Chapter 423: No Eternal Enemies

In the twelfth year since the outbreak of war in Great Wu, Four Corners Town, protected by the Universal Temple, had expanded significantly. Both sides of the once-spacious main road were now lined with bamboo or thatched huts, housing the many displaced commoners.

In this chaotic world, aside from the Meng River region, it was only in this place that the people could still live with a shred of dignity…

One day, as heavy rain poured down, the townsfolk of Four Corners Town ended their farming early and returned to their homes to rest.

On the narrow streets, only the self-organized “night watchmen” patrolled the alleys and lanes—young and able townsfolk on the lookout to prevent enemy spies from the Great Tong Dynasty from slipping in.

Boom!

A bolt of bluish lightning tore across the night sky, illuminating all of Four Corners Town in an instant. Through the curtain of rain rode a figure cloaked in a straw rain cape, galloping in from the east, heading straight for the Universal Temple.

However, the thunder had drawn the attention of the night watchmen, and so they failed to notice the rider rushing down a nearby street.

Before long, the horse stopped before the Universal Temple. The rider dismounted with a swift motion and strode toward the tightly shut temple doors.

Just as he was about to knock, a cool voice rang out behind him: “Who are you?”

Startled, the cloaked man turned quickly. In the dim light, he spotted a striking young woman leaning against a wooden pillar not far from the door, a longsword held in her arms.

He studied her for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, “Ye Kunxing.”

The sword-bearing woman was clearly surprised. She raised her eyebrows and said, “From the Great Tong Dynasty… Emperor Tongchu?”

The cloaked man removed his dripping hat and rain cape, then nodded. “It is I.”

Clang!

As the hum of a sword rang out beside his ear, Emperor Tongchu’s vision blurred. In the next instant, the tip of a sharp sword hovered just three centimeters from his pupil.

A streak of blood-tears trickled from the corner of his eye—not from a killing blow, but from the sword’s overwhelming sharpness.

“You came here to die?”

His vision bathed in red, Tongchu blinked hard until things gradually came back into focus. “I’ve come to deliver a message. The Great Tong Dynasty’s demons are planning an assault on Four Corners Town, with human cavalry in the vanguard and the demons lying in wait.”

“This time, I’ve come not just to warn you, but also to propose a plan—to lure the demons into a trap and slaughter them.”

At these words, Qiao Min fell silent for a moment, then looked past him. “What do you think?”

There’s someone else?

Tongchu turned around and saw a figure step out of the shadows—an elderly man.

Before he could say anything, the scene before him shifted once more. When his vision cleared, he was already inside the Universal Temple.

Gazing at the ever-changing, eerie idol in the main hall, Tongchu chuckled. “The Universal Temple… a temple for all beings. Fascinating.”

“Ahem…” Temple Keeper Huang cleared his throat. “Emperor Tongchu, you’ve got some nerve. If I hadn’t possessed the art of sensing aura and seen the imperial energy of a human emperor on you, I would never have acknowledged your identity.”

“But how can you be so sure we’ll believe you?”

“Or even spare your life?”

Tongchu looked at him and smiled. “Back then, Mr. Gu spared me. So I figured you wouldn’t kill me either.”

“And besides, I came in person precisely because I feared you wouldn’t believe me. This is how I show my sincerity.”

Temple Keeper Huang frowned. “You met Mr. Gu?”

“Of course.” Tongchu proceeded to recount how he had once accompanied Mr. Gu to the immortal sect, only to discover an immortal by his side. As punishment, he was made a refugee and sent back to the capital.

From his account, Temple Keeper Huang could roughly tell the story was genuine. After all, someone like Mr. Gu couldn’t be imagined—only those who had seen or interacted with him could describe even a sliver of his mannerisms.

After a long silence, Temple Keeper Huang asked solemnly, “Weren’t your nations allies? Why betray them now?”

“There are no eternal alliances, just as there are no eternal enemies.”

“Just like the former court of Great Wu and the Yan Southern Army. When hearts grow greedy… or more precisely, when compassion wanes, even the strongest alliances can crumble.”

Here, Emperor Tongchu couldn’t help but laugh. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Now that the demon rulers of the Great Tong Dynasty seek to rise above humanity, and you already hold a grudge against them…”

“It is only natural that we form an alliance.”

“Well said,” Temple Keeper Huang nodded, now looking at Tongchu with a hint of respect.

Indeed, a man who had survived and risen to this point with limited power could hardly be a mere bootlicker to the demons.

Realizing this man was the true decision-maker of the temple, Tongchu asked, “Temple Keeper Huang, what is your decision?”

“Shall we work together to destroy the damnable demons—or shall I die here and now?”

After a long pause, Temple Keeper Huang looked up and said firmly, “Then let us work together.”

Hearing this, Emperor Tongchu cupped his hands and smiled. “Temple Keeper Huang, your decision today will grant the Yan Southern Army another year to breathe… and take 100,000 demon soldiers to their graves!”

Temple Keeper Huang waved a hand. “No more empty talk—let’s hear the plan.”

Two hours later, Emperor Tongchu once again donned his rain cape and hat and rode off. Watching his figure vanish into the rain, Temple Keeper Huang sighed. “This Emperor Tongchu… his methods are a thousandfold harsher than Emperor Ye.”

“To trade the lives of his own for those of the demons—profitable or not, that’s still thirty thousand elite soldiers…”

Qiao Min replied flatly, “To bargain with a tiger is to dance on a blade’s edge. With that kind of ruthlessness, it’s hardly surprising.”

“Oh?” Temple Keeper Huang looked at the now-grown Qiao Min beside him with interest and chuckled. “Still, tonight held one surprise—I thought you’d kill him without hesitation.”

“Why did you stay your hand?”

“He’s not a demon, and he bore no killing intent.” She glanced sideways at him and frowned. “Do you really see me as nothing more than a bloodthirsty brute?”

“What are you saying?” Temple Keeper Huang laughed like an old rascal, waving his hand. “In my eyes, you’ll always be that little girl who’s shorter than her sword.”

“Boring.” With that, Qiao Min sat beneath the eaves, laying her iron sword across her lap, and stared blankly into the rain…