」
「Especially the Rank Eight Bone Refining Realm, which requires an incomparable amount of resources. When you examine corpses at the county yamen, a single one pays a mere one hundred copper coins. You could examine them for several lifetimes and still not earn enough for the medicine needed for bone refining. Even if you manage to hunt demons for money, who knows how many years it would take to break through to the Rank Seven Spirit-Refining.」
「If you can escort me safely back to the Imperial City, I can provide all the medicinal ingredients you need in the Bone Refining Realm. I don't want to die; I want to live.」
Mu Qingyao's voice was very soft, and one could tell it came from the depths of her heart. Aside from a transaction, it carried her yearning to survive.
Yun Que fell silent for a moment.
「You don't recognize that tiger demon, Pingshan Jun, do you?」
Mu Qingyao gently shook her head.
「The consumption of the Bone Refining Realm is indeed far too great, and the benefits you offer are extremely enticing. To be honest, I am very tempted, but this business—I won't take it.」
Yun Que chuckled and said, 「That old demon Pingshan Jun is terribly lazy. It wouldn't kill a princess for no reason; someone must have given it orders. Dealing with Pingshan Jun isn't much of a problem, but dealing with the forces behind it is truly beyond me. My apologies. If I were to agree to your request, I wouldn't be escorting you back to the Imperial City; I would simply be dying alongside you.」
Mu Qingyao let out a soft sigh, and with lingering reluctance, said:
「The Twelve Halls of the Tianqi Academy encompass the essence of Confucianism, Taoism, and the martial arts. If you enter the Academy, you will have the chance to transition to another system. With your intelligence, practicing Taoism or Confucianism would surely suit you much better. The martial path is simply too difficult.」
「That is not something the Princess needs to concern herself with.」
Yun Que let out a massive yawn and said, 「I cannot enter the Confucian school, I cannot step through the gates of Taoism, and I cannot bow to the Buddha. In this lifetime, I can only be a martial artist.」
「Why?」 Mu Qingyao asked, puzzled.
「Because my life was sold off long ago.」 Yun Que said.
Chapter 6: My Ambition Is to Survive
After nightfall, the occasional bark of a dog echoed through the small town.
The bright moon hung in the center of the sky, and the deep night was still and quiet.
Inside the small cottage in Cloth-Clothing Alley, the light was dim.
Mu Qingyao adjusted the lamp wick.
The firelight grew bright once more.
「Because my innate talent allows me to communicate with spirits, my imperial father gave me a task ever since I was a child: to search for spiritual flowers. Starting from the age of six, I spent at most two or three months at home each year, while the rest of the time was spent rushing about in all directions. Over the span of more than ten years, I have traversed nearly half of Jin State, yet I discovered the traces of only a single spiritual flower.」
Mu Qingyao narrated softly, as if speaking to herself.
「That year I was eleven years old, and I witnessed with my own eyes the struggle for a spiritual flower. A bear demon towering over two heads tall slaughtered a thousand heavily armored Imperial Guards. The senior brothers and sisters of the Tianshu Bureau fought to the death; thirteen died in battle and over thirty were heavily wounded before they finally managed to kill the bear demon and seize the spiritual flower.」
「One senior brother had his body torn apart by the bear demon, his internal organs completely ruptured, and he was on the verge of death. When I asked him if he had any final words, he simply looked at the spiritual flower and laughed heartily. He said it was no loss—that this life of his had made a profit. A single spiritual flower could be used to forge yet another demon-subduing array to protect the people of a city in peace.」
「The senior brother died, and he died with a smile.」
「From that moment on, every trace of grievance in my heart vanished completely. If one day I should die in search of a spiritual flower, I suppose I ought to depart with a smile as well.」
「The bitter wind has yet to arrive, but the leaves turn yellow first; amidst the thicket, a touch of fragrance, an unyielding spine battling the severe frost.」
The little Princess's voice was very soft, yet this low whisper carried a crushing weight.
An unyielding spine battling the severe frost!
Even if the bitter wind cut to the bone and perils lurked on every side, Mu Qingyao would walk this path she had chosen for herself all the way to the end.
Listening to her finish, Yun Que yawned and said:
「What on earth are you even after? You suffer and exhaust yourself only to risk your life at any given moment. Are you the Emperor? Or are you a saint?」
「I am neither the Emperor nor a saint. I am merely an ordinary princess who cannot bear to see the common folk suffer endlessly at the hands of demons and evil spirits. Though I possess the body of a woman, I walk the path of a gentleman.」 Mu Qingyao said with a resolute gaze.
「Even if you find a spiritual flower and forge a demon-subduing array, the people will only sing the praises of the Emperor. How many among them will know of your contribution? It is precisely women like you, acting as gentlemen, that cause the land prices in the three great cities to soar year after year, while genuine impoverished families remain in the depths of fire and water. The demon-subduing array only protects the wealthy. If you ask me, demon-subduing arrays shouldn't exist at all. Everyone should be equally vulnerable to demons and evil spirits at any moment, and anyone could die at any time—now that would be fair.」
Yun Que's theory of fairness caused Mu Qingyao to knit her delicate brows.
Matters like real estate prices were something she had never paid attention to before, but after a brief moment of thought, she had to acknowledge the truth in Yun Que's words.
Yet, there was simply no helping it.
「The people of the Tianshu Bureau will strive to search for spiritual flowers. If ten years are not enough, we will search for a hundred. Sooner or later, every town and city in Dajin will become a safe haven.」 Mu Qingyao said firmly.
「The foolish old man who tried to move the mountains thought the same way.」 Yun Que said.
「I know there is also a sincere heart beating within your chest. When the mine in Cangshi Town suffered from evil spirits last year, it was you who stepped forth with chivalrous righteousness to eradicate the demons. I can tell that the people in the town hold you in extremely high regard. Have you ever thought of throwing in your lot with the imperial court and serving your country?」 Mu Qingyao asked.
「Never crossed my mind.」
Yun Que wagged a finger and said, 「Besides, you're wrong. When I went to the mine to get rid of demons, I charged a fee. Ma Xiaojiao paid extra, otherwise I wouldn't have gone at all. I am merely a selfish and petty villain, counting my days one by one as I live them.」
「A proud man should stand tall between heaven and earth. Do you truly have no ambitions?」 Mu Qingyao asked.
「I do! My greatest ambition is simply to survive.」 Yun Que said.
Mu Qingyao gazed at the black-robed youth reclining leisurely on the bed. His refined face maintained that listless, languid expression that always made him look half-asleep.
She could see no fighting spirit, nor any youthful vigor; he resembled an aging elder nearing the end of his days, utterly devoid of vitality.
Yet the more Yun Que acted this way, the heavier Mu Qingyao's curiosity grew.
Mu Qingyao possessed a strong intuition that this youth sitting across from her must be harboring a crushing secret.
「I have already told you about myself. Can you tell me your story?」 Mu Qingyao's voice was very soft.
「My story is dreadfully boring. Are you certain you want to hear it?」 Yun Que said.
「I wish to hear it. After all, tonight may very well be the final night of my life.」 A trace of faint sorrow laced Mu Qingyao's voice as she said, 「I wish to hear one last story.」
「Very well, seeing as you are in such a pitiful state, I suppose telling it to you won't hurt.」
A look of helplessness appeared on Yun Que's face as he said:
「The story begins with a pair of martial artist husband and wife who had a son. The story ends with the martial artist husband and wife dying in a great battle, while their son, not even three years old, survived amidst the fragmented corpses and broken bones. My story is finished.」
The small cottage fell silent.
The flame in the oil lamp flickered, causing Mu Qingyao's shadow to sway ceaselessly, mirroring the turbulent state of her thoughts at this moment.
The story was far too simple.
So simple it was boring.
Yet from this brief and simple story, Mu Qingyao caught a clue that left her unable to calm her churning emotions for a long time.
A great battle, three years old, corpses scattered everywhere!
Fifteen years ago, the former dynasty of Great Yan and the Northern Territory Demon Capital perished together, a monumental clash that shocked the entire world.
Judging by Yun Que's age, he could only have been two or three years old at the time.
Mu Qingyao's clear eyes were now filled with shock.
Knowing full well it was a battle to the death, that pair of martial artist parents could not possibly have taken a toddler into combat; they ought to have settled the child safely somewhere before setting out.
Yet Yun Que had appeared on the battlefield!
This situation could only explain one thing.
At that time, Yun Que had marched with the army to attack the Demon Capital!
A baby not even three years old had actually participated in a war!
Mu Qingyao found it impossible to imagine what kind of terrifying power a three-year-old toddler could possibly possess to allow him to charge and kill amidst a battlefield!
One had to remember that this was no ordinary mortal battlefield, and the enemy was not ordinary soldiers, but tens of thousands of powerful members of the demon clan!
Merely imagining such a tragic and desolate scene made Mu Qingyao break out in a chill from head to toe.
Gazing at the languid youth reclining against the bed, Mu Qingyao's heart ached for no apparent reason.
「What happened afterward? Where did the child go?」 Mu Qingyao pressed urgently.
「He was adopted by an old hunter from Green Fox Mountain, and he's just drifted along waiting to die ever since.」 Yun Que said.
Mu Qingyao frowned slightly once again.
She sensed that the ending of the story did not add up.
「The Northern Territory Demon Capital is millions of miles away from Green Fox Mountain. Even if he was adopted, he should have remained somewhere near the Northern Territory. How did you ever make it back to Green Fox Mountain?」 Mu Qingyao asked.
「I'd like to know that myself.」
Yun Que interlaced his hands behind his head and gazed up at the ceiling as he said, 「I have a chunk of missing memory—about a month's worth. What exactly happened during that period, I do not know. When I finally woke up, I was already on Green Fox Mountain.」
Mu Qingyao fell silent.
It was as if a resonance allowed her to feel the deep isolation and profound confusion hidden within Yun Que's heart.
Mu Qingyao lowered her head and unhooked a pendant from her neck.
It was woven from red cord, suspending a small piece of jade at the tip.
The jade was celestial cyan in color, carved into the shape of a feather with breathtaking realism.
「This moon-jade pendant is something I have worn ever since I was born; it has the power to calm the mind. You saved my life back on the mountain, and I give you this item as a token of my gratitude.」
Mu Qingyao placed the moon-jade into Yun Que's hand, feeling herself grow much lighter at the gesture. With a radiant smile, she said:
「A drop of water given in grace should be repaid with a gushing spring, let alone saving one's life. If you refuse to accept it, once I am dead, this piece of jade will simply fall into the hands of someone else anyway.」
「Since you're giving it to me, of course I'll take it. Is this piece of jade worth two hundred liang of silver?」
Yun Que pinched the piece of jade; the lingering warmth of the little Princess still remained upon it.
「It is.」
Mu Qingyao smiled faintly. 「If you ever go to the Tianqi Imperial Capital in the future, I suggest you visit the Tianshu Bureau and see the Grand Astrologer. The Grand Astrologer is my master, possessed of profound cultivation. Perhaps he can help you recover that missing piece of memory.」
「I'm not a particularly curious person. I've only lost a month's worth of memories; if I can't remember them, so be it.」
Yun Que gave a dry laugh and said, 「If you're harboring any thoughts of rebuilding the former dynasty's Demon-Slaying Office, I advise you to give up on that notion early. There's no chance.」
Mu Qingyao was not surprised that he had seen through her intentions. Tilting her head slightly, she asked, 「Why?」
「Because we aren't normal people... I'm tired. Time for bed.」
With that final remark, Yun Que clutched his saber and fell into a deep sleep.
Mu Qingyao did not sleep. She gazed out at the starlit night sky, lost in thought.
This night, Cangshi Town was far from peaceful.
On North Street, a woman threw herself into a well; on South Street, a beggar went mad; on West Street, over a hundred children woke up screaming and crying in their sleep, frothing at the mouth; and on East Street, stray dogs dropped dead all over the ground for no apparent reason.
That night, every healer in town rushed about until dawn.
In the end, they all reached the same conclusion.
They were afflicted by evil spirits; there was something unclean in the town.
When daylight broke, Mu Qingyao stood up, glanced at the soundly sleeping Yun Que, and then stepped lightly out the door, leaving behind that coffin-like little cottage.
The weather today was extremely gloomy.
Dark clouds hung heavily overhead, and a torrential rain was on the verge of falling.
Mu Qingyao walked alone through the empty streets, her pace neither hurried nor slow.
Instead of leaving Cangshi Town directly, she walked to the steamed bun shop where Yun Que had first taken her to eat buns.
She ordered a bamboo steamer of meat buns.
Taking a fierce, large bite—
So fragrant!
At this moment, the little Princess cast aside her noble identity and devoured her food ravenously.
She was experiencing the life of ordinary commoners for the very first time.
Though living was not easy, it was also remarkably straightforward.
To be alive was truly wonderful...
Having finished the buns, Mu Qingyao resumed her poised and reserved demeanor.
She paid the bill and set off toward the exit on the southern side of the town.
Pedestrians coming and going on the street were gradually increasing in number.
As Mu Qingyao walked along, she noticed that many people were sizing her up with unkind gazes.
And these people sizing her up turned out to be ordinary townsfolk.
Feeling somewhat perplexed, Mu Qingyao quickened her pace slightly.
South Street was a rugged, uneven thoroughfare lined with shops, residential houses, and a Temple of the Earth God.
The temple was small, lacking even a front door; it was merely a large room barely adequate for sheltering against wind and rain, housing a clay statue of the Earth God inside that could be seen clearly from the outside.
As Mu Qingyao passed by the Earth God temple, a sudden muffled rumble echoed out.
The clay statue inside the temple actually collapsed, shattering into fragments!
The collapsing mud idol seemed to act as a signal; everyone on the street came to a halt.
Pairs of eyes filled with anger and hostility converged upon Mu Qingyao.
Foreseeing that something was amiss, Mu Qingyao lowered her head and tried to leave the area.
「It's her!」
A hulking, shrewish woman in the crowd let out a loud roar, pointing straight at Mu Qingyao as she yelled, 「She's the outsider who came yesterday! Our town has been peaceful for years, and the moment she arrives, a whole night of bizarre occurrences happens. She's a jinx! She's an evil spirit!」
The crowd fell silent for a brief moment before erupting into a wave of escalating shouts.
「My child has been vomiting all night and is on the verge of losing his breath! So it was her doing all along!」
「My son's coffin is already prepared! Burn this evil spirit to death, and my boy will surely live!」
「Once she dies, the town will be clean again!」
「Burn her to death!」
「Burn her to death!」
Chapter 7: Scenery within the Saber
In front of the Earth God temple on South Street, a pile of flammable wood had been stacked.
It stood over half a person's height and had been doused with plenty of kerosene.
Mu Qingyao was bound to the center of the wooden pile.
The surrounding townsfolk were stirred to a pitch of high emotion.
The hulking, shrewish woman procured a torch, shouting and cursing wildly.
Mu Qingyao gazed at the gloomy sky and smiled with bitter self-derision.
She had imagined the tragic scene of being torn apart by demonic beasts, she had envisioned being pierced through the heart by an enemy's sword, and she had even pictured falling into a trap and being left to starve to death.
She had imagined countless ways to die.
She simply never expected to perish at the hands of a mob of ordinary citizens.
Fate seemed to be playing a colossal joke on Mu Qingyao.
The common folk of the realm whom she feared no danger to protect and longed to guard had instead turned out to be the executioners who killed her.
Turning her head slightly, Mu Qingyao saw that inside the dilapidated Earth God temple, the fractured clay head of the Earth God was facing directly toward her, as if mocking her.
Just as the shrewish woman was about to set fire to the woodpile, a man missing one hand squeezed his way out of the crowd.
「What are you people doing! Killing people in broad daylight, have you no regard for the law of the land!」
The man was a butcher who sold meat in the marketplace.
「What law! Can the law manage evil spirits!」
「Over a hundred children fell victim to a curse, and it's entirely this woman's fault. Burn her to death, and the children will be saved!」
「The law does not punish the masses, and besides, what we are burning is an evil spirit!」
「That's right! Burn her to death!」
The crowd erupted in furious clamors, some of them constantly urging the shrewish woman to hurry up and light the fire.
The one-handed man grew frantic and bellowed:
「You cannot burn her! She is the woman brought back by Brother Yun! She is definitely not a demon or an evil spirit!」
Recognizing Mu Qingyao, the man was doing his utmost to stop them.
The mere mention of Brother Yun caused the surrounding area to quiet down, and even the shrewish woman grew hesitant.
At that moment, someone in the crowd shouted aloud:
「No outsiders came to town yesterday at all! Just her, this single outlander! All these bizarre things only started happening after she entered the town; she has to be an evil spirit! Even Brother Yun can misjudge people sometimes!」
With the first person speaking up, a second followed.
Soon, more and more people began shouting once again, roaring for her to be burned to death.
The one-handed man was shoved aside by several burly fellows; how could a single person stand against hundreds of townsfolk?
Tripped and sent crashing to the ground, the one-handed man yelled toward the surrounding crowd: 「You've all been cursed! You're the ones who've been cursed!」
The shrewish woman approached the woodpile and viciously swung the torch downward.
Yet the raised torch seemed as if it had been pinned in place from behind; despite all the force the shrewish woman exerted, she simply could not bring it down.
She glanced back over her shoulder.
A single hand had firmly seized the torch.
Standing behind the shrewish woman was a stern-faced youth clad in black, carrying a saber, his gaze chillingly cold.
「Has Cangshi Town been far too peaceful these past few years, leaving you idle folks with nothing better to do than go looking for trouble?」
Yun Que's cold words startled the shrewish woman into releasing her grip instantly, retreating several steps.
The surrounding crowd fell into absolute silence.
People unconsciously began backing away, clearing a large open circle in front of the Earth God temple.
Holding the torch, Yun Que swept his gaze across the surroundings and said:
「Want to see an evil spirit, do you? Fine. Tomorrow I'll bring some back so you can have a proper look.」
A low rumble shook the sky as thunder rolled across the heavens.
Everyone shivered violently and instinctively retreated another few yards, as though the black-robed youth were far more terrifying than any evil spirit.
In the distance, many people rushed over upon hearing the commotion.
Among them, a thin, smallish man squeezed through the crowd, leaped up, and delivered a fierce slap straight across the shrewish woman's face, spinning her around three full circles on the spot.
「Good-for-nothing shrew! Who the hell told you to come here and throw a tantrum! Can the woman Brother Yun brought back possibly be an evil spirit?! Is your brain kicked by a donkey or what!」
Aggrieved, the shrewish woman protested, 「What kind of ability is it to hit your own wife?! Our son is on the verge of dying, if this isn't evil spirits acting up, what is it?!」
With a face as dark as iron, the thin man cursed harshly, 「Even if my son dies today! I trust Brother Yun! Without Brother Yun, every last one of us from the mine would have lost our lives last year! If any of you doubt him, step forward right now!」
The surrounding townsfolk lowered their heads one after another, showing shame.
Yun Que's existence in Cangshi Town was akin to a living legend.
Though the common folk were ignorant, they were not completely stupid; the reason Cangshi Town had remained so peaceful for years without demonic calamities depended not on the magistrate's governance, but on this demon hunter from Green Fox Mountain.
A squad of bailiffs rushed over, led by none other than Wu Dachuan.
After inquiring about the cause and effect, Wu Dachuan was also utterly enraged, threatening to drag everyone who caused trouble back to the county yamen. For a time, the area before the Earth God temple was a clamorous mess of pleas for mercy and apologies.
Yun Que untied the ropes binding Mu Qingyao and led her away from South Street.
As they returned to Cloth-Clothing Alley, a heavy rain began to pour.
「Why did you come?」 Mu Qingyao asked softly.
「To escort you to Baiyu City.」 Yun Que flicked the moon-jade hanging from his neck and said, 「This trinket is definitely worth two hundred liang, right?」
Mu Qingyao smiled softly and nodded. 「It is.」
「What happened on the mountain doesn't count as saving a life; with or without you, I would have killed that wolf demon anyway. Consider this piece of jade your escort fee.」
Yun Que tucked the moon-jade inside the collar of his shirt and said, 「However, let's make it clear beforehand—only as far as Baiyu City, and I won't walk a single step further. By then, you'll have to figure out how to get back to the Imperial City on your own. We'll be even.」
Mu Qingyao gazed quietly at the black-robed youth opposite her and said softly, 「Thank you.」
「Don't thank me. It's just business, completely voluntary. A two-hundred-liang job is still well within what I'm willing to take.」 Yun Que said.
「Do you have any old clothes? I'd like to bathe.」
Mu Qingyao's white dress was stained with grease, and her hands and feet were covered in kerosene, making her look quite disheveled.
「There's a set in the cabinet. If you want to take a bath, you'll have to do it right here in the room.」
Yun Que pointed to a wooden barrel in the corner.
His lodgings consisted of a single room, and even cooking had to be done out in the courtyard.
Fumigating through the cabinet, he found a set of gray robes and helped heat up a pot of water, filling the wooden barrel to the brim.
「I'll step outside and wait.」