After speaking, he added, "I have spent many years in the northern lands of Great Yin, guarding Zhongtong Pass. Zhongtong Pass is quite far from here, so it’s understandable that you haven’t heard of it."
Li Xuan said curiously, "Zhongtong Pass is so far away, why did the Prefect co alone to this post-epidemic prefecture city? Also..."
He glanced at Liu Baiqing as if weighing his words.
Liu Baiqing said freely, "Two sleeves of breeze and purity, rely a pardoned offender coming to redeem my sins with rits.
The remnants of this body, how many years of good life do I have left?
It’s high ti to report to the king and offer relief to the people."
Words may be deep even when acquaintance is shallow, Li Xuan did not question further, but instead directed the Li family servants to deliver the supplies into the governnt warehouse, for Liu Baiqing to arrange uniformly.
...
In the days that followed, Li Xuan often ca to visit.
And Liu Baiqing was happy to et him after busying himself.
This is the benefit that cos with a good reputation.
Liu Baiqing was fond of playing chess, and Li Xuan was proficient in it as well.
During this period, he didn’t study any Cultivation Techniques, but earnestly learned the literature that a scholar should know: the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting; among these, "chess" was the most emphasized.
"Chess character" is akin to personal character, observing chess is like observing a person.
Therefore, Li Xuan intentionally designed a set of dignified, steady chess strategies for himself.
Anyone who plays against him can feel a majestic presence overwhelming them.
Naturally, Liu Baiqing could sense it too.
He grew increasingly fond of this young man.
That day, after the chess ga, Liu Baiqing said, "I heard you are a young Grandmaster."
Li Xuan replied, "It’s just others’ mistaken praise."
Liu Baiqing said, "Co, have a try."
Li Xuan said heartily, "Respect could never outweigh compliance."
Liu Baiqing asked, "What weapon shall we use?"
"Spears or swords, both are fine," Li Xuan said.
"Then let’s use spears!" Liu Baiqing said, "Across the battlefield, the spear is truly the king of all weapons."
Imdiately, each of them picked a long spear and began to spar.
Li Xuan took a deep breath, activated the Evergreen Unwithering Skill, and started with the Six Harmonies Phoenix Spear stance.
This set is from the authentic lineage of the Mystic Sect with traceable origins.
Liu Baiqing also took his starting stance.
The elderly man, nearing his twilight years, suddenly revitalized, exuding an aura akin to a lion or tiger.
Spring winds brushed gently, creating ripples in the pond, parting rows of water weeds.
Yellow orioles chirped in the spring, flying through the forest leaves, landing on early-blooming peach blossoms, swaying branches, and leaving with relaxed claws.
A "snap" was heard, as if announcing the start.
Liu Baiqing lifted his spear and directly attacked, with a hint of guidance in his voice, shouting, "There’s no need for courtesy on the battlefield, speed is key, and catching by surprise is best!"
As soon as his words fell, his spear had already created layers of spear shadows in the air.
Li Xuan circled his spear in a twist, blocking, grabbing, and thrusting, fearlessly confronting him.
As they engaged, he understood Liu Baiqing’s skill level.
This is a bona fide Grandmaster, and furthermore, a strong one among Grandmasters, being that rare talent who has mastered two Grandmaster Cultivation Techniques.
Moreover, what Li Xuan found peculiar was that Liu Baiqing’s spear vaguely contained sothing beyond the spear techniques, refined through nurous battlefield slaughters into concise directness, turning techniques within the Cultivation Technique into utterly lethal thods.
Their duel lasted fifty rounds.
In another clash, Liu Baiqing took advantage of the situation to retreat, already a bit breathless.
Li Xuan said, "Let’s stop for today."
Liu Baiqing said, "Continue."
So, they continued the fierce contest.
In back-and-forth exchanges, another hundred rounds passed.
Yet, Liu Baiqing was now leaning on his spear, gasping, unable to move further, then said, "The waves of the Yangtze River push forward, I’ve lost!"
Then, he laughed heartily.
Li Xuan said, "If the Prefect were a few years younger, the successor wouldn’t be an opponent!"
Liu Baiqing smiled, then pulled Li Xuan to sit down, looking into the distance, suddenly saying, "I have been guarding Zhongtong Pass for years, defending against the northwest Yong Country.
Last sumr, the old Sovereign of Yong Country died, a new Sovereign ascended.
The emperor ordered to take advantage to attack Yong Country.
But I knew that the new Sovereign of Yong Country is... a formidable talent with grand strategic acun, and I knew he had already set a trap, waiting for to lead troops and strike, then he could seize the chance to annihilate, then break through Zhongtong and invade our Great Yin.
Therefore, I did not act.
Yet, the emperor issued nine successive urgent military orders.
I understood then those were not the emperor’s orders, but rather...
Well, in the end, I did not take action.
The emperor, mindful of my past achievents, did not decapitate , but sent here instead.
Traitors rule the state, the emperor... does not have it easy."
Li Xuan listened quietly.
Previously, as the son of a prosperous family, he really did know little about the outside world.
Now listening to this old General speak, he suddenly felt the surprise of "So countries are actually always at war."
Thus, he seized the opportunity to ask, "If our northwest is Yong Country, are there other countries?"
Liu Baiqing briefly said, "Yes."
Then he added, "This continent we are on is collectively called Starry Continent, filled with mountains and seas, even inland seas exist. And the mountains and seas separate one country from another, resembling stars dotted across this continent, hence the na Starry Continent."
Li Xuan hesitated, asking, "Then how many countries are there on Starry Continent? How vast is it?"
Liu Baiqing’s eyes glinted with cunning, he smiled, "You can use your spear to asure yourself, why ask others?"
After speaking, he sternly called, "Li Xuan!"
Li Xuan instantly stood up, saluted respectfully, saying, "Teacher’s instruction."
Now that the two were considered friends, calling him simply Prefect was indeed too formal.
Liu Baiqing said, "I know you are going to Cyan Wood Province to participate in the academy exam, I wish to write a letter to give to you, to take and give to the commander of Cyan Wood Province, Liang Shigu. With your talent, you will certainly not fail."
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