Moral Abduction

Connections of thoughts could go both ways.

As the weaker party, the Qi Cultivator was able to morally bind Chen Xia.

Then Chen Xia could also turn around and bind him in return.

The Qi Cultivator's expression was gloomy as he gritted his teeth and clenched his staff with both hands, angrily shouting,

"With my overseas Qi Cultivator's life, I exchange for two to three thousand lives of your Great Song's civilians. It's not a loss."

"Well, since you don't think it's a loss then that's good." Chen Xia sincerely nodded his head, then yawned and looked somewhat uninterested. He casually said while leaning back against the wall again,

"I'll give you two options - leave, or die here."

The old man's expression was uncertain as he pondered for a long time before solemnly saying, "I've come to ask for an explanation for the fifty-six Qi Cultivators who died."

"You still don't understand the situation, do you?" Chen Xia rubbed his eyes and asked the old man, "Can you be threatened by bugs?"

"If you want to kill these civilians, then just kill them. I can't stop you, but I can kill you and you can't stop me either."

"Afterwards I will also specially go overseas once and completely kill off you Qi Cultivators."

"No problem, right?"

The old man's hand holding the staff was shaking. He realized Chen Xia really did not care about the lives of these two to three thousand people, because Chen Xia was very casual and had no intention of stopping him at all.

But he was the National Teacher of Great Song! How could he be like this?!

Chen Xia turned his head and asked the young lady in a pear-yellow skirt, "Are you afraid of death?"

The young lady was stunned for a moment, not understanding the situation. But she still nodded.

"Then stay close to me later. I'll protect you and make sure you don't die."

Hearing this, the young lady subconsciously moved closer to Chen Xia.

The old man suddenly went fierce. Hand seals formed as he shouted in a low voice.

"Qi..."

His voice did not finish shouting.

Because half of his head was already gone.

Chen Xia stood in front of him. It was merely a casual slash from him.

Yet the corner of the old man's mouth that remained twisted into a cruel smile.

"As expected, you do care. We have one more Qi Cultivator. He will immediately cast a spell!"

"Oh, good."

Chen Xia nodded calmly.

He really looked like he didn't care.

"Qi Explode..."

A faint sound about eight hundred meters away was clearly heard by Chen Xia.

So dragon qi burst out from the ground in an instant, swiftly surrounding the speaking figure and controlling his body.

The old man's body that had half a brain left could no longer persist either and lost all signs of life.

Chen Xia regretfully said, "Originally I wouldn't have been able to block you, but unfortunately your mind was chaotic so your hand was slow."

The top experts of the Patrol Bureau hurriedly showed themselves, drove away civilians in the surroundings who didn't understand the situation, then encircled Chen Xia and knelt down knocking their heads on the ground.

"The Patrol Bureau failed in protecting the National Teacher. Please punish us."

Chen Xia was stunned for a moment, somewhat amused. "Really, I don't need you to protect me. Don't follow me either. Just go home and rest."

"Thank you for the National Teacher's forgiveness!" The Patrol Bureau experts hurriedly kowtowed.

Chen Xia was too lazy to say anything more either. He circled back to the Imperial Palace and sat in the luxurious residence Song Wei had prepared for him, planning to go into secluded cultivation again.

Night time.

The room door was suddenly knocked on. A timid voice sounded from outside the door.

"National Teacher, may I...may I come in?"

Chen Xia found this voice a little familiar but couldn't recall who it was. So he nodded and responded, "You may enter."

The room door was gently pushed open. Entering his vision were two well-proportioned, slender jade legs with just a little fabric wrapped around the hips, then an enchanting figure.

Finally, a pretty face.

"It's you." Chen Xia suddenly realized. The one who came was surprisingly the young lady who could swallow a whole sugar-coated hawthorn earlier today.

The young lady lowered her head. Her face was completely flushed red, practically about to drip water. She didn't dare look at Chen Xia and softly greeted him again.

"Greetings Na...National Teacher."

Chen Xia casually asked, "What's your name?"

"Huang Qingyue," the young lady answered gently in a suppressed voice, afraid of disturbing Chen Xia.

Chen Xia stood up and walked closer to Huang Qingyue, asking with interest, "Earlier today when you were buying candied haws, you showed your talent by swallowing a whole haw."

"Yes...yes," Huang Qingyue admitted bashfully with an embarrassed nod. Her expression grew even redder, redder than the candied haws from today.

"I see." Chen Xia smiled and pulled up his pants a little, continuing, "Then can you demonstrate it again for me? This time we won't swallow candied haws."

"Huh?" Huang Qingyue widened her eyes, looking at the roast suckling pig in front of her with complete incomprehension on her face.

Still, she ate it, and didn't even need three bites to finish it.

"A genius bestowed by the heavens!" Chen Xia praised.

Huang Qingyue's mouth was stuffed full. She couldn't speak clearly and could only chew quickly.

Then the two stared at each other.

"Why did you come here?" Only now did Chen Xia ask this question.

Huang Qingyue lowered her head and explained softly and gently, "It was Father who told me to come. He said the National Teacher took a li...liking to me and told me to come serve the National Teacher."

When saying these words, she turned red again because of a young lady's thin face. She didn't even dare lift her eyes to look at Chen Xia.

Such was the charm of a young maiden.

Chen Xia nodded, quite agreeing. "That's right, I did take a liking to you after all. Being able to swallow a whole suckling pig in two bites proves my eye for talent isn't bad."

Huang Qingyue felt even more embarrassed. Her head was practically sticking to her chest. She explained in a small voice, "I'm a bit...gluttonous. I made the National Teacher laugh. But I came here to serve...serve the National Teacher."

After all, a young lady had thin facial skin. When she mentioned serving, her voice suddenly turned softer. She didn't dare say it loudly.

"How do you plan on serving me?" Chen Xia smiled and asked, feeling that teasing the little girl was quite interesting.

"However...the National Teacher wishes." Huang Qingyue replied softly, still not daring to look at Chen Xia.

"Alright." Chen Xia nodded and asked, "Do you know how to play chess?"

"Father taught me before. I guess I know how." Huang Qingyue replied.

"Good."

Chen Xia took out a chess set and set up the pieces. He stretched out his hand invitingly, "Since we're free, why don't we play a few games?"

Huang Qingyue hurriedly nodded, sitting properly. "Please make the first move, National Teacher."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Chen Xia held a chariot piece and shouted, "I'll start with a drifting move, capturing your first piece!"

Huang Qingyue's hand that was moving the chess piece stopped. Her expression was blank.

Huh?

The Upper Realm.

Fuyao Immortal Sect.

An elderly man dressed splendidly was sailing in a boat through the starry sea. He arrived outside a cave residence. First he tidied his clothes, then respectfully called out,

"Elder Wang Wu requests an audience with the Holy Maiden."

"No need for an audience. Just say what business you have outside the door. The Holy Maiden is busy. I will relay your message to her."

The cave door suddenly made a sound, astonishingly opening two eyes to look at the elder and respond.

"Very well." The elder reluctantly nodded and said, "The immortal realm has ten thousand sects and holy assemblies. The Sect Master told me to come notify the Holy Maiden to prepare and take the opportunity of the new Holy Maiden's fame to improve relations with those sects and assemblies."

"Therefore, preparations are required of the Holy Maiden. Also, the gathering of ten thousand sects is nearing in exactly one thousand years. This old man implores the Holy Maiden to diligently cultivate and make a great impression at that time!"

The cave door made an impatient sound. "Alright alright, leave quickly. Just relaying the Sect Master's message yet adding so many of your own words."

The old man's expression was displeased but he didn't dare make a scene. He quickly left.

Yet the cave door did not relay the old man's words to Xu Zhen.

Because Xu Zhen could hear everything. She just didn't want to respond to this elder.

In the over thirty years since she came to Fuyao Immortal Sect, she had seen too much flattery and human nature. She also knew most of these elders only cared about benefits.

Moreover, she was a Holy Maiden with low cultivation level but extraordinary talent - the type these elders loved getting close to the most.

Fortunately her position as Holy Maiden was high enough that she could forcibly ignore these elders and peacefully focus on cultivation.

Xu Zhen shook her head. Her beautiful eyes blinked as she asked the cave door,

"Little Wu, what level of cultivation do I need to reach before I can freely go out?"

Chen Xia thought for a while and hesitantly replied, "At least Boundary-Crossing Realm I guess. No, that's not enough, Heaven-Filling Realm doesn't seem to work either, Great Emperor Realm is the safest bet."

Xu Zhen knitted her willow leaf eyebrows, feeling that she had asked a meaningless question.

She sighed again.

In the passing of thirty years, which was a very short period of time in the lifespan of a cultivator, it was not even worth paying much attention to.

But to Xu Zhen it felt very long.

The longing felt very long, and grew longer with each passing year.

If longing was a long river, then the longing in Xu Zhen's heart had probably gathered into a sea by now.

The more she was in contact with the immortal world, the more she missed her days in Weixi Town.

The more she missed Chen Xia.

She missed that Chen Xia who had sincere feelings for her.

Of course.

She felt the same way.

Her feelings had never changed.

No one had ever managed to checkmate the general and then bring out a prince to take over the throne.

But Huang Qingyue had witnessed it happening. She had spent a whole night playing chess and had barely managed to checkmate Chen Xia's general. Just as she was about to rejoice,

Chen Xia brought out a smaller "general" from behind, called it the Crown Prince Taking Over the Throne, and even gave this chess piece the name His Majesty the Second.

Huang Qingyue was nearly moved to tears in frustration. Pouting, she finally resorted to a maiden's coquetry and looked at Chen Xia pitifully.

"Your Excellency, can't you just let me win one game?"

Chen Xia shook his head. "In any game that involves competition, it's not much fun once you lose."

Huang Qingyue nodded emphatically in agreement, looking at Chen Xia with watery, pitiful eyes. "It's not much fun."

Chen Xia was taken aback for a moment, then muttered to himself.

Huang Qingyue's sharp ears caught it.

"So cute, a punch would probably make her cry for a long time, right?"

Huang Qingyue quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and sat up straight, looking seriously at Chen Xia as she replied.

"Please spare my life."