Feng Jiu’er had originally intended to ask whether Ninth Imperial Uncle had any enemies in the Southern Wilds — if so, they could take care to avoid them in advance.
After all, that place was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, with exceptional fighters everywhere. Those skilled in refining medicine and Gu were even more numerous than one could count.
Ninth Imperial Uncle was going there to seek treatment. If they could avoid trouble, they certainly ought to do so first.
She had not expected the question to still be unspoken when commotion erupted outside.
Leng Yue’s voice! Feng Jiu’er jolted upright and sat up in bed.
In an instant outside, the wind rose and clouds churned. The brothers of Feilong Shi’er Qi converged together — clearly, a powerful enemy had arrived.
“Ninth Imperial Uncle, you rest a moment, I’ll—”
But the man beside her had already sat up and swung himself off the bed.
Feng Jiu’er dared not be careless. She immediately threw on her outer robes, tied her sash, and followed close behind him.
The moment the door opened, they heard the exchange of palms outside — then a thunderous boom that startled the other guests of the inn into sharp cries.
Against the vast sweep of the night, a row of white-robed women stood in the courtyard. At their head was a young woman — barely past twenty, with an expression of icy coldness.
When she saw Zhan Qingcheng step out, the chill in her eyes receded somewhat. But the moment she saw Feng Jiu’er follow behind him out of the same room, a flicker of bloodthirsty killing intent flashed through her gaze.
Another woman who admires Ninth Imperial Uncle!
Feng Jiu’er could not help but sigh softly. Ninth Imperial Uncle truly was a source of calamity — wherever he went, disaster followed in his wake.
Women who had seen him — nine out of ten would be drawn to him. And when they could not have him, love would curdle into hatred.
Staying beside such a man, one truly risked death at any moment — murdered by the women who adored him!
Yet though this woman was clearly enamored of Ninth Imperial Uncle, she showed no such blatant display upon seeing him step out. She simply stood at the head of the group, looking at the white-robed Zhan Qingcheng with an attitude that carried something of deference:
“Your Highness, my Valley Master extends an invitation. Please follow me to Butterfly Valley.”
Yu Jingfeng had taken that woman’s palm strike earlier. His breathing was still somewhat labored. “Please convey our reply to Butterfly Lady — His Highness has pressing matters at hand and fears he has no leisure to visit Butterfly Valley.”
Yet the woman’s gaze remained fixed solely on Zhan Qingcheng. The adoration in her eyes, she had buried with fierce restraint.
She was absolutely a woman of extreme coldness. Had the brief tremor of feeling in her eyes not been caught by Feng Jiu’er in that fleeting instant, even she might not have detected how much this woman cared for Ninth Imperial Uncle.
Butterfly Lady… Jiu’er felt a small twinge of resentment at having spent too short a time in this era — she was completely unaware of the notable figures in the martial world.
The woman stared at Zhan Qingcheng and said coolly: “Your Highness, Mo Bai is presently a guest at Butterfly Valley. So please, Your Highness, come to the valley as well — the Valley Master has fine wine prepared and awaits.”
The divine physician Mo Bai was at Butterfly Valley? No wonder there had been no news of Mo Bai these past days!
Of those present, only Zhan Qingcheng remained expressionless. Everyone else felt a quiet jolt in their hearts.
The injured Leng Yue retreated to Emperor Ji’s side, breathing with effort and speaking softly: “Foster father — we cannot go.”
This woman was nothing more than one of Butterfly Lady’s subordinates, and she was already this formidable. Butterfly Lady herself must have martial prowess that defied all estimation.
If their lord were still in good health, no Butterfly Lady or Butterfly Lord would be given any regard.
In all the time she had known him in health, she had never seen anyone whose martial arts could match his.
But now, their lord could not make his move. He could not channel his true energy. He simply could not fight Butterfly Lady.
Emperor Ji said nothing, only glancing back at Zhan Qingcheng.
Mo Bai had come to the Southern Wilds to seek a method of curing the Gu Poison afflicting Di Wu Ya. Now, with Mo Bai in Butterfly Lady’s hands, Di Wu Ya could not possibly turn a blind eye.
Everyone’s attention — whether their gaze showed it or not — was fixed in wait for the Ninth Prince’s response.
No one knew what relationship existed between the Ninth Prince and Butterfly Lady. But at this moment, it seemed only the Ninth Prince had the standing to decide: go, or not go.
If the Ninth Prince said go — every one of them would follow through fire and flood.
If the Ninth Prince said no — then however many more Butterfly Ladies came, they would spare them no thought.
Feng Jiu’er also watched Zhan Qingcheng. But she was simply waiting for the moment he would nod.
Because she knew: Ninth Imperial Uncle was a man of deep loyalty and feeling. With the divine physician Mo Bai in Butterfly Lady’s hands, he could not possibly fly away and do nothing.
…
Though they were still within Desolate City, their present location was in the northern part of the city — barely inside since their recent arrival.
Butterfly Valley, however, lay to the south of Desolate City. In truth, it practically bordered the Southern Wilds directly.
Butterfly Valley lay within the mountain ranges south beyond Desolate City. Pass through that stretch of mountains, and one entered the Southern Wilds.
Which was to say: reaching Butterfly Valley was no different from reaching the Southern Wilds.
It was along the way regardless. If they were going — then go.
Feng Jiu’er draped the outer robe over Zhan Qingcheng’s shoulders, then lifted the carriage curtain and helped him board the carriage that Hu Shuang had brought.
Their own carriage had been left behind at Pointed Wolf Mountain. That Hu Shuang had managed to arrive with a carriage ready meant she had clearly kept a firm grasp on their movements all along.
Feng Jiu’er sat upon Zhan Qingcheng’s lap and could not help but smile as she asked: “Ninth Imperial Uncle, did you know we’ve been watched all along?”
That woman called Hu Shuang — the white-robed young woman who had struck earlier — was Butterfly Lady’s foremost subordinate, a skilled fighter of great ability.
Those people had known to prepare a carriage and come to meet them the moment they entered Desolate City. If that was not keeping constant watch over their movements, what was it?
“Mm.” Zhan Qingcheng reclined on the carriage’s cushioned couch and closed his eyes.
He actually knew!
Feng Jiu’er was briefly startled. But on reflection, she felt reassured.
If Ninth Imperial Uncle knew and had not been concerned — that meant there was likely nothing especially dangerous about it.
Of course, given Ninth Imperial Uncle’s temperament, what he considered not dangerous might already be quite dangerous by anyone else’s measure.
After all, Ninth Imperial Uncle never treated danger as danger.
“Ninth Imperial Uncle, do you know Butterfly Lady?” The question had barely left her lips when Feng Jiu’er raised her hand and lightly tapped herself.
Was that not a rather redundant question? Of course he knew her. It could not be that she had come uninvited, like Qiao Mu had.
“Who is she?” she asked again.
In truth, she very much wanted to ask: what is she to you?
But would asking that make her seem too petty?
Ninth Imperial Uncle’s eyes remained closed. She did not know if he had already fallen asleep.
Feng Jiu’er also lay down on the cushioned floor of the carriage. The floor with its soft padding was still quite hard, but at least it was sleep-worthy.
She had assumed he would not answer her question. Feng Jiu’er closed her own eyes, prepared to rest.
She had not expected that in the very moment she shut her eyes, Ninth Imperial Uncle’s cool, unhurried voice drifted over: “She is my mother’s junior martial sister.”
Ninth Imperial Uncle’s birth mother… could that mean the current Empress Dowager Ning?