Chapter 40 – Settling the Yin Dynasty’s Affairs (1)

Wu Cheng’s scalp had already been tingling with dread, but when he turned to see Zhan Changfeng cut down Gongsun Jing, his heart plunged into an icy abyss.

Wu Fei Yu, too, wore a look of mild surprise, her eyes shimmering softly before she broke into a light laugh. “Little brother need not be envious — in a moment, you’ll end up just like him.”

Who’s envious!

Wu Cheng was about to burst out in a torrent of curses when the drifting metallic stench of blood caught in his throat, and his eyes snapped wide open.

The figure strolling toward them drew closer and closer, and with each step the smell of blood grew thicker. At last, by the light of the moon, Wu Cheng could make out her face — pale as a ghost, splattered with droplets of crimson, bewitching and demonic. The red robes she wore were clearly soaked through with blood.

Wu Cheng’s tongue tied itself in knots, his throat parched and raw. “You — you went to the village?”

“Hmm?” Wu Fei Yu replied in her gentle tone. “It took a little longer than expected. I’m afraid I’m late.”

The golden Feathered Serpent shot toward Wu Cheng like an arrow, its venomous fangs bared!

All at once, Wu Xingshan materialized, forming a hand seal to deflect the golden Feathered Serpent. His form was exceedingly faint, and the handsome face beneath it carried the same chilling, sinister air as before. He fixed a long, heavy gaze upon Wu Fei Yu, his expression deeply complicated.

Had he known of her existence from the start, he should have taken her body as a vessel. Even without the Emperor’s Flower, the Lovebinding Gu wouldn’t have been so great a loss.

“Founding Master, she slaughtered the village — she wiped out the entire Gaotian Tribe!” Wu Cheng clung to this as though it were his last lifeline, craning his neck up at the man. “You cannot let her go unpunished!”

Wu Xingshan merely glanced at him sidelong. If these useless wretches hadn’t bungled even the simplest of tasks, he would never have been reduced to this state — years of painstaking effort falling into another’s hands was one thing, but his soul had suffered grievous injury, and even seizing a new body had ended in failure.

“Hmph.” Wu Xingshan’s gaze swept across Wu Fei Yu and Zhan Changfeng, venomous as a serpent’s, making both of them involuntarily tense. “Next time, you won’t be so fortunate.”

With a sweep of his sleeve, Wu Xingshan transformed into a streak of light and fled into the distance, taking Wu Cheng along with him.

Zhan Changfeng leaned lazily against her sword. Wu Xingshan’s injuries were likely severe — and thankfully so. If he had stayed to fight with everything he had, this whole affair might have been impossible to resolve tonight.

She watched the fleeing streak of light, while Wu Fei Yu was watching her. “Little treasure~”

Zhan Changfeng went blank. After confirming that she was indeed being addressed, she went even more blank. “Didn’t you call that snake of yours ‘little treasure’ before?”

Wu Fei Yu laughed with a radiance that seemed to dim the heavens and earth around her — as though the ones who had fled were utterly inconsequential, as though she had strolled out covered in blood simply to enjoy the scenery at the dock. “Indeed I did.”

Zhan Changfeng suspected she intended to turn her into a gu ingredient, and kept a wary eye on the hand Wu Fei Yu extended toward her.

Those slender, bone-white fingers were pristine and luminous; in the moonlight, fine blue veins were just barely visible beneath the skin. Her fingertips glided through the air as if tracing the contours of Zhan Changfeng’s face, or perhaps brushing the scar that ran across her cheek. Everything about this woman was as inscrutable as a riddle — bewitching and dangerous.

A moment later, that hand was held out flat before her. Zhan Changfeng looked at Wu Fei Yu, whose eyes shone with languid allure. “What do you want?”

Wu Fei Yu bent slightly at the waist and shook her hand with a hint of displeasure. “Give it to me. Surely you’re not going back on your word?”

“Back on what?” Zhan Changfeng paused, and then suddenly remembered.

“You said it yourself — cooperate with someone, and give that person something she wants.” Wu Fei Yu was visibly displeased, even her lips pressed together in a thin line.

“Naturally I keep my word,” Zhan Changfeng said with perfect composure. “What do you want — the Emperor’s Flower?”

Wu Fei Yu nodded.

“Would you tell me what it’s used for?”

“The Emperor’s Flower can control the Lovebinding Gu. It is the finest sacred gu ingredient in existence.”

Zhan Changfeng thought for a moment, then asked, “And the Lovebinding Gu?”

“Gone.”

“…” She rephrased the question. “Was it the Lovebinding Gu that burst out of the ground in the Passage?”

“Yes.”

Zhan Changfeng drew the strikingly gorgeous flower from her sleeve and handed it to Wu Fei Yu.

Wu Fei Yu was momentarily stunned. “You’re giving it up so easily?”

After all, this had been cultivated by her ancestor — the finest sacred gu ingredient of them all.

“A beauty and a flower — both deserve to be treated with care.” Seeing the meaningful look on Wu Fei Yu’s face, Zhan Changfeng added with a straight face, “I keep my word.”

And so, the beauty took the flower and departed. “Little treasure, may fate bring us together again.”

Clouds veiled the moon. A mass of dim green leapt out from the darkness and drew slowly closer.

Zhan Changfeng half-closed her eyes, feeling rather tired. “Those words were meant for you in the first place — I just didn’t expect there to be yet another person lurking in the shadows.”

Zhu Yan tossed its long white hair. “Weren’t you reluctant to part with it, giving something like that away?”

“It’s useless to me — no different from trash. There’s nothing to be reluctant about.” Zhan Changfeng frowned. “You’ve been at the Founding Emperor’s side for a long time. Do you know anything about the matter between him and Wu Xingshan?”

“I had not yet awakened my spirit back then — how would I have known?”

“That’s fair.”

Zhu Yan tilted its head with an air of innocence. “Though, toward the very end, I had gained a faint spiritual sense. I remember seeing them argue all the time.”

“Oh — argue?”

“Yes, yes, and they were always fighting too.”

Zhan Changfeng was a little bewildered, unable to extract anything useful from this. “I’m going to go rescue the prisoners first.”

Zhu Yan panicked and trotted after her on its hooves. “Oh my, I didn’t stay hidden on purpose! I thought you could handle them on your own — you’re just like the master, so tall and imposing, so mighty and awe-inspiring…”

Zhan Changfeng nearly tripped over a pebble on the ground. “Hah. You’re imagining things.”

Zhan Changfeng went directly to the county magistrate and threatened him into releasing the prisoners.

As the county magistrate trembled beneath her sword, issuing orders for his soldiers to carry the wounded onto the boats, she knew — the Yin Dynasty’s rule had reached its end.

The common people were no longer treated as people; the officials no longer acted as officials. Right and wrong had been inverted for a thousand years.

Only by shattering the old order entirely could something new be born.

The boats traveled along the river, and after three to five days they arrived at Hengzhou.

After being rescued, Songshi Zi had sent word to Liyun Temple, and by the time the boats docked, the people from Liyun Temple were already waiting at the pier.

Songshi Zi sat in a wheelchair, his entire body wrapped in bandages. With great effort he drew his arms together into a cupped fist salute. “Your Highness’s grace and benevolence — Songshi Zi shall repay it abundantly.”

Zhan Changfeng was unhurried. “No need for abundance. As it happens, I need your help with something right now.”

“Your Highness, please speak. I will go through mountains of blades and seas of fire if need be!”

“Nothing so drastic — you only need to let slip a piece of news.” Zhan Changfeng spoke the words she had long since deliberated over. “Simply say that when you entered Flag Mountain, you encountered an ancient immortal who demolished an entire mountain peak with a single gesture. This immortal possessed a sacred book on governing the realm: a king who obtains it may pacify all under heaven; a subject who obtains it may command all eight directions; it places one above all others, second only to the ruler himself.”

Songshi Zi was mildly puzzled, but did not ask any further questions. “I will keep this in mind.”

Liyun Temple held a certain reputation in the northeastern region, and the circle of people Songshi Zi associated with were all individuals who sought rare treasures underground — every one of their contacts, both above and below, was a nobleman, wealthy merchant, or powerful household.

The fame of the sacred book of Flag Mountain spread quickly.

When people went to Flag Mountain to see for themselves, they found that a mountain peak had indeed crumbled away, lending the rumor yet another measure of credibility.

For a time, no small number of people made their way into the mountains, drawn by the tales.