Wayfarer

Within the Xuanhuang Hall in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng sat on a dragon throne, clad in dragon's robes. In two orderly columns, the courtly officials bowed to him in congratulations. They were still amazed by Xiao Nanfeng's monumental victory against Nalan Qiankun.

"The prime evil of the Tianshu Empire has been eradicated. From now onwards, the brigade against evil shall be renamed the people's brigade and immediately begin protecting the people of Dazheng. With Nalan Qiankun's death, the Tianshu Empire will fall to turmoil. To prevent the Tianshu army and officials from taking advantage and harming the people, the people's brigade will immediately seize control of all Tianshu cities. Those who attempt to instigate dissent or disturbance should be killed summarily," Xiao Nanfeng announced.

"Understood!" Ye Sanshui and the other gathered Immortals replied.

"Leave immediately!" Xiao Nanfeng then commanded.

"Understood!" everyone echoed.

All the soldiers rushed out of the hall.

As Ye Sanshui flew out of the Xuanhuang Hall, he saw Ye Dafu flying back, drenched in blood.

"You're back, Dafu? How did your battle go?"

"How else? It was a complete victory, of course! Croak and Warble are still on the frontlines. When we received news of His Majesty's victory, our troops' morale rose sharply, while our enemies' morale fell dramatically," Ye Dafu boasted.

"Very good. Report the good news to His Majesty at once!"

Ye Dafu nodded, then flew into the Xuanhuang Hall. The moment he entered, he exclaimed, "Your Majesty, I return from the borders bearing good news!"

"Oh?"

"As you expected, Your Majesty, the kingdoms all around us have been eyeing our territory. While you were fighting against Nalan Qiankun, they sent out forces intending to seize Dazheng's territory. We've slaughtered the majority of them, and the remainder have escaped beyond our borders. Your Majesty, shall we continue the slaughter, or guard our borders?"

Xiao Nanfeng reclined on his throne and contemplated the situation for a moment before he replied, "Guard our borders. Do not pursue for the moment. Immediately reassign your troops to aid Ye Sanshui in claiming Tianshu's territory for ourselves. Do not allow the people to get hurt."

"Understood!"

"Zheng Qian, issue a declaration to all empires and kingdoms in the vicinity. Any armies that dare tread into Dazheng territory shall be met with swift retaliation and their monarchs killed.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

In the city of Beidou, as the sea of fortune collapsed, everyone learned that Nalan Qiankun had died. The news from the frontlines was equally depressing: many casualties among the Tianshu Immortals, with most of the survivors now under lock and key in Dazheng's prison.

Nalan Qiankun's confidantes, knowing that they were now living on borrowed time, began to rampage.

They started by looting the palace and plundering the noble clans of Beidou, claiming whatever valuables they could find as they prepared to escape.

Beidou soon became host to a massive riot that took over the entire city. Fighting could be heard on every street amidst a backdrop of fire. Much of the architecture of the city was destroyed, and the common people found themselves mired in a hellscape.

Just then, Ye Sanshui, Ye Dafu, and other strong cultivators from Dazheng appeared over the horizon, seeing the firelight that overtook Beidou from afar.

"His Majesty has sanctioned us to kill all troubledoers at will in an effort to reclaim order. Surround Beidou now!" Ye Sanshui commanded.

"Understood!" the soldiers replied.

Immortals within Beidou blanched and raced off through the air with their possessions in tow when they saw the Dazheng army.

"You won't get away!" Ye Dafu shouted, taking into the air.

He knocked down the Immortal that had attempted to escape.

"Kill all the looters!" Ye Sanshui declared.

"Understood!" the soldiers replied.

Beidou was once the capital of the Tianshu Empire, and this would be the site of first combat for the people's brigade. The success of this first fight was of paramount importance, and Ye Sanshui gave it his all. Within no time at all, they were in control of the battlefield.

"Citizens of Beidou, the evil officials of Tianshu have all been captured or killed. If you have suffered any losses, report them to a Dazheng official. The laws of Dazheng are clear on this front, and all of you will receive fair compensation. Looters shall be punished with one greater degree of penalty, and killers shall be put to death!" Ye Dafu declaimed in the air.

Many of the people who had recently suffered calamity found themselves screwing up their faces. They suddenly felt as though they had been saved from hell. They bowed and kowtowed to Ye Sanshui time and again, filled with gratitude.

Days later, a procession of Dazheng officials took over the governance of Beidou and began to put things to rights. Those arsonists and looters were all captured and paraded to a public trial for all to witness.

"Don't kill me! I'm an Immortal, and I can swear allegiance to the Dazheng Empire! I can earn merit to defray the punishment for my crimes. I can help expand Dazheng's territory! I'm an Immortal, and all I did was kill a few people from the slums! That's not a crime worthy of death, especially considering what I can do for Dazheng! You can't kill me!"

"Kill him!" a Dazheng official declared.

The executioner drew his blade and swiftly beheaded the Immortal. Fresh blood spurted into the air. The Immortal's soul tried to escape, but the executioner destroyed that as well.

The people gaped. They hadn't expected that even a minor Dazheng official had the right to administer punishments to Immortals.

"In the Dazheng Empire, the law is blind to cultivation. It stands paramount in its own right: all who kill shall be killed in turn. Next!" the official shouted.

"No! I can hand over everything I took. I'm an Immortal! I can't die!" the next Immortal pleaded.

"Kill him!" the official commanded.

Another Immortal's head fell to the ground.

The event left an indelible impression of Dazheng's laws on all the citizens present. Some clapped in clear support, while others shuddered in fear.

About a month later, as the people of Beidou witnessed for themselves how Dazheng truly cared for its people, they switched allegiance wholesale.

Then, Blue Lantern began to direct the draconic vein of Beidou toward Yongding.

The draconic vein beneath Beidou was massive, and it alone was able to dwarf a large group of those already present in Yongding. As the capital of Dazheng, Yongding would need to gather more draconic veins in order to nurture fortune.

Another month later, in the imperial study of Yongding, Zheng Qian handed over a report. "Your Majesty, the Tianshu Empire has now completely fallen. All the cities of Tianshu are now part of Dazheng."

"This war between empires allowed countless soldiers to establish merit and rise into prominence, but many others died on the battlefield. Inform all officials to disburse settlement fees to the relatives of the dead and to ensure that they do not go wanting. This will be considered an examination for the officials," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Understood!"

"Mr. Zheng, managing the life of the people shall become ever more complicated in the future. I'll have to trouble you." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

"I am more than willing to work for the good of the people, Your Majesty," Zheng Qian replied.

After Zheng Qian left, Xiao Nanfeng summoned You Jiu.

"Your Majesty, I've assigned the spectral guards to keep an eye on the neighboring empires and kingdoms. They've been deep in communication with one another, and are likely scheming to take on Dazheng together."

"Dazheng has just undergone a crusade against evil, and needs time to rest and recuperate before it is to look outward once more. Have the Hall of Specters continue monitoring the communications, but do nothing else."

"Understood!" You Jiu replied.

"Have you found where Mr. Wen is?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"We have, but he seems to be particularly on guard against us. It may be difficult to invite him into Dazheng." You Jiu frowned.

"It matters not. I've barely had any communication with Mr. Wen, and it's only natural that he would be on guard against me. The fact that he hasn't shown himself all this time means that he must be worried about a potential encounter. In that case, I'll trouble you to bring him my thanks."

Xiao Nanfeng handed You Jiu a scroll.

"The Star Map of the Complete Heavens? Your Majesty, you intend to give this treasure to Mr. Wen?" You Jiu exclaimed.

"I do," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Xiao Nanfeng had replicated the Star Map of the Complete Heavens with his Dazheng Code of Laws, so the original was no longer necessary.

Rather, he wanted to use the treasure to develop a relationship with Mr. Wen.

Days later, in a small cottage within a small town by the borders of the Eastern Sea, a white-robed man clasped a handkerchief over his mouth and coughed. He frowned as he looked toward Yongding with some exasperation.

Beside him, a youth boiling tea asked curiously, "Master, your malady requires immediate attention. Aren't you going to ask Xiao Nanfeng for the Star Map of the Complete Heavens? Are you afraid he won't keep his word?"

"No. Xiao Nanfeng is in desperate need of talent and wisdom. If I were to make such a request, he would surely give it to me—but I doubt he would let me go. He would insist that I remain in Dazheng's court." Mr. Wen frowned.

"Would he really hand you the star map?" the youth exclaimed.

"I have never been wrong when it comes to my judgment about people. This is why I've refused to seek him out. Losing my freedom for this map wouldn't be worthwhile." Mr. Wen frowned.

Suddenly, a knock came from the door to the cottage.

The youth rushed over and blanched when he looked out the window. He returned in panic. "Master, there's a group of black-robed men surrounding the cottage. They've discovered our hiding spot! How could we have been exposed? We hid so well!"

"Open the door. Honored guests have arrived," Mr. Wen said.

The youth did so, but only You Jiu walked in.

"The spectral marquis of the Dazheng Empire, You Jiu, greets Mr. Wen. I come with Emperor Dazheng's blessings to deliver this gift." You Jiu stepped forward and handed over the Star Map of the Complete Heavens.

The youth's eyes lit up, but he didn't dare speak. He peered at Mr. Wen.

Rather than take the map outright, Mr. Wen frowned. "Under what conditions do I receive this gift?"

"His Majesty said that, as a master strategist, you saved the lives of countless fighters on the battlefield and countless people who would have been bystanders to the fighting. You have earned great merit from the Dazheng Empire, and this is a commensurate reward. There will be no conditions."

"Oh?" Mr. Wen was rather taken aback.

"His Majesty is clearly interested in your talent, Mr. Wen, and would dearly wish to recruit you, but he is aware of your misgivings. He will not act by force, but has tasked me to inform you that, if you ever change your mind, you will always be welcome. Mr. Wen, this is an imperial edict promising his support for you. If you're ever in trouble, show this edict to any Dazheng official and he will seek you out at his earliest convenience."

You Jiu passed the Star Map of the Complete Heavens and the imperial edict to Mr. Wen.

Then, as Mr. Wen watched on in surprise, You Jiu bowed. "Farewell, Mr. Wen."

Then, You Jiu left the cottage.

The youth immediately walked up to Mr. Wen in excitement. "Master, this really is the Star Map of the Complete Heavens! Did Xiao Nanfeng really just hand it to you like that? And he didn't even request a single thing!"

Mr. Wen clutched the relic with a wry smile. "Xiao Nanfeng's more broad-minded than I had expected, and he's already a master of the philosophy of kingship at such a young age. He'll be troublesome to deal with."

"Ah?" The young man was taken aback.

"He knows that I would never be willing to serve as strategist if he were to recruit me by force, so he's trying to butter me up and have me develop a favorable inclination toward Dazheng," Mr. Wen explained.

"What should we do, then?" the youth asked.

"There's no solution to this tactic. Let's see if his gifts can warm up my frozen heart. I suppose we'll just have to find out," Mr. Wen replied, taking a deep breath.

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