“F-Fellow cultivator, state your name!” the burly man with the surname Lei struggled and called out as he was dragged off the stage.
Basking in the astonished gazes of those around her, Nan Yan replied with a pure and saintly expression, “This humble nun’s dharma name is Zhen Yuan.”
“Very well, I’ll remember that. We shall meet again!”
As Nan Yan descended from the stage, she suddenly noticed the strange looks people were giving her. After a moment’s thought, she discreetly channeled her spiritual energy to pressurize her heart meridian. She coughed lightly and politely spat out a mouthful of blood.
Immediately, the onlookers’ gazes normalized. Self-proclaimed gallant male cultivators began to gather around her in small groups.
“Fellow Daoist, as a Buddhist cultivator, your confrontation with that Lei clan member was truly admirable. Do you need any medicinal pills?”
Wiping the blood from her lips, Nan Yan replied, “Thank you, but Lei’s lightning techniques were formidable. Although I managed to defeat him, I sustained some internal injuries. I’m looking for a quiet place to rest before my next match. Perhaps…”
A cultivator from the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace promptly offered, “There are meditation rooms in the side hall. You’re welcome to recuperate there. Your next match shouldn’t be for another two hours.”
Nan Yan expressed her gratitude and followed the guide to the side hall. Along the way, she used sightseeing as a pretext to inquire about the layout of the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace, quickly forming a mental map.
Once inside the meditation room, Nan Yan hung up a “Do Not Disturb” sign. She then removed her Buddhist prayer beads and swiftly changed into a lotus-colored dress her second brother had bought her. Donning a veil worn only by female guests, she transformed into an ordinary woman attending the Millennium Festival.
Two hours should be enough to survey the rear palace of the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace, she thought.
As Nan Yan prepared to leave, she heard footsteps outside. Pressing her ear to the door, she overheard two Confucian cultivators supporting each other, seemingly having escaped from something terrifying.
“…It was horrifying! That person is the bane of us Confucian cultivators!”
“I don’t know what happened. I only listened for a while, but his voice had been echoing in my mind for the past quarter hour. I fear his poems might appear as heart demons during my next realm breakthrough!”
“It felt like… my spirit platform was violated.”
“Stop talking about it! Let’s find a meditation room to dispel these heart demons quickly.”
The footsteps continued, suggesting more Confucian cultivators were seeking refuge in the hall’s meditation rooms.
Nan Yan paused, thinking it was wise not to have accompanied her eldest brother. Realizing she couldn’t leave through the door, she lifted her skirt and climbed out the window.
Outside was a garden. Cautiously using her divine sense to observe her surroundings, Nan Yan walked for half an hour, avoiding crowded areas, before reaching the rear palace.
She had learned from cultivators of Chen State that a State’s main sect was like mortal royalty, likely keeping their destiny jade in a cave dwelling or ancestral shrine.
After another quarter hour of searching without finding anything resembling a cave dwelling or ancestral shrine, Nan Yan grew impatient. Suddenly, someone called out from behind:
“Halt!”
Nan Yan froze but, not dressed as a night prowler, prepared to act like a lost guest. As she turned, she saw a middle-aged cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage. Oddly, he wore a flower hairpin and an extravagant phoenix robe. He approached suspiciously, asking, “Who are you? Why are you in the rear palace?”
Nan Yan instinctively began to clasp her hands but, remembering her disguise switched to a formal curtsy. “I… This humble one came with my elder brother. I got lost admiring the beautiful flowers and have been wandering here.”
The ornate cultivator squinted, scrutinizing her. “Hmph, nonsense. How could you get so lost? I know why you’re here.”
Nan Yan: “I…”
The cultivator continued, “Every year, young men and women come to the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace, mostly trying to catch a glimpse of Nan Fragrance Master’s secluded place. If you were a man, I, Han, would call the guards to expel you. But since you’re a girl… Hmph, young ladies these days think they’re celestial beauties, hiding behind veils to appear mysterious. How could you compare even slightly to Nan Fragrance Master?”
Nan Yan: “…”
Nan Yan: “You’ve guessed correctly, sir. You’re truly perceptive. I’ve always thought myself beautiful, but people around me constantly praise Nan Fragrance Master as unparalleled beauty. I’ve been unconvinced, but you seem to have seen her. Please, enlighten me.”
Seeing her compliance, the ornate cultivator’s expression softened. “Hmm, at least you show some self-awareness. I don’t mind telling you that I was once a renowned Confucian cultivator from another State. After seeing Nan Fragrance Master once thirty years ago, I joined the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace as a painter. I know everything about her.”
Nan Yan’s eyes lit up. “Sir, you must have painted Nan Fragrance Master?”
“Of course,” the ornate cultivator said proudly. “I, Han Chi, dare say I’ve painted Nan Fragrance Master more than anyone else in the world. No one would dare claim second place!”
Nan Yan quickly flattered him, “Your demeanor is extraordinary, sir. You must be a master painter. To be honest, I’ve traveled thousands of miles to Yin State just to see Nan Fragrance Master’s true face. If I can’t see her in person, even a painting would suffice. If she’s truly as legendary as they say, I’ll finally be able to let go of my obsession.”
Han Chi, the ornate cultivator, was pleased by her words. “It’s good for young people to broaden their horizons. It might help you common beauties focus on your cultivation. Since I’m feeling generous, follow me.”
Nan Yan eagerly followed. Soon, they arrived at a lakeshore where a specially built painting tower stood. In the center of the lake was a palace shrouded in mist.
“Is that…”
“That’s the forbidden area, Nan Fragrance Master’s cave dwelling. Consider yourself lucky to glimpse it from afar. Don’t even think about entering.”
…So that’s mother’s former residence, Nan Yan thought. This was exactly what she’d been searching for. Looking into the distance, she saw only a hazy mist. Her divine sense was repelled when she tried to probe it, adding to its mystery.
“Years ago, the Red Emperor doted on his daughter and built this painting tower. He summoned artists to paint Nan Fragrance Master, including works by noble families,” Han Chi warned. “You may look from afar, but don’t touch anything, or I’ll have to expel you.”
Nan Yan nodded repeatedly, then eagerly examined the paintings in the tower.
The three-story tower held hundreds of paintings on this floor alone, mostly depicting group scenes and banquets.
Nan Yan approached the nearest painting. Despite the many figures, she immediately spotted her long-missed mother.
The woman in the painting was dazzlingly beautiful, almost painfully so. She appeared half-drunk, one embroidered shoe kicked off, lounging lazily on a couch. Her collar hung loosely, revealing a swan-like neck and hinting at a phoenix tattoo on her back.
She held a wine cup in a casual toast, her expression radiating the pride of one above all others. The other figures in the painting, though in various poses—some hiding behind their drinks, others pretending to converse—all had their eyes fixed on her.
There’s no mistake. It’s mother.
Excited yet puzzled, Nan Yan wondered, Was this really what her mother was like?
Since arriving in the Upper State, Nan Yan had heard of the Nan Fragrance Master’s reputation for romance. She didn’t even know which of her mother’s many suitors was her father.
After examining several more banquet scenes, Nan Yan became certain of her mother’s mannerisms and expressions. Then she noticed an odd painting in the corner. From afar, it appeared to be a portrait of Nan Rong alone, but up close, it became blurry, as if obscured by something. Nan Yan squinted, focusing intently when suddenly her eyes stung. She rubbed them reflexively.
Nearby, Han Chi was busy rolling up unused paintings and storing them in brocade boxes. Noticing her discomfort, he scoffed, “The paintings of the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace are incomparable to ordinary ink works. All paintings here are by master artists. Those you can’t see are by great powers. Forcing yourself to view them will damage your divine sense. Know your limits.”
“Thank you for the warning,” Nan Yan replied, but showed no sign of backing down. A faint golden light emanated from her eyes, and tiny Sanskrit characters appeared in her pupils. Her mind roared as the fog before her eyes gradually cleared, revealing the image.
Nan Yan was stunned.
In all previous paintings, Nan Rong appeared arrogant and willful. But in this one, she wore simple clothes, her hair loose and sleeves rolled up. She slept peacefully amidst a field of udumbara flowers, with jars of freshly brewed wine waiting to be buried nearby. It seemed she had fallen asleep while brewing wine.
Nan Yan noticed her mother was wearing… a man’s outer robe.
Looking down, she saw a neat line of characters in the corner: “Missed our date on the seventh day of the seventh month. A gift to apologize to Rong.”
That was surprising enough, but when Nan Yan saw the name on the seal, her mind exploded.
…Ying Ze Wei’s seal.
Why? How could it be him?
As Nan Yan’s mind raced with a thousand questions, a cultivator hurriedly approached the painting tower.
“Mr. Han, might I have a moment of your time?” he called from outside.
Han Chi went out, displeased. “It’s the Empress Dowager’s Millennium Festival today. Why aren’t you helping? Why are you disturbing my peace?”
“Ah…” The cultivator sighed. “Today at the Empress Dowager’s Millennium Festival literary gathering, a prince from Chen State arrived, claiming to be a literary genius. The Four Confucian Elders reluctantly gave him a middle-grade evaluation out of respect for his status. But he wasn’t satisfied and now wants to challenge all Confucian cultivators to a poetry duel…”
Han Chi scoffed, “What’s wrong with a poetry duel at a literary gathering?”
“The Confucian cultivators present eagerly took up their brushes, but this prince always composed faster. After reading his poems, they became disoriented and confused. Most have fled to recuperate, and now no one dares to challenge him. Mr. Han, you excel in both poetry and painting. Please come with me to humble this Chen State prince and make him withdraw. We can’t let his congratulatory poem reach the Empress Dowager!”
“Hmph, a bunch of incompetents,” Han Chi said arrogantly. “I was wondering why the rear palace was so empty today. So they’re all watching the spectacle in the front palace. Though my cultivation hasn’t improved much, I’ve rarely lost in composing poetry. I’ll go meet this prince… Young lady… Hmm? What’s that look in your eyes?”
—It’s nothing, just pity for your ignorance. You don’t know what true power is.
Nan Yan said, “I’d like to admire Nan Fragrance Master’s grace a bit longer. I’ll come to the front hall later to support you. By the way, my elder brother is also a poet. When you meet him, please offer your guidance.”
“???”
The situation in the front hall seemed urgent, so Han Chi hurriedly left with the cultivator. After they were gone, Nan Yan quickly examined the remaining paintings, committing to memory the one drawn by her suspected murderer. Then she left.
The destiny jade had to be either in the ancestral shrine or the cave dwelling. Not knowing the shrine’s location, Nan Yan decided to gamble on entering Nan Rong’s cave dwelling.
As a patrol of Chen State cultivators left, Nan Yan concealed her aura and swiftly crossed the water, landing before the cave dwelling.
Unsurprisingly, a faint mist surrounded the entrance, emanating a powerful barrier.
Nan Yan held onto a sliver of hope, knowing that most cultivators’ dwellings didn’t restrict direct family members. At least, Nan Yi could freely enter and exit Nan Rong’s dwelling.
Seeing no one around, Nan Yan carefully placed her palm on the formidable barrier.
“Mother, please open the door,” Nan Yan whispered. To her surprise, it worked. The barrier trembled and parted, and the water pavilion’s main door slowly opened, revealing a courtyard strewn with fallen petals.
This courtyard…
Nan Yan hurriedly took a few steps inside, her eyes misting over.
In her childhood, they had moved many times, but her mother always planted a tree in their courtyard. Nan Rong loved to lean against it, drinking alone.
Instinctively, Nan Yan approached and touched the blossoming tree. Suddenly, she felt a gaze upon her. Her heart tightened as she looked up to see a two-zhang-tall phoenix perched on the treetop. Its colorful plumage blended with the flowers, and its jewel-like eyes were fixed on her.
“…”
Nan Yan couldn’t gauge the phoenix’s cultivation level.
She instinctively turned to flee, but the phoenix descended from its perch. As Nan Yan tried to run, a phoenix cry rang out behind her. She felt her spiritual energy instantly stagnate, leaving her powerless as the phoenix pinned her under its talon.
Just then, several voices approached from outside—
“Why has Nan Fragrance Master’s dwelling suddenly opened?”
“Could someone have infiltrated?”
Soon, several powerful auras closed in. As Nan Yan wondered if her eldest brother would have to bail her out of the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace’s prison, she felt a sudden warmth. The phoenix ruffled its feathers, covering her entirely like it was incubating an egg, concealing every trace of her aura.
Outside, the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace cultivators dared not enter. From the entrance, they only saw the phoenix lying on the petal-strewn ground. They bowed and asked—
“Revered Phoenix, did anyone intrude just now?”
The phoenix lazily glanced at them, let out a low cry, and seemed to feign sleep by closing its eyes.
The cultivators outside awkwardly said, “Perhaps the Revered Phoenix was bored and opened the door. With the Revered Phoenix guarding the dwelling, no thief would dare intrude.”
As the cultivators left dejected, Nan Yan found herself buried in the phoenix’s fragrant, soft belly feathers, feeling slightly dazed.
…Was she now like some great bandit being hidden and protected by a young lady’s bathwater?