Free Web NovelChapter 1128: Chapter 347 Five Horses Guest
Within the stone chamber, the shadowy figure was clearly taken aback and paused before saying, "So it turns out... Jiang Wang has become someone else’s chess piece."
The voice from the void replied, "That’s why the more talented he is, the more interesting it becomes. The faster he grows, the greater the threat he will pose to Jiang Shu in the future."
"Then, should we just leave him be from now on?" the shadowy figure inquired.
"No, we should still target him when opportunities arise, just not actually kill him," the voice from the void instructed. "Attacking him is helping him, aiding him to step further and gain the trust of Jiang Shu."
"I understand," said the shadowy figure.
"That’s all for now. Stay quiet for a while, and don’t draw attention," the voice from the void suggested.
After that, in the hollow of the stone disk, the sobbing sound of the wind rose again.
Silence returned to the stone chamber.
...
...
On the grasslands of the Northern Territory.
On these grasslands, where the grass is most lush, the rains most gentle, and the cattle and sheep fatten beautifully...
None surpasses the foot of Qionglu Mountain, known as the "divine pasture."
This empire, now dominating the vast grasslands, had its humble beginnings at the foot of this mountain.
Guided by the God of Cangtu, it evolved from a small tribe of a few hundred people into the mighty Shepherd Empire capable of contending with the world’s great powers.
Archers counted in the millions, and wherever horses trod, all bowed their heads.
When the children of the grassland look toward Qionglu Mountain on a pilgrimage, they behold the world’s great marvel and see their life’s ultimate destination.
The mountain uses the sky as its tent, nothing but Cangtian itself could shelter its peak, hence the name "Qionglu."
It also holds up the sky, providing the grassland children with a "home."
The entire grassland’s spiritual sanctuary—the Cangtu Temple—is built on the summit of Qionglu Mountain.
For tens of thousands of years, it has overlooked the vast expanse of the grassland, watching the cycles of life and death.
And the Supreme Royal Court of this grassland, where the tent of the Empress of Mugu is stationed, lies beside the world’s treasure—the great "Sky Mirror."
This vast freshwater lake, broad as the sea, is like a mirror embedded within the boundless grassland.
Legend has it that it is the Divine Mirror used by the Grassland Goddess to behold herself.
In the mythology of Mugu, the "Grassland Goddess" was the first Cangtu Divine Envoy, spreading the deity’s will, aiding the world, and bringing virtuous tidings to the grassland.
When the Grassland Goddess returned to the divine realm of God Kingdom, she left this mirror on the grassland to reflect the world. Indeed, the Sky Mirror as the largest lake has nurtured countless cattle and sheep, allowing the grassland children to thrive and grow.
If one were to divide the grasslands into east and west, Qionglu Mountain rests in the center of the western grassland, with the Sky Mirror at the center of the eastern grassland.
In the beginning, the Supreme Royal Court was at the foot of Qionglu Mountain.
As the Shepherd Empire unified the grasslands, the Supreme Royal Court continuously migrated, eventually taking permanent residence beside the "Sky Mirror."
Contrary to what outsiders might think...
The Shepherd Kingdom People do not all sleep on horseback.
Their regular resting dwellings, quite distinct from the simple tents used during campaigns, sprawl magnificently, incorporating the distinct characteristics of different tribes and yet are neatly planned.
Different areas serve different functions and coexist harmoniously. Compared to pavilions and towers, there is a distinct charm.
This is the city most suited to the grassland lifestyle, and in terms of opulence, the Supreme Royal Court is not inferior to the capital cities of any other nation.
Of course, there are also differences.
The Supreme Royal Court, endowed with "Divine Power," can move as a whole.
The Supreme Royal Court is also known as "Eagle City."
It signifies a city capable of flight.
For most nations in the world, moving the capital is a matter with great political significance and rarely occurs.
On the Grassland, however, the "migration" of the Supreme Royal Court happens rather frequently. Only in recent years had it gradually settled next to the Sky Mirror.
There are also "peddlers" on the Grassland.
They usually drive five horses, wandering everywhere—two for carrying goods, one for the rider, and two resting alternately. Hence, they are also known as "Five Horses Guests."
They are "visitors" on the Grassland, bringing various goods to the herders in different locations and hoping to receive warm hospitality from their hosts.
At this moment, on the edge of the Supreme Royal Court’s tent area, a person wearing a hood approached a Five Horses Guest who had almost sold out his wares.
The scarf piled up high, almost concealing most of his face, but an occasional fleeting, stunning glimpse still managed to impress.
The goods on the Five Horses Guest’s horseback were sparse, leaving little room for choice.
Yet the newcomer still picked and chose among them.
The conversation unfolded solely within the hearing of the two parties.
"How is Brother Hu doing?" the hooded figure asked.
The Five Horses Guest replied, "He seems to be quite trusted now. The previous Commander of the Jiujiang Xuan Armor had a recurrence of an old injury and died, and he is very likely to be the next one."
"It shouldn’t be so..." The hooded figure paused to think, then said, "The death of the last Commander of the Jiujiang Xuan Armor must conceal some secrets."
"There does seem to be something fishy, but I haven’t had time to investigate thoroughly. Anyway, Zhuang Ting won’t do anything to him for now, and he himself may not be willing to leave. If I were to force him away, Du Ruhui would surely catch up," the Five Horses Guest said.
"As long as he’s alright, that’s enough. The rest isn’t so important," the hooded figure nodded in agreement. "Let it be for now, we’ll discuss everything after the Yellow River Gathering."
"Attending the Yellow River Gathering is still too risky; I don’t agree," the Five Horses Guest said.
"Uncle Deng," the hooded figure spoke. "Now that I have news of my third brother, I must go and see for myself." frёewebηovel.cѳm
The hooded figure speaking, of course, was Zhao Rucheng.
And the one called Uncle Deng was naturally Deng Yue, known as "One-Finger Dividing the River."
Du Yehu was able to deduce from Jiang Wang’s current situation that there might be problems with the affair in Fenglin City. Jiang Wang could surmise that with his newfound fame, Du Yehu would be in danger.
Zhao Rucheng, wiser than both of them, naturally hadn’t failed to make such considerations.
However, there are times when human effort reaches its limits, and even with Deng Yue’s strength, he couldn’t unravel the truth outside Zhuang Royal Palace alone. He could only inform Zhao Rucheng of the current situation he witnessed.
Deng Yue, disguised as a Five Horses Guest within the Supreme Royal Court, said, "Now that we know he’s in Qi Country and doing well, we can very well wait until after the Yellow River Gathering to see him."
"Can you imagine it? Coming from a small place like Fenglin City, without any background, without a mentor, all on his own... and yet, in the end, becoming the number one of the Inner Mansion’s younger generation in Qi Country, representing Qi Country in the combat at the Yellow River Gathering. Can you fathom what he has gone through? His reaching this point precisely shows that he hasn’t had it easy."
"I cannot wait any longer. Not one moment longer. If he is to outshine the world, there ought to be a few old friends to witness his glory! If I go with a mask and just watch... I won’t be discovered," Zhao Rucheng said.
Deng Yue was silent for a while; since delving into the desert, Zhao Rucheng had rarely spoken at length.
This reflected his complex emotions.
"The Yellow River Gathering..." Deng Yue sighed.
"You shouldn’t follow this time," Zhao Rucheng said. "Just find a place to rest on the Grassland. After I’ve had a look and returned, we’ll decide what to do next."
The Yellow River Gathering would have many people and eyes; a congregation of the strong. He would blend in with the Shepherd Kingdom’s crowd, with Yuwen Ze’s protection, and wouldn’t have any problems.
However, a strong figure like Deng Yue would struggle to hide his identity. Attending the Yellow River Gathering would be more dangerous.
"You are one with plans," Deng Yue remarked, eyeing him before purposefully saying, "Since Jiang Wang is still alive, can you start to slack once again?"
Zhao Rucheng shook his head: "Third Brother is a man strong on both the inside and outside. He won’t fuss over many things; they can often be dismissed with a laugh. However, the things he does care about, he will see through to the very end. He won’t let the matter of Fenglin City go just like that."
He took a jade hairpin from the goods bag.
"There are some things I’m powerless to assist with. But if he is to do anything... I must be capable of helping him."
After handing over a few pieces of broken silver to the Five Horses Guest, he turned and left.
