Chapter 124: Black Night Aftermath

The officials kneeling at the edge of the enormous pit might not have clearly heard the commotion, but Lu Jiajia, having cultivated for many years, possessed keen hearing and eyesight. She distinctly heard the faint sounds of struggle coming from that direction. A slight blush crept onto her crystal-clear, amber-like earlobes in the sunlight. After a moment of hesitation, she walked towards the sound, sword in hand, against the light.

Ning Xiaoling, cradling the Golden Crow, was overjoyed to see Lu Jiajia and quickly rushed forward, bowing and saying, "Xiaoling greets Master, it's been so long!"

Lu Jiajia gently ruffled her hair, her expression soft, filled with undeniable relief and joy. She smiled faintly and said, "It's good that you're safe, Xiaoling, it's good that you're safe. What happened in the city this past month, and how did you manage?"

Several days prior, Yujian Tianzong had reopened, and disciples who had returned home for the New Year had gradually come back to the peak. However, Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling were conspicuously absent.

Lu Jiajia had initially sent people to the imperial city to find them, only to learn that the Empress of the Zhao Kingdom had also been missing for a month. She felt a growing unease and asked Lu Yuanbai where he had sent them that day. It was then that she discovered they had gone to Linhe City, a remote town on the border of the Zhao Kingdom. Rumors about Linhe City being haunted by malevolent spirits and cut off by a barrier had been spreading far and wide, but Lu Jiajia, having been in seclusion, had only just received the news.

She rushed there overnight, only to find the city's barrier far more formidable than she had imagined. Even after hundreds of sword strikes, she couldn't tear a gap in the darkness that enveloped the city.

In anxiety and helplessness, she waited outside the city with many others for three days. Then, half an hour ago, a beam of light pierced through the abyss-like darkness above the city. The light didn't resemble a sword beam but rather a narrow bolt of lightning frozen amidst ink-black clouds. This lightning tore open a chink in Lu Jiajia's previously somber mood.

Everything happened rapidly thereafter. The darkness cracked like an eggshell, crumbling instantly. The city's barrier collapsed in a mere few breaths. The winter sun, though lacking warmth, was bright enough to illuminate the desolate city, its blinding glare bringing tears to one's eyes.

Within the city, the spirits had long been devoured by the soul-devouring worms from Madam Bai's desperate attempt to achieve godhood. Only one or two hundred people had survived by relying on raw rice.

They were all gaunt and sallow, tormented daily by the stomach cramps from undigested raw rice. Until today, they had witnessed fire streaking from the sky and lightning rending the firmament, watching with their own eyes as sunlight poured in, bathing the land.

Yet, many still cowered in their homes, fearing that the sunlight was not only unreal but also carried a soul-piercing terror. At this moment, they couldn't even distinguish if they were living or dead, afraid that a single glimpse of sunlight would cause them to vanish into thin air.

The songstress, who had become a soul-ferryman after her death, emerged from the continuous shadows of the attics. She was already a ghost, and as she stepped into the light, it pierced her body like countless swords.

She was an insignificant character in this city. Before the Netherworld Divine Kingdom could be truly established and encompass all the souls of the Southern Continent, her influence on the Netherworld was even less than that of Ox-Head and Horse-Face. So, throughout the entire war, no one had paid attention to her. She had hidden in an isolated corner, fearing both light and darkness, until this moment when she finally awoke from her long dream.

She recalled the day she fell from the building a month ago. The convulsive pain as the dagger pierced her abdomen brought a flicker of regret, but the courage to die ultimately prevailed. Now, utter despair had fostered a different kind of courage within her. She hummed softly, her steps graceful, as she walked forward.

"Winter winds blow, drinking on a small boat, embracing half a boat of ice and snow. Dusk washes the red makeup like water. The old country, a dream from yesteryear, with whom do I share this deep sorrow?"

She sang softly, then faded away into the wind like a fragrant beauty.

Lu Jiajia took the unconscious Ning Changjiu and Zhao Xiang'er away under the guise of treating their injuries. Led by Ning Xiaoling, they returned to the old house where they had resided for a month.

The aftershocks of Madam Bai's city-destroying sword had spread to the street in front of the house. The houses and courtyard walls in front had collapsed like wheat flattened by a cart, most having been ground into powder. In the sunlight now, one could still clearly see fine dust waves rolling on the ground.

Entering the courtyard, Lu Jiajia set them down and then said, "There's no one else here. Stop pretending, both of you."

A moment later, Ning Changjiu and Zhao Xiang'er opened their eyes. They exchanged a quick glance, then quickly averted their gazes. Zhao Xiang'er, in particular, had a taut face, her eyes practically blazing with fury.

Ning Changjiu still felt a sharp, piercing pain in his head. He rubbed his brow, thinking about what had just happened, and felt truly remorseful, acknowledging he had overstepped. He opened his mouth, words of apology hovering on his lips, but seeing Zhao Xiang'er's icy face, he swallowed them back.

He bowed to Lu Jiajia and said, "Greetings, Master."

Lu Jiajia looked him up and down, her brows tightly furrowed. "Your clothes..."

Only then did Ning Changjiu remember he was still wearing a white dress. He recalled the impressive scene when he summoned his innate spirit earlier, and how that scene, paired with this white dress, now seemed quite peculiar.

Though Zhao Xiang'er was also dressed in men's clothes, her attire was quite heroic and beautiful, incomparable to his own in a dress.

He sighed silently, thinking that if not for the desperate circumstances, he would never have agreed to such a plan. And now, after the battle, before he even had a chance to change, his appearance had been seen by so many people.

He tugged at a corner of the white dress, lowering his head in resignation.

"It looks quite good," Lu Jiajia said, not knowing what else to say, and offered a compliment.

Ning Changjiu wished he could disappear into the ground. He held his forehead, not responding.

Lu Jiajia looked at him, her thoughts complex. She still didn't know exactly what had happened, but recalling the scene where the Nine Feathers had obscured them earlier made her feel even stranger.

She looked towards Zhao Xiang'er and said, "Perhaps Miss Zhao should go back to her room to rest first. I'll come later to look after you and help heal your injuries."

Zhao Xiang'er replied coldly, "No need."

With that, she pursed her lips tightly, didn't spare Ning Changjiu a glance, and turned to leave.

Lu Jiajia sighed and looked at the young man in the white dress, whose expression held a hint of guilt. She asked, "What exactly happened?"

Ning Changjiu thought for a moment and said, "Master, you've misunderstood. Actually, we really didn't do anything just now. Under the Nine Feathers, we were... high-fiving to celebrate killing Madam Bai! And these clothes..."

Lu Jiajia closed her eyes, unwilling to listen to his clumsy explanation. She directly pushed open the door and said in an annoyed tone, "Come here."

Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling followed her inside. Ning Xiaoling tugged on her senior brother's sleeve, glared at him angrily, and whispered, "Don't make Master angry again!"

Inside the room, Lu Jiajia's expression softened considerably. Perhaps due to a month of seclusion, Lu Jiajia looked even leaner now. The long hours spent waiting outside the city had added a weariness to her elegant face, like a secluded mountain valley orchid touched by the dust of the human world.

Lu Jiajia looked at them, a heavy weight lifted from her heart, and her expression showed a rare sense of peace.

She looked at the three-legged Golden Crow in Ning Xiaoling's arms and let out a soft "Oh," asking, "This is..."

Ning Xiaoling suddenly realized she was still holding the bird. She quickly said, "This is Senior Brother's bird!"

Saying this, she tossed the bird, and the Golden Crow flapped its wings, flying back to Ning Changjiu's shoulder.

"..." Ning Changjiu stroked the Golden Crow's thin, golden-leaf-like wings and said, "This is my innate spirit."

Lu Jiajia was surprised. "An innate spirit?"

Ning Changjiu nodded. "I've entered the Profound Realm."

Lu Jiajia's concern wasn't about that. She looked at the bird, finding it incredibly lifelike. Innate spirits were supposed to be mere shells, their manifestations controlled by human consciousness and influenced by latent bestial instincts. They should not be so vividly real.

Ning Changjiu saw the question in her eyes. He shook his head and said, "I'm not sure what kind of existence it truly is."

Lu Jiajia stared at the Golden Crow and asked, "Innate spirits are born with a flaw and need cultivation to gradually complete themselves. What... what is its flaw?"

Lu Jiajia looked at it and felt it was almost identical to the mythological depiction of the three-legged Golden Crow.

Ning Changjiu looked at the bird on his shoulder, recalling its appearance in his previous life. After a moment of consideration, he said, "Perhaps the bird isn't big enough yet?"

Lu Jiajia's autumn-water eyes narrowed slightly, a fleeting chill flickering within them. She hummed softly. Although she had many questions, she seemed unwilling to continue the topic.

She asked, "What exactly happened in this city this month?"

Ning Changjiu roughly recounted the events of the month, while Ning Xiaoling constantly interjected with details, such as the scenes where Ning Changjiu was beaten. As a result, a faint smile occasionally flickered in Lu Jiajia's tense expression. After listening to his account of their struggle against Madam Bai, Lu Jiajia sighed softly.

"Such danger again?" Lu Jiajia said.

Ning Changjiu said, "If Madam Bai had successfully built her Divine Kingdom, she could have immediately ascended to the Five Paths. If she had truly created ten complete Yama Halls as per her initial design, she might have even reached those three legendary parallel realms, directly ascending."

Lu Jiajia also felt that everything was a bit surreal. She asked, "You said Madam Bai's true form was one of the broken remains of a certain deity?"

Ning Changjiu replied, "According to the mythological scroll revealed at the time, that was indeed the case. However, her initial mythological logic was flawed, causing her to fail at the final moment when the Divine Kingdom was about to be completed."

Lu Jiajia thought for a moment and said, "A bone demon that climbed out of the Southern Wilderness?"

Ning Changjiu nodded. "Master knows about this too?"

Lu Jiajia recalled, "I heard some things from my master before, and there are some records in the sect's ancient texts, but I don't know much. I only heard that there is indeed an abyss in the center of the Southern Wilderness, called the Burial Bone Land. There are endless black waterfalls on its edges, and it's said that if one jumps into the abyss and keeps falling, they will eventually return to the shore... No one knows what is hidden inside."

Ning Changjiu knew very little about the desolate land of the Southern Continent. "Madam Bai climbed out of that abyss?"

Lu Jiajia said, "If the records are true, the walls of that abyss should be extremely difficult to traverse. How could she have climbed out?"

Ning Changjiu didn't know either. He felt a chill down his spine. "If just a part of a divine corpse could transform into such a powerful demon, then what kind of existence was that divine bone's owner in life?"

Lu Jiajia said, "The rulers of the twelve kingdoms are immortal. The rank of that divine bone's owner should be second only to the level of a Divine Kingdom's ruler."

Ning Changjiu recalled the records in the ancient texts. Legend had it that within a Divine Kingdom, besides the ruler, there were also divine officials. The two strongest among these officials were known as the Divine Emissary and the Heavenly Lord. Because the Divine Kingdom's ruler could not leave their own Divine Kingdom, they had to rely on these divine officials or their own projections to influence the human realm. It was said that the realms of the Divine Emissary and Heavenly Lord were the legendary three realms, close to the peak of the human world.

But if it truly was a divine official from a Divine Kingdom, and their power was so immense, who other than the ruler residing within their Divine Kingdom could kill them?

What exactly happened when the gods fell five hundred years ago?

Ning Changjiu let out a long breath, thinking that these matters were not within his current reach. Although his Violet Palace and spirit meridians had recovered, cultivation of his realm was still a long process. Even in his previous life, he had cultivated for a full twenty-four years.

Ning Changjiu asked, "Which one is guarding the human realm this year?"

Lu Jiajia said, "It's the Empty Hunt Year now. Soon it will be the Month of God's Abandonment, and after that month passes, the next Sin Monarch Year will begin."

Ning Xiaoling, listening nearby, was both startled and curious. She couldn't help but ask, "What are Empty Hunt and Sin Monarch?"

This was knowledge one could only obtain from books in high-level inner peaks after cultivating to a certain advanced stage. This knowledge itself wasn't a secret, but because it involved the most powerful beings in the world, many cultivators feared certain unseen taboos and rarely discussed it.

Now that Ning Xiaoling asked, Lu Jiajia explained, "These are the honorific titles of two Divine Kingdom rulers. Legend has it that the twelve rulers, in a fixed sequence, will each guard the human realm for one year, completing a cycle of twelve. And between the alternation of each one, it is said there will be a one-month gap. During that month, the number of lingering spirits and evil entities throughout the world will double. Hence, it's called the Month of God's Abandonment. In that month, all sects will lay down their disputes and focus on subduing demons and eradicating evil for the human realm."

Ning Xiaoling had heard some things about the Month of God's Abandonment before, but now she truly understood. She asked, "Why is there this one-month gap?"

Lu Jiajia shook her head. "It's one of the established laws of Heaven and Earth. I don't know the specific reason. For example, this year the Month of God's Abandonment is in April, next year it will be in May, and the year after that, June."

Ning Changjiu thought of something he had always overlooked. "So, the twelve Divine Kingdom rulers guarding the human realm actually takes thirteen years?"

Lu Jiajia nodded. "That's correct."

A flicker of insight flashed through Ning Changjiu's mind. He vaguely felt he was close to something but couldn't pinpoint the direction.

Ning Xiaoling smiled and said, "Perhaps the month when the immortals are absent is a test for us cultivators!"

Lu Jiajia also smiled. "This year, during the Month of God's Abandonment, Xiaoling must perform well. The one who slays the most evil spirits each year receives a reward jointly bestowed by the four peaks."

Ning Xiaoling remembered the days when mountain ghosts attacked the city and nodded vigorously. "Subduing demons and eradicating evil is the duty of cultivators."

Lu Jiajia smiled with satisfaction.

Ning Changjiu asked, "How was Master's seclusion this past month?"

Lu Jiajia's smile faded slightly; she didn't hide anything. "Progress in the Dao realm was sufficient, but improvement in cultivation was lacking."

Ning Changjiu looked at the Golden Crow on his shoulder, unsure. "I might have a way."

Ning Xiaoling also suddenly remembered that her own injuries had been healed by this beautiful little golden bird. At the time, she only felt something warm enveloping her, like being on a vast wilderness watching a magnificent sunset.

She quickly said, "Perhaps Senior Brother's little bird can help Master Jiajia heal her injuries!"

After speaking, she looked at them eagerly, only to find that for some reason, both her senior brother and master had rather strange expressions.

Ning Changjiu was the first to smile, breaking the awkwardness. "Junior Sister, let me introduce you. This little golden bird is called the Three-Legged Golden Crow."

"Golden Crow..." Ning Xiaoling pondered. "I've heard of it. 'Golden Crow Hiding Beauty,' right? ... Huh, 'Hiding Beauty'... Why is Senior Brother's innate spirit so strange?"

Lu Jiajia knew the condition of her own body best. The blow from the Red-Tailed Old Lord that day had wounded her too deeply; her Cloud Qi and White Palace acupoints were almost completely destroyed. If not for her unique constitution, where sword spirit and body were one, any other ordinary cultivator would not only have their path of cultivation cut short for life but also very likely die.

Because she was so acutely aware of her body's state, she felt even more despair. She roughly estimated that recovering slowly at the current pace would take at least three to five years. For a cultivator, this should be an acceptable wait, but if the sect leader succession ceremony were to happen earlier...

She didn't hold much expectation for Ning Changjiu's words. She sighed and said, "You should go check on Miss Zhao first. She seems very angry."

Ning Changjiu pursed his lips and nodded. "All right."

When the knock sounded, Zhao Xiang'er was sitting on the couch meditating to heal her injuries.

The old red umbrella beside her was now tattered, half of its canopy almost completely burnt by the Red Lotus Hellfire. If she were to open it in the rain, she would certainly get soaked.

Her physical condition was also quite poor. This was her second time exhausting herself, and it was much more severe than the previous month. When she raised the umbrella to block Madam Bai's attack, which used her body as a sword, she felt as if the entire city had pressed down on her. All her bones had reached their limit in an instant. If Madam Bai had exerted just a little more force, she would have died from that sword strike.

And after she had sacrificed so much, Ning Changjiu dared to humiliate her like this... Although she usually beat him black and blue every day, that was for the greater good. How could he be so petty?

He was so meek when he used to get beaten. Now that he had formed his innate spirit, why had he become like this?

She touched her slightly itching lips, thinking about the strange dream she had just had, and then about the scene under the Nine Feathers. How could Ning Changjiu be so shameless, daring to... she cursed in her mind, and the burning pain in her body intensified. She took a deep breath, trying not to think about it, then lowered her head and realized that the ill-fitting white men's clothing she was wearing also belonged to Ning Changjiu.

Looking at the clothes, she felt even more stifled. She reached behind her head, gathered her inky hair that cascaded like dark clouds, then began to unbutton her clothes, intending to change into something new.

The knock on the door sounded again.

Zhao Xiang'er was clutching her lapel. Without lifting her head, she said, "Get out!"

Ning Changjiu said, "I have something to discuss with Your Highness."

Zhao Xiang'er asked, "What is it?"

Ning Changjiu thought for a moment, then tentatively asked, "To change clothes?"

Zhao Xiang'er reached her limit. Her spiritual power had recovered somewhat, and her figure moved swiftly. The door instantly flew open, and Ning Changjiu felt a strong gust of wind hit his face, followed by a punch.

This time, he couldn't even withstand a single punch before Zhao Xiang'er pinned him to the ground. She straddled him directly, sitting on his body, and rained down a series of furious punches, giving him a thorough beating.

Ning Changjiu knew she wanted to vent her anger, so he only offered symbolic resistance. To prevent Lu Jiajia and Ning Xiaoling from hearing, he desperately held back any sounds or pleas for mercy. Finally, when he climbed up from the ground, bruised and swollen, Zhao Xiang'er rubbed her knuckles, also drenched in sweat. But her anger didn't seem to have subsided. "Go back and change yourself. Who wants to wear clothes you've worn?"

With that, she slammed the door shut again, leaving Ning Changjiu alone outside.

Ning Changjiu was utterly helpless. He used spiritual power to heal his external injuries and retreated in defeat.

He walked into the study, and soon after, Ning Xiaoling also tiptoed in, asking, "How's Senior Brother?"

Ning Changjiu sighed. "Why don't you go put in a good word for me, Junior Sister?"

Ning Xiaoling pouted and said, "Sister Xiang'er is so fierce right now, I wouldn't dare go."

Ning Changjiu said nothing, took out brush and ink, spread out a sheet of paper, and began to write.

Ning Xiaoling continued to ask, "How did Senior Brother make Sister Xiang'er so angry? What were you two doing under the Nine Feathers? That... I clearly heard it was supposed to be a happy occasion, so why is Sister Xiang'er reacting so strongly? Senior Brother, is it your fault?"

"..." Ning Changjiu groaned, "Junior Sister, have you been possessed by some demon? Why are your words so hurtful?"

Ning Xiaoling said, "Sister Xiang'er is your fiancée, and she's my... my future sister-in-law. Of course, I'm anxious for you."

Ning Changjiu carefully finished writing a short passage, gently blew it dry, and folded it. He said, "What are you anxious about, you little girl? Just listen to Master Jiajia and focus on your cultivation."

Ning Xiaoling, hearing this cliché, found it uninspiring. She asked, "What are you writing, Senior Brother?"

Ning Changjiu calmly replied, "That Zhao Xiang'er has gone too far. I'm writing her a challenge to a duel, to wipe away my previous shame."

Late that night, Zhao Xiang'er, who was meditating to regulate her breath, was disturbed by another knock.

Her delicate brows furrowed. Her anger had mostly dissipated, but now, seeing that he dared to visit late at night, she knew he had ill intentions. She fumed, "Coming to die again?"

This time, the other party seemed more sensible, sliding a note through the crack in the door.

Zhao Xiang'er walked to the door, bent down, and picked it up. She initially thought of burning it directly, but after a moment's thought, she opened it and glanced. Her eyes slightly narrowed as she softly read the words on the paper: "Letter of Apology?"