Divine General Plan, Immortal Aunt Yaozhen

Divine General Plan, Immortal Aunt Yaozhen

By the time Ning Xuan returned to the residence, it was already the dead of night.

On ordinary nights, Xiao Jie would only light the lamp in his room.

But tonight, the whole place was brightly lit.

As Ning Xuan entered the courtyard, he immediately sensed someone in the reception hall.

His father, and a stranger.

Ning Xuan thought another "Uncle Tang" had come to visit. But when he rounded the screen wall, he saw a beautiful, cold-faced young female Daoist instead.

She held a horsetail whisk in her hands, her expression indifferent.

It was the kind of indifference that belonged beyond the clouds, amid ice and snow, untouched by worldly concerns.

She seemed utterly unconcerned with anything in the world.

Such indifference sat strangely on someone so young.

More unusual still, this indifferent female Daoist wore a black python-patterned robe.

The imposing robe was clearly far too large for her. Wrapped around her, it concealed her shapely figure and every graceful curve.

Seeing Ning Xuan, Ning Taiyi hurried to his feet. "Xuan'er, this is the envoy from the Imperial Capital, Immortal Aunt Yaozhen."

Immortal Aunt?

Ning Xuan thought back for a moment.

His elder brother had told him that female Celestial Masters were usually called Immortal Aunts. But there were so few of them that he had hardly ever seen one.

He studied the Immortal Aunt. She couldn't be much older than he was.

To become an Immortal Aunt at such a young age—she truly came from a major city.

The indifferent, python-robed female Daoist didn't waste words. She stood and said in a thoroughly official tone, "Ning Xuan, please strike once."

Ning Taiyi added, "Xuan'er, just do as you did last time."

Ning Xuan didn't waste words either. He took up his blade and, with his physique at 3.5, unleashed a Swallow Combine slash.

A long, piercing hum rang out like a startled swallow's cry, lingering without end.

Immortal Aunt Yaozhen watched in silence for a moment, then nodded. She drew a scroll of bright yellow silk from her sleeve and said, "Ning Xuan, receive the decree."

Ning Taiyi hurried over and pulled Ning Xuan down to his knees.

Immortal Aunt Yaozhen began to read.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor hereby decrees:

"We have heard that Ning Xuan of the Ning Family is blessed with extraordinary talent and unmatched courage. Though young, he possesses the valor to slay demons and subdue fiends, and is truly a pillar of the nation. We hereby promote him to General Anyuan, grant him the Tiger Tally, and place the two prefectures of Wangyue and Ping'an under his command, that he may bring peace to the region.

"We trust you will diligently hone your martial skills and sharpen your edge, never failing the heavy trust We place in you. Subdue demons and fiends with your courage; defend Our realm with loyalty and righteousness. When you have achieved success, a generous reward shall surely follow!

"So decreed."

After reading the decree, Immortal Aunt Yaozhen took out a jade box and held it up alongside the imperial edict.

Ning Xuan narrowed his eyes.

The rest was nothing but formalities. The crucial part was the line, "place the two prefectures of Wangyue and Ping'an under his command, that he may bring peace to the region."

It granted him immense authority and defined the territory under his jurisdiction.

That authority meant he could use the Tiger Tally to command the Prefects' forces in Wangyue and Ping'an openly, as well as the Daoist forces behind the scenes.

As General Anyuan, he had effectively become the unquestioned emperor of the two prefectures.

Why two prefectures?

Because Wangyue Prefecture already belonged to his family. The Son of Heaven was backing him, granting the Ning Family what they had originally sought. It was also a way of saying, "If your Ning Family doesn't want to move, then you needn't move. Not only that, We'll give your family double protection. The Prefect is yours, and even the general above the Prefect is yours." Such was the boundless grace of the Emperor.

Ping'an Prefecture, meanwhile, was another matter.

From the fact that Tang Chuan's daughter was in the Imperial Capital's "Divine Weapon Camp," that "Tang Chuan had spent many years in the Imperial Capital," and that "Tang Chuan knew about the reforms and the Imperial Capital's intelligence," it was clear that Tang Chuan belonged to the Son of Heaven's faction.

So the Son of Heaven had issued an edict to place someone over Tang Chuan. Tang Chuan wouldn't openly object.

At the same time, Ping'an Prefecture was currently suffering a demon calamity.

As General Anyuan, with "the two prefectures of Wangyue and Ping'an under his command," Ning Xuan would naturally be responsible for resolving the troubles in Ping'an Prefecture.

He couldn't refuse this task.

It was also a test of his ability.

Only if he passed would he truly be General Anyuan, commanding the two prefectures of Wangyue and Ping'an.

If he failed, the Ning Family would have no right to enjoy the privilege of "surpassing two generations in splendor."

Ning Xuan didn't waste words. He stood, said, "Many thanks for Your Majesty's favor," and took the jade box and imperial edict in hand.

He opened the jade box. Inside lay a golden talisman shaped like a dragon, radiating a mysterious aura.

At the sight of that aura, Ning Taiyi immediately bowed respectfully to his son.

Ning Xuan furrowed his brow in confusion.

Ning Taiyi smiled and explained, "Reporting to the General, those of us who take up posts outside the capital were once Daoists under the Son of Heaven. We scattered our power after taking up our posts, but we still recognize the Dragon Qi of our former sovereign. When we see this Tiger Tally, loyalty naturally rises in our hearts.

"Of course, we have scattered our power, and a long time has passed. That compulsory loyalty has faded considerably, replaced by loyalty freely given."

He acted every inch the subordinate before his superior.

Yet anyone could see that he was beaming with joy.

What in this world could be more gratifying than "your son becoming your own immediate superior"?

Then he explained, "An imperial decree appointing someone as a general will be proclaimed throughout the land, so you needn't worry that the law won't be enforced."

Ning Xuan smiled too. "Father, now you can rest easy."

Ning Taiyi wasn't at ease. There was still worry in his eyes. How could he not hear what Ning Xuan had heard?

Ning Xuan said, "Father, go get some rest first."

Ning Taiyi said, "Ugly Slave is about to break through. He can go with you."

Ning Xuan nodded.

Only then did Ning Taiyi smile and leave.

He had been utterly biased in giving all the Dragon Qi to his eldest son, while leaving the task of carrying on the family line to his younger son. But now his younger son was proving himself capable too, and he naturally hoped his eldest son would do everything he could to protect him.

Only two people remained in the reception hall.

Ning Xuan asked, "When will Immortal Aunt be leaving?"

Yaozhen shook her head.

Ning Xuan asked, "Are you also serving as an inspector, to see how I bring peace to Ping'an Prefecture before you leave?"

Yaozhen said, "I'm not leaving."

Ning Xuan said, "Oh?"

Yaozhen said, "Twenty years ago, the imperial house began doing everything it could to cultivate a group of Daoists who bore a blood feud against demons and fiends, had no family ties, and were utterly loyal to the imperial house. They were to carry out the Divine General Plan twenty years later. Now those twenty years have passed. You and I are both part of the Divine General Plan."

Ning Xuan asked curiously, "What is the Divine General Plan?"

Yaozhen said, "Demons and fiends will grow ever stronger. The imperial house intends to pour all its resources into nurturing twelve Divine Generals."

Ning Xuan asked, "What about Great General Qin? Is he part of it?"

Yaozhen said, "He isn't."

Then she added, "Every Daoist in our cohort has mastered a special power called 'Whisper.' We can exchange information with one another, and even from ten thousand li away, we can speak without any trouble.

"Besides that, each of us can be linked exclusively to one person, allowing us to 'Whisper' with that person across ten thousand li. That person is our Divine General.

"Our purpose in being trained is to be assigned to a prospective Divine General, grow alongside them, and eventually become comrades who share life and death.

"I can obtain a great deal of intelligence and help you apply for necessary support. When you go on campaign, I can also stay by your side.

"I came to deliver the decree. I brought you the imperial edict, the Tiger Tally, and myself."

Ning Xuan froze for a moment, then ventured, "Is this an imperial marriage arranged by His Majesty?"

Yaozhen said, "No."

Ning Xuan said gently, "That's good."

Then he said, "I don't like people around me being forced into anything. Since we're destined to become partners, I hope you'll have more freedom and more room to form your own opinions. That goes for love, too."

Yaozhen said, "This humble Daoist's heart rests in the Great Void, unstained by the dust of passion. Serenity and contentment are enough. Boundless blessings and immeasurable life."

The first round of their exchange was over.

Ning Xuan had wanted to see whether she was lovesick. After all, "orphan" and "raised to be a tool" were ingredients that could easily leave someone "starved for love."

But Yaozhen had seen right through him and made it clear: "I'm not starved for love, thank you."

Ning Xuan said again, "Then I want to sleep with you. Does His Majesty approve?"

Yaozhen answered with utmost seriousness, "I don't."

Ning Xuan said, "Don't you know how important the Divine General Plan is? You were born for the Divine General Plan, so are you really unwilling to make even the smallest necessary sacrifice? If you can make me your willing captive, wouldn't that make things much easier in the future?"

As he spoke, his roguish expression returned.

The eyes that had once battled on all sides at Chenxiang Pavilion began to dart around, sweeping over Yaozhen's oversized python robe as though trying to see what it concealed.

Yaozhen's icy composure finally cracked. Where had she ever encountered such a shameless old lecher? Her cheeks flushed red at once.

She repeated, "This humble Daoist's heart rests in the Great Void, unstained by the dust of passion! If the General needs me, simply summon me. I've already linked our 'Whispers.' Even if you're at the ends of the earth, as long as you speak the name Yaozhen, I'll hear you."

As she spoke, she moved, golden light surged, and she vanished from the spot.

Ning Xuan let out a breath.

At least the person His Majesty had sent would blush when teased. She wasn't a puppet.

He tried to sense it and found a mysterious aura attached to his Divine Soul.

This must be the "Whisper" Yaozhen had mentioned.

He thought for a moment, then, thinking of Immortal Aunt Yaozhen, said aloud, "I love you."

There was no response.

He tried again. "Yaozhen, I love you."

This time, a reply came from the other end.

"General, don't joke around!"

Her voice carried anger she could barely hold back.

Ning Xuan burst out laughing.

All right, the first test was complete.

He now had a rough initial understanding of his position and his partner's temperament.