Chapter 162: Maligned Influence

Although the result was tiny, insignificant almost, it was the result of only a single day's training!

Judging by Emmie's thrilled reaction, this had to be an amazingly rare occasion.

"To help others is to help oneself. It's a wonder that I only realized this now." Yun Yang felt strongly about it. It was because he had wanted to help this family of valiance that he finally grasped the meaning of this theory.

People had always said that opportunity was difficult to chance upon, but who would have known that the fate usually walked by one's side. The birth of a thought would eventually die if not acted upon; he had acted upon his kindness then to enjoy the fruits today!

Although the fruit obtained today was substantial, the bigger benefit was that he acquired an understanding, a realization that many martial artists would never be able to attain.

Somehow, through the mysterious workings of fate and chance, he had obtained enlightenment.

"Going beyond the limits in sole emphasis of physical training will overburden the body and destroy a person's potential. However, the sole emphasis on mystical Qi cultivation will limit one's route and restrain one's future, even though there is still some achievement in this. Expert cultivators have always said that the body is the cultivator's temple; its true meaning is well contained. Only when the physical strength is guaranteed can the growth of mystical Qi be possible, a growth that will turn stronger by the day, approaching perfection."

Thinking of this, Yun Yang could not help recalling what Ling Xiaozui had said.

"The human body is a temple, but plenty of people have squandered this gift of god."

Thinking of his words, Yun Yang went silent suddenly as another thought came to mind.

The old Yun Yang, the old Supreme Cloud, would always rely on his unique illusory cloud skills that allowed him to materialize or dissolve himself at will, rendering him unafraid of any form of physical attack. He was used to being the bait, a temptation to lure his enemies in and defeat them without knowing that such a trick was not an honorable one. If he were actually that mighty, was it not better to face his enemies head on and defeat them fairly?

If his enemies were really skilled, what could he do even if he could change into a thousand shapes?

From then on, he had placed more emphasis on training his physical state.

The attention he had paid to the Shangguan Family of Generals these days was also because the atmosphere in Tiantang City had recently become slightly more bizarre.

Since there were foreign militants staying outside, a strange rumor began to spread within Tiantang City.

Its influence was growing unmanageable as people everywhere began discussing the long forgotten affairs of the Shangguan Family of Generals.

The three Shangguan marshals had already been fighting in the wars then, their valiance and intimidation well on their way to overwhelm the world. Nobody would have imagined that the President of the Board of War, Zhuo Wenlong, was being blackmailed by the enemy nation and had been leaking military secrets. He had sent a fake decree and ultimately caused the three marshals to be ambushed by the four enemy nations' troops, all of them perishing in the conspiracy.

This issue had long been a matter of the past. A definitive conclusion had been drawn as Zhuo Wenlong had long since been beheaded and sentenced to nine familial exterminations.

Recently though, a malicious rumor had begun to spread. It spoke about Zhuo Wenlong's descendant who had managed to escape his doom and had brought his death will with him, indicating that the past was not as simple as it had seemed. The story went that the three marshals had been planning to rebel and fight for the throne, to replace the royalty and change the empire; Zhao Wenlong who was the President of the Board of War stumbled upon their conspiracy. He could not bear to see Yutang being threatened, nor could he let the nation and its people suffer. He decided to take the extreme route in snubbing the traitor for the empire. Although he had to conspire with the enemies and join a largely scaled scheme, he had the best of intentions and its consequence had been favorable.

However, the process of the incident had been tortuous. The three marshals had died in the ambush before their treasonous plans could be exposed, causing the entire Yutang to be kept in the dark. Zhuo Wenlong, who was patriotic to the empire and loyal to its people, subjected himself to the execution of his family and a wrongful death.

It was now time to reverse the case for Zhuo Wenlong!

The slogan was - we owe Zhuo Wenlong, the hero of our nation, justice!

This maligned influence started out among the people as a rumor but within a day, it had reached the scholars. All sorts of rumors and debates then began to spring up, like mushrooms.

Amidst the rumors, a large number of scholars had referred to the incident to analyze the situation and had come out with a conclusion - Shangguan Family of Generals' three marshals had acquired a third of the empire's military power; their merits were undoubtedly higher than the emperor himself.

This was an absolute fact that no one could deny.

Besides that, the Shangguan Family of Generals had a soaring reputation. Each of them had countless men willing to die for them and to these men, the Shangguan's orders were the royal decree while the authentic royal decree held no weight whatsoever for them.

The scholars had even pointed out sharply that the soldiers under the leadership of a marshal should be loyal to the empire and the emperor. They should never and could never be loyal only to the marshal. From this angle, the crime of all three marshals was debatable but their intent alone warranted their execution.

Zhuo Wenlong's deeds had also been unearthed, how he had fought for the people, how loyal and patriotic he was, how he advised the emperor in a frank and direct manner, how righteous and fair...

Zhuo Wenlong's letters to his friends, his reports, calligraphies, poems...

One of the lines had read - "forgo reputation, toss away this life; never allow traitors to sway this sovereignty".

The burning loyalty reflected within him had been proved to the world.

All in all, this treacherous official that the entire Empire of Yutang had been cursing for over a hundred years had suddenly turned into a lion-hearted official who had died a wrongful death!

There were theories and logic, witnesses and evidence. The rumors grew increasingly outrageous as it spread more severely each passing day.

Plenty of scholars had taken to the streets to summon the reversal of Zhuo Wenlong's case to redress the injustice of the hero. They sought the downfall of the Shangguan Family of Generals who had deceived the world and assumed its glory, to put them in their rightful place!

Following the arrival of the foreign generals and their stay outside of the city, the influence in the city grew increasingly vigorous.

Countless scholars used classics as their examples and condemned Shangguan in both their speeches and writings, their accusations leaving no space for rebuke.

The public who did not understand the truth was also instigated, lashing out at Shangguan Family of Generals in the same manner as everyone else.

In recent days, the Residence of Shangguan became the target of frequent physical attacks; the piles of rotten eggs, vegetables, and half-slabs of bricks grew each day. Their doors were decorated with cuts and slashes as well. Putrid substances were frequently hauled into the residence.

Even then, the public's anger did not subside but grew more aggressive each day.

The people from Shangguan did not dare to step out of their house at all, in fear of being attacked the moment they did.

Despite feeling angered and despaired by this ridiculous situation, Yun Yang was also extremely curious.

Who was behind all of this?

It had seemed that the phenomena had only appeared after the arrival of the foreign generals. Their hatred towards the Shangguan Family had never been concealed, wishing the entire family to be eradicated but Yun Yang knew that things were not as simple.

"Investigate!"

Yun Yang sent his order as the Nine Heavens Dictum that he scattered everywhere reacted immediately.

Afterwards, Yun Yang glided into the Shangguan Family residence, taking full advantage of nightfall.

The six children were still training as usual on the drilling ground.

Although all of them were gritting their teeth with expressions of pure resilience, Yun Yang could see the genuine sadness that came from within on their tiny faces.

Putting himself in their shoes, he empathized with these six children's emotions!

How would he have felt if the Nine Supremes, who were like gods in the heart of Yutang's citizens and who had wholeheartedly served the nation and its people, were criticized and condemned as criminals after so many years?

Shangguan Family of Generals' today might very well be another hero's future!

"What are you sad about?" Shangguan Lingxiu paced back and forth with her arms behind her back, her voice cold. "Was I wrong to have beaten you all? The truth is the truth! All of the Shangguan members who have died, died on the battlefield. Is this not the best proof? All of you dared to ask me if the rumor is true or no! Even if I beat all of you unfilial descendants to death today, it is well deserved!"

The six children kept quiet and continued training without uttering a single word of protest.

"If the Shangguan Family of Generals had intended to rebel then, Yutang would have long changed its owner!" Shangguan Lingxiu's voice was as cold as ice. "Not only great grandfather's generation, even when it was grandfather's generation, my father's generation, and your father's generation, the Shangguan Family of Generals have always had the capabilities to do so!"

"However, the Shangguan Family of Generals' intention is to defend Yutang, defend the nation and protect the families, to be brave and patriotic! The heaven sees Shangguan Family of Generals' loyalty; how can it be wiped away with just mere accusations? Justice is in the hearts of the people, right and wrong cannot be swayed by rumors!"

"Continue the drill! Do not think of any further nonsense!"

Shangguan Lingxiu's expression was stern.

"Aunty, since we are so loyal, why didn't anyone step out to defend us?" The youngest of the children was already nine years old. His eyes were wide when he asked angrily, "Could it be that those who knew of the case then have all died now? Zhuo Wenlong's vile descendants are still alive, don't the other officials of the same period have their descendants as well? Why doesn't anyone want to speak a word of justice? Aren't the issues of right and wrong being manipulated by rumors now?"

Shangguan Lingxiu hollered, "Is this what you should be worried about? Marshal Tie's wedding is approaching, all the old sirs in the military are occupied with it. This petty matter of our family will naturally be handled when the old sirs are done busying about. Justice is in the hearts of the people, can you not understand what I said?"

The child refused to back down. "What justice is still there? Those people who are attacking our family, their ancestors were people the Shangguan Family protected with our sacrifices! Why is it when our family member have died, when our family has been reduced to this stage that these people will still believe such rumors? Are we sacrificing our lives to protect people who attack us? Is our sacrifice really worth it?"

Slap!

Shangguan Lingxiu slapped her nephew, her body shaking with unshed tears. "Do you know what you are saying? The contributions of our ancestors are naturally recorded and passed down through history! The Shangguan Family of Generals has been built step by step like this! What does it have to do with you whether others understand it or not?"

She said loudly, "What does the Shangguan Family of Generals' family injunction say? Say it out loud!"

"Born for the battlefield, live for the fight. Die fighting for the nation, fall serving the people!"

All six children recited tearfully.

"Does the family injunction say anything about being understood, being comforted, being protected, or being requited?" Shangguan Lingxiu questioned harshly.

"No!"

The six children answered with puffed chests.

"What did the ancestors say about life and death?" Shangguan Lingxiu's voice grew harsher.

"We should only die for the nation, how can we ask for our remains to be brought back, carried in horsehide?"

"It is good that you know this." Shangguan Lingxiu hollered loudly, "This is the Shangguan Family of Generals! Do you remember now?"

"Yes!"