Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Ling Yun Tower, which practised the Dao of Heartlessness, actually cared about whether Cang Yue lived or died. The only explanation for this was that Cang Yue remained very important to Ling Yun Tower.
Why though?
Was it because of her strength?
In terms of power, Cang Yue was very strong and her skill level was most probably at the Sage State. Her unorthodox and ruthless fighting style placed her up on the ranks along with the elders of the other four Sects in the Holy Region.
However, Fang Zhengzhi felt that Cang Yue’s value in terms of skills did not call for the appearance of five more defenders.
It probably had something to do with her position and status. However, Cang Yue was not an elder of Ling Yun Tower.
A few months ago in the Heaven Dao Pavilion, Elder Gu Yuan of Fu Xi Valley as well as Wan Lei, the head disciple of Yin Yang Hall had introduced Cang Yue as the premier disciple of Ling Yun Tower.
Thus, Cang Yue did have a considerably high status, but she was not an apex figure.
Unless…
She had a special identity?
For example, could Cang Yue be Yu Er? Maybe the leader of Ling Yun Tower had taken a liking to Cang Yue and wanted to groom her as a successor?
It was entirely possible. Cang Yue had entered into the world practising the Dao of Heartlessness until she met Lin Mubai, with whom she fell in love with until she decided to cut him off.
Now, to backtrack some more…
When Ping Yang had broken her necklace while fighting with the Monster King Xieluo, Cang Yue was the first person to rush to her aid and had dragged Ping Yang into Ling Yun Tower. Although she did not reveal her identity, it did not change the fact that she was the first to appear by Ping Yang’s side.
Although Cang Yue did not behave like Ping Yang’s mother and had said that she wished for Ping Yuan to die, it was still very much possible.
However, Fang Zhengzhi did not press on with his hypothesis because there were several contradictions in the conversations between Lin Mubai and Cang Yue.
The greatest contradiction to his hypothesis was that Lin Mubai seemed to have known Cang Yue from a long time ago!
From the encounter in Flaming Capital City, it was clear that Lin Mubai and Cang Yue knew each other. Lin Mubai had even said that he was at least half a master to Cang Yue.
Although this was only a one-off statement by Lin Mubai, from another perspective, it was unlikely that Cang Yue and Yu Er were the same person.
Cang Yue had probably appeared somewhere together with Yu Er before.
Thus, it could be that Cang Yue was a servant to Yu Er and was with her the whole time she romanced Lin Mubai.
Of course, these were all guesses.
However, these guesses pointed Fang Zhengzhi towards a bold deduction. Firstly, Cang Yue was not the strongest nor highest ranking person in Ling Yun Tower, yet her status was special.
She had received solid protection.
This inevitably pointed towards another possibility.
Cang Yue was not the special one. It was Yu Er!
Yu Er?!
“The leader of Ling Yun Tower is Yu Er!” Fang Zhengzhi’s eyes shone. It was a bold conjecture but it made sense too.
This would explain her heartlessness. Even as Lin Mubai lay dying and even though Ping Yang had stayed in Ling Yun tower for half a year, she rejected every opportunity to see them. The reason was now clear: she was the one who had decreed the heartless behaviour of Ling Yun Tower personnel.
How could she go against her own rules?
Also, Cang Yue’s presumed appointment as Yu Er’s personal aide would explain why she was being protected by high-level individuals.
However, if Fang Zhengzhi’s guesses proved to be true, this trip to Ling Yun Tower would be an extremely challenging ordeal.
The leader of Ling Yun Tower, Yu Er…
The reconciliation of these two identities made it impossible for the acknowledgement of Yu Er’s romance with Lin Mubai as well as her mother-daughter relationship with Ping Yang.
Holy Region, Nine Pinnacles Mountain.
The nine tripods which had once stood on the huge black rock were gone. All that was left were the marks on the ground as well as the cracks made by punches and kicks.
The smell of blood had dissipated and the war had long ended. The Nine Pinnacles Mountain had gone through a major revamp.
The houses made out of black stone had been torn down in some places and rebuilt in others. It was a strange sight.
A figure wearing white robes stood on the huge black rock. Her long flowing hair danced slightly in the wind.
She was devastatingly beautiful and her eyes gleamed.
It was Yun Qingwu.
A flying black figure approached her from the distance. In no time, it had appeared before Yun Qingwu. Its monstrous gaze was partially obscured by the hood it wore.
“Greetings to the Young Empress. After the Lady Empress heard about your conquest of the Nine Pinnacles Mountain, she sent ten Monster Kings over as escorts of the Imperial Monster Decree. Should I bring them to you?” The black figure half-knelt behind Yun Qingwu respectfully and spoke up.
“Hmm, any news regarding Fang Zhengzhi?” Yun Qingwu kept a solemn gaze on the black stone houses.
“Ling Yun Tower is located away from the four other sects. All their disciples live in the Tower and rarely came out. Hence, there aren’t any accurate information about them. However, our people stationed outside Ling Yun Tower have confirmed that Fang Zhengzhi has entered the Tower. Young Empress, did you ask about Fang Zhengzhi because you’re planning to head towards Ling Yun Tower?”
“Why would I be going to Ling Yun Tower?”
“The Lady Empress had specially sent ten Monster Kings carrying the Imperial Monster Decree in the hopes that you, the Young Empress, would exploit Fang Zhengzhi’s attack on the Ling Yun Tower and…” The black figure’s eyes shone brighter as he spoke on.
“Conquer Ling Yun Tower and challenge the other three Sects of the Holy Region, am I right?” Yun Qingwu interrupted the black figure. She turned to look at him.
“If we really manage to destroy Ling Yun Tower, given the substance of our race as well as the support from the Demon Army, the other three Sects would not dare to retaliate even if they find out the truth!” The black figure exuded confidence.
“Everything that you’ve said thus far is the will of my mother?” Yun Qingwu did not continue the discussion and suddenly questioned the black figure.
“Yes… it is the will of the Lady Empress…” The black figure was taken aback. There was a brief flicker in his eyes before he gritted his teeth and nodded.
“You may destroy your Demon Pearl.” Yun Qingwu said blandly.
“Huh?!” The black figure’s blood ran cold.
“You have committed a heinous crime and have to pay for it with your life.” Yun Qingwu elaborated.
“What… Young Empress, I am a Monster King, one of the highest ranking monsters in the Monster Race. Don’t you think that you might have made a mistake?” The black shadow had heard Yun Qingwu’s words clearly but his face lit up with incredulousness.
“Can a Monster King escape death even after committing a crime?”
“We… no… I just don’t understand. I remember when “We… no… I just don’t understand. I remember that when the Young Empress first entered the Great Swamp, Xieyi was unaware of your identity and gave offense to you. However, you were tolerant and spared his life. Why would you want me to die even after my contributions to your conquest of Nine Pinnacles Mountain?” The black figure was shocked.
“Because you are passing on false military orders.” Yun Qingwu said curtly.
“False military orders? What do you mean? Does the Young Empress have any proof?” The black figure’s expression changed but he recovered himself quickly.
“Proof? Let me ask you one more time. Did my mother really task you to pass on military orders for me to advance towards Ling Yun Tower?”
“This… the Lady Empress did not say it explicitly but she was very impressed by the battle plan for the conquest of Nine Pinnacles Mountain. She also asked me about Fang Zhengzhi and Ling Yun Tower. So, I guessed she meant that…”
“You guessed?”
“Yes, even though it was a guess… anyway, even if I might have made a slight mistake, it does not warrant a death sentence. Besides, the Monster Race requires my service. Let me make up for my mistake by rendering meritorious service. At the very least, let me die on the battlefield!” The black figure wanted to argue but fell to his knees in the end.
“Do you know how much your guesswork could cost both the Demon and Monster races?” Yun Qingwu glared at the black figure grovelling at her feet.
“I… I do not know!”
“How much have you heard about Ling Yun Tower?”
“I do know a few things about Ling Yun Tower. For example, the disciples of Ling Yun Tower are split into three distinct classes with different coloured clothing, namely green, white and gold. Green-robed disciples are those who have not reached the Sage State. White-robed disciples are common Sage Stage pugilists. Gold-robed disciples are the true elites of Ling Yun Tower and are further split into…”
“Do you know who Ping Yang’s mother is?” Yuan Qingwu interrupted the black figure.
“Ping Yang?”
“Yes. You’ve sent the Monster Race to spy on Fang Zhengzhi. Did you not investigate why he was headed to Ling Yun Tower?”
“I heard it was because of a lady. Does the Young Empress mean that the lady is Ping Yang?!” The black figure had come to a sudden realisation.
“That’s right. Do you remember the major battle from more than a decade ago?”
“Of course I do. I will never forget it for as long as I live. I will never forget the humiliation suffered by our people!”
“Do you also know who initiated the war?”
“I do!”
“What if I told you that that person is Ping Yang’s mother?”
“It’s her?”
“Now, do you finally understand why I told you to take your own life?” Yun Qingwu’s eyes glinted.
“I… I still don’t understand…” The black figure shook his head tentatively.
“Now that you know who that woman is, and that Fang Zhengzhi went to Ling Yun Tower because of Ping Yang, the expected outcome of this must be clear. Would you still suggest that we attempt to take Ling Yun Tower down?”
“I deserve death. I have realised my mistake. But… but I had no idea…”
“If I remember correctly, your only son died in that war from more than a decade ago. He had died at the hands of Ling Yun Tower, am I right?”
“Young Empress, you…” The black figure looked slightly afraid.
“My mother would not have ordered an attack on Ling Yun Tower. She is the Lady Empress of the Monster Race and is more meticulous than any other demon. She also knows the importance of every step we take now. You are the one who are giving false orders in her name. It is you who think that this is a god given chance for you to destroy Ling Yun Tower and avenge your son!” Yuan Qingwu’s eyes were cold.
“I… I…” The black figure shuddered violently. He looked extremely pained. Neverthless, he stood up after a short while and met Yun Qingwu’s gaze.
“I am impressed by the Young Empress’s intelligence. However, is there something that the Young Empress should consider?”
“Are you referring to the difference in power between you and I?” Yun Qingwu scrutinised the black figure. She could feel the strength radiating from his body, which had not yet begun to move.
“That’s right. Since the Young Empress is aware of that, you should preserve yourself. At least wait until you receive the ten Monster Kings and the Imperial Monster Decree before you challenge me!”
“So, are you going to kill me now?”
“No, I don’t want to kill the Young Empress. My only wish is to avenge my son. Let me off this once and I will retain my loyalty to you. I will also vow to never pass on false military orders again!”
“What if I insist on sentencing you to die?” Yun Qingwu narrowed her eyes at the black figure, her hair dancing about in the mountain wind.