: “Little… National Preceptor, it’s Xu Qi An.”
He waited for a long time, but the National Preceptor didn’t come. Just as Xu Qi An thought the contact had failed, a dazzling golden light penetrated the roof. A stunningly beautiful woman in a feathered robe, with a voluptuous figure, appeared in the room as the golden light slowly dissipated.
I’m probably the only man in Great Feng who can summon Luo Yu Heng at will… You say you don’t want to sleep with me, but I wouldn’t believe that even if you killed me… Xu Qi An felt a slight satisfaction in his vanity but also lamented that his pond was too small to accommodate such a big fish.
Hmm, Luo Yu Heng is just examining me, it’s not like she absolutely has to engage in dual cultivation with me. She even examined Emperor Yuan Jing… Wait, why does this feel so familiar? Am I… am I also just a fish in someone else’s pond?!
Also, the robe she’s wearing today is different from usual, more vibrant, and she looks even more beautiful. After tightening the waist, the scale of her chest becomes apparent, and her waist is so slender… Did she dress up specially?
As Xu Qi An’s imagination ran wild, Luo Yu Heng scrutinized him, her beautiful face as cold as frost, and said icily, “Little National Preceptor?”
… Xu Qi An opened and closed his mouth, momentarily at a loss for how to explain.
The room was silent for a few seconds before Luo Yu Heng took the initiative to change the subject: “What’s the matter?”
“Ahem!”
Xu Qi An cleared his throat and said, “I have new developments regarding clues about the Earth Sect Leader.”
He told Luo Yu Heng about the relevant events from the 26th year of Zhende.
After listening, his aunt frowned deeply, her bright beautiful eyes looking at him: “Is that all? You didn’t need to summon me for this.”
Xu Qi An sighed: “National Preceptor, I asked you to come for another matter.”
Luo Yu Heng looked at him.
Xu Qi An remained silent for quite a while, for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. He exhaled slowly, his voice low: “Daoist Jin Lian, how many years has it been since you fell into demonic cultivation?”
Luo Yu Heng was startled, her cold face showing a rare expression of surprise: “You know Jin Lian is the Earth Sect Leader?”