Chapter 73

Cough, cough, cough—

It wasn’t until the last wisp of golden light from the communication array faded that Yinshan Ze suddenly erupted into a fit of coughing from deep in his throat.

His lean, elongated body bent like a bow with the force of the painful coughs. Nangong Jing immediately reached out to catch his trembling hand, quickly commanding the maid outside:

“Go fetch a divine physician!”

The maid’s hurried footsteps faded as Nangong Jing took out a white jade bottle, uncapping it, and immediately the sharp scent of the medicine wafted out.

The moment he smelled it, the coughs he had just suppressed surged back up. Yinshan Ze turned his flushed face away from the medicine, grasping Nangong Jing’s wrist in an attempt to push the bottle away.

“…I don’t want to drink this. Give me wine instead.”

Nangong Jing’s cool fingertips brushed over his pale lips.

“How about poisoned wine? I’ll send you on your way today. After the seventh day, I’ll find ten husbands to offer you the concubine rites in front of your memorial tablet.”

His jet-black hair flowed like clouds, and Yinshan Ze arched his body, resting his head on his wife’s lap. The dark red jade beads woven into his hair flickered on and off, like the faint, uneasy light in his eyes.

“You’re trying to scare me.”

Nangong Jing remained silent, simply holding the porcelain bottle and watching him.

Beneath her dark red, wide sleeves, two slender fingers emerged, their tips stained with cinnabar, glowing with a translucent jade color.

Yinshan Ze gazed up at the pills in the jade bottle, his voice slightly hoarse as he murmured:

“I wonder if Liuyu noticed earlier.”

“So I told you not to get involved.”

“That’s not going to work. It’s been so long since I’ve seen Liuyu.”

A slight itch returned to his throat. Yinshan Ze sighed and drank the medicine from the jade bottle in one gulp.

“Jiu Fangqian always likes to leave a backup plan. If we can’t uncover his true trump cards, I can’t help but feel uneasy letting Liuyu face him alone.”

Nangong Jing watched the tea leaves floating in his cup, his thoughts seemingly drifting with them.

“We don’t have time. The situation in the capital is even more severe than I thought.”

Yinshan Ze turned over lazily and said, “After all these years of defense, we’ve only been protecting ourselves from external enemies. Who would have thought the real threat would come from within… Since Jiu Fangqian has already made a move, there will definitely be traces. Once we figure out who in the royal family is behind this, we can rest easy.”

When Liuyu had first mentioned the things she saw in her dreams, Yinshan Ze had tried to reassure her by calling it mere illusions, but he couldn’t help harboring some doubts in his heart.

It wasn’t that they had hidden things too well.

Rather, it was that there were always people you didn’t want to suspect.

After a long silence, Nangong Jing spoke softly, “You’ve been sleeping longer and longer recently.”

Yinshan Ze raised his eyes and smiled lightly. “Isn’t it because I’ve been taking medicine? Once you’ve taken care of the situation in the capital, I’ll naturally get better.”

His pale, porcelain-like face brushed against the soft satin as he lightly rubbed it, then raised his eyes to look up at Nangong Jing.

“If I were to die, just like Liuyu saw in her dream, I would love to see you pinning a white flower for me… Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! You’re so cruel, Qingqing! I spent two hours on my makeup, and now it’s all ruined!”

Nangong Jing calmly set down her cup, handed Yinshan Ze over to the arriving physician, and stood up to leave.

“Summon the head of the affairs office to the residence.”

The maidservant was a little surprised.

The head of the affairs office was far in the royal capital, accompanying the young emperor and recording daily events, as well as drafting imperial edicts. Though most imperial orders came from Nangong Jing herself, calling the affairs officer to her residence was unprecedented.

The maidservant said, “If we summon him now, he might arrive by evening, but since tomorrow is the regular morning court, he will probably leave right after seeing you…”

“There will be no morning court tomorrow.”

Nangong Jing walked through the long corridor, the breeze flowing around her. From the elevated position, she looked toward another district in the distance.

The Immortal Capital, Yujing, gathered the world’s noble families. Over the years, each family had built extravagant estates, and from a distance, the Jiu Fang family’s mansion seemed to be shrouded in mist, with high towers, wind-blown pavilions, and countless elevated platforms, nearly occupying an entire district.

She spoke in a low voice: “Starting tomorrow, the emperor will claim illness and suspend the court. All matters regarding the Da Chao will be discussed in my Yinshan family’s residence.”

Yin Lanruo and Shentu Shihuan’s wedding was scheduled for an auspicious day.

When the Danque carriage entered the Bronze City, the Shentu family’s spiritual artifacts were scattered, offering red tickets to cultivators coming from all over. Even the taverns and teahouses hung signs that read, “Celebrate Shentu’s happy occasion with a three-percent discount today.” The atmosphere in the city was filled with excitement, as the city lord’s son was getting married.

Shangguan Zhou and Beigong Ying had just entered the Shentu family’s residence, discussing the puppet general who had come to protect Yin Zi’s safety, when they suddenly noticed a stir beside them.

Looking over, they saw the emblem of the Jimo family among the many carriages.

Shangguan Zhou was a bit surprised: “Why is she here?”

Since the news of the Yin and Shentu family’s marriage alliance had spread, there had been rumors that Jimo Gui had a former associate who had served the Jiu Fang family and was now married to Yin’s daughter.

At first, this was just gossip between the noble families, but now Jimo Gui had actually appeared at the Shentu family’s wedding.

… Was she trying to cause trouble today after protecting her demon subordinates so fiercely?

Beigong Ying was also curious.

Although she had been annoyed when Jimo Gui compared herself to Yinshan Liuyu, she had later heard that Jimo Gui had boldly confronted the many noble families to defend her demon subordinates. Beigong Ying was somewhat impressed.

Unfortunately, with Miss Zhongli’s orders, Jimo’s people had visited the Beigong family several times to buy salt, but they were all rejected by her grandfather.

It seemed like the Beigong family had already made an enemy of the Jimo family.

Beigong Ying asked, “But who gave her the invitation?”

The head of the Shentu family wouldn’t publicly oppose Zhongli Lingzhao, would he?

Both of their eyes fell on Shentu Shiying, standing nearby.

Shentu Shiying looked at the red silk hanging above and said lightly, “Who knows?”

“But if she’s here today, she probably won’t have an easy time.”

Shangguan Zhou looked toward a young man who was chatting with Shentu Xiang in the distance.

“This Yin Zi has aligned himself with the Zhongli family. To protect his safety, the Zhongli family has sent more puppet generals. Even the Yinshan family’s people may not leave unscathed, let alone a small Jimo family?”

A servant hurried over to the young man, whispering something. The young man’s expression remained silent.

“Is this the Jimo Gui who disrespected Miss Lingzhao?”

The servant answered, “She’s heading this way.”

Zhong Wuyong turned to Shentu Xiang and spoke quietly, “Did the head of the Shentu family really send an invitation to such a person?”

Shentu Xiang glanced at Shentu Shiying in the distance, already knowing the answer in his heart.

Because of this marriage, Shihuan had been crying every day, and Shiying had quarreled with him several times.

——The Shentu family controls six cities, has three thousand workshops, and countless talented members. As the family head, how could he let a little girl under twenty control his children’s marriage? Such humiliation!

Shentu Xiang remained indifferent to the insults but did not expect this child to not only scold him but also send an invitation to the Jimo family to stir up trouble.

…The youth nowadays certainly have too much courage.

“They are indeed a family from the same region of the Demon and Ghost Great Wall,” Shentu Xiang admitted, then spoke politely, “Today, with the Zhongli family’s presence, I doubt she will cause any trouble.”

Zhong Wuyong crossed his arms, his right arm, holding a mechanical crossbow, making a metallic clang as it collided.

“Just a young, inexperienced girl. Our Zhongli family’s puppets aren’t meant to be used against her.”

After this grand wedding, Yin Zishi’s control over the Yinshan family’s marketplace would officially be handed over to the Zhongli family.

Yin Zishi would also receive the Zhongli family surname and officially enter the Zhongli family in the southern land.

The higher-ups had already passed on word that Nangong Yao had been lingering around the Demon Ghost Great Wall recently, likely to assassinate Yin Zishi and block the marketplace handover.

If Nangong Yao appeared, he would lead the puppets and must protect Yin Zishi.

As for that nameless little soldier, Ji Mo Gui…

If they could find an opportunity to deal with her as well, that would be even better.

“—Can I touch your mechanical crossbow? It looks so beautiful.”

Zhong Wuyong looked down and saw a little girl with twin buns on her head, staring adoringly at the crossbow on his arm.

“From a poor, rural family of the countryside, really has never seen the world.”

He said this, but Zhong Wuyong still lowered his arm. As he clenched his fist, the energy within his body surged toward the crossbow on his arm.

The crossbow made of mysterious iron let out a cold, heavy metallic sound, and the moonlight seemed to flicker as lightning crackled around the crossbow, enveloping the sharp arrows with layers of thunder energy.

“Immortal Arts: Volume Nine – Long-range Mechanisms – Thunderous Crossbow”

How she liked it.

How she wanted to dismantle it.

Fang Fucang, who had been a little behind, glanced at Zhong Wuyong and reminded him:

“Control your saliva, don’t drool all over the crossbow.”

Yue Niang immediately covered her mouth.

“Master is lying! I didn’t drool!”

Zhong Wuyong seemed amused by the little girl’s foolishness and compassionately asked:

“What’s your name?”

Yue Niang blinked. “Yan Yue Niang.”

That name seemed familiar.

But the Yan family—

Zhong Wuyong thought of the Yan Wushu who had always been around Miss Lingzhao.

A lowly pretty boy who knew how to guess his master’s thoughts. No matter how scheming he was, it didn’t change the fact that he made a mistake when Miss Lingzhao found a portrait of Yinshan Liuyu in his house, burned it, and even expelled him from the Lingyong Academy.

Now who knew where he was begging for food?

Zhong Wuyong sneered inwardly, and as he looked at Yue Niang, his gaze grew more contemptuous. He immediately fell silent.

Of course, the more important reason was that the Yan family wasn’t an aristocratic family. Talking to such commoners would lower his status.

Yue Niang didn’t realize he was looking down on her and continued to ask:

“How do you activate this crossbow? Can the arrows track enemies? Have you considered combining it with an array? To be honest, I once made a game using a firefly shooter, where the arrows were fired from an array, which could be quite unexpected in combat…”

Fang Fucang covered her babbling mouth.

Daring to give advice to the enemy, which side are you on?

Standing behind Shentu Xiang, an elder from the Zhongli family subtly lifted his eyelids, silently observing Yue Niang.

Zhong Wuyong sneered in mockery:

“A mere commoner dares to give opinions on the Zhongli family’s Thunderous Crossbow. Truly overestimating themselves.”

Yue Niang’s words went in one ear and out the other; he didn’t take them seriously.

“Wait a minute.”

Suddenly, Zhong Wuyong, who was about to leave, remembered something. His sharp gaze landed on Fang Fucang and Yue Niang.

“—Yan Yue Niang? Are you from the Ji Mo family?”

Elsewhere, Liuyu was observing the puppets guarding Yin Zishi.

Since the last night’s banquet ended in an unpleasant manner, these aristocrats, who considered themselves above others, had been waiting to see the Ji Mo family’s joke. Today, Ji Mo Gui had come to them on her own, and although the guests kept silent, they were all secretly waiting to see her make a fool of herself.

Liuyu knew what they were thinking, but she still wore a half-smiling, half-genuine expression and naturally mingled with the guests, watching the puppets in the courtyard.

“So many puppets,” Liuyu blinked and smiled as she asked, “Miss Ying, is the tallest one also a puppet?”

The suddenly singled-out Beigong Ying froze for a moment.

Were they… familiar with each other?

Beigong Ying hesitated and replied, “I… think so. It’s wearing Zhongli family armor, and it’s certainly different from the others, probably quite powerful too.”

Most of the puppets lined up along the courtyard wall had normal human sizes, but this one was twice as tall as a normal person, unable to even enter the inner chambers. It had to sit cross-legged by the flower bed in the courtyard, casting a shadow over the area.

The massive, non-human mechanical puppet was clad in golden armor, its face wrapped in cloth strips, with only slits for its eyes visible, hidden in the shadows cast by its hood.

Liuyu watched the unexpected puppet, silently guessing its strength when suddenly, the puppet turned its head and silently faced her.

A cool breeze with an autumn scent passed through the courtyard, and the autumn chrysanthemums in the flower bed gently swayed.

…Such a strange feeling.

She knew the puppet was just a mechanism from the Zhongli family.

But in that moment, Liuyu felt as though it was staring right into her.

Had she done anything? Could this puppet somehow sense her thoughts?

“Today, Miss Yin and Young Master Shentu are getting married. Ji Mo Gui, I heard your subordinate is Miss Yin’s ex-husband. You bringing your people here seems a bit… out of place?”

One of the aristocratic family heads suddenly spoke in mockery.

“An ex-husband coming to eat his ex-wife’s wedding feast, that’s a rare spectacle. Miss Ji Mo, did you find today’s banquet boring and come here just to give us something to laugh at?”

“Lord Gongyang is mistaken.”

An old man with white beard shot a sarcastic glance at Liuyu.

“This Ji Mo family head regards the distinction between the noble and common as nothing. Perhaps she’s here to speak up for her subordinate, but didn’t that young Master Fang choose this master who would turn him from noble to lowly?”

Another voice said, “At the crossroads of the world, the heavens truly divide! If anyone dares to confuse the hierarchy of respect and rank, they will be punished by all…”

“Is it really that serious?”

Liuyu raised her hand to cover her lips, exaggeratedly blinking as she said,

“Then, wouldn’t the head of the Gongyang family have to go and punish that demon lord of the Nine Hells?”

It seemed as if someone had been choked by the neck, and the head of the Gongyang family suddenly became speechless.

The puppet under the ancient locust tree slightly turned its head, its gaze fixed unmoving on Liuyu’s figure.

Its eyes, bound in cloth, were as dark as an unfathomable abyss.

“What’s this? Can’t? Or don’t dare?” Liuyu tilted her head and smiled, “Looks like this rule is really up to personal preference.”

Looking around, she walked to Bei Gongying’s side.

“Am I not just following the example set above? The noble families of Xian Du Yujing happily sent the eldest daughter of the Yin Mountain clan to the Nine Hells, and I thought our Da Chao no longer had the rule of ‘no marriage between nobility and commoners’.”

Bei Gongying glared at her in anger.

Did she really want to humiliate Miss Liuyu so openly—was she deliberately making trouble?

Liuyu took a medicine box from her mustard seed pouch and stuffed it into Bei Gongying’s arms.

“I heard that the head of the Bei Gong family is bedridden with illness and in need of a Luo Hou immortal fruit for medicine. The ones available in the market are of low quality, but I have a hundred-year-old one here. I wonder if it might be of help?”

Bei Gongying immediately swallowed the angry words she had been about to say.

What do you mean “might help”?

It would be a great help! A huge help!

The other noble families present also showed various expressions.

When did Ji Mo Gui have any dealings with the Bei Gong family?

Due to the order from the Zhong Li family, they had all severed their relations with the Ji Mo family and also stopped the business dealings with the Xiang Li family regarding medicinal pills.

It was one thing to lose money in business, but if someone was seriously ill or injured, cutting off access to Xiang Li’s medicinal pills and spiritual herbs could be a death sentence. Many of the noble families had grievances with the Zhong Li family.

These grievances turned to dissatisfaction when they saw Ji Mo Gui send the Luo Hou immortal fruit.

Why was the Bei Gong family still able to associate with Ji Mo Gui?

The Fourth Miss of the Zhong Li family had easily issued an order, while these noble families had lost real wealth.

Bei Gongying also realized the situation.

If she accepted this Luo Hou immortal fruit, how would she explain it to the Zhong Li family…?

“Who dares to openly disobey Miss Lingzhao’s orders? Step forward and state your name! Who are you working for?”

A sound of thunder crackled through the air, and the next moment, the wooden door was violently blown open by a burst of energy, startling Bei Gongying so much that she reflexively shoved the box back to Liuyu.

“Bei Gong family has obeyed Miss Lingzhao’s orders and has not accepted it.”

With the energy flow came Fang Fucang and Yue Niang.

Yue Niang rushed toward Liuyu, while Fang Fucang, evidently hurriedly preparing, used his energy as a shield to block a lightning arrow that had been aimed at his face, leaving deep tracks on the ground from his retreat.

Yue Niang yelled, “Miss, help!”

Shen Tu Xiang, who had followed closely behind, frowned and said,

“Today is my son’s wedding day. I ask that Lord Zhong be lenient and not cause any trouble in the house.”

“Trouble?”

Zhong Wuyong didn’t even spare him a glance.

Shen Tu Xiang was merely a second-rate noble family, and he was a servant of the Zhong Li family. In front of him, even Shen Tu Xiang had to show respect.

“Didn’t the child want to see my crossbow? I was just giving her a little show, that’s all. Hey, kid, does this crossbow look nice?”

Yue Niang, peeking out from behind Liuyu, gained some confidence and retorted:

“What a lousy crossbow! If I had the materials, I could make ten of them in a day, all better than yours!”

“Just you?” Zhong Wuyong’s eyes were filled with a cold and arrogant glint.

“Lowly commoners, who will never touch even a page of the family teachings of the noble houses, yet you’ve fallen to serve such a master, reduced to living under the same roof as demons and ghosts. Your status is now three times lower. In this life, you are only fit to work like a beast, giving birth to more commoners to be used as tools. This is your fate.”

Noble families prided themselves on their status, and even though such thoughts might be in their hearts, they wouldn’t speak so openly.

But those servants who were dependent on the noble families, often mistreated, could be more arrogant than true noble families when they had a chance to lash out.

Yue Niang had never heard such harsh and bitter words, and she felt humiliated to the point of tears.

Liuyu’s eyes shifted slightly, and she looked at Shen Tu Xiang.

He furrowed his brows, clearly having foreseen that today’s wedding would not go smoothly. He slowly shook his head at Liuyu, his eyes signaling her to stop.

In the tense atmosphere, Liuyu suddenly let out a soft laugh.

“I don’t know if that’s her fate, but I know what your fate will be.”

Zhong Wuyong sneered coldly.

She was just trying to make a show of things.

Even if she had the power of the Eight Realms, so what? Today, the entire yard was full of puppets, and the Shen Tu family was at the mercy of the Zhong Li family. Even if she couldn’t be harmed at the wedding, once she stepped out of this door, her fate would be sealed…

Both Shen Tu Xiang and Zhong Wuyong looked up at the same place in the sky, their expressions stern.

The killing intent that came from afar materialized into an army of thousands, accompanied by distant growls from the clouds. A surge of energy, like a mountain pressing down, like water flooding, filled the entire sky.

Swift as the wind.

Steady as the forest.

Destructive as fire—

The army’s momentum—Seventh Form—Unmoved like a mountain.

…It was Nangong Yao.

“Nangong Yao is here!”

The Yin Zi of the inner courtyard trembled, falling to the ground.

The sky was filled with energy that turned into wind and fire, bringing with it the oppressive force of the strongest within the Nine Realms. Even Zhong Wuyong, who had been prepared, couldn’t help but feel a tremor in his heart.

The puppets’ threads tightened, and the sound of thunder from the crossbow clashing with the golden-armored puppets echoed through the yard. Zhong Wuyong shouted, “Protect!”

The puppets responded.

The strength of the giant puppet was still unclear. She had to inform Nangong Yao…

Liuyu’s step was just about to take her forward when two impacts struck simultaneously.

On one side, Zhong Wuyong and several puppet generals were crushed to the ground by Nangong Yao’s wind and fire soldier forces.

On the other side, it was an unexpected attack on Liuyu.

…It might not be entirely accurate to call it an attack.

Liuyu, her whole body tense, had already formed a stone sword. However, the giant puppet that suddenly lunged at her didn’t seem to be attacking her.

There was a series of sharp crackling sounds.

The broken stones that had been sent flying by Nangong Yao’s attack hadn’t even reached its golden armor before they were burned to dust by a layer of eerie otherworldly fire.

Fire?

Kneeling on the ground, the massive creature formed a space around it. As the space was enclosed by its body, Liuyu’s vision was suddenly dimmed, and she blinked in surprise.

The stone sword was already pressed against the puppet’s chest.

The reason there was no further action wasn’t because Liuyu had softened, but because a thread of dark otherworldly fire had met the tip of her sword.

Both Liuyu and Mo Lin, who was currently standing on the eaves of the Shentuo family’s residence, immediately recognized where this strange fire came from—

This giant, oversized puppet.

It possessed an otherworldly fire similar to the Infinite Ghost Fire.