Firmament Sword

In the end, the King of Wu was not paraded before the Cangqiong People. This was a great disappointment to the many who had hoped to glimpse the vanquished monarch.

The main event they had been waiting for never happened...

But neither Xu Ji nor the Cangqiong Emperor, Huangfu Haoran, would ever do such a thing. Leaving one’s opponent a final shred of dignity was a principle every person in power understood.

To have the monarch of a nation locked in a prisoner’s cart, for all to gawk at... Unless there was some unforgettable, deep-seated hatred, almost no one would ever do such a thing.

Although the Cangqiong Empire and the Wu Kingdom could be described as generational enemies, Huangfu Haoran himself had no real personal animosity toward the King of Wu. The two had never even met.

This historic meeting was a perfect illustration of the saying: the victor is crowned king, the loser branded a bandit.

Throughout the journey, Xu Ji had afforded the King of Wu the courtesy he was due. Thus, despite the arduous travel, the King of Wu did not appear particularly wretched.

But a deep-seated sorrow was hidden in the depths of his eyes. Upon entering the Imperial City and being brought to the Golden Hall, when he saw Huangfu Haoran, this monarch from the small, prosperous northern kingdom actually revealed a faint, mocking smile. He opened his mouth and said, ”You may have destroyed my kingdom and captured my people, but you will never rule the hearts of my subjects!”

Huangfu Haoran smiled faintly, ordered a seat to be brought for the King of Wu, and returned to the dragon throne. Only then did he say with a smile, ”I never intended to win the hearts of your subjects.”

The King of Wu was momentarily stunned, then said angrily, ”Do you intend to defy heaven and carry out a massacre?”

Huangfu Haoran smiled, a cold light suddenly flashing in his eyes. ”Those who are not our kin will never be of one heart. Even if it means a massacre, why not?”

The great hall suddenly fell so silent you could hear a pin drop. The civil and military officials didn’t dare to breathe.

The corner of the King of Wu’s mouth twitched slightly. Then, he burst into loud laughter as tears streamed from the corners of his eyes.

When he had laughed his fill, he said in a sorrowful voice, ”A king who has lost his kingdom truly has no need to worry about such things. Kill me or cut me up, do as you please! But remember this: a conquest by force will one day be overthrown!”

”That is no longer something you need to concern yourself with.” Huangfu Haoran smiled faintly and said, ”Take King Wu away. See to him well. Let it not be said that my Cangqiong Empire is inhospitable to its guests!”

”King Wu... Heh heh, King Wu...” The King of Wu laughed bleakly as he was led out of the hall. At the doorway, the former monarch of the Wu Kingdom slowly turned back. Looking at Xu Ji, who stood tall in the Golden Hall, he shouted, ”Xu Ji! I... Although I was captured by you, I do not hate you. We may never meet again, so I will leave you with a word of advice: beware when your merits outshine your master!”

Xu Ji’s expression remained unchanged. A mocking smile touched the corner of his lips as he said, ”Is there any point in trying to sow discord at a time like this?”

The King of Wu chuckled but said no more and was led out of the Golden Hall.

Many of the other civil and military officials in the Golden Hall, however, revealed pensive expressions. A hush fell over the great hall.

Huangfu Haoran laughed heartily. ”Excellent! Truly excellent! Xu Ji, with this battle, you have established the true might of the Empire! Your contribution is monumental! Speak! What reward do you desire?”

Huangfu Haoran didn’t even mention the King of Wu’s attempt to sow discord, because he believed Xu Ji wouldn’t pay it any mind!

This was the trust between a monarch and his subject!

It could not be shaken by a few mere words from an outsider!

However, Xu Ji’s next words struck like a thunderclap from a clear sky, shocking everyone in the Golden Hall—including the Emperor—into a collective, petrified silence!

”Your Majesty, this servant wishes to lay down his armor and return to his fields, to resign from his post and go home.” Xu Ji knelt on the floor of the Golden Hall with the gravity of a collapsing mountain, bowed his head, and spoke in a low, heavy voice.

The entire court of civil and military officials was stunned. Lord Wang Moxuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, snapped them wide open and stared at Xu Ji in disbelief.

The other high-ranking ministers, like Lord Sun Yunpeng, Lord Zhao Wenzhao, and Lord Leng Mengde, all looked at Xu Ji with horrified expressions.

An uncertain light flickered in Wei Feng’s eyes as he watched the kneeling Xu Ji in disbelief. ’Is he feigning retreat to advance?’ he wondered. ’What is he really after?’

As for the other civil and military officials, they were beyond shocked. They couldn’t understand why this General, who had just won a great victory worthy of being recorded in the annals of history for all time, would make such a request.

After a long moment, Huangfu Haoran finally recovered. He frowned slightly, looked at the kneeling Xu Ji, and asked, ”Xu Ji... you’re joking with Us, aren’t you?”

”This servant is not. I joined the army as a youth and have served for decades, stationed year-round in the Border Region, unable to be with my family. I owe my wife and children too much. Now, the situation in the Southern region is stable, guarded by the Champion Marquis, General Xu Zhongtian. The South is secure.”

”The Da Han Empire to the north is in turmoil and will be unable to attack our Cangqiong Empire again anytime soon. Most importantly, we have conquered the Wu Kingdom. This servant has already ordered the construction of defensive fortifications on the border between Wu and Da Han. Whether we fight or make peace will be entirely up to Your Majesty.”

”The realm is now at peace, so a general like myself... is no longer of much value. Rather than this, it would be better to leave opportunities to the younger generation. As for me, I wish to lay down my armor and return to my fields, so I may spend more time with my family.”

Xu Ji’s attitude was sincere, his voice serious. He was clearly not joking.

Along the journey home, he had survived seven or eight serious assassination attempts. It had left this foremost military man of the Cangqiong Empire feeling weary. His heart... was tired. And both his children had truly grown up.

Furthermore, he had previously heard from his eldest son, Xu Su, that Xu Luo was going to bring their mother back, and that Xu Luo also had Top-Grade Elixirs discovered in some Ancient Ruins...

Thus, the thought of resigning had taken root in Xu Ji’s mind. ’Better to leave than to remain in this position and invite suspicion and doubt!’

As for the words the King of Wu had just spoken, Xu Ji had already anticipated them the moment he broke through the Wu Kingdom Capital City and captured him.

’Even if the Emperor himself wouldn’t think that way, I can’t stop others from thinking it!’

’Especially that group led by Wei Feng—they’d stir up trouble even when there was none. Now that I possess such heaven-shaking military achievements, how could they possibly be at ease?’

Most importantly, Xu Ji’s own power had stagnated for a long time. He had poured all his energy into the Empire’s wars, leaving him no time to cultivate.

Now his sons were grown and possessed the strength and capital to contend with Wei Feng’s Civil Servant Group. Conversely, his own position made it impossible for them to act with their full strength.

Since that was the case, it was better to retreat at the height of his success!

Making such a decision wasn’t easy; Xu Ji had gone through a long period of internal struggle. But the seven or eight assassination attempts on the journey home had made him finalize his decision.

”Those are not reasons. We... forbid it!”

Had it been anyone else, Huangfu Haoran might have approved it on the spot. ’Trying to play the ’feigning retreat to advance’ trick with Us? Fine, We’ll grant your wish!’

But Xu Ji was different!

Huangfu Haoran and Xu Ji had known each other since childhood. He knew Xu Ji all too well; he knew the man never minced words and always followed through on his promises!

Besides, Xu Ji was returning with earth-shattering military merits. Even if Xu Ji had said nothing, it would have been inexcusable for Huangfu Haoran not to name him an Alien King. Why would he need to resort to such a petty trick to deceive anyone?

”Your Majesty...” Xu Ji raised his head, a pained look on his face. ”This servant is serious!”

”We... are also serious! You want to be with your family? Fine! We will grant you leave! As for how long... you name the time, and We will grant it! As long as there are no wars, We will not bother you even if you rest forever!”

Huangfu Haoran looked at Xu Ji and said with some agitation, ”But you are forbidden from resigning! You are a pillar of the state! If We were to let you go... Do you want the whole world to curse Us for being blind?”

”Your Majesty, calm your anger!” The other civil and military officials hurriedly knelt and spoke to placate the Emperor.

Kneeling there, a bitter smile touched Xu Ji’s lips. ’I knew the Emperor wouldn’t agree,’ he thought, ’but if I didn’t try... how would I know for sure?’

”All of you, rise. We are not angry. Today is a day of great celebration for all of Cangqiong. How could We possibly be angry?”

Huangfu Haoran waved his hand, bidding the officials to rise. He then turned to Xu Ji and said, ”Say no more. For his merit in destroying the Wu Kingdom, from this day forward, We bestow upon Xu Ji the title of... Grand General King! The title of king may be inherited for three generations! However, aside from Xu Ji, his descendants may not use the title Grand General King; they shall be Princes! We bestow the four northern cities as the fief of the Grand General King, a hereditary fiefdom...”

Huangfu Haoran continued on, listing a great many other rewards. In the entire imperial court, all eyes were fixed on Xu Ji.

At this moment, the brilliance emanating from Xu Ji completely overshadowed everyone else in the Golden Hall!

Grand General King!

What an incredible honor was this?

Wei Feng stood to the side, a complex mix of emotions churning within him. The jealousy in his eyes was practically overflowing.

He wasn’t the only one. The other high-ranking ministers in the court were not much better, all of them staring at Xu Ji with faces full of envy.

An Alien King... How many years had it been since such a thing had happened? Outside of the founding era of the empire, to be made an Alien King in this age of peace was something out of a dream!

It wasn’t a matter of difficulty, but of sheer impossibility!

Over on his side, Lord Wang Moxuan was the first to react. With a deeply sincere smile, he walked up to Xu Ji, bowed with clasped fists, and said with a laugh, ”Congratulations, Grand General King!”

Following him, other high-ranking ministers like Leng Mengde, Zhao Wenzhao, and Sun Yunpeng all came forward to pay their respects to Xu Ji.

In the past, they were all fellow ministers in the same hall. Xu Ji’s rank was even half a step lower than some of them.

But now, Xu Ji had been ennobled as a king, a true member of the highest nobility!

Never mind them, even Wei Feng, the most powerful official in the current court, would now have to respectfully bow and greet Xu Ji with, ”Greetings, Grand General King!”

It went without saying for the other civil and military officials, who all swarmed forward to pay their respects.

Only Wei Feng remained standing there, his face a mask of complex emotions. The officials who followed Wei Feng were all wringing their hands in anxiety. Although they followed Wei Feng and couldn’t stand the sight of Xu Ji, now that he was the Grand General King... it was impossible to disregard him as they had in the past.

Who knew when, but at some point in the future, Xu Ji could find any random excuse to cast them into an abyss from which there was no return.

After a long hesitation, Wei Feng let out a long breath and slowly, he walked towards Xu Ji.