Chapter 84: The Grudge of Yore

Chapter 84: The Grudge of Yore

The night slipped away quietly amidst the chirping of cicadas.

The next morning, as Gongsun Wuyou was having his breakfast, he was taken aback by what Prince Jia said, causing his chopsticks to tremble and the food to slip from them. He suddenly looked up and asked, "What did you say his name is?"

Prince Jia replied, "Chen Yingqi. Cousin, this man's swordsmanship is extraordinary; he's definitely a master hiding in plain sight. Xu Wendao had already intended to recruit him that day on the street. You mustn't let him get ahead of you!"

Gongsun Wuyou slowly put down his chopsticks, lost in thought. Chen Yingqi, Chen Yingqi... Could it really be Lu Yan who came to Tian Shui? But with the two armies at war, why would he come looking for him? Was he not afraid of death?

Frowning, Gongsun Wuyou asked, "Where is he now?"

Prince Jia replied, "He's waiting in the side hall, Cousin. Do you want to see him?"

But Gongsun Wuyou said, "No need. I'll go see him myself. You don't have to come along."

Although the two armies were at war, Immortal Spirit had not been breached, and the Emperor was still the ruler of the Twelve Continents. There was no reason for him to summon Lu Yan.

After dismissing his attendants, Gongsun Wuyou went to the side hall alone. As he entered, he saw a familiar figure facing away from him. For a moment, he didn't know whether to feel relieved or anxious, and called out in a complicated tone, "King Fengling?"

"Prince Wuyou, long time no see. How have you been?"

Lu Yan had been admiring the landscape painting hanging in the main hall. Hearing this, he turned around. He still had his carefree demeanor, unaffected by the war between the two armies, making one feel that nothing in the world could influence his mood.

In just a year, Gongsun Wuyou had shed his childishness. Now assisting the king in managing state affairs, he had developed the bearing of someone capable of standing on his own. Gone was his former innocence, but his eyes remained dark and lively as he sized up Lu Yan. "Did you come alone?"

Lu Yan replied, "I brought fifty Golden Crow Guards."

Gongsun Wuyou pursed his lips. "Do you realize that with the two armies at war, coming to Tian Shui alone could result in you being captured and paraded before the troops as a sacrificial offering to demoralize Immortal Spirit?"

He knew about it. In the declaration of war, both Wu Yun and Dong Li had specifically demanded that Immortal Spirit hand over Lu Yan. Why would he travel all the way to Tian Shui instead of staying safely in Immortal Spirit?

Lu Yan laughed carelessly. "If they want to use me as a sacrificial offering, so be it. Losing my head will leave a bowl-sized scar, but since I won't feel pain after death, I don't care what they do. They can even make a drum out of my skin if they want."

Gongsun Wuyou said, "You're quite relaxed about it. Do you know how much Wu Yun and Dong Li hate you?"

Pretending not to catch the meaning behind his words, Lu Yan smiled and countered, "And you? Do you also hate me?"

Gongsun Wuyou wrinkled his nose, revealing a hint of childishness. "We in Tian Shui aren't that petty. You risked your life to save me and bring me back to my country. Even if there's a huge grudge, I wouldn't hold it against you. To be honest, this war was started by Wu Yun and Dong Li. We never wanted to get involved, which is why we've stayed in the rear, only providing supplies."

Tian Shui was like a reed swaying in the wind, relying on strong countries for survival. With the other two countries united, they couldn't completely stay out of it.

Hearing this, Lu Yan's eyes flickered. "Is that true?"

Gongsun Wuyou was rather proud. "Why would I lie to you? We don't like wars. It's better to stay here comfortably. They specifically demanded that Immortal Spirit hand you over, but considering how you treated me in the past, I didn't join in the fuss."

Good kid, all those snacks I gave you weren't wasted!

Lu Yan stepped forward and asked, "Since you have no intention of fighting, can you help me with something?"

Gongsun Wuyou was startled. "You're not asking me to withdraw my troops, are you? I can't decide that, and neither can my father. It's up to Wu Yun and Dong Li."

Lu Yan said, "Of course, I know you can't make that decision. But if I can convince Wu Yun to withdraw his troops, leaving only Dong Li, will you stand by my side?"

After some thought, Gongsun Wuyou replied, "If you can convince Wu Yun to withdraw his troops, Dong Li won't pose a significant threat. At that point, my father will naturally extricate himself from the chaos. The army's supplies are on their way. If you really want to go to Wu Yun, I can try to delay things for a few days to give you more time."

Hearing Gongsun Wuyou say this, a large weight lifted off Lu Yan's heart. Remembering the Emperor's illness, he hesitated before asking, "Do you still have Blood Toad Pills in Tian Shui?"

"Still?"

Gongsun Wuyou widened his eyes. "This is the greatest treasure in the world, and there's only one. Do you think it's like meat buns sold on the street, where you can buy a basket full easily?"

Lu Yan didn't mention the Emperor's poisoning, as it was a matter of great importance that couldn't be divulged. "As you know, I was once assassinated and received a sword wound to the chest. It hasn't fully healed yet. The imperial physician said that using a Blood Toad Pill for treatment would be best, otherwise, it might affect my lifespan."

Gongsun Wuyou shook his head. "If you want other heavenly treasures, I might be able to gather them for you. But there are indeed no more Blood Toad Pills. Let me tell you the truth. There were actually two pills. One was presented to Immortal Spirit, and the other was eaten by my father... Hey, why didn't you ask the Emperor for it? He loves you so much; he wouldn't have been stingy with just one pill."

Lu Yan simply said, "That one was used up years ago."

Seeing that there were no extra Blood Toad Pills, he couldn't help feeling disheartened. He would have to find another way to detoxify the Emperor. Patting Gongsun Wuyou on the shoulder, he said, "Regardless of whether today's matter succeeds or fails, I thank you. No matter what happens in the future, I will not involve Tian Shui."

"I came secretly and cannot stay here for long. I'll leave the palace today."

Gongsun Wuyou noticed Lu Yan's weary appearance and the few guards accompanying him, and couldn't help calling out to him. "Hey, are you really not afraid of death?"

Pausing in his steps, Lu Yan turned to look at him and couldn't help smiling. "Afraid, but not afraid. After all, there are many things in this world more painful than death."

Gongsun Wuyou said, "If you knew this would happen, why did you do it in the first place? Zhao Yuzhang originally didn't want to attack Immortal Spirit. But after you woke up from the assassination attempt and your personality changed drastically, and you imprisoned Shang Junnian in the dungeon and tortured him, he became determined to teach you a lesson."

Hearing him mention that blank period of memory, Lu Yan didn't know how to respond and remained silent.

Gongsun Wuyou glanced at him. "Do you still have the pendant I gave you back then?"

Lu Yan snapped back to reality and took out the blood-red jade pendant from his chest, handing it to Gongsun Wuyou. "I've been carrying it all this time. I came here this time to return it to you. If you hadn't mentioned it, I almost forgot."

Gongsun Wuyou didn't take it. Looking at him steadily, he said, "You came alone across thousands of miles. I admire your courage. They say that scoundrels live for a thousand years. Someone like you shouldn't die early. Keep the jade. You don't have to return it."

After saying this, he took off the waist token for leaving the palace and threw it to Lu Yan. "Go. If Tian Shui encounters a major disaster in the future, I hope you'll remember today's favor and lend a helping hand."

At that time, Lu Yan didn't catch the hidden meaning in his words and simply said, "Of course," before turning to leave. After exiting the palace gate, the more Lu Yan pondered, the more he felt something was off. Subconsciously, he stopped and took out the Blood Soul Jade Pendant from his chest.

He carefully observed it and secretly applied his inner strength. The outer jade body shattered, revealing a round, translucent Blood Toad Pill inside. He was momentarily stunned.

There was actually another Blood Toad Pill inside this pendant?!

It turned out that there were three pills in total. The Empress of Tian Shui was worried that Gongsun Wuyou would face life-threatening dangers when he went to Immortal Spirit, so she embedded the pill inside the pendant to protect him. Unexpectedly, it ended up falling into Lu Yan's hands, creating an enormous debt of gratitude.

Looking at the Blood Toad Pill in his hand, the biggest burden on Lu Yan's heart finally lifted. Without delay, he hurried back to the inn on horseback and handed the Blood Toad Pill to Eunuch He.

"You must take this and immediately return to Immortal Spirit. Give the Blood Toad Pill to Father secretly. Don't let anyone else know, or it might attract contention."

Grandpa Crane asked anxiously, "Your Highness, you're not returning with me?"

Lu Qian shook his head. "I still need to make a trip to Wu Yun and try to persuade them to withdraw their troops. The Emperor's condition cannot be delayed, and I don't trust anyone else. I'll have to trouble you to make this journey alone."

Grandpa Crane was originally reluctant to leave Lu Qian behind, but considering his now remarkable swordsmanship, he thought it should be enough for self-defense. With the Emperor's critical condition, he had no choice but to disguise himself and rush back to Xianling on horseback. Meanwhile, Lu Qian set off towards Wu Yun with the remaining fifty Golden Crow Guards.

...

"A sudden message from Tian Shui says there's been an issue with the supplies during transportation. It might take a few more days before they can reach the rear."

In the maple tree courtyard of the Chancellor's residence, a man in red was playing chess by himself. Upon hearing this, he didn't look up, simply using a black piece to capture a white one. His thick eyelashes cast shadows under his eyes as he spoke indifferently,

"Have him find a way to deliver them on schedule. The battle notice has been issued; delaying the start would be detrimental to morale."

Zhao Yuzhang sat down opposite him, his clothes embroidered with golden five-clawed dragons, no longer the hostage at everyone's mercy but a sovereign of a nation. "Dong Li has great ambitions. When they attack Xianling, how we divide the cities will also be a problem."

Chancellor Shang picked another white piece, his slender fingers holding the jade chess piece as he tapped it slowly against the table. "I know what Liu Que Dan is planning. Wu Yun is vast but sparsely populated; having so much land is useless. Giving him a few cities is fine, but I must get the people."

Zhao Yuzhang knew that "people" referred to Lu Qian, and couldn't help but spit out, "Killing him would be too kind, let alone exchanging cities for him. I won't suffer such a silent loss."

Chancellor Shang looked at him, his eyes as dark as bottomless cold pools. "Have you forgotten your promise to me?"

Zhao Yuzhang pouted. "I haven't forgotten, just bringing Lu Qian to you."

Chancellor Shang slightly curled his lips, but no hint of a smile could be detected. He reminded him word by word, "Remember, alive. I don't want a corpse."

Dead men don't move or speak, nor do they feel pain. What's the point? He wanted Lu Qian alive.

In the height of summer, the maple trees in the courtyard were not yet red, only a lush green. As dusk fell, the courtyard became even more quiet, with only the sound of cicadas heard. A winding stone path led to the pavilion, shimmering like pearls under the moonlight.

Chancellor Shang pushed the door open and found himself in a torture chamber. The walls were lined with bizarre torture devices, their sharp ends gleaming, causing an inexplicable chill down one's spine.

A man in a long blue robe was dozing behind a desk. Hearing Chancellor Shang enter, he hurriedly stood up, but before he could bow, he saw the other open the secret door and head straight for the dungeon.

This room was specifically used by Zhao Yuzhang to interrogate spies from other countries. With recent wars breaking out everywhere, the number of suspicious individuals had increased, filling the once empty cells to capacity. But the only person worth Chancellor Shang's personal interrogation was one.

A man was nailed to a wooden rack. His wrists and ankles were amputated, and only by piercing his flesh with six-inch-long iron nails into the backboard could his body be stabilized. His long hair hung down, hardened into clumps due to dried blood, making him look worse than a beggar on the street.

Seeing Chancellor Shang approach, the man made a broken, fearful sound, akin to an uncivilized beast, trembling uncontrollably, clearly terrified to the extreme.

Chancellor Shang took a clean long blade from the nearby table and then slowly lifted the man's chin with the tip of the knife, staring into the man's murky eyes. "Are you afraid of me, Chancellor?"

The man trembled violently, the cloth covering his body slipping off, revealing a body riddled with festering wounds. The deepest wound revealed the white bone beneath.

Chancellor Shang smiled, his tone unhurried. "What are you afraid of me for? You should thank me. Every day, I use precious treasures like ginseng and lingzhi to keep you alive, helping you prolong your life."

As he spoke, the blade in his hand slowly slid down, along the side of the waistbone, casually slicing off a piece of bloody flesh. The man hanging above screamed in agony, unable to speak, his bloodshot eyes filled with a desire for death, hoping this person would end his life with one stroke.

Being in a place like this, a human hell, death had become a luxury.

But Chancellor Shang ignored it, the blade slowly moving across the man's body, contemplating where else he could cut. Finally, disappointed, he realized there was no more flesh left for him to slice. With a clang, he threw the dagger onto the table and sighed, "You can't handle supplements, no matter how much I feed you, no new flesh will grow."

The man's throat and mouth were stuffed with crushed silver needles, over time, they turned into pus and blood, more painful than having his tongue cut out.

Chancellor Shang walked behind the torture table, found a clean chair, and sat down. He leaned back in the chair with his eyes closed, as if only here could he truly relax. He muttered to himself, "The suffering you endure today is nothing compared to what I went through..."

"After Xianling falls, I'll be able to see him. You'd better think about how to bring his soul back, otherwise, today's suffering will never end."

In the silent, empty dungeon, only his voice could be heard. When Chancellor Shang closed his eyes, the scene that appeared in his mind was when Lu Qian woke up after being stabbed. Those slightly upturned eyes no longer held the former smile and brightness, only cruelty and a thirst for killing, like a beast devoid of emotion.

From that moment, Chancellor Shang felt something was wrong with Lu Qian, but neither the Emperor of Xianling nor others found anything wrong with Lu Qian's abnormal behavior. He secretly tested him with martial arts, but Lu Qian couldn't even withstand three of his moves, instead accusing him of assassination and imprisoning him in the dungeon.

Over the past year, Chancellor Shang had subjected the man on the rack to countless tortures, using all kinds of cruel methods. Finally, unable to bear the pain, the man confessed the truth, admitting to using soul-capturing techniques on Lu Qian.

In other words, that Lu Qian wasn't really Lu Qian.

Chancellor Shang slowly caressed his neck with his fingertips, where an old, light brown scar remained, caused by a sword wound inflicted by Lu Qian. Although he had initially intended to test Lu Qian's skills, he had held back during the fight. However, Lu Qian attacked with lethal intent, taking advantage of his distraction to stab him in the throat. If it weren't for Grandpa Crane risking his life to intervene, he might have died in Xianling.

His fingers involuntarily tightened, veins protruding on his pale hand, still struggling with unresolved issues.

Chancellor Shang suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the man nailed to the wooden rack, asking without any discernible emotion, "Weren't you always wondering when I would let you go?"

A glimmer of hope appeared in the man's murky eyes, but it was shattered in the next second.

He saw Chancellor Shang smile, his rust-red clothes resembling the color of congealed blood, exuding danger. Like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, it stirred the deepest panic and unease in the heart:

"I haven't forgiven myself, how can I let you go?"

The voice sounded softly, like a question, more like self-reflection.

"But if you can bring his soul back, I'll give you a quick death."

When Chancellor Shang realized that Lu Qian's soul had been captured, he immediately wanted to take him away from Xianling, tied or bound, perhaps there would be a way to bring his soul back. However, acting alone proved difficult, and he was trapped in the dungeon, unable to escape.

Fortunately, he now had his own power. Since persuasion didn't work, he would resort to force. In any case, he must bring Lu Yan from Immortal Spirit to his side. As long as the man was with him, everything could be discussed; he would always find a way to restore his soul.

A gust of wind blew in from the air vent behind, lifting the man's filthy hair and revealing a face aged by terror. If Lu Yan were here now, he would surely recognize this man as Zui Ling, the black-robed stranger who had ambushed him on the outskirts.

He opened his mouth in agony, uttering an indistinct sentence:

"Can't... can't be reversed..."

Though he yearned for a swift release, he dared not deceive this living manifestation of hell before him. There had never been a case where a soul captured could return. Lu Yan could never revert to his former self.