Gao Yingxiang shook his head. "No. I can't stop now. I'm already so close to success."
The Village Chief retorted angrily, "Wake up. You cannot possibly succeed."
Gao Yingxiang bristled at once. "Uncle, I respect you as an elder, but you should not look down on me. I burned Fengyang, desecrated the Zhu clan's ancestral tombs, and now I've even defeated the Guanning Iron Cavalry under the Supreme Commander of the Five Provinces. How could I not succeed? I am only one step away from victory. As long as I take the Yan Capital, this world will be mine."
Gao Yiye spoke up softly, "Second Uncle, Grandpa Village Chief's idea of success isn't about who you defeat or overthrow. It's about whether you can truly establish a nation where everyone can live a good life."
Gao Yingxiang fell silent.
The Village Chief gave a firm order. "Come back with me."
"I'm not going back," Gao Yingxiang said resolutely. "I am now the supreme leader of seventy two factions and three hundred thousand troops. I will not go back."
Gao Chuwu suddenly stepped forward. "Uncle, don't blame little Chuwu for being disrespectful. Even if I have to use brute force, I will drag you back."
The moment he spoke, the two trusted guards accompanying Gao Yingxiang immediately stepped forward, blocking his path.
These two men were tall and powerfully built, clearly not easy opponents. Yet when they looked at Gao Chuwu, a flicker of apprehension involuntarily rose in their hearts.
Gao Chuwu's physique was simply too imposing. It was hard to imagine what he had been eating. His bulging muscles made him look downright terrifying.
Gao Yingxiang could not help but mutter inwardly, Gao Family Village is so poor. When Gao Chuwu was young, his tall stature and large frame meant he never had enough to eat, and he was always a bit thin. But now his presence is no weaker than a giant bear. Is he eating meat every single day now or what?
Gao Chuwu cracked his knuckles twice, the sharp sounds echoing clearly. "Move aside. This is Gao Family Village business. You don't carry the Gao surname, so don't interfere."
The two guards glanced at Gao Yingxiang, unease flashing in their eyes.
But Gao Yingxiang gave no instruction at all. In this moment, he was completely at a loss.
Taking his silence as tacit approval, the two guards lunged at Gao Chuwu simultaneously.
Gao Chuwu planted his feet firmly and slammed his shoulder into one of them.
The force was on an entirely different level compared to Li Daoxuan's earlier Kun Kun Iron Mountain Shoulder Slam.
The guard was sent flying backward instantly. He slammed onto his back with a heavy thud, then slid several zhang across the ground, scattering dry leaves everywhere.
At the same time, Gao Chuwu's fist, as large as a monk's begging bowl, thundered toward the second guard.
The guard hastily blocked with both arms. A dull impact rang out, and his body swayed violently, nearly losing balance.
Gao Chuwu surged forward, about to unleash the Ghost God Fist Style. Then he suddenly remembered that this set of techniques usually involved snapping necks or breaking bones, which was not appropriate when dealing with his uncle's men.
He immediately switched styles, using the Guanzhong Hong Fist taught to him by Cheng Xu.
The Guanzhong Hong Fist was fast and fluid. Once unleashed, it erupted like a storm.
A rapid series of thump thump thump sounds rang out. In the blink of an eye, the guard was struck an unknown number of times and crashed heavily to the ground.
Gao Yingxiang stared in shock. "Chuwu, you little brat. You know how to fight now?"
Gao Chuwu grinned. "Hehe. Uncle, you definitely can't beat me. I have to take you back to the village. Please pardon the offense."
Gao Yingxiang took half a step back. A trace of panic rose uncontrollably in his heart.
"Stop," the Village Chief suddenly said. "Chuwu, come back."
Gao Chuwu turned his head. "Huh?"
The Village Chief explained, "Dao Xuan Tianzun said that he must surrender himself in order to avoid the death penalty. Without an act of surrender, death is inevitable. If you drag him back by force, it will not count as surrender."
Gao Chuwu exclaimed, "Oh. You're right. Then I can't grab him."
He retreated gloomily back into the crowd, pouting. "Useless at a time like this."
Gao Yingxiang frowned.
He had grasped something important. The people of Gao Family Village seemed to have pledged allegiance to some greater power, and the leader of that power was called Dao Xuan Tianzun. Was it something like the White Lotus Sect?
He had never intended to stop in the first place. This realization only strengthened his resolve.
Reaching into his tunic, he pulled out an iron hairpin and gently tossed it toward Gao Yiye.
The iron hairpin traced a graceful arc through the air. Gao Yiye quickly reached out and caught it.
Gao Yingxiang said quietly, "Yiye, this belonged to your grandmother. She passed it to my elder sister back then, and naturally it should be passed down to you. As for your Second Uncle, haha, just consider me already dead."
The moment he said this, everyone understood that he had no intention of staying.
Their expressions darkened.
Li Daoxuan could not help but sigh inwardly. Just as I expected. If Gao Yingxiang had been suffering defeat after defeat, chased and cut down by government troops, he might have been persuaded to give up by the people of Gao Family Village.
But he has just achieved a great victory.
At a time like this, how could he possibly be convinced?
Human nature is simply like this.
Gao Yingxiang cupped his hands toward the crowd. "Everyone, I am very glad to see you all today. In these chaotic times, knowing that you are all doing well is better than anything. Return to Gao Family Village and hide yourselves away. Let me seize this world first. When I succeed, I will return and bestow high official ranks upon all of you. Uncle Village Chief will be appointed Grand Tutor. Yiye will become a princess. Chuwu will be made a great general. Wait for my good news."
No one spoke.
"I'm leaving," Gao Yingxiang said.
He turned and walked away.
The two guards injured by Gao Chuwu hurriedly scrambled to their feet and followed him. The three exited Gubai Crossing, mounted their warhorses, shouted sharply, and galloped southward, disappearing into the night within moments.
The people of Gao Family Village all turned to look at Li Daoxuan.
Li Daoxuan shrugged, spreading his hands. "Let's go back."
Gao Yiye asked sadly, "Dao Xuan Tianzun, is there truly no way? No divine method at all?"
Li Daoxuan shook his head. "There are no divine methods that can control another person's heart."
Gao Yiye pleaded, "You can see the past and the future. Can you please help us predict what will happen to Second Uncle? Even just a little?"
Li Daoxuan extended his right hand and pretended to calculate with his fingers. In truth, he was recalling the late Ming historical records he had read.
In official history, Gao Yingxiang would die in the ninth year of Chongzhen, which would be next year. He provoked the formidable Sun Chuanting, was utterly defeated, captured alive, and sent to the capital for execution.
But in this timeline, Sun Chuanting had already been "abducted" to serve as Principal Sun of the Yellow Pole Military Academy. It was unlikely he would suppress bandits again.
Gao Yingxiang's future was now completely uncertain.
The flutter of a butterfly's wings could plunge the entire world into an unknown future. Who could possibly predict his fate now?
Li Daoxuan could only sigh. "The secrets of Heaven cannot be revealed."
Gao Yiye pressed on. "Not even a little? Can't you say anything at all?"
Li Daoxuan sighed once more. "Yiye, the cycles of Heaven are just. Those who commit evil deeds rarely meet a good end. Do not ask me to foretell this."