The Empress Dowager spoke coldly, "Presumptuous. How dare they present an unvetted work before the Emperor!"
The Emperor himself seemed unbothered, smoothing things over with a smile. "Why must Mother be so angry? Anything saved for the finale is bound to be a fine show." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "*The Kirin Hunt*... could it be a martial play? Excellent, excellent. Southern opera has been far too literary for years..."
I couldn't help but give a mental thumbs-up to this unshakable imperial poise. It seemed his son’s martial prowess was not without origin.
Tonight, no performance was permitted to exceed fifteen minutes. True to its reputation as a masterpiece of the Yushan Troupe, the play established the relationships between the main characters within the time it took to finish half a cup of tea. The Pei family, a lineage of generals, had two sons, both exceptionally brave; the elder was an adopted son. The family lived in harmony until a grand hunting competition was held within the army. The father produced a divine bow, declaring that whoever could draw it and hunt the Kirin would win the treasure and be named the future successor of the Pei Army. The younger brother, Pei Yue, attempted the shot, but his arrow flew wide, startling the Kirin. The elder foster brother, Pei Chao, took the bow, spurred his horse forward, and struck the Kirin in the hind leg, capturing it. Consumed by hatred and jealousy, Pei Yue plotted to frame his foster brother, sending him to his death on the front lines.
Xu Xingze played the role of Pei Chao, specifically in the scene of the martial competition. I had never seen him project such a masculine aura. Just as I was about to clap in admiration, I saw Wei Qingming’s brow furrow.
"The play cannot continue," she said.
I followed her gaze toward the royal gallery. The Emperor’s expression remained serene, his emotions unreadable, but the concubines were all sitting on edge. The Empress Dowager was livid, shouting sharply, "Seize him!"
Upon receiving the order, Feng Zhen waved a hand. A group of agents, also dressed in black with gold embroidery, appeared and prepared to rush down to interrupt the performance. The Emperor raised a hand to stop them, smiling faintly. "Ah, no matter. I find Qian Yong’s lyrics well-written and the composition excellent. It is quite refreshing to the ears and eyes. Why not finish watching before we speak?" As he spoke, he tapped the tip of his fan against Feng Zhen’s hand with a smile. "Besides, with my Old Companion here, how much of a storm could he possibly stir?"
The sovereign and subject locked eyes. Feng Zhen also smiled. "Indeed. To be able to entertain Your Majesty is also a talent. We shall spare him for the moment."
"Exactly! Well said." The Emperor clapped his hands in satisfaction and actually began to hum along with the flutes and zithers. He was quite adept at it, learning the tune remarkably fast.
I, however, felt a chill run down my spine. The celestial will was truly unpredictable. His casual, almost playful words contained a hidden threat: Feng Zhen had to ensure the performance ended perfectly before capturing the lawbreaker, all without causing the royal family to lose face. What would happen otherwise was hard to say.
Turning my head, I saw that Wei Qingming—this most loyal hound of Eunuch Feng—remained unmoved. She calmly held her teacup, her eyes fixed on the stage, yet her body was not tensed for battle. I sighed inwardly again; the effortless grace of these powerful figures was truly impossible to imitate.
However, those with keen eyes still saw the implications of the play. For instance, Lu Kaifeng leaned over and said to Wei Qingming, "This alludes to the affair of Commander Xu from the previous dynasty. You’ll be busy, Envoy Wei."
Wei Qingming smiled. "As long as the Emperor is satisfied, there is no rush."
Lu Kaifeng smiled back and returned to the play. When it reached the climax of the Kirin hunt, Xu Xingze reined in his horse whip, took an arrow in hand, and suddenly turned to fire—straight toward the royal gallery!
Cries of alarm erupted from the crowd. The arrow was struck by over a dozen streaks of fierce light from all directions, yet its momentum remained unchecked. It flew right to the floral balustrade in front of the gallery, striking the protective barrier. A thick, foul-smelling black mist scattered, revealing a red-eyed malevolent ghost crouching right before the Emperor!
The ghost raised its jagged claws and slammed them violently against the barrier.
The screams of the concubines pierced the dome. A brilliant light erupted from Wei Qingming’s palm as she said something cold and seemingly nonsensical: "So Pan Yi died after all."
She had also fired a beam of light to intercept the arrow earlier, but to no avail. It seemed this enchanted arrow was no longer something a cultivator of the Cloud-Swallowing Realm could handle. She retracted the light blade between her fingers, and in a flash of light, she didn't rush toward the gallery. Instead, she flew onto the stage, drawing her blade to strike at Xu Xingze.
Xu Xingze’s eyes were also red, and his stature suddenly grew several feet. The originally delicate and handsome youth transformed into a hulking brute of iron and muscle. He shifted his aim and fired three more arrows at Wei Qingming as fast as falling stars. Three lesser ghosts instantly manifested, shrieking as they lunged at her. I couldn't tell the cultivation level of the great ghost currently fighting the Yingzhao Temple guards on the gallery, but I could clearly sense these lesser ghosts. They were all in the mid-stage of the Cloud-Swallowing Realm—exactly equal to Wei Qingming!
While the lesser ghosts entangled Wei Qingming, Xu Xingze slammed his bow down and shouted, "Rise!"
Instantly, a circle of six great ghosts formed on the stage, each possessing strength equal to the one attacking the Emperor. I was so anxious I wanted to jump down and pull her back. It took a dozen people to hold off one ghost above; with six surrounding her, she was in grave danger!
In a panic, I grabbed Lu Kaifeng’s sleeve, wanting to beg him to act. I saw wisps of spiritual mist already drifting from my Eldest Senior Brother’s fingertips. It turned out he had already spread an illusion array, shielding the senses of the royals and the many spectators. At this moment, the entire venue had fallen into a deep slumber. No wonder such a shocking scene had become much quieter than before!
"The Seven Fiends Grudge-Heart Array." Well-versed in such matters, he had already deduced the key. "Though the foundation of the great array was destroyed, the resentment already sacrificed to the underworld will not dissipate. Furthermore, the one who set the array gathered six 'grudge-hearts' within himself. The moment of his suicide was the moment the array activated."
I finally understood. Pan Yi, as the one manipulating the grudge-hearts, had planned his arrest, imprisonment, and death today...
Clutching my heart, which felt like it was about to leap out of my mouth, I also channeled my illusion power to help Senior Brother maintain the array. My eyes, however, never left Wei Qingming for a second, as if doing so would keep her safe. In the time it took Senior Brother to speak a few words, Wei Qingming had already annihilated the three lesser ghosts. She was now flying back, hovering twenty feet above the stage, rapidly casting an array with her spiritual power. Her sleeves blurred into a series of shadows as she utilized Solar Essence—the ultimate bane of yin and evil. Sure enough, the six great ghosts were hindered, their hearts and livers scorched by the sunlight, yet they continued to crawl toward Wei Qingming step by agonizing step.
While laying out the illusion array, Lu Kaifeng watched Wei Qingming draw her talismans without blinking. He sighed, "The elites of the Wujing Sect are truly extraordinary."
By then, Wei Qingming had completed the array. She swiped two fingers across her blade, sacrificing blood to the array. A great curtain of golden light suddenly descended over the six ghosts and Xu Xingze. The ghosts lashed out with their claws but could not tear through the barrier. They howled and crashed about; whenever they touched the golden light, black smoke erupted from their bodies. The entire arena filled with the stench of charred flesh. Though Xu Xingze was in a state of frenzy, he actually calmed down upon seeing this. He shrank back within the golden shroud, not daring to move, his ghost-like eyes darting around as he searched for a way to break out.
With another wave of Wei Qingming’s hand, dozens of black-clad guards finally swarmed out. Keeping their distance, they cast various spells to continuously weaken the six ghosts. For a time, the miserable wailing of ghosts was deafening.
My heart finally relaxed slightly, only to see Wei Qingming sacrifice another handful of blood. Her blood-stained left hand, marked by two cuts, inconspicuously pulled out a second-grade spirit crystal, gripping it to replenish her strength. Clearly, her internal essence was nearly exhausted. It seemed she was far from as relaxed as she appeared on the surface; these six ghosts were likely on the verge of breaking into the Cloud-Dining Realm. It was no easy feat to trap so many ghosts with an array while crossing a minor cultivation boundary.
Soon, the light of one spirit crystal faded, and Wei Qingming pulled out a second to continue. Just as she was about to perform another blood sacrifice, a figure tumbled from the opposite side of the stage, landing right in the center.
I cried out, "Second Senior Sister!"
The greasepaint on Lu Lingfeng’s face actually blended in with the stage. She produced a tattered bag from somewhere, and with a quick flick and a snap, one of the malevolent ghosts was sucked into the bag like a captured chick. She repeated the process, collecting all six ghosts in succession. She was about to throw the bag over Xu Xingze’s head when she realized he wouldn't fit. She tilted her head in thought, realizing this person hadn't fully turned into a ghost yet. She pulled out a length of rope and, with a *shing*, bound Xu Xingze tightly.
Lu Kaifeng and I looked at each other, speechless...
On the vast stage, only Xu Xingze remained, tied up alone in the center. Lu Lingfeng, carrying the bulging, wriggling tattered bag, flew up to Wei Qingming. She held the bag out flat, the opening pointed at her, pretending she was going to open it while making a loud "Pop!" sound.
Wei Qingming blinked, then actually closed her eyes and leaned back, falling over.
Lu Lingfeng finally nodded in satisfaction. She even had the kindness to fly down and catch her, steadying her in mid-air to prevent her from landing on her head. Only then did she hand the bag full of ghosts over.
Lu Kaifeng and I both covered our eyes. It was truly unbearable to watch... This was the first time I had seen someone so perfectly matched to Lu Lingfeng’s eccentric temper, playing along with her whims. And that person was actually the brilliant and formidable Envoy Wei... The circle of Wei Qingming’s subordinates had stopped their attacks and were watching this scene solemnly. Not a single one of them laughed out loud. It really wasn't easy serving in the secret service; not only was it life-threatening, but one also had to master the art of suppressing laughter.
The two of them flew back to us, one after the other. Seeing that Wei Qingming’s face had turned several shades paler, I hurriedly grabbed her hand to stop the bleeding, my heart aching. With one hand held by me, Wei Qingming bowed to Lu Kaifeng, thanking him sincerely, "Thank you for your help, Senior Brother."
*Senior Brother*... She was following my seniority. My heart leaped with joy, and my face flushed.
Lu Kaifeng smiled and handed her a cup of wine. "No need. Consider it repayment for your fine wine."
Wei Qingming took the wine with one hand and drank it. Then, Lu Lingfeng decided to join the fun. "Why aren't you thanking me?"
"Yes. Thank you, Miss Lu."
I knew Wei Qingming was teasing her. Sure enough, Lu Lingfeng frowned and tilted her head. "You call him Senior Brother, so you must call me Senior Sister as well."
"Thank you, Senior Sister Lu."
Only then did Lu Lingfeng nod. She turned her focus to me. "Your paramour is more obedient than you."
I gave a dry laugh and stopped engaging with her. I pressed Wei Qingming down to rest, saying worriedly, "Is the injury serious? We'll keep watch; you should meditate for a while."
She brushed away the blood that had rubbed onto my hand and smiled. "I'm not that fragile. It’s no matter."
I looked her over from head to toe, and only after confirming she was truly alright did I smile. "Didn't you say you were off duty? Your office has a serious overtime problem."
Wei Qingming looked toward the royal gallery, where the great ghost had been subdued and a black-clad officer was using a technique to contain it. She smiled. "In truth, there is no such thing as being 'off duty,' so there is no such thing as 'overtime.'"
The two of us were about to share a moment of intimacy when we heard Lu Lingfeng let out a "Ya!" and leap back onto the stage. The area was empty, save for half a severed rope. A black hole radiating a terrifying aura hung in mid-air; Xu Xingze had escaped. One couldn't blame the guards; they were all unconscious on the ground, black mist rising from their bodies.
Lu Lingfeng picked up the piece of rope, her eyebrows knitting together as she said mournfully, "My Ghost-Binding Rope..." Before her voice had even faded, she dived into the black hole. Typical of her.
Wei Qingming also flew down to the stage, checking everyone's condition. Seeing they were only unconscious and their lives were not in danger, she looked up to observe the black hole. Hearing Lu Kaifeng and me fly to her side, she turned and said, "Senior Brother must stay to maintain the illusion array; he cannot leave for a moment. I will go and bring Senior Sister Lu back."
Lu Kaifeng nodded. "A-Zhi will go with you."
Just as Wei Qingming was about to refuse, he smiled. "This is the first time I've cast an illusion array over a thousand people. I can't hold it for more than fifteen minutes, and I can't guarantee there won't be errors. If anything changes, A-Zhi can receive my transmissions through our sect's communication techniques, and she can contact me as well. We can look out for each other from inside and out." He looked at me and added, "A disciple of Mount Gumeng can withstand this bit of wind and waves."
I nodded vigorously at his side. Wei Qingming said no more, tossing two first-grade spirit crystals to Lu Kaifeng. He said, "With these, half an hour is guaranteed. You don't need to rush too much."
Wei Qingming raised her blade and touched her hand to her heart in a dashing, promissory salute. Then, taking my hand, she flew into the ghost hole.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 麒麟猎 | The Kirin Hunt | The name of the play performed by the Yushan Troupe. |
| 裴超 | Pei Chao | The elder foster brother in the play, played by Xu Xingze. |
| 裴越 | Pei Yue | The younger biological brother in the play. |
| 怨心七煞阵 | Seven Fiends Grudge-Heart Array | A powerful dark array triggered by resentment and sacrifice. |
| 英招寺 | Yingzhao Temple | Likely an imperial guard unit or a specialized religious/martial order serving the crown. |
| 缚鬼索 | Ghost-Binding Rope | Lu Lingfeng's specialized tool for capturing spirits. |
| 日之精华 | Solar Essence | A type of spiritual energy used to combat dark/yin forces. |
| 故梦山 | Mount Gumeng | The protagonist's sect (literally "Mountain of Ancient Dreams"). |
| 餐霞境 | Cloud-Dining Realm | A cultivation stage higher than the Cloud-Swallowing Realm. |
