Chapter 85 Southern Vietnam - Star Tracker (Part 4) If you were me...
She rarely clings to him like this; she usually enjoys being around people and being free. Even though he has been gone for a long time, she remains calm and doesn't seem to have much of an impact on her.
He used to be very unhappy about this discovery. He liked her and wanted to see her all the time, to imbue her with his own scent from head to toe.
Not receiving the same feedback made him anxious, angry, and deeply uneasy.
Hearing that she wanted to sleep in the same bed with him, the emotions that had been building up over the past few days suddenly vanished, and he couldn't help but smile with joy.
The miasma demon knew something was wrong when it saw how worthless he looked. Today's plan had been decided long ago, and tomorrow was the night of the full moon. If it dragged on any longer, it would definitely be too late.
Now that the person's aura has been locked, before the night of the full moon, the miasma demon can help its master explore the past memories of those in the palace who know the truth, to trace the source and see what exactly happened back then, and where the master is looking for.
Logically speaking, Pei Zheng and Qi Lingyu would be the most suitable candidates, as no one understands the intricacies of the situation better than them. However, Pei Zheng is, after all, the ruler of Nan Yue. Emperors throughout history have been protected by the Heavenly Dao, and the miasma demon, being a member of the demon race, might invite a tribulation if it were to act rashly. Furthermore, if the speculation is true, then Pei Zheng and his master will form an inseparable bond.
Therefore, the host must be present.
He knew this better than anyone else.
The miasma demon tried to communicate with him, attempting to remind him, "Master, we have something to do tonight..."
The young man stroked his soft hair with a calm expression and said gently, "Shi Xianxue, I may not be able to accompany you today."
The miasma demon breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, the owner still knew what he should do.
Shi Xianxue gave an "oh," her eyelashes drooping sadly, her toes barely touching the ground. "What's the rush? Won't it be too late to do it tomorrow? I want you to stay with me, Wu Xiutang. Don't you want to sleep with me?"
After speaking, she stretched out her slender fingers, gently pinched the corner of the boy's clothes, and shook it slightly.
That woman is really good at acting cute.
The miasma demon thought to itself in awe.
But matters have priorities. This concerns the master's background, and coming to find Shi Xianxue has already caused delays. Time is tight and the task is heavy, so the master may not necessarily agree to her this time.
As expected, Wu Xiutang opened his lips, but no sound came out. His lips gradually tightened, and he remained silent.
The miasma demon knew that its master meant he wanted to refuse.
But he raised his hand and then lowered it again, his delicate brows gradually furrowing when he saw Shi Xianxue's gaze.
Shi Xianxue whimpered as she came to hug him, burying her face in his chest and asking him sweetly if he was okay and if it was alright. At that moment, Wu Xiutang's Dao heart shattered, and he completely surrendered.
He seemed a little unable to bear Shi Xianxue's appearance. His mind went blank for a moment, and a beautiful blush rose on his fair skin below his eyes. He slightly raised his thin lips, hesitated for two seconds, and spoke with a hint of restraint.
"Alright, Shi Xianxue." He pulled her petite body close, wanting to show that he was condescending to do it, but when he met Shi Xianxue's bright eyes, he shrugged his shoulders in frustration and buried his head in her eyes, just like a cute girl.
His tone was sullen.
"You're committing a foul like that."
How could he possibly refuse?
He said he would sleep with her, and the two of them actually slept fully clothed, separated by a clear boundary, their innocence was beyond words.
Shi Xianxue stared at the silk bed curtains fluttering in the wind for a while, then turned to stare at the boy's fair Adam's apple in a daze.
She is very beautiful, even when she is asleep, like Sleeping Beauty in a crystal coffin, without any flaws.
But who could have imagined that such a handsome young man would have a life as damp as spring mist, bearing the successive torrential rains with his thin shoulders?
"Master Xianxue".
The clear, gentle voice of a young boy interrupted her drifting thoughts.
The boy lazily lifted his eyelids, the sound of fabric rubbing together was particularly clear in the desolate night. The two were some distance apart, and Wu Xiutang's pupils, which were already dark, now looked as if they were wet, even more translucent than the clear moonlight.
"I can't sleep if you keep staring at me like that." The boy's voice was tense, his deep gaze moving from bottom to top, finally settling on her slightly parted red lips. He leaned closer, his Adam's apple bobbing, and his wet, ambiguous breath brushed against her ear.
His voice was hoarse.
"There will still be a reaction."
The moonlight was hazy, and Shi Xianxue's mind was also dull. She didn't understand the meaning behind his words for a moment. After realizing it later, her face turned bright red.
She often speaks without restraint, and enjoys teasing Wu Xiutang, finding pleasure in seeing him speechless with embarrassment and anger.
The two had done many intimate things. In Beiyong and in the Liuli Flower House, they had many nights of being honest with each other. To be honest, she liked Wu Xiutang, so she naturally wouldn't reject such things as love between a man and a woman. But Wu Xiutang had always been pure-hearted. In the Black Mountain Cave, she kissed him to save her life, and he still vividly remembered the look on her face that made him want to tear her to pieces.
Aside from when he was out of his mind and driven by desire, they actually did very few things more intimate than kissing.
I don't know if it's because I'm not attractive to him, or because I'm too young and clueless, but in any case, he's not enthusiastic about matters between men and women.
He never uttered any sweet words.
Her face was burning hot, her eyelashes fluttered erratically, and suddenly, overcome with lust, she kissed him on the cheek. "What if I kiss you?"
The boy had thin skin and fair complexion, which was particularly noticeable when a blush appeared on his face. He was no longer the black lotus in the Black Mountain Cave who wanted to kill her, but rather like a puppy who had just received an unexpected reward, with a low, magnetic, and sticky voice.
"Then I would be very happy." He wanted to hug her, his long arm around her waist but he didn't make any further moves, only repeating, "Your kiss will make me very happy."
Is it that simple?
Will this make you feel happy and joyful?
Shi Xianxue felt a mix of emotions. She got up and rested her head on his strong chest, her complicated feelings surging up again.
"I have something to tell you."
She straightened up slightly, hesitated, and finally made up her mind.
"Do you still remember the black-robed man who appeared in Sister Qing Shu's illusion in the Misty Forest?"
“I saw his portrait in Tianyi Pavilion. His name is Lou Su. He was the previous high priest of Nan Yue. I suspect that he was the predecessor of your master.”
First, there was the Six Harmonies Formation of Tianyi Pavilion; then, Lou Su and the man on the back mountain of Piaomiao Peak were highly similar; finally, before she could rescue Pei Huaguang, a book titled "Tianshui Bi" fell down.
On the title page of the book, there is a line of small regular script characters that reads: "Empress Xiao Qi loved green clothes, so the palace maids soaked silk with dew from autumn dew to dye the silk robes the color of the blue sky and blue water. When the people in the palace saw that the color was so bright, they rushed to imitate it, and that is called 'Sky Water Blue'."
When Shi Xianxue read this, she was still wondering why Qi Lingyu was called "Little Qi Empress" until she stared at the name in the book for a long time and a few sensitive words suddenly flashed through her mind.
As it is above, as it is below, from the smallest word choice to the grandest things in the world, the concept of harmony and unity is emphasized. So, since there was a Lesser Empress Qi, there must have been a Greater Empress Qi before Qi Lingyu.
Based on Qi Lingyu's sudden change in expression and the talisman paper in the abandoned palace, the death of Empress Daqi is closely related to Qi Lingyu and Lou Su.
"Don't you also have doubts in your heart? About the relationship between Pei Zheng, the Southern Yue royal family and you. Pei Huaguang told me that those who can enter Tianyi Pavilion are either royal tokens or of Pei bloodline. I definitely don't have any tokens or anything like that on me. The only possibility is that, as the Golden Boy said, you switched your blood with mine."
This provides a good explanation for how she, possessing Wu Xiutang's blood, was able to break through the Six Harmonies Formation unscathed.
Wu Xiutang listened quietly as she finished speaking. From the fact that Lou Su might be his master to the fact that his mother was someone else, his eyes did not show much emotion. He lay flat on the soft couch, his breathing steady, his silky black hair spread all over the bed.
He gently turned his eyes and said, "Oh."
He calmly responded, indicating that he understood.
Shi Xianxue's head buzzed for a moment. She was afraid that Wu Xiutang would lose control of his emotions, but such a calm reaction was too strange.
It was as if he wasn't the main character in the conversation, but a complete stranger.
This is nothing like Wu Xiutang's style.
He's intelligent, perceptive, and vindictive; how could he be so nonchalant?
Why are you reacting like that? You're so strange, you know that?
The boy chuckled softly in the moonlight, his chest trembling slightly. He asked, "What's strange about it?"
"Look at you, not surprised, not angry. And yesterday you said you didn't like them, hated them so much you wanted to kill them. Today you're so indifferent to things that might be related to your background. Did you see through the world overnight?"
She poked his chest with her index finger. "Are you faking it?"
“What’s there to pretend about? I hate them, I want to kill them, not because they did anything to me, Shi Xianxue, you need to understand, I hate them—”
He sat up, his impeccable face revealing a cold expression: "It's because there are very few people or things in this world that I like."
Shi Xianxue was stunned.
"You are the exception."
He gently coaxed her.
What he said was true; it was up to Shi Xianxue to decide what she thought.
Shi Xianxue frowned, unsure whether to be happy or not. Knowing some things only brings pain. The past cannot be changed. Since he no longer cares, why should she be so persistent? As long as he is happy, that's enough.
After thinking it through, she took his hand and said, "Since that's what you think, I won't investigate any further. Once we find Sister Qing Shu's whereabouts, we'll leave this place."
Wu Xiutang laughed again and kissed her fingers.
---
In a corner of the hall, a jade screen blocked most of the light. Pei Zheng stood behind a desk, holding an imperial brush. As he finished writing the last stroke of his plan, his personal eunuch Wei Quan's report also came to an end.
Pei Zheng threw down his pen, the candlelight flickering on his face. "Tianyi Pavilion?"
"Yes, that woman used some kind of sorcery to get through the Six Harmonies Formation set up by the High Priest. She didn't do anything outrageous, she just went in and brought His Highness the Crown Prince out. Perhaps she really has powerful magic and broke the High Priest's Six Harmonies Formation." He paused, seeing that the King didn't seem very interested in the matter, and thinking about the news his spies had brought him today, he continued, "The Empress has already taken action."
Pei Zheng sat back down in the dragon-wood chair expressionlessly, tapping his fingers lightly on the table as he sighed, "The Empress is still so impulsive."
The tea beside him had gone cold. Pei Zheng said in a low voice, "She's still far inferior to her sister."
Wei Quan had been serving Pei Zheng since he was a prince.
He was absolutely loyal to Pei Zheng, and he was directly or indirectly involved in what happened back then, so he knew it all too well.
Although they witnessed the child bleed to death, more than a decade later, the Taoist priest's appearance bore an extremely terrifying resemblance to the late Empress. It was no wonder that the Empress was flustered. Even His Majesty might not be as calm and collected as he appeared on the surface.
Wei Quan looked down at the ground: "Perhaps it really is just a coincidence. The High Priest is all-powerful and never leaves any trace of his actions. Even if he really is... His Majesty still has the Star Tracker left by the High Priest. The Thousand Autumns Festival will be the last night. There is no way he can escape."
These words did little to comfort Pei Zheng. He sighed softly, the warmth of the burning candlelight unable to reach his eyes. "But if he really is, wouldn't I have to put him to death again? He is my first child, the first child of Lingjie and me."
Wei Quan knew him better than anyone else, and upon hearing his words, he immediately understood and replied, "Your Majesty is a wise ruler. He has worked tirelessly day and night for the people of Nanyue, and has done things that were necessary for the sake of Nanyue's century-long national destiny. All the people under heaven will remember your selfless merits."
Pei Zheng covered his face and wept.
The Thousand Autumns Festival falls on the night of the full moon. In previous years, the festival was simply held according to Qi Lingyu's wishes, but this year, for some reason, the decorations and lanterns were put up much earlier.
Pei Huaguang is the only child of Pei Zheng and Qi Lingyu. He is the heir to the Southern Yue Kingdom and the future king. He grew up in a pampered environment and naturally loves his mother and respects his father. He started preparing early for the Autumn Festival.
When Shi Xianxue and the others arrived, the entire hall seemed to have been completely renovated. Glazed tiles, tassel lanterns, and pink silk were strung between the beams. Warm steam rose in the air, and the fragrance of styrax wafted over.
Upon seeing the group, Pei Huaguang immediately put down what he was doing and strode over. His attire today was also different from usual; the crown prince's golden silk robe accentuated his tall and elegant figure, making him appear noble.
"Fairy Sister, Taoist Priest Li," he called out happily, noticing Wu Xiutang to the side. He bit his tongue but ultimately didn't greet her.
Li Fuchao handed over the nanmu box: "This pill is called the Beauty Pill. Ordinary people can take it to nourish their skin and regain their youth. Consider it our birthday gift to the Queen. When the stars and moon shine, we will go to Chongyang Palace to activate the tracking device, and then we will leave the palace directly."
"Is it in such a hurry? Can't we wait a couple of days, no, until tomorrow, before leaving the palace?"
"With the situation pressing, we shouldn't bother you any longer, so we'll take our leave now."
Seeing that the group was determined to leave, Pei Huaguang didn't want to stop them any further. He drooped his ears and said reluctantly, "Then, I'll come when I'm done with my work..."
"No need."
Pei Huaguang paused.
Shi Xianxue patted his shoulder, "Your Highness, we are not on the same path. Sooner or later we will part ways. Since you have taken on the identity of the Crown Prince of Nan Yue, you must be down-to-earth, work diligently, and do more for the well-being of the people. Don't let everyone down."
Tears slowly welled up in Pei Huaguang's eyes. He wiped them away hastily and turned his head away, not wanting them to see his tears. "I understand, Fairy Sister, don't worry, I will never let you look down on me."
After the group had walked quite a distance from the palace gate, they suddenly heard Pei Huaguang's shout from behind. They stopped in the direction of the sound and saw him chasing after them, panting heavily.
His eyes were clear and bright as he gazed at the boy beside him for a long time, as if he were looking in a mirror.
Just as Wu Xiutang was losing patience and turning to leave, he hurriedly said, "Young Master Wu, I was wrong before. I thought you were my father's illegitimate son, which is why I had so many prejudices against you. I apologize for misunderstanding you. Actually, you are a very capable person with superb skills and a smart mind. Fairy Sister likes you very much, so I was jealous, but at the same time, I admire you very much."
The boy's eyes were pure and innocent, as clear and clean as a piece of jade. "I think if you really are my brother, that would be something to look forward to."
As the moon rose above the treetops, the Star River Tracker resonated with the Snow Chant Sword, simultaneously revealing its location.
Song Qingshu appeared amidst the raging flames of Mount No Return. Her clothes were torn, her body was covered in wounds, and her face was so pale that she looked as if she would die at any moment.
Li Fuchao didn't even finish reading before flying away on his sword, heading towards the direction of Mount No Return.
Shi Xianxue knew Qing Shu's character too well, knowing that even if she died, she would never submit to the demon race, which is why she was terrified of what Qing Shu was about to do.
Shi Xianxue grabbed the sleeve of the person beside her, her voice trembling: "Let's go."
Wu Xiutang grasped her hand, his expression reassuring: "Okay."
Li Fuchao moved very fast on his sword. The Xuanhe Sword carried him as he leaped and flew through the clouds, and the two people on the crane's back could only be seen as blurry figures in the distance.
Shi Xianxue was anxious: "Can we make the crane go faster?"
The person beside him said, "Okay."
The crane sped up, and the gale-force winds lashed out like knives, cutting painfully into the skin. Shi Xianxue raised her hand to shield her face and looked at the overly silent boy beside her.
Nothing different from usual.
But her heartbeat suddenly became irregular, and her temples were pounding. As if sensing something, she stiffened, and just as she was about to strike with two fingers together, a black soul appeared out of nowhere from behind the two of them, transforming into a hideous ghostly shadow in mid-air and lunging at Shi Xianxue.
Shi Xianxue's attention was not on what was behind her at all. By the time she tried to dodge, it was too late. In her shock, she only saw a blur before her eyes and her vision was completely blocked.
The black mist, baring its fangs and claws, slammed into Wu Xiutang's chest.
The next instant, "Wu Xiutang's" figure deflated rapidly like a punctured balloon. Shi Xianxue opened her palm, revealing a wooden puppet doll with puppet magic attached to it.
Before she could figure out what was going on, the dark figure circled in the air, then re-identified its target and charged towards her.
—
The harem of Nanyue was different from that of other countries. The emperor and empress had been in love for many years, and the harem was practically non-existent, with only Qi Lingyu as the empress.
Since she gave birth to the Crown Prince, her position as Empress has been secure. This year, she is celebrating her birthday in a grand ceremony, and all the civil and military officials of the court have arrived to offer their congratulatory gifts as a sign of respect.
The Crown Prince was not good at riding and archery, but his ingenuity was outstanding. The carefully designed and arranged program made the Emperor and Empress laugh heartily. He also presented a dazzling array of colorful clothes and said some touching words that brought tears to the Queen's eyes.
However, in this joyous moment, Pei Zheng's expression suddenly changed, his cheeks were wet with sweat, he clutched his chest and collapsed.
The ancient wooden zither emitted a sharp snapping sound. When Qi Lingyu rushed up and hugged Pei Zheng's body, he suddenly convulsed and opened his eyes.
Before Qi Lingyu could even feel happy, she saw Pei Zheng, who had just woken up, staring intently at her with a chilling smile on his lips.
Qi Lingyu's gaze shifted downwards, colliding directly with the cold light in Pei Zheng's hand.
Despite Pei Huaguang's broken voice trying to stop her, the short knife plunged into Qi Lingyu's heart without hesitation.
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