Changling’s eyebrows twitched. Before she had time to think about how Mingyue Zhou had arrived at the Great Zhao Temple, the hand behind her back had already discreetly formed a blade, preparing to knock out the two monks in front of her. But then she saw Ye Qi step forward and say coldly to the senior monk, “We met with the Prince just two days ago. The Prince had other important matters, so he sent the Princess ahead. What, could it be the Prince has already arrived?”
Changling had been feeling somewhat confused, but Ye Qi’s words instantly cleared her mind—Mingyue Zhou and his group had just been attacked a few days ago. If they’d really come to the Great Zhao Temple, they would at least travel together. Moreover, this Eighth Princess had so many people thinking about dismembering her—how could the Great Zhao Temple just send two young monks to receive her?
She laughed lightly. “If Third Brother has really arrived, then take me to see him.”
The senior monk’s tone immediately relaxed. Placing his palms together, he said, “Amitabha. The Princess’s identity is special. This humble monk had no choice but to tell this lie to verify your identity. In truth, the Third Prince is not in the temple. Please forgive us, Princess.”
Changling raised an eyebrow. “You monks are quite alert. I wonder which great master’s disciple you are?”
The senior monk said respectfully, “This humble monk’s dharma name is Yun Hui. I studied under Master Yuan Hai. This is my junior brother…”
Yun Hui gestured toward the young monk, who quickly bowed his head. “This humble monk is Yun Zhen.”
Before coming, Changling had already inquired about the Great Zhao Temple’s basic situation from Ye Qi.
The Yuan generation should be one of the Great Zhao Temple’s four great elders. This monk Yun Hui knew about Mingyue Fei’s affairs, so he probably had some authority in the temple. If she asked him about Fu Liujing, would she reveal any flaws?
“The meditation room has been prepared. Please come in, you two.”
Yun Hui took the lead. Changling followed unhurriedly. Seeing no one around on this path, she figured most of the temple’s monks were asleep. Considering Ye Qi’s purpose for this trip, she rarely restrained herself, planning to wait until they reached the guest quarters before splitting up to each pursue their own goals.
Turning around, she discovered Ye Qi desperately winking at her, one hand quietly pointing forward, the other pointing at Yun Hui and Yun Zhen, finally making a chopping motion. Changling was completely baffled.
What, did he want her to deal with these two young monks right now?
Who knew that seeing no reaction from her, Ye Qi inexplicably nodded and spoke aloud, “Princess, didn’t the Prince tell us to first check on the condition of those eight sect leaders?”
Changling was suddenly stunned. Yun Hui slowed his pace and turned around, asking, “Does the Princess wish to go to the Vault Building first?”
If she weren’t wearing a veil right now, Yun Hui would probably have noticed something. Meanwhile, the instigator Ye Qi looked at Changling with an expression of “loyal devotion.” Having been trapped like this, Changling could only cooperate by making something up. “Very well. The other day, General Li was poisoned by ambush. I’m afraid only the Canghai Sect’s leader can detoxify him.”
Ye Qi said without changing expression or heartbeat, “The Princess is truly considerate of her subordinates.”
Changling: “…”
This generation of the Central Plains seemed to be doomed. How could they let such a shameless person take the lead—
The Vault Building Yun Hui mentioned was a cave on the south side of the Buddhist temple. Inside the cave were carved various Buddha statues with extraordinary decorations. If one came to see it during the day, one might be moved by it. But in the dead of night with dim lighting, relying only on a few scattered candles in the cave, suddenly seeing the various fierce and menacing Heavenly Kings and Bodhisattvas around was inevitably somewhat eerie.
Ye Qi felt cool wind whooshing into his collar and couldn’t help rubbing his neck. But seeing Changling walk lightly with a composed expression, he lowered his hand again, pretending to resume a cold, icy appearance.
Changling wasn’t feigning composure. When she was young, she’d traveled far and wide with her master and had seen quite a few such mountain-carved grottoes. The Fengxian Temple in Luoyang had over a hundred caves of varying depths. Before she was even ten years old, she and her fellow disciples had already claimed them as their playground. Walking the Vault Building’s paths that merged and divided, divided and merged—it was truly routine.
Unfortunately, the temple builders’ original intention was to bestow blessings on the earth and illuminate all beings, yet now these people used it to imprison criminals. How ironic.
Seeing Yun Hui lead them winding around seven turns and eight bends twice, Changling had long been impatient to knock down this obstructive monk. Fortunately, after turning a corner, they finally reached the bottom level.
Only one monk stood guard at the prison entrance. After Yun Hui spoke with him, he said respectfully to Changling, “Those benefactors from the Central Plains are housed here.”
Ye Qi’s gaze fell on the bronze-barred prison door about one zhang tall. He was quite impressed by Yun Hui’s use of the word “housed.” Before Changling could speak, Ye Qi said first, “This place is cold and damp. Princess, why don’t you wait outside while this subordinate goes in first to probe those people’s attitudes?”
Changling naturally understood Ye Qi’s thoughts. Though he’d borrowed her influence to infiltrate this Vault Building, whether it was a trap inside was still unknown. This fellow probably planned to part ways here.
Having said this, regardless of whether Changling agreed or not, he gestured for Yun Hui to lead the way.
Yun Hui didn’t know what kind of relationship dynamic these master and servant had. Seeing Changling remain silent, he went ahead and unlocked it, leading Ye Qi inside. Just after walking a few steps, he suddenly heard Changling say casually, “I captured those few worthless people myself. Now that they’re all prisoners, what’s there to be concerned about?”
Ye Qi was stunned. He saw Changling stroll into the prison. He instinctively wanted to stop her, but with Yun Hui and Yun Zhen beside them, he couldn’t say anything. When Changling passed by him, he saw her raise an eyebrow as if triumphant. Only then did Ye Qi understand what “an eye for an eye” meant—who told him to drag her here earlier without even discussing it first?
Naturally, Changling’s purpose for this trip was to find Fu Liujing, and those eight sect leaders had been tricked into coming here because of Fu Liujing. Under the current circumstances, if she didn’t look for them, who else could she look for?
As for rescue? Ha. If she saw an old enemy, kicking them while they were down and adding a few knife wounds wasn’t impossible.
The Vault Building was ultimately more spacious than Mu Wangbao’s dungeon. Several skylights were carved into the cave walls, allowing one to occasionally feel cool wind sweeping through. Though Ye Qi walked straight ahead, his eyes rolled around wildly, looking at who knows what.
The group walked along the corridor all the way in. When they reached a narrow cave, the light suddenly brightened—one could see at a glance several disheveled… iron people lying inside.
They were called iron people because these people all wore iron masks on their heads. Including the masks, their hands and feet were all shackled by chains branded onto the walls. No wonder there was only one gatekeeper at this Vault Building—unless they cut off their own heads, there was absolutely no possibility of getting out.
At first glance, Changling felt these iron masks looked quite familiar. When she approached and looked carefully, she determined these masks were the same style as the iron skull Mingyue Zhou had worn at Mu Wangbao.
She couldn’t help but smile. Yun Hui caught sight of this and said, “The iron skulls were specially sent according to the Prince’s requirements. Though these benefactors have been given Bone-Softening Powder, they’re still martial arts masters. We must take precautions.”
Changling said sincerely, “Good precautions.”
Looking at Changling’s gloating appearance, Ye Qi nearly mistook her for the real Mingyue Fei again.
Someone inside heard voices at the cave entrance and roared outward, “Who?!”
This roar awakened several other people in the cave. One by one, they rolled up guardedly. Changling said to Yun Hui, “Seems your Great Zhao Temple’s food is quite good. With such vigorous energy, could it be the Bone-Softening Powder wasn’t administered heavily enough?”
Hearing these words, the people inside instantly exploded. Someone said, “It’s that little witch!”
“Mingyue Fei!?”
“That shameless, despicable little witch actually dares to come here!”
“Let us out quickly, or I’ll make sure you die without a burial place!”
The narrow cave suddenly became as chaotic as a pot of boiling porridge. This group of martial world elders had been given Bone-Softening Powder and couldn’t exert their strength. In such circumstances, they could only curse and call names like ordinary prisoners. If it were the real Mingyue Fei listening, she’d probably have already drawn her sword and chopped off one finger from each person.
Changling raised an eyebrow and said to Yun Hui and Yun Zhen, “Two young masters, please guard outside. This Princess has something she wants to say to them privately.”
Yun Hui coughed lightly. “If the Princess needs anything, you may summon this humble monk at any time.”
Changling nodded.
After speaking, Yun Hui and Yun Zhen truly withdrew. As soon as their figures disappeared around the corner, Ye Qi couldn’t wait to step into the narrow cave. Aside from the relatively more composed and steady ones, several people inside wished they could break their chains and kill their way out. But that desperate momentum suddenly dissipated when they saw who had come. The iron-headed man who had cursed most viciously pointed at Ye Qi. “You—”
Ye Qi made a silencing gesture and said softly, “Keep cursing. They haven’t gone far yet.”
The group immediately understood. Curses to heaven and earth continued endlessly. Ye Qi surveyed the cave interior once. Because they all wore iron skulls, it was difficult to identify them at first. After looking around, based on body types, he recognized someone in the corner. “Elder Xiao?”
Elder Xiao stared with empty, vacant eyes. Hearing Ye Qi call him, his throat made two gasping sounds but couldn’t produce any voice. A rather large-framed person beside him said hoarsely, “Young Master, Elder Xiao was poisoned blind and mute by that little witch…”
Ye Qi was shocked. Just then, Changling stepped into the cave and said flatly, “Those two young monks have gone far. No need to shout anymore.”
As soon as the words fell, everyone in the cave opened their eyes wide looking at her—and the gilded ring in her hand. The atmosphere instantly froze. Ye Qi hurriedly stepped forward to explain, “Please rest assured, leaders. She is not Mingyue Fei.”
Someone still held doubts. “If she’s not Mingyue Fei, how could she have the gilded ring?”
“Right, I saw those two little bald heads being so respectful to her. If she’s not Mingyue Fei, who else could she be?”
“Young Master, how did you end up together with this witch?”
“This matter is too complex to explain…” Seeing everyone disbelieving, Ye Qi turned his head to glance at Changling. “Miss, could you trouble yourself to remove your veil?”
Author’s Note:
Mini Theater:
Mingyue Fei: That’s right! These annoying, self-righteous sect leaders are all imprisoned by this Princess! The iron skulls were all put on them by me too. So what!
Changling: Well done.
Mingyue Fei: Huh? Big Sister Lead, aren’t we in opposing positions? Your attitude makes this very difficult for me…
Rong-ge: Little Princess, here’s the thing. Last time in the mini theater, Sister Ling accidentally killed off this story’s villain. Later she and I discussed that an exciting story can’t be without a villain, so we hope you’ll take on this glorious role…
Mingyue Fei: Of course I have no objection to that… I’m just a bit worried that with the director casually adding scenes for me like this, won’t the male characters in this story, like my brother, have even less presence…
Changling (picking up blade): A strong female lead drama doesn’t need men.
Mingyue Zhou: …I’m just an extra.
Old Fu (lying in a pool of blood): …
Mingyue Fei (looking at Rong-ge): But Director, I want a romantic storyline. Otherwise, you should arrange for me to steal Sister Ling’s man…
Changling (shoving Ye Qi to Mingyue Fei): Take him.
Mingyue Fei: …