Chapter 1313: Certain Death!

"Ding-didi... ding-didi..."

Guo Man strode quickly along the street, shaking a small bell in her hand. Its sound was peculiar. Before the first clear chime had faded, the next impact somehow produced a muffled, almost choking "didi."

Wuxin had once given her instructions about this bell. If he ever ran into trouble, she was to take down the bell beneath the eaves and, if possible, come to this street and ring it.

She had not expected to be able to leave so easily. At first, she had only meant to hide the bracelet.

Then she discovered that Xiaoyue Pavilion's people did not take her seriously at all, so she took down the bell by the entrance and left with it.

As for the bracelet, once she was outside, she passed it to a peddler while brushing past him. The peddler would naturally deliver it where it needed to go.

Inside an apothecary along the street, the shopkeeper suddenly turned around and hurried to the doorway, watching Guo Man pass while ringing the bell.

After following her with his eyes for a moment, he quickly turned back, summoned an assistant, and whispered several instructions.

The assistant nodded and left at once.

The shopkeeper then told the remaining assistants to mind the store before heading out himself.

The apothecary was neither especially old nor especially new. It had opened not long after Wuxin settled in the Qi capital...

Guo Man continued walking briskly, ringing the bell all the way.

She did not know exactly what purpose it served, but she knew it must have something to do with Wuxin's method of contacting the Ghost Doctor.

Her superiors had always wanted to know the Ghost Doctor's whereabouts, but she had never found an opportunity. Now, with trouble erupting and no one yet knowing where events would lead, she had taken the situation as an opportunity and used the bell on her own initiative.

Someone chosen to infiltrate a place like this had naturally been selected for quick wits and adaptability. No one would send a dull fool to handle such an assignment.

She reached the end of the street and was just about to turn around and walk it again when several figures dropped from the sky and surrounded her.

They were Xiaoyue Pavilion's people.

The nearby civilians recoiled in alarm at the sight of people descending from the air.

Guo Man tightened her grip on the bell. She knew she was no match for them and asked uneasily, "What do you want?"

"You'd better cooperate. Don't refuse the offered wine only to drink the forfeit!"

The leader waved a hand. Several men surged forward together.

Guo Man did not resist. She knew resisting would only make her fate worse and allowed herself to be seized.

The bell was snatched from her hand. The man holding it shook it several times, then waved. "Take her away!"

Members of Qi's three great sects had already noticed the disturbance and were flying over. Seeing Xiaoyue Pavilion openly seizing someone in the middle of the street, they thought the group was being far too brazen and intended to intervene long enough to learn what was happening.

But another figure flashed over, raised a hand to stop them, and waved them off, indicating that they should stay out of it.

The apothecary shopkeeper, who had moved aside along the street, personally watched Guo Man being taken away.

Only after the group had gone into the distance did his expression turn grave. He too departed quickly.

...

Outside the imperial study, Bu Xun spoke briefly with one of his subordinates, then hurried back inside and reported the information gathered by the Office of Investigation.

Within the hall, Hao Yuntu and the Sect Leaders of Qi's three great sects were all waiting for news of Yucang's personal confrontation with the Ghost Doctor's disciple.

"Xuan Wei is dead?" Yuwen Yan asked in surprise.

Hao Yuntu frowned without speaking. In a single day, his son had died, and so had his daughter-in-law in name. How could he possibly be in a good mood?

Bu Xun bowed respectfully. "Yes. Her body has already been taken back to Fufang Garden. As for exactly how she died, we don't yet know."

The others exchanged looks, all somewhat surprised.

None of them thought Yucang should have been in such a hurry to kill Xuan Wei unless he had already obtained what he wanted. But if he had obtained it, there was little reason to leave Ximen Qingkong alive. Was he supposed to wait for Ximen Qingkong to come seeking revenge?

Yucang was certainly no softhearted man. If any of those present had been in his position, they would have killed Ximen Qingkong too.

Then there was the matter of his seizing the Ghost Doctor's disciple. That made the entire affair even stranger.

Yuwen Yan said, "It seems Yucang still hasn't obtained what he wants. Xuan Wei's death probably has another cause."

Stroking his beard, Bei Xuan said, "In the old days, Yucang put on such a fine display of being a teacher and gentleman, all proper and dignified. I didn't expect him to have such a temper. He even seized the Ghost Doctor's disciple. He's openly clashing with the Ghost Doctor now."

San Qianli said, "Xiaoyue Pavilion used to hide in the shadows. Now that it's stepped into the light, it has certainly made enough of a splash. I imagine the trouble will be enough to give Yucang a headache as well. Under the present circumstances, he really does seem to have lost some of his patience. He wants to grab anything he sees. Now that he's taken the Ghost Doctor's disciple, we'll see whether that can draw the Ghost Doctor out."

Yuwen Yan said, "The Ghost Doctor has an eccentric temperament, and I've heard he's the type who never lets a grievance go unanswered. If the rumors are true, Yucang may give us a chance to see him for ourselves."

The three exchanged smiles.

None of them cared much about one or two deaths. Plainly, they intended to sit back and watch the spectacle.

Hao Yuntu remained expressionless. He could not smile.

...

At dusk, Prince Ying Hao Zhen returned to his residence.

Shao Liuer was waiting at the entrance to receive him. As she accompanied him inside, she tentatively asked, "Your Highness, I heard Seventeenth Brother is dead, Xuan Wei is dead as well, and Mr. Wuxin was seized by Xiaoyue Pavilion?"

Hao Zhen gave a slight nod as he walked. "News travels quickly. Yes."

With the news confirmed, anxiety rose in Shao Liuer's heart.

Part of it came from her past with Wuxin. She did not want him to suffer, or her conscience would never be at peace.

But there was another concern. She feared that if Wuxin were put through some ordeal, he might reveal what had once happened between them.

She had a family of her own now. Hao Zhen treated her well. Her life was stable, and she did not want everything suddenly turned upside down.

"Your Highness, Mr. Wuxin did save your life," Shao Liuer could not help reminding him.

Hao Zhen stopped. "What are you trying to say?"

Shao Liuer said carefully, "Whether by sentiment or principle, we can't simply watch him die without helping."

Hao Zhen sighed. "Liuer, how could I not understand that? The moment I heard the news, I submitted a memorial asking Father to intervene. I imagine the other members of the imperial clan will do the same. First, to repay a debt of gratitude. Second, because none of us wants Father to see us as ungrateful."

"But everyone also understands that this is largely for appearances. Something like this isn't going to change because we speak on his behalf. In truth, everyone has a rough idea of what probably happened with Xuan Wei and Old Seventeen. Before there is an official account, no one dares mention it. To do so would touch a taboo. Xiaoyue Pavilion dared act in the Qi capital, yet there was no movement from the city's forces. Could that possibly have happened without tacit approval from the palace? Who dares tear away that fig leaf?"

"And why would the palace give such approval? You know the situation. This is exactly when Qi and Qin must work with one heart. The larger situation comes first. It isn't something any one person's feelings can decide."

"Liuer, I understand how you feel. But matters may not be as bad as you imagine. Mr. Wuxin is the Ghost Doctor's disciple. By rights, the Ghost Doctor won't simply stand by. And the war is going badly. If our home and state cannot be preserved, how can we preserve any one person? These are troubled times. Don't do anything reckless. Keep silent."

With that, he continued on.

Shao Liuer remained behind, her expression dim and helpless.

...

"Xuan Wei is dead?"

At the Imperial Academy construction site, Shao Pingbo stepped away from a group of craftsmen after hearing the report and looked surprised. "So quickly... Ximen Qingkong wasn't killed, yet Xuan Wei died instead? By rights, Xiaoyue Pavilion shouldn't have done that."

Shao Sansheng said, "The specific circumstances still aren't clear. This is all we know for now."

Shao Pingbo sighed and shook his head. "Xuan Wei was highly capable at managing domestic affairs. In that respect, she could put many men to shame. But that was about as far as her abilities went. So for her to meet this calamity isn't truly unexpected. It may have had something to do with growing up amid the wealth and abundance of Wei."

That had been one of the reasons Shao Pingbo had never chosen to cast his lot with Wei.

"In any event, Wei remained prosperous for all those years, and much of the credit belonged to her. She could be called an outstanding woman of her generation, and the common people of Wei should have been grateful to her. But now Wei has been trampled by war, and the people are busy merely trying to survive... People forget easily. The peace and security right before their eyes matter more than anything else. How many will still remember what Xuan Wei did for them?"

"She actually had little ambition of her own. She was simply forced into that position. She should have let go long ago. By propping up her younger brother all that time, she ended up harming him instead."

"Let later generations judge her merits and faults. An outstanding woman of her generation is gone."

Watching him stroll slowly with his hands behind his back, Shao Sansheng could tell he was deeply moved by the news.

He tentatively reminded him, "Ximen Qingkong is still alive. The number-one expert on the Golden Core Ranking! Eldest Young Master has always lacked a truly capable personal guard. He's in desperate straits now. If someone could save him..."

Shao Pingbo knew exactly what he meant and shook his head, cutting him off. "The fall of Wei had something to do with me. It would already be fortunate if he didn't hold a grudge against me. Don't expect gratitude."

"With his temperament, a man like that never should have become entangled in storms of this kind. What use is high cultivation? He's already ruined. He's destined for a road to death, and he's the one seeking it. No one will save him."

"What worries me now is Liuer. I only hope that Wuxin doesn't start babbling about things he shouldn't. Better still if the Ghost Doctor steps forward and resolves the entire matter."

...

"Please, sir, save him!"

In a small courtyard at the residence of Song's Chancellor, Wei Duo knelt before Jia Wuqun, his eyes red.

He had only just learned what had happened in the Qi capital. Xuan Wei was dead, while Ximen Qingkong remained trapped in danger.

Then Jia Wuqun had taken up his brush and written two words concerning Ximen Qingkong: "Certain death."

That had immediately driven Wei Duo to beg him for help.

There was no one else he could reasonably ask. Jia Wuqun was capable of mobilizing the power of Song, while the strength of the Shangqing Sect was nowhere near enough to rescue someone from Xiaoyue Pavilion.

Wei Duo had explained why he was begging as well.

He and Ximen Qingkong had spent time together inside the Tiandu Secret Realm. Ximen Qingkong had looked after him there, treated him well, and even corrected his stutter.

After they left the Tiandu Secret Realm, their friendship from that period meant Ximen Qingkong had continued to take considerable care of him whenever they were in Wei.

With all those debts of kindness between them, Wei Duo simply did not want Ximen Qingkong to meet a miserable death.

Jia Wuqun, unable to speak in the first place, was even more at a loss for words now.

He and Yuan Cong looked at one another.

...

The Shangqing Sect was establishing a new seat as well. It had already found a place to settle in Song.

Beside the bustling construction site, several senior members of the Shangqing Sect stood together.

After hearing that Xuan Wei had met with disaster, each of them sighed and lamented, not knowing what to say.

Xuan Wei had looked after the Shangqing Sect for so many years, only to meet such an end. None of them could feel happy about it, yet they were powerless to do anything.

In a way, they could only count themselves fortunate.

They had left Xuan Wei's side in time. Had they still been with her when this happened, the Shangqing Sect would inevitably have faced Xiaoyue Pavilion directly and suffered a catastrophe of its own.

Not far away, Tang Yi stood alone at the edge of the mountain.

Her expression was subdued and melancholy as she gazed into the distance.

For a very long time, she did not move.

[End of Chapter 1313]