Volume One: The Heartless Phoenix Tree Chapter Nine: Xunyang City

"Qin Ying, Qin Ying!" Zhuo Hua hurriedly chased after her, only to see that Qin Ying had already mounted a horse and was preparing to leave. With a leap, Zhuo Hua jumped onto the horse’s back as well. Startled by the commotion and heedless of the combined weight, the horse bolted down the path in wild flight.

Jing Muhan looked back and saw Zhuo Hua, his face flushing with anger. With a fierce kick to the horse’s belly, he urged the beast on even faster. The horse, provoked beyond measure, galloped furiously, its four hooves pounding the earth. Zhuo Hua, having never ridden such a creature before, found himself seated awkwardly at the back, unable to keep his balance.

In an attempt to steady himself, he reached out to grab Jing Muhan’s sash. Seeing this, Jing Muhan grew even more exasperated and, turning around, lashed out with a punch. Zhuo Hua dodged, and when the blow missed, Jing Muhan lifted a foot to kick him. Zhuo Hua twisted out of the way, but just then the horse lurched violently, and Zhuo Hua lost his balance and fell.

Startled and alarmed, Zhuo Hua instinctively tightened his grip, pulling Jing Muhan down with him. The two tumbled together, rolling far from the path, arms entwined. Fortunately, Zhuo Hua managed to summon his inner energy in time, steadying his body and preventing their fall into the gorge below.

They managed to halt right at the edge of the precipice. Jing Muhan sprang to her feet, leaping a good distance away, hastily straightening her clothes. In the chaos of their fall, Zhuo Hua had unwittingly pulled open her collar, leaving her upper garment disheveled. Zhuo Hua, utterly flustered, rushed forward, reaching out to help her set her clothes aright.

Jing Muhan, taken aback and unable to evade him in time, hastily crouched down. “Yuankun, what are you doing? Isn’t your heart already given to your beloved Lanling? Aren’t you always surrounded by those beauties? I waited for you in the Cloud Palace for so long, and you never once spared me a glance. So why are you chasing after me now?”

Zhuo Hua hurriedly withdrew his hand and explained, “That’s not what I meant. I was worried about you and afraid something might happen, so I came after you. What just happened wasn’t intentional.”

Jing Muhan crouched on the ground, tears falling in heavy drops, as relentless as a summer downpour watering the fields.

After a while, her sobs gradually subsided. She slowly stood up, her exquisite face now marred by tears. Noticing Zhuo Hua’s gaze, she quickly turned her back to him. “I’m in such a state; Yuankun, you’d best not look.”

Zhuo Hua brushed the dust from his clothes, turning away so as not to look at her. “Qin Ying, you are the morning glow of my Cloud Palace. Whether in sunshine or rain, you are always the most beautiful.”

Jing Muhan’s face lit up with joy, and she spun around to ask, “Truly? Are those your heartfelt words?”

With his back still to her, Zhuo Hua replied, “Of course it’s true. When have I ever lied to you?”

She giggled. “Well then! I won’t be angry at you anymore.” Then, suddenly changing the topic, she added, “But you mustn’t fall for that disciple of Lanling’s.”

Zhuo Hua tilted his head, unconcerned. “Why would I be smitten with her? I’m simply fulfilling my duty as one of the Xuanhuang clan. The elders entrusted me, before they passed, to carry on our lineage and make our people flourish. That is my only purpose.”

He paused, then called out, “Hey, Jing Muhan, are you finished tidying up?”

There was no answer from behind, only the soft rustle of clothing. After a while, he heard the murmur of incantations. A flash of bright light, and then Jing Muhan spoke, “All right, Yuanshang, you may turn around now.”

Zhuo Hua turned and saw her restored to her graceful, flower-like beauty.

Seeing Zhuo Hua’s gaze linger on her, she blushed, lowered her head, and brushed past him, murmuring, “Let’s hurry. They’re waiting for us.”

Before Zhuo Hua could recover, Jing Muhan suddenly whirled back, put her forefinger to her lips, and, pouting, said, “You promised to take me to the Lantern Festival of Shangyuan.”

Zhuo Hua nodded woodenly, agreeing at once. Only then did she turn away, but after a few steps, she spun around again. “And a candied hawthorn, too.”

Zhuo Hua replied quickly, “Anything you want.”

With that, Jing Muhan skipped back joyfully.

When they returned to the cave, they found that all matters had been settled and everyone was ready to depart. The old Jiao sidled up with a mischievous grin. “Yuanshang, you two...”

He didn’t get to finish his sentence before Zhuo Hua interrupted, “No questions. No mention. Or may the thunder of the Nine Heavens strike your dragon sons and grandsons.”

The old Jiao’s mouth twisted in indignation, but he dared not protest. He could only swallow his words.

Zhuo Hua gathered everyone and introduced them to Su Xin. “This is Lin Bai, Master of the Azure Dragon Palace, head of the twenty-eight constellations of the Cloud Palace, renowned for valor, and guardian of the East Sea and land. This is Qin Ying, Master of the Vermilion Bird Palace, first of the Southern Heavens, guardian of the West Sea and land. And this is my maid, Zhuo Yun. Well, any other questions?”

Su Xin’s eyes sparkled with wit. She smiled and asked, “May I ask, Yuankun, do I have a task in the Cloud Palace?”

“No, though you are the heir of Xuanhuang, you have not yet undergone the Minor Calamity. For now, your task is to cultivate and prepare for your tribulation.”

Su Xin hesitated, then replied, “Thank you for your guidance, Master Uncle. I have no further questions.”

“Then let’s go.” With a wave of his hand, Zhuo Hua led the group out.

The party of five—two men and three women—traveled southward with laughter and cheer, their journey smooth and uneventful. In just a few days, they reached the small northern kingdom of Yan.

Crossing the border of Yan, they continued south. After traversing the Yan Mountains for several days, they arrived at Xunyang, the capital of Yan.

Throughout the journey, they saw countless families migrating toward the capital. After some inquiries from Zhuo Yun, they learned that beasts had been ravaging the northern lands, causing unrest. The king had issued an edict to relocate all residents of the nine border towns to the vicinity of the capital. The group was unconcerned, thinking it nothing more than wolves and leopards causing trouble.

But upon reaching the capital, they sensed something unusual.

The next day, they entered Xunyang. It was the first time on this journey they had seen a grand city. Everyone was delighted, and even Zhuo Hua’s spirits lifted.

Xunyang, as the capital of Yan and a strategic stronghold of the north, was a bustling center of trade with roads radiating in all directions. The streets teemed with people, merchants coming and going in an endless stream. Amid the throng near the city gate, many townsfolk craned their necks to look upward, whispering among themselves, with some sighing in distress.

Looking into the distance, they saw two golden-armored warriors standing imposingly on a high platform, halberds in hand. Between them, a yellow proclamation was posted on the city wall, and a minor official stood before it, reading aloud to the crowd. Su Xin, ever eager for excitement, grabbed Jing Muhan’s hand and exclaimed, “Sister Qin, let’s go see what’s happening!”

Qin Ying brushed off Su Xin’s hand and rolled her eyes. “I’m tired. I don’t want to join the crowd.”

Su Xin’s outstretched hand hung awkwardly in the air. Then, a small hand slipped up and gently pulled her away. Zhuo Hua looked and saw it was Zhuo Yun.

Zhuo Yun smiled sweetly. “Sister Su, it’s my first time in such a lively place. Everything is so new to me. Will you take me to see what that is?”

Beaming with delight, Su Xin called out to Zhuo Hua, then skipped away with Zhuo Yun, the two of them laughing as they joined the crowd.