Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
After seeing the atrocities committed by the Mongolian rule over the Central Plains in the book, Yang Kang wondered if he could change it all. He sought advice from Bai Tang, who gave him a positive answer. The world of the Legend of the Condor Heroes trilogy is not historical fact; changing it would not alter history. Thus, Yang Kang decided to communicate with Guo Jing and his wife.
"Yang Xian-di, why are you leaving again? What will happen to Guo'er if you go?" Guo Jing asked foolishly.
"I have my own path to follow, and Guo'er has his own path as well. My leaving will not affect him."
Guo Jing replied, "But you are his biological father after all!"
Yang Kang said, "You, as his uncle, care for him more than I do as his father. To be honest, aside from sharing my bloodline, he is almost a stranger to me!"
Huang Rong interjected, "Yang Kang, you are truly cold-hearted! You abandoned Sister Mu back then, and now you want to abandon your son. Don't you feel guilty about it?"
Due to her connection as a woman, Huang Rong sided with Mu Nianci and believed that Yang Kang had taken advantage of her. The hardships Mu Nianci faced raising Yang Guo alone after giving birth only made Huang Rong dislike Yang Kang more, viewing him as a man who bullied women.
Yang Kang sneered, "Huang Dapengzhu, please don't casually accuse someone without understanding the truth. If you're not afraid of embarrassment, let me clarify: Mu Nianci drugged me to conceive Guo'er. Her actions nearly ruined my cultivation; why should I comply with her wishes? Is being a woman so remarkable? To put it bluntly, Guo'er is not the son I wished for. Now that I have come to see him and help him, I have already settled the karma between us."
Both Guo Jing and Huang Rong were stunned by Mu Nianci's boldness; they never expected the situation to be like this. They looked at Yang Kang with sympathy, their expressions strange.
Yang Kang glared at them: "I came to you for serious matters, not for my personal affairs!"
The two quickly composed themselves. Guo Jing asked, "Yang Xian-di, what do you want?"
"Is there any tea?" Yang Kang shook the teapot on the table.
Huang Rong took the teapot and said, "It's getting late; we shouldn't drink tea now. I'll make a pot of sweet soup for you!"
As Wan was about to leave, Yang Kang quickly stopped her: "It's unethical to ask a pregnant woman to cook something in the middle of the night, and what I say is more effective for Huang Rong than for Guo Jing."
"No need, I brought tea!" Wan took out three bottles of Kang Shifu Jasmine Tea from the storage bag Bai Tang had given him (the space was only five cubic meters, enough to hold some personal items).
Yang Kang twisted off the cap and pushed two bottles of the drink in front of Guo Jing and Huang Rong: "Have a taste. It's quite good!"
The two did not drink the tea at first. They were initially shocked by Yang Kang's ability to conjure things out of thin air, then they were drawn to the bottles.
"What exquisite and lightweight bottles!" Huang Rong picked up a bottle and examined it closely. "It's neither porcelain nor glass. What is it made of?"
Yang Kang replied, "Plastic!"
They had never heard of it. Guo Jing asked foolishly, "Could it be a specialty from the fairy realm?"
Yang Kang said, "In any case, it's not from this world."
Guo Jing and Huang Rong were reluctant to drink the liquid inside the bottles. The water from the fairy realm—could it have some magical effects? Perhaps it could bring someone back to life or reattach severed limbs?
"You're overthinking it. This is just ordinary stuff!" Yang Kang saw through their thoughts at a glance. "Drink up; it'll spoil if left too long."
The two cautiously picked up the bottles and gently sipped from the openings: the tea had a jasmine fragrance, sweet and very delicious!
"It's good!" Guo Jing took a big gulp and praised it repeatedly.
Huang Rong swallowed her drink gracefully and asked Yang Kang, "Can we take these two bottles with us?"
"Just take them!" They are only worth a few cents each at the recycling center. Do you two plan to treat these bottles as family heirlooms?
"I have some food as well. Let's eat while we talk, so we don't get hungry. Especially you, Sister-in-law, you have two in your belly and can't afford to be hungry." Yang Kang took out a roasted chicken, a pack of peanuts, and a pack of dried fruits from his storage bag—these were all bought after arriving in ancient times; such delicious food was not available in the apocalypse. Since they had come to ancient times, he wanted to buy more tasty treats, not only to satisfy his own cravings but also to share with the brothers fighting alongside him.
Guo Jing and Huang Rong's eyes lit up at his words.
"Yang Xian-di, are you sure there are two children in Rong'er’s belly?"
"Yes, one boy and one girl, Dragon and Phoenix Twins. Congratulations to you both!"
Guo Jing and Huang Rong were overjoyed, especially Huang Rong, who had been under pressure for not giving birth to a son for the Guo Family. Hearing that there was a boy in her belly instantly relieved her stress, making her feel relaxed.
"Thank you, thank you, Yang Xian-di."
Yang Kang tore off a chicken wing and started eating: "No need to thank me; Sister-in-law's pregnancy is your achievement and has nothing to do with us outsiders. This roasted chicken tastes pretty good!"
Huang Rong blushed at Yang Kang's teasing words and muttered "inappropriate" under her breath. She lowered her head to pick up some dried fruits to cover her embarrassment.
Guo Jing chuckled as he tore off a chicken leg: "Yang Xian-di, you're amazing! You managed to conjure up so much food. This chicken leg is still warm!"
"Just a little trick, nothing impressive!" Yang Kang laughed. The reason he revealed these skills was to deepen their impression of him as someone extraordinary, thereby increasing the credibility of what he would say next.
"Yang Brother, can we get down to business now?" Huang Rong did not forget Yang Kang's purpose for seeking them.
Yang Kang put down the chicken wings, sighed, and adopted a serious expression: "What I want to discuss today is about your future!"
"Future?" Guo Jing and Huang Rong exclaimed in surprise.
"You all know my celestial identity. The abilities of my master's elders are far superior to mine. With their help, I have seen some of the future of this world!" Yang Kang spoke with the skill of deception passed down from Bai Tang, fabricating words effortlessly.
Guo Jing and Huang Rong were filled with doubt, but the methods displayed by Yang Kang forced them to believe: what is there to question about celestial powers?
"Yang Brother, is the future so bleak that you have come to discuss matters with us so late?" Huang Rong was indeed sharp-witted.
Yang Kang looked at Huang Rong with appreciation and said: "In the third year of Southern Song Xianchun (167 AD), the Mongol general A Shu launched an attack on Xiangyang, leading to the Battle of Anyang Beach, followed by the counter-encirclement battle of Song Luwenhuan. The aid battles of Zhang Gui and Zhang Shun, the Battle of Longwei Island, and the Battle of Fan City, ultimately resulted in a solitary city without support. In the ninth year of Xianchun (17 AD), Lü Wenhuan surrendered after exhausting his strength, marking nearly six years of conflict, ending with the fall of Xiangyang in the hands of the Mongols. From then on, the Mongols ruled over the Central Plains. Because there were fewer Mongols than Han people, the rulers feared a Han uprising and treated them brutally. Some ministers in Mongolia sought to exterminate all Han people but found it impossible to kill them all. The current Grand Minister Bayen issued a cruel decree: to kill all members of the five surnamed Han people: Zhang, Wang, Liu, Li, and Zhao. Among Han people, Zhang, Wang, Liu, and Li were the most numerous, while Zhao was part of the Song dynasty royal family. Eliminating these five surnames would severely weaken the Han population..."
"Ninety percent of households became empty. That was the situation at that time. Later on, many from these five surnames surrendered to serve under the Yuan dynasty. Some ministers in Mongolia advised the emperor against this extremely brutal massacre order, but countless lives had already been lost."
"The cruelty of the Mongols did not stop there. When Han elders reached sixty years old, they had to be sent to a grave in the wilderness to wait for death; this grave is known as the 'Brick Tomb,' meaning a tomb made of bricks. The Mongols classified people into four ranks: Mongols as the ruling ethnic group were placed first, followed by various conquered ethnic groups in order: Semu people, Han people, and Southern people. The Southern people refer to Han people under the jurisdiction of the Song Dynasty, who were considered the lowest rank, even inferior to Mongolian livestock. The Semu people could beat Han people without fear of retaliation; Han people could only appeal to officials for justice; those who resisted faced punishment. After establishing the Yuan Dynasty, Mongols arranged for one Mongolian family to govern a village of Han people. When Han girls wanted to marry, they had to serve Mongolian men for three nights before marriage. Such humiliating practices led families to violently kill their firstborns out of fear for preserving pure Han bloodlines. Can you imagine such a tragic scene? The newborns were so innocent and might even be their own children; yet, in order to maintain purity in their lineage, they had no choice but to resort to such cruel methods..."
Guo Jing listened with rage: "Beasts! These beasts!"
This strengthened Guo Jing's resolve to defend Xiangyang. Huang Rong, thinking deeper than him, asked: "What about us? What will happen to me and Brother Jing?"
"Although you two have done your utmost to protect Xiangyang, the court of Southern Song is corrupt and incompetent; there are no capable armies left. How can mere heroes from Jianghu withstand thousands upon thousands of Mongolian troops? In the final battle for Xiangyang City, you both will die alongside your son Guo Polu, along with many heroes from Jianghu who perish in this battle. The martial arts world in the Central Plains will suffer a tremendous blow and will only gradually recover after several decades; unfortunately, by that time, the Beggar's Sect will have already declined. Oh right! One of the major sects decades later, Emei Sect, will be established by your daughter Guo Xiang. She became a nun after your passing! Alas, your family has suffered more than our Yang Family, as your bloodline will come to an end."
Huang Rong touched her belly, thinking of her son. Her son would die, following them to perish in the city? No, she did not want such an outcome! Her son should live healthily and happily, marry a beautiful and virtuous wife, have a few healthy and adorable children, and carry on the Guo Family's legacy. At this moment, Huang Rong felt resentment towards Guo Jing; if it weren't for his stubbornness, their son and daughter wouldn't have ended up in Yang Kang's hands.
"How could this be?" Yang Kang's words struck Guo Jing the hardest. He never expected that his steadfast beliefs not only failed to save the Han people's kingdom but also led to the extinction of the Guo Family. How would he face the ancestors and parents of the Guo Family in the afterlife?
Yang Kang, indifferent to Guo Jing's emotional turmoil, continued, "Guo'er coincidentally obtained a Xuan Tie Heavy Sword. Before the fall of Xiangyang City, he entrusted the Xuan Tie Heavy Sword to you both. You will reforge the Heavy Sword into two weapons: the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Leaning Sword. Huang Gang Master placed the Martial Emperor's Legacy within the Dragon-Slaying Saber and hid the Secret Manual of the Nine Yin Manual and Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms within the Leaning Sword. Only by clashing these two swords can you retrieve the Secret Manual inside. Huang Gang Master also left a clue: 'In martial arts, supreme power lies in the treasured sword that slays dragons; when commanded, none dare disobey; if not drawn, who will compete?'"
"The Leaning Sword was taken out by Guo Xiang and became the treasure of Emei Sect, while the Dragon-Slaying Saber fell into the hands of the Mongolian Court. The Mongolian Court set a trap, throwing out the Dragon-Slaying Saber and spreading those twenty-four characters, inciting people in the martial world to fight over it, resulting in bloodshed and numerous casualties among martial artists. Unfortunately, everyone was blinded by 'when commanded, none dare disobey,' failing to see this was a scheme by the court to eliminate martial artists..."
Yang Kang stopped speaking; continuing would spoil the plot of Yi Tu Long. But could that plot continue? At least he would soon lose both the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Leaning Sword.
Guo Jing and Huang Rong fell into silence. Yang Kang did not disturb them and directly tore off another chicken wing to gnaw on. Wow, how delicious was this chicken wing? The mutated chicken's wings were nothing compared to this!
"Yang Xian-di, is there no way to change the future?" Both Guo Jing and Huang Rong looked very grim.
"That depends on you!" Yang Kang gazed at them meaningfully. With their protagonist and supporting character auras, it would be a hundred times easier for them to change this world than for others.
"Yang Brother, please enlighten us!" Huang Rong stood up and bowed to Yang Kang. "For the sake of our families' friendship, please help us! Help your nephew and niece!"
"Sister-in-law need not be so formal; I came to find you with intentions of helping!" Yang Kang casually returned Huang Rong's bow. This was for your previous bias against me and my son!
Guo Jing and Huang Rong were excited, looking at Yang Kang as if he were their savior.
Yang Kang cleared his throat and said, "The Southern Song court is corrupt and beyond saving; relying on them is futile. It’s better to unite all common people below and take matters into your own hands!"
"Are you asking us to rebel?" Guo Jing was unhappy.
"The Zhao Family's position was also taken from others; before Zhao Kuangyin's uprising, he was just a thug!" Yang Kang said. "Guo Jing, loyalty and filial piety depend on whether the person you are loyal to is worthy. In my view, the current emperor of the Southern Song is not worthy of loyalty, and the object of your loyalty should not be the corrupt court, but rather the people of the Song Dynasty, the innocent commoners!"
"Brother Jing, I think Yang Brother's words make sense. The ones we need to protect are not the emperor or the corrupt officials, but the countless common people!" Compared to Guo Jing, Huang Rong was more receptive to Yang Kang's words.
"But rebelling is wrong; I don't want to be an emperor!" Guo Jing frowned.
Yang Kang chuckled: "Guo Jing, you really have a big face. Even if you wanted to be an emperor, do you think you have that ability?"
Huang Rong was displeased: "Why can't Brother Jing become an emperor?"
Yang Kang laughed at Huang Rong: "If Guo Jing really became an emperor, could you tolerate him having three thousand beauties in his harem?"
Huang Rong angrily replied: "Don't even think about it!"
Guo Jing: "..." (To be continued...)
Comment 0 Comment Count