Xu Fengnian mustered his courage and reached out to grasp the secret manual. To his relief, there were no unexpected anomalies. He carefully placed it back on the shelf before rushing over to Bai Hu’er Lian. Not seeing the old man nearby, he lowered his voice urgently, “Why did you let that guy out without even giving me a heads-up? What if something goes wrong? Aren’t you afraid Xiudong will end up in my hands too?”
Bai Hu’er Lian stood atop a ladder, looking down at Xu Fengnian with calm composure. “I didn’t release him. I merely accompanied the Great Pillar of the State to what you’d call the underworld and invited him out. As for what deal the Great Pillar struck with him, I don’t know. I only know there was a three-article agreement. However, the old man did give me a few pointers—quite enlightening.”
Xu Fengnian asked, “Should I go and seek his guidance too?”
Bai Hu’er Lian smirked playfully. “You’re welcome to try.”
Xu Fengnian weighed his fledgling swordsmanship and decided against it. The last thing he needed was for the old monster to obliterate him with a flick of his fingers. Still, the old man didn’t seem like the capricious type—quite amiable, in fact. Maybe he could rely on him for support once they left Beiliang? Xu Xiao had made a three-article pact with him, but how reliable was it? The temperaments of such lofty figures were impossible to predict.
The young prince shuddered at the thought of being devoured alive by the old man who’d been imprisoned in the pavilion for twenty years, rather than falling to some vendetta in the jianghu. The white-haired old demon, freed from his iron shackles, had immediately sought out Old Huang for trouble. Wouldn’t the cross-eyed old man eventually come after him too? The more Xu Fengnian pondered, the more uneasy he grew. He wasn’t afraid of martial arts masters registered in the imperial archives—even the likes of Wang Chonglou, the Wudang Sect Leader, and Zhao Guoshi of Longhu Mountain had to be documented in their respective prefectures, a strict policy implemented after Xu Xiao’s campaign to subdue the martial world. The real problem was this old man who’d crawled back from the underworld—who was he? A lone wolf with no attachments. If he accidentally—or intentionally—harmed or even killed the young prince, then vanished, who would Xu Xiao’s 300,000-strong cavalry hunt down? A three-article agreement? Since when did transcendent masters care about laws?
Xu Fengnian crouched silently by the bookshelf, meticulously calculating his options. This was a habit honed during his impoverished days with Old Huang—every copper counted. Whether big or small, he weighed every matter carefully. Back then, he’d even donned a tattered Taoist robe to tell fortunes for a few coins, only to be groped all afternoon by a hefty woman before earning a single coin. The worst part? He’d had to flatter her relentlessly, praising her “slender waist” and “radiant beauty” despite her weighing over two hundred jin.
The memories were too painful to revisit. Damn it all! As Xu Fengnian wallowed in regret, Bai Hu’er Lian quietly descended the ladder and tapped his shoulder with Xiudong’s scabbard.
Xu Fengnian looked up blankly. From this angle, Bai Hu’er Lian’s chest was indeed as flat as a plain—flatter than even the “Princess Taiping” of legend, who’d barely shown the tips of budding lotus. What a shame such beauty wasn’t a woman! Xu Fengnian snapped back to reality just in time to see Bai Hu’er Lian’s phoenix eyes narrow dangerously, murderous intent swirling within. He stood up, feigning confusion as Xiudong remained on his shoulder. “What’s up?”
Bai Hu’er Lian said flatly, “Since you’re leaving Beiliang, I’ll lend you Xiudong.”
Xu Fengnian frowned. “But I already have Chunlei.”
Bai Hu’er Lian sneered. “You’ve always wielded your sword with your right hand, but do you think I don’t know you’re left-handed? Your left-handed swordsmanship is stronger than your right. With your scheming nature, you’d never leave yourself without a backup. Stop pretending—take Xiudong openly. No one but me would suspect you’re using it as more than decoration.”
Exposed, Xu Fengnian wasn’t angered. Instead, he grinned and lifted two wine jugs. “Truly, you know me best. Come, let’s drink.”
Bai Hu’er Lian released Xiudong, letting it drop, and shook his head. “I don’t drink anymore.”
Xu Fengnian caught the exquisitely crafted Xiudong, sighing theatrically. “No drinking? Then your already dull life just lost another bit of joy.”
Bai Hu’er Lian changed the subject. “How many manuals are you taking on your trip?”
Knowing Bai Hu’er Lian’s decisions were final, Xu Fengnian smiled. “Enough to fill a chest—thirty or forty. I’ll discard each after reading.”
Bai Hu’er Lian sighed. “Fishing again?”
Xu Fengnian, holding a wine jug in one hand and Xiudong in the other, mused lightly, “You know me too well. Would you mind selecting the books for me?”
Bai Hu’er Lian nodded, effectively dismissing him.
Xu Fengnian climbed to the top floor but found no sign of his master. Descending, he spotted Xu Xiao seated regally on the fifth floor, three strangers of varying builds, ages, and auras prostrated before him.
Xu Xiao tossed three manuals at their feet. “Lü Qiantang of Southern Tang. Years ago, you infiltrated the manor just to steal this *Wolonggang Sword Art*. After losing to Sword Nine Huang, I spared you because you withstood four strikes. Today, this manual is yours.”
“Shu Xiu of Western Chu—you wanted the *White Emperor’s Simplicity Art*.”
“Yang Qingfeng of Eastern Yue—open your eyes wide. This is your family’s *Manual of Spirit Taming and Ghost Nurturing*.”
None dared reach for the long-coveted treasures now within grasp. Their foreheads pressed to the floor in abject submission.
Xu Xiao narrowed his eyes. “You three will accompany the young prince on his journey. Succeed, and upon return, you’ll receive official titles, manuals—whatever you desire. Shu Xiu, since you fancy women, I’ll give you ten. But if anything happens to the young prince…” His voice turned icy. “End yourselves swiftly. Otherwise, I’ll ensure you three lowlifes suffer fates worse than death. Lü Qiantang, Shu Xiu, Yang Qingfeng—you’re all remnants of fallen kingdoms. Though your nations are gone, you still have relatives. They’ll join you in torment. Understood?”
Trembling, the three answered in unison.
Xu Fengnian, watching from the sidelines, interjected, “Xu Xiao, just these three escorts? Isn’t that too few?”
Xu Xiao immediately stood, cheerfully yielding his seat to the young prince. “Fengnian, trust your father. Quality over quantity. Lü Qiantang wields a domineering sword—second-rank prowess, utterly fearless. He can hold his own against a first-rank expert for a hundred moves. By the time he dies, you’ll have escaped safely. This Shu Xiu from Western Chu excels in seduction and disguise, dabbling in all sorts of dark arts. Once she masters the *White Emperor’s Simplicity Art*, she’ll be unstoppable. Plus, she’s unparalleled in grooming young girls—any beauty under her care will soon surpass brothel queens. As for the half-blind, half-deaf Yang Qingfeng, his methods are the most grotesque—summoning spirits, controlling corpses, nurturing ghosts. Point at anyone you dislike, and he’ll turn them into your puppet. If they fail you, Fengnian, just pit them against each other—guaranteed entertainment.”
Xu Fengnian wondered what the three prostrated figures were thinking. Despite the chilly spring, their backs were drenched in sweat.
The Great Pillar of the State, now standing beside his son, addressed the trio sternly. “Leave. And remember—lips sealed.”
Only then did Xu Fengnian get a clear look at them: the brawny swordsman Lü Qiantang, the pallid-fingered and expressionless Yang Qingfeng, and Shu Xiu—a naturally alluring woman from Western Chu, though now too terrified to even glance at the young prince. Clutching their manuals, they bowed out cautiously. To them, the Great Pillar’s parenting seemed shockingly lax—a father yielding his seat to his son. They’d heard tales of the young prince’s audacity, even berating the Great Pillar, but today they witnessed a glimpse of it firsthand.
Xu Fengnian tossed a wine jug to Xu Xiao, who took a swig and laughed heartily. “Oh, Wei Shuyang will join you too. He’s taken a fancy to the *Two Forms Unified Canon*. Handle it as you see fit.”
Xu Fengnian scowled. “You’re threatening even Elder Wei?”
Xu Xiao chuckled. “No threats. I know how much you respect him.”
“He’s elderly!”
Xu Xiao lowered his voice knowingly. “Don’t underestimate him just because Chu Kuangren once knocked him into the lake. Combat isn’t his forte, but he excels in geomancy, numerology, and mystic arts. With him by your side, your Great Yellow Court cultivation will benefit. Strategy balances orthodox and unorthodox. Those three earlier are specialists in harming others, but you must also guard against harm. Wei Shuyang represents the orthodox. With these four protecting you, plus a hundred elite cavalry led by a fierce commander, I can rest easy.”
Xu Fengnian nodded.
Xu Xiao, anticipating his next question, shook his head. “Yes, I released the old man—at great risk. Our three-article pact only ensures he won’t harm you. Taming him is up to you. As for who this one-armed elder is… you’ll learn in time. Just remember: never hand him any weapon. If you don’t offer, he won’t take. Even unarmed, he can protect you in any situation.”
Xu Fengnian asked, “Are there deadwood agents among the Wutong Court maids?”
Xu Xiao nodded.
After a sip of wine, Xu Fengnian said slowly, “I know about Qingniao. I initially thought Hongshu was least likely, but these days, having her massage my shoulders, I noticed her controlled breathing—something the mysteries of the Great Yellow Court revealed. Xu Xiao, besides them, who else?”
Xu Xiao laughed heartily. “You even uncovered Hongshu? Impressive. There are only those two in Wutong Court. Since you’ve figured it out, I’ll be frank. You originally had four deadwood agents, coded by the celestial stems—painstakingly trained. Two died during your three-year journey. Qingniao is Bing. Yi and Ding perished.”
Emotions swirling, Xu Fengnian murmured, “So Hongshu is Jia?”
Xu Xiao shook his head. “Wrong. She’s one of the two your mother left you—beyond my control. As for the other… you may never know.”
“Who is this ‘Jia’?”
Xu Xiao remained cryptic. “They’ll appear when the time comes.”
Xu Fengnian mocked himself. “And that time will be when Jia sacrifices their life for me, right?”
Xu Xiao didn’t deny it.
Gazing at the reunited Xiudong and Chunlei, Xu Fengnian whispered, “Be careful in the capital.”
Xu Xiao smiled faintly. “It’s them who should be careful.”
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