Chapter 93

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Chapter 93: Power and Authority

"Master, a black fox demon has recently appeared in the Northlands. She's proficient in the art of transformation and showed four tails..."

Lin Haoqing quietly put down the pen in his hand and asked Siyu, "Is it Ji Yunhe?"

"The attitude and personality seems to be her."

"Did the jiaoren recognize her?"

"Doesn't seem like it."

Lin Haoqing was silent for a moment then laughed and shook his head. "When fate comes, you can't stop it. Just let her be. It's her own life."

"But master, you worked so hard to give her a new start…"

"When I led the demon masters to the north, I had intended on giving them to Ji Yunhe as a gift. I knew she'd be able to convince them into joining the Northlands, but I never thought she would die right afterwards."

"When I saw her lifeless body, I knew she did not enjoy being there, so I kept the method of reviving her from the jiaoren and brought her back south to give her a fresh new start. But humans cannot change what's predestined." Lin Haoqing lifted his pen and jotted down a few more notes in the book. "Let her be."

He brought out a jar and looked at the bit of remaining medicinal powders inside. "I analyzed the herbs inside this frost poison from Shunde, but there are two ingredients that I haven't been able to figure out. Siyu, make some preparations. We will need to take another trip to the capital."

"Master, the princess will vent her anger on you for your army defecting to the north, I don't think you will be able to get more frost poison from her."

"That's why..." Lin Haoqing looked at the jar in his hand, "we wait for an opportunity."

...

Outside the Northlands city, the lava that had flowed along the icy barrier cooled and solidified, forming a bizarre ring of rocky wall.

The area had always been easy to defend and difficult to attack because of the mountainous terrain. If they set up fortresses and weaponry along this newly formed wall, it would become impossible to invade.

The sudden natural disaster did not kill anyone, but created an indestructible city.

When the news came, Kongming did not look too overjoyed. He just nodded and waved off the messenger. This chaotic event did not cause harm to the north, but for someone...

He was not so sure.

Ji Yunhe laid on a bed in the side hall. Her breathing was labored and her forehead was covered in sweat. A blue light appeared and passed from Changyi's hand to her chest, and her expression calmed.

But soon after, his lips turned blue and his hand was slapped away.

Kongming stood next to Changyi and scolded, "I told you to rest. You still dare to use your powers recklessly?"

Changyi's gaze remained on Ji Yunhe. "I want to take her to the Frozen Sea."

Kongming was silent for a moment.

Changyi continued, "This lava is the same as the ones on the oversea island, Thunderfire. It damaged her heart and I cannot wake her with my power. Only the deep sea lingzhi can dissolve the poisonous fire inside her."

"What about the Northlands?"

"With you presiding over the city, I have no worries."

Kongming took a deep breath. After surviving yesterday's calamity together, the conflicts and prejudice among their people faded significantly, and there was now an unprecedented trust and respect for Changyi. They already started singing about the jiaoren, calling him a legendary hero who had come from the deep sea to save the world.

Under such conditions, Changyi leaving the city should not be too much of an issue, and Kongming should be able to get everyone to work well together without much effort.

The monk looked at Changyi then at Ji Yunhe on the bed.

Previously, this woman had been pale and weak, then died without a single day of health. Now that she miraculously returned to Changyi's side, her bad luck self was again bedridden and could not open an eye...

Kongming sighed. Even though he still disliked her very much, he had to admit that it was not easy for Ji Yunhe and Changyi to come this far.

"If you want to go, then go. I can deal with the city for a few days." He turned and walked to the door. Before exiting, he looked back at Changyi and reluctantly instructed, "Take a few trusted people, don't try to be a one man army again. You are no longer that jiaoren who was just fished out onto the shore."

Changyi turned to look at Kongming, but he had already left.

And he bumped into Luo Jinsang right outside the door. She banged her head on his chest and immediately looked up at him. "Yunhe is back? I was helping the people outside settle and heard that the fish brought a woman back! It's Yunhe, right? What other woman would the fish bring back but her!"

Kongming stared at her, "You are not confused over this matter."

He pulled her arm before she dashed off and added, "He is taking Ji Yunhe to the Frozen Sea to treat her injuries..."

"I'll go with them!" Luo Jinsang immediately said. "I will go protect Yunhe! Don't you stop me!"

Kongming took a deep breath. "I'm not stopping you! I know you will go." Then he let go of her arm and said, "Be careful and stay safe."

A few words that landed on the tip of Luo Jinsang's heart. She stepped up and gave him a bearhug. "You too!" Then she released him and patted him on the chest. "Going! Remember to miss me!"

Kongming gave a faint smile as he watched her bounce away, then he saw a timid Ji Ning standing on the other end of the hall. "I... I came to see Aji… I don't know if she's okay..."

Kongming asked him, "Your master, Ji Chengyu, how is he doing?"

Ji Ning was taken by surprise. "Huh? Master... my master is not doing very well... He... he does not like the Grand Master's house..."

Kongming was silent for a moment. "Who would like that place."

...

Night time.

The Grand Master held a candle at a desk full of exotic and rare herbs. He was sniffing a couple of them when Ji Chengyu came. "This poison may help Ruling shave off the rotten flesh on her face, add it to her medicine tomorrow. You can try it on an animal first."

"Master, the princess has been acting strange lately..."

The Grand Master did not stop him, so he continued, "She captured many defected demon masters and took them to her palace. After they were carried out, their bodies were dry and withered. All of their spiritual powers were sucked clean… Master, such an evil technique…"

"I gave it to her," the Grand Master glanced at the shocked Ji Chengyu and said with disinterest. "As a reward."

Princess Shunde had been enduring a lot over the treatments for her face, so the Grand Master gave her this forbidden art as a candied fruit to coax her into taking his medicine.

Ji Chengyu clenched his hands.

"Master, I am afraid from here on, it will be difficult for you to keep her under control."

The Grand Master smiled and did not respond. He just waved him off.

Ji Chengyu had no choice but to leave. He rushed to Zhu Ling's residence, kicked open the door and barged in.

"What exactly does Princess Shunde want to do?"

Zhu Ling slowly sat up inside his bed couch. He did not wear a mask and the burnt skin on his face looked hideous.

He looked at Ji Chengyu with the eyes of a snake and said, "We don't dare to speculate on the intentions of the princess without permission."

Ji Chengyu stepped forward and grabbed Zhu Ling by his lapel. "Zhu Ling, open your eyes and look! Look at this court! The state of the country! People are rebelling everywhere, and you are still helping Princess Shunde do evil! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I have made a vow to serve the princess and remain loyal to her. Aren't you the same?" Zhu Ling looked at him. "The current state of the country, was it not your Grand Master's doing? Yet you still remain loyal to him." Zhu Ling smiled and continued, "Even though your own brother turned against him long ago and now leads the great army of the north."

Ji Chengyu's hand clutching at him trembled slightly, then let go.

Zhu Ling straightened his lapel and said, "Ji Chengyu, for the sake of our years of brotherhood, I would like to offer you some advice. Right now, it's the survival of the fittest. Even though the Grand Master is powerful, he is trapped in the past. The princess is different. The future belongs to her, and the whole world will be in the palm of her hands. If you are willing to switch your stance and serve her instead, you might even get to stand over the Grand Master."

Ji Chengyu sneered, "The evil art that the princess is training in was given to her by the Grand Master. Who is she to step over him? Furthermore, did you think the Grand Master controlled everything for decades just with his power?" He turned his head and looked at Zhu Ling. "This world is just a playground for the strong. You and I are both pawns, so don't get too deep into the game. What I am to the Grand Master is the same as what you are to the Princess."

"That's what you think," Zhu Ling said. "The princess told me that we will always weather the storms together, that I am the only one who can stand next to her."

Ji Chengyu shook his head and left. He walked aimlessly on the streets of the capital.

"I knew someone who was unwilling to be a pawn." Ji Chengyu looked at the moon and recalled Ji Yunhe's unyielding face, then lowered his head. "But she is dead."

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