On the way to Chengyu Lane, Ding Songyan first gave Su Qingli the key points of his earlier predicament, Yan Changqing’s deception, the odd behavior of the Ding family members, and Ding Qingyan’s true identity. Su Qingli listened, stunned again and again.
“Uh, your sister is the ‘Nine-Evils Demoness’ Ji Hanyi?” The girl was utterly shocked. “While I was urging you every night to write The Legend of the White Snake and chatting with you, she was sleeping in the inner room behind the screen, close enough to hear her breathing? No wonder I kept forgetting those important things without realizing it. I thought it was because we had been attacked along the way!”
Even now, Ding Songyan still felt as if it were all a dream.
He echoed her a couple of remarks, then recounted what had happened today, likewise concealing that he had obtained a small piece of Hundun’s remains and the peculiarity Ji Hanyi had pointed out.
“Wow!” Su Qingli exclaimed. “So you really did kill Yan Yong—an ordinary man killing the great grandmaster of the Juesheng Dao most likely to enter the Spirit Terrace Realm in nearly a century! If word of this got out, it would definitely become a top-tier legend of the martial world, the kind that would endure for a hundred years!”
The praise was pleasant to hear... Thinking back, Ding Songyan also felt that he had not had it easy, and so he accepted the emotional boost Miss Xiaoqing gave him with an easy conscience, the corners of his mouth curving upward.
He looked at the azure sky and bright sunlight, so different from Beishui Street, and thought sincerely:
What was all that fighting and killing, all that grasping at life from the jaws of death, the mystery of Kunlun, the Heavenly Emperor’s traveling palace? How could any of it compare with the pleasantness of shooting the breeze with a few cronies?
…………
Inside Jiangbo Hall, two great pillars had already snapped, leaving the hall in a mess.
Every punch and kick from Zhen Qianfan carried the force of vast, surging water, like some enormous beast risen from the sea, but Su Zhongxiao refused to clash with him head-on. Interweaving the real and the illusory, letting truth and falsehood coexist, he would now and then counter with the Formless Whip, making the other man’s force always land on empty air, unable to seize a target, which was exceedingly frustrating.
In the gradually suffocating “deep sea” environment, Dai Shen of the Fuchou Sect was already searching for a chance to flee.
Today’s plan for him and Ma Hanjiang of the Xiaochuan Gang had originally been to take advantage of the gathering of experts from the Zhenling Sect, the Tiannü Sect, and several members of the Zhen family, to fully exploit the special nature of the “Mind-Beguiling Spirit-Deranging Art,” first make the enemies kill one another, then strike amid the chaos, eliminate important figures such as Zhen Qianfan, and finally withdraw from Beishui Street before the authorities could react.
Unexpectedly, Lin Hansheng, prefect of Dingjiang Prefecture, had arrived so quickly, as if he had been prepared all along, and Ma Hanjiang of the Xiaochuan Gang, unstable in temperament, had lost control and gone hunting Ren Youyang, disciple of the Zhenling Sect. That had allowed this newly promoted Zhilan, who cultivated the “Useless Divine Art,” to leap in one bound into the ranks of grandmasters, and he had turned around and joined the battle instead.
Pinned between Lin Hansheng and Ren Youyang, one on each side, Dai Shen did not dare to press his advantage and began to think of withdrawing.
As for the problem that the operation had not been fully successful and that the Xiaochuan Gang’s collusion with the Fuchou Sect had been exposed, with a worrying outcome, he did not care. A similar subordinate could be quietly propped up again after a while.
Around Dai Shen, the void lit up with radiant light once more, and it again sketched out that fierce great eagle—white-headed, red-beaked, black-spotted—whose murderous intent seemed almost tangible.
This demon of the Fuchou Sect urged the “Mind-Beguiling Spirit-Deranging Art” to its full power, seeking to make Lin Hansheng’s savage aura grow heavier so that he would turn and attack Ren Youyang of the Zhenling Sect. In that way, Dai Shen would find an opportunity to escape.
As for Ren Youyang, his body was now covered in golden armor, his expression solemn. The “Mind-Beguiling Spirit-Deranging Art” had very little effect on him, and his eyes held a detached clarity.
The moment that white-headed, red-beaked great eagle’s phantom appeared, a dim, warm sword light shot in from outside Jiangbo Hall like lightning. It illuminated this dark place covered by illusory water, and it illuminated the hearts of men that had been obscured by savage aura.
The bloody intent in Zhen Qianfan’s eyes quickly faded, and the true fire and savage aura that Su Zhongxiao had stirred up under continuous attack died out along with it.
Lin Hansheng recovered his reason in time. His right fist shot out from his waist, sweeping upward like a flood dragon emerging from the water, raising wave after wave of “great waves.”
The fifth change of the Flood Dragon Transformation Scripture: “River-Overturning Change”!
The illusory water in the void shook, and towering waves surged to the sky, instantly dragging Dai Shen’s figure from side to side until he could barely keep his footing.
This forced Dai Shen to focus his mind and strike Lin Hansheng’s fist with all his strength in a palm strike, his sharp claws gleaming with cold light.
On the other side, Ren Youyang, whose golden sword had just been knocked aside, took a step forward and suddenly vanished within Jiangbo Hall.
In the blink of an eye, he flew out from the darkness, out from behind Dai Shen, and pointed his sword at the enemy’s back.
Dai Shen was thrown into a fluster, and only by unleashing several desperate moves did he barely avoid being gravely wounded.
Because of this, his momentum was exhausted. Before his eyes, a brilliant, dazzling sword light with a chilling killing intent suddenly flared.
The sword light flashed past and came to rest behind Dai Shen, revealing Tao Wenshu’s figure, iron crown upon her head.
Dai Shen stood frozen in place, his throat completely pierced, his head ravaged by sword intent.
With blood spraying wildly, he crashed to the ground.
“Big Dipper Killing Sword”!
Tao Wenshu turned her gaze to Zhen Qianfan, who had stopped fighting, and said in a deep voice:
“Zhen Qianfan, your affiliation with the Juesheng Dao has been discovered. Have you anything to say?”
This was inferred from Ji Hanyi’s fragmentary words and the matter of Zhen Qianfan imprisoning Yan Yong. Tao Wenshu wanted to hear how Zhen Qianfan would defend himself.
Zhen Qianfan’s face turned ashen in an instant. His body swayed, and he raised his right hand with a bitter smile:
“I have nothing to say. This old man accepts defeat as one who has lost his wager.”
He had never expected that after plotting for so long, he would lose at the very first step—so affected in mind and spirit that he had fought with the “helper” he had specially invited, and had not even pursued Yan Changqing when the man escaped.
This suddenly reminded him of the things Yan Changqing had often said to him ten or twenty years ago: “The mind and the spirit must not be neglected one for the other, or defeat will surely come from it”; “Your foundation is unstable, not only because your cultivation method is incomplete, but because your state of mind is insufficient.”
Seeing that Zhen Qianfan was about to take his own life on the spot, Tao Wenshu spoke:
“Wait.
“I have some questions to ask you. If you can answer frankly, I can promise you that several of your descendants who were not involved in the Juesheng Dao’s affairs may take part of the family wealth and return home to live as country squires.”
Lin Hansheng felt slightly surprised, since both in sentiment and in reason, those words should have come from him.
However, a person’s reputation precedes them—he knew very well what kind of person Tao Wenshu was. For her to overstep her role and act in his place must have some deeper meaning. It was not the moment to question her closely; he would cooperate first and ask later.
After the prefect of Dingjiang Prefecture gave his confirmation, Zhen Qianfan’s expression shifted several times, and he laughed at himself:
“If someone else made such a promise, I would not believe it, but since you, Sect Master Tao, have said so, I believe it.
“What do you want to ask?”
Tao Wenshu did not ask at once. She turned her gaze to Su Zhongxiao:
“Master Zhongxiao, why don’t we first return to the Tianyang Guildhall?”
Su Zhongxiao looked around and his gaze fell on the wooden box that had long since been knocked over deep within Jiangbo Hall. He asked in a low voice:
“Who gets the huai fruit?”
Ren Youyang, who had already “removed” his golden armor, said in a low voice:
“Miss Qingli has helped me many times recently, so this huai fruit should naturally go to her.
“It is of no more use to me, either.”
“I am grateful for your kindness.” Su Zhongxiao cupped his hands in thanks, then without the least hesitation used his movement technique to go over, picked up the wooden box, and opened it to take a look.
After he left Jiangbo Hall, Tao Wenshu looked at Zhen Qianfan again:
“How did you learn that Yan Yong found the missing Kunlun, entered the Heavenly Emperor’s traveling palace, and gained something from it?”
“The missing Kunlun?” Ren Youyang’s slightly enlarged dog ears twitched.
What on earth have I gotten myself involved in?
Now that he had died and been deified, his body seemed to have undergone some changes. Brown animal fur could be seen in many places, and at his ears two illusory little green snakes slithered in and out, forming earrings.
Hearing Tao Wenshu’s words, Lin Hansheng’s expression instantly turned grave.
Was this confirmation that Yan Yong had entered Kunlun?
Zhen Qianfan smiled bitterly:
“That day I received a letter. It said that Yan Changqing had found Kunlun, entered the Heavenly Emperor’s traveling palace, and obtained things such as Hundun’s remains. I half believed and half doubted it. Following the directions in the letter, I tested Yan Changqing, who had come to seek shelter with me, and in the end I confirmed the matter—and greed arose in me.
“Then... has Hundun’s remains been found?”
He still could not stop thinking about that divine object, which could encompass all he had learned, make up for the deficiencies in his foundation, and help him achieve Dharma Realm consummation in one stroke.
“It was taken by Ji Hanyi,” Tao Wenshu said concisely.
Zhen Qianfan said, as if in a daze:
“She just took it? It was hidden nearby?”
Tao Wenshu did not answer his question, and instead asked:
“What about the letter?”
Zhen Qianfan chuckled.
“If I said it suddenly disappeared one day, would you believe me?”
“I believe you,” Tao Wenshu said with a slight nod.
Even Yan Changqing’s lingering soul could be silenced; how much more a letter.
Zhen Qianfan said seriously:
“I think the person who wrote that letter must also have designs on the Heavenly Emperor’s traveling palace. I had originally hoped that this time, in ‘releasing the tiger back to the mountain,’ he or they would also come to take part and become a variable favorable to me. But who would have thought that from beginning to end, no suspicious person appeared at all.”
Tao Wenshu asked about other matters, and finally said to Zhen Qianfan:
“I will surely do what I promised you.”
“I believe you.” Zhen Qianfan raised his right palm higher.
He looked around at the wrecked Jiangbo Hall, as if savoring the noise and liveliness of former days, savoring the scenes where a single word could decide a person’s life or death, savoring the ordinary happiness of children and grandchildren gathered at his knees.
“Ah...”
Zhen Qianfan let out a long sigh and suddenly struck his own head with a palm.
His skull cracked apart with a crunch, blood and brain matter bursting out at once.
…………
“Ding Erlang, do you think that demoness Ji really might see you as her brother? She’s clearly older than you!” Su Qingli looked at the well at the entrance of Chengyu Lane and spoke with great interest.
My actual age is over thirty... Ding Songyan smiled bitterly and shook his head:
“Who knows? In any case, she let me go.”
“With daily contact, it’s inevitable that some affection would develop, and you aren’t standing in the way of her plans.” Su Qingli pointed toward Chengyu Lane. “I should go meet up with Second Uncle. I’ll come back this evening to say goodbye to you.”
Before Ding Songyan could respond, she said, beaming:
“I never thought that this journey through the martial world to broaden my horizons would run into something so exciting and involving such far-reaching matters—more impressive than everything my eldest brother has experienced in all his years of wandering combined!
“Ding Erlang, in the future let’s travel the martial world together and keep up the good work!”
“It would be better not to run into such dangerous things again,” Ding Songyan replied with a smile, watching Miss Xiaoqing leave with her maid Yu Yao, hopping and skipping a little as she headed back toward Beishui Street.
Feeling the small lump of Hundun’s remains clutched in his palm, he turned his gaze to the mouth of the lane in the afternoon light.
At the moment no neighbors were gathered; some were busy outside, and others were occupied with tasks at home.
Ding Songyan walked through the empty streets and alleys, where only the sound of cicadas remained, step by step toward the Ding family courtyard.
Along the way, he saw the yellow dog A’hua, saw Uncle Ren sorting firewood in the courtyard, and saw several elderly neighbors, greeting them simply.
When he returned to the gate of the Ding family courtyard, he pushed gently and found that the door was not barred; it opened with a creak.
In the courtyard, the elm tree, the woodpile, and the stone coal were all as before. There were far fewer mosquitoes and moths. In the open main room, the tables, chairs, and wooden chests had been tidied neatly, but there was no one left inside.
This cold silence stood in stark contrast to the earlier chaos, bloodshed, and schemes.
Ding Songyan suddenly felt a sense of dejection—after being busy for so long, crossing mountains and ridges, only to end up all alone.
The things remained, but the people were gone.
He sighed softly and laughed at himself inwardly:
Earlier, everyone had been putting on an act. Now it had truly come to the end of the song, with the guests dispersed.
Just then, a shout came from behind Ding Songyan:
“Second Brother Ding! Second Brother Ding!”
Ding Songyan quickly turned around and saw Xu Chang’an, with his shifty, rat-like eyes, stepping through the courtyard gate.
This fellow asked with a face full of smiles:
“I saw you came back early, so there’s no need for me to go to the yamen and report it to the authorities, right?”
Ding Songyan was taken aback for a moment, then laughed softly:
“No need.”
Just as he finished speaking, another person approached the courtyard gate: Zheng Zhuxi, dressed in black fighting attire and carrying a longsword.
Zheng Zhuxi said with a bright, warm smile:
“I saw you from the watchtower when you left Beishui Street. I thought you were probably heading home, so I came to take a look.
“It’s good that you’re all right. It’s good that you’re all right.”
Seeing Zheng Zhuxi’s smile, and seeing Xu Chang’an’s shocked face as he looked back and forth between this young woman and himself, Ding Songyan suddenly closed his eyes and then opened them again.
The sky seemed to have brightened a little.
Chapter 59