Chapter 56: The Flag Gate

The Eight Immortals of the West did not immediately reveal their divine arts.

“Jade-Faced Civil Star” Dou Yilin appeared directly before the military formation.

Though Xiao Yu could not see him, she could identify his position by sound and confirmed he was likely standing at the entrance of Lieutenant Yang’s camp.

Unknown what Daoist technique Dou Yilin used, his voice carried emotion and echoed clearly across ten li.

“Soldiers of the Western states, listen: I am Dou Yilin, Chancellor of Lu State; the other seven ‘Western Immortals’ are Lu State’s Supreme General ‘Flag-Hunting Immortal’ Kong Zan.

Former State Preceptor of Giant Elephant State, Lei Yuanzi.

Maternal aunt of King Tamuli of Hami, ‘Wind Immortal’ Madame Feng.

Abbot of the National Protection Temple of Western Defense State, Master Miao.

Sworn elder brother of King Han Ling of Linhu State, ‘Blood-Hand Arhat’ Song Zhong.

Prince of Boyue Lake, the Sword Immortal known as ‘Boyue Hermit’ Zhou Lang.

Regional Commander of the Seventy-Two Forts of Mount Shoushan in Chechi State, ‘Military Immortal’ Sun Jinbiao.

As you can see, we are all pillars of the great Western states.

Why we have gathered here, what the tyrannical Qin and Lieutenant Yang have done to our Western people—you all know full well.

Today, the Eight Immortals of the West swear to kill the dog traitor Yu Yu! If you still have even a shred of shame, if you still remember even a trace of your former monarch’s grace, you must not stand against us.

Let me tell you plainly: the Central Kingdom is indeed our sovereign and father, and we must not defy or provoke it—we must revere it with propriety. But since fifty years ago, the tyrannical Qin has ceased to be the Central Kingdom.

Do you know that the Qin’s fortune has been severed? Fifty years ago, a Daoist received a heavenly book that read: ‘The one who destroys Qin is Hu.’

This prophecy will surely come true within a hundred years.

Do you know that Emperor Ying Zheng died suddenly in the Afang Palace just days ago?

Do you understand what this means?

The Mandate of Heaven has already begun to manifest; great chaos will soon erupt within the Central Kingdom.

All vassals oppressed by Emperor Ying Zheng will raise the banner of righteousness and renew heaven and earth.

The heavenly book is true, the prophecy is true—no matter how desperately the tyrannical Qin struggles, it has lost the Mandate of Heaven.

A new Mandate of Heaven shall begin in the West, begin today, begin beneath our feet.

Will you join us in forging this new Mandate, or will you commit the folly of defying Heaven and stand against the Eight Immortals of the West, who represent the millions of subjects from thirty-six states?”

“Heavenly Emperor, why must we hear this? Now that we’ve heard these secrets, can Lieutenant Yang still let us live?!” Yun the Shopkeeper wailed, clutching his ears.

He wanted to block his ears, to play the ostrich—but Dou Yilin’s voice drilled into his mind like a drill bit.

Xiao Yu remained calm, for Lei Yuanzi had already roared with laughter before striking Lieutenant Yang’s camp with the Nine-Nine Fire Wheel Thunder, announcing the Emperor’s death.

She was merely curious: the Emperor had died only days ago—Lieutenant Yang might not even know it; at least Guan Huchen, who was preparing to send her to Xianyang to succeed Lady Li, did not.

Moreover, when the Shadow God Map was drawn that day, the underworld spirits knew Huchen’s purpose.

Given the Qin’s influence across the Four Great Continents, the Emperor’s death must be a major event even in the Netherworld.

Therefore, on the night the Shadow God Map was drawn, the Emperor must still have been alive.

How many days have passed since then?

The Eight Immortals of the West already possess precise knowledge of the Emperor’s death...

Who told them?

From Lei Yuanzi’s earlier outburst—his wild laughter shouting “The Emperor is dead!”—he must have just learned of it.

From the “Thirty-Six-State Alliance” to today’s “Eight Immortals of the West”... the waters here run deep indeed!

“Huh, fog’s rising outside—so thick, can’t see a hand before one’s face... Brother Zhong, come take a look—what Immortal’s technique is this?”

Though Xiao Yu hid behind the wine cellar door, she had been watching the outside closely.

Just moments ago, all was normal—Lei Yuanzi’s Nine-Nine Fire Wheel Thunder had turned daylight to gloom, but the air held no moisture.

In the blink of an eye, the world outside turned hazy with fog.

“Miss Yu, block the door—the cave is fogging up too... Oh no, the fog’s too thick, we can’t even see the people beside us! Er Bao, light the candles!” Yun the Shopkeeper cried nervously.

Xiao Yu stepped back, turned—and froze in horror.

She could no longer see the people inside.

Even Yun the Shopkeeper’s voice grew faint, elusive, as if coming from impossibly far away.

Had she stayed crouched still, it might have been fine—but now that she stepped back, she didn’t draw closer to the interior; instead, she lost all sense of direction.

“This is Immortal magic—definitely Immortal magic! It has altered space and time.”

Even as terror gripped her, a faint thrill stirred deep within Xiao Yu.

“Brother Zhong, where are you? Can you hear me? Brother Zhong~~”

She dared not shout loudly, nor take large steps—only extended her foot and crept forward slowly...

She didn’t know how far she’d moved; her sense of time blurred, she didn’t know how long had passed—Yun’s cries grew ever fainter, until the entire world fell silent, utterly still.

She had been moving toward the direction of Yun’s voice, yet each step carried her farther away.

She had been crouched at the narrow mouth of the cave, yet now she could not touch the stone walls, the wine barrels, the wooden racks, or the wooden door.

Was she now outside the cave, surrounded by emptiness?

“Miss Yu... Miss Yu...” Suddenly, a voice called from afar.

“Who? Who’s calling me?”

Xiao Yu swiftly considered the voice’s owner—but dared not answer.

“Miss Yu, it’s me... Miss Yu...”

—Who are you? Say your name clearly!

Xiao Yu’s thoughts raced faster.

The speaker was a middle-aged man, his voice refined, with a Sichuan accent—not a Sha man...

She scoured her memory, yet found not a single possible match.

“Miss Yu, I am Duan Yuhan; my son is Duan Guisheng—you helped us collect our bones at San Cha Ridge...”

The voice seemed to realize its mistake and began naming himself and his deeds.

“Oh! So it’s you!” Xiao Yu suddenly understood and replied casually.

The moment she answered, a shadow abruptly appeared before her, not far away.

As if leaping from a dimensional rift.

“I, Duan Yuhan, humbly bow before my benefactor, Miss Yu!”

The shadow’s face and form were indistinct—only a vague silhouette of a man about 1.7 meters tall.

But his act of kneeling in reverence was unmistakable.

“Master Duan is my elder—such a profound bow shames me!”

Xiao Yu quickly stepped aside and returned the bow.

Huchen had taught her Chinese etiquette.

If an elder bowed to her, she must return the bow by kneeling.

Unless there was a clear distinction of rank between them.

Logically, Xiao Yu should have knelt—each bow he gave, she would return in kind... well, it was like a mutual bow, but that was Chinese etiquette.

She was unused to kneeling, and the man’s intentions were unknown—who knew if a hidden dagger would strike the moment she knelt?... She had already subtly gripped her sword hilt, the Tiger Spirit’s fury coiled and ready.

Of course, she did not kneel—but she avoided his full prostration and returned a formal bow with a respectful curtsy.

“Miss Yu, someone intends to murder you and General Guan,” Duan Yuhan cut straight to the point, “Ever since you helped my son and me collect our bones, my son and I have followed you ever since.”

—Damn it, don’t tell me a real ghost story—I’m already a little scared.

“Why are you following me? Didn’t you already thank me that night?” Xiao Yu asked.

Duan Yuhan seemed to pause, murmuring: “So you heard us that night—when my son and I knelt on the hillside toward the camp...

I didn’t know.

One must know gratitude and repay kindness. My son and I are no longer human, and you are noble, lacking nothing.

We cannot repay you.

We only hoped that one night, when you left camp alone, my son and I would find you, kneel, and bow a few times to express our thanks.”

—But the next day they arrived at Feixian Ferry and checked into Yunlai Inn—when would there have been a chance to leave at night?

“Alas, Heaven is unjust—such honest, grateful souls as you two, why did you die exposed on the wilds and become wandering ghosts?” Xiao Yu sighed.

“Miss, you flatter us—it’s not Heaven’s fault, but mine. I misjudged men, befriended villains, and brought ruin upon myself and Guisheng... Ah, Miss Yu, my story matters little—someone intends to harm my benefactor!”

“Who wants to kill me?” Xiao Yu asked.

“I don’t know. My son and I hide by day, only emerge at night to wander Feixian Ferry.

Today we were sleeping beneath a tree root.

Suddenly, night fell—we were jolted awake by thunderclaps, then heard the Immortals’ words, and grew fearful for your safety.

So my son and I planned to circle around the back mountain to check on you.

But the world suddenly turned foggy, just like the situation Old Man Qin encountered a few days ago.

My son and I became separated and lost our way.”

“Oh no, damn it, my memory!” Xiao Yu smacked her forehead in sudden regret, “The ‘vengeful spirit’ Old Man Qin saw that night—carrying two giant banners—must have been Flag-Hunting Immortal Kong—”

An unprecedented terror crashed upon her heart.

Xiao Yu’s bones trembled, her skin erupted in gooseflesh, her sword-bone chimed “clang clang.”

She dropped low, rolled forward in a swift somersault, and before she could steady herself, raised her right hand upward.

“Clang—Dong~~~~”

The dragon-kiss shortsword drew forth, and a tremendous force struck the blade.

As if invisible blades had shattered, shards shot out in all directions.

Fine cuts appeared on Xiao Yu’s face and back, and strands of her hair fell away one by one.

Behind her, the ground bore a deep, three-foot-long groove.

“What was that?”

——Whatever it was, it was almost certainly tied to the “Hunt-Flag Immortal” Kong Zan.

The thick mist was caused by the Hunt-Flag Immortal’s array.

The chaos in space and time, the old ghost’s disorientation—all were effects of his signature technique, “Flag Gate Escape.”

Now she was inside the array... she had been careless, shouting aloud the very words “Hunt-Flag Immortal Kong Zan.”

Perhaps Kong Zan had never noticed this insignificant little follower before—but to suddenly hear someone call his name...

“Miss Xiao, what’s wrong?” Duan Yu looked panicked, wanting to help but not knowing where to begin.

He wanted to speak, yet didn’t even understand what had happened.

“Uncle Duan, I’m fine. Keep talking.”

Xiao Yu forced a smile, her body taut, her spirit sharply focused.

Duan Yu wasn’t stupid—he knew something was wrong, but he rushed on: “After getting lost, I heard a masked iron-armored knight say the Nine-Turn Bone-Transformation Elixir was in the hands of General Guan’s old servant, Guan Zhong, and that both General Guan and you were in the wine cellar out back... Clearly, these villains meant to rob and kill. I was desperate, but had no sense of direction, so I followed them, calling out repeatedly.”

After all, I’m a ghost—no human can hear a ghost’s cries.

They were heading back to the wine cellar to find you; if I followed them, I could find you and warn you to be careful.”

—Didn’t you ever consider that I’m human too?

Xiao Yu thought it, and asked it aloud.

“Miss Xiao, you’re different from them—you’ve shown me kindness. I can appear before you, and you can hear my cries, just as you do now,” said Duan Yu.

“Where are those masked men now?” Xiao Yu asked.

“I can’t find them anymore.”

—Sigh. Aside from being a kind old fool, you’re truly useless!

“Uncle Duan, thank you. You’ve helped me greatly,” Xiao Yu said seriously.

“Miss Xiao, I can still help you. I can walk ahead, calling your name while scouting the path, and warn you immediately if there’s danger—until I lead you out of this perilous place,” said Duan Yu.

“Uncle Duan, I appreciate your kindness, but immortals aren’t ordinary mortals—they must have ways to detect and counter ghosts and spirits. You’d better find a place to hide.”

“I’m just an insignificant nobody; I won’t draw much attention from the Eight Immortals. I can explore slowly on my own,” Xiao Yu said sternly.

Duan Yu looked deeply offended, shouting sharply: “Miss Xiao, you’ve shown great kindness to my father and me. Even if we tied grass into rings and served you as beasts of burden, we could never repay your grace—how could we flee at the first sign of danger?”

He sounded angry, his tone harsh, his expression grave. Then he immediately turned and drifted forward, softly calling, “Miss Xiao, this way is safe.”

It was strange.

The moment she stepped forward behind Duan Yu, the bone-chilling, deadly danger vanished by half.

The surroundings subtly shifted.

“Could following the old ghost have led me into another dimension?”