Chapter 408: The Grand Preceptor Arrives

The autumn wind had just begun to rise, tinting the sky with a faint golden hue. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of ripening fruit and the crisp scent of fallen leaves.

Clad in plain robes, the Grand Preceptor, accompanied by a dozen white-robed disciples, slowly guided a wagon loaded with rice and flour along the edge of a golden wheat field.

It was harvest season, and the fields were dotted with villagers. When they caught sight of the wagon flying the flag of Great Wu, they instinctively grew wary.

Some dropped their farm tools and approached the wagon, while others ran in a hurry toward the nearby village—likely to report what they’d seen.

“Grand Preceptor, among these villagers working the fields, there may be spies planted by Yan Wuyong…” a white-robed scholar with refined features leaned close and whispered.

The Grand Preceptor brushed a golden leaf from his shoulder and smiled. “Don’t worry. They’re only sending word, not stopping us. If they meant to stop us, we’d have been detained already in the previous counties.”

“But you’re not wrong—these villagers are all Yan Wuyong’s informants.”

“Though the Meng River region has no natural defenses, the county and prefectural cities form a wedge-like layout. With every village and town under Yan Wuyong’s watch, this place has become especially easy to defend and hard to attack.”

The handsome scholar said with some frustration, “It’s only because of Great Wu’s internal strife that Yan Wuyong was able to take advantage. Otherwise, he’d never have risen so far.”

“Never underestimate your opponent,” the Grand Preceptor replied. Then, turning to the approaching villagers, he cupped his hands and greeted them, “Fellow elders and kind villagers, I am the Grand Preceptor of Great Wu, here to discuss an alliance with Lord Yan.”

“We’ve come from afar and couldn’t bring much, so we’ve brought along some fine rice and flour as a token of comfort for everyone.”

An old farmer with an iron pestle in hand glanced at the disciples unloading rice and flour from the wagon. He waved his hand and said, “Oh no, we can’t accept that. We’re just humble folk—fine rice and flour don’t sit well with us.”

“Please, Grand Preceptor, take these things back. It’d just be a waste in our stomachs.”

The Grand Preceptor smiled and waved, “Good folks, along this journey I’ve seen people living in peace and harmony—it reminded me of the Great Wu during times of peace.”

“I understand your grievances with the Great Wu court. You feel life is better under Lord Yan’s rule.”

“But everyone makes mistakes, and how much more so a giant like the Great Wu court?”

At this, the Grand Preceptor’s tone grew solemn. “You may not yet know this, but the demon race has already massacred the immortals and has broken through from Northern Huangtian…”

“I’ve come in person today to seek an alliance with Lord Yan and stand together against the demons.”

“We humans may fight amongst ourselves—but that’s our own matter. Now that demons are involved, we must unite against the common enemy, mustn’t we?”

Though the people of Great Wu were not unfamiliar with demons, their knowledge came mostly from sightings and rumors. As for immortals or Northern Huangtian, few had even heard of them in this age of limited communication.

Thus, the villagers—already harboring resentment toward the Great Wu court—found the Grand Preceptor’s words hard to accept.

“Demons? Immortals? We don’t know anything about that. You say you want to ally with Lord Yan—this isn’t some trick, is it?”

“I’ll tell you this—if you’re here to harm Lord Yan, this old man’s pestle won’t spare you!”

As he spoke, the old farmer swung his iron pestle, which cut through the air with a sharp whoosh.

Seeing someone take the lead, the other villagers picked up their tools and glared at the Grand Preceptor’s group, cursing and demanding they leave, accusing them of spreading lies to deceive them.

At this, the martial disciples behind the Grand Preceptor couldn’t bear it any longer and prepared to confront the villagers.

But the Grand Preceptor gestured for them to stand down and said, “Good folks, the demons devour humans, treating them like livestock. I’ve come without soldiers, from afar, precisely to show Great Wu’s sincerity.”

“Tell me—if Lord Yan didn’t allow me to come, how could I have made it this far?”

Indeed—if Lord Yan hadn’t allowed it, how could the Grand Preceptor have reached this place?

The villagers hesitated. They didn’t know whether they should keep blocking the way.

Just then, a young man who had run off earlier returned and whispered a few words to the old farmer. Only then did the villagers part to allow the Grand Preceptor’s group through.

The Grand Preceptor bowed in thanks, left a few bags of rice and flour, and continued on his way.

After they had gone, the old farmer looked at the young man in confusion. The latter waved his hand and said, “I don’t know why either. The message from the courier station just said to let them pass.”

The old farmer nodded. “If that man really is the Grand Preceptor of Great Wu, and he came in person to talk peace, then maybe… this demon disaster really is bigger than the sky.”

…

“Great Wu has split. The Third and Fifth Princes have both declared themselves Emperor.”

“One continues as Great Wu, the other has founded the Great Tong Dynasty!”

“That Great Tong Dynasty is a joint rule between the Fifth Prince and the demons!”

“There used to be a sect of immortals stationed in Northern Huangtian, but now they’ve been slaughtered by the demons, who are pouring forth in a massive horde…”

Yan Wuyong read the letter before him with a grim expression, as though a mountain weighed down on his chest.

“Now this Grand Preceptor of Great Wu is making a show of coming here, loudly proclaiming the demon invasion. I suspect he fears we won’t agree to an alliance, so he’s exaggerating things deliberately.”

As his voice fell, the gathered generals stepped forward and began to speak.

“Lord Yan, this Grand Preceptor is devious and treacherous. His schemes have cost us many good brothers!”

“Yes! I say we take this opportunity to seize and execute them—offer their heads as a war sacrifice!”

“We’ve got plenty of grain and provisions. Even if it comes to war, we don’t have to fear Great Wu!”

“I agree with General Niu! We must never collaborate with Great Wu. That pack of villains is full of trickery—this so-called peace mission could very well be a ploy, masking a deadly scheme!”

“Enough.”

Yan Wuyong raised a hand to silence them. “Do not be rash. Our scouts have found no sign of ambush nearby. No matter how clever this Grand Preceptor may be, he won’t stir up waves on our land.”

“He’s now less than half a day’s journey from Heyang Prefecture. We’ll meet him… and then decide.”