Chapter 478

The skeleton had turned a grayish white, its clothes long rotted into rags, barely discernible as a wide Daoist robe.

A pair of hands, now reduced to dry bone, held steadily a dark-colored brocade box.

The brocade box was dark in hue yet well preserved; the embroidered pattern of the Big Dipper on its lid gleamed with a faint sheen in the firelight.

This skeleton seemed to be guarding the entrance, having lain there for untold years.

Tuan Tuan poked her little head out from her brother's arm crook: "Big brother, who is he?"

Seeing the skeleton clad in a Daoist robe, Chu Yuan had a vague suspicion; he stepped past the crowd and made a Daoist bow to the skeleton: "Infinite Heavenly Venerable."

Xiao Ningyuan steadied himself, gently set his sister down, stepped forward, and gave a solemn bow before the skeleton: "Junior Xiao Ningyuan, I disturb you, Taoist Priest, out of necessity; I hope you will forgive me."

After the rites, he then carefully reached out and slowly drew the brocade box from those bony hands.

It felt slightly heavy in his hand; he lifted the lid lightly, and it opened readily.

Inside lay only a scroll of plain white silk tied with a string.

Xiao Ningyuan placed the box on the table, took out the scroll, retreated to a brighter spot, and unfolded it with care.

The ink on the silk remained; the characters began neat and flowing, but grew increasingly shaky and clumsy toward the end, the last few lines appearing as if the writer could no longer muster strength, leaving blotches of ink.

He read it aloud in a low voice:

"I am Xuanwei, born of a guilty consort, born in the cold palace, raised in dust and ashes."

"Only the Sage Virtue Emperor, though he is merely my half-brother sharing the same father, has never looked down on me because of my mother's clan's guilt."

"When young, the Sage Virtue Emperor often sent me food and clothing, and later secretly invited eminent masters to teach me the art of star observation and divination."

"To me, the Sage Virtue Emperor was the sole warmth and solace during the long, sunless years within the palace."

"Although the Sage Virtue Emperor later ascended the throne, the court had already become entrenched in corruption, impossible to reverse."

"The Empress Dowager controlled the government, the outer relatives' power ran rampant; though the Sage Virtue Emperor wholeheartedly sought to revive the court's order, he faced difficulty at every step, like a mayfly trying to shake a tree, unable to move an inch."

"He often told me, seeing daily the people's suffering and the realm's decline, his heart burned as if in fire."

"I exhausted all my learning and caught a glimpse of a sliver of heavenly secret."

"Thus I poured my heart and blood, forged the Heavenly Son Sword, and hid the 'Seven Keys' in various places across the world, awaiting a future enlightened ruler."

"Today, I have exhausted my spirit and life force, sending the Heavenly Son Sword into the void; I know my mind and body are withered, and my time has come."

Upon reaching this point, the handwriting began to grow shaky and clumsy:

"The Sage Virtue Emperor treated me with utmost sincerity and purity; if he knew I died because of him, he would surely be grieved to the point of harming his health."

"Therefore I only told him I was going into secluded meditation, then came here alone."

"This secret passage has two exits: one leads behind the bookshelf in the eastern warm pavilion of Zichen Hall, where I and the Sage Virtue Emperor held private discussions."

"The other is the bottom of the dry well in the western garden of the cold palace, where I resided in my youth."

The final few lines, the strokes scattered, as if the last ounce of strength had been expended:

"If in later ages someone can obtain the Heavenly Son Sword and make all seven stars on its blade shine brightly, that person is the Heaven's chosen."

"I hope you will not betray the Sage Virtue Emperor's aspirations, restore the realm's mountains and rivers, and save the people from suffering. Xuanwei, final brush."

After the scroll was read, silence fell all around, the firelight casting a solemn glow on everyone's faces.

Tuan Tuan's tears fell with a patter: "Those two are truly wonderful—brother helps brother, brother remembers brother."

Xiao Er let out a long sigh: "They say the imperial family has no affection, yet I never expected there to be such a deeply emotional and righteous pair of brothers."

Lu Qi nodded: "This Taoist Priest Xuanwei, even in death, still guards this secret passage for his younger brother."

Xiao Ningyuan slowly rolled up the scroll, his heart shaken beyond words.

How could this be merely some former dynasty's obsession with restoring the nation?

This is clearly a sincere and poignant brotherly bond buried deep by the passage of time.

It is a lone elder brother, in desperate times, doing for his beloved younger brother and the soon-to-fall dynasty the last thing he could do.

Even if it cost his life, he would not hesitate.

He did not even seek for anyone to know.

Chu Yuan's voice hoarse: "This National Preceptor Xuanwei is truly admirable."

Xiao Er nodded heavily, his gaze upon the skeleton full of respect.

Xiao Ningyuan placed the scroll back into the brocade box and gently returned it to the skeleton's hands.

He lifted Tuan Tuan, wiped the tears from her face, and said: "This Grandfather Xuanwei has been waiting here for a very long time."

"Now that you have found the Heavenly Son Sword and discovered this place, his wait was not in vain."

Tuan Tuan nodded, looking earnestly at the skeleton: "Grandfather Xuanwei, I will surely help your brother, so that all the common folk may live good lives!"

Xiao Ningyuan said: "Since we have entered this gate and inherited his legacy, we ought to let Taoist Priest Xuanwei rest in peace."

He glanced at the stone chamber and the narrow entrance of the secret passage: "But this place is really not suitable for a proper burial."

"No need to relocate the grave," Chu Yuan said softly. "Xuanwei's act was originally a Daoist's guarding of truth, with the skeleton serving as the gate."

"Having chosen this place as his final resting, he guards this passage; moving him would only betray his intent."

Xiao Ningyuan startled: "The National Preceptor's words are quite right; I was shortsighted."

He set his sister down, unfastened his outer robe, walked to the skeleton, and bowed: "My clothing is simple; let it temporarily shield you from dust and ash."

"When the day comes that the realm's mountains and rivers are restored, I will personally present a memorial to His Majesty, inviting your remains to Xuanqiong Temple, where incense shall forever burn and all people may behold you."

Having spoken, he bent over, unfolded the robe lightly, and draped it over the skeleton.

He lifted his head, gazing into the depths of the passage: "The discovery of this passage comes at just the right time."

"Tonight we shall enter the palace and rescue the Seventh Prince!"

Upon hearing this, Tuan Tuan beamed, clapping her little hands: "How wonderful! I'll get to see Third Elder Brother!"

Xiao Ningyuan rubbed his sister's head: "Exactly."

"But before we rescue him, we must first make a trip to His Majesty's imperial study."