“My master joined thousands of cultivators covering the sky and earth to hunt down that person, an incident that even alarmed Houchi Kingdom and Beiqiong Kingdom. At the time, the Shengyang Saint Emperor even issued an enormous bounty, mobilizing tens of thousands of cultivators across the Eastern Province to encircle and suppress them. Regrettably, that cultivator was cunning in the extreme, her cultivation and techniques unfathomable. During the encirclement, my master was gravely injured by her and fell into a deep slumber in a valley within Houchi Kingdom.” Wen Li sighed.
“As for me, I was born in a nearby mountain village. Once, while picking medicinal herbs in the mountains, I rescued my master. After waking, my master taught me the methods of entering the Dao and cultivating immortality, living with me like an idle cloud and wild crane in the village for a time. Regrettably, my master's old injuries later flared up, his cultivation dropping down to Foundation Establishment, and twenty years ago, his lifespan ran out, and he passed away.”
At this point, Wen Li looked toward Lou Yan with a desolate, helpless expression, speaking impassionedly with teary eyes.
“On his deathbed, my master was still filled with regret—regret that he failed to fulfill that Imperial Prince's orders to capture that person alive all those years ago, and regret that he could not return like a fallen leaf to its roots. All these years, I have cultivated the immortal Dao with diligence and devotion, simply hoping to journey to Shengyang Kingdom and bury my master's burnt ashes into the soil of his homeland to comfort his spirit in heaven.”
Thud.
Amidst her sorrow, she abruptly pulled a jar out of her storage bag.
And set it squarely upon the table.
“...” What in the world?
It startled Gu Linshu and gave Lou Yan such a fright that he recoiled slightly, thinking it was some kind of hazard. Seeing that it was merely an urn, he regained his composure and continued to listen.
Wen Li gazed at Lou Yan with a mournful, hopeful expression, her eyes brimming with pleading.
“Since Fellow Daoist is a member of Shengyang Kingdom's imperial clan, why not scatter these ashes over your noble kingdom's soil on my behalf? Let my master rest in peace beneath the earth as soon as possible. Who knows, my master might even visit Fellow Daoist in a dream to express his gratitude.”
She shoved the urn forward with force, sending it sliding right in front of Lou Yan—it nearly landed right in his lap.
“...”
Staring at the urn containing ashes on the table, Lou Yan wore a dazed and bizarre expression. Coughing lightly, he silently shoved the urn far off to the side.
“Since... since he was a righteous soul who served our Shengyang Kingdom, it is only right that a fallen leaf returns to its roots.” Although her words aroused some suspicion, what sane person would carry an urn of ashes around with them? It was likely mostly true.
Lou Yan pressed further, “May I ask for your master's name? That way, upon my return, I may instruct others to erect a tomb and monument for him, comforting his heroic spirit.”
Although the bounty hunt back then had shaken the entire Eastern Province and countless people were aware of it, being able to match the details and boldly name names suggested it was authentic rather than fabricated. To have died in loyal service to the imperial family and still harbor such longing in death meant he truly deserved a proper burial.
“Many thanks, Fellow Daoist!” Wen Li's eyes shone with gratitude. “M-my master was named Huang Feilong. If that Imperial Prince Lou Yuchi is still alive, he ought to remember him. I wonder if the Imperial Prince my master pined after until his dying breath is currently in good health and siring octuplets.”
“...” Octuplets?
What kind of novel blessing was this? Had he fallen out of touch with mortal culture?
Lou Yan coughed lightly and could not help revealing, “Fellow Daoist, Imperial Prince Lou Yuchi is in fact my father—the current Saint Emperor of Shengyang Kingdom. My father is in good health; thank you for your concern.”
As for the phrase “siring octuplets,” he disregarded it entirely. Never mind eight more; the current six princes battling over the position of Crown Emperor were already headache-inducing enough.
At that, Wen Li froze awkwardly. “... Ah, my apologies. I've always remained cooped up in my humble background and never dared to pry into the imperial family of Shengyang Kingdom.”
“No harm done.” Lou Yan pursed his lips and shook his head, cupping his hands politely.
“Since Fellow Daoist shares such an origin with our Shengyang Kingdom, my rash actions today were indeed impolite. Please do not take offense, Fellow Daoist. Seeing that you were extraordinary and quite intriguing, I merely wished to make your acquaintance. Since you have no crucial connection with Princess Huangyue and are not among Shengyang Kingdom's formidable enemies, I naturally will not make things difficult for you.”
With that, he produced a pale yellow token and handed it to Wen Li. “Take this as a token of gratitude for your esteemed master's loyalty to Shengyang Kingdom all those years ago, as well as an apology to you. If you ever visit the imperial capital of Shengyang Kingdom, show this token to the city guards. They will lead you to me, and I will be sure to arrange accommodations and entertain you warmly.”
Gu Linshu watched, dumbfounded. Just moments ago he was interrogating and threatening them, and now he was apologizing and giving gifts?
Wen Li waved her hands in apparent excitement, offering him a graceful way out. “No, no, no! One shouldn't receive a reward without doing meritorious service. Where were you impolite, Fellow Daoist? Weren't you merely setting out tea and inviting me here to chat and relieve my boredom? It is I who should thank you for fulfilling my master's dying wish. Unfortunately, I have nothing to offer you in return; Fellow Daoist holds an exalted status, and anything I could give wouldn't match a ten-thousandth of what you already possess.”
Beside her, Gu Linshu twitched his lips. Master clearly just didn't want to waste money.
Everyone liked hearing flattering words. Seeing how tactful and articulate Wen Li was, Lou Yan gave a light chuckle and placed the token into the hand she was waving but hadn't actually pulled back.
“No need to be polite, Fellow Daoist. You and I share an affinity, so this token belongs to you.”
Seeing this, Wen Li sighed, seemingly unable to refuse, and put on a look of sincere gratitude.
“Then many thanks, Fellow Daoist. If you ever need assistance in the future, don't hesitate to speak up. So long as it does not violate benevolence and morality, I can give it a try.”
“Splendid. You are a person of Houchi Kingdom, and should you truly visit Shengyang Kingdom one day, I will gladly host a welcoming banquet and count you as a friend.”
After a cheerful exchange of pleasantries, Lou Yan finally instructed his subordinates to see the two out.
Naturally, the urn of ashes remained on the table. Lou Yan genuinely instructed his subordinate to collect it carefully and bury it on their homeland's soil upon returning to their kingdom.
Although his subordinate didn't understand what had just transpired, he could tell from Lou Yan's rather gentle expression that he was in good spirits. “Master, weren't you planning to investigate their relationship with Zongzheng Huangyue and turn them to our side?”
“That female cultivator's master was an old guest elder of the Saint Emperor who died for Shengyang Kingdom. Even if what she said regarding her relationship with Zongzheng Huangyue is only half-true, it would not do for me to interrogate and offend her. To cultivate from a rogue cultivator all the way to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection means that regardless of her talent, her perseverance is exceptional. It is better to form a favorable tie than to make an enemy; perhaps she might prove useful one day.”
Lou Yan sat upright with an indifferent expression. “Currently, the Saint Emperor is away from the Eastern Province, and the six princes are locked in severe internal strife. Although Zongzheng Huangyue poses a threat to Shengyang Kingdom with her ninety-percent bloodline purity, she has yet to mature and is not worth fearing. If I can win her over through these two and gain Houchi Kingdom's support, I will have far greater confidence in contesting for the position of Crown Emperor.”
The black-clad cultivator nodded. “Understood.”
No wonder the master had told him to “invite” them over rather than capture them.
“First send word back to the imperial capital, instructing them to check whether there was a guest elder named ‘Huang Feilong’ by the Saint Emperor's side during the encirclement of that mysterious cultivator all those years ago.” Lou Yan was still uneasy and dispatched someone to verify it.
“Yes.”
Exiting the pavilion, Wen Li and Gu Linshu strolled leisurely. Only after walking a kilometer and verifying that there was truly no trace of pursuit behind them did they suddenly unleash their legs and bolt at full speed.
Slapping dozens of Speed-Enhancing Talismans onto themselves, the two raced into a deep, ancient forest. Finding an abandoned cave abode, they remained quiet for a quarter of an hour. Only after ensuring they were completely safe did they finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Wen Li flopped carelessly onto the ground, wiping the sweat from her brow with a swipe of her hand.
“Close. We nearly didn't make it out. That Lou Yan's aura was at Late-Stage Golden Core.” Not to mention his Mid-Stage Golden Core subordinate.
Leaning against the stone wall, Gu Linshu had truly experienced the thrill of lying through one's teeth just to save one's own skin, because he knew eighty percent—no, ninety-nine percent—of what Master had said was completely made up.
He silently rubbed his stiff hands. He had been so nervous earlier that he barely moved, leaving his arms numb.
“M-Master, the shameless cultivator who was h-h-h-hunted across the e-entire Eastern Province by o-o-o-one thousand cultivators from Shengyang Kingdom back then... was y-y-y-you, wasn't it?”
To fabricate something so convincing that even Lou Yan believed it, one had to be someone who had participated in that affair two thousand years ago. It was either one of the pursuers, or...
The pursued.
Today, the clothing and attire on Lou Yan reminded him of when they had first arrived in Beiqiong Kingdom in the Eastern Province via teleportation array. They had encountered a group of cultivators dressed in similar garments back then, and Master had worn a bizarre expression, looking as if she had come face-to-face with an arch-enemy.
Now, it seemed the answer was obvious.
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