Chapter 61

"Traversing three thousand miles in a single battle, a single sword once faced a million soldiers."

After the intense passion, there was boundless loneliness.

On the Taihang Mountains, the grass and trees were still lush, but beneath this vast expanse, only the high cries of crows and magpies could be heard, adding a touch of desolation. Chen Ang stood halfway up the mountain, looking down at the vast land, a solitary figure in the vast world, feeling particularly desolate.

Looking around, the majestic Taihang Mountains, towering and grand, seemed like an ancient elder, benevolent and weighty, silent yet loyal. They had witnessed the joys and sorrows of the people at their feet for thousands of years.

Chen Ang was somewhat lost in thought, deeply feeling this loneliness, as if the passage of time had settled everything into a calm stillness, a desolation that saw through the world. He couldn't help but think, "If a thousand years pass, will I become as indifferent and calm as the Taihang Mountains?"

Even the most resolute will and the most intense emotions, even if they were sublimated and deeply etched, could they withstand the merciless passage of time? To experience all this, to see beauty turn to bones, the sea turn to fields, and still maintain one's original heart? The most heartless thing in the world is time. Time kills silently and without a trace, often changing a person without them even realizing it.

Looking back, the self of the past seemed somewhat unfamiliar and unrecognizable.

Chen Ang smiled somewhat self-mockingly. He didn't know if pursuing that elusive goal would change him, nor did he know if the scenery ahead would be to his liking. But experiencing the world and elevating the brilliance of life was more meaningful than anything he had done before.

He knew what he was worried about: the increasingly thinning emotions and the increasingly lonely heart. One day, there would be nothing in this world that could move him. This was partly due to the state of overdrive, but more so because of time. He had originally thought that indifference was due to a lack of emotion, but later realized it could also be due to seeing through everything.

The erosion of time would make Chen Ang increasingly approach a 'transcendent' state. Standing on the mountain, far from the world, only the 'chivalrous' spirit in his bones made him still seem human.

Chen Ang shook his head, the faint blue light in his pupils gradually fading. Just now, he had accidentally touched the soul of the Taihang Mountains, almost losing himself in that vast and ancient expanse. Human emotions could not withstand the test of time, and it was best not to do such dangerous things in the future.

Shaking off the influence of this transformation, Chen Ang saw Huang Shang walking towards him. This scholar of the Longtu Pavilion, now a member of the Hanlin Academy, had shed some of his youthful naivety and was increasingly taking on the demeanor of a master. The trials of the past few days had polished this martial arts prodigy, this uncut gem of the martial world, revealing the luster of a fine jade.

"Governor, the leaders of the eighteen bandit strongholds in the Taihang Mountains have all been executed, except for the military advisor, the White Scholar Wang Lun, who escaped this purge. Should the Martial Prohibition Hall pursue him? What about the women and children abducted by the bandits? Should they be returned to their original homes?"

"There's no need. Doing so would only force them to their deaths. Those in the strongholds who have no blood debts and whose crimes are relatively minor should be sentenced to penal servitude in Xixia. Ask the women if they want to go with them. If they do, send them to reunite with their families. If they don't, or if their families are dead, settle them on the spot," Chen Ang said, standing with his hands behind his back.

"Orphans who have lost both parents should be taken back to the Martial Prohibition Hall, taught martial arts and literature, and trained in military drills. They will form the Feathered Guard, a reserve for the Dragon and Tiger Guards."

"Understood!" Huang Shang's face relaxed slightly. The continuous killings of the past few days had made him feel weary. No one likes killing. Compassion is a universal human trait. Being able to secure a better fate for these orphans would also ease his mind.

"Governor, the fifteen bandit strongholds and sects with the greatest public resentment have already been purged. Next are the martial artists with blood debts, local gangs like the Sea Sand Gang and the Three Rivers Gang. Should the Dragon Guard be sent to prepare in advance to clear out the Wang Family Stronghold and Xie Long Ridge, where the Dragon Guard is already on standby?"

The iron cavalry of the Dragon Guard moved swiftly. Apart from the route tracking Fang La, which Chen Ang personally led to remove the stubborn nails, the other Dragon Guards were divided into small teams to raid their targets. They often traveled hundreds of miles in a day, swift as the wind, allowing them to eliminate all the sects on the Six-Fan Gate blacklist in just a few days.

It often took several days for local forces to get vague news. Before the entire martial world could react, it had already been thoroughly cleared.

"These are not things we should worry about. Let the Six-Fan Gate issue warrants. The local government has already received the official documents of the Thirty-Six Martial Prohibition Orders and will naturally take action. If they dare to resist the government, that's when we will act," Chen Ang said calmly.

He suddenly smiled slightly, "The most important thing now is to investigate the shocking case of Lord Cai's death by the Beggar Sect's Dragon Subduing Palm. The court is boiling with resentment, all demanding severe punishment for the Beggar Sect."

Huang Shang was slightly taken aback and silently lowered his head. He had heard clearly who asked the emperor, 'Who do you most want to kill?' and who struck Cai Jing dead with a powerful palm.

He sighed deeply, "The leader of the Beggar Sect, Qiao Feng, was on the battlefield between Liao and Song at the time, with countless soldiers to testify. Without concrete evidence, it's feared they won't accept it!"

"Evidence? Does the court need evidence?" Chen Ang looked at him with a half-smile, "In this world, is there any other sect besides the Beggar Sect that knows the Dragon Subduing Palm? If it wasn't the Beggar Sect, who did it? As for Qiao Feng, is he the only one who knows the Dragon Subduing Palm? I think the senior members of the Beggar Sect could have done it too!"

As he said this, his face showed no embarrassment, as if the Beggar Sect had really committed the murder.

"But the members of the Beggar Sect..." Huang Shang was still hesitant.

"The tens of thousands of members of the Beggar Sect are the evidence!" Chen Ang looked at him and smiled, "Tens of thousands of people, not engaged in production, living by begging and extorting, unable to provide taxes to the Song Dynasty. Such a large criminal organization has long been a thorn in the side of the court. As for evidence, it can be fabricated!"

"We are the government, and our words are evidence. If the Beggar Sect does not give us an explanation, it is courting its own destruction. The Song Dynasty will not let it off easily."

Huang Shang took a deep breath and sighed, "But Qiao Feng has fought for the country and the people, resisting the Liao and Xia, with great merit. Many in the Beggar Sect have also died for the country. Such loyalty and valor will chill the hearts of the people."

"The Beggar Sect has the Clean and Dirty factions. We need to distinguish who are our friends and who are our enemies. The Dirty faction is mostly made up of the lower class, numerous and powerful, but mostly poor people just trying to survive. Most of the tens of thousands of members of the Beggar Sect are like this. They join the Beggar Sect for a means of survival."

"These people are friends of the court, as the court can also be their support. Qiao Feng and the senior members of the Beggar Sect are all loyal to the country and can serve as a shield for the Song Dynasty, making them suitable for relocation."

"The Clean faction is different. They are the main force of the middle and upper levels of the Beggar Sect, usually local powerful figures. They use the Beggar Sect as a hub to protect themselves. Although they are called members of the Beggar Sect, they are actually landlords and powerful figures, often lawless. If they control the lower class of the Beggar Sect, they will be a major threat to the court. Therefore, the court supports the Dirty faction to oppose them, creating a conflict between the two factions."

Huang Shang suddenly understood, "So this time, it's about suppressing the Clean faction and relocating the Dirty faction, allowing the Dirty faction to establish themselves in Xixia while driving out the influence of the Clean faction."

Chen Ang turned around with his hands behind his back and walked back to the stronghold. A dozen fine horses were tied there, leisurely grazing on the grass. Chen Ang's voice came from behind, "We're going to the Beggar Sect's assembly, a grand martial arts event!"

All kinds of people, from the Clean and Dirty factions, a group of half-baked rebels, the First-Class Hall of Xixia, the prince of Dali, and the victims and perpetrators of a conspiracy to incite conflict between Liao and Song decades ago, heroes and traitors, national righteousness and brotherly loyalty.

Dozens of red-robed knights followed behind Chen Ang.

Chen Ang led a horse and glanced at Huang Shang. The Dragon Guard was already ready to go. They rode away without looking back, leaving the local officials to handle the aftermath.

Huang Shang watched as the group turned into a trail of dust, which disappeared in a few breaths, leaving only a faint trail of dust. Only Chen Ang's low chanting voice echoed from the distance, lingering in the air.

"Green robes and lofty peaks, the jade wall and the bright moon.

Rapid horses and fragrant scents, high cliffs and distant people, fine steps and ripples.

Whose children, whose courtyard, no way to regret deep affection.

Tiger roars and dragon cries, changing nests, phoenixes and dragons, sword qi and green smoke.

Always infatuated, from now on intoxicated, listening to the fragrance by the water pavilion, pointing at the heroes in play.

Drinking a thousand cups is a man's business.

In the apricot grove, discussing the meaning of life..."

Huang Shang stood solemnly for a moment, then mounted his horse and rode off in pursuit.

PS: I accidentally fell asleep yesterday and didn't update in time. I hurriedly sent it this morning. I'm really embarrassed.

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