Ch126 - The truth

Xie Zhiwei opened up the System. “Gallant Outlaw, give me more spiritual spring water.”

Gallant Outlaw was silent for a moment before he replied. “Idol, the System doesn’t even care about the hero anymore. Do you think it’ll bother with the heroine?”

Xie Zhiwei only mumbled, “Are we…just going to let her die?”

“Before this we’ve had Shen You, Ming Kong, the grave robbers, the Bai father and son, etc. all die. Although you felt bad about their deaths, you didn’t think of using the System to save them.” Gallant Outlaw was dispirited too. “Idol, I was very surprised and very sad to see Mengmeng die, but if you really can’t bear it…why don’t you pick Option 2? Redo the story and get Goddess Meng back—”

Xie Zhiwei didn’t wait for him to finish and smashed a fist against the System interface.

Gallant Outlaw realized he’d misspoken and added hastily, “Idol, don’t get angry ah. How about giving me authorization to see the plot…”

Actually, by this time the System had already given up on the plot and hero. Gallant Outlaw’s insignificant analyses would be of little use. From now on, he had to rely on himself. Still, Xie Zhiwei gave authorization before directly disconnecting the System. He wanted this bastard author to see how incredible his characters were, but he didn’t want to discuss the plot or character settings with Gallant Outlaw, which would be a huge disrespect to Miss Tantai and this world.

Xie Zhiwei couldn’t even bear to recall the past anymore.

Four years ago—and even when he first woke up four years later—it was with the mentality of catching up on tasks and loitering through his days. He could even give the spiritual spring away as a favor, but the two grave robbers had long sold it all and it was too late to get it back.

The group of people returned to the Buddhist sect with heavy hearts, only to see Qiu Chongyun stand up from a corner as soon as they entered Mahavira Hall. She smiled and greeted Xie Zhiwei. “Daoist, nujia has earned merits. If it wasn’t for nujia, Sect Leader Yan and Great Master Du Sheng would’ve never found you all in time. It’s a pity nujia didn’t dare to show my face…huh? Why is there blood on your hands?” She was in high spirits, but as soon as she glanced behind Xie Zhiwei, she froze.

A few disciples were carrying a simple rattan stretcher inside. On it lay Tantai Meng, covered in blood. Qiu Chongyun’s expression stiffened as she gave one of the young monks a questioning look.

The little monk murmured, “Senior Sister Tantai was killed by a bad guy.”

Qiu Chongyun couldn’t close her mouth for a while. She looked at the ashen Tantai Meng and turned to ask, “Yin Cangshan actually murdered someone brazenly. Brother-in-law, what are your thoughts?”

“Looks like he’s lost all scruples. This man has always been cautious; for him to make a move now meant he thought victory was at hand.”

The voice stunned everyone present. From the depths of the hall emerged a man dressed in very ordinary civilian clothes, his hair hidden in a turban. But the aura of his movements was unmistakable.

The group was astounded as Yan Zhifei creased his brows to ask, “Didn’t the King of Nine Provinces leave with Yin Cangshan? And why is the Demonic Sect saintess here?”

Du Sheng heshi’d and said in a hoarse voice, “Greetings to Your Royal Majesty.”

The King of Nine Provinces quickly went to support him with a tone of concern. “No need for such formalities, Great Master. Today your beloved disciple suffered a tragic death, so please take your time to mourn. Avenging her is only right.”

Du Sheng raised his head, expression wracked with pain. He too, was just as befuddled as everyone else. “What does the king mean by this?”

The King of Nine Provinces was all business as he spoke. “Calamity has befallen the Buddhist sect and the imperial court because of Yin Cangshan’s wolfish ambitions. Generations of the Yin Clan have been kings and lords while this man has been operating for many years. His roots are deep and the situation at court perilous. The cultivation world may not be able to manage things alone. Thus, we should pull ourselves together and join hands to destroy the enemy during this urgent time.”

Everyone including Yan Zhifei and Xia Zhiqi was staring at the King of Nine Provinces with thunderstruck expressions.

This lazy and indolent king would usually put on airs around others, but he was now speaking with a clear voice and shrewd look in his eyes as if he was a completely different person. He seemed to have transformed back to the wise prince who reigned over the world more than twenty years ago. Only Xie Zhiwei shifted his gaze to look towards Tantai Meng, who had been carried to a side hall.

The breakthrough point with the King of Nine Provinces that Gallant Outlaw mentioned last time had come.

Mengmeng didn’t die in vain.

—

After a brief explanation, the group came to learn that the King of Nine Provinces had gotten in touch with Qiu Chongyun long ago. He had always been suspicious about how he lost his spiritual veins and guessed that a third party was involved, so he entrusted Qiu Chongyun to lie low in court. In this way, he could observe their movements while avoiding accountability towards Mu He. After all, Qiu Chongyun had once harbored second thoughts about Mu He and tried to take the Demonic Sect for herself. This method allowed her to gain protection and make up for her crime.

She was unexpectedly popular in the palace while dressed as a maid with her ageless looks. After meeting the current emperor, they actually blossomed into a love affair. Because of her special status, she wasn’t willing to show off and only met with His Imperial Majesty in secret without asking for any titles. The emperor had never met such a free and unrestrained woman and loved her style all the more until he was favoring her exclusively. The concubines of the harem were all gnashing their teeth, but none of them knew who the vixen was.

But the good times didn’t last. Qiu Chongyun received a secret letter from a mysterious person claiming that he already knew her identity. If she didn’t want to expose herself, she had to cooperate with him. Previously, Qiu Chongyun had already cut contact with the King of Nine Provinces for the sake of her mission after entering the palace, so she wasn’t afraid of the threat. She only feared that her identity as a Demonic Sect member would be exposed, leaving her unable to stay in the palace.

She waited with dread and trepidation, but the mystery man never did anything else until the day of the explosions at the Buddhist sect—upon which the man told her to bring Qiu Zhaoshui’s portrait to the location. As for why the King of Nine Provinces showed up that day as well, it was Qiu Chongyun’s doing. Ever since her love affair with His Imperial Majesty, she had worried that the King of Nine Provinces’ hostility towards the emperor would harm both sides. Whenever she had a chance, she questioned the emperor about the events of the past.

As time went on, even His Imperial Majesty sensed that something was wrong. He finally understood why the King of Nine Provinces had been avoiding him all these years and hastily summoned both father and son into the palace to explain everything. But the King of Nine Provinces had been with Yin Cangshan at the time and couldn’t leave for a time. As he was used to giving the emperor the cold shoulder, he simply took it for an ordinary political matter and let Mu He go on alone.

By then they knew the sponsor had to be someone else. This was what Mu He meant when he told Xie Zhiwei he had an inkling to their identity.

Who would have expected Yin Cangshan to take initiative next? On the one hand, he took advantage of the fact that the daoist sect was at Buddhist sect grounds to set off the explosions. Then he had Qiu Chongyun acknowledge Mu He and told the King of Nine Provinces of his impure bloodline. Without letting the king refuse, he summoned the imperial courtiers to rush towards the Buddhist sect.

Thus came the unbelievable scene of a group of courtiers emerging from Mahavira Hall right after the attacks. After such dramatic changes, the King of Nine Provinces also responded. He ordered Faceless to disguise as himself and pretended to be coerced into house arrest by Yin Cangshan. Meanwhile, he went incognito and entered the palace with Qiu Chongyun’s help to explain everything to His Imperial Majesty while deploying his forces in secret.

Today it was Faceless who accompanied Yin Cangshan to the Buddhist sect grounds, and also Faceless who spread the word so Qiu Chongyun and the King of Nine Provinces could tell Yan Zhifei and the rest in turn to save Xie Zhiwei and Tantai Meng.

When the King of Nine Provinces finished his narration, he remarked,  “Yin Cangshan acts while his foes are unprepared and unexpecting, making him extraordinarily tough. After this king judged the situation, I pretended to play along, but Royal Son had to suffer.”

There were so many ups and downs in this story that it could be its own story arc. Qiu Chongyun got involved with court intrigue while the King of Nine Provinces dealt with political schemes. It was actually more exciting than Gallant Outlaw’s original draft, enough to fill 100,000 words.

Xie Zhiwei was silent for awhile before he asked, “So, the king’s disdain towards my disciple was all for show? You don’t care about his bloodline?”

The King of Nine Provinces gave Xie Zhiwei a salty look before shifting his gaze. “Actually, this king already knew Zhaoshui’s identity back then.”

Xie Zhiwei and the crowd were surprised.

It was rare for the King of Nine Provinces to reveal a soft expression, but a moment later his eyes dimmed. “Zhaoshui and this king’s love grew stronger until I decided to let her accompany me back as my consort. She was moved to tears, but left the next day with a letter explaining everything. From then on, she disappeared… Four years ago this king met Royal Son after Great Master Du Sheng’s introduction and the jade pendant I gave to Zhaoshui in the past. Only then did I know she was pregnant at the time, but didn’t want to cause this king any difficulties…” By the end, the king’s voice had turned raspy.

Qiu Chongyun wiped her eyes from a corner. “Elder sister truly treated brother-in-law with deep love and righteousness.”

The King of Nine Provinces shut his eyes briefly. “This king has mentioned none of this to Royal Son. This king doesn’t care, but I’m afraid he would…I never expected someone to use this against him. This king could only put on an act before Royal Son and burn that painting.”

“Good thing I found someone to make a temporary imitation,” Qiu Chongyun said. “Eldest sister’s portrait is still kept in the Demonic Sect.”

The king’s eyes turned cold. “Even so, Yin Cangshan must die.”

The two of them were in concert, leaving their listeners fascinated and moved. Xie Zhiwei also felt bitterness in his throat, but not from the King of Nine Provinces’ dogblood love story. He was thinking of Mu He. In an instant, he seemed to see the sun breaking through the clouds.

It turns out this child wasn’t all alone after all.

—

At year’s end in winter, the winds suddenly changed.

His Imperial Majesty grew seriously ill and retired to the palace, leaving the court empty for many days. There was no heir and the direct bloodline descendant King of Nine Provinces only sat and watched from the sidelines with cold eyes, interacting with no one but Yin Cangshan. Meanwhile, the pillar that was Shizi Mu He lost power, his life and death unknown. Suddenly there was no one in charge of political affairs, leaving the court in turmoil. Many had already secretly sided with Yin Cangshan’s camp.

On the other side, the Buddhist sect had been destroyed by a disaster and Du Sheng lost his disciple Tantai Meng. The traces of Yin Cangshan’s true face was revealed across the cultivation world. After discussion between the Buddhist and daoist sects, it was decided they would join forces with the rest of the sects to deal with a common foe.

In just one day, the situation had reached its peak.

That night, Xie Zhiwei tossed and turned in bed. He could see Mu He as long as he went to sleep, but what if he didn’t? Combined with Mengmeng’s death during the day, it was late night before he dozed off in a daze.

Before Suihan Lodge, the bamboo forest now looked like an ink painting drenched in rain, a large block of green nearly indistinguishable from its original lines. The pond was gone as well, leaving just Mu He’s solitary figure.

Just like the last few times, Mu He smiled and called out as soon as he saw him. “Shizun.” He walked towards Xie Zhiwei while he spoke.

Everyone move and action in the dreamscape consumed spiritual energy. Xie Zhiwei quickly said, “Stand there and don’t move.” He hurried forward and subconsciously grasped his wrist, only to touch air—the spiritual energy was so weak here that the dream was more illusionary than solid. Right now, the two of them couldn’t touch each other at all.

Xie Zhiwei startled and threw modesty out the window as he tried his best to hug the other. But they seemed to be from different dimensions as his arms passed right through.

Mu He slowly withdrew his smile and said, “If disciple still had spiritual power, how great it would be. Then shizun could…”

Xie Zhiwei turned back to face him once again. “You just wait. Master will definitely come over and channel spiritual energy to you.”

Mu He lowered his eyes and said nothing.

In the past when Xie Zhiwei said some encouraging words to cheer him up, he would look delighted in exchange, even if he was pretending. Sensing something amiss, Xie Zhiwei asked, “What’s wrong?”

Suddenly, Mu He asked, “If disciple dies, would shizun be sad?”

Xie Zhiwei felt this question was familiar. After some thought, he remembered. “You told Miss Tantai this in the past too?”

“She…told shizun everything?”

Xie Zhiwei suddenly recalled how Tantai Meng had admonished him and couldn’t help closing his eyes. Slowly, he said, “Today, she passed away.”

“Was it Yin Cangshan?”

“Yes, how did you know?”

Mu He replied, “Today Wushuang barged in to see me from outside the formation while Yin Cangshan was out. I heard it from her lips.”

Xie Zhiwei could only wonder. “Would Yin Cangshan tell a child like her about his plans?”

“Naturally not. But Yin Cangshan dealt with her questions by claiming he was going to vent on her behalf against that masked man…when disciple heard this, I guessed he was probably looking for shizun and thought up a way to lure him back. I didn’t expect to be late by a step and leave Tantai Meng dead at his hands.”

Mu He’s words let Xie Zhiwei immediately link it to Yin Cangshan’s hasty departure today. He couldn’t believe it. “What kind of method did you use?”

Mu He was silent for a moment before he said, “Disciple…forced Red Lotus out of my body.”

—

The author has something to say: Mu He is back online and the foreshadowing continues to bear fruit

The Chinese commenters:

Mengmeng is really great.

Wood Box hurt her so much, but in the end she saw past life and death to aim for the Dao. From her candidness during amnesia (even to the point she seemed somewhat foolish), to her cold and lofty self after recovering her memories.

I was actually a little angry when she pretended not to know the beggar boy. But how do I put it? Mengmeng never changed at all. You can pretend to be cold and aloof, but the softness and kindness in your heart can’t be faked. I like her so much. A girl like this is special and a unique existence in this book.

And Wood Box. Although he [had to] force out Red Lotus, I don’t think it’s all bad. Like Xie Zhiwei said, he isn’t someone who’s all alone. He has a Royal Father who dotes on him and a shizun who would do anything for him. Of course, he also has a silly clingy Commandery Princess Yin, and a Mengmeng who chose to believe in him and Xie Zhiwei in the end. Perhaps everyone has a few people around them who love them. They’re just unaware of it.

See, you’re not alone after all.