Chapter 102: The Return of Tie Zheng!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The delighted Yun Yang checked cautiously and realized that the Lightning Cat Whitey Five had broken through the level limit of the Lightning Cat species, becoming the first Lightning Cat ever in Tianxuan Continent to break through to the fourth level. It was at the pinnacle of the fourth level! Just one more step could see it going into the fifth level.
The other Eclipse Panthers’ improvement had Yun Yang’s eyes glazed with shock as well.
Eclipse Panthers, ninth level beginner mystical beasts!
This was recorded clearly in the Illustrated Encyclopedia of All Beasts, there could be no mistake. However, if the three panthers of his were to continue growing at a normal speed from now on, they could go on to the ninth level pinnacle! And this was already being prudent.
Forget everything else, the Eclipse Panthers’ ability now had already risen to the fifth level intermediate! These furry fluff balls had actually become extremely lethal.
This current situation made Yun Yang feel more confident about himself.
Like a fox assuming the tiger’s majesty, like a human borrowing the force of mystical beasts?
…
However, the surprise did not stop there and continued to roll in in droves.
In the courtyard, Fang Mofei and Lao Mei were terribly excited.
"How are you?" Fang Mofei asked.
"How are you?" Lao Mei echoed, almost shaking with delight.
"I am now at the seventh peak pinnacle… I can go into eighth peak anytime I wish!" Even Fang Mofei’s tongue was trembling from sheer excitement.
"I’ve finally gotten to the seventh level…" Lao Mei was also thrilled.
"I feel like I’ve been dreaming all this while… If this goes on, I can even challenge Dugu Chou next year!"
"Tsk…" Fang Mofei showed him an inappropriate finger.
Challenge Dugu Chou? Don’t you think you’ve thought too much of yourself, brother?
When Yun Yang came out, both of them went over to him at once. "Young master, we have good news! Erk! Young master, have you broken through as well?"
Yun Yang rolled his eyes.
"This residence has really good Fengshui!" Fang Mofei felt that Residence of Yun was incredibly blessed.
"I’m hungry!" Yun Yang was famished.
"Your meal has been long prepared!" Lao Mei was winked triumphantly.
Three men, three panthers and a cat moved towards the dining room together.
The mystical meat was still piled in a heap in the center, but Big Eater Yun Yang only felt nauseated looking at the mountain of meat, feeling full before he actually ate. He sighed and sat down to eat.
Lao Mei and Fang Mofei were already chowing and devouring the meal. They had no choice. They had to be quick when eating with their young master; you got nothing by being slow and then you would starve.
However, both of them had realized only after wolfing down two catties of meat each that Yun Yang had actually only drunk a bowl of congee, ate less than half a catty of mystical meat, and two slices of fruit. He then wiped his hands and mouth, and stopped eating!
Was he not eating anymore?
With a loud clack, the bone between Lao Mei’s teeth fell as he was too shocked. "Young master, are you full?"
"Yes, I am." Yun Yang looked at Lao Mei strangely, not realizing it himself, but his eyes bulged immediately. "I’m full?"
Fang Mofei and Lao Mei lowered their heads incredulously at the same time.
"I’m actually full!" Yun Yang was not done being surprised. "How much have I only eaten? I’m actually full!"
Both the elders felt speechless.
Feeling his state, Yun Yang went out to practice a round of his punches before he entered again with an elated expression. "I'm full! … full! This young master is really being blessed by the god, I’m actually full today!"
If others had heard this, they would probably think that this fellow had been starved for years.
Who would have known that Yun Yang was really content to the point of bursting at the seams right now!
His defect of having a massive appetite ever since he had gotten injured was miraculously cured after breaking through to the second stage of the Endless Divine Art!
Acknowledging the fact that his voracious defect had recovered, Yun Yang realized another surprising delight, that his Endless Divine Art that attracted mystical beasts could be concealed if he did not cultivate intentionally.
This made Yun Yang heave a huge sigh of relief!
The end, finally!
Possessing this superpower that could not be controlled was really a source for answers to his troubles!
There was another surprise for Yun Yang – Towering Wind Pavilion had halted its business.Everyone inside had disappeared without a trace along with Shui Wuyin. Shui Wuyin mentioned that he was going home. Had he done so?
Yun Yang kept feeling that there was a reason behind this; he seemed to have felt the pair of eyes that were staring at him with endless suspicion.
Yun Yang had a feeling that Shui Wuyin would not disappear, he would not leave. He could even be waiting for his next move!
It seemed that he would have to provide a clear explanation the next time they meet. Otherwise, this would be a massive misunderstanding!
How was he going to explain though? Once he began to explain, it would tie everything and connect everything. Even Yun Yang felt an impending headache.
…
Tiantang City was exceptionally quiet for the following dozen days, the calm prickling at Yun Yang’s comfort. Nobody went to find fault with the Cirrus House anymore.
The Board of Justice was still filled with anxiety and panic, searching for clues but they had no hints or signs work on.
The three noble families had finally given up making a fuss at the Board of Justice but it was up to the witnesses to decide how heavy a grudge they held in their heart. This was because the young masters had gone to the crown prince’s residence instead – "Hand Shui Yuehan over!"
Where could the crown prince find a Shui Yuehan to hand him over to? He was very much agitated as well; the three fellows would not budge, being difficult and shameless in using whatever tactics they had. This caused the crown prince a rather severe headache.
All in all, the capital seemed to have returned to how it was.
Yet Yun Yang felt the calm before the storm. The usual ferocious undercurrents had all disappeared in an instant!
Yun Yang summoned the Nine Heavens Dictum to take note of any activity but there was nothing at all.
"This can't be good!" Yun Yang’s alertness was cranked up to the highest notch!
There must be a reason behind these things that were out of the ordinary.
"The impression that I put up of Shui Yuehan and Fu Guansan escaping through a prison break is probably too obvious. The Four Seasons Tower’s men must be investigating from this angle too. Although they could not be sure where Shui Yuehan had gone to, they were more familiar with Shui Yuehan’s personality…"
"So they’d find out one day… And they definitely won’t give up on things here." Yun Yang thought, "As long as someone in the Nine Supremes is alive, or has the possibility to be alive, they will never give up!"
…
Other than focusing on the Four Seasons Tower’s response, Yun Yang had one more thing to do.
Tie Zheng had returned!
This commander that could be considered a legend of his time had committed a huge sin after staying at the Fortress of Resilience and rebuilding it – Tie Zheng had slaughtered everyone in the Residence of East Defense Protector!
His reason? Treason!
Although this had caused huge repercussions, it was ultimately suppressed by the joint efforts of His Majesty the emperor and several influential elders.
Why Tie Zheng did this and dared to do this, was not without a reason.
As a notable general, to be outflanked and attacked from the rear without any defense during a war was a great humiliation to Tie Zheng. Even when his opponent was Han Sanhe, Tie Zheng would not admit his loss; he would never be so foolish!
He investigated meticulously after the war and finally found out that this matter was related to the Residence of East Defense Protector!
Tie Zheng had a reason but he did not have proof, nor solid evidence.
Actually, it was only normal to not have proof. The other party had already decided to do something akin to treason, how would they possibly have left any evidence?
Therefore, with no other way and after hesitating for half a month, Tie Zheng went in for the kill himself.
He was willing to just disregard reasoning and sensibility for once!
"Even if I were to be beheaded, I’d never allow such traitor to stay alive!"
The Residence of East Defense Protector had not one soul remaining. Once that had happened, the civil officials in the consulate went berserk as did His Majesty the emperor’s headache.
"Why did you kill so many officials of the imperial court?"
"Because they committed treason!"
"Do you have proof? Is your proof solid evidence?"
"No!"
"If not, then you’re a treacherous official, an unscrupulous
perpetrator, committing treason to your emperor and disregarding the nation’s law – your crimes are heinous!"
"I have proof!"
"And what proof is that?"
"When Han Sanhe and I were engaged in the war, he could actually send troops to outflank me from the rear, and with precise timing too. If there wasn't a traitor, this would be impossible!"
"What kind of evidence is this? This is only your assumption!"
"This is foolproof evidence!"
"You’re being ridiculous!"
"This is evidence I say!"
Indeed, from the perspective of the military, this was foolproof evidence! Proof that had no place for doubt!
In terms of warfare, it was still acceptable to be outflanked from the rear if it had been by the infantry since the infantry could use a number of methods, spreading out to lie low then rapidly reassembling… they could even camouflage, there were various tactics.
However, he was being outmaneuvered at the rear by thirty thousand cavalries! That was absurd!
Forget Tie Zheng being a notable general. Even if it were an assistant general, he would never have made this absolutely foolish mistake!
There must be a reason behind everything that had happened.
Since the investigation showed relevance to Residence of East Defense Protector, there would be absolutely no mistake that they were involved!
In other words, his massacre this time was not a mistake.
Even Old Marshal Qiu Jianhan and Leng Daoyin could guarantee this with their heads.
On the other hand, the military side was obviously finding excuses for their own mistakes from the perspective of the civil officials. How dare you kill people so recklessly without any evidence? Just from the guarantee of words? Then allow things to end like this?
What if we call you traitor… how about that?
Due to this, Yutang’s imperial court was rendered into a heated argument; both civil and military sides about to roll up their sleeves to brawl with each other.
It was after much persuasion that this matter was finally resolved.
The military side would, of course, defend Tie Zheng with all their might. Besides, His Majesty did not plan to sentence Tie Zheng; the man had just achieved a merit. However, the stake was that the military did not think Tie Zheng was in the wrong and the civil abhorred this standpoint. They were very much against it and that had caused the never-ending argument. The emperor who was stuck in the middle was utterly troubled and ultimately fined Tie Zheng two years of his salary just to close the case.
The civil was happy to see Tie Zheng actually being punished, at least he did not get away scot-free. Tie Zheng was not sentenced to any punishment but only a fine; the military’s view was that Tie Zheng was still innocent.
Now, this man was finally returning.
He was coming back for his marriage!
"On the day of my marriage, all my brothers whether alive or dead shall have wine in their hands!"
This was what Tie Zheng had said. He had sworn it on that day the war ended.
"I am poor, I can’t afford everyone to have a pot. But a goblet a person… I shall do it even if I have to go bankrupt! Even if the latter half of my life were to be in debt for this marriage wine, this wine must be toasted!"
Tie Zheng’s words spread through the land of Empire of Yutang!
Disregarding the troops in West, South, and North, just Tie Zheng’s troops of the East alone totaled five hundred thousand headcounts! This included the fallen brothers, the veterans who enlisted in the war, the logistics support, the chariots…
Even with the most reserved estimation, Tie Zheng would have to prepare at least three million goblets of wine this time!