Chapter 51 Beyond the Control of the Heavenly Way

Chapter 51 Beyond the Control of the Heavenly Law

"Who is this?"

Zheng Sanfa’s gaze fell upon Qin Yuan.

Noticing that the left side of Qin Yuan’s collar was tucked in, he added, "Your left collar is tucked in."

Suppressing his speechlessness, Qin Yuan reached up and flipped his left collar back out.

"This humble official is a chronicler from the Left Bureau of Historiography. It is customary to record the words and deeds of the Grand Marshal upon his initial entry into the capital into the annals of history. When Guild Master Song arrived all those years ago, it was also this humble official who recorded it."

Qin Yuan said with a cupped-fist salute.

He intentionally added the latter half of the sentence to prevent the man from ignoring him.

Upon hearing "Left Bureau of Historiography," Zheng Sanfa merely gave Qin Yuan a slight, formal appraisal. But upon hearing the three words "Guild Master Song," his entire demeanor shifted instantly as if he had become a completely different person.

Solemnly, he said, "Once I finish attending to the matter at hand, I will certainly seek out the chronicler for a detailed discussion."

"Very well."

Qin Yuan nodded.

His part was done for the moment.

Qin Yuan took the initiative to step back a little.

He was merely fulfilling a part-time duty; keeping a low profile was his true job.

Zheng Sanfa exchanged pleasantries with a few more dignitaries, high-ranking officials, and wealthy tycoons, and was about to enter the city.

Without the slightest warning, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled at the edge of the world—a truly startling spectacle.

Everyone looked over.

"It looks like someone is over there."

The distance was too great for Qin Yuan to see clearly.

"Could someone be undergoing the Heavenly Tribulation?"

Someone cried out in alarm.

The Heavenly Tribulation!

This was the first time Qin Yuan had ever witnessed someone undergoing a Heavenly Tribulation.

"I thought that once you embarked on the path of cultivation, as long as your cultivation kept growing, you could live as long as you pleased. Heh, and yet there is still a Heavenly Tribulation blocking the way ahead."

A gentry scholar remarked with gloating amusement.

Quite a few people chimed in agreement.

This mindset was much like how commoners enjoyed watching aristocrats get their heads chopped off.

About a quarter of an hour later.

The Heavenly Tribulation abruptly ceased.

It was as if everything that had happened before was merely an illusion.

"That was way too short."

"No need to guess, they're definitely dead."

……

Qin Yuan’s expression suddenly stiffened. Why hadn't he ever undergone a tribulation?

Logically speaking, with over a hundred and seventy years of magical power, he should have undergone the tribulation long ago.

Soon, Qin Yuan came to a realization.

His cultivation had nothing whatsoever to do with this world.

The Heavenly Law simply had no jurisdiction over him.

"So this is the true brilliance of having one's magical power automatically increase."

Qin Yuan sighed inwardly.

Then, another doubt arose in his mind.

Why was it that for such a long time prior, nobody had been able to practice cultivation?

Qin Yuan had perused historical texts, and the records had never once mentioned large-scale cultivation.

Had some great tribulation targeting cultivators occurred in this world in the past?

If so, what kind of great tribulation was it?

Was it like the cosmic kalpas of ancient mythology?

Or did it directly strip everyone of the ability to cultivate?

Or perhaps it suddenly harvested the lifespan of all cultivators?

If it was the first one, Qin Yuan would need to be careful.

If it was the latter two,

Qin Yuan would laugh in his dreams.

"Enter the city."

Zheng Sanfa’s voice interrupted Qin Yuan's train of thought.

The crowd then followed Zheng Sanfa into the city.

Roughly an hour later, the entourage arrived at the Administrative Office—er, which was now the Grand Marshal's Mansion.

The plaque on the gate had long since been replaced.

Taking advantage of a quiet moment, Qin Yuan asked Yang Huzhan, "You and the Grand Marshal are sworn brothers, why didn't you mention it earlier?"

Yang Huzhan wore a bitter smile. "The Grand Marshal has sworn brothers numbering at least a thousand, if not eight hundred."

This Grand Marshal's brotherhood was cheaper than toilet paper... Qin Yuan was utterly speechless.

At that moment, Zheng Sanfa’s voice drifted faintly from the front: "Brother Xiang, you and I hit it off at first sight. Why don't we become sworn brothers?"

Qin Yuan: "..."

"Let us go in as well."

Yang Huzhan said helplessly.

Suppressing his amusement, Qin Yuan followed him inside.

Turning his head inadvertently, he noticed that Yang Huzhan had a few more strands of white hair.

Looking lower, he saw that Yang Huzhan’s back had developed a slight hunch.

Noticing Qin Yuan looking at him, Yang Huzhan smiled and said, "When you reach an older age, you will be just like me. No one can escape growing old."

Qin Yuan remained silent.

After walking for a long time, they arrived at the Hall of Preserving Harmony, which was designated for banquets.

It was already laden with fine delicacies.

Yet not a single person was eating.

Everyone was here to curry favor with Zheng Sanfa, not to eat.

Qin Yuan found a corner to sit in and began to eat.

Spit!

What on earth is this?

He tried a mouthful of another dish.

Spit!

Bland as hell.

Qin Yuan glanced at the dignitaries who weren't even looking at the food, realizing he might have misjudged them.

Suddenly.

Someone stepped forward to lodge a complaint with Zheng Sanfa: "Grand Marshal, that accursed Old Man Sun has excavated the tombs of the Empress Dowager and the two former emperors. We implore the Grand Marshal to punish him severely."

Zheng Sanfa was startled. "There is such a thing?"

He knew he was no saint, but he had never done anything as despicable as digging up people's ancestral graves.

The conversation between the two acted like a spark hitting a powder keg.

A group of people stepped forward, demanding severe punishment for Old Man Sun.

According to them, flaying Old Man Sun alive and executing him would be getting off lightly.

"Rest assured, everyone, I will deal harshly with such despicable scoundrels."

Zheng Sanfa said righteously.

By the time the banquet ended, it was already dark.

Qin Yuan was led by guards outside the dilapidated Hall of Earthly Tranquility.

Thinking of this place, he recalled Duan Hu, Wei Ting, Longxuan, Chonghui, and all the emperors of successive generations of the Hun Dynasty.

A line of poetry flashed through Qin Yuan's mind: *Living between heaven and earth, we are suddenly like travelers on a distant journey.*

The meaning of this verse was: Humans born between heaven and earth are like travelers journeying afar, hastening to return to dust just as swiftly as travelers rushing home.

Boom! Rumble...

Why is it thundering in the winter?

Uh, well, it wasn't entirely impossible.

Sometimes when the temperature suddenly rises in winter, it could thunder.

The problem was that today was freezing cold.

Could someone be undergoing the Heavenly Tribulation again?

Qin Yuan looked up.

The world lit up in a flash, followed by a terrifying bolt of lightning splitting down from the heavens.

It struck the Hall of Earthly Tranquility directly, and a fierce fire quickly engulfed it.

*The palaces are also hastening to return to dust.*

Qin Yuan added mentally.

The Hall of Earthly Tranquility was gone.

The guards led Qin Yuan to the neighboring Palace of Eternal Peace.

After waiting for a while, Zheng Sanfa arrived reeking of alcohol.

Gazing at the burning Hall of Earthly Tranquility not far away, his expression was complex.

"Grand Marshal."

Qin Yuan hurried forward to greet him.

"Oh, apologies for keeping the chronicler waiting." Zheng Sanfa withdrew his gaze and said with a smile.

"I just arrived as well."

Once they went inside and sat down, Zheng Sanfa's very first words were to ask what Qin Yuan and Song Yufu had discussed back then.

Qin Yuan truthfully recounted the recommendations system, the gentry association, and the cabinet system proposed by Song Yufu.

The smile on Zheng Sanfa's face grew somewhat stiff.

Clearly, he did not genuinely agree with the proposals put forth by Song Yufu.

He merely used Song Yufu as a symbolic archway to rally public support.

"Grand Marshal, shall we begin the recording?"

"Very well."

Zheng Sanfa readily agreed.

No matter how one looked at it, he seemed rather impatient.

Qin Yuan asked casually, "I heard the Grand Marshal is getting married?"

News of Zheng Sanfa's upcoming marriage was something Qin Yuan had heard people talking about on the way here.

He was marrying Song Yufu's daughter, Song Fanghua.

Qin Yuan had also heard that in order to take Song Fanghua as his bride, Zheng Sanfa had heartlessly divorced his first wife.

"Indeed there is such a matter. Little Lantern, er, Miss Song and I will be married by the end of the year."

Mentioning the marriage brought a smile to the corners of Zheng Sanfa's eyes.

Marrying Song Fanghua meant he would completely become the incarnation of Song Yufu.

Within the Masses Army, no one would ever be able to shake his position again.

"Congratulations, Grand Marshal."

So Song Fanghua's childhood nickname was Little Lantern.

According to the customs of this world, only plump people were playfully referred to as lanterns.

Could this Miss Song be a plump girl?

Qin Yuan thought to himself.

"Xie Cheng."

Xie Cheng meant the same as thank you.