Chapter 173

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Shaowei

Liu Qi

In the dimly lit secret chamber, the figure bound to the post remained motionless, his Daoist robe tattered and its original color indistinguishable, stiffened by old bloodstains.

His hair was disheveled, barely human in appearance, like a dying trapped beast, only unwilling breath continuing in this silent torment, still stubbornly waiting for something.

"Waiting for the hearts of those here to fall into chaos like birds and beasts scattering, so you can judge the news of my death from it?"

A figure appeared, speaking as he approached.

Shunzhen opened his eyes, looking at that shadow.

Outside was roughly daytime, so she wore neither night-walking dark clothes nor eye-catching witchcraft attire, but ordinary skirts and shirts, at first glance no more than a daughter of a minor wealthy family seen anywhere in a street shop.

But closer still, one could see her eyes were sharp, by no means kind.

Sarcasm surfaced in Shunzhen's eyes, his mind scattered yet with a strange clarity thinking, even if she truly came from a minor wealthy family, this household must surely be bandits who rose through burning, killing, and plundering.

She was a bandit, a great evil bandit who stole heaven, a thief who stole the sun.

Such a bandit laden with ten thousand evils should not be tolerated by the world, and should long ago have been wiped out.

The newcomer stopped a step away from him, he could even see the small unhealed wounds on her face, only to hear her say: "See? I didn't die. You wanted to kill me, but lost again."

She was expressionless, coldly boasting.

Shunzhen's breathing instantly became chaotic and agitated; taking advantage of his disappointment and anger, Shaowei questioned without warning: "Why strike at a child of the Royal Clan? He isn't the beggar you call worse than pigs and dogs, nor abandoned and sold by his family, needing you to use a butcher's knife to release him—this time, what high-sounding excuse do you have?"

Either her tone was too certain, having already settled the matter, or one subconsciously would not regard an already exposed matter as an unspeakable secret, or there was sufficient surging anger and reason about it, Shunzhen immediately said word by word:

"Who made him a child of the Liu Family, a thing born with sin? So what if I killed him? Why should I excuse myself? I only hate that I had too few chances to kill them!"

Anger also surfaced between Shaowei's eyebrows: "Poor children have reason to massacre indiscriminately, and children who aren't poor also have reason to kill; those who disrupt your plans must be killed, those used and discarded by you must be killed—in your eyes, how many people in this world are still worthy of living?"

"Spouting a pile of dogshit excuses, nothing but a stinking pretense of deceiving others and oneself; what's this about following the Heavenly Way? In the end, it's just wanting to see the whole world fall into Purgatory to satisfy your own powerless desire for slaughter and revenge."

She was not without contempt: "If you want revenge on this world, just admit it, and people would look up to you a bit more. To dare not admit it, to shrink and hide, yet claim to be the righteous path—that is living worse than pigs and dogs."

The house slave guarding the door of the secret chamber was astonished by this string of curses; the child had once said he would devote himself to studying the Heart-Piercing Curse method of scolding, and hearing it today, he indeed had not been lazy.

Then they heard her scold more and more fluently, pressing on relentlessly: "If I were your mother or sister who died unjustly in your home, even in the Yellow Springs I would be unable to hold my head up because of your entanglement, day after day harassed and revenged by the wronged souls and fierce ghosts who died by your hand. You have committed such evil deeds, they probably can't even reincarnate, only able to wander and suffer below."

These words were simple and plain, yet carried a credibility as if based on evidence, and were even very vivid; Shunzhen finally broke down and interrupted her: "Shut your mouth!"

He gave Shaowei no chance to speak again, loudly saying as if steadying his own army's morale: "Don't think I don't know what scheme you're plotting. You want to provoke me, then ask about the whereabouts of those so-called corpses! Otherwise, given your temperament, you wouldn't waste so many words. It's just a trap, a trap!"

He quickly numb-persuaded himself, arrogantly provoking: "Don't even think of getting a single useful clue from my mouth... You go look slowly!"

Shaowei silently clenched a back molar on one side.

There was reason this person was chosen by Chi Yang; he could be called firm of will, even if it was a mad will.

But it wasn't without gain; at least it could be confirmed that Liu Chun's disappearance was indeed their doing...

Shunzhen laughed, incessantly repeating those provocative words: "Go, go look slowly... maybe you'll even find that person you want to see along the way!"

"I don't need to look slowly." Shaowei looked at him: "Now the Imperial Guard and the Embroidered Uniform Guard of the entire Capital City are helping me look; presumably it won't be slow."

Shunzhen's strange smile froze, and he looked at her half-believing, half-doubting; only to see her bend her left arm, two layers of thin shirt sleeves sliding down to her elbows, revealing her bandaged injured forearm.

Shunzhen's gaze moved from that forearm to the girl's face, still coldly boasting; she never suffered injury for nothing.

She also said: "I will surely soon find your den of conspirators, and then I can pursue the victory; your master, even if he doesn't dare to fulfill his vow and burn himself to death, might die before you—then I will credit you with a merit, after all, it was you who carelessly leaked the conspiracy to me."

She lowered her arm; this time she did not act, but the desire for revenge within was even more surging than acting. She actually raised her chin and said: "If I truly change the Heavenly Way, you are also my accomplice, Mo Lian."

Shaowei knew she couldn't get more from the interrogation today, and left some vicious words to disturb his heart for him to savor; so after speaking she turned and left with hands behind her back, unwilling to waste more time.

Stepping out of the secret chamber, Shaowei instructed Mo Li who came to meet her, ordering him from today on to stay in the secret chamber for half a day every day.

Mo Li nodded and was about to rush in, but Shaowei grabbed his back collar: "I haven't told you what to do or what to say!"

Mo Li turned his head and asked: "Young Master, what do you want me to do, what to say?"

Shaowei: "Do whatever you should do; drawing diagrams, forging iron, eating cakes, drinking tea are all fine. As for what to say, say whatever you want to say."

This was without difficulty; Mo Li nodded: "Alright, Young Master!"

Mo Li had always been capable of action; since he had just eaten cakes, at this moment he brought over a new-style copper crossbow that still needed him to polish it personally.

After Mo Li drilled into the secret chamber, the house slave closed the door.

The idea of closing the door and letting the civet in was devised by Shaowei and the house slave together; their intelligence was not first-rate by nature, but they had the advantage of learning from mistakes, only because Chi Yang had disturbed their minds many times did they have this imitating move.

Mo Li and Shunzhen both came from the Mo Family; even if not of the same branch, they were of the same source.

Shunzhen regarded Shaowei, this fish that slipped through the net under the Heavenly Way, as an enemy, and would mostly regard Mo Li as a traitor; whether it was anger or something else, having emotions meant there was a possibility of being broken through. Anyway, Mo Li wouldn't lose a piece of flesh because of this; just treat it as casually throwing him in to try.

Mo Li indeed wouldn't lose a piece of flesh, but as soon as he went in, he was met with a word of contempt: "... I know you; you are Mo Li, the son Third Uncle took away when he left the clan back then. Third Uncle didn't come out of the mountain to avenge my parents, which would have been fine, but actually raised you, a traitor, to forge weapons for the enemy!"

Mo Li reacted after a moment, sat down on the spot, and answered while doing so: "He jumped into the Casting Sword Pool and couldn't come out of the mountain anymore!"

Shunzhen's expression suddenly became stunned; Third Uncle, who was dissatisfied with many clansmen who aided King Zhou in his tyranny and each pursued their own fortunes, and chose to take his son into seclusion, actually committed suicide in this way? Was it because he knew of the tragedy in his family that he made such a mad and desperate move?

After a brief trance, Shunzhen became even angrier; he wouldn't mistake the person before him. Although there were many clansmen, there was only one who was naturally idiotic; this child, though stupid, was very lucky to have inherited the Mo Family's talent.

Seeing Mo Li sit down and begin polishing the copper crossbow, Shunzhen cursed again: "You recognize a thief as your master; you are truly a disgrace to the Mo Family."

Mo Li looked up and retorted: "You're talking nonsense; my master is not a thief; your white-haired ghost's master is the thief."

Shunzhen: "You idiot, what do you know? My master follows the Heavenly Way!"

"He is the thief." Mo Li said seriously: "Young Master said it was him who stole the Head of Household."

Shunzhen laughed mockingly: "What do you understand? What does an idiot like you understand!"

Facing those ignorant, stupid eyes, he became angrier the more he spoke: "You understand nothing, yet you come to oppose me! Calling them Young Master and Head of Household, making them so devoted; what exactly have they given you!"

"That's a lot." Mo Li answered while thinking: "Clothing, bedding, cakes, roasted meat, fruit, house, firewood..."

"Shut up!" Shunzhen could bear it no longer, closing his eyes: "Get out!"

He didn't want to stay or speak with this strangely foolish man for even a moment longer!

Mo Li had just started to rise, then sat back down, saying: "If anyone's leaving, it should be you, right? This is my home."

Shunzhen laughed from extreme anger. He did want to leave — who would care to stay in his house!

Anger pushed to its peak, his whole body trembling, that girl's heart-piercing words began echoing in his mind again, and he suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood, eyes rolling back as he fainted dead away.

When he was forcibly fed medicine and woke up by a bare-chested big man, he only heard a ding-dang sound by his ear; his scattered gaze looked over and saw Mo Li squatting on the ground seriously striking iron implements.

Shunzhen moved his mouth, temporarily unable to speak, trembling as he closed his eyes, yet that striking sound was like a demonic tone piercing the heart, tormenting him ten thousand times over.

Mo Li worked tirelessly, striking until the sky outside turned as dim as a dark room.

At this twilight hour, the procession returning from offering sacrifices at Nanshan entered the city, escorting the Emperor back to the palace.

Outside the palace gate, Guo Shi, who had been waiting for a long time, saw the imperial carriage return and hurriedly bowed to welcome it, his face beaming as if he had good news, but he did not speak it publicly, only helping the Emperor transfer from the high carriage to the dragon palanquin.

Liu Qi saw this and timely saluted to take his leave.

The Emperor on the dragon palanquin looked at him: "We have heard you have been searching day and night for the rebels' tracks, and you still bear injuries. Tonight go back and sleep well; it's not too late to go watch them handle affairs tomorrow. Go back."

That tall, slender youth beside the dragon palanquin cupped his hands, bowed, and answered "Yes," then added: "Many thanks, Imperial Uncle."

Rui Ze, who was accompanying them, did not take his leave then, but instead accompanied the Emperor back to Weiyang Palace together with the Crown Prince and the others.

Seeing the dragon palanquin off into the distance, Liu Qi turned and boarded his carriage.

The carriage sped on, and when passing the lacquerware shop in the city, Liu Qi lightly knocked twice on the carriage window from inside.

Deng Hu, riding alongside the carriage, understood and looked back, passing a glance to the Imperial Guards behind him.

When Liu Qi brought his men back to the Sixth Prince's Residence, the bright moon was already high overhead; arriving before the Ju Yuan, he saw Tang Jia waiting at the courtyard gate.

Tang Jia came forward to bow in salute; with no outsiders around, Liu Qi promptly supported one of his elbows, dispensing with the courtesy, and asked: "Changshi, what important matter?"

Tang Jia looked back toward the courtyard, answering in a low voice: "Your Highness, a distinguished guest has entered the hall and inner chamber."

No one dares offend a ferocious bird's nest, and no one can enter uninvited — yet this "entered the hall and inner chamber" was meant literally: the visitor had already ascended to the main hall and stepped into the inner chamber.

Liu Qi spoke not another word, striding into the courtyard.

Today everyone went to Nanshan to offer sacrifices, yet no one knew the true Mountain Lord of Divine Qi was uniquely at his residence right now.

Even if they came to question him for neglecting proper duties, he should still go see them quickly.

Entering the room, he saw the black-robed girl sitting cross-legged by the table; A He was pouring tea for her, A Ya standing in attendance to the side.

A black-clad night-walker entered the hall and inner chamber, sitting peacefully drinking tea; seeing this scene, Liu Qi almost instinctively wanted to blend into it, even though this was originally his own house.

He walked over and sat opposite her, saying: "I was just planning to have someone send word to you."

"I came faster." Shaowei said: "I happened to pass through here as well."

Once awake, she couldn't stay idle for a moment; after scolding Shunzhen, she and the household slaves kept watch on the search progress in the city. After night fell, she changed into night-walking clothes, strolled a circuit, learned Liu Qi would return, and came to see him to exchange information.

While investigating in the city with the household slaves, Shaowei had already discovered that besides the tight search, Liu Qi had also deployed patrol personnel in various places.

He moved swiftly; on the day he returned to the city he requested the imperial decree and immediately acted, so Chi Yang's secret dealings presumably found it very hard to maneuver and transfer — like rat-insects under a huge cat's paw, not moving was best; if they moved once, they would reveal themselves and die even faster.

Liu Qi had previously told Shaowei that if the plan went smoothly, he could mobilize the Imperial Guard for a large-scale search, and within ten days he would certainly find clues to the Chi Yang matter.

Ten days — sounding not short — but Shaowei now had a concept of the search; just as sometimes the Court searches extensively for large batches of assassins for a long time without results, the capital is too large, hiding places too many, and moreover it wasn't even certain whether Chi Yang's dealings were hidden in the city or outside. Liu Qi and her promising results within ten days was already an extremely bold promise and showed utmost sincerity and determination.

Today was the third day, seven days remaining; Shaowei urged herself in her heart to be more patient.

But Liu Qi spoke at this moment, saying: "Ten days is too long; the situation has changed — before then, Chi Yang may have a chance to escape."

Shaowei's expression changed, and she asked warily: "Is there movement at Lingxing Terrace?"

Liu Qi: "The movement comes from within the palace."

Meeting Shaowei's anxious eyes, Liu Qi first told her: "In the past several years, Chi Yang and the Embroidered Uniform Guards led by Zhu Zhi traveled the four directions by imperial decree; besides secretly searching for Heavenly Opportunity Candidates for the Court, Chi Yang also bore another imperial mission."

Shaowei naturally had a deep impression of this — Chi Yang seized Jiang Fu when he traveled to Nan Commandery, and Zhu Zhi had his arm severed by her when he traveled to Yundang Mountain.

As for Chi Yang's assignment, she had also heard some rumors: "Heard it was searching for immortals for the Emperor?"

Liu Qi said: "Searching for immortals is true, but there is an even more precise purpose — secretly investigating the whereabouts of Pengzu's Tomb."

Pengzu, a longevity ancestor of the Dao Sect, was said to have lived eight hundred years; Shaowei had once heard Jiang Fu speak of him, and had also read in Quzi's "Heavenly Questions" the story of this man presenting soup to Emperor Yao.

Liu Qi continued: "Chi Yang does not involve himself in alchemical longevity methods; he emphasizes conforming to the Heavenly Way of life and death — this is known to all. But few know that when he first entered the capital, he secretly presented a strategy to the Son of Heaven; his master, Qishan Zhenren, once said that all currently circulating Pengzu Tomb locations are false transmissions; the true location of Pengzu's Tomb is unknown, and within its tomb chamber lies the secret of Pengzu's long life."

"Chi Yang claims that what Pengzu left behind is a remnant of the Heavenly Way; if it can be found, it is Heaven's will and opportunity, not a violation of the Heavenly Way's nature; at that time he would be willing to decipher the tomb's mysteries for the Son of Heaven."

Shaowei listened with anger burning; whether everything conformed to the Heavenly Way actually depended entirely on this one man's mouth — his words and deeds since entering the capital were presumably all just his scheming tactics.

Anger burned out the truth; Shaowei finally understood: "So this is the reason the Emperor has always had an ambiguous attitude, delaying and unwilling to move against him."

Liu Qi nodded, his expression slightly grave: "Last year Chi Yang returned to the capital, but Daoists and Embroidered Uniform Guards still secretly searched for Pengzu's Tomb, until this afternoon when urgent news rode back to the capital — in the Tianshui Commandery area, suspected traces of Pengzu's Tomb were discovered."

Shaowei silently clenched her fist, yet asked first: "Is the news reliable?"

From this one question, Liu Qi only felt she was much calmer than before; unconsciously softening his voice, he stated clearly to her: "For many years, Guo Shi has been responsible for monitoring this matter's progress; I have a trustworthy informant beside Guo Shi; he delivered the news to the lacquerware shop this afternoon — it cannot be false."

Shaowei asked again: "The Emperor just returned to the palace; he should have only just learned the news and presumably has taken no action yet — how can you be so certain he will definitely protect Chi Yang because of this?"

"Yes, I understand him." Liu Qi said: "He will have scruples and choose to secretly protect Chi Yang."

?? Four thousand five hundred characters, good night everyone~