Chapter Seventy – Intentions

Above Dragon Capital, dense clouds roiled with the howls of countless ghosts. As they approached, the city’s protective array scattered them. Yet despite this, the number of spirits in the clouds showed no sign of diminishing.

Soon, a cold snort echoed from the city center.

“Mere ghosts of mountain and lake creatures dare to run amok in my Dragon Capital!”

As the voice rang out, an immense ethereal dragon materialized, coiling around the vast hundred-mile city. The dragon raised its head and let out a low roar.

Dragons command respect from all creatures. At its roar, the myriad ghosts trembled in fear. The dense clouds shook violently, and a massive rift tore open, revealing an indescribably large eye. A muffled growl emerged:

“Cold… Spring…”

The voice was so distorted that no one could understand what the giant eye was saying.

In Dragon Capital, cultivators of lower levels experienced a buzzing in their heads upon hearing this sound. The Nascent Soul cultivators, enraged by the ghostly voice, emerged from their caves.

“Mere ghost of a kui beast! You’re already dead, yet you dare come to our Dragon Capital to siphon life force? You deserve eternal damnation!”

As the Nascent Soul cultivators attacked, the clouds above Dragon Capital erupted in chaos. Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and fiery rain fell from the sky. Amidst the ghosts’ shrieks, a black light suddenly streaked across the heavens, and an eerie silence fell.

It seemed as if a giant hand had grasped the throat of the thunderous magical attacks. In the confusing quiet, the sound of flowing water emerged from the clouds, forming a river in the sky within moments.

“Ghosts of Cold Spring, if you have no vessel, you may enter my Yellow Springs.”

In an instant, the howling spirits from mountains and lakes joyously rushed into the river. The torrent lasted for several breaths before subsiding.

The Nascent Soul cultivators in the sky watched this spectacle with shock.

“Who intervened? This scene… why does it resemble the Soul River Waterfall of heavenly ascension?”

After all the ghosts had entered the Yellow Springs River, the water gradually vanished.

Moments later, a Nascent Soul cultivator’s voice resonated throughout the city: “Fellow Daoist who controls the Yellow Springs and gathers ghosts, if you’re in the city, might we meet?”

The message was repeated several times, but the one who had resolved the crisis remained silent.

In a hidden cave in Dragon Capital, Nan Yan, who had been kneeling on the mysterious box to keep it closed, exchanged a glance with the pale-faced Yin Ya.

“So… we didn’t get caught, right?” Yin Ya asked.

“No one’s kicking down your cave door yet, so I guess not,” Nan Yan replied, securing the box’s lock and cautiously climbing off. “You should put this box away quickly.”

Yin Ya pressed against the wall and shook his head vigorously. “It seemed normal at first. Who knew it would summon ghosts? You keep it for me.”

“Why should I keep something you brought out?” Nan Yan protested.

“It summons ghosts! Aren’t you monks supposed to specialize in exorcism and warding off evil?”

Feeling uneasy about the box, Nan Yan tried to stuff it into Yin Ya’s Sumeru Ring. “My main job is guiding demons to enlightenment, not exorcism. Either return it where you found it or throw it back into the Northern Sea next time you pass by.”

“Keep that cursed box away from me!”

They chased each other around the cave until a bell-ringing talisman sounded outside, followed by a cold voice:

“Cultivator renting this cave, please open the door for inspection by law enforcement cultivators!”

They froze. Yin Ya’s form began to fade against the wall.

“I’m leaving. Hide the box and don’t let anyone see it!”

“You-!”

Yin Ya, skilled in illusions, vanished completely, leaving no trace of his presence. As the knocking outside grew more urgent, Nan Yan had no choice but to stuff the box into her “pig’s trotter” ring and reluctantly open the door.

“How may I help you?” Nan Yan asked.

The stern-faced law enforcement cultivator activated a jade talisman, comparing it to Nan Yan’s face. Frowning, he said, “We’re investigating the one who summoned ghosts earlier. We detected a cold aura in this area… Wait, the tenant here is supposed to be male. Who are you?”

Nan Yan fell silent.

Seeing her hesitation, the cultivator’s hand moved to the Kunxian rope at his waist. “Outsiders in Dragon Capital must carry identity jade tablets. Show yours, or you’ll have to come with us to the prison.”

Nan Yan, having been brought directly to Dragon Capital, had no such tablet. If she went with them, they’d surely search her Sumeru ring or qiankun pouch.

“I…” As she considered asking for help from Chaoyu Tower, a clear voice rang out from afar.

“Gentlemen, if you have questions, you can ask me. Why trouble my Dao companion?”

Nan Yan looked up, her face clearly expressing, “You dare show up here so brazenly?”

The law enforcers turned to see a man in cyan robes, wearing the distinctive yanshu pouch of puppet masters. His demeanor was refined and courteous.

“We’re investigating the ghost summoning incident. Who are you two?” an enforcer asked.

The man bowed slightly, showing his jade tablet while improvising, “I’m a puppet master from Youzhou, here to purchase some pearl scales. I was out negotiating business, leaving my Dao companion alone.”

The enforcer checked the tablet and nodded. “Indeed, it’s the season for pearl scales. Your tablet is valid. We still need to search your dwelling. Please step aside.”

Fortunately, the cold aura had dissipated. Nan Yan let them pass. After they left empty-handed, she approached Ji Yang expressionlessly.

“Ah Yan, I…” Ji Yang began, but Nan Yan suddenly charged at him, ramming her head into his chest. With a dull thud and a cloud of dust, Ji Yang stumbled back, coughing.

“Cough… That Vajra Headbutt technique is formidable. Thank you, Bodhisattva, for your mercy.”

Nan Yan looked up coldly, her eyes reflecting Ji Yang’s still-gentle face.

“I thought you’d fallen into the demonic path forever, and we’d only meet in the next life.”

Ji Yang tenderly grasped her hand as it twitched toward her razor. “After our long separation, I’ve missed you dearly. I came today to hear your Buddhist teachings. Please, Bodhisattva, don’t withhold your wisdom.”

Nan Yan squinted at Ji Yang. “How did you recognize me in this face?”

“I placed a tracking talisman on your right arm,” Ji Yang admitted.

Nan Yan’s expression changed. She rolled up her sleeve and scanned with her divine sense, finding a tiny, almost undetectable talisman. She burned it with her dan fire and glared at him. “You dare tamper with my body? This is outrageous! This poor nun must teach you about Buddhism today, or you’ll never learn respect-“

Ji Yang interrupted, “I placed over twenty talismans.”

Nan Yan retorted, “Are you challenging this nun’s renowned patience?”

“I’m joking. It was just one,” Ji Yang said.

“Shao Cang,” Nan Yan deflated, “Chen and Si States are at war. If someone in Dragon Capital recognizes you as the disciple of the Heavenly Evil Sect’s vice leader, won’t that be dangerous?”

Ji Yang sighed softly. “It’s not me who’s in danger. It’s you.”

“Hmm?”

“There are too many law enforcers here. Let’s go somewhere else,” Qi Yang suggested.

Nan Yan nodded, following Qi Yang as they slowly walked into the city.

“The Dragon Lord’s intention wasn’t to use this opportunity for the various states to publicly mourn your mother,” Qi Yang explained. “He might have guessed who’s responsible but lacks evidence. He’s summoned these people for a face-to-face confrontation.”

“I understand,” Nan Yan replied. “Although I’ve heard the Dragon Lord didn’t get along with my mother, since Uncle trusts him, I believe he must be a good person.”

Qi Yang nodded and continued, “You’ve been in the Upper State for a while now. You should know that when your mother was young, she had entanglements with many powerful figures. However, only four states were truly involved: Zi, Chen, Si, and Wei.”

Nan Yan was familiar with Dao Sheng Tian Xuan Zai, Dragon Lord Ao Guanghan of Chen State, and Sword Hero Meng Xiaolou of Wei State. However, this was the first time she’d heard about Si State’s involvement.

“Is Si State involved too? Aren’t they all demonic cultivators?” she asked.

“The demonic cultivator in question is no ordinary one. He’s the founding ruler of Si State, even a contemporary of the Red Emperor. His name is Sen Luo,” Qi Yang explained.

Puzzled, Nan Yan inquired, “If he’s from the Red Emperor’s generation, how is he connected to my mother?”

“Demonic cultivators prioritize desire over propriety. When your mother came of age, Sen Luo sent a betrothal gift with the Netherworld Seal, seeking to marry her. During the State War, the Red Emperor had received his aid and couldn’t outright refuse. The matter was left unresolved. Later, when Sen Luo failed to marry your mother and heard of her engagement to Dao Sheng Tian, he furiously marched north from Si State. He slaughtered countless people passing through Chen State but was suddenly killed by the Buddhist Repentance Lord upon reaching Mao State’s territory.”

Astonished, Nan Yan asked, “How do you know these old stories so clearly?”

“These are well-documented events. Many older cultivators can recount them effortlessly. It’s not hard to inquire about,” Qi Yang replied. He continued, “However, the Si State affair is ancient history and irrelevant to the current situation. You only need to know that among those claiming connections with your mother, only the Dragon Lord, the Sword Hero, and Dao Sheng Tian Xuan Zai are genuine. The others are here to ‘seize the state.'”

“Seize the state?” Nan Yan echoed.

Qi Yang elaborated, “The Red Emperor’s bloodline is weak, with only one son and one daughter. With your mother’s death and your uncle being a criminal—”

“That’s my uncle you’re talking about,” Nan Yan interjected.

Qi Yang acknowledged but continued, “Your uncle is a criminal. In my view, he’ll eventually face attacks due to controversy, and judging by his demeanor, he’s unlikely to remarry. This means the Red Emperor’s bloodline ends with this generation. Yin State is unique, with the Beast Sealing Array to the north, the ancient capital of the Beast Kingdom to the south, and the Mountain Sea Forbidden Seal to the west. Its foundation rivals that of Zi State. The lower states, seeing the Red Emperor without an heir, are desperately trying to establish connections with your mother, likely to present so-called illegitimate children.”

“So my identity is a thorn in their side,” Nan Yan realized, recalling how Cloud Imperial Consort often invited people from her home state of Shen to the palace. “No wonder people in Dragon City only gossip about my brother being hammered all afternoon without mentioning my background. The Dragon Lord must not want my identity revealed… Should I prepare an escape route?”

Seeing Qi Yang’s silence, Nan Yan asked, “Are you here just to pick me up, or do you have other plans?”

Qi Yang slowed his pace and chuckled, “I’ve forgotten. Before coming, I had a mind full of schemes, but after seeing you, I only wanted to spend more time together. I can’t recall anything else.”

“Are you being swayed by me?” Nan Yan teased.

“That’s hurtful. You’re smart, Ah Yan. Everyone knows Qi Shaocang’s intentions. Why deliberately misinterpret?”

“Speak plainly,” Nan Yan demanded.

The city was intoxicated with the fragrance of osmanthus and autumn breeze. On the bustling street, the young man in green robes paused. As his beloved turned back puzzled, he lowered his gaze, seeming to gather his thoughts before speaking slowly.

“I shouldn’t have come to find you, but as I thought about it, I found myself here without realizing.”

“…”

“Before coming, I was introspecting. It’s only been two months apart, yet seeing you feel like we’ve been separated for a decade.”

“…”

“I think… I must like you, Ah Yan.”

“…”