Chapter 174 : Chapter 174
Chapter 174: Watch How I Use a Scheme to Humiliate That Brat Cheng Yu!
“Since this old man has made a promise, I naturally shall follow you, my lord!”
Ma Minnong nodded seriously. The Heaven-Reckoning Disk had already been handed to Cheng Yu.
The other party had surpassed the achievements of Taiyi Sect’s many predecessors and completely subdued this supreme treasure.
He was definitely the Fated Person.
Handing the Heaven-Reckoning Disk to the Fated Person had fulfilled one of the ox-nosed Daoist’s long-cherished wishes. Ma Minnong should also set out to pursue a new hope.
“Once this old man returns to Divine Physician Mountain and makes the necessary arrangements, I will come to follow you to the Great Qian Capital in two days, my lord. After that, I will have no more attachments!”
Ma Minnong himself would leave.
However, Divine Physician Mountain’s tradition of providing free medical consultations could not be broken. Next, it would be time to test those disciples.
“There is no need to hurry, Divine Physician Ma. I also have some arrangements to make for the Jinyiwei of Jiannan Circuit.”
Cheng Yu cupped his fists and nodded. After watching Divine Physician Ma leave, the miniature Heaven-Reckoning Disk in his hand immediately began spinning between his fingers, giving off a mystical light.
A moment later, an intense chess formation of interwoven black and white stones suddenly appeared.
Cheng Yu glanced at it, then began murmuring an analysis to himself.
“The game has reached the middle stage. The momentum of the board has gathered around the Tianyuan area. The black and white stones are intertwined, probing each other. The situation is chaotic and unclear, with hidden mysteries beneath the surface. Every stone can affect the entire board.”
“It seems that something major and a great opportunity are likely waiting in the Great Qian Capital. Looks like I have no choice but to go there early.”
Before his muttering had even faded—
“Hiss—”
The sound of a woman sucking in a cold breath rang out from the side.
Cheng Yu raised his brows. Only then did he look toward Chang Ningxiao, who was standing nearby.
Even while she had been thinking about her Sword Dao insights, she had still rushed over so quickly. Clearly, she had been worried something might happen to him and had specially come to help.
“Sword Chief Chang, thank you for your assistance.”
A Grandmaster-level expert was lofty and difficult to encounter, much less request help from.
To receive the active protection of such an expert was something that would inspire extreme jealousy even across the entire Great Qian.
Even the most elite second-generation heirs would never experience such treatment.
The shock on Chang Ningxiao’s face had not yet faded. Her beautiful eyes looked toward the Heaven-Reckoning Disk in Cheng Yu’s hand.
Just now, Cheng Yu had been using the chess formation of the Heaven-Reckoning Disk to calculate Heavenly Secrets?
One had to know that the more powerful a supreme treasure was, the harder it was to control.
This was especially true for a famously spiritual treasure like the Heaven-Reckoning Disk. Unless one gave it enough benefits and cooperated with it, it was extremely difficult to operate freely.
Even the Blue Radiance Sword in Chang Ningxiao’s hand had taken her several years to fully wield with ease.
She had not expected that Cheng Yu would not only gain the Heaven-Reckoning Disk’s recognition, but also be able to use its functions so skillfully.
His talent in the chess Dao and in calculating Heavenly Secrets had to be extremely extraordinary as well!
Just how many talents did he have?
Chang Ningxiao shook her head. After adjusting her state of mind for a long while, she calmed down.
A trace of vigilance appeared on her face. “Mister Cheng bears a heavy responsibility in the Sword Dao. Naturally, I cannot afford to be careless.”
At this moment, her worry for Cheng Yu deepened once more.
She could not allow Cheng Yu to casually put down the Sword Dao!
That was a loss she could not bear!
Seeing that Chang Ningxiao had suddenly begun thinking about something, Cheng Yu did not dwell on it. He simply spoke calmly.
“Sword Chief Chang, I will soon set out for my transfer to the Great Qian Capital and leave Jiannan Circuit. If there is still anything about the Sword Dao you wish to discuss, I may only have time during these last few days.”
He definitely had to leave Jiannan Circuit and head to the Great Qian Capital.
As for Chang Ningxiao, she enjoyed discussing the Sword Dao with him, but he could not very well ask a Grandmaster to follow him.
He could only speak with her a little more first and maintain a good relationship with this major expert.
Chang Ningxiao frowned. “Mister Cheng is going to the Great Qian Capital? That makes sense. With your identity...”
As a member of the Jinyiwei, he naturally had to obey the Great Qian Emperor’s will.
And as a Grandmaster, she had her own identity.
Even if she was reluctant to part with his Sword Dao guidance, she could not openly show it.
She could only cup her fists and salute him as an equal.
“Then I can only trouble Elder Jian A to continue attending to you. The Sword Bearers will always be your friends, Mister Cheng!”
Cheng Yu nodded and returned the salute. “You are too polite, Sword Chief Chang... However, as for Elder Jian A, I may have him remain in Jiangnan to prevent certain people with ulterior motives from acting recklessly.”
Right now, the Jinyiwei of Jiannan Circuit dominated the region.
After he left, the people of the Jianghu would definitely eye it covetously and come again. The situation that had not been easy to stabilize could very easily run into problems.
Jian A’s strength was extremely good, and there was no issue with his temperament either.
He was just right to remain in Jiannan Circuit and keep watch for Cheng Yu. If any problems arose, or if there was anything regarding the Sword Dao that needed guidance, he could borrow the speed of the Gale Sword Dao.
Traveling between the Great Qian Capital and Jiannan Circuit would not be difficult either.
Cheng Yu’s arrangement was reasonable, but when it reached Chang Ningxiao’s ears, it took on another meaning.
Elder Jian A would not go to the Great Qian Capital?
Then there would be no one beside Cheng Yu who could keep his attention on the Sword Dao.
If the Sword Dao grew cold in his heart because of that, what would happen to the future of all sword users under heaven?
Chang Ningxiao immediately felt a tremendous responsibility pressing down on her. Her entire person appeared worried.
Cheng Yu was puzzled when he saw this. “What is wrong, Sword Chief Chang?”
“Nothing...”
Chang Ningxiao was briefly stunned, but she quickly continued, “I am going to the Great Qian Capital too... I happen to have business there!”
She was going to the Great Qian Capital too?
Cheng Yu was somewhat surprised. Could it be because of the Great Qian Martial Assembly that would be held within half a year?
He did not think too much about it. In his heart, he was quite willing.
With a Grandmaster by his side, matters should become easier to handle.
...
Central Great Qian.
Jingmen Circuit.
It was a necessary route between the hinterlands of the Great Qian Capital and the fertile land of Jiangnan.
Inside a grand and imposing sect.
Several powerful martial artists were planning something. Their realms had all clearly reached the Upper Three Ranks.
With such strength, it would have been difficult to see them in Jiangnan after Sword-Forging Manor was destroyed and the region fell into a leaderless state.
But this place was a subordinate force of the Army-Breaking Sect, which controlled a large region, so it was normal for it to have such experts.
After all, among the Nine Great Sects, the Army-Breaking Sect had the widest network of disciples and was the most forceful.
“Sect Master, will nothing go wrong if we set a trap here for that Imperial Hound Cheng Yu? I have heard that his strength is extremely remarkable!”
Someone thought of Cheng Yu’s battle record and became worried.
They wanted to gain fame and make contributions, but they must not kick an iron plate!
The dignified man at the head shook his head.
“How can you boost another’s morale and diminish your own? Cheng Yu does have some strength, but are we weak?”
“That brat has carved his way through blood and slaughter all along the way, but those he faced were all minor families and households of the Jianghu. He has never truly faced disciples of a major sect.”
“Moreover, it is not as though we intend to oppose him directly. What is there to worry about?”
After this encouragement and explanation, the worries in everyone’s hearts eased somewhat.
The Sect Master was right!
If they could not defeat Cheng Yu, then they simply would not fight Cheng Yu!
“Then what should we do?”
The man smiled. “It is very simple. That brat Cheng Yu appears ruthless and vicious, but in truth, his thoughts are extremely meticulous. He has always relied on loving the people and acting for the people to cover up his monstrous crimes!”
Whenever Cheng Yu acted, he could always seize some legitimate benefit.
He had also won the hearts of the people.
Many people had seen this and were extremely wary of it.
“Precisely because of this, Cheng Yu cannot be firmly labeled as a demon. The great figures of the Jianghu cannot bully the young by using their status to crusade against him. They can only allow him to slaughter as he pleases!”
“But! This has also given people like us a chance to make a name for ourselves and render great service!”
The man revealed a sinister sneer.
A martial artist caring about common people was simply a joke!
“Is he not beloved by the people? Then we only need to use the people as leverage and make a few simple moves. After that, we can see whether it is true or false! If it is true, then he will naturally be restricted and humiliated by us!”
“Even if his love for the people is false, he will not dare tear off this mask and give the great figures a reason to act.”
“No matter what, as long as we can use the people as leverage, this is a guaranteed profitable deal!”
“Watch how I use a scheme to humiliate that brat Cheng Yu!”
Use the people as leverage?
The others caught the key point in the man’s words.
They immediately felt strange in their hearts and looked at one another with furrowed brows.
Their identity was that of righteous chivalrous people of the Jianghu.
Their actions were supposed to uphold justice, deal with a vicious and brutal Imperial Hound, and righteously take action while also making a great contribution to their main sect, the Army-Breaking Sect.
But once the method was mentioned, it was actually to threaten someone using the people.
It sounded as though they were the villains instead.
It would be fine if this matter could be hidden. But if others learned the specific details, the ones who would be humiliated would be them!
The man saw that everyone’s expressions were somewhat wrong and clearly understood their thoughts.
He revealed a calm smile and explained, “On the surface, we are using the people to make an issue of things, but in truth, we are extinguishing the arrogance of Cheng Yu and the Imperial Hounds. There may be some cost on the surface, but in reality, this is a great contribution to the Jianghu under heaven!”
“To sacrifice our reputation in order to accomplish great righteousness naturally means we harbor chivalry in our hearts. The great figures of the Jianghu will not forget us!”
As soon as these words came out, everyone immediately felt reassured. The Sect Master had dispelled their worries.
They were sacrificing their own reputations to deal with a vicious thief like Cheng Yu, walking on thin ice for the sake of righteousness.
What else could others say?
If this matter succeeded, the great figures would not forget them!
The man smiled and nodded, his face filled with incomparable pride.
Using martial force to deal with a lunatic like Cheng Yu would naturally be inviting suffering upon oneself.
But with his divine calculations, he could humiliate Cheng Yu through strategy and recover face for the Jianghu. Whether they advanced or retreated, they would suffer no loss.
Naturally, they stood in an undefeatable position!
As for those ordinary commoners who would be used as leverage without knowing anything, they could contribute to the righteous path of chivalry and the bright, orderly world.
They would definitely be willing and would have no complaints whatsoever!
May luck be with them.
...
Several days later.
At the northernmost part of Jiannan Circuit, on an incomparably wide official road.
A group of Jinyiwei wearing Flying Fish Uniforms rode over on horseback. The person at their head had an extraordinary bearing.
A golden, glittering Jinyiwei Commandant token hung from him, and an ordinary-looking Xiuchun Saber was fastened at his waist.
It was Cheng Yu, who was heading to the Great Qian Capital.
Beneath him was a crimson, divine steed, tall and powerful. Faint flames appeared as it breathed.
With a casual ease that seemed effortless, it ran ahead of a group of warhorses that were galloping at full strength.
The Crimson Flame Steed.
It was a reward Cheng Yu had previously obtained during the matter of exterminating Prince Qing’s Remnants.
It was an Immortal Mount with an excellent bloodline and ability, and its Vital Blood was even more powerful than that of a Sixth-Rank Martial Artist.
If Cheng Yu had not needed to accommodate Ma Minnong and his group of subordinates, with the Crimson Flame Steed’s speed, they could have reached the Great Qian Capital within a few days.
Everyone rode along the road.
Before long, they saw the boundary stone marking the edge of the region. This meant they were about to leave Jiannan Circuit.
And on both sides of the official road before the boundary stone, the common people stood packed in dense crowds, craning their necks in anticipation as they looked at Cheng Yu and the others who were arriving.
“Look! Lord Cheng and the others are here!”
When the commoners saw Cheng Yu arrive, tears immediately filled their eyes. Extremely moved, they went forward and knelt on the ground.
It was this Jinyiwei Thousand-Household Commander.
He had rescued countless suffering people enslaved by Jianghu forces and great families.
He had also allowed everyone to live a good life they could hardly have imagined!
When the common people learned that Cheng Yu was being transferred away from Jiannan Circuit to the Great Qian Capital, their hearts were filled with reluctance, and they all came to send him off.
“My lord’s kindness and virtue will be unforgettable for three lifetimes!”
Cheng Yu signaled for everyone to stop, then dismounted and looked at the gathered commoners.
“This is the Jinyiwei’s duty. Protecting common people like you is only natural. Why must you stand on ceremony with me? Everyone, please rise!”
When the commoners heard that Cheng Yu did not put on the slightest arrogance over his kindness and virtue, they were even more moved and even more reluctant to part with him.
“My lord, what should we do if you leave?”
With Cheng Yu’s Jinyiwei present, the Xiuchun Sabers would strike fear into those people’s hearts, and they would never dare act recklessly.
If Cheng Yu were no longer there to suppress them, the people were afraid they would return to those painful days of the past.
“There is no need to worry,” Cheng Yu said, shaking his head.
“I may be leaving Jiannan Circuit, but the Jinyiwei have not left Jiannan Circuit. All matters will continue as they did when I was here.”
Jiannan Circuit.
It was Cheng Yu’s foundation.
He had already arranged for an expert like Jian A to remain here.
He had also left behind quite a few well-trained Jinyiwei.
The Jianghu forces and some great clans that had oppressed the common people had basically been cleaned out by him.
As long as no powerful external force once again coveted Jiannan Circuit and the lands of Jiangnan, the others would not be able to stir up any waves.
As for anyone who dared to be stubborn and fail to know what was good for them...
“If anyone takes advantage of my absence to bully you, I will definitely avenge you and make them pay blood for blood!”
“Those who dare oppress the common people will die without exception, even if they are martial artists!”
When the commoners heard these words, their tears immediately fell like rain.
Lord Cheng would avenge them!
This extremely brief promise was more moving at this moment than any embellished, peace-proclaiming empty talk.
Because in Cheng Yu’s words, they were not an insignificant part of the grand concept known as the people.
They were individual people. Living, breathing people!
In this world where martial strength was supreme, being able to live as a human being was an extravagant hope for commoners.
And Cheng Yu had turned their extravagant hope into reality...
Ma Minnong stroked his beard while sitting on his horse, revealing an increasingly appreciative smile.
Lord Cheng possessed such talent and strength, yet it was rare that he had such a pure heart.
This was a great fortune for the world!
Not far away, in midair.
Chang Ningxiao stood suspended on her sword. A strand of Sword Intent appeared at her fingertip, spiraling in the shape of Taiji.
She gazed from afar toward Cheng Yu’s location, a complex expression appearing on her face.
This person, Cheng Yu.
When facing martial artists who brought evil to a region, his methods and attitude were extremely fierce. Yet when facing the common people, he had never shown the lofty superiority of a martial artist.
This inevitably made her think of the countless people in history who had run about for the sake of the people.
They had harbored great ambitions and won the hearts of the people.
Chang Ningxiao had once admired these people immensely, but reality had dealt her a tremendous blow.
Failure had once taught her a principle.
Unless one possessed overwhelming power that surpassed everything, those who won the hearts of the people would also be placed in shackles.
When facing those sanctimonious and hypocritical people of the Jianghu, this would become a weakness.
In this world, those with strength could become domineering local emperors. This was a rule tacitly accepted by martial artists, and everyone acted this way.
What Cheng Yu was doing was breaking this rule.
Where had the simple happiness of Jiannan Circuit’s common people come from?
It came from Cheng Yu sweeping away the martial artists who had sat over their heads and enjoyed the fruits of others’ labor.
In Jiannan Circuit, Cheng Yu had the strength to crush all obstacles.
But if one widened one’s view to the entire Jianghu of Great Qian, those pressing down on the common people were thousand-year aristocratic families and the Nine Great Sects.
Even Chang Ningxiao, as a Grandmaster, could not face them. What should Cheng Yu do?
She did not know.
She could only choose to believe in Cheng Yu, and believe in the Sword Dao’s choice.