325 You Are Not Old, but Please Retire (2/2)
The empress of Tang was Xia Hou's younger sister! She was of the Devil's Doctrine as well!
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A thin branch in the depths of the Winter Courtyard seemed unable to withstand the atmosphere or the snow on its branches. It broke loudly and landed in the snow. Eldest Brother pushed his teacup further away and raised his head to look at Xia Hou calmly, ”If you're done, I shall continue with something you do not like to hear.”
Xia Hou squinted slightly. His fingers that had been striking on the table had long stopped.
Eldest Brother asked, ”Whose orders did the Horse Gang ambushing the grain army on the grassland act on?”
Xia Hou answered, ”Mine.”
Eldest Brother asked, ”The Tang cavalry of over a thousand by the Hulan Sea, who sent them?”
Xia Hou answered, ”Me.”
Eldest Brother asked, ”Who wanted to kill my Youngest Brother on the mountain path?”
Xia Hou replied calmly, ”Still me.”
Eldest Brother fell silent. Then, he looked at Xia Hou and said, ”If so, you should retire.”
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Was General Xiahou old?
Whether it was the civil and military officials in Chang'an or the emperor, or the hundreds of millions of civilians in the world, or the Great Divine Priests of West-Hill Divine Palace, nobody would think so. Xia Hou was at the Peak state of Martial Arts at the peak of his life. There were no signs of withering in both his energy and will. Many thought that he would take the place as the strongest general in the world once General Xu Shi steps down due to his old age and ailing body.
However, the ordinary looking scholar dressed in old robes and tattered shoes had told him that he was old right here in the general's own mansion in the quiet and cold Winter Courtyard, and had told him to retire.
Numerous lead-colored clouds gathered upon the skies of Tuyang City and loomed over the Winter Courtyard when the words left Eldest Brother's lips. The sky grew gloomy and the trees in the courtyard seemed to grow older before their eyes.
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Xia Hou squinted at Eldest Brother.
He asked only one question after answering many. ”Is Mr. First going to interfere with court matters?”
Those qualified to know about the inhabitants of the back of the mountain of the Academy in the Tang empire knew that the Academy was forbidden from interfering with politics. This was the iron-clad rule that Headmaster of the Academy had set for himself and all his disciples of the back of the mountain of the Academy. If there was no such rule, neither the teachers of the Academy or His Majesty in the palace would know for sure who ruled the empire.
Even though there were many in the secular world who have not heard of Headmaster of the Academy, nobody would dare to defy him. To be more accurate, the court officials, taoist priests, and monks who knew him would not dare to defy him. The Peach Mountain at the West-Hill Divine Palace going bald in a day that year was proof enough of this. Fortunately, Headmaster of the Academy traveled around the world from time to time, and it seemed that he did not speak without thinking.
Headmaster of the Academy had said that those from Academy could not interfere with court affairs. Over the years, numerous court officials have been cultivated, and the Academy had never interfered with the court affairs even though they were most qualified to do so. Those from the back of the mountain of the Academy was no exception.
Today, Eldest Brother had said that he would have the Xia Hou, the Tang general, retire. Was this considered interfering with court affairs?
Xia Hou had managed to respond indifferently as a general of Tang and facing the pressure of the Academy. He was indeed a powerhouse at the peak. He possessed the confidence and strength that not many did and was a power that inspired awe in others.
However, just a sentence of Eldest Brother was sufficient to destroy all the strength that Xia Hou possessed.
”Headmaster of the Academy did not allow Academy to interfere with court affairs because he thought that they were not important. Cultivators should try their best to stay away from it. He wouldn't even blink even should the empire fall. You are a visiting professor of the Divine Hall and should know about what happened to him on the Peach Mountain. That's why you should know what are important matters to him. You secretly gathered the Horse Gang in the Wilderness behind the backs of the imperial court and the Divine Hall is but a small matter. You tried to steal the Tomes of Arcane is also trivial. You were a disciple of the Devil's Doctrine does not matter. What you have done over the years are but trivial matters to Headmaster of the Academy. But your attempt on the life of the Youngest Brother in the Academy is an important matter.”
Facing major events with silent grace was a quality that every powerhouse should possess.
However, in the face of the important matter to Headmaster of the Academy, even the strong Xia Hou had to consider seriously. He did not think for long. The black tea that was the color of blood in his teacup had not even cooled. He looked at the Winter Courtyard that had accompanied him for many years with regret.
”Since I am old, I shall retire.”