The Demon Lords-Chapter 651 - 118 The Bitter Peak_4

The old woman aimed another kick, but the other woman dodged it. She continued to count the silver, even fetching a scale from the house to weigh it.

Seeing this, the old woman's face flushed deep red with embarrassment.

After the counting was done, the woman put away the silver and solemnly declared the amount. Then she said, "I will keep this for you. When you return, I guarantee I'll give it back to you, every last coin."

"Agreed." Yu Huaping nodded.

After dinner, Yu Huaping walked out of the cramped little courtyard. Just as he reached the street, he happened to run into Zheng Fan, who was taking an evening stroll with A Ming. Of course, they had run into each other, but whether it was truly a coincidence remained unknown.

Still, pleasantries had to be exchanged. General Zheng said with a smile, "Well, isn't this a coincidence?"

The Sword Saint merely chuckled, disinclined to play along.

And so, their stroll for two became one for three.

The Sword Saint was the first to speak. "Your Yan people's Eldest Prince suffered a defeat. This time, Tian Wujing will likely be reinstated as commander, won't he?"

"Um, are you planning to challenge the Lord again?"

"Let's talk about that after we've dealt with the Wild People."

"You are a man of great principle."

When it came to moral integrity concerning his nation and people, the Sword Saint was truly beyond reproach.

"It will be him, won't it?" the Sword Saint asked.

"Well, our military intelligence gets word quickly," Zheng Fan replied. "Right now, Yanjing is probably still preoccupied with the grand wedding of the Earl of North Border's daughter and the Crown Prince. His Majesty might not even be aware of this defeat yet."

The Cheng State is near Shengle. However, it's a vast distance from Yanjing. Even with the most urgent delivery, news cannot travel that fast; a time lag is inevitable.

"But..." Zheng Fan paused, then added, "it's almost certain that the Lord will be reappointed to lead the expedition."

The Sword Saint suddenly asked, "Tian Wujing... would he be willing?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"What do you mean by that?"

The Sword Saint gave a dry laugh. "Heh. I'm asking, would he be willing?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Some things are better left unsaid, understood only by intuition."

The Sword Saint looked at Zheng Fan and continued, "You haven't pressed me further about what happened in Li Tian City those few days, have you? Not asking doesn't mean you don't already have your suspicions, does it?

"Dujuan was a Silver Armored Guard of Qian State; her death was intended to drive a wedge between Lord Jingnan and the imperial court. Xue Yi, the National Advisor of Yan State, died on Tianhu Mountain, returning the karmic fortune of Tianhu Mountain and his own destiny to the Yan Cauldron; at the same time, this was also to prove his own innocence to Tian Wujing. That's the general outline of events. But there are many inconsistencies within it. The most glaring is that Dujuan entrusted her child to me; her original intention was clearly to ensure the child's safety.

"It felt as if an unseen hand had been secretly pulling strings from the shadows."

Zheng Fan then recalled that day, on the threshold before the mourning hall, when Lord Jingnan, his hair having turned white overnight, had uttered the two words "Jingnan" to him. This included Lord Jingnan later personally ascending Tianhu Mountain. Rumor had it that Lord Jingnan had forced the National Advisor to his death, compelling him to prove his innocence thereby. However, those who truly knew Tian Wujing understood that Lord Jingnan, in warfare, liked to control everything, meticulously dissecting details. This was true for battles, and it should logically apply to his dealings with people and matters as well.

"So, what do you think?" the Sword Saint asked. "Will Tian Wujing take command?"

Zheng Fan hesitated for a moment, then said, "He will, I suppose."

Because this is for the Yan State.

The Sword Saint sighed. "Yes, you and I both know, and indeed, many people also know, that Tian Wujing will ultimately step out of the marquis's residence and take command."

"Heh."

The Sword Saint continued, "Decades, or even a century from now, if your Yan State still exists, the Yan people of that time, reading this period of history, might marvel at how the three great peaks of Yan staunchly supported the Yan sky. The power of the Yan State was indeed formidable then, suppressing other nations. Yet, they will probably never know that the peak which endured the most hardship, carried the heaviest burden, and suffered the most grievously, was the one surnamed Tian."