Chapter 214: Two Years, Emerging from the Pass (5) – Appearance

Miss Huang's sudden departure made Jiugong Mountain suddenly much more desolate.

Winter passed, spring came, time flowed like water; with Niu Dingtian still not appearing, the women's hearts gradually tightened.

Sometime, rumors began circulating in the jianghu that the Divine Sect's sect leader had gone astray while training, suffered a violent death and fell.

In this agonizing wait, summer passed, winter returned, and before we knew it another New Year's Eve passed.

During that period, many major events occurred across the world.

The Red Vest Army was completely annihilated under the Jin State's full siege; Mu Rong An led the remnants on Jiugong Mountain, attempting to seize power, but ultimately failed, was gravely wounded, and fled to Mongolia.

On the same day, Yang Kang and Guo Jing, who each held positions in the Divine Sect and whose conflicts were growing, suddenly erupted into a clash.

After Yang Kang severely injured Guo Jing, refusing punishment, he fled Xiangyang City overnight; five days later, the Mongol Empire reported that Genghis Khan had summoned him as a son‑in‑law.

After these two incidents, the observant began to sense a hint of abnormality; after two years without a sighting, perhaps that person in Xiangyang truly met misfortune.

In Xiangyang, Jiugong Mountain was in early autumn, a drizzling rain shrouded the Jingxiang lands, bringing a hint of chill.

The small courtyard, within the warm pavilion by the window.

Bao Xiruo's black silk hair was styled into an elegant cloud bun, she wore a plain white dress with a tightly bound slender waist, yet her jade‑like face now overflowed with shame, tears filling her eyes.

She looked up at Chen Jin'er and Li Ping before her, choked and said, "It's all my fault for spoiling him too much; that's why this grave mistake happened. I will soon descend the mountain, go to Mongolia, and bring him back to atone."

Li Ping sighed, grasped her former confidante's hand, and comforted, "Jing'er is not seriously injured; a few days of recuperation will be fine. Kang'er is still young, unable to discern right from wrong; when his senior uncle returns, we can bring him back then."

Chen Jin'er exchanged a glance with Fen Tian, stepped forward, and said thoughtfully, "This matter isn't urgent; since he's been summoned as a son‑in‑law, the danger should be temporary. We'll discuss it when uncle returns."

Speaking, she seemed uneasy, and solemnly warned, "You must never think of descending the mountain yourself; that would only cause trouble. That boy is very clever and won't be taken advantage of."

Bao Xiruo dabbed at the corner of her eye, speaking with a somewhat insufficient tone, "It would be better if he suffered a loss! I only regret that I've believed his docility all these years; had I let him suffer setbacks earlier, perhaps…"

"Alright, alright," Chen Jin'er, who would not believe such hollow words, waved her hand and sighed, "Yang Kang is still a child; you shouldn't overthink this."

"Take a nap for a while, then eat and drink; first let Sister Li keep you company, and we'll go see Sister Miaozhen later."

Having said that, she gave Li Ping a gentle nod, then signaled Fen Tian, Han Xiao Ying, and Yan Huaixi, and the few of them left the warm pavilion together.

Walking beneath the corridor eaves, the courtyard was veiled in fine mist, adding a few more notes of desolate autumn chill.

Chen Jin'er, walking, looked at Han Xiao Ying and Yan Huaixi, fixed her gaze and asked, "Did we still fail to enter Peach Blossom Island this time?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Huaixi's face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he whispered, "We did get in, but Lord Huang drove us out again. I left some items for Rong'er; I don't know whether I gave them to her father or discarded them."

Han Xiao Ying took over, speaking softly, "Lord Huang probably also has no remedy for Ronger's leg injury; he drove us out, but his tone wasn't as cold as before."

Speaking, a hint of doubt rose in her brows, and she asked, "Although Yang Kang is somewhat resentful toward Jing'er, he wouldn't go so far; why did he suddenly flee?"

Speaking of it, her and Yan Huaixi's steps were also timely; the two happened to return from Peach Blossom Island to Jiugong Mountain, just as an incident involving an adult and a child broke out, and they fled to Mongolia one after another.

Chen Jin'er halted upon hearing that, a hint of hesitation appearing on her jade‑like face.

Han Xiao Ying smiled, "I just have some doubts; if it's inconvenient to speak, that's fine."

Chen Jin'er exchanged a glance with Fen Tian, gently shook her head, and said thoughtfully, "It's not that it's inconvenient to speak; it's just that I'm also uncertain."

Seeing Han Xiao Ying and Yan Huaixi looking her way, she glanced around and whispered, "Mu Rong An truly intended to seize power; we struck him down, and he fled severely wounded. However, Yang Kang was a prearranged double act prepared before uncle's seclusion."

"We just didn't expect the Mongols to be willing to betroth Princess Huazheng to him; with Mongolia's growing strength, I'm afraid the boy lacks resolve and can't resist the lure of wealth and power, ultimately turning our fake play into reality."

"Sister Bao, do you know?"

Han Xiao Ying couldn't help but frown and ask.

"How could we let her know," Chen Jin'er shook her head, saying, "Originally we only hoped he could sell some intelligence to the Mongols, to supplement the army funds. It happened that Mu Rong An's power grab failed and he fled to Mongolia; he then volunteered to become a spy. The deputy sect leader and I discussed and agreed."

"But that boy thinks too much, and being overly eager for sect power, perhaps because he hasn't seen uncle for two years, he believed the rumors and wants to find a new place for himself."

"It shouldn't be…"

Han Xiao Ying pondered briefly, then said softly, "Others may not care much in his eyes, but Sister Bao, Yang Kang cares deeply."

"Hopefully so."

Chen Jin'er let out a gentle sigh.

Afterwards, the group no longer discussed the topic; after leaving the courtyard, they soon arrived at Mu Rong Miaozhen's room.

Because Mu Rong An had launched a sudden attack on Jiugong Mountain a few days earlier, Mu Rong Miaozhen was undoubtedly the most embarrassed person on the mountain.

Perhaps also fearing that Mu Rong Miaozhen would be mistreated on the mountain, before fleeing Mu Rong An even leaked that the younger sister was originally surnamed Yang and that the siblings were not blood‑related. Whether true or not, Mu Rong Miaozhen stood at the forefront at the crucial moment, and Chen Jin'er and the others felt a trace of sympathy for this now completely solitary girl.

As soon as they entered the room, they saw Mu Rong Miaozhen, dressed in sturdy attire, holding a jade pendant, seated at the desk, her gaze fixed blankly on a painting on the wall.

Chen Jin'er stepped forward to console, "Sister, don't overthink; everyone has their own path. Since you've pledged to come here, from now on you're one of us, and we will never treat you differently."

"And also…"

"Boom—"

Before Chen Jin'er could finish, a rumbling thunder erupted outside, and the surrounding atmosphere suddenly made hearts race.

"It's already late autumn; how can there be such loud thunder?" Han Xiao Ying couldn't help turning back.

Thunder is rare in early autumn; the autumn rain outside had fallen for three days without a single clap, and the sudden thunder startled everyone.

Just as they were about to lower their gazes, suddenly, in the misty rain‑spattered sky, the clouds and wind changed color in an instant.

The previously calm heavens were as if a invisible giant hand violently churned them, the cloud layers surging at an incredible speed.

The next moment, darkness spread like a tide; what had been afternoon sky turned in an instant to night, and the whole world seemed plunged into an inexplicable terror.

"What's happening?"

Chen Jin'er felt a shiver in her heart.

Regaining her composure, she hurriedly pulled the still‑dazed Mu Rong Miaozhen and shouted to Han Xiao Ying and Yan Huaixi, "Quickly gather the people to prevent disaster! Send orders to all cities to tighten defenses and avert any upheaval!"

The two left swiftly, and Chen Jin'er took Mu Rong Miaozhen and Fen Tian each to soothe the troops' morale.

This action wasn't overblown; it reflected the era's people's heartfelt reverence for the heavens and deities.

Such celestial phenomena made even they feel their hearts tremble, let alone the ordinary soldiers outside.

Now several cities in Jingxiang boast strong troops and horses, far beyond the past; if anyone were to cause chaos with this, they might not be able to control the situation.

Deep within Jiugong Mountain, in a hidden, dim cave—

Faintly visible was a person sitting cross‑legged, eyes tightly shut, as the aura around his body circulated, the dust on him vanished, revealing a long‑bearded, long‑mustached face of fair complexion.

It was Niu Dingtian, whom they hadn't seen for two years.

The aura swirling around him was like a pool of calm lake water, appearing still yet quietly brimming with boundless power.

As time passed, Niu Dingtian's aura grew deeper, as if merging with the surrounding mountains and earth.

Gradually, a massive surge erupted from his body; as if in response, lightning streaked across the sky outside the cave, like a frenzy of golden snakes, accompanied by deafening thunder, as if tearing the heavens apart.

On the mountaintop—

The sect's disciples suddenly sensed the abrupt celestial upheaval, and an inexplicable unease rose in their hearts.

"What's happening? I've never seen such a terrifying sight!" a newly inducted disciple of the Divine Sect said, trembling.

"Could it be that a peerless demon lord is descending?" another disciple guessed, face full of terror.

While the crowd argued, Su Lvzhi, Yan Hongshou, and Jin Buhuan led a group of Hall Masters and Banner Masters, appearing to soothe the disciples' emotions.

Their faces were solemn, eyes fixed on the sky, feeling faintly that this power was extraordinary.

"Such an omen is far from ordinary! I fear something momentous is occurring," Su Lvzhi said, frowning.

Back in those days they had also pretended omens to fool Manichaean Sect believers, and only after truly witnessing this did they realize the panic and horror it contains.

Under the guidance of the various Hall Masters and Banner Masters, the disciples gathered toward each main hall; along the way, the sounds of wind, thunder, and footsteps intertwined, creating a tense and oppressive atmosphere.

When Chen Jin'er led the women of the rear courtyard to the second floor of Doumu Palace, she saw the dark clouds in the sky already forming a massive vortex, slowly rotating.

At the vortex's center, a dazzling beam shot straight down, enveloping a spot on a distant mountainside; the trembling power within that light seemed capable of destroying everything at any moment.

Everyone in the main hall, watching this astonishing scene, involuntarily inhaled a breath of cold air.

"Could it be that our Jiugong Mountain has a great demon crossing a tribulation?" a disciple suddenly exclaimed, face full of disbelief.

The celestial anomaly grew more intense; a bolt of lightning thundered toward a distant peak, shattering rock instantly, which tumbled down, raising a cloud of dust.

Just as another lightning bolt was about to strike, a sword‑light suddenly surged upward from that mountainside, meeting it.

"Boom!!" (End of chapter)