Book 2: Chapter 43: Declaration of War

In a large hall within the Gu Residence:

After Gu Hai offered sacrifices to his dead wife, he returned. Now, he put on an august exterior once more, covering up his relaxed mind. Wearing embroidered robes, he sat in the host’s position in the main hall.

Gu Qin, Gu Han, Gao Xianzhi, Scar, Shangguan Hen, and Chen Tianshan sat at his two sides.

Gu Hai drank some tea as he listened seriously to Chen Tianshan’s report.

“After you arrived at the Clear River Sect, the Clear River Sect disciples brought you to a valley. Then, disciples of both the Clear River Sect and the First Song Sect surrounded and attacked you. After that, you saw the First Song Sect Master, resulting in fifteen Earth Legion members dying from the ambush?” Gu Hai clarified as he drank tea.

“Yes, some three hundred of us got injured. They even pursue us. However, my Earth Legion members are elites. If not for Song Pingsheng appearing, that ambush could not have done anything to us. As we fled, we captured a Clear River Sect disciple and interrogated him. Only then did we learn that when Song Pingsheng returned from the Great Feng Mafia Family, he was already plotting to destroy the Clear River Sect. Right now, the sect master is missing, and the Elite Hall Master has been captured,” Chen Tianshan reported bitterly.

“Where’s the person you captured?” Gu Hai asked seriously.

“I did not kill him but brought him back. Milord, please wait for a while!” Chen Tianshan immediately rushed out of the hall.

Soon, a few evil men escorted an azure-clad man into the hall.

“Let go of me! Martial Uncle, I was also forced into this!” that azure-clad man pleaded as he looked at Chen Tianshan.

Gu Hai narrowed his eyes slightly as he turned his head to look at Shangguan Hen.

Shangguan Hen nodded and walked over to the azure-clad man. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he suddenly extended his hand and tapped the azure-clad man’s head.

Boom!

Suddenly, a large amount of crimson aura erupted from the man. Then, his eyes turned completely red.

Whoosh!

The azure-clad man’s hair suddenly transformed into many tiny snakes.

“Ah!” The expressions of the evil men who escorted the azure-clad man suddenly changed dramatically; they nearly let go of him.

Bang!

Then, Shangguan Hen rapped on the azure-clad man’s forehead, causing that azure-clad man to freeze while the tiny snakes drooped. The azure-clad man had gone entirely limp.

“What’s going on? His head?” Chen Tianshan exclaimed in horror and shock.

“This person probably saw that he could not flee, even if he transformed, so he kept it hidden. Ha!” Shangguan Hen revealed a faint, cold smile.

“It looks like it was not just that Elder Bai from before who was spirit-assimilated. There should be many people in the First Song Sect who were spirit-assimilated. Even those people that defected to him were spirit-assimilated!” Scar said with an unsightly expression.

“How were you all spirit-assimilated? Who else was spirit-assimilated?” Gao Xianzhi questioned directly.

“I…I…I…” That person looked at everyone in horror.

“Speak or die!” Gao Xianzhi said coldly.

“I’ll speak. However, I don’t know much, either. My master wanted to defect to the First Song Sect, so he brought a few of us over as well. I did not know what was going on before I ended up unconscious. After I woke up, I discovered that I had been altered and could transform. I could no longer change back!” that person said in horror.

“You were altered in the First Song Sect? That means that that powerful animal spirit should be in the First Song Sect!” Shangguan Hen frowned.

“Even with people on the inside, the Clear River Sect would not get destroyed overnight. Did the sect master not resist?” Chen Tianshan yelled, scowling.

“I’m not sure what happened, either. That day, Master brought Song Pingsheng and a black-clad man into the Clear River Sect’s defensive ritual array. Then, they poisoned the sect master, the various martial uncles, and Elite Hall’s people. At first, nobody noticed anything. When the black-clad man flung out his sleeves, a red mist surged out and encased the entire Clear River Sect; then, everyone collapsed from the poison,” that person whispered.

“Both the Clear River Sect Master and the Elite Hall Master were captured? Are they locked up in the Clear River Sect? Where is Venerable Liu Nian?” Gu Hai asked.

While the rest could be caught off guard, that Venerable Liu Nian was not an easy person to deal with. Gu Hai knew this, as Gu Hai had interacted with him before. Venerable Liu Nian could not make such a mistake.

“I don’t know. Venerable Liu Nian was not there. No one knows where he went. Song Pingsheng is still interrogating the captured Clear River Sect disciples on his location,” that azure-clad person whispered.

“Venerable Liu Nian left?” Gu Hai said.

“Are you saying that the Clear River Sect disciples are still alive?” Chen Tianshan’s eyes lit up.

That person lowered his head, not daring to look straight at Chen Tianshan.

“Speak!” Chen Tianshan glared.

“They should all be dead. Song Pingsheng said that if he could not obtain Venerable Liu Nian’s location from them, there would be no need for them to continue living, so…,” that person said softly.

“He killed all of them?” Chen Tianshan suddenly staggered.

“More or less!” that person whispered.

However, Shangguan Hen narrowed his eyes slightly as he asked, “Did he kill them or eat them?”

“What?!” Chen Tianshan suddenly goggled. What does that mean?

Eat them?

That person lowered his head, not daring to say anything.

“Legate Shangguan, what do you mean? What ‘eat them Chen Tianshan glared.

“I’ll explain it to you later.” Shangguan Hen looked back at the azure-clad person and continued, “Where’s the Elite Hall Master? Why did you capture the Elite Hall Master?”

“I don’t know. However, that black-clad person brought the Elite Hall Master back to the First Song Sect while Song Pingsheng remained to continue interrogating the Clear River Sect Master!” that person answered softly.

“The black-clad person? That should be the powerful animal spirit, right?” Gu Hai said while rapping his knuckles on the table.

“Adoptive Father, previously Song Pingsheng sent people to capture us two brothers. He probably wanted to hold us hostage against Adoptive Father. Now that Legate Chen and the others escaped, he might make a personal appearance soon. He probably wants to capture Adoptive Father not just to take revenge for the Great Feng Mafia Family but also to silence you!” Gu Han frowned.

“There’s no need for him to come. I will go to him!” Gu Hai said.

“Division Master Gu, I have already said all that I can. I was forced into this. I will be a good person in the future. Division Master Gu, please let me go!” that person pleaded, feeling scared.

Shing!

Shangguan Hen drew his sword and stepped forward, stabbing his sword into the azure-clad man’s forehead.

“You!” That person only managed to let out a cry before he stopped breathing.

“Drag him away and burn him!” Shangguan Hen instructed.

“Yes!” The evil men who escorted that monster immediately dragged the corpse out.

“Legate Shangguan, perhaps…!” Chen Tianshan said, feeling somewhat compassionate.

“Legate Chen, don’t listen to his lies. After spirit assimilation, he can no longer change back. It would only be a matter of time before he ate someone!” Shangguan Hen said sullenly.

“Ate someone? What do you mean?” Chen Tianshan glared.

“After spirit assimilation, there would be some acquired instincts, like eating certain organs of humans. I have seen it before. For example, a bat-spirit-assimilated person will have a strong desire for human blood. They cannot restrain this desire and are known as vampires, half-human-half-spirit, abandoned by heaven. They take pleasure in drinking human blood, using it to strengthen themselves. They are just like evil demons. The person earlier was spirit-assimilated by a snake spirit. Such spirit-assimilated people have a strong desire for human hearts and livers. Don’t believe what he said. When he sees a person’s heart and liver, he will immediately pounce. Knowing this, do you still think we should release him?” Shangguan Hen explained.

“Eat human hearts and livers? Then, my Clear River Sect disciples…?” Chen Tianshan goggled.

“You guessed right. To them, the hearts and livers of cultivators are naturally a great tonic,” Shangguan Hen explained.

Chen Tianshan’s hair stood on end. As he looked in the direction where the monster was dragged away, he no longer felt reluctant.

“Animal spirits eating humans is just disgusting. However, humans eating humans is simply demonic. We need to kill such demons!” Shangguan Hen said with certainty.

“Milord, Song Pingsheng won’t rush over that quickly, right? After all, Milord’s ritual arrays are infamous outside. Even Nascent Soul Realm cultivators do not stand much of a chance against them,” Gao Xianzhi asked as he looked at Gu Hai.

Gu Qin revealed some worry on his face. Only he knew that the ritual array around the Gu Residence was just an Empty Fort Strategem.

“Gu Qin!” Gu Hai called out seriously.

“Present!” Gu Qin immediately answered.

“Bring me a blank visitation notice!” Gu Hai instructed.

[TL Note: For the people of wealth or status in ancient China, sending a visitation notice before visiting was standard etiquette. It is basically a reverse invitation, where you announce your intention to visit, giving the visitee a chance to refuse or prepare for the visit. Showing up without any notice is extremely rude.]

“Yes!” Gu Qin quickly left and brought over an exquisite visitation notice.

Gu Han prepared a brush and ink at the side.

When Gu Hai picked up the brush, he wrote the words “Declaration of War” on the outside of the visitation notice. Then, he opened the visitation notice and continued writing on it.

“All who offend my Elite Hall and disciples are to be punished!

“Song Pingsheng, soon, I shall lead over three thousand Elite Hall disciples to the Clear River Sect and fight you to the death!

“Gu Hai, Water Division, Elite Hall!”

Whoosh!

Gu Hai gently blew on the visitation notice, drying the ink.

Clack! He closed the visitation notice.

[TL Note: Formal letters from those with status or wealth tend to come in the form of two hardcovers connected by a piece of paper folded up. Here is an image of it: https://p0.ssl.qhimgs1.com/t01a13ea14628e6e44a.webp. Of course, this is just one of the many styles. There are many fancy methods to deliver such visitation notices, like having a written letter placed in an ornate box. A letter in a simple envelope would work as well.]

Everyone just watched from the side, not saying anything.

“Gu Han!” Gu Hai called out.

“Present!”

“Do you know who the First Song Sect disciples are among the people around us?” Gu Hai asked as he looked at Gu Han.

“Adoptive Father, rest assured. Everyone in Hulao Pass is our person. Those cultivators are staying in the surrounding inns, and the inns recorded all their identities in detail. There is a total of three First Song Sect disciples sent here to monitor my Gu Residence!” Gu Han nodded.

“Hand this declaration of war to a First Song Sect disciple to pass to Song Pingsheng!” Gu Hai said seriously.

“Yes!” Gu Han carefully received the declaration of war. Then, he promptly left the hall to make the arrangements.

“Milord, are we really going to the Clear River Sect? When are we leaving?” Chen Tianshan asked, feeling anxious.

After all, although the Clear River Sect was destroyed, the Clear River Sect Master was still locked there. The destruction of his sect filled Chen Tianshan with hatred.

“We are not going to the Clear River Sect!” Gu Hai replied.

“Ah?”

“We are going to the First Song Sect!” Gu Hai said.

“The First Song Sect?”

“That’s right. I wrote that declaration of war to keep Song Pingsheng in place, prevent him from making any rash movements for now, and buy us time. We need to save Long Wanqing first,” Gu Hai explained.

“Yes!” This was all Chen Tianshan could say.

“During the war between the Chen Nation and the Song Nation, I helped Chen Liangyi win the war. He still listens to you, right?” Gu Hai looked at Chen Tianshan.

“Of course. He could stably become and remain the Chen Emperor only because of me. That child would not dare disobey me!” Chen Tianshan glared.

“It’s good that he listens. Immediately send him a letter; tell him to prepare one hundred blank imperial edicts. All of them need to be stamped with the emperor’s personal seal.”

[TL Note: The royal courts of ancient China have different kinds of seals with varying authority. The emperor’s personal seal represents the highest authority and is equated with meeting the emperor in person.]

“One hundred blank imperial edicts with the emperor’s personal seal?” Chen Tianshan echoed in confusion.

“I’m going to take control of the Chen Nation temporarily. I will issue orders using the imperial edicts. I will be the one filling in the imperial edicts. Quickly go!” Gu Hai instructed.

“Ah? Yes!” Chen Tianshan answered.

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