Martial Cultivator

"I don't know how His Majesty will think if he knew about this, but I think that if Deercry Monastery finds out about this, their enmity with you will be irreconcilable till death."

Chen Chao looked at Xie Nandu walking ahead and felt a headache. This genius girl from the Xie Family actually harbored thoughts of grave robbing. And the target of this grave robbery was not just anyone, but the number one meritorious subject who helped the current Emperor win that decisive battle.

The black-robed monk was revered by countless people and similarly resented by countless people.

He was also the only Nation Teacher of the Great Liang Dynasty.

Ignoring Chen Chao, Xie Nandu continued on her own, "That Nation Teacher not only had unparalleled wisdom but was a genuine talent. He was also extremely skilled in military strategy and warfare. He was a true polymath. It's said that he wrote a secret book called 'Heaven's Calculations,' which contains all his lifetime learnings. Aren't you interested?"

Chen Chao shook his head honestly and said, "Even if you find the grave of this Nation Teacher, how can you be sure that his book was buried with him?"

Xie Nandu frowned, "If he didn't bring it into the grave, where else could it be?"

Chen Chao asked, "Did this Nation Teacher not have any disciples?"

Xie Nandu replied without lifting her head, "The Nation Teacher lived his life freely and casually, how would he have successors?"

"Since he doesn't even have a successor, why would he bring those things to his grave?"

Chen Chao looked at Xie Nandu, wanting to dispel her plan. Let alone discussing what would happen if the grave of the black-robed monk was dug up, just the act of tomb robbing itself was not a good thing.

Suddenly, Xie Nandu stopped in front of a small mound, then squatted down, picked up a bit of damp soil with her fingers, smelled it, and nodded, saying, "This is it."

Chen Chao was startled, and then squatted down as well. Soon, he smelled a scent of alcohol and murmured, "Good wine."

However, he still said with some disbelief, "Is this really the grave of that Nation Teacher?"

As the number one meritorious subject who helped the Great Liang Emperor ascend the throne, this Nation Teacher died early. He passed away within the first few years of the Great Liang Emperor's reign due to illness. There were rumors that he died from injuries sustained while blocking a fatal attack for the Great Liang Emperor years ago. If that were true, the Great Liang Emperor should have treated him with national honors. Why would he be buried here so casually, without even a tombstone?

"Perhaps you're right. Why would someone like the Nation Teacher bring those things to his grave?"

Xie Nandu looked at the dirt mound in front of her with complicated eyes. Since she had the idea of reclaiming the thirty thousand miles of desolate north for the human race, she had actually been studying military strategy. In the current era, she admired the Nation Teacher the most, who was also the Great Liang Emperor's top strategist.

So she went to great lengths to find the burial place of the Nation Teacher. In fact, apart from wanting to obtain "Heaven's Calculations", she wanted to pay her respects at the grave of the Nation Teacher.

Chen Chao squatted in front of the mound and said, "The scent of alcohol isn't singular; there should be two kinds. In other words, before you found this grave, two people should have been here."

Chen Chao asked, "How many people know the burial place of this Nation Teacher?"

Without waiting for Xie Nandu to speak, Chen Chao continued on his own, "One of them is His Majesty, and the other?"

Xie Nandu said softly, "It's Teacher. The scent of alcohol is identical to that in Teacher's house."

Among the most important figures in the current Great Liang Dynasty who were still in the Divine Capital, there were only these two.

Chen Chao asked, "Still digging?"

Xie Nandu looked at Chen Chao as if he were a fool. "I never intended to dig in the first place."

Chen Chao frowned. "Then you..."

He quickly realized and said helplessly, "Deceiving people like this, doesn't your conscience ache?"

Xie Nandu grinned. "My methods aren't sophisticated, but for some reason, I always manage to fool idiots."

"That's because I believe everything you say."

"Where did you learn to talk like that?"

"Why?"

"Please don't say it next time, it's very corny."

Xie Nandu raised an eyebrow, looking at Chen Chao seriously. "You don't seem like a martial artist now, but more like one of those playboy scholar types."

Chen Chao did not get angry, he just asked, "By saying that, you'll make those scholars very upset."

"What about it? Ask them to come and fight me?"

Xie Nandu frowned and said, "I don't believe they can beat my flying swords."

This left Chen Chao speechless. After Xie Nandu became a sword cultivator, it was destined that there would not be many scholars in the world who could remain calm when facing her.

After all, this was a female sword cultivator who possessed nine lifeblood flying swords.

"You're not number one in the world either, don't be so cocky."

Chen Chao let out a sigh.

Xie Nandu did not retort, she just asked, "What about you? Can you become invincible in the future?"

Chen Chao looked at her, not answering the question, and just smiled.

Xie Nandu did not say anything more, just paid respects at the grave of the Nation Teacher, then turned and descended the mountain with Chen Chao.

As they descended, they continued to chat. Xie Nandu was still very interested in the whereabouts of the book Heaven's Calculations. What that black-clothed Nation Teacher learned had always been held in the highest esteem by Xie Nandu. She even privately referred to him as the top strategist of the dynasty. She believed him to be the best in military strategy and tactics, and even considered him the foremost strategist of the dynasty.

She was determined to launch a northern expedition, leading the endeavor as a woman. If she had this Heaven's Calculations book in her possession, her confidence would soar even higher.

Seeing Xie Nandu like this, Chen Chao took the initiative and said, "Perhaps before the Nation Teacher passed away, he sent this item back to the Deercry Monastery."

Xie Nandu shook her head and said, "Those monks wouldn't have use for that book."

Indeed, a group of monks devoted to Zen enlightenment would not have much use for it.

Chen Chao did not say anything more. After reaching the foot of the mountain, he took a step forward, crushing a fallen leaf, then suddenly stopped and said softly, "There's trouble."

Xie Nandu softly murmured in agreement. She was far from an ordinary sword cultivator and had a keen sense of her surroundings, far surpassing that of most sword cultivators.

At this moment, even she could sense an unmistakable killing intent emanating from deep within the woods.

"I don't know why, but it seems like many people want to kill you."

Xie Nandu's mind stirred slightly as a surge of sword qi began circulating within her body.

Chen Chao's right hand slowly gripped the handle of his saber as he chuckled, "If it weren't for your insistence on going out for a spring outing, no one would dare to lay a hand on me in the Divine Capital."

After gripping the saber hilt, Chen Chao also looked up towards the depths of the forest.

A figure slowly emerged from the depths of the forest.

Seeing the arrival, Chen Chao was somewhat surprised. "You haven't left yet?"

Xie Nandu also furrowed her brows, perhaps admiring the arrival's patience for waiting so long.

The arrival stared fixedly at Chen Chao, her voice cold as she said, "I've waited for so long, and finally, I've got the chance! Prepare to die!"