The north of the Yangtze River had long prepared a large number of warships. Liang Xiao led the Central Plains cavalry and boarded the ships to cross the river.
"The Jiangnan iron cavalry has been transferred to Wuron Province. All soldiers, follow me to rescue Luzhou first!"
North of the southern barbarian hinterland, deep mountains and old forests welcomed a group of uninvited guests.
Nan Jiyun led a unit of personal guards to the mountain pass.
"General, perhaps someone chatted with your master and learned about your vow to break an arrow. You don't need to risk so much..." The guards looked worried.
Nan Jiyun shook his head: "I have followed my master for many years. My master has always been taciturn and dislikes talking to others. Breaking an arrow as a vow was the first step in becoming his disciple. He has no reason to spread this matter."
"But didn't your master already pass away?" everyone sighed.
Returning to his hometown, Nan Jiyun pondered: "After I graduated, at my master's behest, I returned home to join the army and gain honor for my family. Later, I asked someone to inquire, and received news of my master's passing. When I went to my master's residence, I indeed only saw a lonely grave..."
"General, you mean perhaps your master is still alive?" everyone suddenly realized.
"It's possible!" Nan Jiyun trembled.
His parents died early, he was adrift for half his life, poor and destitute. Studying and practicing martial arts was just a distant hope. This life should have been spent toiling in the fields…
That was the master who had given him a second life!
If he were truly still alive?
The crowd, remembering Nan Jiyun's immense strength and the presence of his guards, felt reassured that he wouldn't be ambushed. They followed him to the thatched cottage at the foot of the mountain, only to see an eight-year-old child fanning the bellows by a dan furnace.
"General, that old man's child is him!" the messenger who delivered the broken arrow pointed at the child.
Nan Jiyun saw this and suppressed his disappointment. He asked, "Young brother, how did you obtain this broken arrow, and how did you know to give it to Nan Jiyun?"
The child replied, "My name is Tong Ping. The broken arrow was naturally entrusted by my master to be given to my senior brother!"
Nan Jiyun's expression changed: "Your master??"
"My master is now called the Southern Barbarian Wild Old Man, and he once vowed never to set foot in Da Qian again," Tong Ping explained.
Nan Jiyun was utterly confused and pleaded, "May I please see your master?"
Tong Ping glanced at the messenger, then at Nan Jiyun: "Are you my senior brother Nan Jiyun?"
The messenger nodded: "Yes, he is!"
Tong Ping then felt relieved and got up, walking towards the thatched cottage: "Master~ Senior brother is here~"
Nan Jiyun's heart trembled. As the wooden door slowly opened, he saw the person who appeared and was shocked speechless!
"Master?!"
The old man before him was tall, dressed in black with white hair, his face gaunt. He had a mole on his left cheek, but it couldn't hide his immortal aura.
Apart from that mole, his appearance was exactly like his master, Tong Zhen!
"Nan Ba, have you been well," the old man called out softly.
The familiar person, the familiar voice, brought tears to Nan Jiyun's eyes. He knelt down with a thud and kowtowed on the spot.
"Greetings, Master! Nan Ba is unfilial!!"
The soldiers behind Nan Jiyun were greatly alarmed and bowed in greeting.
"How are you unfilial?" Tong Zhen pouted.
Nan Jiyun then remembered that it wasn't about his success or fame that constituted filial piety. He wiped his tears and asked urgently, "Didn't Master already..."
"Your master merely faked his death..." Tong Zhen chuckled dryly.
"Why?" Nan Jiyun was even more confused.
His master, whom he hadn't seen for many years, seemed to have softened his cold personality?
Tong Zhen replied, "Your master has come to the southern barbarians to atone for his sins."
"Atone for his sins?" everyone was stunned.
Tong Zhen sighed, "Do you know why your master made things difficult for you before agreeing to take you as a disciple?"
"It's because Nan Ba wasn't sincere enough!" Nan Jiyun replied.
Tong Zhen shook his head: "In this life, your master has a solitary star's fate! He caused the death of his parents, his siblings, and was later separated from his wife and daughter..."
Nan Jiyun was surprised: "Master, have you found your lost wife and daughter?"
Tong Zhen nodded helplessly.
"Many years ago, when your master was wandering the jianghu, in his forties, he met a woman and they married. Later, his wife became pregnant. Your master wanted to retire then, to avoid bringing further misfortune to his wife and child. Unexpectedly, their village was attacked by enemies of the Spring Renewal Cult. In the critical moment, your master rushed to rescue them, but made a decision he would forever regret. He first went to the more populous southern part of the village to drive away the Spring Renewal Cult, while his wife, who was resting in the northern part of the village, was abducted by the enemy..."
"From then on, your master searched for ten years without any news, believing his wife and child had perished at the hands of the Spring Renewal Cult. He thought of ending his life but was dissuaded by his friend Yue He. Yue He promised to help him find his wife and child wherever they might be, without giving up. With a sliver of hope, your master lived in seclusion in the village north of Yinping, praying that one day his wife would send word."
"After you graduated, your master finally received a letter from Yue He. Your master's wife had, to his surprise, become the Queen of the Southern Barbarians..."
Everyone was greatly shocked and disbelieving.
"Yue He indirectly learned that she was taken all the way to the southern barbarian lands. For the sake of her unborn child, she endured much humiliation in the dungeons of the Spring Renewal Cult. It was then that Meng Hong, who had not yet become a young leader of the southern barbarians, passed by and rescued her, taking care of her and her child. Later, Meng Hong rose to power through conflict and became the King of the Southern Barbarians. However, Meng Hong fell gravely ill two years later. As he had no heirs, he appointed her as the Queen of the Southern Barbarians on his deathbed."
"Yue He told your master that she absolutely refused to forgive him, even hating him and all Da Qian people. Your master, knowing his guilt, asked Yue He to convey his message: he would follow her and their daughter into the southern barbarians, serving them as a slave without complaint, and would never return to Da Qian."
As he spoke, Tong Zhen finally sighed.
"So, your master faked his death. From then on, there was no Tong Zhen in the world, only the Southern Barbarian Wild Old Man. But they still refused to forgive your master, even expelling him from the southern barbarian hinterland. Later, your master heard the tragic news of her death! And the current Queen of the Southern Barbarians is your master's daughter. Your master and his wife had agreed that if they had a daughter, her name would be Tong Xin. But now she is called Meng Wuxin..."
"Fortunately, your master has learned of your accomplishments!"
Tong Zhen's eyes shone as he spoke his last words, scrutinizing Nan Jiyun.
"It is all thanks to Master's teachings and the appreciation of Marquis Anguo," Nan Jiyun said humbly.
"You and your Marquis Anguo are incomparable, but your achievements are enough to be recorded in history. Your master is relieved, and your existence proves that your master is not destined to be a solitary star. "As he spoke, Tong Zhen sighed, "Unfortunately, the southern barbarians are now infiltrated by the Spring Renewal Cult. At least twenty thousand soldiers believe in the Spring Renewal Cult. Her mother has passed away, and your master is very worried about her..."
Nan Jiyun looked troubled: "Master, Nan Ba is under imperial orders to conquer the southern barbarians. This..."
The soldiers behind Nan Jiyun also looked embarrassed.
Indeed, it has always been difficult to balance loyalty and filial piety!
Tong Zhen had specifically come here to atone for the sins of the Southern Barbarian Queen.
Hearing this, Tong Zhen said solemnly: "A true man must be clear about his actions and prioritize the overall situation! Moreover, your master is very worried about her being poisoned by the Spring Renewal Cult, but he also hopes that the Da Qian kingdom can spare her life..."
"The Queen of the Southern Barbarians did not massacre the people of Yizhou. Her crime does not warrant death. His Majesty is benevolent and will surely show leniency!" Nan Jiyun patted his chest and guaranteed.
Tong Zhen finally relaxed and took out a map.
"This is the map for pacifying the barbarians, obtained by Yue He on his deathbed."