Chen Ping's Sword

Who is the Jade Spirit Snake Princess?

As the name suggests, she is a master of snake handling...

The Celestial Witchcraft Sect emerged from the White Mountain and Black Water areas, believing in the eternal principles of all things, aligning heart with all, nurturing inner divinity, hoping for eternal life in the world.

As one of the Six Divine Envoys under the Divine Master Duran, the Jade Spirit Snake Princess specializes in the Snake Path, having long achieved the level of human-snake integration, with all methods at her side.

Her martial arts are profound and unfathomable, with many strange techniques that can cause inexplicable deaths.

Once she becomes curious about something.

Death is not far away.

This journey south is not without oblivious martial artists from the Jianghu, who, self-reliant on their strength, try to get close to her for some benefits.

The next day, without exception, not even a scrap of bone could be found of those people.

Therefore, she is definitely a dangerous figure not to be provoked.

Everyone murmured inwardly, all lowering their eyes, but couldn’t help feeling a cold sweat for Brother Tian Qi, who was escaping in the forest, feeling somewhat schadenfreude.

To have the honor of being hunted by two top experts, who have achieved perfection in cultivating the Twelve Main Meridians and Eight Extraordinary Meridians, even in death, he should feel honored.

...

Yuwen Ying changed his mindset and decided to take full action.

So, without regard for any reputation.

After inviting two accompanying senior experts to take action, he still wasn’t satisfied.

He turned around and instructed: "Send a message to Xingqing Prefecture, the one surnamed Wu should also contribute, he can’t just watch quietly from behind while we fight for life and death at the front...

"If Tian Qi is too fortunate and escapes this calamity, Xiaowang will make his journey eastward thorny at every step."

After analyzing and planning with everyone, Yuwen Ying naturally understood the destination of Tian Qi’s escape with Princess Mingyue.

If they headed to Celestial Gate Pass, he wouldn’t think of stopping them.

He’s just worried they might go to Ling Mountain Prefecture, prematurely disrupting his scheme of sowing discord...

When King Jinghai is entirely awakened from his daughter’s lamentations and changes his mindset, executing harsh measures to clean up Xingqing Prefecture, no matter how high his methods and strategies are, they would be useless, and he’d have to sneak away from Xingqing Prefecture.

Therefore, Princess Mingyue must not be allowed to reach Ling Mountain.

At this time, whether exposing one or two pieces on the chessboard seems a bit regrettable? It is no longer a consideration.

"Indeed, Young Master is wise."

Yuo Qiu stroked his beard and smiled lightly, looking at Yuwen Ying with great satisfaction.

Although this Thirteenth Prince can sometimes be impulsive, he listens to advice and can correct his mistakes.

He not only has ability but also brains, capable of adapting to circumstances to achieve his goals.

These are some essential qualities for a superior person.

The Beizhou Royal Court is presently favored by Heaven’s Mandate, with talented individuals from the Yuwen Race emerging in large numbers, with advisors abundant and war generals plentiful, and receiving strong support from the Esoteric Sect and Celestial Witchcraft Sect, their Qi number is at its peak.

If I devote myself to assisting them, it’s not impossible to hope for future illustrious honors, glorifying my hometown.

Also, let those snobbish relatives and neighbors gain some insight into where this ’good-for-nothing’ poor scholar is ’worthless’ now?

...

The moon is at its zenith, with dark clouds rolling in the wind, light and shadow shifting.

Xingqing Prefecture, at this time, had already fallen into silence.

There were patrolling city guards and constables coming and going, never resting and not daring to be the slightest bit negligent.

Why so diligent?

Of course, it’s to comply with the government office’s orders.

It’s done to show Prefect Pei.

Indeed, the events of the daytime were too gruesome and shocking.

You say, if fights and killings happened outside the city, leading to rivers of blood, so be it.

But within the city, causing so much havoc and bloodshed, isn’t it disregarding this newly appointed Lord Governor?

If people found out, they wouldn’t speak badly of the predecessor but would think Prefect Pei is an incompetent and mediocre person, unable to control the situation.

Therefore, after Tian Qi killed people and left the city, Prefect Pei Yu flew into a rage on the spot, lashing out furiously, even capturing a few lazy workers and giving them a beating.

At this moment, who would dare think of idling like before, not doing their work properly, unless they feel their uniforms are a poor fit?

...

In the backyard of the government office, in the study.

A single lamp flickered like a bean.

Prefect Pei had not yet rested.

He was still bent over the desk writing quickly, occasionally raising his head, flipping through the thick files, his brows furrowed.

"Master, please take care of your health. The situation in Xingqing Prefecture is quite complex. Sorting it out is not a day’s work, why not..."

A middle-aged beautiful... woman stood at the doorway holding a bowl of clear yellow soup, lingering for a long time, with an indelible expression of pity between her brows. Until the steam in the soup dissipated, she couldn’t help but step forward and gently advise.

"Ya’er, the situation does not look good now. The Northern power has waned, and His Holiness intends to move south. However, everything here is chaotic, and as your husband, I am worried..."

"Though I do not fully understand the world’s affairs, I understand the principle that one must manage the affairs at their position."

The woman shook her head and chuckled softly: "The major events of the Court naturally have the adults of the Court worrying over them. You, my lord, need only to manage Xingqing Prefecture well, regardless of what happens in the future, you will be able to advance or retreat freely.

Excuse my frequent chatter, my lord. Instead of worrying about the behavior of His Holiness or strategizing against the Beizhou military, it might be better to worry about the structure of Xingqing Prefecture.

King Jinghai’s prestige is great, Wu Changxing’s private seizure of power is not easy to deal with... once handled improperly, you might be regarded as a puppet, restrained at every turn, unable to accomplish anything."

The woman spoke eloquently, pinpointing the significant issues currently present in Xingqing Prefecture.

Since the Court implemented the strategy to eliminate vassals, the crisis of money and grain has been alleviated, but the local defending Princes have become somewhat unstable.

During ordinary times, the problem wouldn’t be particularly serious.

As long as orthodoxy is maintained and no reversal of order occurs, there is also military power suppression.

Even if there is any discontent, all regions must endure it, gradually drained by the Court’s central authority.

Ji Family offspring, as well as local governments, ultimately cannot play any real tricks, and eventually, it would be a peaceful era.

However, no one can see very far or clearly into the workings of the world.

In the eyes of those high officials of the Court, they never see the starvation after a natural disaster, nor the devastation after Beihu’s invasion.

They are merely lost in indulgent pleasures, calculating daily on the distribution of interests.

Calculating who gains a few more acres of land and who can venture at sea to conduct more transactions...

The result is predictable; war erupts nationwide, and the world is on the brink of collapse.

West Celestial King has already attacked Yujing, yet Court officials still refer to it as a minor ailment.

Beizhou penetrated the pass, capturing seven cities directly, but is merely thought of as temporary looting, with retreat to follow due to extended frontlines.

They essentially have no sense of crisis, as if these good days could last for millennia.

"What Ya’er says is indeed true; I’ve been thinking too much,"

Pei Yu sighed, removing the crystal piece from his nose, a great thing brought into Great Li by merchants from the Far West, functional but tiring on the nose.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose, sipping the soup gently, and closed his eyes in satisfaction, exhaling deeply, "Forget about it, let’s watch how things unfold. There’s really no need to rush."

"Precisely,"

The woman smiled, gracefully walking behind Prefect Pei, gently massaging his neck and shoulders, speaking softly, "What thoughts do you have regarding the Ji Family Princess Mingyue matter, my lord."

This question had some delicacy.

It could be seen as wanting to offer advice, or helping my lord to clear his thoughts and ease his worries.

Pei Yu did not think much, knowing that if Sun Ya wanted to harm him, he would have died countless times already.

Though the Pei Family was wealthy, with many offspring holding offices, offering support in manpower and finances,

As the family grows, naturally more conflicts of interest arise, accompanied by hidden and overt threats, extremely dangerous.

On the way, as news of his assumption of office in Xingqing Prefecture spread, waves of assassination attempts arrived.

The most dangerous time was above Qinghe River, when without Sun Ya’s intervention, he would not be sitting here nor concerned with Xingqing’s situation.

As for what she seeks, Pei Yu was aware and felt no resentment.

"The matter of Princess Mingyue, haha, is naturally handled by King Jinghai, not something for this prefecture to worry over. But that Tian Qi is a remarkable figure, bravely facing Beihu’s Heavenly Eagle and still managing a few wins, earning admiration."

He passed the note on the table, unable to conceal admiration in his gaze.

This note just arrived from the Night Falcon messenger, gathered by a lurking spy, clearly detailing the details of the battle at Changhe and confrontation at Ghost Cry Forest.

Though unrelated to direct interests, speaking of it somewhat piqued his pride.

After all, this is an encounter between Nanli’s Jiangnan hero and Beihu Prince’s envoy team, vastly disparate in strength, and even after winning this encounter it might mean immediate death; it still showcases Shanxi’s might.

Worthy of a toast of three cups.

"Not helping him?"

Sun Ya scanned the note quickly, and her eyes widened, breathing deeply.

She could imagine how harrowing and precarious was the situation faced by that young man who suddenly emerged.

If it were herself, at the same Cultivation Realm, facing such enemies in numbers and rank, she likely couldn’t withstand even a single encounter before capture.

What a pity.

"No need, regardless of how it ends, it’s already determined by fate."

Pei Yu’s scholarly face bore an unnoticeable hint of sternness.

"Wu Changxing secretly bets and stirs the wind, while the Cui Family maneuvers in the shadows, all aiming to win this game. But King Jinghai Ji Changlie is no one to be trifled with...

The fiercer their fight, the easier my position, so I am not rushing to join, observing will suffice.

I wonder whether young Tian Qi can astonish once again, achieving victory again?

Rumor has it that Little Commandery Princess Mingyue possesses natural intelligence; it’s best if she survives."

"My lord, your old habit has resurfaced, a punishment is in order,"

Sun Ya laughed lightly, her voice becoming soft, the two exchanging a glance, and the atmosphere gradually changed.