Chapter 2, The Wordless Heavenly Monument

Therefore, the actions of the Dragon Eagles were carried out under absolute secrecy. First, they sealed off an area of one hundred miles, preventing anyone from entering, and then, under the command of the plump eunuch, they swiftly completed the sealing of the tomb.

The interesting way of saying: "Guidance from the elder!"

The fat elder remained silent for a while under the focused attention of the crowd, and then slowly said: "Our opponent is Tai Le Xu Yun"

The moon rises in the night sky, radiating a golden hue of light

The Fat Elder said: "Sending someone to kill the Elder is truly unwise and carries great risk. The most practical course of action for Tailor Xuyun is to find someone to discreetly follow Lord Ying and confirm whether he has indeed gone to Nanzhao. If that is the case, then Tailor Xuyun can finally set his mind at ease"

The four individuals were suddenly moved.

Dealing with the corpulent official is by no means easy, but due to his handling of the late empress's affairs, his actions have already been exposed. With the wisdom of Tai Le Xu Yun, it is clear that a resolution with him is difficult to achieve, and a confrontation is merely a matter of time. He would not let go of the corpulent official's critical weakness. As long as skilled individuals like Wu Xia, Yang Qingren, and Dong Xuanzi are mobilized, there is certainly a chance to capture the corpulent official alive. Fa Ming's arrival here has undoubtedly shattered any means that Tai Le Xu Yun might have had.

The time of the Empress's passing was only a few days apart from the execution of the two Zhangs, easily leading to the impression that the Empress was either forced to death or died of anger. At this critical moment when the new dynasty had just been established and the political situation was unstable, it was extremely detrimental to the governance of the new dynasty, which was not what the ministers desired. Therefore, after discussions, Li Xian's faction decided to delay the announcement of the Empress's death for six months or even longer, during which various means would be employed to conceal the fact of her passing. This served a dual purpose, as it could coincide with the large-scale action of the new dynasty relocating from the secondary capital Luoyang back to the old capital Chang'an. At that time, Li Xian would personally escort Empress Wu Zetian's coffin back to Chang'an and officially bury her at Ganling, allowing the Empress to rest in peace there.

Everyone was astonished

Faming also nodded and said: "If he is convinced that Lord Eagle has gone to Nanzhao to be with his beloved wife and children, he should not dare to provoke Lord Eagle again"

The plump elder displayed a relaxed and carefree demeanor as he withdrew from his accomplishments. He took out his pipe, had Fu Tai light the tobacco, took a deep breath, and said leisurely: "The one who composed the text for Emperor Gaozong was His Majesty. Now, the one qualified to write an inscription for His Majesty is Li Xian. When future generations discover that the tablet of Empress Wu is blank, those who have a slight understanding of the current situation should consider that the issue lies in 'proper naming' and 'positioning.' This is because it is impossible to decide whether His Majesty should be referred to as Emperor or Empress, which leads to an inability to put pen to paper"

Faming nodded and said, "Eagle Master is wise"

Faming lamented: "Fortunately, I am not your enemy, otherwise I would have fallen without even understanding what had happened!"

The dragon eagle's back is chillingly cold

The Fat Elder said: "Let us speak less of unnecessary matters. Tonight, we will split into two groups. Tian Guidao will lead his men to Youzhou, while we will set off for Nanzhao. As long as we find any trace of Wuxia being followed, we will have Lord Eagle take action to deal with Wuxia. Whether or not he marries her is Lord Eagle's own business, but the goal must be to obtain her body; any other thoughts are impractical. This is an internal conflict within the Holy Gate and should not involve outsiders."

Xi Yao smiled slightly and said, "I, however, believe that those who are unaware will think that the Holy Divine Emperor is displaying the demeanor of a monarch, leaving the merits and demerits for future generations to evaluate"

The Dragon Eagle joyfully exclaimed: "The Celestial Master is also going to Nanzhao!"

Faming said to Longying: "I will personally escort the Duke to Nanzhao, and along the way, I will take a look at the scenery of Dianchi Lake. After that, I will return to Jiangnan to spend a period of ordinary yet extraordinary days, quietly awaiting good news from the Evil Emperor."

Xi Yao questioned: "Why not simply get rid of her? That would settle everything once and for all"

Faming joined his palms in a low voice and chanted the Buddha's name, saying: "Well said! Well said! It is 'not attached to a single word, yet fully embodies elegance'.

Long Ying let out a sigh and said: "Thanks to your reminder, I indeed did not consider him particularly, and at the moment of your reminder, I still cannot guess what other means he might have."

Fu Taidao: "If it were someone else, even when facing the stele, they would not think of it, or they might guess it is because the merits of the Holy Divine Emperor surpass those of the heavens, hence no one dares to express it in words. Ha!"

The plump old man took another puff and sighed, "Nothing matters at all!"

Fu Tai said: "What clever arrangements does my father-in-law have for me?"

The dragon eagle was overjoyed and also understood that Fa Ming shared the same thoughts as him

The stout elder's gaze swept over the four individuals, finally resting on Long Ying's face. With a solemn expression, he said: "Only those who deeply understand their own human weaknesses are capable of comprehending others. This skill begins with oneself and is known as extending oneself to others."

In anticipation, the plump elder took a few puffs of smoke and casually remarked: "This is a farewell gesture bestowed upon Tai Le Xu Yun, concocting another person who can engage him in close combat. Just before the useless Emperor Li Xian returned to Chang'an, the young man Fu returned to Li Xian's side in the guise of the ugly divine doctor, and the rest depends on Fu's fortune!"

The dragon eagle was left speechless

Long Ying eagerly asked the fat elder: "What do you think others think?"

Fa Ming coldly snorted, "I do not believe that the five of us cannot handle a girl. Even if we cannot kill her, we can at least get rid of her."

Fu Tai frowned and said: "Under the current circumstances, Tai Le Xu Yun is likely to find it difficult to make any progress for the time being"

The fat eunuch said leisurely: "Hearing the monk king speak this way, it is understandable that he has never deeply contemplated Tai Le Xu Yun, as the monk king's mind is entirely focused on another matter, unless disaster is imminent. The eunuch does not have the monk king's concerns; ever since Li Chongrun and the other two were killed by Tai Le Xu Yun, he has been pondering what kind of person he is."

The spirit of Fu Tai is greatly uplifted: "Indeed! It is precisely because he has calculated everything so thoroughly, and coincidentally, Lord Eagle overheard his plan to verify his identity, that he has begun to dispel his doubts about Fan Qingzhou. This time, due to his flawless calculations, we have deduced that he will send Wuxia to ascertain our whereabouts. The eunuch is formidable!"

He has become the number one enemy of Tailor Xuyun, who is capable of overcoming his own human weaknesses and will not let go of any flaws of Long Ying. Currently, what Tailor Xuyun must grasp is the whereabouts and actions of Long Ying after he escorted the Empress into the mausoleum, as this will greatly influence Long Ying's future actions

Long Ying humbly seeks advice

He continued with a bitter smile: "I have fallen into the weakness of underestimating, haven't I?"

Long Ying frowned and said: "You are not going to look for Tuoba Huo Luo, are you? I have a part in this too"

The Fat Elder said: "She is very much like the son-in-law of yesteryear. No matter how remarkable Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong are, they are still made dizzy by her. The subtlety lies not in the contest of strength, but in the seemingly intangible feelings. Just think! If Xu Ziling were to embrace both Shi Qingxuan and the son-in-law, we certainly would not be gathered here worrying about the flawless one."

Located on the west side is the Stele of Emperor Gaozong, composed of seven massive stone blocks. The inscriptions on the stele correspond to the seven celestial bodies: Sun, Moon, Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. In that year, Empress Wu Zetian personally composed the text, which was written by Li Xian, carved, and then coated with black lacquer, making it shine brilliantly. The total word count exceeds eight thousand, naturally praising virtues and concealing faults.

The dragon and eagle are perplexed by the words: "What the elder said is merely the actions that this troublemaker, who fears that the world is not in chaos, is most eager to undertake. Why is there still doubt?"

Faming chuckled and said: "If there are too few days without Lord Eagle, it will feel like a year to get through them"

Faming reflected: "Although this statement is somewhat vague, it is difficult to find a more reasonable explanation"

The chubby elder smiled and said: "While you all tend to think of the difficulties, I, the elder, take a grounded and straightforward approach, directly formulating the correct attitude to deal with Tai Le Xu Yun, in order to avoid being outsmarted by him once again"

This monument sets a precedent, representing the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi, and the only female emperor in Chinese history to date, Empress Wu Zetian, who are interred together in one tomb

The plump elder smiled and said: "First, answer me a question, how was the ability of Tai Le Xu Yun to deeply understand the weaknesses of others cultivated?"

The Dragon Eagle gazed at the Wordless Monument and sighed, "No wonder I couldn't figure it out no matter how hard I tried. Damn it! It turns out to be the Broken Void."

Fu Tai shrugged his shoulders, adopting a nonchalant posture

Then he said to Fu Tai: "What of it, young man?"

Long Ying sighed: "Are you me? Do you know what is in my heart? Perfection is untouchable, unless my younger brother is willing to assist Yang Qingren in becoming emperor. Damn it!"

The situation between the enemy and us has reversed. Long Ying has exhausted all his means to ensure the safe retreat of the Empress to Ganling, but he has also violated the heavenly law that the Emperor's power can overcome the sovereign. To deal with Long Ying, it was impossible in the capital, and it is even more impossible now. The only feasible action is to eliminate Long Ying's wings, rendering him toothless and clawless, making it difficult for him to rebel and create chaos. Considering this, Guo Yuanzhen, who holds significant military power and has close ties with Long Ying, will be the first to bear the brunt. As long as his military authority is not curtailed, Wu Sansi and Wei Hou will find it hard to sleep peacefully. With Tai Le Xuyun's meticulous strategies, there will be no room for carelessness. If Long Ying has no countermeasures, it will be too late once the situation has solidified, and regret will be futile.

Everyone is deeply moved. It is not because the phrase spoken by the Fat Elder is astonishing, but rather due to the particularly strong feeling evoked by the way the Fat Elder presents it in such a teasing manner.

Until this moment, the news of Wu Zetian's "death" has not been leaked, and the soldiers guarding her still believe it to be a normal duty. This is based on the secret agreement between Long Ying and Zhang Jianzhi, representing Li Xian.

Secondly, the plan of "Southern People Moving North" is at a critical moment, in full swing, and the private salt transactions with the Northern Gang have also reached the final stage. Previously, due to the difficulty of being in two places at once, this was handled by Liu Nanguang's subordinate, Fan Qingzhou. At this moment, it is necessary to replace Liu Nanguang with Long Ying to avoid being exposed upon encountering Le Yan, the leader of the Northern Gang's Long Hall.

Long Eagle Dao: "If I were to force a reasonable explanation, I would say it is because Tai Le Xu Yun possesses a mindset that allows for detachment and an ability to observe from a distance, thus enabling him to gain insight into human nature"

The fat elder said with pleasure: "The monk king has great filial piety towards the elder."

The plump elder need not speak; the other three are all exceptionally intelligent individuals, capable of discerning refined intentions from the sound of a lute.

Fu Taidao: "I originally intended to accompany my father-in-law for a while, but now that the monk king has stepped in, my services are no longer needed. Since I was young, I have had a wish to spend some time alone in the desert, both as a wanderer and as a form of cultivation. Taking this opportunity, I can finally fulfill my wish"

He first learned that Tai Le Xu Yun valued human nature and treated it accordingly from the discussions at Gong Mou. After multiple encounters and confrontations with Tai Le Xu Yun, both overt and covert, his understanding of Tai Le Xu Yun deepened. He recognized that Tai Le Xu Yun's insight into the weaknesses of human nature had reached a profound level. Had it not been for his extraordinary luck, he would have been defeated long ago. Regardless of martial contests, he was at a disadvantage before the coup. Now, although it seems he has regained the upper hand, he has become complacent, which is precisely a weakness of human nature.

Xi Yao sighed, "I can hardly believe that such a formidable figure has emerged from the Sacred Gate beyond the borders. To this day, it is difficult for me to accept that they could seize upon our only weakness out of thin air, leaving us with no means to counter it"

Long Yingdao: "You should follow me first, and we will discuss it after we reach Youzhou."

The plump elder confidently stated: "It is a waste to go too far for too little."

The plump elder said calmly: "Fortunately, no matter how formidable Tai Le Xuyun may be, he is still a human and not a deity. And as long as he is human, he possesses human weaknesses. For instance, his meticulous methods targeting human nature are, in themselves, a weakness. It is precisely for this reason that he can no longer doubt that Master Eagle is Fan Qingzhou"

An outsider is ultimately an outsider, unable to think things through comprehensively

Fu Taiyi was taken aback and said: "He went to deal with Wuxia, what should I do?"

Fu Tai displayed a look of distress

On the east side of the Shengbei stands the stele of Empress Wu Zetian. The inscription that the corpulent eunuch did not reveal has finally been unveiled, revealing a completely smooth surface with not a single character engraved. While Wu Zhao could compose an elaborate eight-thousand-word essay for the Shengbei of Emperor Gaozong, her own stele bears not a single word. This peculiarity is difficult to describe and, compared to a thousand words, it evokes even more profound imagination in the observer

Long Ying, Fat Grandpa, Fu Tai, Fa Ming, and Xi Yao stood before the "Wuzi Stele," paying their final respects. The soldiers guarded the four corners, witnessing this special moment

It is no easy task to move against a top general like Guo Yuanzhen. The court officials led by Zhang Jianzhih will vehemently oppose it, fearing that it may provoke Guo Yuanzhen to retaliate. If this leads to the emergence of a dragon and eagle, it would be a case of cleverness backfiring. Therefore, it is not something that can be accomplished in the short term, especially at a time when Empress Wei and others urgently need to consolidate their power. However, once the powers of the coup leaders like Zhang Jianzhih are diminished and they are relocated back to Chang'an, it would then be too late to strategize, resulting in a loss of opportunity and a passive position. Thus, if action is to be taken, now is the time. However, once the powers of the coup leaders like Zhang Jianzhih are diminished and they are relocated back to Chang'an, it would then be too late to strategize, resulting in a loss of opportunity and a passive position. Thus, if action is to be taken, now is the time.

Faming's expression grew serious as he said in a low voice: "Is what the elder wishes to point out that Tai Le Xuyun would never commit the mistakes we believe he would?"

This not only does not violate the Empress's order prohibiting the Li and Wu clans from escorting each other, but also on the surface allows Li Xian and others to fulfill their filial duties, providing an explanation to the people of the world, and does not give others a handle to criticize.

The plump elder chuckled and said: "Elder Eagle is worried that you will challenge Tuoba Huo Luo without careful consideration. After dealing with the flawless matter, he must disguise himself as Fan Qingzhou to go to Youzhou. If you follow him, won't it be obvious to Tai Le Xu Yun that Fan Qingzhou is actually Long Ying? Therefore, it is absolutely inadvisable to proceed."

Fu Tai said dejectedly: "It should be said this way, after arriving in the capital, every day is spent on the edge of a knife, with crises lurking everywhere, thrilling and exciting. Once I return to an ordinary life, I have no special expectations for tomorrow, and I fear I won't be able to adapt."

Everyone was greatly astonished, unable to guess what kind of medicine the plump old man was selling in his gourd

The plump elder said with delight: "If one were to find someone capable of dealing with the flawless, it would undoubtedly be Lord Eagle. The situation is quite similar to that of Lady Soft, which is a kind of fate; no one else is capable."

Fu Taiyi was rendered speechless.

Fu Tai Rao expressed with great interest: "The words of the elder always provoke deep reflection. The wise have their own weaknesses, while the foolish can be easily deceived. In summary, regardless of intelligence or foolishness, there are inherent weaknesses in human nature."

Xi Yao said: "In the past, I loved solitude, but after encountering the monk king, I realized that my path is not lonely; I have found a good companion for exploring the depths and seeking the wonders, and of course, I do not wish to miss this opportunity"

Xi Yao said cheerfully: "Come with us to Nanzhao!"

Fu Ta zha she said: "In this way, Lord Eagle is certainly in trouble"

The tunnel leading to the imperial tomb was completely sealed before dusk, and then covered with mud and grass, restoring it to the appearance of the hillside without leaving a trace

Under the illumination of the torchlight, a pair of stone tablets stand before us, facing each other from east to west, resembling two towering deities, each reaching a height of two zhang, guarding the tomb. In their own unique manner, they silently recount the remarkable achievements of their masters during their lifetimes

Fu Tai clapped his thigh and said: "What a good plan! Lord Eagle is not Xu Ziling, he is not afraid of taking in numerous concubines."

Xiyou exclaimed: "The old man's perspective is incisive and to the point"

Tomorrow, troops will march from "Xindu" to Chang'an, taking on the responsibility of guarding the tombs

The plump old man raised his pipe, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled several rings of smoke, leisurely saying: "Never forget one thing."

Looking up, Ganling resembles a large screen, displaying a myriad of atmospheric phenomena, steep and towering.

Xiyou expressed his thoughts: "Only those outside the situation can clearly see the circumstances of those within it"

The chubby elder confidently declared: "What the elder has devised is guaranteed to be fiery and stimulating; the only concern is whether you have enough courage, sufficient bravery, and the determination to face significant changes."

Fu Taidao: "If there is a person who can achieve this, that person is flawless. Alas! It is quite a headache"

Fa Ming, Xi Yao, and Fu Tai's feelings towards Tai Le Xu Yun are far less intense and profound than those of Long Ying, due to having heard of him without having seen him. At this moment, as they seem to have completed the most difficult task, although they do not forget him, they have pushed him to the back of their minds. Suddenly reminded by the plump eunuch, it struck them like thunder, and they realized they had indeed become complacent and careless.

The fat elder chuckled and said: "My speculation is not as fanciful and imaginative as yours, but rather looks at things from a practical or political perspective"