Chapter 1481

Long Xi Yue said, "Xi Yue knows how you feel right now, senior, but how could my own heart be any better? Yet Xiao Ou still has relatives in this world; we can't keep her from seeing her mother, scattering her family. No matter how we care for her, we can never replace her mother, senior, don't you agree?"

Qiao Fangzheng said, "I've lived most of my life; what principle don't I understand? Xiao Ou finding her mother makes me happy too, I just hate that bastard Hu Xiaotian—why bring Xiao Ou to my side, then take her away without a word? It's clearly deliberate torment; I wish I could beat him senseless."

Long Xi Yue couldn't help glancing at Hu Xiaotian in the distance; Hu Xiaotian pointed at his own nose, having guessed that Qiao Fangzheng was blaming him, and indeed Long Xi Yue nodded.

Hu Xiaotian waved at Xia Zhangming, and Xia Zhangming, leading the black-haired dog, followed Hu Xiaotian as they slinked away.

Long Xi Yue said, "Senior, he actually had no intention of targeting you; this time he had no choice. He originally wanted to come himself to tell you, but he was worried you'd be angry with him."

"I'm naturally angry at him!" Qiao Fangzheng's anger had not yet subsided.

Long Xi Yue chuckled and said, "Senior, do you know that the Beggar Sect's Shangguan Yunxiang intends to covet Fire Tree City? He and the High Priestess Tongyun are joining forces to prepare to launch a new Spirit Maiden."

"What?" Qiao Fangzheng's white-haired eyebrows furrowed.

Long Xi Yue then recounted to Qiao Fangzheng everything Hu Xiaotian had investigated; after hearing it, Qiao Fangzheng's anger dissipated by half, turning into worry for Little Ou's fate. If Shangguan Yunxiang proceeds with this plan, as long as they learn that Little Ou is still alive, they will surely eliminate him first.

Long Xi Yue said, "So we still need you to protect Little Ou, Senior. Can you agree?"

Qiao Fangzheng nodded without hesitation and said, "Of course. As long as I'm here, no one will dare harm this child."

After Ganuo returned to the mansion, Baheer sought her out; seeing that he was in a good mood, he smiled and said, "Madam, let me tell you good news. The Spirit Maiden has been found!"

Ganuo's heart startled—could it be that news of her reunion with her daughter had already reached his ears so quickly? No, impossible! She reminded herself to stay calm and softly said, "I don't know which Spirit Maiden the lord is referring to."

Baheer said, "Madam, you refused to go with me to the temple for sacrifice. As for my going to the temple, High Priestess Tongyun personally told me that she had received a divine revelation and found the Spirit Maiden. She is currently sending the Spirit Maiden to Fire Tree City, expected to arrive within three days."

Ganuo then realized that what Baheer said was not about her own daughter, but she immediately felt something was off. Indeed, as Hu Xiaotian had said, High Priestess Tongyun was colluding with outsiders, intending to control Fire Tree City through the Spirit Maiden. Thinking this, she firmly said, "What she says may not necessarily count!"

Baheer couldn't help laughing: "Madam, what do you mean by that? If the High Priestess's word doesn't count, does yours? You should know that every Spirit Maiden in history has been designated by her predecessor."

Ganuo said, "There has only ever been one Spirit Maiden throughout history, and Jiaou is the Spirit Maiden. How could there possibly be two Spirit Maiden at the same time in this world?"

Baheer's face darkened, he sighed and said, "Madam, do you still refuse to accept reality? Jiaou is already dead; the High Priestess can no longer sense her spiritual presence, otherwise how could she have found another Spirit Maiden..."

"She's lying! How do you know she isn't deceiving you?" Ganuo, abandoning her former aloofness and calm, became emotionally agitated.

Baheer's brows knitted. A look of incomprehension—what has come over her today? She dares to question the High Priestess, knowing that in the Red Yi Tribe the High Priestess is like a deity. Baheer said, "I have always respected High Priestess Tongyun. Madam, you may know these things, but you must never speak of them outside."

Ganuo said, "Jiaou is still alive; I know she remains in this world, so the Spirit Maiden chosen by the High Priestess must be false."

Baheer's expression began to show impatience, and he said in a low voice, "Madam, you should go rest."

Ganuo didn't know how to explain to him, unable to utter the truth, she could only stomp her feet and turn to leave; after two steps she heard Baheer behind her say, "Tomorrow I will announce the news of the Spirit Maiden to all the tribespeople."

Ganuo abruptly turned around and shouted, "No! Jiaou is still alive!"

Baheer pursed his lips: "Are you crazy?"

Ganuo shook her head firmly: "I'm not crazy; I've seen my daughter, she's still alive, and she's in Fire Tree City!"

A muscle at the corner of Baheer's mouth twitched violently; he sighed and said, "Madam, go rest first; after you wake up, we'll discuss the Spirit Maiden matter."

Seeing that Baheer remained unmoved by her words, Ganuo had no choice but to leave.

After Ganuo left, Baheer immediately had the interpreter Jiang Shaoyang summoned to his presence. Ganuo's earlier abnormal behavior had already aroused his suspicion, and Baheer whispered, "Since Madam went to the Butterfly Garden today, her emotions have become quite abnormal; I don't know what those people around Hu Xiaotian said to her."

Jiang Shaoyang said, "At this point, Your humble servant does know a little: at that time, Madam and Princess Yingyue had a private conversation, though it was brief, and no one was allowed to enter, so we couldn't know the content of their talk."

Baheer asked, "Does Hu Xiaotian's entourage this time include a little girl?"

Jiang Shaoyang thought and replied, "Indeed there is—a blind old man's granddaughter, who has been holding that old man's hand to guide him."

"How old is she?"

Jiang Shaoyang pondered carefully and then said, "About five or six years old; she's exquisitely carved like jade, utterly adorable."

Baheer asked, "Could she be Jiaou?"

Jiang Shaoyang blinked, thought back for a while; although he had seen Jiaou before in the past, it had been several years ago and his impression was faint. He hesitated and said, "This… I cannot be certain… young children all look alike."

Baheer grabbed his collar, glaring at him: "Idiot, won't you check whether there is a Wisdom Bird tattoo on the back of her neck?"

Jiang Shaoyang silently cursed, "You're the idiot; I can't just rush forward and lift a little girl's collar to look—what would others think of me?" Yet he said aloud, "Your subordinate is incapable, your subordinate is incapable."

Baheer released him and said, "Hurry, go investigate this matter immediately; you must determine that little girl's identity as soon as possible."

"Yes!" Jiang Shaoyang hurried away.

Today is the day before the fasting day's end; the number of people coming to Fire Tree City to worship and sacrifice has reached its peak. After leaving the lord's manor, Jiang Shaoyang did not go to the Butterfly Garden but instead came to a teahouse on Jiangnan Street, where he had previously arranged to meet friends.

Lifting the bamboo curtain and entering the elegant chamber, a young man in green robes sat cross-legged there. He gazed silently out the window; the right side of his arm was empty—he had lost his right arm. This man was the Beggar Sect's junior sect leader Shangguan Yunxiang, whose real name is actually Shangguan Yunfeng. He has always appeared before people as a twin brother; it was he who went to the Tianxiang Kingdom to apply for a consort position, but this time his expedition failed—not only was he not selected as a consort, he also lost his right arm.

Jiang Shaoyang entered the room, bowed deeply to Shangguan Yunfeng, and said respectfully, "Your subordinate pays respects to the junior sect leader!"

Shangguan Yunfeng turned his head; his expression was indifferent yet tinged with some sorrow. Ji Feihua's sword not only severed his arm but also took away his pride. Shangguan Yunfeng slightly raised his chin and said, "Please sit!" In the past he would never have sat on equal footing with someone like Jiang Shaoyang, but his mindset has now changed greatly.

Jiang Shaoyang felt somewhat honored and surprised; he nodded and bowed, taking a seat opposite Shangguan Yunfeng. He picked up the teapot, first filled Shangguan Yunfeng's cup, then poured himself a cup, took a sip, and then related exactly what he had just heard from Baheer to Shangguan Yunfeng.

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yunfeng's heart couldn't help but startle; the news was not only timely but also important. The Spirit Maiden had already been selected according to their plan, awaiting only the formal announcement. Yet they hadn't expected such a deviation midway: the long-missing Spirit Maiden Jiaou had returned safely. If this were exposed, High Priestess Tongyun's prestige among the Red Yi Tribe would surely be destroyed, and their plan to control the Red Yi Tribe via the Spirit Maiden, thereby achieving dominion over the entire Red Wood River, would collapse.

Shangguan Yunfeng whispered, "Is this true?"

Jiang Shaoyang said, "It hasn't been confirmed yet; Baheer has sent me to investigate this matter."

After thinking, Shangguan Yunfeng told Jiang Shaoyang, "Go report back to him—that girl is Jiaou!"

Jiang Shaoyang blinked his eyes: "Can we be certain?"

A hint of a cold smile appeared at the corner of Shangguan Yunfeng's mouth: "Whether or not we can be certain, we must tell him that the girl is Jiaou!"

At this moment Jiang Shaoyang finally understood Shangguan Yunfeng's meaning: "Your subordinate understands!"

The Black Kiss Bird, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, landed on Xia Zhangming's hand, chirped for a moment, then spread its wings and flew away.

Xia Zhangming's expression suddenly turned solemn; he quickly stepped to Hu Xiaotian's side and whispered, "My lord, many warriors have been transferred into the watchtowers around us."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, lifted his head to gaze toward the watchtowers, and whispered, "It seems the city lord's lady ultimately could not keep the secret."

Xia Zhangming said, "My lord, what should we do?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled faintly: "We certainly don't need to worry about a mere Fire Tree City; we just fear that someone might seize the opportunity to cause trouble."

Xia Zhangming said, "My lord, do you suspect the Beggar Sect?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Since the Beggar Sect wants to make an issue of the Spirit Maiden, I think they've been planning for more than a day. In three days it will be the Red Sea Assembly; the sect's leaders will arrive one after another, their strength cannot be underestimated—perhaps their people have already infiltrated every level of Fire Tree City, so we must be on guard." (To be continued~^~)