When Leng Feiyan returned to Jinyang with Wugu, Feng Ping was as anxious as an ant on a hot griddle. He did not possess the formula for the Swallow’s Nest members' antidote, and with the deadline fast approaching, the members were growing increasingly restless. He had petitioned Murong Yan several times, hoping to obtain the recipe.
However, Murong Yan remained noncommittal. Yang Lianting was still recovering at Mount Gushe and could not be reached. Furthermore, Feng Ping knew all too well that the three of them—Zuo Canglang, Leng Feiyan, and Yang Lianting—were close. Even if he could contact Yang Lianting, whether the man would hand over the formula was another matter entirely.
The day after Leng Feiyan returned to the Swallow’s Nest, she distributed the antidote to everyone. The group of thugs and rogues finally settled down. No one knew what Feng Ping truly thought, but he certainly wasn't pleased.
To make matters worse, Leng Feiyan had brought back Wugu and immediately appointed him as the Vice Tower Lord. Feng Ping’s expression was grim. "Do you even know this man’s origins? His Highness has entrusted you with a heavy responsibility. Is it not improper to so easily grant authority to a Western Jing man of unknown background?"
Leng Feiyan showed him zero respect, laughing as she replied, "So, Lord Feng Ping knows that the Master has entrusted me with a heavy responsibility." Feng Ping was momentarily speechless. She continued, "Then Lord Feng surely knows who the master of the Swallow’s Nest is, doesn't he?"
Fury rose in Feng Ping’s heart. He moved to draw his blade, but his thumb had barely shifted an inch before the tip of Leng Feiyan’s sword was already pressed against his throat. Shame and anger were written all over his face. Leng Feiyan laughed heartily and sheathed her sword. "Lord Feng, as the Tower Lord of the Swallow’s Nest, I will naturally account for Wugu’s reliability to the Master. You needn't trouble yourself."
Feng Ping gritted his teeth and turned to leave. Leng Feiyan looked back at Wugu and said, "Follow me."
Wugu hesitated before saying, "You shouldn't have humiliated him like that."
Leng Feiyan replied, "I felt like it. Whose side are you on, anyway?"
Wugu was left speechless and could only follow her to meet the other officials of the Swallow’s Nest.
***
At the Prince of Qianyi’s manor, Murong Yan stood by the water pavilion, occasionally scattering fish bait into the pond. Feng Ping stood respectfully behind him, recounting everything that had happened since Leng Feiyan’s return to Jinyang.
"She brought a Western Jing man back?" Murong Yan asked.
Feng Ping answered respectfully, "Indeed. And she seems intent on making him her deputy."
Murong Yan nodded. "Then this man must be quite capable."
Feng Ping glanced at his expression and said, "Does Your Highness not worry that this man might be a Western Jing spy? His origins are unknown, and..."
Murong Yan smiled, interrupting him. "Did she talk back to you?"
Feng Ping’s words caught in his throat. Murong Yan tossed the last of the bait, and Wang Yunzhao quickly stepped forward with a wrung-out towel. Murong Yan wiped his hands meticulously and said, "Since there is nothing for you to do for the time being, stay by my side."
Feng Ping bit his lip but still replied, "Yes."
He was unwilling; of course he was unwilling. He and Zhou Xin had followed Murong Yan since childhood, while Zuo Canglang and the others were merely juniors. Now, Zhou Xin and Xu Lang both held military power. Zuo Canglang went without saying, and even Leng Feiyan and Yang Lianting had their own roles. Stuck in the middle, it was impossible for him not to feel the awkwardness of his position.
Beside them, Wang Yunzhao asked, "Does Your Highness wish to summon Young Lord Leng?"
"No," Murong Yan said. "Though she is arrogant, she manages her subordinates well. I am not worried." He paused, then asked, "Where is Ah-Zuo?"
Wang Yunzhao replied, "I haven't seen her since this morning, nor has she left the manor. I shall send someone to find her immediately."
"No need," Murong Yan said. "I'll go myself."
It was the height of the eighth-month heat, with the sun hanging high and the earth feeling like a steamer. Murong Yan walked to the courtyard where Zuo Canglang resided. Inside, exotic flowers and rare trees vied for brilliance, a sign that Wang Yunzhao had put considerable thought into the arrangements. Murong Yan nodded in satisfaction; Wang Yunzhao might lack other talents, but he was thorough and meticulous—a rare person willing to fret over the smallest details.
He looked around and saw a trellis against the red wall, where a vast expanse of wild roses climbed and cascaded down, blooming like a raging fire. When the wind blew, the leaves and petals rippled like green waves.
He pointed and asked, "What is the meaning of this?"
Wang Yunzhao bowed his head. "In response to Your Highness, there was originally only one wild rose bush here. I noticed Commander Zuo often lingered before it, so I had many more transplanted here."
Murong Yan laughed. "To think mere weeds and wild blossoms could win her favor."
With that, he stepped into the small building.
The building was empty. Murong Yan searched upstairs and down, then exited and walked toward the patch of wild roses. Feng Ping instinctively moved to follow, but Wang Yunzhao gave him a subtle shake of the head.
Murong Yan approached the layered, spilling foliage. It was a midsummer afternoon, and the sun was scorching. The lush wild roses covered the elegant courtyard wall, pink and red flowers blooming amidst emerald leaves. The wind carried a dusty fragrance as the floral wall swayed in waves.
The Second Prince, dressed in feather-white robes, pushed aside the hanging vines. Sunlight was fractured by the broad leaves, casting fragmented shadows. In the shade where the sun could barely reach, amidst a carpet of fallen petals and leaves, a sixteen-year-old girl lay dressed in thin red silk. Using her bow as a pillow, she was fast asleep in the flowers.
Murong Yan walked slowly to her side. Zuo Canglang’s right hand gripped her bow, but when she opened her eyes and saw it was him, she hurriedly sat up. "Master!"
"It is so hot outside, yet you've found a place to be lazy," Murong Yan said. He sat down beside her. Zuo Canglang quickly shifted to make room.
"Has Master come with instructions? Is there news of His Majesty in Yuyang?" she asked.
"Not yet," Murong Yan replied. "In court today, those old ministers like Bi Chengjing brought up the matter of welcoming my father back again. They made my head ache. Let’s not speak of those frustrating things. This is a quiet place; let me steal half a day of leisure here as well."
He leaned back against the vines and leaves, cushioning his head with his hands. Zuo Canglang sat beside him and said, "In my humble opinion, Master’s most urgent task is still to ascend the throne. Otherwise, the people only know the King of Yan, and Master will always be a step below."
"Do I not know that?" Murong Yan said. "But the old ministers have followed my father for decades. To ask them to suddenly support me as the King of Yan—how could that be easy? Though Gan Xiaoru’s faction supports me, they are still no match for the likes of Bi Chengjing."
Zuo Canglang said, "After all, Marshal Wen is still in Suye City, and His Majesty currently holds the advantage. It is normal for them to have reservations. Master, please do not take it to heart."
Murong Yan waved a hand. "Why would I bother myself with them?"
Zuo Canglang asked, "Then, does Master have a plan?"
Murong Yan said, "Since they wish to welcome my father back, I shall grant their wish. You shall lead an army to Yuyang to 'welcome' him."
His eyes were like polished glass. Zuo Canglang hesitated. "Master means... to attack Yuyang?"
Murong Yan met her gaze. Between lord and subject, there was a silent understanding that required no words. He asked, "What are the odds of victory?"
"Certainty," Zuo Canglang replied.
Murong Yan closed his eyes and nodded. Zuo Canglang asked, "Does Master not wish to ask about the strategy?"
"You are the one leading the army; it is enough that you know what you are doing," Murong Yan said. "Don't speak." His breathing grew heavy as he slowly drifted into sleep. Zuo Canglang sat beside him, not daring to move, fearing that the rustle of dry leaves might disturb his dreams.
The summer breeze brushed over him, softening the vines and branches.
***
That night, Zuo Canglang used a secret signal to contact Leng Feiyan. Leng Feiyan said lazily, "What’s so urgent that you called me out?"
Seeing that Leng Feiyan was indeed fine, Zuo Canglang said, "I am a bit worried about Yang Lianting. But Mu Qingxie, the leader of the Baiyu Sect, favors the King. It is inconvenient for me to go there now."
Leng Feiyan scoffed, "Why worry about him? For all we know, he’s currently intoxicated in a land of tenderness, resting his head on a beauty’s lap."
Zuo Canglang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Feiyan!"
Leng Feiyan finally relented. "Fine, I’ll find time to go take a look."
"No, I want to go with you," Zuo Canglang said. "But I must set out for Yuyang tomorrow."
Leng Feiyan understood and gave a helpless look. "Fine, fine, I’ll go with you."
The defenses at the Baiyu Sect on Mount Gushe were not particularly tight, but their mastery of Gu poisons was always unpredictable. If not for an expert like Leng Feiyan, it would have taken Zuo Canglang considerable effort to ascend. If they were discovered, the sect might search the mountain, which would be detrimental to Yang Lianting.
The two traveled swiftly through the night and reached the foot of Mount Gushe. Leng Feiyan had previously seen how A-Fei avoided the guards, and now she led Zuo Canglang up the mountain, adapting to the situation and successfully avoiding detection.
They arrived beneath the statue of Shennong under the milky white moonlight. Leng Feiyan whistled a signal, and before long, a grey shadow approached. Yang Lianting walked very slowly. Although more than three months had passed since he was injured, he was still barely able to walk.
Seeing his stumbling gait, Leng Feiyan couldn't help but step forward to support him. Yang Lianting avoided her hand. "No, I can walk on my own."
Step by step, he slowly made his way to Zuo Canglang.
"Not recovered yet?" Leng Feiyan asked.
Yang Lianting gave a bitter smile. "No." Such a severe injury could never fully heal. Even if it did, his martial arts would be greatly diminished. He pursed his lips and suddenly smiled. "But it was worth it."
Zuo Canglang reached out and helped him sit down. The three of them sat on the ground beneath the Shennong statue. The statue gazed straight ahead, holding medicinal herbs in its left hand and a plow in its right. A clear spring flowed like a chain from its right sleeve.
" I am going to Yuyang tomorrow," Zuo Canglang said. "I came to see you before I leave."
Yang Lianting was slightly stunned. "Can you bring me a gift?"
"Name it," Zuo Canglang said.
"A head," Yang Lianting replied. Zuo Canglang paused, then asked, "Wen Weishu?"
Yang Lianting nodded. Leng Feiyan said dismissively, "Why not take it yourself? Or watch him be tied up and taken to the execution ground—that would be much more satisfying."
"The one who should be tied up and taken to the execution ground isn't him!" Yang Lianting said. "He is the Crown Prince’s right-hand man. Sixty to seventy percent of the money from the illegal horse trade went into the Crown Prince’s pockets."
Leng Feiyan fell silent. Zuo Canglang said, "Alright." She looked up at the moon. "The moonlight is beautiful tonight. It’s a pity we didn't bring wine."
Leng Feiyan stood up and asked Yang Lianting, "Where is your beauty? Surely she doesn't even have wine at her place?"
Yang Lianting smiled bitterly. "Mu Qingxie took A-Fei away from Mount Gushe. I suspect... they went to Yuyang to see His Majesty."
"Even better," Leng Feiyan said. "Wait here, I’ll go find some wine." Yang Lianting could do nothing with her. "Go east from here. Turn right when you see the Hall of Rebirth. There is a wine cellar about ten meters away."
As Leng Feiyan went to find wine, Yang Lianting asked, "Do you have something to tell me?"
Zuo Canglang said, "When Feiyan was trapped in Grey Leaf Plain, the Master sent Feng Ping to manage the Swallow’s Nest. With Feiyan’s personality, she must have noticed. And once she notices..."
Yang Lianting gave a wry smile. "She certainly won't show Feng Ping any face."
Zuo Canglang said, "I want you to reform the poisons of the Swallow’s Nest so they cannot be easily neutralized."
"I don't understand," Yang Lianting said. "Are you saying the Master might order me to hand over the formulas?"
Zuo Canglang shook her head. "The Master knows the three of us are close; he won't do that. But Feng Ping is a man of dark thoughts. I am still uneasy."
"I understand," Yang Lianting said.
Before they could say much more, Leng Feiyan returned carrying three jars of wine—small jars of twenty-year-old Luofu Spring. When the mud seals were broken, the fragrance of wine filled the air. It was fortunate that few people ever came to this altar, or the scent alone would have been enough to attract attention.
The three of them raised their jars and clinked them under the moon. Leng Feiyan said, "We couldn't gather for the Mid-Autumn Festival, so let’s treat today as a celebration."
"This celebration is quite meager," Zuo Canglang said. "The host hasn't even provided a single dish of food."
Yang Lianting smiled bitterly. "I am a guest here too, and a hidden one at that. Do you think it’s easy?"
Leng Feiyan was dissatisfied. "You two don't actually want meat, do you? Forget it, I’m not running again!"
The two of them laughed. Finally, Zuo Canglang spotted several persimmon trees on the mountain. She climbed up and picked a few, distributing them one by one. "Here, here. This can count as a festival feast."
Leng Feiyan took one and, without caring if it was clean, wiped it on her sleeve and bit into it. Yang Lianting couldn't stop laughing. "I say, you two... taking without asking is stealing..."
The moon reached its zenith. Osmanthus petals swirled down into the wine, their faint fragrance filling their sleeves. The three of them ate persimmons and admired the moon. Though it was not Mid-Autumn, it felt like it.
***
The following day, Murong Yan officially ordered Zuo Canglang to lead the army to Yuyang to "welcome" Murong Yuan!
Bi Chengjing and the others were dumbfounded. Everyone knew the current situation; Murong Yan and Murong Yuan were like fire and water. If he sent an army to Yuyang to welcome Murong Yuan, would the King even return? Yet no one could find words to object, as bringing Murong Yuan back was exactly what they had been striving for.
Before anyone could come up with a counter-argument, Zuo Canglang received her orders and set out for Yuyang with Xu Lang and the soldiers.
Xu Lang followed Zuo Canglang along the way and asked, "Commander, are we heading straight for Yuyang?"
Zuo Canglang shook her head, then turned to him. "His Majesty is in Yuyang and has already gathered many of his old subordinates. If we attack the city directly, the casualties will be too high."
Xu Lang blinked. "Then the Commander means..."
Zuo Canglang said, "His Majesty and Marshal Wen have been lord and subject for over a decade; he will not doubt the Marshal’s loyalty. And you—you are a man sent out by Marshal Wen, and you hold the military tally he granted you. What if you, in the Marshal’s name, lead your army to defect to him under the cover of night?"
Xu Lang’s face turned pale. "But... but I was the one who raised troops to attack Jinyang! How could His Majesty ever believe me?!"
Zuo Canglang said, "Jinyang certainly has His Majesty’s spies. You are currently a young man in your prime, holding heavy military power. Why would you defect so easily? Not only will His Majesty not believe you, he will seize you and interrogate you under torture. Then, you will 'confess' that your surrender was a ruse."
Xu Lang was breaking into a cold sweat. "Commander, military matters are urgent. Please do not joke."
"I am not joking," Zuo Canglang said. "At that time, I will send your deputy to lead the army into the city to defect again. His Majesty will suspect that one of you is real and the other is a fake. Since you are the 'fake,' the other must be the 'real' one. He will open the gates to welcome them."
Xu Lang felt a chill run through him. "Commander, are you not afraid that these men will truly defect to His Majesty?"
"They won't," Zuo Canglang said. "If they join His Majesty, they would be lucky if he doesn't punish them. What hope would they have for future promotion? But if they help the Master achieve this great feat, every one of them will be rewarded with gold and silver, and their futures will be limitless."
Xu Lang gritted his teeth. "I will see to it."
That night, at the third watch, Xu Lang was captured during his "fake surrender." His deputy, Luandi Diaotao Fenggao, then led the army to defect. The King of Yan, Murong Yuan, believed it to be true and opened the city gates. Zuo Canglang and Luandi Diaotao Fenggao struck from within and without. The newly gathered loyalists were caught off guard and were utterly defeated, fleeing in chaos.
By dawn, Murong Yuan had no choice but to abandon Yuyang and retreat to Fangcheng, east of Yuyang. Yuyang had fallen.
The people were in an uproar!
After the fall of Yuyang, the situation changed drastically.
The previous loss of Jinyang could be attributed to carelessness; after all, no one expected Wen Qi’s subordinates to suddenly revolt. But a second loss could no longer be explained by carelessness—it was incompetence.
At this moment, almost everyone began to re-evaluate Murong Yan. The people of the entire State of Yan began to realize that this once unremarkable prince might truly be their rightful sovereign. No one dared to dismiss his army as a ragtag force anymore.
The name Zuo Canglang truly began to emerge before the public eye.
At that time, Zuo Canglang did not return to the capital. She pursued Murong Yuan out of Yuyang, hoping to capture Wen Weishu. This should have been possible; Murong Yuan’s party consisted of imperial relatives and noble ladies. Even in a desperate flight, their speed was very slow.
However, as she followed the carriage tracks, a dozen people blocked her path. Zuo Canglang only had to look at their clothing to know who they were. She stared at the leader and said, "Mu Qingxie."
These people were all dressed in foreign attire with jade inlaid in their hats—unmistakably the Baiyu Sect. Sure enough, the leader said, "The girl has a sharp eye."
Zuo Canglang slowly retreated. She had heard that besides the White Gu used for healing, the Baiyu Sect also raised Black Gu that made people turn pale at the mere mention of them. She had never seen these things with her own eyes, but if they truly fought, the soldiers she brought would be no match for them.
In the sand ahead, something began to crawl slowly. Zuo Canglang’s hair stood on end. Making a split-second decision, she turned and shouted, "Retreat!"
The soldiers began to pull back, and Mu Qingxie showed no intention of pursuing. Although Gu insects were formidable, they were slow to take effect. If Zuo Canglang were determined to drag him down with her, she could have killed him in an instant even if she were infected.
He only needed to delay her to buy time for Murong Yuan’s escape.
Zuo Canglang returned to the city and sent a report to Murong Yan. The next day, Murong Yan wrote a letter to Leng Feiyan. After reading it, Leng Feiyan instructed a thug to go to Fangcheng and leak a secret: after Yang Lianting was rescued, he had been hiding at Mount Gushe to recover. Yang Xuanhe had been a close friend of the Baiyu Sect leader during his lifetime.
The evidence provided was the correspondence between Mu Qingxie and Yang Xuanhe, along with a letter from Murong Yan to Mu Qingxie.
Murong Yuan compared the letters one by one. The ones between Mu Qingxie and Yang Xuanhe were real. The letter from Murong Yan to Mu Qingxie was indeed in Murong Yan’s handwriting—because Murong Yan had written it long ago for this very purpose.
He pondered deeply. Murong Yan’s rebellion had been sparked by the injustice against the Yang family. And the one who had ignited that fuse by bringing the case back into the light was indeed Mu Qingxie’s tip-off. If Mu Qingxie hadn't uncovered Yang Lianting’s identity, how could a case that had been closed for six years have caught everyone’s attention again?
But why had Mu Qingxie remained silent for six years, only to choose this moment to inform?
Suspicion grew in his heart. He sent members of the Hidden Sword Villa to secretly investigate Mount Gushe, and finally confirmed that Yang Lianting had indeed been recovering there all along.
Murong Yuan was furious. When Mu Qingxie came to Fangcheng to claim credit, Murong Yuan ordered Cang Tianqi, the Master of the Hidden Sword Villa, to strike him down. Cang Tianqi’s sword was faster than someone like Mu Qingxie could react to. Until his head hit the ground, he never understood why.
At that time, A-Fei was outside the city treating wounded soldiers. Her White Gu—whether the Nine Needles or the Plain Tail—had miraculous effects on stopping bleeding and mending bones, far beyond ordinary medicine. She hadn't even stood up when Nie Shan suddenly rushed in, grabbed her, and ran.
A-Fei was shocked. "Nie Shan, what happened? Where is my foster father?"
Nie Shan pulled her onto a horse. Behind them, Murong Yuan had already sent troops. A dozen sect members skilled in Black Gu stood in a line, as tiny flying insects vibrated their wings with a buzzing sound. Nie Shan had no time for explanations; he whipped the horse into a gallop.
A-Fei turned her head and saw countless soldiers rolling on the ground behind them. Archers drew their bows, and though the dozen sect members were struck by multiple arrows, they continued to drive their Gu. Various insects burrowed into different bodies, and the screams turned into distorted wails. Someone poured out fire oil and set the ground ablaze.
As the city faded from view, A-Fei grabbed Nie Shan and asked, "Why? The Yan army is hunting us! Why?! Where is my foster father?"
Nie Shan was covered in blood. "Murong Yuan killed the Sect Leader! He suspected the Sect Leader was colluding with Murong Yan! He killed him!"
A-Fei turned back. The city walls were now distant, leaving only pillars of thick smoke rising into the sky. She whispered, "You mean... foster father is dead?"
The blood on Nie Shan’s body nearly stained her red. "Saintess, we must return to Mount Gushe immediately. Our clansmen are in danger!"
A-Fei wanted to cry, but there were no tears in her eyes. She still couldn't believe Mu Qingxie was dead. How could a person just die like that?
They couldn't go anywhere east of Fangcheng. Nie Shan led her back through Yuyang and Jinyang, traveling through the night to reach Mount Gushe.
A-Fei remained in a daze. She was aware of everything around her, but the feeling wasn't real. It wasn't until she returned to Mount Gushe and saw the familiar Shennong statue and the Jade Essence Pavilion where Mu Qingxie lived that her tears suddenly fell.
Yang Lianting saw her standing motionless at the entrance of the pavilion and slowly walked over. "Ah-Fei?"
A-Fei turned around. Seeing him, she suddenly burst into a loud wail. Yang Lianting panicked. "Ah-Fei! What happened?" The tears were so many, wetting her long eyelashes and soaking her jade-smooth face. Yang Lianting hurriedly reached out to wipe them away. "Ah-Fei, don't cry. Tell me what happened!"
A-Fei kicked and hit him with all her might. "It’s all your fault! None of you Yan people are any good! Why did I take you in? Why did I take you in!"
Yang Lianting tried to hold her, but she bit down hard on his shoulder. He didn't move, waiting until the blood soaked through his clothes and A-Fei slowly let go. She slumped against his shoulder, crying out in a breakdown, "Yang Lianting, my foster father is dead. Murong Yuan killed him! What are we going to do!"
Yang Lianting’s heart trembled. Ah-Fei’s sobs were heart-wrenching. Having lost her parents as a child, that fear and panic had once overwhelmed her, but Mu Qingxie had taken them away from their homeland, allowing her and her clansmen to live a stable, peaceful life for twelve years.
Twelve years later, he was dead too.
Yang Lianting knew that feeling. Six years ago, had he not been the same? Those who have never lost their closest kin will never understand what it means to be at a dead end, to have nowhere left to go.
He held Ah-Fei tightly, gently patting her back. "Don't cry. I’ll find a way. Ah-Fei, don't cry."
Her tears fell one by one, burning him. Yang Lianting pulled her into his embrace. For a moment, he wished he could overturn the entire world just to stop her sorrow.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
巫蛊 | Wugu | A Western Jing commander captured by Leng Feiyan; his name literally means "sorcery/hex."
拜玉教 | Baiyu Sect | Literally "Worship Jade Sect," a sect known for Gu poisons and healing.
白蛊 | White Gu | Healing-oriented Gu insects/techniques used by the Baiyu Sect.
黑蛊 | Black Gu | Harmful or lethal Gu insects/techniques used by the Baiyu Sect.
藏剑山庄 | Hidden Sword Villa | A martial arts sect/manor loyal to the King of Yan.
藏天齐 | Cang Tianqi | The Master of the Hidden Sword Villa.
挛鞮雕陶凮皋 | Luandi Diaotao Fenggao | A high-ranking officer under Xu Lang; likely of nomadic descent.
罗浮春 | Luofu Spring | A famous type of aged wine.
耒耜 | Plow and Share | Ancient Chinese agricultural tools held by the Shennong statue.
玉粹阁 | Jade Essence Pavilion | Mu Qingxie's residence at Mount Gushe.
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