Chapter 295: Astonishing the Western Capital

At the Directorate of Astronomy in the Western Capital, the Chief Director issued an order: at the hour of Zi, all Directorate officials must suspend active surveillance of the inner city’s magic treasures and cease recording anything that occurs in the inner city until the hour of Chou.

The order was relayed. The Directorate’s five officers, the Spiritual Platform Official, the Chief Clerk, the Seal Keeper, the Kettle-Bearer, the Monitoring Lieutenant, the Calendar Officer, the Dawn Officer, the Doctorate, and a host of lower clerks without official ranks, all stopped activating the various surveillance treasures that watched over the inner city—such as the earthquake instrument, the celestial sphere, the myriad phenomena instrument, the Register of Heaven, the Land Register, and so forth. The earth-spirit, earth-deity, and other ghost-god entities were likewise ordered to rest.

At the same time, a secret order came from Gongtian Prefecture: tonight all bailiffs would not be on duty and were to return home and rest. Whatever happened in the inner city, Gongtian Prefecture would be ignorant and uninterested.

The bailiffs at the prefectural yamen bowed solemnly at the command and returned to their homes.

The Divine Mechanism Battalion soldiers stationed to guard the inner city were also notified: bayonets facing outward, no firing into the inner city, not a single step permitted inside.

…

A cascade of secret orders spread quietly and without fanfare, stirring no commotion. Officials of each household went to sleep, and the inner city remained as calm and harmonious as ever.

The inner city of the Western Capital was crisscrossed with official avenues rather than common alleys. Roads were level and well maintained, convenient for carriages, though now it was the hour of Zi and the streets held no carriages.

The night watchmen’s drumbeats were gone. Dogs did not bark.

On Qianyang Street leading to the Chen residence, a few figures appeared: the Chief Administrator of Fu Zheng Pavilion, Shui Xuanzhi; Left Gentleman of the Interior, Qin Su; and Left Middle Commander, Fan Peng.

The three walked toward the end of the road where the Chen residence stood, moving at an unhurried pace and with light footsteps, for the inner city was filled with high officials’ mansions—each householder at least a third-rank official, and some were residences of the Three Dukes or Pillars of the State. It would be unwise to alarm those dreadful presences.

Those mansions were already plunged in darkness, not a lamp lit. Only moonlight shone from the sky, casting the three men’s shadows on the ground, two or three feet long.

Under the eaves along the street, in the shadows, a Blue Goat leaned against the wall, muttering and chatting away with the door gods of that mansion.

This mansion was the Residence of the Young Tutor; naturally the hanging door gods were extraordinary, objects meant to expel evil and suppress spirits. Any malignant spirit approaching would be severely beaten by the two door gods.

Yet the two door gods were prostrate on the ground, bound by the Inverted Four Horses Hoof-Tied, unable to move.

They had sensed an evil spirit.

But the spirit was too powerful; not only could they not stop it, they had been beaten.

“I told you, my target isn’t your house, but you wouldn’t listen and insisted on fighting.” The Blue Goat muttered, then noticed Shui Xuanzhi and the others. Its goat ears perked up as it stepped out of the shadows and laughed, “Little Chen Tang’s words were right—something’s happened. You three little ones, leave them to Grandpa Blue Goat!”

Shui Xuanzhi, Qin Su, and Fan Peng halted and looked to the other side of the street. In that shadow stood a delicate young woman holding a flower basket, smiling at them.

“The Six Big Villains of the Five Lakes: the Five Lakes Wanderer Chen Yindu, Blue Goat, Du Yiran, Hu Xiaoliang, Qiao Zhuo, and Sha Qiutong,” Shui Xuanzhi said calmly. “Qiao Zhuo tends bees at Great South Lake, Du Yiran carves epitaphs on Huangshi Mountain, Chen Yindu is dead—he went to the underworld and turned demonic. Of the six villains, only Sha Qiutong remains, the Rakshasi who killed a child then was abandoned; Blue Goat, gravely wounded and transformed into an evil spirit; and cowardly Hu Xiaoliang hiding in the ghost-god domain. The three cling to life and huddle together. If the Rakshasi and the evil spirit Blue Goat have shown up, then that coward Hu Xiaoliang should be here too, right?”

Before his voice fell, a Nine-Tailed Fox trotted down from the eaves above Granny Sha’s head and walked along the wall toward them, remarking, “You are the Chief Administrator of Fu Zheng Pavilion? You do know quite a lot.”

Shui Xuanzhi smiled faintly. “I have always known the freeholders well. Since I know you three will come to block my way, how could I be unprepared?”

As he spoke, two middle-aged men emerged from behind them, one on each side—broad-chested with large bellies, their bearing that of veteran generals.

They looked identical. Behind each a divine light shimmered—clearly cultivators of the Realm of Emptiness.

They were the Left and Right Commanders of the Five Armies, both first-rank court dignitaries commanding hundreds of thousands of troops. Both were scions of the Xia family: Xia Fanghe and Xia Shouying, twins and masters of the Return to Emptiness realm.

Granny Sha, Blue Goat, and the celestial fox all wore somewhat grave expressions, eyes fixed on the two commanders.

Shui Xuanzhi and his two companions strode forward; Granny Sha and the others did not attempt to stop them.

“Come have some fun going to the underworld with me!” Granny Sha stomped her foot. The boundary between Yin and Yang separated; the whole street sank and descended into the underworld, though the Yang-side Qianyang Street remained above as if a parallel street had descended. Ever since she regained youth, her cultivation and power had only grown stronger!

Xia Fanghe and Xia Shouying smiled faintly, each radiating the Realm of Emptiness, then stepped forward with unmatched imposing might!

Shui Xuanzhi and the other two walked dozens of paces when a wooden wheelchair halted in the middle of the road. Seated in the chair was a mustachio-less eunuch with a pale face, smiling at the approaching trio.

“Golden Mountain freeholder Shui Xuanzhi, long have I heard your name.”

Eunuch Feng Tianhuan sat in the wheelchair and said with a smile, “Among the freeholders, you are the youngest. You entered Return to Emptiness at forty-three, and at fifty-one, in only eight years, you advanced into the Great Ascension Realm. Your speed is remarkable. Few geniuses stand above you. What has the Young Master given you to make you serve him so loyally?”

Shui Xuanzhi gave no answer, speaking to himself, “Seal-Holding Eunuch Feng Tianhuan, once Director of the Eastern Depot, fought the Thirteen Great Clans alone for years, was wounded by Chen Yindu eleven years ago and became disabled. Seventeen months ago, he allowed Xiao Wangsun to steal the Western King's Jade Seal; eight months ago, Creation Little Five came to the capital and resigned his posts as Seal-Holding Eunuch and Director of the Eastern Depot.”

Eunuch Feng was surprised. “You know a lot. But don’t slander me—allowing Xiao Wangsun to steal the jade seal? My family never did anything of the sort!”

Shui Xuanzhi said coldly, “Eunuch Feng, you are a lousy chess player, still thinking the world is your chessboard to play with the Thirteen Great Clans. You should realize that once you step down, there’s no returning.”

Footsteps sounded behind him.

The new Director of the Eastern Depot, Yan Shuangtian, and the new Seal-Holding Eunuch, Bai Sihai, appeared.

These two grand eunuchs were immensely powerful and highly accomplished. Moreover, they were Eunuch Feng’s adopted sons.

Eunuch Feng had no descendants and favored taking dry sons; these two were his favorites—the earliest followers he trusted most.

Eunuch Feng’s expression changed slightly as he looked at Yan Shuangtian and Bai Sihai and frowned, “Shuangtian, Sihai, you should know why we eunuchs exist. Without us, the Thirteen Great Clans would have already declared themselves kings. Eunuchs are the only path out for people like us with poor origins. If you side with the Thirteen Great Clans, you cut off your future!”

Yan Shuangtian smiled, “Foster father, we are not siding with the Thirteen Great Clans but with the True King.”

Bai Sihai also smiled. “Foster father, you have stayed in your position too long. It’s time to retire. If you still want to come back, where will your sons sit?”

Eunuch Feng’s face darkened, then he suddenly smiled broadly. “Fine. You’ve all done well. As long as you don’t side with the Thirteen Great Clans, the Eastern Depot and eunuchs like us will still have a purpose.”

Shui Xuanzhi led Qin Su and Fan Peng past him. Eunuch Feng did not stop them and watched them go, eyes lingering on the two unfilial sons.

“Foster father, your teachings have become outdated,” Yan Shuangtian suddenly said with a laugh. “We learned something better from the Young Master!”

Bai Sihai stayed behind him; the two interlocked their movements and charged straight at Eunuch Feng!

Eunuch Feng heaved a sigh, stood up from his wheelchair, and said with a cold laugh, “I taught according to the material. What I passed on to you was the best!”

The three continued forward. On the street stood a pair like golden boys and jade maidens: a handsome, graceful man and a woman dressed in dazzling red, stunning and haughty.

“Xiao Wangsun, Jin Hongying,” Shui Xuanzhi said with a faint smile. “Xiao Wangsun, do you still claim to be one of the Zhu family? The Young Master stands with you as fellow Zhu family members, pledged to revive the imperial clan and restore the New Continent. You betray your kin and help outsiders. If you have any pride left, hand over the Western King's Jade Seal to the Young Master!”

Xiao Wangsun’s expression was indifferent. “The emperor isn’t anxious; why should a dead eunuch be? What has our family’s business to do with you?”

Shui Xuanzhi’s expression turned somber and he looked at Jin Hongying. “General Jin, you have indeed betrayed the Divine Mechanism Battalion. Women in office are easily swayed by love.”

Jin Hongying fluttered and shot him a displeased look, smiling, “What love? Not at all! Don’t spread slander!”

Two commanders from the Divine Mechanism Battalion stepped out from an alley—Xiao and Jin’s direct superiors.

Xiao Wangsun shrugged one eyebrow. “Without the Divine Mechanism Battalion’s cannons, you two are no match for us.”

The two commanders sneered and came forward. Left Commander Ma Weimin said calmly, “Xiao Wangsun, you progress quickly. But how far can you go? How much of the True King’s secret techniques have you actually mastered?”

Jin Hongying said in excitement, “Xiao, if we deal with these two commanders, the Divine Mechanism Battalion will be ours! If we truly become lovers, no one will dare gossip!”

Shui Xuanzhi led Qin Su and Fan Peng to walk around Xiao and Jin and continued on.

Outside the Chen residence, a carriage stood parked—the carriage of Chief Grand Secretary Zhang Fuzheng.

Shui Xuanzhi dared not speak in the presence of that carriage.

He could be forthright with most, but not with Chief Grand Secretary Zhang Fuzheng—the highest official under the True King, the visible supreme authority of the Western Ox New Continent!

Even as a Great Ascension cultivator, standing before such towering power made his heart race.

He bowed his head and waited quietly.

Former Chief Grand Secretary Yan Xianzhi slowly walked over to the carriage. Zhang Fuzheng personally opened the door and invited him inside.

Yan Xianzhi climbed in slowly, bowed, and entered the carriage.

Shui Xuanzhi exhaled and continued forward, reaching the front gate of the Chen residence.

Qin Su pushed the gate; it was unlocked and swung open at a single push.

The three entered. The front courtyard was small—just a reception hall, two side rooms, and a kitchen.

For a third-rank Right Vice Minister, this residence was modest.

In the reception hall, Chen Tang sat upright and severe, a tea set before him. He was drinking tea.

A plain, unsheathed sword lay on the table.

“Stay outside.” Shui Xuanzhi ordered Qin Su and Fan Peng.

They stopped, waiting quietly outside the reception hall.

Shui Xuanzhi walked over and sat on a small round stool by the table.

Chen Tang poured him tea.

Shui Xuanzhi lifted the cup and peered at the water in it, smiling. “Lord Chen is famed as the King of Compromise—back at the metropolitan examination you accommodated every opponent. I wanted to bring out Lord Fei Zhong, who is now a minister in the Cabinet and was your rival back then. But I suspect Minister Fei was not your match then, and he is not your match now, so I did not summon him.”

Chen Tang’s face remained the same—stern and unsmiling. “Minister Fei’s cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. After all, he is from a great clan and trained in the ultimate arts from the Chen Zhang Anthology. The deeper he goes, the more profound his cultivation becomes. What merit do I have? At most, I could fight him to a draw.”

Shui Xuanzhi smiled, “If you can draw with me, I will leave at once.”

Chen Tang said, “You have reached the Great Ascension Realm. It will be difficult for me to match you.”

“Want to try?” Shui Xuanzhi smiled.

“Then try.”

He suddenly drew his sword. In the instant the blade flashed free of its scabbard, the reception hall in the Chen courtyard seemed to turn transparent—the sword light pierced through the four walls and illuminated the Western Capital’s inner city!

People in the outer city who had not yet slept found their silhouettes stretched long by the dazzling light, and the shadows of buildings stretched far into the distance!

That brilliant sword light entered Shui Xuanzhi’s eyes—it was a Realm of Emptiness composed of countless sword qi concealed within the scabbard, unwilling to reveal itself lightly.

Drawing today had transformed that sky-full sword qi into a single streak of flowing light to show him!

Behind Shui Xuanzhi, the Realm of Emptiness manifested; primordial spirit and body merged, the realm fused with the flesh—everything transformed into one. The body was the primordial spirit, the realm itself, with the power of the Great Ascension Realm at one’s disposal!

This was the Great Ascension Realm, an almost-immortal plane!

Chen Tang had not achieved that realm!

Shui Xuanzhi raised his right hand and pinched the sword light between two fingers.

The two men sat at the table, motionless.

Chen Tang sheathed his sword, the light sliding back into its scabbard as smoothly as clouds and water.

Shui Xuanzhi withdrew his fingers, closed his fist, lifted the teacup with his other hand, and drank the tea in one gulp.

He set the cup down, stood, and walked out.

Qin Su and Fan Peng, puzzled, quickly followed. Qin Su whispered, “Brother Dao, shall we act?”

Fan Peng said, “Brother Dao, can he really draw even with you?”

Shui Xuanzhi lightly shook his head. His right hand trembled, and blood trickled between the seam of his right index and middle fingers. “Not a draw. He’s been refining that sword for a long time, building that streak of sword light. It wounded me.”

He walked out of the Chen residence.

Fan Peng hesitated, then said, “I’ll go kill Chen Shi!”

Shui Xuanzhi shook his head, “Don’t go. Though he’s wounded, he still has strength. He’ll kill you.”

Fan Peng frowned and suddenly dashed back into the Chen residence.

“Whoosh—”

The bright sword light pierced through the clouds and sky, then slowly faded.

Qin Su waited a while, his face pale.

Fan Peng did not come back out of the Chen residence.

“Return,” Shui Xuanzhi exhaled, “It’s useless for you to go. I don’t know what other tricks he has, but his sword had no trace of panic, which shows his follow-up measures are thunderous—more powerful than the present. This top scholar…”

He turned toward Jiexiu Hall and said softly, “The Young Master must fight for himself.”

Qin Su hurried after him.

The next day, Chen Shi emerged from meditation and flew out from the minor heaven.

Everything at the Chen residence remained unchanged, except the servants treated Chen Tang with far more respect.

After breakfast, Chen Tang escorted him to the Ministry of Rites.

“Little Ten, do well on your examination!” Granny Sha and the others called out from the gate.

Chen Shi nodded and entered the ministry. He glanced back to see Chen Tang, Granny Sha, and Eunuch Feng deep in lively conversation.

“They must be hiding something from me,” Chen Shi thought.