Chapter Twenty-One: Peace (Combined Chapter)

The Saint of Destiny narrowed her eyes and waved her hand, causing the water-like galaxy before her to instantly return to stillness.

She paced slowly to the edge of the "Canliao Column," leaning against the railing in contemplation as she looked down upon the entire Imperial Heaven City.

Within Imperial Heaven City, no other structure dared to stand taller than the central Purple Zenith Hall; this was the majesty of imperial power. Yet, this high tower alone not only surpassed the Purple Zenith Hall but stood as the tallest building in all of Great Wei, truly looking down upon all living beings. This was a manifestation of reverence for destiny.

The Great Wei imperial court and the Immortal Sect had always complemented and checked one another, maintaining a delicate balance. Even the Eternal Saint of Mount Yao saw most of his disciples enter the court to serve Great Wei after completing their studies. Only Xu Fu, the Saint of Destiny, stood as the head of the Destiny Path, hovering vaguely above imperial power. Even the current Emperor, the Yong'an Emperor, claimed to be her nominal disciple and performed the rites of a student when they met.

This is due to the unique nature of the Destiny Path. The so-called "Destiny Path" is an incredibly mysterious and ancient hidden sect. Its disciples are few, and at times, it has vanished from the world for centuries. Yet, legends regarding its traditions have never ceased, for the sect is truly preposterous.

Disciples of the Destiny Path practice by discovering their own destiny and then fulfilling it. These destinies, naturally, vary in scale. Some disciples spend their lives destined to be ordinary people, hidden away in the mundane affairs of life, eventually dying in obscurity. Others, however, have destinies that are utterly absurd. Perhaps they are meant to scoop a great river dry with a single spoon, or to topple a nation without raising a weapon... No matter how outrageous the destiny, a disciple of the Destiny Path spends their entire life fulfilling it, until death.

And Xu Fu’s destiny? It is nothing other than "Peace Under Heaven." This means that she must bear the mission of ensuring world peace for the rest of her life. As long as this destiny holds, and she chooses to stand with Great Wei, then Great Wei holds the most legitimate position of all. People of talent across the realm, without the need for recruitment, will naturally give their lives for the Great Wei court. The hearts of the people follow! Even the Confucian Saint cannot achieve such a feat, yet Xu Fu need only sit atop this high tower—even if she does not move a muscle—to achieve this effect.

This is the reason even the Yong'an Emperor is willing to honor Xu Fu as the Imperial Preceptor and treat her with the rites of a student. In reality, he is merely signaling his stance to the world, showing that he is an enlightened monarch who supports "Peace Under Heaven." Furthermore, Xu Fu’s own cultivation is profound, and her mastery of destiny-related supernatural powers makes her a tremendous asset to Great Wei. In a situation where everyone wins, why not?

Xu Fu’s gaze swept over the Imperial Heaven City, bathed in the morning light, and finally settled upon the Prince of the North's residence.

The morning wind whipped the Daoist priestess’s robes and black hair, making her appear like a fairy from Mount Gushi draped in feathers, feeding on wind and dew, ethereal and transcendent. Xu Fu knew without looking that the residence must be incredibly chaotic at this moment. After all, the matter concerned the bloodline of the Prince of the North. She had personally examined the causal fate-spell on the true heir and, by tracing its origins, discovered that it had been cast by the "Six Ministers Star Lord" of the Demonic Sect.

The so-called Demonic Sect was originally known as the "Ten Heavens Path." Its followers worshipped ten "Path Lords"—Life, Death, Craft, Righteousness, Extinction, Revelation, Emotion, Causality, Equilibrium, and Measurement. Their doctrines were twisted and insane, and their actions violated all human morality, which is why they were branded a demonic sect. These ten Path Lords were elusive and had long been a great thorn in the side of Great Wei.

The "Six Ministers Star Lord" was none other than the Path Lord of Causality. He excelled in causal fate-spells, and coincidentally, this Path Lord was actually a disciple of the "Destiny Path" from several hundred years ago. By rank, he was Xu Fu’s senior. However, the "Six Ministers Star Lord’s" destiny was clearly not of the righteous path, which led him to become a Demonic Sect leader. If not for this senior of the "Destiny Path" interfering with her via causal arts, she would have long since located the whereabouts of these demonic leaders and taken them down one by one. As for now... since they were taught by the same master, she couldn't break his techniques.

For many years, Xu Fu had been searching for the flaw in the "Six Ministers Star Lord" to locate his position. Now, the causal fate-spell on the true heir was actually the work of the "Six Ministers Star Lord." How could Xu Fu not be concerned? The Emperor had asked her to personally assist in the investigation, primarily to capture the hidden members of the Demonic Sect. Otherwise, after dispelling the causal fate-spell, the Blood-Clad Guard could simply handle the interrogation. There would be no need for the Imperial Preceptor to intervene.

Thus, she had originally intended to visit the residence. Who would have thought that at this very moment, a daring thief would steal the national fortune of Great Wei! By comparison, the Demonic Sect was secondary to the national fortune.

The national fortune of Great Wei, which had endured for over thirteen hundred years, was the most vital element in its long-lasting prosperity. Only a vast and flourishing national fortune could guide the dragon veins of Great Wei, ensuring favorable weather and peace for the twenty-eight provinces. To have even a tiny fraction stolen was intolerable. After all, it meant someone within the borders of Great Wei dared to delude the people and declare themselves emperor!

The national fortune was complex and intricate; Xu Fu had spent a day and a night calculating it. Curiously, in the past, if someone attempted to steal the national fortune, there would have been traces to follow from the start. Declaring oneself emperor was not as simple as mere words. Fortune and spirit were one; the national fortune was the collective spirit of the people.

To steal the national fortune, one first needed the recognition of the people. Before reaching the stage of actual theft, there would inevitably be riots, uprisings, or whispers in the provinces. Xu Fu had narrowed down the scope, making it easy to track. Yet, the provinces were peaceful, and the national fortune had been stolen—it was truly inconceivable.

Xu Fu had initially assumed that someone had found a remote forest, gathered some ignorant mountain folk, and tricked them into believing he was the emperor. To her surprise, not only did the national fortune disappear into thin air, but it had ended up at the residence of the Prince of the North.

The residence of the Prince of the North... "After all this, it comes back here, yet this is clearly the place where the national fortune should least appear."

Xu Fu tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her beautiful, elongated eyes as cold as jade, her pure and transcendent face glowing in the morning light, casting a divine radiance upon her.

The Prince of the North, Gu Yuoye, was said to wield immense power at court with countless allies. Yet, having held military command for so many years, he had remained unscathed and never once aroused the Emperor’s suspicion. There were two reasons for this. First, he was exceptionally cautious. Although granted the title of a prince of a different surname and the privileges of entering the palace with a sword and shoes, Gu Yuoye had never once exercised these rights. Furthermore, with the Emperor's permission, the Prince of the North’s residence was established within Imperial Heaven City rather than his fief, and his wife and children all lived there. Gu Yuoye spent years in the north fighting the Qingman, rarely returning. Everyone in the Prince’s residence was effectively a hostage left for the Emperor. With such an attitude, who could doubt his loyalty?

Even if Gu Yuoye’s loyalty were a performance, stealing national fortune openly under the Emperor’s nose would be a death wish. Moreover, having performed this charade for so many years, why would he suddenly expose himself without warning? He should have plotted in secret and planned slowly.

But considering the second reason, Xu Fu felt the situation became very intriguing. The second reason was his son, the heir, Gu Fangchen. It was common knowledge that Gu Fangchen could not cultivate, had a wicked disposition, was cruel, arrogant, and foolish. That the heir to the Prince of the North was such a piece of "rotten wood that cannot be carved" was perhaps the only blemish on the Prince’s reputation. But wasn't it also his "get-out-of-jail-free" card? The heir was a waste from the start, meaning the Prince’s legacy would end with him—a truly lamentable state of affairs. This reason was perhaps why the Emperor had always been lenient toward him.

Yet, just yesterday, the Prince of the North discovered during the morning court session that the new top scholar had a bloodline resonance with him. Martial artists who had honed their bodies to the limit could control every inch of their flesh and blood, and they could sense blood descendants born from parts of their own bodies. The Emperor’s expression had changed instantly. But Gu Yuoye remained calm and knelt to request verification on the spot. As for the result, Zhang Yuandao had been renamed Gu Yuandao, and it must have already spread throughout Imperial Heaven City.

Gu Yuandao and Gu Fangchen were as different as clouds and mud. If the latter became the heir, he would only squander the family fortune. But if it were the former... to the Emperor, the Prince of the North had truly become a threat. Perhaps in the short term, he would remember old ties, but the balance would not last long. Gu Yuandao, the new top scholar and disciple of a saint, was bound to enter the court. The better he performed, the less the Emperor would care for old sentiments.

"If I were Gu Yuoye, in this situation, I would certainly keep a low profile, or even ask to be punished," Xu Fu tapped the railing with her finger. "The national fortune appearing at the Prince of the North's residence means either Gu Yuoye has lost his mind, or someone is deliberately trying to draw my attention to the residence..."

A man as cautious as Gu Yuoye could not have suddenly gone mad. Thus, the theft and disappearance of the national fortune must have been the work of someone else.

"Heh." Xu Fu narrowed her eyes, looking down at the location of the Prince’s residence. "In that case, let me see who has such capability, and what their goal is."

More importantly, such an anomaly was highly likely linked to the "Six Ministers Star Lord"! If that were true, the situation was dire. Being able to manipulate national fortune at will meant that the "Six Ministers Star Lord" might have ascended to the First Rank! If so, a great calamity might befall the world...

Xu Fu’s expression grew somber, and she closed her eyes.

...

Inside the Prince's residence, a maid standing in the corner of the great hall paused, and her eyes changed entirely. She looked at the people in the hall. Several members of the Gu family were confronting each other, with Gu Fangchen and her disciple, Gu Youren, in the center. Ning Caiyong stood in front of Gu Fangchen, looking at Gu Yuoye:

"I have already said that I knew about Chen'er meeting that stable hand, and I knew long ago he wasn't my child."

"It was my instruction that they meet; it is impossible for him to have had contact with the Demonic Sect!"

Although she tried her best to look severe and dignified, her face, steeped in gentleness, lacked persuasion. Gu Lianxian, sensing that Ning Caiyong was unconditionally defending Gu Fangchen, glared at her and asked:

"Mother, you say you knew, then tell us, when did Gu Fangchen meet that stable hand?"

"That stable hand has already been thrown into the prison by the Blood-Clad Guard. One interrogation and we will know the truth."

Gu Lianxian anticipated her next move and pointed at Gu Fangchen: "You are not allowed to speak!"

Gu Fangchen looked innocent, glanced at Ning Caiyong, and sighed inwardly.

"This..." Ning Caiyong bit her lip and could only force herself to say: "I don't remember clearly, it was three years ago, it seems... it seems it was during the Hour of the Ox."

Gu Lianxian looked at Gu Yuoye, who sat in the main seat. He clapped his hands, and soldiers immediately entered to kneel and await orders. Gu Yuoye said: "Do you have the stable hand's confession?"

The soldier nodded: "Yes."

Gu Yuoye looked at Ning Caiyong: "Bring it here for the Princess to see."

Hearing his tone, Ning Caiyong knew she must have guessed wrong. Her face turned pale, and she instinctively looked at Gu Fangchen.

Gu Fangchen remained calm, his expression very serious as he spoke to himself: "To be honest, if I were colluding with the Demonic Sect, why would the Martial Saint have taken me as his disciple?"

"You can doubt me, but you cannot doubt the judgment of the Martial Saint."

The little princess laughed: "Gu Fangchen, if you're scared, just say so. How could the Martial Saint take you as a disciple? What is the point of deceiving yourself like this?"

Becoming a disciple of the Martial Saint had been her dream since she was a child! This guy was trying to disgust her again! She turned her head, intending to pull others in to mock him, only to find that everyone else had fallen silent.

The little girl looked at her father in confusion: "Father?" Why was no one speaking, and why did they look as if they had swallowed a fly?

Gu Fangchen grinned: "Clearly, it's because I didn't lie."

He looked up, picked up a teacup, crossed his legs, and acted very arrogantly: "You are welcome to verify my identity, but if you ruin my master's reputation with such accusations, I will not be polite to you!"

Inwardly, he thought, *Why haven't they arrived yet...*

Ding Xingfeng, who was sitting in the room next door sipping tea: "..."

*Fine, he's become this kid's shield.*

The Martial Saint gave a cold laugh, picked up his teacup, and gently blew on the rising steam. He wasn't wrong, though; it was not for others to question the character of his disciple. Ding Xingfeng picked a tea leaf from his cup, sucked on it hard, and spat it out.

The once-limp tea leaf instantly turned hard, and with a "pfft" sound, it flew out. The leaf pierced through two walls, shattered the teacup in Gu Fangchen’s hand, and embedded itself in the floor between them, attracting everyone’s gaze.

Gu Fangchen: "..."

Ning Caiyong said: "The Martial Saint is currently drinking tea in the next room."

Gu Lianxian’s pupils constricted. Her expression went from disbelief to a blank, unacceptable void, her gaze dull. *Ho-how is this possible?!* How could the Martial Saint not take her, but take this piece of trash as a disciple...

Ning Caiyong called a maid over to clear the debris of the teacup. Gu Fangchen watched the maid pass by, caught a whiff of a very unique, cold, and faint fragrance, was stunned for a moment, and then let out a long sigh of relief.

*Ten thousand gold pieces, you've finally arrived!*

Recalling the original's behavior, he gave a wicked smile, reached out to grab the maid's hand, and said: "I hadn't noticed that we had a maid of such beauty in the house."

Gu Fangchen's gaze moved downward, and he said playfully: "It's just a pity... it's too flat."