Uncle Ping was guarding the courtyard gate when Wei Zhao came out. He whispered in Wei Zhao’s ear, “The secret report from the Guangming Division has arrived.”
Wei Zhao took it and read it carefully. “Little Five has done well. My years of nurturing him haven’t been in vain. Uncle Ping, you’ve chosen this person quite to my liking.”
Uncle Ping said happily, “Has that old scoundrel been deceived?”
“Yes.” Wei Zhao, refreshed from his nap and pleased with the progress of his grand plan and this good news, spoke with a hint of joy. “He’s been submitting the secret reports to that old scoundrel on schedule. Everything is going smoothly.”
Uncle Ping listened carefully, his heart filled with joy. He felt that all the years of endurance and rushing about had finally been rewarded. In his mind’s eye, he saw another exquisitely beautiful face and felt his eyes moisten. He turned his head slightly.
Wei Zhao, not noticing, pondered for a moment and said, “Although everything is proceeding according to our original plan, we’re still missing one piece. Uncle Ping, the situation here is settled. I need you to make a trip to the Huan Kingdom for me.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Go secretly to find Yi Han. He failed last time, and his family’s Second Prince has been feeling quite frustrated lately. I believe he won’t pass up this opportunity to regain military power.” Wei Zhao gazed at the snow-capped distant peaks, seeming to see mountains covered in blooming jade flowers, a smile gradually deepening in his eyes.
At Baoqing Spring in Changfeng Manor on the outskirts of Nan’an Prefecture.
Pei Yan emerged from the spring water and put on his robe, feeling his inner qi abundant and surging. Seeing An Chen approach, he leaped up, his right hand striking horizontally towards An Chen’s ribs.
An Chen dodged to the left, spinning as his right foot kicked toward Pei Yan’s chest. Pei Yan slapped both palms against An Chen’s foot, using the force to propel himself upward and strike An Chen’s shoulder from mid-air. An Chen, having just retracted his right foot, couldn’t change his move in time and had to stumble back several steps to avoid Pei Yan’s palm strike.
Pei Yan’s palms struck the ground, and he used his feet to push off repeatedly. An Chen, still holding the secret report, couldn’t use his hands and was forced to retreat step by step until his back hit a snow pine, coughing violently.
Pei Yan landed gracefully and laughed, “Not good enough. Without real combat, your skills have indeed become lax.”
An Chen coughed and said, “Lord Xiang, please send me to the battlefield soon. I feel that’s where I can truly show my skills. Right now, Jian Yu is getting all the advantages.”
Pei Yan walked towards the thatched cottage. “Don’t envy him. These few months will be the hardest for him. After he gets through it, I’ll let you out. Don’t worry, you’ll have your chance to shine. Just don’t let your skills rust. When the real battle comes, I’m afraid you won’t even be able to lift your heavy blade.”
An Chen, remembering how Pei Yan had saved his life from the masked man that night, felt a bit ashamed. “Yes, Lord Xiang. I need to improve my martial arts. Not only is Wei Sanlang himself highly skilled, but his subordinates are also formidable. I can’t embarrass you.”
Pei Yan took the secret reports An Chen handed over and read them carefully, nodding slightly. “Ziming’s work is indeed meticulous.”
He read through each report, and upon reaching the last one, he couldn’t help but laugh. “The Emperor personally established the Guangming Division and promoted his most favored person to Commander. I’m afraid in the future, he will—”
Seeing Pei Yan in a good mood, An Chen asked, “Lord Xiang, there’s something I don’t understand.”
“Ask away,” Pei Yan smiled.
“How did Lord Xiang guess that Wei Sanlang was the true Star Moon Sect Leader, Xiao Wuxia? Wei Sanlang is from the Wei family of Yujian Prefecture, and he was presented to the Emperor by Prince Qingde. He doesn’t have the mark of the Yue Luo people and has always been favored by the Emperor. I’ve thought through everyone in the court and military, but I never imagined it would be him.”
Pei Yan’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “An Chen, what kind of person do you think the little girl is?”
A smile appeared on An Chen’s face. “Although Miss Jiang is naive and inexperienced in worldly affairs, she has a very kind heart.”
“Do you think she’s someone who can keep secrets and hide her emotions well?”
“That, I don’t believe she is.”
Pei Yan’s mind conjured images of Jiang Ci’s various expressions—joy, anger, annoyance, tears—and he momentarily lost focus. He slowly said, “Wei Sanlang is known as the ‘Phoenix,’ with unparalleled beauty. Even for those of us who see him regularly, we’re still struck by his beauty each time. Ordinary people are left speechless when they see him. But at the manor’s birthday banquet that day, the little girl saw Wei Sanlang for the first time and did not react. Don’t you find that strange?”
An Chen thought for a moment and nodded. “Now that Lord Xiang mentions it, I hadn’t realized. But if Lord Xiang noticed it then, why didn’t you deal with Wei—”
“I didn’t pay much attention at the time. Later, with the embassy arson case and my feigned retreat due to injury, plus having to guard against the Emperor’s moves against me, there were too many things happening to think through carefully. It wasn’t until you reported that the Left Hall Master of the ‘Hating Heaven Pavilion’ revealed it was Yao Dingbang who hired assassins to kill the little girl.” Pei Yan gave a cold laugh. “Coincidentally, that day I happened to see the little girl eating melon seeds under a tree, looking completely guileless. Something felt off, so I thought through all the events, connecting everything, and finally began to understand. Later, I had you send a message to Ziming, asking him to investigate Wei Sanlang’s movements over the past few months. It was only after combining various clues that I confirmed it.”
After An Chen left, Pei Yan walked to the window and gazed at Baoqing Spring, recalling the scene of Jiang Ci sitting under the big tree of “Biwu Thatched Cottage” eating melon seeds. He smiled. “You dared to conspire with Sanlang to deceive me. It’s good for you to suffer a bit. Sanlang will have to return you eventually.”
On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, at Tianyue Peak in Shanhai Valley, Yue Luo Mountain.
News of Yue Luo Clan Leader Mu Li’s death at the hands of Hua Dynasty officials while saving his son spread throughout the Yue Luo mountain range within days, plunging the Yue Luo people of the nine commander compounds into a state of fury.
For over a hundred years, the Yue Luo clan had suffered oppression from both the Hua Dynasty and the Huan Kingdom. Not only were they subjected to heavy taxes and forced to produce embroidery tributes, but their handsome boys and beautiful girls were also taken as catamites and singing girls. The Yue Luo people were treated as lowly slaves and barbarians. With their weak position and the lack of unity among the nine commanders, they could only endure silently, sacrificing a small portion of their people to ensure the peace of the entire clan. However, most Yue Luo people harbored deep resentment and shame. Now, with even their highest-ranking clan leader killed by the Hua people, the tide of rebellion rose like flames, quickly spreading throughout the entire Yue Luo mountain range.
This day was set for the “Sky Burial” of the late Clan Leader Mu Li. Yue Luo people from various compounds flocked to Shanhai Valley from all directions. Not only did they come to participate in the clan leader’s sky ritual and the young clan leader’s ascension ceremony, but more importantly, they wanted to witness firsthand the rumored Star Moon Sect Leader.
According to legend, he had crossed the river in white robes, slain enemies with a single sword, stained the snowy wilderness with blood, and annihilated the enemy. He was like the Moon God descended or a Star-Demon reincarnated, radiating with divine brilliance and embodying the hope of the entire clan.
As night fell, tens of thousands of Yue Luo people gathered in Shanhai Valley, with the area at the foot of Tianyue Peak particularly crowded.
In the “Snow Plum Courtyard” of the rear compound, Jiang Ci noticed Dan Xue’s restlessness as she kept glancing outside. She smiled and asked, “Xiao Xue, are you eager to witness the ‘Sky Burial’ and the enthronement ceremony?”
Over the past five days, Wei Zhao had continued to visit the “Snow Plum Courtyard” daily, still pressuring Jiang Ci to write that poem. Jiang Ci remained steadfast in her refusal, either meeting him with a cold demeanor or changing the subject. Wei Zhao no longer forced the issue, leaving with a cold smile after his futile attempts.
Since Jiang Ci refused to write the poem, she couldn’t leave the “Snow Plum Courtyard,” but this allowed her to become increasingly familiar with Dan Xue and Mei Ying. The three girls were of similar age and shared an innocent and pure nature. Jiang Ci, being adaptable by nature, knew that getting along harmoniously with those around her was the best strategy since she couldn’t escape for now. She laughed and joked freely with Dan Xue and sought her guidance in embroidery. Mei Ying, who initially harbored some resentment towards Jiang Ci for being from the Hua Dynasty, gradually set aside her prejudices upon seeing Jiang Ci’s amiable and pleasant demeanor, as well as the daily visits from their god-like Sect Master. Jiang Ci taught them how to cook Hua Dynasty dishes, while they taught her embroidery. The three quickly formed a bond of girlhood friendship.
During their time together, Jiang Ci learned more about the history of the Yue Luo Clan from Dan Xue and Mei Ying. She discovered that according to ancient legend, the Moon God from the heavens, upon witnessing the deep suffering in the mortal realm, resolutely gave up tens of thousands of years of immortal life to descend into the world of dust. The god’s mission was to save humanity, requiring a thousand years of tempering and accumulating celestial karma before returning to the ranks of immortals. Thus, the god’s descendants were named the Yue Luo Clan, meaning “the fallen immortals from the moon.”
For this reason, when each Yue Luo Clan leader passed away, the clan members would perform a “Sky Burial” for them. At midnight, they would cast the deceased from the Ascension Bridge atop Tian Yue Peak. If the departed could return to the celestial palace, the Yue Luo Clan would become a divine clan. If the body fell to the bottom of the mountain valley, the entire clan would enjoy a year of favorable weather and peace, though they would remain mortal. However, if any accident occurred during the “Sky Burial,” preventing the clan leader from being properly laid to rest, it was believed that a strange calamity would befall them, and the Yue Luo Clan would be forever mired in suffering. Yet, in hundreds of years, no one had ever known exactly how a clan leader could “return to the celestial palace.”
Ancient lore held that if members of the Yue Luo Clan could witness the clan leader’s ascension on the night of the “Sky Burial” with their own eyes, they would live a life of good fortune. Thus, for hundreds of years, the clan leader’s “Sky Burial” had been the most grand occasion for the Yue Luo Clan.
Having heard Dan Xue and Mei Ying constantly talking about watching the “Sky Burial” and the enthronement ceremony over the past few days, Jiang Ci’s ears had grown calloused. Seeing Dan Xue’s restlessness, she couldn’t help but ask.
Mei Ying glared at Jiang Ci, “It’s all because of you! The Young Holy Maiden ordered us not to leave your side. Since you can’t leave this courtyard, neither can we. If it weren’t for you, we’d have been at Tian Yue Peak long ago!”
Feeling a bit embarrassed and curious, Jiang Ci smiled and said, “Actually, I’d like to go see the excitement too.”
Dan Xue sat down next to Jiang Ci and held her hand, “Miss Jiang, please be kind and speak to the Sect Master. Tell him you want to see the ‘Sky Burial’ too and bring us along. The Sect Master seems quite accommodating towards you; he’ll surely allow it.”
Mei Ying said dejectedly, “The Sect Master is busy going up to Tian Yue Peak now. He definitely won’t come here.”
Jiang Ci was very fond of Dan Xue, admiring her pure and hardworking nature. She also pitied her for losing her father in the war, her mother becoming blind due to her work as an embroiderer, and her younger brother being sent to Hua Dynasty as a catamite. She thought for a moment, knowing that if she sent Dan Xue to ask Wei Zhao now, he certainly wouldn’t come.
Remembering a trick she had heard from Cui Liang during casual conversations, she bit her lip and stabbed a long embroidery needle into her “Qu Chi” acupoint. With an “Ouch!”, she fell backward.
Dan Xue and Mei Ying were startled and rushed forward to support her. Seeing her eyes tightly shut and her face pale, Mei Ying hurried out of the courtyard. Soon after, Cheng Xiaoxiao, her face veiled with gauze, arrived in haste. She patted Jiang Ci’s chest, and Jiang Ci opened her eyes, saying weakly, “Quickly, ask your Sect Master to come. I have urgent matters to discuss with him. If it’s too late, I’m afraid there won’t be another chance.”
Cheng Xiaoxiao was in a dilemma. Tonight’s ceremony was of great importance, and the Sect Master was fully focused on preparations, unable to spare time. However, this young girl was entrusted to her care by the Sect Master, who had been visiting her daily. Whatever she had to say must be significant. Seeing Jiang Ci’s pale face covered in sweat, she didn’t investigate further and left the “Snow Plum Courtyard.”
After about half an hour, Wei Zhao, dressed in plain robes and wearing a mask, hurriedly entered the courtyard. He waved his hand, dismissing everyone else, and checked Jiang Ci’s pulse. A strong surge of true qi flowed from his wrist, quickly unblocking the “Qu Chi” acupoint that Jiang Ci had sealed with the needle. A flash of anger appeared in his eyes as he picked up Jiang Ci, walked into the stone house, and threw her onto the stone bed. His voice was as cold as ice, “What trick are you trying to play now? I don’t have time to entertain you today.”
Ignoring the pain in her arm, Jiang Ci stood up with a smile, not meeting Wei Zhao’s freezing gaze. She tugged at his sleeve, “Third Young Master, I have a favor to ask. I knew you’d be busy today and might not come to see me, so I had no choice but to pretend—”
Wei Zhao had a gloomy and cold temperament, disliking excessive talk. Men and women, young and old in the clan and sect revered him like a god, not even daring to look at him directly. In the past, when he was in the capital, the court officials were both jealous and fearful of him, both contemptuous and afraid. For over a decade, except for a handful of people in the world, no one dared to look him in the eye, no one dared to confront him, and certainly no one dared to express their emotions freely or joke with him.
But then he encountered Jiang Ci, this wild girl who not only dared to defy him and threaten suicide, but also disobeyed his orders, attempted to escape from his grasp, and even dared to use these little tricks to fool him. This infuriated him greatly.
He shook his right arm, throwing Jiang Ci off. She bumped into the table edge. Seeing Wei Zhao about to leave, she still smiled and grabbed his sleeve, “Third Young Master, I want to see the ‘Sky Burial.’ Won’t you take me? Please?”
“No,” Wei Zhao’s words were as cold as ice. “Who knows if you’re planning to escape in the crowd?”
“I won’t run away, and I absolutely won’t cause any trouble for Third Young Master. I’ll just watch from the side, alright?” Jiang Ci pleaded, tugging at Wei Zhao’s sleeve.
“Enough talk. When I say no, it means no!”
Seeing him still intent on leaving, Jiang Ci became anxious, “Then what do I need to do for you to let me see the ‘Sky Burial’?”
Wei Zhao paused, “If you obediently write that poem, I’ll let you go watch—”
Jiang Ci angrily retorted, “No way! I’ve said before that I won’t get involved in your affairs. You’re the one who broke your promise and is trying to coerce me. You’re a despicable, shameless scoundrel. No wonder people in the capital look down on you!”
Anger flared in Wei Zhao’s eyes. He grabbed Jiang Ci’s hair and yanked it back hard. In severe pain, Jiang Ci tilted her head back, tears streaming down her face. She hurriedly said, “It’s not for myself that I want to watch, it’s for Dan Xue and Mei Ying. They revere you like a god, but they can’t go to observe the ceremony because of me. Dan Xue is so pitiful—her father is dead, her mother is blind, and her little brother was sent to be a catamite in the Bao Yun Mountain camp, his fate unknown, possibly suffering unimaginable torment. I saw how pitiful she was, that’s why I found a way to get you here, to beg you.”
Wei Zhao’s right hand paused, and Jiang Ci continued, “Dan Xue is so pitiful. She wants to see the ‘Sky Burial.’ Third Young Master, please grant her wish. If you must, you can seal my acupoints and tie me up, leave me here. As long as Dan Xue can—”
Jiang Ci spoke in one breath, feeling the pain in her scalp lessen as Wei Zhao seemed to loosen his grip. She turned her head and saw Wei Zhao’s gaze flickering behind his mask. At that moment, she suddenly felt the cold aura he usually emitted seemed to have weakened slightly, and a kind of indescribable oppression and gloom filled the room.
“Dan Xue’s little brother is in the camp at Bao Yun Mountain?” Wei Zhao asked slowly.
“Yes,” Jiang Ci nodded. Fearing that Wei Zhao might look down on Dan Xue and her brother because of this, she hastily added, “Her little brother had no choice but to become a catamite. At the time, the Second Commander said either Dan Xue had to be sent as a songstress or her brother as a catamite. Their mother couldn’t bear to part with them either, so in the end, they decided to draw lots. Dan Xue has cried countless times over this. It’s also because of this that she joined your Xing Yue Sect, hoping that one day she could bring her brother back.”
She heard Wei Zhao’s breathing becoming heavier, which frightened her a bit, but she continued, “Third Young Master, please don’t look down on them because her brother became a catamite. Someone as pure-hearted as her brother, if not to save his sister, why would he willingly endure such suffering? Although he became a catamite, his heart is purer than many others. Third Young Master, please let Dan Xue and the others go see the ‘Sky Burial.’ I beg you.”
Wei Zhao remained silent, coldly staring at Jiang Ci. Jiang Ci began to feel scared, but thinking of Dan Xue, she mustered her courage and once again grabbed Wei Zhao’s sleeve, “Third Young Master, please.”
Wei Zhao pulled his sleeve away and said in a chilling voice, “If you dare to try to escape, or if you move more than ten steps away from me, I will kill Dan Xue and Mei Ying.” With that, he turned and left the room.
Jiang Ci was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. She jumped out of the courtyard and grabbed Dan Xue and Mei Ying who were waiting outside, and the three followed behind Wei Zhao.
As they walked, Jiang Ci kept glancing at Wei Zhao’s tall, solitary figure. Suddenly, she felt something cool on her right wrist. She turned to see Dan Xue putting a small silver bracelet on her, and she quickly tried to take it off. Dan Xue held her hand and said softly, “Miss Jiang, this is a gift we Yue Luo Clan members give to friends. I’m poor and only have this bracelet, but if you take it off, it means you don’t consider me, Dan Xue, as a friend.”
Mei Ying hesitated for a moment, then also took off a silver bracelet from her right hand and gave it to Jiang Ci. Jiang Ci gently put it on, and the three girls smiled at each other as they followed Wei Zhao toward Tian Yue Peak.