Chapter 84 Composure in a Single Word

That vast and magnificent sentence, that was the first and only time Yuan had seen that Daoist’s eyebrows flying, and the first time he understood what it meant to be the number one true cultivator in Shenzhou.

The talisman turned into a stream of light, entwined around that short sword.

Zhang Jiao struggled to strike down, the sword qi surged and澎湃, and the incomparably powerful luck true dragon shattered in an instant.

Then,

Yuan saw that the shattered luck transformed into small dragon beasts and ferocious tigers in this dim and hazy illusion. The scene was magnificent and vast, making people lose their minds, as if the world was changing color.

The collapse of the Great Zhou’s luck gave birth to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.

And this, too, will inevitably give birth to a brilliant era comparable to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.

But the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods were a long five hundred years.

And this time, these brilliant figures will appear simultaneously in just a few decades. Heroes and outstanding figures will stand side by side. It is a period that is extremely bright even in the vast five thousand years of Shenzhou. At the same time, in the Luoyang Palace, Emperor Ling, only twenty-seven years old, suddenly fainted for the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

And died just five years later.

The Han Emperor no longer possessed the power he once had.

Yuan didn't know these things. He just stared blankly at the brilliant light flowing back and forth, a little stunned. Suddenly, the Daoist standing in front of the light swayed and fell backward. As he fell, the scattered luck, like brilliant starlight, burst out in all directions of Shenzhou.

Yuan supported Zhang Jiao and saw the streams of light shooting towards all parts of Shenzhou.

When one of the ascending dragons flew past Ah Yuan, the young man's palm gently brushed against its reverse scale.

And this time, Zhang Jiao fell completely ill.

He was almost unable to get out of bed and ate very little. Ah Yuan took care of him by his side, watching the young Daoist gradually become thinner. One day, Zhang Jiao suddenly felt very happy, ate a bowl of porridge, and even ate a chicken egg. Yuan had an extremely ominous premonition in his heart.

Zhang Jiao asked Yuan to bring the *Taiping Yaoshu* (The Essential Arts of Pacifying the World).

He stroked the book that he had re-innovated, and remained silent for a long time. Suddenly, he opened it and tore out the pages involving the dragon vein severance and threw them directly into the stove. Ah Yuan was shocked and subconsciously tried to grab them from the brazier, but Zhang Jiao stopped him.

This action made Zhang Jiao's body even worse, and he coughed violently.

The young man quickly patted Zhang Jiao's back, but at this moment, the brazier suddenly shook.

Several pages were blown out of the house by the wind, and Yuan was shocked. Following Zhang Jiao's instructions, he ran out to find them, but saw a sudden gust of wind rising from the ground, causing the pages of the *Taiping Yaoshu* to fly far away. With the young man's foot strength, he couldn't catch up at all.

Zhang Jiao was a little tired, looked at the distance, and remained silent for a long time, saying:

"Forget it, is this the will of heaven..."

He handed the remaining *Taiping Yaoshu* in his hand to the young man and said softly: "Take it, this contains all my life's Daoist knowledge, including heaven, earth, yin and yang, the five elements, ten branches, disasters, and immortals..."

The young man knew his physical condition and said:

"Teacher, I don't have the talent to learn it all."

Zhang Jiao smiled and reached out to rub the top of the young man's head, and said softly:

"It's okay, if you can't learn it well, then take in a few more disciples and teach them these things. If this knowledge can assist one of them in pacifying the troubled times, that would be best. Those astrological and yin-yang studies are somewhat useful..."

The young man remained silent for a long time, and nodded seriously.

Zhang Jiao said: "Your body has always been weak. You have to pay more attention to it in the future. Originally, this burden should be given to Bai Qi or Ah Yan, but thinking about it, they are the kind of people who rise to power, and they may be even more unsuitable."

He lay on the bed and muttered: "The world is going to be in chaos, but this chaos was started by me."

"Actually, it's a bit ridiculous to think about it. As a Daoist, I failed to leave a complete inheritance, but as a Han person, I broke the Great Han's dragon vein. I wanted to treat illnesses and save people, but instead caused more people to die. But I think that silence and quietly dying in a corner is even more intolerable."

"Ah Yuan, do you think that after the dragon vein is broken, will there be a hegemon who also cares about the lives of ordinary people? If there is, then go find him. If it really doesn't work, farming and growing vegetables is also good. A few acres of land can lead to a very good life."

"Actually, I still hope that you will find a few disciples, open a Daoist temple to treat illnesses and save people, and then raise the little Daoists, teach them Daoist arts, medical skills, and so on. Then, when the little Daoists grow up, they will go to treat illnesses and save people. When the world is peaceful, open a Daoist temple again, and take in a few more little Daoists..."

"Actually, your teacher is telling you that your teacher is just a liar."

"I told them that there is a Yellow Heaven Golden Age, but I don't know what it looks like, and I don't know if there will be true peace in later generations."

Zhang Jiao smiled and touched the child's head.

"Don't starve to death."

The young man raised his head, tears streaming down his face.

The young Daoist squinted his eyes and slowly began to doze off.

Finally, he murmured his last words in this life:

"Teacher is tired, going to sleep for a while..."

……………………

Zhang Jiao passed away.

Liu Niu and Zhang Liang rushed back. After experiencing bloody battles, Liu Niu looked much more fierce. He looked at the young man who was blankly holding the nine-section staff and said nothing, reached out his palm and rubbed his hair heavily, saying nothing. Zhang Liang commanded the Yellow Turbans of Jizhou.

And immediately after that, the army from Huangfu Song attacked.

Even Ah Yuan had to go to the battlefield. In this Guangzong land, Liu Niu patted his head, handed him a long spear, or rather a spear, and said: "Little guy, you are always so weak, but it doesn't matter. The battlefield is different from one-on-one martial arts. Simple actions may not be useless. Follow me and learn."

He held the gun with both hands and stabbed forward fiercely, then pulled it back.

Simple movements, but with a strong aura of killing.

Yuan nodded and practiced these movements meticulously. He still had to live. He had to find a true successor for his teacher and teach him all the knowledge of heavenly timing, geographical advantages, *Qimen Dunjia* (Mysterious Doors Escaping Technique), and summoning wind and rain. He thought of the slender and elegant azure dragon when the Great Han's luck collapsed, and was a little lost in thought.

He received a slap on the head from Liu Niu.

He had to continue to practice this method honestly.

Huangfu Song's army arrived quickly and surrounded the city of Guangzong. A great battle was about to break out. That was the true elite of the Great Han, and in this city of Guangzong, there were only the Yellow Turbans of Jizhou who initially followed Zhang Jiao. Faced with this gap, Zhang Liang stubbornly held on.

An army burning with grief is bound to win.

Even if the opponent was no longer Zhang Jiao, but only Zhang Liang.

The elite of the Great Han led by Huangfu Song still could not capture this city for more than a month, nor could they capture this isolated Yellow Turban army. But at this time, Tang Zhou, who had betrayed the Taiping Dao and received a reward, rushed to Huangfu Song's camp again.

He wore silk and satin, traveled in carriages and horses, ate the finest delicacies, drank aged wine, and was attended by beauties. He was extremely glamorous.

He sought an audience with Huangfu Song, saying he had a plan to break the Yellow Turbans.

Huangfu Song then met this former Taiping Dao disciple and asked about the plan. Tang Zhou knelt on the ground, leaned forward and said: "This official has heard that the bandit Zhang Jiao has died of illness in the camp. As the saying goes, an army burning with grief is bound to win. It is certain that a forced attack on the Yellow Turban bandits will not succeed, but there is also a saying that goes, 'Strike while the iron is hot; the second attempt weakens, the third exhausts.'"

"Tomorrow, General, might as well close the camp and not go out."

Huangfu Song raised his eyes, "Oh?"

Tang Zhou said softly: "Zhang Jiao has been dead for more than a month, and after repeated battles, he cannot be buried."

"Tomorrow, they will definitely find a way to let him be buried in peace first. Even if it is just a simple funeral, with Zhang Jiao's prestige, those Yellow Turban soldiers will definitely be extremely sad in their hearts and exhausted at night. Then, General, taking advantage of the attack before dawn, can defeat the enemy with one blow."

Huangfu Song stared at Tang Zhou with cold eyes.

Tang Zhou flattered and smiled: "It's just for the sake of my Great Han."

Huangfu Song nodded slowly: "...Thank you for your trouble."

"If this plan succeeds, it will be due to your efforts, sir."

After a while, Tang Zhou walked out grandly, with a calm demeanor and brisk steps, obviously not taking the surrounding soldiers into his eyes. But after walking a few steps, he suddenly heard the sound of a sharp wind in his ears. An arrow actually pierced through the bun on top of his head, scaring him pale. He turned his head and saw a young man of ordinary stature, wearing red clothes, with an air of vigor and vitality, casually drawing his bow.

Tang Zhou recognized this person and left in a panic.

Next to the red-clothed youth, a handsome youth in armor frowned and said:

"Aman, what are you doing again? This is a military camp, how can you be so mischievous?"

The red-clothed youth said casually:

"Just can't stand him."

"Deceiving his teacher and betraying his ancestors, selling his friends for glory. If he falls into my hands one day, I'll find an excuse and kill him."

"Benchu, can you tolerate this person?"

The handsome youth snorted coldly, and said arrogantly: "How can he enter my eyes?"

The red-clothed youth laughed and pointed at the youth repeatedly: "Sure enough, it's you!"

……………………

On this day, the Han army closed their camp and did not go out, and the Yellow Turban army finally couldn't bear the sorrow and buried Zhang Jiao in this Guangzong land. That Daoist had once pulled them out of the black abyss, but now he had left them even earlier.

A strong sense of grief lingered in everyone's hearts.

Under this sadness, the fatigue of the isolated army facing the elite led by Huangfu Song for a month broke out. Everyone fell into a deep sleep, and Ah Yuan was the same. He fell asleep and suddenly recalled when he was very young, the Daoist with dimples on his cheeks when he smiled, handing him a chicken egg.

He was suddenly awakened.

When he opened his eyes, he saw raging flames, billowing smoke, the sound of weapons colliding, and the sound of flesh being torn apart. The young man was stunned. A soldier in Han army uniform slashed down at him, his movements suddenly stagnant, and then he fell to the side. Liu Niu rushed in, looking panicked.

He told Ah Yuan that the Han army had launched a surprise attack before dawn, when they were sleeping the deepest.

They had to break through immediately.

Ah Yuan carried his teacher's nine-section staff, and the *Taiping Yaoshu* wrapped in oilcloth in his arms. Following Liu Niu, he tried to break through. Liu Niu was a Yellow Turban warrior tempered on the battlefield. He carried a knife on his back and held a spear in his hand. Even in a cloth battle, this long-handled weapon had greater power.

The young man saw his Shishu (martial uncle) Zhang Liang.

He wanted to say something, but Zhang Liang patted him heavily on the shoulder and grinned.

Then he ran forward, laughing loudly:

"The General of the People is here, who dares to take my life?!"

Ah Yuan was pulled by Liu Niu and ran towards a small path.

Guangzong City was not large, and the surrounding environment was a bit chaotic, which gave them a chance to break through. There was a river next to them, and they could hear the sound of rushing water. Liu Niu's big hand pressed the young man's head, telling him to lower his head. There was the light of torches, but the fire in the camp was already bright enough. The Han army chased after them.

The Yellow Turban army here was only a part of Jizhou.

Some of them were family members.

Compared with the Han army, they did not have any advantages at all.

Ah Yuan widened his eyes and saw the Han army gradually approaching, saw the corpses floating in the river, with arrows on them. Even if they escaped into the river, they would be shot to death by the Han army who heard the sound of water and came over. There were at least hundreds, or maybe two or three hundred, of the Han army in front. Liu Niu lowered his voice and said:

"Lower your voice, cover your mouth, let's escape quietly."

Ah Yuan nodded and honestly covered his mouth, carrying the nine-section staff on his back.

His uncle had raised him since he was a child, and he always trusted Liu Niu.

But just as he was following Liu Niu's instructions and retreating, his abdomen suddenly felt a pain. He widened his eyes and saw that Liu Niu's long-handled weapon, which should have been on guard in front, was pulled back, and the gun handle hit him. He saw Liu Niu getting farther and farther away from him, and saw himself being thrown into the river.

Liu Niu turned his head, and he stretched out his big hand, as if he used to, and pressed it on Ah Yuan's hair.

Then, he directly pulled off the yellow turban on the young man's head.

Plop——

Ah Yuan fell heavily into the water, and the sound attracted the attention of the Han army. He struggled to swim over, but could not resist the rapids of this river. The Han army suddenly shouted:

"Found him, there is a Yellow Turban rebel leader here!!"

"Someone come!!"

The sound spread far away, followed by dense footsteps. Liu Niu tied the yellow turban in his hand to his arm. He held the gun with both hands and looked angrily at the front, roaring:

"Come, the Yellow Turban commander, Sili is here!!!"

The young man widened his eyes in the river.

No…

No!

Liu Niu held the gun in both hands, standing on this narrow path. His strength suddenly seemed to be inexhaustible, and the gun in his hand kept stabbing out, constantly killing the enemy. He stared angrily at the front, and the yellow turban from his comrades-in-arms on his arm danced fiercely, like an unquenchable flame.

He stood here alone, but it seemed that his brothers and comrades-in-arms were standing all around him. He gritted his teeth——

Come on, let's fight side by side again!

Come on, let's open the way for the children!

Come on!!!

I don't know how long it has passed.

With a clang, the weapon propped up the ground, Liu Niu gasped sharply, and more than thirty Han army corpses were lying around. There was even a general. It turned out that fighting at night without preparation would be really uncomfortable. It turned out that the best weapon, after killing more than thirty people, would also break.

The surrounding Han army hesitated to step forward.

Surrounding this man with an even somewhat simple and honest face, someone roared: "Hurry up, he can't do it anymore! There are other Yellow Turban thieves behind him, protected by him, he must be an important person, that's a great military achievement!"

Puchi, the broken gun was thrown out and pierced through the young general.

Liu Niu slowly stood up, his armor was broken, with arrows sticking out, his eyes were bloodshot, he pulled out a knife next to him, held the knife in both hands, propped it on the ground, gritted his teeth and roared:

"How can I let you pass!"

"Leave with me!"

The extremely tragic baleful aura on the battlefield made the Han army dare not approach.

The sky was already bright, and accompanied by the sound of footsteps, a hundred-man crossbow team was mobilized. Liu Niu straightened his body, he killed another person with a knife again, and suddenly heard the sound of breaking through the air, subconsciously raised his head, and saw countless arrows, like a dark rain, flying towards him.

At this moment, his thoughts froze and became slow.

It seemed that the speed of the arrows falling became slow, and the rising dawn fell on the exquisite arrows. Under the cold steel arrowheads, the arrows showed a yellow color in the sunlight, densely packed——

It's like the wheat in autumn when I was a child.

Steel tore flesh, and blood flowed out.

Liu Niu still widened his eyes.

Standing still in place, the sunrise was reflected in his eyes, and the blood-stained yellow turban danced with the wind.

………………

Wei Yuan's eyes opened at some point. He sat quietly in the quiet room, in front of him was the nine-section staff, and the sandalwood next to him had been burned out. He stretched out his hand, looked at his palm, clearly close at hand but could not see clearly, but was extremely blurred.

He opened his mouth, as if looking for a reason.

"Why…"

"That's just the past, that's not my experience, not Wei Yuan's experience."

"But, why, ha, is it the influence of the true spirit..."

Wei Yuan wiped away his tears indiscriminately and stood up. He thought of familiar faces, but his heart suddenly felt an extreme pain, so painful that he could hardly stand up straight. He staggered and knelt on the ground, his face pale, and a familiar voice came to his ears:

"Little guy, why are you still so sickly?"

"That won't do."

It seemed that a wide palm was pressing on his hair and rubbing it, pressing down.

He raised his head, but there was no one there.

Tears finally couldn't be held back and burst out. In this quiet room, Wei Yuan opened his mouth, knelt on the ground, and a suppressed, extremely painful voice sounded. He suddenly remembered the scene that had flashed through his mind when he got the jade dragon.

King Mu of Zhou hoped to get the elixir of immortality from the Queen Mother of the West, but was rejected.

King Mu of Zhou asked, didn't you say you were in love with me? Why can't you give me longevity?

That generation of the Queen Mother of the West said softly:

"It is because I am in love with you that I am unwilling."

"Because longevity is the cruelest curse in this world."

ps: Today's second update... Thanks to Alliance Leader 浅夏轻唱, thank you~

Four thousand eight hundred words.