Chapter 67: Wen Zhong Defeated at Beihai; Huang San Supports the Great Merchant

  And so, Da Shang Taishi Wen Zhong had just seen in the back how Huang Shi Ren treated the broom star Ma Shi, and was deeply impressed by this villain's moral character.

  Just based on this insight into the heavenly mechanism, I heard that Zhongzi is inferior to me. In my heart, the idea of winning over Huang Shiren as a great business force has already arisen.

  "Master Tao, I've heard that your divination skills are flawless, so I've come to seek your guidance." Wen Zhong sat steadily in front of Huang Shi-ren, his long beard and tiger-like eyes exuding an aura of majesty, truly befitting a great merchant and one of the three pillars of the empire.

  "Pack up, young fellow." Huang Shiren ordered Wukong without even looking at Wen Zhong.

  "Master, it's still early, there are so many people, what's the point of closing the stall?" Wukong looked at the long queue in front and was puzzled.

  This master usually has a keen eye for money and never lets anyone off who comes to the door, so why is he suddenly at odds with money today?

  "Let it be!" Huang Shiran yawned and stood up, turning around and entering the hall.

  Although Wukong grumbled endlessly, he didn't dare disobey, so he put away the canopy and shouted: "Today, Master is closing up shop. Those who want to have their fortunes told should come back tomorrow."

  A group of villagers were greatly disappointed and turned back to their respective homes, each looking for their mothers. Only Wu Zhong was left standing in front of the door, momentarily stunned.

  He was a great merchant and a high-ranking official, so even if it were someone like Huang Shiren, let alone the King Zhou, they would have to show respect.

  "This is outrageous!" The servant under Wen Zhong was furious and stepped forward to teach Huang Shiren a lesson, but was stopped by Wen Zhong.

  "Stop right there!" Wen Zhong shouted, halting his men as Huang Shiren entered the tavern.

  "This Taoist priest, I'll pay for the fortune-telling, why are you packing up?" Wen Zhong put a twenty-liang ingot of Xuehua silver in front of Huang Shiren and smiled: "Please, Taoist priest, tell my fortune."

  "This isn't enough money." Huang Shiren narrowed his eyes and put on an extremely mysterious air.

  "Isn't it one mace and ten candareens?" Wen Zhong pointed at Huang Shiren's sign.

  "Huang Shiren's eyes snapped open: 'Ten taels, that's the common people's price. As a Grand Tutor, can you be the same as the common people?'"

  "Indeed, Daozhang is truly impressive! I heard that you have a reason." Wen Zhong chuckled and smiled, seeing Huang Shiren recognize himself, he paid his respects.

  "Never mind." Huang Shiren didn't get up either, and simply waved his hand casually.

  "How dare you! You're a Taoist priest, yet so unreasonable! Our Taishi is a great merchant and a veteran official of the imperial court for three dynasties. Even the current emperor treats him with fraternal respect. What kind of person are you to treat him like this?" Wu Zhong's servant had already looked down on Huang Shiren, and seeing that Taishi was showing respect but was being waved off by this guy, he couldn't help but feel angry.

  "Hah! Taishi, the trusted minister, what a majestic aura!" Huang Shiren sneered coldly, raised his chin and said: "However, in front of me, Wen Zhong, you're too light, my rank is calculated, you should kowtow."

  "Kowtow! You're finished! Looking for death!" The servant was furious, and they all rushed up together, raising their fists to beat Huang Shiren.

  "Halt!" Wen Zhong waved his hand and several servants immediately let out a breath.

  "These underlings don't understand the situation, I hope you won't mind. " When Huang Shiren said this, Wen Zhong determined that he must have a background and identity, and cupped his fists: "I don't know where the Longxian Mansion is?"

  "The poor Taoist, Mei Shan Tian Shang Ren Jian Huang Shi Ren Huang San Lao Zu."

  "Are you a disciple of the Quanjiao Sect?" Wen Zhong asked, seeing Huang Shiren's behavior, knowing that this person was absolutely not a disciple of the Quanjiao Sect.

  As a member of the Zheng Jiao crowd, I heard that Huang Shiren had a bad impression of the Zheng Jiao teachings. If he is indeed from the Zheng Jiao, then we should try to win him over even more.

  "Heh heh, although I didn't kowtow to that old guy Tong Tian, it seems like I have some fate with you after all." Huang Shi Ren chuckled.

  Wen Zhong was shocked upon hearing these words. He was a disciple of the Golden Spirit Holy Mother, and Tong Tian Teach Master was his master's master. To address Tong Tian Teach Master in such a manner, how many people in this world had such qualifications?!

  "I also hope that seniors will inform me!" Wen Zhong suddenly became respectful towards Huang Shiren, and his address changed.

  "Are you a disciple of Golden Spirit Holy Mother?" Huang Shiren said.

  "That's right."

  "My master Lu Ya and Tong Tian are close friends, and if we calculate our seniority, I can also be called Jin Ling Sheng Mu's sister, which is not a problem. You call me Master Shu, should you or shouldn't you?" Huang Shi Ren stroked his goat-like beard, looking at Wen Zhong with a face full of cheap smiles.

  These words made Wen Zhong feel as if a thunderbolt had exploded above his head, leaving him both shocked and enlightened!

  It's Lu Yao! That number one loose immortal is his disciple!? This guy's background is too strong! As a cultivator, who doesn't know that Lu Yao Daoren is revered by even the likes of Taishang Laojun, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Tongtian Jiaozhu?!

  "Wen Zhong pays his respects to Master Shifu!" Wen Zhong didn't dare think too much, and with a whooshing sound, he knelt down at the feet of Huang Shi-ren, knocking his head three times.

  He is a third-generation disciple of the Jindou Sect on Golden Turtle Island and calls Huang Shiren "Shishu", which is only natural.

  "Alright, get up." Huang Shiren smiled slightly.

  Making the great merchant's wife kowtow to me is really cool.

  Wen Zhong stood up and respectfully stood beside Huang Shiren, smiling: "Master uncle, how did you have the leisure to come to Chao Ge? And this..."

  He pointed at Huang Shiren's martial arts school, meaning: You're a proud disciple of the Lu Family's Pressure Point Technique, a top-notch expert, and yet you've come to this place to open a school and collect money; it's really quite a loss of face.

  "Heh heh, the world is good, the world is good, the great way runs through it, if one can stay in the world for a long time, the heavenly way will naturally follow." Huang Shiren slowly sang out a few lines of Taoist song, and smiled slightly.

  Wen Zhong listened and felt that it contained profound meaning, wonderful and inexpressible.

  It's really worthy of being a disciple of Lu Ya Dao Ren, this statement is truly a universal truth!

  "Wukong, set up the wine and feast, I'll have a few cups with Wen Zhong." Huang Shiren ordered, Wukong and Zhu Ziren didn't dare to slack off, and quickly set up the banquet.

  Four people got on the table, Huang Shiren introduced one by one. Wen Zhong was also very respectful to Zhu Ziren and Wukong, and in his conversation with Huang Shiren, he was also humble and polite.

  "Wen Zhong, I heard you went to Beihai to quell the rebellion. Now that you're back, didn't you succeed?" Huang Shiran held a chicken wing in his hands, with oil dripping from his mouth.

  King Zhou's seventh year, spring, second month, the seventy-two vassals of Beihai, including Yuan Fu Tong, rebelled. King Zhou ordered Wen Zhong to lead his troops to quell the rebellion. This was a well-known matter among the people, and Huang Shi Ren also asked with intention. Why?

  King Zhou's father, Emperor Yi, was in power for several decades, the country was peaceful and the people lived happily. What rebellion could there be? King Zhou had just ascended to the throne, although young, he was considered a wise and virtuous ruler. In the past few years, with the help of his civil and military ministers, the country was governed in an orderly manner. How could the seventy-two vassal lords suddenly turn against him?

  Huang Shiran always felt that things were probably not so simple inside.

  "Master Shu, I'm truly ashamed." Wen Zhong put down his wine cup and let out a long sigh.

  Looking at his expression, Huang Shiren knew something was wrong.

  It turns out that Wen Zhong is the number one general in the world, with both bravery and strategy, leading the generals, he is a top-notch master, with the whip of yin and yang in his hand, unbeatable in battle. Yuan Futong is just a small lord on the side, even if he has some troops at his disposal, how can he be Wen Zhong's opponent?

  Looking at Wen Zhong's expression now, it seems that the situation is not good. If there wasn't someone sabotaging, it would be impossible to have such a result.

  "Our dynasty has been peaceful since the founding of our country, where did this rebellion come from? These seventy-two vassals are rebelling, it's really strange. I led a large army of 200,000 to quell the rebellion, at first it was also smooth sailing, only five battles, and the enemy fled in disarray. We conquered cities and lands along the way, thinking that we could return triumphantly within a few months. Who would have thought that many unexpected events would occur midway."

  "Oh, go on." Huang Shiren also stopped eating chicken wings and listened attentively.

  "That Yuan Futong, gathered 700,000 to 800,000 troops and retreated to defend the Tiger Wolf Pass. This pass is the northernmost strong pass of the North Sea, originally a place where one man can hold off 10,000 men. Our great army pressed forward, that Yuan Futong took the initiative to engage in battle, on the battlefield, I suffered a crushing defeat, and had no choice but to retreat first to gather some more troops."

  "You were defeated by Yuan Futong?!" Huang Shiren's eyes widened in shock.

  This is impossible! Wen Zhong's ability, he knows that in the battle of Fengshen, He Qiuniu was so powerful that even Jiang Ziya was beaten by him and spat blood. That Yuan Futong is just a small vassal, with some ability, how can he make Wen Zhong yield?

  Wen Zhong's face turned red with rage as he listened to Huang Shiren's words, and he said: "I had previously fought him before, and he was repeatedly defeated under my whip. Who knew that this time, he had a magical treasure in his hand, which looked ordinary but shone brightly when it came out, making people unable to open their eyes? My dual whips couldn't get close to him, and I was instead killed by him unexpectedly, hence the defeat."

  "Didn't he use this treasure before?" Huang Shiren said coldly.

  "Never seen it before. Nor did I know where he got it from."

  Huang Shiran stopped talking, his eyes darting back and forth, staring at Wen Zhong, saying: "Wen Zhong, don't you think there's a problem with this?"

  "Please teach me, Master."

  "That rebellion of Yuan Futong was suspicious from the start, in my opinion, eight or nine out of ten it's someone instigating him. This treasure might be given by the one who is backing him up." Huang Shiran said with a wicked smile.

  "Who dares to stir up trouble?" Wen Zhong was also shocked, he thought the matter was strange, but had never thought of it this way, and said: "Master Shu, what kind of person has such a big nerve?"

  "Have you heard that the Great Calamity of Sealing the Gods is approaching?" Huang Shiren laughed and said.

  "This, I've never heard of." Wen Zhong was a disciple of the Intercepting Sect, but that was just in name. He had been down the mountain for many years, serving as an official in the imperial court, and had long since become estranged from the immortal path. Naturally, he didn't know any secrets about this matter.

  Huang Shiren then told everything about the Great Calamity of Sealing Gods, especially what happened in the Nuwa Palace.

  When Wen Zhong heard this, it was as if five thunders had exploded on his head.

  "If Master Shu's words are true, I recall something." Wen Zhong's face turned gloomy.

  "What's wrong?"

  "This time when I returned to the capital, I found that the king was like a different person compared to before!" Wen Zhong sighed.

  "What did you say?"

  "The great king I've watched grow up is a heroic person, with a strong and fierce personality. Although he can be somewhat violent, he's still a wise ruler. However, this time when I returned to the court, I found that the great king's personality has become extremely tyrannical, often changing his face, and excessively fond of women. He hasn't attended court for three months, and all the civil and military officials have tried to persuade him to no avail. When important matters arise, they can only be temporarily suppressed. If this continues, it will surely not end well."

  Huang Shiren's heart skipped a beat when he heard Wen Zhong's words.

  First, they used despicable means to deal with King You, which was an internal worry. Then, they incited the seventy-two vassals of Beihai to rebel, which was an external threat. It seems that this mastermind behind the scenes is really formidable!

  What an awesome person! Who is he after all?! Is it really him?!

  Huang Shiren's mind was filled with a thousand thoughts, and he fell silent.

  "Master Shu, you are knowledgeable and experienced, can you tell me who is behind the scenes instigating Yuan Fu to rebel?" Wen Zhong asked.

  Huang Shiren smiled and said: "As for the specific person, I don't know either. But based on my inference, it's either the Eastern Orthodox Church or the Western Church."

  Bang! The eunuch's anger caused his three corpses to jump violently, smoke emerging from the seven orifices of his body! ###The third watch is delivered! Today's 10,000-word update is complete! I've done my best!

  Brothers, I hope you can support me!

  "The troubles of the Xian family, the great calamity of the Xian family, can't they just resolve it themselves? Why stir up war and chaos in the mortal world! This will lead to the suffering of countless innocent lives, the downfall of nations and families, and treating millions of people as nothing but weeds. What kind of Xian family is this?"

  Taishi is a straightforward person, his whole life has been thinking about the common people and big merchants, how can he not be angry. Even someone like Huang Shiren also deeply admires Wen Zhong.

  Good girl, you're a real man!

  "Don't mention you, even if I were you, I wouldn't be able to stand it!" Huang Shiren's eyes widened and he said: "Heaven and earth are not benevolent, treating all things as straw dogs! How could they know that the lives of immortals are their mothers' lives, but the lives of common people are not even considered lives?!"

  "Heaven and earth are not benevolent, regarding all things as straw dogs. Master Shi, your words are reasonable! Wen Zhong admires you, let's toast a big cup!" Wen Zhong raised his cup with both hands and toasted Huang Shiren.

  He put down his cup and saw Wu Zongtang kneeling in front of Huang Shiren.

  "What's going on here?"

  Wen Zhong looked up at Huang Shiren, his tiger eyes brimming with tears: "Master Uncle, I'm not kneeling to you for myself, but for the sake of the people and the merchants! Although the affairs of the immortal family are mysterious and their methods are ingenious, the common people are innocent! I know that Master Uncle's moral integrity is high, so please consider the welfare of the people and lend me a helping hand. Let us bring blessings to the people and the merchants, this is a virtue that will be remembered for eternity!"

  The first sentence, Zhu Ziren and Wukong on the side also nodded in agreement.

  Huang Shiren looked at Wen Zhong and let out a long sigh.

  If he had followed Wen Zhong's lead, it would have been tantamount to being directly entangled in the Great Calamity of Sealing Gods, where the evil was so intense that Huang Shiren understood it better than anyone else. Who knows, his fate might be death and disappearance, entering the Sealing Gods' List.

  However, Huang Shiren, despite being a villain, also knows right from wrong and good from bad. He has always despised the Heavenly Tribulation, despised the immortals especially Yuanshi Tianzun and Taishang Laojun's collusion, despised the Western Sect's hypocrisy, lamented the decline of the Intercepting Sect, and pitied the common people who suffered greatly as a result.

  "Damn it, I went through so much hardship and did so many things back then, wasn't it all to break the seal of the Three Realms' gods?!"

  For all the innocent monks in the world, for all the innocent people in the world, I, Lao Huang, will die standing upright without any regret!

  So what if I die!?! What can you do even if I enter the Immortal Ranking Chart?!?!

  Lao Huang's heart stirred up the ambition of the masses, and he turned to laugh loudly at the sky.

  "Alright! Alright! Wen Zhong, get up!" Old Huang lifted up Wen Zhong and laughed loudly: "Since heaven is not benevolent, treating all things as straw dogs, then why must we respect this heaven? Why must we worship this earth? Heaven and earth trample on human lives, so let us make this heaven collapse, let this earth cave in! Let these ruthless immortals turn into clouds of smoke!"

  "Master Shu's words are magnificent!!" Wen Zhong looked at Huang Shi-ren, deeply moved.

  Haha... Two people, looking at each other and laughing loudly.