Chapter 64

“…The king raises his army, sharpens my spears and halberds, and we share the same hatred…”

In the small courtyard by the Luo River.

Mu Cangshui hummed a folk tune softly, her calloused fingers threading the needle, tying a small knot.

She looked up and, seeing Yue Niang engrossed in her book, smiled kindly and asked, “Finished? Is there any other part that needs mending?”

Yue Niang raised her sleeve and examined the cuff, which showed no trace of repairs, and let out a small exclamation.

“Grandma Mu, your stitching is really good. I can’t even tell it’s been repaired. It’s much prettier than the centipede my master stitched.”

A figure standing on the eaves turned and gave Yue Niang a side glance.

Fang Fuzang, holding a jade slip, said, “The Mountain Demon sent word. Both sides are already in combat at Longdui City, and outside the city, ten miles to the south, the family crest of the Yin Mountain clan has appeared. Although reinforcements are good, can we really rely on them?”

They were now backed by the Jimo clan; could they openly ally with the Yin Mountain clan?

Mu Cangshui methodically organized the scattered threads and needles on the table, her expression calm as a still lake.

“Who said they are here to provide reinforcements?”

Fang Fuzang was taken aback, and after a brief moment of thought, he understood her meaning.

His gaze toward Mu Cangshui grew more inquisitive.

Even he didn’t know that the Yin Mountain clan would send people, but this Grandma Mu showed no surprise.

It seemed Miss trusted her a lot.

“Yue Niang,” Fang Fuzang turned his attention to the young girl who was now taking lychees from Mu Cangshui’s hands, “You don’t need your hands to read. You can peel while reading. Why bother Grandma Mu?”

Yue Niang puffed up her cheeks and immediately understood what her master meant.

“I’ll peel it! I’m the best at peeling lychees! Grandma Mu is here to help Miss, no need to trouble her with such small things!”

Yue Niang grabbed the plate of lychees and pulled it into her arms. Mu Cangshui smiled at the clever and adorable expression on the young girl’s face, her lips curling in a faint smile.

“Then Grandma Mu will help Yue Niang turn the pages.”

“Mm-mm,” Yue Niang seemed to remember something, “Grandma Mu, is Miss really fine over there?”

“She’s fine.”

Mu Cangshui’s expression remained indifferent, and despite being an ordinary person without a Qi Sea, her voice carried a calming power.

“With the Master and the Queen working together, nothing will go wrong.”

Meanwhile, outside Longdui City.

The wind carried dust and stones, and numerous Qi flows collided, sending waves of aftershocks. The trained iron cavalry still obeyed Wu Zhi’s orders amidst the chaos, with fifty of them holding off the attack from the Shentu clan’s martial artists.

On the city wall, Shentu Chi examined the demon before him, who had summoned six tentacle-like appendages.

The wound at his waist and abdomen soaked his robe, the dark stain spreading, with drops of fresh red blood dripping down, but the demon’s face remained expressionless, his pale complexion the only sign of distress.

He lowered his gaze, his dark eyes calm as a deep pool.

“Is this your full strength?”

Shentu Chi squinted, his voice filled with doubt, “If you are holding back, the next time I strike, I will take your life.”

The black-clad demon’s eyes were still, as if reflecting a void.

His voice, cold and mocking, rang out.

“After dozens of moves, can’t the Shentu clan’s Ninth Realm martial artist even discern the opponent’s strength?”

Shentu Chi had tested the demon’s abilities a few times and confirmed that this one was likely around the Eighth Realm.

But Shentu Chi’s century-long experience on the battlefield, drinking blood, kept urging him to remain on high alert. He could never let his guard down, for one wrong move, and the demon might pounce to tear his throat out.

Shentu Chi ran his finger over the bloodstain on his neck.

“No wonder you could climb up to a noble daughter’s side; you have some skill.”

Shentu Chi, moved by a rare sense of admiration, couldn’t help but offer advice.

“But no matter how much the Jimo clan has declined, they wouldn’t really marry a demon. She’s just using you as her tool, for now. When the Jimo clan rises again, she will marry into a more suitable noble family. A man should soar like a hawk, not be a dog used by others. Why not join my Shentu clan—”

“Then, like you, serve the Zhongli and Jiufang clans as their dogs?”

The harsh words struck with a sharpness that made people furrow their brows.

Below, the Mountain Demon, standing beside Wu Zhi, casually threw a curved blade to slit the throat, showing no surprise at Mo Lin’s attitude.

Except when interacting with the Queen, the Master was always the hardest, with the fiercest temper among the demons. If he ever showed favor to the noble families, he wouldn’t have needed to use his whip so frequently when guarding the hunting grounds back then.

“Not satisfied with these words?”

Despite the pain of his injuries, Mo Lin’s cold, distant gaze remained clear and sharp as polished stone.

“Then why don’t you do something? Are your masters behind you tightening your leashes, telling you to wait for their decision on whether to reward you with this piece of meat or not? Even if you have murderous intent now, you can only wait with your dog bowls until your masters give the order?”

A series of taunts made Shentu Chi’s fists crack with tension.

“You didn’t make a sound when I stabbed you earlier, but now it seems you’re really hurting, finally provoking you to speak this much.”

Shentu Chi’s gaze was sharp, and he didn’t shy away:

“That’s right, the Yinshan Clan is just ten miles away, about to join the chaos to fight for Longduo City. The terrain of Longduo City is strategic, located near the Demon-Ghost Great Wall and is a key pass. If the Yinshan Clan takes it, it will be a threat to both my Shentu Clan and your Jimu Clan— I won’t kill you, because we may need to join forces today.”

The blood-covered, pale-skinned demon-ghost on the opposite side raised its chin, seemingly smiling, but its eyes were cold and deep, showing no trace of amusement.

“That’s not for me to decide.”

Shentu Chi narrowed his eyes. “When one is in command, orders must be followed or rejected as needed. If we don’t join forces, once the Yinshan Clan arrives, they’ll turn us all into minced meat.”

The one coming from the Yinshan Clan was Nan Gong Yao.

Although Nan Gong Yao had not been seen for many years, and no one knew why he suddenly appeared in this remote town, the fact that he was once assigned by Nan Gong Jing to guard the imperial court for years demonstrated his strength.

But the demon-ghost remained indifferent and cold as it spoke:

“Without the Clan Master’s orders, I won’t join forces with you.”

At this life-or-death juncture, Shentu Chi had never seen anyone so stubborn. He grumbled while taking out a jade slip:

“Crazy! We’re forced to be dogs, and you—you’re doing this voluntarily!”

Mo Lin gave a cold, nonchalant smile, remaining unmoved.

Shentu Chi muttered, “I’ve already tried to persuade them, they won’t switch sides. We’ll need Jimu Gui to give the signal.”

Meanwhile, in the mansion, Jiufang Zhanghua slowly closed the jade slip.

“Only five more miles.”

Although the Yinshan Clan hadn’t found evidence of their involvement in the assassination of Yinshan Qi, the internal consensus was that it was the work of the Jiufang and Zhongli Clans. This sudden deployment to the chaos must be not just for the strategic value of Longduo City, but perhaps for revenge against Yinshan Qi.

However, there might be other possibilities.

Under Jiufang Shaogeng’s anxious gaze, Jiufang Zhanghua slowly raised his eyes, and his dark pupils reflected the figure of the girl across from him.

“The way of clearing talks is just empty talk, a small skill. With Miss Jimu’s talent, perhaps the next round will end with me defeated.”

His calm, measured voice passed through the ears of the surrounding guests.

His composure gave no indication that the Yinshan Clan was approaching, making the surrounding clans question the authenticity of the news they’d received.

If everything hadn’t been under Liuyu’s control, even she might have been deceived by Jiufang Zhanghua’s calm demeanor.

Once, Yinshan Ze had traveled by sea with his family, and Jiufang Zhanghua was among them. They encountered some sea monsters along the way, and although Yinshan Ze had the upper hand in battle, he couldn’t care for the younger children. Even Liuyu had thought their lives were in danger at that moment.

Yet, only Jiufang Zhanghua remained unruffled amidst the turbulent winds and waves.

Liuyu had thought he was confident in Yinshan Ze, but when she asked afterward, he explained:

—”Perhaps I would fear alone, but when a family is together, even if we die together, it is not so terrifying.”

Before life and death, he never showed a hint of emotion. Though outwardly gentle and peaceful, no one had ever been able to see through his true thoughts.

Liuyu also casually remarked:

“You’ve won. Longduo City is yours to dispose of. We’ll leave.”

As Liuyu began to rise, the three people behind her were stunned, unable to believe she was giving up so easily.

“Miss Jimu, please wait.”

A voice called from behind. Liuyu curved her lips and turned around, but her expression showed a hint of wariness.

“Still not satisfied? Could it be that the eldest young master is trying to finish off everyone?”

Jiufang Zhanghua calmly observed her.

If she were acting, then her performance was truly excellent.

“Zhang said before that he wouldn’t act against Taiping City. Please rest assured, Miss Jimu. And—things have changed. If you look at the jade slip, you’ll see that Nan Gong Yao, with a hundred of his men, is leading the Tan Clan soldiers toward us. They are all Yinshan Clan’s subordinates, and their target is Longduo City.”

“Longduo City borders the Demon-Ghost Great Wall to the north and the Julu Mountain Range to the south. It is also a hub where three rivers converge, making it a strategic location. If the Yinshan Clan takes it, it won’t be good for us all.”

Liuyu calmly scanned the jade slip, not making any exaggerated expressions, but quietly replied:

“The Demon-Ghost Great Wall and Shentu Clan have teamed up with you. They dominate one side. If I join forces with the Yinshan Clan, would that not be a perfect match against you?”

Jiufang Zhanghua replied, “The Jimu Clan has occupied Taiping City from the Yinshan Clan. Zhang doesn’t know, but Miss Jimu, how do you plan to join forces with them? Will you hand Taiping City back to them?”

Now that the conversation had reached this point, the performance was almost over.

Liuyu pretended to be persuaded. After some deep thought, she finally agreed to Jiufang Zhanghua’s proposal to team up against Nan Gong Yao.

In fact, this had been the final piece of the plan all along.

When Liuyu had communicated with the clan elders of the Yinshan Clan, after she revealed the entire plan of the Jimu Clan, the elders had asked her one critical question.

To make the Jimu Clan the perfect backer for Yinshan Clan’s escape, they needed to ensure that the two clans seemed absolutely divided in the eyes of the world.

Liuyu’s appearance or figure wasn’t the key to being uncovered.

The most important factor was always interests.

To clear the suspicion, the Jimu Clan had to appear publicly opposed to the Yinshan Clan, even as enemies.

Therefore, the last step of the plan to take Taiping City and Longduo City was to have Yinshan Clan’s forces join the fray, and then have the Jimu Clan step in to stop them, with the Jiufang Clan as silent witnesses.

This plan would only then be perfect.

“Allies, fine. But the terms must be clear first,” Liuyu cut to the chase, “The Shentu Clan belongs to me, and I will have the power to appoint and dismiss the Lord of Longduo City. No other clan may interfere.”

Wasn’t this essentially taking over Longduo City completely? Truly, no pretense anymore.

The nobles in the room cursed inwardly, their eyes falling on Jiufang Zhanghua.

“The Xiangli family can belong to you, but the power to appoint and remove officials is off-limits.”

Before, the taxes from Longdui City were split, with three parts going to the Xiangli family and seven parts to the Jiufang family. If the appointment and removal rights of the city lord were given to the Jimo family, the Jiufang family would lose those seven parts of the tax.

Shaogeng would certainly face severe punishment when he returned home.

Liuyu glanced at the uneasy Shaogeng.

She relented. “How about I trade the ‘Xian Nong Quanshu’ (Complete Book of Immortal Agriculture) Spirit Herb Volume for it?”

Jiufang Zhanghua fell silent.

After a moment, he said, “Add the Immortal Valley Volume.”

“No,” Liuyu decisively rejected. “You can add the Hundred Flowers Volume, but that’s it. Nothing else to discuss.”

The Spirit Herb and Hundred Flowers volumes were merely related to wealth, while the Immortal Valley Volume concerned food supplies. Even though acquiring the Immortal Valley Volume would still require cultivators skilled in agriculture to make use of it, the Jiufang family had the resources to find such talent.

If they gave this to the Jiufang family, it would provide endless supplies to a military general with an army.

There was no longer any point in continuing this fight; she might as well admit defeat.

Jiufang Zhanghua lightly tapped his fingers on the table, understanding her firm stance.

Her offering the ‘Xian Nong Quanshu’ exchange was a pleasant surprise, but handing over Longdui City still left him unwilling.

If not for Nangong Yao’s pressure… this matter wouldn’t have ended like this.

But for now, there was no other choice.

Jiufang Zhanghua nodded, and Liuyu smiled.

Liuyu turned the jade slip and showed him the message sent to Mo Lin.

“Does this satisfy you, Young Master?”

This jade slip was specially prepared for Jimo Gui’s identity, so Mo Lin’s name was replaced with “Lin Mo.” Jiufang Zhanghua’s gaze lingered on the message for a few moments.

[Let’s temporarily ally with them. After we seize Longdui City, we can slowly settle the score.]

She pushed this message in front of Jiufang Zhanghua, smiling brightly.

Jiufang Zhanghua glanced away.

“Thank you for your help, Miss Jimo.”

Liuyu looked at him, her tone still teasing.

“I don’t mind, but isn’t your relationship with the Yinshan family quite deep? If you join forces with the Jimo family to deal with the Yinshan family, how will you handle yourself when you return to Xiandu Yujing…”

Liuyu finally saw a crack in Jiufang Zhanghua’s calm demeanor.

The noble families present were both embarrassed and intrigued, their gazes shifting back and forth between the two.

Who didn’t know that when the Yinshan family publicly declared they had no intention of marrying their daughter to the Young Emperor, many people in Xiandu Yujing assumed their marriage was a done deal? Jiufang Zhanghua probably also prepared to become a member of the Yinshan family.

No one expected that this golden boy and jade girl would part ways so easily.

Jiufang Zhanghua was now caught between two families, his position awkward.

“Miss Jimo, you’re joking,” Jiufang Zhanghua said coldly under his elegant mask. “The one allied with the Jimo family is the Shentu family. What does that have to do with me?”

“Please excuse me for a moment.”

His figure left gracefully, his bearing impeccable, though his eyes carried a frosty edge.

The plan proceeded smoothly. Once Jiufang Zhanghua left, Liuyu’s smile faded, and she only wanted to return to the courtyard and rest, waiting for news from Longdui City.

But then, Shaogeng took the seat of his older brother.

He gave a cold look, and his personal guards quickly cleared the other noble families from the inner room. Shentu Xiang also left shortly, going to await news from the Longdui City battlefield.

“You don’t understand.”

The room fell quiet, with only the two facing each other and Liuyu’s entourage behind her.

“It’s that Yinshan Liuyu who’s treacherous. For her own gain, she’d rather marry a demon than my older brother, causing him to be mocked in the backrooms of Xiandu Yujing. My older brother is upright, but they should be the ones who don’t know how to deal with this situation—it’s the Yinshan family who’s at fault!”

Lanzhu and the Ghost Girl held their breath, watching Liuyu’s back.

“I see… But what are you telling me all this for?”

Shaogeng raised his chin slightly, pausing for a moment before continuing:

“Anyone who opposes the Yinshan family is a friend of the Jiufang family. If you’re sensible, there’s no reason you can’t be my friend.”

Liuyu looked at him with a half-smile.

“I’ve heard you really dislike Yinshan Liuyu. Why is that?”

Hearing her name, Shaogeng’s brows furrowed, as if just hearing her name made him uncomfortable.

“This woman, relying on her looks, some talent, and a good family background, played with my older brother’s emotions. She used him as a tool to amuse herself and her sister, only to kick him aside in the end—such a despicable person. If my older brother liked her, it was only because he was blinded.”

The atmosphere in the room became a bit strange.

Xiangli Hualian, confused, glanced at Lanzhu and the Ghost Girl who wore odd expressions.

“Since it’s a gathering for casual conversation, now that we’re here, we can’t just have a discussion with your older brother.”

Liuyu rested her chin on her hand, pointing to the chessboard between the two.

“Do you want to play?”

Shaogeng remembered how Liuyu had lost to his older brother earlier and guessed that she might be from a fallen noble family, not familiar with casual talks. He couldn’t help but feel a bit eager.

If he could win against her, it would be a great way to redeem himself.

He was about to agree when Liuyu suddenly smiled.

“But there’s no real wager. Doesn’t seem very fun. Young Master, do you want to add a wager?”

“What wager?”

The young girl leaned forward a little, her lashes fluttering, her eyes shining like falling stars.

“The winner can make the loser do anything, as long as it doesn’t involve family interests and isn’t done in public. Would Young Master dare accept such a wager?”

Shaogeng’s breath caught for a moment.

He stared at her lips, which were moving as she spoke, momentarily distracted.

Before he knew it, he had agreed.

A stick of incense had passed.

Lanzhu, Ghost Girl, and Xiangli Huolian left the inner chamber one by one. After a breath, a crisp slap was heard from inside.

The battle outside Longdui City ended at the hour of Hai.

After a series of twists during the day, the various aristocratic families returned to their guest houses after the peace talk session and discussed the young head of the Jimo family, who had just emerged. Some sighed at the threat posed by the rising star, while others secretly entertained the thought of siding with her, calculating the benefits with their clans.

Jiu Fang Zhanghua stood beneath a pomegranate tree, receiving news from the battlefield.

According to Shentu Chi, the demon didn’t initially want to cooperate with them, but after receiving news from Jimo Gui, he decisively charged forward, forcing Nangong Yao to retreat. With their men holding the front, the Shentu family didn’t suffer many casualties, which was fortunate.

But as Jiu Fang Zhanghua read the few lines of text, his suspicions arose once again under the night sky.

Why had Nangong Yao left the royal territory and appeared here?

Was it just for Longdui City?

While Longdui City was important, was it really enough to stir Nangong Yao into action?

He had not left the royal capital for many years. Even if today’s Jimo Gui was truly Liu Yu, the people sent by the Yinshan family would not be Nangong Yao.

Perhaps this was a signal from the Yinshan family? Had their relationship with the imperial master changed?

The tangled suspicions filled his mind, but he couldn’t come to a conclusion.

It wasn’t just Nangong Yao—he couldn’t see through Jimo Gui either.

Who exactly was she…?

“You wanted something.”

The girl, who had appeared behind him at some point, casually shoved a brocade bag containing the “Complete Works of Immortal Farming” spiritual herb volume and the Hundred Flowers volume into his arms.

Jiu Fang Zhanghua didn’t look at the brocade bag but stared at Liuyu’s face, as if trying to look through it.

“I heard after you left today, did Miss Jimo have another chat with Shaogeng?”

Liuyu glanced towards the door.

The battle outside Longdui City had ended. According to the plan, her uncle Nangong Yao would first withdraw the troops, then secretly meet with her.

And Mo Lin should already be on his way to meet her. She had heard that he had been injured, but the report hadn’t mentioned the specifics of his injuries. Liuyu, unable to sit still in the courtyard, decided to go out and wait for him.

“So what?” she asked with a smile, “Does the Young Master wish to avenge his younger brother?”

The young man’s expression was calm: “My foolish younger brother has a wild temperament. No one dares offend him in Xiandu Yujing. Miss Jimo was able to give him a good lesson, for which Zhang is deeply grateful.”

Thinking back to how Shaogeng had been stunned by that slap and still hadn’t recovered, Jiu Fang Zhanghua felt both pity and a sense of deservedness.

He knew that his younger brother, knowing full well he wasn’t a match, had still taken a gamble and accepted the bet.

Usually, it was Shaogeng playing pranks on others, so he couldn’t understand why he kept losing to Jimo Gui.

The clash of strategies during the day had now settled. Given the temporarily bound relationship based on mutual interest, whether pretense or politeness, the tension between the two eased a little with the topic of Shaogeng.

The summer night’s bright moonlight filtered through the sparse pomegranate flowers, casting mottled shadows on the two figures.

Mo Lin stood in the shadow outside the door, silently watching as the two exchanged glances and laughter.

The moonlight shone on the young man’s refined features, and his expression was calm with a gentle smile. His wide moon-white robes draped over his tall figure, and every word and gesture reflected the grace and dignity of an aristocratic son.

… He matched her perfectly.

Mo Lin had known this point for a long time, having observed it countless times from the side.

Ever since parting from the Danque carriage, as the days of separation grew longer, those old memories from Xiandu Yujing grew clearer in his mind.

Even though he clearly understood Liuyu’s hatred for Jiu Fang Zhanghua, in the dead of night, Mo Lin still couldn’t suppress his yearning thoughts.

It was because he had once deeply loved her, so her betrayal by him hurt her more.

If he hadn’t interfered, Jiu Fang Zhanghua might not have betrayed her, and she would have married him smoothly.

She would treat him as she treated Jiu Fang Zhanghua.

She had the ability to make anyone happy.

He, however, was the thief who had coveted and stolen someone else’s fate.

These chaotic thoughts surged towards him when he saw them standing together again, like a beast’s bloody jaws opening in the night, devouring the shameful satisfaction he had just felt.

“You’re back?”

A clear voice floated under the pomegranate tree.

Mo Lin snapped out of his daze, unsure whether she was talking to him.

But the girl who had appeared behind Jiu Fang Zhanghua was certainly looking at him.

Her dark, bright hair, her clear, snow-like eyes.

The hem of her clothes fluttered as she ran towards him, with no deviation in her step. She shattered the memories of him as an observer, coming straight toward him.

It was as if the entire world opened its arms to embrace him.

Mo Lin stood frozen, like a wooden sculpture.

“Are you hurt? Why is there still blood? Haven’t you bandaged it?”

He was covered in torn clothes, marks from sword cuts and blade edges all over his body. Blood still oozed from a wound in his waist and abdomen, and Liuyu didn’t know where to start to help him.

He clearly had the ability to defeat that person.

It was for her plan, for her greater scheme, that he willingly suppressed his strength and sustained such a heavy injury.

Her heart tightened, and Liuyu’s throat felt sour. She choked back her feelings, then gently held his face and said:

“I’m sorry.”

“Next time, I’ll try harder, I promise, I won’t let you suffer such severe injuries again.”