Chapter 387: Chapter 97: Sword Drawn from East Mountain (Part 2)

“Han Wen, stationed in Jingzhou, was greatly disappointed upon hearing this. He had originally thought that Emperor Jianwen would emulate the sages of old and abdicate the throne to him. Unexpectedly, the new Emperor’s ascension only positioned him as a regent.”

“In the first year of the new Emperor’s reign, Han Wen took advantage of Emperor Jianwen’s passing and once again led troops into the Court, offering sacrifices at the royal tombs.”

Chen Tang said, “It seems this man can no longer hold back. This time, not only does he want to depose Emperor Xiaowu, but he likely intends to replace him as well.”

“Indeed.”

Ming Yue Wanderer said, “At that time, rumors spread throughout the Capital City, saying that Han Wen entered the Court with plans to execute the Shen clan, led by Shen Wendu, overthrow Nanxia, and take its place.”

At this, Ming Yue Wanderer paused and then slowly continued, “And so, Ye Anshi descended from the mountain.”

Though uttered lightly, this sentence tightened Chen Tang’s nerves instantly.

Given Nanxia’s situation at the time, Han Wen held immense power, with no force in the Imperial Court able to contend with him.

Yet, the East Mountain Sword Pavilion represented the forces of the Jianghu!

Ming Yue Wanderer said, “Ye Anshi, at that time, had not yet cultivated to the realm of Grandmaster of Transformation Realm. When Han Wen arrived in the Capital City, Emperor Xiaowu ordered the officials to exit the city to welcome him, kneeling on both sides, including Shen Wendu and Ye Anshi.”

“Han Wen deployed heavy troops for protection, entertained officials with a banquet. Those with official ranking and prestige were all panic-stricken. Shen Wendu, being a civil servant, having supported the new Emperor’s ascension, was viewed by Han Wen as an eyesore and a thorn in his flesh. Facing such a grandmaster who had emerged from a sea of corpses and blood, how could they withstand such a fierce aura? At first glance, they were drenched in cold sweat.”

“Only Ye Anshi sat calmly, conversing and laughing with Han Wen.”

Chen Tang listened with full attention.

These two had quite a connection; they were both favored by Layman Chilong in the past.

Ming Yue Wanderer said, “Later, the officials withdrew, leaving only Han Wen and Ye Anshi in the camp, and no one knew what happened then. But after that banquet, Han Wen withdrew his troops and soon died of illness.”

“Ah!”

Chen Tang exclaimed.

Han Wen was a grandmaster just past sixty, still in peak condition; how could he die of illness just like that?

Chen Tang couldn’t help but let his imagination run wild, wishing he could reverse the river of time and witness what had happened then.

The Sword Sect’s Ye Anshi, truly had remarkable means.

Alone, in the face of Han Wen and thousands of troops, he resolved Nanxia’s crisis after a carefree banquet!

What a magnificent feat!

If not for Ye Anshi stepping in, Nanxia might have ceased to exist.

When martial arts prowess reaches its pinnacle, a single individual’s power can alter the course of the Imperial Court!

Chen Tang couldn’t help but think back to Beiqian and Yuan Qingshan.

If he could reach the realm of Sword Sect’s Ye Anshi, perhaps his senior brother wouldn’t have had to die.

Ming Yue Wanderer said, “At the time, there was a saying, ’When leaves fall in the Capital City, the world is at peace,’ referring to the Nanxia Sword Sect.”

“And then?”

Chen Tang, entranced, couldn’t help but ask further.

Ming Yue Wanderer said, “Ye Anshi, having achieved a great achievement, had a chance to enter the court as prime minister, reaching the pinnacle of rank, but he feigned illness and retired to seclusion, avoiding society.”

“It was rumored at the time that the two had crossed paths at the banquet with a great duel, injuring each other, forcing Ye Anshi into seclusion to recuperate. Some also said that through this duel, Ye Anshi broke through the realm and entered the Transformation Realm. No one knew the details then, until…”

After a brief pause, Ming Yue Wanderer took a deep breath and said, “Until His Majesty prepared to lead the army in a southward campaign!”

Chen Tang’s heart stirred.

Knowing that what followed was a world-shaking battle affecting the Northern and Southern Divine Land, the Battle of Xiajiang.

He only knew of the situation faced by Emperor Wu in the Battle of Xiajiang, unaware of the state of Nanxia at the time.

Ming Yue Wanderer said, “At that time in Nanxia, despite Han Wen’s death, the Han clan still firmly held Jingzhou, using it as a center to control the western Yizhou and central Jiangzhou regions.”

“His Majesty, having subdued all the divisions of Northern Divine Continent, was hailed as invincible in his time, his fame as radiant as the sun. Wherever the army went, no one dared to resist. Yet, the political situation in Nanxia was turbulent, the gate valves were powerful, the royal authority waned, and there was no one in the court to employ. This internal and external strife couldn’t withstand His Majesty’s army.”

“With no other option, Emperor Xiaowu could only request the Sword Sect to intervene. However, the Sword Sect declined to appear. After numerous summons and visits, the Sword Sect finally sent a clan member to descend from the mountain, gathering the elite from various Jianghu gangs and sects, Green Forest heroes, and notable figures of the wild, quickly forming a new army of one hundred thousand, named the Northern Expedition Army.”

“This person’s name was Ye Xuan, the nephew of the Sword Sect, also renowned in Nanxia. The Northern Expedition Army led by Ye Xuan was the primary force contending against His Majesty’s army in the Battle of Xiajiang.”

“Of course, the actual decision of the battle’s outcome was determined by the duel between two Grandmasters of the Transformation Realm.”

Ming Yue Wanderer spoke of this past without regret or resentment, his face full of sentiment and sighing deeply.

“That was the second time the Sword Sect intervened, engaging in a battle across the river with His Majesty. It was also then that the world realized this reclusive, retiring from the world Ye Anshi had already become a Grandmaster!”

Ming Yue Wanderer said, “Later, the people of Nanxia universally praised, ’A sword from the East Mountain stabilizes the world.’

When leaves fall in the Capital City, the world is at peace; a sword from the East Mountain stabilizes the world.

Nanxia Sword Sect, Ye Anshi.

No wonder Ming Yue Wanderer, being by Emperor Wu’s side, did not conceal his admiration for this Sword Sect in his words.

Only two interventions, one to support a crumbling edifice, another to turn the tide, altering the world order!

Chen Tang recalled.

Even Emperor Wu, when mentioning the Nanxia Sword Sect, showed no signs of hostility or resentment in his gaze.

Perhaps, people of their realm had long seen through the matters of the world and life and death.

No wonder Ming Yue Wanderer said that the power of the Jianghu in Nanxia could even contend with the Court.

Aside from the Nanxia Sword Sect, just this mobilizing ability was enough to make the Court wary.

In a short time, gathering experts from various Jianghu gangs and sects, mobilizing forces of all kinds, martial world heroes, forming an army able to confront Emperor Wu’s personally led force head-on, what kind of leadership was this!

Chen Tang asked, “And after the Battle of Xiajiang?”

Ming Yue Wanderer’s eyes flashed with a hint of sarcasm and said, “After the Battle of Xiajiang, the Ye clan of the Sword Pavilion, due to this battle, its fame and influence in both the Court and Jianghu reached their peak. Ye Xuan had control over the strongest fighting force of Nanxia, the Northern Expedition Army, his influence and prestige even surpassed that of the Han clan in Jingzhou.”

“Exactly because of this, the Ye clan faced suspicion from Emperor Xia, fearing that the Ye family, like the Shen and Han families, could arbitrarily depose and install emperors.”

Chen Tang frowned slightly.

With Nanxia’s royal power waning, it had always been threatened by the gate valve clans for a hundred years, so Emperor Xia’s concerns were understandable.

However, the Nanxia Sword Sect’s two interventions equated to saving Nanxia, protecting the Nanxia royal family.

Even so, the East Mountain Sword Pavilion still faced suspicion, which inevitably chills the heart.

Ming Yue Wanderer said, “Before Emperor Xia could act, the Sword Sect once again retreated to seclusion, and Ye Xuan relinquished the military power of the Northern Expedition Army.”

Chen Tang secretly admired.

Whether the Nanxia Sword Sect or the Ye clan of the East Mountain Sword Pavilion, they could retreat in spite of the current, without longing for power, truly commendable.

Or perhaps, the Nanxia Sword Sect never had ambitions in this regard.

Both interventions were merely forced by circumstances.

Ming Yue Wanderer said, “Ye Xuan relinquished the military power of the Northern Expedition Army, which finally fell into the hands of the Nanxia royal family. From then on, the Nanxia royal family truly possessed a force able to contend with the gate valve clans.”

“Has there been no news of the Sword Sect these years?”

Chen Tang asked again.

Ming Yue Wanderer shook his head and said, “Some say that after the Battle of Xiajiang, the Sword Sect was injured and has never fully recovered.”

“Yet another rumor like this?”

Chen Tang couldn’t help but laugh.

Ming Yue Wanderer said, “This rumor isn’t without basis. His Majesty was the foremost person of the era, and for the Sword Sect to engage with him, it’s hard to retreat unscathed.”

“More importantly, a few years ago, a son-in-law of the Sword Sect, Shen Ningzhi, guarding Huiji County, was attacked by the Profound Celestial Sect, leading to the fall of the city. This son-in-law died, his family fled by boat, suffering heavy casualties, his daughter Ye Taoyuan was captured, and their children disappeared with their whereabouts unknown.”

“During all this, the Sword Sect never surfaced.”

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