Free Web NovelChapter 1449: Chapter 121 The City Gate Catches Fire
Jiang Wang was so infuriated by Yin Guan that he almost considered informing the Qu Country court.
Back when the border general of Qu Country was assassinated by Hell Has No Door, Qu Country issued a wanted order, vowing to eliminate Hell Has No Door; however, after not capturing anyone, they quietly withdrew the order themselves...
It was supposed to be a matter of no further concern. After all, Hell Has No Door was an assassin organization that only dealt in business and did not target anyone specifically. But their blatant presence in Qu Country territory felt like a repeated slap in the face to Qu Country.
If the Qu Country court learned of Hell Has No Door’s current presence in Yuguang City, one could only imagine the violent reaction...
But it was just a thought.
With Yin Guan’s protection, capturing Yang Xuance was impossible, so Jiang Wang continued his journey.
After leaving Qu Country and entering Zheng Country, he heard some news—
Because of Xiang Country’s unjustified detention of the Xu Country’s trade caravan, friction arose between the two nations. After several failed negotiations, Xu Country astonishingly deployed their army to attack!
Now, the armies of Xiang and Xu countries were stationed at Star Moon Plain, in a standoff.
The grand move Zhongxuan Sheng mentioned... has arrived!
Recently, Zheng Country has seen an influx of people, mostly small forces that used to roam Star Moon Plain.
With the two countries choosing Star Moon Plain as their battleground, these minor players, unable to align with either side, scattered like monkeys on a burning tree.
No matter how long they’ve been here, how long they’ve lived, or how deep their bonds...
When the city gates catch fire, the fish in the moat cannot escape death.
The cruelty of reality is far greater than this.
Although the mighty forces of Xiang and Xu countries have thoroughly cleared Star Moon Plain, they too are no more than mere pawns in the hands of the overlying overlord countries.
Detaining trade caravans, avenging the populace—these are simply the wills of Qi and Jing countries being enacted. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Even if these two countries have no willingness to war, nor can they find benefits in this battle, they still must fight.
This battle on Star Moon Plain between Xiang and Xu can be seen as the vanguard conflict of Qi and Jing countries.
From Jiang Wang’s experience of bypassing the grassland, it seems the Jing Shepherd battle with Qi is inevitable. Before he left the grasslands, the sixth-ranked Iron Cavalry of the world’s top ten mounted armies had already moved toward Li Yuan City. Sheng Country alone could not reclaim this heavy border city.
Yet, under such circumstances, the sudden outbreak of conflict between Xiang and Xu at Star Moon Plain is enough to demonstrate Jing Country’s arrogance.
Jing Country does not wish to wage war against both overlord countries simultaneously, but they are also unwilling to let Qi Country seize too much profit, so they wish to test Qi Country’s caliber on Star Moon Plain.
Of course, from the current situation, Jing Country’s main forces will not come to Star Moon Plain, which also is why Jiang Wang sees this battle on Star Moon Plain as a probe.
The result of this battle will directly determine the two overlord countries’ attitudes.
If Xu Country, supported by Qi Country, is destroyed in one battle, then Jing Country can fight on two fronts without any issue. Conversely, if Xiang Country is easily defeated, then Qi Country’s advance into the Central Region is merely a rational choice.
However, all this is no longer related to him.
Zheng Country is north of Star Moon Plain, while the Hanging Monastery is south of Star Moon Plain.
Xiang Country and Xu Country face off east and west.
After leaving Zheng Country, Jiang Wang bypassed Star Moon Plain. Since Xu Country was preparing for war, he did not pass through it but circumvented Xu Country’s eastern border, traveling alone to the Hanging Monastery.
This route was very close to Qi Country... freёwebnovel.com
Although he did not enter Xu Country’s territory, it was imaginable that the atmosphere in Xu Country was no longer relaxed. This war might just be a probe for Qi and Jing, but for Xu and Xiang, it was a war fought by the entire nation, a true threat to national extinction!
Some Xu people he occasionally encountered on the road—all heading to Qi Country for various reasons—had somber expressions when they encountered Jiang Wang.
Amidst this atmosphere, Jiang Wang finally arrived at the Hanging Monastery.
But how to contact Jing Li?
He was at a loss.
Just showing up in a coarse robe and cloak, surely no one would pay him any mind. Yet, being in a missing status, it wasn’t appropriate to reveal his identity publicly.
Jiang Wang wandered over the Hanging Monastery’s territory for half a day, eventually stopping a sharp-looking little boy on the street, ready to speak.
The little boy turned and ran.
Jiang Wang was startled, then realized that his cloak, hemp robe, and dragon-headed staff probably made him look suspicious.
This territory of the Hanging Monastery consisted mostly of ordinary people, none of whom would recognize him.
So he removed his cloak, put away the dragon-headed staff, and set out to find a new target. Spotting a delicate-looking little boy, he approached and said in as gentle a voice as he could muster, "Hey, little one, could you help me with something?"
He took out a piece of broken silver and shook it in his hand, "Run an errand for me, and this silver is yours."
Surprisingly, the little boy pressed his palms together and gave him a bow, "Please tell me what you need. I don’t want the silver."
"Huh?" Jiang Wang was taken aback. "Why not?"
The little boy’s expression was earnest, "I aspire to do one good deed a day."
As expected from the territory of the Hanging Monastery, the East Sacred Land of Buddhism!
Looking into the child’s clear eyes, Jiang Wang was overcome with shame.
As a "grown-up" who would soon reach the coming-of-age milestone, he had almost internalized the so-called "reality" of weighing things against profit, nearly forgetting that life itself... doesn’t require a return for every deed.
"I’ve been too worldly, nearly disrupting young fellow’s tranquil heart." Jiang Wang joined palms to return the bow and said warmly, "May I ask if you could go to the Hanging Monastery’s Mountain Gate to look for a monk named Jing Li? Just tell him I’m waiting for him here."
"If he asks who you are, what should I say?" the little boy asked.
Jiang Wang replied, "Just say it’s the person who arranged to have dinner with him on the ninth of August."
The little boy nodded, turned, and ran off.
As the East Sacred Land of Buddhism, the Hanging Monastery’s territory was no smaller than countries like Xiang or Xu.
However, where Jiang Wang had made his request wasn’t far from the outer Mountain Gate of the Hanging Monastery.
About an hour later—most of the time likely spent waiting for consultation from the reception monk—Jing Li, with a shiny bald head, arrived swiftly, holding the little boy who relayed the message.
"Junior Brother!" He joyfully exclaimed from afar, "You’ve come to see me?!"
Jiang Wang quickly made a gesture for silence.
When they got closer, the little boy in Jing Li’s arms seemed surprised, "Big Brother, have you been waiting here the whole time? Why not find a place to sit?"
"We agreed to wait here," Jiang Wang smiled, handing over a paper bag. "You’ve done a great job running this errand for me; I bought some pastries and fruits for you to enjoy."
The little boy waved his hand, intending to refuse.
Jiang Wang quickly added, "It’s not a reward, just a treat for a friend. You helped me run an errand, and I offer you snacks; this is called reciprocity."
The little boy turned to look at Jing Li, feeling more at ease with the esteemed monk than anyone else.
Jing Li smiled serenely, "This is also an aspect of yuan law; no need to refuse."
Only then did the little boy accept the paper bag, saying to Jiang Wang, "Thank you, Big Brother."
Jiang Wang reciprocated the bow, feeling a sense of comfort as he watched the little boy walk away with a light step, holding the paper bag.
Children sometimes act as mirrors; looking at them, it’s easy to see one’s own changes.
"Wuwuwu," suddenly a burst of crying echoed beside him.
Jiang Wang turned his head to find that Jing Li, who had just seemed like an enlightened monk, was now weeping uncontrollably, "Junior... Junior Brother, we, we have no master anymore!"
Jiang Wang was shocked, his heart aching as his nose stung, "What happened to Master Ku Jue?"
Tears flowing down Jing Li’s face, "Master... Master... has passed away!"
"How did he pass away?" Jiang Wang was both shocked and angry, sorrowful and guilt-ridden, "Is it those thieves from Jing Country?!"
"He has... left the Mountain Gate!" Jing Li sobbed.
