Chapter 25: Brothers

## The Mortal World

## The Mortal World

Chun Tao's height, build, facial features, and even her gait were remarkably similar to Princess Dongyang's. Although there was a slight difference in their temperaments, outsiders couldn't tell them apart unless the two stood side-by-side.

Granny Li said, "Young lady, Chun Tao and I will return to Kuncheng first. Once you have finished your important business, we will reunite in Kuncheng."

With that, Granny Li took the disguised Chun Tao and departed.

Unexpectedly, as she walked past Qin Sang, Chun Tao suddenly stopped, looked at him, and smiled brightly. "Young Master Qin," she began, "I wonder what kind of wood your staff is made from? It has such a brilliant luster. My younger brother at home also enjoys playing with staffs, but unfortunately, he has been frail and sickly since childhood, so our parents don't allow it. This time, I was thinking of bringing him one as a gift."

Qin Sang was taken aback, unsure why Chun Tao had suddenly asked such questions.

Noticing the old woman's displeased expression, and seeing that Princess Dongyang herself didn't intervene, he replied, "To answer you, Miss Chun Tao, this staff is made from the heartwood of ironwood. This type of ironwood grows in the southern kingdom of Muzig. If you find merchants from Muzig Kingdom, you should be able to purchase it."

"My younger brother will certainly like it," she said. "I thank Young Master Qin on his behalf."

Chun Tao's eyes sparkled as she covered her mouth and chuckled, then finally followed Granny Li out.

As she got into the carriage, Chun Tao nearly slipped, but Granny Li, with quick reflexes, caught her.

After helping her into the carriage, Granny Li raised her voice and announced, "The young lady has given an order: we are not going to Sanwu City this time. Everyone turn back immediately and return to Kuncheng."

The guards immediately mounted their horses. Without asking for reasons, they silently turned around and headed back.

The carriage was silent. Chun Tao tightly covered her mouth, tears streaming down like rain.

After Granny Li and the others had departed, the group emerged from the woods. Looking at the empty road ahead, Princess Dongyang was silent for a moment. Suddenly, she asked an old guard, "Elder Yue, is what Chun Tao said true?"

Elder Yue replied, "To answer you, young lady, Miss Chun Tao indeed has a younger brother at home. He has been sickly for years, almost dying several times, and has been kept alive by medicine. Miss Chun Tao's monthly wages are entirely given to her family, barely enough to cover her younger brother's medication."

Princess Dongyang was puzzled. "What kind of illness is it?" she asked. "Can't Imperial Physician Li treat it?"

"Well..." Elder Yue hesitated for a moment, then said, "Chun Tao seems to have requested... However, imperial physicians in the manor rarely leave the princely estate. Outside the manor, apart from officials like the prefect, ordinary households would likely need to spend a fortune to secure their services."

Princess Dongyang hummed in acknowledgment. "After returning to the manor, Elder Yue," she said, "remember to take my written order and invite an imperial physician to treat Chun Tao's younger brother. All consultation and medicine fees will be drawn from the princely estate. Then, find him a position within the manor."

Elder Yue said, "Your kindness is immense, young lady."

Princess Dongyang looked around, then asked, "Commander Bai, is there a way out if we head north from here?"

Bai Jianglan pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "There's a small path through the mountains that leads to Linwu City. We can also bypass the city, and riding at full speed, we could reach Yingnan Prefecture in four days."

Princess Dongyang immediately decided. "Then we head north," she said. "Elder Yue, send word along the way for my father to dispatch people to Yingnan Prefecture to meet us."

Bai Jianglan took the lead to clear the path. Qin Sang and Water Monkey silently followed beside him, and the group sped along the small path.

It was clear that Bai Jianglan was very familiar with the area. He changed directions and roads repeatedly, a dizzying display. That night, they passed through the jurisdiction of Linwu City but did not enter the city itself.

Late at night, Bai Jianglan chose a mountain hollow for them to rest.

Being skilled individuals, they soon hunted game and roasted it over a fire. Elder Yue personally fetched mountain spring water. They filled their stomachs with dry, hard biscuits; Princess Dongyang found them difficult to swallow but ate every bite.

They had been fleeing all day, and no one had pursued them. Qin Sang estimated that even if Jiangshan Tower hadn't abandoned the assassination, they might have been lured away by the decoy.

He wondered how many of the decoys would survive.

That day, Chun Tao's final smile kept replaying in Qin Sang's mind. It made him sigh inwardly, realizing that the cruelty of this world was more blatant than in his previous life.

Forced to spend the night in the mountains, Qin Sang had no guard duty, so he casually found a tree to lean against and rest.

By the bonfire, Princess Dongyang lay on her side, covered with clothes. She didn't stir for a long time, as if truly asleep, while Elder Yue sat cross-legged beside her.

Bai Jianglan, along with Water Monkey and the others, set up some simple traps.

Qin Sang couldn't sleep, and with so many people around, he couldn't cultivate either. So he focused his mind inwards, his consciousness returning to his soul.

Ever since the jade Buddha dispelled the evil spirit, Qin Sang would almost every night, after cultivating, enter to ponder and study it. But no matter what Qin Sang did, the jade Buddha never reappeared; only the faint yellow light remained unextinguished.

After the jade Buddha appeared, Qin Sang didn't feel any changes in his cultivation of the *Netherworld Sutra*. It seemed as though the jade Buddha only acted to save his life when he was in danger; at other times, it didn't even bother to glance at him.

Qin Sang, full of expectations, could only gradually accept reality, attributing it to his own low cultivation realm.

The night was cold.

Qin Sang wrapped his clothes tightly around himself, closing his eyes in a feigned sleep. Hearing footsteps, he opened his eyes to see Water Monkey, Zhou Ning, walking towards him.

"Brother Qin, have a drink," Water Monkey said, handing him a small gourd and winking.

Qin Sang opened the lid, and a rich aroma of wine wafted out. Seeing that no one was paying attention, he quickly took a large gulp. Although his body was excellent and he wasn't afraid of the cold, the strong liquor, like a line of fire entering his stomach, still felt comforting.

"Thank you, Brother Zhou!"

Qin Sang handed the gourd back and chuckled, "Brother Zhou, soon we'll be able to eat the river fish you catch."

Water Monkey chuckled softly and stood beside Qin Sang. He wasn't as talkative as usual today, having said little along the way. He looked up at the night sky, then suddenly asked in a low voice, "Brother Qin, why haven't you been home for a year? Don't you miss your parents?"

Qin Sang sighed softly. "What good would missing them do?" he replied. "If I returned to the village, I'd only live a hard life. Coming out, I might make a name for myself and allow them to enjoy wealth and glory."

Water Monkey had a disapproving expression. "Brother Qin, you are mistaken," he said. "What parents care about most is you. Being reunited with family is the right way; what does wealth and glory truly amount to...?"

As the two were talking, Qin Sang's eyes suddenly changed, and he shot upright. He looked up, staring at the dense, sky-obscuring branches and leaves above, and shouted loudly, "Someone's here! Be careful!"

Before his words had fully landed, the tree shadow beside Princess Dongyang distorted, and a dark figure lunged directly at her.

Fortunately, Elder Yue was right beside Princess Dongyang. The instant the assassin appeared, Elder Yue quickly drew the precious sword resting across his lap. His body, like a falcon, leaped into the air, blocking the assassin's path, his sword light, like a swimming dragon, aimed directly for the assassin's vital areas in the chest and abdomen.

Unexpectedly, the assassin, surprisingly, did not dodge or evade. Instead, he charged into the sword light, his speed even increasing slightly.

Thud!

The long sword easily pierced the assassin's waist and abdomen. The assassin's speed did not diminish at all; he charged straight at Elder Yue. With a gasp, a cold gleam shot directly towards Elder Yue's face.

This assassin seemed to know no pain.

Stared at by a pair of lifeless eyes, Elder Yue felt a chill in his heart. He quickly twisted his body to dodge the hidden projectile, then violently pulled back his hand, attempting to withdraw his precious sword. However, the assassin twisted his body, using his bones to firmly trap the sword.