Immortalis

Death Hex Fifteen

Several days earlier.

In the bamboo grove outside White Rainbow Tower, three of the Four Envoys of Zhaoming had gathered, their swords drawn and bows bent in a tense standoff over who would take Yang Wujian away.

Yet everything changed the moment Cao Zhao produced the secret edict.

As the Bi An Envoy finished reading the Son of Heaven's decree ordering the Bi'an Department to investigate Longevity Palace, the expressions of Envoys Chiwen and Chaofeng instantly turned ashen.

No one had expected that Cao Zhao had already petitioned the Son of Heaven for this mission ten years ago, and now was the time he intended to close the net.

The Bi An Envoy put away the secret edict and turned his gaze to Shen Qingshi, who stood nearby with evident concern.

He knew perfectly well she was worried about Yang Wujian lying unconscious on the ground.

Although Shen Qingshi regaining her emotions wasn't necessarily good for him, Yang Wujian was exceptionally sharp and cautious. If Shen Qingshi had remained truly stone-hearted and completely unfeeling, she likely wouldn't have gained his trust in the end.

Considering this, Cao Zhao said, "You heard what I just read, Green Stone. You should know what you need to do now, shouldn't you?"

How could Shen Qingshi not understand?

Originally, Cao Zhao hadn't told her that all this was backed by the Emperor's decree, but now that he had revealed it, she had no choice but to comply.

Shen Qingshi immediately knelt to receive the order: "Green Stone will not fail this mission."

In the past, Cao Zhao would never have doubted Shen Qingshi's competence, but now he couldn't be entirely certain anymore.

He thought for a moment, then walked over and lifted Shen Qingshi's face.

This was the child he had personally brought back.

He had watched Shen Qingshi grow up, taught her martial arts, witnessed her killings, and knew every inch of her intimately.

Because of this, even if she tried to hide it now, Cao Zhao still knew what Shen Qingshi was thinking.

"Take him back with you, find ways to comfort him. Let him hate the Zhaoming Division if he must, but don't let him hate you... Later, I'll also devise some methods to push him, so he has no choice but to trust you alone."

He looked into Shen Qingshi's eyes and said patiently, "Green Stone, if you want to protect Yang Wujian, you must deliver Longevity Palace to me... What I want is the Longevity Heart Sutra, not his life. Understand?"

"..."

"I've watched you grow up. You've never disappointed me, which is why I'm entrusting this to you. Green Stone, I know you care about his life and don't want him to die. I promise you—if you can find Longevity Palace, I'll let him go just like today. I won't kill him."

In the pitch-black night, the lantern in Cao Zhao's hand illuminated his face. Though the corners of his mouth were smiling, his eyes were cold... In the past, Shen Qingshi would never have pondered the deeper meaning behind Cao Zhao's expression, but now she understood.

If she failed to find Longevity Palace, not only would Yang Wujian die—she wouldn't survive either.

This was precisely why Cao Zhao had raised her.

"Go quickly."

The moment Shen Qingshi saw the arrowheads, she felt her blood run cold. She pulled Yang Wujian to leave, but within just a few steps, countless stray arrows blocked their path, forcing them to retreat.

How had they found this place?

Shen Qingshi's mind was in chaos.

Although Cao Zhao's original mission for her was to gain Yang Wujian's trust with his assistance, extract the location of Longevity Palace from him, and find the Longevity Heart Sutra for the Emperor.However, after truly finding the Longevity Palace, Shen Qingshi realized she couldn't equate the people before her eyes with the Old Palace Master who had imprisoned her in a cage and tormented her in every way fifteen years ago.

During those nights spent living with Yang Wujian at the Longevity Palace, Shen Qingshi often couldn't sleep.

Counting Yang Wujian's soft breaths in the darkness, her mind kept returning to the face of the youth who had opened the cage for her.

"Hurry and leave. Never look back."

Every night before falling asleep, she could hear the young Yang Wujian speaking to her.

Initially, she didn't know that after Cao Zhao brought her back, he had thoroughly investigated her background. As early as over ten years ago, Cao Zhao had already investigated thoroughly that she had countless connections to the Longevity Palace. One could even say that Shen Qingshi herself was a "key" to opening the Longevity Palace.

Afterward, whether it was using excuses to send her into the martial world or having her travel with Yang Wujian, all of this was part of the long-planned scheme in this protracted game.

And from beginning to end, Shen Qingshi had always been Cao Zhao's most important chess piece.

Now that she was already within the Longevity Palace, Cao Zhao was only one step away from what he had plotted for ten years. But Shen Qingshi found she couldn't do it.

In Yongyi City, when she crossed blades with Cao Zhao, she had already guessed this was his method of pushing her forward. At that time, Cao Zhao might have thought she was just acting, but Shen Qingshi knew very clearly that every word she spoke was true.

She said she wouldn't let Cao Zhao kill Yang Wujian.

In fact, she wouldn't let anyone harm Yang Wujian.

Back then, he had kept the hell for himself and left the path of survival for her... Even if Shen Qingshi didn't understand love or hatred, she knew she should repay him.

During those first days at the Longevity Palace, Shen Qingshi kept thinking that Yang Wujian was someone who valued loyalty and righteousness to an extreme, even to the point of obsession. Raised by the Longevity Palace, he regarded those palace members unrelated to him by blood as family. Even when Baihe was imprisoned facing near-certain death, he still recklessly rescued her without ever considering abandoning anyone.

The Longevity Palace wouldn't, and couldn't, hand over the Longevity Heart Sutra. If she allowed the Zhaoming Division to burn the Longevity Palace to ashes, even if she saved Yang Wujian, he would certainly not want to live alone.

After much deliberation, if she wanted to protect him, she could only betray Cao Zhao and the Zhaoming Division.

This matter couldn't satisfy both sides, but Shen Qingshi had already made her choice. Therefore, after leaving Yongyi, she never contacted Cao Zhao again, and knew perfectly well that Cao Zhao had guessed her choice, which was why he had posted wanted notices for her and Yang Wujian everywhere.

Under imperial authority, neither the Zhaoming Division nor Cao Zhao could tolerate traitors. If found, both she and Yang Wujian would undoubtedly die... Shen Qingshi had hesitated about whether to tell Yang Wujian about this, but seeing that he still distrusted her, she felt truly apprehensive for the first time in her life.

She worried Yang Wujian wouldn't believe her, and ultimately never spoke of it.

And now, everything she feared was right before her eyes.

Having grown up in the Zhaoming Division, Shen Qingshi understood the stakes all too well. The moment she saw that arrow, she immediately began considering how to risk her life to create an escape route for Yang Wujian.

However, as Cao Zhao appeared before them with a large contingent of Zhaoming Division forces, Shen Qingshi quickly realized that the situation was quite different from what she had imagined."Shen Qingshi, long time no see... It seems you've been doing quite well these days."

Cao Zhao dismounted gracefully. As he approached, Shen Qingshi instinctively positioned herself in front of Yang Wujian. Seeing this, Cao Zhao smiled and ordered his men to drag away the arrow-stricken "Dong Qisheng." He continued, "Shen Qingshi, even now you still want to protect him? Aren't you afraid he won't appreciate your efforts later?"

These words sounded familiar.

Yang Wujian sneered, "Lord Cao, your attempts to sow discord are getting old. Besides, you're far too persistent. What have I done to deserve such relentless pursuit from the Bi An Envoy?"

This wasn't their first confrontation. Having witnessed Cao Zhao's venomous nature before, Yang Wujian had no intention of easily submitting.

Fortunately, they weren't completely without chances.

Yang Wujian secretly gripped the vial given to him earlier by "Dong Qisheng." No matter how skilled his opponent might be in martial arts, they'd likely be unable to escape having their blood and vitality drained by these strange worms.

But... Cao Zhao had brought too many men, almost completely surrounding Stone Village. It was unclear how long they had been lying in ambush here.

While Yang Wujian was still calculating their options, considering a desperate last stand if necessary, Cao Zhao suddenly feigned surprise as he looked at him. "Yang Wujian, you've been dragging my men around all over the countryside these days. Did you never consider this might happen? Or has Shen Qingshi's act of repaying kindness been so convincing that you've fallen for it completely?"

The Bi An Envoy always understood how to manipulate people's minds.

Instantly, Yang Wujian's heart turned cold. He sharply turned to look at Shen Qingshi, who felt his gaze. Her palms were sweaty with nervousness, but she had no way to explain herself. She could only shake her head slightly. "Yang Wujian, I didn't..."

"Didn't what?"

Cao Zhao interrupted her with a laugh. "Shen Qingshi, back in Green Bamboo Town, when Lord Shen wanted to take him away to claim credit, didn't you promise me you would follow Yang Wujian closely and bring me information about Longevity Palace? That was the only way he could continue living with value, wasn't it?"

"You..."

Yang Wujian's mind buzzed.

He certainly remembered that day when he was kidnapped at White Rainbow Tower, only to wake up back there again. Shen Qingshi had said she used her official position to protect him. Though he had doubts, he ultimately chose to believe her.

Did Cao Zhao know about this too?

Did he know that Yang Wujian would always choose to trust Shen Qingshi?

Seeing Shen Qingshi speechless, Cao Zhao continued, "And in Yongyi, weren't you well aware that if Lord Tu and I didn't want to give you a way out, you wouldn't have been able to escape Yongyi even with wings? Shen Qingshi, I've never been wounded by one of my own before - you're the first."

As he spoke, Cao Zhao removed his glove, revealing a long scar on his wrist.

He smiled. "Shen Qingshi, you showed no mercy when you struck. I even began to doubt whether I had misplaced my trust in you. But fortunately, you ultimately didn't disappoint me and completed what you were supposed to do."

"What..."

The more Yang Wujian listened, the colder his heart grew. He watched helplessly as Cao Zhao called for his men to bring over several bloody cloth bags. Even before they were opened, Yang Wujian could smell the strong metallic scent of blood. His hand gripping the steel ring began to tremble.

"You..."

Cao Zhao noticed his pale complexion but seemed to be watching a performance as he smiled. "Yang Wujian, would you like to know what's inside these?"

"Don't..."Shen Qingshi, having grown up by Cao Zhao's side, was accustomed to such scenes. She immediately understood what was inside the cloth bundle and turned deathly pale, exclaiming, "Don't open it!"

But it was already too late.

Cao Zhao casually shook out a cloth bag, from which rolled a small head, its face covered in blood, eyes tightly shut as if afraid to look at the blade that had struck it down.

As the head rolled before them, Shen Qingshi and Yang Wujian simultaneously recognized it—it belonged to Yu Qiao, who had bid them farewell at Longevity Palace not long ago.

Yang Wujian's breath caught in his throat.

He watched the head roll to a spot not far from him, its mangled face turned toward him, the buzzing in his ears drowning out all other sounds.

This was... the child he had personally escorted back to Longevity Palace.

"Why..."

Shen Qingshi knew all too well how the Bi'an Department operated once they located Longevity Palace. The appearance of this head confirmed everything. She stared fixedly at Cao Zhao, a metallic taste filling her mouth.

She didn't understand...

After leaving Yongyi, she had never sent any message to Cao Zhao, nor had she revealed even a hint of Longevity Palace's whereabouts. They had been extremely cautious throughout their journey.

How had they found it?

By then, Cao Zhao was already unwrapping the cloth bundles like presents. As expected, each contained a human head—every one of them recognizable to Yang Wujian and Shen Qingshi.

The grandmother who had cooked them vegetable porridge not long ago.

The child who had helped Shen Qingshi feed the rabbits.

And the auntie who had once teased them.

"No..."

After seeing four or five heads in succession, Yang Wujian could bear it no longer. His eyes reddened as he staggered back a step, his hands trembling so violently he could barely hold onto the steel rings Mingshan had forged for him.

"Well? Do you believe me now?" Cao Zhao smiled at him and extended his hand again. This time, a Zhaoming Guard handed him two wooden boxes of similar size.

Cao Zhao stroked the boxes like a tiger that had just devoured its prey, toying wantonly with its next victim.

"Yang Wujian, this is only the beginning and you're already breaking. Care to guess what's inside these two boxes?"