Martial Cultivator

Xie Nandu said, “But in truth, many things can be clearly explained. Once explained, if affection and love are still there, then it’s simply a matter of correcting what should be corrected and encouraging what should be encouraged. It’s not that troublesome.”

Chen Chao nodded and said with a smile, “That makes sense.”

“Chen Chao, I said I would stay by your side, and I will stay by your side. I won’t have any thought of leaving, unless one day you clearly tell me that you don’t need me anymore, and want me to leave on my own. Otherwise, I won’t.”

Xie Nandu looked at Chen Chao, squeezed his hand hard, and softly said, “But you must know, there is only one Xie Nandu in this world. Other women won’t think this way, nor will they act this way.”

Chen Chao smiled and said, “Then it’s simple. I’ll just hold your hand tightly and never let you leave.”

Xie Nandu thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, “That’s your own thinking. If one day we really have to part, you need to learn to accept it.”

Chen Chao fell into silence.

Xie Nandu looked at this young man’s face and murmured, “Sometimes, I feel like you’re the best man in the world. So good that I don’t want to do anything else anymore, just want to stay with you and watch the sunrise and sunset.”

Chen Chao asked, “How about leaving things to me to handle?”

Xie Nandu shook her head.

Chen Chao suddenly felt a little guilty and said, “Honestly, I feel like I haven’t done much for you.”

Xie Nandu smiled and said, “Just saying that is enough.”

What is love? Perhaps it is giving your all, and still feeling guilty.

......

......

At dusk, Chen Chao entered the imperial city through the Empress’ tomb outside the palace.

The palace guards on duty recognized him, so they did not stop him. Chen Chao entered with his saber at his side, walking down the imperial avenue. Behind him, the faint sound of the guards whispering could still be heard.

The young eunuch Li Shou had grown noticeably taller, and at this moment, was accompanying Chen Chao to the Imperial Study.

But just like before, this young eunuch kept his eyes lowered and his manner humble. Despite now being a figure of influence in the palace, he did not become arrogant.

That said, Chen Chao was now indeed the foremost powerful official of the Great Liang Dynasty. The extent of his authority had already surpassed that of all former Lord Warden Commanders.

Even if Li Shou truly disliked Chen Chao, it would be difficult for him to show it.

Chen Chao soon arrived at the Imperial Study. The Crown Prince had been waiting at the door, and when he saw Chen Chao, he quickly came forward and said with a smile, “Elder Brother.”

His smile was sincere.

Chen Chao looked at him and said with a smile, “You’ve grown a lot taller.”

The Crown Prince then said with a troubled look, “If Elder Brother didn’t return soon, no matter how tall this imperial highness grows, this imperial highness will be worried to death too.”

Chen Chao joked, “Has the Imperial Study started snowing?”

Those memorials fluttering in from all over really did feel like falling snow.

The Crown Prince said with a headache, ”There are just too many memorials. This imperial highness really can’t keep them all out. This imperial highness often thinks that if Imperial Father were still here, it probably wouldn’t be so troubling.”

“That’s true. If His Majesty were here, he’d probably have brought in a brazier and burned them all to ashes.”

Chen Chao followed the Crown Prince into the Imperial Study and said with a smile, “These days, when people talk about this subject outside, there’s not much good being said.”

The Crown Prince nodded and did not hold back, saying straightforwardly, “Elder Brother, don’t you think you’re a bit too hasty?”

Back when Green Algae Sect and Galze Temple were destroyed, Chen Chao had sent him word. Though he had not stopped it, he had always felt it was not quite appropriate.

“Green Algae Sect still dared to humiliate our Great Liang people to this day, wiping them out was only right. It also serves as a warning to the foreign lands, letting them know that even with His Majesty away, Great Liang is still not to be trifled with. As for the Glaze Temple, this subject already wrote in my letter: it was already late. It couldn’t be delayed any further.”

The deaths in Wei Prefecture had been several years ago already, it could not wait any longer.

They say a gentleman’s revenge can wait ten years, but if it can be done now, better to take revenge now.

The Crown Prince nodded and, after thinking for a moment, said, “This imperial highness will report everything and inform the people.”

Chen Chao asked curiously, “Which one?”

“All of it.”

The Crown Prince smiled slightly and said, “It’s already been done, what should be said ought to be said. Otherwise, would that mean Elder Brother did it for nothing?”

One of the reasons Chen Chao had entered the palace this time was indeed to discuss this matter.

But he had not expected that there would be no need to even bring it up.

The Crown Prince asked, “Did Elder Brother take care of the Shen Family?”

In the end, news could not be hidden, and the Crown Prince being aware of the situation was only natural.

Chen Chao nodded. “Killed a few who deserved it, didn’t keep it under wraps. Once the news got out, those who were unhappy naturally kept it bottled up. But this subject reckons they won’t look kindly on me either.”

The Crown Prince thought for a moment and was just about to speak when Chen Chao shook his head. “Don’t do anything.”

Chen Chao gave no reason for this.

So the Crown Prince did not ask either.

The two brothers sat face to face in silence for a while.

Then Chen Chao suddenly smiled. “This time, this subject actually came to ask Your Highness for a favor.”

The Crown Prince looked surprised. “If Elder Brother has something to ask, just say it.”

Chen Chao smiled. “Asking for an official post.”

The Crown Prince was taken aback, then curiously asked, “What post? For whom?”

Chen Chao looked at him and was not in a hurry to answer.

......

......

When they returned to the bamboo building, the three disciples were already sitting in a row. From left to right, they were He Liang, Yu Qingfeng, and Ning Qingnian.

The little girl had a bamboo saber on her lap and was fiddling with it.

It was worth mentioning that the little girl was seated farthest from Xie Nandu. This youngest disciple of Chen Chao’s did not seem to like her master’s wife.

It seemed to be something instinctive.

Xie Nandu did not mind.

Chen Chao more or less understood the reason but did not know how to explain it.

With rare free time, Chen Chao tested Yu Qingfeng and He Liang a bit.

Both had solid foundations. Although their cultivation progress was not particularly fast, they were steady. Chen Chao never had any grand expectations for them to become some historically exceptional cultivators, so he had always let their cultivation take its natural course.

Then he had the two disciples take the little girl some distance away.

Only then did Chen Chao take the initiative to speak. “That little girl, if I’m not mistaken, has some entanglement with my past life. The first time we met, she was incredibly close to me. According to the people at Myriad Heaven Palace, it means she and I are fated.”

Xie Nandu said, “Is it the kind of entanglement between a man and a woman? Otherwise, why would she be hostile toward me?”

Chen Chao gave an awkward laugh. The woman before him was too clever to be lied to, he would not dare, even if he could.

Xie Nandu shook her head, unconcerned. She was very confident. Some people could never be taken by anyone else, so what was there to worry about?

Chen Chao thought for a moment and said, “I secured an official post for you.”

Xie Nandu gave him a look.

Chen Chao’s expression grew a little heavy. “News came from the North earlier. They say the forbidden zone of the desolate north may dissipate within a few years. Which means, by then, there will be war again between us.”

Xie Nandu nodded. Her feelings toward that matter were complicated. On the one hand, she wished the Forbidden Zone would remain so there would be no more war. On the other hand, she also wanted it to disappear, so she could lead troops through the desolate north and wipe away the shame suffered by the human race in the past.

But now that the outcome was likely set, she did not dwell on it.

“A command position over a cavalry force of a thousand or so. Any more troops and I wouldn’t be able to secure it for you, nor would he be able to grant it. But for you to lead this thousand-strong cavalry as a woman... there’ll likely be some trouble. After all, men don’t like taking orders from a woman. That’s to be expected.”

Chen Chao spoke with a smile. Getting such a significant post for Xie Nandu, especially when she had never been to the Northern Frontier or led troops into battle, actually applied great pressure on him.

Xie Nandu glanced at him but remained silent.

Such a position was something the Xie Family could never obtain on their own. It could only come from Chen Chao.

“Are you not afraid I’ll die in the Northern Frontier?”

Xie Nandu raised an eyebrow. She actually knew that the man before her had never hoped for her to appear on the battlefield of the Northern Frontier.

Chen Chao said, “Of course I’m afraid. But if I keep stopping you, you’d be unhappy. And if that’s the case, then happiness matters more. Otherwise, what’s the point of being alive?”

Xie Nandu smiled. The one she truly liked was never someone who used ‘love’ as a reason to bind her at every turn, but someone who genuinely understood what she wanted. Even if he could not do anything for her, he would at least not stand in her way.

Chen Chao said softly, “If you’re going, then go. Just don’t end up gaining military merit and actually becoming an unprecedented first female Great General in the history of Great Liang.”

He looked at Xie Nandu wistfully and said, “If that day comes, I’ll be under a lot of pressure.”