Within a pavilion atop a rockery at the Grand Commissioner's mansion, two figures watched Lin Zhao and Leng Yan depart the manor gates. One was Wen Hao, formerly known as Xiao Shit头, who had just shed his golden armor, and the other was an old general, Li Yu. A hundred years prior, Li Yu had been dispatched by Marquis Wen to the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake to escort Xiao Shit头 down the mountain and into the youth camp. Now, he was a first-rank commander.
"He has changed, but I can still recognize him."
Li Yu's eyes fixed on Lin Zhao's retreating back and he murmured, "Is it truly necessary to do this?"
Wen Hao's gaze was cold, his fist intent almost impossible to suppress. He looked at Li Yu with a complicated expression and said, "This matter ends here. Let it be as if nothing happened, and do not speak of it to anyone."
"Yes!"
Li Yu clasped his fists. "This subordinate obeys!"
Wen Hao turned his gaze back to the manor gate, watching Lin Zhao's silhouette. He saw the sword on Lin Zhao's back, identical to the one from the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake, even the aura felt similar. There was no mistake; in this world, there was only one person called "Xiao Shit头," and that was him. Yet, he could never go back.
How could he possibly go back?
Less than a month after the news of Lin Zhao's death at the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake arrived, he, Xiao Shit头, had pledged allegiance to Marquis Wen, recognizing him as his foster father. He had even changed his name, no longer called Shi Hu, but Wen Hao – the 'Wen' from Wen Shuoyang, and the 'Hao' from Yue Hao, signifying a future as a commander of both literary and martial prowess for the human race. Having changed his name, how could he possibly acknowledge Lin Zhao Gege again?
He clenched his fist, his expression growing more complex.
More importantly, there were other factors. The current situation in the Great Shang court was turbulent. Faced with the growing unrest from the four northern tribes, the court was divided. One faction was the war party led by Li Chunyang, supported by the three northern provinces and the six Grand Hall Bureaus. The central and southern three provinces were lands of abundance, while the three northern provinces bore the brunt of the human race's northern defense. More than half of the Great Shang's army came from these northern provinces. Should the demon race advance south, their first targets would be Yunzhou, Yanzhou, and Ningzhou. This was why the northern provinces advocated for war. Li Chunyang, the Grand Minister of War, was heavily favored by the Emperor and was not to be underestimated.
Conversely, in the south, Wen Hao, as the Grand Commissioner, stood in opposition to Li Chunyang in the Ministry of War. His support came from the three southern provinces, and the staunch backing of the Great Duke Lin Yan and Marquis Chun'an of Furong Prefecture, his father-in-law. Lin Yan and Zhang Yuguan held a moderate appeasement attitude towards the prevailing situation. If the demon race wanted the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake, let them have it. If they wanted the Fusu Great Wall, so be it, as long as they did not encroach upon human territory. The Great Shang Dynasty possessed vast territories and resources, and by accumulating the world's fortune, it was not impossible to outlast the four northern tribes.
Now, Wen Hao had also received some news from the north. A sword cultivator named "Baiyi" had appeared at the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake. He had rallied the generals of the Great Chen Dynasty such as Zhuan Zhi, Mu Zha, and Chu Yu under his banner, establishing a considerable army. With the support of Lin Xingchu of Xiujian River and Lin Wanhua of Fusu Great Wall, he had repeatedly repelled the upper five realms of the demon race, killing Nian Kui, Shi Jungang, and Wu Li, among others. Wu Li, in particular, was a twelfth realm cultivator!
If he, Wen Hao, were to truly acknowledge Lin Zhao as "Xiao Shit头" again, where would his future position lie? Would he go to the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake and follow "Lin Zhao Gege" to resist the demon race? Would he abandon his post as Grand Commissioner, forsake the million soldiers behind him, and become a mere soldier at the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake?
The thought made him feel a surge of anger. Why, after Lin Zhao had self-detonated and reincarnated, couldn't he do something else besides returning to the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake to oppose the demon race, all for a phrase like "Dare to be the first in the world"? The grand strategy of the human race required gradual planning. What was the point of displaying mere personal bravery? In the past, for the sake of the entire world, he had self-detonated his War God's Gall, resulting in his own demise. What had he gained? Had the Great Shang Dynasty erected a shrine and chronicled his deeds as Lin Baiyi of the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake? No, nothing. Everything about him existed only in the historical records!
Wen Hao gritted his teeth.
Let the past remain in the past. He was no longer that Xiao Shit头. He no longer wanted to be a nobody, constantly looking up to others. And Lin Zhao was no longer the Lin Zhao Gege who could shield him from the wind and rain in his heart. He was merely a mere cultivator of the lower five realms. The northern territories were perilous; his death at the hands of a powerful demon was only a matter of time. Zhuan Zhi could not protect him, nor could Mu Zha or Chu Yu.
He sighed, suppressing the guilt in his heart. "Has Chen Xi met with His Majesty?"
"Yes."
Li Yu nodded. "I just received a swift bird dispatch. Chen Xi left the palace after meeting the Emperor."
"Hmph!"
Wen Hao sneered. "Chen Xi, a mere Hall Master, dares to defy the imperial decree and even dare to present herself to the Emperor to offer advice? Her tenure as Hall Master is likely at its end. The Great Shang imperial family tolerates no imperfections. Since Chen Xi, stationed in Yunzhou, cannot fulfill her role as a pawn properly, the Great Shang imperial family will not spare her."
Li Yu's brow furrowed. "Grand Commissioner, do you mean... the Great Shang imperial family might take action against Chen Xi?"
"Perhaps, perhaps not. Who can say."
Wen Hao mused for a moment. "Let's not dwell on it. Let's go, prepare some simple dishes, and have a drink with me. I feel quite stifled."
Li Yu understood implicitly and clasped his fists. "Very well, I will have someone prepare it immediately."
...
In a dilapidated alley.
Peach blossoms bloomed along the roadside in the humble alley, exuding a vibrant spring atmosphere. Lin Zhao had no inclination to level up or hunt for bosses. With his hands hanging low, carrying the swords Zhan Long and Can Yang on his back, he walked quietly through the alley, his mind a chaotic mess. He kept asking himself if he had truly wronged Xiao Shit头 in some way. Was he still holding a grudge about him sending him to the youth camp back then?
"Don't think too much about it."
Leng Yan said softly, "This has nothing to do with you. It's just that Xiao Shit头 was blinded by wealth and status. If he doesn't recognize you now, why should you dwell on it? Not everyone in this world is as you wish them to be, but at least most people at the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake are still the same as before, aren't they? Zhuan Zhi, Mu Zha, and even Xiao Jiu'er who returned recently, everyone is the same. Only he, Shi Hu, has changed. In the capital city of Bai Di, a place of shifting alliances and treacherous currents, he has changed too much."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded gently, looking at Leng Yan with a wry smile. "A Yan, I'm just finding it hard to accept for a moment. It's alright, it's alright... I'll get used to it after some time."
"Alright~~~"
Leng Yan looked at a wine banner swaying in the breeze ahead and chuckled. "There's a wine shop over there. Although it doesn't look very high-class, perhaps the wine is good. Let me treat you to a pot?"
"Mm, okay."
The two headed straight towards it. The place for drinking in this wine shop was very simple, right by the roadside, drafty on all sides, with a thatched roof. However, there were several peach trees nearby. After a fresh rain, the peach blossoms were in full bloom, and the scenery was quite pleasant. Leng Yan chose a table by the roadside, sat opposite Lin Zhao, and said with a smile, "Waiter, bring us wine, your best wine, and some small dishes."
"Coming right up!"
The waiter repeatedly wiped the table and said with a smile, "Please wait a moment, esteemed guests. The food and wine will be here shortly!"
A short while later, a few small dishes and a pot of the finest wine in this place were placed on the table. The shop was humble, and the food was indeed modest: just a plate of peanuts, a plate of soy-marinated beef, and a portion of pickles. It must have been quite difficult for such a wine shop to survive in the prosperous Bai Di City.
Lin Zhao picked up his wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp, feeling a burning sensation in his throat. The taste of this wine... was probably worse than his own cheap water wine at 10 grams per pot, but it didn't matter. In truth, he wasn't in the mood to savor the taste of wine right now.
Leng Yan also took a sip of wine and immediately frowned from the spiciness, saying with a smile, "The taste is really not good. Next time I'll treat you to a better wine at a grand restaurant."
"It's fine."
Lin Zhao smiled. "As long as there's wine to drink, I, a sword cultivator, am not picky."
Leng Yan chuckled softly. She watched Lin Zhao drink while she continuously reviewed the information about Wen Hao of Bai Di City. Then, she said gently, "Xiao Shit头 is now called Wen Hao. According to the background story, shortly after the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake began, Wen Shuoyang selected a young boy from the youth camp and took him as his adopted son, renaming him Wen Hao. Afterward, this Wen Hao, supported by Wen Shuoyang's former subordinates, grew stronger day by day. He became an acquaintance of Great Duke Lin Yan of Bai Di City and later married the daughter of Marquis Chun'an of Furong Prefecture."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao ate a peanut and said, "Continue."
"Alright."
Leng Yan continued, "At that time, Li Chunyang was already the Grand Minister of War, commanding all the troops in the three northern provinces, campaigning west against the barbarians, and suppressing rebellions in the south, achieving many great feats. He was at the height of his power in court. Seeing Li Chunyang's influence grow step by step, the Great Shang imperial family, the Great Duke, Marquis Chun'an, and others recommended Wen Hao to be the Grand Commissioner, with the same military rank and official position as the Grand Minister of War, thereby dividing half of Li Chunyang's military power in court. From that point on, Xiao Shit头's mindset should have begun to change."
"Is that so..."
Lin Zhao frowned. "He's infatuated with power, so he's unwilling to acknowledge me anymore. Because acknowledging me would potentially affect his future career."
"That's right."
Leng Yan pursed her red lips. "Between his future prospects and you, he chose his future. You can't entirely blame him. You can only say that Xiao Shit头 has truly changed, becoming cold and ungrateful."
She knitted her delicate brows. "To say something you might not like to hear, back when you were sparring with him on the stone bridge, deliberately suppressing your cultivation, I once saw him strike you with almost no restraint, even with ferocity in his eyes. I felt then that this child's disposition had serious problems. But at that time, you doted on him too much, treating him like a younger brother, so you were too close to see it clearly."
"Is that so..."
Lin Zhao looked somewhat dejected and continued to drink.
...
A short while later, amidst the sound of horse hooves, a female general slowly rode past the humble alley. Her appearance was exquisite and beautiful, clad in a dark blue armor adorned with a golden six-pointed star at the collar. She was Chen Xi, the Lord of Tian Ji City and the commander of the Cang Nan Iron Cavalry. Chen Xi appeared preoccupied and did not notice Lin Zhao in the nearby wine shop as she rode past.
A gentle breeze blew in Chen Xi's wake.
In an instant, a strong sword intent erupted. The next moment, Chen Xi, along with her horse, vanished from the humble alley, enveloped in a twelfth realm sword domain!
"Not good!"
Lin Zhao suddenly stood up. "Someone is assassinating Chen Xi!"