Immortalis

Corpse Demon Fourteen

"On Handkerchief Street, I have no one to rely on except one person. She's the daughter of a midwife on Handkerchief Street. Please take news of my death to her, tell her to live well and not come looking for me."

Six years ago, Zhu'er sat covered in blood at the edge of the Meat Well, gazing into the pitch-black depths below. Yet she felt no fear, instead softly humming a tune her Zhao Mansion Wet Nurse used to sing to her in childhood.

"Your master wants me to bring you back, otherwise I won't get a single coin."

The White-faced Daoist stood not far behind her. Just moments before, he had killed Hu Rui—who had trained in martial arts since childhood—as easily as slaughtering a chicken. If he wished, he could immediately drag Zhu'er back from the Meat Well and return to Handkerchief Street to claim his reward.

But strangely, the old daoist remained where he was, unmoving.

After some thought, he suddenly asked: "Do you know what's down there?"

Zhu'er gently swung her feet, her vision already growing blurry: "I've heard Northern Desert people believe this well contains the Underground Heaven, housing their gods."

"Do you believe that?"

"If there really are gods in this world, I'd like to ask them how they can tolerate the current state of affairs—villains in power, loyalists dying tragic deaths, right and wrong confused, black and white indistinguishable."

As she spoke, Zhu'er looked again into the deep chasm beneath her feet. In her dazed state, she seemed to hear her long-deceased parents calling her home from the depths of the well.

She had been waiting for this day for a long time.

"Afterwards, he sent me word that Zhu'er was dead, and the reward money was lost. But he promised that if I was willing to cooperate with him, then Zhu'er's death would eventually be vindicated."

Zui Xiang said with a smile: "Since childhood, my mother only taught me that I was a person of Handkerchief Street in life and a ghost of Handkerchief Street in death... It wasn't until I grew up that I realized I was repaying her debts. If not for Zhu'er, I would never have known that women in this world could have such vast horizons, that there were so many novel and interesting things outside."

"Your deal with the White-faced Guest was to give him the stillborn fetuses from your mother to make medicine?"

Shen Qingshi now understood. The White-faced Guest had likely abandoned bringing Zhu'er back to Handkerchief Street because he had set his sights on Zui Xiang.

He hid Hu Rui's corpse in a place within ordinary reach under the Meat Well, then went to deliver his message to Zui Xiang—undoubtedly using this as a favor to secure her cooperation.

But was collecting a few stillborn fetuses really worth such elaborate efforts from the White-faced Guest?

As if sensing Shen Qingshi's doubt, Zui Xiang suddenly said: "Not all stillborn fetuses are usable. He only wants three to five month old fetuses, and they require special processing, otherwise they lose their efficacy."

Zhou Huai listened with growing horror and asked: "So his disappearance from your room was just an act? And you were the one who placed that piece of flesh?"

Zui Xiang laughed: "He specifically requested me, just to catch Young Master Guanhuo's attention. All these years I've been able to become the top courtesan—that wasn't entirely my own doing either."

Yang Wujian thought that if this was true, then the benefit the White-faced Guest demanded from Young Master Guanhuo was probably hidden. The money Yang Ye squandered in Guan Huo's territory likely ended up in the White-faced Guest's pockets.

Ling She was right—for him, this was truly a profitable deal.

When he took out that bottle of medicine from his robe, Zui Xiang glanced at it and smiled: "He said you would recognize this."

"Why would the White-faced Guest say that?"Zhou Huai couldn't help but grow suspicious. Yang Wujian thought to himself, "This is bad. If Zui Xiang keeps talking like this, the young master will surely become suspicious of me."

Before Zui Xiang could speak, Yang Wujian preemptively asked, "Is this medicine what keeps you so well-preserved?"

Zui Xiang seemed to notice his panic and smiled faintly. "Young master, you've already realized someone gave me their cultivation. This medicine is just the icing on the cake—it must be taken consistently over years to maintain youth... Why don't you try it? It might have miraculous effects on you too."

Damn it...

As Yang Wujian noticed Zhou Huai's increasingly strange expression from the corner of his eye, he felt uneasy. Just then, the crisp sound of a chain rang out. Shen Qingshi pulled him aside as a sharp chain blade narrowly grazed Yang Wujian's cheek, then, like a living creature, coiled directly toward the medicine bottle in his hand.

"More people from the Ghost Market?"

Among the four, only Zui Xiang lacked martial skills and was immediately struck down by a hidden weapon. Zhou Huai drew his sword to block the attack for Yang Wujian. The three looked up and saw two figures standing on the roof—one wearing a Tiger Head Saber at his waist, the other holding a Wolf-tooth Chain. Their identities were immediately clear from their luxurious robes adorned with snake patterns.

Brightening Envoys... Why are they here?

Did Shen Qingshi secretly send them a message?

Yang Wujian felt his blood run cold the moment he met Cao Zhao's smiling face. Remembering Baihe's tragic death, he clenched the golden rings in his hand until they creaked.

"Don't worry, we still have questions for Miss Zui Xiang... She's just been drugged and will sleep for a while."

Cao Zhao nimbly jumped down from the roof. "Young friends, we meet again... Perfect timing. Let me introduce you—this is Lord Tu Yuanliang, the Northern Brightening Division's Ya Zi Envoy."

He then glanced at Shen Qingshi, who stood there ashen-faced, and said bluntly to Yang Wujian, "Although I intentionally had Qingshi approach you last time, and injuring her was merely to verify your true identity, I never expected she would voluntarily take a second injury for you, delaying the mission... Qingshi grew up before my eyes and never does unnecessary things. Yang Wujian, you truly have some skill."

"Wait..."

At this, even Zhou Huai, who had been on guard, froze completely. He wasn't foolish—Cao Zhao's words made it impossible not to understand Shen Qingshi's identity.

That day in Jingyang City, why was Shen Qingshi already awake when he woke up? Why did she go to the prison to rescue Yang Wujian? How could she have connections with the authorities...

Everything seemed to fall into place.

Zhou Huai frowned. "Miss Shen, are you a Zhaoming Guard?"

"Young Master Zhou, you're nothing like your father. No wonder you remained unaware even after Zhou Jinglei was replaced for over a decade."

Though Cao Zhao smiled, his eyes held no mirth. Every word stabbed like a blade. Zhou Huai's face turned pale. "How did you know..."

Before he could finish, he realized.

When Shen Qingshi was injured saving him and stayed at the White Rainbow Tower—was that also to investigate the tower's secrets?

Zhou Huai took a step back. Once he grasped the implications, all the pieces connected.The court sent people into the Four Seas Alliance, naturally to plant spies in the martial world. However, over the years, the White Rainbow Tower replaced its servants every three months, leaving the Zhaoming Division no opportunity—until he brought Shen Qingshi back.

And that day, before he was prepared, Zhou Jinglei’s long-hidden secret was suddenly exposed, turning the White Rainbow Tower into a public enemy overnight. Not only was their wealth completely lost, but any chance of recovery vanished.

Zhou Huai opened his mouth but found himself unable to speak, his breathing even growing rapid.

“Young Master, calm down!”

Yang Wujian knew that Zhou Huai had been afflicted with the Evil Sickness for years. Although the root cause had been identified, the psychological trauma remained incurable. If his emotions fluctuated too severely, he could even suffer a qi deviation on the spot.

Regardless of which side Shen Qingshi was on, Yang Wujian had to stabilize Zhou Huai first.

Frowning, Yang Wujian said, “Young Master, don’t just listen to his one-sided account. Remember what I told you? What matters is the choices she made for you. Miss Shen risked her life to retrieve your father’s body from the Hero’s Tomb for you—have you forgotten?”

“I…”

Before Zhou Huai could speak, Cao Zhao laughed again.

“It seems this mouth can turn black into white. Not only did it deceive Qingshi, but it also led Young Master Zhou around by the nose, leaving you completely in the dark.”

Cao Zhao stepped closer, scrutinizing Yang Wujian. “You’re no match for me, and with your bones shrunk, your chances are even slimmer. So why not reveal your true form? Or are you afraid that using your inner energy to tear off the Seventy-two Golds will reveal that you possess the Longevity Heart Sutra—the very thing everyone in the martial world is searching for?”

“What did you say…”

Zhou Huai abruptly lifted his head, momentarily convinced he had misheard, his heart pounding heavily.

But Cao Zhao didn’t stop. He sighed deeply and said, “Originally, I hoped Qingshi could stay by your side to uncover the whereabouts of the Longevity Palace. Unfortunately, the moment she took an arrow for you, I knew Lord Tu’s worries were justified—she probably couldn’t complete this mission alone.”

“Brother Cao, I…”

Just as Shen Qingshi was about to speak, Cao Zhao shook his head to stop her. “I understand. Yang Wujian saved you, and you’re ultimately unwilling to harm him. Qingshi, I raised you—I won’t make things difficult for you. Step back now. Lord Tu and I will handle the rest ourselves… Once he’s in Zhaoming Prison, I’ll find a way to make him talk.”

“Wishful thinking.”

Yang Wujian sneered.

Although no other voices could be heard outside the courtyard, he knew the martial skills of the Four Envoys of Zhaoming far surpassed theirs, not to mention the Jackal, Wolf, Tiger, and Leopard. With two of them present today, it was likely a fight to the death.

Without another word, Yang Wujian channeled his inner energy. The golden rings all over his body clinked as they were pulled taut, until finally, he shook off his boots. With a few crisp sounds, in mere seconds, his height had returned to normal, revealing his true male form.

This was the first time Tu Yuanliang had seen someone capable of such Bone Shrinking. He sneered, “To think there really is someone in this world with bones so soft they can shrink for long periods… In that case, Lord Shen breaking all his bones to master this skill was hardly worth it.”Yang Wujian vaguely recalled being abducted from the White Rainbow Tower earlier by someone skilled in disguise, who he presumed was the "Lord Shen" mentioned by this person. He scoffed, "Everyone schemes tirelessly, yet all they want is the Longevity Heart Sutra. It seems the lords of the court are no different from the rabble of the martial world."

"Lord Cao, why waste words on him? You specifically summoned me today to capture this little thief alive, didn't you?"

Tu Yuanliang stepped forward with a cold expression, a chain over ten feet long covered in spikes in his hand, its end tethered to a pair of razor-sharp wolf-tooth blades—the very Blood Thorn Saber that had once struck fear on the battlefield, decapitating countless foes under the young General Tu's command.

Tu Yuanliang said coldly, "If we keep chatting here idly, we could have already taken him back to Zhaoming Prison."

"Lord Tu is truly impatient."

Cao Zhao, however, was in no hurry to draw his Tiger Head Saber and still smiled as he spoke, "This matter might not require our intervention at all."

"You..."

Before Yang Wujian could finish speaking, he suddenly felt a chill in his back. He looked down and saw the sharp White Rainbow Sword piercing through one of the few spots on his body not covered by golden rings. Blood dripped from the blade, splattering into a crimson flower in his palm.

"...Is this why you told me not to judge people by their origin?"

Zhou Huai's voice was almost inaudible, and his hand gripping the White Rainbow Sword trembled uncontrollably. Only now did he finally understand that the two companions traveling with him might have been scheming against him from the very beginning.

No wonder Yang Wujian was distant with the Crescent Moon Blade.

No wonder the White-faced Guest, as the Old Palace Master of Longevity Palace, had taken the Seventy-two Golds from Zhou Jinglei.

No wonder he had stayed in the White Rainbow Tower to keep him company.

Longevity Palace lured Zhou Jinglei astray, while the Zhaoming Division doomed the White Rainbow Tower to ruin.

And he, as Zhou Jinglei's only son and the young master of White Rainbow Tower, had been kept in the dark all along, even considering them his close friends.

Zhou Huai gritted his teeth, yanked the sword out abruptly, and Yang Wujian's legs gave way, kneeling before Cao Zhao.

"See, Lord Tu."

Cao Zhao looked down at him like a tiger hunting under the moonlight.

He smiled and said, "The martial world has its wonders. Sometimes, we don't even need to lift a finger before someone delivers the prey right to us."