Volume One: The Turmoil of Yan and Yun Chapter Sixty-Nine: Undercurrents (Part One)
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The world says that since the old emperor wielded his blade alone and entered Xu Hai, the evil cult has been broken.
This is true. When Du Gu Feiyun faced four opponents, he slew two demonic leaders of the Integration Realm, forcing the Lord of the Bloodshed Pavilion and the Lord of the Soul-Stealing Pavilion to flee deep beneath the volcanic mountains. From that moment, Xu Hai was bereft of Integration Realm cultivators, allowing Kunlun to guard Xu Hai’s gates for centuries.
It must be noted that Kunlun’s strength in the cultivation world was merely average; without its Integration Realm leader, it wouldn’t even qualify as a first-tier sect.
Yet, according to the Lord of the Soul-Stealing Pavilion, time appears to favor them more.
Bloodless Words acquiesced to Soul Without Form’s statement, but disagreed with his proposal. “Xu Hai has been silent for a long time. The current Divine Emperor may not be wise, but he is certainly no fool; he will not be unprepared for Xu Hai.”
“Preparations, that's all,” Soul Without Form sneered. “No defense can suppress our rise.”
Bloodless Words fell silent again.
Soul Without Form also lapsed into quiet. After a while, he spoke softly, “You still can’t let it go, can you?”
Hearing this, Bloodless Words’ gaze flickered, and he replied, “It has nothing to do with you.”
“Nothing to do with me?” Soul Without Form erupted in anger. “Bloodless Words, don’t think that just because I’ve followed your lead all these years, I’m afraid of you! Well, maybe that’s part of it, but I truly regard you as a brother! Do you understand, brother?”
Bloodless Words recalled their journey together from obscurity, supporting each other along the way, and sighed.
“I understand.”
He paused, then continued, “But that peach tree will never bloom again.”
Every flower has its season; when the time comes, even an iron tree can blossom.
But there are trees that will never flower.
Dead trees.
“All these years, I’ve watched you come through,” Soul Without Form said, a hint of melancholy in his expression. “If you are truly resolved, then I won’t oppose you.”
“Thank you,” Bloodless Words said. “Just this once—please do not interfere.”
Soul Without Form hesitated.
Bloodless Words spoke softly, “Don’t ask if it’s worth it; everything concerning her is worth it.”
Soul Without Form sighed.
Crows darkened the sky.
He was gone.
By the edge of Sunset Cliff, only Bloodless Words remained, staring blankly at the distant setting sun.
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Youzhou, the Empty Valley. A carriage moved slowly along a narrow path, wild weeds on both sides occasionally brushing against its walls.
“If Bloodless Words cannot escape his inner demons, then he’s useless for the grand scheme. Why do you still want to deal with Xu Hai, sir?” Li Shouli drove the carriage, puzzled. “And that Soul Without Form brat once tried to kill us...”
“What is love in this world?” Li Jingxing answered somewhat off-topic, smiling. “But the word ‘love’ never concerns just one person, does it?”
Li Shouli understood Li Jingxing’s meaning, recalling the origins of Bloodless Words, and fell silent, slightly disgruntled.
He had few people he respected in life; even Du Gu Feiyun was but a passerby to him, but his reverence for the Empress was deep.
It could be said that apart from Li Jingxing, only the Empress could earn his respect.
Thinking of that red-dressed, white-haired young girl, Li Shouli clicked his tongue, still feeling it a great pity.
“Bloodless Words is powerful. If he conquers his demons, all the better; but even if he doesn’t, there are uses for that, too.” Li Jingxing smiled. “When a top-tier expert dies in vain, it signals the decline of a clan.”
Li Shouli sensed an underlying meaning.
Then he remembered the news about the demon clan recently sent from Seven Star Helm.
Because the new policies were obstructed, the Demon Lord, in fury, executed two members of the Elders’ Council. The demons fell silent.
“By the way, since we’ve already done Bloodless Words a favor, why not make it count? What do you think?” Li Jingxing gazed at the lush spring garden outside, smiling as he spoke.
“What favor does sir intend to sell?” Li Shouli asked, confused. “By rights, we’ve warned them enough. The Bohai situation is foolish; it’s not wise for us to get involved.”
“Foolish?” Li Jingxing glanced at him in surprise. “Allied with the Barbarians against Yanbei, allied with the Flower Shifters against Taixuan, allied with Xu Hai against Snow Cloud... If we look only at these three strategies, King Bohai is not without a chance.”
Li Shouli frowned, thinking carefully. “What about the other sects?”
Li Jingxing smiled, “The greatest difference between sects and noble families is that even when dynasties change, sects retain their status. Only fools like Snow Without Trace and Mingfa, who consider the world’s common folk their responsibility, would intervene.”
Despite his disparagement, Li Shouli sensed a hint of respect in Li Jingxing’s tone.
“You say this not for him, but for me, don’t you?” Suddenly, a languid male voice echoed in the Empty Valley, and a disheveled man entered the carriage.
Li Shouli tensed, ready to act, but saw Li Jingxing wave him down. Li Jingxing glanced at the man, said nothing, and stepped out of the carriage.
Li Jingxing frowned at the man, “Why are you here?”
The man ignored the question and Li Jingxing’s gaze, and casually crossed his legs. “I think Bohai has no chance of winning.”
Li Jingxing considered, then said, “The odds are indeed slim.”
The man insisted, “Not slim—none at all.”
Li Jingxing asked, “Even if the Underworld reappears?”
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The man scoffed, “Bohai lacks the strength.”
Li Jingxing asked, “What about Xu Hai?”
The man replied, “The Wind boy has never beaten the Snow Cloud Sword Master—this time will be no different.”
Li Jingxing continued, “What if we add the Lord of the Soul-Stealing Pavilion?”
The man picked at his ear. “Come on, I’m an Integration Realm big shot myself. I’ve dealt with Soul Without Form—he can’t pull anything under my nose.”
“And what if you add me?” Li Jingxing asked seriously.
The man frowned. “They say we two are the most cunning minds in the world. So could you please stop insulting my intelligence?”
He paused, then continued, “As for the grand scheme, you endured Wei Sanmu’s death all those years ago—why would you overturn the chessboard now?”
Li Jingxing found it intriguing. “Bohai may still have a chance.”
The man raised his brows. “The Crown Prince and Yanbei Heir will not be harmed.”
Li Jingxing said, “If my calculations are right, the Deputy Lord of the Bloodshed Pavilion has already left Xu Hai.”
At the mention of the Deputy Lord, the man’s gaze grew deeper, but he still didn’t change his stance. “I told you, the Crown Prince and Yanbei Heir will not be harmed.”
Li Jingxing smiled. “I was wondering why Shui Dongliu showed up in Xiangzhou—it turns out there’s a purpose.”
The man remained impassive. “Besides Shui Dongliu, Zhou Xichen is also present.”
Li Jingxing made a sound of acknowledgment. “So even the Carefree Pavilion is willing to expend such effort?”
The man did not answer.
Li Jingxing sighed, “Dou Xiaotong, oh Dou Xiaotong, they say you live detached from the world, but who would have thought you’d care so much for imperial authority.”
The man was, in fact, Dou Xiaotong, Master of the Carefree Pavilion.
“First, I defend not imperial power, but the realm,” Dou Xiaotong said softly. “Second, you and I have nearly monopolized the Palace’s thousand-year fortune; we can never truly be detached from the world, for the Palace’s roots lie in the mortal realm.”
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