Whispers of Fate (Shui Long Yin)

The Ministry of Justice.

Yang Guihua confined Yu Tuan'er and A Shui in one cell, while Fang Pingzhai was locked up separately. To him, Yu Tuan'er and A Shui posed no threat, but Fang Pingzhai was someone he deeply feared. Before Fang Pingzhai's acupoints could be unsealed, Yang Guihua bound him tightly with fine steel chains and struck twelve major acupoints on his body.

He first interrogated Yu Tuan'er and A Shui throughout the night. Early the next morning, Jiao Shiqiao arrived at the Ministry of Justice. After inspecting Yu Tuan'er and A Shui, he proceeded to question Fang Pingzhai.

Fang Pingzhai had long been awake. Though weighed down by heavy shackles and immobilized by sealed acupoints, Yang Guihua's acupoint-striking skills were naturally no match for those of the old monks from Shaolin Temple. Fang Pingzhai still appeared composed and at ease, save for the absence of his red-feathered fan.

"What was found on him?" Jiao Shiqiao, dressed in official robes, entered the prison. Prison guards on either side promptly brought him a chair and cushion, while another flattered, "He had nothing on him—just a few dozen taels of loose silver, a peculiar-looking fan, and some small blades. Nothing else." Jiao Shiqiao frowned, "Blades? What kind of blades?"

A guard presented a red cloth tray holding several dozen curled-edge throwing knives, each about an inch long. Snow-white in color and elegantly curled like flower petals, they were strikingly beautiful. Jiao Shiqiao picked one up—double-edged and razor-sharp, a weapon only a master could wield. He stared intently for a long moment before suddenly declaring, "You are Layered Petal Grandeur..."

Fang Pingzhai sighed, "Who are you?" Jiao Shiqiao replied slowly, "I am no man of the jianghu, but I am well-versed in its tales. In the past century, the only one capable of wielding such curled-edge throwing knives to execute 'Snowstorm Blowing Peonies' was Layered Petal Grandeur of the Seven Cloud Traveling Guests. The Seven Cloud Traveling Guests have always been enigmatic, their true names unknown. No wonder no one realized Fang Pingzhai was Layered Petal Grandeur." His gaze sharp as a blade, he enunciated each word, "The Seven Cloud Traveling Guests are deeply entwined with recent events in the jianghu. After the battle between the Dissolute Shop and the Central Plains Sword Association, the Dissolute Shop, though seemingly defeated, dared to distribute Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pills within the palace. Since Plum Blossom Numerology, Raging Orchid No Trace, and One Peach Three Colors were once under the Dissolute Shop’s banner, how much do you know of its inner workings?"

"Me?" Fang Pingzhai said, "I am but a wandering rogue of the jianghu, idly passing my days, occasionally stirring trouble, occasionally yearning for fame. Yet I don’t recall committing any crime grave enough to land me in the Ministry of Justice’s dungeon." Jiao Shiqiao remarked coolly, "As Layered Petal Grandeur, already renowned across the land, why seek further fame?" Fang Pingzhai laughed, "Relying on another’s glory grows tiresome. I wished to carve my own path through the world, but alas, fortune never favored me with the chance to make my name." Jiao Shiqiao asked impassively, "How much do you know of the Dissolute Shop? Why were you traveling with Liu Yan? What are his intentions regarding the imperial court?""I know nothing about the Dissolute Shop." Fang Pingzhai's gaze darkened slightly. "I have no idea why those three became its subordinates, because ten years ago, I already parted ways with the brothers of the Seven Cloud Traveling Guests." Jiao Shiqiao was taken aback. "Why?" Fang Pingzhai laughed heartily. "Because they were deeply bonded as brothers, while I am cold and indifferent." Jiao Shiqiao frowned. "Then why are you traveling with Liu Yan? Where is he now?"

"I travel with my master because he is my master. As for where he is now—since I was captured by those bald monks of Shaolin and brought here by you, how would I know? Shouldn’t I be asking you that?" Fang Pingzhai remained composed. "Our intentions toward him may differ, but I mean him no harm." Jiao Shiqiao closed his eyes in thought for a moment, then stood up. "I’ll return tomorrow. If you persist with this attitude, spouting nothing but glib nonsense, don’t blame me for showing you no courtesy." Fang Pingzhai smiled. "I sincerely accept your lesson."

This man was Layered Petal Grandeur—he absolutely could not be spared. After today’s conversation, Jiao Shiqiao knew Fang Pingzhai’s lips were sealed tight. If he didn’t want to speak, no amount of torture would pry anything from him. Rather than endure his ramblings and keep such a dangerous figure in the prison, it was better to make an example of him—to show the Dissolute Shop that the imperial palace was no easy target. Once the thought of killing arose in his mind, he saw no reason to wait until tomorrow. He immediately ordered Yang Guihua: at the third watch of the night, Fang Pingzhai was to be executed.

Yang Guihua hadn’t expected Jiao Shiqiao to issue a death sentence after just one meeting with Fang Pingzhai. This alone spoke volumes about the man’s danger. Though he felt a twinge of regret about killing Fang Pingzhai at the third watch, he knew it had to be done. Fang Pingzhai was a tiger—if you strike a tiger without delivering a fatal blow, it will retaliate. This principle was clear to him.

Yu Tuan'er and A Shui were imprisoned together in the same cell, surrounded by other female inmates. Yu Tuan'er, severely injured, lay unconscious. Yang Guihua, out of kindness, had brought medicine and clean water, which A Shui was now carefully feeding to her. Feng Feng had been taken away by Yang Guihua, who claimed the child had been entrusted to a wet nurse in the residence. A Shui trusted him on this—though Yang Guihua was an officer, he was also a man of honor.

Time passed swiftly. The autumn wind scattered fallen leaves, the air grew colder, and night soon fell.

Fang Pingzhai remained chained to the stone wall of the prison, his acupoints still sealed. For the past twelve hours, he had eaten nothing—not even a sip of water. Yang Guihua’s kindness toward Yu Tuan'er and A Shui didn’t mean he would let his guard down with Fang Pingzhai.

The second watch had just ended; the third had yet to arrive. Though his situation was dire, Fang Pingzhai slept peacefully, chained to the wall. Suddenly, the sound of the cell door creaking open roused him. Visitors in the dead of night seldom came with good intentions. He smiled at the newcomer. "At this hour, instead of sleeping, you come knocking. It’s hard not to suspect your purpose is—silencing a witness?" Yang Guihua flicked his wrist, revealing the Blue Steel Sword in his hand. He hadn’t brought a scabbard—he had been gripping the bare blade all along. "Truthfully, I don’t wish to kill you. Fang Gongzi, your martial skills are extraordinary, and you are a man of loyalty and passion. Though your temperament is unique, you are undeniably a true man. But—you are Layered Petal Grandeur. And if you are Layered Petal Grandeur, then you must die.""Ha! I once thought this reputation of mine was quite illustrious, but it turns out to be nothing more than a death warrant." Fang Pingzhai showed no fear, a smile on his face. "Are you afraid the Dissolute Shop will storm the imperial prison to rescue me? Don’t worry, they’re not that foolish—" Before he could finish, two faint "whooshes" were heard, and the two jailers behind Yang Guihua collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Fang Pingzhai froze, while Yang Guihua spun around abruptly. At the prison entrance, a figure stepped in one slow stride at a time, dressed in official guard attire but without a hat.

"Who goes there?" Yang Guihua steadied himself and barked in a low voice.

The figure slowly approached Yang Guihua, revealing a comical mask on his face—one depicting Zhong Kui. Yang Guihua was taken aback, then took a deep breath and shouted, "Guards! Someone is breaking into the prison!" He immediately thrust his sword at the intruder, who merely flicked his sleeve. The blade, infused with Yang Guihua’s true power, bent upon contact and rebounded with a metallic clang, flying out of his grip. Realizing he was outmatched, Yang Guihua swiftly turned and aimed a finger strike at Fang Pingzhai’s death spot. Unable to move, Fang Pingzhai could only stare wide-eyed, awaiting death—until a dull "thud" sounded. The intruder’s palm moved faster than Yang Guihua’s technique, lightly striking his back before his finger could land the fatal blow.

Yang Guihua stiffened, then crumpled limply to the ground. Fang Pingzhai let out a dry laugh. "Seventh Brother, I truly never expected you to be the one saving me today." The masked figure stepped forward, pressing a foot onto Yang Guihua’s hand, then slowly removed the Zhong Kui mask. Beneath it was a face as delicate as a flower—Xifang Tao. She smiled sweetly. "How could I not rescue Sixth Brother in his time of need? Besides, you’ve always been righteous, willing to die rather than reveal the Dissolute Shop’s secrets. How could someone as insignificant as Yang Guihua be allowed to kill you with a mere sword? He isn’t even fit to polish your shoes." As she spoke, Xifang Tao unlocked Fang Pingzhai’s shackles and unsealed his acupoints. "Let’s go. Though the Dali Temple lacks true masters, getting bogged down in a sea of enemies would still be troublesome."

Fang Pingzhai flexed his wrists, sore from the shackles. "When Jiao Shiqiao came to see me earlier, you weren’t eavesdropping nearby, were you? Did you decide to save me only after confirming I hadn’t revealed anything?" Xifang Tao chuckled lightly. "How could you think that? Even if you had confessed everything to Jiao Shiqiao, since we once swore brotherhood by blood, I wouldn’t hold it against you." Fang Pingzhai snorted, looking skyward. "If you truly cared about brotherhood, why did you reduce Third and Fourth Brothers to those half-dead states? Never mind—no need to explain. My choice was made clear ten years ago. If I hadn’t been certain, I’d probably be just another puppet of yours, like them."

"Ah... Sixth Brother, how can you wash your hands so cleanly? Have you forgotten who served them those poisoned cups of wine? Who hosted that banquet, who invited them?" Xifang Tao mused languidly. "You were involved from the very beginning. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re blameless. Now that Tang Lici has obtained the Green Enchantment Pearl, once he neutralizes the Yellow Bright Bamboo Poison, Third and Fourth Brothers will regain their senses. When they remember the past, who do you think they’ll resent—you or me?""You—" Fang Pingzhai gave a bitter smile, "Dressing as a woman makes you even more vicious than one?" Xifang Tao pressed a finger to her lips and shushed him. "Sixth Brother, come back. Has ten years of wandering not been enough? What have you gained from a decade of drifting? Who in this martial world acknowledges you? Who respects you? Without wealth, power, or connections, even if you were the most extraordinary talent under heaven, you’d still drown in the tides of the jianghu. With all your lofty ambitions, you have no way to realize them." Fang Pingzhai waved a hand dismissively. "Hey—I don’t have any grand ambitions. I just have a small wish to prove that I can make a name for myself without you all. But alas—" Xifang Tao smiled. "But alas, you never could. Sixth Brother, the jianghu may look down on you, but I don’t." She softened her voice. "Besides, you owe me two lives—one from back then, and one from today."

"This—" Fang Pingzhai patted his head. "This really is a tough spot. Let’s talk about it later." He walked out. "Maybe we’ll meet again someday, or maybe we never will. For now, I don’t want to change anything." Xifang Tao said leisurely, "For now, I don’t want to change anything either. Until you master Liu Yan’s Sound Assassination, you can do whatever you wish—I won’t interfere." Fang Pingzhai laughed. "You really are far-sighted, wanting everything, aren’t you…" Before he could finish, his figure flickered as he slipped into the women’s prison, vanishing in an instant. Xifang Tao giggled softly. She had half a mind to take the two girls from the prison with her, but now was not the time to provoke Fang Pingzhai.