Chapter 27: A Tile on the Eaves
The two Daoist nuns were Huai Ren and Huai Shu. After the chaos at Nanxi Zhai, they had once again left to wander the mortal world. According to their original agreement, they were not supposed to return to Saintess Peak until at least ten years later, at the Stargui Festival. Who would have thought they would quietly arrive in the capital and take up residence in the old mansion of the Prince of Louyang?
Listening to Xu Yourong’s words, Huai Ren said calmly, “The Zhuzhu speaks too seriously. This is merely a journey of atonement.”
Huai Shu, recalling the bloodshed at Nanxi Zhai that day, could barely contain her anger. “Shang Xingzhou used Huai Bi to stir up trouble. How could we possibly follow his wishes?”
Huai Ren replied serenely, “If your mind and heart were not unsettled, how could he have used you?”
Hearing her senior sister’s words, Huai Shu restrained her fury, turned to Xu Yourong, nodded with an expression of admiration and respect, and said nothing more.
Today, several hundred disciples of Nanxi Zhai had entered the capital, causing a tremendous stir. Such glory had never been seen before, and for an elder like Huai Shu, it was naturally a source of great comfort.
In previous years, if Nanxi Zhai had put on such a display, even before the Great Zhou court could respond, the Li Palace would likely have intervened.
Fortunately, the Li Palace and the Great Zhou court were now locked in a standoff, making the importance of the southern sects even more pronounced. Only then could Nanxi Zhai seize such an opportunity.
Of course, creating this kind of situation and seizing this opportunity was itself an extremely difficult feat.
Xu Yourong was still young, not yet having entered the sacred domain, and could not exert the same level of deterrence over the Great Zhou court as previous Saintesses. Yet her relationship with the Li Palace was the closest of any Saintess in history, and the decisiveness and resolute temperament she displayed in this matter inspired both awe and respect.
Behind the rear gate of the mansion stood a rockery, with a few verdant plants wedged among the stones.
A sudden chill wind arose, and a thin layer of frost formed on the leaves of those plants.
“The Xue family is no issue. Should I go tell Chen Changsheng?” A black-clad young woman appeared in the courtyard, addressing Xu Yourong.
Feeling the sharply dropping temperature in the mansion, Huai Shu quickly guessed the identity of the black-clad young woman. Her expression shifted slightly, and she instinctively took a step back.
In recent years, she had traveled far and wide with her senior sister, witnessing many wonders and meeting extraordinary people. Logically, a half-step sacred domain powerhouse should not have inspired such fear in her.
But the Mystic Frost Dragon was a supreme sacred creature, inherently suppressing the souls of human cultivators.
The Little Black Dragon was accustomed to such reactions and paid it no mind. Instead, the other Daoist nun piqued her great interest.
Huai Ren’s expression remained calm, unmoved by her appearance, as if unaware of her origins.
The Little Black Dragon studied her for a moment and said, “You’re very strong.”
For her to acknowledge someone’s strength, there were few on this continent who could achieve that.
Back during the chaos at Nanxi Zhai, when Huai Bi suddenly attacked, using the Worldstream Finger to seal several of Huai Ren’s most vital energy apertures, Huai Ren had still effortlessly countered. Even then, Chen Changsheng had felt that this Daoist nun’s cultivation was unfathomably deep.
The Little Black Dragon turned to Xu Yourong, both surprised and puzzled.
Why would she keep such a powerful figure in the old mansion of the Prince of Louyang? What was she planning?
Xu Yourong gazed at a certain mansion not far away, saying nothing.
That mansion was hidden behind high walls, obscuring its ornate buildings, with only the towering eaves visible.
On those eaves perched some ridge beasts, their bodies covered in golden scales, resembling dragons but not quite.
…
…
Staring at the dragon-like beasts on the eaves, their golden scales gleaming in the sunlight, the Prince of Xiang’s face twitched slightly, ripples forming in his plump flesh.
After an unknown length of time, he withdrew his gaze, patted the fat bulging over his belt, and sighed, “This has blown things out of proportion.”
Prince Chenliu smiled bitterly and said, “I never expected Yourong to act so simply and roughly, just like when she was a child.”
The Prince of Xiang looked into Prince Chenliu’s eyes and said slowly and seriously, “Your father has served the Revered Daoist for many years. As long as we do not act rashly, we can surely preserve our current wealth and status. Let me ask you once more: do you still insist that we should take another step forward?”
He was now the most powerful and highest-ranking prince in the Great Zhou court, as well as a sacred domain powerhouse. If he took another step forward, where would that lead?
“If we do not take this step, will the Great Zhou dynasty belong to the Chen clan or to Xining?” Prince Chenliu said calmly. “This is what concerns me most.”
The Prince of Xiang’s fingers sank into the fat of his belly as he sighed repeatedly, saying nothing more.
…
…
Prince Chenliu had just married, but his mind could not focus on his beautiful bride, because the commotion Xu Yourong had stirred up was too great.
Correspondingly, his stunning bride had no interest in him either. She had even left the mansion outright and returned to the Tianhai family.
Tianhai Shengxue stood at the mansion gate, looking at Pingguo, who had dressed as a married woman but still wore a willful expression, and advised, “Though your husband is cold and calculating, he has a decent temperament and cares about his reputation. He won’t treat you poorly. But you should be more mindful—how can you keep running back home right after getting married?”
“I came back to discuss serious matters, not to stir up some boring jealousy drama.” Pingguo walked into the mansion, sneering, “If we don’t act quickly, are we just going to watch that woman bask in glory?”
Tianhai Shengxue knew that Pingguo had harbored a deep grudge against Xu Yourong since childhood. He just hadn’t expected that even three years after the Saintess Empress’s death, and with Pingguo no longer just a princess in name, this resentment had not faded. Instead, as time passed, it had only deepened.
Her return to the mansion today was naturally to represent the Prince of Xiang’s household in discussing with her father how to handle the current situation. Tianhai Shengxue found it all rather tedious and wanted no part in it. He took the reins from a retainer, leading his mount away. But he hadn’t gone far before a tall, thin old man appeared at his side.
That tall, thin old man seemed ordinary, but his identity was far from common. He was the most senior divine general of the time, named Fei Dian.
Tianhai Shengxue said, “Though I’ve learned much from you over the years, staying by my side has truly been a waste of your time.”
Fei Dian replied, “Since the Saintess Empress assigned me to your side, it proves you are worth it.”
Back then, Tianhai Shengxue was the most promising young talent of the Tianhai family. The Saintess Empress sending Fei Dian to his side was likely a sign of great expectations.
But now the Saintess Empress was dead, and Fei Dian showed no intention of leaving.
“Uncle Fei, do you think it’s more interesting to stay in the capital or to be on the front lines?” Tianhai Shengxue didn’t wait for an answer, shaking his head and saying, “Of course, fighting the demons on the snowy plains is more interesting.”
Fei Dian stared expressionlessly ahead and said, “But I’m still alive.”
Tianhai Shengxue glanced at him with a slightly strange expression.
“General Hanqing is dead, Xue Xingchuan is dead, Tianchui is dead, many people are dead. I hear Jin Yulu isn’t doing well in White Emperor City either.” Fei Dian said, “I’m still alive, still able to drink a little wine every day, because I think little and do little.”
Tianhai Shengxue knew this was a warning.
His thoughts were hard to hide from the old man.
But faced with the current situation in the capital, who could remain without thoughts?
He looked up at the cloudless, azure sky and said, “The storm is coming. I need to find a tile to shelter my head.”