The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 334 - 152: Martial Arts Display of Power, Shaking the East Sea (Request for Subscription)_4

Chapter 334: Chapter 152: Martial Arts Display of Power, Shaking the East Sea (Request for Subscription)_4

Because Fusang Island is now the stronghold of the Eastern Yi people, the officials of the Great Yu Dynasty believed, wishfully, that the pirates coming from Fusang Island were all Eastern Yi people.

In fact, there were not many Eastern Yi people among the pirates; most of them were Fusang pirates driven away by the Eastern Yi people.

But the Eastern Yi people, misunderstood by the Great Yu Dynasty, couldn’t be bothered to explain.

They are not yet powerful enough; otherwise, they would retaliate against the Great Yu Dynasty and return to their homeland.

Seeing the defeated Fusang people raid and weaken the forces of the Great Yu Dynasty, they were pleased and even secretly supported them.

These pirates, now cast overseas, are located in the southern part of the East Sea and their influence is continuously extending southward, forming a loose alliance with the coastal aristocrats called the East Sea Gang.

The leader of the East Sea Gang is the Dongming Princess, rumored to have the blood of the Fusang Emperor.

She has a group of formidable samurai under her, and being profound and enigmatic herself, she holds considerable authority within the East Sea Gang.

This island, is a major stronghold within the territory of the East Sea Gang, known as—Dongming Island.

Nowadays, with its population growing, it has the atmosphere of a civilian town, with marketplaces, taverns...

Currently, an old storyteller with his granddaughter, is narrating tales of the battles of the Giant Whale Gang in a tavern.

The main character of this battle is particularly unique.

He is a scholar.

Not just any scholar, but the top-ranking scholar from South Zhili Province, known as the Top Scorer.

Many samurai do not understand what Top Scorer means, but the mention of a scholar ranking first invokes some awe.

Because although the Fusang people raid and plunder along the coast of the Great Yu Dynasty, they also admire the culture of the Heavenly Dynasty.

Scholars are the ones who grasp the essence of culture.

Being the top scholar of Zhili Province, they naturally see him with a sacred aura.

"Ren Tianyou, known as ’Eye of the East Sea’ with wide-reaching Divine Skills and exceptional swordsmanship, could such a character really be defeated by Xu Jieyuan?" a samurai interjected incredulously, despite Xu Qing’s prominent status.

The old storyteller smiled slightly: "Esteemed sir, please allow me to explain in detail."

He spoke as if he had personally witnessed the battle that day, intricately detailing every aspect as if off the cuff.

Not only that, but also Yan Fu, the five elders of Zhong Mountain.

Extraordinary swordsmanship, bizarre saber techniques, astonishing Dao Skills...

Listening, these samurai were thoroughly captivated.

Imagining these famous individuals from South Zhili and the East Sea, unable to defeat Xu Qing in successive fights, they were repeatedly astounded.

By the end, a mighty expert from the north, the Sect Leader of the True Gang Sect, surprisingly surrendered without a fight, earning disdain but also shock from the crowd.

Formidable experts, all seeing themselves as the protagonists of the story, possessing high pride. If they did not truly feel unable to win, why would they concede without a fight?

Being able to make a famed individual surrender without combat speaks volumes of Xu Qing’s might, planting a mysterious and formidable seed in the hearts of all the samurai.

As the Fusang people have the custom of deifying the strong, under the storyteller’s embellishment, it naturally led them to unconsciously regard Xu Qing as a divine being alive.

An exceptionally brilliant battle, rendered supremely by the storyteller.

As it concluded, the storyteller left with the little girl, leaving the samurai still lost in thought, savoring the lingering aftertaste.

...

...

After the storyteller departed, he and the little girl went to a small courtyard in the center of the island.

He instructed the girl to play outside while he quietly went in, opened a mechanism, and entered an underground secret chamber.

Soon, an oil lamp was lit.

"Reporting to the Hundred Households sir."

The person the old storyteller met was indeed a Hundred Households officer of the Embroidered Guard.

"Old Man Sun, with your hidden identity, bringing along a little girl, aren’t you afraid that one day she will get involved?"

"She lost her entire family due to the pirate’s chaos, leaving her alone, which I discovered in a haystack as I passed by. It was a life worth saving, so I saved her," sighed the old storyteller.

His real identity was a spy for the Embroidered Guard, acting through the role of a storyteller among the East Sea pirates, working for the Embroidered Guard.

Now, he’s been taken over by an officer from the Hockey Club sent from above.

Without any fuss, the officer said directly:

"Your mission this time is extremely important. The top orders you to focus on spreading the deeds of Xu Gongming, to plant seeds of fear in the hearts of these pirates. Soon, the Jinghai Guard of the Court will arrive to clean up the coastal pirates together with Xu Gongming and his colleagues."

"Sir, is the Court really serious this time?"

"Indeed, I believe the resolution from above is very firm this time. Moreover, Xu Jieyuan is an extremely formidable person; he should be able to achieve something. We, the lower ranks, can only hope in these prominent figures..." the officer sighed softly.

They are at the bottom, able to witness the misery among the common folk, yet powerless, occasionally even assisting in tyranny.

But still, they have a conscience.

Just unsure of what to do, nor willing to abandon their families and lay down their lives.

This man Xu Jieyuan, he knew somewhat, certainly different from other aristocratic scholars.

At least, he asked himself, throughout thousands of years, serving as an Old Master, who still would willingly help the Central of the Court to audit lands – they are rare indeed.

Even if eventually it becomes a legend like the tale of Sima Yi, he hoped for more such people in today’s world.

...

...

Xu Qing naturally was unaware of the Court’s arrangement among the East Sea pirates.

Under the analysis of Feng Wu and Gao Gongyuan, the location of Liubo Mountain was roughly determined, situated two hundred miles outside the influence of Giant Whale Gang and within the sphere of East Sea Gang.

"Mr. Jieyuan, this sea area often has sea fogs and dangerous Sea Beasts, and East Sea Gang’s ships are frequently here hunting Sea Beasts. Even if we find the place mentioned by Madam, it would be difficult to evade the eyes and ears of the East Sea Gang."

Because although the position of Liubo Mountain shifts constantly, it doesn’t move very swiftly; if they wait for it to leave this area, it might take several months.

And there’s also a possibility of being discovered by the East Sea Gang.

Or perhaps, the East Sea Gang has already discovered this mountain but are unaware of its benefits...

In any case, delay breeds change, and long nights breed many dreams.

Gao Gongyuan continued analyzing, if they encounter the main ships of East Sea Gang and engage in naval combat, their chance of winning wouldn’t be large.

Because behind the East Sea Gang, there are Fang Immortal Dao and Heshan Dao supporting them.

Dao Skill at sea is not suppressed by Dynasty Destiny, showing its true power. This is also why the Court’s army has trouble subduing the Tusi in Lingnan.

These remote places, not conforming to imperial rule, supported by Heshan Dao or shamans, combined with complex terrain and often unhealthy vapors, imply high costs of conquest and are prone to reversals.

Historically, combat was engaged only out of necessity; subdue first then appease, repeating the cycle, slowly enforcing imperial rule.

Fang Immortal Dao was prosperous in previous eras, now declined and scattered overseas, yet showing signs of rising again.

East Sea Gang is merely one of the powers pushed forward by them, where internal strife with Heshan Dao is not uncommon.

In a nutshell, Fang Immortal Dao mainly supports the pseudo-Japanese within the East Sea Gang; most are local coastal people with deep ties to local aristocratic families.

Heshan Dao supports the real Japanese.

"Mr. Jieyuan, I think we should not go alone; it’s best to have the Navy’s help from the Court."

He didn’t dare mention finding help from Giant Whale Gang or Sea Sand Gang, after all, even if they came to help, not just Xu Jieyuan, he himself would be afraid.

Xu Qing nodded slightly; he had already received news from Master Wu.

Old Wu’s timing is perfect.

Xu Qing further deduced that this affair might involve significant figures from the Central arranging things.

"Grand Secretary?" Xu Qing thought of someone in his mind.

"Hmph, always coming to me for difficult tasks, one day, I’ll manage you all too," Xu Qing snorted softly, then calmed his mind.

Just wait a bit longer.