Immortalis

Meat Well III

This was not Shen Qingshi's first time standing in this golden hall.

Over the years, whenever she came to this place, her heart had always been as still as stagnant water. Watching those ministers fight and scheme to the death, she found it merely tedious, never letting it affect her.

But now was different.

Standing here once more, gazing at Emperor Yong Zhao in his bright yellow robes upon the throne, Shen Qingshi felt only waves of coldness spreading through her heart.

As the third Son of Heaven of Datong, Emperor Yong Zhao Yuan Zhen had just passed forty, his posture erect and dignified. Even after fifteen years on the throne, one could still glimpse traces of the sharpness he possessed as the third prince campaigning across the lands.

This was an ambitious man.

Had he been an ordinary person, such ambition might have helped him achieve great things. But he was the Son of Heaven of Datong, where a single word from him could send hundreds or thousands to their deaths.

Emperor Yong Zhao seemed in high spirits upon seeing them, even granting Cao Zhao a seat. Immediately after, he began inquiring in detail about the Longevity Palace.

Just as Cao Zhao had said earlier, Emperor Yong Zhao had been searching for the Longevity Heart Sutra for fifteen years. His knowledge of many matters in the martial world far exceeded Shen Qingshi's, showing that the spies the Zhaoming Division sent to the jianghu had indeed accomplished something.

Cao Zhao recounted everything meticulously, from Yongyi to the Aconite Kiln, naturally including how they eradicated the Longevity Palace. Hearing these words a second time, Shen Qingshi thought of Yang Wujian's bloodshot eyes, and the pain in her heart remained unbearable. But Emperor Yong Zhao clearly cared nothing for the lives lost in those dark underground tunnels of the Longevity Palace. He had only one question.

"Have you found the Longevity Heart Sutra, my beloved official?"

Cao Zhao had built up the suspense precisely for what came next: "This time at the Aconite Kiln, we captured Tian Ting alive. He has confessed that the Longevity Heart Sutra was hidden by them beneath the Meat Well—a perilous place. But with the full cooperation of the Zhaoming Division, we will soon find a way down."

"Excellent! Then let the other three divisions follow your command. This time, we must bring back the Longevity Heart Sutra."

Now that they were just one step away from what they had sought for fifteen years, Emperor Yong Zhao was in excellent spirits. He turned his gaze to Shen Qingshi standing nearby and said with a smile, "When Cao Zhao brought you back from the streets back then, it seems his judgment was truly exceptional."

"I merely brought her back. It was Your Majesty who truly permitted her to remain in the palace."

Having operated in the palace for years, Cao Zhao knew exactly how to navigate these situations. He smoothly continued, "This time, it was also thanks to Green Stone locating the Longevity Palace that we were able to eradicate this heretical sect in one stroke. It's just a pity the Longevity Heart Sutra wasn't there, otherwise Green Stone would have done all my work for me."

By now, Shen Qingshi was numb with pain, but she had no choice but to lower her head and demur: "I only did what was necessary. After all, we still need to descend the twelve Meat Wells left from Northern Xiang. There's no way I could accomplish this alone."

"The Meat Wells..."Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongzhao seemed to recall something and murmured, "Years ago, when I found the remnants left from the Northern Xiang era in the palace, it mentioned that the first appearance of the Meat Well occurred during the natural disaster at the end of the Crimson Gold era. After the Meteor Star passed, a bottomless fissure suddenly appeared in the barren, lifeless wilderness of the Northern Desert. The people revered it as a divine miracle. Later, the Khan of the Northern Desert led his men into the fissure and ultimately became the Chosen One, glimpsing the heavenly way beneath the well. From then on, all living beings bowed before him."

Shen Qingshi was startled, never expecting the palace records to be so detailed... How could such a secret have been left in the palace by Emperor Xianghui back then?

Emperor Yongzhao continued, "Although rumors in the martial world claim that the Longevity Heart Sutra originated in the Central Plains, some also say that Zhao Jian was a famine refugee who fled beyond the pass. He and his mother comprehended the Path of Longevity outside the pass. Because of this, the heavenly way glimpsed by the Northern Desert people and the Path of Longevity understood by Zhao Jian are likely two branches from the same origin."

It was exactly as Gu Yun had said.

Shen Qingshi couldn't help but feel inwardly alarmed.

The emperor's concern with this matter far exceeded her expectations. It was truly as Cao Zhao had said—their journey had merely been the emperor's eyes, and all of this was just a verification.

The emperor was already deeply immersed in it.

Cold sweat seeped from Shen Qingshi's palms, and at that moment, Emperor Yongzhao asked again, "My dear minister, you mentioned last time that you have found the method to refine the Cicada Molt?"

"Indeed, fifteen years ago, Guanri, the master of Longevity Palace, once researched this path. Although he failed to refine the Cicada Molt at the time, in recent years, after leaving Longevity Palace, he achieved great mastery in alchemy. Not long ago, we captured the courtesan Zui Xiang on Handkerchief Street. Before her death in Zhaoming Prison, she confirmed this... The White-faced Guest, Guanri's alias, could use fetal flesh to refine pills that preserve one's appearance forever. Zui Xiang's ageless beauty was due to taking this medicine."

As Cao Zhao spoke, he stood up. Shen Qingshi knew he was about to summon someone into the hall and couldn't help but straighten up nervously.

"Your Majesty, this person is waiting outside the hall... Before entering the palace, I watched him take a pill to dissipate his energy. With the Imperial Guards and Zhaoming Guard present, Your Majesty can rest assured."

With Cao Zhao's words to this extent, Emperor Yongzhao also rose to his feet.

Everything that happened in the martial world fifteen years ago, he had heard from countless informants over the years. Thus, he might know better than many in the martial world just how dangerous Guanri was.

"Summon him in."

Looking at the shadow outside the hall, there was clearly only one person, but standing densely around were fully armed Imperial Guards and Zhaoming Guard.

The current Son of Heaven said gravely, "Regarding the matter of the Cicada Molt, I have many questions to ask him in person."

"Yang Wujian, are you sure you can travel now?"

Before leaving the thatched cottage, Zhou Huai was still somewhat uneasy.

Yang Wujian had been too severely injured this time—with nearly half his bones broken and internal injuries. According to the physician, he needed to lie in bed for ten days before getting up, followed by at least half a year of rest to avoid excruciating pain on cloudy or rainy days for the rest of his life.

But now, at most, Yang Wujian had rested for less than half a month and was already planning to set off with him to search for the Longevity Heart Sutra.

Yang Wujian had already packed his bags and couldn't help but laugh at the young master's timidity. "Have you been using Bone Shrinking for so long that you really see me as a girl? Even postpartum confinement doesn't last this long."Zhou Huai still couldn't rest easy: "You may not value your own life, but you can't treat my money as worthless. Do you know how much those medicines I previously obtained for you cost..."

"I know, I know... Didn't you always say, young master, that wealth scattered will come together again? Such a trivial amount, are you really going to haggle with me over it?"

Yang Wujian had heard these words so often his ears were growing calluses.

Originally, he thought the young master, accustomed to a life of luxury, would never be able to serve others in this lifetime. Who could have imagined that after his collapse, the young master learned these trivial tasks faster than anyone. In just half a month, he could even slaughter chickens. At this rate, Yang Wujian feared Zhou Huai might degenerate into a rustic villager just to care for him, so he urgently urged him to set out.

Their first destination on this journey was Yongyi.

"The incident on Handkerchief Street was a month ago. The Zhaoming Guard should have withdrawn by now. With Young Master Guanhuo dead, even if someone succeeds him, there will be a gap in leadership. The street is chaotic, so if we blend in now, we should be able to gather considerable information. We can also take the opportunity to investigate the Meat Well near Yongyi."

Naturally, Yang Wujian wasn't foolish enough to rashly approach the Four Seas Alliance.

When it came down to it, these martial sects were no different from the Jackal, Wolf, Tiger, Leopard of the Zhaoming Division. With him and Zhou Huai currently isolated and vulnerable, if the other party openly seized them, they would likely suffer losses.

Though Yang Wujian's body was weak, fortunately his mind hadn't been damaged by the fall. He knew they needed some leverage to contend with the Zhaoming Division.

Zhou Huai handled the carriage driving all the way to Yongyi. Yang Wujian initially wanted to use Bone Shrinking to disguise them as siblings and avoid attention, but even the slightest twist of his muscles and bones brought piercing pain.

The physician said he might never be able to perform Bone Shrinking as before. Left with no choice, Yang Wujian had to abandon the idea, hoping they wouldn't encounter any Zhaoming Division inspections along the way.

Surprisingly, however, the Zhaoming Guards previously scattered everywhere now seemed to have all disappeared.

At a tea stall not far from Yongyi, Zhou Huai boldly inquired and learned that those well-dressed officials had withdrawn several days earlier. Although Yongyi had been unsettled for a few days due to the White-faced Guest's bloody massacre, fortunately, people from Thousand Cliffs Fortress arrived later and quickly stabilized the situation. Now, Handkerchief Street had long returned to normal.

People from Thousand Cliffs Fortress came?

Yang Wujian frowned beneath his bamboo hat.

Come to think of it, they only knew that Guanhuo could command people from Thousand Cliffs Fortress, but they never understood his exact relationship with the fortress.

Yang Wujian asked, "Proprietor, we're also from the martial world and have long heard of Young Master Guanhuo's reputation. Wasn't it said that he was recently killed?"

The tea stall owner seemed quite worldly and said dismissively, "Young Master Guanhuo has been entrenched here for years, old and cunning—how could he be easily killed? In my opinion, the one who died earlier wasn't Young Master Guanhuo. Some say Young Master Guanhuo is the leader of Thousand Cliffs Fortress, but he never shows his face. If he appears, it's not him."

These few words made both Yang Wujian and Zhou Huai change their expressions.

Thinking about it, Young Master Guanhuo's death did seem too easily accomplished. How could someone who could be killed by a mere White-faced Guest have managed the tumultuous Handkerchief Street for so many years?The tea stall owner's next words sent chills down their spines: "Isn't it said that the son of a second-rank official killed someone on this street, only to be later murdered by the official courtesan Young Master Guanhuo bought? Those Zhaoming Division officials have been investigating this recently. Young Master Guanhuo isn't foolish - if he doesn't produce a scapegoat now, how could he pass the imperial court's scrutiny?"

...Exactly.

Yang Wujian belatedly realized it seemed far too coincidental that the White-faced Guest chose to kill precisely when the Zhaoming Guards appeared on Handkerchief Street.

Moreover, this wasn't the first time he had deliberately shown himself before the Zhaoming Division...

After leaving the tea stall, Yang Wujian suddenly asked: "First Young Master, don't you feel we've actually been led by the nose all along?"

Zhou Huai looked puzzled: "What do you mean?"

Yang Wujian said gravely: "The Four Seas Alliance reorganization was Zhuang Tianyou's idea. The three cases given to us came from Zhuang Tianyou too. And these three cases implicated three of the Four Seas Alliance's branches excluding White Rainbow Tower. In other words, if we ultimately want to seek justice somewhere relatively 'impartial', White Rainbow Tower would be the only possibility."

Zhou Huai's expression shifted: "And during the White Dog Case investigation, the White-faced Guest disguised himself as Elder Song Lan before us. Even if we hadn't thought of White Rainbow Tower eventually, he'd likely have manipulated events to steer us toward it."

They both knew what happened afterward at White Rainbow Tower.

Yang Wujian continued: "Shen Qingshi told me the Zhaoming Division infiltrated White Rainbow Tower those days to investigate the private dealings between the current prince and Zhou Jinglei. Meaning the Zhaoming Division was lured there, and the White-faced Guest just happened to appear at that exact moment..."

Zhou Huai wondered: "Could it be the White-faced Guest chose that timing not to provoke the Four Seas Alliance, but to attract the imperial court's attention?"

Yang Wujian unconsciously rubbed his thumb while thinking: "Not just that. After the White-faced Guest appeared, Yang Ye left his suicide note about 'the golden cicada shedding its skin'. Thus White Rainbow Tower's secrets were exposed. Following Yang Ye's accounts, we'd inevitably find Handkerchief Street, uncover the White-faced Fox, investigate Young Master Guanhuo, and finally... reach Zui Xiang."

Reaching this point, they simultaneously realized that throughout their journey, while seemingly chasing cases, nearly every step they took had been inevitable.

Connecting all recent events with the shopkeeper's words, Yang Wujian felt an ominous premonition.

The White-faced Guest appeared at White Rainbow Tower, and White Rainbow Tower collapsed. The wealth accumulated over years by the wealthiest martial arts organization was transferred to Handkerchief Street, falling into Young Master Guanhuo's hands.

Then they pursued the trail to Handkerchief Street, where the White-faced Guest appeared again - and this time, Young Master Guanhuo ended up dead.

They had only seen the surface before, but now carefully considering: once Young Master Guanhuo "died", the massive fortune Yang Ye brought would sink into oblivion, with no one left to investigate.

Yang Wujian's heart lurched heavily.

If so... could it be that the White-faced Guest and the real Young Master Guanhuo never actually turned against each other?