Immortalis

Hong Wan Nine

In the following days, Yang Wujian spent most of his time in a daze.

A small piece of Tian Ting was enough to plunge him into an illusion the moment he stepped into the hall, and these illusions were incredibly vivid. Not only did they include the long-deceased Gu Yun and Mingshan, but he even saw Shen Qingshi and Zhou Huai.

They held wine in their hands, just like on that final day, drinking and joking with him. As Yang Wujian lay in the great hall, looking up, he saw the same moon he had once gazed upon with Shen Qingshi.

Gradually, Yang Wujian realized he didn't even want to wake up.

Tian Ting would truthfully reflect a person's deepest thoughts.

For someone like Zhuang Tianyou, whose mind was filled with nothing but the Longevity Heart Sutra, Tian Ting would manifest as the Longevity Heart Sutra.

But for Yang Wujian, what he truly cared about had never been the so-called Path of Longevity.

Since Shen Qingshi and Zhou Huai appeared, his nightmares had turned into sweet dreams. These people he cared about no longer appeared before him in terrifying forms.

Though long dead, they still stood there, smiling as they welcomed him home.

If not for Cao Zhao's medicine, he could have remained in these hallucinations for an entire day without eating or drinking. Unfortunately, every three hours, Cao Zhao would forcibly drag him out of these beautiful dreams.

By the third day, Yang Wujian could only hear a constant buzzing when people spoke. When he finally became aware of his surroundings, his front robe was already soaked with nosebleed. In such a state, he naturally couldn't appear before the emperor. Cao Zhao immediately took him to change clothes and, seizing the moment when no one was around, said: "The Chaofeng Envoy and Chiwen Envoy are trying to protect Prince Li. You need to push harder."

Yang Wujian's head was splitting with pain, barely able to hear what Cao Zhao was saying: "How... can they protect him?"

Cao Zhao sneered coldly: "Simply because there's no concrete evidence of Prince Li's rebellion yet. The Southern Zhaoming Division has been monitoring Prince Li for ten years, yet this chaos still happened right under their noses. Once Prince Li's rebellion is confirmed, even if Fu Hong and Shen Xin don't lose their heads, they'll certainly lose their official positions."

"At this point, they still dare to protect him?"

"It's nothing but a death struggle. Back when Green Stone led me to Shuzhou, I left people there. When you survived the drug trial, someone naturally leaked the information. Now I've captured the person, I just need to make him talk, and Prince Li's rebellion will be confirmed beyond doubt."

Cao Zhao spoke lightly, but Yang Wujian knew better than anyone how cruel Cao Zhao's methods could be in his climb for power.

The reason for using such strong measures wasn't just to secure evidence against Prince Li - more importantly, if this case reached a conclusion, both the Chaofeng and Chiwen divisions would likely disappear from the Zhaoming Division.

The remaining Tu Yuanliang was nothing but a brute who loved killing, hardly worth fearing.

Cao Zhao hadn't expected this risky move to benefit him so greatly. For this, the risks he had taken earlier for Shen Qingshi were worth it.

But now, at this final stage, he absolutely couldn't allow any mistakes from Yang Wujian's side.

Cao Zhao said: "You've been in the palace these days, so you probably don't know that plagues have been breaking out among the common people recently. I previously received a secret letter from Zhou Huai saying it's caused by a poisonous creature called the Emerald Blood Cicada... Just like the insect disaster at the end of the Crimson Gold era, these insects are coming from the Meat Well."

"Insect disaster..."

Yang Wujian struggled to digest the meaning of his words, quickly making a connection: "Could it be... because of the fire Zhou Huai and I set..."Their time was limited, so Cao Zhao could only speak concisely, adding, "If it truly is as you suspect, this plague is equivalent to telling those beyond the pass that their plans in the Central Plains have succeeded. In the coming days, the Northern Desert will surely take action, aiming to catch the Emperor off guard... This is exactly what they've been waiting for."

Yang Wujian finally understood as well.

Originally, he had thought that Tian Ting and the Cicada Molt were the entirety of this scheme. But now it appeared that the Northern Xiang Emperor's excavation of the Meat Wells and subsequent abandonment of those bottomless pits across the Central Plains served not only to promote rumors about the Underground Heaven and the Longevity Heart Sutra, but also to facilitate the eventual emergence of the Emerald Blood Cicadas buried deep within the Meat Wells.

What a vicious chain of tactics.

Yang Wujian clenched his jaw, his mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood.

He knew that Cao Zhao had specifically mentioned this to remind him—the Emerald Blood Cicadas were the trouble he and Zhou Huai had stirred up, and now, naturally, it fell to him to resolve it.

Yang Wujian sighed, a bleak smile appearing on his face. "If the plague spreads wildly and the Northern Desert raises troops at this very moment, I fear Datong will face internal strife and external threats. And if the Emperor moves directly against Prince Li at this time, some remnants of the Northern Desert in the Central Plains might also feel their safety threatened—who knows, they might rebel as well... Lord Cao, are you suggesting we strike first? Do you want me to advise the Emperor?"

"You're still clear-headed... Prince Li has made no moves so far, likely because he lacks sufficient military strength. He's waiting—once the insect plague enters the military camps, chaos will erupt across the land. This matter cannot be handled with great fanfare. You only need to advise the Emperor to be cautious of threats beyond the pass—I will handle the rest."

After saying this, Cao Zhao led him to meet Emperor Yongzhao.

Two hours later, due to the "heavenly way" Yang Wujian had glimpsed, the Emperor urgently summoned several military commanders to discuss sending troops beyond the pass to resist the Northern Desert. As for Cao Zhao, he returned to the Zhaoming Prison to continue interrogating the prisoners in his custody who were already barely recognizable as human.

Over the past fifteen years, although Prince Li had been cautious in every aspect—even eliminating pawns like Yang Ye—many traces of his activities could still be uncovered.

Whether it was trading official courtesans on Handkerchief Street or aiding the fugitive false Tian Ting in hiding... As Cao Zhao had said, the Zhaoming Division was most adept at uncovering "connections."

Just tracing where the vast wealth in Zhou Jinglei's hands ultimately flowed—if investigated thoroughly, the snakes and rats hiding behind the scenes would have nowhere to conceal themselves.

Seven days later, as plague reports from the common folk flew into the capital like snowflakes, news also arrived from beyond the pass: the Northern Desert had raised troops and plundered the border town of Jingyang.

Everything unfolded exactly as Yang Wujian had "heard" from the immortal.

And Emperor Yongzhao seemed to possess foresight—before the Northern Desert cavalry could even finish a celebratory drink, the Yangcheng Army stationed near Jingyang nearly emptied their garrison, pursued the enemy beyond the pass, not only wiping out the Northern Desert's vanguard forces but also reclaiming all the horses they had plundered that very morning.

A great victory in the first battle.

However, the Yangcheng Army did not linger in combat. That very night, they returned to Jingyang. That night, flames lit up the northern sky of Jingyang. The survivors, having narrowly escaped disaster, assumed it was a clash between two armies but paid no attention to the fact that there were no battle horns or war drums in those flames... It seemed what the Yangcheng Army had annihilated wasn't the Northern Desert's cavalry camp at all.

The yellow sand disrupted communications, and no messenger pigeons flew out of Thousand Cliffs Fortress that night. Thus, by the next morning, the martial world had quietly lost a newly emerged sect, with none the wiser.At this point, the chess game that had been played for fifteen years, though in its latter stages, was not yet finished.

When Yang Wujian awoke once more from excruciating pain, the sky had already darkened.

As had happened many times before, he had been taken out of the main hall by Cao Zhao. Though lying on a bed, every part of his body ached as if he had died and come back to life.

During this period, he faced Tian Ting daily, trapped in illusions. Everything he ate tasted like chewing wax, and peaceful sleep was utterly impossible.

After half a month like this, Yang Wujian had already grown noticeably thinner. Each day before meeting Emperor Yongzhao, Cao Zhao would have to dress him up to make him appear somewhat alive.

"I say, this charade should end now... Lord Cao, aren't you afraid that if this continues and I can't hold on, your official position will be stripped too?"

When Yang Wujian spoke, it sounded as if he had just swallowed gravel—his voice so hoarse he barely recognized it himself.

Now, even when not in that empty treasure hall, he could hear Shen Qingshi and Zhou Huai whispering in his ears.

Occasionally, he would even see them standing behind Cao Zhao, holding wine jars and smiling at him.

Yang Wujian thought, if only he could lose himself like Zhuang Tianyou had, then he wouldn't suffer like this.

Wanting to lose himself yet being forced to remain awake again and again—this was the most torturous thing in the world.

Cao Zhao approached, looking at his pale face with a smile. "What, tired? I thought you wouldn't beg me to let you die."

Compared to the exhausted Yang Wujian, Cao Zhao appeared triumphant, as if he had won this chess game.

Yang Wujian gave a bitter smile. "There's no Guiding Boy in the world as miserable as me. I've finished composing the final chapter of the Longevity Heart Sutra. Practicing it won't cause harm—it might even strengthen the body and prolong life by a couple of years... I'll present it to the Emperor another day. Let him finish me off quickly, or else if this goes on, the truth will come out sooner or later."

"Indeed... only the mouths of the dead are truly sealed."

Cao Zhao rarely agreed with him.

Due to the matter concerning Prince Li, Fu Hong and Shen Xin had both been quietly removed from their positions. As for Tu Yuanliang, Cao Zhao had taken the initiative to extend an olive branch, hoping to share a portion of the benefits. Any Ya Zi Envoy with a brain would know who to cooperate with at this point.

Cao Zhao added, "In three days, I will go to Shuzhou with Lord Tu... With the great plague sweeping the land, and Prince Li having rarely ventured out over the past ten years due to his chronic cold condition, his sudden illness and death wouldn't be strange, would it?"

Indeed...

The people in this palace were far more ruthless than those in the martial world.

A scheme spanning fifteen years, once uncovered—this was probably the most dignified outcome the Emperor could offer Prince Li.

Yet, for some reason, though Prince Li clearly had connections beyond the borders and numerous followers in the martial world, since Yang Wujian had entered the game, he had made no further moves. It was as if he had been waiting for them to come to him all along...

Yang Wujian sneered, "With the common people suffering so severely from illness, Lord Cao is still thinking about how to climb the ranks and amass wealth. In this regard, no one in the world can match you."

Though he said this, he truly had no strength left to ponder these matters.

The illusions persisted relentlessly, and his head felt as if it were splitting apart. At the peak of his pain, Yang Wujian had to slap himself hard a couple of times. But when he opened his eyes again, he could still see the deceased palace attendants standing nearby, smiling at him.

Had they come to take him away?Yang Wujian couldn't help but smile bitterly: "I never expected that after all Shen Qingshi and I have done, you would be the sole beneficiary in the end... Thinking about it truly makes me unwilling to die."

Cao Zhao had been in high spirits lately and couldn't be bothered to argue with a dying man. He merely said: "There's no time like the present. If you want to choose an auspicious day, why not make it today? While I haven't departed yet, I might even help collect your corpse. Due to the insect plague, the Emperor has been quite troubled recently. If you present him with the Longevity Heart Sutra at this critical moment, he might truly grant you a grand burial."

"Sounds like... Lord Cao has already arranged my funeral affairs."

Hearing that he could finally die, Yang Wujian actually felt somewhat relieved.

He had contemplated this day for over a decade, yet never imagined he would end up dying alone within these high-walled palace confines.

But perhaps it was for the best. His life was destined to be shorter than most from the start. Though there were regrets now, at least he had grasped fleeting moments of happiness - he had things he cherished and people he loved.

Yang Wujian recalled the throat-burning liquor from that final day, and Shen Qingshi's slightly curved eyes under the moonlight, and couldn't help but smile.

Young master, Green Stone, don't blame me.

This world truly isn't a good place. Since I can't endure it any longer, I'll take my leave first and seek carefree happiness elsewhere.

If we should meet again someday, we must finish the wine we left undrunk that day, getting thoroughly drunk under the moonlight in joyous celebration.

Thinking this, he breathed a long sigh of relief and added: "After I die, what do you plan to do with this deadly stone? The Emperor trusts me so much, he might eventually attempt to glimpse the heavenly way himself. When that happens, the one who goes mad will be him."

Cao Zhao seemed to have already considered this matter, smiling faintly at the question.

"If you've truly decided to die, then I'll naturally help resolve this for you."

Cao Zhao looked at him and said quietly: "Yang Wujian, though I don't want to thank you, were it not for you, this matter wouldn't have proceeded so smoothly. For this, I'll make your death swift and painless - this can be considered my explanation to Green Stone."