602 Gongyangs Execution (1/2)
Meng Qi hastily escaped from the city, fleeing to the hills of the west. The Map of Mountains and Rivers replica only had a few more uses. This was a restriction suffered by artifacts replicated from their actual, legendary counterparts. Meng Qi realized that the effects of the Map would not last long and he had to regroup with his company in order to work together to slay Gongyang Zeng!
It was for this very reason that the Far-seeing Eyes and the Omniscient Ears, in their plan to kill Meng Qi and his company, had to stop mid-way in their journey to conjure magical barriers and formation. Then again, their misjudgment of their own powers and their artifacts contributed to their arrogance. Their overconfidence in their strength had caused them to refuse to head back to their lair with the Map laden with Meng Qi and company, spelling their own demise.
Within the short period where the enchantments of the Law Phenomenon and his additional limbs and head would be in effect, his current strength and power would allow him to deter most practitioners of martial disciplines below the Fourth-fold Heaven. With careful planning and fortuitous opportunities, he might even be able to successfully defeat them single-handedly. Still, Gongyang Zeng was an experienced warrior who has the attainment of the Sixth-fold Heaven within his sight. As a Master of his Clan, Gongyang Zeng would not be lacking potent magical artifacts. Any lapse of carelessness would see them walking down the path once trodden by the Far-seeing Eyes and the Omniscient Ears!
Therefore, Meng Qi's decision to carry out the assassination today was hardly a whim. Everything, from the preliminary implementation of their scheme to their scattered escape routes and their eventual regrouping, was prearranged! At the high hills of the west, they would meet!
With Gongyang Zeng's disappearance yet to be discovered, Meng Qi fled from the city and made for the hills. The hills were usually quiet and deserted. No one lived in this wilderness.
As far as he could tell, Jiang Zhiwei and Ruan Yushu were not here. Instead, he only saw Zhao Heng, Qi Zhengyan, and Tian Kuo.
”Tian Kuo?”
With a curious twitch of his brows, he surveyed the surroundings with his spiritual senses. He warily flew over and landed near them.
”Lady Jiang and Lady Ruan disguised themselves as bandits and allowed themselves to be caught and kept within the prison. They are presently confined so I was charged by them to come and report this to the Juzi.” Tian Kuo spoke to Meng Qi via telepathy as he had guessed that Meng Qi had suspicions.
As one of the junior wardens of the prison, Tian Kuo could come and go freely.
Realizing the intricacies of his comrades' plans, Meng Qi turned to the rest of the company, waved the Map of Mountains and Rivers, and said, ”We shall speak of others later. First, let us eliminate Gongyang Zeng!”
”Gongyang Zeng?” Zhao Heng and Tian Kuo exclaimed in unison with fright and surprise. Even Qi Zhengyan could not help being a bit shocked.
”He has secretly taken the Minister of Works, the Master of the Gongyang Family!”
This feat can be likened to the assassination of a general despite the protection of his thousands and thousands of soldiers!
Meng Qi continued brusquely, ”This can only be done with the help of the Map of Mountains and Rivers. Prepare your artifacts. It will not be able to hold him for long.”
The instruction was for both Zhao Heng and Qi Zhengyan.
”Very well!” Zhao Heng cried, brandishing the golden God-tying Rope while Qi Zhengyan positioned himself at the other flank with the Yuxu Apricot Flag in hand.
After recovering from the shock of the revelation, Tian Kuo hastily said, ”Masters. The artifacts must be unleashed and operated as swiftly as possible. The Gongyang Family possesses a replica of the true Universe-muddling Pennant. Once activated, the Pennant conceals its wielder's body and aura from his foes and gives him the ability to flee to long distances in just a few breaths. It is, for all intents and purposes, one of the most potent artifacts for the purpose of escape and flight.”
”Anything else we need to know?” Meng Qi acknowledged the warning with a curt nod. Any instructive reminders could help prevent unexpected hassles.
Tian Kuo proceeded to report everything that he knew about Gongyang Zeng. At length, he concluded. ”Gongyang Zeng is the mastermind of the coup. I implore the Masters to inflict retribution in the name of vanquishing injustice!”
”So he is the one responsible for the atrocities!” Meng Qi's eyes squinted and his teeth gritted with anger. Regret, rage, and sorrow swelled in his chest as memories of the death of the King of Chen, the imprisonment of the followers of the school of Mo, and the undertaking of their preaching of Mohism which had been thwarted returned to him.
”And now we shall dispense judgment for treason, vengeance for treachery!”
Meng Qi had never considered himself one who embodied benevolence and generosity in his heart. He took a deep breath and calmed himself, dispelling the myriad of emotions that welled within him. Stillness and peace returned to him as he sought to regain tranquility and serenity of his mind.
He unfurled the Map of Mountains and Rivers. Holding one end of the Map, he shook it toward their center!
With a swish of the Map, a figure emerged from within. In his hands was a heraldic standard, a procession pennant in the dark hues of the Chaotic Void. It began to unleash its powers, masking the existence of its bearer. From the figure's other hand, he flicked a pebble that glimmered with a supple blush of various shades.
Gongyang Zeng had long been preparing for this exact moment!
Meanwhile, Zhao Heng and Qi Yanzheng had not been idle. The golden cords of the rope hurled forward toward Gongyang Zeng. There were knots on every interval of the rope. Upon each knot were runic scripts that shimmered in the air with ethereal radiance as the rope coiled around Gongyang Zeng.
Images of thousands and thousands of Golden Lotuses bloomed into view, each of them glimmering with a faint but distinct glow of holiness that extended far and wide into the horizons like the far-reaching brightness of the sun!
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The pebble with the blur of colors struck the Golden Lotuses. One by one the lotuses were destroyed by the pebble before heading straight for Meng Qi.
The Yuxu Apricot Flag weakened the force of the pebble as Meng Qi braced for impact. Summoning the amplified strength of the Law Phenomenon technique, he swung the Flowing Fire and his saber toward the pebble.
Boom!
A small but blinding flash erupted from the point of impact, swallowing the Five-colored Stone whole.
There were flashes of colors as the pebble hit Meng Qi's face. The golden glow of protection dimmed briefly as the force of the pebble left a welt. His head would have been blown apart or ruptured by the sheer force of the pebble if not for the protection of the Eight Nine Mysteries.
This was a secret treasure of the Seventh-fold Heaven indeed!
The Pennant glimmered with a dull glow and the figure of Gongyang Zeng vanished into thin air. However, the God-tying Rope had successfully curled itself around him!
Gongyang Zeng returned to view a few paces away from them. He fell to the ground with the Rope wound tightly around him. Runic images shone in the air around the Rope. Its sealing effect restricted the powers of Gongyang Zeng and his Dharmic Form!
With brisk steps, Meng Qi hurried forward and cast the Immortal-sealing Technique and added more layers of magical seals on him.
He looked at Gongyang Zeng who was lying incapacitated on the ground. The eyes of his immobilized foe burned deeply with hate and rage as he glared back in return.
”Minister of Works, did you foresee the coming of this day when you slew His Majesty during your coup?” asked Meng Qi.
He could not help but gloat when he saw his enemy paralyzed before him!
Gongyang Zeng repressed his anxiety and fright. He looked around and saw Tian Kuo. Coldly, he sneered. ”It was you!”
He then turned to look at Meng Qi. He roared with laughter and said, ”Why such words, Master Su? It is by the Will of Heaven that dynasties are built only by victors. Did Duke Huan of Qi not slay his brother and take his place before he claimed the powers of the Dharmakaya and became the greatest of the Six Hegemons?”
The Duke Huan of Qi was the first de facto leader of the warring states of the Apotheosized World. Now, Gongyang Zeng was using his example to justify his acts of treason.
Unswayed by the crooked words, Meng Qi looked at him and calmly replied. ”Yet, the turmoil that scourged the lands did not cease and the world truly fell into a period of upheaval since the incidents of Duke Huan. What justice is there?”
Running out of patience to bandy words with Gongyang Zeng, Meng Qi lifted his saber. He bowed in the direction of Shangying and said,