Eternal Saber

Song Wu’s expression was complex as he sighed softly and said, "General Wang is dead."

General Wang?

Chen Tang was slightly stunned and asked, "Uncle Wang?"

Song Wu nodded.

Chen Tang asked, "What happened?"

Song Wu said, "General Wang received secret orders indicating that a major upheaval would occur in Beiqian, so he gathered his army, stationed the troops at Jiangkou, ready to cross the river at any moment and capture Yaozhou."

"Grand Commandant Yuwen Mao learned of the news and personally rushed to Yaozhou. The two armies faced each other across the river."

Chen Tang said, "I’ve heard that Yuwen Mao has already stepped into the Transformation Realm, becoming a Grandmaster. Was Uncle Wang killed when he forced his way across the river?"

"Not exactly. There was trouble within the Northern Expedition Army."

Song Wu shook his head and said, "Liu Daojian joined forces with Xia Daozi, issued a Holy Decree, and seized General Wang’s military power."

Chen Tang frowned and said, "How did Liu Daojian come to align with Xia Daozi?"

Song Wu said, "During the battle in the Capital City, Xia Daozi and Uncle Wang joined forces, with one of the conditions being Brother Chen’s life. But at Lijiang Inn, General Wang’s mishandling prevented him from fulfilling the agreement."

"General Wang’s injury was highly confidential. Xia Daozi didn’t know the details but realized Brother Chen was still alive, assuming General Wang had reneged on his word, thus resenting him. Moreover, after the battle in the Capital City, General Wang held a high position and power, even surpassing Emperor Xia in some respects."

"Both Emperor Xia and Xia Daozi could feel the threat."

Chen Tang still found it hard to believe and said, "Uncle Wang has led the Northern Expedition Army for years, possesses great prestige, and is a strong Grandmaster. Is Liu Daojian able to seize power just with a Holy Decree?"

"At Lijiang Inn, General Wang was severely injured by the Demon Venerable, and for six months, he remained unhealed, his combat power even less than Second Grade Innate."

"The matter of General Wang’s injury had always been well-concealed, but this time, when the army was gathered and he donned armor for battle, it revealed a flaw that Liu Daojian didn’t miss."

Song Wu said, "And Liu Daojian a year ago had already stepped into First Grade, achieving Grandmaster status."

Understanding dawned on Chen Tang, who said, "Uncle Wang was injured and at his weakest, giving Liu Daojian the thought to replace him. Emperor Xia felt threatened, and Xia Daozi’s longstanding displeasure with Uncle Wang made their alliance a natural fit."

"Yes."

Song Wu said, "Liu Daojian brought the Holy Decree, first disrupting the army’s provisions from behind, then striking unexpectedly while General Wang was out inspecting the troops. Severely wounded, General Wang was captured and his forces defeated."

"On the day of his escort back to the Capital City, he was executed. Thousands from the Wang family and his followers were all put to death."

Chen Tang remained silent for a while, then said, "The secret order Uncle Wang received about Beiqian was sent by me through an intermediary."

Although Uncle Wang was his enemy, he was the savior of Song Wu, and Chen Tang did not want to hide this fact.

"Ah!"

Song Wu was momentarily stunned.

Chen Tang sighed and said, "When I sent that secret order, I was merely hoping Uncle Wang would move Yuwen Mao away from the Capital City. I didn’t anticipate the subsequent changes within the Northern Expedition Army."

"It’s destiny, I suppose."

Song Wu sighed and said, "Back then, if General Wang had chosen to spare you, he wouldn’t have gone to Lijiang Inn and met the Demon Venerable, and he wouldn’t have been severely injured."

"If he hadn’t been injured and constantly unable to recover, Liu Daojian’s achievement as a Grandmaster wouldn’t have posed a threat to him, and he wouldn’t be able to seize the Northern Expedition Army’s military power."

"Without Brother Chen’s secret order, if General Wang had rested peacefully within the Northern Expedition Army, Liu Daojian might not have detected his vulnerability."

Chen Tang was filled with emotions.

Uncle Wang’s death seemed to be a sudden upheaval, yet it felt like cause and effect had long been planted.

During the battle in the Capital City, Uncle Wang strategized perfectly, calculating all forces.

Even the Sword Pavilion couldn’t escape, suffering from damaged Primordial Qi.

This inflated his confidence and his ambition grew ever larger.

Thus, upon receiving Chen Tang’s secret order, he sensed the opportunity to establish great achievement, expand territories, and gathered his army, ready for a river-crossing battle.

Unexpectedly, this secret order became his death sentence, triggering a chain of unforeseen events.

One’s fortune and misfortune seem preordained, looking back now, there seems to be endless clues to follow.

Chen Tang recalled the words spoken by the Sword Sect to him.

Uncle Wang trusted that he could control everything, being exceptionally strategic, leaving no stone unturned.

Yet, life’s uncertainties always involve unforeseen changes and accidents; mortal capability can’t truly calculate everything.

At Lijiang Inn, brimming with confidence, he was suddenly and severely injured by the Demon Venerable.

He sought to expand territories, calculating endlessly, yet ended up being someone else’s stepping stone.

The affairs of the world don’t happen strictly according to plan.

Impermanence is the norm.

Uncle Wang didn’t die by Chen Tang’s hand but was instead killed by the trap set by his secret order.

Though entirely unpredicted, it counts as vengeance.

Chen Tang remembered something and asked, "With such a major upheaval within the Northern Expedition Army, didn’t Yuwen Mao, across the river in Xiajiang, seize the opportunity to cross?"

"No."

Song Wu said, "Perhaps Yuwen Mao worried it was a baiting tactic and had concerns about the Sword Sect elders, thus didn’t dare to cross the river lightly."

"Are you okay within the Northern Expedition Army?"

Chen Tang asked again.

After all, Uncle Wang once held Song Wu in high regard.

"I’m okay."

Song Wu said, "Because of my connection with you, General Wang expelled me from his tent, and I went back to serving Liu Daojian. This, in turn, spared me from implication, considered a stroke of luck."

Chen Tang asked, "Now Liu Daojian has become Commander of the Northern Expedition Army?"

"Yes."

Song Wu said, "I’ve followed him for many years, and my status has risen accordingly. However, many in the military are dissatisfied with how he seized power of the Northern Expedition Army using such tactics."

Chen Tang said, "This man backstabs his superior, fickle by nature. Stay with him and be cautious."

Song Wu nodded and said, "I must return. This time at sea, I should not linger too long."

"Okay."

Chen Tang rose to see him off, cupping his hands and said, "Brother Song, take care."

"Brother Chen, take care."

Song Wu boarded the small boat, waving farewell as he headed toward Nanxia.

Chen Tang pondered for a moment, shouldered ’Eternal’, and rode on Little Golden Roc crossing towards Qingzhou again.

He had just inquired from the East Sea Giant Demon, learning that the Black Dragon had perished under the combined forces of it, the Zen Sect, and the Evil Emperor in the East Sea.

He wondered about the situation of the Transformation Realm battle in Qingzhou.

Before long, Chen Tang arrived above Qingzhou.

Looking down from above, he surveyed the area. Apart from traces of past battles, he saw no signs of Zen Sect, Evil Emperor, Profound Celestial Sect Leader, and others.

Chen Tang then circled Martial General Mountain but still did not see traces of Zen Sect and Evil Emperor.

Finding nothing, Chen Tang turned and flew toward the direction of the Three Eastern Sea States.

With the skills of Zen Sect and Evil Emperor’s collaboration, even if unable to defeat the Profound Celestial Sect Leader, they shouldn’t be at risk of losing their lives.

Right now, it is critical to quickly head to Celestial Cauldron Continent to inquire about the situation of Ming Yue Wanderer.