Just like in the previous countless iterations of the plot,
King Fuchai of Wu was eager to completely annex all of Yue's territory, but was constrained by appearances—and by fear of provoking popular resentment in newly conquered lands—making it inappropriate to go too far when the opponent had already sought peace and surrendered.
As a result, his attitude wavered constantly.
Once prodded by Wu Zixu's words, he began deliberately humiliating, provoking, and antagonizing Goujian in every possible way, hoping Goujian would be unable to endure it and rise up in resistance—thus providing a legitimate excuse to execute him.
However, they tried every method they could think of.
Whether it was demanding the cession of over ninety percent of Yue's territory, beheading generals, disbanding soldiers, or attempting to eradicate the last remnants of Yue's military strength—
Goujian remained completely unmoved.
It was as if, so long as he could stay alive, everything else could be discarded.
It wasn't until all other measures had been exhausted, and on Wu Zixu's suggestion they decided to drag the Queen of Yue into the military tent for ultimate humiliation, that Tang San spoke up for the first time.
This was a moment he had carefully chosen.
Wu Zixu's provocations had grown increasingly outrageous, while the anger of the Yue officials and soldiers behind him had been steadily accumulating. Even among the people of Wu, some had begun to feel uneasy.
Only by going mad at this precise moment would all of Yue feel deep humiliation and unite in hatred—
And the higher the rage of the Yue people climbed, the less Fuchai would dare to kill him.
After all, Fuchai's primary goal was territorial expansion, not simply avenging his father or indulging in cruel amusement.
The moral framework of the Spring and Autumn period was vastly different from that of Douluo—or even Tang San's previous life.
This was an era where even warfare emphasized upright conduct; the age of shameless tactics had not yet fully arrived.
To refuse mercy even to a king who had been driven mad would inevitably spark rebellions, while also handing other states a ready-made excuse to launch attacks.
Perhaps because the "virus" had been shut down and intelligence had reclaimed the high ground,
Tang San's thoughts suddenly became exceptionally clear.
He plastered a smile across his face, crawled forward on his knees, and continued until he reached the entrance of the tent, where he cried out with heartfelt desperation:
"Your Majesty the King of Wu, this guilty slave is willing to select the most beautiful women from throughout Yue and assign specialists to teach them court etiquette, so that they may serve Your Majesty's pleasure."
"I beg you—please spare the Queen. She is not only my queen, but also the Crown Prince's mother!"
These words did not arouse sympathy from Fuchai or Wu Zixu.
On the contrary, they were delighted.
At last, they had found something Goujian truly cared about.
So you can't endure anymore, can you? Then let's make it even harsher—I refuse to believe you can still hold on.
Not only did Fuchai personally draw his whip and beat the Queen of Yue, but when he saw Tang San's expression twist in obvious pain, veins bulging prominently on the back of his hands, he even called two soldiers in from outside.
A single stone stirred a thousand waves.
This action instantly ignited the fury of every Yue official and surrendered soldier, their eyes turning blood-red.
Goujian had willingly declared himself a slave, so Fuchai beating the Queen of Yue—though excessive—did not technically exceed legal bounds.
A master had the right to dispose of a slave's possessions at will; even a wife was no exception. The victor taking the defeated ruler's wives and concubines was common practice.
But summoning ordinary soldiers crossed a clear line.
A queen—mother of the crown prince and future king—was worlds apart in status from common soldiers of humble birth.
In strict aristocratic households, even voluntary relations between wives or daughters and men of excessively low status were punished by family law—let alone outright defilement.
Before Chen Sheng and Wu Guang ever cried out, "Are kings and nobles born superior?", social origin was an insurmountable chasm.
Perhaps even calling it a "chasm" was too generous—it was absolute.
Just as Tang San felt the atmosphere was ripe and he could finally begin acting insane,
an unexpected development occurred inside the tent—one that caught him completely off guard, yet filled him with overwhelming joy.
The instant the two soldiers stepped inside, the Queen of Yue suddenly broke free from Fuchai's grip, seized a sword from a soldier's waist, and slit her own throat.
Her body collapsed heavily to the ground.
Fresh blood splashed onto Fuchai's face, and his mind instantly went blank.
Even without knowing what Tang San was about to unleash, his instincts—and his above-average political acumen—were screaming at him:
Wu might be in serious trouble.
Even the ever-radical Wu Zixu stood frozen, mouth half open, expression stiff.
There was only a single word's difference between forcing rebellion and forcing death—but the consequences could be earth-shattering.
In the worst case, Yue lands would erupt in widespread uprisings, while neighboring states gained a "just cause" to intervene.
Snapping out of his daze, Fuchai hurriedly put on his clothes, rushed out of the tent, and explained to Tang San:
"Goujian, I merely intended to frighten her. I truly had no intention of committing such a vile act."
"You sought peace, did you not? I agree. We will immediately conclude the alliance and sign the treaty—no additional conditions."
"Furthermore, as an apology, the tomb of the Queen of Yue will be constructed at Wu's expense."
Fuchai's retreat indeed exhilarated Tang San.
Despite having knelt under the blazing sun for nearly an entire day—his legs completely numb, his body scorched by pain and exhaustion—his heart surged like a raging sea.
He nearly wanted to leap up and cheer.
But it wasn't because he could live, or because Yue could preserve its state and last fragment of territory—
It was because this had confirmed the correctness of his reasoning.
As expected, neither of the two options presented in the problem were correct.
Only by discerning the unhinted third path could one find the sole correct answer—
The true essence of this trial.
Bing Qingyu Jie forcefully suppressed the turbulence in his heart and took a deep breath.
Then he slowly raised his head, his eyes turning vacant, murmuring the Queen's name as he staggered toward the tent.
Suddenly, he let out a cry toward the heavens, babbling incomprehensible words—
At times bursting into wild laughter at soldiers as if utterly delighted, at others roaring furiously at a single blade of grass.
"I have become a god—an unprecedented dual God King, ruling over the heavens and myriad worlds, peerless under the sky!"
"My achievements surpass the Three Sovereigns, my virtue eclipses the Five Emperors! I am the First Emperor who swept away the feudal lords and unified the realm! Why do you not kneel before Me?"
"Tang San is wise, resolute, broad-minded, and supremely gifted—hereby granted the title of Asura God King, hereditary and eternal!"
…
"What's wrong with him? And what even is a God King?"
Seeing Bing Qingyu Jie like this, Fuchai immediately realized what had happened.
His face turned pale, his voice trembling as he spoke—no trace remained of his former composure or lofty dominance.
Wu Zixu, however, recovered quickly after a brief shock.
After a moment's thought, he strode up to Tang San and sneered disdainfully:
"Goujian, stop pretending to be insane. Your acting is terrible. Everyone has already seen through your scheme. If you don't believe me, turn around and look."
Impossible. I didn't feel anything was wrong at all.
Tang San froze, subconsciously turning his head—
Only to see the previously furious Yue officials staring wide-eyed, their expressions filled with utter astonishment.
~~~~~
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