Chapter 18: Calculating the Heavenly Mechanism - What's Next?

  Today's first update, as usual, begging for red tickets and collections. Hmm, although the clicks are not bad, but the collections are too few. Please ask everyone to register an account on Zhongheng and add it to your bookshelf, thank you:)

  Sometimes I gently stroke the warm-hearted mop's dividing line

  January 16th is the first clear morning after the Lantern Festival. According to Chinese traditional customs, after the Lantern Festival, it means that the New Year's holiday officially ends and everything returns to normal. In other words, today is the first working day after the Spring Festival holiday. So naturally, the flow of people in and out of Daxing City has increased by two or three times compared to the holiday period.

  It's just that. If one observes carefully, it's not hard to notice. In Daxing City, whether north, south, east or west, the nine city gates have all increased their garrison by at least two times. On the city walls, one can see the extremely strict and stern-faced monks of the Ji Le Sect scrutinizing every passerby. No matter who wants to leave the city, they must undergo a strict inspection before being allowed to pass. Although some people are dissatisfied with this and want to protest, the atmosphere on the scene is already so tense and heavy that it's enough to make ordinary people tremble with fear and not dare to say another word.

  Yang Zhao was kidnapped in the Temple of Extreme Joy, and it has been three days now. For three days, the Orthodox Sect disciples, together with the Imperial City Garrison, have closed the nine gates and launched a full-scale search throughout the city, but they have not found anything. Only Blue Silk, the younger brother of Yang Su, Duke of Yueguo, had discovered suspicious traces of the kidnapper's appearance in the White Cloud Ancestor Hall in the west of the city. However, after searching, nothing was gained again. On the second morning, Mahayana Ye personally led the five divisions to search for the White Cloud Ancestor Hall again and found that the entire hall had been set on fire by someone beforehand and burned to ashes.

  Under duress, they had no choice but to continue with the human sea tactic search. However, Daxing City was after all the capital of the Great Sui Dynasty, and temporarily sealing off the city for two or three days was nothing, but if time dragged on, it wouldn't do. After discussing with Mohaiye and Yang Su (who had already been authorized by Yang Jian to take full responsibility for handling this matter), they decided to first open the city gates, then deploy personnel at each city gate to strictly control them. This was also a tactic of luring the enemy in by pretending to be weak. They figured that Jinpao Ke Nidao Qi and Jingzhai's successor Fan Qinghui would definitely not dare stay in the city for long, being caught like fish in a pot, and would surely take risks to escape the city, at which time they could catch them all at once.

  The plan was actually not bad, but unfortunately there was a fatal flaw. That is to say, neither Mohe Ye nor Yang Su knew that among the people who escaped from the city, there was a younger brother of Zheng Yi Dao - Yuan Tianxia.

  At this moment, Yuan Tiangong was standing under the eaves of a house on the south side of Daxing City, not far from Anhua Gate. He gazed towards the city gate tower with his eyes narrowed. Ning Daoqi, Fan Qinghui, Baiyun and her young apprentice Yuzhen, as well as Yang Zhao and others who had been sealed in their caves, although they could move freely, still couldn't muster up even a bit of internal energy. Everyone except for changing into new clothes hadn't made any other changes to their appearance. As soon as they stepped out of this abandoned house that had been uninhabited for a long time, Ning Daoqi and others who had been wanted by the authorities would immediately attract the pursuit of government troops. In no time at all, Mohe Ye and Yang Su and other powerful experts would also feel the need to provide support, making it impossible for them to escape.

  Yuan Tianxia, however, was not bothered at all. After observing for a long time, he withdrew his gaze and sneered, "As the ancients said, 'Take one loss, gain one wisdom.' But I didn't expect that the Extreme Joy Demon Sect still had Yang Su, that treacherous official, yet they all only grew pig brains. Heh heh, relying solely on these incompetent officials and soldiers to think they can catch us? Truly laughable."

  Ning Daoqi furrowed his brow and said, "Within the walls of Daxing City, there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers. For example, that foreign woman named Blue Silk is a master of mystic arts. As the saying goes, 'a good teacher produces excellent students', Yang Su's mastery of mystic arts must be even more profound. You cannot afford to be careless, my young friend."

  To be honest, Yuan Tianxia's personality was too overbearing and didn't suit Ning Daoqi's taste. If he wasn't still injured and couldn't force his way out of the city, he would have sternly rebuked Yuan Tianxia instead of advising him in such a roundabout way.

  Yuan Tiangong smiled and said, "Don't worry, Master Ning. The study of mysticism is vast and profound, and someone like Yang Su, even if he practiced for ten years, couldn't compare to my cultivation in just one month. What's there to fear?" With a flick of his hand, a large wolf-hair brush filled with cinnabar appeared from his sleeve and fell into his palm. Yuan Tiangong's smile changed, and he said seriously, "I will now cast the 'Fantasy Concealment Spell'. This spell can make us disappear and hide in the void. Even if the officials search carefully, they won't be able to see us. However, we must be careful not to touch any ordinary people who haven't been affected by the spell, or it will immediately lose its effect. Remember, remember."

  It's a matter of whether they can escape smoothly, so Ning Daoqi and others naturally obeyed in unison. After finishing the reminder, Yuan Tiange immediately held up his brush and shouted: "Order!" The pen moved like a dragon and snake, iron hooks and silver hooks, and in an instant, six identical crimson talismans were drawn out of thin air. The talismans were like magnets attracting iron, automatically striking each person's chest. Immediately, the physical bodies of all people present quickly disappeared, becoming transparent, as if coated with a layer of mercury light. Moreover, what was even more incredible was that the six people could still "see" each other, not afraid of getting lost because they were all invisible.

  This move was indeed divine, opening people's eyes wide. But for now, it wasn't the time to sing praises. At this moment, everyone held their breath and exerted their lightness skills (Yang Zhao was being held by Ning Daoqi) as they jumped out of the abandoned house and rushed towards the city tower. Along the way, indeed no one could detect their tracks, at most only feeling that for some reason a gentle breeze suddenly blew beside them, which was somewhat strange.

  Ordinary people on the road are like this, and the officials guarding the city gate cannot be an exception. After all, mortal eyes can't recognize the subtleties of mysterious Taoist techniques. Yang Su, Lan Si, and others couldn't use the technique of splitting their bodies, so they could only sit in the central hub waiting for news at any time, and there was no way to take care of all nine city gates of Daxing City. Ning Daoqi, Yang Zhao, and others either volunteered or were forced to leave the city gate easily and without hindrance, just like: Breaking open the jade cage and flying colorful phoenixes, opening the golden lock and escaping the dragon. At this time, a group of people went straight south out of the city.

  The "Fantasy Concealment Spell" is indeed wonderful, but its duration is limited. After the time it takes to burn two incense sticks, the spell loses its effect, and everyone returns to their original form, only to find themselves already five miles outside the city at the farewell pavilion. Everyone collected their thoughts and walked slowly, not long after, a small tea house appeared in front of them, specializing in selling coarse tea and plain rice to travelers and traders to quench their thirst and rest their feet. They casually chose a wooden table and sat down, the shopkeeper politely brought over a pot of hot tea, after receiving the copper coins, he bowed and retreated without another word.

  The tea leaves in this shop are actually just some inferior goods, and when you soak them in water to drink, they taste bitter and astringent. Ning Daoqi and Fang Qinghui took one sip and felt it was hard to swallow. Baiyun and the little nun Yutian didn't care, anyway, the tea they usually drank was about the same as this. Yang Zhao could actually drink this coarse tea with ease, which made Yuan Tiangeng feel very surprised, and he couldn't help but take a few more glances at him. Yang Zhao smiled slightly, raised his cup to toast the little Taoist priest, and drained the tea in one gulp.

  Yuan Tiangong was even more curious, but with so many people around, it wasn't convenient to have a private conversation. However, he only heard Fang Qinghui say: "Baiyun Shijie, now that Baiyun An has also been set on fire, I wonder what plans you have next?"

  Bai Yun said faintly, "Having lived in Daxing City for 15 years, I'm a bit tired of it. This time, I'll take the opportunity to go out and travel, and let my young apprentice broaden his horizons. Nothing special is planned, but for now, I think I'll head back to Wan Chan An first."

  Fang Qinghui hadn't even responded when Yu Chen excitedly clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Great! Master, I also want to roam the world like those female heroes in stories, punishing evil and upholding justice. When I see injustice on the road, I'll draw my sword..." Before she could finish speaking, Bai Yun glared at her with one eye open, and her voice immediately dropped to a mosquito's hum, and she lowered her head, not daring to continue.

  "Eldest sister, Wan Zhen An has been abandoned for many years and its disciples have scattered. Even if we return, it would only bring up painful memories. Besides, back then you had already revealed your identity, now returning to Wan Zhen An would be no different from walking into a trap, it's really not necessary. Why don't you follow the little ones to Emei Golden Summit's Tuo Lü Palace for temporary refuge and wait until the rumors die down before making a move?"

  This makes sense too. Bai Yun listened and couldn't help but hesitate slightly. After thinking for a moment, she said: "Alright then, I'll follow Shifu's arrangements."

  Nangong Yun was overjoyed when Baiyun agreed to travel with them. Ning Daoqi, however, asked, "Baiyun, what about you? Are you going to follow us or return to Zhongnan Mountain now?"

  Yuan Tianxia smiled and said: "The Tushita Palace is the most important foundation of our sect. You are still young and your skills are not yet refined, so you naturally wouldn't dare to hope to set foot in it. However, this place is still close to Daxing City and isn't entirely safe. Moreover, when Master sent us down the mountain, he didn't specify that we had to return at a certain time. Since there's nothing going on, why don't you just accompany your uncles into Shu and part ways later? What do you think, Ning Shibo?"

  Ning Daoqi patted the table lightly with his palm and said, "Then it's settled. The journey is long, and our group of people can't openly use qinggong on the main road. We need to rent a large carriage to travel." He raised his hand and beckoned, "Shopkeeper, come over here for a moment."

  The teahouse owner slung a towel over his shoulder and came over with a bow, asking: "Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"

  Ning Daoqi smiled and said: "Bring two steamed buns, they'll be good for the road. Also, we want to rent a big cart as a substitute for walking, do you know any cart owners?"

  The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Sir, you've come to the right place. We have..." He began to speak fluently. But Yuan Tiangai took advantage of the momentary distraction to secretly dip his finger in cinnabar, hide under the table, and draw a transmission symbol in mid-air while muttering: "Quickly!" The symbol was imperceptibly transmitted into Yang Zhao's body. In his heart, he thought: "You're so carefree, as if you don't have any worries at all."

  Yang Zhao suddenly shuddered, turned his head to smile at Yuan Tian Gang, and replied in his heart: "Nothing. Anyway, they won't kill me. As long as the green mountain is there, I'm not afraid of no firewood. From here to Emei Mountain, thousands of miles away, who knows what will happen on the way?"

  Yuan Tiangong sneered: "The Ning and Fan families' martial arts are a hundred times better than yours, do you think you can really escape?"

  Yang Zhao said calmly: "You're good at math, aren't you? Go ahead and calculate it then."

  Yuan Tiangong fell silent for a moment, then said solemnly: "I... can't figure it out. Honestly, you are indeed very strange. Your facial features show both life and death, your aura seems to be both prosperous and declining. I used my own 'Bone Weighing Method' to calculate your eight characters of the hour, and concluded that not only do you not have an imperial destiny, but also a short-lived fate. However, now you're not dead, and from the star chart, it's clear that you have the emperor's star shining on you, qualified to contend for the throne. Such contradictions are really... really... sigh..."

  Yang Zhao smiled and said: "The all-knowing Yuan Tiangong, it turns out that there are also times when you can't calculate."

  Yuan Tianxia's eyebrows were inverted, almost as if he wanted to slap the wooden table with his palm. Fortunately, he finally restrained himself in time and angrily said in his heart: "Shut up! I, Yuan Tianxia, have a rare talent that appears only once in a thousand years in the Xuanmen School. Not to mention your strange facial features, but even the great trends of the world, or events that will happen hundreds or thousands of years later, are all clearly visible to me. As long as it's something I want to know, I'll definitely be able to find out. This world is fundamentally without secrets for me. If only given more time, then certainly..."

  "Can't you see right through me?" Yang Zhao lowered his head and played with the teacup in his hand, saying: "And then what?"

  Yuan Tiangong asked in surprise: "What's going on?"

  Yang Zhaosaid lightly: "Things in life are like a book, the fun lies in not knowing how it ends until you've turned to the last page. Things in life are also like chess, no one knows who wins or loses until all the pieces are on the board. But if you already know the outcome before you even start reading the book or placing the pieces on the board, what's the point? Everything becomes a matter of course, where's the fun in that?"

  Yuan Tianxia frowned and said: "According to you, then the people of the world exhaust their minds to speculate about the will of heaven, is that wrong?"

  Yang Zhao said slowly: "Spying on the heavenly machine, the ultimate goal is to be able to avoid calamity and turn disaster into fortune. But if heaven's will cannot be changed, then knowing it beforehand would only lead to anxiety and inability to rest, or perhaps giving up striving altogether, which is not as good as not knowing one's fate but still having hope to work hard."

  Yuan Tiangong remained silent for a long time, then let out another deep sigh, and finally didn't speak again.

  Yang Zhao's words were firm and confident, with a tone of certainty. In fact, he was also gambling. Because based on his memory of reading comics before crossing over, he knew that this Yuan Tiangong had a proud personality, which could even be called extremely arrogant.

  At present, Yuan Tiangong is still in the stage of learning from Zhengyi Dao. But ten years later, when he feels that his skills have reached their peak, he will leave Zhengyi Dao and go out to travel. He will even try to prove his ability by defying heaven and trying to open up an unknowable fate. Although he clearly understands that the heavenly mandate belongs to Tang, he insists on supporting a person who cannot become emperor as emperor.

  To achieve this goal, Yuan Tianxia brought back to life the Chongyang Tianshi who had been killed by Mohui Ye. He also supported Chongyang Tianshi as the Khan of Heaven for unifying the Turks and others, while manipulating from behind the scenes. He then successively recruited many brave generals such as Xue Rengui who originally served under the Tang Dynasty, united with the Turks and other four barbarian tribes, waiting for an opportunity to rise in revolt and attack the Central Plains, establishing a Heavenly Khan Empire that was not part of the original Mandate of Heaven.

  This kind of audacious and heaven-defying personality is exactly what Yang Zhao needs. Because he himself was not a person originally destined by heaven. If he wants to survive in this world and achieve great things, then he must have someone like Yuan Tiangong who dares to defy heaven's will to help him.

  Perhaps Yuan Tiangong is not yet as reckless and arrogant as he will be in the future. However, no matter what, this confident and almost arrogant personality is innate to him and cannot be changed. Yang Zhao believes that if he just adds a little water on the side, the ambition and desire hidden deep within his heart will definitely sprout and grow vigorously ahead of time.

  The time required for growth was faster than Yang Zhao had imagined. That night, when the group entered a small village beside the highway to stay overnight, Yuan Tianpeng suddenly took the opportunity to jump off the horse carriage and secretly handed Yang Zhao a small paper ball filled with words.