Martial Cultivator

Zhang Yu looked at his former comrade and cupped his hands slightly. "Brother Song, you've been keeping a low profile these past years, and now you seem to have an even more ethereal immortal air."

Song Ting smiled calmly without saying a word, while the familiar faces behind him all bowed to Zhang Yu.

With a glance, Zhang Yu recognized many old brothers-in-arms: Deputy General Liu Hu, Vanguard Battalion Commander Li Yue...

These were all commanders who had fought under His Majesty's command when he rose in rebellion back then. Now, they each held positions in the Divine Capital.

"It's been a long time since we last gathered. I wonder if Brother Song has any fine wine in your residence."

Zhang Yu looked at the group and said with a smile. "If there's fine wine, we have to drink to our hearts' content today."

Li Yue let out a hearty laugh. Known for his booming voice in his early years, he looked at Song Ting with a smile and bellowed, "We'll have to see if General Song is willing to bring out his finest wine for us."

Song Ting led the group toward the central hall and said with a smile, "We're all brothers who can entrust our lives to each other. A little wine is nothing to this Song."

The group sat down, and a table of delicacies had already been prepared. As they drank and ate, reminiscing about old times, before they knew it, almost an hour had already passed.

Seeing that the conversation had opened up and they had indulged enough in reminiscing about the past, Song Ting finally spoke up softly, "Brothers, this banquet today is not just about reminiscing. We are all old comrades who followed His Majesty to conquer this world. Frankly, among the court officials of Great Liang, only a few of us genuinely wish the best for His Majesty. As for those so-called important ministers in the court, who among them don't have their own hidden agenda? Unfortunately for us martial artists, we were useful when it came to conquering the world, but when it comes to governing it, we have no choice but to stand aside and watch."

Hearing this, Liu Hu slammed his cup heavily on the table, spilling quite a bit of wine. "General Song is absolutely right! Those bastard civil officials in the court today, every single one of them only knows how to oppose His Majesty. If it were up to me, those scoundrels should have been dealt with long ago! It's only because His Majesty is merciful that they're still around to make noise!"

Zhang Yu sipped his wine slowly, not rushing to speak, only smiling slightly.

Song Ting laughed and said, "The ancients said ruling the world is like cooking a delicate fish. It's no longer the time for us to be shouting for blood. His Majesty's caution is understandable; after all, it's only been a little over ten years since the empire was secured. Who knows how many old officials in the court still have lingering loyalties to the deposed emperor or the late Crown Prince?"

Li Yue grumbled, "That's true, but we followed His Majesty to conquer the world, and it pains us to see him so constrained. If we had known it would be this hard to rule, we might as well have stayed with him in the Prince's Manor for the rest of our lives - drinking, feasting, hunting, and riding. Wouldn't that have been more enjoyable?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the others nodded in agreement.

"But that's not quite right either. Since us brothers helped His Majesty win this empire, it's only right that we help him defend it. If we don't share His Majesty's burdens, who can he rely on?"

Song Ting suddenly asked, "Has everyone heard the rumors circulating in the Divine Capital recently?"

Li Yue frowned and replied, "Are you referring to the claim that the late Crown Prince has a surviving heir?"

Song Ting nodded slightly, glanced at everyone, and said, "I have confirmed information: that person is none other than the current Deputy Commander of the Left Guard, Chen Chao. His birth mother was the younger sister of the late Empress, though they were not born of the same mother. Later, she was married to the late Crown Prince, and thus Chen Chao was born. The deposed emperor is Chen Chao's elder brother, making Chen Chao the sole surviving bloodline of the late Crown Prince's lineage."

"Is that really true?"

Liu Hu's face was filled with shock. "Could it be that His Majesty was deceived all this time? Lately, he's been favoring him quite a bit, even granting him the right to bear arms. He's the only one to hold such power in the present day."

Song Ting furrowed his brows slightly and shook his head, saying, "How could someone as wise as His Majesty be deceived? It's more likely that, out of sentiment and a sense of guilt toward the late Crown Prince's lineage, His Majesty has been treating Chen Chao with special care. But while His Majesty may have such feelings, does Chen Chao think the same? His Majesty is benevolent, but that doesn't mean everyone in the world is benevolent. And more than that, this is a struggle for the empire."

Hearing these words, everyone fell into silence.

Song Ting continued, "There's something else, Chen Chao was inexplicably appointed as the warden of Tianqing County some time ago. This matter is suspicious, and I fear he has long harbored intentions of usurping His Majesty’s throne."

"After enduring in silence for so long, I fear all of this is part of his and those fallen families' schemes. Now, they may finally be making their move."

Li Yue asked, "If that's the case, why doesn't His Majesty just issue an order to have him executed?"

Zhang Yu, who had remained silent this entire time, sighed and said, "It's not that simple. He recently earned military merit at the Northern Frontier, and on top of that, he became champion of the Myriad Willow Convention before. Even if His Majesty grows wary and wants to act, how could he explain it to the people? Besides, those backing him will surely seize the opportunity to stir up trouble. By then, chaos would erupt across the empire, which is precisely what they want."

Song Ting grew serious and said, "We are all veterans who helped His Majesty secure this empire. If His Majesty cannot make a move, should we stand by and do nothing?"

"Right, we must help relieve His Majesty of his burdens."

Liu Hu slammed his hand on the table. "General Song, tell us what to do, and we'll follow your lead!"

Song Ting glanced at Zhang Yu and asked, "What do you think, Brother Zhang?"

Zhang Yu smiled and replied, "I'll listen to Brother Song."

Song Ting nodded and said, "Since His Majesty cannot issue the decree or make a move, we shall..."

Song Ting made a gesture.

Everyone present slowly nodded their heads.

Seeing that everyone had expressed their attitudes, Song Ting gestured for someone to bring over a map of the Divine Capital. He said softly, "Apart from the Left and Right Guards, all the major patrol bureaus in the capital are under our control. We only need to cut off his support... and then..."

Song Ting took a deep breath. "This person has a good relationship with Song Lian, the Left Guard Commander, so we must find a way to delay the Left Guard. As for the Right Guard, they've always had a rivalry with the Left Guard, so we can use that to our advantage. Everything else is already arranged. When the time comes, he'll quietly vanish from this world."

Zhang Yu asked, "His martial cultivation isn't weak. Brother Song, are you fully prepared?"

Song Ting nodded, full of confidence. "I've already gathered the manpower. There will be no issues."

Zhang Yu smiled. "Since Brother Song has everything in place, then it's settled. Let us once again do something for His Majesty."