Chapter 73: A Dog-Eat-Dog World

Most of the soldiers under Sima Yuanxian's command were newly formed troops, recently assembled in his bid to control the various noble clans, and were equipped with uniform arms. The imperial guards once led by General Canghuai were merely a part of this new army; the majority remained under Sima Yuanxian’s direct command, a testament to their formidable strength. In truth, when General Canghuai initially sought to lead the Five Bushels of Rice Daoist forces to capture Jiankang, it was not due to a lack of imperial troops, but rather because the city’s internal garrison was insufficient at the time. Now, with a mere flick of Sima Yuanxian’s riding crop, hundreds of thousands surged forward behind him, raising a cloud of dust—revealing that the power of the court was far from negligible.

Sima Yuanxian set his sights on the northern gate of Shanyin. In ancient times, sieges were notoriously brutal affairs; with sturdy city walls and determined defenders, even an attacking force many times the size of the garrison could not hope to breach the gates in a single day. However, the Five Bushels of Rice Daoists guarding the city had already lost their will to fight. None of them were seasoned soldiers; it was precisely for this reason that Sun Tai fabricated the tale of the Saintess returning from an immortal island across the sea, hoping to inspire unity among these refugees.

From time immemorial, faith has wielded a terrifying power, even more so in ancient times among illiterate, inexperienced masses. Without faith, they were nothing but sand dispersed by the wind; but with it, they could be galvanized into a mighty force, toppling dynasties and altering the course of history. Previously, these Daoist followers had believed the Saintess could command legions of ghostly soldiers, that the Five Bushels of Rice Dao would be invincible. Now, the Saintess was gone.

After Zhang Chi rescued the young woman, General Canghuai’s personal guard gave orders to apprehend him, but he escaped. News of the Saintess’s disappearance quickly spread to every corner of Shanyin; even the Daoists defending the northern gate heard the rumor. At first, when Master Shouyin declared before Mist and Rain Tower that the Saintess was a fraud, most had refused to believe it. Now, however, they did. Once faith is established, these refugees become fearless, fighting ten for every one; but if that faith is shattered, fear and terror overtake them, their legs tremble, and they become utterly useless in battle—especially when faced with a disciplined, superior army.

Such is the difference between trained regulars and a rabble of undisciplined troops.

The imperial army pressed upon the city, launching a fierce assault on the northern gate. Shanyin’s walls were tall and strong, but without the morale of those unafraid of death or anyone to command the defense, they were no match for the imperial host. In short order, the imperial forces had breached the gates. Sima Yuanxian, overseeing the battle from behind, was well pleased with his scheme of using others to do his dirty work. Yet even he had not expected the success to come so easily. With a cold laugh, he remarked, “Rice-thieves will always be rice-thieves—never destined for great things.”

…

Meanwhile, all the core members of the Five Bushels of Rice Dao, including Sun Tai, remained trapped before the Mist and Rain Tower, tightly surrounded by Master Shouyin.

Though many loyal followers of the cult still waited outside, they hesitated to act recklessly, for their leader was inside. Neither side dared to move, and the standoff dragged on. With the cult’s key figures hemmed in and unable to issue commands, the remaining Daoist followers inside Shanyin descended into chaos.

Yan Yicao, though encircled by several thousand of Shouyin’s men, could still hear distant cries: “The imperial army has breached the northern gate!” At this, panic seized him. In ancient warfare, without someone to give orders, even a multitude of troops were useless. To see Shanyin, so hard-won, snatched back by imperial swine—could he bear it? Hatred for Master Shouyin surged in Yan Yicao’s heart, and he clenched his fists, murderous intent rising.

Most of those present were cult priests, and shared Yan Yicao’s unrest. Only Sun Tai remained composed, saying coolly, “You keep questioning how I can place tens of thousands of Daoist followers in such peril, yet you fail to see that you have destroyed the very foundation of our Dao. Who are you, truly? Why go to such lengths to infiltrate our sect—what is it you want?”

Master Shouyin, seeing things had come to this, spoke frankly: “I am no infiltrator. I am a true member of the Celestial Masters’ Dao. My Dan Ding lineage traces its teachings to Zuo Ci of the Three Kingdoms, making us the rightful heirs to the Celestial Masters’ tradition. I am a descendant of the immortal Ge Hong, known as Master Shouyin. It is you who have usurped the seat of the Master and led our followers to disaster. How could I tolerate you?”

“If you cannot tolerate me, why do you surround us without striking? Surely you have another aim?” Sun Tai sneered.

He was not wrong; if Master Shouyin had nothing to gain, he would not have gone to such trouble.

“Though your crimes are grave, if you reveal to me the secret of immortality, I may yet spare your life,” Master Shouyin finally revealed his true purpose.

By now, Master Shouyin’s initial goal was achieved; with the enemy’s morale shattered, numbers meant little. This was the perfect moment to make demands.

Sun Tai and Yan Yicao knew this well. The imperial army had already stormed the city, and if they delayed even a moment longer, escape would be impossible. Yan Yicao, seeing Shanyin lost, looked to the heavens and sighed, lamenting the endless obstacles to his dream of a world of true equality.

“So in the end, all you want is the legendary secret of immortality?” With no other options left, Yan Yicao resolved to break out, roaring, “I’ve long heard Master Shouyin’s skills are peerless—especially your art of duplication. Today, I’ll see if your duplications can withstand my desperate blow!”

Even as his words faded, Yan Yicao charged forward.

As Canghuai’s elder brother, Yan Yicao was even more skilled in martial arts. Though some distance separated him from Master Shouyin, his charge was like a thunderbolt. Master Shouyin, caught off guard, took a heavy punch to the chest.

A crack resounded—likely two ribs broken.

In truth, Yan Yicao had heard of Master Shouyin’s famed prowess among the Dan Ding sect. This punch was meant to test his strength, not to kill. He intended to catch him off guard, then strike decisively, taking him hostage to force a way out. With such a hostage, escape would be possible.

But he had not expected Master Shouyin to be so weak. With a single blow, the man was sent flying, only barely supported by his subordinates, coughing blood. Had Yan Yicao used his full strength, it might have killed him outright.

The surrounding soldiers, seeing this, rushed to attack Yan Yicao and Sun Tai with their spears. Though Yan Yicao was a formidable fighter, what could one man do against thousands of weapons?

At that moment, Master Shouyin, blood still fresh in his mouth, shouted, “Stop! Don’t kill Sun Tai!”

For in all the world, only Sun Tai knew the secret of immortality. Master Shouyin would never dare kill him before obtaining it. Seeing the spears closing in, he called a halt—had he hesitated even a moment longer, the core members of the cult would have been skewered like candied fruits.

Yan Yicao, seeing Master Shouyin’s reluctance to harm Sun Tai, threw himself into the fray with abandon, bellowing, “Protect the Master! Fight your way out with me!”

The core members of the cult understood that only a desperate struggle could save them. Should they wait for the imperial army, death was certain.

The soldiers, having been forbidden to harm Sun Tai, held back, their spears hesitating. This gave the cultists room to strike; Yan Yicao alone killed several, seized a spear, and fought as though he were worth a hundred men.

Seeing the chaos, the outer cultists rushed in to help. With only a thousand men, Master Shouyin’s forces could not withstand the assault and were quickly scattered. Yan Yicao shielded Sun Tai as they broke out.

“Master, the imperial army—hundreds of thousands strong—has taken the northern gate. What should we do?”

With the situation dire, Sun Tai knew he needed to immediately regroup the Five Bushels of Rice Daoists, to fight or flee without delay. Ignoring Master Shouyin and his men, he shouted orders as he charged, “All cult priests, disperse at once and gather the city’s troops! Assemble at the eastern Thunder Gate—further orders will be issued there!”