The middle of the night arrived, and the frost grew thick. Under the silver moonlight, the Nanqing Palace was so silent that one could hear a heartbeat.
Keqing stood before the cascading vines, struggling to keep herself from trembling. He—that man had finally come. Her estimation had been correct; by staying in the Nanqing Palace, she truly still had a chance. The nights she had spent waiting were not in vain.
She was clearly prepared. Her long hair was uncombed, a curtain of black silk falling to her waist. She wore only a thin inner garment, and the cloak draped over her shoulders was the one Zuo Canglang had given her.
She did not turn around, pretending to be unaware as she waited. However, after a short while, she heard the sound of footsteps gradually receding.
What happened? She slowly looked around, only to find that Murong Yan had not entered at all.
A man like him was not so weak that he would truly use someone as a substitute for another. Yearning was like a floating cloud obscuring the crescent moon; after a moment, it dissipated without a trace.
Keqing stood frozen in a daze.
Outside the palace, Murong Ruo led Cang Ge and several personal guards, preparing to dig up the treasure. Master Xuezhan provided no further assistance. When Murong Yuan had originally entrusted the treasure map to him, it was a sign of immense trust. He could not seize the treasure for himself, nor could he directly present the map to Murong Yan to curry favor.
Left with no other choice, he could only help Murong Ruo retrieve the treasure to avoid betraying that trust.
At that time, Leng Feiyan received word that strangers had slipped into the Chant Pavilion and had not emerged by nightfall. Just as she was preparing to infiltrate the pavilion to investigate, Feng Ping suddenly led the Imperial Guard to surround the entire structure. The monks within the pavilion were startled awake. Feng Ping dismounted and stepped back a few paces as Murong Yan slowly entered the Chant Pavilion.
Leng Feiyan remained hidden on a beam, not descending. The Swallow Tower had not sent word to the palace, yet he had arrived so quickly. The Duanmu family's influence was centered in Jinyang, but they clearly did not possess such an information network. Who had sent word to the palace?
As she frowned, she suddenly noticed a dark shadow on a nearby beam. Leng Feiyan gripped her Flying Swallow Buckles, preparing to launch one, but when the light from the torches below filtered up, she froze. There was no need to see the person's face clearly; she had already recognized who it was.
Cang Ge.
Cang Ge was also looking at her. Neither spoke. Below, the Imperial Guard had gathered all the monks of the Chant Pavilion together and began a search. Every monk in Great Yan possessed an ordination certificate from the Ministry of Rites; Feng Ping ordered them to be checked one by one.
Murong Yan walked before the ancient Buddha statue and saw that a hole large enough for a person had been excavated at the base of the pedestal. Without needing orders, Feng Ping immediately sent men down. After a while, they emerged and reported, "Your Majesty, it is filled with gold, silver, and jewels!" As they spoke, they brought up several gold bricks, which were engraved with the reign title of Murong Yuan's rule.
Murong Yan turned a gold brick over in his hands, looking at it before smiling. "Father was truly meticulous." He scanned the monks of the Chant Pavilion and said, "Hand the person over."
The monks trembled with fear. At this moment, none of them knew where Murong Ruo was. Murong Yan said, "Since I ascended the throne, which of my actions has wronged you all? Why must you insist on helping the commoner Murong Ruo and disrupting imperial authority?"
The monks knelt. "Your Majesty, this... this ancient Buddha has been here for a long time. The Retired Emperor also came here many times in the past to pay his respects. We truly did not know when he buried the treasure, let alone that someone would come to dig it up! We beg Your Majesty to investigate clearly!"
Murong Yan said, "The Chant Pavilion is less than twenty li from the royal palace, yet you allowed rebels to come and go as they pleased. Since you cannot guard this place, we shall replace you with a new group."
He gave a signal to Feng Ping. With a wave of Feng Ping's hand, blades rose and fell, and the heads of dozens of monks rolled in an instant. Blood splattered across the ancient Buddha. Murong Yan looked up at the blood-stained statue for a long time before saying, "Search again. You must find Murong Ruo."
Feng Ping acknowledged the order and once again commanded the soldiers to search strictly. Leng Feiyan was as light as paper; even if the Imperial Guard looked up to search carefully, they could find no trace of her. Cang Ge, after all, hailed from the Hidden Sword Manor; these guards were unable to discover him.
The blood on the ground converged and flowed toward Murong Yan's feet; he lightly stepped aside. Cang Ge’s right hand had been gripping his sword the entire time. Suddenly, his long sword flashed like a rainbow as he threw himself down from the beam! At that moment, he was indeed very close to Murong Yan, and Feng Ping was busy searching behind the Buddha statue. He felt he had a chance of succeeding.
But at the same instant, Leng Feiyan’s sword, fast as lightning yet silent as a shadow, parried his blade. A moment later, Duanmu Shang’s sword arrived. As the three blades clashed, Duanmu Shang was also startled; Leng Feiyan’s sword was silent and swift, far exceeding his expectations.
Murong Yan did not move. Duanmu Shang and Leng Feiyan worked together to force Cang Ge back a dozen steps.
Cang Ge had not been diligent in his martial arts studies before, but after Cang Feng’s death, his skills had improved significantly. Even so, he was not fast enough to face Duanmu Shang, let alone with Leng Feiyan added to the mix.
Seeing it was a certain death trap, Leng Feiyan lunged with a diagonal strike, appearing as though she were competing with Duanmu Shang for the credit of taking his head. However, this strike was perfectly aimed to force Cang Ge toward the window. Cang Ge did not hesitate; he leaped out of the window and vanished from the Chant Pavilion in a single bound.
His figure was like smoke in the night. Duanmu Shang and Leng Feiyan both gave chase, but how could they catch him? In the vast sea of people on the long streets, they could only let him go.
Duanmu Shang’s voice was cold. "What is the meaning of this?"
Leng Feiyan said, "I was just about to ask you the same. You clearly had the chance to take his life, yet you showed mercy at every turn. Could it be that you are an old acquaintance of this man?" After speaking, she sneered. "Of course, back when the Hidden Sword Manor was at its peak, your Duanmu family must have flattered the Second Young Master Cang quite a bit, didn't you?"
Duanmu Shang was furious, pointing his sword at her. "You!"
Leng Feiyan did not fear him in the least. "What? Do you want to kill me to silence the witness?"
Duanmu Shang did not dare to strike. With a furious huff, he turned and left.
Murong Yan found nothing at the Chant Pavilion. By the latter half of the night, he had no choice but to order a withdrawal. He had received news when Murong Ruo entered Jinyang, but afterward, there had been no word. A man like Murong Yan did not allow anything to remain outside his control; he immediately ordered the city gates closed and a city-wide search initiated.
He had originally intended to let Murong Ruo be, to see what he plotted after entering the city. Now, although the treasure had been discovered, the man had vanished like a stone dropped into the ocean. This was not what he wished to see.
Feng Ping cordoned off the entire Chant Pavilion and buried the bodies of all the monks on the spot.
That night, Master Xuezhan was chanting sutras in his meditation room when a young monk suddenly rushed in to report: "Abbot, news has come from the palace. Traces of the deposed Crown Prince's faction were found at the Chant Pavilion. His Majesty sealed the pavilion late at night, and the hundreds of monks inside have all been killed!"
Xuezhan’s spine stiffened slightly. Only after a long while did he ask, "Were any of the rebels captured?"
The monk replied, "I have not heard of any."
Xuezhan sighed. "You may go."
Perhaps it was not worth it, but was he himself any different?
As he was lost in thought, a soft voice came from outside the window: "Master?"
Master Xuezhan’s hand striking the wooden fish paused. He sighed in his heart. "Your Highness, the night is deep. Why have you come to the temple?"
The person outside was indeed Murong Ruo. He said, "Murong Yan has discovered my tracks. The entire city is under martial law, and the Imperial Guard is searching the streets. I ask Master to grant me a convenience. I will leave at dawn and will never implicate you."
Master Xuezhan remained silent. After a long time, he said, "Your Highness, there are thousands of monks in Fachang Temple. This old monk truly cannot..."
Did he not know what kind of man Murong Yan was?
There was a period of silence outside. After a long while, Murong Ruo said, "In that case, I have disturbed you."
The sound of footsteps gradually faded. Master Xuezhan no longer had the heart to chant—human hearts were like this, seeking profit and avoiding disaster. What was the use of him striking this wooden fish?
He pushed open the door, seeing only the mountain wind brushing through the forest and the flowers and leaves swaying.
Murong Ruo and Cang Ge left Fachang Temple and were preparing to descend the mountain when they suddenly saw a person standing before the mountain gate—Duanmu Shang. Cang Ge’s pupils constricted. How had this man followed them? However, looking closer, this person was only sixty percent similar to Duanmu Shang. His expression gradually turned grave. "Duanmu Rou?!"
Sure enough, Duanmu Rou slowly approached and said, "Your Highness, have you been well since we last met?"
Murong Ruo was also shocked. "Was it you who sent word to the palace?"
Duanmu Rou said, "I did not wish to, but to eat the monarch's grain is to serve the monarch's affairs. There was no other way."
Now that Great Yan was stabilized, opportunities to achieve merit were few. Upon hearing that Murong Ruo had slipped into Jinyang, he had immediately contacted Duanmu Shang. The two of them were determined to take Murong Ruo’s head to claim credit from Murong Yan.
When Murong Yan went to the Chant Pavilion today, Duanmu Shang had accompanied him as a guard, while Duanmu Rou had led the Duanmu family members to wait in the shadows. Leng Feiyan had intentionally let Cang Ge go, and they had not intervened specifically so that Cang Ge would lead them to Murong Ruo.
As expected, after Cang Ge found Murong Ruo and informed him of the events at the Chant Pavilion, they knew Jinyang would be placed under martial law. When the Imperial Guard searched house to house, how could a fresh face like Murong Ruo hide?
He had no choice but to seek help from Master Xuezhan again. Duanmu Rou was pleased; the more people implicated, the greater the Duanmu family’s merit would be. As for who died beneath his blade, that was not his concern. Whether in the martial world or the imperial court, which great family’s reputation was not dyed in blood and built upon a foundation of bones?
But Xuezhan did not intend to shelter Murong Ruo, which was why they were intercepted while descending the mountain.
If they could not get other heads, taking just this one would suffice. The head of the deposed Crown Prince, Murong Ruo, still held quite a bit of weight.
Murong Ruo only had four or five loyal guards with him. Entering the city had been difficult enough; how could he have brought more people?
At this moment, he glanced at Cang Ge, his heart in a panic. Cang Ge’s brow was furrowed. He had never found the opportunity to ask about Leng Feiyan. He had lost much weight these past days, with hatred and love both weighing heavily in his heart. Only the occasional thought of that girl from the border town could bring him warmth and joy.
But it turned out that even that was a lie. That person had torn off her mask before him, revealing the hideous face beneath.
He gripped the sword in his hand and said softly, "Protect His Highness and leave first."
The guards acknowledged the order. Duanmu Rou said slowly, "How could it be that easy? His head must stay." He glanced at Cang Ge. "The head of the Second Young Master Cang must also stay."
With that, his sword qi surged like a rainbow, breaking through the wind.
Amidst the pines and bamboo of Fachang Temple, broken branches scattered and flying leaves wounded. Over ten experts of the Duanmu family besieged the seven people, including Murong Ruo. Soon, guards were wounded. Murong Ruo held his sword but did not dare to step forward. With his skills, he wouldn't last five moves against Duanmu Rou.
Sweat began to bead on Cang Ge’s forehead. He was already no match for Duanmu Rou, and having to protect Murong Ruo made matters even worse. Seeing it was a hopeless situation, Murong Ruo turned and ran back up the mountain—only by going up and seeking help from Master Xuezhan might there be a path to survival!
Duanmu Rou feared he would escape and tried several times to break through Cang Ge’s sword net. However, Cang Ge used every ounce of his strength, managing to fight him to a standstill for a short time. Once Murong Ruo had run far enough, Cang Ge could no longer maintain such speed and power, and Duanmu Rou’s sword pierced his right chest.
Cang Ge let out a muffled groan. Just as Duanmu Rou’s next strike was about to seal his throat, something whistled through the air, aimed straight at his vitals! He was forced to raise his sword to block. As he turned, another sword had reached his waist at some unknown moment. Duanmu Rou broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly pulled back his sword to parry. Though he moved quickly, he was somewhat disheveled, losing his air of a master.
Who was this person?
He looked closely. The person before him was masked in black, wrapped tightly from head to toe. Was this Xuezhan?
Doubt filled his heart, and the power of his sword weakened. Within three to five moves, he was forced into a state of disarray by his opponent. Fortunately, members of the Duanmu family arrived to support him. Just as Duanmu Rou was about to demand the newcomer's identity, the opponent did not speak. They pulled Cang Ge up from the ground and, with a few leaps, vanished into the pine forest.
Some tried to pursue, but were unexpectedly turned into sieves by a handful of hidden projectiles. With the mountain woods overgrown with wild grass, the Duanmu family did not dare to chase further. Duanmu Rou said in a heavy voice, "Cang Ge does not matter. Pursue Murong Ruo!"
The dozen experts obeyed and ascended the stone steps to chase Murong Ruo.
Above the hundreds of stone steps, before the gate of Fachang Temple, seeing that Murong Ruo had no other way out, Master Xuezhan could only slowly open the temple doors. Murong Ruo practically crawled and tumbled inside. "Master!"
Xuezhan sighed slowly and said, "There is a tunnel in the temple. Go inside and hide."
Murong Ruo thanked him repeatedly and, disregarding everything else, followed a young monk into the secret tunnel of Fachang Temple. After Duanmu Rou reached the top of the mountain, Xuezhan stood before the temple gate, his hands pressed together. "Amitabha. So it is Alliance Leader Duanmu. Please forgive me for not welcoming you. Now that the night is silent and still, what important business brings you to our humble temple?"
Duanmu Rou said, "Master Xuezhan, the rebel Murong Ruo fled all the way to Fachang Temple. We pursued him to the foot of the mountain and saw him ascending the steps. Surely Master cannot be unaware?"
Xuezhan said, "Did such a thing happen? This old monk truly did not see it. If you do not believe me, please enter the temple to search. However, Fachang Temple is a thousand-year-old ancient monastery that has always received imperial patronage; it is not a place that anyone can search just because they say so. May I ask, since you are arresting a rebel, what official position do you currently hold in the imperial court?"
Duanmu Rou was stunned. Xuezhan continued, "Please, which official will present their seal of office?"
Duanmu Rou said angrily, "You are simply twisting logic!"
Xuezhan pressed his hands together again and chanted a Buddhist name. "It seems, then, that the Alliance Leader does not come by imperial decree?"
Duanmu Rou said, "My Duanmu family currently leads the martial world. To capture a rebel, what seal of office do I need to show? Does Master Xuezhan not recognize me?"
Master Xuezhan did not yield an inch. "Be that as it may, Fachang Temple is a place that follows the laws of the land. How can it be searched by people of the martial world at will?"
Duanmu Rou said, "It seems, then, that Master intends to grant me a few pointers in combat?"
Master Xuezhan said, "I would not dare."
Duanmu Rou’s brow furrowed. Master Xuezhan was nearly seventy years old. In terms of internal energy, was there anyone among his men who was truly his match? If they lost, it wouldn't just be a loss of face; whether they could leave alive would be a question.
He gritted his teeth and turned to a confidant behind him. "Go back and request an imperial decree from His Majesty."
The man acknowledged the order and headed down the mountain.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
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唱经楼 | Chant Pavilion | A pavilion for chanting sutras (Chàngjīng Lóu).
祠部碟 | Ordination Certificate | Official identification documents for monks issued by the Ministry of Rites.
飞燕扣 | Flying Swallow Buckle | Leng Feiyan's signature hidden weapon.
法常寺 | Fachang Temple | A prominent, ancient Buddhist temple.
端木柔 | Duanmu Rou | A leader/expert of the Duanmu family.
印绶 | Seal of Office | Official credentials or seals indicating government authority.
盟主 | Alliance Leader | A leader of a martial arts alliance.
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