Feng Ru Nan returned to Shang Chao Zong, swallowing her pride.
One could say that circumstances were indeed stronger than man. The authority over two counties now rested in Shang Chao Zong's hands. And as Peng Yu Cai had said, for the well-being of the Feng family, their granddaughter had to return to her husband.
In principle, Shang Chao Zong would not go against the Feng family out of respect for Peng Yu Cai. But who knew what the future held.
Moreover, excessive rumors surrounding their marriage would not lead to anything good. Who knew whom Shang Chao Zong might take as a wife if his official wife wasn't by his side? And he would genuinely have the right to do so.
The Heavenly Jade Sect was primarily composed of cultivators. And they, much like Niu You Dao, understood little about military affairs. Therefore, since they had already handed power over to Shang Chao Zong, they could not simply interfere in his matters now.
And if Shang Chao Zong decided to strip the Feng family of all their power, then perhaps even Peng Yu Cai would be powerless to stop him.
As Feng Ru Nan was about to arrive at Qingshan County, clouds suddenly gathered in the clear sky, and rain began to fall. This only dampened Feng Ru Nan's already somber mood completely.
When she approached the city gates, she noticed Shang Chao Zong. He had personally brought people to welcome his wife. However, she observed that Shang Chao Zong himself wasn't greeting her. As she drew closer, Shang Chao Zong raised his head and gazed into the rainy sky.
After a while, Lan Ruo Ting reported to him:
"Prince, they have arrived!"
Shu Qing rushed over and offered a rain cloak to her sister-in-law. She also helped Feng Ru Nan dismount. Through the veil of rain, Feng Ru Nan saw a group of people on horseback, escorting a carriage.
Shu Qing helped Feng Ru Nan and was just about to go forward with Lan Ruo Ting and Shang Chao Zong to meet the carriage, when a man in a conical hat rode up and said:
"My Lord says there's no need to greet him now. It would be better for the Prince to return to the palace, and they can meet there..." Having said this, the man returned.
Feng Ru Nan curiously followed Shang Chao Zong and the others. She was very curious: "Who could be in that carriage?"
Bai Yao was also curious.
Several dozen people in conical hats escorted the carriage to the back of the governor's palace.
A wheelchair was rolled out from the carriage, and then a person was helped out.
Lan Ruo Ting, standing in the rain, respectfully stepped forward, bowed, and clasped his hands:
"General Meng!"
The arriving individual was none other than Meng Shan Ming. He was needed here now, and so he had come.
"Lan, it's been a long time." Meng Shan Ming nodded his gray head at Lan Ruo Ting.
"Uncle Meng!" The Shang siblings politely greeted him.
Although they themselves were getting wet in the rain, they approached him from both sides, intending to open an umbrella to keep Meng Shan Ming from getting soaked.
"I wouldn't dare trouble the Prince and Princess." Meng Shan Ming quickly waved his hand, and a person came out from behind him, preventing the siblings from getting wet. Meng Shan Ming himself, clasping his hands, replied:
"A cripple cannot offer a proper greeting. I beg the Prince's forgiveness!"
"Uncle Meng, let's get out of the rain first." Shang Chao Zong waved his hand.
Someone helped Meng Shan Ming into his wheelchair, and they all headed towards the palace.
Bai Yao stood under the eaves, observing all this. Feng Ru Nan, however, didn't even think about changing her wet clothes; she wanted to know who this person was, whom the Shang siblings personally came to meet.
Luo An, in his conical hat, pushed the wheelchair to the stairs, then lifted the chair and rolled it into the main hall.
Bai Yao and Feng Ru Nan followed him.
In the main hall, Shu Qing herself took a towel from a maid and helped Meng Shan Ming dry off from the rain.
Meng Shan Ming looked around and asked:
"Why is Master Dong Guo's last disciple not here?"
Shang Chao Zong: "Lord Dao is cultivating outside the city. He doesn't know you've arrived yet."
Meng Shan Ming nodded, then his gaze fell upon Feng Ru Nan. A glint appeared in his eyes, and he asked:
"And this must be the Princess?"
Feng Ru Nan looked at the gray-haired old man with his elegant and upright posture:
"Precisely. And who might you be?"
Meng Shan Ming smiled warmly, clasped his hands, and said:
"Meng Shan Ming greets the Princess! A mere cripple cannot offer a proper greeting, I beg the Princess's forgiveness!"
"Meng Shan Ming?" Feng Ru Nan exclaimed to herself in surprise, "Is it *that* Meng Shan Ming?"
She was a military person herself, and in the Yan Kingdom, she might not have heard of other military figures, but everyone knew of Meng Shan Ming. This man was Ning Wang Shang Jian Bo's foremost general. He was a first-class scholar and military figure. It was he who created the Yinyang and Wuli Guards. It was he who had never lost a single battle!
For military men of the Yan Kingdom, Meng Shan Ming was like a god of war. He was the idol of all soldiers. Everyone dreamed and still dreams of becoming like him.
And Feng Ru Nan was no exception. She might not have revered Shang Chao Zong, but she certainly revered him. No matter how one looked at it, Meng Shan Ming was superior to her in all aspects.
Only, she doubted. Hadn't Meng Shan Ming already died?
However, since the Shang siblings were personally meeting him, it had to be him. She quickly clasped her hands:
"Feng Ru Nan greets General Meng!"
Meng Shan Ming waved his hand:
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. I am but a cripple now, how could I be worthy of such a greeting from the Princess!?"
He assessed Feng Ru Nan and sighed to himself, "The Prince truly got quite a marvel. What kind of situation was the Prince in, to have been forced to take her as his wife?" However, he had heard more about Feng Ru Nan's roughness.
Bai Yao, standing nearby, was also astonished. He too had heard of Meng Shan Ming. But he hadn't imagined that Shang Chao Zong would invite him.
Although Bai Yao knew nothing of military affairs, he understood that Shang Chao Zong had summoned this man to recreate the Wuli and Yinyang Guards! This was no small matter. Bai Yao immediately decided to report this to his sect.
Feng Ru Nan sighed to herself. After the Heavenly Jade Sect learned that Meng Shan Ming had arrived, she would, of course, have to submit to Shang Chao Zong. It was no wonder they had handed the reins of power to Shang Chao Zong. Even a dead centipede doesn't fall over. The inner strength of the Shang family was still far greater than that of the Feng family. Who knew how many hidden cards the Shang family still held?
There were many outsiders present, so important matters were put off for later. Very quickly, Meng Shan Ming was wheeled into Shang Chao Zong's library.
Looking at the library, Meng Shan Ming sighed. The library was simple.
"The Prince extricated himself from the situation so quickly. Ning Wang must be at peace."
Shang Chao Zong smiled bitterly:
"It's all thanks to Lord Dao. Otherwise, today would not exist. He constantly paved the way for me, and I simply arrived to find everything ready."
Meng Shan Ming nodded slightly. He knew some things from secret letters, so he spoke with a smile:
"It seems Master Dong Guo foresaw everything. I just didn't expect him to arrange it all so elegantly. When there's time, I must pay my respects to him."
Lan Ruo Ting, looking at Shang Chao Zong, said:
"Since General Meng has descended from the mountains, some matters cannot be delayed. This time, we would like to ask General Meng, of course, to re-establish the Wuli and Yinyang Guards. And secondly, we wish to ask General Meng to contact the Prince's former veterans. When the purge happened, many generals were forced to raise their own troops. Perhaps out of respect for General Meng, they will join us!"
Meng Shan Ming shook his head with a smile:
"Perhaps they will join out of respect for me. But these are different times now. Much has changed. And power is not on the Prince's side right now. The Prince is currently very weak and unstable. First, he must establish an imposing presence and strength for himself. Then, everything will flow in like water to a river. Otherwise, there's no need to needlessly create a stir. Furthermore, under such circumstances, we might quarrel among ourselves and gain more enemies. We must wait a little longer..."
Beneath the storm and rain, Niu You Dao sat on the mountain, his eyes closed. Raindrops fell upon him and immediately dried. He was currently cultivating the Qian and Kun Method, specifically the Qian and Kun Agility Technique.
He sat motionless amidst this natural force. It was surprising why he sat there without seeking shelter from the rain. But all of this was precisely connected to the rain—it was a link to movement and the absence of movement.
How vast are heaven and earth. Whether you move or don't move, whether you achieve something or not—all of this lies within the depths of your consciousness. And it seems so insignificant.
To comprehend the Qian and Kun Agility Technique, one must first understand the transformation technique of Yin and Yang, grasp the balance of Yin and Yang, and be able to cultivate Qian and Kun power, transforming Qian and Kun force. Only then will you learn how to move by the *cun*. Qian and Kun power and the Qian and Kun Agility Technique complement each other. Qian is heaven, Kun is earth. The boundary between movement and the absence of movement—this is precisely the boundary of Qian and Kun. After realizing this, you can move in all directions within Qian and Kun. One could say that the Qian and Kun Agility Technique is not a technique of grand ascents and descents. It is a technique for controlling Qian and Kun power.
In the Qian and Kun technique, there is a saying: "A person facing water will find it a barrier, but a fish facing water will find it freedom."
Thus, transforming a barrier into freedom—this is the profound essence of the Qian and Kun Agility Technique.
Why do the Qian and Kun Agility Technique and Qian and Kun power complement each other?
The battle outside Zhaixing City was a clear example of this. When opponents of the same cultivation level are not equal in strength, how was Niu You Dao able to dissolve an enemy's attack with his palm? But if the opponent were far more powerful than you, you simply wouldn't have time to dissolve their attack.
The entire Qian and Kun Agility Technique lies within the saying: "Between movement and the absence of movement, there is vastness—heaven and earth!"
At this moment, Niu You Dao was precisely comprehending this. Using the wind and rain, he felt every gust of wind, every raindrop, and allowed them to assault him.
Having grasped a bit of this method, he gradually progressed.
This was a profound, mysterious, and enigmatic meaning, difficult to explain with words. One simply had to understand it.
It was precisely these kinds of cultivation methods that Yuan Gang disliked, for they were far too mysterious...
In a mountainous area, outside Beizhou City.
Two people stopped, and the escorting Lu Sheng Zhong said:
"I can't accompany you any further. We'll meet again later. Give my regards to Lord Dao!"
Lu Sheng Zhong had arrived to replace Wu San Liang. Wu San Liang already knew he had been ordered to return to Qingshan.
Wu San Liang clasped his hands: "I'll take my leave. Take care!"
Watching Wu San Liang depart, Lu Sheng Zhong clasped his hands behind his back and sighed. He did not yet know Shao Ping Bo personally. But Niu You Dao constantly reminded him that Shao Ping Bo was a very dangerous man and that he needed to be extremely careful around him.
Niu You Dao did not restrict Lu Sheng Zhong's actions. He generally said: "Your goal: kill Shao Ping Bo! If that fails, then you must deprive him of his freedom!"