All Heavens: Starting with Yang Kang playing Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King

Chapter 11 Neither Jin nor Song!

Bao Xiruo opened her mouth as if to say something, but Yang Tiexin gently tugged at her sleeve.

Wang Chuyi frowned, but did not interrupt.

While Yang Kang was sizing up Guo Jing, Huang Rong was also sizing up Yang Kang.

As Yang Kang spoke, Huang Rong's lips curled slightly, and she sneered inwardly. She sensed that every word Yang Kang spoke seemed to be a warning to Guo Jing.

"What golden sword prince consort? You're talking nonsense! Brother Jing would never marry that Mongolian woman!"

Huang Rong suddenly pointed at Yang Kang and angrily rebuked him, her eyes filled with barely suppressed disgust.

As she spoke, she glanced at Guo Jing beside her, her eyes reddening, and she almost burst into tears.

Guo Jing finally spoke:

"Brother Yang Kang, you're right!"

"I did receive great favors from the Great Khan in Mongolia, but I am a Han Chinese, and I cannot leave my father's death unavenged."

"My mother has been urging me day and night to return to the Central Plains and find my father's enemies. I must also keep the eighteen-year promise that my masters made with Master Qiu."

"I don't understand anything about wealth and glory. I only know that my mother said she wanted revenge, so even if I have to travel to the ends of the earth, I will avenge my father!"

Guo Jing spoke in a simple and honest manner, completely unaware that Huang Rong, who was almost in tears, was standing to the side.

"You followed Genghis Khan south, led your army to conquer Zhongdu, swept across the land, and under your iron hooves, what grudge could you so easily avenge?"

"Perhaps one day you too will lead a million soldiers to punish Lin'an?"

"The root of the problem lies with the imperial court in Lin'an, isn't it?"

Yang Kang looked at Guo Jing, his face calm yet cruel.

"Kang'er!"

"Don't talk nonsense. Jing'er is kind-hearted and would never lead a foreign tribe to attack her motherland."

Wang Chuyi immediately reprimanded him.

Yang Tiexin and his wife also looked at Yang Kang with worried expressions, clearly concerned about the disdain their son showed towards Song.

"Really? You're giving up the Golden Knife Prince Consort position too?"

"That was a promise made by the very ruler of a nation!"

"Aren't royalty and nobility far superior to this witch from the martial world?"

Yang Kang glanced at Huang Rong, his words full of disdain.

"Brother Jing, is what he...is he telling the truth? You...you're really going to marry the Mongol Khan's daughter and become his son-in-law?"

Suddenly losing control of her emotions, Huang Rong grabbed Guo Jing and couldn't help but cry.

Seeing this, everyone panicked and scrambled to their feet. Bao Xiruo glanced at Yang Kang with a hint of anger.

He then looked at Huang Rong with a loving expression, while the rest of the group looked at Guo Jing with a hint of reproach.

Guo Jing hurriedly and frantically explained:

"Rong'er, I didn't! I... Hua Zheng has always been just a younger sister. I won't marry her, I won't!"

"I will absolutely not lead Mongol troops to attack the Song Dynasty. If the Great Khan forces me, I will at least pay with my life."

Guo Jing hurriedly explained, but at this time the two had not yet pledged their lives to each other. Even though he had feelings for her, he could not say that he would marry Huang Rong.

However, his words made it clear without hesitation that he would not marry Hua Zheng, which somewhat comforted Huang Rong.

Huang Rong sobbed, raising her tearful eyes to look at Guo Jing:

"real?"

"real!"

Guo Jing nodded emphatically.

Huang Rong was slightly relieved, but she still clung tightly to Guo Jing's sleeve, refusing to let go.

Yang Kang noticed this and a slight smile appeared on his lips, a barely perceptible hint of amusement in his eyes.

Wang Chuyi coughed and said seriously.

"Alright, we'll talk about personal matters on the way."

"The pursuers could find us at any moment, so we should leave immediately."

Yang Tiexin, Guo Jing, and the others nodded in agreement.

Yang Kang suddenly turned his head to look into the dense forest behind him and said frankly:

"They didn't just happen to find this place at any moment; they've already found it."

"General Wanyan, since you have been here for some time, why not come out and greet us?"

He spoke loudly into the dense forest behind him, and the next moment, the forest teemed with people.

A moment later, soldiers in black armor emerged from the woods. The leader was none other than Wanyan Gang, who had fought desperately against the Mongols during the defense of Zhongdu last year before Yang Kang returned to the city.

Yang Tiexin and Wang Chuyi were terrified upon seeing this.

They boasted that their skill in concealing themselves was unparalleled, so how come they were found by Wanyan Gang's men in just a short time?

"Young Prince, the Prince of Zhao sent me here."

"The prince said that he would not stop you from doing what you are going to do, nor could he stop you."

"But he absolutely cannot lose the Queen, so please, Queen, go back."

Behind Wanyan Gang, Ouyang Ke, along with Lingzhi Shangren, Sha Tongtian, Hou Tonghai, Liang Ziweng, and other experts from the Zhao Prince's Mansion, surrounded the area.

Ouyang Ke stepped forward smugly, raised his paper fan, and bowed.

Clearly, Wanyan Gang's ability to find this place was his doing.

Yang Kang nodded slightly in disappointment.

His adoptive father, despite his advanced age, had always been decent in everything he did throughout his life, except when it came to Bao Xiruo. He was still as stubborn as a clueless teenager.

Bao Xiruo bravely stepped forward and frankly stated:

"Please tell His Highness that we are deeply grateful for the care he has given to my son and me over the years."

"But now that my husband has been found, I can never go back to the palace with him. Please let him go."

Wang Chuyi, Yang Tiexin, and others stood protectively in front of Bao Xiruo, looking ready to fight at the slightest provocation.

Only Yang Kang kept staring with great interest at Wanyan Gang, who was standing on his horse.

"General Wanyan Gang, it's been a few days. Have you become distant since you heard I'm no longer a Jurchen but a Han Chinese?"

"It has only been a few days since we last met, and you remain silent at your post. Have you already forgotten the camaraderie we shared when we defended the capital together?"

Wanyan Gang stood on his horse, looking at Yang Kang with a complex expression, and asked in a deep voice:

"Young Prince, are you truly determined to leave today?"

"You left Yelü Chucai, Wanyan Chenheshang, and those 100,000 troops in Shandong, and returned to Zhongdu alone. Did you foresee this day?"

"Are you going to rebel against my Great Jin? Against the motherland that gave you birth, raised you, and nurtured you for eighteen years?"

Everyone looked at Yang Kang in confusion. Ever since Yang Kang learned about his background and escaped from the prison, he had indeed seemed too calm, as if he had foreseen everything and even had some control over it.

"You already knew you were Han Chinese?"

Huang Rong couldn't help but speak up.

Yang Kang ignored him, calmly raising his head to look at Wanyan Gang on horseback:

"General Wanyan, let me ask you this: if I were to become the ruler in the future, would you be willing to serve me?"

Everyone was shocked when Yang Kang said this.

He made no attempt to conceal his ambition and made no attempt to identify himself as a ruler.

These words resonated deeply, causing a stir among the Jin soldiers, who were swayed by Yang Kang's pronouncements.

After all, many of them had actually witnessed Yang Kang's rampage in the Battle of Wild Fox Ridge, and had also personally experienced the Battle of Huihe River where they fought alongside Yang Kang.

If they could, they really didn't want to be enemies with Yang Kang.

Wanyan Gang sighed inwardly, knowing that today was probably going to be difficult.

He suppressed his unease and was about to give the order to act.

The next moment, an arrow pierced the air from afar and landed precisely in front of Wanyan Gang's horse, causing another tremor among the cavalry and a sound that shook the earth.

It was a cavalry force of over a hundred men that quietly appeared here, having traversed mountains and valleys.

Although they were not wearing military uniforms and only carrying short knives, they all had a fierce demeanor and were clearly well-trained.

The leader slowly removed his mask, revealing a face that was very familiar to both Wanyan Gang and Yang Kang. It was none other than Wanyan Chenheshang, who had already received Yang Kang's order and led his troops day and night to Zhongdu to meet him.

"Your Highness, I am late. Please forgive me."

Wanyan Chenheshang rode his horse to block Wanyan Gang's path and shouted loudly.

"You're never too late, no matter when you arrive!!"

Yang Kang laughed heartily.

Wanyan Gang spoke with a complex expression, even a hint of heartache in his voice.

"Young Prince, you've always harbored rebellious intentions!"

Yang Kang looked calmly at Wanyan Gang and slowly said:

"The affairs of the world shall be judged by the people of the world."

"You are one of the few heroes of the Jin Kingdom, I don't want to kill you."

"Please go back and tell Wanyan Yongji not to plot against my father."

"My father raised me for eighteen years. If anyone dares to lay a finger on him, I will travel to the ends of the earth and shed my last drop of blood to slaughter his entire family."

"I hope he doesn't take my words as empty talk."

Wanyan Gang looked at Yang Kang with a complicated expression, remained silent for a long time, and ultimately did not answer.

He slowly turned his horse around and waved to signal the Jin soldiers behind him to retreat.

The might of the overlord had already instilled fear in them, and with the addition of Wanyan Chenheshang's hundred cavalrymen, it was feared that none of them would survive a fight.

Ouyang Ke, Lingzhi Shangren, and the others exchanged glances. Having already witnessed Yang Kang's martial arts skills, they naturally dared not be presumptuous, but they had no choice but to make way for him.

Yang Kang didn't look at him again, but turned and walked to Bao Xiruo, Yang Tiexin and the others, and whispered:

"Walk."

Wanyan Chenheshang led over a hundred cavalrymen to protect them on either side. The group mounted their horses and rode away.

Wanyan Gang stood there, watching Yang Kang's departing figure, speechless for a long time.

He knew that from this day forward, the world was about to change.

Wanyan Gang slowly lowered his bow and arrow, gazing silently in the direction Yang Kang had gone. Behind him, the Jin soldiers whispered amongst themselves; one asked in a low voice:

"General, are we... just going to let him go like this?"

"What about the Emperor?!"

Wanyan Gang did not answer, but slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and after a long while opened them, shaking his head bitterly:

"It's not that we let him go, it's that he let us go!!!"

Yang Kang glanced back at the Jin soldiers who were gradually disappearing into the distance. He didn't say anything more, but simply spurred his horse and rode south into the wind and rain.

Behind me, the outline of Zhongdu City became increasingly blurred and distant in the rain.

Under the escort of Wanyan Chenheshang, Yang Kang and his companions arrived at a fork in the road.

The traces of the Jin soldiers pursuing them had long since disappeared, and Wanyan Chenheshang and others also stopped their horses at a distance to keep watch.

Wang Chuyi pulled Yang Kang aside and asked with a serious expression:

"Kang'er, I originally thought that your betrayal of the Jin Dynasty was to return to the Song Dynasty with us and serve your homeland."

"But what you just said to Wanyan Gang... could it be that you have other intentions?"

Yang Tiexin asked in a somewhat naive tone:

"Kang'er, you are a Song citizen and possess such courage and strength. You should lead your troops back to your homeland and assist our Great Song in its northern expedition."

"How could we possibly harbor any disloyal thoughts again?"

Guo Jing, looking dazed and confused, said:

"Brother Yang Kang, aren't you coming home with us?"

Yang Kang shook his head and slowly said:

"Return to the Song Kingdom? Given my status, what would happen if I appeared in the Song Kingdom?"

"Do you think the Song Dynasty court would treat me like another Xin Qiji?"

"No! They'll just see me as another Hou Jing."

He paused, his tone calm yet resolute:

"It is true that I have restored my Han identity, but there were Han people in the Jin Dynasty and there were Han people in the Song Dynasty."

"But now, the Jurchens no longer regard me as family, and the Song people will not regard me as compatriots either."

"The world is so vast, where else can I go? I will not return to the Song Dynasty, nor will I enter the Jin Dynasty again."

"The world has its own justice. If I, Kang'er, were merely a carefree prince, it wouldn't matter if I returned to Song with you."

"But now, given my current status and the troops under my command, if I were to surrender to the Song Dynasty, it would likely bring misfortune rather than fortune for both of us."

Yang Tiexin opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know how to start.

Wang Chuyi remained silent, his brows furrowed.

Guo Jing stared blankly at Yang Kang, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Yang Kang did not explain further, but simply turned to look into the distance, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

"Please come with me to Shandong, Father, Mother, and Sister Nianci. As for Brother Jing and Miss Huang, you can go ahead first. After I have settled my parents, I will head south to fulfill our eighteen-year-old agreement to compete in Jiaxing."

Although Yang Kang said it was a discussion, his words left no room for doubt.

Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo stared blankly at their son, unable to utter a word of objection.

Wang Chuyi looked at Yang Kang, seemingly lost in thought, but no one objected at that moment.

Only Huang Rong found Yang Kang increasingly strange the more she looked at him.

She always felt that Jing-gege's brother was too deep-seated and gloomy, which made people uncomfortable.

She disliked being with Yang Kang, and when she heard that Yang Kang wanted the two of them to go south first, she was secretly delighted.

And so the group parted ways as the sun set.

For some reason, Wang Chuyi chose to go to Shandong with Yang Kang's family, leaving Guo Jing and Huang Rong to travel south to Jiaxing alone.

. . . . .

In Zhongdu, Qiu Chuji, who had arrived late, was looking disheveled and inquiring about his disciple's whereabouts.