Chapter 322: Chapter 322: A Cup of Clear Tea
A month and a half later, Zhong Shan, Ah Da, and Zhi Huo found themselves standing before the gates of a grand city. Gazing up at the two characters etched above the city gate, "Guang Hui" (Radiance), Ah Da couldn't suppress his disbelief.
"Guang Hui City? This is one of the major strongholds, a city that was under Xiao Wang's control. How could it be ours now? Did Master really manage to conquer this impregnable fortress within these past six months?"
At that moment, the gates of Guang Hui City swung open with a resounding creak. Out strode Shui Wuhen and Zhao Chuan, flanked by two rows of commanders.
"Welcome back, Grand Marshal!" The commanders chorused in unison, their voices brimming with excitement. Shui Wuhen's face was still flushed with the thrill of victory.
Zhao Chuan's eyes were filled with admiration and awe.
"Let's discuss this inside," Zhong Shan said curtly.
"Yes, sir!" the commanders responded in unison.
Ah Da was left astonished, stealing a glance at Shui Wuhen in sheer surprise. They had actually taken Guang Hui City?
In the City Lord's mansion of Guang Hui City, Zhong Shan sat at the marshal's desk, listening to his officers report the battle outcomes.
"Grand Marshal, all three cities have been secured!" Shui Wuhen exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement.
"You've worked hard these past months," Zhong Shan said with a smile.
"It was no trouble at all!" Shui Wuhen quickly shook his head, his expression one of earnestness.
"Grand Marshal, how did you know that the defenses of these three cities would be so lax?" Zhao Chuan finally couldn't contain his curiosity any longer.
Glancing at Zhao Chuan, Zhong Shan smiled slightly but didn't respond directly. Instead, he gestured for Shui Wuhen to explain, clearly intending to develop his subordinate's capabilities.
"Because after the Demonic Incident, Yue Ming City and Yue Xi City became defenseless targets. They were bound to be the focal points of contention between the armies on both sides," Shui Wuhen explained.
"Eh?" Zhao Chuan looked puzzled.
"To capture Yue Ming City and Yue Xi City, a significant force would be needed. Once Da Luo's three armies moved out, their main strongholds would be left vulnerable. Mister Zhong predicted that Xiao Wang, in order to secure a greater advantage, would abandon these two minor cities and instead attack our strongholds, thinking our troops had been dispatched," Shui Wuhen continued.
"So, Xiao Wang just abandoned Yue Ming and Yue Xi?" Zhao Chuan asked, still incredulous.
"Yes, he abandoned them. In doing so, Xiao Wang gained much more. At the very least, he managed to capture our Bai Huang City. Xiang Bu lost at least two of his cities. As for Shui Jing, his forces were too far away to swiftly take Xiao Wang's cities as we did. So, Shui Jing likely remained inactive, leading to Xiao Wang's failure to gain any substantial advantage. Shui Jing lost nothing, nor did he gain anything," Zhong Shan said with a confident smile.
"Grand Marshal, how did you foresee all of this?" Shui Wuhen asked in amazement.
"Oh?" Zhong Shan looked at Shui Wuhen with a hint of curiosity.
"I sent scouts to monitor the movements of the armies. Shui Jing's cities remain untouched, and Xiang Bu's forces moved out three months ago," Shui Wuhen reported.
"Just wait and see," Zhong Shan replied, nodding with a knowing smile.
"Yes, sir!" the commanders echoed.
"Grand Marshal, someone has come to see you in Guang Hui City. I've directed him to the side hall," Shui Wuhen said.
"Oh? Who is it?" Zhong Shan asked, his brows furrowing slightly.
"He refused to reveal his identity," Shui Wuhen replied.
Hearing Shui Wuhen's words, Zhong Shan's eyebrows arched. Someone who could command Shui Wuhen's discretion must wield significant power.
"Very well, you are all dismissed," Zhong Shan said.
"Yes, sir!" The commanders respectfully took their leave, filing out one by one.
Zhong Shan rose from his seat and made his way toward the side hall. Outside, Ah Da and Zhi Huo stood vigilantly by the doors. Inside the grand hall, a massive jade table dominated the center, its surface intricately carved with a detailed map of the surrounding territories.
Standing before the map, her back to the door, was a tall, slender woman in white robes, her posture graceful and composed. She was completely engrossed in studying the map. Beside her stood a man in black attire, Ah Er.
As soon as Ah Er saw Zhong Shan enter, he made to speak, but Zhong Shan waved his hand to silence him. Understanding the unspoken command, Ah Er nodded and quietly exited the hall.
Observing the woman's focused silhouette, Zhong Shan's lips curled into a gentle smile. It was Princess Qianyou!
Although engrossed in the map, Princess Qianyou was keenly aware of Zhong Shan's presence from the moment he returned to Guang Hui City. Her heart was filled with a blend of excitement and longing. After years of separation, she had often imagined what she would say to him when they finally met again, how she would express her deep yearning.
However, as the moment of reunion approached, this brilliant and insightful princess suddenly found herself bereft of her usual cleverness. The once resourceful Princess Qianyou now found herself without words, her heart filled with an inexplicable blend of eagerness and trepidation. She longed to see him but hesitated to face him.
Her emotions in turmoil, Princess Qianyou could only pull out the map and pretend to analyze it. Yet, her mind was far from the map; all her thoughts were focused on the person standing behind her. Nervousness began to creep into her heart.
It seemed as if Zhong Shan could sense Princess Qianyou's state of mind. From the moment he saw her, a soft smile never left his lips, as if he had forgotten how to change his expression.
Instead of approaching her directly, Zhong Shan walked over to a chair where Princess Qianyou had been sitting earlier. He picked up a nearby teapot and poured a cup of tea. Holding the tea cup, he walked over to Princess Qianyou.
"Princess," Zhong Shan called out softly, his tone gentle.
Startled, Princess Qianyou turned around to face him. As their eyes met, she felt a sudden rush of emotion and quickly looked away, flustered.
"I... I've been waiting for you for a month!" she blurted out, the words she had rehearsed a thousand times failing her in the end, reduced to a simple, ineffectual statement.
But this plain admission touched Zhong Shan's heart deeply, filling him with a warm sense of affection.
"Thank you for your patience," he said, offering the cup of tea to her.
Princess Qianyou accepted the tea, her initial fluster giving way to a calm and confident demeanor once more.
"Is this how you welcome me?" she teased with a playful smile.
"A cup of clear tea, to savor and enjoy. The tea floats in the water, just as thoughts dwell in the heart," Zhong Shan replied softly.
Hearing his words, Princess Qianyou's face flushed slightly, and she nodded gently. "Yes," she murmured.
Years of longing and countless unspoken words were captured in that single sentence. The bitterness of the tea mingled with the sweetness of the reunion. No grand declarations were needed, no overused expressions of love; a simple cup of tea conveyed more than any words ever could.
The two did not dwell on their years of separation. In that moment, their presence before each other was enough. Love was something to be felt, a kind of yearning, a steadfastness, a profound state of being.
Silence spoke louder than words, and every unsaid word was filled with emotion.
Zhong Shan and Princess Qianyou sat down and shared their stories, recounting the challenges they had faced and how they had overcome them. Zhong Shan did most of the talking, while Princess Qianyou listened quietly, attentively. Even though she might have already known many of these things through her own channels, hearing them from Zhong Shan himself made all the difference.
Ah Da and Ah Er stood guard outside the hall, while Zhi Huo had already returned to rest. No one dared to disturb them.
"You've reached the Huang Ji Realm?" Zhong Shan asked, looking at Princess Qianyou.
"Yes, the Huang Ji Realm. It seems powerful, but compared to that zombie sovereign you encountered a while ago, it's really..." Princess Qianyou shook her head, a hint of melancholy in her voice.
"Are you sighing already? What should I say then?" Zhong Shan chuckled.
Hearing Zhong Shan's self-deprecating remark, Princess Qianyou covered her mouth, breaking into a gentle, silent laugh.
"By the way, you mentioned earlier that the sovereign had given you ten challenges, and I helped you solve the two regarding the ant threading the needle and transforming Dan into a Yuan Dan. What reward did the sovereign give you for completing them?" Zhong Shan inquired.
"Well, the sovereign had said that I could choose a treasure from his treasury," Princess Qianyou replied.
"A treasure? The sovereign's treasury must be filled with priceless artifacts. I bet you were overwhelmed with choices!" Zhong Shan joked.
"There were many treasures, including more than ten Ninth-Grade artifacts. But no, I wasn't overwhelmed," Princess Qianyou shook her head with a serene smile.
"Oh? With more than ten Ninth-Grade artifacts? And you weren't overwhelmed? You must have chosen the best one," Zhong Shan guessed.
"No, I chose an Eighth-Grade artifact," Princess Qianyou said.
"An Eighth-Grade artifact?" Zhong Shan was slightly puzzled.
With a flick of her wrist, Princess Qianyou produced a small box and handed it to Zhong Shan.
Curiosity piqued, Zhong Shan opened the box to reveal an incredibly thin vest, as delicate as a cicada's wing. Gently lifting it out, he saw that it was nearly transparent, emitting a faint rainbow hue.
"This is the 'Liuli Heart-Guard,' an Eighth-Grade artifact. Worn close to the skin, it becomes invisible and offers no offensive capabilities. However, it provides exceptional protection for the upper body, especially around the Zifu, the vital area. It's virtually impervious to attacks except from someone as powerful as the sovereign himself. For those below the Integration Stage, the Zifu is crucial. If it's destroyed, they're finished. I don't need it anymore, but you, in your current Jindan Stage, need to protect your Zifu the most..." Princess Qianyou explained.
Holding the delicate vest, Zhong Shan looked at Princess Qianyou, not expressing his gratitude in words, for none were needed. He simply nodded, his heart warmed by her thoughtfulness.
Seeing Zhong Shan's reaction, Princess Qianyou's smile grew even more content.
A month later, in the central hall of the City Lord's mansion in Guang Hui City, Zhong Shan sat at the marshal's desk while Shui Wuhen reported the latest news.
"Grand Marshal, just as we predicted, Xiang Bu has captured Yue Ming City and Yue Xi City, but he lost three of his own cities to Xiao Wang. Shui Jing's territories remain largely unchanged," Shui Wuhen reported.
"With Bai Huang City included, Xiao Wang has gained a total of four cities, while we have lost three. In the grand scheme, he's still one city ahead," Zhong Shan said, frowning.
"No, Grand Marshal, Yue Ming City and Yue Xi City shouldn't be included in Xiao Wang's count. In reality, he has lost five cities," Shui Wuhen corrected.
"Yue Ming City and Yue Xi City? They're in Xiang Bu's hands now, but looking at the current military deployment, their true ownership remains uncertain," Zhong Shan remarked, shaking his head.
"Oh," Shui Wuhen nodded, clearly still grappling with the complexities of the situation.
"Grand Marshal, we have news from Da Yu. After Yi Yan took command of the three armies, stability has been restored in Da Yu. The various factions, including Qi Tianhou, have been unable to make any further advances," Zhao Chuan reported promptly.
"It's been more than half a year, and Yi Yan hasn't reclaimed a single city?" Zhong Shan raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"No, consolidating military morale is no simple task. Achieving stability in the ranks within half a year is already a significant accomplishment," Zhao Chuan said with a smile.
"Bring me all records of Yi Yan's actions and strategies over this period!" Zhong Shan ordered with a frown.
Consolidating military morale? Zhong Shan doubted that explanation. He had seen Yi Yan's influence in the Da Yu Empire firsthand. From the moment Yi Yan took office, a single letter to each city should have sufficed to stabilize the military's resolve. Why would it take half a year?
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