Loyal Heart Roaming the Skies

Book 2: Chapter 13: The people's hearts are like water, I am the River God

Zhuangguo Xin'an City.

In front of the ancestral temple, an old man with white hair knelt down and couldn't get up.

In the vast Xin'an City, few people recognized him.

But if it was in the former Fenglin City, almost everyone knew him.

Because he was the former lord of Fenglin City before Wei Quji.

His governance was considered benevolent and diligent.

During his tenure in Fenglin City, he traveled to every town and village under his jurisdiction. This was something Wei Quji had never done. There was no other lord in the entire Zhuangguo who had done such a thing.

When Du Yehu, who was thirteen years old at the time, killed someone in public, he personally presided over the case. He also sent Du Yehu to the Taoist temple for cultivation, which led to the rise of Du Junye in Jiujing Xuanjia.

During his time in Fenglin City, he was deeply loved by the military and civilians. Later, feeling old and weak, unable to consolidate his cultivation, he voluntarily retired to enjoy his old age.

During the war between Zhuangguo and Yong, he had outstanding military achievements.

After receiving Fenglin City from Zhuang Ting's hands due to his merits, he did not take a single cent and dedicated his entire life. He returned Fenglin City to the country.

But now, Fenglin City no longer exists.

The entire Fenglin City, not even a dog, a chicken, or a handful of soil, was left behind.

It was said that the Bai Gu Dao caused chaos.

Where did such great power come from for a dormant cult that had been silent for a hundred years?

What is the Zhuangguo Criminal Investigation Department doing? Why did they not have any prior knowledge?

Why did the entire Fenglin City perish, but Dong A was able to survive alone!

Why did Dong A discover the conspiracy, but the respected national teacher Du Ruhui, who was famous throughout the world, couldn't make it in time!

Why...

Zhuang Ting's explanation could convince everyone in the world.

Not because the explanation was perfect or flawless.

It was because those people were not from Fenglin City.

It was because there was no one left in Fenglin City!

Only him, Liu Yi'an.

Only this old man, who was on the verge of decline, was still desperately searching.

But when he asked the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister avoided him.

When he asked the King, the King locked himself in the deep palace.

When he asked the courtiers, no one paid attention to him.

Who would pay attention to an old man who had no chance of rising again, an old man whose vitality was declining, and who had no fighting power?

Especially someone as stubborn as him, who insisted on exposing the festering wounds and scars when the entire Zhuangguo was thriving.

The old man, Liu Yi'an, wandered alone in the vast Xin'an City, asking questions for nine days.

Nine days passed without any answers.

No one paid attention.

On the tenth day, he knelt in front of the ancestral temple.

He wanted to ask the Ancestor!

If the Ancestor was still here, seeing the current situation, would he remain silent!

"The ruler is like a boat, and the people are like water. Water can carry the boat, but it can also overturn it!"

He howled and cried in front of the ancestral temple.

Helpless, like a child.

...

Outside the ancestral temple, at the corner of the opposite street.

Zhuangguo's Vice Prime Minister, Dong A, stood with his hands behind his back, silent.

...

...

Outside the ruins of Fenglin City.

Du Ruhui, with black hair as dark as ink, stood with his hands hanging down. Although his face showed signs of aging, his back was as straight as a spear.

In the entire Zhuangguo, the only person who could make him so respectful was Zhuangguo's ruler, Zhuang Gaoxian.

He was a middle-aged man with a calm face, carefully observing the fog-covered ruins of Fenglin City. At first glance, he was no different from the wealthy gentlemen who were enjoying the spring scenery.

Just by appearance alone, no one could imagine that he was such a decisive man. His firmness and sharpness in national affairs surpassed all previous rulers of Zhuangguo.

After watching for a while, Zhuang Gaoxian smiled and said, "Teacher, this time you have thoroughly hurt the Bone God of White Bones. It wanted to drag this place into the netherworld, but stopped halfway. It made Fenglin City sink into the gap between the mortal world and the netherworld, turning it into a dead land. It is neither digested by the netherworld nor allows our Zhuangguo to forget this scar. Such resentment can be seen."

If the entire Fenglin City was pulled into the netherworld, this area in the mortal world would be erased. Eventually, it might be replaced by Wangjiang City or Sanshan City, which were close to the Qichang Mountains. Over time, people would gradually forget about it.

But now, it was stuck at the boundary between reality and the netherworld, and the Bone God of White Bones wasted divine power for no reason. Zhuangguo was left with this dead land forever. Everyone who saw this dead land would remember this history.

When Zhuang Gaoxian was still the Crown Prince, Du Ruhui was his teacher.

After Zhuang Gaoxian ascended the throne, the position of Prime Minister was reserved for him and no one else.

"Your Majesty," Du Ruhui bowed, "The old minister has heard that an ancient sage, when the people are safe, rejoices, and when the people suffer, weeps. Your Majesty should not be smiling outside the ruins of Fenglin City. Your Majesty's attainment of the Dongzhen realm is the glory of Zhuangguo. Sacrificing the common people to achieve this realm is a humiliation to Your Majesty. Moreover, those restless souls are right in front of Your Majesty."

"High Xian, I have learned my lesson." Emperor Zhuang immediately composed himself and said with remorse, "Indeed, I caught up with that old man from Yongguo and thought that there would be no more troubles on the border, and the people would be safe. I got carried away."

Zhuang Gaoxian's cultivation had already surpassed Du Ruhui, but he still maintained the respect of a student towards his teacher.

Upon hearing this, Du Ruhui did not pursue the matter further or take comfort in it. Instead, he gently changed the subject.

"Your Majesty can erect a monument outside this area as a memorial. On the monument, it can be stated that the responsibility for losing this land is recorded as a national grudge. The removal of the Bone God of White Bones will be reinstated as a national policy, to appease the restless spirits. This way, it can alleviate the grievances of the people, win their hearts, and gather public opinion."

"This is truly a brilliant suggestion!" Zhuang Gaoxian exclaimed.

The last time Zhuangguo made the removal of the Bone God of White Bones a national policy was during the era of Taizu Zhuang Chengqian. At that time, they did indeed uproot the Bone God of White Bones.Today, the resurgence of the Bone Path is far from its former glory. However, the re-establishment of this strategy can still awaken the memories of the people of Zhuang Kingdom. It not only expresses the intention to uphold the ancestral system, but also shows the determination to be irreconcilable with the Bone Path.

All the grievances of the people are concentrated on the Bone Path. Once the Bone Path is eradicated, Zhuang Gaoxian will not be vilified for the fall of the Maple Forest territory, but will win the hearts of the people for avenging the national hatred.

Du Ruhui's moves are as gentle as spring rain, his methods are sophisticated and smooth.

This is also an important reason why he can support the Zhuang court during Zhuang Gaoxian's recovery.

The fog in the Maple Forest territory is surging, also concealing the brutality within. It's as if all the stories that happened in this region have fallen between yin and yang, no longer seeing the light of day.

"Having seen the 'Formation of Neither Birth nor Death', what does Your Majesty intend to do?"

Zhuang Gaoxian lightly brushed his sleeve: "Since I have come to Qinghe County, how can I not visit the elders in Qingjiang?"

......

......

After leaving the Blessed Kingdom, Jiang Wang continued to move towards the Qi Kingdom.

The Blessed Kingdom was just a stop on his journey, he had his own path to follow.

Traveling was not the only purpose, more importantly, he was refining his sword, body, and heart along the way.

Using the world as a furnace, the mortal world as fire, and himself as copper.

From the Small Circulation, moving towards the Great Circulation.

Climbing mountains when he encountered them, crossing rivers when he came across them, resting at inns when he found them, and when he encountered injustice... he drew his long sword.

The road under his feet became longer and longer, and the path of cultivation became wider and wider.

He gradually felt a certain change happening.

It was as if a road shrouded in clouds and fog was becoming clearer and more certain.