Elise sighed, "The Great Liang Kingdom is also intensifying its mobilization. Armies across the country are relentlessly purging the Spring Revival Sect. We have suffered heavy losses and must contract our fronts, keeping a low profile for now, at least until Liang Xiao returns..."
Everyone couldn't hide their dejection and lowered their heads.
Not long ago, the Spring Revival Sect, even in the shadows, dared to run rampant across both kingdoms, after all, they had the clandestine support of powerful families from both nations.
Since Liang Xiao appeared, the Spring Revival Sect had been in decline.
If they weren't careful, even their base in Great Liang would be lost!
Just then, an urgent report came from outside: "Sect Leader! A group of skilled swordsmen and a contingent of the Northern King's Imperial Guards have annihilated three hundred of our followers in the southern valley of the capital!"
"How could the Northern King's Imperial Guards alone achieve such a complete annihilation in the mountains? Who are these swordsmen?" Elise asked angrily.
"They appear to be Tianshan swordsmen, led by two renowned heroes, Ren Changfeng and Du Pingling!"
Upon hearing this, the people in the hall were furious but helpless.
Liang Xiao had finally taken the initiative!
Deep in the southern mountains of the capital, fifty Tianshan heroes, led by Ren Changfeng and Du Pingling, assisted by a thousand of the Northern King's Imperial Guards, ventured deep into the area. They finally discovered a smoking cave at the foot of the mountain.
Ren Changfeng signaled his men to wait, then approached the cave entrance and announced loudly, "A disciple of the Sword Saint, Tianshan swordsman Ren Changfeng, comes to seek an audience with the esteemed Elder Changqiu!"
There was no response for a long time.
Just as Ren Changfeng was about to lead his men into the cave, a middle-aged man in tattered clothes emerged. His face bore a striking resemblance to Chen Feng, with about sixty percent similarity.
"Forgive our caution, we observed for a long time before confirming you were soldiers," the man said apologetically, then quickly asked, "How can you prove your identity?"
"Chen Feng has already found the Marquis of Anguo and Master Liuyunzi," Ren Changfeng replied.
Upon hearing this, the man's face lit up with joy: "Please wait!"
A moment later, a total of twenty men, women, and children, all in tattered clothes, emerged. The elder leading them was none other than Chen Changqiu.
At night, during dusk, Liang Xiao was preparing offerings, awaiting the next day's ceremonies to honor the twelve loyal knights and his father.
What was the connection between the Swordsman Scholar and his father, Liang Anguo?
Why did Mu Cheng insist on seeing him? How was this related to the matter he wished to entrust to him?
Liang Xiao was filled with doubt, but he trusted that Mu Cheng had his reasons, aiming for absolute certainty.
He had specifically inquired about the Swordsman Scholar.
It was said that this man was versed in various philosophies and disciplines, particularly Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and his swordsmanship was unparalleled. He had once tutored Jian Nanfeng.
Confucianism called him the "Confucian Sword," Taoism the "Tao Sword," and Buddhism the "Buddha Sword," indicating the great respect this Swordsman Scholar commanded from all three schools, hence earning him the title of "Scholar."
Yet, this titan of the sword world, in the subsequent thirty-odd years, suddenly became unusually low-key, acting erratically, and his home was invariably draped in cobwebs.
When Zhuo Zifang was young, he had indeed met this Swordsman Scholar a few times, but in the following thirty-odd years, they never met again.
As Liang Xiao was conversing with Zhuo Zifang, Yue Qingtian rushed back with news: "My Lord Marquis! Hero Ren and the others have found Elder Changqiu!"
Upon hearing this, Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang leaped from their seats simultaneously and hurried out of the room.
Chen Changqiu and his descendants looked at Liang Xiao with joy.
Seeing that Chen Changqiu indeed bore a resemblance to Liuyunzi, Liang Xiao stepped forward and clasped his hand, sighing, "Sir, why have you been in exile for so long?"
Chen Changqiu replied, "Our family's whereabouts were discovered on the border of the Peacock Dynasty, and we were hotly pursued by the Spring Revival Sect. Later, I learned of my elder brother's whereabouts, but my brother was also elusive, so we couldn't contact him. Our family collaborated with the local rebel forces of the Peacock Dynasty and learned much about the inner workings of the Spring Revival Sect. My son, Chen Pin, can explain to the Marquis of Anguo."
Chen Pin, the middle-aged man who had previously received Ren Changfeng, stepped forward to explain.
"We have moles within the Spring Revival Sect who have become core disciples, uncovering many horrifying truths."
As he spoke, Chen Pin looked at Liang Xiao with a troubled expression.
Liang Xiao understood and ordered his men to entertain the Chen family while he, along with Chen Changqiu and Chen Pin, went into a room to inquire further.
Confirming that Liang Xiao was indeed the Marquis of Anguo of Great Gan, Chen Pin finally opened up and excitedly explained everything in detail.
"That mole, who calls himself Qin Xun, had been embedded as a spy by the Spring Revival Sect near Marquis Zhenguo, Qin Feng, for many years. Two years ago, for some reason, he tipped us off one day, saying that the Spring Revival Sect had discovered our base and was coming to encircle and suppress us. My father couldn't believe it, but since Qin Xun could find our base, we dared not delay and retreated overnight."
"Later, I went back to observe, and indeed, the original site of our base showed traces of a large number of troops! Last year, Qin Xun contacted us again, stating his intention to destroy the Spring Revival Sect and providing us with some important intelligence about the sect to facilitate our actions."
"It turns out that as long as he remained in the capital, he was closely monitored and coordinated by his accomplices in the Spring Revival Sect, making it impossible for him to declare his stance to Qin Feng and the Emperor of Great Liang. Under the pretext of leaving the capital to report back to the Spring Revival Sect's base, he gained some freedom."
"Combining the intelligence he provided with that from the leader of the Peacock Dynasty's rebels, we finally reached a shocking conclusion: at least three princes of the Great Liang Kingdom are followers of the Spring Revival Sect, and they are absolutely not the biological offspring of the Emperor of Great Liang. It is even possible that none of the seven princes are..."
Liang Xiao, Zhuo Zifang, Ren Changfeng, Du Pingling, and Yue Qingtian, who were present, were all stunned.
"But there is no proof for such a matter, and we cannot make the Emperor of Great Liang believe it. I once tried to spread the news, but I was branded as spreading seditious talk by the authorities and was hunted everywhere, narrowly escaping capture!" Chen Pin lamented for a moment, then quickly warned, "That's right! The Yan family, the Dong family, these powerful families are all involved with the Spring Revival Sect. It is precisely because of their existence that our family has been reluctant to reveal ourselves publicly!"
"Also! Over thirty years ago, the Empress and the princes were poisoned to death. The Spring Revival Sect was quite certain that the Empress was truly dead. However, for some unknown reason, the Empress 'resurrected' later and gave birth to Princess Zhirou a few years later! They deduced that the Emperor of Great Liang found a woman with a similar appearance to the Empress to impersonate her!"
The more Liang Xiao heard, the more he was shocked. After Chen Pin finished his account and deductions, he urgently requested an audience with Mu Cheng.
Upon entering the imperial study, Liang Xiao found Qin Feng also present.
"Just in time, I have some intelligence regarding the Spring Revival Sect that I need to inform the Great Liang Kingdom about!"
The Emperor and his minister looked at Liang Xiao in confusion. As Liang Xiao recounted the events, their faces grew increasingly grim.
"Father..." Qin Feng looked at Mu Cheng with difficulty.
After a long silence, Mu Cheng's laughter echoed in the imperial study: "Liang Xiao! This intelligence is at least ninety percent credible! Because... my first Empress was indeed poisoned to death long ago. However, I found the Empress's younger sister, who was willing to impersonate her elder sister, reign as empress, and help me stabilize the hearts of the people. At that time, I was severely oppressed by Xiu Ping and could only endure it silently!"
"As for the possibility that those children might not be my offspring... I have long suspected it."