Mo Sang – CH 185

Chapter 185. All Surnamed Wu

The sun dipped below the horizon, and only a quarter of an hour or two remained before the evening drums sounded. The old guards at the city gate chatted idly, dragging their feet as they slowly tidied and swept the ground, preparing to close the gates.

Outside the gate, a troop of soldiers, like arrows with long tails, plunged into the city.

Several old guards, terrified, pressed their backs against the city wall, forming a tight line.

“Who is your commander? Where are you now?”

The leading officer rushed through the gate, reined in his horse, turned back, pointed his whip at the old guards, and demanded sharply.

“It’s Zhang… Zhang… Zhang… Commander Zhang! Over there, over there!” The leading old guard stammered, terrified.

Their small county, Nanzhao, was historically the kind of place where war was utterly meaningless and where soldiers rarely fought.

The veteran soldiers had never seen such a strong and imposing army, such a menacing formation.

Following the direction pointed out by one of the veterans, the adjutant led a dozen or so personal guards and charged forward.

Behind the adjutant, a long, trailing tail of strong infantrymen rushed into the city gate, forming a continuous line and running up the city walls on both sides.

A squad leader commanded his ten men, five on each side, to stand outside the city gate.

The veteran soldiers, pressed against the city wall, dared not move, dumbfounded.

“You, are you also from our Great Qi?” The leading veteran soldier looked at his uniform, then craned his neck to look at the ramrod-straight, gleaming armored infantrymen in front of him and asked cautiously.

His clothes seemed similar to theirs.

“If not from our Great Qi, where else could we be?” The squad leader stood with his hands on his hips in the center of the city gate, leaning diagonally across the veteran soldiers, and retorted.

“Oh dear!” The old soldier wiped away a cold sweat. “You scared me half to death, sir! What happened? What’s going on?” He shifted away from the city wall.

“We’ve taken over Nanzhao County,” the squad leader said, waving his hand with great authority.

“Huh? Then what about us, you men…”

The old soldier was bewildered. What major incident had occurred in Nanzhao County? He knew nothing about it.

“You wait here. Don’t leave yet. Wait until your commander arrives and gives you permission to go.

After all, this is the army; no one can act without orders.” The squad leader was quite good-natured.

“Sir, what happened in Nanzhao County?”

The old soldier was less afraid. One by one, he moved out, sizing up the ramrod-straight, strong soldiers, and gathered around the squad leader, asking in a circle.

“Is this something I can tell you? This is classified! It’s not something you can just talk about!” the centurion retorted bluntly.

“Oh!” Several old platoon leaders let out a long “oh” and nodded in unison.

They understood; it turned out there was something classified.

……………………

The next morning, Li Sangrou and the others had just finished breakfast when Blind Mi, leading the way, bowed and let an old man in.

Li Sangrou stood up and sized up the old man.

The old man was in his fifties, tall and thin, with kind eyes and a worn-out felt hat. His dark gray cotton robe was wrinkled, his hands were tucked into his sleeves, and he wore a humble smile.

He looked like a kind old man who had never kept his word in his life.

“Greetings, Grand Master.” Li Sangrou stepped forward and bowed deeply.

“I dare not accept the title ‘Grand Master.'” The old man quickly returned the bow.

“I apologize for disturbing you, Grand Master,” Li Sangrou said politely.

“I dare not accept the word ‘disturbing.’ It is an honor for us, along with our fellow disciples, that you, Boss, have traveled so far.” The old man bowed again.

“What is your surname, Grand Master?”

“I dare not presume; my surname is Wu.”

“Have all the previous Grand Masters been surnamed Wu?” Li Sangrou raised an eyebrow slightly.

“You are exceptionally intelligent, Boss.” Grand Master Wu smiled. “Would you like to stroll around, or perhaps have a cup of tea?”

“As you wish.” Li Sangrou smiled and bowed.

“Then let’s go to the teahouse next door for a cup of tea.” Grand Master Wu stepped aside slightly, making way for Li Sangrou.

“Please go first, Grand Master.” Li Sangrou let Grand Master Wu pass first, then followed him out of the inn and into a teahouse half a street away.

It was early morning, and the teahouse was nearly empty.

Li Sangrou followed Grand Master Wu up to the second floor and into a private room.

Grand Master Wu opened the window.

Outside, nearby were undulating gray rooftops; in the distance, mountain mists shrouded the landscape, and mountain ranges stretched endlessly.

In a corner of the private room sat a tea stove and teapot. Grand Master Wu personally brewed tea, poured a cup, pushed it towards Li Sangrou, sat down, and smiled at her, saying, “Qu Donglai returned with a letter saying that the boss of Shunfeng and General Sang have summoned me from the south.

I thought to myself, when the boss of Shunfeng was in Jianle City, Junior Brother Mi was also there; logically, he should know you.”

Grand Master Wu took a sip of tea.

“The Boss rose from humble beginnings. Junior Brother Mi is exceptionally good at judging character and loves socializing. I never expected him to deny it so vehemently.

Junior Brother Mi and the Boss have a deep bond; he’s very protective of you.”

“It’s to protect the sect, isn’t it?” Li Sangrou smiled at Grand Master Wu. “The sect is Mi Yisheng’s home, and Mi Yisheng is very protective of his home.”

“Yes, the sect is our home. Not only Junior Brother Mi, but all the fellow disciples treat the sect like home.

Last night, the four gates of Nanzhao City were wide open. Junior Brother Mi regrets it deeply.” Grand Master Wu sighed.

Li Sangrou sipped her tea, smiling at Grand Master Wu, but didn’t reply.

“I didn’t expect Junior Brother Mi to forge crossbows.” Grand Master Wu’s smile was gentle, his tone soft.

Li Sangrou raised an eyebrow at Grand Master Wu.

“Junior Brother Mi joined the sect when he was seven or eight years old.

The Boss already knows that everyone in our sect is an orphan. When our masters and uncles go out on business, they find abandoned infants and, if it’s fate, they bring them back to the sect. After raising them, they are either sent down the mountain to join the ordinary people or they remain at the sect.

Very few people join the sect at Junior Brother Mi’s age.

Junior Brother Mi was brought back by Junior Sister Lin.

Junior Sister Lin once went out with our master to Xinye County.

The Boss also knows that it’s a place of contention between armies, and there are many beggar children inside and outside Xinye City.

Junior Sister Lin had just arrived outside Xinye City when Junior Brother Mi caught up with her.

Junior Brother Mi was pitifully thin at that time. Junior Sister Lin took pity on Junior Brother Mi because he was blind, took him out for a meal, and begged our master to bring Junior Brother Mi back to the sect.

So our master brought Junior Brother Mi back.” Grand Master Wu’s tone was slow and gentle. Li Sangrou raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Blind Mi’s eyes were cunning; he’d targeted Lin Sa because he thought Lin Sa was naive, easy to fool, and easy to steal from.

“Junior Brother Mi is extremely clever. At twelve, he entered the Gezhi Department to study. After only a little over a year, he set fire to the department’s ironworks, saying it was full of murderous materials and it was good to burn it down.

Master then transferred him out of the Gezhi Department, from the back mountain to the front mountain, preparing him to cultivate in the world.

Before he left the mountain, he studied astrology and divination with me for a year or two.”

Li Sangrou looked Grand Master Wu up and down.

“It’s because he didn’t study hard enough. He’s very intelligent, but he doesn’t memorize what he should remember or recite what he should recite.

Fortunately, he has sharp eyes. After only a month or so of setting up a stall in Nanzhao City, he became a legendary fortune teller. Master sent him to Hangzhou first, then to Jianle City.”

“Your sect is truly tolerant and broad-minded,” Li Sangrou said with a smile.

“Junior Brother Mi felt that the Gezhi Department shouldn’t be involved in killing. He debated this with his fellow disciples in the department, but couldn’t win the argument. In a fit of anger, he burned down the ironworks. It was just a disagreement within the sect, nothing serious,” Grand Master Wu explained with a smile.

Li Sangrou straightened up and bowed slightly. “I’ve learned a lot.”

“Junior Brother Mi has a keen eye for people and a clear understanding of things. Master once had high hopes for him.

But after a year or two in Jianle City, Junior Brother Mi became increasingly dejected,” Grand Master Wu sighed.

“Life is too bitter,” Li Sangrou said, looking out at the distant mountains.

“Yes, our sect is austere and self-disciplined, placing great importance on spirit, and cannot tolerate the word ‘dejection.’

Junior Brother Mi returned once from Jianle City, right here in Nanzhao City. I drank with him all night, and the next morning he left, saying that the sect was boring and he didn’t want to come back.

After that, there was no news from him.” Grand Master Wu sighed again.

Li Sangrou sipped her tea, looking at Grand Master Wu.

“He originally stayed in Nanzhao City after returning, refusing to go up the mountain. It was Junior Sister Lin who brought him up. He stayed on the mountain for a few days, saying he was bored, so he came back down to this city and set up a fortune-telling stall in front of the Confucius Temple.

The day Qu Donglai returned, he met him in this city. He followed Qu Donglai back to the mountain, only saying that General Sang was the leader of Shunfeng.

The next day, Junior Sister Lin secretly went down the mountain, and Junior Brother Mi said a few more words.”

“General Sang is the leader of Shunfeng. Many people in Jianle City know this. How could you not know, Grand Master?” Li Sangrou looked at Grand Master Wu.

“Those who know are all in the imperial court.” Grand Master Wu met Li Sangrou’s gaze calmly. “Our sect’s rules dictate that we never get close to the government.”

Li Sangrou slowly uttered an “Oh.”

“Firstly, our sect has no ties to the government.

Secondly, although we possess many properties, the expenses on our back mountain are considerable. After supplying the back mountain and our own needs, we conduct an annual accounting. Any surplus is distributed to orphanages in various locations.

Our sect has no disposable income.

The disciples on the front mountain who travel to various places for training are mostly like Junior Brother Mi or Qu Donglai, struggling to make a living; it’s just training for them.” Grand Master Wu spoke slowly and softly.

“Not accumulating wealth, not wielding power—these are the two ironclad rules of our sect. It is because of these two ironclad rules that our sect has been able to endure to this day.”

After a pause, Grand Master Wu looked at Li Sangrou and smiled. “If one holds immense wealth and wields power that shakes the world, it’s like holding a divine weapon; one always wants to wield it a few times, to cut a few times, right?

People are ultimately just people. Holding the power of an entire city and seeing injustice within the city, one inevitably uses that power to level it, leveling it piece by piece. The more one levels, the more one interferes until everything in the city is shaped to one’s liking.

If one holds the power of an entire nation, it’s only a matter of time before one’s sword points at the world.”

“Since you know that holding the power of an entire nation and pointing one’s sword at the world is only a matter of time, why do you still intervene in Jiangling City, trying to stop this power?” Li Sangrou asked Grand Master Wu.

“The Northern Qi and Southern Liang are evenly matched. Neither Northern Qi nor Southern Liang has yet mobilized the full power of the realm.

It is precisely because Northern Qi is constantly threatened by Southern Liang, and Southern Liang is always watched by Northern Qi, that both have reservations and dare not act too recklessly or oppressively. This is greatly beneficial to the people of the world.”

Grand Master Wu met Li Sangrou’s gaze, his voice clear.

“So that’s what you think,” Li Sangrou said, smiling and raising an eyebrow. “This is even more beneficial to your sect, is it not?”

“Boss, you flatter me. Our sect has endured for hundreds of years, experiencing both war and peace. Whether in war or peace, our sect has always remained the same.” Grand Master Wu’s expression was serene.

“Master, do you think you can help Southern Liang hold off the Northern Qi’s iron cavalry?” Li Sangrou asked, looking at Grand Master Wu.

“I’ll do my best.”

“Even if it costs the entire sect?”

“Our sect was nearly destroyed. Rebuilding it brick by brick is something that can be done once or twice.”

“Has the Grand Master ever been to Jiangdu City?” Li Sangrou asked, looking at Grand Master Wu after a moment of silence.

“Compared to the entire world, a single city or region is nothing. There’s no perfect solution in this world.” Grand Master Wu nodded slowly.

“The north and south are locked in a standoff, and the peace of the past twenty years is rare and precious.

If the North and South were to engage in such frequent large-scale battles, would the Grand Master also consider it merely a matter of a single city or region? Is there no perfect solution in this world?” Li Sangrou asked again.

“In another ten or twenty years, once the power balance is established, the north and south will each find their own peace.” Grand Master Wu looked at Li Sangrou.

“The Grand Master has thought things through very well.” Li Sangrou’s tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

Grand Master Wu looked at Li Sangrou, smiling as he sipped his tea.

“Is this the Grand Master’s intention, or the intention of your entire sect? Or does the Grand Master’s intention represent the intention of your entire sect?” Li Sangrou changed the subject.

“This is the sect’s intention.

My intention is not the sect’s intention. Our sect has never had a one-man rule,” Grand Master Wu replied with a smile.

“Then this time, if you make this wrong move, your sect could very well be wiped out completely, with no trace of your members. Have you considered this?

Have your senior and junior brothers, those in your sect who have influence and can sway the sect’s decisions, considered this?

Do the rest of the sect, like that naive young girl Song Qiming, know this? What are they thinking?” Li Sangrou stared directly at Grand Master Wu, bombarding him with questions.

“Wiped out completely—does the Boss mean it’s in your hands?” Grand Master Wu’s expression remained calm.

“Hmm.”

“I hadn’t thought about it before meeting the Boss.

Junior Brother Mi told me a bit about the Boss’s background. Her sword was the masterpiece of one of our sect’s Grand Masters. When it was completed, all the omens were ominous, so it was sealed away in the back mountain.

Two hundred years ago, our sect suffered a great calamity, and the sword was lost. Our sect only has a design of the sword, which Junior Brother Mi has seen.

The Boss is a person who has been reborn from a separated soul, and now she possesses this powerful weapon.”

The Grand Master paused, remained silent for a moment, then lowered his eyes and said, “If our sect was destined to suffer this calamity, as the Boss said, nothing lasts forever.”

“At that time, Mi Yisheng said, ‘Your sect has survived for nearly a thousand years because it has been able to adapt to changing times,'” Li Sangrou added.

“If you have some free time, Boss, why not spend a few days on the mountain? There are several scenic spots worth seeing,” Grand Master Wu said to Li Sangrou with a smile, extending an invitation.

“I would be delighted; it would be my greatest honor,” Li Sangrou replied, bowing slightly and readily agreeing.