Chapter 326: Retirement from the Underworld
Chapter 326: Retirement from the Underworld (Thanks to the leader "I have a love letter")
"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: Based on the recommendation of the Hunan Provincial Governor, Liu Zhengfeng, a righteous man from Hengshan County, has eliminated banditry in the southern mountains, supported the Sanxiang region, worshipped the gods and brought peace to the people. His contributions are invaluable. He is skilled in martial arts and has great potential. He is therefore appointed as a deputy general..."
Taoist Tianmen, Yue Buqun, Master Dingyi, He Sanqi from the Yandang Sect, Xiao Xiaoxiao from the Blade-inserting Sect, Zhang Jinao from the Beggars' Sect, Old Master Xia from the Liuhe Sect, Pan Hou from the Haisha Sect... All the martial arts heroes present, regardless of their righteous or unrighteous ways, frowned and stared at the young eunuch who was reading the imperial edict.
Master Dingyi frowned and said, "After fifty years of experience, you once shone with your sword and awed the world. How could you be so greedy for the empty title of the imperial court and behave like this? I really don't understand."
During the Yousheng period, it had become a common practice in the government and the country to respect culture and suppress military power. The deputy general was a military officer of the second rank, but it was not very honorable. Moreover, Liu Zhengfeng was an official who was paid by donation and could not command the troops, so he was three ranks lower than others.
Yue Buqun and Tianmen Taoist priests all looked at Master Dingyi and smiled bitterly with helplessness.
These words were also what the martial arts heroes present wanted to say, but Hengshan, Taishan and Huashan were present. After all, they are from the Five Mountains Sword Sect and are considered half family members. How could outsiders comment casually?
Master Dingyi now expressed the thoughts of everyone present.
The road from the inner hall to the main gate was paved with red cloth early in the morning, and an incense table was set up in the courtyard.
At that time, everyone was puzzled. The Liu family had been wealthy and powerful in Hengshan for generations, but there was no need to be so particular about formalities. Most of the guests were martial artists who advocated a carefree and casual lifestyle. It would be somewhat inappropriate to do this.
Now the truth is out.
The red cloth is not for friends in the underworld, but for angels in the court.
"... In the future, serve the country and do not disappoint me. I hereby order you to do so."
"Young General Liu Zhengfeng, I kneel down to thank God for His grace. Long live the Emperor!"
"General Liu, please stand up."
Liu Zhengfeng prostrated himself at the feet of the eunuch in the dragon robe, with his buttocks raised high. He kowtowed three times in front of the incense table before standing up to receive the order.
The young eunuch smiled and said, "Congratulations, General Liu. From now on, you will wear the imperial seal, sit in the eighth seat, guard the place, bring honor to your family, and be a real man!"
Liu Zhengfeng bowed and said, "I am a humble man with little talent and knowledge. I am honored to be promoted to an official by the imperial court. This is truly a great favor from the emperor. It is also thanks to the great efforts of the eunuch who came down from the heavenly palace to the mortal world and read the sacred law. This has given me this special opportunity and honor."
The young eunuch chuckled and said, "General Liu is too polite."
Liu Zhengfeng turned to Xiang Danian and asked, "Where are the gifts prepared for the court angels?"
Xiang Danian quickly presented a round plate with a silver bundle on it.
Liu Zhengfeng took it with both hands and said with a smile: "It's just a small gift, not a respect, I hope the angel won't despise it."
The young eunuch nodded slightly, and his attendant stepped forward to take the "little gift".
"That's easy! General Liu is not only skilled in martial arts, but also well-educated. In my opinion, this deputy general is far from being a top general. He can at least become a general, so that he can better serve the court."
When Liu Zhengfeng heard this, his face lit up with joy, and he cupped his hands and said, "It's all thanks to Eunuch Qin's cultivation."
After the young eunuch finished reading the imperial eunuch, he saw that all those present were people from the martial arts world, all of them holding swords and knives, as fierce as wolves and tigers. He did not want to stay any longer, so after drinking three glasses of wine, he said goodbye and left.
"Father-in-law, please go slowly!"
Liu Zhengfeng saw him out the door, saying goodbye reluctantly. He was extremely humble, almost servile, and it was so chilling to look at. Not to mention other people in the martial arts world, even the Hengshan School disciples felt ashamed.
"It's easy to enter the underworld, but it's hard to leave it!"
Zhang Yu sat in a corner of the courtyard, watching coldly. As a member of the Sun and Moon Sect, Blackwood Cliff was known as the 'small court' in the martial arts world. He could understand Liu Zhengfeng to some extent and knew that he had his own reasons for acting this way.
"This fierce tiger from Nanshan is trying to restrain its claws and fangs, and show itself to the court and the martial arts world that it is insignificant, unworthy of mention, and insignificant. It is even willing to dump all the reputation it has accumulated over decades on the ground and let others trample on it."
"But even so, can the underworld let Liu Zhengfeng go?" Zhang Yu could understand Liu Zhengfeng, but that didn't mean he approved of this approach. It seemed that Mr. Liu Sanye had been staying in Hunan, the land of fish and rice, for too long and had not yet experienced the real bloody storms. Being in the underworld was not like treating everyone to a meal and then leaving? You could leave when you wanted to and stay when you wanted to?
The world of Jianghu has never been a study of morality, but a life-and-death struggle.
"Either you never enter the water and stand on the dry shore, or you swim hard to the other side. When your martial arts and power are strong enough to do whatever you want, whether you retire or aim to rule the world, you have become a part of the martial arts world."
Zhang Yu glanced at the sky. It was almost noon, but the people from Songshan Sect had not arrived yet. It seemed that the ambush by Su Qiqi and Tian Boguang was effective. If Liu Zhengfeng could successfully retire from the underworld, perhaps things in the future... would change.
"The fire bombs from Feixing Sect were really put to good use this time. If Yunyu Sect and Songshan Sect were to fight head-on, the losses would be too great."
He has been traveling across the martial arts world, fighting enemies in the east and west, and has only accumulated two troops under his command, so he can still be trusted. As for the Blood Crane North Garden, it is too close to the Black Wood Cliff and involves too many things. With Di Baiying also around, he dare not regard him as his complete confidant for the time being.
Liu Zhengfeng returned to the hall. At this time, the room was silent. Everyone had different thoughts. Some laughed and ridiculed him, some looked down on him, some expressed regret and regret, and some felt ashamed. But in the final analysis, it was Liu Zhengfeng's own choice, and no one could say anything.
However, in the minds of quite a few people, Liu Zhengfeng has changed from the famous Mr. Liu Sanye who was respected even after retiring from the underworld to Liu San.
Liu Zhengfeng seemed unaware of it. He stood in the hall, smiling and bowing to everyone.
"My fellow martial arts elders, fellow brothers, and young friends, you have taken the trouble to come from afar to gather at Hengshan. This is really a great honor to me. I, Liu Zhengfeng, would like to thank you for this."
The heroes bowed in return, but still no one spoke.
"As you all know, Liu has been granted a small official position by the imperial court. From now on, I will be loyal to the imperial court and will no longer be involved in any grudges in the martial arts world..."
"Those of my disciples who are willing to follow me can continue to stay in the mansion. Those who are not willing can switch to other sects..."
After saying these polite words, to show his determination, he drew out his sword and swept it with both hands. Before anyone could see clearly, there was a "bang" and the two broken swords were completely sunk into the floor tiles, leaving only the hilt exposed.
"What a trick!"
The people in the martial arts world were secretly shocked. As the saying goes, the layman watches the excitement, the inexperienced sees the doorway. To hammer the broken blade into the ground requires profound internal strength, but there are many masters who can do it. The rare thing is that the two floor tiles where the broken blade was located did not even have the slightest crack, which shows the exquisiteness of the martial arts.
The sun is at its zenith, and noon has arrived.
In the courtyard, the wooden table that was originally used to welcome the angel's decree had been cleared of incense, candles, incense sticks, and offerings. Only an ordinary copper basin was placed there quietly, waiting to complete its mission.
"The auspicious time has come!"
Liu Zhengfeng walked slowly along the red cloth to the table and put his hands into the copper basin. Just as he was about to touch the clear water, he heard a loud shout from outside the door, "Uncle Liu, don't wash your hands yet." Everyone looked up.
"The Five Mountains Alliance Leader's banner has arrived!"
Four dishevelled men hurried in from outside the gate. They were covered in smoke and fire, with five or six holes burned in their clothes. They looked extremely miserable, as if they had just escaped from a fire.
Fortunately, the five-colored brocade banner inlaid with pearls and gems was still intact and emitting a dazzling light, otherwise it would have been mistaken for a disciple of the Beggar Gang under Zhang Jinao.
The man holding the flag was none other than Di Xiu, a leader among the younger generation of disciples in Songshan Sect, nicknamed 'Lightning Sword'. He had a wound on his left cheek that seemed to have been broken by iron sheet, so deep that the bone was visible. Even after it healed, a scar would be left.
He stared at Liu Zhengfeng with anger in his eyes.
"According to the order of the Five Mountains Alliance Leader, Uncle Liu's retirement from the underworld will be postponed for now!"
Two alliances in one day, thank you both, it's a waste of money. There are a lot of trainings at the end of the year, and I have to go out again on Friday. I will add more chapters and put them in the basement to complete this month. Thank you again, I can't repay you.
(End of this chapter)