Chapter 321: Question and Answer

For some unknown reason, no one was guarding the Great Buddha's lotus lamps in the building. Xu Fengnian paid no heed to this. He found several fire-starters in a small shrine near the staircase. After lighting them, he moved like a fish, gracefully gliding backward around the corridor. As he passed, one long-life lamp after another lit up. The ground floor once again became as bright as day. Xu Fengnian hurried upstairs, lighting a second fire-starter. His backward movement was purely to keep the spark alive while moving quickly. Whether intentionally or not, Xu Fengnian's mind was as clear as a lotus pond. After completing one round, he ascended to the third and fourth floors. The devil Luoyang, the main culprit, watched with cold indifference, showing no remorse. She was no longer Huang Baozhuang, who was associated with the ci-poem title "Mountain Gradually Greening." Her crimson-purple eyes were unconcealed, radiating malevolence. Xu Fengnian lit 3089 long-life lamps. He paused, looking up at the seated Buddha. Humans see all things as ants, but Buddha sees all beings as equal. Offering incense and praying to Buddha, clinging to his feet at the last minute—could one truly get what they wished for? Would the Bodhisattvas not grow weary of it?

Xu Fengnian withdrew his thoughts, smiled self-deprecatingly, and was about to go downstairs. What happened next caught him off guard. The white-clad devil woman, standing before the Buddha's feet downstairs, clenched her fist. The flames from nearly four thousand long-life lamps, pulled by her aura, instantly lifted from their blue bases. They flew towards the seated Buddha, hovering a few feet from its stone body. The Buddha's body was already coated in gold dust. Under the reflection of the lamps, it shone brilliantly. It was as if the Great Buddha himself had descended, a magnificent display of divine radiance!

Luoyang flicked her finger. Over four thousand lamps shot towards the nine-story building's roof, exploding near the Buddha's head into a myriad of meteors. Annoyed, Xu Fengnian could only leap over the railing and glide through the air, constantly waving his sleeves, trying to retrieve as many sparks as possible. His large sleeves billowed, and some sparks were returned to the blue lamp bases, causing the long-life lamps to reignite one by one. However, he ultimately lacked the power to restore them all, only managing to relight seven or eight hundred blue lamps. After landing, he went back to the small shrine to pick up a fire-starter and looked towards the devil woman. She turned, clasped her hands behind her back, and looked out the door. Only then did Xu Fengnian feel relieved enough to light the lamps. The blue lamps reignited as before, and Xu Fengnian, relieved, slowly descended the stairs. He stood beside Luoyang. She spoke directly, without preamble: "The Zhong family specializes in tomb raiding. During the Spring and Autumn Period of warfare, they obtained a bamboo slip from King Qian of Southern Tang's tomb, which recorded a centuries-old secret: eight hundred years ago, the Qin Emperor, a legendary figure, was buried in Xihe Province. Lu Gui was skilled in geomancy, so the two families joined forces to open the tomb and steal treasures. I have no interest in the Qin Emperor's relics. I simply dislike Zhong Liang as a person. Whatever he wants to do, I will deliberately ensure he cannot achieve it."

Xu Fengnian frowned, saying, "With your great divine power, ranked fourth in the world, wouldn't it be simpler just to kill Zhong Liang directly? No matter how formidable Zhong Liang is, can he compare to Deng Tai'a or Hong Jingyan?"

Luoyang's tone was cold. "Is it that simple?"

Xu Fengnian was speechless. *You're the greatest devil under heaven, the one who single-handedly killed the most people. Back then, you roamed eight provinces of Beimang, killing everyone you saw, slaughtering thousands in one go until you were stopped by Tuoba Pusa outside Beimang Imperial City. Your actions created mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Why are you suddenly being so polite and modest?* However, Xu Fengnian did not voice these thoughts. Facing the blind qin master Xue Songguan was already a life-or-death struggle. Crossing Luoyang would simply mean ten lives wouldn't be enough for her to take. Xu Fengnian also dared not treat her as a woman. When he first met her, known as Shan Jianqing of the Chess, Sword, and Music Pavilion, his exceptional memory had clearly registered her face and figure. Yet, when he saw her again in Dunhuang City, her face seemed blurred. This wasn't merely because Luoyang's imposing aura made it impossible to discern her gender; rather, it was an unsettling, natural progression. Digging deeper, it was perhaps the first time in Xu Fengnian's life he had been so wary of a woman.

Luoyang said flatly, "I've been waiting for you here for two days."

Xu Fengnian looked puzzled. Luoyang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Do you know where the Great Qin Emperor's tomb is hidden?"

Xu Fengnian resisted the sharp retort that nearly escaped his lips, grinning instead, "If I knew, I'd have already taken a shovel and started digging for treasure."

Luoyang walked towards a towering scripture pavilion with a plaque that read "Thus Come, Thus Go." Xu Fengnian asked, "Why aren't there any monks from Leiming Temple?"

Luoyang said nonchalantly, "Before you entered the temple, I was resting in the Buddha's palm. I found their chanting and wooden fish drumming noisy, so I killed them all."

Xu Fengnian's restrained aura, which had been hidden outside the building, suddenly poured forth. The majestic mirage of the Great Yellow Court appeared, and the cuffs of his long robe billowed. Unfortunately, it proved the saying: "While the Dao may rise by a foot, the Devil rises by ten feet." Under Luoyang's suppression, Xu Fengnian was forced not only to retract his aura but also felt a mouthful of fresh blood rise to his throat. Just then, Xu Fengnian saw monks filing out from the Grand Hall. Their yellow kasayas were draped slightly differently from those in the Central Plains. Their expressions were serene. From a distance, they saw him and Luoyang but only regarded them as ordinary, wealthy pilgrims. Some monks with shallower cultivation merely glanced at the white-clad Luoyang, paying her no particular mind. Only then did Xu Fengnian realize the devil woman had been joking, making a fool of him. He was torn between laughter and tears. He swallowed the blood, and Luoyang's words added insult to injury: "With your mental fortitude and innate talent, how did you even reach the Vajra realm? I see it as nothing more than relying on your status as the Prince of Beiliang and the opportunities that came with it. You're petty and lack any grand vision, completely wasting Deng Tai'a's gifts."

Xu Fengnian didn't retort. He comforted himself with the flimsy excuse that "a good man doesn't contend with women," and secretly grumbled a few words to himself. Luoyang, discerning his thoughts, sneered, "You're surely comparing me to Li Chungang, thinking that my mocking your talent is merely the pot calling the kettle black. But in truth, not only did I reach the first three realms of the first rank—Vajra, Finger-Wisdom, and Heavenly Elephant—earlier than Li Chungang; even the Land Immortal realm was no exception for me."

Xu Fengnian muttered unenthusiastically, "Right, right, right. Your martial arts are peerless. Tomorrow, you'll make Tuoba Pusa run away with his head in his hands. The day after, you'll beat Wang Xianzhi into a cowering old turtle. And on the third day, you'll treat heavenly tribulations as nothing, ascending to immortality as if it's child's play."

Then Xu Fengnian flew into the scripture pavilion. He was struck there by Luoyang. A palm strike to his back caused his mirage to dissipate by seventy or eighty percent. Firstly, Xu Fengnian dared not dodge. Secondly, he wanted to gauge Luoyang's true strength. The extent of his suffering was known only to Xu Fengnian himself, as he sat on the stone floor of the pavilion. Wiping away the crimson blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, he took a grim pleasure in nurturing a sword. The capricious Luoyang entered the pavilion, didn't even glance at Xu Fengnian, and ascended the stairs directly. Although nominally a scripture pavilion, it was in fact a six-story stele pagoda. Wooden stairs spiraled upwards. Luoyang reached the top floor and looked out towards Huanxi Spring. The walls at the top of the pagoda were inscribed with many poems and prose by literati admiring the scenery. Because later visitors disregarded rules, the carvings overlapped, rendering them illegible. Xu Fengnian, bored, browsed around. He didn't find many poems of exceptional charm; most were mere sentimental moans. However, some fragmented lines from folk songs were quite charming, like "spring breeze greens Jiangnan," and "tender warbler's song on old trees," and so on. He memorized them all, planning to plagiarize them and present them as treasures to his Second Sister, who was renowned as a literary giant.

He inadvertently saw a half-line of poetry that was faintly visible. Xu Fengnian wiped it away with his palm.

Xu Fengnian stood by the window, slightly releasing his aura, and his vision gradually cleared. He began to memorize the layout and topography of the Huanxi Spring mansion. As refugees moved north, they brought with them a trend of southern influences moving northward. Courtyard architecture adopting the Spring and Autumn style was undoubtedly the most direct manifestation of this. In Beimang, it wasn't just the southern dynasties; many prominent northern families also pursued the aesthetic of "small bridges, flowing water, deep courtyards." They even showed a tendency to surpass their teachers, becoming even better than the originals. Deeply understanding the essence of Southern-style architecture, they executed it with first-rate mastery, avoiding any awkward or mismatched appearance. Having grown up in a prosperous princely household, Xu Fengnian had naturally absorbed much knowledge about such things, far more than a superficial understanding. The meandering corridors of the Prince of Beiliang's mansion in Qingliang Mountain had been the source of many jokes. Several groups of assassins, after painstakingly infiltrating the mansion in the dead of night, nervously wandered around for an entire night but failed to locate Xu Xiao's or Xu Fengnian's private residence. After being caught, they died with eyes wide open in disbelief. These stories were always a source of amusement for the mansion staff. After his two travels, Xu Fengnian no longer found them as amusing. He also recalled one time Wen Hua dragged him to peek at a noblewoman whom the wooden sword wanderer had fallen in love with at first sight. Wen Hua stood on tiptoes outside the high wall, listening to the beauty inside laughing on a swing. Later, he had to make Xu Fengnian bend down so he could stand on his good brother's shoulders to finally catch a glimpse of the girl he fancied. After being spotted by the guards, they were chased and soundly beaten with sticks, leaving Xu Fengnian with a sore back. The crucial point was that every time Wen Hua swore he would marry no one else, it proved unreliable. Upon seeing another beautiful woman, he would change his mind. During their travels together, there was no telling how many times he'd fallen in love at first sight. Exasperated, Xu Fengnian later taunted him that even if he did sneak into a house, he couldn't even manage to be a "flower-picking thief."

Luoyang, seeing through his intentions, asked, "Who are you going to kill north of Huanxi Spring? Helian Weiwu? Do you think you can succeed? Or do you have an insider from Beiliang?"

Xu Fengnian shook his head, saying, "Just to take a look."

Luoyang sneered, "If you're not careful and get targeted by Zhong Liang, the devil ranked just below me, even if you survive, you'll be put through the wringer."

Xu Fengnian feigned innocence and chuckled, "I don't plan to cause trouble. I'm just low on money. I'm only going to casually 'borrow' a few valuable items."

Luoyang said calmly, "I'll go with you."

Xu Fengnian immediately refused, "Absolutely not. I'm going to be a thief, not a devil who kills to silence witnesses."

Luoyang turned her head and smiled. "I won't expose your whereabouts. I'm just curious what kind of mischief a Prince of Beiliang wants to get into. You know perfectly well that I didn't indiscriminately kill innocents in Wuhou City. I most likely won't go on a killing spree in Huanxi Spring either. So stop pretending to be ignorant when you clearly understand. If you want to treat me like a fool, you'll have to reach the Heavenly Elephant realm first, and be qualified to fight me to the death. But given your comprehension, I doubt you'll ever achieve harmony with heaven and earth."

Exposed, Xu Fengnian no longer concealed his intentions. He openly surveyed the layout of the sprawling Huanxi Spring mansion. Luoyang suddenly said, "How about we each ask one question and answer it?"

Xu Fengnian thought for a moment, then asked, "Shall I ask first?"

Luoyang stated directly, "No. You've already asked, and I've answered. It's my turn to ask."

Xu Fengnian felt extremely frustrated. Luoyang was not Huang Baozhuang, with her gentle disposition; she had never been kind or understanding to anyone. Ignoring Xu Fengnian's annoyance, she asked directly, "What do you ultimately aim to do by coming to Beimang?"

Xu Fengnian remained silent.

Luoyang waited quietly.

Xu Fengnian rubbed his cheeks, revealing his true thoughts for the first time since coming north alone. He said softly, "I'm here to meet someone extremely important. Twenty years have passed, and even my father doesn't know if he's still trustworthy. To confirm this, no one other than Xu Xiao and myself, the hereditary Prince of Beiliang, is qualified to verify the answer. To meet him, I need to do something that makes him believe I carry enough weight, otherwise, merely being a prince won't be enough. I cannot, nor do I wish to, tell you any more insider details. Anyway, I know that if he truly rebels against Beimang and then also against Beiliang, my journey north is destined to end in death here in Beimang."

Luoyang nodded, quite satisfied with Xu Fengnian's honesty. She said, "It's your turn to ask."

Xu Fengnian carefully asked, "Is Huang Baozhuang truly dead?"

Luoyang directly declined to answer, skipping past it. She then expressionlessly asked her second question: "If your grand gamble succeeds, will you be able to secure your position as the Prince of Beiliang in the future?"

Xu Fengnian replied testily, "Still no."

Luoyang sneered, "What a pathetic Prince."

Xu Fengnian didn't dwell on it, asking, "What are you doing in Baoping Province?"

Luoyang twitched her lips and replied, "There is a fish in the Northern Darkness. Tuoba Pusa has been waiting for a certain weapon for thirty years. I'm going to spoil his plans. At the very least, I'll have a fight with him."

*First a sword contest with Deng Tai'a, then obstructing the Zhong family's treasure hunt, and now you're going to trouble Beimang's God of War. Can't you women ever stay still?!* Xu Fengnian was utterly astonished, but quickly regained his composure. If Luoyang could be judged by common sense, she wouldn't be the foremost figure in the demonic path.

Luoyang asked a thorny and ominous question: "If you die in Beimang, do you need me to collect your corpse and send it back to Beiliang?"

Xu Fengnian sighed, "Then I thank you in advance."

Luoyang suddenly smiled sweetly. "Actually, in the extreme northern ice plains, if I die at Tuoba Pusa's hands, you won't escape either. Then, whoever dies later can collect the other's corpse."

Xu Fengnian smiled wryly, "Can't you avoid fighting Tuoba Pusa to the death? You're still young. Wouldn't it be safer to wait until you reach the Land Immortal realm to fight him?"

Luoyang's eyes grew distant and unfocused as she looked into the distance. "Things that are nine-tenths certain are boring."

Xu Fengnian murmured softly, "It's only because I can't beat you, otherwise I'd say you're truly being affected."

Xu Fengnian, who had just played a word game, was promptly slammed into the wall. After landing, he patted off the dust, slowly regulated his breathing and aura, daring not to speak his anger.

Xu Fengnian suddenly broke into a strange smile and whispered, "I heard you killed your way to outside the Beimang imperial palace. Empress Murong was standing on the city wall, and you were at the base. How did that feel?"

Luoyang appeared as if she had never deeply considered such a thing. Just as Xu Fengnian thought she would once again ignore the topic, she unexpectedly slowly uttered three words: "Old woman."

Xu Fengnian was stunned for a moment, then burst into roaring laughter.

So, when this devil woman became acerbic, she was even more terrifying than her martial arts.

Would the Empress of Beimang be half-dead with rage if she heard that?

As they descended the stairs, Xu Fengnian was still secretly chuckling. Luoyang asked, "What words did you just wipe off the wall?"

Xu Fengnian paused for a moment. "Just something unlucky; out of sight, out of mind."

Luoyang had no good temper or patience. "Speak!"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "The geese have returned, but the person has not yet gone south."

Luoyang turned her back to him and quietly said, "Affected."