Chapter 035: The Roots of Disaster Begin to Stir

“So, how do you like the lotus paste dumplings?” After Xueze and Lianzi had left, Jianrong glanced at Baiyu with a teasing smile.

Baiyu’s expression shifted even faster than Jianrong’s; she immediately switched her cup and sipped her tea, refusing to cast even another glance at the pastries.

“No matter how delicious the pastries are, they’re not half as enchanting as your beloved books, are they? Senior Sister, you must be unable to put it down!”

“You’re not wrong,” Jianrong admitted, glancing at the book and then at Baiyu. “If those two hadn’t crossed my bottom line, I would honestly have loved this gift. Tell me, how did they find all this out? Not only do they know my preferences, but they managed to find something that so precisely suits my taste. That’s truly impressive!”

Baiyu sidestepped Jianrong’s question, responding only to the latter part. “I’ve never underestimated her abilities. She’s a person of distinguished status and great learning. The only thing she lacks compared to us is the practice of the magical arts; in everything else, she outshines us.”

Jianrong let out a few peals of laughter before her voice turned cold. “So, our Baiyu, the esteemed spirit maiden, is ready to yield? No longer willing to compete?”

“Senior Sister, you misunderstand.” Baiyu eyed the pastries on the table before replying slowly, “Though the enemy is strong and skilled, that cannot stop me. So what if my fairy grass jelly can’t compare to their dumplings? I, Baiyu, will never admit defeat!”

“As expected of my junior sister, your proud and stubborn heart is just like mine. Still, if you think about it, letting them off today was the right thing to do. Not only because the circumstances forced our hand, but in the long run, it’s also worthwhile.”

Baiyu considered this, then softly asked, “You want them to lower their guard, to remain ignorant of the truth?”

Jianrong burst out laughing. “Think whatever you like!” She quickly sobered, her expression turning solemn. “Just know that this can only benefit you. If you want to win Bluewater’s heart, you’ll have to play the part of a worthy and kind soul. Only those whom Xueze trusts will even catch Bluewater’s attention. If you keep your enemies unsuspecting, you can proceed to the next step with ease, instead of facing obstacles at every turn.”

“I understand! So, all we need to do is endure a little in person; the rest of the time, everything remains in our grasp. Occasionally, we can even turn things to our advantage—it’s still better than having no control at all!”

“Exactly! For me, as long as things continue this way, in time, all hidden dangers will be eliminated. To challenge me is to court self-destruction!”

Baiyu shot Jianrong a glance but said nothing more, her gaze deep and dark, like a black gem in a cold wind.

Jianrong patted Baiyu’s shoulder, speaking with earnest gravity. “Junior Sister, since we lack the favor and advantage of others, we must rely on ourselves and seize control! Only then can we obtain what we desire.”

Baiyu nodded. “I understand, Senior Sister.”

Watching Jianrong’s departing figure, Baiyu couldn’t help but smile; at long last, there was someone in Tianshan who could stand at her side.

She believed that as long as she played obedient and feigned ignorance, Jianrong would always help her. What she did not know was that these schemes were not so simple—each plot nested within another, a web so dense it could not be unraveled.

Nevertheless, Baiyu was both cautious and clever, never cowed by Jianrong’s arrogance in the least. The entanglement between them had only just begun.

Not long after, Xueze and Lianzi returned to the Bamboo Grove, all smiles and cheer. They were about to bring the good news to their master and senior brother when they were stopped by Jilin.

“Sisters, let’s wait in the Flower Court instead,” Jilin suggested.

Xueze was surprised. “Why? Is Master resting again?”

“No, Master is discussing matters with the Celestial Lord Jiucang. Senior Brother just brought the news.”

“Senior Brother’s back?”

“Yes, but I don’t know the reason for the meeting. Best not to disturb them.”

So the three made their way to the Flower Court, waiting quietly for Bluewater to emerge.

The Flower Court stood at the heart of the Bamboo Grove, equidistant from the residences of all five inhabitants. Meeting there was commonplace. Its beautiful scenery, heady with the scent of flowers, and proximity to the wine house and kitchen, made it the favorite spot for their leisure.

Meanwhile, in the White Pine Pavilion, Celestial Lords Qiangui and Jiucang were listening to Bluewater’s report.

“…Mufan and I infiltrated the harem for an investigation, but came away empty-handed. The area houses mostly women, with a complicated web of personnel—impossible to scrutinize closely. That night, when all was still, we headed to the back mountain. After searching the entire area, we found nothing amiss—except for a cave in a secluded corner. Inside, there was a stench and many corpses. On closer inspection, the bodies had not accumulated over years, so their state didn’t match the descriptions of the palace staff. The foul odor seemed deliberately arranged. While observing, we sensed something strange, as if some essence lingered there, yet it was masked by the corpses. We couldn’t determine more.”

“And then? What did you do next?” Qiangui asked.

“We wanted to investigate further, but disciples from Orchid Heart Pavilion intervened. Qu Ling’er told us the cave was the only suspicious spot in the mountain, and that there might be extraordinary people hiding in the harem, possibly causing further anomalies. She advised us to focus our search on those two small areas.”

“If there are only two suspicious spots, then at least the clues are narrowing. But how can you trust her?” Jiucang asked, skeptical.

“She’s helped us in the past, so I don’t think she’s lying. Besides, we did narrow down the search area. By splitting up, we found anomalies in both locations. Using her golden butterfly technique, Qu Ling’er helped us discover the corpses of missing men, all drained of essence and dead from fright. Still, there were no flaws in the cave, and the harem only contained lingering traces—no solid evidence.”

Qiangui and Jiucang exchanged glances, then fell into a long, heavy silence.

“From what you’ve said, we now have a rough idea. Write to Mufan and report everything. You’ve done well on this journey, though it seems bad timing left you empty-handed.”

“Not at all—there were still valuable insights. I do not feel it was wasted.”

“Good, you may go.”

“Yes, Master. I take my leave.”

Once Bluewater had closed the door behind her, Qiangui and Jiucang let their vigilance drop and released their pent-up tension.

“Qiangui, it seems something is about to happen.”

“Since the Empress has been in power, misfortunes have plagued the Northern Hua Kingdom, and every incident seems to involve Tianshan. It’s a headache.”

“Let’s hope it’s just another worldly disaster, not something more ominous.”

Qiangui sighed. “It shouldn’t be. The seal should hold for twenty thousand years; only half that time has passed.”

“Even so, we must remain vigilant. Who could have agitated our Tianshan disciples? Who is the traitor among us? These are questions that need investigation—much more digging will be necessary,” Jiucang said, frustration in his voice.

“Let’s hope we can uncover the truth before things escalate any further. Still, there have been strange signs in the heavens lately, and many omens. Do you think the two of us old men can maintain order in Tianshan?”

As Qiangui spoke, he couldn’t help but smile. Jiucang, however, remained grim, filled with sorrow and no little complaint.

“Hmph! All you ever do is manage the Snowlands, leaving me to handle everything else in Tianshan. That old man is off roaming who knows where, never returning to check on things at home. With trouble brewing, the four Celestial Masters are about to enter seclusion for training.”

“Very well, I’ll sleep less and help you with the affairs.”

“Much better!” Jiucang smiled, taking a sip of tea before asking, “Why don’t we call that wandering old man back?”

“Why bother? He’s still traveling among the famous mountains. Would you be able to call him back?”

“That makes things difficult. Why don’t you take over then?” Jiucang waggled his eyebrows. “I never liked dealing with traitors in our ranks, nor do I want to suspect the disciples of Tianshan. If it turns out someone deliberately colluded with outsiders and leaked secrets, I’d be heartbroken—maybe even go soft.”

“Haha, you’re not the only one with a soft heart,” Qiangui replied, half-smiling. “Such chaos in a place of cultivation would chill anyone’s heart. You’d like to pass the responsibility, but there’s no one to take it. We’ll have to handle this ourselves, and keep it from becoming too widely known.”

“Naturally! This concerns Tianshan’s reputation and the hearts of all disciples—we must be prudent. Still, I truly don’t know how to face a traitor in our midst. If emotions come into play at the crucial moment, what then?”

Qiangui stroked his beard and spoke softly, “Just rid yourself of that weakness, and let your dignity as Celestial Lord take the lead. Then it won’t be nearly as complicated. The traitor’s warning has put the other side on guard, but it’s also exposed the state of affairs to us. In a way, it’s a blessing.”

“Heh, if I must cure my soft-heartedness, then you should reflect on your overly optimistic and carefree attitude!”