Chapter 912: Never a Day of Peace

For many in this world, the years were both brief and slow; every passing moment was a lifetime.

People lived through the years preparing for everything that lay ahead—scraping by for a few pieces of Broken Silver and securing their meals for the next day.

Although this was a chaotic era, the various princes and the Imperial Court maintained a delicate balance for the time being. On the surface, no one made a move, but in the shadows, they fought endlessly.

At least in the eyes of the commoners and the rest of the world, war would not break out anytime soon, preventing unnecessary panic.

However, such a balance could not last long.

The Fiend Blood Path.

It was a territory where people of the jianghu congregated.

This place had everything: the Black Market hidden in the damp darkness, filthy and sickening trades, and street killings sparked by the most trivial slights. People died here every single day.

The world was in chaos, and martial artists roamed the lands. Many found shelter within a Prince's Manor or the Imperial Court, but the vast majority wanted nothing to do with the conflict. It was a deadly affair. In this world, both victors and losers suffered, and the so-called promise of following the dragon to found a dynasty always became a scam in the end.

For countless years, the Imperial Court's suppression of the jianghu showed no signs of ending. To the realm at large, martial artists would always be a source of instability.

Now faced with another chaotic era where people starved and froze, more and more turned to martial arts. In just a few short years, the number of martial artists across the realm had multiplied, plunging the world into even greater chaos.

Many martial artists fleeing pursuit chose to hide in the Fiend Blood Path, keeping their heads down to survive. Eventually, those who refused to partake in the struggle for the realm all flocked to this "peaceful haven" without exception.

They came because no one held jurisdiction over the Fiend Blood Path!

Strictly speaking, the existence of the Fiend Blood Path was no different from a rebel faction. They were indeed rebels, but because this group stood right in the middle, they managed to maintain a certain degree of stability across the realm.

But that stability was bound to shatter eventually.

The moment ambitious factions set their sights on this place, the fate of the Fiend Blood Path was sealed.

No matter how many martial artists there were, they could never stand against an army of thousands.

Both the Imperial Court and the various princes coveted the Fiend Blood Path. However, launching a direct assault was not a wise strategy. Therefore, all five factions made their moves, each dispatching their own people in an attempt to swallow the territory whole.

As a result, the already chaotic Fiend Blood Path descended into absolute bedlam!

The Imperial Court dispatched an official named Wang Ping'an. He looked frail, but he was a masterful swordsman of formidable skill. At first, no one thought much of him, yet it did not take him long to establish a firm foothold.

The King of Wei sent a woman. No one dared to underestimate her, for everyone in the jianghu knew the reputation of the spear she wielded.

Prince Jin's faction, on the other hand, left people utterly baffled. They sent only a single old man who opened a Blade-Sharpening Workshop in the Fiend Blood Path. He spent his days doing nothing but sharpening blades, ignoring everything else.

As for the Prince of Yan, his faction brought in an old veteran of the jianghu. It was the swordsman Shangguan Ningjing, a man who possessed an illustrious reputation several years ago. The moment he arrived, he employed ruthless, lightning-fast methods to recruit a large number of people.

As for Prince Kang's faction...

They had yet to make a single move.

Now, everyone in the Fiend Blood Path felt a constant sense of peril. Unable to afford offending anyone and struggling to maintain their footing in this situation, they were left with no choice: they either had to leave, or pledge allegiance to one of the camps just to guarantee a warm meal and a place to sleep.

Skirmishes broke out daily in the Fiend Blood Path, and thanks to these major powers, the fighting only grew more vicious.

Screams echoed through the night, and by morning, the streets would be stained with fresh pools of unwashed blood.

In truth, everyone understood.

They, a loose band of martial artists, did not matter in the slightest.

The only thing that mattered was the territory itself.

Once the struggle ended, no matter who swallowed the Fiend Blood Path, the realm's brief period of stability would vanish along with it.

The winter days were bitterly cold.

A brazier sat in the room with a few taros roasting over the flames.

A Long Spear rested casually to the side. A plainly dressed woman warmed her hands by the fire, occasionally turning the roasting taros.

"Haa..."

Her breath plumed into a faint white mist.

The weather had grown cold...

She had a guest today.

It was her younger brother.

Ping'an stepped forward and took a seat. The siblings sat together in silence.

Once the taros were just about done, Ping'an reached out to peel one for her.

But Ruyi swatted his hand away. "It's hot," she said.

"Sister," Ping'an replied, "I've practiced martial arts for years. Why would I be afraid of a little heat?"

Ruyi rolled her eyes at him. "No matter how skilled you are, are you better than me?"

Ping'an paused. That was true; he couldn't compare to his older sister.

Ruyi picked up a taro, peeled back the charred, blackened skin, and handed it to Ping'an.

Ping'an took it with a smile. "Thanks, Sister."

Ruyi let out a soft sigh. "I really don't understand you. Why would you come to my place at a time like this? Aren't you afraid of someone getting the wrong idea? If the Imperial Court finds out, they'll send assassins after you."

"I was very careful on my way here," Ping'an said. "No one recognized me."

Ruyi sighed again. "You refuse to betray the Imperial Court. I've tried to talk you out of this several times, but you never listen."

She paused for a moment before continuing, "I honestly can't see what makes those royal heirs so capable. Not a single one of them can hold a candle to the Late Emperor."

Ping'an coughed lightly. "Sister, never mind the royal heirs for a moment. If you look back through history, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone whose political acumen in the Imperial Court could rival the Late Emperor's."

Throughout the annals of history, Ping'an had rarely seen an emperor who could maneuver the Imperial Court with such effortless mastery. It was only by observing the Late Emperor that Ping'an finally understood the true meaning of imperial statecraft.

"Then find a new one," Ruyi said. "There are so many people in this world. There has to be someone who can match the Late Emperor."

"That's not how it works."

Ping'an smiled helplessly. "Rebelling without a legitimate claim is a lost cause. A rebellion like that is doomed to fail."

"Didn't the Late Emperor rebel too?"

"The Late Emperor possessed the bloodline of the Yan Imperial Clan. Behind him stood countless Jing people."

Ruyi fell silent. She did not fully understand such political matters.

In her eyes, anyone could sit on the emperor's throne. All that mattered was bringing peace to the realm and keeping the commoners safe.

Ping'an took a bite of the taro. "This is delicious."

"It's just an old, leftover taro," Ruyi replied, a hint of frustration in her voice. She looked up at Ping'an. "Are you really not going to leave with me?"

Ping'an's hand froze. After a brief pause, he said, "I want you to leave, Sister. Don't get tangled up in these affairs."

Ruyi stood up and kicked Ping'an.

The taro fell to the floor, and Ping'an tumbled backward onto his rear.

"Mom and Dad named you Ping'an, but you've completely forgotten what peace means!"

Ruyi snapped, "Do you think I wanted to come to this godforsaken place? Do you think I actually want to be involved in this? I'm here because I'm afraid you're going to get yourself killed! This isn't the Imperial Court; this is the jianghu! No one here cares about rules or smooth talking. It's a world of flashing blades and blood. If you don't leave, there will be never a day of peace!"

Ping'an lowered his head. "Even if I leave, there will be never a day of peace."