Chapter 151: Complex Relationships

Realizing what was at stake, Master Xuanzhe proceeded to recount to Wei Xiaoping and Huang Xianlin the conversation he had shared a few days prior with his own master, Immortal Shangheng.

Shortly after, Huang Xianlin also shared the details of his recent exchange with Yang Shengtian (who was, in fact, Wei Xiaofan) when they clashed at the foot of Green Peak Mountain.

Having listened attentively, Wei Xiaoping fell into deep thought for a moment before saying, "Master, if that is the case, the one who abducted my younger brother, Wei Xiaofan, all those years ago must be the very person my brother refers to as his master. Wei Xiaofan's master bears the surname Yang. King Yang Sancheng of the Shihui Kingdom, where my brother currently serves as a general, also carries the surname Yang. The leader of the Mantra Demon Clan, named Yang Qingtian, is likewise surnamed Yang. And Yang Jiutian, who infiltrated the Barbarian Kingdom to serve as the royal physician, shares the same surname. When I ponder this carefully, it is far too coincidental that all these key figures share the surname Yang. This matter is certainly far from simple. In particular, this Yang Sancheng—although he seemingly broke away from the Barbarian Kingdom to establish his own Shihui Kingdom as if entirely independent—does not appear to be a mere breakaway when one examines it closely. I constantly feel there is an unknown connection between the Shihui Kingdom, the Barbarian Kingdom, and the Mantra Demon Clan, yet I cannot quite figure out what that connection might be."

Master Xuanzhe replied, "My disciple, you are entirely right. This is precisely what has been baffling me as well. It feels as though Yang Sancheng's separation from the Barbarian Kingdom was never a genuine rupture; rather, his departure seems to harbor some profound and hidden conspiracy."

Huang Xianlin chimed in, "Indeed! Senior Uncle makes a very valid point. I do have a question, though: after Yang Sancheng led his troops out of the Barbarian Kingdom to found the Shihui Kingdom, did the Barbarian Kingdom ever wage war against the Shihui Kingdom on account of this secession?"

Master Xuanzhe answered, "To my knowledge, ever since Yang Sancheng led his forces away to establish the Shihui Kingdom, the Barbarian Kingdom has never dispatched troops to fight them over the split. That is precisely what I cannot comprehend! On the contrary, not long after breaking away from the Barbarian Kingdom, the Shihui Kingdom began aggressively attacking various other nations and factions..."

Wei Xiaoping speculated, "Perhaps the Shihui Kingdom has never truly separated from the Barbarian Kingdom at all. Perhaps it is merely a facade put on for the benefit of other states and factions, creating a false impression of independence to divert attention away from the true relationship between the Barbarian Kingdom and the Shihui Kingdom. In reality, the Shihui Kingdom may simply be a massive branch organization of the Barbarian Kingdom."

Huang Xianlin countered, "If that were truly the case, would the Barbarian Kingdom not fear a genuine declaration of independence by the Shihui Kingdom? You must remember that attaining the position of supreme commander of a nation is the ultimate lifelong ambition for anyone! The intoxicating feeling of wielding absolute power and doing entirely as one pleases is something countless villains dream of."

Wei Xiaoping asked, "Master, do you know anything about Yang Sancheng's background? How did he manage to enter the Barbarian Kingdom and enter service there in the first place?"

Master Xuanzhe replied, "As for who Yang Sancheng truly is, I do not know for certain. However, it is said that he was strikingly handsome in his youth, read extensively, possessed exceptional intelligence, and harbored great ambitions. When he was around twenty years old, he happened to cross paths with an immortal Daoist priest. Struck by the young man's refined appearance and sharp intellect, the priest declared that such innate talent made him ideally suited for mountain cultivation and that he was destined for greatness. The priest told him that human beings are born to accomplish great things, and if he wished to achieve anything significant in the future, he must first attain a certain level of mastery in the Dao of immortality to pave the way. Following this advice, Yang Sancheng accompanied the priest into the mountains, where he diligently practiced martial arts and cultivated the Dao. After five or six hundred years of cultivation, not only had he greatly extended his lifespan, but he had also achieved profound spiritual attainment in the immortal arts. By that time, his master was over a thousand years old and entering his twilight years. A few years later, after laying his master to rest, Yang Sancheng thought to himself: no matter how far one advances in cultivating the Dao, it merely extends one's life a bit longer than an ordinary mortal's; eventually, when one's time comes, the soul returns to the underworld, leaving nothing behind in the mortal realm. Rather than ending up thus, it would be far better to accomplish great deeds and leave a lasting mark in the memories of men! Driven by this grand ambition and the desire to immortalize his name in history, Yang Sancheng journeyed to the Barbarian Kingdom to seek an opportunity to approach its military leaders. After repeatedly offering unsolicited strategies to the kingdom, he finally secured a position as a military advisor under one of the Barbarian generals."

"Master, why did Yang Sancheng eventually leave the Barbarian Kingdom to establish a kingdom of his own?" Wei Xiaoping asked.

Master Xuanzhe continued, "While serving as a military advisor in the Barbarian Kingdom, Yang Sancheng was determined to help his master win battles. Whenever they encountered a difficult campaign, he would stop at nothing, proposing the most ruthless and merciless strategies imaginable. Yet, despite his brutal tactics in warfare, he harbored a genuine and deep-seated compassion for the common people. Consequently, he won the profound affection and respect of many Barbarian soldiers and commoners, building a considerable reputation."

Huang Xianlin observed, "Based on what Senior Uncle is saying, Yang Sancheng himself cannot be entirely evil. Logically speaking, he still sounds like a good person!"

Master Xuanzhe replied, "Judging by his attitude toward the citizens and soldiers of the Barbarian Kingdom, he could indeed be considered a benevolent minister who cared deeply for the state and its people while he was there. At that time, however, the ruler of the Barbarian Kingdom, Zhao Jingkuang, led a life of utter debauchery, neglected state affairs entirely, and permitted his officers and troops to slaughter and plunder civilians at will. He showed complete indifference even when external enemy tribes invaded."

Master Xuanzhe resumed his account: "Yang Sancheng had originally come to the Barbarian Kingdom to accomplish great deeds and leave his name in history, but seeing Zhao Jingkuang so hopelessly addicted to women and leisure filled him with utter despair. Thus, after the general he served passed away due to illness, he led a loyal band of followers out of the Barbarian Kingdom, traveling over a thousand miles away to a place called Shili. There, he founded his own faction and named it the Shihui Band, signifying his intention to bestow grace and benevolence upon the people."

"Because Yang Sancheng possessed extraordinary intelligence and had mastered various immortal and magical arts, he rarely tasted defeat when clashing with other rival factions, emerging victorious almost every single time. Coupled with his deep care for his soldiers and the common folk, numerous displaced individuals and refugees quickly flocked to his banner, causing the faction to expand with astonishing speed."

"Within five or six years, the territories seized by his faction from other groups and realms expanded rapidly, eventually surpassing the land area of our own Green Peak Kingdom. It grew to become one of the top ten most powerful factions and realms on the barren continent, second only to the Barbarian Kingdom itself."

"Seeing that the military campaigns led by his faction were unstoppable and that his territorial boundaries were expanding as swiftly as the reflection of floating clouds upon the ground, Yang Sancheng grew supremely confident in his own strength. To facilitate the administration of various regions and to ensure his name would be permanently etched in history, he renamed the Shihui Band the Shihui Kingdom. Emulating the administrative system of the Barbarian Kingdom, he divided his territory into three major regions, assigning three generals to guard and govern them. At the same time, he bestowed upon these three generals royal titles for their respective domains, granting them authority second only to the king himself."

"The Shihui Kingdom partitioned its territory into three distinct regions, placed under the governance of three grand generals. For each region entrusted to them, Yang Sancheng named the commanding officer a regional king, using the name of the territory as their royal title. At that time, Yang Sancheng divided the Shihui Kingdom into the Huicheng District, the Yingbin District, and the Huainan District, assigning them respectively to three grand generals: Yang Shengtian, Yang Chuanfang, and Yang Jiancheng. Yang Shengtian administered the Huicheng District and was bestowed the title of King of Huicheng; Yang Chuanfang administered the Yingbin District and was bestowed the title of King of Yingbin; and Yang Jiancheng administered the Huainan District and was bestowed the title of King of Huainan. At the time, I knew that Yang Shengtian was the King of Huicheng, but I never imagined that this very Yang Shengtian was actually Wei Xiaofan, who had been missing for so many years!—It is a pity that I did not know then that Yang Shengtian was my disciple Xiaofan. Had I known, I would never have allowed you brothers to mutually..." At this point, Master Xuanzhe let out a long, heavy sigh!

Seeing his master sighing with worry and grief over the conflict between him and his brother, Wei Xiaoping immediately said, "I am sorry, Master. You have had to bear so much anxiety on account of my brother and me. We have truly been unfilial! Rest assured, Master, no matter what it takes, I will find a way to bring my brother back home!"