Volume One: Chaos in Yan and Yun Chapter Twenty-Seven: All These Years (Part Eight)

When Feng Qi returned to the Yanbei Prince’s Manor, Feng Muyun had already been back for quite some time. Seeing the worry etched in Feng Muyun’s brow, Feng Qi felt a twinge of pity.

“What did he say?” Feng Muyun asked.

Feng Qi relayed every detail of his conversation with Bai Jian. As he spoke, Feng Muyun’s frown deepened.

“How much truth do you think there is in Bai Jian’s words?” he asked.

“Entirely credible,” Feng Qi replied.

“Oh?” Feng Muyun seemed somewhat surprised by this answer, but after a moment’s thought, he let the matter go. “Is Yang Wanli truly capable of seeing through the Sandstorm Array?”

“Yang Wanli was once a genius who read the Daoist Canon from cover to cover. Centuries have passed since then; perhaps that is not even the most astonishing thing about him now,” Feng Qi said.

“What do you make of all this?” Feng Muyun pressed.

“The Third Elder received a promise from the Second Prince,” Feng Qi replied.

“Then the Second Prince must also be a part of Yang Wanli’s scheme.”

“Exactly. Only if something happened to Father would they have a chance. So this plot against Father—there’s no doubt the Second Prince knows of it.” Feng Qi narrowed his eyes. “Truth be told, they could never have anticipated Father would stop himself at such a moment.”

Feng Muyun fell silent for a while. “Do you think Father was useless?”

“Father shoulders the safety of all Yanbei. If he truly lost his reason over this, then perhaps I would think so,” Feng Qi said.

Feng Muyun seemed surprised. “Don’t you think that’s rather cold-blooded?”

“Father nearly chased them to the outer city. How could I harbor such a ridiculous thought?” Feng Qi replied.

Through the study’s window, Feng Muyun gazed into the night-shrouded Yan Yun beyond. “I was indeed furious, and I was worried to my core. At the crucial moment, someone reminded me.”

Feng Qi seemed unsurprised. “The Medicine Sage?”

Feng Muyun was taken aback. “How did you know?”

Feng Qi shrugged. “Surely the Medicine Valley wouldn’t let their Saintess venture north alone.”

“So how could you be sure it was the Medicine Sage?” Feng Muyun asked.

“Because the Sandstorm Array gave no reaction. In matters of cultivation, unless one possesses a rare treasure, only those at or above the Void Dao level can evade the array. At present, the two Hanging Cauldron elders of Medicine Valley are still stuck at the peak of the Guiding Radiance stage, and the three Exalted Healers have long been stalled at its middle realm.”

Feng Muyun was briefly at a loss. “Is that all?”

“Isn’t that enough?” Feng Qi asked, puzzled.

Feng Muyun considered this. “It is indeed enough.”

“So, what did the Medicine Sage say to you?” Feng Qi inquired.

Feng Muyun was silent for a moment. “He said that since Yanbei was destined to lose their Princess, they could not afford to lose their Prince as well, or he would have no way to explain to the Divine Dynasty.”

Feng Qi thought to himself that the rumors must all be true.

As if reading Feng Qi’s thoughts, Feng Muyun spoke softly, “Your mother was born with a medicine spirit body. She was taken to the south as a child and became the Saintess of Medicine Valley. Later, when she ventured into the world to gain experience, she happened to hear of barbarian raids on the border, so she came north to practice medicine—and met me.”

“And after that, you had me and my younger brother?” Feng Qi asked.

Feng Muyun nodded. “Medicine Valley is a sect devoted to healing, so the Divine Dynasty once granted them a special privilege: they could select suitable scions from noble families to join their ranks, provided those disciples never became entangled in their family affairs.”

“So what about Mother?” Feng Qi pressed.

“We became husband and wife at the border, so your grandfather could not stop us. Later, I accompanied your mother south to the gates of Medicine Valley, where I knelt for three days and three nights. Only then did the Medicine Sage send word: Wan Yan’s title as Saintess was rescinded, and she was forbidden from using anything bestowed by the valley. If she defied this, the Medicine Sage would personally bring her back.”

“So the Medicine Sage is also a part of Yang Wanli’s plan,” Feng Qi said.

“Yes. The Medicine Sage sensed something amiss, so on his way here, he brought along the Valley Master of the Forging Divinity Valley,” Feng Muyun replied.

Feng Qi was startled. “Qi Luozhu?”

Feng Muyun frowned. “How can you address the Craftsman God’s name so carelessly?”

Feng Qi thought to himself: at least now Yanbei has two Dao Realm masters in residence.

No wonder Father could rest assured about Mother.

If even two Dao Realm masters could not save her, then even if Father gave chase, it would have been in vain.

Since that matter need no longer trouble them, it was time to turn their gaze back to the present.

The Second Prince’s involvement meant he had set his sights on the throne.

No, he always had—but this was the first time all these years he had reached into Yanbei for it.

Yang Wanli was ranked among the top ten on the Life-and-Death Register.

Why would the Second Prince dare to work with such a dangerous figure?

What gave the Second Prince confidence that this man could win over the Shadow Guards, kill the Fourth Prince, and ensnare the Prince of Yanbei?

Tracing the question back to what Feng Muyun had asked earlier—

The Sandstorm Array had been mended by countless masters over the years. It was impossible for Yang Wanli to see through it.

It wasn’t a matter of intelligence. In the face of the greatest fortress in the north, anyone ought to be more respectful.

Yang Wanli—impossible.

But if it was someone else… The Storyteller had long withdrawn from the world, but he would never do such a thing.

Then could it be—could Li Jin Xing be involved?

Feng Qi was silent for a time. “I’ve searched the entire Daoist Canon and still do not know if Li Jin Xing lives.”

Feng Muyun said, “All I ask is whether you can be sure of this matter.”

“Not a single person in the histories has lived longer than Li Jin Xing. If he is still alive, it’s hard to imagine what realm he has reached, for even those who have united with the Dao cannot match the heavens in longevity,” Feng Qi replied.

Feng Muyun was quiet for a while. “Then let’s assume this was Yang Wanli’s own plot… Why would the Second Prince trust him?”

Feng Qi fell silent as well. “Perhaps we will only have the answer after the Craftsman God and the Medicine Sage return with the Shadow Guards.”

…