Chapter Seventy-Four – Responding Only to the Righteous

A deadly silence permeated the Dragon Court’s grand hall. Nan Yan realized that Mu Zhanting hadn’t landed in the same place as her. Glancing around, she noticed about ten cultivators in the hall, each seated behind a curtain. Though she couldn’t see their faces clearly, Nan Yan sensed that none of them were looking at her. Instead, they all had their eyes slightly lowered, as if in deep meditation.

Scanning the room, Nan Yan’s gaze fell on a stern-faced man sitting at the highest position. As she looked at him, he returned her gaze. After a brief moment of eye contact, Nan Yan instinctively looked away. “This must be the Dragon Lord,” she thought, feeling intimidated.

The man didn’t say anything, instead turning his attention to a purple-gold dragon-shaped bronze ring hanging from the ceiling. This object seemed to be a high-quality magical artifact, receiving the spiritual consciousness of all the Nascent Soul cultivators in the hall.

After sitting down behind her uncle, Nan Yan asked, “Uncle, what’s this…”

“Don’t worry,” Nan Yan replied, though his expression wasn’t entirely at ease. “Ah Yan, focus on maintaining your inner calm. I’ll guide your spirit into the void.”

Nan Yan, sensing the situation, nodded and followed his instructions. Soon, she felt her spiritual consciousness being protected by Nan Yi as they passed through the purple-gold dragon-shaped bronze ring. In an instant, a stunning scene appeared before her spiritual vision.

…

On Mount Zizhou, snow fell like knives through the air. Meng Xiaolou formed a sword with his fingers, a sliver of sword light flickering at his fingertips, pointing directly at Dao Sheng Tian Xuanzai. The tension was palpable.

“… Ying Zewei, I’ll ask you only once: did you kill Nan Rao?”

The sword light was mere inches from Xuanzai’s throat. At this distance, a single step further would mean the difference between life and death.

Yet the man holding the umbrella seemed unaffected by the mortal danger. He murmured, “Rao Niang… is dead, indeed.”

Meng Xiaolou’s eyes instantly turned crimson. “I’m only asking if you killed her!”

The umbrella tilted slightly, revealing a pair of gray eyes filled with chaotic intent. These eyes seemed devoid of emotion, but the longer one looked, the more they felt drawn in.

He spoke slowly, “Can Meng believe the words of Ying Zewei… when even he doesn’t know what’s true or false?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Xiaolou’s sword light shifted. Instantly, a blood-red wound bloomed on Xuanzai’s chest, an extremely destructive sword intent churning within.

“Old friend, this is my last act of tolerance! Don’t think I won’t kill you!”

In response, Ying Zewei looked up, his expression serene. “During my fifth weakening, when I exhausted my spiritual power to suppress the Demon Sealing Array?”

As Meng Xiaolou made his move, countless ripples spread through the surrounding void. Many elderly voices cried out in anger and shock:

“Meng Xiaolou! You dare!”

“The cause of Nan Fang’s death is still uncertain. Stop immediately!”

“Xuanzai depleted his life force and spiritual power for the Demon Sealing Array. How dare you attack him! Have you gone mad?!”

Amidst the chorus of admonishing and anxious voices, Ao Guanghan’s indifferent tone cut through:

“Meng Xiaolou, stand down. We’re here merely to inquire about past events.”

Ying Zewei turned slowly to one side and said, “So the Dragon Lord is here as well.”

Ao Guanghan continued, “Twenty years ago after Rao Niang pleaded for Nan Yi at the Hall of Righteous Law, you accompanied her. Where did she go last, and why did you return to Zizhou alone? Today, in front of everyone, you must explain.”

Ying Zewei seemed completely unaware of his pain. He closed his umbrella, allowing the misty rain of Mount Zizhou to dampen his brows and lashes. He spoke slowly, “Rao Niang… When she had someone return the old gift I once gave her, I vaguely calculated that she had already passed away. It seems that from the beginning to the end, it was all a trick of fate.”

“Get to the point.”

“That year, I had an appointment with Yi Gu in the North Sea. When I arrived, I saw him in love with a mermaid. This is one of the five taboos in the cultivation world. Even mortals must follow these rules, let alone the descendants of the Red Emperor. However… human hearts are born with prejudices. At that time, I only wanted to settle this matter privately, so I went to see that ignorant mermaid…” His tone remained flat, but to those involved, a hint of subtle malice could be detected.

“I said that demons and humans are fundamentally different paths. Moreover, Yi Gu came from a prestigious family. If she continued to entangle with him, it would only bring him shame and disgrace. Rather than suffering through hardships and eventually parting in life or death, it would be better to sever their emotional ties now… Later, I learned that the mermaid’s spirit was not fully awakened. She unexpectedly pursued him inland, ultimately meeting her fate of being dismembered in Linglong City. I hadn’t anticipated that outcome.”

After speaking, Ying Zewei looked up towards the void, as if expecting something. “Yi Gu, are you listening?”

After a moment, a trembling voice replied, “Ying Zewei, what do you mean by ‘hadn’t anticipated’? You’re the Dao Master’s chosen successor, the smartest person under heaven. You must know the consequences of your every word and action. Jiao Niang… she didn’t do anything wrong. Didn’t you know your words would lead to her death? And now you say you didn’t know?”

Back in the Dragon Court’s grand hall, Nan Yan opened her eyes. Looking down, she saw Nan Yi’s fingers tightly clenched, blood seeping through the gaps. Worried, she said, “Uncle, please stay calm. Don’t let him shake your resolve.”

Simultaneously, a mournful sound emanated from the Listening to Madness Zither behind Nan Yi, helping to steady his emotions.

“I’m sorry, I tend to lose myself easily,” Nan Yi said softly.

Nan Yan’s expression was also grim. Many Nascent Soul cultivators in the hall were listening to the account of past events, and some agreed with Ying Zewei’s words after hearing them.

“Those not of our kind must have different intentions. Although Xuanzai’s actions may seem heartless, they are reasonable.”

“This old man shouldn’t speak out of turn, but it was indeed Young Master Yi Gu who erred first, knowingly being deceived by a demon and committing a grave mistake.”

“It was also Xuanzai who pleaded with the elders of the Hall of Righteous Law for Yi Gu’s pardon, allowing him to regain his freedom. To pressure Xuanzai further now seems inappropriate.”

Nan Yan’s heart sank. She finally understood what the birthday gift Mo Xingzhi had sent to Cloud Empress Dowager was.

In the eyes of the world, Nan Yi owed Xuanzai a debt of gratitude. Now, instead of repaying it, he was seeking revenge. It was highly possible that Nan Yi could be provoked by his words and lose control of his mind. Of the five taboos in the cultivation world, Nan Yi had already committed two: marrying a demon and slaughtering mortals. If he committed a third by falling into demonic cultivation, those present would surely view him as having gone mad and joined forces to kill him.

The intricacy of this scheming was almost too terrifying to contemplate.

Fortunately, she wasn’t the only one who realized this. Ao Guanghan, seated in the highest position, spoke up to intervene: “The incident in Linglong City is an old grudge between my Chen State and Nan Yi. There’s no need for Xuanzai to concern himself with it.”

On Mount Zizhou, Ying Zewei spoke calmly, “Yi Gu resents me, and I have no words to offer in response. However, I carry out the Dao Master’s last wishes, and all my actions are guided by righteousness. After the Linglong City incident, the Chen and Yin States nearly went to war. As a result, Rao Niang had no choice but to end her relationship with the Dragon Lord to quell the rumors, shuttling back and forth between the two States to mediate. When I arrived at the Hall of Righteous Law, I saw her kneeling before the Heavenly Dao Stele. As you all know, one must pass through the Heavenly Dao Stele’s trial by fire to seek forgiveness. So, for those ten days and nights, she knelt there…”

“Enough!” Ao Guanghan shouted sternly.

Nan Yan sensed a sudden turmoil in Nan Yi’s spiritual consciousness. Opening her eyes, she saw him in extreme distress, coughing up blood.

“Uncle!”

In a flash, Ao Guanghan disappeared from his seat and appeared before Nan Yi. He swiftly pressed several major acupoints on Nan Yi’s body to stabilize his mind, then said gravely, “He’s merely recounting past events. If you can’t handle mere verbal provocation, how do you expect to contend with him? Rest for now.” With a flick of his fingers, he put Nan Yi to sleep temporarily. He then turned to Nan Yan, “You should leave too. The elders will handle this.”

Nan Yan, barely containing her anger, stood up and said, “I’ve been seeking answers about my late mother for so long. Please, Dragon Lord, allow me to stay!”

Despite her mask, her stubborn demeanor seemed oddly familiar.

After a moment of silence, Ao Guanghan had someone take Nan Yi away, then said to Nan Yan, “Come with me.”

As Nan Yan’s consciousness re-entered the purple-gold dragon-shaped bronze ring, she noticed that Nan Yi wasn’t the only one mentally unstable. Meng Xiaolou from Wei State also appeared frantic.

“At that time… when the Ghost Spring Abyss suddenly erupted beneath Tianqiao Peak in Wei State, I was delayed suppressing countless ghosts and couldn’t arrive in time. When I went to look for her later, everything was already settled, and the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace only said she was in seclusion!”

“No, she went to the Mortal State,” Ying Zewei said, shaking water droplets from his umbrella and looking up at the dark, cloudy sky. “By then, Rao Niang could barely hold on before the Heavenly Dao Stele. I knelt with her for three more days. Later, I asked if she wanted to change her mind and revisit the Dusk Agreement. I could have used the Dao Master’s posthumous decree to completely resolve this matter for her.”

The Dusk Agreement? Nan Yan didn’t understand, but Ao Guanghan flew into a rage.

“What Dusk Agreement? Hundreds of years have passed. Even when the Dao Master was alive, he couldn’t decide. Besides, Rao Niang was already betrothed to me! Ying Zewei, you’re taking advantage of her vulnerability!”

“Who in this world wouldn’t want to take advantage of her? Ying Zewei is but a mortal. Yet, the Fang Mistress of the Nan remained true to herself, with that unbending backbone.” As he said this, a hint of mockery flashed in his gray eyes. “I told her that Yi Gu’s inner demon was hard to suppress, and if he were to be confined in the Demon Sealing Array for over a hundred years, he might be at risk of falling into demonic cultivation. She said she had been selfish all these years, neglecting her responsibilities as an elder sister. She said she would journey to the Mortal State, to a place where someone owed her a promise. She wanted to use this promise to obtain a chance for the mermaid’s resurrection, preventing Yi Gu from falling into eternal damnation.”

Meng Xiaolou asked coldly, “And then?”

“I knew who that person was and warned her that he was an outcast in the cultivation world. But Rao Niang was determined, so I could only accompany her to the Mortal State,” Ying Zewei continued. “As for what happened next, I can only tell the Dragon Lord and Jianxiong.”

Other Nascent Soul cultivators present expressed their dissatisfaction:

“Many of us here are rulers of various States. If Xuanzai is to explain past events, we should have the right to know as well.”

Ying Zewei gently shook his head, “This matter was brought up by the Dragon Lord gathering everyone to question me, and with Jianxiong present. Naturally, I can only inform the two of them. I ask for your understanding in this matter.”

Considering his status, no one raised further objections.

Ying Zewei nodded slightly, dismissing all spiritual projections except for the Dragon Lord’s.

Nan Yan felt her vision go dark, and when she opened her eyes, her consciousness had returned to the Dragon Court’s grand hall.

The Nascent Soul cultivators around her began to discuss:

“… To so easily dismiss all our spiritual projections, his cultivation must have advanced again.”

“The Five Decays of Celestial Beings, what realm is that exactly?”

After a moment of commotion in the hall, Ao Guanghan suddenly stood up, his face extremely grim.

Someone asked, “Dragon Lord, what is the truth?”

Thunder suddenly rolled outside the hall, indicating the great cultivator’s barely contained anger. However, Ao Guanghan managed to maintain his composure.

“Fellow Daoists, this matter has been clarified to me. Let us end here for today. If the opportunity arises in the future, I will certainly inform everyone.”

The crowd was unsatisfied but understood the complexity of the situation, realizing it was beyond the involvement of lower-realm cultivators. They departed with puzzled expressions.

Soon, the hall emptied. Shortly after, a spatial rift appeared, and Meng Xiaolou stepped out. His gaze immediately locked onto Nan Yan, who sat silently to one side.

“Is she…”

“Let me be clear,” Ao Guanghan said, his face dark. “If you dare mention a word of that old scoundrel’s past affairs in front of the child, don’t blame me for letting you die in a foreign land!”

“Alright.” Meng Xiaolou, who didn’t seem like an easy person to deal with, didn’t argue. He hesitated but finally stepped closer to Nan Yan and asked, “What’s your name?”

Nan Yan lowered her head, removed her mask, then looked up and said, “I took my mother’s surname, with a single character ‘Yan’ for my given name.”

Only now did Nan Yan understand what kind of opponent she was facing.

He first provokes with words, causing Nan Yi’s emotions to spiral out of control. Then he stated his position, explaining that he had exhausted his energy suppressing demons, thus gaining support from other States. This made it difficult for the Dragon Lord and Jianxiong to press him further without alienating the other States.

The entire situation seemed to be under his verbal control. Nan Yan pondered deeply but couldn’t find any way to break the deadlock.

“Nan Yan… ‘difficult to speak.’ No wonder you were given this name,” Meng Xiaolou said, his eyes clouded. He didn’t need any confirmation to know that this must be Nan Rao’s daughter.

Knowing that this man held feelings for her mother, Nan Yan bowed respectfully and asked, “Senior, who killed my mother?”

Meng Xiaolou’s expression also turned troubled. Ying Zewei had said he calculated that Nan Rao might have made an exchange with a demonic cultivator and bore a daughter. The implications were clear. Her subsequent years in the Mortal State without seeking help from anyone suggested she didn’t want her daughter’s identity known to the world.

He had also said, “The person has passed away. Do we still want her to face public criticism after death?”

Every word struck their hearts, especially since they had no concrete evidence that he had killed Nan Rao.

Either way, Meng Xiaolou didn’t want his beloved to be criticized. After much consideration, he said, “… We will investigate this matter thoroughly. As for you… well, in a couple of days, people will likely start spreading rumors about your background. You… you need a father now. How about coming back to Wei State with me tomorrow?”

Ao Guanghan, already seething with anger, slammed the table and stood up when he heard Meng Xiaolou’s attempt to forcibly claim a daughter.

“Wait, Meng Xiaolou, what do you mean?”