267: Chapter 0267 A Sand Gull in the Sky

Chen Yanqiu sighed, "If that is the question, it actually boils down to four words."

"What?"

"Peace under heaven."

Lin Xiao frowned, "The academy... wants to end the chaotic times as soon as possible?"

"Correct. You are exceptionally intelligent, Prince, so you should understand what kind of world is better for the academy, right?"

Lin Xiao took a deep breath, slowly beginning to grasp the meaning.

"I have heard an old saying in the Jianghu: 'In chaotic times, climb the Blade Mountain; in times of peace, enter the academy.' It seems it is true..."

Chen Yanqiu nodded, smiling, "For the academy, throughout the dynasties of the Central Plains, it matters not who sits on the throne."

"The gentry clans of the world all have disciples of the academy, and the wealthy gentry all take pride in sending their children to the academy."

"As long as there is peace under heaven, and the imperial court holds civil service examinations to select the virtuous and capable, the academy can govern the world together with the Emperor."

"But if the wars never cease and the Central Plains are torn apart, then the books of sages in the hands of scholars will not compare to the blades in the hands of warriors."

"Among the Five Great Sects, only the academy values literature over martial arts."

"In the 'Tianwu Grand Tournament' held every five years, they often fall out of the top ten, surpassed by other small and medium-sized sects."

"Yet, for the most part, the academy's status remains exalted; neither the imperial court nor the Jianghu dares to slight it!"

"They rely on their ability to guide the destiny of the nation and devise strategies, firmly controlling the lifeline of dynastic succession time and time again."

Lin Xiao couldn't help but want to laugh; when it came down to it, this academy was just an interest group for the gentry class!

Guiding the destiny of the nation... controlling the lifeline of the dynasty...

It was nothing more than the feudal imperial power making compromise after compromise with the gentry class to consolidate its own throne!

And every compromise was made to consolidate their own status, continuously sucking the blood of the common people at the bottom!

Lin Xiao had originally had no interest in these Jianghu sects.

Hearing this, however, he wanted to go and "meet" those high-and-mighty masters who were stirring up trouble behind the scenes.

"Have you gone to see those people outside the city who are suffering from the plague?" Lin Xiao asked.

Chen Yanqiu was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and answered truthfully, "I have not."

"Is it that you do not want to, or that you dare not?"

"Simply put, there is no need."

"Why?"

Chen Yanqiu smiled nonchalantly and said, "The succession of every dynasty requires mountains of corpses and seas of blood."

"If one wants to end the chaotic times as quickly as possible, one must use strong medicine. Take the current situation, for example; the situation in the north is much clearer."

"If they do not die today, they will die another day; if they do not die, others will die."

"Before I entered the secular world, I had already prepared myself to fall into the Asura hell, so naturally, I will not have any mercy."

"The masters of the academy may have selfish motives, but for the sake of the greater good, sacrificing a part is necessary."

Lin Xiao laughed out loud.

"When all is said and done, you are simply using the lives of innocent common people to maintain the status of your academy!"

"If you truly had the ability, why not enter the fray yourselves, sweep across the universe, and return a peaceful world to the people!?"

"A mere Jianghu sect, a bunch of cowards, you really think you can play with the people of the world in the palm of your hand!?"

"It is utterly ridiculous!!"

Lin Xiao stood up abruptly and strode over to Chen Yanqiu.

"I am telling you, this world has always belonged to the people of the world; it is not the Emperor's, not the gentry's, and certainly not that bullshit academy's!!"

Chen Yanqiu shivered, looking at the pair of shining tiger-like eyes before him, feeling incredulous!

"You... you are not Prince Bai? Who are you!?"

Although he had previously felt that this Prince Bai was a bit strange.

But considering the strength of Ji Wujiu, he did not think Prince Bai could be killed.

However, upon hearing these words, Chen Yanqiu was completely convinced that this person could not be the stubborn and arrogant Prince Bai!!

"Me?"

Lin Xiao grinned: "Just a gull between heaven and earth!"

The moment the words fell, Lin Xiao struck a burst of energy into Chen Yanqiu's dantian!

Chen Yanqiu felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, and his already meager internal energy was instantly crippled!

"You... what are you doing?"

Lin Xiao did not speak, simply knocking him unconscious.

A quarter of an hour later.

Chen Yanqiu felt a chill. Opening his eyes, he found some men, women, and children around him, pointing at him.

He gritted his teeth and climbed to his feet. Seeing the scene around him, he was suddenly jolted awake!

"A... refugee camp?"

This was outside the city of Yong Province!

"Isn't that the poisonous strategist surnamed Chen?"

"The one whose head is hanging at the city gate?"

"How is he still alive?"

Chen Yanqiu was shocked. He touched his face and discovered that his disguise had been removed!?

In an instant, he felt the hatred, disgust, and contemptuous gazes of the surrounding commoners like needles on his back, and an unprecedented fear rose in his heart...

"Is he a man or a ghost?"

"Who cares! Even if he is a ghost, I will kill this beast! My daughter was killed by him!!"

"Count me in; I'm the only one left in my family, and I don't want to live anymore either!!"

The group of refugees spoke, gradually closing in on him.

Chen Yanqiu backed away step by step, but more and more people surrounded him.

"You... you calm down. Committing violence at will is a violation of the criminal law!!"

As soon as Chen Yanqiu said it, he felt it was ridiculous! Pathetic!

He was actually afraid of death!?

Not long after, wails echoed from within the refugee camp...

In the darkness in the distance.

Lin Xiao watched silently as Chen Yanqiu died under the fury of the common people.

Watching his pathetic begging for mercy in his final moments, he gave a cold smile.

"Speaking so righteously, and in the end, it amounts to just this."

"The academy... I will burn that wretched place down sooner or later!!"

After a flash of coldness passed through Lin Xiao's eyes, he used his lightness skill and headed straight for the west of Yong Province.

According to the latest intelligence he had received, Zhao Yunting had already led thirty thousand of the Zhenbei Army and was stationed twenty miles away.

Zhao Yunting had clearly sensed that something was wrong, which was why he had not attacked the city and had chosen to wait and see.

After Lin Xiao restored his original appearance, he went straight to the command camp.

Zhao Yunting and several veteran generals of the Cold Iron Guard were discussing the strange behavior of "Prince Bai" over the past two days.

Seeing Lin Xiao appear suddenly, the generals and soldiers were all extremely pleasantly surprised!!

"Lin Xiao!!"

"You have finally arrived!!"

"We were worried about you, wondering where you had gone since Lu Sanchuan had already withdrawn his troops!!"

Lin Xiao patted them on the shoulders one by one and offered a few words of comfort.

"Lin Xiao, if you hadn't come, this old man wouldn't have known where to lead this army."

Zhao Yunting appeared composed, obviously having long expected that Lin Xiao would be fine; after all, he was a Great Grandmaster.

"Old Zhao, you are too modest. I heard that you lent the Cold Iron Guard to Wanying, which facilitated the great victory at Baixue Pass and broke Lu Sanchuan's fifty-thousand-strong army. Now, with your help, Wanying has once again become famous throughout the world, almost catching up to her father!!"

Lin Xiao was not boasting; throughout the day, the news had been spreading across Yong Province.

Mu Wanying had once taken a city single-handedly with a single spear, which had been glorious, but this time, winning against Lu Sanchuan's Silver Armor Army with fewer troops had directly made the "Mu Family Army" legendary once again!!

Although those in the know were aware that Lu Sanchuan had mainly lost to the Modao Squad and the Cold Iron Guard, who were skilled in winter warfare, regardless, it was Mu Wanying who had led the army!!

Zhao Yunting asked curiously: "Lin Xiao, where did you learn these details? Could it be that the scouts of the Zhenbei Army have already spread across the entire Northern Territory?"

Lin Xiao couldn't be bothered to explain in too much detail and nodded, feigning profundity.

Zhao Yunting believed him instantly, assuming it must be the Zhenbei Army's powerful intelligence network, and marveled at how far-sighted Lin Xiao's plans were.

"Lin Xiao, the imperial court has issued an edict for us to capture the rebel Prince Bai, but now Prince Bai has issued a 'Self-Accusation Letter.' I do not know what he is planning."

"Since you are here, please instruct us on the next step. Should we follow the court's wishes and take Yong Province?"

Lin Xiao smiled: "Old General, Prince Bai is at the end of his rope and has already imprisoned himself in the Prince's mansion."

"Tomorrow, when Wanying arrives with the rest of the army to rendezvous, we will lead the army directly into Yong Province. There will be no garrison to block us."

As far as he knew, after Mu Wanying won, she had already headed straight for Yong Province with the remaining ten thousand elite troops.

"Really?"

Zhao Yunting felt it was unbelievable, "Based on my understanding of Prince Bai, he is not that kind of person..."

"In front of me, whoever he is, he must plead guilty and accept his punishment," Lin Xiao said indifferently.

Zhao Yunting was stunned for a moment, then cupped his hands and bowed his head, "This general obeys your order!!"

"Haha, Old General, no need for formalities. Rest early tonight. Tomorrow, when we enter the city, it must be spectacular!!"

"Oh right, have the soldiers learned our Zhenbei Army's 'Military Anthem'? They must sing it when we enter the city!!"

Lin Xiao revealed a kind smile again; after all, he was his father-in-law, so he couldn't keep putting pressure on him.

When Zhao Yunting heard "Military Anthem," he looked troubled, "That song... do we really have to sing it?"

"Military orders are like a mountain!!"

"Uh... obeyed!!"

Lin Xiao was very satisfied. Just as he was planning to find a tent to crash in for the night, he suddenly heard a messenger report:

"Lin Xiao!! Marshal Zhao!! Mu Wanying is here!!"