400: Chapter 12: Square and Circle 400: Chapter 12: Square and Circle Ao Ying’s closed-door advancement to Demon Venerable was good news for Xie Xuanyi.
Under the deceit of the Sword Gu, they had formed a Divine Soul Contract.
The higher this demoness’ realm, the greater her assistance to him within the Demon Country would become.
In his previous life,
Xie Xuanyi had killed many demon cultivators, but he never touched the core of the Demon Country.
In the Battle of Poison, the Lian Venerable of Da Sui Sword Palace died in combat, and countless cultivators of the Human Race perished at the hands of demon cultivators.
Counterattacking and starting a war was not something Xie Xuanyi could control.
But with Ao Ying’s help, as long as the timing was right, assassinating a great Venerable…
there was still a good chance.
After the communication with Ao Ying concluded, Xie Xuanyi’s Token once again vibrated.
This time, it was not the Lotus Token, but the Ruyi Order.
The person who sent the message was Chen Jingxuan.
…
…
Mists curled and spread out.
Under the covering of the Ruyi Illusion Realm, Xie Xuanyi’s Divine Thought form stepped into the Book Tower.
“Have you seen His Majesty?”
The young State Preceptor gestured for the other party to sit down and asked bluntly.
“I have seen him,”
Xie Xuanyi didn’t bother with pleasantries and sat down boldly, “The little girl is quite interesting.”
“Living in the Imperial City is not easy.”
Chen Jingxuan sighed softly, “For her to have survived this long as a woman is indeed no easy feat.”
“Isn’t she under the care of Mr.
Chen here?”
Xie Xuanyi asked indirectly, “I haven’t seen a message from you since my return from the north, been tied up in matters?”
“Indeed, there have been some troubles.”
Chen Jingxuan smiled.
Troubles that could vex the young State Preceptor were unlikely to be minor.
However…
Chen Jingxuan did not elaborate, seeming unwilling to reveal more.
So Xie Xuanyi did not press further.
“The reason I didn’t send you a message is because I knew for certain that you were unharmed,” Chen Jingxuan earnestly explained, “You had many trivial matters to attend to upon returning to the Imperial City.
That’s why you’ve received this Ruyi Order message only after you were done with your affairs.”
“Hmph…”
Xie Xuanyi couldn’t help but let out a sigh.
Worthy of the young State Preceptor, not only masterful in divination, but also considerate of others.
“You might not be aware, but before the assassination in the Moon Hidden Realm, Emperor Chu left behind a pair of children.”
Chen Jingxuan raised his sleeve and gestured in the Illusion Realm of the Book Tower; a Golden Scroll flew over and settled steadily on the jade case.
“Chu Yin, Chu Guo.”
The scroll glowed with golden light, casting two blurred faces which, under Chen Jingxuan’s Divine Thought catalyst, slowly altered from infantile to adolescence – these were the children’s ten-plus years of growing up…
Xie Xuanyi narrowed his eyes; Chu Yin was the current young emperor seated on the throne, still looking rather effeminate due to his young age.
Not many have noticed anything amiss yet.
But as time passed, that would be harder to say.
Some lies can only be sustained for so long, not forever.
“Yin and Guo…”
Xie Xuanyi murmured softly, “Did you give them these names?”
“In a way.”
Chen Jingxuan nodded, “Their mother had a karmic connection with the Book Tower.
Before entering the palace, I saved her life and taught her some divination techniques…”
Speaking of this,
a trace of sorrow flickered in the young State Preceptor’s eyes.
Divination techniques shorten one’s life and harm one’s essence.
“The names Yin and Guo…
consider them a tribute to the Book Tower…”
The young State Preceptor chuckled self-deprecatingly, “The Book Tower adheres to the cycle of karma and karmic retribution.
Therefore, I saved the sorrowful siblings, but fate mocks us, and Jingxuan can do only so much.
The assassination in the Moon Hidden Realm shook the Empire of Great Chu to its core, and back then, the Holy Empress, seeking the lady of Wangyou Island, confirmed through the Heavenly Mechanism Divination that Emperor Chu had left blood descendants…
To protect them, and to repay the debt of past karma, I had to abandon one.”
“So…
Chu Yin took the royal throne, and Chu Guo was sent to Da Li.”
Xie Xuanyi understood the entire sequence of events.
“Correct.”
Chen Jingxuan spoke calmly, “You probably know why it was Chu Guo who was sent away.”
The elder sister had a slim chance of survival here.
But if it were the younger brother, there would be no chance of living.
Xie Xuanyi frowned slightly, “The Holy Empress doesn’t know about Chu Guo’s existence?”
“For years, I had once contacted the lady of Wangyou Island through the astral plane, diviners should not fully reveal the heavens’ secrets.” Chen Jingxuan said, “Conducting divination on the Dragon Vein left by Emperor Da Chu requires an immense amount of Heart Power, so the divination was neither fully calculated nor fully disclosed.
The Holy Empress commands the Empire of Great Chu; almost the entire Four Realms are within her grasp…
Chu Guo’s existence is likely one of the very few things that have been kept from her.”
Hearing this, Xie Xuanyi laughed sarcastically, “You really are daring.”
“I did what had to be done,”
Chen Jingxuan shook his head.
He shifted to the main topic, “Da Li has been unstable these past years, with the old King bedridden and indifferent to affairs of state, allowing two factions under his banner to vie for power…
If Chu Guo continues to stay there, he may face danger.”
Xie Xuanyi laughed upon hearing this.
He knew that the Ruyi Order had sounded for the very incident at the Red Pavilion earlier.
“I understand.”
Xie Xuanyi spoke indifferently, “Someone needs to bring His Highness Chu Guo back to court.
It’s inconvenient for you to make an appearance, and even more so for the little emperor.”
“…”
Chen Jingxuan let out a sigh of helplessness, “Actually, it shouldn’t have been troublesome for you.
But recently, there have indeed been quite a few accidents.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Xie Xuanyi waved his hand nonchalantly, “Where is Chu Guo?
I will go to Da Li and bring him back.”
“It’s not as simple as that, let me explain slowly.”
Chen Jingxuan clenched his fist to his lips and gently coughed.
His complexion turned visibly pale.
It was the same for all Sky Watchers, due to their efforts to pry into the heavenly mechanisms and depleting their fates, they suffered from chronic diseases that lingered incurably.
“You must have already figured it out.
Fangyuan Square has a division between north and south, this newly-risen power actually grew under the joint surveillance of two imperial families.”
Chen Jingxuan lifted his gaze, looking directly at Xie Xuanyi.
Xie Xuanyi had long guessed this point.
Fangyuan Square, extremely precise, extremely opposed.
The Snow Master and Wood Master stayed in the Emperor Da Chu’s reign, while the other two minor square masters were in Da Li.
As for the two Great Square Masters, they were mysteriously concealed.
“I’ve always been curious, who’s behind Fangyuan Square?”
Xie Xuanyi asked curiously, “Exactly who is so capable, to let two kingdoms set aside past grievances and establish this power together?”
“There are two Great Square Masters in Fangyuan Square.
The one from Da Li is that Buddhist-born National Guardian Zen Master.”
Chen Jingxuan chuckled softly, “Guess, who is it from Great Chu’s side?”
Fangyuan Square emphasized balance in counterparts, one square one round, if Da Li has the National Guardian Zen Master…
Then on Great Chu’s side, it could only be the State Preceptor.
Xie Xuanyi was somewhat shocked, but soon came to terms with it, as this indeed was the most reasonable explanation.
Only the Old National Master’s involvement could allow Fangyuan Square to move freely within the Imperial City.
However, the actions of Fangyuan Square over the years hardly seemed to fit in with the Old National Master’s style…
The management of Fangyuan Square appeared more like the work of young people.
“Many years ago.
My teacher and the Da Li Zen Master made a bet.”
Chen Jingxuan spoke slowly, “Fangyuan Square, is the product of this bet…
The Da Li Zen Master pessimistically asserted that within the next sixty years, there would inevitably be conflicts between the two dynasties, and Da Li’s Iron Cavalry would sooner or later meet Great Chu’s armed forces.
My teacher actually shared the same view, but he was more willing to believe that as long as both of them and their disciples were willing to work hard, then Da Li and Great Chu could maintain lasting peace.
Peace was certainly the best outcome for both parties, but how long this peace could last, no one could be sure.”
“Therefore, Fangyuan Square was born under these circumstances.
Great Chu and Da Li, through Fangyuan Square, could achieve mutual trade and share resources.”
“If Fangyuan Square could be managed profitably, enduring like a gentle stream, then it would be split in half and handed over to each of their successors, serving as a testament to the bet.
If one day peace was no more, and war erupted, then the internal struggle within Fangyuan Square would commence.
The final victor would win the entirety of Fangyuan Square.”
Xie Xuanyi propped his elbow on the table, listening with interest.
So that’s how Fangyuan Square came to be…
The two elders had quite the taste; it seems they planned to cultivate Fangyuan Square and then hand it over to their respective successors.
So, would Chen Jingxuan be the Great Square Master on Great Chu’s side in the future?
“Wait a moment.”
Thinking of this, Xie Xuanyi suddenly had a question, “So you’re saying half of Fangyuan Square’s assets belong to you?”
“That’s one way to put it.”
Chen Jingxuan nodded.
“Then…”
Xie Xuanyi asked meaningfully, “Those biographies written by Qin Baihuang?”
“That’s the other half causing trouble.”
Chen Jingxuan replied with a dark expression, “That’s where the problem lies.
As you can see, Fangyuan Square is a mixed bag; the Wood Master and Snow Master aren’t of the same cut at all.
Great Chu and Da Li, so-called sharing and trading resources, in recent years, it has turned into mutual infiltration…”
Human nature cannot withstand testing.
If there is peace, there will be harmony within Fangyuan Square.
If not…
The two successors-to-be of the Great Square Masters will try by every means to totally seize Fangyuan Square for themselves.
“No wonder.”
Xie Xuanyi murmured to himself, finally understanding why the Wood Master wanted to oppose him without even meeting.
Because what the Wood Master represented was the opinion of Da Li’s steward!
And the reason Snow Master was so helpful…
Was because behind the Snow Master stood the little emperor, stood Chen Jingxuan!
“Because of the presence of Fangyuan Square, there are hardly any secrets within Great Chu and Da Li,” Chen Jingxuan sighed, “For the two Kings, this is actually a good thing.
They could see more clearly than before…
but for me, it’s not.”
“The power of Fangyuan Square is bigger than you think.”
Chen Jingxuan spoke seriously, “This was originally just an unintentional bet between the two National Masters, but under the intentional cultivation of the two Kings, it grew larger and larger until it finally overshadowed both dynasties…”
That’s why.
Every ripple in the worldly society, Fangyuan Square would be in the know.
Rather than say.
Behind Fangyuan Square were the two dynasty’s National Masters.
It’s more accurate to say.
The real backers behind Fangyuan Square were the Holy Empress, the King of Da Li Country!