Chapter 191 Su Yuyao ambushed
Tide led the Golden Moss Rat out of the tea garden, but instead of returning to the Heavenly Palace or going to the Wuji Path, they went to a remote forest.
Tide stopped, turned around, and looked coldly at the Golden Moss Rat. "You...have been to the Nevernight Lodge?"
The golden moss rat was taken aback, then lowered its head and said, "I went there once before, because of the flood... Lord Xianming wanted to help Lord Xuanfeng..."
"Help Xuanfeng?! What are you going to do?!" Chaoxi seemed unconvinced.
"Lord Xianming wanted me to spread false information to make Lord Haichao back down, but..."
"Alright! I know all that!" Tide waved his hand impatiently. If the Golden Moss Rat had really spread false information, Thorn's arm wouldn't have been cut off.
"I'm asking you, you and Xianming...you two...have you..." Chaoxi's possessiveness towards Xianming led him to ask a question that was completely out of character, filled with worry, "Have you done it?"
"Huh?" The golden moss rat was incredulous at Tide's suspicion, staring blankly at her. "You did it..."
"You did it?!" Tide's eyes widened.
The golden moss mouse suddenly realized what was happening and quickly knelt down. "No!"
"No?!" Tide clearly didn't believe it. "If you didn't, why were you two exchanging glances?! Do you think I'm blind?!"
"This humble servant dares not!" The golden moss rat lay prostrate on the ground, its body trembling slightly.
"Golden Moss Rat, I'm warning you! Just mind your own business! Don't... daydream!" Tide kicked the Golden Moss Rat's veil away. "You should take a look at yourself! A toad trying to eat swan meat!"
"...Yes!" The golden moss mouse buried its face in the soil and replied softly...
...
"Your Majesty, Lord Chiyan has arrived," Guiyue said softly.
Yi's mother leaned against the soft couch, slightly opened her eyes, and said weakly, "Let him in."
"Empress Yi!" Chi Yan hurried in and bowed slightly. Before Empress Yi could speak, he sat down beside her, tenderly stroking her forehead and softly asking, "Why do you look so pale? Did you drink the medicine you were given on time?"
Yi's mother reached out and took Chi Yan's arm. "I did drink it, but it didn't have any effect!"
"Then I'll give you another prescription!" Chi Yan looked at the sickly Yi's mother with great anxiety.
Mother Yi, however, was not in a hurry at all. She got up and lay down in Chi Yan's arms, pouting as she said, "I don't want to drink the medicine anymore. It's useless anyway. I know my own body!"
Chi Yan helplessly hugged Yi's mother and gently comforted her, "You're still so stubborn. How can you not take your medicine when you're sick?! I know your health best!"
Her mother smiled and said, "Yes, you know best! But this time, I know better than you! I want to... wait a little longer!"
"What are you waiting for?!" Chi Yan tapped Yi Mu's forehead and said, "Your spleen and stomach are not in harmony, and your water metabolism is impaired, causing all the moisture to condense on your internal organs! That's why you feel weak and listless! Why won't you listen to me!"
Yi's mother enjoyed Chi Yan's reproach, which was full of genuine love. "I know, give me some more time. I need to find out something. After I find out, I'll drink the bitter medicine you prepared for me properly!"
"I just can't do anything with you!" Chi Yan looked at Yi's mother, who was trying to stay awake in his arms, and said softly, "Yi Guo, I don't know what you're investigating, but you must take good care of yourself!"
"Don't worry, I won't take any risks. If one day I'm really in danger..." Mother Yi said, stroking Chi Yan's face, "then you should bring Su Yuyao to see me!"
"What?! Su Yuyao?!" Chi Yan was extremely surprised.
“Yes, Su Yuyao!” Mother Yi leaned against Chi Yan’s chest, her eyes slightly closed, and said, “I’m tired, let’s go to sleep…”
...
Qimen waited at the entrance of the Yinmu Palace until Chiyan slowly walked out of the palace gate, adjusting his sleeves, before he was summoned by the Yinmu.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty! May Your Majesty be well!" Qi Men bowed deeply with his hands clasped together.
Her mother looked better. Leaning against the soft pillows, she tidied the stray hairs at her temples and said with a smile, "Lord Qimen, there's no need for such formalities! Did you come here specifically for something?"
"Your Majesty!" Qi Men suddenly knelt down and said, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
Yi's mother's eyes flickered slightly, and she calmly adjusted her hair, saying, "You want me to forgive you? Then I'd like to hear what crime you've committed!"
"Your Majesty! When your decree reached Hidden Deer Mountain, Lord Xuanfeng had already escorted Yao'er and Miao'er back to Chengma Peak. I thought I should first investigate the situation in Wuji Path before making any further plans! Unexpectedly, when I arrived at Wuji Path, I found thick smoke billowing from the Heavenly Gate! This is very unusual, and I fear it might be a trap, so I did not rush there!" Qimen placed his hands on the ground and kowtowed heavily. "Lord Xuanfeng's whereabouts are currently unknown, so I can only return to the palace first to seek Your Majesty's instructions! Please forgive my overstepping my bounds!"
After listening to Qimen's words with a solemn expression, Yi's mother exclaimed, "Zeyuan dares to falsely convey my decree?!"
She lowered her eyelids and said seriously, "Qimen, is my decree to send you to the Wuji Dao?"
"Your Majesty, no."
"Since that's not the case, how dare you, as a subject, take it upon yourself to withhold my decree and even go to Wuji Dao on your own!" Mother Yi rebuked sternly, "How dare you!"
"Your humble servant is guilty! I was just thinking that Miao'er is still young and Yao'er is playful, and it might not be safe for them to return to Chengma Peak on their own, so I didn't tell you, sir..."
"Alright!" Since Mother Yi had never issued such an order, she naturally wouldn't pursue Qi Men's crimes. "Seeing how thoughtful you are, I'll spare you for now!"
At this moment, Guiyue, carrying a bowl of medicine, silently stepped forward and whispered a few words in her mother's ear.
Yi Mu's eyes flickered slightly as she said to Qi Men, "Go back and tell Xuan Feng that he is the eldest brother and a former Heavenly Lord of the Dao. He cannot stand idly by and do nothing about matters within the Wuji Dao, both out of affection and reason! Don't let yourself be consumed by romantic feelings. He is no ordinary person! He is a Heavenly Lord! And you! You must reflect on your actions when you return. If you make another mistake, I will not let you off lightly!"
"Yes!" Qi Men replied in a low voice, lying on the ground.
"Go down!" Mother Yi said coldly.
Qi Men didn't dare to delay, so he quickly got up and left.
After watching Qi Men walk away, Yi's mother turned her head and asked, "Is what you said true?"
Guiyue replied softly, "Absolutely true! Lord Chaoxi has already gone to the Wuji Dao!"
"Hongzhu? She has some nerve! I thought that if Zeyuan pleaded for her and I spared her life, she would learn to restrain herself! I never expected her to be so vicious! That good-for-nothing idiot Zeyuan actually listened to her?!" Mother Yi said with a gloomy face, "They even dared to falsely convey my decree to Xuanfeng and set such a clumsy trap! It must have been Hongzhu's idea!"
"But...this old servant doesn't understand, why would Lord Zeyuan agree to do this? How can they be so fearless?!"
Mother Yi sneered, "Because they think I'm about to die, so they've all shown their true colors, not even bothering to pretend anymore! It seems that those who want to kill me aren't just Xianming! Nor are they just Chaoxi..." She then turned to look at the medicinal soup in Guiyue's hand, "and certainly not just Chiyan..."
“Your Majesty…” Guiyue looked at Yi’s mother with pity and said softly, “This old servant dares to ask, the Crimson Flame Lord is completely devoted to Your Majesty, why are you wary of him?”
Mother Yi smiled slightly, "Chiyan is indeed loyal to me, but I am not to him. How could he be content with that?"
"But... Lord Crimson Flame is most concerned about your health..."
“He did care before, but now… the medicine he gave me is wrong!” Mother Yi said calmly. “The Chi family has been practicing medicine for generations. We have treated everything from humans and animals to plants and gardens. My body is just a condensation of moisture. Although the dampness is hard to get rid of, it is not a difficult disease. So how could it get worse the more I drink the medicine?”
Looking at the medicine in her hand, Guiyue couldn't help but feel sad.
But her mother smiled calmly and said, "Feelings are the most reliable thing, but also the most fragile! Reliable feelings are just an equal exchange of benefits. When the benefits of both parties are not equal, feelings become very vulnerable!"
Looking at her exhausted mother, Guiyue felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
"Guiyue, my era will eventually pass. Over the years, I have been searching for someone to take over! Now, I have chosen my successor! Immediately send a secret decree to Xuanfeng, instructing him to enter the palace quietly as soon as possible, without letting a word leak out! Instruct the Cleaner to protect Su Yuyao and Xuanmiao! If anyone attacks or attempts to assassinate them, make sure they are captured alive. I want to see who can wait!" Mother Yi's eyes gradually flashed with a chilling murderous intent. "As for the Wuji Dao... I will let them roam free for a while longer, until my patience is worn down, then I will deal with them without feeling any heartache!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Guiyue took the medicine and left.
With her weary body, Yi Mu walked to the Bagua diagram, sat down cross-legged, and closed her eyes to meditate.
Xuan Yi, I can't hold on much longer... For thousands of years, I've continuously absorbed Yang energy and transformed all things to support the Wuji Dao that we built together, thus expending a vast amount of Qi! Now, I need to find someone to take my place; it's time for the Mother of Wuji to step down...
...
In the lush, verdant forest, the horses, unharnessed, leisurely chewed on leaves, while Su Yuyao rode Ruixue, frolicking on the hillside. Xuanfeng, meanwhile, soothed Xuanmiao while watching the newly fallen dandelions, pondering, "I never imagined Zeyuan would be so audacious as to falsely convey the Empress's decree! And even set such a childish trap within the Wuji Path! What is he trying to do…?"
"Ah!" Xuanmiao tilted her head back, pointed to the gap between the tree branches, and shouted, "Ah!"
Xuanfeng followed the mysterious finger and saw a golden butterfly fluttering in from the gap, landing by Xuanfeng's ear, flapping its wings, and then turning into golden powder that scattered on the dandelions at his feet.
He was startled. Summoned me secretly to the palace? It seems the Immortal Master's actions have already revealed Ze Yuan's deeds to Yi Mu! But why summon me to the palace…? Shouldn't Ze Yuan be summoned back? Could it be… that something unexpected is about to happen…?
"Xuanfeng! Xuanfeng! Ruixue is bullying me again!" Su Yuyao, her hair disheveled, clutched a tuft of wolf-hair brush and angrily walked up to Xuanfeng, saying, "Ruixue has messed up my hair bun again!"
Xuanfeng glanced at Ruixue, who was following behind Su Yuyao and had already bristled, and said with a smile, "Girl, what are you holding in your hand?"
"It's evidence!" Su Yuyao said, waving the wolf-hair brush in her hand. "If he hadn't bitten my hair bun, I wouldn't have pulled out his fur!"
Ruixue was already used to Su Yuyao's unreasonable behavior and had long since learned to remain calm in the face of adversity. He sniffed Su Yuyao's head and gently licked her hair.
"You stinky dog!" Su Yuyao punched Ruixue's nose with her chubby fist.
Although Ruixue could have dodged, he didn't. Instead, he lowered his head, squinted, and took the punch squarely.
"Girl!" Xuanfeng scolded, "How can you still be so spoiled and willful? You're a mother now!"
Su Yuyao retorted, "Why can't I be spoiled and willful just because I'm a mother?!"
"Because you also have to discipline the little one!" Xuanfeng stroked Su Yuyao's head. "How can I feel at ease with you fighting so easily and being so unreasonable?"
“Miao’er is fine with you all taking care of her, I wouldn’t dare to discipline her! Otherwise you’ll always be dissatisfied! If…” Su Yuyao tugged at Xuanfeng’s sleeve, her eyes filled with affection, and said, “If you’re worried, why don’t you stay with us in the snow mountain for a while!”
Xuanfeng looked at Su Yuyao's delicate appearance and sighed. He had finally managed to spoil the girl back to her original self, but he never expected that they would have to part again!
"Girl."
"Um?"
"I...have to go."
"Um?!"
"We have to leave immediately! The town isn't far ahead. I'll send a message there and have the local celestial authorities send someone to escort you! You need to hurry over there!"
"...Hmm. So where are you going? Are you still going to the Wuji Dao?" Su Yuyao asked worriedly, "Is it because Mother Yi insisted that you go? Is that why you have no choice but to go?!"
Xuanfeng didn't answer, but instead held Su Yuyao in his arms and whispered, "Girl, after we get back to Chengma Peak, you must stay put and not cause any trouble. Wait for me to come back!"
"When will you come back?" Su Yuyao's eyes welled up with tears. "What if... you don't come back for a long time?"
"Then you and the child should wait patiently!" Xuanfeng looked at Su Yuyao, who was causing him great distress, and patiently instructed her, "No matter what news you hear, don't believe it easily. No matter what happens outside, don't leave the snow mountain. No matter what, you must protect our child!"
As he spoke, he opened his palm and released a dandelion. "Take this. When you reach the snow-capped mountains, use this to let me know you're safe!"
Su Yuyao's tears fell in a torrent; she was reluctant to part with him, but there was nothing she could do.
Xuanfeng gently tucked the dandelion into Su Yuyao's clothes and then kissed the bewildered Xuanmiao.
"Ruixue! Take good care of your commander! Don't bully her anymore!" Xuanfeng said sternly.
Ruixue transformed into human form, bowed, and replied, "Yes, sir!"
Despite his reluctance, Xuanfeng still saw Su Yuyao's carriage off.
Despite her helplessness, Su Yuyao wiped away her tears and disappeared from Xuanfeng's sight. She dared not try to find out where Xuanfeng was going, nor did she dare to predict how things would turn out. All she knew was that it was time for Xuanfeng to turn the tables!
At this moment, she even wished she were just an ordinary woman, without having to consider the bigger picture, without having to worry about saving face, without knowing how to discern secrets, just wanting to cling to Xuanfeng and act spoiled and willful, without thinking about the consequences at all. That would be much easier than pretending to be sensible now...
Ruixue drove the carriage leisurely along the mountain road, while Su Yuyao sat in the carriage holding Xuanmiao, secretly grieving.
Ruixue turned around and looked at the listless Su Yuyao, then smiled and said, "Ningbao! Look! This grove of trees is so beautiful! Let me take you for a run!"
"I'm not going."
"Then...shall we take Ling'er to catch bugs? Doesn't Ling'er like catching bugs?"
"Ah! Hehehehehe..." Xuanmiao excitedly stretched out her little arms and strained at Ruixue.
Not wanting to spoil Xuanmiao's fun, Su Yuyao handed Xuanmiao to Ruixue, saying, "You take it! I won't go!"
Seeing Su Yuyao's lifeless state, Ruixue couldn't help but feel heartbroken, so she advised, "Ningbao, when Lord Xuanfeng was around, he always kept an eye on you. Now that Lord Xuanfeng isn't around, isn't it a good time for us to have some fun?"
"That's right!" Su Yuyao suddenly realized, and raised her rosy cheeks again. "No one's watching me anymore! We can have some fun now!"
Su Yuyao seemed to have found fun again. She walked on the gravel road, trod on the green grass, climbed to the treetops to pick fruit, and used her magic wand to catch insects. She played to her heart's content and played recklessly.
Suddenly, Ruixue looked around warily and whispered, "Ningbao, take Ling'er to the car!"
Seeing Ruixue's tense expression, Su Yuyao knew that something unusual must have happened around them. Without thinking too much, she quickly hugged Xuanmiao and climbed into the carriage.
Ruixue dared not delay any longer, raised her whip, and quickened her pace.
“Ruixue,” Su Yuyao asked softly, “what did you sense?”
"I can't be sure what it is, but I'm sure I smell a fishy odor!" Ruixue said seriously. "It's the smell of blood!"
"Blood?!" Su Yuyao's heart skipped a beat. "There's a smell of blood here?!"
She steadied herself, closed her eyes, and suddenly released her Qi field, using it to probe her surroundings. Sure enough, within her Qi field, several short-limbed, long-tailed shadows gradually appeared, crawling rapidly along the ground towards the carriage!
These absolutely could not be people sent by the Celestial Court to protect us! While the Celestial Court does possess exotic beasts, their numbers are few and their species diverse; it's impossible for them to dispatch such a large number of the same kind! This is more like a troop! But whose troop could it be? How dare they intrude upon the Celestial Mountain while Xuanfeng is away? And with such an obvious target…
Oh no! Could Xuanfeng have fallen for a diversionary tactic?! Could it be that Lady Yimu wanted to seize Xuanmiao and deliberately called Xuanfeng away?! Impossible! If Lady Yimu wanted to see Xuanmiao, she could have simply summoned her! If she wanted to keep Xuanmiao by her side, she could have bestowed upon her the title of Fairy or Princess, thus keeping Xuanmiao in the Heavenly Palace! Why resort to this trick?!
Unless... she still wants to leave her child behind!
Su Yuyao suddenly opened her eyes. She couldn't just sit and wait to die! Who were they?! What were their goals?! Rather than being passive like this, she should find out!
She spread her palms, released her Qi, and clumsily transformed the Qi field into a spider web with holes of varying sizes. She then carefully used this spider web to bind Xuanmiao to Ruixue's chest. "Ruixue, hold Miao'er tight! I'm going to meet them!"
"Okay! Be careful!" Ruixue said solemnly, shielding Xuanmiao with her hand.
Su Yuyao wrapped her wrist guards around her neck, tightened her waistband, slung her crescent-shaped blade over her shoulder, and threaded a deer tendon slingshot around her wrist. She channeled her inner energy, and with a light leap, she flipped onto the carriage shed. Even as the carriage bumped along the gravel road, Su Yuyao remained perfectly still on the shed!
She closed her eyes slightly and sensed the unusual energy field around her. The shadows were moving faster and faster, and they were about to catch up with the carriage!
Su Yuyao suddenly opened her eyelids, her bloodshot eyes slowly bulging out of their sockets. She rolled her eyes, scanning the woods and bushes around her. In her red vision, the shadows crawling in the shadows were clearly visible!
She rose slightly, unfurled the deer tendon slingshot on her wrist, opened her palm slightly, and channeled her Qi into her fingertips. Five streams of Qi—green, red, yellow, white, and black—were released from her five fingers, merging into one and transforming into several round Qi marbles.
Suddenly, a shadow in the distance turned into a cloud of black energy and vanished! Then a second, a third... more and more black energy appeared, while the shadows became fewer and fewer, as if these shadows were being killed by a strange force!
The group of shadows also noticed the anomaly. After a brief moment of stunned silence, some turned back to fight against the strange force, while others rushed towards the carriage in a fit of rage!
Oh no! They're about to make their move!
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