ATPnovel Chapter 1597: 4 On the Road_2
Chapter 1597: 4 On the Road_2
Chapter 1597: Chapter 4 On the Road_2However, these long-standing hidden sores buried within the body of Qi Country, this time, were cleanly excavated by Jiang Wuqi using himself as bait.
Even if there were still some who escaped the net, they were merely minor figures, hardly posing any threat.
“Why does the news about the Eleventh Prince seem to affect you so much?” Zhongxuan Sheng asked from the moving carriage.
The main army had already begun withdrawing from Star Moon Plain, and the troops of Xu Country were returning to Xu country’s command. Aside from Li Shuwen of Xu Country, these geniuses who led the army in battle could now let go and rest.
Of course, even though all returned with honors, not everyone could travel the same road back to Qi Country, as there were differences in relationships among them.
For instance, Zhongxuan Sheng immediately pulled Jiang Wang into his carriage, inquiring various stories of the world beyond heaven.
Except for Jiang Wang, who did not plan to participate in the battle beforehand, the other geniuses of Qi Country all brought their own followers or clan soldiers, who also served as personal soldiers on the battlefield. Now, they were returning to Qi Country with these same people. At the time of camp dispersal, Zhongxuan Sheng, Yan Fu, and Li Longchuan even assembled a team of personal soldiers for Jiang Wang, but unfortunately, he left overnight without needing them.
This time returning to Qi Country, each young genius’s accompanying team formed a convoy.
Speaking from the heart, Someone Jiang naturally wanted to ride with Yan Xian Brother, not out of a desire for the luxury of the top-class carriage, but purely because he was “eager to learn” and enjoyed chatting with knowledgeable people!
Moreover, although Zhongxuan Sheng’s carriage wasn’t bad, with a big fat man on the right and an iron hulk opposite, it felt a bit cramped no matter how spacious it was.
Having grown accustomed to wealth and luxury, Lord Jiang was disinclined to endure hardship when it was unnecessary…
Amid the rumbling of carriage wheels, Zhongxuan Sheng continued, “I remember he once targeted you at Yunwu Mountain.”
“It wasn’t exactly against me. He was upholding the dignity of the royal family at that time. Besides…” Jiang Wang turned his head to look out the window.
The news of the Eleventh Prince’s passing was known to Zhongxuan Sheng through emergency channels and was not widely spread. The troop returning to Qi Country was still immersed in the joy of their great victory at Star Moon Plain, with most anticipating the rewards upon returning home.
He sighed, “A person like the Eleventh Prince, even if standing on the opposing side, is hard to harbor resentment against.”
Zhongxuan Sheng thought for a moment and nodded, “That point can’t be denied.”
“Speaking of which…” Jiang Wang said, “After returning from the Yellow River Gathering and offering gifts at The Imperial Ancestral Temple, the Eleventh Prince once summoned me alone.”
“I’m aware of that.” Zhongxuan Sheng said casually, “Didn’t those princes all try to recruit you?”
Jiang Wang shook his head, “The Eleventh Prince summoned me not to recruit, but to spar.”
Zhongxuan Sheng’s previously slouched posture straightened with interest, though he remained a mass of flesh, showing a degree of earnestness: “Spar with you?”
“Yes.” Jiang Wang said, “He said he wanted to see who truly was the foremost in the Inner Mansion Realm.”
“That doesn’t sound like something he’d say…” Zhongxuan Sheng remarked, “I assume you won.”
Jiang Wang glanced at him, “You have that much confidence in me?”
Zhongxuan Sheng replied, “With your character, if you lost, you wouldn’t dare carry the name of the foremost Inner Mansion in history.”
“After Broken Soul Gorge, I certainly believed myself unmatched in the Inner Mansion Realm throughout history. But at that time…” Jiang Wang expressed some regret, “Without determining life or death, though I didn’t lose, neither could I defeat him.”
Zhongxuan Sheng was visibly stirred, “He could really contend with a leader in the Inner Mansion Realm?”
“He may be even stronger than you imagine,” Jiang Wang said.
Zhongxuan Sheng began to understand, “The Eleventh Prince was indeed someone who would leave one feeling regretful. His capacity often made one overlook his age. I truly didn’t expect even he’d have such whimsical moments… actually seeking you for a duel, asking who was the foremost in the Inner Mansion Realm.”
Issuing a challenge to youths of the same realm to prove one’s courage was indeed not something Jiang Wuqi would do.
With his vision and breadth of mind, he should have focused on the overarching trends of the world.
Even Jiang Wang himself, when he went to Long Life Palace, was prepared to refuse recruitment, intending to discuss things clearly with Jiang Wuqi. Unexpectedly, it resulted in a peak duel.
Jiang Wuqi, with a wave of his hand, left an extremely deep impression on him. Jiang Wuqi’s dismantling of the Fire Realm, like a skilled butcher, also paved a way for him to further perfect his Fire Realm Art.
Thinking back now…
Could it be that at that time, the young Eleventh Prince had already decided to use himself as bait?
The “whimsical” aspect of Jiang Wuqi mentioned by Zhongxuan Sheng was precisely his final youthful vigor…
“I heard that on Yunwu Mountain, with a step into the God Descending Realm, he subdued two godly cultivators with a wave of his hand. I really wanted to know if, had he been in good health, whether at his peak he could have contended with my pinnacle state in the Inner Mansion Realm…”
Jiang Wang shook his head, “Unfortunately, we will never have an answer.”
If Guan Yan couldn’t achieve Star Lord, then that monastic with the highest comprehension in Hanging Monastery for five centuries would just be a lost tale.
Jiang Wuqi, fading away now, few would know that he also once had a chance to contend for invincibility in the Inner Mansion.
How many heroes throughout history are but dust in the sands of time!
They evoke regret, they evoke remembrance.
A burst of noise came from outside the carriage, and Jiang Wang glanced over, realizing the convoy was already close to leaving Xu Country, with Xu Country’s troops gradually dispersing.
Before long, a tall, slender young man with gentle features approached the carriage, his face sincere, clasping his hands in salute, “Ahead lies the boundary marker. Sending you a thousand miles, we must part in the end. The camaraderie on the battlefield, Shuwen will never forget in this life. I only wish Brother Jiang and Brother Zhongxuan all the best in your future endeavors!”
The visitor was none other than Xu Country’s prodigy, Li Shuwen.
Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be going from one carriage to another, paying his respects.
Not far behind him, a stern-faced woman on horseback was Xu Country’s God Descending Realm powerhouse, Lady Xidu.
“As we’re both in the Eastern Region, we shall surely meet again.” Jiang Wang earnestly returned the salute, “I also wish Brother Li peace and joy, and all things go smoothly.”
Lady Xidu waited on her horse at a distance, actually supporting Li Shuwen. Maybe she was concerned that Li Shuwen wouldn’t be respected or acknowledged when visiting alone.
But being a godly powerhouse and a high-ranking member of Xu Country, she couldn’t possibly knock on each carriage to bid farewell to the young geniuses of Qi Country. This led to the current situation, full of the bittersweet carefulness of a small country.
They needed to express respect for Qi Country while preserving as much self-respect as possible. Balancing that was not easy.
After exchanging pleasantries with Li Shuwen, Jiang Wang simply clasped his hands in salute to Lady Xidu from afar and said nothing more.
Lady Xidu gave a slight nod, considering it a return salute.
This battle, though Xu Country claimed nominal victory, Qi Country’s resource support would not diminish. But those who truly died on the battlefield, were genuinely gone. Without ample time, they could not be replaced.
Victory, yet also defeat. The future was lost.
The departing figures of this Xu Country’s prodigy and its high-ranking officials inevitably left one with a sense of melancholy.
Once Li Shuwen was out of sight, Zhongxuan Sheng slowly said, “Do you recall telling you, during the Star Moon Plain war, to limit the scale of killing? Best not to kill more than three Jing Country prodigies.”
Jiang Wang gazed at him.
He continued, “In Jing Country’s terms, that number was five.”
Zhongxuan Sheng said nothing further, but he had already said everything.
The truth of the world can sometimes be exceptionally harsh.
Compared to Qi Country, Jing Country was stronger, so Jing Country had more leeway to kill.
Today, Xu Country’s army suffered heavy casualties, and Li Shuwen still had to, under the watch of Lady Xidu, bid farewell and greet every Qi Country prodigy for the same reason, isn’t it?
As “On Power” states—”Why is this so? Because the power dynamics are different!”
Jiang Wang fell silent for a moment.
But what he thought about wasn’t how cruel the world was.
Instead, it was Zhongxuan Sheng, sitting in the same carriage with him at this moment.
Zhongxuan Sheng was always reminding him of how cruel the world was, always making him see the so-called “reality.” But when danger came, this fat man was always by his side.
“Alright.” Jiang Wang stood up, patting his backside, “I’m off to chat with Yan Xian Brother!”
“Chat about what?” Zhongxuan Sheng casually asked.
Jiang Wang gave him a sidelong glance, rather proud, “Topics of scholars.”
In the effortfully wide-open eyes of Zhongxuan Sheng, Jiang Wang lifted the carriage curtain proudly and left.
The fat man dismissed with a disgruntled snort.
Turning to Shisi, he said, “See that? His arrogance is truly the bad influence of Xu Gaoe.”
As he spoke, he leaned over toward Shisi’s side, “Finally, he’s gone! I’m telling you, he was just an eyesore!”
Shisi remained silent, just placing the black heavy sword between herself and Zhongxuan Sheng.
Zhongxuan Sheng naturally shifted, lying toward the other side of the carriage.
“It’s really quite dull, on this journey.”
He said dryly.
Shisi did not speak a word.