[Wushuang] Chapter 179
There wasn’t a choice left. The weather was truly too hot.

A grand, long red dress fluttered behind the person. One corner of her lips curled upwards into a smile before anything was said.

It was Yuwen Eying, Yuwen Xuanzhu, whom everyone in the Princess manor was familiar with.

But Princess Leping showed no ounce of familiarity upon seeing her daughter, only absolute fear.

This wasn’t the look of someone who has seen a stranger, neither was it the look of someone who was looking at the daughter who stood by her side day and night.

On her face, there was three parts fear, three parts guilt, as well as incomprehensible hurt.

However, the more she behaved in such a manner, the more her guest laughed.

It was an unnatural laugh that Yuwen Xuanzhu gave, one that was filled with loathing.

“Why is Mother so displeased at the sight of me?”

“No… I’m not…” Princess Leping squeaked.

In order to make herself appear more convincing, she immediately added, “Huan, you and I have been separated for more than a decade. It’s not easy to reunite with my daughter. Can you not get yourself involved in those immoral schemes?”

These words had hit her below the belt. Tears filled both her eyes as she took the young maiden’s hand and begged, “I will certainly go beg your grandfather and grandmother to bestow upon you an official title! You are the daughter of a Princess, by law you should not have an official title, but both your grandparents love me very much. If you want the title of a Xuanzhu, I could grant your wish. You’d be ranked higher than even your elder sister. Wouldn’t you like that?”

The young maiden gently asked, “Can I be a princess then?”

Princess Leping was taken aback.

The young maiden gave a faint smile. “As the daughter of a princess, even if bestowed upon heavily by gifts, it’s impossible for them to become a princess unless they are the Emperor’s daughter themselves. Mom, I am born a princess, so why do I have to disgrace myself to be a Xuanzhu? Moreover having to beg for it.”

Princess Leping’s face turned pale, no longer able to say anything.

“Mom, do you know?”

“I never knew I had a mother before. A-Xiong1 said that back then, I was on the verge of dying. A few members of the palace had dug me a pit, a few shovels of soil had already been poured inside. Had it been any later, I would not have been in this world anymore. What a pity that I am born with a tough life; I’ve managed to live on, even making it to adulthood and stand where I stand now as I speak to you.”

“When A-Xiong took me in, I was very little. I cried every day. He was living in poverty and could not afford a wetnurse. He didn’t know how to feed me, and so he could only look for a female wolf who had just given birth and fed me with wolf milk as I grew. When those were my days, what was big sis doing? She was the eldest princess, as well as my father’s only daughter. Surely she’s well-loved by everyone?”

The young maiden knelt and looked at Princess Leping. When she wasn’t smiling, natural innocence flowed through her eyes like a little child who was begging for the approval of her parents.

Tears finally flowed down Princess Leping’s eyes. Her lips quivered.

“I’m sorry…. That time…”

During that time, her grandfather the Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, Yuwen Yong suspected her father Yang Jian of having the intention of committing treason and was wary of him. As the Crown Prince’s concubine, she dared not misstep in a place such as the palace where there was no end to internal wars. When she heard that one of her twin daughters died, she had cried, but she hadn’t suspected that her daughter might still be alive, or that she’s been living outside of the palace all this time.

After so many years, Princess Leping only had one daughter, and she was Yuwen Eying. So she treated this daughter of hers like invaluable pearls, and couldn’t help but want to give her only the best that could be found in this world. However, she couldn’t have guessed that the other daughter of hers was out there in the wild.

On the day Yuwen Yihuan appeared at their doors, Princess Leping dared not believe it. However, the other girl grew up with a face identical to Yuwen Eying, that she practically needed nothing to prove, because this was the most obvious evidence.

Moreover, Yuwen Yihuan’s voice and expression, every slight movement on her face was indivisible to Yuwen Eying’s.

When both of them stood together in silence, even Princess Leping herself could not tell them apart.

After Yuwen Yihuan reunited with her birth mother and relayed to her all the hardships she’s been through these years, she also requested that she didn’t wish to expose her true identity to avoid her grandfather’s suspicions.

Princess Leping knew that her parents were very suspicious people, to begin with. If they knew that Yuwen Yihuan had been wandering outside all this time, there might be many troubles awaiting them. So, she promised her daughter that she would find the appropriate time to first be honest with Empress Dugu and make her accept Yuwen Yihuan first.

Yuwen Eying was a pure and innocent child. When she just found out that she had a twin sister, she was very happy about it. She had even volunteered on her own to keep her secret. And so, as the Princess and her daughters worked together, Yuwen Eying and Yuwen Yihuan took turns leaving the Princess’ manor using Yuwen Eying’s identity. Until when the Thousand Lantern Banquet incident came, Yuwen Yihuan’s overly brilliant performance drew Cui Buqu’s suspicions.

Cui Buqu was a person who will get to the bottom of every lead if he suspects it. He had always kept the detail of Yuwen Xuanzhu’s odd performance from that day in his mind. Afterwards, through numerous other leads, he was determined that the truth could not be far away from Yuwen Yihuan’s background.

As for Princess Leping, she was slowly coming to realize that her eldest daughter, who was estranged from her since young, was not as innocent and gentle in nature as Yuwen Eying. She had an incredibly ambitious heart, and she has even encouraged the Princess to become a shareholder of the Linlang Guild, so that they may receive dividends on an annual basis.

Other than the Imperial Court’s salary, the Princess Manor also received a few gifts from other members of royalty. However, after the change of dynasty, all that once belonged to the royal family’s treasury were all confiscated by the new Imperial Court. She was demoted from an Empress to a Princess, and though she still lived in luxury, much of her wealth has been lost. As the Eldest Princess of the Emperor, it was necessary for her to hold a banquet every once in a blue moon. Occasionally, Princess Leping too would be in a financial crisis. Yuwen Yihuan’s advice and suggestions have brought her no little amount of money. And so, Princess Leping gradually got used to letting her take care of the treasury in her manor.

As Yuwen Yihuan watched how lonely she was, she had even got her mother a male lover. Princess Leping was a woman herself, who too had emotions. It was impossible for her to marry again with her current status, so what wrong was there in getting a lover? The Emperor and Empress chose to close an eye to her affairs, and so Princess Leping grew even more dependent on her eldest daughter.

Cui Buqu would never have guessed that Xiao Lu was already involved in the Princess Manor from such a long time ago.

Yuwen Yihuan had never spoken ill of the Emperor and Empress in front of Princess Leping, but she would consciously hint at it from time to time, letting Princess Leping know that her status now was not as prominent as she was before.

That although the princess was born in luxury, she had no control over her own fate.

She knew that she held grudges against her own parents. This grudge began back in the year when the Princess had to marry into the Royal Family of the Yuwens and become the Crown Prince’s concubine, and the Yuwens were later completely demolished by her own father. Now, this grudge was finally bubbling out from her heart. After so many years, it had gotten more turbulent.

Yuwen Yihuan knew this grudge of hers well; and then, as days passed, she cultivated it into a strong feeling.

To the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai, Princess Leping’s status was the best piece of chess she could use.

She was a woman, as well as the eldest daughter of the Sui Emperor. She would not draw the attention of the Emperor and alert him.

However, she was once a member of the Yuwen family as well, who has even given birth to their children. She could never free herself from anything related to the Yuwen Family for the rest of her life.

She could be their bridge, as well as their shield.

She could be their offence, as well as be their defence.

Without herself realizing it, Princess Leping had turned into one of Yuwen Yihuan’s chess pieces, to be manipulated and moved by Xiao Lu and Yuwen Yihuan as they pleased.

Once Princess Leping realized something was wrong and wanted to turn back, she realized that she had no option to do so.

It was too late.

“Huan, turn back!”

As she wept, Princess Leping held her hand, “I am truly afraid. I cannot take this any longer. Ever since Empress Mother fell ill, each time I visited the palace, I couldn’t help having anxiety. I am afraid of being exposed! Huan, I don’t want to be an Empress Dowager anymore. Let the three of us live peacefully for the rest of our days, wouldn’t that be nice?”

“It’s too late.” Yuwen Yihuan shook her head, “Mom, there is no turning back for an arrow that has been shot. Everything has been prepared, and tomorrow is the Buddha’s Birthday. A-Xiong will take care of everything. I don’t need you to do anything. You only need to do your part of waiting in the Princess’ Manor and wait for the good news.”

Princess Leping cried, “The Yuwen clan’s time is over. They can never rise to power again!”

Yuwen Yihuan smiled, “You overthink, mother. Grandfather has already gotten rid of all the remnants of the Yuwen clan, so where would they get a son to succeed the throne? After Third Uncle ascends the throne, I will be crowned princess and marry to A-Xiong. As for A-Xiong, he will rule the Imperial Court as a Fuma. Mother will not need to worry about what happens afterwards. I guarantee that you will live a life of luxury no less than what you had before.”

When she heard the words ‘Third Uncle’, Princess Leping’s face paled. Her limbs turned cold, and she knew that there truly was no return.

“Then… What about Ying? When will she be returning? She is your little blood sister!”

“After everything ends in success, Eying will come back.” Yuwen Yihuan gently said, but her words made Princess Leping’s heart sink.

The princess’ voice was rough, “Are you using… using Ying as a hostage against me?”

“Mom, there you are again. You have always been like this. You loved little sister more than me. Could it be because I wasn’t by your side since I was little? Or is it that because I am smarter, so you have the excuse to play favouritism?” Yuwen Yihuan curled her lips, her eyes turned cold, “She is my little sister. How could I cause her harm? Now is a crucial time, so why would it be a bad thing that she is far away from the venue?”

Her patience had worn thin. After saying these words, she reached out to tap a few places on Princess Leping.

The princess fell unconscious on the ground.

Yuwen Yihuan pulled the covers over her figure.

Lightly, she said, “Sleep well. Everything will be over once you wake up tomorrow.”

She raised her hand as if she wanted to tap on a few more places on Princess Leping to avoid her waking up in the middle of the night and cause some chaos.

But Princess Leping didn’t know any martial arts. She was also in her middle ages. If Yuwen Yihuan tapped more of her meridians, it might actually damage the princess’ body.

Yuwen Yihuan’s hand dropped, giving herself a conflicted look as if she was questioning her own thoughts, before finally turning around and left.

Tonight, the blizzard never rested.

Countless people twisted and turned on their beds, trying their best to brave through this sleepless night.

It was the Seventeenth of the First Month, the Fourth Year of Kaihuang,

……

“Wake up. Wake up quickly!”

“Be on your feet! Today’s a big day!”

“Quickly wash and change your clothes. The time of the Emperor’s arrival is approaching!”

The monk Congjing rose the earliest. He went to wake up his peers as all the monks on the cattail mats rose up continuously.

The sky hasn’t brightened yet; this moment was a little earlier compared to when they usually wake up to do their homework.

But none of them complained because they all knew what day was today.

After some time, His Majesty the Emperor would arrive at the Royal Family’s Temple to pray for blessing in the Buddhist Festival hosted by the Grandmaster Lingcang2.

A young monk inside was sleeping a little far away from his peers. There was even a cotton blanket between them. Congjing shook his head and said that this shidi was truly too fuzzy with life. How could he truly cultivate the heart of the Buddha?

Before he could slap the other’s body, he had already woken up.

Congjing was delighted. “Aren’t you sleeping in today? So be it. At least you know what matters and what does not. Quickly get prepared!”

Congyun nodded his head and quietly got dressed. He said nothing.

Congjing wasn’t furious, because Congyun’s flu had just gotten better in such cold weather, his throat was hoarse. If not for their lack of manpower today, the brothers would definitely want him to sleep in more.

Thankfully, Congyun only needed to obey orders on the side. He didn’t need to talk. Today would be an easy day to pass for him.

Most importantly, Congyun was born with an incredibly good-looking face. When he wasn’t talking and simply stood quietly next to the Grandmaster Lingcang, he looked like an apprentice of the Guanyin.

The monks had all put on their clothes and left one by one.

When Congyun saw that no one else was around, he took out a bottle of salve from inside his sleeve and rubbed its contents on his face.

There was no choice. The weather truly was too hot.

[1]阿兄[A-Xiong]: Just means ‘brother’.
[2] 灵藏[lingcang]: I’m not too familiar with the Buddist terms, but apparently lingcang a title for monks in the Sui Dynasty. It’s not a name.

Translator’s Notes

We now have six main pairings in Wushuang: Peacock Feng-er x Fox Ququ, Commander x Commander, Lustful Mr. Ye x Thirsty Mrs Ye(Mrs Cui), Pei Jingzhe x Feng A-Gou, Master Cui x Li Shisi, and now Monk x Daozhang.

[Wushuang] Chapter 180
A dutifully muted monk.

Seventeenth of the First Month.

The rays of daylight radiated in faint bloom.

Yu Qingze1 adjusted his guan and sorted out his robes as he waited for his family to guide the horse over to him. When it came, he flipped himself onto the animal and galloped into the direction of the palace’s gates.

Madam Zhao, his wife, had come to send him off in person.

“My Lord, please take care, and return safely.”

Yu Qingze nodded at his wife, hitched his horse, and went forth.

Before the New Year, the war between the Imperial Court and the Göktürk army had just come upon a truce. He’d just come back from the frontlines to debrief the Emperor of his duties, which coincidentally happened to be the Lantern Festival as well. So, Yu Qingze was asked to be on duty on short notice to escort the Emperor.

Today, there were many people who were like Yu Qingze, but at least they were not in substantial numbers.

It goes without saying that those who were qualified enough to join the Emperor on the Day of the Buddha’s Birthday were all his most highly-esteemed and trusted subjects.

Almost all of the subjects who usually participated in governmental debates and war stratagems in court were present.

This sight was none other than the solid proof of the Emperor’s serious attitude towards the prayer for blessings.

After what just happened yesterday, whether it was to confess repentance towards the Heavens or console the hearts of the common people, the Day of the Buddha’s Birthday was nonetheless a grand opportunity to demonstrate the flourishing of the Sui Dynasty towards its subjects and people.

As all the subjects gathered upon the blessed hour, they would dispatch from the southern gate in groups towards Jingshan Alley where the Daxingshan Temple was located.

The snow that gathered on both sides of the alley has already been cleared; there was still a thick blanket of snow on the rooftops, but it would not be obstructing their journey.

The remnants of snow-white ice receded under the gradually growing rays of the sun as if all the bad omens have melted away to welcome a new beginning.

A servant, He Zhong, solemnly raised his head to be greeted by a view full of light.

He daren’t stare a moment longer. Quickly, he dropped his gaze and looked ahead, footsteps following the Imperial Chariot as they proceeded. He couldn’t help but inwardly let out a sigh.

He Zhong felt that his mood had lightened aplenty.

Since yesterday, after the Heavenly Dog ate the sun, a string had been pulled tightly in his heart.

He wasn’t the only one. All the subjects and officials of the Palace of Daxing too dare not let their guard down.

Since the new year, none of them had seen the Emperor smile even once.

The Empress was bedridden within the palace, and up until now, she rarely showed up.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, a terrible incident befell Prince Qin’s manor.

All these events contributed to the Emperor’s apparent dejection. As a personal servant, He Zhong could not bring himself to smile at the sight.

At his current status, even the highly valued subjects of the court would seek him out to form friendships. But even if that were the case, He Zhong still remained a dutiful and faithful internal subject before the Emperor.

It was decided that the Day of the Buddha will be held. Even if there would be a blizzard today, it would still carry on. However, as the snow fluttered down from the Heavens in light movements at this moment, everyone held high hopes in their hearts that a blizzard would be unlikely.

Please bless us with a smooth journey with no snow or no more eclipses! He Zhong begged inwardly in his heart.

The people who shared his thoughts were as numerous as the stars in the sky.

The royal streets have been cleared; all the stalls on both sides of the street were closed. Where the Imperial Chariot went, other than the sound of galloping horses, no one said a word or uttered a sound.

Only occasionally would a bird fly through the clear and bright sky, chirping melodiously, as it beelined into the clouds.

It has been a long time since He Zhong felt so relaxed.

Lured by the bird’s call, he was unaware of his momentary distraction. He glanced through the parade of the Imperial Chariot.

The ones at the head of the chariot were martial officials while the literary officials manned the rear.

Even a heavily valued subject like Yu Qingze was present; for his presence had assured everyone.

He Zhong then thought of someone.

Feng Xiao.

He was not among the parade.

Due to his involvement in the case of Prince Qin’s manor earlier, as well as escaping prison just yesterday, Feng Xiao’s whereabouts were unknown until now.

With Second Commander Feng’s presence, a highly-skilled martial artist, he would most certainly be able to make everyone feel more reassured.

As he thought of Feng Xiao, He Zhong recalled how dark the Emperor’s expression had been since yesterday night.

Actually, the Emperor himself did not truly believe that Feng Xiao was behind the incident at Prince Qin’s manor. What was the Second Commander Feng hoping for, anyway? Since the Emperor highly valued him, if he wanted to rise up the ranks or get a raise in his salary, he only needed to make a simple request. Why would there be a need to do so much extra and do something that required so much strength?

But with the evidence—the Crown Prince, Prince Jin, and the others, all bearing witnesses at once, it was difficult to leave this matter untended. Even the Emperor himself could not withdraw himself from it.

He Zhong had a special identity. He was often by the Emperor’s side and he kept his stance as a man of few words. The Emperor and Empresses deeply trusted him, and so he also knew more secrets about the valued subjects of the Imperial Court.

For example, he knew that the Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau had once said in front of the Emperor and Empress that all of these were related to Princess Leping. He had pointed at the princess and was determined that she had something to do with this.

Back then, He Zhong heard of it briefly before he closed the palace door. He was shocked about what he heard and dared not get close—he would have given everything to be blind and deaf to this—and had even feigned ignorance of the Zuoyue Bureau Commander’s visit.

Quickly, he realized that after that time, the Emperor and Empress truly distanced themselves from Princess Leping. Even the gifts they bestowed upon her had greatly lessened compared to the past.

Once something happened in the manor of Prince Qin, He Zhong quickly thought of the princess.

However, Princess Leping was not at Prince Qin’s manor that night. She hadn’t attended the banquet, nor had she paid any visits to Prince Qin’s manor those few days before the incident happened.

After suspicions of the princess were lifted, it instead fell upon Second Commander Feng.

Although He Zhong said nothing on his lips, he had been pondering over this mystery ever since. It was a pity that the mystery only became more mysterious and that he was unable to think of a breakthrough.

If the murderer wasn’t Princess Leping, and neither was it Second Commander Feng, then who could it be?

Surely it couldn’t be Commander Cui calling wolf?

Then suddenly, he recalled that Cui Buqu was not among the parade. Nobody knew where he had gone.

Speaking of which, why had nothing gone right after the new year? Was it the time to change the name of their reign2 now?

The smell of burning incense got thicker and thicker, so thick that it broke He Zhong’s train of thoughts.

That was the scent of sandalwood unique to the temple. He Zhong raised his head, only to be greeted by the towering gates before himself.

He cleared his throat and called, “Stop—”

The Imperial Chariot stopped.

He Zhong immediately bent down to sweep the tassels of the curtains apart so the Emperor may step out of the Imperial carriage.

It had been the Emperor’s own request to walk through the towering gates alone without aid to prove his sincerity.

All the subjects got down their horses to walk behind the Sui Emperor.

Grandmaster Lingcang, who was in charge of hosting this festival, was already an old friend of the Sui Emperor back when Yang Jian was just a Prime Minister. All of the monks in the temple could not help feeling anxious about the Emperor’s arrival. It was only Grandmaster Lingcang who was as calm as he usually was, earning him even more respect from the Emperor.

As both of them chatted, Grandmaster Lingcang led the Emperor into the Mahavira Hall while the rest of the subjects waited outside.

“His Majesty looks perturbed. His heart is not calm, hence it’s difficult to show your sincerity before the Buddha.”

Only Grandmaster Lingcang would dare say such a thing.

The Emperor wasn’t angry. He had, instead, sighed, “I know that my heart is not at peace. I had even taken a few Nerve-Soothing Pellets before leaving the palace.”

Grandmaster Lingcang quietly said, “The doer shall undo what he has done; in the heart of the Buddha, to pray for blessings is to pray for the peace of heart. If His Majesty is unable to resolve the conflict in his heart, then there is no use to pray for blessings.”

After a long silence from the Emperor, he said, “I have too many conflicts in my heart. I need to resolve my worries in front of the Buddha.”

Grandmaster Lingcang had an empathic and kind look. Without another word, he lifted his hand in guidance, hinting at the Emperor to follow his lead.

He Zhong perked his ears as he listened to both of their conversations, not for the purpose of prying into the Emperor’s affairs, but so he would respond in time if anything happened and follow closely next to the Emperor without leaving him.

Lingcang and the Emperor were at the front, while He Zhong and the monks who followed the grandmaster were at the back.

Only then did He Zhong noticed that Grandmaster Lingcang had a very good-looking monk right next to him. His posture stood out from everyone else and he was incredibly focused, not even sparing He Zhong a glance from the corner of his eyes.

When everyone had placed their incense outside the Mahavira Hall, Grandmaster Lincang allowed his monks to place incense as well to prove their sincerity. With three incenses in his hand, He Zhong carelessly tripped over a stone board that had stuck out from the ground. As he was going to have a bad fall, a hand reached out from beside him to hold him in place. He had even caught those three incenses that fell out of He Zhong’s hand and tucked it back into his grasp.

As if nothing happened.

He Zhong glared with wide eyes, his heart still beating, as if he thought that he had almost imagined it.

His fall was only a small problem, but it would be a severe problem if he failed his manners in front of royalty. If not for the young monk’s help, he wouldn’t be able to keep his head on his shoulders by now.

He Zhong was unable to pull himself back. Just as the Emperor was putting on incense in the hall, he quickly thanked the young monk.

The young monk waved his hand and pointed at his lips, then he turned his attention away.

It seems he’s a mute.

Realisation hit He Zhong, and in his heart, he said, “It’s not easy to be a monk who followed closely to Grandmaster Lingcang these days.” He wasn’t only handsome, he was also skilled in the martial arts. Such a pity he couldn’t talk! In the near future, it would not be possible for him to become a monk who recites mantras.

He looked at the young monk quietly as he placed the incense into the burner, then quickly walked after the Emperor in small steps.

Music of Buddhism floated in the air of Daxingshan Temple.

The sound of mantra chanting echoes within the Mahavira Hall, truly turning it into a land of gold and enveloping the entire temple as impenetrable as an iron bucket.

Even if one knew that this was nothing consoling to one’s heart, He Zhong still felt that it calmed him.

He looked towards the rear of the Emperor’s figure who was sitting in the centre, and felt that the Emperor most probably felt the same calmness as he did.

On the other hand, Feng Xiao didn’t know why He Zhong felt pity for him.

From the beginning, it was never his intentions to participate in the Daxingshan Temple.

Upon leaving the prison of the Ministry of Justice, Feng Xiao had been in a hurry to take a shower and change into a fresh set of clothes. He had no intention to return to the Jiejian Bureau before the Day of the Buddha’s Birthday came to an end, because Feng Xiao knew that only when he was hidden in the darkness could he pose a larger threat to their enemies.

When he was passing by Daxingshan Temple looking for a restaurant or a pavilion that he may feign as someone who’d just had a one night stand that wanted to take a shower and wash, the scent of sandalwood and sound of chanting caused him to stop his footsteps.

From afar, he saw a young monk who had just returned from the outside. From then on, Feng Xiao had a new idea.

Had it been in the past, he would have died rather than part with his hair.

But today was different. After he was stuck for one to two shichens with chamber pots within the great prison, Feng Xiao believed that he was about to lose his sense of smell. Whatever he smelled, it smelled like poop. Even if he washed his hair a dozen times, it was difficult to wash away the scar in his heart.

Since this is the case, then why not start over again?

The germaphobe in Feng Xiao quickly made the decision. Just as the monk Congyun returned from the outside, he was hit unconscious, had his meridians sealed and brought to shelter in a cave in the city’s suburbs and left him only with clean water and spring foods. He wouldn’t be returning for at least three to four days.

And Feng Xiao only needed one.

Just now, the reason He Zhong fell was because Feng Xiao had purposely led He Zhong to that piece of brick that stuck out.

Because as long as a person knew martial arts, they would instinctively expose themselves in the face of danger.

He Zhong, however, had not.

He was nowhere different compared to a normal person.

This person was not a threat.

Feng Xiao turned his attention away from He Zhong.

On this day, he spent his time walking around the temple, but he could not find anyone suspicious-looking.

However, it was possible that the enemy was very well hidden. It was not easy to find them.

Feng-er withdrew his gaze and continued pretending to be a mute monk.

The Emperor had been sitting on the cattail futon for a very long time.

The sound of chanting could not clearly calm his heart down. In the deepest part of his heart, there was a beast prowling in the depths that made him anxious and hot on his toes.

The Imperial Court and the Kingdom of Göktürk were at war for a whole three years. The former Dynasty had married off their princess to form a truce, but when it befell upon the Sui Dynasty, the latter refused to bend the knee. They would rather spend their time battling with the Göktürks; from tasks as lowkey as sending scouts to cause strive between the different tribes of Göktürks to large-scaled tasks such as fighting head-on against the armies of Göktürk with their own. As they used schemes of all variety, predictable and unpredictable, Khan Ishabara finally could not hold it any longer and requested a truce.

Compared to Qin Shi Huang and Han Wudi’s achievements, this feat by Yang Jian was no less inferior in merit. Even if he had not ordered it, his name would eventually be inscribed gloriously in the book of records.

Though, the continuous terrible incidents that happened after such an earth-shaking feat was something Yang Jian had not expected.

On the day of the eclipse, someone truly caught him off guard. The enemy may be able to buy Hong Yuan over, but they could not change the natural occurrence of heavenly phenomenons.

Could it be that he truly shouldn’t have taken the place of the Yuwens?

The Day of the Buddha finally came to a solid decision.

The monks on either of their sides slowly left.

And the only ones left inside the Mahavira Hall was Grandmaster Lingcang and the Emperor at the centre.

Even He Zhong had retreated to a corner in the hall.

There was no need for the Emperor to order it. He Zhong did his part of closing the door and allowed the two of them to have a private chat.

Grandmaster Lingcang and the Emperor were sitting opposite of each other.

The Emperor was silent, and Lingcang hadn’t spoken.

After a while,

“Should I… Should I have spared some of the Yuwen clan?”

He was asking himself, as well as everyone else.

Grandmaster Lingcang said, “The answer is already in His Majesty’s heart. Why do you need to ask me?”

The Emperor roughly said, “In the rise and fall of dynasties, which one of these had shed no blood? I am also… left with no options.”

Although he had put it in such a way, it was obvious that he felt guilty, his voice seemed to have trailed off.

With a sigh, Grandmaster Lingcang said, “The deed cannot be undone; this is something His Majesty knew himself. As of late, you found it difficult to live, and by the end of the day, it was all because of an unresolved conflict in your head. However, as you built a new dynasty, brought the barbarians upon the borders into control, lightened various sentences and reduced taxes—these are deeds of virtue. If the former dynasty still stands, these all might not happen. The Göktürks would still slaughter countless of people who lived on the borders. There is no clear line between the good or the evil. Although His Majesty had committed the sin of murder, he too has done some good. This incident cannot be determined with a single event alone. What His Majesty should do is to keep the Yuwen clan in your heart, and refrain from repeating the events of the past in future. When you lay on your deathbed, your story will naturally be recorded in the books by historians.”

As an ordained monk, to begin with, his old friend’s words came with many depths. Perhaps a normal person would not be able to understand what he meant. But this time, he’d go through the length to speak forthrightly all for the sake for consoling him.

After a few days of having his emotions repressed, the Emperor felt his eyes water, before he forced himself to smile and said, “You understand me.”

Grandmaster Lingcang had lifted half of the burdensome weight in his heart.

Grandmaster Lingcang said, “I should recite a copy of the mantra to His Majesty.”

The Emperor nodded his head, “Might as well. Thank you.”

Grandmaster Lingcang had not been picky. He casually picked one titled, “Surangama Samadhi Sutra3”.

He knew that what the Emperor wanted wasn’t a classic, but a peace of heart.

Having himself come to his senses was incomparably more effective than any words from onlookers.

Grandmaster Lingcang’s words filled his ears. His voice was a little worn and old, but it wasn’t hoarse. Instead, the years evident in his voice made it a calming tone that soothed those who listened to it.

The scent of sandalwood filled the air. The chanting of scriptures resounded in the empty pace within the hall.

The Emperor too gradually fell into slumber.

He recalled many past events.

Each one of them flashing before his eyes:

When he was young, he had talked and indulged happily with Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou the first time they met.

The Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou had pointed at the Crown Prince of the time, Yuwen Yun, and said, “I have a brilliant son and you have an elegant daughter. Would they be the perfect match?”

It was the very same Emperor Wu who chose to listen to the words of a fortune teller and distanced himself from Yang Jian, suspecting him of having the desire for treason.

And he remembered all the more clearly how the two of them, as Emperor and subject, had turned into enemies. Yang Jian had endured lying in hiding for many years until Emperor Wu finally died on his deathbed before he could finally sigh in relief.

It’s no longer possible to tell who started these series of events in the past.

However, in the end, the Yuwen clan had not killed a single person from the Yang clan. It was the other way around, the Yang clan had practically killed all of the Yuwen clan.

Would he Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou be driven into fury as he watched from beneath the grave?

Unexpectedly, the Emperor looked at the massive statues in front of him. He hoped to find an answer within that faint smile on the lives of the Buddha.

The Buddha looked back at him, his brows hung low, tips of his eyebrows raised.

Those eyebrows appeared to be lifting higher, and its face turned more sinister looking. His two large, golden-painted eyeballs rolled and his gaze fell upon the Emperor.

The Emperor opened his eyes wide as if thunder had struck him, rendering him unable to move.

There was a low little laugh, some giggles that pitched and softened sinisterly resounding in the hall.

He thought that someone had penetrated the hall unwelcomed, but suddenly he realized that these laughs had come from the mouths of the twenty-four Dharmapalas from both sides of the hall!

Those statues laughed at him sinisterly. Unexpectedly, one of them reached out with a palm to hit him. The Emperor averted it only to feel that something heavy had hit his shoulder.

His entire person fell backwards.

“Your Majesty!”

The Emperor opened his eyes once more. His face was pale, his entire head drenched in sweat.

But the statues of the Dharmapalas that had turned into demons were nowhere to be seen.

There was only Grandmaster Lingcang’s worried face.

[1] 虞庆则[Yu Qingze]: One of the four most powerful officials during the Sui Dynasty, also known as the Duke of Lu and general of Shizhou.
[2] 年号[nian hao]: The nian hao in this case is ‘Kaihuang’. It’s basically a superstitious belief that a bad nian hao will bring bad luck, hence He Zhong’s thoughts about changing it.
[3] 首楞严三昧经 [Surangama Samadhi Sutra]: an early Mahayana sutra of Indian origin.

Translator’s Notes

Sorry for the late update, guys. My perfectionist suddenly decided to kick in and I was doubting my translation styles. Wuxias novels generally have very exaggerated descriptions during battle scenes and this is true for the writing style in Peerless, which isn’t as tiring to read in Chinese as it’s in English. So I was spend more time ironing out any awkward sentences in the chapters, hopefully this one reads a lot better ~

[Wushuang] Chapter 181
There is no Feng Xiao in this episode.

The temple’s hall remained the same.

The scent of sandalwood lingered and the Buddha’s gaze hung low.

Looking absolutely kind and empathic as the zen bells echo in the hall.

The Emperor’s breath hitched. His chest rose and fell frantically until he felt his hands and they were wet, only then did he realize that he was drenched in sweat; it had even stained the cattail mat.

His soul was still intact, but it was still palpitating with fear.

He raised his gaze to study his surroundings. Once the statue of the Buddha came into his sight, he could still imagine the frenzied and sinister look on it from a moment ago.

Even that deep, evil laughter seemed to resound in his ears as clearly as one could imagine it.

“What… What happened to me just now?”

“Your Majesty practically got taken advantage of by the demon in your heart,” said Grandmaster Lingcang. He had never seen such a strong demonic presence in the Emperor before. Even on such holy grounds, bathed in the sounds of sutra-reading, he could still birth such strong demons in his heart.

“A moment ago, I seem to be hearing the cries of a thousand ghosts who refused to be at peace. They practically dragged me into the abyss!” cried the Emperor in fear. He instinctively thought that this place was quite haunted, but knew that it wasn’t too possible. The Daxingshan Temple had stood here for a long time; a famed temple for over three hundred years. It wasn’t quite possible for a spirit to dally here for so long and refuse to return to the afterlife.

The Emperor didn’t know what to say as his gaze met Grandmaster Lingcang’s.

“Perhaps I was too tired.”

Grandmaster Lingcang sighed and said, “When this humble zen wandered the lands back in those years, I discovered a method to soothe one’s nerves. His Majesty could allow the Grand Physician to take a look at the prescriptions before using them.”

The Emperor forced a smile and said, “Then, I’ve troubled you.”

Watching how he wasn’t in his best state, Lingcang knew that he had no heart to listen to sutras. And so, he let He Zhong open the doors to help the Emperor into the room to take a rest.

The festival of the Buddha’s birthday would continue for three days. Another ritual would be taking place in the afternoon.

If nothing went wrong, the Emperor would be fasting here for three days during the ritual and reflect on himself. This will be how the events will be taking place.

All his subjects were waiting outside of the Hall of the Heavenly Kings. They didn’t know what had happened inside the Mahavira Hall. They only know that after the ritual, the Emperor came out with a dejected look.

Daxingshan Temple had occupied an entire street on its own. It had enough empty rooms to accommodate all the Emperor’s subjects that came with the Imperial Chariot.

When the next ritual took place in the afternoon, Yu Qingze and the others were all summoned to the Mahavira Hall to listen.

The Emperor, however, had not shown up.

He had a very long dream.

There was Yuwen Yong in his dreams, as well as his son-in-law Yuwen Yun; all the people that he had killed before had once more come to life in his dream. Blood flowed down their faces as they urged him to repay the debts of the lives he had taken.

The Emperor, who was constantly on the run in his dreams, had finally struggled awake. He looked once again outside the window and noticed that the dark colour of the night sky fully enveloped the kingdom.

Before anything could come to his mind, the gentle voice of He Zhong’s reached his ears and answered his questions.

“His Majesty had slept too soundly. Grandmaster Lingcang said that it’s a good thing for you to rest more often. As for the ritual, all prayers will be answered as long as one is sincere in his heart. This humble servant hadn’t dared to wake you up. How are you feeling now? Would you like to have dinner?”

The Emperor touched his forehead and felt that his mind was still in a haze as if he hadn’t yet completely woken up from his dream. However, he did look more lively than before.

He answered with an ‘En,’ before He Zhong ran out quickly. After a while, he brought a few people and some vegetarian dishes inside.

“Why is it so cold today?”

He Zhong answered as he brought a mantle for him. “Ah, snow began to fall.”

“Send orders to the kitchen to make some ginger soup for Yu Qingze and the others.”

He Zhong bowed and smiled, “How considerate His Majesty is. This humble one hasn’t even thought of that.”

He let a little servant remain behind while he ran the errand for His Majesty.

The Emperor casually picked up a sutra from the bookcase and as he ate, he flipped it open to take a look.

At this moment, from the edge of the world came a massive ring, followed by an earth-shaking roll of thunder.

What? There was snow, as well as thunder?

Taken aback by surprise, the Emperor turned his head to look outside.

The good mood he was in just now was destroyed completely.

As thunder struck the snow, Yang Jian recalled that he had met such a sight before when he was young. Back then, he hadn’t thought much about it, but as a series of incidents happened incessantly in the last few days, the Emperor found his mind wandering even at the slightest bit of oddity.

Especially after the scary illusion that had taken place in front of him today; the Emperor’s instincts became sensitive even to the slightest sway of grass.

A thunderstorm was resounding outside. Since it began, the storm befell continuously as snowflakes toiled in the air.

The Emperor wasn’t the only one. Even the common people might overthink about the thunderstorm after the eclipse just a day ago.

The Emperor felt uncomfortable in his heart. He no longer had the heart to read sutras.

He dropped the sutra onto his desk.

“Follow me out!”

The Emperor wanted to look for Grandmaster Lingcang.

At this moment, Grandmaster Lingcang was the only one who could soothe him, the only one who could bring him hope.

His sharp little servants knew what the Emperor wanted. Along the way, they asked a few monks who passed by and got to know that Grandmaster Lingcang was still in the Mahavira Hall.

The silence within Daxingshan Temple at night was unusual. Although there were guards patrolling around everywhere, as well as fire torches that lit the walls, the wilted trees that formed forests and the solemnity in the day turned into ghastly presences in the night that made one’s heart thump with fear.

It was unknown whether it was the coldness of the weather or the effects of nature. The little servants felt a cold spasm in their hearts. The Emperor was just up on the side, and he dared not budge an inch despite feeling all his hairs standing on their ends.

The Mahavira Hall drew close.

Firelights lit the inside, yet its doors were shut tight.

Though, the firelights inside would certainly be extinguished by the snowstorm of the night if the doors were opened.

The little servant wanted to proceed to send word of the Emperor’s arrival only to be stopped by the Emperor. Then, he slowly walked forward until he was just outside the hall to silently push the door ajar and reveal a slit.

It’s already so late, and yet Grandmaster Lingcang was still in the Mahavira Hall. Most likely, he wanted to discuss some serious affairs. The Emperor didn’t wish to interrupt him, so he wanted to take a look first.

Who could have guessed that this peak would forever stun him!

Grandmaster Lingcang was truly inside the hall.

The entire hall was empty yet lit, and he was the only one present in there.

Before Grandmaster Lingcang’s crossed legs was a container.

It looked similar to the type of containers used to burn papers during a funeral, but that was not the Emperor’s main focal point.

Because he had seen something even more terrifying.

That container was filled with bloody innards and flesh. Grandmaster Lingcang was just about to use his hand to scoop a handful of it to put it into his parted mouth.

His throat swallowed. Blood dripped down from the corner of his lips. He licked the blood from his hand without a second thought.

The Emperor’s mind blanked. He even thought that he was still in his dream. He unconsciously took a few steps backwards and as his knees gave away, he collapsed and fell to the ground. The little servant wanted to help him up, but he had collapsed to the ground with the Emperor instead.

“Your Majesty? Your Majesty, what happened?”

Through the slit in the door, the Emperor could clearly see that Grandmaster Lingcang had discovered his presence. He had even turned around and looked into this direction with a sinister smile.

The Emperor was frozen on the spot.

He shouted, “Men! Men!”

The moment his voice rang, the sound of slaughter followed from behind the courtyard where the monks lived.

The ground of crossing swords dully reached them.

The Emperor abruptly turned around!

“What happened?!”

“Protect His Majesty!”

Quickly, the Royal Guards surrounding the Mahavira Hall gathered around.

This had made the Emperor feel a little calmer.

“Xiao Yong, go ahead and find out what is going on!” said the Emperor, as he paused momentarily and pointed into the inside of the palace, “Bring Grandmaster Lingcang out as well!”

The Royal Guards moved separately. There were a few of them who remained to protect the Emperor as he looked around nervously.

The Emperor’s instincts told him that something huge has happened, but he wasn’t especially worried because Yu Qingze and the others were present. These people had accompanied him through the hardest and most difficult moments of his life. They are famed generals who killed their enemies on the battlefield. A couple of trivial tricks like that wouldn’t be a problem to them.

But just as he was thinking, all the servants around him suddenly collapsed to the ground. Before the Emperor could register what had happened, two people in nightgear lifted him up through his left and right and dragged him into the hall!

Translator’s Note

Hello guys! I’m glad to announce that I’ve finished tling Wushuang’s main story!! Although, unfortunately, the posting schedule won’t be changing because they still need some editting ;; Plus, I’m also busy with inrl and other novels and would still have to translate the extras even though I’ll definitely be taking my time for them!

[Wushuang] Chapter 182
I’m done waiting!

As the Emperor was dragged into the hall, what greeted him wasn’t a room full of lights, but Grandmaster Lingcang’s gasping mouth dripping with blood.

The windows were opened, and wild winds swept in, snuffing off each and every candlelight.

All around him turned to darkness as a blindfold slipped over the Emperor’s eyes. The sounds of killing grew further and further away until everything fell into complete silence.

He didn’t even know what had happened. After he shouted twice and no one came to his aid, the Emperor knew then and there that he was under someone else’s control.

The dignity of an Emperor made him stomp down all his fright and fear, silently clenching his teeth as he remained silent.

The Emperor felt the grip on both his sides loosened and the force pinning him down had vanished. Without another word, he freed his eyes from the blindfold.

The same old darkness greeted his eyes.

The Emperor turned and looked around. He couldn’t tell what place this is.

When darkness had swallowed everything around them, wherever he was, it no longer made a difference.

The sound of wails was almost surreal, as if they came from the cries of the wronged souls from the Yellow Spring. Those wails were so sinister that it could instil fear from the deepest parts in the hearts of people.

The Emperor hadn’t taken a step forward. He knew that in these kinds of situations, the best course of action was to be inert.

If the enemy had planted traps all around him, then any step taken might bring harm to himself.

If the enemy refused to move, so would he.

The Emperor could hear his own breathing, as well as his own heart’s beating.

His heart thumped at a quicker space, to the point where even his eardrums have begun to follow the beat.

He only noticed as he swallowed that his mouth had run dry.

This torturing silence had been dragging on for very long, that the Emperor who took pride in his patience was also gradually finding it wearing thin.

When he was about to speak, someone blew a puff of air on the back of his neck.

It was a very light sigh, resounding all around him.

The Emperor froze where he stood.

He barked, “What wretched demon goes there? If you came for vengeance, then show yourself. To play such tricks are underhanded methods by little nobodies! Laughable!”

“How admirable that Your Majesty remains unwavering even in the face of your downfall. You’ve earned respect.”

The other’s voice was very slow and gentle, a fresh comparison to the Emperor’s strict and stern speech.

The light still remained out of reach, but it was as if the enemy could see his every move. The Emperor slanted his body to avoid it, only to find that he could no longer move.

He calmed himself down. “Who on earth are you?”

“Xiao Lu.” The voice answered. He hadn’t beat around the bush and reported his name immediately.

The Emperor was taken aback, but not too much. “The Pavilion Lord of the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai?”

Xiao Lu laughed and said, “It seems like His Majesty has heard much of me from Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu.”

Xiao Lu flicked his finger.

A small little light lit up in front of the Emperor.

The faint little light gradually turned into a cluster of light, dispersing into a few sparks.

The Emperor could vaguely see his surroundings.

He saw Xiao Lu, who stood opposite of him, as well as the young maiden next to him.

The Pavilion Lord of the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai was young and handsome. He’d make a good couple with the young maiden next to him.

It was very difficult to imagine that this person with a gentle and kind look, whom a smile constantly sat at the corner of his lips, could build such a massive organization within just a few short years. He had gathered all the intelligent people there are and had formed alliances with both Goguryeo and Göktürk alike. Although he still wasn’t powerful enough to take the Sui Dynasty head-on, in truth they were already no longer a small threat.

Except, the Emperor was not a stranger to that young maiden.

He howled, “Yuwen Eying?!”

Even though this granddaughter of his had been born in a family that was an enemy to his own clan, the Emperor had never mistreated her for the sake of her mother.

But who could have guessed that she had long been scheming with the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai with the intention to overturn the Great Sui?

The young maiden smiled, “Your Majesty, my name is Yuwen Yihuan. Perhaps you’ve heard about the Princess giving birth to a pair of twins back in that year.”

The truth struck the Emperor. “Are you that child who died as a baby? You’re not dead!”

Yuwen Yihuan nodded her head. “Thankfully, my adopted brother came to my aid. Otherwise, I would have long gone beneath the grave and turned into a wronged ghost!”

Since they were humans and not ghosts, then there was no need to be afraid. Although the Emperor held guilt towards the Yuwen clan, he had no guilt for Yuwen Yihuan.

Very quickly, he returned to his usual calmness. When he spoke again, he returned to his usual tone.

“I am thankful towards Pavilion Lord Xiao for saving Maiden Huan, but I was ignorant of her existence before. Since I know of her now, then there is no excuse to let her stray in the wild. Since Maiden Huan owed Pavilion Lord Xiao a debt of gratitude, and I was never known to be thrifty with rewards; why are you so insistent on making an enemy of the Imperial Court and doing things that will neither benefit yourself or others?”

Xiao Lu smiled and said, “His Majesty truly lives up to his name. So quickly and you have turned from the defensive to the offensive, and have come to curry favours with me? Would you really grant me just any rewards I demand?”

The Emperor could sense that there was a trap in these words, but remained calm as he answered, “One should also consider whether it is mine to give.”

Xiao Lu exploded into a series of laughter. “Your Majesty possesses all the wealth found in the four seas. What is not yours to give? It’s only a matter whether you are willing to. I suppose you are not willing to give up the throne?”

The Emperor, “The throne of Emperors are only given to those of virtue.”

Xiao Lu expressed a mocking look. “Virtue? Is the present Emperor of the Chen Dynasty a man of virtue?”

The Emperor expressionlessly said, “His forefathers had such virtue. If not for their outstanding capabilities and virtues, how would the throne fall into their hands? If one were to refuse virtuous and moral conducts after the throne is attained, the Heavens will not allow them to sit on the throne for too long.”

Xiao Lu gave him a half-smile, “That’s to say. His Majesty claims himself to be virtuous and capable, and so to be the Emperor is your destiny?”

The Emperor mocked him and said, “I have long been curious of you. All that you’ve done are works on par to heroes of the ancient. Your capabilities proved that you are able to garner a cluster of skilled followers and make them obey your orders. If you had such talents, why are you not using them on the rightful path, but had chosen such a shady route instead?”

Yang Jian was born of a noble household and could have chosen to spend his life in luxury. Yet, he had strived for a huge feat. The suspicions of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou back then made it even more impossible for him to turn back. It had, instead, pushed him up the path of an usurper.

But ever since his coronation, he had offered the people proper administration and security, wrought anew all the foolish ways of the previous Emperor. Even if he had betrayed the Yuwen clan, he had not betrayed the common people.

In the face of Xiao Lu, naturally, the Emperor had the authority to ask.

Xiao Lu smiled and said, “What is the rightful path? It is all but ‘He who steals the hook gets hanged as the crook; he who steals the country makes himself a duke’.”

The Emperor remained resolute, “There is no need for you to say these things to anger me. I admit that I have stolen the throne which belonged to the Yuwen clan. However, if Yuwen Yun had made use of talents and gave his best to build his country, how would he have lost it? I assume all the illusions I were seeing before were all also your doings? Even if you are displeased with me, Grandmaster Lingcang is innocent. Please let them go.”

Xiao Lu said, “It’s a given I will not mistreat them, but there is no use for His Majesty to buy time. Do you know why you are here?”

The Emperor, “I forgot. I have not asked.”

Xiao Lu, “In the stomach of the Buddha.”

The Mahadiva Hall was the most famous hall of the Daxingshan Temple.

Within the hall was an enormous Buddha statue more than five zhang tall. It was made during the Jin Dynasty, who managed to escape destruction when the late Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou set out to destroy arteifacts of Buddhism. Now, as a new Emperor ascended to the throne, the temple was renovated, and this great statue was remade into one of gold.

The Emperor had watched the Buddha statue from a close distance before, but he hadn’t expected the inside of it to be so spacious. There was even an entry to this place.

If someone had been hiding inside the Buddha statue all this these time, then it was not surprising that the strict and tight patrols surveying around the temple in the last few days had found nothing unusual as they searched in and out of the temple.

The Emperor had even thought: If they didn’t come in from the outside, then was there perhaps a tunnel beneath the Buddha statue that linked to the outside?

Xiao Lu watched as the expression on the other changed. With a smile, he said, “With how intelligent Your Majesty is, perhaps you have already thought of the key events.”

The Emperor, “Even if you have hidden an army of soldiers in this place, it would still be impossible for you to soundlessly make your way out.”

Xiao Lu, “Your Majesty has mistaken. The sounds of killing that came from the outside just now were not from my people, but yours. Your people are killing each other.”

The Emperor splurted, “How is that possible?!”

As events have progressed until the present, there was no need to conceal his intentions. Xiao Lu told him, rather kindly, “The ginger soups have been dosed with gu. Also, there are indeed a few hidden tunnels under this Buddha statue. I have let someone light incense that will drug its victims into seeing illusions under this statue. The smoke from these incenses will find its way out of the statue’s nostrils and blend into the scent of sandalwood that could be found inside and outside of the hall. When they mix, it would be very hard for anyone to tell.”

The Emperor’s expression sank. “That’s to say, you even made Grandmaster Lingcang break a precept?”

Xiao Lu smiled and said, “As Your Majesty has seen: As long as there is any distinctive feature there is falsehood1. Lingcang is unaffected by worldly temptations and holds no grudges. That fragrance could do nothing to him. I could only let him lay down quietly for a moment. After all, you, Your Majesty, is the reason I’m here.”

After he finished speaking, he suddenly turned his head sideways and stared into the darkness.

“Are you prepared?”

In a daze, the Emperor also stared at the source of the sound.

Within the darkness, someone stepped out.

The Emperor’s eyes widened abruptly!

That person’s looks, from his attire to his posture, looked exactly like him!

Xiao Lu snickered as he said, “How long did Your Majesty think he could stall?”

Xiao Lu hadn’t interrupted the Emperor just now when he was asking questions; he had even answered every question he had. It was all for the sake of allowing this bogus Emperor to learn the details of how the real Emperor behaved.

“We are almost done here. Pavillion Lord, please let him speak a few words.” The other said.

Even his voice was almost identical.

The Emperor was both surprised and angry; he hadn’t expected the enemy to use this trick.

Xiao Lu regretfully said, “If someone must take the blame, then blame yourself that the patrols around the palace are far too strict. A few days ago, all the people I’ve sent into it were very quickly found out by the Jiejian Bureau. I am at my wit’s end to make use of such an unfavourable trick. However, rest assured, once this person takes your place in future, they will take good care of the Yang clan and settle them down before he will make the decree to withdraw from his place. Your heroic deeds will not be forgotten. In the future, the scholars will resume to write Your Majesty as the brilliant Emperor who changed the Imperial Entrance Examination, as well as the Emperor who defeated Göktürk.”

The Emperor has already made the decision to not open his mouth. But as he listened, he couldn’t help himself—

“Do you think anyone would believe you?! Don’t take the Empress and all my subjects as fools!”

Xiao Lu smiled and said, “First, the ones who defended your usurping of the throne, who helped you forge an Imperial degree, Liu Fang and Zheng Yi, are dead. Then it was the eclipse—this could only mean that the Heavens decided Your Majesty is guilty, and that he should not have stolen the throne from the Yuwens. After Your Majesty spent three days in Daxingshan Temple to reflect on himself, he finally realized his mistakes and decided to follow in the footsteps of the Emperor Wu of Liang of the Southern Dynasty to become a monk and withdraw from his place. If the Empress and your subjects refuse to believe it, so what? As long as the people do, it will be fine. His Highness Prince Qin has already gotten in touch with the Commander of the Royal Guards for me and bought their loyalty. As for Empress Dugu, she is still bedridden, so best let her recuperate her health first.”

The Emperor angrily said, “Dream on!”

“It’s enough.” Someone suddenly said.

The other walked towards the Emperor, reached out a hand to touch his face as he deftly touched it like he was trying to determine the contour of his bones.

The Emperor felt the hairs on his body stood. There was a frightened expression on his face, yet he could not move an inch. He could only stand there as he let others do as they wished.

“I.”

“I.”

“I.”

As that person repeated the same word, he didn’t stop twitching his tone, grinding out every single last bit of difference he had with the Emperor.

“I am Yang Jian, and Yang Jian is I.”

He gave the Emperor a smile that made his heart turn cold

I’ve fallen out of power. The Emperor thought in dejection.

The great Buddha statue was soundproof. Regardless of how the Emperor screamed or shouted, no one could hear him.

How does it feel for one to be in the last moments of his life?

The Emperor only realized now, that he had feared not only death, but also the fact that whether Xiao Lu and his people would be using his face to do other nefarious things.

A hand reached out from the back.

It soundlessly approached the Emperor.

Yet, the hand neither belonged to his saviour nor did it belong to the Grim Reaper.

That hand straightened itself before it pressed onto the back of the Emperor’s neck.

“Stop!”

Xiao Lu’s expression changed. Suddenly, he moved, and lunged himself over!

Although he’d made a bogus Emperor, there was still some use to this real Emperor. He still didn’t have plans to kill him.

Yet, the intruder had intended to take the Emperor’s life with a single strike.

Xiao Lu was forced to step out to stop him. With the blink of an eye, they’ve crossed a few moves and the intruder’s identity was exposed.

“Tuan Qinghe! You and I have never meddled in each other’s affairs. Why did you come!”

Tuan Qinghe said nothing. He pushed Xiao Lu away, his knife aimed towards the Emperor.

The glare of his sword turned into a thousand; even that bogus Emperor was frozen fast where he stood.

Naturally, Xiao Lu didn’t allow him to do as he pleased. But as Tuan Qinghe attacked both of them, and that he could save only one, Xiao Lu chose the bogus Emperor.

He wanted a puppet. When the uses of both of them were compared, naturally, the bogus Emperor served him more purpose.

The Emperor could only watch as the knife’s glare hammered down on him coldly. Before it hit his body, he already felt the pain. He feared this life of his would be forsaken almost immediately!

In that moment of frenzy, someone held his shoulder and his entire person was dragged backwards.

However, behind him wasn’t the flat land as he’d expected. As if a pit had suddenly appeared in the Buddha statue, the Emperor fell right into it.

From the corner of his eye, he could see that the person who had saved him was the young monk that appeared frequently at Grandmaster Lingcang’s side.

“I’ve waited so long for the lot of you to come out together. I’m done waiting!”

The young monk laughed a very long laugh. But once he spoke, the Emperor knew who he was.

There were some differences to Feng Xiao’s looks under such a dim light, but his handsomeness was still there. How would any ordinary ordained monk carry such an unbridled and wildly carefree look? Those were the characteristics of the Second Commander Feng.

Both Xiao Lu and Tuan Qinghe were still in a vigorous fight, but once they saw Feng Xiao appear, both of them turned to attack him in unison!

With a wave of his sleeves, Feng Xiao turned and placed the bogus Emperor in front himself as a meat shield, sending both their attacks into different directions. He then reached out to toss the bogus Emperor into the spot where the Emperor had fallen just now.

The Emperor was half-conscious when he fell in. He hadn’t expected another person to fall from above, and that he’d fallen right onto him, almost making him spill a mouthful of blood!

[1] 皆是虛妄 is originally from the full sentence 凡所有相，皆是虛妄 from the Diamond Sutra.
[2]本座忍得差点都立地成佛了: This doesn’t work well in English. It literally translates into, “I’m going to wait until I’ve turned into a Buddha!” because apparently, one must cultivate the virtue patience to the highest extent to become the Buddha. It generally means that Feng Xiao had waited so long it surpassed his limit.

Editor’s Note

Petition to give poor Yang Jian a break XD He’s legit one of the very few decent emperors in danmei who are not the protagonist he’s a keeper y’all.

[Wushuang] Chapter 183
It’s Cui Buqu!

Feng Xiao had reasons for his actions.

He knew that the alliance between Xiao Lu and Kuhezhen was not entirely harmonious.

Both of them had only decided to work together to tear down the common enemy they acknowledged as the Great Sui, but right as their goals were about to be achieved, it was even easier to sway them.

To Feng Xiao, this was a manipulative variable.

Because his enemies might turn against each other, or they might not.

But since Feng Xiao and the group are not hiding, they could only wait for the enemy to strike.

When they first discussed it, everyone else had chosen to act first instead of waiting for the enemy to strike. They wanted to dismiss the Festival of the Buddha’s Birthday and initiate a search all over the city.

It was Cui Buqu who ordered everyone to take cover in the dark, and they were not allowed to act rashly.

After the change of events at Prince Qin’s manor, the Jiejian Bureau had already managed to find some clues, but in order to avoid alerting the enemy, they feigned reaching a dead end and pretended that the bureau members have fallen into chaos, making use of this to lower the enemy’s guard.

They acted until this very day.

Cui Buqu is truly capable of seeing through people’s hearts, Feng Xiao thought.

Although both Xiao Lu and Tuan Qinghe had never shown themselves in the Jianghu, they were top martial artists without a doubt.

Xiao Lu’s wounds have not healed. Perhaps his skills would be slightly inferior, but if both of them combined their strengths, even someone as proud and as confident as Feng Xiao wouldn’t dare guarantee that he’d win.

The bogus Emperor’s existence was the key.

Once he was tossed down below, Xiao Lu would immediately give up on Feng Xiao and lunge to the bogus Emperor of Sui’s rescue.

In Xiao Lu’s plans, the bogus Emperor of Sui was an indispensable chess piece. Naturally, he could not allow something to happen to it.

As for what was happening beneath the pit—

The Emperor would never have dreamt that such a vast space existed beneath the Daxingshan Temple, like an entirely different world.

He could not see his own fingers when he reached out with his hand. He felt around that touched patches of soil that were obviously hammered before. This meant that someone had once been working in this place.

The Emperor recalled that Daxingshan Temple had been renovated twice; the first was when the late Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou intended to destroy all that represents Buddhism, and the second was after the Sui Dynasty was established. However, in both times Daxingshan Temple was renovated, it was above the ground to strengthen its structure. They have never meddled with anything beneath it. This place appeared to exist even before the Zhou Dynasty.

He used all of his strength pushing that corpse off of him. The bogus Emperor appeared to have passed out.

The Emperor could not clearly see who it was, but it was doubtlessly the bogus Emperor.

He originally wanted to get rid of him, but the Emperor had no weapons in hand, and his limbs were strengthless, and he could not even lift his hand. So, all he could do was to give the other two kicks that probably did not hurt.

The Emperor inhaled frantically, but it did nothing to soothe his worries.

How could he leave this place?

Could Feng Xiao free himself and come to his rescue?

What was going on up there?

He was lost as he realized he had no answers.

After waiting for a very long time and no one came to his rescue, the Emperor could only rise to his feet alone and fumble the uneven walls as he found his way around.

After fumbling for a while, he paused to fumble the wall next to him longer and realized that the unevenness on the walls was actually a large painting.

There appeared to be handsome horses, and people guiding them. A few people were standing as they were connected hand-to-hand. There was even a Bodhisattva sitting atop a lotus flower.

This is an underground maze! The Emperor immediately decided.

Due to Grandmaster Lingcang situated here, the Emperor knew more about Daxingshan Temple than he did with other temples. And yet, he never knew that there was an underground maze beneath it.

Since this is an underground maze, it would definitely be big. It might even be riddled with traps, hiding dangers unknown.

The Emperor could feel his back splattered with cold sweat.

He paused his steps.

At this moment, perhaps facing Xiao Lu head-on above ground was more favourable.

However, he was poorly informed about the paths here. It mightn’t be wise to wait for rescue either.

Grrrr…….

A familiar whimper resounded from all directions, fading in and out and existing from all perceivable angles.

It sounded like the cries of a baby, as well as the purr of a cat in the night. It was heavy with resentment and dense with hatred.

The Emperor was frozen on the spot as he listened closely to the sound to determine its source.

A hand finally reached out and placed itself on his shoulder.

Blood brimmed to his head. The Emperor instinctively wanted to fling that hand away, only to hear the other’s voice.

It was familiar in every meaning of the word.

“Your Majesty, it’s me.”

After these words were said, there were even a few coughs.

It’s Cui Buqu!

The Emperor wanted to say something, but because his heart was beating rapidly just moments ago, he released a series of choked coughs the moment he opened his mouth.

His coughs resounded in the layered darkness, echoing as it made this place feel even more spacious than he imagined.

Once again, another voice rang, “Your Majesty.”

This time, it was the Vice Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau, Zhangsun Bodhi.

The Emperor’s heart calmed, inhaling as he said, “You people….”

“Shh!” Zhangsun Bodhbi ignored all courteousness and immediately clasped a hand onto the Emperor’s mouth, silencing him.

Cui Buqu explained in a whisper, “Your Majesty, there is a beast in these ruins. It’s not wise to speak too loudly.”

The Emperor’s heart leapt into his mouth once again.

“What beast? How did you guys come down here?”

Before the Festival of the Buddha’s Birthday, Cui Buqu had let Ming Yue and Qin Miaoyu do something for him.

He made them enter the maze’s royal library to retrieve the construction plans of Daxingshan Temple.

There were as many manuscripts in the Imperial Library as there are fishes in the sea. It kept not only the ancient records of fallen dynasties, but also the ones that date back to the Han Dynasty. Although many of them were destroyed in the fires of war, the ones that remained were still great in number. It was not an easy task to find the construction plans of Daxingshan Temple within these manuscripts.

All the more, they only had the time of a single night.

However, Ming Yue and Qin Miaoyu did successfully find Daxingshan Temple’s construction plans, even though they were only the draft from the Jin Dynasty because the very first draft had long been lost when the Jin Dynasty was at war with the Southern Dynasty. This copy was only saved because it was passed down by the former Qin Dynasty. On it was recorded the schedules of construction and the floor plans of Daxingshan Temple.

After that, Daxingshan Temple was heavily renovated a few more times. The current version of it was much more different compared to the plans.

Qin Miaoyu didn’t know why Cui Buqu went through lengths to acquire this object. She had only taken it for Cui Buqu panicking until Cui Buqu pointed at a single sentence imprinted on it.

When the temple was first built, the Emperor of that time had once ordered them to chisel an underground maze to dedicate it to the Ashtamangala1, and that the vastness of the underground maze, as well as the Mahavira Hall, will be linked inside out as one.

It had been just a few words that others wouldn’t be able to make heads or tails of.

What does it mean to link them as one? And how will they be linked?

Cui Buqu knew that on the day of the Buddha’s Birthday, the Emperor would be listening to sutras within the Mahavira Hall; everyone else would be outside praying for blessings and burning incense. At that moment, Xiao Lu’s focus would all be on the Emperor. And so, in the day, he’d brought Zhangsun as they quietly searched around the courtyard before finally finding a tunnel beneath the green bricks located at Jingshan Alley where some junk was placed.

As a matter of fact, from the way the dirt beneath the brick looked, this was an entrance that even Xiao Lu and the others had yet to discover.

Only after they entered did they realize that there was a wide space beneath the ground. It truly wasn’t just restricted to Daxingshan Temple on the surface. It made all directions accessible and had Buddhist relics that belonged to the high monks of the former dynasty located in the eight cardinal directions with reference to the bagua. Surrounding these relics were poison animals that could not be named with traps all around.

The two of them had passed through those traps. Cui Buqu knew the arrays and traps well. With the addition of Zhangsun’s martial arts, they were shocked but not injured before meeting up with the Emperor.

However, the Emperor no longer remembered where he had come from. In fact, surrounding them was a more concerning danger. It could be observing in the darkness at any moment, ready to pounce at its chosen victims.

Cui Buqu said, “There is a beast of unknown origin hiding here. It’s very strange, and it appears to be intelligent. Even Zhangsun is no match for it. We could only step back and avoid being detected by it.”

Zhangsun pursed his lips and said nothing.

He knew that Cui Buqu was extremely scarce with his words because Cui Buqu hadn’t yet told the Emperor that, the beast wasn’t only difficult to deal with, but it also had a look so terrifying that he wasn’t willing to recall.

Zhangsun knew very clearly that he was not completely confident in bringing these two people out safely.

[1] 八宝[ba bao]: These are eight symbols of good fortune the gods made to Shakyamuni Buddha. The symbols are: conch, endless knot, victory banner, lotus, jewelled parasol, wheel of law, pair of fishes, and vase

[Wushuang] Chapter 184
Condolences

Trigger Warning: graphic descriptions of gore and blood, trypophobia.

The Emperor quickly got used to his surroundings. He had forced himself to calm down after listening to the two of them quickly going through with him all that happened.

After all, he was much better off right now with two more people by his side, rather than standing alone in the midst of the enemy’s countless ambushes.

He mimicked them by suppressing his voice as he asked, “According to Master Cui, how does the situation look right now?”

Had it been someone else, they could not have allowed someone more inferior in status to order them around, but the Emperor knew very well that at this moment, he had no chances of escaping alone, and that among the three of them, although Zhangsun might possess far more superior martial skills, the most reliable figure was none other than Cui Buqu.

Without changing his attitude, Cui Buqu asked, “Does Your Majesty remember where you came from?”

The Emperor’s face was brimmed red from running for his life just a moment ago. How would he spend the effort to remember where he came from?

“Let me think.”

He has quite a good sense of memory. Through fumbling on the stone statues that he’s touched before, he gained a vague impression of where he came from.

“Follow me.”

In order to avoid drawing eyes from the darkness, Zhangsun hadn’t lit a torch. He had instead placed a hand on the Emperor’s shoulder.

Cui Buqu followed behind Zhangsun.

The Emperor felt the engravings on top of the stone. He still remembered the picture he felt just now.

The group of people were riding on horses and camels as they travelled across the seas to pay respect to the Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva was sitting on top of their lotus throne, a seal in their hand as they sat high above.

The Emperor felt the cloud that resembles good fortune, and above that cloud was the Bodhisattva in his memory.

He knew he was going the right way, and thus moved slightly forward.

“There should be someone up front who pretended to be me, but he’s fainted.”

Zhangsun said, “Don’t go, Your Majesty. Let me take a look.”

He passed the Emperor to Cui Buqu as he walked on his own to the place where the Emperor had pointed out.

It wasn’t very far.

“There’s no one here, Your Majesty.”

How could it be possible?

The Emperor refused to believe it.

Because he couldn’t have woken up so quickly. Even if he had woken up, he wouldn’t have been so silent.

He couldn’t help taking a few steps forward, wanting to be certain of it himself.

As he took that step, his shoulder slipped away from Cui Buqu’s grasp.

“Your Majesty, there are many tunnels here. It’s best not to hastily move around.” came Cui Buqu’s voice from the back.

“That person looks incredibly similar to me, with few differences that cannot be noticed. If not for the fact that I know I am the real deal myself, I would have mistaken it myself. If he escaped, then a series of troubles would follow.”

The Emperor knelt and fumbled around. Other than the rough debris on the ground, there wasn’t anything else.

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

Impossible.

The Emperor knew very well that the bogus Emperor had fallen onto him when he came down. He’d viciously pushed him off and his head was hit against a rock. It was very likely that he bled a lot.

But the scent of blood did not surround them.

He found a spot where the dampness hadn’t dried.

It really was here.

Where was that bogus Emperor?

“It should be near here.” The Emperor quietly told Cui Buqu and the others.

He felt that the enemy could have slipped away while he was in a daze and hid while keeping silent.

But Cui Buqu and the others did not reply.

“Master Cui? Zhangsun?”

The Emperor felt something was afoot.

Just a moment ago, Cui Buqu and Zhangsun Bodhi were obviously just behind him. How could they have not heard him?

All of a sudden, the Emperor touched something.

It was like a leg, warm yet there was nothing covering it. Its surface felt rough, as if there were scales on them.

Splitter-splatter.

Water dripped from above and onto his head.

The Emperor instinctively reached out with a hand to wipe it off.

It was sticky and it had a raw scent to it.

It was not water, but blood.

He cussed.

A flash appeared next to him.

The Emperor abruptly turned his head to see Zhangsun Bodhi holding a fire starter.

As if he realised what happened, his body froze, and his gaze slowly rose above his head.

There was a person.

But that creature was no longer able to be considered a person.

It only had the four limbs of ordinary humans. All its hair had fallen, and from its head to its face, no part of it wasn’t splattered red. It looked like something that was glowing red after being splashed with hot, steaming water.

However, on its skin were tiny holes countless in number near to each other with either black or white worms squirming in and out of it.

Even its eye sockets, where originally two eyes should have been, had been turned into two dark holes like two orbs of black fire. It glared at the Emperor like a poisonous snake setting its gaze on its prey, pinning the Emperor on the spot where he stood.

Scales covered its hands and legs and its sharp nails were stained black.

Although the Emperor had seen many things in his life, he had never seen such a creature in this world before.

For a moment, he was unable to speak. He inhaled a cold breath of air.

When his haze met the worms, the Emperor could only feel the hairs all over his body stand on their tips. He would have given anything to immediately leave his body in the form of his soul and fly to a faraway place, no longer needing to see such a creature.

It was no wonder Zhangsun and Cui Buqu had kept their words scarce just now. No one would be able to contain themselves after seeing such an ugly creature!

The Emperor realized it too late. When he recalled having placed his hand on the creature’s feet, his soul was almost scared out of his body as he immediately withdrew his hand!

The creature emitted a deep growl from its throat. It reached out for his head at the speed of lightning.

The Emperor reacted too late. He felt a wind swept into his face and that he didn’t even have the time to take a step back.

This life of his will soon be forfeited!

As this thought surfaced in his mind, fire rose up all around them!

Zhangsun’s reflexes were quick. When the Emperor was still in a trance, he had already tossed the torch from his grasp.

The torch had hit the creature’s brain as it painfully recoiled backwards.

“Commander!” shouted Zhangsun.

No one had replied to him.

Cui Buqu was nowhere to be seen.

The torch had fallen onto the ground and lit a pool of blood that came from unknown sources, and yet, Cui Buqu was still nowhere to be seen.

The creature let out a deep growl and lunged itself at them once more. Zhangsun pushed the Emperor backwards as he flew at the creature to fight a frontal battle with it.

He could only use waves and waves of wind from his palm to force the creature to retreat, but he dared not go near it, because Cui Buqu had said before that all those worms on him were gu, and if a gu were to enter someone’s body, they would similarly succumb to the gu poison.

Sly gu would not panic. They would choose to remain hidden in the body and pick the best moment to attack.

Just like how Pei Jingzhe had previously experienced. It was rare for anyone to take them out, because most of them would fall to a similar fate like those people from the Yandang Estate—having the gu infiltrate their brains as they fell into their control, and finally become incurable.

And so, it became even more difficult to spar with the creature. For the sake of waiting for Cui Buqu, Zhangsun could have just taken the Emperor and leave, but he was forced to remain here to buy some time.

The Emperor dared not act hastily as he backed himself against a wall. He, too, was calling out for Cui Buqu.

However, Cui Buqu was nowhere to be seen.

Zhangsun Bodhi could no longer delay any longer.

With the Emperor by his side, he must first guarantee the Emperor’s safety.

This was his responsibility, as well as the task Cui Buqu had assigned to him.

The creature went wild. Each time it lunged itself at Zhangsun, the latter had to spend more effort to block him.

He suddenly realized that this creature had human intelligence. Step by step, it had lured the enemy deep into the maze, before finally exhausting Zhangsun’s qi.

Zhangsun gritted his teeth, and with another palm, he forced the creature to take a few steps back. He then turned around to grab the Emperor and retreated, fleeing into the boundless darkness.

The creature flew into pursuit without hesitation.

Cui Buqu was standing quietly, his back against a cold and icy wall.

He seems to be able to feel the contours of the wall, and that it should be a picture of the classic ‘The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils’.

However, he hadn’t spoken, because his throat was being held.

The person holding his throat was extremely close to him. They were just face-to-face, breathing lightly, and from time to time the other’s breath would brush across his cheek.

In the darkness, he could not even tell the silhouette of the other, but Cui Buqu knew who he was.

This person was using their left hand. They had strong and long fingers, dry and cold.

There are many people in the Jianghu who were left-handed, but there was only one who could infiltrate into this place.

Xiao Lu.

Until that creature had chased Zhangsun and the Emperor far away, only then did Xiao Lu gradually release Cui Buqu’s neck and tapped on his meridians instead.

“Commander Cui, here we meet again.”

“Pavilion Lord Xiao, nice to meet you.”

Both of them had addressed each other with familiarity, just like friends of old that happened to have reunited without feeling that they have drifted apart.

But Cui Buqu knew that if Xiao Lu could choose, he would be unwilling to come down here.

Eight out of ten it’s probably because Feng Xiao had tossed the bogus Emperor down, and so he was left with no choice but to come down here searching for him himself.

Cui Buqu coughed a few times, and said, “That beast from just now; what was it all about?”

Xiao Lu was still in the mood to joke, “How are you sure that I would know for certain? Commander Cui, aren’t you overestimating me?”

Cui Buqu said, “The underground palace was dedicated to the Ashtamangala, so perhaps there might be a few trap mechanisms and a few poisonous creatures, but such an aggressive, demonic beast should never be here. It is covered in gu worms, so the host must have obviously be thrown into a pool of gu and nurtured for seven thousand seven hundred and forty-nine days, so that all his internal organs have rot and the gu have taken over his body, turning him into a walking corpse who only know how to kill.”

The human used to make this creature could not simply be just anybody. They must have a healthy body, and it would’ve been better if they were decent at martial arts as well, only then could they withstand all the gu squirming into their body and drill into their internal organs as they watch them form a thousand holes in their body until they finally die of pain.

In order to create such a devilish, sinister creature, the maker must have paid quite a huge cost.

Xiao Lu remained silent for a moment. “That human gu was the eldest disciple of the Nanhua Sect, Song Yuntao, back when he was alive.”

Cui Buqu was taken aback. “Kuhezhen has only been to the Central Plains for just a few months, and Song Yuntao had been missing for more than three years. How could he have fallen into his hands?”

Xiao Lu sighed and said, “Back in that year, the Nanhua Sect had an internal strife. The Sect Leader took a young and beautiful young woman for his wife, but the one his wife had fallen for was his eldest disciple, Song Yuntao. And so, the Sect Leader had a fight with his wife and they separated on bad terms. In order to search for his Master, Song Yuntao set out for the journey of a single person into the Saiwai and has never shown up ever since. It’s such a pity that Song Yuntao could have succeeded the Nanhua Sect and become its next Sect Leader to once again return it to its former glory, but he had run into misfortune and hence perished.”

Cui Buqu. “Didn’t Pavilion Lord Xiao participate in this matter?”

Xiao Lu, “If I denied it, would you believe me?”

Cui Buqu expressionlessly said, “I would. Although you would use any method to achieve your goals, you never lie.”

Xiao Lu smiled and said, “If only you could give up aiding the Great Sui, we would have been the best of friends.”

Cui Buqu did not answer him. Instead, he asked, “How did you people discover this place?”

Xiao Lu said, “Ashina.”

He had only mentioned a tribe. Cui Buqu pondered over for a moment, and then finally he recalled how that tribe was linked to the history of the place they’re in.

“Khatun Ashina?”

Xiao Lu applauded him. “Not bad. Fifteen years ago, Ashina, daughter of Khan Muqan, married Yuwen Yong.”

The Göktürks believed in Buddhism, and Ashina was not an exception.

But back then, for to the immense power Buddhism held, it was a threat to the Emperor’s powers. Yuwen Yong elected to demolish Buddhism and arrest its monks. Even Daxingshan Temple had to endure some of its external buildings being taken apart. According to the sayings, someone discovered one of the entrances into the underground palace. When Khatun Ashina knew about it, she ordered a group of people to investigate the underground palace, but it was a pity that those who entered never came out, and this matter had come to an end.

The entrance into the underground palace was very quickly sealed up, yet, Ashina could not put it behind her. She ordered someone to look for the construction plans of Daxingshan Temple and deliver them back to Göktürk.

As Cui Buqu listened, he raised an eyebrow, and said, “That’s to say, the construction plans of Daxingshan Temple made during the Jin Dynasty had fallen into the hands of Göktürk, and then into Kuhezhen’s hands?”

Xiao Lu confirmed it, then continued, “When this temple was built, the Buddha statues were generally built with wooden sticks and reeds, and white clay was used to give it colour. Only the statue in the Mahadiva Hall was an exception; this statue was empty inside and it linked to the underground palace. It was wide and airy inside. Before your Emperor sealed this place up tightly, I had already made my way in.”

At first, Cui Buqu had thought that the enemy would disguise themselves into monks, or perhaps disguise as someone who accompanied the Emperor in his Imperial Chariot, in order to make their way into the temple and sow chaos. However, he would never expect the enemy to take this route.

This was wholly unexpected.

Xiao Lu appeared to have guessed what he was thinking. “However, I had not expected the Göktürks would choose this time to sow strife with me. I originally thought that Kuhezhen would at least have waited until the power had fallen into my grasp, only then he’d make things difficult for me.”

But that wasn’t what Kuhezhen had done.

To him, it didn’t matter whether it was Xiao Lu or the Sui Emperor sitting on the throne. Both of them could serve the same purpose of putting his plans into motion and sow discord within the Northern Regions of the Central Plains.

Cui Buqu, “So, Pavilion Lord Xiao, it seems like we are now on the same boat. Let us work together before we leave the underground palace.”

Xiao Lu smiled, and said, “I agree. This way.”

Cui Buqu, “You know where the road leads to?”

Xiao Lu, “I do not. Kuhezhen would never give me those plans. So, I can only entrust this to you and allow you to lead the way.”

There was no need to say more. Cui Buqu quietly moved.

The bogus Emperor was sealed mute by Xiao Lu just a moment ago, so he couldn’t speak. Xiao Lu lifted him lightly as he followed behind Cui Buqu.

The tunnel was deep and in the midst of the darkness, only the footsteps of the three of them could be heard. The bogus Emperor bounced in and out of consciousness, his footsteps echoed in an uneven rhythm and gave off an unpleasant sound.

Although the bogus Emperor served a very important purpose, it seemed he didn’t have much power within the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai judging from Xiao Lu’s treatment of him.

What’s more, is that he might only be a puppet that Xiao Lu had found.

A puppet would only need to do their part. What he was thinking of, or whether he hated Xiao Lu in his heart, was not Xiao Lu’s concern.

There were three people and three completely different sets of thoughts. They were only there for their own needs.

The reason Xiao Lu made Cui Buqu walk in front was so that, of course, if there was any danger present in front, Cui Buqu could be his meatshield.

But Cui Buqu had no comment on that.

He walked very slowly because he was memorizing his routes.

But very quickly, Cui Buqu realized that it was futile.

“The stone engravings on the walls are repeating themselves.” Cui Buqu said suddenly.

Xiao Lu raised a brow. “What does it mean?”

“方才起步时，我摸到的是一幅天龙八部听经图，接下去依次是萨捶那舍身饲虎、善友太子入海取宝等，但现在，顺序又再重复了。”

“Since a moment ago, I touched what was supposed to be a picture of the ‘Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Listening To Sutras’, and following that was a picture of ‘Vajrasattva’s Self-sacrificing Endeavours To Feed Himself To The Tiger’, then the ‘Kind Prince’s Journey Into The Sea In Search Of The Treasure’, and so on. But now, the sequence has repeated itself.”

Xiao Lu, “Perhaps they were simply the same pictures?”

Cui Buqu, “Unlikely. Even if they were the same pictures, there would be differences in the details. I know what I’ve touched. They were the same pictures.”

That also meant that they were walking around in circles.

Xiao Lu sighed, “Now I am beginning to regret not asking Kuhezhen for the construction plans of Daxingshan Temple’s underground palace.”

However, since Kuhezhen had arranged it this way, even if Xiao Lu asked, Kuhezhen might not give him those plans.

After a moment of thought, Cui Buqu pulled out a firestarter and lit it.

The light around them was limited, yet the darkness was infinite.

However, they could all see clearly that they were situated in a circular hall. Not far off in the middle, there was a stone pagoda.

Cui Buqu said, “If I am correct, this centre is also the centre of the entire underground palace. It appears to represent a concept of the Heavens, the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon. Eight stars are located around it, but in reality, they represent the bagua. Just now, I had walked past one of them, which is supposedly the Southeast Wind1, and as for this one—”

The white marble pagoda located in the centre looked exceptionally clean under the light of the fire, as if there was a layer of white light on top of it that easily made one unable to move their gaze away.

Cui Buqu could not help himself taking a step forward.

The bogus Emperor was in a daze as he moved forward even quicker than Cui Buqu in uneven steps simply to touch the pagoda’s body.

Even Xiao Lu could not hold himself back. On the third step he took, he suddenly stopped, his heart skipped in a warning beat!

He had always been calmer than most people. Even if a demonic woman was dancing in front of him, Xiao Lu had enough self-restraint to close his eyes if he did not wish to see it.

But now, that white marble pagoda was causing him to lose his own self-restraint. What did that mean?

It wasn’t because Xiao Lu did not have enough self-restraint, but that something was amiss with the pagoda itself!

He abruptly closed his eyes.

The firelight in Cui Buqu’s hand flickered and wavered. It was nearing the end of its life.

The white marble pagoda glowed and glimmered under the firelight with a demonic air.

“Don’t go near it!”

Following his words, Cui Buqu’s fire finally died out.

Darkness once again befell them.

In the next second, a pained cry filled their ears!

Xiao Lu only managed to catch Cui Buqu, who was closer to him and pulled him to his side. He was, however, too late to rescue the bogus Emperor.

If only he could use both his hands, then naturally, he could have done it.

But it was a pity that he could only use one.

Cui Buqu’s reflexes were extremely quick. After Xiao Lu caught him by his waist and pulled him into his arms, he fumbled for another firestarter and lit it.

As it burst into light, the bogus Emperor’s silhouette came into sight.

He was strapped by a thousand red threads to the stone pagoda. Those red threads were around his head, neck, and all over his body. It had cut into his flesh, forcing blood out of it.

The red threads had wounded around the bogus Emperor so tightly that his eyes had popped slightly out of their sockets.

There were at least seven to eight red threads on his neck that had cut deeply into his flesh.

At that moment, both of them inhaled a sharp breath of air in unison.

They had seen the most chaotic events and they were not frogs in wells, but this manner of dying had surpassed anything they had ever seen.

Xiao Lu held Cui Buqu’s wrist to move the firestarter forward, while he himself took a few steps closer.

“Those red threads came from within the pagoda.” Xiao Lu said as he raised his sleeve to pat the pagoda.

His qi shattered the pagoda, revealing the source beneath it.

The inside of the pagoda was supposedly empty, a place originally used to hold the Śarīraof high monks, but now, it had turned into a mini human-shaped puppet.

There were a countless number of red threads on it. There was even a faint scent of machilus wood coming from it.

When they touched the pagoda, it had triggered the mechanism, resulting in the red threads inside shooting out. The machilus scent that came with it would make even the most skilled martial artist find it difficult to escape, and so the bogus Emperor had fallen victim to it.

Just now, if Xiao Lu had not pulled Cui Buqu backwards, Cui Buqu would have been greatly wounded even if he lived due to how close he was standing to the pagoda.

After Cui Buqu bent down for half a beat, he finally stood back up.

He said, “Someone altered this pagoda before. Kuhezhen hadn’t only ordered someone to put some gu here. He had even visited this place before to set up such traps.”

Xiao Lu lightly touched the neck of the bogus Emperor.

Cui Buqu, “How is he?”

Xiao Lu slowly said, “Beyond help.”

Once the bogus Emperor is dead, Xiao Lu’s plans have failed. Cui Buqu should have been happy, but now that both of them were on the same boast, it was unknown whether or not they would make it out alive at all. Cui Buqu felt that it was imprudent to overexert Xiao Lu and provoke him enough that he’d feed him to the human gu.

He coughed twice, then feigned being sad, “My condolences.”

Xiao Lu twitched his lips. “If you hadn’t said those words, I could at least pretend that you are sincere.”

Cui Buqu shifted the topic. “Obviously, Kuhezhen has turned this place into his own prison hell. We need to find a way out of this place quickly. Let us go.”

Once he finished speaking those words, he felt something was wrong.

That sensation came from beneath his feet.

Cui Buqu lowered his head to look. It was unknown since when the earth beneath Xiao Lu’s feet had split apart.

As the fissure grew wider, Xiao Lu didn’t hesitate as he caught Cui Buqu and flew onto a stone wall, sticking fast to it.

Following afterwards, the pagoda was destroyed and the earth split apart in all four directions as all the earth crumbled and fell.

Xiao Lu emitted a groan, then his hand released Cui Buqu and both of them dropped down!dropped both of them together!

[1]巽卦: there are eight directions in the bagua. The Southeast direction is called the yi, which is also wind elemental.

Translator’s Notes

Sorry for the delay, unfortunately I have a bit of a bad news. Both health problems and inrl stress hit me at the same time so I shrank into a phase of avoiding most things to iron out the stress in my life for a bit ;;; So while I will still be translating, I think my progress will be going a lot slower until I feel better about life and everything in general =v= Thanks for everyone who is being patient!