The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 113 - 110: After the Snowy Night (Add a Continuation)

Chapter 113: Chapter 110: After the Snowy Night (Add a Continuation)

The snowy night once again returned to silence.

But beneath the night sky, those quietly stirring human hearts, were they truly at peace?

Ouyang Yan stepped into Wuya Inn, facing Zhuge Longsu who was holding a piece of letter paper, greeted him, "Teacher."

"Nothing happened in the Academy, right?" Zhuge Longsu asked.

"All is well."

"Hmm, that’s good."

"Teacher..." Ouyang Yan stared at the letter in Zhuge Longsu’s hand, which, judging by the envelope set aside, was clearly the letter sent by Ming Rui.

A letter personally delivered by Ming Rui, a warrior of the Divinity Realm, could not but arouse Ouyang Yan’s curiosity.

"If you want to read it, go ahead."

"Thank you, Teacher!" Ouyang Yan respectfully took the letter from Zhuge Longsu with both hands, lowered his head, and began reading.

"They... they plan to move the Literary Arena battle to early next spring. Why?"

"What else could it be," Zhuge Longsu said, "they are becoming impatient. When I summoned the Haqi River, it only confirmed their suspicion that the Academy held something they desired. They couldn’t wait any longer. If it were not for the presence of the teacher, tonight would not have seen just Ming Rui and Luo Feng."

Meng Shanhe had been in charge of Mountain River Academy for three hundred years, one of the oldest warriors of the Divinity Realm of this era, whose strength was unknown. After all, even Ji Muqing, the Daqian Ancestor, who once had to fend off joint assassination attempts by both the Righteous and Demonic, couldn’t claim to dominate Northern Zhou under Meng Shanhe’s protection.

Now with three hundred years of secluded cultivation, his strength was unfathomably deep.

It could be said that Meng Shanhe was Northern Zhou’s stabilizing Divine Needle. With Meng Shanhe around, Northern Zhou was as stable as Mount Tai.

"Teacher, we absolutely cannot agree to this. In the past Literary Arena battles, Philosophy has been repeatedly defeated, and the defeated have no right to set terms. To agree to this readily would only make it appear that Mountain River Academy is weak and easily bullied," Ouyang Yan said indignantly.

"It’s not necessarily about appearing weak and bullied. Think of it another way, it could also mean that we are confident and fearless of any mishaps. With the current situation, the Northern Zhou Imperial Family has recognized, just like Daqian, the existence of such a thing, and delaying would only provoke discord between us and the Imperial Family. Agreeing to move the Literary Arena battle earlier could actually use Daqian’s pressure to make the Imperial Family and us work together against external enemies. After overcoming the crisis, it wouldn’t be too late to sort out troubles with the Imperial Family."

Ouyang Yan, valued by Zhuge Longsu, was naturally not a simple-minded individual and could understand the urgency, "Teacher’s insight is profound!"

"Tomorrow, start preparing for the Literary Arena battle and related matters."

"Your student understands."

...............

Within the Northern Zhou Imperial Palace.

The Laba Festival banquet hosted by the Imperial Family had ended, and the Princes had dispersed. Except for some young Princes and Princesses, the older Princes had already moved out of the palace, as staying overnight in the palace was somewhat inappropriate.

However, one person still remained in the Da Ming Palace where the banquet was held—Emperor of Northern Zhou, Feng Tianming.

A multicolored radiance from the pitch-black night sky flashed into the Da Ming Palace, and as the light dispersed, it revealed Feng Mingxiao in a multicolored phoenix robe.

"Imperial Sister, you’ve arrived," said Feng Tianming, rising to his feet.

If Meng Shanhe was Northern Zhou’s stabilizing Divine Needle, Feng Mingxiao was the backbone of the Northern Zhou Imperial Family, even Emperor Feng Tianming, wouldn’t dare treat her lightly.

In response to the Emperor’s greeting, Feng Mingxiao merely nodded indifferently.

"Imperial Sister, is it confirmed?"

The question was abrupt, but Feng Mingxiao knew what he referred to.

Beneath Feng Tianming’s eagerly anticipative gaze, Feng Mingxiao nodded and said, "Mountain River Academy indeed has traces of Emperor Martial Art. Zhuge Longsu tonight gathered the Vast Righteous Qi left by generations of Academy students, easily defeating Ming Rui of the Divinity Realm, which must be the method to harness Emperor Dragon Energy."

"That’s great." Feng Tianming clenched his fists and waved his arms vigorously, the surprise was so great that he found it hard to maintain the composure fitting an Emperor.

"What do you plan to do next, directly confront Mountain River Academy for it? With your status, you might have the chance to obtain the Emperor Martial Art directly from Zhuge Longsu," said Feng Mingxiao.

"There’s a chance, but it’s a bit inadvisable."

As the Emperor, possessing a deep and calculating nature, Feng Tianming soon calmed down from his elation, "Direct confrontation, whether successful or not, would undoubtedly sour the relationship with Mountain River Academy. With Daqian eyeing us like a hungry tiger, we cannot afford even a slight rift with the Academy at this time."

"Don’t you have a son who has become Zhuge Longsu’s personal disciple? Can’t he get it directly from Zhuge Longsu?" Feng Mingxiao asked.

Mentioning this only made Feng Tianming feel a surge of anger, fuming, "Women ruining things, letting rumors spread everywhere that Eighth Prince will surely take over as head of Mountain River Academy. Recently, Zhuge Longsu has already subtly expressed his dissatisfaction to me, all because of that foolish woman’s doings. Women ruining things!!"

Every time Feng Tianming thought of the foolish acts of the Eighth Prince’s mother—the Empress—he deeply resented it. Mountain River Academy had protected Northern Zhou for three hundred years and nurtured countless civil and military officials for Northern Zhou, becoming an indispensable pillar of the kingdom. It could be said that nowadays Northern Zhou might lack him, the Emperor, but could not be withoutMountain River Academy.

An Emperor could be replaced, there were plenty of royal progeny, even if all the Princes were gone, other royal family members could step up. However, without Mountain River Academy, once Daqian launched its military northwards, Northern Zhou would be directly obliterated by Daqian.

"Luckily, Zhuge Longsu knows this was not my intention, only propping up Ninth and Eighth to contend against each other. Otherwise, I would have no choice but to confine her to the Cold Palace," Feng Tianming said harshly.

"Ninth?" Feng Mingxiao pondered slightly, "Your sickly son?"

It had to be said, Feng Jiu’s reputation was great, even Feng Mingxiao had heard of his fame. Considering Feng Mingxiao dwelt deep within the palace, only vaguely aware of the rising fame of Eighth Prince Feng Qiwu, yet knew about Feng Jiu’s deeds.

"Yes, Ninth has already compensated for his innate deficiencies and now also has cultivated ’Vast Righteous Qi.’ At tonight’s banquet, I rewarded him greatly," Feng Tianming said, a reassuring smile hanging on his lips, resembling a father wishing great prospects for his son.

"When useless, you wish he’d disappear, when useful, you raise him high; you really are pragmatic. I heard that your Ninth son doesn’t even have a proper name. You really are a great father," Feng Mingxiao said, seeing through the cold exploitation behind the fatherly smile, her words laden with irony.

"This... Imperial Sister, it’s for the Imperial Family..."

"Forget it, that’s your family matter, I have no interest in meddling," Feng Mingxiao said, transforming into a rainbow of colors and vanishing from the Da Ming Palace.

Leaving Feng Tianming standing alone in the palace, sitting solitarily on the imperial throne.