The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS

Qing Yu returned to Feiyun Pass only to see Gu Chen and the others standing outside the General Mansion, each with a somber expression.

"It seems trouble has come knocking!" Qing Yu said with a light chuckle.

"Daoist Qing Yu has an eye as sharp as a torch," Gu Chen said with a bitter smile as he performed a salute, "Dean Zhuge Longsu from the Mountain River Academy has arrived."

"Dean Zhuge..." Qing Yu's expression remained unchanged, "It seems the trouble is not that great."

In recent years, Zhuge Longsu had always stayed within the Academy and never ventured out, but today he had quietly arrived at Feiyun Pass.

In fact, Qing Yu had almost guessed why Zhuge Longsu had not left the Academy these years.

He had been harmonizing with the Haqi River of the Academy, seeking a covenant with it. Only then could he contend with Ming Rui of the Divinity Realm while in the True Pill Realm.

Only then could he have a revelation in one fell swoop and breakthrough to the Divine Communication.

All of this was because Zhuge Longsu had constantly harmonized with the Haqi River over the years, reaching the pinnacle of the True Pill Realm early, and even preceded to sense and wield Divine Power.

"No need to panic, Dean Zhuge has always been kind-hearted; do not treat him as if he were an Asura or Evil Ghost," Qing Yu said with a smile.

"For us, isn't Dean Zhuge..." Gu Chen's smile grew increasingly bitter.

Isn't he just like an Asura, an Evil Ghost?

Gu Chen didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood.

Who among those who cultivate the "Vast Righteous Qi" is not a person who loathes evil?

And it just so happens that not a single person at Feiyun Pass could be considered a good person. The task of refining Water Corpses, this group had a hand in it, including Xu Tiecheng, who was not too familiar with the internal affairs.

Seeing this, Qing Yu couldn't help but give a wry smile, "Dean Zhuge has long transcended the constraints of Cultivation Techniques. Although it's inevitable that he detests evil, he is not without flexibility. You have made contributions to the state, and Dean Zhuge will take that into account."

Unlike other rigid scholars of the Confucian sect, Zhuge Longsu was never lacking in flexibility. To stabilize his authority as the newly appointed dean initially, he established a rivalry within the Literary Arena of Daqian philosophy, revealing his capacity through successive victories.

For the development of the Mountain River Academy, Zhuge Longsu distributed examination exemption slots to the court officials, allowing those with insufficient talents to get in through the back door.

All of this reflected Zhuge Longsu's wisdom and his means that were no less formidable than those of the seasoned politicos.

This was a person who knew how to adapt, with schemes stronger than those oily old-timers on the official scene, not a bookworm lost in his studies.

Qing Yu reassured Gu Chen and the others, then strode into the General Mansion.

In the main hall of the General Mansion, Zhuge Longsu was there. When Qing Yu arrived, he stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from Qing Yu, absorbed in thought.

As if sensing Qing Yu's arrival, Zhuge Longsu said indifferently, "Daoist Gu Chen is a bit mistaken. Not everyone who cultivates the 'Vast Righteous Qi' is necessarily a gentleman who loathes evil; some may just be hypocrites hiding their true motives."

The fact that he started with Gu Chen made it clear that Zhuge Longsu was not entirely unaware of the conversation outside the General Mansion. Or rather, he must have been listening to the external dialogue all along.

```

"It seems Dean Zhuge has thought of Mr. Lu Qingzhu," Qing Yu returned with a faint smile.

Lu Qingzhu, Zhuge Longsu's senior brother, had ruthlessly trapped Mountain River Academy during the struggle for positions in the Literary Arena. If not for the nameless hero Qing Yu, Mountain River Academy would have been utterly defeated in that last contest for positions in the Literary Arena.

"Lu Qingzhu is indeed a hypocrite, but you all, how are you any different?"

Zhuge Longsu slowly turned around to face Qing Yu, "Should I call you Daoist Qingyu, or should I call you Meng De?"

With just one sentence, he uncovered Qing Yu's past disguised identity, making the atmosphere in the hall suddenly tense as Zhuge Longsu and Qing Yu locked eyes, with the heavy Qi Mechanism quietly brewing.

After a moment, Qing Yu suddenly laughed, "Whether Meng De or Qing Yu, they are all just code names. Dean Zhuge is free to address me however he likes. After all, you must have guessed who I am a long time ago, haven't you?"

Qing Yu had been prepared for Zhuge Longsu to guess the dealings between him and Feng Jiwu. After all, when Meng De was captured by the Cangsheng Sect, Feng Jiwu's display of genuine concern was striking. But once Feng Jiwu ascended the throne, he didn't attempt to look for Meng De at all, as if he had forgotten this close friend entirely.

Yet, it was at this time that Daoist Qingyu suddenly appeared at the Northern Zhou Court, very close to Feng Jiwu. This inevitably aroused suspicion.

Regarding past events, neither Feng Jiwu nor Qing Yu made any attempt to conceal them, as their goals had already been achieved, and Feng Jiwu had ascended to the throne not by riding on anyone else's coattails.

Originally, Feng Jiwu had ascended the throne by withstanding the pressure from both Mountain River Academy and Feng Mingxiao. Fearless of these people then, there was nothing to fear now.

With such traces to follow, it would be natural for Zhuge Longsu to find out about some past events if he wanted to investigate.

"Speaking of which, Dean Zhuge should thank me. During the last Literary Arena contest, the Daqian side was showing off their Divine Skills like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, with forces from all sides joining the battle. If not for my efforts, the students of Mountain River Academy participating in the contest would have been completely lost," Qing Yu said lightly, flicking his horsetail whisk with a smile.

"You saved the students, but you also allowed His Majesty to gain the Academy's trust through this. You should understand the loss and gain involved,"

Zhuge Longsu replied indifferently, not caring for Qing Yu's banter.

Without the struggle in the Literary Arena, it would not have been so easy for Feng Jiwu to gain the trust and support of Mountain River Academy. Qing Yu did indeed help Mountain River Academy a lot at that time, but he and Feng Jiwu gained even more afterwards.

"If we're even now, then why come looking for me, Dean Zhuge? The past is the past, and even if you regret it now, you can't change the situation in Northern Zhou anymore."

Since Feng Jiwu's ascension, Northern Zhou has been firmly in his control. The Hundred Officials, if not entirely convinced by Feng Jiwu, are mostly content with the current situation.

All the major families are under Qing Yu's control, with no chance of rising in rebellion.

And as for the officials who graduated from Mountain River Academy and other scholars...

It can only be said that the Academy is a place for learning, not some sect. Everyone has their own aspirations, and they will serve the Emperor of Northern Zhou, not directly defy the Emperor simply based on the Academy's word.

Even many officials and scholars who held the ideal of loyalty to the sovereign have thrown in their lot with Feng Jiwu.

Unless Meng Shanhe himself comes out of seclusion to start a mass slaughter, the current state of Northern Zhou is a foregone conclusion.

"That's right, I cannot change the situation in Northern Zhou,"

Zhuge Longsu nodded frankly. This was a fact, and he had no intention of employing sophistry.

"But..." he suddenly shifted tone, "While I cannot change the situation, for the sake of Northern Zhou's move towards a better direction, I can kill you, you demon."

```