Chapter 111: Before the Silent Dawn

Ning Changjiu sighed and said, "Please, Your Highness."

Zhao Xianger looked at him expressionlessly. "First, why were you sleeping on the ground with Ning Xiaoling? What did you do to her? Why was she wrapped tightly in the quilt as if terrified?"

Ning Changjiu froze.

This first question stumped him.

He retorted, "My junior sister felt cold, so I wrapped the quilt around her. She was warm and happy. How can you say she was scared?"

Zhao Xianger frowned. "Then why were your hands and feet on her?"

"Ah?" Ning Changjiu's head was aching, and he couldn't remember anything. He said, "I was taking care of you two all last night, then I collapsed from exhaustion. How would I know what happened?"

Zhao Xianger hummed in agreement, not questioning his explanation, and asked, "Did you carry me back last night?"

Ning Changjiu nodded.

Zhao Xianger continued, "You saved me, clearly. Why did you let me sleep on the bed while you and your junior sister slept on the floor?"

Ning Changjiu wondered, *What kind of question is that? Did she expect us three to squeeze onto one bed? If so, when she woke up, she'd probably really stab me in the neck.*

Ning Changjiu muttered to himself, but verbally he said, "Your Highness is of immense value, and you saved our lives earlier. You were also the most injured, so it's only right, both emotionally and logically, that you should sleep on the bed."

Zhao Xianger pressed on, "After I fainted, did you do anything?"

Ning Changjiu righteously declared, "Your Highness, do not underestimate me. I have always been a man of integrity."

Zhao Xianger sneered, "Is that so?"

Ning Changjiu replied, "Your Highness kept clutching your clothes after you fell unconscious. I merely transferred some spiritual energy to you. There was absolutely nothing improper."

Zhao Xianger stared into his eyes, a playful smile appearing on her beautiful face. "There's a mole an inch below my collarbone. If anyone else sees it, it disappears on its own. Why, when I woke up and looked, was it... gone?"

As she spoke, Zhao Xianger leaned forward, and the sword moved even closer to his neck. The collar of her loose white dress draped slightly, revealing skin even more porcelain-white than her dress. Her jade-like collarbone was slender and flawless, vaguely outlining a snow-sandy hue.

With the sword at his neck, Ning Changjiu's heart strictly adhered to the sect's mantra of "not to look," gazing directly and sincerely into her eyes. He said, "Your Highness, could you please move the sword away a little?"

Zhao Xianger's expression grew colder. "Less talk. Give me an explanation."

Ning Changjiu was a little nervous. He frowned and thought for a moment, then said aggrievedly, "I don't remember any mole. Could it be that..."

Mid-sentence, Ning Changjiu gasped inwardly. *Where is there a mole that disappears with a glance? This girl isn't trying to trick me, is she?* Indeed, as soon as this thought arose, he saw the sneer and playfulness in Zhao Xianger's eyes become clearer. Her pale, thin lips parted slightly as she asked, "Hmm? Don't remember? Then what do you remember?"

Ning Changjiu was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, this is a misunderstanding."

"Is that so?" Zhao Xianger's voice still carried a hint of youthful innocence. She leaned forward even more, her long hair falling and spreading over his chest. "Then what about my face?"

Ning Changjiu continued to play dumb. "Your face? Your Highness defeated Lady Bai with your sword, severely wounding her and forcing her to flee. Where is there any trace of shame?"

Seeing him still playing dumb, Zhao Xianger twisted her wrist slightly and said with a calm, effortless air, "Which hand touched it?"

She smiled as she looked at Ning Changjiu, her delicate cheeks resembling a sprite drawn by the night. Her soft, beautiful white dress washed away any hint of seduction, leaving only the elegance of a white camellia.

They were very close. This should have been a beautiful scene, but Ning Changjiu felt the sudden burst of killing intent from her. Although he knew she was probably just trying to scare him, his tightly strung nerves, taut for days, still recoiled, and he couldn't help but feel a little nervous. "What is Your Highness planning to do?"

Zhao Xianger said, "If it was the left hand, I'll chop the left; if it was the right, I'll chop the right. If it was both, then from now on you'll have to hold your sword with your mouth."

Ning Changjiu pleaded, "I'm useful."

Zhao Xianger snorted coldly, "Useful for what?"

Ning Changjiu thought for a moment, then a sudden idea struck him. "I have a letter from Your Highness!"

"Hmm?" Zhao Xianger was slightly puzzled. She said coolly, "What letter? If you're lying to me, it's still not too late to confess now."

With the sword pressed against him, Ning Changjiu dared not move much. His hand reached under the quilt and felt around his body, finally trembling as he pulled out a letter still stained with blood.

Zhao Xianger's expression became more serious. She took the letter and unfolded it with one hand.

A dead silence filled the dark room.

Through the letter, Ning Changjiu couldn't see her face, but he could sense a huge change in her emotions.

"Your Highness?"

Seeing that Zhao Xianger hadn't spoken for a long time, Ning Changjiu asked tentatively.

Zhao Xianger lowered her arm slightly and said, "When I formed my acquired spirit, Nine Plumes passed on a memory to me. The memory said that to forge a truly unique Zifu Qi Sea, I would need a demon core from a great demon and several auxiliary items."

Ning Changjiu asked, "A demon core from what kind of demon?"

Zhao Xianger didn't answer, but continued, "The auxiliary items are Everbloom Leaves, Phantom Snow Lotus, and... White Spirit Bone."

"White Spirit Bone?" Ning Changjiu was startled. A spark of thought flashed in his mind, and many thoughts connected the moment those three words appeared. "That bone demon, Lady Bai, her true name is Bai Ling!"

Zhao Xianger's gaze lingered on the last seal for a long time. She also understood many things and murmured:

"Mother had already anticipated what was about to happen back then, and then used a letter to trick Ning Qinshui into going to the Imperial City. The purpose was to force Lady Bai, far away in Linhe City on the border of Zhao, into the game. Mother knew I would surely discover some clues from that day after the turmoil subsided, and then follow the clues to Linhe City."

"Linhe City..."

"But without you, I might have died today. Why did Mother think I could do all this?" Zhao Xianger's voice softened. "I... clearly couldn't do it."

Ning Changjiu also understood. Perhaps the Everbloom Leaves, Phantom Snow Lotus, and that great demon's core were also prepared for her, waiting for her to take them.

Everything about her was merely following the path that empress had arranged for her.

Just like his past self.

He felt Zhao Xianger's mood had gradually fallen. Though the sting of the slap that Lady Bai gave her, grabbing her hair, had faded, the sense of humiliation was firmly etched in her heart.

"Perhaps I interfered too much," Ning Changjiu comforted her. "If I hadn't acted, Lady Bai might not have been able to kill you; instead, it might have helped your cultivation."

Zhao Xianger recalled the deep sense of helplessness from that time, smiled faintly, and said, "Perhaps you were also part of Mother's plan."

Ning Changjiu nodded in agreement but didn't think so in his heart. In his understanding, his reincarnation should have been orchestrated by his master. No matter how powerful that empress was, she couldn't have calculated absolutely everything. He was more inclined to believe that all these unseen events were the result of many coincidences after his master's careful planning.

Zhao Xianger stared at the seal engraved with "Biting Moon, Splitting Clouds." Her spiritual consciousness stirred slightly, vaguely sensing something. Her lips and brows tightened, and spiritual energy like threads glowed faintly in her eyes. In her mirror-like pupils, the faint reflection of those four characters could be seen.

Ning Changjiu felt a strange sensation in his heart. This scene was exactly like the first time he earnestly looked at the three characters "Not to Look" in the past.

He spoke up to warn her, "You are weak now. Don't push yourself."

Zhao Xianger said, "The cure for my heart ailment is right before my eyes. How can I not look?"

Ning Changjiu sighed, "This 'medicine' of yours is more than just mildly poisonous."

Zhao Xianger was already unwilling to admit defeat, and Ning Changjiu's words further spurred her on. She stared intently at the seal. If I can see the truth, what does it matter if the poison enters my very bones?

In her vision, the strokes of the four characters expanded and magnified continuously. In a blink, they transformed into four mountains piled high with countless jagged rocks. Her gaze struggled to cross those vast mountains through the void, to see the sky and sea beyond the peaks.

In a trance, she felt she saw something. Then the world turned upside down, and she felt dizzy. Her fingers clutched the letter tighter, and the paper crumpled under the pressure, almost crushed to pieces. Ning Changjiu immediately gripped the sword's edge and pushed aside the long sword that had been menacingly poised at his neck. Zhao Xianger's eyes flickered, and her body swayed unsteadily. She merely let out a soft groan, then her body went limp and she collapsed.

In her mind, those four characters occupied all her consciousness. Her Qi Sea boiled violently as if mountains were burning and seas were boiling. In a haze, she saw a fiery back facing her. Doomsday-like colors were stripped of their brilliance. Her red dress was like fire, her long hair like flames, and the large red-feathered birds surrounding her were like dancing blood butterflies. Zhao Xianger saw that phantom, and her spirit trembled. She lunged forward fiercely, wanting to embrace her shadow within her collapsing sea of consciousness.

"Mother..."

Zhao Xianger collapsed forward, her arms embracing, and amidst the pride and stubbornness in her brows and eyes, a faint trace of vulnerability appeared.

But her mother wasn't there. She only managed to hug Ning Changjiu, unconsciously burying her head against his chest. The turmoil in her sea of consciousness stimulated her already weak body into a spasm, and she fainted again.

"This medicine is really potent..." Ning Changjiu looked at the letter she was still clutching tightly between her fingers and gave a bitter laugh.

Zhao Xianger was like a small wounded beast resting, clutching his body tightly. Her soft, tender body pressed against his chest. Her long hair, not tied in a ponytail, fell loose, half-covering her pale cheeks, and her soft breaths brushed through her hair, like a tickle.

Ning Changjiu looked at her cheeks, recalling the flush from yesterday, like she was slightly tipsy. He reached out and pinched her cheek, saying grumpily, "If you're not well, just behave yourself. Still holding a sword, who are you trying to scare with that paper tiger?"

Although this scene was beautiful, if Zhao Xianger suddenly woke up, he'd probably really be chased down by her with a sword.

He wrapped his arm behind her, covering her bony back, and twisted his body slightly, wanting to place her on the bed. Then he planned to call back Xiao Ling, who had disappeared somewhere, to have her take care of this stubborn girl.

But his plan only completed the first and last steps.

As soon as his hand wrapped around Zhao Xianger's back, the door opened. Ning Xiaoling stood at the doorway, carrying a chunk of meat with a snow-like pattern. She looked at the scene in the room in shock and said, "Senior Brother, so this is the kind of person you are!"

Ning Xiaoling seemed to have been standing outside for a while, and she had heard Ning Changjiu's murmuring earlier.

"You actually used medicine on Sister Xianger!" Ning Xiaoling looked at him in disbelief and said angrily, "Senior Brother, I misjudged you! No wonder you were still sleeping with me this morning... You, you're *that* kind of senior brother!"

Ning Changjiu thought, *With your tiny physique, what evil intentions could I possibly have?*

Ning Changjiu wanted to calm her down first. "Junior Sister, listen to my explanation."

But Ning Xiaoling didn't give him any chance to explain, slamming the door shut in a huff and leaving.

The room returned to quiet. Zhao Xianger was still softly sprawled on his chest, her exquisite little face making him feel a little angry. He separated her arms that were hugging him, then gently placed her on the bed. He pinched her cheek again. After a slight punishment, he covered her with the quilt, got out of bed, and chased after her.

Ning Xiaoling, carrying a chunk of beef, hadn't gone far. She was sitting on the steps, resting her chin on her hand, sulking.

Ning Changjiu sat down beside her, glanced at the meat in her hand, and chuckled, "So Junior Sister went out hunting, huh?"

Ning Xiaoling said, "Yes, I didn't expect Senior Brother to be 'hunting' in the room too."

Ning Changjiu smiled and comforted her a few words, explaining the whole sequence of events to her. Ning Xiaoling listened with a mix of belief and doubt, casting a distrustful gaze.

Ning Changjiu sighed. "You can't even trust your Senior Brother anymore?"

Ning Xiaoling said, "I trust you, but Sister Xianger is so beautiful, and Senior Brother is in his prime, so I..."

Ning Changjiu tapped her forehead, interrupting, "Is that what you think of your Senior Brother? Sigh, I've been good to you for nothing."

With that, Ning Changjiu got up and pretended to leave.

Ning Xiaoling hesitated for a moment, then, carrying the meat, followed him and grabbed his sleeve. "Alright, Xiao Ling will make you some meat soup to replenish your strength."

Ning Changjiu sighed, "I'll do it. This ox, at least, helped us when it was alive. Don't ruin its body after its death."

Ning Xiaoling pinched his arm and said, "Senior Brother, go figure out a good way to defeat that bone monster. I'll make you bone broth!"

Ning Changjiu reluctantly agreed.

When Ning Xiaoling emerged from the kitchen, covered in dust and grime, it was already half an hour later.

During that half hour, Ning Changjiu looked after Zhao Xianger while thinking about a strategy to kill Lady Bai.

The Bridge of Helplessness was broken. The Yellow Springs, though a barrier, couldn't actually stop them for long.

Now, Fengdu was complete. Although its grade was vastly different from the nascent divine kingdom it was originally meant to be, it was still considered a city independent of the mortal world. It had its own heaven and earth, its own moon, so the wandering souls here would never see light, only to be trapped here for this life—not solitary ghosts, but more like prisoners bearing punishment.

He wasn't sure whether Zhao Xianger, holding Nine Plumes, could cut through this darkness, but even if she could, she probably wouldn't want to.

She would choose to have the final decisive battle with Lady Bai here. Firstly, because Linhe City was Zhao's national territory, and to complete and mend the fate symbolized by the character 'Xiang,' she absolutely could not let this city fall into others' hands again. Secondly, the humiliation inflicted upon her by Lady Bai was too deeply etched in her memory. How could such a proud girl tolerate this? As long as Lady Bai was not truly annihilated, this humiliation could not be erased.

Moreover, this was also the guidance from Nine Plumes' memory inheritance.

White Spirit Bone...

Aside from those mythical beings who are almost immortal, where in the world is there anything that truly lives long and eternally?

He thought of his own name, chuckling self-deprecatingly, then drew the sword from his hand and laid it across his lap.

Ning Xiaoling grabbed a handful of snow, wiped the grime from her face, then ladled the fragrant, rich broth into a bowl. She took a small taste herself and was quite satisfied, then excitedly carried two bowls into the room.

Ning Changjiu found Ning Xiaoling's cooking commendable this time, but he attributed most of the credit to the mad ox, who was somewhat of a benefactor—the ingredients were so good that they could withstand her amateur cooking.

Amidst the rich aroma of the meat broth, the unconscious Zhao Xianger's nose twitched slightly.

Ning Changjiu put down his chopsticks and spoon, smiled at his junior sister, then picked up the sword that was across his lap. He walked to Zhao Xianger's bedside and, before she woke up, placed the sword at her neck.

When Zhao Xianger woke up, she felt her neck was cool. She frowned, feeling the envelope still rubbing between her fingers, and another bout of headache struck her as she recalled the scene she had seen in her mind before fainting.

"I have a few questions for you. Answer truthfully, or you'll suffer physical pain," Ning Changjiu said.

Zhao Xianger had originally been lying face down on the bed. Hearing Ning Changjiu's words, she turned over, her clear eyes calmly looking at him.

Ning Changjiu said, "First question: What did you see in those four characters, and why did you suddenly faint?"

Zhao Xianger didn't answer. Only one word came from her lips: "Three."

"Hmm?" Ning Changjiu was startled.

"Two," Zhao Xianger said expressionlessly.

Ning Changjiu understood.

"One..." Zhao Xianger's tone dragged a little, as if giving him a chance to reform.

He seized the opportunity, sheepishly withdrew the sword, and helped her up from the bed, saying, "Just a joke with Miss Zhao, please don't take offense."

Ning Xiaoling couldn't help but let out a giggle, thinking she must remember this incident and tell her master when they returned to the sect.

After surviving the ordeal today, Ning Xiaoling seemed to be in a very good mood, especially after successfully cooking a pot of beef stew. She was even more confident and, disregarding her senior brother's dissuasion, went to cook another pot of rice.

At the dinner table, Ning Xiaoling served them her homemade rice; the grains were plump.

Ning Changjiu was the first to take a bite.

The rice was still half-cooked. He said nothing, just gave a bland compliment that his junior sister's cooking was good.

Zhao Xianger also took a bite, chewed in silence for a while, then said, "I'm full."

Xiao Ling wondered why Sister Zhao ate so little yet had such a good figure. *In a few more years, she should be almost like Master.* So she also took a bite with her chopsticks.

A silence filled the room.

Ning Xiaoling was the first to break the quiet. "Senior Brother, why don't you tell me a story?"

Ning Changjiu thought that although his cultivation realm was currently outmatched by Zhao Xianger, he had the advantage of extensive knowledge. He asked, "What would Junior Sister like to hear?"

Ning Xiaoling smiled slyly and said, "I want to hear some stories about young men enduring humiliation and heavy burdens."

Ning Changjiu couldn't stop sneering, thinking, *This little girl is hinting at me again.* He thought for a moment, then said calmly, "Then I'll tell you a story about a poor young man who was bullied by a young lady, then joined the army, became a great general, and returned to take her as his servant."

Zhao Xianger frowned, vaguely sensing he was hinting at something, and said coldly, "Shut up."

The room quieted once more. After they finished eating, Ning Changjiu was responsible for clearing the dishes. After cleaning up, the three sat together and began discussing how to recover their strength as quickly as possible and cross the Yellow Springs to kill Lady Bai before she also recovered.

Zhao Xianger had the highest cultivation realm among the three, naturally becoming their greatest hope at this moment.

But she lowered her head and, after a moment of silence, said, "Nine Plumes seems to have some issues."

Previously, when she controlled the Acquired Spirit Nine Plumes, it suffered significant depletion from continuous fighting, and then was greatly damaged when Lady Bai, almost at full strength, pierced her with bone spikes. Now it could only recuperate its spiritual essence in the Zifu. Even if summoned, it would only appear sickly.

Ning Changjiu had already thought of this.

Without being able to control Nine Plumes, their chances of winning against Lady Bai would decrease by at least thirty percent.

Most importantly, they had lost the possibility of carving out an escape route in the Fengdu domain. It was equivalent to burning their boats and cutting off their retreat.

And now, the innate death qi of this city would turn everyone into ghosts. Even if they were cultivators of extraordinary cultivation, they would be subtly influenced. They couldn't keep dragging this out with Lady Bai.

"What about Senior Brother? Have you thought of a solution?" Ning Xiaoling looked at him expectantly.

Zhao Xianger also looked at him.

Ning Changjiu leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes, sensing the aura of his body and the entire world. He said, "It feels like there's something hidden in my heart. It wants to emerge and swallow this darkness."

Zhao Xianger listened to his mysterious words and asked, "A congenital spirit?"

Ning Changjiu nodded. "Perhaps."

Zhao Xianger asked, "If there were a congenital spirit, it should have formed when you entered the Profound Realm."

Ning Xiaoling whispered, "Senior Brother really hasn't entered the Profound Realm yet."

"..." Zhao Xianger asked, "How much longer until you enter the Profound Realm?"

Ning Changjiu said, "Just a sliver away."

Zhao Xianger frowned. "A sliver? Then why aren't you cultivating diligently?"

Ning Changjiu said, "I'm afraid it might be too late if I cultivate by myself."

Zhao Xianger bit her lower lip gently and asked, "Then what do you want to do?"

Ning Xiaoling's face was filled with excitement, and she blurted out, "Dual cultivation with Sister Xianger?!"

Ning Changjiu took a deep breath, tapped her forehead with his knuckles, and said, "From now on, you're not allowed to talk to those senior brothers and sisters of yours; they'll corrupt you."

Then, he looked at Zhao Xianger and said solemnly, "I hope Miss Zhao can 'feed me punches' from now on."

Zhao Xianger crossed her arms over her chest, and a slight curve appeared on her delicate, pale red lips. She asked with a smile, "Are you sure?"