[Righteous Thief (Red): Perform righteous deeds, akin to a mantis raising its arms in defiance; gain the attention of Great Fortune; when facing threats from the Imperial Court, there is a certain chance of attracting good luck and avoiding disaster.]
This is the second time I've obtained... a Destiny related to fate.
Other Destinies increase status or talent, but few involve fate...
After seeing the introduction for the Red Fate [Righteous Thief], Xu Xing felt his journey to intercept and kill Huang Beile, thereby becoming a rebel, had been worthwhile.
Compared to his previous Destinies, [Righteous Thief] might not offer a significant direct enhancement, but this kind of Destiny, involving the unseen workings of fate, was the most precious treasure.
It was also key to his counterattack against Han Sui and Emperor Chongming.
...
...
Back in reality.
Xu Xing opened the panel within the Bronze Ancient World.
[Mirror Master: Xu Xing.]
[Dao Fruit: Lifetime of mediocrity (White), Broad Knowledge and Strong Memory (White), Average Martial Arts (Red).]
[...]
[Destinies: Wenchang (White), Righteous Thief (Red).]
On the gold, clear mirror surface, lines of text appeared.
"You have condensed the Red Fate [Righteous Thief]. This Fate conflicts with the White Destiny [Lifetime of mediocrity]. Do you wish to replace the White Destiny [Lifetime of mediocrity] with the Red Fate [Righteous Thief] and solidify it with a [Dao Fruit]?"
"This process is irreversible."
Next, sentences flowed across the mirror surface.
Once I have the Righteous Thief Fate, unless I find a higher Destiny to replace it, this Righteous Thief Fate will accompany me for my entire life...
Seeing this, Xu Xing also discovered a flaw in the Bronze Ancient Mirror: it eternally raised the lower limit of his life.
The Dao Fruit were fixed, unchangeable.
Although the second-level page of the [Righteous Thief] Fate did not detail its disadvantages, Xu Xing could guess them. Once he solidified the [Righteous Thief] Fate with a Dao Fruit, he would inevitably have to oppose the Fengxi Country's Imperial Court in the future, unless he found another Fate to replace it.
And opposing the Imperial Court, even with the protection of a Destiny, was fraught with danger.
One dies with defiance, ambitions soaring to the heavens.
Indecision breeds chaos; failure to make a clean break invites future trouble!
Xu Xing's gaze became determined.
One should be tougher on oneself in life.
Three months passed in the Instance World, bringing the Jingyang County Exam. In reality, eighteen days had passed—more than half a month.
According to information from Zhao Yunniang, Han Sui had begun secretly producing glazed glass according to the "Secret Technique."
Although he had not yet produced qualified glazed glass, it seemed this would not take too long.
Once Han Sui succeeds... turning on each other... it won't be long now.
It wasn't that he didn't consider stringing Han Sui along, deliberately undermining his progress in making glazed glass. However, if Han Sui and the others didn't see success for a long time, they would lose patience. Then, he would not only fail to achieve his minor goal but also suffer a greater loss.
"Replace the White Destiny [Lifetime of mediocrity]."
"Solidify the White Destiny [Wenchang]."
Xu Xing made up his mind, commanding the Bronze Ancient Mirror with his thoughts.
However, to his surprise, the [Lifetime of mediocrity] Destiny didn't vanish immediately. Instead, it gradually shattered, transforming into a segment of memory. A series of frames flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern.
From his birth, to excelling in the mathematics section of the county exam, being framed, and imprisoned...
Until Zhao Yunniang entered the bridal chamber with him.
This was the memory of the first half of his life.
Next, two months later, he was flayed and his skin stuffed with grass by cruel officials, and his human skin was hung in the Chenghuang Temple. Five years later, Zhao Yunniang took their young son, Zhao Zhang, to the Chenghuang Temple to pay respects to him...
"Mom, is this man my dad?"
Young Zhao Zhang, with his hair tied in topknots, pointed curiously at the human skin nailed to the wall.
"He is your father..." Zhao Yunniang gently touched Zhao Zhang's head and said softly.
"He embezzled so much money."
"He's dead, he deserved it. Why do we still pay respects to him?" Zhao Zhang spoke with childish bluntness.
The remaining soul of Xu Xing, lingering in the human skin, heard these words and completely dissipated, no longer attached to the world.
One life had ended tragically.
...
Dead.
To be reviled for a lifetime—this is human nature.
Xu Xing coldly observed this life's experiences.
Perhaps due to the difference between reality and illusion, he felt no emotional connection to Zhao Zhang, his supposed son. Thus, even when Zhao Zhang 'slandered' him, his state of mind remained completely undisturbed.
The experiences of that life finally dissipated.
The Red Fate [Righteous Thief] appeared in his [Dao Fruit] column.
Instantly, Xu Xing felt his entire being was different.
He was unsure exactly how he had changed, but he felt much more comfortable, and his thoughts seemed clearer.
He sat cross-legged in meditation; the time it took to complete a Great Zhou Heavenly Circulation was now reduced by a third.
After presenting the method for making glazed glass to Han Sui, Xu Xing no longer concealed that he was practicing an internal cultivation method.
After all, he could hide it for a day or two. But if it went on for too long, the ubiquitous spies of the Night Patrol Department would definitely discover his secret, even if the prison officers of Sky Prison didn't. With that, it's better to be upfront and secure more time for cultivation.
Given the enormous profits from making glazed glass, his practicing an internal cultivation method wasn't considered a major issue.
In the eyes of others, he wasn't some Martial Dao prodigy. Even if he practiced, it would be difficult to become a peerless master in such a short time.
The Sky Prison was heavily guarded; even a Martial Dao Innate would find it difficult to escape once imprisoned there.
I was executed by the Imperial Court...
I willingly risked everything, daring to drag the Emperor off his horse. I would tread Heavenly Street, crushing the bones of nobles and high officials.
This is akin to a defiant mantis, choosing not to starve in silent submission!
Therefore, I received the favor of Great Fortune, and my cultivation speed increased considerably...
Xu Xing's mind was clear; he quickly understood the reason for his accelerated cultivation speed.
When fortune arrives, heaven and earth lend their strength!
He pondered for a moment, his eyes lighting up as a clever idea struck him.
He rose and walked to the bookcase.
I'm already a man condemned to die. Even if I curse Emperor Chongming, the Tiqi of the Night Patrol Department won't bother with me. After all, it's normal for a dying man to harbor grievances against the Emperor...
If the Emperor concerned himself with the curses of every convicted minister, he'd never have a moment's peace.
Commander Liu would never let such rebellious words reach Emperor Chongming's ears...
But these rebellious words will reach the ears of the Civil and Military Officers.
The more I oppose the Imperial Court, the more I'll be favored by Great Fortune.
Xu Xing sat in the Grand Master Chair, slowly grinding ink.
He mused for a moment, then wrote: "Clouds follow the dragon, wind follows the tiger; fame and fortune are but dust and soil. Look upon the divine land, the Common People suffer; a thousand li of fertile land lie barren. Survey the world, it is full of thieves. When the Heavenly Dao is flawed, a common man must mend it. A true man leaves his parents, not for a lord, but for the masses, only stopping when all Civil and Military Officers are slain. I was once a dignified man of Han; why am I now a prisoner in jail?"
"Brave warriors drain their bowls of wine, embarking on a thousand-li journey, never looking back. Golden Drums thunder, ten thousand voices roar; we vow not to rest until the Yellow Dragon is destroyed!"
Writing rebellious poetry couldn't be done haphazardly.
Directly stating he wanted to kill Emperor Chongming would be too blatant. He likened the Civil and Military Officers to "thieves" and destroying the "Yellow Dragon" to "cleansing the Emperor's side." This kind of rebellious poem wouldn't be excessively taboo.
Even if Emperor Chongming learned of it, he would likely just scoff and dismiss it.
Who would care about a death row inmate in the Sky Prison?
And as for the Civil and Military Officers, the poem didn't name anyone specifically, so they wouldn't stoop to arguing with Xu Xing.