Immortalis

Hong Wan Twelve

Nearly half an hour later, Cao Zhao finally emerged from the room.

Zhou Huai, who had been waiting outside the door, immediately pushed it open and entered. Fortunately, Shen Qingshi was still sitting on the couch holding the rabbit. Meeting Zhou Huai’s worried gaze, she merely shook her head, her face pale. "It’s fine, he’s gone."

Cao Zhao had indeed left.

Zhou Huai soon heard the sound of hoofbeats fading into the distance, sending a chill down his spine.

Cao Zhao had memorized all the traps along the way, allowing him to leave White Rainbow Tower alone without needing a guide.

"What did he say to you?"

Zhou Huai had a very bad feeling. Based on his understanding of Cao Zhao, this man was profoundly cunning and could not have come simply to "check on" Shen Qingshi.

With too many past precedents in mind, Zhou Huai’s thoughts were filled with the worst possibilities. "Did he threaten you using me? Or does he have something of Yang Wujian’s to coerce you with?"

Hearing this, Shen Qingshi still shook her head, even a hint of a smile in her eyes. "You’re overthinking it."

"Then what exactly did he say?"

"Nothing much... Just that he needs my help to eradicate the insect plague."

Shen Qingshi’s casual remark made Zhou Huai gasp sharply.

Previously, just preparing the Blood Powder for Medicine King Mountain had left Shen Qingshi in her current state. If she had to prepare more for Cao Zhao...

"No."

Zhou Huai immediately grabbed her shoulders, enunciating each word clearly. "You are the only Cicada Molt in the world. How can your blood alone save all of humanity? Qingshi, if you agree to Cao Zhao’s request, it’s tantamount to throwing your life away."

In contrast to him, Shen Qingshi remained remarkably calm. "I told you before, those twenty bottles weren’t enough... There are very few things in this world that can be parasitized by Meteor Stars. I’m afraid they won’t find any, and in the end, only I..."

"But you’ll die if you keep bleeding!"

Zhou Huai gritted his teeth, only realizing he might have hurt her when he saw Shen Qingshi frown.

"Anyway, you can’t throw your life away like this. You’ve already done more than enough... Even if you want to die, I can’t stand by and watch you do it."

Zhou Huai released her shoulders dejectedly. Deep down, he knew that from the day Shen Qingshi learned what Cicada Molt was, she had already made up her mind—just like when he rescued Yang Wujian at Aconite Kiln, and Yang was determined to die.

In this regard, she and Yang Wujian were very much alike.

Zhou Huai smiled bitterly. "You can’t keep doing this—making me live while forcing me to watch you throw your lives away. It’s not fair, Qingshi. Yang Wujian is already gone. I can’t bear to see you follow the same path."

He almost wanted to beg Shen Qingshi to live, whether for his sake or for Yang Wujian’s.

But he forgot: Shen Qingshi had long opened her heart’s aperture. She knew what she wanted, and her nature was as unyielding as an immovable rock. Once she decided on something, no one could persuade her to turn back.After a long while, he heard Shen Qingshi whisper softly: "Zhou Huai, when I was little, I stayed in a cage in Longevity Palace. It was very dark there, the only light came from the Alchemy Furnace outside. Though I couldn't feel anything by then, I still occasionally wondered what it was like outside the cage, how vast this world truly was."

Zhou Huai froze, noticing Shen Qingshi was gazing absently at the small window in his room. "I don't like cages, but as long as I remain a Cicada Molt, I must stay in that cage forever... I didn't want that, which is why I agreed to Cao Zhao's proposal."

"But..."

Zhou Huai still couldn't accept it.

Someone he had worked so hard to save, now had to go die for an emperor she owed nothing to.

Not to mention, if Shen Qingshi were gone too, he would be left alone in this empty White Rainbow Tower, just like that day in the abandoned house, day and night, with no one but himself.

Zhou Huai clenched his teeth: "I won't allow it, I absolutely cannot..."

Before he could finish, Shen Qingshi had already taken his hand.

"Zhou Huai, you have to let me go."

She said quietly: "I don't want to die, nor am I disheartened by Yang Wujian's death and trying to abandon you. I just want to be free from this cage... Originally, I wanted to die by Yang Wujian's hand, because he didn't have long to live either. I owed him much, and repaying him with my life would have been fitting. Unfortunately, heaven had other plans, and in the end, it can only be you who sends me off."

Zhou Huai's eyes reddened: "But how can you always leave me behind..."

Shen Qingshi shook her head: "Even without me and Yang Wujian, you can live well. That day at White Rainbow Tower, Yang Wujian and I only shielded you from the stones, but you were the one who truly chose to keep going. Zhou Huai, I cannot choose how I live, only how I die. You have more choices than both me and Yang Wujian. You must cherish them. Even if we're gone, you must keep walking forward for yourself alone, understand?"

Her words had reached this point. Zhou Huai knew he probably couldn't keep her no matter what. His eyes stung, but Shen Qingshi gently pulled him into an embrace.

She wasn't good at comforting people, but she remembered Zhou Huai saying that holding someone made them feel less scared when afraid.

"It's alright, don't be afraid... This is my choice. My life belongs to me alone, and I'm not dying for anyone else, only for my own true peace and freedom in this world, to no longer be anyone's delusion or pursuit."

Shen Qingshi patted him gently.

The brocade pouch in her palm had grown warm from her grip, giving Shen Qingshi the illusion that Yang Wujian was still here after all, leaning against the doorway as always, smiling with his arms crossed, listening to her and Zhou Huai talk.

Shen Qingshi couldn't help but smile.

"Soon everything will be over... This time, let's not look back, alright?"

It was a bitterly cold winter.

Over those months, tens of thousands had died from the insect plague. Their bodies were burned to ashes, the ashes scattering freely across heaven and earth, dyeing the plants and trees pitch black.Until the last leaf fell from the trees, the insect plague across the Central Plains had not completely vanished. However, villages and towns continuously received shipments of red medicinal powder—delivered sometimes by physicians from Medicine King Mountain, other times by officially appointed government agents. They claimed that dissolving this powder in water and sprinkling it before one's doorstep would keep the insects away.

The common people followed these instructions, and indeed, the Emerald Blood Cicadas ceased to appear. Subsequently, they used the powder to drive the cicadas into concentrated areas and burned them all.

In the end, no one ever discovered what the powder truly was.

Some speculated that the Emperor had abstained from court sessions for months, devoting himself to spiritual cultivation precisely to concoct this medicine. They believed that once the true dragon of Datong achieved immortality and ascended to the celestial realm, plagues would never again afflict the mortal world.

Rumors proliferated in countless variations, but when they finally reached White Rainbow Tower, they only drew a bitter smile from Zhou Huai.

"Qingshi, listen to this nonsense they're spreading."

He lifted Shen Qingshi from the bed—the person in his arms had withered to mere skin and bones, now coughing incessantly at the slightest draft.

Over these past months, whenever Cao Zhao visited White Rainbow Tower, Shen Qingshi would inevitably have to shed half her body's worth of blood.

Eventually, no matter what tonics Zhou Huai fed her, no trace of color returned to Shen Qingshi's cheeks. She drifted in and out of consciousness day after day, occasionally waking just long enough to sip some broth in Zhou Huai's arms before slipping back into slumber.

The Emerald Blood Cicadas fed on human vitality. Even though Shen Qingshi was the only person in the world immune to their threat, she was ultimately dying because of them.

Yang Wujian, if only you could see what our mess has done to her—how it has tormented her.

Zhou Huai's heart swelled with bitterness. He cracked open the window—the weather was fine today, the snow had stopped, and sunlight streamed onto Shen Qingshi's face, briefly rousing her to consciousness.

"Zhou Huai... what time is it?"

"Just past noon. Would you like something to eat? I prepared some blood-nourishing soup."

"Not very hungry... Help me sit up."

Shen Qingshi's wrists had been cut open too many times, leaving wounds that refused to heal. They remained wrapped in bandages, still seeping blood.

Zhou Huai carefully supported her, letting her lean against him. "Earlier, when I went to Green Bamboo Town to buy radishes for Xue Qiu, the vegetable vendor said the insect plague is nearly gone... Qingshi, just hold on a little longer. Once we get through this winter, everything will be fine."

Get through... what?

Shen Qingshi could barely make out Zhou Huai's words through the haze.

Too weak to move, she glanced out the window and noticed Zhou Huai had removed the bars that once covered it. Now she could feel the gentle breeze against her face and see the blue sky and drifting clouds outside.

And in that moment, memories from long ago surfaced.

It was a sky just like today's.

"Zhou Huai, did you know? When I was little, after Yang Wujian released me from the cage and I stepped outside Longevity Palace, the sky looked exactly like this."

Suddenly, Shen Qingshi murmured softly against his chest, "No cages... it's wonderful. Thank you, Zhou Huai."

It had been so long since she had spoken this many words while awake.

An inexplicable dread tightened Zhou Huai's heart. He picked up Xue Qiu from the bed and placed the rabbit in her arms. "Qingshi, don't talk anymore. Pet Xue Qiu—he's gotten chubbier."

"Don't overfeed him. I still worry he might slip out and get caught."Shen Qingshi stroked the soft rabbit fur and sighed softly: "Zhou Huai, do you think we truly won this game of chess?"

"We probably did... Prince Li is dead, the Northern Desert hasn't mobilized troops, and Datong still stands."

"But first we forcibly seized the Four Seas Alliance for the Longevity Heart Sutra, then slaughtered the entire Thousand Cliffs Fortress to eliminate Prince Li. Now, everyone in the martial world lives in constant fear, the relationship between the martial arts community and the imperial court has become like fire and water, and there's this insect plague that's making life unbearable for the common people. The Son of Heaven claims he wants to govern, yet he's handed all state affairs over to the cabinet and the Zhaoming Division while indulging in alchemy and cultivating the Dao. If this becomes known among the people... has the Son of Heaven truly won?"

For some reason, Shen Qingshi suddenly felt her mind become exceptionally clear, as if realizing something. She continued: "The Son of Heaven should still firmly believe in the Path of Longevity. After I die, you must cremate me too. If you can capture the Meteor Star inside my body, keep it. It might be somewhat different from other Meteor Stars. In case it becomes useful later, give it to Cao Zhao. He's not a good man... but chaos in the world wouldn't benefit him either."

"What are you talking about, Qingshi..."

Zhou Huai felt as if a knife were twisting in his heart. He couldn't help but grip Shen Qingshi's shoulders tightly, only to feel her bones pressing against his palm, almost painfully.

He really should let her go.

As this thought surfaced in his heart, Zhou Huai's tears already began flowing uncontrollably. He remembered the first time Shen Qingshi met him and Yang Wujian at Immeasurable Manor - it seemed like only yesterday.

Zhou Huai couldn't help but choke up. He took that brocade pouch and placed it in Shen Qingshi's hand, clasping her fist to help her grip it tightly: "It's all because of that scoundrel Yang Wujian, leaving so early. You're unwilling to stay even one more winter... When you meet him, you must scold him harshly for me."

But Shen Qingshi was only looking out the window, until that patch of sky drew closer and closer to her, as if she were truly a cicada that could fly all the way to the horizon.

"Yang Wujian is already free, and I will soon leave this cage too. From now on, there will be no more Cicada Molt in this world."

As Shen Qingshi spoke, she actually smiled: "We've all made our own choices and won't regret them. So Zhou Huai, don't be afraid to be alone. Remember, you must also... keep going... for yourself..."

Her voice grew fainter and fainter until, at the very end, Xue Qiu was still nuzzling her fingertips, but Shen Qingshi was no longer stroking him. Zhou Huai lowered his head, looking at her emaciated yet peaceful profile, and only felt cold.

This day was bound to come eventually, but he had never been prepared for it.

"But Qingshi, I'm among the living."

Zhou Huai murmured the question as he leaned down to hold her tightly: "How can those who are alive not be afraid of anything..."

However, in the vast White Rainbow Tower at that moment, there was no one left to answer him. Both friends who had once stood by his side had already departed from this place.

Zhou Huai thought that perhaps this time, they had merely gone further away.

Just like back at Aconite Kiln, whether day or night, Shen Qingshi and Yang Wujian had always walked ahead of him. Therefore, even though he couldn't see them at this moment, he believed they would eventually meet again before too long.

It was a very cold winter.

Three months after Shen Qingshi died in White Rainbow Tower, perhaps because the weather was too frigid, the insect plague completely vanished from the Central Plains. Later generations would say that in that year, the Son of Heaven worshipped longevity, glimpsed Tian Ting, and Heaven blessed Datong - thus the insect calamity was eradicated and the plague ceased.The following spring, the rabbits in the bamboo grove multiplied. Using the money earned from selling pelts during winter, the young master of the tower renovated White Rainbow Tower. He erected two blank stone tablets on the site and poured fine liquor that burned the throat before them.

Finally, the young master personally cut down the surrounding bamboo, allowing sunlight to spill over the grassy burial mounds. Later, when customers purchasing mechanisms asked about it, he would explain that he wished for his friends to gaze upon the blue sky once more.

Green Bamboo Town remained unchanged from before. Occasionally, Zhou Huai would go to town to buy feed for the rabbits and overhear people saying the emperor had not held morning court for half a year. Whispers spread among the commoners—some claimed the emperor had fallen ill, while others insisted he had strayed from the path of cultivation.

Months later, in an attempt to cure the emperor, someone delivered a crimson elixir to the palace. Emperor Yongzhao accepted it with delight, declaring the celestial secrets had been unraveled and the Path of Longevity was now within reach.

In the autumn of the eighteenth year of Yongzhao's reign, Emperor Yongzhao died from the red pill.

[End of Book]