Chapter 80: The Web That Was Woven

"Ah! How... how can this be?"
Yet another cultivation method was shattered by Shen Shi. The Eighth Lady and her sisters had always cultivated only magical power, never fortune.
"Eighth Sister, you see it for yourself now. This is the effect of fortune. From now on, please never harm others again," the Fourteenth Lady immediately urged.
She never missed a chance to persuade; she hoped her whole family would become virtuous foxes.
In the past, the Eighth Lady always had plenty of arguments to counter the Fourteenth. Just the matter of transformation alone left Fourteenth speechless.
Yes, they stole things, but they had transformed. They borrowed scholars' talent, but they had transformed...
Little Fourteenth wanted to be a good fox, but she hadn't transformed yet. Was this truly the reward for being a good fox?
Without transformation, Fourteenth had no grounds to argue.
But times had changed. Fourteenth Lady had not only transformed, but Eighth Lady had witnessed fortune with her own eyes.
She had even seen, under the influence of this fortune, a horse from the Shen family’s stable—one warhorse actually absorbed a trace of spiritual energy.
It made Eighth Lady’s heart race.
Why had they sought the talent of scholars? Was it not ultimately for the pursuit of spiritual energy? In her nearly eight hundred years of cultivation, she had gradually come to accept that talent was nearly equivalent to spiritual energy. With talent, they could find spiritual energy.
Of course, in search of spiritual energy, they had visited famous mountains and rivers aplenty.
It was hard work, but for the sake of becoming immortal, such hardship meant little.
Yet today, at Shen Shi’s place, she discovered another path to immortality. With enough fortune, spiritual energy descended from the heavens.
Even a common horse could absorb spiritual energy—this was simply unfair!
Eighth Lady said nothing, but the next few days at the stables were lively. Rumor had it a green fox appeared, chasing after the lead horse.

The Shen household’s retainers initially feared the fox might harm the horses, but soon realized it meant no harm.
It merely wished to graze and drink alongside them.
By the time this reached Shen Shi’s ears, several days had passed. Shen Shi could only feel helpless.
But that was for later; meanwhile, as the Shen family flourished and lacked nothing for food, someone grew restless. The Shen family received an invitation from the Defender of Ruzhou and the Commander of Ningjiang Army.
The invitation carried great weight, for the army belonged to the old Zhao family. Its previous commander was Zhao Yunrang.
Zhao Yunrang was none other than the eldest son of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, who, after the death of Prince Zhou Wang Zhao You, was taken in by Zhenzong and raised in the palace. When Prince Zhao Zhen (later Emperor Renzong) was born, Zhao Yunrang was sent back to his residence with musical honors and appointed Prefect of Weizhou. When Emperor Renzong ascended, Zhao Yunrang was made Defender of Ruzhou and Commander of Ningjiang Army.
At first glance, he seemed a hapless prince who narrowly missed the throne and surely lacked favor from the reigning emperor. But the truth was, when Emperor Renzong died, his son Zhao Shu ascended as Emperor Yingzong of Song—who was the thirteenth son of Zhao Yunrang, Zhao Zongshi.
If that weren’t remarkable enough, Emperor Renzong had four sons and fourteen daughters, all of whom died young. Moreover, Zhao Yunrang held the key position of the Zhao family’s ancestral temple.
Wasn’t that terrifying?
History described him as possessing innate strength, with a dignified exterior and a gentle heart, never revealing his emotions.
Note, this “history” is written when his son became emperor. In other words, his own son said he “never showed joy or anger in his expression.”
As for the current Defender, he was also said to be of the old Zhao clan, but Zhao Yunrang’s fame stirred Shen Shi’s heart with unease, bringing him quickly to mind.
“Father, are you acquainted with the Defender of Ruzhou?” Shen Shi asked.
He needed to clarify this. Never trust magnanimity in a struggle for the throne, but if his father had always been on the side of the next emperor, that was not a bad thing.
Supporting a future ruler always brings fortune. Though Shen Shi inherited the teachings of the human sect—so long as the human race thrived, his fortune would grow—but if his father was already aligned with the next emperor’s camp, he had no reason not to benefit from such fortune.
“Defender of Ruzhou, Zhao? I don’t know him!”
But his father was also suspicious. He knew many scholars and officials, but as for the military... to be honest, if possible, he would rather never have contact.
“Father, why don’t we go together this time?” His father wasn’t acquainted, but Shen Shi, on a whim, suggested they go together.

His father did not refuse his son’s request. However, he issued a reward: if anyone protected their horses in his absence, he would grant them the Shen family’s martial arts. This was true martial training of a military house, worthy of reward even by the imperial family, so the retainers were naturally excited.
Shen Shi did not reject this, but he wasn’t particularly convinced either. He left the Fourteenth Lady behind to help look after the family. Even Little Gulu and Big Black weren’t required to guard to the death—if they could stop trouble, good; if not, it didn’t matter.
Warhorses were important for the Song dynasty, but they were ultimately tools. The real force in war was “people.” As long as Song maintained the separation of civil and military functions, no matter how many warhorses it had, it would remain the same. So, though everyone valued warhorses, their actual impact was not as great as imagined.
Still, worry often invites trouble. Shen Shi and his father, accompanied by ten mounted retainers, went to visit the Defender of Ruzhou. But as soon as they reached the garrison, Ningjiang City, they were intercepted.
“Well, isn’t this Zhao Xue? How did you become a general now?”
Zhao Xue was still Zhao Xue, but now dressed in a general’s armor, looking somewhat formidable.
“Heh, I wouldn’t dare call myself a general, but I am indeed a Cavalry Captain. Now that you’re in my territory, let’s talk in the Prosperity Pavilion next door!”
Zhao Xue spoke gleefully, confident and assured.
A struggle for the throne always needs military support, even in the Song dynasty. With Zhao Yunrang in office here, he had certainly cultivated Ningjiang well.
It seemed they were lambs entering a tiger’s den. But who was the lamb was yet to be determined. Shen Shi was no Lin Chong; he would not surrender just because it was their territory.
“Ha, let’s have a good talk.”
Shen Shi chuckled, stepped forward, and grabbed Zhao Xue’s shoulder with a casual smile, “Then let’s accompany you and see what tricks you have up your sleeve.”
With a gentle squeeze, he dragged Zhao Xue toward the nearby grand restaurant, his face full of amusement and mischief.
To summon them under the Defender’s name was a clever plan, but he was bold enough to confront them within twenty paces. Damn it! Did he really think Shen Shi’s reputation as a Daoist was just for show?
Even a fisherman needs a strong net, or he’ll never catch a shark.