sixty
The night was as dark as ink, but the candlelight in the study of Kaifeng Prefecture burned until dawn. Zhan Zhao meticulously compiled all the evidence, confessions, and translated secret letters he had gathered over the past few days into a book, his handwriting neat and his organization clear. Bao Zheng, holding this heavy dossier, hurriedly went to the palace to meet the Emperor before daybreak.
Inside the imperial study, Zhao Zhen rose, put on his robe, and carefully read through the documents under the lamplight. As his gaze swept over the lines of shocking text, his face grew increasingly grim. Finally, he slammed the documents shut, his knuckles turning white from the force.
"What a wicked Black Witch Cult! What a wicked Yelü Zongzhen!" The emperor's voice was as cold as ice, filled with suppressed rage. "How dare they once again extend their reach into my Bianjing, wreaking havoc on my people, and even attempting to shake the foundations of the nation! Do they truly believe that my Great Song Dynasty has no one left to rely on?!"
He looked at Bao Zheng and Zhan Zhao, who stood solemnly to the side, his gaze sharp as a hawk's: "Bao Qing, Zhan Zhao, this case will be classified as a top priority case, as you have proposed. The Imperial City Guard and the Privy Council's spies are to fully cooperate with the Kaifeng Prefecture to eradicate the remnants of the Black Witch Cult lurking in Bianjing and other regions as quickly as possible! As for the border, I will secretly order General Di Qing to be on high alert and not give the Liao Kingdom any opportunity to exploit the situation!"
"Your Majesty, we obey!" Bao Zheng and Zhan Zhao replied in unison. With the emperor's golden words and the coordination of various forces, the ensuing crackdown took off with lightning speed.
Over the next two weeks, a silent but intense purge unfolded in Bianjing and the surrounding prefectures and counties.
Based on the seized lists and clues, Kaifeng Prefecture and the Imperial City Guard joined forces to swiftly dismantle three secret strongholds of the Black Witch Cult, arresting dozens of cult members and seizing a large quantity of "Bewitching Grass," "Dream of the Southern Dream," and other evil insects and artifacts. The "Crimson Nightmare Venerable" who had fought Zhan Zhao, along with several of his core "envoys," vanished without a trace, clearly having received advance warning and gone into hiding.
The interrogation of the captured cult members revealed that the "Crimson Nightmare Venerable" held a high position within the Black Witch Cult, second only to the leader and several elders. He was skilled in evil magic, especially his "Copper Corpse Technique," which he had mastered to perfection, rendering him impervious to ordinary swords and blades. He was also ruthless and vengeful. His infiltration of Song territory was not only to establish an intelligence network, but more importantly, to find an ancient magical artifact called "Eclipse Moon." Legend has it that this object could corrupt spiritual energy and erode seals, making it one of the keys to breaking the seal on Mount Ailao.
"Eclipse Moon..." Zhan Zhao murmured the name, his ominous premonition growing stronger. This undoubtedly confirmed Xuan Yuan Tianyi and Leng Moyan's judgment: the Black Witch Cult's goal was directly aimed at the seal!
On this day, Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang, following a new clue, tracked down to an abandoned mountain god temple thirty miles north of Bianjing. According to intelligence, this was a crucial supply depot for the Black Witch Cult, and might hold clues about the whereabouts of "Eclipse Moon."
The mountain god temple was dilapidated, covered in cobwebs, and filled with dust and a musty smell. The two cautiously crept inside and, as expected, found several boxes of "Bewitching Grass" that hadn't yet been transported, along with some gold and silver, in a hidden compartment behind the statue. However, just as Zhan Zhao was examining a seemingly ordinary iron box, something unexpected happened!
The iron box contained an extremely ingenious mechanism. The moment the lid was opened, several beams of black light, coated with deadly poison, shot out, aiming straight for Zhan Zhao's face and vital organs! The distance was too close, and the speed too fast; there was almost no way to avoid it!
"Cat, watch out!" Bai Yutang exclaimed, swiftly waving his folding fan and knocking away two streaks of dark light.
Zhan Zhao reacted with lightning speed, instantly drawing his Giant Sword and creating an impenetrable sword curtain in front of him. Several crisp clangs rang out as most of the dark light was deflected by the sword energy. However, the last streak of dark light, with an extremely tricky angle, pierced through a gap in the sword curtain and aimed straight for his throat!
At the critical moment, Zhan Zhao suddenly turned his head. The dark light grazed his neck, leaving a trace of blood, and embedded itself in the beam behind him. It was a strangely shaped black arrow with a green tip, clearly coated with a deadly poison.
Zhan Zhao felt a tingling sensation on the side of his neck and knew something was wrong. He immediately circulated his internal energy to expel the poison. Fortunately, his internal strength was profound, and Xuan Yuan Tianyi had taken good care of himself, so his body's resistance to poison was far superior to that of ordinary people. In addition, the poison was not a deadly poison that would kill immediately, but a kind of evil medicine that would numb and slow down the poison. After a while, it was suppressed.
"What a vicious trap!" Bai Yutang stepped forward to examine the small black arrow, still shaken. "The Black Witch Cult is indeed full of cunning schemes!"
Zhan Zhao pressed the acupoint on the side of his neck to stop the slight bleeding, his expression grave: "They set up such a trap here, probably not only to protect these supplies, but also to give a warning or to buy time."
He carefully examined the iron box and found a tattered sheepskin map in a hidden compartment. The map outlined part of the Ailao Mountains in cinnabar, with a location marked with a twisted flame totem circled and labeled in ancient Southern Xinjiang script: "The Land of Lunar Eclipse Burial."
The clues point directly to the core area of the Ailao Mountains!
While Zhan Zhao was dealing with the remnants of the Black Witch Cult around Bianjing, the situation in the Ailao Mountains in the southern border region was becoming increasingly urgent.
Standing atop the highest point of Xiaoyou Courtyard, Leng Moyan gazed southwest. His usual playful demeanor vanished from his bewitching peach blossom eyes, replaced by a grave air of impending doom. A faint blue aura emanated from him, a natural flow of Qilin divine power, indicating his intense focus on sensing the distant disturbances.
“It’s gotten worse.” He said in a low voice to Xuan Yuan Tian beside him, “The cracks in the seal are widening, and the demonic energy is leaking out faster than expected. The Black Witch Cult must have performed some kind of ritual near the seal, accelerating its corruption. I can feel that the creatures in the mountains are being corrupted by the demonic energy, becoming frenzied and violent.”
Xuan Yuan Tianyi stood quietly under the eaves, her red robes fluttering in the rising autumn wind. She stroked her pregnant belly, feeling the restless movements of the baby within. The child seemed to sense the malevolent energy emanating from afar, becoming agitated as well. Her face was paler than usual; the strain of pregnancy and her anxiety about the situation in the distance had etched a deep weariness onto her brow.
"We can't wait any longer." She spoke slowly, her voice soft but carrying an undeniable determination. "I must set off immediately for Ailao Mountain."
Leng Moyan suddenly turned to look at her: "You're almost eight months pregnant! The journey to the Southern Frontier is long and arduous, with dangerous mountains and rivers, not to mention that you'll be deep in the Ailao Mountains, facing the Black Witch Cult and the leaked demonic energy! How can you possibly endure it?"
“Even if we can’t hold on, we must.” Xuan Yuantian raised his eyes, his gaze piercing through the void, as if he could already see the ancient mountain range shrouded in demonic aura. “If the seal breaks, demons will descend upon the world, and the human realm will instantly become a hell. At that time, where will we find peace? This child was born into a chaotic world; it is his fate. But as a mother, as a guardian of the human realm, I must fight for him, and for all living beings, for a glimmer of hope.”
She paused, looked at Leng Moyan, her eyes calm and unwavering: "Besides, don't we still have you?"
Leng Moyan stared at her for a long time before finally giving in and sighing helplessly, "I knew it... Fine, what can I do? I'm stuck with such a troublesome master like you. When are we leaving?"
“Three days later.” Xuan Yuantian calculated the time. “I need to make some preparations and also… explain to him.”
That night, Zhan Zhao returned to the villa with the fragment of the sheepskin map he had obtained from the mountain god temple. The wound on his neck had been properly treated, and the poison had been removed, leaving only a faint red mark.
He told Xuan Yuan Tianyi about the danger he had encountered that day and the discovery of the map. Finally, he said in a deep voice, "The Black Witch Cult's goal is indeed the seal of Ailao Mountain. This 'Eclipse Moon' artifact is probably the key. I have already made a copy of the map and given it to Lord Bao. I have petitioned the court to send experts to the Southern Frontier to stop the Black Witch Cult from obtaining this item."
Xuan Yuan Tianyi listened quietly, her gaze falling on the red mark on his neck. Her fingertips twitched slightly, but she ultimately said nothing. She simply calmly told Zhan Zhao about Leng Moyan's perception that day and her own decision.
"...The seal is in grave danger. I must set off immediately to Mount Ailao to reinforce it. Delay will only lead to unforeseen consequences."
Upon hearing this, Zhan Zhao froze, as if drenched in ice water. He abruptly looked up at his wife, his eyes filled with disbelief and strong opposition: "No! Absolutely not! You are already so heavy-hearted, how can you withstand such a long journey? Besides, the Ailao Mountains are extremely dangerous, with the Black Witch Cult entrenched there, its demonic energy overflowing... I absolutely cannot let you take such a risk!"
He stepped forward, gripping Xuan Yuan Tianyi's shoulders tightly, his voice trembling with emotion: "Tianyi, I know it's your responsibility to protect the seal, but what about the child? Our child hasn't been born yet! If anything happens to you... I... I..."
He choked on his words, unable to continue. His usually calm and resolute dark eyes were now filled with fear and pleading. He could face any formidable enemy, bear any risk, but he could not bear the possibility of losing her and their child.
Seeing the almost overflowing pain in his eyes, Xuan Yuan Tian felt a pang of heartache as well. How could she not know the dangers of this journey? How could she not long to wait peacefully for her child's birth in Bianjing? But the wheel of fate had already turned, leaving her no room for retreat.
She raised her hand and gently covered his hand that was gripping her shoulder. Her voice softened, but remained firm: "Zhan Zhao, I know your heart. But it is precisely because of this that I must go. If the seal is broken and demons run rampant, this Bianjing city, this Song Dynasty, and even our unborn child will face annihilation. At that time, even with you and me, who can we protect?"
She gazed into his eyes and said, word by word, "I promise you, I will protect myself and our child. I will repair the seal as soon as possible and return safely. Trust me."
Zhan Zhao met her gaze, and in her clear and resolute eyes, he saw an unwavering determination and absolute confidence in her abilities. He knew that once she made a decision, no one could stop her. Just as she had supported him through every life-or-death experience, now he had to support her as she went to her battlefield.
A profound sense of powerlessness and a deep-seated worry overwhelmed him like a tidal wave. He suddenly pulled her into his arms, his arms tightening as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones, never to be separated again. His chin rested on the top of her head, which exuded a cool fragrance, and his voice was terribly hoarse: "...How long?"
"At least one month, at most two months." Xuan Yuantian hugged his strong waist again, buried his face in his chest, listened to his rapid and powerful heartbeat, and felt this moment of tenderness. "I will come back immediately once the seal is stable."
"I'll go with you!" Zhan Zhao said urgently.
“No.” Xuanyuan Tianyi shook his head. “The core area of Ailao Mountain is filled with demonic energy, making it difficult for mortals to stay for long. Moreover, the sealing power will reject those who are not of Xuanyuan bloodline. If you go, not only will you not be able to help, but you may also be injured by the demonic energy invading your body or by the rejection of the seal. Besides, Bianjing needs you. The remnants of the Black Witch Cult have not been eliminated, and the Liao Kingdom is eyeing us covetously. My godfather and Zhen both need you.”
She gently pushed him away, took out a warm-to-the-touch jade pendant from her bosom, and placed it in Zhan Zhao's palm: "This is a talisman that Mo Yan condensed with his own scales and blood essence. You should carry it with you. It can ward off evil spirits and calm your mind. In case of emergency, it can also give me a sense of what's happening."
Zhan Zhao clutched the jade pendant, still warm from her touch, tightly. The hard edges of the jade hurt his palm, but it was nothing compared to the tearing pain in his heart. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all his worry, fear, and reluctance, transforming them into a deep promise in his eyes.
“Alright.” His voice was low but unusually firm. “I will stay in Bianjing to purge the evil spirits and protect this region. You… must return safely.”
He leaned down and kissed her forehead with utmost gentleness, as if making a vow, or as if praying.
"I'll wait for you and the children to come home."
Outside the window, the autumn wind howls, swirling countless fallen leaves. The shadow of parting has quietly enveloped this small courtyard.
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