Chapter 142: The Sage of Calligraphy

"Kong Mo greets Your Majesty."

The elderly man looked at Feng Yewu as she emerged, smiling and bowing respectfully on the spot.

Feng Yewu looked at Kong Mo, whose complexion was rosy and bearing extraordinary, and felt as though a warm aura was continually radiating from within him, making him feel very amiable.

Seeing Feng Yewu's reaction, a trace of unusual surprise flickered across Kong Mo's previously calm expression.

"Your Majesty is a monarch destined by heaven. It seems I was worrying needlessly."

"A monarch destined by heaven?"

Feng Yewu asked, puzzled, with a smile at the corner of her lips. "Since when did the old gentleman acquire the skill of fortune-telling?"

Heavenly destiny was something Feng Yewu would never have believed in before. Yet now, having been reborn and having experienced all sorts of trials, her views on the so-called heavenly destiny seemed somewhat shaken.

Hearing Feng Yewu's playful banter, Kong Mo laughed along with her.

The three of them entered the imperial study.

Feng Yewu had her attendants bring over chairs. Kong Mo expressed his gratitude and sat down, speaking first.

"Is Your Majesty worried about the military situation in the northern frontier?"

Hearing this, Feng Yewu and Lu Jue exchanged glances, and it was evident that a glimmer of hope could be seen in both of their eyes.

"Is Elder Kong willing to intervene?"

Feng Yewu looked at Kong Mo pleasantly surprised, the delight in her words impossible to conceal. After all, if a Saint were to take action, let alone eleven cities, even if only the imperial capital remained of the entire Ye Dynasty, it would be enough to completely recapture everything.

Although Lu Jue beside her harbored the same guess, he did not ask aloud. Instead, a trace of doubt flickered in the depths of his eyes, and he remained silent, waiting alongside her for Kong Mo's reply.

There had once been a clear stipulation in the Saint's Accord: anyone who reached the level of a Saint was strictly forbidden from casually interfering in military campaigns, and it was even more impossible for them to be allowed to strike ordinary soldiers of another nation.

Hearing Feng Yewu's question, Kong Mo shook his head slightly and explained with a smile.

"Your Majesty may be disappointed; this old man has no way to help Your Majesty recapture the cities."

Upon hearing Kong Mo's words, a slight trace of disappointment surfaced in the depths of Feng Yewu's eyes, yet she could understand. After all, if a Saint were to strike, the casualties would likely be immeasurable.

"However, since this old man has come to see Your Majesty, I naturally have a matter of great importance."

Looking at Feng Yewu and Lu Jue, Kong Mo continued to speak.

"Hearing about the war in the northern frontier, this old man once dispatched some of my disciples to investigate. Therefore, I have come to warn Your Majesty that this campaign is by no means as simple as the usual clashes between our two races. Although the Tidi tribe has been plundering some supplies in recent days, each time they transport them back and forth, the number of people in the supply convoys undergoes a drastic change."

"A drastic change?"

Hearing this, Feng Yewu immediately turned serious, her eyes flashing as she softly repeated the words.

"Could the change Mr. Kong speaks of mean that the Tidi tribe is increasing the number of garrison troops within the northern frontier cities?"

Feng Yewu hit the nail on the head, clearly guessing something. Kong Mo looked at her with deep appreciation, unable to help feeling a few more measures of admiration for this female monarch in his heart.

"Does Your Majesty know of the heavenly punishment within the Tidi tribe that has long been rumored?"

Hearing Kong Mo also bring up the heavenly punishment, Feng Yewu began to take the matter seriously. After all, as a Saint, someone who brought it up must understand more about it, so she pursued the question.

"This lonely king has indeed heard of it, but it was merely a rumor and I never took it seriously. Could it be that Mr. Kong has confirmed that the heavenly punishment is truly real?"

Kong Mo nodded in confirmation, turning his head slightly to gaze at the distant horizon where dark clouds were gradually gathering. Looking through the distance, he fell into memories.

"During the last heavenly punishment, this old man did indeed have the fortune of witnessing it once."

Lu Jue and Feng Yewu were instantly startled, not expecting Kong Mo to have had such a personal experience.

"Back then, this old man fortuitously comprehended the profound mysteries of heaven and earth and became a Saint. Consequently, I secretly traveled through every single city of the Ye Dynasty. At that time, when I passed by the northern frontier city and heard the rumors circulating within the Tidi tribe, my curiosity was piqued, so I traveled overnight to the far northern lands."

Back then, in order to prevent his whereabouts from being discovered, Kong Mo had traveled at full speed the entire way, also evading the Tidi tribal priests, and finally reached the hinterland of the far north after several days and nights.

At that time, celestial anomalies flashed across the sky, the passage of time between heaven and earth felt exceptionally prolonged, and divine lights appeared with great frequency.

Gazing at the wondrous light of the Milky Way filling the sky, Kong Mo sighed repeatedly. Just as he was marveling, a tremendous roar suddenly erupted between heaven and earth, as if some mysterious creature was venting its fury.

The roar was so deafening that even a Saint like Kong Mo felt a twinge of fear in his heart.

Following that, one strange creature after another gradually materialized amidst the flashing lights of heaven and earth. Their entire bodies were covered in snow-white fur; had it not been for the surrounding darkness and otherworldly radiance, Kong Mo would not have been able to distinguish them from the vast, snowy landscape.

"An exotic beast?"

Hearing Kong Mo's words, Lu Jue could not help but exclaim in astonishment, guessing in his heart whether this heavenly punishment was related to exotic beasts.

Looking at the two of them, Kong Mo smiled faintly and did not blame Lu Jue for interrupting him. He simply signaled with his eyes that there was no need to be anxious, and continued his narrative.

Those figures were massive, resembling small mountains, with colossal limbs and arms hanging down to the ground. The earth trembled with every step they took.

How much time passed, he did not know, but gradually, the entire desolate expanse was filled with such giant exotic beasts everywhere. An invisible pressure between heaven and earth was so oppressive that even Kong Mo at that time found it difficult to breathe.

Back then, Kong Mo had quietly hidden in a narrow, ice-fractured crevice, and it was only after several months that he managed to narrowly escape back from the far northern lands.

"So, Mr. Kong, what are your intentions in recounting all of this?"

After listening to Kong Mo's tale, although Feng Yewu was astonished by his bizarre experience, this upcoming battle with the Tidi tribe seemed to have no major connection to the heavenly punishment, did it?

"I bring this up now because I hope Your Majesty can attach great importance to this invasion by the Tidi tribe."

"Does Mr. Kong mean to say that this Tidi invasion is also because the heavenly punishment of the far north is about to arrive? Is that why they are acting in this manner?"

A strange look flashed across Lu Jue's eyes as he spoke softly, voicing his guess.

Kong Mo nodded slightly, saying with a solemn expression.

"This time, the Tidi tribe has likely made preparations for a protracted confrontation. After all, under the heavenly punishment, even the priests of the Tidi tribe will find it difficult to ensure their own safety. If they wish to avoid losses among their people, heading south is their only hope for survival."

Kong Mo's words sounded very peculiar to Feng Yewu. Yet, looking at the scholar Kong Mo before her, the Saint's aura emanating from him could not be faked. Feng Yewu merely nodded slightly, and after exchanging a few polite pleasantries with them, Kong Mo turned and left.

Watching Kong Mo depart, Feng Yewu furrowed her brow slightly and softly asked Lu Jue.

"Lu Jue, have you ever seen the scholar Kong Mo before?"

Hearing Feng Yewu's inquiry, Lu Jue wore a puzzled expression and asked in return.

"Is Your Majesty suspecting that this person is not Kong Mo?"

Hearing Lu Jue's astonished question, Feng Yewu revealed a bitter smile, shaking her head helplessly and mocking herself: "Perhaps this lonely king is simply being too sensitive."