Chapter 23: Visitors from Beyond the Pass and the Predicament of Zhang Sanfeng

"Your Highness, if Zhu Wushi has truly come in person," Zhu Jianqiu speculated, "does that mean... the Emperor has arrived as well?"

Zhu Jinzhen nodded. "It is highly probable."

Although Li Chengen, Cao Xueyang, and the others had anticipated this, their hearts still pounded violently, almost inciting thoughts of treason—or rather, of taking a desperate gamble. After all, if the Emperor were to die, could they not...

Zhu Jinzhen sensed their thoughts but did not stop them. At one moment, especially when he received that letter from Zhao Min, he had indeed felt the urge to kill Zhu Houzhao. However, reason eventually prevailed over impulse. Zhu Jinzhen was no wandering knight-errant; he was the Prince of Su of the Great Ming, commanding a million soldiers. Even if he were eighty percent certain that he could emulate Emperor Taizong Zhu Di, launch a campaign to "cleanse the court," and seize the throne, he could not let the Emperor die by his own hand.

Sima Zhao, who assassinated his sovereign in the streets, had been cursed for thousands of years, and the Sima clan was eventually wiped out entirely. Zhu Jinzhen did not need to ponder to know exactly how the historians of the future would vilify him if he were to dispose of Zhu Houzhao here in Shaanxi or at Jiayu Pass.

"Perhaps, he could be put to use?" A bold idea suddenly flashed through his mind.

...

Jiayu Pass was a formidable fortress on the frontier.

People came and went from the Great Ming in great numbers. With the Tiance selection underway, the official road was bustling with travelers. On a smaller path connecting to the main road, a carriage sped forward.

"Cousin, are we reaching the Great Ming now?"

"Soon, Jiayu Pass is just ahead."

"Hmm?"

Murong Fu suddenly frowned. Though he was inside the carriage, he clearly sensed the pervasive murderous aura lingering on the main road nearby, along with the deafening thunder of hooves.

"The hoofbeats are so erratic, and there is an undisguised killing intent. Could we be so unlucky as to run into a conflict?" Murong Fu wondered if he had failed to check the almanac before setting out.

"Who are you people? How dare you block our path!"

"Young Master... we..."

A familiar, shrill scream terrified the women inside the carriage, turning their faces pale. Murong Fu’s expression shifted, and he nimbly darted out, eager to see what was happening.

*Clang!*

A blade’s radiance tore through the air, slashing horizontally. Fortunately, while the strike was overbearing, it lacked true lethal intent, allowing Murong Fu to dodge it by a hair’s breadth. However, the carriage behind him was not so lucky; its roof was cleaved open by the blade.

Murong Fu looked up, and the internal energy he had been circulating suddenly scattered in panic. His initial stance for the "Canhai Finger" morphed into a bow of respect: "Officers, I do not know how we have offended you."

It was not that Murong Fu was a coward. He was merely a Lesser Grandmaster who had barely reached the Finger Profound Realm. Looking at the soldiers holding blades and shields before him, he could see at least ten individuals of his own cultivation level, and dozens more at the Vajra Realm, which was stronger than his own four great retainers. Even if he wanted to be arrogant, he simply couldn't.

"We have already issued a warning. This area is currently being cleared of rebels; all personnel are forbidden from passing. If you insist on forcing your way through, do not blame us for being merciless," a Cangyun soldier warned, standing firm with his blade.

They were not targeting Murong Fu specifically; they were restricting everyone passing through Jiayu Pass to prevent accidents and collateral damage. Only then did Murong Fu see clearly that Bao Butong, who had let out the scream, had merely lost half his teeth and was otherwise unharmed. In fact, many other travelers and martial artists were curiously peering toward the direction of Jiayu Pass.

*Boom!*

A violent explosion, accompanied by a surging shockwave, erupted from the distance.

Then, Murong Fu witnessed a sight he would never forget. Pang Ban, the top expert under the Mongol Emperor—whom he had once been fortunate enough to see while infiltrating the Yipintang—was struck down from the mountain, rolling onto the main road as pathetically as a gourd.

Following him were several other "familiar" figures.

"The Demonic Master Pang Ban? The human-demon Li Chimei? The Flower Immortal Nian Lidan?"

Three Celestial Grandmasters, whom Murong Fu had to look up to, were now being dragged about like stray dogs, their collarbones pierced and locked by those Cangyun soldiers?

Wang Yuyan jumped out of the carriage, shaken, and walked to Murong Fu’s side. "Cousin, what has happened?"

"Nothing... nothing at all!" Murong Fu stared blankly at the wretched figures. In the past, every one of them was an existence he had to look up to, someone he wished to worship like an ancestor, yet now they were as miserable as dogs.

This disparity instilled in Murong Fu—who was only at the Finger Profound Realm, filled with ambition, and determined to restore his kingdom—an unprovoked sense of "grieving for the rabbit when the fox dies."

This was the first time Murong Fu truly witnessed the "foundation of a great nation." Celestial Grandmasters who could dominate a region and rule the martial arts world were helpless against the crushing weight of the Great Ming and the suppression of its military elites.

Yet, inexplicably, a delusional, near-manic fantasy sprouted in Murong Fu’s heart: "It should be like this. If one day I can restore my kingdom, I will surely lead my Great Yan to its peak, recreating the scene where Grandmasters are easily suppressed."

"Even if it were an Earthly Immortal..."

Fortunately, no one knew of Murong Fu's thoughts, or they would have laughed their teeth out. With no troops, no generals, and no provisions, dreaming of restoring the Yan Kingdom and rivaling the Great Ming was nothing but a pipe dream. In the current world, where many nations coexisted, the soil for small countries was constantly squeezed and annexed by the great powers. Where would he find the territory or the possibility to restore his kingdom? To think of easily suppressing Celestial Grandmasters, or even Earthly Immortals, was pure fantasy that would not be realized even in five hundred years.

In a place where Murong Fu and his group could not see, Zhang Sanfeng was facing the greatest predicament of his life before Jiayu Pass.

Four Earthly Immortals blocked his path, and thirty-one Celestial Grandmasters watched like tigers eyeing their prey. Such an array was something he had never even heard of, let alone witnessed. When he had once broken into Dadu to kill the previous Mongol-Yuan Emperor, Möngke, he had never faced such an overwhelming encirclement.

Fortunately, he stated his intentions, and no conflict occurred.

"Since it is a misunderstanding, please feel free to go, Daoist Zhang," Changsun Wangqing said with a wave, and the soldiers surrounding Zhang Sanfeng and the young boy retreated. Yang Ning shook his head with a look of regret.

"Many thanks."

Zhang Sanfeng glanced at the Mongol-Yuan experts being dragged away like dead dogs. He wondered if this was a show of strength. He had originally intended to bring the young boy with him to witness the grace of the Prince of Su and see the sword path revered by the entire martial arts world as that of a peerless sword immortal, but now he felt it was better not to meet him at all.