Chapter 129: Dare to Deceive Even a Sage?

Not long after, the disciples dispatched by the Three Pure Ones arrived at what is now the capital of the Shang Dynasty. Having come to congratulate the new Human Sovereign, they were initially in high spirits, but that mood did not last long.

Shang Tang had actually submitted to the Heavenly Court! How dared he? This was no trivial matter; everyone knew the true purpose behind the overthrow of the Xia Dynasty, and Shang Tang himself had promised to restore the system of communal rule. To think that now, with success achieved, he had gone back on his word. The disciples were not only shocked but begrudgingly impressed by Shang Tang’s audacity. How could he dare to trifle with the Sages?

Gathering together, they quickly conferred before heading to the palace to demand an explanation. Did he intend to disregard the majesty of the Sages? After being announced, they entered the palace and came face-to-face with Shang Tang.

"I apologize for my lack of a proper welcome, as I was unaware of the arrival of the Sages' disciples," Shang Tang said, walking toward them with a smile. He was dressed in royal robes and a crown, a faint purple aura of imperial authority swirling around him, surrounded by his ministers.

"Shang Tang!" The disciples were secretly incensed by his regal air, a stark contrast to the humility he had shown when seeking the support of the Three Teachings. "Do you still remember what you promised us?"

"Bold! How dare you be disrespectful to the King!" One of Shang Tang’s close ministers stepped forward and chided the disciples. He was a mere mortal, unaware of the status of these guests, and spoke out only to curry favor with his monarch.

"Enough!" Shang Tang immediately cut him off, though there was no real reprimand in his tone. The minister bowed and retreated.

"Gentlemen," Shang Tang stepped forward and gestured apologetically. "It is not that I am unwilling..." Faced with their accusations, he spoke with reason and emotion, weaving a tale of the constraints he faced, which left the disciples unable to press the matter further.

***

In the end, with the support of his ministers, the disciples of the Three Teachings found themselves unable to act against him and were forced to depart. Before long, the Three Pure Ones learned of this, reacting with profound shock and boundless fury.

"That Shang Tang has quite the nerve!" Tongtian muttered, clutching his sword, his words laced with lethal intent. "A mere ant, yet he dares to deceive the Sages?"

Yuanshi’s eyes gleamed with cold light. They had assumed the restoration of communal rule was a certainty and had paid little attention, never imagining Shang Tang would toy with them. Had they remained silent for so long that the world had forgotten the nature of a Sage?

"This is our own oversight," Laozi said after a moment of silence, observing the arrival of Tongtian and Yuanshi. "While Shang Tang is audacious, it is also true that the human lords have grown accustomed to hereditary succession and are unwilling to revert to the ancient ways."

"What shall we do? If we let Shang Tang go unpunished, where will our dignity as Sages remain?" Tongtian asked, frowning.

"Unless we are prepared to go to war with the Heavenly Court, there is little we can do," Yuanshi replied. He looked at the other two, gauging their reactions. War was a possibility, for while the Three Pure Ones were powerful, the cost would be immense. Even if they were immortal, the consequences of a war between Sages were unimaginable, and their disciples would surely suffer.

"We are all disciples of Zixiao Palace, brothers of the same origin. How can we go to war over such a trivial matter?" Laozi pondered. Tongtian, despite his anger, agreed; he had no desire to truly become an enemy of the Heavenly Court.

***

Yuanshi shook his head, extinguishing the thought of war. "Still, we cannot let Shang Tang have his way." He waved his hand, conjuring a vision of Shang Tang selecting beauties to fill his harem.

"Agreed," the others replied. Together, they subtly altered the geomantic layout of the Shang capital, causing the fortune of the dynasty to begin a steady decline. It was because of this that the early Shang Dynasty remained precarious, only finding stability much later when King Wu Ding was advised by sages to move the capital to Zhaoge.

Furthermore, the Three Pure Ones sent a message to the Sacred Land of Humanity, claiming that since Shang Tang’s mission to overthrow the Xia was complete and his merit fulfilled, he should immediately be summoned to the Sacred Land. It was a flimsy pretext, but a convenient one to cause him trouble.

The Sacred Land understood the Three Pure Ones' intentions, but they had to treat the Sages' words with gravity. A brief council was held. The Sovereigns were divided; some argued that Shang Tang’s movements were his own business, while others—led by Qi, who still harbored resentment over the fall of the Xia—argued that he should be summoned to prevent him from squandering resources on indulgence.

In the end, Qi’s arguments prevailed. Poor Shang Tang, having reigned for only thirteen years, had barely grown accustomed to his newly built palace before he was forcibly recalled by the Sacred Land. Fortunately, he was permitted to bring a few of his favorite beauties with him, or he surely would have collapsed from the indignity.