With the realm unified, the flames of war across the lands gradually subsided. Officials such as Su Shi and Zhang Huaimin were released and restored to their original posts, while even more people were dispatched across the regions to open up wild lands.
Matters in Dali were not much better off; half of the court officials had been purged, leaving the government barely able to maintain basic operations.
With mixed emotions, Duan Yanqing arrived outside the Dali imperial palace, gazing inward with immense longing.
He knew all too clearly that in this lifetime, he would likely never sit upon that dragon throne within.
Afterward, he made his way outside Tianlong Temple, reminiscing about a wondrous encounter that felt both real and illusory.
"Coming leaves no trace, going leaves no track; going and coming are the very same. Why ask further of floating life's affairs? This fleeting life itself is but a dream."
After who knew how long, he finally came to his senses. Leaning on his crutches, he walked toward Tianlong Temple, wearing an air of great enlightenment as though seeking to enter monastic life.
At that moment, Qin Zheng's voice suddenly rang out behind him: "Do all your evil deeds and then duck into a temple thinking everything's wiped clean? Which law allows that? How come I don't recall writing such a statute?"
Duan Yanqing shuddered. His body went rigid as he turned around. Seeing Qin Zheng toying with Falling Bird in his hand, he could not help but offer a bitter smile. "So it is Your Imperial Majesty. Duan Yanqing begs pardon for his lack of courtesy."
Qin Zheng sighed. "Before you die, I'll share some good news: Duan Yu is your son."
Upon hearing this, Duan Yanqing's first reaction was not joy, but taking a wary step back. "What... what are you trying to do now? Are you trying to drive me mad as well? Didn't you say before that A'Zi was my daughter? How has it become Duan Yu now?"
Qin Zheng was rendered speechless. *Did I fucking say that?*
On the day of the bride-seeking martial contest on Leigu Mountain, Duan Yanqing had not even dared to attend. After all, Li Qiushui and Qin Zheng would both be there, and he certainly had no wish to court death.
Yet he had still heard about what transpired that day.
Rumor had it that under Qin Zheng's stirring of wind and waves, everyone present that day had gone mad; everyone was thrown into confusion over finding their own sons, and dozens of heroines attending the contest had acknowledged Duan Zhengchun as their father right on the spot. The scene had been chaotic to the extreme.
Seeing Duan Yanqing's guarded look, Qin Zheng could not be bothered with him any longer. With a slash of his blade, Duan Yanqing's head flew high into the air, and his body slumped into a pool of blood.
"Amitabha! Your Majesty, Duan Yanqing is after all a son of our Duan clan. May I request Your Majesty's permission to collect his body?"
Master Kurong stepped out through the temple gates, vitality once more restored to his face, looking just like a youth.
Qin Zheng cast an astonished glance at him. "You've mastered the Wither-and-Bloom Chan Art?"
Master Kurong bowed with a smile. "Kurong must thank Your Majesty for your enlightenment."
Qin Zheng marveled, "As expected of a divine art on par with the Six Meridians Divine Sword—it truly has its wondrous marvels. Bring out both secret manuals for me to inspect."
Master Kurong made an inviting gesture. "Your Majesty, please follow me."
With that, he ordered a monk to tend to Duan Yanqing's corpse, then led Qin Zheng inside Tianlong Temple.
***
One year later, at the foot of Changbai Mountain.
Dressed in full military regalia, A'Zhu stood on the watchtower, solemnly on guard against horse bandits.
Right then, a joyful shout rose from below: "Miss A'Zhu, the reinforcements dispatched by His Majesty have arrived!"
A'Zhu breathed a slight sigh of relief and asked, "How many men did His Majesty send?"
The soldier replied, "One man!"
A'Zhu was slightly taken aback. "Ten thousand men? Does dealing with a band of horse bandits really require so many troops?"
The soldier said with certainty, "No, His Majesty sent just one single person!"
A'Zhu's eyes widened. "Only one person came? Did my mother offend His Majesty again?"
Back then, because Ruan Xingzhu had deliberately pointed Qin Zheng in the wrong direction, she had been penalized to sell tiger-skin chicken feet every day. When A'Zhu went to plead on her behalf, the daughter ended up paying the mother's debt: she was exiled to the ranch at the foot of Changbai Mountain, mandated to serve as ranch master for three full years and permitted to leave only after meeting all the performance metrics.
Over the past year, while managing the ranch's production, A'Zhu had to stay vigilant against Jurchen horse bandits raiding the area, which left her utterly frazzled.
Now hearing that Qin Zheng had sent only a single reinforcement, her first thought was: *How did Mother offend Qin Zheng again? She truly never learns!*
Just as she was caught between tears and laughter, a cloud of dust suddenly billowed in the distance. A'Zhu immediately cried out sharply, "Enemy attack! Prepare for battle!"
No sooner had her words fallen than she abruptly spotted a figure fearlessly charging toward those horse bandits. Looking at that familiar back, she could not help but be dazed for a moment. "Chief Qiao?"
By now, Qiao Feng had closed to within five zhang of the bandits. He thrust both palms forward, his palm force roaring like a giant dragon, instantly blasting several bandits in the front row off their horses along with their mounts.
"Qiao Feng is here! How dare you scoundrels act so insolently!"
With that, he plunged into the bandits like a tiger among a flock of sheep. With every raise of his hand, he claimed the lives of several bandits.
Before long, the bandits were frightened out of their wits and fled in every direction.
Qiao Feng gave chase relentlessly, pursuing them all the way to their stronghold, where he decapitated their leader, Aguda, before returning to the ranch encampment.
By this time, A'Zhu had already had a victory banquet prepared.
Entering the room and seeing the feast spread out, Qiao Feng was momentarily taken aback. "Miss A'Zhu, how did you know I would surely return in triumph?"
A'Zhu's lovely eyes rippled with warmth. "Chief Qiao is a peerless hero. A'Zhu knew you would undoubtedly return victorious!"
Qiao Feng burst into hearty laughter. "Miss A'Zhu, I am honored by your high regard. Qiao Feng did not fail your expectations and has slain the bandits' chieftain! But don't call me Chief Qiao from now on. Second Uncle has already made proper arrangements for the disciples of the Beggar Gang, and I have disbanded the gang!"
A'Zhu said, "Then from now on, I will call you Brother Qiao!"
Qiao Feng nodded, picked up a jar of wine, and poured it down his throat. He drank and chatted with A'Zhu until the sun was high in the sky, whereupon the two embraced and fell asleep together.
***
Meanwhile, upon the surging seas, Murong Fu led his men in plundering a crew of pirates, shouting high-spiritedly, "We are the Emperor of Great Yan, ordained by Heaven! All your wealth belongs to Us! Hand over your treasure at once!"
Bao Butong had long grown accustomed to this routine. Numbly stepping forward to confiscate the pirates' possessions and tallying the loot, he thought to himself: *The young master has probably gone mad too.*
Wang Yuyan also felt something was off with her cousin.
Over the past two years, having witnessed Qin Zheng's campaign to conquer the realm firsthand and guided by the teachings of her mother, Li Qingluo, the more she looked at this cousin of hers who claimed to be the Emperor of Great Yan, the more she felt something was wrong.
Ultimately, she chose to remain by her mother's side, spending her days with Zhong Ling and watching Li Qingluo engage in jealous spats with the other women, finding some amusement in it all.
Only her elder brother Duan Yu would occasionally call her "Immortal Brother," leaving her utterly bewildered...
***
Within the Chang'an imperial palace.
Feeling his cultivation technique reach perfection, Qin Zheng felt as though everything in the world was within his grasp. With a single thought, he could travel anywhere at will and alter the thoughts in anyone's mind. He could not help but sigh with emotion:
"Shaolin is gone, the Beggar Gang is gone... Without meaning to, the storm I stirred up grew so vast it swallowed the entire jianghu..."
With a shake of his head, he turned to the second page of the technique in the Heavenly Tome within his mind, comprehending four large characters from it—
Parting the Clouds to See the Sun!
Chapter 61