Chapter 119: Encountering a Sunny Day Chapter 98: Who Exactly Are You

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

In the witchcraft team, Shaowei and Yu Si Wu rode in the same carriage, sitting opposite each other.

Yu Si Wu looked at the girl before him, her witchcraft attire embroidered with colors, wearing a blue ghost mask; since leaving the city, she had closed her eyes to cultivate her spirit, her breath so light it was as if she had already fallen asleep.

Different from this tranquil demeanor, Yu Si Wu's heart surged incessantly at this moment.

Participating in the Great Sacrifice together with the people of Xian Tai Gong—this had never happened before.

On the third day of the third month, during the day Chi Yang would lead the people of Xian Tai Gong to set up the ritual altar, while at night belonged to the witches; at that time, the Heavenly Emperor's heir, civil and military ministers would all cast their gazes upon it, and inevitably someone would compare the Nuo Ritual night sacrifice with the daytime altar platform ceremonies, and if...

Yu Si Wu could not tolerate any imagination related to omissions or leaks; her mood fluctuated, and she suddenly reached out her hand.

Shaowei had not truly fallen asleep; she noticed Yu Si Wu's movement and suppressed the instinct to react prematurely.

Yu Si Wu's withered and icy hand reached over and grabbed Shaowei's hand in one grip.

Shaowei then opened her eyes at the right moment, meeting Yu Si Wu's eyes that shifted between light and dark.

Those eyes locked onto Shaowei, and in a steady voice she asked: "Are you confident? Seven days later at the night sacrifice, how much confidence do you have?"

Shaowei disliked physical contact with others; having her hand suddenly gripped tightly, a trace of discomfort and displeasure inevitably arose in her heart, wanting to shake free but only able to endure it.

But at this moment, looking at such a pair of eyes and such a face, the downcast eyes were filled with solemnity and longing; every inch of skin and every direction of muscle texture on the relaxed face carried reverence and loyalty to faith, as well as the unease of gain and loss—

Shaowei disrespected ghosts and gods, but at this moment she could not bring herself to slight or mock such a loyal person.

After a moment, Shaowei answered: "I will do my utmost."

Without boasting or playing mysterious again, claiming she definitely had ten parts confidence; the given answer could not guarantee the result, but she would guarantee to give her all.

This was all the solemnity she could give.

This matter differed from previous prophecies, among which there was destined to be an existence Shaowei could not control.

Even now, sitting in this carriage heading to Changling, was already a variable beyond her control; intuition told Shaowei that this variable was man-made.

Someone possessed absolutely powerful authority; with just a flick of the sleeve, they could control her whereabouts.

Ahead might be evil waters hiding many ferocious things and killing intent, and once retreating meant admitting defeat and withdrawing, so she must step across it.

Beneath the mask, the girl's eyes showed no retreat or fear, only calm solemnity; Yu Si Wu gripped that hand even tighter and nodded, saying: "Good, Huahua... I trust you."

Yu Si Wu repeated that sentence she had said many times: "You must always remember... this Great Sacrifice is of utmost importance to the Shen Ci."

Shaowei nodded: "I will."

Yu Si Wu finally slowly released that hand, whose fingertips had turned slightly white from being gripped, and blood color instantly surged back.

There were no more voices inside the carriage, but the carriage interior was still not quiet; the carriages the witches rode were relatively simple, and the carriage body jolted incessantly.

The team traveled eastward; Shaowei sat facing north; at this moment she raised her eyes, and through the narrow carriage window, looked at the scenery outside retreating in the swaying.

Gazing so far, if reaching over ten li outside, passing through a Red Yew Forest, one could see a villa hidden at the half mountain waist.

At this moment, a simpler carriage stopped at the back door of the villa.

Just as the carriage stopped steadily, someone dragged the person inside out by force.

The dragged boy had disheveled hair, struggled in a sorry state, had a cloth wad stuffed in his mouth, his hands were bound behind his back, and his body was wrapped in an old wolf-skin jacket pieced together with half sheepskin.

The boy was escorted by two sturdy guards through the back door; the carriage immediately drove away, the back door closed again, leaving no trace.

The interior of this villa was arranged very elegantly; it was originally the private property of a high official, but because he wanted to avoid disaster, he was forced to give it to the current master.

The two escorted the boy all the way through the back garden to the front of the after hall; then one of them finally took the cloth wad out of the boy's mouth, and while sneering said: "Young master, why must you struggle so desperately? In the world, is there a son who does not want to see his father?"

"I have no father!" The boy was pushed into the hall and retorted: "My grandmother said my parents are long dead! You are lying to me!"

"No, she lied to you." A cold yet faintly excited voice sounded in the hall: "Your father is clearly still alive!"

The boy looked toward the sound and saw that the man was tall, wearing a wide cloak; even though incense was burning in the hall with mist curling endlessly, it still could not cover the sinister look in the man's eyes.

The boy looked at the man with one empty arm with extreme vigilance and asked: "Who are you? Why did you capture me?"

"Who am I?" Zhu Zhi suddenly laughed twice: "That is a good question!"

He did not answer directly, but stepped forward, widening his eyes to stare directly at the boy: "Let me see who you resemble more..."

The boy turned his head to reject him, and the next moment the guard holding him grabbed his messy hair, forcing him to raise his face.

Zhu Zhi leaned very close; the boy could even hear his uneven breathing, and could clearly see his own reflection in the man's eyes.

Eyes met at close range; immense pressure tightly wrapped around the boy.

After a moment, Zhu Zhi said firmly: "You do not resemble your mother, only your father, so there can be no mistake..."

The boy suddenly sensed a killing intent, and forced himself to calm down as he asked: "Who exactly are you?"

Zhu Zhi still maintained a slightly bent posture looking at this boy with backbone and courage; he finally answered: "Your mother was my concubine; the grandmother you speak of was my wet nurse..."

Zhu Zhi slowly revealed a sinister smile: "So, who do you think I am?"

The boy's gaze wavered, and he said word by word: "I do not know you; what do you want to do?"

"You should ask me what I have done first." Zhu Zhi said slowly: "I killed your mother; she and your grandmother both betrayed me, and her conduct was even more vile and despicable, so... I sliced her flesh piece by piece."

The more Zhu Zhi spoke, the more excited the smile on his face became; he carefully appreciated the shock, anger, and inexplicable shame in the boy's pupils.

The boy struggled violently, but having almost exhausted his strength along the way, at this moment he could only be controlled like a trapped beast.

This appearance greatly pleased Zhu Zhi; he retreated a few steps and said loudly with a laugh: "A father-son reunion is a great joy!"

As he spoke, he turned and drew a treasure blade from a Lan Qi beside him.

Then he raised the blade and walked toward a screen beside him; the boy's gaze was forced to follow.

The screen had sandalwood as its frame and silk as its surface; the lead-colored silk was slightly translucent, embroidered with vast towering green mountains.

The youth's struggling movements inexplicably stalled; he noticed that behind the screen there seemed to be a jar-shaped container half a person tall, with something writhing above it. In this brief silence, strange sounds could faintly be heard coming from that thing—a sound neither human nor beast, like the muffled cry of some exhausted bird.

"Open your eyes wide and watch closely!"

Zhu Zhi excitedly guided him, his left hand suddenly slashing with a blade, cleaving the screen from top to center.

Sandalwood split under the blade, while the silk tore at a slightly slower pace, accompanied by a piercing ripping sound. The screen slowly tilted to both sides, and the embroidered green mountains seemed to crumble and collapse, revealing the truth hidden behind the green mountains.

Late second month, the mountains were green.

Winding green mountain ranges embraced Changling, shaped like a long dragon looking back.

The carriage and horse procession slowly approaching Changling traveled along the outer mountain, the procession's shape also like a coiling returning dragon.

The procession stopped in order; at the foremost dragon-head position, the Emperor was helped down from the imperial carriage.

Empress Rui and Liu Cheng stepped forward with bowed heads, followed by the ministers attending the imperial carriage.

Ordinary officials were not qualified to approach the Holy Carriage; behind the ministers' carriages, only one person was qualified to step forward: Immortal Master Chiyang.

After Chiyang stepped forward and performed the rites, he exchanged a few words with the Emperor. As soon as his voice fell, he could not control himself and began to cough.

Guo Shi patted the Emperor's back to smooth his breath; Empress Rui's face was tense and worried; Liu Cheng bowed his head, not daring to look directly at Imperial Uncle, only slightly bending his body, extremely respectful.

After the Emperor stopped coughing, Chiyang said: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. This humble Daoist will certainly prepare everything properly."

Rui Ze said beside him: "Yes, all matters will be handled by us ministers. Your Majesty has traveled a long way; please first go to the Ling She to rest."

After Rui Ze finished speaking, his half-lowered eyes slightly swept toward his younger sister.

Empress Rui stepped forward two paces and carefully supported the Emperor's left arm.

The Son of Heaven moved his carriage first; the ministers either followed or went to arrange various affairs.

Chiyang stood to the side in his original place, not hurrying to act.

From the carriages behind, youths wearing blue-gray Daoist robes descended one after another.

As Ming Dan walked, she couldn't help but turn back, looking toward the witchcraft team further behind. Those carriages had just gradually stopped, and nearly eighty witches dismounted one after another. Their witchcraft attire was mostly blue, dark, and somber colors; at first glance, they looked like masses of dark clouds surging out.

Dark clouds piled together—how could one tell who was who?

Ming Dan turned back and again issued a sound of denial in her heart.

Impossible. She had already learned that the Wu Nu who entered the palace that day came from the distant South, named Hua Li, and was said to be able to communicate with spirits and summon deities... These characteristics—no matter how she heard it, it could not possibly be Shaowei.

She could not keep thinking about this matter. It was said that the more one feared something, the easier it was to attract it. This was her Heart Demon; she absolutely could not indulge it to continue growing.

Ming Dan silently recited Taoist scriptures in her heart, driving away distracting thoughts and suspicions on her own.

Halfway through reciting while walking, she saw a patch of pitch black intrude into her sight ahead. Ming Dan immediately lowered her head and, together with her companions, raised her hand to salute that black shadow.

Chiyang slightly nodded to the youths, his gaze lingering on Ming Dan's half-lowered face for a moment.

After the youths finished saluting, they left. At this moment, an official stepped forward: "This humble official has a matter to ask Immortal Master..."

The two stopped here to converse. There was only this one road; Shaowei followed beside Yu Si Wu, unable to retreat, and finally passed in front of that black-robed person.

This was Shaowei's first time approaching this Red Yang Immortal Master whom she had never met but already hated to the bone.

She suppressed her impulse, concealed all restless sounds, and even the thought of raising her head to look at her enemy's face was strangled.

But what surprised Shaowei was that the gaze falling from above was very calm, and she could feel no emotional fluctuations or scrutiny and suspicion.

Not only the gaze, but this person's temperament was also surprisingly peaceful and transcendent... This made Shaowei surprised and doubtful. If not for confirming that this person was her enemy, she would probably have mistaken him for truly being an Immortal Master of immortal style and Daoist bone, with a benevolent heart.

Shaowei considered her five senses keen, yet she had not sensed any hostility from that gaze, as if he would never do anything unfavorable to her.

Surprise was surprise, but relaxing vigilance just like that was absolutely not Shaowei's style.

She attributed this to trickery, a deception as false and clever as her own. If not so, how could he have deceived the Emperor?

And she must also guard against the possibility that this person might possess extraordinary skills.

Shen Ci and Xian Tai Gong were in a sense opposed; Immortal Masters were not superiors of the witches of Shen Ci. Thus Yu Si Wu had no expression, merely bringing Hua Li to slightly bow her head in indication. Her feet paused for an instant, but her steps did not stop.

The witchcraft-attired girl thus left. Before Chiyang's eyes, he still invisibly traced the only pair of eyes exposed beneath that blue ghost mask.

Her half-lowered eyes showed no fluctuation, but the arc of her eyelids could not be concealed. This was an extremely minute feature, insufficient for physiognomy, and insufficient for divining fate.

But it was not only physiognomy that could determine her origins.

Before nightfall, everyone was successively settled in the Ling She.

Since the burial of the late Empress Qu, mother of the current Holy Sovereign, more Ling She had been added to Changling, located north of the mausoleum garden. The Guardians of the Mausoleum resided here daily; during sacrifices, the Emperor, clan relatives, and officials also stayed here.

The living order was similar to the procession when they came. The witches of Shen Ci lived at the outermost edge, and the furnishings of their houses could hardly be called exquisite.

But for Shaowei, this was a good thing. Her family slaves followed secretly in the dark; living at the outermost edge made it more convenient to contact them secretly.

Before the Shangsi Festival ended, no one could go out without cause. But ordinary Imperial Guards guarding and patrolling could not stop the First Swordsman under Heaven, who had achievements in freely entering and leaving the Imperial Palace, nor the person who could catch up with the First Swordsman under Heaven.

Late that night, Shaowei tried to go out for a quarter of an hour, met her family slave, exchanged news and current status, and again agreed on subsequent actions.

At the same moment, at the place where Chiyang was, the sound of reciting Taoist scriptures still came out.

In the spacious hall, candle flames were bright, and incense mist floated.

One shichen ago, Chiyang had someone summon these dozens of Tianji Candidates to sit quietly together, reciting scriptures to calm the mind and steady the breath, preparing for seven days later.

The youths felt the Immortal Master was indeed strict. They had been busy all day, and now he temporarily summoned them to do homework.

Whenever Chiyang was present, Ming Dan was accustomed to sitting at the very back to avoid that unsettling strange face and pupils.

But this time, under the guidance of a Disciple named Shunzhen, she was instead led to sit cross-legged in the front row.

Ming Dan knew that since she had been guided, if she insisted on sitting at the back, it would instead attract attention. She could only sit there, using the sound of reciting scriptures to distract herself from unease.

Chiyang at the head seat faced the youths, holding a brush and slowly drawing on the yellow talisman paper spread on the case.

But only he himself could see that what he drew this time was not a talisman, but a pair of eyes.

A pair of eyes, using the clear eye shape and arc of the girl before him as reference, drawing closer to the features of the eyes beneath the ghost mask seen today.

Finally, he must add enough killing intent to make Zhu Zhi feel fear and even give rise to a Heart Demon.

The Master accepted disciples very strictly. To enter his school, one must have unique talent. Shixiong had innate knowledge, while he was skilled in the art of painting.

Physiognomy: reading a person's face, bones, and qi. He could not only deduce these through observation and inference, but also paint them out.

Talisman paper and vermilion, depicting a pair of eyes brimming with soul energy.

The afternoon of Ci Yi, this talisman paper left Changling, heading northwest.

One day later, when night was deep, Shaowei received a house slave's secret signal, avoided the patrols, and went to meet Xiang Gong.

At Wu Ren Chu, Shaowei asked in a low voice: "What happened?"

If nothing had changed, the house slave would not have actively asked her to come out to meet him.

Zhao Qie'an's voice was as hoarse as usual, but the simple words he spoke shook Shaowei's heart and mind: "There is one matter concerning her."

?? See You Everyone.