Chapter 905: The Talented Woman's Affection
Shengshu Cainü saw Zhang Ruochen's extremely indifferent demeanor, and felt an indescribable ache in her heart, biting her lips tightly.
She suppressed that emotion with effort, walked over to Zhang Ruochen, and said calmly, "I have no other intentions. I simply wanted to see you alone. At least, we were once good friends, weren't we?"
"Once... perhaps so," Zhang Ruochen said.
Shengshu Cainü could tell that Zhang Ruochen was on guard against her, and her heart grew even more bitter. She continued, "Not long ago, Kong Lanyou, the Holy Ancestor of the Bright Hall, went to the Central Imperial City once, attempting to assassinate the Empress. At that time, I happened to be by the Empress's side. Both the Holy Ancestor of the Bright Hall and the Empress mentioned the name 'Zhang Ruochen.'"
"You don't need to test me. That Zhang Ruochen is certainly not this Zhang Ruochen," Zhang Ruochen said, closing his eyes, striving to appear calm.
Shengshu Cainü was quite intelligent; even if Zhang Ruochen revealed the slightest flaw, she would likely detect it.
Shengshu Cainü had already walked behind Zhang Ruochen, furrowing her delicate brows, and said, "I have served by the Empress's side for many years and know her well. She is a saint with a broad mind. Her achievements far surpass those of the human emperors in history. She would never persecute you to death out of jealousy for your talent."
"On the contrary, during her reign, the Empress has spared no effort in supporting outstanding talents, providing them with a steady stream of cultivation resources to help them grow."
"Zhang Ruochen, come back to the Central Imperial City with me. The Empress may not truly intend to harm you; perhaps she only wants to see you. You should trust me—I would never hurt you."
In truth, Zhang Ruochen also longed to see Chi Yao, to ask her face-to-face why she had killed him eight hundred years ago.
But every time Zhang Ruochen recalled the scene of Chi Yao stabbing him to death, his heart ached deeply, and he dared not face the cruel truth.
Moreover, the Chi Yao of today was no longer the teenage girl of the past, but the ruler of the Kunlun Realm, dominating the world.
And Zhang Ruochen, before her, was likely nothing more than an ant. Even if he knew the truth, what could he do?
Could an ant kill the Empress?
Without growing strong enough, going to see Chi Yao would be nothing but walking into a trap and humiliating himself.
Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes, bloodshot, and said coldly and angrily, "I will not go to the Central Imperial City, at least not now. If the Talented Woman wishes to capture me, go ahead and do so. There's no need to make things so difficult."
Shengshu Cainü had never seen Zhang Ruochen so furious. She was both worried that his state of mind might affect his cultivation and even more curious about what kind of conflict existed between him and the Empress.
She decided to try a gentler approach to persuade him, saying, "Zhang Ruochen, you should understand that if the Ministry of War takes action, they might not let you reach the Central Imperial City alive. Only I can guarantee your safety. Besides, don't you want to see Huang Yanchen?"
The anger on Zhang Ruochen subsided somewhat. He turned around, stared at Shengshu Cainü standing not far away, and asked softly, "Is she doing well?"
Shengshu Cainü nodded and said, "The Empress knows she is your fiancée but has not made things difficult for her. She has allowed her to enjoy the same treatment as the other Realm Sons. However, she and the other eight Realm Sons are still cultivating in a secret realm and will not emerge for some time."
"The Empress's heart is broad enough to accommodate Huang Yanchen, and it can certainly accommodate you as well."
"I heard that you retrieved the stone talisman left by Qiangu Nüdi from the Underworld and resealed the passage there. This is a great merit for all living beings under heaven. Once the Empress learns of this, even if you have made some mistakes in the past, she will surely forgive you."
Zhang Ruochen let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Forgive me? I have never done anything against her or my own conscience. Why should I beg for her forgiveness?"
"Then what are you still worried about?" Shengshu Cainü countered.
Zhang Ruochen stared into her eyes, his gaze gradually turning cold and sharp again. "There are some things you wouldn't understand. If the Talented Woman has nothing else, I'll take my leave."
"Wait."
Shengshu Cainü looked at Zhang Ruochen with a somewhat resentful expression, knowing she could not persuade him to turn himself in, so she said no more.
She continued, "Aside from this matter, there is another important thing I wish to discuss with you."
"I understand."
Zhang Ruochen nodded, then took out the blood-sealed sacred decree that Shengshu Cainü had once given him from his space ring and handed it over, saying, "Returning this to you."
Shengshu Cainü's heart ached deeply. She glanced at the blood-sealed sacred decree but did not take it.
She shook her head and said, "I am referring to the matter of the Undying Blood Clan, not the blood-sealed sacred decree. Keep this scroll for now. You might find it useful if you encounter danger in the future."
Zhang Ruochen looked at her with some curiosity and said, "As a friend, you have done what you should. You have been more than kind to me. But you must take back the blood-sealed sacred decree. If the Ministry of War finds out that I used your decree, it could put you in a very difficult position."
"Yet I am more worried that you might die under the spears of the Ministry of War's experts."
These words slipped out of Shengshu Cainü's mouth.
Even Zhang Ruochen was taken aback.
Shengshu Cainü also realized she had said something inappropriate and quickly suppressed the emotions she had inadvertently revealed.
The bamboo grove fell silent once more.
But this silence carried a strange undertone.
After a long pause, Shengshu Cainü spoke again, "Zhang Ruochen, you must know the purpose of the Undying Blood Clan gathering at Yuan Mansion. Now, the Zhenyu Ancient Clan and the Ministry of War are joining forces to prepare for war against the Undying Blood Clan. The first step is to root out the Undying Blood Clan members hiding within the Zhenyu Ancient Clan and the Ministry of War."
"I came to you this time hoping for your help. You have no fondness for the Undying Blood Clan either, do you?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "I am the sword-bearer of the Skyward Sword, and it is my duty to guard the Nether King Sword Grave. If I can help, I will. But with the Ministry of War and the Zhenyu Ancient Clan teeming with experts, my meager cultivation is unlikely to be of much use."
"No," Shengshu Cainü said. "To identify the Undying Blood Clan infiltrators, we must use the 'Blood Clan Secret Volume.' You are the only one in the world who has seen it, so you must be the one to find them."
"I am the only one who has seen the Blood Clan Secret Volume?" Zhang Ruochen asked, puzzled.
Shengshu Cainü said, "So far, you are the first person to mention the Blood Clan Secret Volume and to describe its contents. Most others don't even know it exists."
Zhang Ruochen frowned and muttered to himself, "How can this be?"
He clearly remembered that Shangguan Que, the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, had compiled the Blood Clan Secret Volume along with other saints. Such an important text should have been widely circulated. How could it be unknown?
Unless the Blood Clan Secret Volume had never been distributed after its compilation.
Shengshu Cainü stood to the side, her bright eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen, waiting for his answer.
But Zhang Ruochen shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, but I haven't read the Blood Clan Secret Volume. I'm afraid I can't help you."
"At the Liangyi Sect, you revealed two methods for identifying Undying Blood Clan members. How could you not have read the Blood Clan Secret Volume?" Shengshu Cainü asked.
If she didn't know Zhang Ruochen well, she might have suspected he had already sided with the Undying Blood Clan.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I only saw two pages of it. I don't know the complete text."
After a pause, he added, "If the Talented Woman truly wants to find the Blood Clan Secret Volume, you might try your luck at the Shangguan Clan. It was Shangguan Que, the clan head, who personally compiled it. If the volume hasn't been circulated, it must still be in his hands."
Shengshu Cainü chose to believe Zhang Ruochen, but she shook her head again and said, "Shangguan Que was the Imperial Tutor and once served as the Empress's teacher. His status is extremely high, and ordinary people cannot see him."
"Moreover, after the Empress ascended the throne, he lived in seclusion and rarely appeared. In the last few hundred years, there has been no news of him at all. Given his age, he may have already passed away."
Zhang Ruochen's mind drifted back eight hundred years, recalling the days when he, Chi Yao, Kong Lanyou, Murong Fengye, and a group of noble and aristocratic youths studied together.
Back then, their teacher was Shangguan Que.
Some things felt like they had happened just yesterday, still vivid in his memory, yet eight hundred years had passed. Everything had changed, and the world had turned upside down.
In the end, Shengshu Cainü left the Nether King Sword Grave, intending to visit the Shangguan Clan in person. Whether or not she could see Shangguan Que, she had to go.
The entire Kunlun Realm was showing signs of turmoil. She had to suppress the Undying Blood Clan first and curb the disaster.
Thus, finding the Blood Clan Secret Volume had become especially important.
"What happened back then? Why didn't the teacher circulate the Blood Clan Secret Volume?" Zhang Ruochen fell into deep thought.
If the situation at the Zhenyu Ancient Clan weren't so delicate, Zhang Ruochen would have liked to go to the Shangguan Clan with Shengshu Cainü.
But as the sword-bearer, he could only be most effective by staying at the Nether King Sword Grave, so he had to remain for now.
Zhang Ruochen watched Shengshu Cainü's retreating figure, his eyelids twitching.
For some reason, at that moment, a sense of foreboding arose in his heart.
It was a mysterious, indescribable feeling, as if, in an instant, his spiritual power had pierced through time and glimpsed something that would happen in the future.
But the feeling was vague, fleeting like an illusion.
"She is a spiritual power saint and carries many powerful treasures. How could she encounter danger? Even if she does, who could stop her?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head with a smile, setting aside his worries for now.
Then, he left Bamboo Joint Mountain and headed toward the sword grave.
The next three days were crucial for him. He had to clear his mind of all distractions and devote himself entirely to cultivation.