bookbashuk Chapter 13 Characteristics of the Era
Chapter 13 Characteristics of the Era
As the sky darkened, the distant mountains faded into shadow.
The sun is about to lose its last rays.
A magnificent carriage, bathed in the setting sun, came from the official road. The gilded curtains fluttered gently in the evening breeze, and the exquisitely carved wooden wheels rolled over the long bluestone road, kicking up wisps of dust.
As the carriage drew near, Su Yu heard the melodious singing of orioles and swallows, the tunes gentle and sweet, drifting out of the carriage on the evening breeze.
"Who is it that knows how to enjoy life so much even while traveling?"
Su Yu couldn't help but examine the carriage closely, only to find powerful runes swirling around its gilded body. It was clear that a high-level rune master and array master had worked together to set it up, indicating that the carriage owner was no ordinary person.
The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing a rugged and unrestrained face. His gaze fell on Su Yu, and deep within his haughty eyes, a hint of ruthlessness and violence shone through.
"Get out of the way and get out of there!"
Ye Hongyu disappeared. The moment the carriage appeared, she vanished into the mountains and forests without leaving any trace, as if Su Yu was the only person on this official road.
Su Yu wasn't some angry young man, so he didn't choose to confront them head-on. He had heard even harsher things, and his status as a disciple of the academy's back mountain shouldn't be used for such matters.
Ye Hongyu has already withdrawn, so Su Yu has no reason not to.
On the side of the carriage were the two characters "Xiahou," as bright red as blood, but the burly man on the carriage was probably not General Xiahou, the General Who Guards the North.
If it were Xiahou, he would definitely be able to sense the cultivator's fluctuations on Su Yu's body, and would not insult a cultivator who seems to have a background right under the nose of the imperial city.
However, the person who could drive such a carriage and come to Chang'an in such a ostentatious manner must have a high status in Xiahou's army, or he might even be one of Xiahou's close associates.
"That country bumpkin is standing in the middle of the road, courting death!"
"If this were on the grasslands, I'd chop your head off with one stroke."
Su Yu frowned. He felt that the person in front of him was being a bit too deliberate. When he saw the carriage, he had already moved to the side of the road so as not to affect the carriage's passage, but the person in the carriage still stuck his head out and shouted.
As the carriage passed by, the songstress's voice was sweet and melodious, her words soft and gentle, mingling with the afterglow of the setting sun and the evening breeze, lingering and echoing along the empty official road.
The man's action of closing the carriage curtain released a subtle fragrance.
Su Yu knew very well that Xiahou was a powerful ruler, and his subordinates should not be so unwise as to insult a cultivator on the official road near Chang'an.
After the carriage left, Ye Hongyu reappeared.
"He is Li Shen, a general in the Zhenbei Army, one of the most trusted men of General Xiahou, and also a link between Xiahou and His Majesty the Emperor."
"The reason he is so arrogant is because his surname is Li, the Li of the Tang Dynasty emperors."
Ye Hongyu gazed in the direction the carriage had gone and softly offered an explanation to Su Yu.
Su Yu murmured, "Could Xiahou's confidant be so stupid?"
Ye Hongyu chuckled and said, "You guessed right. He's not stupid at all. On the contrary, he's very smart. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been chosen as the link between His Majesty the King of Tang and Xiahou."
"He's just too smart, which is why he acts so recklessly, even to the point of being somewhat paranoid and insane."
"I heard he killed many people and did many things that angered both heaven and man."
Su Yu understood. This was self-degradation and also polluting Xiahou. He was using his bad reputation to attract enemies for Xiahou.
Xiahou's attitude toward Li Shen represents his loyalty to the Tang Dynasty and his deep friendship with His Majesty the Tang Emperor.
"So that's how it is."
Su Yu had never heard of this name, let alone knew that Xiahou and the current emperor had such a connection.
Political games are not about superficial harmony; mutual distrust and suspicion exist from the very beginning, constantly affecting the judgments of those in power.
"Li Shen has returned to Chang'an, and Xiahou should be there soon as well."
"I have to go now."
All good things must come to an end. Ye Hongyu does not belong to the Tang Dynasty. After Chen Pipi becomes a disciple of Master Fuzi, there is no more outstanding talent in Xiling than Ye Hongyu. Ye Hongyu will strive to climb the stage of Taoshan in Xiling and wield supreme power.
Su Yu said, "I hope that next time we meet, we can still sit down and have a good chat."
Ye Hongyu asked, "Really? Is there going to be a war?"
"Mr. Su always tries to persuade me to let you go."
"Perhaps you know something."
"The outbreak of conflict between the Tang Dynasty and Xiling required a certain premise."
"Has something happened to the Master?"
As she said this, Ye Hongyu moved closer to Su Yu, her eyes fixed on Su Yu's eyes, as if trying to extract some information from Su Yu's brain.
Su Yu was startled by Ye Hongyu's small face approaching; he could even smell her breath.
"Did you just eat a piece of candy?"
Ye Hongyu took two steps back, a blush rising on her face. The two had been chatting for a long time, and she hadn't eaten anything beforehand, so she had eaten a piece of candy while dodging the carriage.
There was nothing wrong with Ye Hongyu eating candy in itself, but Su Yu smelled it and then asked about it, which made her feel somewhat ashamed and indignant.
In an instant, Ye Hongyu's idea of approaching and probing Su Yu vanished. No matter what problems the Tang Dynasty had, no matter whether war would break out in the future, at this moment, nothing was more important than her face.
Ye Hongyu was young, but she was a very proud person and she didn't like the feeling of losing face.
"Okay, goodbye."
"If I ever meet you on the battlefield, I will kill you!"
Su Yu gave an awkward smile and said, "Don't worry, Miss Ye, if we meet on the battlefield in the future, I will let you go once, or even twice."
Ye Hongyu disappeared into the night as if fleeing.
Su Yu was left alone in silence. His heart was pounding, especially when he thought of Ye Hongyu asking him what had happened to the teacher, and that face that was so close to him.
Ye Hongyu was too clever, so clever that it was frightening. Compared to her, Li Yu seemed rather naive.
"This is a real world, and there are real people here."
"Everyone has flesh and blood; underestimating others will lead you to your doom!"
"Ye Hongyu said that if we meet on the battlefield in the future, she will kill me."
"It should be true; if she says it, she'll do it."
"I've gotten myself into trouble!"
Fortunately, no one knew anything about the Master. Even if Ye Hongyu had some doubts, she could only have doubts. Her doubts alone could not lead Xiling to launch a war of annihilation against the Tang Dynasty.
After a full day out, Su Yu found his personal treasure and chatted with his former idol. He felt that the day was very fulfilling.
As for Li Shen in the carriage, Su Yu wasn't angry, but rather found it amusing. Perhaps people like Li Shen were a characteristic of this era, revering imperial power and the heavens while disregarding ordinary people.
Just as Li Shen said, if he were on the grassland, he could easily kill someone who had nothing to do with him, which would be easier than killing pigs or dogs. Perhaps in his eyes, the lives of pigs and dogs would be more valuable.