Chapter 47: The People in the Depths of Night

"My master, Ning Qinshui, brought me and my junior sister to the imperial city to subdue a demon. However, our skills were insufficient, and we underestimated the monster's power."

"In that moment of crisis, Ning Qinshui used my junior sister and my bodies as vessels to forcibly seal the demon. He then affixed two violet-gold talismans onto us. Perhaps those talismans purified the yin spirits and ghosts within our bodies, transforming them into spiritual energy. I inherited some of the memories of those yin spirits and ghosts, which is why I know some obscure spells. The spiritual energy I used earlier to withstand the lightning tribulation for my junior sister came from that source."

"This spiritual energy was a temporary resource; once it's used up, it's gone. Now, I'm just an ordinary young Taoist priest, not even having entered the Xuan realm, nor have I even touched the threshold of cultivation. Your Highness needn't worry about me."

Ning Changjiu finished speaking, his expression unchanged. His tone was always calm, creating the illusion of trustworthiness.

Zhao Xiang'er sat upright at the desk, listening quietly as he spoke. Her eyes, like drops of lacquer, remained fixed on him, making Ning Changjiu feel a little guilty.

"Everything I said is true, or may I be struck by lightning," Ning Changjiu added. He had already been struck by lightning anyway, he mused.

Zhao Xiang'er believed him somewhat. Her voice cool, she asked, "So... for everything that happened, you were actually not in control?"

Ning Changjiu thought for a moment, then nodded. "You could say that."

Zhao Xiang'er narrowed her eyes slightly and continued, "So, this was an arrangement by fate?"

Ning Changjiu didn't know why she asked this but still nodded.

Zhao Xiang'er mused inwardly, growing increasingly surprised and uncertain.

Could it be... this was Mother's arrangement too?

If this truly was Mother's arrangement, then did she believe I couldn't truly kill the demon fox on my own, and so she prepared a contingency? Had it not been for this young man, Ning Changjiu, the imperial city might now be facing another bloody turmoil.

Mother's calculations were divine; if she could foresee this, it wouldn't be... surprising.

But did she truly think I was so incompetent?

The young girl's head slightly drooped, her fine hair falling loose. Her body remained still as if sculpted from black jade for a moment, and her soft, fragrant shoulders unconsciously lowered. Although her face was hidden, her undisguised disappointment was still palpable.

She recalled the scene of herself looking up at the bright moon, how she hadn't considered why the moonlight was so clear, with no demonic clouds obscuring it. She had felt something was wrong, yet why hadn't she pondered it further? This made her even more distressed and regretful.

Ning Changjiu looked at her face, hidden in shadow, and said nothing. He hadn't expected his nonsensical words to cause such an intense internal conflict within her.

However, once Zhao Xiang'er considered that he might be a pawn placed by her mother, she no longer harbored much doubt about Ning Changjiu's earlier words. This stemmed from her absolute adoration and trust in her mother.

After a long while, she finally raised her head. Her tone, as calm as ever, said, "Remember to come to the birthday banquet tomorrow. I have something very important to tell you."

"Hm?" Ning Changjiu was slightly startled. "Why can't you tell me now?"

Zhao Xiang'er's expression was serious. "I think it would be better to say it in front of everyone."

Ning Changjiu immediately got the wrong idea and glanced at Zhao Xiang'er again.

The young girl also watched him calmly, her draped black dragon robe accentuating an elegance and nobility beyond her years.

Zhao Xiang'er seemed to guess what he was thinking. "Don't worry, I don't intend to marry you. Besides... I'm currently engaged."

Marry? Marry me as... empress?

Ning Changjiu looked at the young girl, who wore an utterly self-assured expression, and felt a complicated mix of emotions. Then, he noticed the latter half of her statement.

She's engaged?

Who was so unlucky? Giving up their life for beauty, he mused.

"I wonder which gentleman is so fortunate; it must be a blessing spanning three lifetimes to marry Your Highness," Ning Changjiu said with genuine sincerity.

Zhao Xiang'er said softly, "I don't know who he is either."

Ning Changjiu paused slightly, thinking, so this "peerlessly beautiful" Princess Xiang'er was also arranged to be married young... His master had arranged a marriage for him back then too, and he never knew who the other person was. At that time, he was probably around Zhao Xiang'er's current age.

Indeed, there wasn't much new under the sun. Missing one chance meant missing each other for a lifetime.

Ning Changjiu, however, was certain that his failure to marry that woman was perhaps a shared regret between them. But if Zhao Xiang'er didn't marry her fiancé, it would be a one-sided stroke of luck for the fiancé.

Zhao Xiang'er, of course, had no idea what Ning Changjiu was thinking. If she did, this young man, whose old wounds hadn't even healed, would probably sustain new ones.

Ning Changjiu said, "If people were to know that Your Highness is engaged, I fear many hearts would be broken."

Zhao Xiang'er's lips curved into a faint smile, but she didn't reply.

This marriage contract was no longer important, because once her birthday passed tomorrow, she would turn sixteen, and the contract would naturally be voided.

But... would there be more unforeseen events tomorrow?

Had this trial for her truly ended?

She didn't want to think any further. A full day's exhaustion washed over the young girl's delicate body. Beneath her canvas-like long black hair, an unspeakable weariness was hidden.

"Rest well and cultivate diligently in the future. Don't be discouraged by your aptitude too early; your future achievements are bound to be extraordinary," Zhao Xiang'er suddenly said.

Ning Changjiu asked, "Why is Your Highness so certain?"

Zhao Xiang'er certainly wouldn't tell him about her mother's immense magical powers. She considered that Ning Changjiu was only a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy, and knowing such things might be detrimental to his state of mind.

So Zhao Xiang'er said, "You're quite good-looking, so your future achievements won't be meager either."

"..." Ning Changjiu replied calmly, "If that's the case, then Your Highness's future cultivation will surely reach the heavens."

Zhao Xiang'er pressed her lips together and smiled, then blinked. "Is there honey on your lips? Ha, save those words for coaxing your junior sister; I'm not falling for that."

Ning Changjiu thought to himself, 'You're only a year or two older than my junior sister, so why do you speak with such an antiquated tone?'

Ning Changjiu said helplessly, "I would like to talk to my junior sister. Where is she?"

Zhao Xiang'er said, "If you want to see her, you can now."

"Hm?" Ning Changjiu was somewhat skeptical.

Zhao Xiang'er didn't say anything more. She swept her sleeve, rose, and left. "I'm a bit tired... Don't forget the birthday banquet during the day."

Ning Changjiu nodded softly.

Zhao Xiang'er walked out the door and raised a hand. Several dark figures outside the door silently dispersed.

They were the last remaining masters in the imperial city, stationed there to guard against any unforeseen events tonight.

But after this long conversation with Ning Changjiu, her worries had finally lessened considerably. Since that was the case, she might as well sleep and prepare calmly for the daytime birthday banquet.

A moment later, the door opened again, and a young girl in a Taoist robe quickly ran into the room. Her previously tired eyes brightened immediately upon seeing Ning Changjiu.

"Senior Brother..." Ning Xiaoling immediately rushed to the bedside, her eyes welling up with tears.

Ning Changjiu looked at the charming and adorable girl, and the corners of his mouth curved into a slight smile, yet he remained dazed and speechless.

He had originally thought that his feelings for Ning Xiaoling were merely the inherited bond of senior and junior siblings from the original owner of this body.

Now, he realized it didn't seem to be the case.

The last wisp of this body's soul had dissipated in the heavenly lightning, and the distant call of "idiot" was now inaudible, yet his affection for Ning Xiaoling had not diminished.

Ning Changjiu thought about it and concluded that it might be because, in his previous life, he had cultivated Taoism for twenty-four years, always hoping for a junior sister to join the temple, but he had never waited for one in those twenty-four years.

Thus, he had always been the youngest disciple in the temple, for over two decades.

Now that he finally had a junior sister, perhaps that's why he cherished her so much...

"Junior Sister," Ning Changjiu responded.

Ning Xiaoling's eyes immediately reddened. "Senior Brother, I'm sorry, I almost got you killed."

Ning Changjiu shook his head. "I know you mean well. That day on the long street, when I intercepted the old fox to save Miss Lu, the old fox didn't recognize me. At that moment, I knew that you hadn't used the demon seed to tell him anything about me, not a single thing. It was then that I became certain that no matter what, I would never stand by and watch you turn into a demon."

Ning Xiaoling rubbed her eyes and said, "Senior Brother really is an idiot."

Ning Changjiu said, "From now on, you don't have to hide these things from your Senior Brother anymore."

Ning Xiaoling chuckled, "Senior Brother is so smart, I couldn't hide anything even if I wanted to."

Ning Changjiu smiled, then his expression turned serious. "That demon seed is still within you. For now, it's merely dormant. Before its influence is completely erased, you must be extremely careful. You absolutely cannot let it stir up your inner demons, or Senior Brother might not even be able to help you."

Ning Xiaoling nodded seriously. "I will cultivate my mind diligently!"

Ning Changjiu struggled to reach out his hand. Ning Xiaoling understood, took his hand, lifted it to rub her own head, and then tucked it back under the quilt. The young girl smiled softly, her youthful and lively face looking endearing and lovely.

Ning Xiaoling suddenly asked, with an air of mystery, "Zhao Xiang'er was here for so long just now. What... were you two doing?"

Ning Changjiu said helplessly, "Look at Senior Brother in this state. What could I possibly do?"

Ning Xiaoling agreed profoundly, though she then asked worriedly, "She didn't bully you, did she?"

Ning Changjiu asked, "If Senior Brother were bullied, could you even help me fight back?"

Ning Xiaoling was silent for a moment, then declared confidently, "Sister Lu said my talent is exceptional, and once my cultivation reaches a higher level, I can help Senior Brother get even."

Ning Changjiu nodded with a smile. "Then I'll look forward to the day my junior sister becomes a little sword immortal."

"By the way, where is your future master? Where did Miss Lu go?" Ning Changjiu suddenly asked.

Ning Xiaoling was silent again for a moment, then hesitated, but still spoke truthfully: "Sister Lu seemed very happy to learn you had woken up, but for some reason, she didn't want to come see you. When I asked her, she wouldn't say, only that she wanted to rest quietly for the night in the blue and white sedan chair."

Ning Changjiu pondered for a moment. He didn't understand what Lu Jiajia was thinking and didn't dwell on it, merely saying, "That's fine. If there are any other unforeseen events tomorrow, your Senior Brother is practically useless and can only rely on her to draw her sword."

Ning Xiaoling was startled, and her face fell. "More unforeseen events? No way... Xiaoling will be tortured to death."

"..." Ning Changjiu comforted her, "It's just in case; we have to be prepared."

"Oh..." Ning Xiaoling responded uneasily.

Inside the temple hall to the left of the imperial palace, the blue and white sedan chair had been thoroughly cleaned of blood. Lu Jiajia sat within it, dressed in white, an ancient longsword resting horizontally across her lap. Her long, elegant fingers, with their distinct joints, were intertwined over the sword's scabbard. Her expression was like sleep, yet her fingertips slowly caressed the ancient patterns on the scabbard, and a faint sword intent, like static electricity, emanated from it.

Her journey to the imperial city was originally to seek an opportunity to break through to the Violet Court realm. Unexpectedly, her cultivation didn't advance but regressed, falling back to the Long Life Middle realm. The two ruptured acupoints on her back were also difficult to heal quickly, causing her cultivation to stagnate and presenting numerous difficulties.

Although her Taoist heart grew ever firmer, the many difficult-to-heal injuries on her body were also problems she had to confront.

Her fingers, caressing the scabbard, paused slightly. Her cherry lips parted, and a faint, almost imperceptible sigh escaped.

"Master, I have disappointed you..." She opened her eyes, and a faint sorrow appeared in her cold, icy gaze.

The Sword Sage Heavenly Sect, besides its Sect Master, was divided into four lineages, each presiding over a peak: Shou Xiao Peak, Xuan Ri Peak, Hui Yang Peak, and Tian Ku Peak.

Each of the four lineages had a different peak master. Her master presided over the Tian Ku lineage, the most uniquely steep, perilous, and rock-strewn. Several years ago, her master's lifespan ended, and he gracefully passed away, so she, as his disciple with the highest cultivation, took over the management of this lineage.

However, compared to the other three lineages, without a great cultivator who had entered the Violet Court realm to oversee it, it ultimately appeared weaker.

For years, she had dedicated herself to seeking the Tao, hoping to achieve minor perfection in the Violet Palace realm soon, cross that chasm between heaven and earth, and advance into the Violet Court realm, truly worthy of being called an immortal, at least to narrow the gap with the other three lineages.

Another significant reason was that the Sect Master was also getting old.

Having remained at the peak of the Violet Court realm for sixty years, the Sect Master was weary. He wished to wander the world in his final years and naturally needed to entrust the sect to someone. The true supreme unique martial arts of the Sword Sage Heavenly Sect lay within the Sect Master's succession.

The succession ceremony for the Sect Master, originally scheduled for four years later, might have to be moved forward...

This was also the reason for her impatience.

However, at merely twenty-something years old, she was ultimately too young.

Without sufficient accumulation of time, even with her exceptional talent, she was far from able to quickly break through that bottleneck. Unwilling to remain in quiet cultivation, she heard of disturbances in the imperial city of Zhao, felt an intuitive connection, and without hesitation, descended the mountain to slay demons.

But haste made waste; this time, she was burdened by it instead.

Perhaps this was fate's doing.

Although Lu Jiajia's Taoist heart was firm, regrets in her heart were always difficult to avoid.

She felt the scars left by the old fox's sword on her back and sighed faintly.

This injury...

Remembering this injury, she couldn't help but think of that senior and junior sibling pair.

That day, when Ning Xiaoling poured tea for her, the water stains accidentally spilled outside the cup made it impossible for her to forget—how could such clumsy hands possibly tie such perfectly intricate bandages?

The one who truly healed her wounds was clearly...

Lu Jiajia's hand couldn't help but clench the scabbard. Her breathing quickened slightly, and beneath her loose, snow-white sword robe, her chest suddenly rose and fell, her curves expanding, before quickly returning to stillness.

Although he had acted to save her, and she was not a rigid or stubborn person, this wasn't a major issue. But if he truly became her disciple in the future, she would, after all, have some mental hurdle regarding him...

Since he also deceived her, then she would...

"I'll just pretend not to know..." Lu Jiajia's eyes slightly closed, and she murmured to the silent night.