Chapter 1315: Untitled

She believed that as long as he was willing to act, he would certainly have a way to save Ximen Qingkong.

He could save Guo Man. He had even pulled Monkey out of the hands of the Nine Saints. How could he possibly be unable to save Ximen Qingkong? He simply refused to lend a hand.

"Master Dao, have you thought about Monkey? If Monkey learns that you deliberately kept the news from him, what will he think when he hears that Ximen Qingkong is dead?"

Niu Youdao said, "What he thinks isn't important. The debt of favor on Wei's side has already been repaid. Monkey already saved Ximen Qingkong once, but could Ximen Qingkong truly be saved? We found a way to save his life. He picked that life back up, then ran straight back to Xuan Wei's side to throw it away again. I've said it already: even if we save him this time, he'll still run off to die again.

"We save him over and over, and he goes to die over and over. Who does he think he is? And what does he take the people who save him for? A man this obsessed doesn't even cherish his own life. Is there any point in saving him? Yes, his devotion is pitiable, and true feeling like that can move Heaven and Earth. Then let's see whether Heaven itself shows mercy and spares him. If even Heaven won't spare him, no one will go save him, and no one can save him. Understand?

"Hongniang, I know this is hard for you to accept emotionally. But your feelings, Monkey's feelings, and mine are none of them important. What matters is whether you and I, and all the people around us, live or die. I won't send the rest of us to our deaths over one Ximen Qingkong. Compared with everyone's lives, what are gains and losses of the heart worth?"

"And there's another reason I won't save him..." Niu Youdao reached out with both hands, closed the window, then turned and paced through the room.

Another reason? Yun Ji and Guan Fangyi both watched him in puzzlement.

Pacing back and forth, Niu Youdao said, "Some things set off a chain reaction. Move one part and the whole follows. Monkey refused to listen and insisted on helping Luo Zhao. Xuan Wei dying this quickly may very well have begun with Monkey. Since Monkey survived, someone else was bound to die. Should that person be someone else, or should it be Monkey? Tell me which choice I ought to make. If Ximen Qingkong can't survive this hurdle, that too was caused by Monkey. He has no right to blame anyone. If he wants to blame someone, he can blame himself."

Guan Fangyi was astonished. "What does any of this have to do with Monkey?"

Niu Youdao said, "The rights and wrongs are too tangled to explain in a few words. Xuan Wei dying this quickly was beyond my expectations, yet in another sense it was within them. If I'm not mistaken, Wu Chang intervened. Otherwise, the way everything connected so smoothly would be too much of a coincidence."

Guan Fangyi did not understand. "Wu Chang wanted Xuan Wei dead?"

Niu Youdao said, "The State of Wei is already gone. Xuan Wei held something she had no business holding, refused to hand it over, and still dreamed of restoring her state... A common man may be innocent, yet the jade he carries becomes his crime. Wu Chang doesn't want to draw the attention of the other Saints either. Xiaoyue Pavilion's intervention should only be what appears on the surface. He wouldn't have acted without confidence. The Heaven-Swallowing Ring has most likely already fallen into Wu Chang's hands."

"The Heaven-Swallowing Ring?" Guan Fangyi was even more confused. "The Eight State-Protecting Divine Artifacts were originally given to the states by the Nine Saints as the foundations of their sovereignty. Wu Chang wants to take them back?"

Niu Youdao had no desire to explain further. "It's precisely because I suspect Wu Chang has intervened that I can't judge how deep this goes or how far he has involved himself. That's why I cannot rashly go save Ximen Qingkong!" He looked back at the two women. "If I'm not mistaken, next it should be the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron in the State of Han's hands."

Guan Fangyi and Yun Ji exchanged looks. They did not understand, but they knew he must possess some clue to have reached such a conclusion.

Neither woman knew how many secrets this man still carried, but one thing was plain: everything remained within his calculations, the contest directed from within the command tent against opponents a thousand li away.

...

Inside Tianmo Palace, Wu Chang stood on the scaffolding, still drenched in sweat as he swung his hammer and chiseled at the stone. Ding, ding, clang—metal rang without cease.

Elder Hei Shi arrived carrying an exquisitely carved block of jade. He set it down and cupped his hands. "Sacred Venerable, the item is here."

The ringing stopped. Wu Chang flashed down from the scaffolding. His gaze fell on the jade block, and he suddenly brought his hammer down.

He used no spell or spiritual power. He simply smashed it by brute force. When it came to stone, he seemed to prefer doing things the hard way.

Crash! The jade shattered across the floor, and a golden ring fell among the fragments with a clang.

Wu Chang tossed the hammer and chisel behind him. Thunk, thunk. They buried themselves in the stone wall as though it were soft earth.

He reached out, and the golden ring flew into his hand. Holding the ring covered in exquisite cloud patterns, he flicked it with a finger. It answered with a dull gong-gong resonance.

Wu Chang nodded. "Not bad. It is the Heaven-Swallowing Ring. No one noticed anything, did they?"

Hei Shi said, "Sacred Venerable can rest easy. I had Xiaoyue Pavilion's people give Yucang a 'solemn reminder.' It was Xiaoyue Pavilion that killed to seize the treasure, and the reason for doing so was perfectly sound. Now that the item is missing, people will only wonder whether Xiaoyue Pavilion has it. At worst, they'll conclude its whereabouts are unknown. No one will suspect us, and there is no evidence pointing here."

Wu Chang said, "You handled this well. Get the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron as soon as possible."

A hint of difficulty appeared on Hei Shi's face. "Sacred Venerable, I'm afraid the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron will be troublesome. Wei has already been destroyed, so something like this happening there is understandable. But Han is still perfectly intact. At present there are no internal or external causes that would bring about its collapse. If we try to take the cauldron, there will inevitably be a disturbance, and trouble will follow."

Wu Chang admired the golden ring in his hand. "If you can't obtain it, borrow it."

Hei Shi hesitated. "This... The Mountains and Rivers Cauldron is Han's State-Protecting Divine Artifact. It won't be shown lightly, much less lent out casually. Unless our side steps forward directly to borrow it, but if we suddenly ask to use such an object, it will be difficult not to arouse suspicion from the other Saints."

Wu Chang said, "Leave this to Chuan Ying. Isn't he that old hag's man? I only need to use the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron. Once I'm done, I'll return it."

"Chuan Ying..." Hei Shi paused, then gradually looked thoughtful. He nodded and cupped his hands. "Sacred Venerable is wise. This subordinate knows what to do."

Wu Chang said, "I trust the way you handle matters. As I've said before, if the other eight old fellows cease to be a concern, there would be no harm in you obtaining a Wuliang Fruit."

"This subordinate understands." Hei Shi bowed deeply from the waist.

...

Inside a garden in the Qi imperial palace, the Sect Leaders of the three great sects sat around a table drinking tea.

A Xuanbing Sect disciple hurried over and reported to Bei Xuan, "Sect Leader, Qi Lu, Sect Leader of Miaofa Sect, requests an audience."

The three Sect Leaders exchanged meaningful looks. Bei Xuan gave a quiet sound of acknowledgment, and the disciple understood and quickly left.

Before long, Qi Lu was led over. He bowed respectfully. "Qi Lu of Miaofa Sect greets the three Sect Leaders."

Yuwen Yan and San Qianli showed little reaction. Miaofa Sect did not belong to either of their lines.

Bei Xuan said coolly, "We're in the middle of opposing the Jin army. Instead of concentrating on resisting the enemy, why have you come all the way to the capital to see me?"

Qi Lu looked at the expressions of the three men, then cautiously asked, "I've heard that Mr. Wuxin, disciple of the Ghost Doctor, was seized by Xiaoyue Pavilion. Is that true?"

Bei Xuan said, "And if it is? If it isn't? What does it have to do with you?"

Qi Lu gave a bitter smile. "I came to ask Sect Leader Bei for a favor. Could you perhaps speak to Xiaoyue Pavilion and ask them to show mercy and release Mr. Wuxin?"

Bei Xuan looked at him coldly. "Qi Lu, don't you think you're meddling too broadly? Since when was it your place to plead for him?"

Helplessness covered Qi Lu's face. "I won't hide it from Sect Leader Bei. In his early years, my master suffered qi deviation while cultivating. His cultivation was nearly destroyed, miraculous pills and medicines were useless, and he almost lost his life. Fortunately, the Ghost Doctor intervened and saved him from disaster. My master passed away long ago, but that debt remained. With Master gone, naturally the debt fell to me, his disciple.

"Over the years, the matter was nearly forgotten. Who would have expected the Ghost Doctor's people to suddenly come to my door a few days ago and demand repayment?"

The eyes of the three Sect Leaders met.

Bei Xuan chuckled. "There was such a thing? Why have I never heard you mention it?"

Qi Lu sighed. "The Ghost Doctor did not want it publicized. You must have heard something of his rules. We benefited from his aid, and his request was nothing excessive, so naturally we followed his wishes and never spoke of it outside."

Bei Xuan asked, "The Ghost Doctor told you to rescue his disciple?"

"Not exactly. But he told me to gather in the Qi capital and contribute some effort to repay the debt. He said he meant to seek justice for his disciple. The moment I heard that, I thought, Isn't this coming here to make trouble? And this matter involves our State of Qi as well... But I do owe the man a favor, so I'm caught between both sides.

"I thought that if the three Sect Leaders would simply say the word and have Mr. Yucang release him, the whole matter could be dissolved."

Bei Xuan gave a small nod. "Fine. I understand. Go back for now."

Qi Lu tentatively asked, "Sect Leader Bei means...?"

"I know how to handle this matter. Don't involve yourself any further." Bei Xuan waved, signaling that the guest should be escorted out.

Qi Lu still wanted to say something, but a Xuanbing Sect disciple stepped forward and extended a hand. "Please."

Qi Lu hesitated, helpless. In the end, he could only cup his hands and withdraw.

After he was gone, Yuwen Yan gave a low snort. "Only a few days since this happened, and he's already the third one to come pleading on Wuxin's behalf. It seems the Ghost Doctor truly intends to come out of seclusion and settle accounts for his disciple."

The three of them had remained in the city precisely so they could observe matters at close range. By now, they could already feel a pressure belonging to the Ghost Doctor bearing down on the Qi capital.

...

In the basement beneath Fufang Garden, Ximen Qingkong rolled across the floor, groaning in agony. His hands clawed his own body until the skin split and his flesh became a bloody ruin.

Under the effects of the Spirit-Torment Pill, he had already been tortured almost beyond human recognition. Even a man of iron could scarcely endure such suffering. That was precisely how the Spirit-Torment Pill had earned its name.

Yet Ximen Qingkong's will seemed indestructible. Tortured to this state, and after enduring the same ordeal several times already, he still refused to loosen his tongue by even half a word.

Yucang watched with a dark face, anger hidden in his eyes.

Guo Xingshan hurried down the steps from the entrance above and reported, "Master, the Sect Leader of Yuhua Sect requests an audience."

The moment Yucang heard it, anger flared. "He should be at the front preparing for battle. What is he doing coming here without leave? Tell him to get out!"

He did not need to ask why the man had come. This was already not the first cultivation sect from Qin to send someone pleading for mercy.

Even Jinzhou in Yan had immediately sent a message threatening him: release the people, or Jinzhou would send troops to attack and ignite war between Yan and Qin.

It was plainly taking advantage of Qin's inability to spare strength toward the east, treating Qin like a soft persimmon ripe for squeezing.

Ximen Qingkong before him would rather die than submit, while the invisible pressure coming from every direction made Yucang unwilling to act rashly against the Ghost Doctor's people.

He had not even met the Ghost Doctor yet, and one person after another had already come to plead for mercy.

The problem was that the Ghost Doctor had sent none of them to plead. They were all people caught in awkward positions who hoped to settle the matter peacefully.

From the rumors drifting in, the Ghost Doctor had no intention of begging him, nor had he sent anyone to beg him. Instead, he was gathering people to come deal with Yucang directly—to come settle the account in person.

If I release them and you still come to settle accounts with me, then what was the point of releasing them?

[End of Chapter 1315]