Zhang Yan was startled when he heard what Zhang Ning said and quickly asked for the reason.
"Why do you have Guan Hai's true energy in your body? Also, why is Guan Hai missing? Where did he go?"
Zhang Ning sighed softly and said indifferently, "Guan Hai is dead. I killed him. In the village ancestral hall that day, I absorbed all his cultivation."
"What?!" Zhang Yan was shocked to hear this. He knew very well that Guan Hai's strength was extraordinary, yet he had died so easily at Zhang Ning's hands!
"A'Yan... you finally laid hands on him."
Zhang Ning shook her head and said, "No, he was willing to let me kill him..."
Zhang Yan was startled to hear this, "What? This... what exactly happened?"
"A'Yan, actually, my death is near..."
"A'Ning, what nonsense are you talking about?! How could this be?" Zhang Yan immediately stood up upon hearing this.
"What I said... is all true," Zhang Ning sighed. "I was too eager for success and forcefully broke through to the ninth level of The Essential Arts of Pacifying Heaven. Although my realm was reached, I ultimately went down the wrong path and suffered qi deviation. The true energy in my body is often restless, causing inner demons to arise and making it difficult for me to control myself."
"How could this happen..."
"When the inner demons arise, my thoughts and actions are not my own," Zhang Ning said. "Before, I did intend to weaken Guan Hai's power through Zhang Chen, but I didn't plan for all one hundred thousand soldiers to die. However, during that period, my inner demons suddenly surged, which is why I couldn't act in time, leading to the complete annihilation of the one hundred thousand soldiers. It is my sin!"
As Zhang Ning spoke, a hint of melancholy appeared in her eyes.
Zhang Ning paused, then continued, "That day, I rescued Guan Hai, and he also discovered my injuries. I didn't expect him to disregard past grievances and twice offer to heal me... It was then that I realized that from beginning to end, Guan Hai's loyalty to yellow heaven had never changed..."
Zhang Yan said, "Despite this, having overwhelming merit is also a sin. The people in the sect only know him, not you. If he truly cared for you, he should have restrained his subordinates and prevented such things from happening."
"Things have come to this; right and wrong no longer matter," Zhang Ning sighed softly. "We discovered that whenever the true energy in my body reached the 'Baihui acupoint', it would trigger inner demons. Once the inner demons arose, I would be like a different person, not even knowing what I had done. Later, he finally thought of a way to suppress the inner demons, which was to absorb his cultivation whenever my inner demons surged. This way, his true energy would counteract mine, and as long as the true energy in my body did not enter the 'Baihui acupoint', the inner demons would not be triggered."
"If he were to transfer true energy to you, his true energy would merge with yours. Only when absorbed by an external force, not of one's own will, will the true energy within the body counteract," Zhang Yan couldn't help but sigh. "I didn't expect Guan Hai could do this much for you!"
Zhang Ning's eyes were filled with guilt and regret. "I failed him... Looking back now, if we had been able to clear the air earlier, none of this would have happened..."
Zhang Yan was at a loss for words for a moment and could only offer comfort, saying, "A'Ning, you don't need to blame yourself. This isn't your fault. From your position, you could only act this way."
As Zhang Yan spoke, he seemed to think of something and added, "A'Ning, did your inner demons surge today?"
Zhang Ning sighed softly upon hearing this. "You want to ask... about the massacre, right? That was indeed not my intention. In fact, regarding today's events, my memory only goes up to when you introduced those three heroes to me. What happened after that, I don't remember at all. Just now, Ling'er told me about it, and only then did I realize that I had actually ordered you to massacre Yingtao County!"
"So, this matter was not your intention?"
"Naturally, it wasn't my intention. How could I act like that?" Zhang Ning said, "A'Yan, remember, if I issue any unusual orders in the future, you must carefully discern them and never blindly obey."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan immediately felt a sense of relief. "I feel relieved hearing you say that. However, your inner demons surged again today, which means Guan Hai's method likely didn't work. The urgent priority is still to find a way to cure you."
Zhang Ning shook her head and said, "No, my death is not worth regretting, but I must open the Yellow Heaven Treasure Trove before I die to leave a substantial fortune for the Yellow Heaven Great Cause. This way, even if I die, the Yellow Heaven's great cause can still be carried on by you."
"A'Ning, what time is it now? Why are you still saying such things? Without you, who will be in charge? Who will lead us to restore the Yellow Heaven Great Cause?"
"A'Yan, I am just a mere woman. What great cause can I speak of? I am struggling to hold on now only for my father's dying wish," Zhang Ning sighed. "Actually, you and I both know how difficult it is to restore the Yellow Heaven Great Cause. Back then, my father had many talented individuals under him and still ended up defeated. Now, we have few soldiers and generals. Only by opening the Yellow Heaven Treasure Trove is there any final hope..."
Zhang Yan turned around and looked at her with resolute eyes. "No! Even if not for the great cause, just for you, I will not stand by and watch you die!"
"A'Yan..."
"A'Ning, don't worry. I will absolutely not let you die. Just rest here and recover from your injuries. Leave the matter of Yingtao County to me. Whether it's the Yellow Heaven Treasure Trove or your life, I, Zhang Yan, will protect it with all my might!"
"A'Yan, thank you," Zhang Ning said softly. "There are a few things you need to remember. Zhang Chen is no ordinary person. He has many civil officials and fierce generals under him. You must be extra careful and act cautiously. Also, both of the Xiahou brothers are upright individuals. I'm afraid that after I spoke of the massacre today, a rift has already formed between them. This is my fault, but since things have come to this, you must be on guard. But remember, do not harm their lives; do not make things worse."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. They are old acquaintances of mine, and I will handle them appropriately."
After Zhang Yan finished speaking, he turned and left the room, then instructed the maids again, telling them to take good care of Zhang Ning.
...
The third year of Zhongping (186 AD), the first day of the second month.
Julu Commandery, Yingtao County Grand Camp.
A cavalry troop of over a thousand men, escorting a carriage, arrived in haste under the cover of night.
Qu Yi and Gao Shun, upon hearing the report, quickly came outside the tent.
The two were feeling suspicious when they saw the coachman lift the carriage curtain.
Two people were sitting inside the carriage: the solemn-faced Zhang Chen, sitting upright, leaning on his chishan sword. Beside him was another person, who was Guo Jia.
The two were startled and quickly stepped forward to greet them.
Zhang Chen and Guo Jia also slowly got out of the carriage.
"Lord! Military Advisor!"
Zhang Chen looked around, waved his hand, and said to the two, "No need for formalities. Let's talk inside the tent."
"Why has Lord come here?" As soon as they entered the tent, Qu Yi asked impatiently.
"A great battle is imminent, and I was worried, so I came to see," Zhang Chen said. "How is the situation in Yingtao County? Are there any unusual circumstances?"
Qu Yi said, "Lord, don't worry. All the rebels in the city have been apprehended, and checkpoints have been set up at all city gates for strict inspection. Not a single spy will be let in."
"That Zhang Yan is no ordinary person; you must not be careless!"
"Lord, don't worry," Qu Yi said, and then suddenly thought of something, adding, "Lord, isn't tomorrow the day of your marriage to Miss Zhen? If you are here, won't you miss the auspicious time?"
"Fengxiao has predicted that the rebels will surely cause trouble tomorrow during my wedding, and their target is precisely Yingtao County!" Zhang Chen said with a solemn expression to the two. "To protect the people of the entire city, I must personally oversee it. But to lull the enemy, you two will still command the military affairs externally. You must not reveal even a hint of my arrival here!"
As Zhang Chen spoke, a glint of determination flashed in his eyes.
Qu Yi and Gao Shun exchanged glances upon seeing this and said in unison.
"Understood!"