Chapter 322: Sorrow

In Wuhou City, a sudden downpour began, then stopped abruptly, as if playing a trick. Xu Fengnian, however, took it as a good omen; he rarely encountered such heavy rain all year, and it just happened to coincide with his arrival. The heavy rain gradually subsided, finally ceasing completely. With his vivid memory, Xu Fengnian led Luoyang, dressed in white clothes and white shoes, through the narrow alleys. In the lanes, groups of young children, boys and girls, joyfully turned over rubble and stones at the base of the wet walls, digging out small roly-polies with long whiskers and horns. Xu Fengnian hadn't expected to find such creatures in Xihe Prefecture, and recalling many childhood memories, his gaze softened. The children picked up the roly-polies, placed them on steps, and tied small pebbles to them with string, making the tiny creatures walk slowly. The children watched happily. These neighboring children, who were practically childhood sweethearts, occupied most of the alley. Xu Fengnian walked along the wall to go around them, but Luoyang, walking behind him, stepped directly on and crushed one of the unfortunate roly-polies. The owner, a fair-skinned girl with braided pigtails, froze for a moment when she saw her newly acquired pet killed. She glanced at Luoyang, but dared not be angry, so she burst into tears. The boys didn't dare to stand up for her either; they just stared blankly at the white-clad "big sister," thinking she was beautiful but had a terrible temper. Fearing the children might accidentally provoke the "demoness," Xu Fengnian quickly signaled to Luoyang, then bustled over to the wall, found two more roly-polies, and handed them to the girl with pigtails as compensation.

Children are simple-minded; their joys and sorrows, what they gain or lose, come and go quickly. So they didn't hold a grudge against the older brother and sister. They moved a little further away, playing with their roly-polies and whispering among themselves. Xu Fengnian glanced at Luoyang, feeling helpless, and thought, "Is this what it's like to accompany a ruler, like accompanying a tiger? I really wonder how Han Diaosi, the 'Human Cat,' managed to endure it. Was his name Han Shengxuan? I heard he was skilled at crossing boundaries and killing 'Heavenly Phenomena.' I wonder if it's true. If he fought Luoyang to the death, would he have a forty percent chance of winning?"

While Xu Fengnian's mind wandered, Luoyang turned a corner of the alley and stopped in front of a stall. Xu Fengnian looked up to see a narrow shop selling roasted mutton noodles. Luoyang took a seat first. The shop owner was a stout woman with a kindly face, clearly an optimistic person. Seeing the noble aura of the young man and woman, she became even more enthusiastic, boasting about her mutton noodles, claiming the mutton was tender meat from the foreleg and flank, and the flavorful seasonings were pure, based on an old recipe passed down for generations. She rattled off nearly ten ingredients like licorice, dried tangerine peel, and yellow bean paste, clearly afraid guests might disdain her small, humble shop. Xu Fengnian smiled and ordered two bowls of mutton noodles with plenty of broth. Although a businesswoman, the woman couldn't hide her honest nature. She generously added a lot of meat and broth, sprinkled a large handful of fresh Sichuan peppercorn buds and green coriander, and served two crisp green onions. Xu Fengnian praised it profusely. He wasn't particularly good with children, but he truly had a talent for dealing with women, especially older women. The shop's business was quiet, so the proprietress sat at a nearby table, laughing continuously. The mutton noodle soup was prepared efficiently, and Xu Fengnian ate efficiently too. Luoyang, however, ate slowly. Xu Fengnian simply ordered another bowl. After finishing, he went to pay. His silver pieces were too heavy, and he had too few copper coins, leaving him slightly short. Xu Fengnian had intended to pay a bit more, but the woman was generous. Whether she was determined to win these two as repeat customers or was simply taken by Xu Fengnian's handsomeness, so unlike a rough man's, she only accepted the copper coins. Before leaving, Xu Fengnian said he would definitely come back for another meal before leaving the city. The proprietress chuckled nonstop and even uttered some auspicious words like "may you have a son soon," which made Xu Fengnian break out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, Luoyang paid no attention and walked straight out of the shop.

They leisurely made their way back to the inn. Luoyang requested a superior room with a private courtyard. They agreed to meet at midnight. Xu Fengnian returned to his room, found everything safe and sound, and began to hold his breath and focus his mind to cultivate his 'Golden Lotus' internal energy, all the while silently nurturing his sword. It wasn't until thirty minutes before midnight that he began preparing for their trip to Huanxi Spring. Indeed, having Luoyang accompany him had both advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage was, of course, that this demon's nature was unpredictable, and he didn't know what kind of trouble she might stir up. The advantage was that no matter how dire the situation, Xu Fengnian wouldn't find himself in a death trap. Even if Zhong Shentong and Zhong Liang attacked together, could they stand against Luoyang, the fourth strongest in the world? As night deepened, Xu Fengnian, with his Chunqiu sword on his back and Chunlei at his side, arrived at Luoyang's courtyard. She was sitting on the steps, gazing up at the starry sky. Wuhou City's towers were high, and the sky low, a sight vastly different from the south. Luoyang gave him a look. Xu Fengnian leaped onto the rooftop and sped across. He didn't need to worry if Luoyang could keep up; if she couldn't, Xu Fengnian could have already gone to the Liyang Dynasty's imperial palace and done as he pleased.

Luoyang followed like a shadow. As Xu Fengnian paused to catch his breath, he asked curiously, "Zhong Liang is only the fourth-ranked demon. Why did you say he's only second to you?"Luoyang strolled leisurely, her words cold: "Your pampered servant girl is also timid and only willing to rank last."Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Of course, none of them are as good as you."

Huanxi Spring was a place for the powerful, both north and south. Armored crossbowmen patrolled at night. The south side was relatively quiet, but on the north side of the spring, there was almost a guard post every three steps, and hidden sentries were countless. Fortunately, Xu Fengnian was familiar with military curfews and city defenses. It also helped that Luoyang was willing to lower herself to stealthily sneak in with him. Reaching the wall of the Zhong family's residence, Xu Fengnian chose a quiet, secluded corner where lanterns were sparse. Just as he was about to climb over the wall, Luoyang grabbed him. After she got up, her body twisted into a strange posture on the wall. Only then did Xu Fengnian realize there was a trick to getting over the wall. Imitating her, he discovered that thin silver wires with hanging bells were strung along the top of the wall. Before he landed after climbing the wall, he caught a glimpse of Luoyang hovering a few feet away from the wall, her eyes full of amusement. Xu Fengnian cursed silently, then focused his gaze, adjusted his breathing to stop his fall, and slid down the wall like a gecko, thus avoiding the endless traps. However, only she could stand on the thin wires without making the bells tremble in the slightest. Xu Fengnian admitted he didn't yet possess such skill. The main reason was that the Northern Liang Royal Residence always appeared relaxed on the outside but was tightly guarded within, preferring to "beat the dog behind closed doors" even if it harbored ill intentions. In contrast, the Zhong family's mansion was far too cautious, clearly aiming to deter enemies from the start and make them retreat rather than seeking to kill. This was probably a deliberate low posture adopted by the Zhong family, a powerful figure operating in unfamiliar territory, while on someone else's turf.

Any courtyard architecture designed by a master inherently follows certain principles and laws. The majestic Northern Liang Royal Residence was the epitome of such design. The Zhong residence at Huanxi Spring was first-rate in terms of grandeur, but it was still nothing compared to the Northern Liang residence, which was like a king holding court over mountains. Xu Fengnian moved with great ease and comfort, detouring when he heard voices or encountered people, as if taking a stroll in his own home. He led the white-clad "demon" through beams, across buildings, and along corridors. At first, he could still sense Luoyang's presence, but after about fifteen minutes, he couldn't sense her at all. Xu Fengnian couldn't be bothered to worry excessively. Based on their status, he figured it was best not to stir up trouble with Zhong Shentong and Zhong Liang. He arrived at the elegant courtyard of the esteemed guest, Lu Gui. The closer he got to the main courtyards, the more relaxed the security became, which was a sign of the Zhong family's arrogance.

Xu Fengnian, like a swallow returning to its nest, clung to the eaves where his shadow wouldn't be cast. Bright lights shone inside. He used a golden thread technique to pierce a small hole in the window paper, through which he saw a middle-aged man, somewhat similar in appearance to Lu Chen, holding a book and reading late into the night, his brows clouded with worry. Opposite him sat an old man in hemp robes. The elder had a gaunt appearance, his fingers intertwined on the table. Most striking were his purple lips, identical to those of Yao Jian, the Northern Liang geomancy master, clearly a result of years of analyzing earth to discern geomantic points. This indicated that the Zhong family's westward journey was indeed to use the Lu family's geomancy skills to investigate the Qin Imperial Mausoleum. By the hemp-robed old man's hand was an exquisite brass lamp. Both he and Lu Gui were deeply worried, not joyful despite the prospect of opening the imperial mausoleum and getting a share. Xu Fengnian somewhat understood. At the terrifying scale of the Qin Imperial Mausoleum, a tomb for an emperor of a thousand ages, mechanical traps were minor concerns. The real thorny issue was the contamination of "qi" or fate. Too much yin energy meant that those who entered the tomb might temporarily acquire treasures but often die suddenly, and it could even curse their descendants for generations. That brass lamp, also known as a "purification lamp," contained the vital essence of a virgin child, and once lit, it could ward off malevolent yin energy.

Inside, the old man sighed, "Thirty-six lamps are still too few. The divination also showed more ill fortune than good."Lu Gui looked weary and said helplessly, "Things are urgent. Where can we gather enough Yang lamps for the full cosmic cycle?"The old man sneered, "Those brutes of the Zhong family rely on their martial prowess. How would they know the knowledge involved here? It's simply not something human strength can contend with."Lu Gui whispered, "Walls have ears."The old man gave a silent chuckle. "Patriarch, the Zhong brothers still possess such magnanimity."Lu Gui shook his head. "Caution is the parent of safety. In the face of great fortune, everyone becomes petty-minded."With that, the old man ceased speaking, his fingers gently caressing the brass lamp, which was intricately carved with Buddhist figures. Though from humble origins, he possessed a great skill, having learned to sculpt Buddhist figures from an obscure Buddhist master since childhood. That Buddhist master was only recognized after his death, hailed as the "Ancestor of Dunhuang Grottoes Revival," and posthumously conferred the title of "Abbot of the Entire Mountain." The old man was particularly skilled at crafting standing statues of Guanyin. Although not a monk, the old man was exceptionally innovative, surpassing his teacher. The Buddhist figures he created were not limited to Guanyin; he was said to have "ten thousand Buddhas in his heart," creating figures with "thirty-two marks of a great man, bright and beautiful forms, and eighty kinds of minor marks, infinitely marvelous in their depiction." The purification lamp was his original creation. It is stated in the "Jie Da Jiao Wang Jing" that if a Buddha statue is not crafted precisely according to the Dharma, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will not inhabit it, even if consecrated by a revered monk. In simple terms, common folk only know that inviting a Buddha is difficult, but not why it is so. In fact, if a Buddha statue's form is improper, true Buddhas will not come, and evil spirits will reside there instead. This is why many venerated sites offer no blessings; instead, various evils proliferate, leading to prayers for Buddha being ineffective and vows going unfulfilled. This is the root cause of Bodhisattvas not manifesting, not because they are unwilling, but because the worship is not in accordance with the Dharma. The old man deeply understood these profound principles, which is why the Buddhist figures he created were remarkably efficacious and highly sought after by princes, marquises, and meritorious officials.

This brass lamp, in particular, appeared unremarkable at first glance, but on closer inspection, its eyebrows were like a crescent moon, and its spiritual essence shone through. It could be considered the hemp-robed old man's greatest achievement in life. If not for him and this lamp, Lu Gui, no matter how skilled he was in Feng Shui, would likely not have dared to get involved in the murky affairs of Xihe Prefecture.

Lu Gui raised his cup, took a small sip of aged wine, and slowly said: "The bamboo slips record that the Qin Emperor once mobilized tens of thousands of laborers to dam a great river, carve out a mausoleum on the exposed cliff face, and after sealing it, reopened the floodgates to release the river water. The laborers and nearly a thousand supervising soldiers were all buried alive by the Imperial Forest Iron Guards. The ingenuity of the tomb construction and the ruthlessness of concealing the truth are unprecedented and unsurpassed. Such is the way of an emperor."

Lu Gui continued, "If we want to reopen the Qin Imperial Mausoleum, we'll have to collude with Commander Helian Weiwei. Otherwise, how could we undertake such a massive project of damming the river? As for how the Zhong family persuaded that stubborn old man, we don't know. It's probably for the best; the less we know about secret matters, the less trouble we invite."

Hanging under the eaves, Xu Fengnian frowned. "The Qin Imperial Mausoleum from eight hundred years ago, the Qin Empress's Luminous Pearl, and Luoyang in white spitting out a pearl... how do they all seem to be converging into a single thread?""Is Luoyang, whose Luminous Pearl was destroyed by Deng Tai'a, going to sabotage the Zhong family's good fortune, or achieve her own?"Xu Fengnian, acting as an accomplice to a tiger, was truly distressed.