Chapter 27

"The strength of one city alone may not be enough to defend it," Mu Gesheng said deliberately, pausing with each word. "What about the combined strength of the seven families?"

"Can the combined strength of the seven families hold a city?"

Wu Nie paused for a moment, then burst into loud laughter: "What a good idea! Gathering the power of seven families to fight against mere shadow soldiers, defending a small city—how could that possibly fail?" She clutched her stomach, laughing heartily until tears nearly fell, "But have you thought about this—why would the seven families agree to guard this city for you?"

Mu Gesheng was silent for a long while, then said, "The position ordained by Heaven."

"Oh? Just the other day you were so full of yourself, but the moment trouble comes, you start thinking about your master," Wu Nie raised an eyebrow. "He’s kept that position open for you for years, yet you refuse to take it. Now, faced with some shadow soldiers, you’re already scared?"

“A person must have self-awareness. War is no problem for me, but dealing with gods and ghosts is beyond my ability,” Mu Gesheng said. “Besides, I took on the matter of the mountain ghost’s bribe, and sooner or later the Seven Houses will find out. I also used that bribe to seal the Yin-Yang Ladder. With that, even if I try to back out, the Seven Houses won’t let it go easily.”

“As long as you understand,” Wu Nie shifted his tone. “Seven days ago, you forcibly sealed the Yin-Yang Ladder using the mountain ghost’s bribe. Fengdu has already fallen into chaos. The Seven Houses know everything about this. When you return this time, a tough battle awaits you.”

“Sir, don’t just stand there and talk as if it’s easy,” Mu Gesheng said wearily. “If we trace this matter back to its source, it’s your great formation that caused all this trouble.”

“Every family has its own difficult scripture to recite. You have your city to defend, and we have our descendants to worry about,” Wu Nie said calmly. “We’re just settling our own accounts.”

“I can’t beat you either, so whatever you say goes.” Mu Gesheng sighed, “Thank you for seeing me off.”

“Glad you understand. We’re about to reach the mortal realm. Let me give you one last piece of advice—listen carefully and think it through.” Wu Nie set down the oar, leaned close to Mu Gesheng, and whispered, “Inheriting the position of Tiansuazi may be unavoidable, but you must be sure of your choice.”

“Do the seven families of the successive generations truly obey the orders of Tiansuazi?”

Wu Nie escorted Mu Gesheng back to the mortal world and, before parting, tossed him a medicine bottle. “The pills inside are infused with our family’s cultivation; they’ll ensure your daily movements remain unhindered.”

Mu Gesheng bowed and thanked, "Thank you, sir."

"No need to thank me. After all, we are already dead; our roots differ from the living. Eat less if you can, or it will shorten your lifespan." Wu Nie waved his hand, "Off with you." Saying that, he grabbed an oar and strode away.

Mu Gesheng returned first to the suburban military camp. The old adviser was startled when he saw him, "Why are you back so soon?"

He was taken aback by the question, "What do you mean?"

"Weren't you supposed to enter the city with the young master of the Yao family to provide disaster relief?" The conversation was all over the place, and the old strategist was completely baffled, like a monk feeling his way in the dark. "Why are you dressed like this? Are you injured?" He suddenly gasped, "Could it be that the disaster victims have revolted?"

Mu Gesheng turned on his heel and walked straight into his office. He took out his schedule and reviewed the affairs of the past few days from start to finish—on the night of October 29th, there was unusual activity in the city; in the early hours of the next day, an earthquake struck, damaging many streets and injuring numerous people.

The following days were all detailed reports on the disaster relief efforts. Looking at the signature and notes on the last page, Mu Gesheng roughly understood what had happened.

The earthquake was caused by the Yin soldiers entering the Yin-Yang ladder. As for the person handling military affairs in his stead, it should be Song Wentong. The Mo family mastered the art of disguise; the second brother could imitate his notes almost perfectly. Back when they studied in the study room, they often used this trick to switch places and help each other avoid punishment for skipping class. Although it was hard to fool the master of the Ginkgo study, deceiving ordinary people was a piece of cake.

Mu Gesheng finally exhaled in relief. Song Wentong wouldn’t lead the troops, so to avoid causing him trouble, Mu Gesheng had barely handled any military affairs these past few days, focusing mainly on disaster relief within the city. He sifted through the backlog of documents, approving a few urgent ones, then changed his clothes and rushed into the city without pause. The top priority was to quickly get a replacement for the person, otherwise, having two Mu Geshengs walking the streets in broad daylight would be like a ghost sighting—just another headache waiting to happen.

Though mentally prepared, the state of the city still shocked Mu Gesheng. As he made his way toward the epicenter, he saw that more than half the houses along the streets had collapsed, leaving ruins everywhere. Makeshift shelters for distributing porridge were set up by the roadside, with long lines trailing behind them. Many people, dragging their families along, waited patiently for their share.

Only seven days apart, yet the difference was like night and day.

Song Wentong had established a relief zone where, besides daily porridge distribution, the homeless could rest without being forced to roam the streets. Yet the aftershocks hadn’t ceased, and everyone remained on edge. Many didn’t even dare return home, fearing they might be the next to be crushed. The long street was shrouded in a gloomy, mournful haze; a cold wind swept through, and the sunlight was piercingly chill.

Mu Gesheng walked down the street, feeling a faint tremor from the coin in his sleeve—that was resonance. He used the Mountain Ghost coin to forcibly seal the Yin-Yang ladder, but the rebellious Yin soldiers inside the ladder were constantly assaulting the seal. He could sense the suppression growing weaker and weaker.

It wouldn’t hold much longer, Mu Gesheng knew in his heart; continuing like this was no long-term solution.

Each Mountain Ghost coin contained immense power, but how much could be unleashed depended on the wielder’s ability. Now, severely injured, he was barely holding on. Using one coin to seal the Yin-Yang ladder, he could only tap into less than thirty percent of its power.

Wu Nie’s calculation was correct—at most, there were only half a month left before the Yin soldiers broke through the seal.

At the end of the street came a funeral procession, incense and paper horses burning, the mournful sound of suona horns, and paper money fluttering through the air. Mu Gesheng was jostled and stumbled by a beggar. "A year of great disaster!" The man, with disheveled hair and bare feet, walked off crazily.

By the roadside sat a blind fortune teller. Mu Gesheng, having been bumped by the madman, stopped right in front of the stall. The blind man looked up at the sound, revealing a gaunt, bony smile: "A great war is about to break out. Want me to read your fortune to save your life?"

"Please have mercy!" A wounded man with a limp crawled toward him. "Give me some money!"

By the roadside sat a disheveled woman, her expression numb as she held a bowl of porridge brought to her. Suddenly, she burst into a wail.

Madmen, blind men, cripples, fools—the bustling street was a microcosm of life, the blaring suona horns filling the air with a maddening frenzy.

Mu Gesheng could no longer bear to watch. He hurriedly dropped a few copper coins and turned to leave.

The old strategist said that Song Wen, Tong, and Chai Shuxin had entered the city together. Mu Gesheng searched around but found no one, so he went to the Chai residence first.

The Chai residence was vast, located in a quiet part of the city. The last time Mu Gesheng had been here was many years ago, a youth seeking plum blossoms in the snow; now, everything had changed, and the people were no longer the same.

He knocked on the side door, and the medicine boy who opened it was taken aback. "Didn't you just leave?"

Mu Gesheng guessed that the other was referring to Song Wentong, who was disguised as himself, and since he couldn't directly ask where his recent self had gone, he said, "I just remembered something—I forgot to tell San... ahem, Lingshuzi, is he still in the mansion?"

"I see." The medicine boy bowed. "The master has not yet left. Please follow me."

The medicine boy led Mu Gesheng to the main hall, where the noise of many voices filled the room. The medicine boy bowed again and said, "I should have brought you to have tea, but you left earlier. The master and the elders are still in heated debate. I've served in the mansion for many years and have never seen such a scene. I took the liberty of inviting you here to help mediate."

Mu Gesheng was momentarily stunned, unsure of what exactly was happening inside, and could only go along with it, saying, "No matter."

"Please wait a moment." The medicine boy said, "I’ll go notify them right away."

Mu Gesheng waited outside the hall, vaguely catching the gist of the conversation inside. It seemed the Yao family was embroiled in a heated debate over the distribution of medicinal herbs. "I absolutely refuse!" someone shouted loudly, their tone fiery. "Seventy percent of the herbs sent to the front lines, leaving only thirty percent for disaster relief in the city? Foolish child, the Yao family’s century-old reserves—are you planning to squander them all?!"

"The great nation has already been depleted," came the voice of Chai Shuxin. "The grand house is about to collapse; no one can stand idly by."

“The world unites for long, it must divide; dynasties rise and fall as a matter of course! You, as one of the sons, fret over the gain or loss of a single city or land—this is shortsightedness!”

“If the skin is gone, where can the hair cling? If a city cannot be defended, how can one protect the homeland?”

“You are acting on impulse, losing the greater for the lesser!”

“Excuse the interruption.” The apothecary boy’s voice cut in, “Young Master Mu has business to see the family head.”

“Just in time! Let him in, today we settle this once and for all!”

With just a few words, Mu Gesheng felt a chill run through him. Taking advantage of the medicine boy stepping out to report, he quickly pressed him for more information, “Are they still arguing inside?”

“Yes, sir. You’ve been busy these past few days with the head of the family handling disaster relief, mobilizing many resources from the Yao family. The elders are all growing angry,” the medicine boy said. “This is a serious matter, and I shouldn’t speak out of turn. You’d better go in quickly.”

Mu Gesheng didn’t understand. “The Yao family’s foundation is so rich and deep; how could a mere disaster relief effort cause such a stir?”

“You’ve said that so many times these past few days,” the medicine boy sighed. “Once or twice, it’s understandable, but day after day... well, never mind. You’d better go in quickly; everyone’s waiting for you.”

Mu Gesheng intended to ask more, but he was already pushed inside.

The main hall was crowded. When Chai Shuxin saw him enter, he gave a distant glance, and Mu Gesheng immediately understood—they were mistaking him for Song Wentong. Yet the elders in the hall still addressed him as Young Master Mu. It seemed the second young master’s impersonation was done secretly. With the recent turmoil, this approach was indeed safer.

Someone in the hall stood up and said, “Young Master Mu, the scouts sent out by the Seven Clans have just returned with confirmation that the Yin-Yang Ladder was indeed sealed by the Mountain Ghost Flower’s payment. Since you have accepted the Mountain Ghost Flower’s money, you should fulfill the responsibility of the Heavenly Calculator.”

Mu Gesheng thought to himself that it was truly a case of fearing something and having it come to pass, yet his face remained calm and expressionless. "I have no interest in the affairs of the Seven Families."

"What if this matter concerns more than just the Seven Families?"

Mu Gesheng's eyes darkened. "What is it that you all wish to say?"

"Request a divination." It was Chai Suxin who spoke up. "Please, Tian Suanzi, use the Mountain Ghost coins to cast a hexagram and determine the fate of the city."

You really speak to the second brother without any courtesy at all, Mu Gesheng thought to himself. "The fate of the city? What do you mean?"

"Since things have come to this, we will speak frankly." An elder present spoke up: "The Tiansuanzi has visited our Chai family several days in a row. Both sides understand the intention clearly. The Tiansuanzi is responsible for defending the city, and now facing the trouble of the Yin soldiers, it is nothing more than trying to turn the tide by borrowing the strength of the Seven Families."

"Please, no," Mu Gesheng waved his hand. "Calling me Tiansuanzi at every turn—I cannot bear that title."

"Since the Mountain Ghost Flower has already acknowledged its master, you have already inherited the position of Tiansuanzi. Fate has ordained it so; it is not something you can simply deny with words and walk away." The elder said slowly, "The mandate of the Tiansuanzi is obeyed by all Seven Families. If you wish to borrow the strength of the Seven Families, it is not impossible, but there is one condition."

Mu Gesheng did not expect him to open up and speak frankly like this. Although surprised, he followed the elder’s words and asked, “What are the conditions?”

“Just as the head of the family said earlier, we seek a divination,” the elder said. “To calculate whether the city you are to defend can indeed be held.”

“If it can be held, the seven families will surely lend their full support. If it cannot, the seven families will withdraw within three days.” The elder’s voice echoed through the main hall. “Whether to defend or to retreat will be decided solely by the divination.”

In just a few words, it was like a thunderclap shattering the sky.

He recalled the words Wu Nie left before departing—“Do the seven families of the various sects truly obey the decree of the Heavenly Calculator?”

The Heavenly Calculator calculates the mandate of heaven, and under this mandate, the seven families follow without exception.

But what the seven families truly obey is the divination revealed by the Mountain Spirit’s spending of money, not the Heavenly Calculator alone.

The mandate of heaven, the decree of the Heavenly Calculator—missing by a hair’s breadth can lead to a thousand-mile error.

What do these people take Tiansuanzi for? Muge Sheng thought to himself, some kind of mouthpiece for "heaven's mandate"?

"This is a serious matter," the old man continued speaking, "Please think carefully."

"How about this," Muge Sheng said slowly, "I throw away the Shangui flower money, the seven families disband on the spot, and from then on, we each rely on our own abilities. How about that?"

"How dare you!" Someone rose in fury and shouted, "You insolent brat!"

"Then please find someone more capable." Mu Gesheng turned and walked away. "I’m done with this damn thing."

"Wait!" The old man stood up. "Tiansuanzi, don’t act on impulse. This divination not only concerns the fate of seven families but also the survival of the entire city! The tragedy on the streets is still vivid—can Tiansuanzi really be at ease?"

"What the hell are you trying to say?" Mu Gesheng stopped in his tracks. "Don’t think I won’t lay a hand on you just because you’re old."

"Tiansuanzi, think carefully." The old man’s voice was like a deep bell. "If the city falls, tens of thousands of lives inside will be lost. How can Tiansuanzi, alone, protect them? You may have the courage of ten thousand men, but with fierce enemies invading from outside and ghostly soldiers rising within, in this battle, ask yourself honestly—do you really have absolute confidence?"

"If the divination is unfavorable, the townspeople should be evacuated as soon as possible; only then can we ensure a foolproof plan. Recklessness may show off one's ability for a moment, but it is never lasting. If the city is later strewn with corpses, can the diviner still hold a clear conscience?"

Before the words had even fallen, Mu Gesheng kicked the main hall door, which crashed inward with a thunderous sound.

The entire hall was stunned.

"Recklessness?" Mu Gesheng said softly. "Soldiers fight a hundred battles, wrapped in their own hides when they die— and in your mouth, that’s just 'recklessness'?"

Chai Suxin was shaken by the words, suddenly realizing something, and abruptly stood up.

"With just a single divination, you decide the life and death of thousands. Such power to give and take life—who gave you that authority? The Great Qing has been dead for decades!" Mu Gesheng turned back to look directly at him. "You say I act on impulse, but isn’t it pitiful and ridiculous to pin victory or defeat on forty-nine coins that can’t even be spent in Huadu?"

"You call me a greenhorn who knows nothing; I laugh at your decrepit old age, barely clinging to life!"

The crowd erupted in uproar, some flushing with anger. "How dare you!"

“Celestial Diviner, be cautious with your words.” The old man said in a deep voice, “The mandate of heaven is obscure and profound; do not be so reckless as to forget your place.”

“Well, I’m truly sorry.” Mu Gesheng suddenly laughed, “I, who don’t know my place, don’t do divinations. His so-called magnificent destiny can’t even speak. Your great Seven Families are nothing more than a bunch of headless flies.”

“Does the Celestial Diviner mean that he no longer intends to cast the lot?”

“No.” Mu Gesheng said, “If in the future I fall on the battlefield and the Celestial Diviner’s line ends with me, then you might as well disband right there and enjoy your freedom.”

“Very well, then allow us to withdraw tonight,” the elder said. “The divination did not appear; we have no duty to comply.”

Mu Gesheng waved his hand and was about to leave. “Be my guest.”

“How tragic,” the elder sighed. “The head of the family’s painstaking efforts have all been wasted.”

“What do you mean?” Mu Gesheng sensed an undertone in his words. “Disaster relief in the city is the responsibility of the Yao family; what does it have to do with me?”

Someone sneered coldly upon hearing this: "You say it so easily. A mere disaster relief—how could that compare to the countless deeds the Yao family has done in the past?"

Before the words had even fallen, Chai Shuxin immediately snapped, "Shut up!" He moved to stop the speaker, but Mu Gesheng was quicker, striding up to stand before him. "Explain yourself clearly—what exactly did the Yao family do?"

The other party glared fiercely, his tone grim: "Back then, Commander Mu was trapped in the mountains, the situation dire. The mountain’s water sources were poisoned, and most of the soldiers fell ill. Then a healer traveled thousands of miles, breaking through enemy lines, and it was only because of him that your father’s life was saved!"

"You spent four years studying abroad, living carefree. Yet you know nothing of the constant wars at home, the army’s lack of funds and supplies. But any unit under Commander Mu’s command never suffered shortages; supplies flowed endlessly, even including special foreign medicines! Medical personnel are priceless, but every year, students return from overseas medical schools just to accompany the army into battle!"

"With all these things, do you really think it's just because Commander Mu cares for his subordinates that he is invincible?"

"If it weren't for the family head's orders, who would obey a disciple who hasn't even inherited the position of Celestial Diviner?"

"He has poured almost the entire resources of the Yao family into you!"