Wind and Cloud
Side hall of the imperial palace.
The air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, but it could not dispel the invisible chill in Yun Shu's heart.
In the middle of the night, he sat quietly on the windowsill, his fingertips unconsciously tapping on the windowpane. And the green snake hidden deep among the flowers in the garden was also flicking its tongue very lightly.
Yun Shu raised her hand to her forehead, as if the demonic poison in her chest was stirring again, and the pain was unbearable.
Just then, a gentle breeze blew by, and he coughed lightly a few times: "Cough... It's certainly not what it used to be, to have fallen to such a state... I wonder when Ah Jin will return..."
His words were overflowing with dependence on Murong Jin, as if he couldn't sleep without the Emperor's embrace. The green snake saw this weak state perfectly, while Yun Shu silently analyzed the situation.
Imperial Preceptor... Green Snake...
Liu Qing.
This name was like a burning needle, stirring Yun Shu's chaotic thoughts, already ravaged by the demonic poison. Over the past thousand years, Murong Jin's trusted ministers and capable advisors had changed several times. In his hazy memory, he only remembered that this Imperial Advisor had only won the Emperor's favor in the last two hundred years through his "skills" in astrology, divination, agricultural timing, and alchemy. Since Murong Jin had secured his throne, Yun Shu had spent most of his time residing on Yunhua Mountain, paying little attention to court affairs. In the past, when invited to banquets during palace festivals, he had only glimpsed this man a few times from afar. Therefore, he only vaguely remembered that this man had a gloomy demeanor, always silently sipping wine in a corner of the banquet, rarely seeking the limelight.
Looking back now, it seems that Liu Qing had been setting up a scheme since then... but it's unknown when Murong Jin got involved.
Ah Jin... Does he know the full picture of this person? Was he blinded by the promise of "eternal stability of the country" and "immortality and bliss," only seeing this formation as a source of immortal power and unaware of its dangers? Or... did he know the consequences, yet still chose Liu Qing?
Yun Shu was preoccupied with her own thoughts, and the weariness and paleness she deliberately showed to Qing She were not entirely fake.
Outside the palace, Murong Jin was talking with the accompanying imperial physician. The conversation was nothing more than about the fox spirit's condition, what medicine could be used to alleviate its pain, or, upon questioning, the undisguised revelation that "Liu Qing clearly... cares about life..." Although his voice was kept extremely low, it still did not escape Yun Shu's ears.
It seems that Murong Jin and Liu Qing underestimated Yun Shu's five senses... or perhaps they were too confident in their formation and his condition, thinking that he could no longer hear the sounds outside the hall, which is why they dared to release the green snake to monitor him.
...That's all.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forcefully suppressed his surging emotions.
Yun Shu had no interest in delving into the matter of his own child and close friend wanting him dead—after all, he couldn't bring himself to kill Mo Yiheng, and naturally, he didn't want to kill Murong Jin either. His immediate priority was breaking the formation.
Although the array was connected by the Fox Fairy Temple and covered a vast area, the key array eye must exist either in the Yilan Palace or here—he didn't believe Murong Jin or Liu Qing would be foolish enough to place the core in an inaccessible location. And according to the visions transmitted by the white fox clone, Liu Qing reinforced the array here, not in the Yilan Palace… This place must be the crucial point, and relatively weak. Destroying the array eye would temporarily halt the operation of the entire "net."
But given his current state, how easy is it for him to destroy the core of the formation?
Leaving aside whether his remaining demonic power is enough to overturn the hunting grounds, if he were to make a direct move, he would inevitably have to clash head-on with Murong Jin and Liu Qing. How much of a chance does this cripple, whose essence is damaged, who is blind, whose senses are degraded, and who even needs Murong Jin's dragon energy to suppress the demonic poison, have?
If he were to rely on external forces… at this moment, with every move he makes under Liu Qing's surveillance, how could he make contact with others without leaving a trace in order to achieve his goal? And who could help him?
Almost instantly, Yun Shu uncontrollably recalled his disciple, who was covered in blood, filled with sorrow and despair, and whom he had personally expelled from the sect.
No. Yun Shu forcefully interrupted this thought. After this battle, he dared not and could not trust others again—especially those who had been with him for many years and seemed to have deep feelings for him. The day at Wangyue Pavilion was too tragic. He still remembered the last scene he saw before he went blind: Mo Yiheng's hands were stained with blood, and demonic energy surged, while he himself was suffering terribly from the demonic poison that had invaded his body, and could only revert to his original form to gasp for breath... He could not be sure whether Mo Yiheng's belated explanation was just another carefully planned show.
Then, he thought of his senior sister—Yunhua Sect Leader, the Immortal Physician Yunhe.
However, he rejected this candidate as well. There was no other reason than that Yunhe loved to travel around in search of medicine, and no one knew where she was. Yunhe would only return to the mountain to preside over the ancestral worship ceremony when Yunhua performed the ceremony.
Since that's the case...
Yun Shu seemed to have been exposed to the wind by the window for too long and was exhausted. He stood up, and just as he lay back down on the couch, he suddenly woke up with a start. He walked quickly to the side of the palace door, knocked lightly, and called out, "Commander Ling."
Ling Zhao quickly replied, "Your subordinate is here. Does the Fox Fairy have any orders?"
Yun Shu's fox ears twitched, clearly catching the sound of the green snake approaching. But he didn't stop, instead speaking in a normal voice, "I was wondering why I couldn't fall asleep tonight, and just now when I turned over I realized that the double-beaded sash that A-Jin gave me is missing. Thinking about it carefully, I suppose it was left at the ceremony this morning? Without A-Jin's things with me, I really can't sleep peacefully. Could you please trouble Commander Ling to go and search for it for me?"
This statement is partly true and partly false. Without the protection of Murong Jin's dragon aura, Yun Shu truly felt as if a thousand ants were gnawing at her bones, causing unbearable pain. However, the palace sash was entirely fabricated by Yun Shu; Murong Jin hadn't yet sent any ornaments here today.
What Yun Shu dropped was that demonic arrow. It was imbued with Yun Shu's immortal essence, and when Ling Zhao was stabbed today, Yun Shu used her demonic power to heal him. As long as Ling Zhao could reach the altar, the demonic power belonging to Yun Shu within him could detonate the immortal essence and further incinerate the demonic arrow. At that time, the pure demonic energy would spread and corrode, ensuring the destruction of the array's core.
Ling Zhao remained silent for a moment on the other end before finally accepting the order and leaving. However, he exchanged a few words with a deputy who was changing shifts, repeatedly emphasizing that "no one except His Majesty is allowed to disturb the Fox Fairy's rest" before slowly departing.
Ling Zhao was a smart man, and Yun Shu was certain that he had understood the implied meaning in his words.
Inside the palace, Jinzhu, wrapped in a fox tail, slept soundly, her little face rosy and incredibly adorable. Yun Shu couldn't see her, but he could hear her contented snores. He tucked the blanket around her, the demonic power emanating from his fingertips ensuring the little girl could sleep peacefully until dawn.
He closed his eyes again, using the faint demonic power within Ling Zhao's body to "see" the situation outside.
Palace gates, palace servants, imperial guards, gardens, withered trees, hunting grounds... Finally, the ever-burning altar came into view.
But Ling Zhao stopped.
"Commander-in-Chief." He bowed slightly to show respect.
The commander of the Imperial Guards stopped Ling Zhao, but seemed not to have noticed anything.
Yun Shu held her breath and focused intently on the two's every move.
"Ling Zhao, you little rascal," the commander put his arm around Ling Zhao's shoulder, paying particular attention to his right arm, "You've really made a name for yourself today, haven't you? You saved the Fox Fairy from the devil's clutches. If the common people outside heard about this, they'd probably build a temple for you to thank you for protecting the Fox Fairy!"
"It is my duty, Ling Zhao dares not presume to do."
The commander waved his hand with great pride: "Why be humble with your brothers! Come on, usually in the capital, when His Majesty is discussing state affairs in the Imperial Study and the Hall of Mental Cultivation, no one dares to ask for leave or rest... Now that we're here, we should drink a few jars of good wine... Don't worry, His Majesty said that you all worked hard searching for the assassins today, and has granted everyone except those on duty a night's rest."
As he spoke, he led Ling Zhao toward the Imperial Guards.
"This..." Ling Zhao hesitated, looking quite embarrassed. "Commander, it's not that I'm a spoilsport. It's just that Fox Fairy said he left something on the stands and couldn't sleep, so he asked me to help him find it... Could I find it and deliver it to Fox Fairy so we can have a good drink together?"
"So that's how it is... I was wondering why you, the most dutiful one, had come here... Well then, hurry up, don't keep the fox spirit waiting. Hmm... Can you find it by yourself? Should we call a few brothers to go with you?"
"Thank you for your kindness, Commander. But I am enough on my own; there's no need to spoil the brothers' fun."
Yun Shu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking this was the end and the plan could continue smoothly. But before Ling Zhao could take two steps, another person came from behind.
With his robes trailing on the ground and his expression somber, who else could it be but the Imperial Preceptor?
Yun Shu's heart sank suddenly.
Liu Qing walked very slowly, with only two mute servants carrying lanterns behind him, as if taking a leisurely stroll under the cover of night.
"The two commanders have met by chance."
Perhaps due to preconceived notions, Yun Shu always felt that Liu Qing's words were like a venomous snake's tongue, full of ill intent. Just as he was wondering what this person was up to by going out in the middle of the night, the demonic poison in his body suddenly jolted, and his tendons, veins, bones, and blood began to ache again.
Liu Qing has come to initiate the battle!
Realizing this, Yun Shu disregarded the fact that Ling Zhao was still far from the altar and attempted to forcefully unleash his demonic power to find the arrow. This was an extremely risky move. If he failed, his body would be obliterated from the world, and at best, he would suffer a backlash that would worsen his injuries; if he succeeded, at such close range, he would surely be detected by Liu Qing, that venomous snake.
But he didn't have time.
With a flick of her fingertips, she drew upon the demonic power within Ling Zhao's body, and just as he was about to strike—
"Awooo—!"
A mournful wolf howl ripped through the night sky, startling the wolves across the entire hunting grounds into howling and barking. Inside the camps and palaces, dogs barked and horses neighed, creating chaos.
"What's going on?" The commander squinted at the will-o'-the-wisps in the woods. "A wolf attack at night? But we didn't hunt any wolves today, so why would they... Never mind!"
He slammed down the wine jar and roared, "Imperial Guards, listen to my command! Protect His Majesty and the Fox Fairy!"
"yes!"
The shouts of the Imperial Guards were deafening, and the sounds of weapons being drawn, chaotic footsteps, and screams from noble ladies instantly shattered the illusion of tranquility in the hunting grounds.
Ling Zhao naturally looked in the direction of the initial wolf howl.
A black wolf, as large as a tiger or leopard, stood at the forefront, its eyes flashing with a strange red light. As if in a frenzy, it charged towards the altar and towards Ling Zhao, disregarding the thousands of imperial guards' cold blades.
More accurately, heading towards Yunshu.
This wolf was enveloped in incredibly pure demonic energy, rendering it oblivious to obstacles. It knocked down imperial guards, overturned tents, and brought the chaos to a climax.
...Heng'er?
Yun Shu immediately recognized the source of the demonic energy, and in the black wolf's longing yet despairing gaze, she instantly understood why Mo Yiheng had done this.
Without further hesitation, he unleashed the demonic power from Ling Zhao's right arm without reservation, aiming directly at the altar!
"Is it...the Demon Lord?" With the situation developing to this point, Liu Qing clearly recognized the wolf's identity. His eyes narrowed slightly, and the green snake in his sleeve slithered out again, hissing as it crawled toward the altar, but it was too late.
Extremely subtle demonic energy seeped into the altar lamps and entangled the demonic arrow, and almost simultaneously, the black wolf pounced upon it. Immediately, the immortal and demonic energies within the arrow clashed violently, and a raging fire, as black as ink, incinerated the altar and the three-foot-deep array core beneath it!
Yun Shu successfully destroyed the array's core, but on the surface, it all seemed to be caused by the Black Wolf—that is, the Demon Lord—and had nothing to do with the Fox Fairy far away in the palace.
There was no earth-shattering sound, only a buzzing sound like a snapping string.
The next moment, Yun Shu trembled violently.
When he used his demonic power to investigate again, the "net" within his body, which was closely connected to the dragon energy and constantly entangled with his origin, trembled violently before slowly returning to calm. The sensation of his power and life being drained ceased.
At the same instant, his keen fox ears heard the green snake, which had been lingering in the garden, hiss sharply, its body twisting and rolling on the flowers and leaves, before finally turning into a wisp of green smoke and disappearing without a trace.
It was a success!
Before he could even feel joy, the weakness from the severe depletion of his demonic power swept over him. His face was almost transparently white, and he could only stand by gripping the window frame tightly with his ten fingers.
The chaos outside the window continues.
"There's demonic energy... It's the Demon Lord! The Demon Lord is trying to assassinate the Fox Fairy again!"
"Stop that mad wolf!"
"Awooo—"
The howls of wolves were incessant, yet Yun Shu detected a hint of joy in them.
It seems... Heng'er was truly wronged.
Yun Shu suppressed the metallic taste in her throat and collapsed weakly by the window, the sound of the emperor's golden boots pounding in her ears.
"Minor Snow!"
The palace doors were flung open, and Murong Jin rushed in, his aura icy. He strode to Yun Shu's side, his usually calm voice trembling with worry, let alone his hands.
Gently pulling Yun Shu's cold body into his arms, Murong Jin almost dared not look at her deathly pale face. He only dared to whisper in her ear, as if afraid of disturbing Yun Shu's soul, "Xiao Xue? How are you... You're so cold... Don't scare A Jin, don't not answer me... You promised... you'd watch A Jin build a peaceful and prosperous world, you promised me... Please talk to me, don't not answer A Jin... I... I beg you..."
From this perspective... Ah Jin also doesn't know the full extent of the formation...
Yun Shu forced herself to move her fingertips, and Murong Jin immediately grasped them tightly as if they were a lifeline, pressing them against her cheek.
"Ah Jin...?" he called softly, leaning his heavy body against Murong Jin's body as she moved, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
"It's A-Jin! A-Jin is back!" Murong Jin responded haphazardly, afraid that Yun Shu might not hear him, and then let go. "Xiao Xue? How are you feeling? I'll send someone over right away..."
"I...I'm fine..." Yun Shu shook her head weakly, "It's just that because of the disturbance...the poison in my body...Ah Jin, it's so noisy outside...what's going on?"
Murong Jin held him tightly, as if trying to feel every tiny tremor in his body. In the eyes of the supreme ruler, guilt and lingering fear almost overwhelmed the entire palace.
"It's alright, it's alright... It was just a wolf that went mad and came looking for its own death... It's been taken care of, don't be afraid, Ah Jin is here..."
The purest dragon energy surged into Yun Shu's body once again, far more urgently than before, almost to the point of panic.
Yun Shu nestled obediently in his arms, seemingly already fast asleep.
Hearing Yun Shu's breathing gradually calm down, Murong Jin also relaxed as if relieved. It wasn't until he carried Yun Shu back to the main hall and settled her down that he realized that even in the bitter cold of late winter, his dragon robe was soaked with sweat.
Murong Jin sat on the edge of the bed for a while, staring at Yun Shu to make sure she was sleeping soundly and wouldn't be woken up, before saying in a deep voice, "Summon the Imperial Preceptor."
The guards in the shadows obeyed the order and left, fearing that if they lingered any longer, they would be implicated in the emperor's wrath.
Beside the chaotic altar, the black wolf that had caused the commotion ran out of magic after smashing several braziers and gradually disappeared into the night, as if it had never existed.
At the edge of the hunting grounds, Mo Yiheng reappeared.
He leaned weakly against the dead tree, blood constantly gushing from his lips and teeth—just a side effect of taking too much medicine, nothing serious.
"Master...that's wonderful..."
Although it is not yet certain whether his master has recognized him, the formation has been destroyed, so at least in the short term, his master will no longer be in danger of losing his life.
After resting for a while, he looked back at the palace standing in the wilderness, his face ashen.
Murong Jin, and that unknown imperial advisor... When I bring my master back, that will be the day you are all beheaded!
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