PCA Chapter 166

Su Cen finally understood why Tian Pingzhi’s case had left no record in the Dali Temple, and why Lu Xiaoliu’s case had to be preserved in such a roundabout way.

 

But what he couldn’t comprehend was—why did the former emperor protect Liu Cheng so zealously? Why would he sacrifice a Minister of the Dali Temple who had devoted his entire life to the country and people, just to protect a newly appointed Drafter of the Secretariat?

 

“All these years, you’ve been at the foot of this mountain, watching over this village, helping these villagers survive under the Secret Door’s blade, and scaring away those who accidentally entered the village.”

 

All those tales of village ghosts, vengeful spirits, and mountain goddesses were merely to frighten away people who might go up the mountain or enter the village, to prevent more innocent lives from being lost.

 

Su Cen lowered his eyelids to hide his trembling pupils. Lord Chen had spent his life serving the country and its people. He should have been enjoying his later years with the adoration of thousands after a lifetime of labor. Instead, he had made a bold retreat from Chang’an, willingly coming to this village that was like a cage.

 

Lord Chen truly embodied righteousness and walked the great path.

 

Now, Su Cen only wanted to embrace this slightly hunched old man and ask: “Was it hard?”

 

Chen Guanglu, as if knowing his thoughts, smiled and patted his shoulder, “Everything I did was of my own will. There’s no point in blaming anyone. I protected these people as best I could, and even if I couldn’t protect them all, I have no regrets. I only hope that when I meet my old brothers in the afterlife, they won’t curse me.”

 

“They won’t,” Su Cen suppressed a choke, “They definitely won’t.”

 

“Alright,” Chen Guanglu smiled lightly, “Go outside and get some fresh air. Let me speak with the Prince alone for a bit.”

 

Su Cen raised his slightly reddened eyes to look at Li Shi, and only after seeing him nod did he rise. Before leaving, he closed the door for the two.

 

Outside was another world.

 

A solitary crescent moon hung in the sky like a cold sickle, mercilessly reaping the lives of the weak.

 

The night was cool as water, yet the blazing fires made it as bright as day.

 

Not far away, swords fell like rain. The collision of weapons sparked pale flashes of light. The twenty-odd Tuduo Three Guards had formed a barrier with their bodies, preventing thousands of troops from advancing even an inch.

 

Wuchiha’s curved blade had lost its edge. He simply tossed it aside and, like iron hammers, brought his two fists down on the heads of two men, who immediately went limp and fell to the ground with their eyes rolled back. Wuchiha lifted one man with his bare hands and threw him forward, instantly toppling many others.

 

Wuchiha spat and twisted his neck to loosen his muscles. Since entering the Central Plains, bound by various rules and constraints, it had been a long time since he had freely engaged in real combat. The big man grinned, the scar on his face moving like a living centipede, poised to strike, frightening the enemy back several steps.

 

Unexpectedly, a small figure emerged from somewhere behind, flipping with an eerie grace to ride on someone’s neck. Before the man could react, a dagger pierced through his right eye and out the back of his skull.

 

Then the blade swept sideways, also piercing the throat of another who was about to scream.

 

Chen Ling retracted his two daggers with swift, fierce movements, then picked up a wind-cutting blade from the man who had just breathed his last and tossed it to Wuchiha, “See if it feels right. If not, I’ll find you something else.”

 

Wuchiha caught it, swung it a couple of times, cutting through the air fiercely, and nodded with satisfaction before charging into the crowd.

 

Where Chen Ling had been standing, there was now nothing but two horizontal corpses, not a shadow of a person to be seen.

 

Looking at Qi Lin, he was entangled in combat with a person in white. One in black, one in white, their movements as swift as lightning. People around them retreated beyond a ten-foot radius to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

 

White Stake wielded hook gauntlets with blades on all sides, cold and gleaming, sharp as autumn frost. Wherever they passed, they could cut hair and blade alike, slicing through iron without a sound. Qi Lin, with his long sword, appeared to be at a disadvantage.

 

White Stake swung his hook through the air, aiming directly at Qi Lin’s neck. Qi Lin hurriedly twisted to avoid it but still received a bloody cut on his arm.

 

White Stake gave Qi Lin no time to react. With a “crack” sound, his double hooks broke Qi Lin’s long sword in half!

 

“So this is all the Jade-Faced Asura amounts to,” White Stake smiled, about to deliver a life-ending strike when a sudden gust of force aimed at his back forced him to withdraw.

 

Qi Lin tossed aside his broken sword and raised his left hand to catch the curved blade Chen Ling had thrown. His gaze turned cold, suddenly becoming sharp.

 

“The Jade-Faced Asura uses a blade, idiot.” Chen Ling sneered, wearing a smile incongruous with his appearance, unexpectedly giving off a somewhat devilish charm.

 

Before he could finish watching Qi Lin’s situation, someone called from behind: “Chen Ling, I’ve got my eye on that trident!”

 

“Wait!” Chen Ling replied irritably, reluctantly bidding farewell to Qi Lin to go seize the trident.

 

It wasn’t until the long night was nearly over that the attacks gradually subsided. Seeing that they couldn’t break through, the Secret Door people had no choice but to withdraw to the village.

 

They left behind a ground strewn with corpses and strange weapons.

 

Su Cen watched as those men greeted the first ray of dawn, supporting each other, their bodies bathed in blood. Their silhouettes were tall, like walls of bronze and iron, almost too awe-inspiring to look at directly.

 

These people, originally from foreign lands, who didn’t speak their language and looked different, had now fought to the death to protect them all night, keeping them safe.

 

Ultimately, it was all because of the man in that room.

 

If that man wasn’t Li Shi, how could he have gathered these people together, and how could they willingly follow his commands?

 

Just as he was thinking this, there was movement behind him. The door opened from inside, and there stood Li Shi, with a straight waist and outstanding posture, standing at the doorway like a rainbow stretching across the sky.

 

“All who participated in today’s battle will be richly rewarded upon return. Rest here for now, waiting for the imperial troops to arrive.”

 

The Tuduo Three Guards let out a loud cheer before collapsing in a heap.

 

“What’s the reward?” Su Cen asked softly.

 

Li Shi: “A lamb leg.”

 

Su Cen: “…”

 

“Zixu,” Li Shi’s gaze gradually deepened, “Lord Chen wants to see you.”

 

“Hmm?” Su Cen was taken aback, unable to fully read the deeper meaning in Li Shi’s eyes, but finally nodded and entered the room.

 

The candles in the room had burned out, and Chen Guanglu was hidden in the shadows, his expression momentarily indiscernible.

 

“Senior?”

 

“Ah, you’ve come.” Chen Guanglu seemed to smile. “Do you still remember the ‘Great Zhou Law’?”

 

Su Cen: “I remember.”

 

“Recite it for me.”

 

Su Cen collected himself and slowly recited: “The old law states ‘reason cuts through harm,’ now amended to ’emotion and reason cut through harm,’ to understand the original intent and be more thoughtful in punishment. Virtue and propriety are the foundation of governance, while punishment is its application. The law comprises twelve volumes: ‘Law of Clear Examples,’ ‘Law of Imperial Security,’ ‘Law of Official Systems,’ ‘Law of Household and Marriage,’ ‘Law of Stables and Treasuries,’ ‘Law of Unauthorized Actions,’ ‘Law of Bandits and Thieves,’ ‘Law of Fights and Lawsuits,’ ‘Law of Fraud and Counterfeit,’ ‘Miscellaneous Laws,’ ‘Law of Fugitive Capture,’ and ‘Law of Judgment.’ The ‘Law of Clear Examples’ serves as general principles… All judgments must be analyzed by citing the law.”

 

“Good, very good,” Chen Guanglu smiled. “The young are formidable indeed. What was it you said that day?”

 

Su Cen replied: “Hold one’s heart like a balance, with reason as the fulcrum, punish the wicked in the world, and restore peace to the prosperous age.”

 

Chen Guanglu nodded, “Remember what you said.”

 

For a moment, Su Cen felt an inexplicable sadness rising from his heart, though he couldn’t identify its source, until Li Shi entered and gently embraced him, telling him: “Lord Chen is leaving.”

 

“Leaving?” Su Cen raised his head in a daze. “Where to?”

 

“To do what I must do, to complete my unfinished business.”

 

Su Cen’s heart suddenly froze as he suddenly understood.

 

The room full of books, the huge liubo chess board, the skill in casting the rods—these weren’t just for idle amusement.

 

The reason the Secret Door people were so fearless was because they relied on the underground passages. To capture them all at once, those passages had to be closed, making the entire chess board a dead game.

 

“Can’t you… not go…” Su Cen’s voice suddenly became hoarse, trembling slightly as he tightly clutched the corner of Li Shi’s sleeve. “Does it have to be him?”

 

Li Shi’s eyes were unfathomable: “This is Lord Chen’s wish.”

 

Su Cen suddenly felt empty, overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness.

 

Senior Chen had guarded this lonely village with singular determination for so many years, waiting for this day.

 

He knew that neither he nor Li Shi could stop him.

 

“It’s alright, my young friend Su,” Chen Guanglu patted Su Cen’s back, then walked out the door on his own. “All meetings in life must end in parting. Besides, with so many people seeing me off, this old man can’t complain.”

 

Against the reddish clouds and pouring clear light, everyone watched as the man walked out of the room.

 

“Who has wine?” Li Shi asked.

 

Chen Ling untied a gourd from his waist and tossed it over.

 

Li Shi caught it, then took a bowl that Su Cen had brought from the room, personally poured the wine, and handed it forward.

 

Chen Guanglu held the wine bowl, and suddenly a mist formed in those bright eyes.

 

“I, Chen Guanglu, looking back on my life, have eliminated villains and offended nobles. I’ve known glory and poverty. But I can say I’ve never betrayed heaven or earth, have walked upright and sat properly, using the law as my sword to cleanse the world of filth. Looking back on my life, I have no regrets. Let me raise a full cup!”

 

After draining the bowl of wine, Chen Guanglu laughed loudly to the sky, smashed the bowl, and departed.

 

Su Cen leaned against Li Shi’s chest, watching that figure grow increasingly distant, and finally couldn’t help but bury his head, his shoulders trembling slightly as he choked with emotion.

 

Li Shi gently patted Su Cen’s shoulder, his eyes following the old man as he left.

 

In the distance, the morning light gradually rose, the world became clear, and light spilled over everything, like a sharp sword breaking through the long night’s mist.

 

That figure finally disappeared into the light, never to be seen again.

 

 

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