Summer of the Second Year of Huai Qing’s Reign

In the Imperial Palace’s Royal Garden, Wei Yuan sat in a pavilion wearing cyan robes. He held a Go piece between his fingers, pondering for a moment before speaking: “Now that the great calamity has been quelled and peace reigns across the four seas, I shall resign from my position in a few days and travel the world with the Empress Dowager.”

Across the stone table, Huai Qing frowned. “Lord Wei, I am in dire need of capable officials at this moment. Xu Ning Yan knows nothing of governance and wishes to travel with Mu Nan Zhi—I won’t stop him, but how can you abandon your duties at such a crucial time?”

Wei Yuan smiled. “Wang Zhen Wen is watching over the court, and the scholars of Yun Lu Academy are quite capable. The Great Fu Dynasty’s fortunes will continue to rise, producing talented individuals in abundance. Your Majesty will not lack for capable hands.”

Huai Qing sighed. “That’s for the future—distant water cannot quench present thirst. Besides, talents like yourself who can manage both heaven and earth are hard to find.”

Wei Yuan set down the Go piece. “Xu Xin Nian has the potential to be Prime Minister, but he still needs tempering. Your Majesty should send him to an outer post soon, preferably to the Western Regions or Northeast. The harsher the conditions, the better they will forge his abilities.”

Huai Qing nodded. “Wang Si Mu is new to the child. I’ll wait until after she gives birth to send Xu Ci Jiu away.”

Wei Yuan glanced at her prominently swollen belly. “Your Majesty must take care of your dragon body and the child within.”

At his words, Huai Qing couldn’t help but think of that heartless man who was now traveling around with the Flower Goddess, and she let out a cold snort.

That fellow had stayed overnight in the palace every few days during his last month here, and after he left, he’d left behind this “trouble.” During this time, Huai Qing had to both manage state affairs and care for the child in her womb. Although with her transcendent body, the child was unlikely to be lost, this was still the future heir to the throne. It was precious, and she couldn’t be the least bit careless.

Since she became pregnant, though she hadn’t made a grand announcement, she hadn’t hidden it either. Now the entire court knew that the female emperor was with child. As for who had secretly joined with her to create this child, the officials knew in their hearts, though no one dared speak of it openly. They tacitly accepted that if the child in the female emperor’s belly was male, he would be the future Son of Heaven.

Wei Yuan smiled. “He’ll come back after traveling for a while. Now that he’s a Martial God, he can help you extend your years and avoid the rule that those who gain the Qi of Destiny cannot achieve immortality. When your offspring grows up, Your Majesty can travel the Nine Provinces with him.”

Huai Qing sighed, pinching her brow. “Who knows how many years that will be…”

At the Xu Manor.

“Si Mu, slow down, slow down…” In the twilight, Aunt supported her precious daughter-in-law as they walked in the garden. She sighed, “After Sister Mu left, the flowers immediately withered. There’s not even a proper place for you to enjoy the scenery anymore.”

Though the garden was planted with various precious flowers, it couldn’t compare to when Mu Nan Zhi was here. Therefore, Aunt was quite dissatisfied.

Wang Si Mu smiled sweetly. “Mother, it’s fine. Cai Wei said I should walk around more and not stay cooped up indoors. Whether or not there are flowers to appreciate doesn’t matter.”

After marrying into the family, she found life more comfortable than she had imagined. Far from engaging in schemes and plotting with her, Aunt cherished her as a mother-in-law, showing concern for her comfort and attending to every detail.

And Xu Ling Yue, whom she had been wary of, had already become a Daoist nun, residing permanently at Ling Bao Temple and rarely returning home.

Her sister-in-law Lin An was her close friend, and the two got along well with no grudges between them. There was no need to scheme and plot for control of the household.

Aunt carefully probed: “I heard from Second Young Master the other day that Her Majesty is with child. Could it be Ning Yan’s?”

Wang Si Mu looked into the distance, where she could see Lin An in her fire-red robes playing Five-in-a-Row with palace maids in a distant pavilion.

“It’s almost certainly his,” she said softly. “Mother, please don’t mention this in front of Princess Lin An. It will upset her.”

“Si Mu, come here!” Lin An waved. “Come play chess with me for a while.”

As Aunt supported Wang Si Mu over, she whispered, “This proves Ning Yan can father children. That’s good news. Lin An will conceive eventually too.”

When they reached the pavilion, Wang Si Mu said, “Looking at the time, it should be dinner soon. Your Highness, shall we go play chess in the inner hall?”

Just as they entered the hall, Second Uncle Xu and Second Young Master returned, each carrying a bag of green tangerines in the fading sunset.

“Ling Yin isn’t home, why did you buy green tangerines? Who are they for?” Aunt complained.

“For Father.”

“For Second Brother.”

Father and son spoke in unison, then thought for a moment and changed their answer: “We’ll dry them to make green tangerine cakes for when Ling Yin returns.”

In the Southern Borderlands.

After the great calamity was settled, following discussions among the seven branches of the Insect Tribes and an agreement reached with Great Fu, the Insect Tribes submitted to the Great Fu Dynasty. The court relocated six hundred thousand civilians to the Southern Borderlands and established a Provincial Administration Office, renaming the Southern Borderlands as “Ning Province.”

It was divided into six prefectures, ten commanderies, and thirty-eight counties.

The Ning Province Administration Office had to pay certain taxes to the Insect Tribes annually. Moreover, among the six prefectures, one—called the Insect Prefecture—was given to the Insect Tribes to govern.

The Insect Tribes enjoyed the highest level of autonomy in the Insect Prefecture, only taking orders from the Insect Tribe leader and group leaders.

Notably, the leader of the Insect Tribes was Xu Ling Yin.

This had nothing to do with Xu Qi An; it was because Xu Ling Yin was the Insect God’s successor and carried the Insect God’s spiritual essence.

After the Insect God’s fall, the remaining spiritual essence was incredibly compatible with the Seven Fatal Insects within Xu Ling Yin’s body. It merged with them and now slumbers within the little bean’s body, waiting for this new generation’s Insect God to grow.

Afterward, Xu Qi An suspected that the Insect God’s cultivation of Xu Ling Yin had been a backup plan.

If the Insect God had succeeded, all would have been well.

If defeated, Xu Ling Yin would be their successor, carrying on the insect arts tradition.

The Insect Tribe leader was quite famous in the Insect Prefecture. Local folklore said that if one offered delicious food to this leader, she would grant a wish.

Many years later, temples to the Insect God bloomed across not just the Insect Prefecture but all of Ning Province.

In later generations, it became one of the most prosperous temples, second only to the Temple of the Confucian Sage.

At the Bureau of Astronomy and Calendars.

Chu Cai Wei opened the iron door leading underground and made her way down to the lowest level.

As usual, she went to check the prison door at the end of the corridor. Opening the first seal, she looked through the air vent into the dim chamber where six figures sat cross-legged.

From left to right were Garuda Tree Bodhisattva, Crystal Bodhisattva, Saren Agu, Nalan Tian Lu, and the two Spirit Wisdom Masters Wuda Baota and Yierbu.

Since the death of the Supreme-rank experts, these transcendent powerhouses had been imprisoned in the Bureau’s underground chambers.

For several years, no one had inquired after them.

Of course, Chu Cai Wei hadn’t come for them this time, but to welcome Senior Brother Yang from his closed-door cultivation.

She closed the air vent, resealed it, and opened Yang Qian Huan’s iron door.

The iron door opened automatically.

“Grasping the bright moon and plucking stars, none in the world compare to me!”

In that deep, weathered voice, Chu Cai Wei saw a white-robed figure standing with his hands behind his back.

After several years, Senior Brother Yang’s voice had grown even more mature… she thought happily.

“Junior Sister Cai Wei, I didn’t expect only you would come to welcome me from seclusion. Hmph, are they jealous, unwilling to see me become a towering transcendent expert?” Yang Qian Huan laughed loudly: “But it doesn’t matter. Today, Yang emerges from seclusion and will surely make a name for himself. Let Central Plains, the Western Regions, the Shamanic Temple, and the Southern Insect Tribes know that the Bureau of Astronomy has produced another transcendent expert, hahaha!”

Chu Cai Wei scratched her head: “Senior Brother Yang, many things happened during your years of seclusion.”

For some reason, hearing these words felt strangely familiar to Yang Qian Huan, and an ominous feeling welled up in his heart.

He fell silent for a moment, then said: “What happened? If I remember correctly, before I went into seclusion, the great calamity was about to arrive…”

Chu Cai Wei nodded: “But that was many years ago. The Buddha died, the Shaman God died, and the Insect God also died. There are no Supreme-rank experts left in the world.”

Yang Qian Huan’s body trembled, and he asked in a quavering voice: “Then, then what about Xu Ning Yan?”

“He became a Martial God!” said Chu Cai Wei.

Yang Qian Huan leaned against the wall, speechless for a long while, then said: “What… what did you say?!”

“He became a Martial God! Xu Ning Yan quelled the great calamity, turned the tide, and slew all the Supreme-rank experts in the world. Now Great Fu has unified the Nine Provinces, and peace reigns across the four seas. Ah, right, Senior Sister Zhong has advanced to become a Formation Master, but she didn’t come to welcome you because she’s pregnant.

“Senior Brother Song is still tinkering with his alchemy in the refining room, Senior Brother Sun took Guardian Yuan to the Northeast to establish a new branch there, founding a new Bureau of Astronomy to check and balance the Shamanic Temple formed by the shamans.

“And also…”

As Chu Cai Wei chattered on, Yang Qian Huan slid down the wall to the ground.

At Ling Bao Temple.

Xu Ling Yue, wearing feather robes with a bare face, sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion listening to Luo Yu Heng’s lecture.

Because of her big brother’s influence, she always received the Dao Leader’s favor, being taught the highest Heart Methods of the Human Path and swordsmanship. Xu Ling Yue hadn’t disappointed Luo Yu Heng either, having already reached the sixth-rank Yin Spirit realm, where the Yin Spirit could leave the body to roam.

Her talent was frighteningly impressive.

After finishing her teaching, Luo Yu Heng said quietly: “Once you advance to transcendent rank, you can have your big brother suppress the karmic fire for you. Within the Martial God’s domain, the rules of heaven and earth are ineffective. Thereafter, karmic fire will no longer threaten the Human Path. You are more fortunate than I.”

The ethereally beautiful young woman showed no trace of happiness on her face, merely giving a soft “mm” in response.

Luo Yu Heng continued: “Tan Yu likes you very much. The other day he came to me hoping for permission to form a Dao partnership with you. What are your thoughts?”

Xu Ling Yue said quietly: “This disciple’s heart is set solely on pursuing the Dao, with no thoughts of romance.”

Luo Yu Heng gave her a deep look and said: “I need to meditate. You may withdraw.”

After she left, Luo Yu Heng glanced at the screen and said quietly: “Come out.”

Xu Qi An, wearing cyan robes, walked out with a grin and picked up Luo Yu Heng in his arms: “Imperial Preceptor, we’ve been dual cultivating for so many years. Shouldn’t we consider having children?”

Luo Yu Heng gave a light snort: “That depends on your performance.”

At the Earth Path Sect.

In the peaceful, rebuilt mountain temple surrounded by swirling clouds and mists, Li Miao Zhen sat by her desk wearing dark Daoist robes and a lotus crown.

“Sect Leader Blue Lotus, this letter arrived from the capital,” a disciple respectfully delivered the letter and then withdrew.

“Master, who sent the letter?” Su Su, who was embroidering clothes for her, leaned over.

Li Miao Zhen opened the envelope. The letter was from Li Ling Su, saying his twentieth nephew had been born and hoping she would come as an aunt to attend the celebration feast.

After being expelled from the Heaven Path Sect, Li Ling Su became a government lackey and established his own sect in the capital, the Divine Thunder Sect.

He widely accepted disciples, and the sect’s influence flourished. The Divine Thunder Sect mainly practiced thunder techniques and dual cultivation arts, which were very popular among officials and nobles, and they were doing extremely well.

The letter also said he planned to gather the members of the Heaven and Earth Society for a reunion of old friends after many years and hoped Li Miao Zhen would come.

“Does that mean we’ll see that dog of a man?” Su Su said irritably. “Master, it’s been so many years and he hasn’t come to see us.”

Li Miao Zhen looked at her: “Are you just eager to go to the capital to become his concubine?”

Since the great calamity was settled, Su Su had given up her ghost body and been reborn into a physical form.

“Not at all!” Su Su wouldn’t admit it, just grumbling.

Li Miao Zhen turned to look at the ginger cat crouching by the window: “Golden Lotus Dao Master, what do you think?”

When Golden Lotus Dao Master had given her Yang Gong’s remnant soul back then, he had also left a strand of his own soul. Over these years, Li Miao Zhen had secluded herself to nurture these soul fragments, finally reviving Golden Lotus Dao Master.

Unfortunately, they still couldn’t rebuild a body for him yet.

The ginger cat stroked its whiskers and smiled: “You are the Earth Path Sect Leader. I’m just a cat. You decide.”

Li Miao Zhen thought for a moment: “The Nine-Colored Lotus Root hasn’t produced seeds yet, but Xu Ning Yan has the Flower Goddess with him, so he must have extra lotus seeds. We can take this opportunity to go to the Bureau of Astronomy and ask Song Qing for a vessel to help you fully revive.”

Su Su covered her mouth and giggled, not exposing Li Miao Zhen’s true intentions.

Golden Lotus Dao Master smiled: “Excellent!”

At the Sealing Tower in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

Xu Qi An and Shen Shu sat on the ground, each with a jar of wine.

“Master, you must help me persuade her. If she goes to the capital, human and demon races will surely go to war,” Xu Qi An said with a worried expression.

Shen Shu’s expression was solemn as he said quietly: “Nine-tailed foxes are just like that. It would be strange if she didn’t cause trouble. You knew what she was like early on. If you want to blame something, blame yourself for being unable to resist beauty.”

“Look at how you put it…” Xu Qi An said irritably. “Weren’t you just the same back then, unable to resist beauty? And now look at this mess—she insists on going to the capital as the primary wife. What am I supposed to do?

“Usually, I could just suppress her with one palm strike, but now she’s using her pregnancy as leverage.

“Let me tell you, the capital is a place full of strife. Even if she goes, she might not come out ahead.”

Shen Shu thought for a moment, then said: “If that’s the case, I’ll go.”

“You’ll go?” Xu Qi An scrutinized him.

Shen Shu said calmly: “I’ll go join in the excitement.”

“…”

At that moment, the tower door was pushed open. A silver-haired demon beauty with a slightly swollen belly gracefully entered, her devastatingly beautiful face curved in a bewitching smile that could topple kingdoms: “Husband, when shall we go to the capital?”

Behind her were eight fox spirits of varying appearances, each beautiful as flowers. There was a mature beauty, a pure maiden, a dignified matron, a graceful lady, a seductive enchantress… all of them were her dowry maids.

Save me… Xu Qi An pinched his brow.

(The End)