Chapter 465: 440 The Sunflower

A question was asked, but no one answered.

Tang Zhao's nerves tightened, his gaze sharp as he looked around.

The Spirit Hall was filled with the shimmer of pearls and bright candlelight; because it was so bright, the outlines of objects were blurred, and any occasional distortion was merely due to the halo of light.

Yet, he had clearly felt another presence behind him just now; that movement was definitely not just light and shadow.

Looking again now, there was no movement at all, so he sneered, "Do you think I'm bluffing you?"

He slowly shifted his gaze, finally stopping on a cluster of sunflowers, and said clearly toward them, "Stop hiding, I saw you long ago."

He heard someone let out a "Hmph," the voice sounding extremely childish.

Among that cluster of sunflowers that looked almost identical, one turned around.

No one turned it, and no wind blew; the flower stem twisted on its own, moving as nimbly as a child twisting their waist, until it faced Tang Zhao directly.

The front of a sunflower is, naturally, its flower head; the petals were golden, the disk round, but it seemed to have two black pearls embedded in it, just like a pair of eyes. Because of these eyes, the flower changed completely, as if…

"Eh? A sunflower has become a spirit?"

A slit opened beneath the sunflower's disk like a mouth, and it cried out, "What do you mean 'become a spirit'? I am Xiangyangzi."

Its voice was childish, yet its tone was old-fashioned and pretentious, which felt somewhat discordant…

But no matter how discordant that was, could it be more discordant than a sunflower speaking? Compared to that, a little discordance was nothing.

"Xiangyangzi…"

"Exactly. I originally thought it was Ruyi Sword who came, and I was just about to come out and question her on why she didn't keep her promise, and why she hadn't shown her face in so long—was she feeling guilty? I didn't expect a strange little brat like you to enter. I don't recognize you, and I have nothing to say to you, so I was going back. I didn't expect you to have such sharp eyes to actually spot me. This seat is upright and honorable, why would I need to hide? Since you've called out repeatedly and insisted on seeing me, I shall come out and see you."

Tang Zhao suddenly understood. Although he was still very curious about how a sunflower could speak, he had seen talking turtles and talking white foxes, so seeing another talking flower wasn't that strange—who knew what kind of existence this was? He said, "Have you been here all along? And you recognize Ruyi Sword?"

Xiangyangzi barked, "What kind of talk is that? What is that supposed to mean? I recognized Ruyi long before you did."

Tang Zhao nodded and said, "That is certainly true. I don't even know Ruyi Sword at all."

Xiangyangzi was stunned and said, "You don't know Ruyi Sword? Impossible. This cenotaph of Dongjun has always been guarded by Ruyi Sword; how could you have entered if you don't know her? Did you force your way in? I don't think you have the ability to do that."

Tang Zhao asked in surprise, "What? Dongjun? Isn't it the Jinwu Sword? Could it be that the Jinwu Sword is Dongjun?"

"..."

Xiangyangzi was shocked by Tang Zhao's ignorance. Its already round eyes became even rounder as it stared at Tang Zhao and said, "You don't even know this is the cenotaph of Dongjun? You… who were you burning incense for just now?"

Tang Zhao was still in disbelief, only muttering, "The spirit tablet is for Dongjun? Dongjun is actually dead?"

In truth, he and Dongjun were complete strangers; whether Dongjun was dead or alive had nothing to do with him, let alone causing him shock or sadness. Even a day ago, he had thought Dongjun was just a legendary deity, and that no such person existed at all. He had only realized Dongjun was a living person a few hours ago.

But didn't Dongjun have an envoy come to Baiyujing, and one with such a strong presence that they seemed very much alive?

Therefore, in Tang Zhao's mind, the image of Dongjun was already established: a powerful Sword Immortal or even a Sword Saint, an ally of Ruyi Sword of Baiyujing. One hundred and twenty years ago, they had joined forces to resist the Wangliang, and in the end, Baiyujing sank and the Wangliang were suppressed at Wangliang Mountain; he didn't know what had happened to Dongjun.

Tang Zhao had even guessed, through various clues, that the stone left behind by the Dongjun Envoy was a token, intended for someone to go and seek help from Dongjun…

And yet, you're saying Dongjun died nearly two hundred years ago? And that Ruyi Sword had known about this all along, and she was the one guarding the tomb?

Didn't that make all the stories he had heard and the theories he had guessed complete nonsense?

"If Dongjun is dead, what about Dongjun's envoy?"

Xiangyangzi was very dissatisfied that Tang Zhao had ignored its question and was just standing there dazed and talking to himself. It said unhappily, "Dongjun's envoy? Who are you talking about?"

Tang Zhao said, "A woman from a hundred years ago, she… she should be called Bai Ni."

He originally hadn't known the woman's name, but she had left a long note written in Rune Characters at Qianqiu Tower, which contained many stories and the cause and effect of events, and she had signed her name at the end: "Bai Ni."

It was fortunate that she did, otherwise Tang Zhao and others would have known nothing about this woman who was so crucial to the catastrophe over a hundred years ago.

Xiangyangzi's flower head lowered slightly, then lifted back up, saying, "I wondered who you were talking about; so it's that woman. Then I know. How many years ago… how many years ago was it? She came with Ruyi Sword. She was a very beautiful woman, only slightly less so than Ruyi Sword. It's a pity she couldn't speak properly; every time she saw Dongjun's spirit tablet, she would cry, and she was still crying when she left. The entire memorial service wasn't conducted properly; she was just there weeping. Ruyi Sword first pulled a long face and kept scolding her by calling her name, but later, perhaps her anger subsided, she comforted her a few times and helped her away. Yes, Bai Ni, that's the woman."

"Is that so…"

Tang Zhao was very surprised. In his impression, Bai Ni was the kind of woman who was deep-thinking, ruthless, and good at hiding herself; he hadn't expected her to be here crying incessantly, so weak that she needed someone to help her…

Another image had collapsed.

Was it because she saw Dongjun's spirit tablet?

"That must have been one hundred and twenty years ago? The last time Ruyi Sword came to pay her respects? She brought Bai Ni along?"

It seems that besides the great battle against the Wangliang, many other things happened in Baiyujing that day? It's just that he didn't know the specific order of these events.

Tang Zhao intuitively felt that coming to pay respects to Dongjun must have been Bai Ni's final stop. Because she had clearly died in the Shelter built by Ruyi Sword, she must have been with Ruyi Sword at the end, right?

Up until she wrote the inscription at Qianqiu Tower, her wording had been very strong and firm, as if she were making a grand and impassioned final testament. After seeing Ruyi Sword, she became weepy, and even kept writing the word "Regret" on the coffin lid; there must have been a huge turning point in between.

What on earth happened?

As Tang Zhao thought this, he felt both that the matter was confusing and that he had enough information; he wasn't far from piecing together the truth of those years.

At this moment, Xiangyangzi said, "Since she said she was Dongjun's envoy, then she was Dongjun's envoy. She was just the next Dongjun's envoy."

"Eh? Dongjun has a successor?"

Xiangyangzi was stunned again and said angrily, "How did you get in here? You don't understand anything; are you a complete blockhead? You silly boy, just by coming in and standing here, you've covered this place in a layer of stupidity! Get out! If you stay any longer, you'll infect me too!"

Tang Zhao wasn't angry and said with a bitter smile, "I really did stumble in by accident. I was originally being teleported, but something went wrong, and I ended up here. I'd like to leave, but who can tell me how?" He glanced at the spirit tablet and said, "I saw the Jinwu Sword and heard that it was one of the Four Pillars of the Sun Domain and that it died for the sake of all living beings, so I felt admiration and bowed in offering."

Xiangyangzi softened slightly and said, "You even know that the Jinwu Sword is one of the Four Pillars of the Sun Domain, so how can you not know that the wielder of the Jinwu Sword is called Dongjun? The cenotaph of Ju Dongjun is here, and the Jinwu Sword is not here; someone is wielding the Jinwu Sword, so naturally, they are the new Dongjun. Of course, the Jinwu Sword can only truly be called Dongjun once the wielder becomes a Sword Immortal, but if one isn't too particular, one can use the title as an honorific for a Dongjun-in-waiting."

Tang Zhao suddenly understood. Dongjun was the legendary Sun God, and the Jinwu Sword was the most traditional Sun Sword; it wasn't strange for the Sun Sword to be called the Sun God.

However…

"Does the Jinwu Sword have a wielder now? Who is it?"

How did he remember that the Jinwu Sword still had no wielder, and that Cai Yungui was nearly going mad over it? If there were a wielder, why would it be like this?

Come to think of it, no wonder they were going mad; the Jinwu Sword was actually Dongjun, the protector of the Human World. At the very least, psychologically, the loss of Dongjun had left all living beings without a sense of security.

Xiangyangzi said, "How would I know who it is? I've been here the whole time and don't know what's happening outside. Anyway, the Jinwu Sword is so important, it certainly can't be left idle forever, right? It's been so many years; if luck is good, a new Dongjun has been born and has already attained the position of Sword Immortal. If luck is bad, the Jinwu Sword has been failing to produce one, and perhaps it has already changed hands several times. Once a true talent becomes a Sword Immortal, the name of Dongjun will naturally resound throughout the universe."

So you don't know either.

Tang Zhao sighed. He had thought the other party had some inside information, but it turned out they were just speculating based on common sense.

What good luck or bad luck—the current luck was at its absolute worst. Forget about changing hands several times; not even one had succeeded yet.

Could it be that one hundred and twenty years ago, the Jinwu Sword still existed? Was Bai Ni the wielder of the Jinwu Sword of that generation?

No, it could also be...

Tang Zhao pondered carefully, then suddenly asked, "You haven't been out for over a hundred years? Have you been here the whole time?"

Xiangyangzi said, "I am keeping vigil for Dongjun, so of course I remain here, never leaving the hall."

Tang Zhao felt a sense of solemn respect; keeping vigil was a difficult task regardless, and although Xiangyangzi was a flower and did not look like someone who could run around, being able to persevere in staying here was truly very arduous, and to have to keep watch for eternity was indeed worthy of admiration.

Xiangyangzi said, "That is why when I saw someone come just now, I thought it was the Ruyi Sword, and I was about to demand of her: why have you not come to pay respects for over a hundred years? What happened to the agreement from back then? Did she go back on her word? After you go out, ask her for me, how could she fail to keep her promise?"

Tang Zhao thought to himself that it really knew nothing at all, even calling itself a blockhead, and sighed, "I am sorry, Senior, I am afraid I cannot deliver your message. Firstly, I do not yet know how to get out. Secondly, even if I did get out, I would not be able to see the Ruyi Sword."

Xiangyangzi was stunned and said, "What? Has she broken the agreement so thoroughly that she does not even look after the Cenotaph? Is this still Baiyujing?"

Tang Zhao said solemnly, "I do not know if it counts as such. One hundred and twenty years ago, which was the last time she saw you, Baiyujing was attacked by the Wangliang. The Shadow has sealed the Xiancheng and has not dissipated to this day, and the whereabouts of the Ruyi Sword are unknown... she should have already fallen into slumber."