Keyboard Immortal

Chapter 2777: Soul-Crushing Interrogation

Zu An was stunned.

This plan had only been briefly touched on in the original series. A hundred years passed before it became known to the world. Zu An had never thought he would become a part of this plan.

“We shall follow heaven’s will and slay the dragon known as the Yuan Mongols!” Huang Rong said with a determined look. “Since ancient times, no dynasty has remained eternally strong. An empire built by nomads is bound to be unstable. So, we have to make preparations. We will tide through the darkness and bring light and order back to the world!”

Firework finally snapped out of her daze. “How do you intend to do that?”

Huang Rong frowned. Don’t you think your tone is rude here?

She'd had a scare giving birth to Guo Xiang, so she favored Guo Fu a bit more. Guo Fu was dense, but she was caring and sweet-tongued as well. In contrast, Guo Xiang was eccentric, and it was hard to read her thoughts.

But ultimately, Guo Xiang was still her child...

Thus, Huang Rong suppressed her displeasure and explained, “We intend to forge two godly weapons.”

Firework frowned. Her cultivation had been sealed, but she had the brains to figure out that a world devoid of supernatural powers couldn’t possibly make truly powerful weapons. To hope to change fate with just two mortal weapons was a pipe dream.

Are the people of this world so shallow? And of all people, they had to be my parents. Can’t I kill them?

The intelligent Huang Rong keenly sensed Guo Xiang’s contempt. She was annoyed but relieved at the same time. Such an important responsibility can only be entrusted to someone as smart as Xiang’er. Fu’er is too dumb for this.

“Big brother Jing, why don’t you explain it to them?” The meticulous Huang Rong deferred to her husband out of respect.

Guo Jing was more concerned about the success of the plan. “We’ll forge two weapons, the Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Slaying Saber. We’ll hide the Book of Wumu, which contains the crystallization of King Yue’s military insights, in the Dragon Slaying Saber. When the tides turn, the heroes of the world will rally the Han[1] to overthrow the Mongols. The Book of Wumu will teach them warfare, so that we can triumph in every battle.

“To prevent the Dragon Slaying Saber from falling into the wrong hands and scourging the populace, we’ll place the Nine Yin Manual into the Heavenly Sword. This way, we can nurture powerful martial artists capable of assassinating tyrants and corrupt officials, so that they will have to treat their subjects kindly.”

Guo Jing spoke passionately, as if he could already see the bright future ahead.

Huang Rong looked at Guo Jing gently. Despite being in his fifties, his heroic spirit remains as charming as ever.

While the couple was feeling moved to tears, Firework suddenly interjected, “I have a question.”

Guo Jing smiled. “Xiang’er, you are involved in this plan as well. Feel free to speak your mind. We should work out the kinks to increase our chances of success.”

Firework frankly asked, “You should be well-versed in the Book of Wumu, right... Father?”

Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have even glanced at this insignificant being. It killed her a little inside to call Guo Jing ‘father’. But this was the Deity of Death’s trial, and she had no idea what awaited her if she failed the trial, so she dropped her obstinacy.

“Of course,” Guo Jing replied right away.

“Then, why don’t you lead the army and win every battle against the Mongols?” Firework looked straight at Guo Jing with large eyes.

Guo Jing’s face turned bright red. He stuttered, “Perhaps due to my lacking aptitude, I’m unable to grasp its essence.”

Zu An was amused. Firework is delivering critical strikes with her questions.

Huang Rong knew Guo Jing wasn't good with words, so she explained on his behalf, “You rascal. No matter how well-versed your father is with military tactics, our Great Song doesn’t have the resources to fight against the Mongols. As the saying goes, even a skilled housewife struggles to cook anything up without grains.

“Also, I said earlier that fate is siding with the Mongols. Their army is unstoppable right now. But a hundred years from now, when fate no longer favors them, the inheritor of the Book of Wumu will be facing a completely different situation.”

Entities like Firework had a deeper understanding of fate. Fate could make everything go smoothly, as if the world was coordinating things to ensure one’s success, but it could also spell the doom of even the mightiest heroes in the world.

Huang Rong’s words rang true.

“Father and mother, you have learned the Nine Yin Manual. Why don’t you assassinate the Mongol tyrant?” Guo Xiang probed on. “If even the two of you can’t do that, there’s no guarantee the next person who learns the Nine Yin Sutra will be stronger than you. How can you expect them to be the executor of tyrants?”

Guo Jing and Huang Rong were speechless.

Guo Jing murmured in shock, “Rong’er, were we wrong? Is this plan doomed to fail right from the start? Is there no way to pass down the seeds of the Han?”

Upon seeing his heartbroken appearance, Huang Rong become agitated. “Xiang’er, you shouldn’t be talking nonsense for something as important as this!”

Firework calmly replied, “I'm not talking nonsense. I’m considering the feasibility of your plan.”

She had no idea what the criteria for clearing the Deity of Death’s trial was, but it had to be related to this plan. However, if it was that simple, someone would have succeeded by now. Naturally, she ought to understand every detail of the plan.

Huang Rong was angered by Guo Xiang’s talking back. She was starting to regret involving the latter in this plan.

It was then that Zu An interjected, “I think it’s feasible. Fate is siding with the Mongols now. Their armies are unrivaled, and many experts have pledged allegiance to them. No matter how strong our... father and mother are, it’d be hard for them to assassinate the Khan under the protection of so many experts.

“But a hundred years from now, when fate no longer sides with the Mongols, things won’t be as smooth for them. The people will rise up against them, and competent individuals will no longer side with them. Someone who wields the Heavenly Sword and has mastered the Nine Yin Manual will have room to do much more.”

Huang Rong was heartened. “Polu, you have always been reticent, so I didn’t expect you to have thought things through so clearly. Your father and I can finally put our hearts at ease.”

Firework spent a moment in thought before acknowledging Zu An’s explanation. “We have the Book of Wumu and the Nine Yin Manual. What about the Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Saber?”

Her willingness to cooperate evoked a sigh of relief from Huang Rong. “It all falls on Guo’er.”

Huang Rong looked at Firework with sympathetic eyes and said, “Xiang’er, I know you have been traveling around in search of Guo’er. You’re already an old maiden now...” Had I known this would happen, I wouldn't have been so guarded against Guo’er back then.

Firework stayed silent. She had no idea what was going on or who Guo’er was at all.

Huang Rong reined in her feelings and said, “We need your help here. You should also know that there have been conflicts between Guo’er and our family. You’re the only one he’s not averse to. We need you to persuade him to offer his Xuan Metal Sword to forge the godly weapons.”

1. The Han have been the dominant and majority ethnicity of ancient China across multiple dynasties. ☜