Chapter 95: Wind-Chariot Feather-Wheel (Bonus Chapter for Ally

“Who are you? Why are you burning fire on the roof?”

Before Xiao Yu could question Chen Taiping the “Double-Spear General” or the Five-Thunder Eight-Trigram Master Talisman, a thunderous shout came from behind, followed by a speck of cold light tearing through the dark sky, hurtling toward the back of her head.

Xiao Yu sighed softly, swung her sword—*ding!*

The steel-tipped arrow struck the very tip of her blade, spraying sparks, then vanished somewhere unknown.

“There’s an unidentified master here! Archers, prepare!”

“I’m not a criminal—my courtyard is too narrow, so I’m barbecuing on the roof,” Xiao Yu called out.

As she shouted, she lifted the stove, ready to leap into the courtyard.

One archer? She wasn’t afraid. Three or five? She still had confidence in protecting her jars and pots.

But a group of crossbowmen—though they sounded like archers—were vastly different in power, for crossbowmen never tired, and their weapons delivered terrifying force.

“Master Zhang, this young lady is certainly no criminal. She does know martial arts, but she’s also a local resident—I vouch for her.”

Xiao Yu looked back; several torches glowed in the distance courtyard, where an elderly man in squire’s attire spoke with armored soldiers.

“Since Master Wang vouches for her, it must be a misunderstanding. Lower your crossbows and continue searching for suspicious individuals.”

Master Zhang ordered the soldiers in the courtyard, then called toward Xiao Yu: “Stay inside your home and await the Feathered Forest Guard’s inspection. No more startling actions.”

“Understood,” Xiao Yu replied, lifting the stove and leaping back into the courtyard.

“Almost ruined my pot of good soup!”

After resetting the stove, Xiao Yu asked: “What is the Five-Thunder Eight-Trigram Master Talisman?”

“I’m not sure—I’m just guessing,” Hong Qu said, shaking her head.

Xiao Yu said: “Whether you’re sure or not is one thing; my curiosity about the Five-Thunder Eight-Trigram Master Talisman is another.”

“Do you know the Li family of Western Shu?” Hong Qu asked.

“The Li family are royalty, deeply trusted by Great Qin, entrusted to guard the west,” Xiao Yu said.

Hong Qu sneered: “The Li family’s true mission is to destabilize the west and prevent any western vassal state from growing strong—that’s true. But to say Great Qin trusts them—”

“Ah, just tell me about the Master Talisman. I’m not interested in your grudges and feuds,” Xiao Yu said.

“After Qin conquered the ancient states of Shu, Ba, and Hanzhong, they exiled their royal families and nobles to the western Sands of Flowing Sand.”

Today’s Li family of Western Shu are descendants of the ancient Shu king.

But at the time, nearly all male heirs of the Shu Li clan died in battle, leaving only one legitimate princess.

The Qin king then arranged for one of his own legitimate sons to marry her.

Thus, the Li family carries the blood of the Qin emperor.

The Qin prince didn’t enter the Li household empty-handed—he brought with him the Five-Thunder Eight-Trigram Master Talisman.

Through hardship and toil, crossing tens of thousands of miles, far from their homeland, they founded a kingdom in the western wilderness, facing countless trials. The most terrifying and intractable challenge wasn’t the arduous journey—it was the demonic infestations.

Especially great demons!

A single great demon could swallow an entire prefecture’s population of hundreds of thousands in one gulp.

Xiao Yu’s heart stirred: “Can the Master Talisman suppress great demons?”

Hong Qu said: “It doesn’t suppress them—but it terrifies them, deterring great demons from invading Shu, especially from desecrating Luodou.

In recent years, powerful states like ours, Lu, have repeatedly suffered demonic city-slaughters, yet Shu has never been touched by a great demon.

The Master Talisman is, without doubt, the most precious treasure guarding Western Shu.”

Xiao Yu murmured: “If the Master Talisman has such power, the Thousand-Handed Thief Saint stealing it would be a devastating blow to Shu—and a humiliation to the Qin envoys.”

“But how could something so vital be stolen?”

“I’m just guessing wildly. The Shu king’s palace holds countless priceless treasures. Even something not especially valuable—if Uncle Erbo appears—would warrant the Double-Spear General Chen Taiping personally leading the hunt,” Hong Qu sighed.

*Bang bang bang!* The courtyard gate was pounded, and Zi Ying’s voice called out: “Sister Fengxian, Sister Hong Qu, are you alright?”

“We’re fine. What’s happening outside?”

Xiao Yu opened the door and let her in.

Inside the Red Sleeve Courtyard, voices now buzzed with commotion.

“I don’t know much—I only heard the Thief Saint stole a royal treasure, and soldiers are searching everywhere!”

“Aunt Liu told me to warn you: stay in the Quiet Chamber. No matter what happens tonight, don’t leave the courtyard.”

With that, Zi Ying stared blankly toward the noisy front courtyard.

Hong Qu also stared at the courtyard gate, lost in thought.

Xiao Yu, indifferent, leisurely sipped her soup.

Before she finished the bone-strengthening broth, Aunt Liu arrived at the Quiet Chamber with two female swordswomen.

Both swordswomen were in their early twenties, their single ponytails high and stiff, dressed in gray-and-white cropped tunics, long swords at their waists—sharp, capable, martial.

After entering, they scrutinized Xiao Yu and Hong Qu, then thoroughly checked the courtyard and the small house, before leaving without a word.

“Alright, go to sleep early.”

Aunt Liu herself was dressed practically, her sword—discarded that afternoon—still hanging at her waist.

“What precious treasure did the king lose?” Xiao Yu asked, stepping closer.

“I don’t know. Don’t pry,” Aunt Liu waved her off, pulling Zi Ying away with her.

“Sigh. Sleep,” Xiao Yu shrugged off her coat and plunged into the pool with a *plop*.

“You sleep in the pool? Didn’t you return to bed last night?” Hong Qu asked.

“There’s only one bed. No room to sleep.”

Hong Qu said: “There was only ever one bed—you slept one end, I slept the other. I even put a pillow out for you.”

“Then wash your feet! Last night I was about to return and rest, but you didn’t wash your feet—you wore thick cloth socks, and they reeked!” Xiao Yu said, disgusted.

Hong Qu’s face flushed red: “Liar! They don’t stink! And do you even wear socks to bed?”

Xiao Yu said: “Even if I were a barbarian, I’d wash my hands, face, and teeth before sleeping—and if possible, bathe.

After bathing, I change into clean nightclothes.

You, a daughter of the prime minister’s household, refuse to wash your feet? Good heavens, you’re filthy.”

Hong Qu pointed at her, trembling with rage, voice shaking: “You call me filthy? You ignorant desert savage! You insult me too much! Too much! I’m furious!”

“You reeked your feet at me—and you dare be angry? I’m the one who should scream ‘I’m furious!’”

Hong Qu’s composure shattered: “Barbarian! Barbarian! Desert savage! Ignorant, stupid barbarian!”

Xiao Yu gave her the middle finger, then dove gracefully into the pool.

Hong Qu cursed for a while longer before trudging sullenly back inside.

She took off her clothes, sat on the bed, and sniffed her feet for a while.

Though she still didn’t think they smelled, she hesitantly slipped on her slippers, picked up the teapot, walked into the courtyard, glanced around, then approached the pool and began rinsing her feet with the tea meant for overnight.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Xiao Yu surfaced from the water, pinching her nose and backing away: “Good heavens, so filthy! So disgusting!”

“Xiao Yu, the desert savage, don’t go too far!”

Hong Qu’s eyes blazed; she nearly hurled the teapot at that dripping head.

“I’m going too far? You poured washwater on me—and you say I’m excessive? Daughter of Dou Yilin, you’re terribly rude!”

Hong Qu finally snapped. She didn’t throw the teapot—she threw herself—lunging at Xiao Yu.

*Plop!*

Xiao Yu didn’t hold back, sidestepped, grabbed her hair, and shoved her head underwater.

Hong Qu was no match—her head submerged, limbs flailing wildly, splashing water everywhere, yet unable to rise.

After she gulped down several mouthfuls of water, Xiao Yu released her.

“Cough cough cough!” Hong Qu collapsed on the stone steps, coughing violently, spitting saliva, snot, and tears.

In her entire life, she had never felt so utterly wronged.

Had it not been for Xiao Yu’s mocking laughter beside her, she might have burst into tears.

“I’m cultivating. Don’t bother me again.”

Xiao Yu didn’t press further, diving back into the water.

Hong Qu took a while to calm down, then quietly scrubbed her feet against each other, deliberately washing them, before climbing out of the pool.

The next day, Tianmen Town was under martial law; the Red Sleeve Courtyard closed entirely.

But the Pear Fragrance Garden’s lessons continued.

Since they weren’t operating, the aunts added an extra class in the afternoon.

Xiao Yu used the spacious grounds of the Pear Fragrance Garden to practice swordplay all afternoon, earning cheers and awe from countless girls and “daughters.”

Several swordmaidens immediately declared they wanted to learn from her.

“Don’t rush. Wait until I’ve visited the elder who mastered the Nine-Flower Sword and gained insight—then I’ll teach you the Nine-Flower Divine Sword,” Xiao Yu accepted every request without refusal, but didn’t begin teaching immediately.

From the start, she made clear: if you want me to teach swordplay, bring your own sword manual—or choose from the manuals gifted by Xu Dahao: “Ghost Shadow Grappling Hands,” “Butterfly Chain Steps,” “Iron Armor Divine Fist,” or “Flying Star Blade.”

Since they had no sword manuals of their own and insisted on learning the Nine-Flower Sword, they’d have to wait.

“Where did the red carp in the pool go?” After a day of silence, Hong Qu spoke to Xiao Yu first.

Her expression was calm, unembarrassed, her tone flat—as if yesterday’s conflict had never happened.

Xiao Yu glanced at her, slightly surprised: “Aren’t there still two left?”

“Where are the others?”

“I threw them out. You were right—too many fish makes the pool smell fishy.”

Hong Qu nodded lightly: “Good! Starting today, I’ll bathe in the pool water too.”

“I’m cultivating. Fetch your own water to bathe.”

Pausing, Xiao Yu looked down at her embroidered shoes again. “Think about it—I can’t even stand your stinky socks; how could I tolerate all your grime washing into the pool?”

Hong Qu’s eyes blazed with sparks. “Where can’t you cultivate? Why must you cultivate in the pool?”

“I’m a Sha Man—I grew up by the Liusha River, I love water. So what?”

Hong Qu muttered, “The pool is very large.”

“No matter how large the pool, it can’t hold the grime on your body!”

Hong Qu couldn’t take it anymore and turned to run out the courtyard gate.

Soon after, she returned, panting, carrying half a bucket of water.

By the third day, Tianmen Town finally returned to normal.

The streets had few pedestrians, even fewer vendors, but patrols of government office runners and soldiers were plentiful.

On the carriage, Xiao Yu still found everything fresh; she pressed her face to the window, unable to look enough.

“Hehe, never seen such a bustling town, have you? All the goods under heaven converge here—everything you could want,” Liu Gugu chuckled proudly. “Even the beggars in Tianmen Town have more Jianshi and fortune than lords elsewhere.”

“Auntie, I’m not admiring the bustle—I’m savoring the freedom! Hongxiu Fang’s lodging is decent, but I can’t go out—it’s like a cage, suffocating.” Xiao Yu didn’t hide her feelings, speaking honestly.

“Freedom? Ha! Who in this world, except immortals, can truly be free?” Liu Gugu sneered.

“For me, if I could go out for a stroll every few days, that would be freedom like an immortal.” Xiao Yu said.

Liu Gugu glanced at her. “Wait a few more months. When the Qin envoys leave and the chaos among the thirty-six states is fully quelled, I might even arrange for you to accompany Shao Yao and see the wider world.”

“The Qin envoys—you mean the Yangyang Marquis?” Xiao Yu asked.

“Shhh~~~~”

The moment she spoke, the carriage lurched to a sudden stop. The driver lowered his voice, tense: “Liu Gugu, something big has happened at the front gate.”

“What happened?” Liu Gugu pulled back the curtain and peered ahead, gasping: “Little Fengxian, what kind of mouth do you have? You mention the Yangyang Marquis, and he shows up.”

The Yangyang Marquis was not here for them.

At the intersection ahead, a group of sturdy Shu cavalry formed a line, clearing a wide path. The Fire Crow Army’s signature “Fifteen-foot Great Qin Juhan” led the way, and the Yangyang Marquis’s procession marched silently toward the eastern part of the city.

“What are they doing—oh! What’s that in the sky? A flying airship? A flying vessel?”

Xiao Yu leaned out, looking left and right, spotting many familiar faces among the Fire Crow Army.

Then, the sky above suddenly darkened—six “flying carriages” appeared above Tianmen Town as if teleporting.

The carriages were strange: ten to twelve meters long, over two meters wide, with four wheel-like devices mounted low on each side.

The “blades” of these wheels were made of multicolored feathers—enormous, wider than a palm and three to four meters long.

“These are Kunlun Biao Carts—the Yangyang Marquis is returning to Qin. Why now?” Liu Gugu said grimly.