The two "porters" seemed quite familiar with the layout of the Zhen Estate. They deftly skirted the servants, estate guards, and disciples stationed along the way, reaching the vicinity of Riverwave Hall in just the time it took to drink two cups of tea.
They stopped and hid in the shadows beside the building, in no hurry to break in.
One of the "porters" was Ma Hanjiang, leader of the Small Boat Gang, in disguise. He turned his gaze toward his companion.
Riverwave Hall was crowded at present, with no shortage of skilled fighters-just the right setting for his companion to put his abilities to work.
Ma Hanjiang only hoped that once chaos erupted, they could strike swiftly, achieve something, and withdraw from the Zhen Estate at once.
In his view, it would be enough for this operation to show that the Small Boat Gang avenged every grievance. Above all, they must not be spotted by anyone from the County Yamen or Prefectural Yamen, or the gang's public holdings would be uprooted entirely. After all, the envoy beside him belonged to the Overturned Boat Faction of the Twenty-One Paths of Evil Demons. He was listed on the universally recognized Nine Hells Ranking, one of its evil gods-a Subtlety Martial Grandmaster.
His companion raised his bamboo hat a little, revealing a face that looked as though it had been steeped in white dye, and bright red lips that seemed formed from the same material as a bird's beak.
His eyes, brimming with bloodlust and viciousness, shifted. Flecks of radiance appeared in the air around him, faintly outlining a great eagle with a white head, red beak, and black markings. His hands also slid out of his sleeves, shaped like tiger claws.
An indescribable viciousness and murderous intent rippled outward, spreading silently through the surroundings and into Riverwave Hall.
Ma Hanjiang hurriedly gathered his mind to resist its influence.
Yet the more he suppressed his emotions, the more aggrieved he felt:
Why could the Four Waters Gang lay traps for the Small Boat Gang, while the Small Boat Gang couldn't fight back?
Why could the Zhen Family stir up so much trouble, while the Small Boat Gang couldn't take bloody revenge?
Why? Why?
In a moment, I'll slaughter the Zhen Family until their blood runs in rivers!
Atop the tallest watchtower, a constable from the Prefectural Yamen hurried up. Without stopping to salute, he handed Tao Wenshu the papers he held:
"Sect Master Tao, the Martial Prohibition Bureau in the Flame Capital has replied.
"They've identified three members of the Ding Family!"
After Zheng Zhuxi had informed the Prefectural Yamen the previous night of Ding Songyan's question and her own suspicions, the authorities had assigned people to watch each member of the Ding Family, draw their portraits, and compare them against the names on the wanted lists. They had also reported to the Flame Capital's Martial Prohibition Bureau overnight through three separate channels. Since Ning Prefecture was right next to the Flame Capital, not far away, a reply had arrived today.
This did not mean the authorities believed the Ding Family necessarily had a problem. The Zhen Estate warranted greater attention. But since Second Brother Ding was involved, everyone close to him had to be investigated, without exception.
After Tao Wenshu took the papers, Zheng Zhuxi leaned over curiously, examining the portraits and reading the text beneath them.
She saw that the first sheet depicted Ding Shengyi, but with two antennae covered in blood-colored scales at his temples, and reddish skin.
The accompanying description read:
Qiu Chen, disciple of the Moth God Sect of the Feng Kingdom. Listed in the Death-Intent Hell of the Nine Hells Ranking, assessed as Divination. Forty-five years old. Previously active only in Feng and Yu. In pursuit of the ultimate Moth Species, he turned his senior and junior brothers into Mothmen, was expelled from the Moth God Sect, and became a scourge upon the region.
He wants to turn the Moth Father and Moth Mother into Mothmen too, to see whether they can undergo a better, stronger transformation? He certainly deserves his place on the Nine Hells Ranking... Zheng Zhuxi was left speechless with astonishment. She even felt that "Ding Shengyi" was rather single-minded.
The Nine Hells Ranking had been established jointly by the foremost orthodox sects. It listed notorious figures among evil demons and practitioners of unorthodox paths, allowing people of the martial world to gauge their strength when tracking or encountering them.
It was divided into the ninefold nether hells, each corresponding to a different level of evil demons and unorthodox practitioners. Death-Intent Hell was the sixth hell, representing Divination in the Dayan Realm. Evil-God Hell was the seventh, representing Martial Grandmasters of the Law Realm.
"There really is something wrong with the Ding Family. Second Brother Ding has jackals and wolves ahead, fierce tigers behind, and is himself inside a demon's den," Zheng Zhuxi could not help remarking.
After reading the page on "Ding Shengyi," Tao Wenshu turned to the second sheet. It depicted Ding Daniu, but with horsehair on his body, a snake's tail, and hooves for feet:
Li Zhi, between twenty-two and twenty-five years old. Origins unknown. Possesses the Secret Script of the Ten Celestial Powers. A notorious bandit of New Yu. Listed in the Soul-Qi Hell of the Nine Hells Ranking, assessed as Transcendent. He frequently kills people at random beside the road, seeking neither beauty nor wealth. However, he has been discovered in brothels several times, escaping by luck.
That makes two people from the Nine Hells Ranking in the "Ding Family." They really are something... Zheng Zhuxi shook her head as she read.
To enter the Nine Hells Ranking, one had to possess formidable strength, be steeped in evil, or show exceptional potential.
Tao Wenshu soon turned to the third page.
This one depicted Liu Yuzao, her face beautiful and without any abnormalities:
Qi Xiaoxiang, between forty and forty-five years old. Origins unknown, martial arts unknown, evil deeds unconfirmed. Suspected of instigating the riot and mutual slaughter among the miners of First Mountain three years ago. Over three hundred people died gruesomely, and no first mountain copper was produced for half a year. As she has been active only in the kingdoms of Yu and Gan, little is known of her other affairs. Judging by her appearance, she likely possesses a technique that conceals her nature, or someone regularly conceals it for her.
Tao Wenshu handed the three sheets to Zheng Zhuxi and looked at the constable serving as courier:
"Tell Prefect Lin that he can pay the Zhen Family a visit in person now. He must delay whatever may be about to happen.
"Replace the people watching Qiu Chen, Li Zhi, and Qi Xiaoxiang immediately. They must be at least Transcendent."
Rather than turn and head downstairs, the constable used the paper and brush kept ready inside the watchtower to write down these two instructions, then handed the sheet to a disciple surnamed Yi who was responsible for routine surveillance.
The Yi disciple first wrapped the paper around an arrow shaft and secured it, then aimed at the northern watchtower, drew his bow, and loosed the white-feathered arrow.
The arrow whistled forward. Even after a hundred zhang, it had neither slowed nor become wreathed in flame.
It crossed nearly half the city, slowing more and more and gradually descending, yet flew unerringly into the northern watchtower, where a hand covered in blue-black scales caught it.
Once the constable from the Prefectural Yamen had descended the Lookout Tower, Zheng Zhuxi glanced at the two Yi disciples intent on their surveillance and spoke quietly to her mother, Tao Wenshu:
"Mother, why didn't you simply place Second Brother Ding under protection? Why let him enter the Zhen Estate?
"You'd already sent people to watch the estate and the members of the Ding Family."
Tao Wenshu tilted her head slightly and glanced at Zheng Zhuxi:
"By the time I knew the whole situation, Second Brother Ding had already entered the Zhen Estate.
"As for Prefect Lin and the others, which do you think matters more to them-a possible lead to Kunlun's whereabouts, or Second Brother Ding?"
But... Zheng Zhuxi froze.
Tao Wenshu spoke gently, though with a clear intent to teach:
"If you truly wanted to save Second Brother Ding, you should have found another reason to report to the County Yamen and Prefectural Yamen last night, rather than laying out his question in full. You needed to make them take it seriously, but not too seriously. Don't assume everyone is like you, that everyone considers a human life a matter of paramount importance.
"You are sincere, eager to uphold justice, and compassionate toward the poor and weak. That makes me very glad. But you must go about things the right way. You can't assume that if you mean well and I mean well, everything will turn out well. You're still too young and lack experience in the martial world. Learning a few more lessons now will keep you from suffering a great loss later."
Zheng Zhuxi's mind was a jumble. One moment she wondered how they could act this way; the next, she was overwhelmed by regret and guilt.
Tao Wenshu continued, both comforting and admonishing her:
"Do you think Prefect Lin and the others are in the wrong, ignoring the danger Second Brother Ding is in?
"But have you considered that if this truly concerns Kunlun's whereabouts, and those evil practitioners seize the opportunity and enter the Celestial Emperor's temporary palace, the world may well descend into chaos one day, and all living beings be plunged into misery?
"Until they are absolutely certain, Prefect Lin and the others don't want to beat the grass and startle the snake. They don't want to drive the Zhen Estate and those evil practitioners into leaping over the wall like desperate dogs. Not only would that risk leaking the news of Kunlun, it would very likely embroil innocent people in the city."
Zheng Zhuxi wanted to argue, but could not find the words.
She herself felt that her mother's words held some truth.
But was it really right to watch an innocent person fall into danger without doing anything?
Tao Wenshu said softly:
"Xixi, many things, many choices, aren't clear-cut black and white, either right or wrong. Often they are gray, containing both right and wrong.
"Train hard. Only when your martial arts are strong can you follow the path in your heart. Only then, even after learning how complicated the world is, can you still choose to shine a candle through the long night."
As she spoke, Tao Wenshu turned to glance toward the south of the city:
"Within two hours, the head of the Yi Family will arrive by painted boat and flying carriage. The Chongwu Sect's Gold-and-Silver Twin Swords will arrive as well.
"In another half-day or so, Senior Tian of the Divine Firmament Sect may also be here.
"As long as we can delay matters a little longer, those evil demons and unorthodox practitioners won't be able to stir up any waves. The longer we delay, the less danger Second Brother Ding will be in. Saving him then will be as easy as turning a hand."
The Divine Firmament Sect lay in Night Prefecture, west of Ning Prefecture. Its Supreme Elder, Tian Shuyu, was one of Great Zhao's three Perfected Persons.
From the previous night until now, the authorities of Dingjiang Prefecture seemed to have done nothing, yet they had quietly been laying a net that spanned heaven and earth.
Zheng Zhuxi's eyes shifted slightly, and she sank into bewildered thought.
Inside Riverwave Hall at the Zhen Estate.
Old Master Zhen, Zhen Qianfan, pressed his right hand against the wooden box containing the Huai Fruit. He first looked at Su Chongxiao of the Celestial Maiden Sect, then at Ren Youyang of the True Spirit Sect, and spoke in a low voice:
"The promise is not complicated, nor does it involve anything else.
"If the Zhen Estate encounters trouble within the next three days, I ask that you help once, provided your own life is not at risk. If all three days pass without incident, the promise will be considered fulfilled.
"Who would be willing to make this promise?"
At these words, Ren Youyang's face darkened, and his dog ears stood straight up.
Behind him, his guard, Meng Qingze, felt inexplicably angry, filled with resentment.
Meng Qingze, who had strange patterns painted along the sides of his face, practiced the True Spirit Karma-Rank Scripture, one of the True Spirit Sect's two fundamental techniques.
This technique offered three choices, corresponding to three different paths: the Useless Divine Art, Spirit Invocation Possession, and Ghost Indwelling. Meng Qingze had chosen the last.
Under the influence of an evil ghost, he was often steeped in yin energy, his murderous impulses hard to restrain. He had to recite scriptures, worship gods, and curb his desires daily to keep it in check.
At this moment, he felt an icy chill surge from the depths of his heart. An evil ghost whispered incessantly in his ears, urging him to kill everyone he disliked, to drink his fill of hot blood.
Why am I the only one who has to endure this torment?
Why don't those who chose Spirit Invocation Possession, or those who practice the Dao of Natural Law, have to suffer this?
Why?
His murderous intent coalesced. Meng Qingze suddenly turned sideways and struck with his palm at Qin Li, the fellow disciple beside him who practiced the Spirit Invocation Method.
His palm, tinged with an eerie green, vanished unnaturally midway through its flight, then appeared just as unnaturally before Qin Li's chest and slammed into it.
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