Volume One: The Most Heartless Phoenix Paulownia Blossom Chapter Twelve: Ambush

That night, within the imperial prison.

Lin Bai paced anxiously before Zhuo Hua, like a restless beast trapped in a cage.

“Yuan Shang, are you alright?” Zhuo Yun’s voice drifted in from the next cell, her worry unmistakable.

Lin Bai, already stifled and irritable, snapped at her concern, “We’re just fine over here!” He continued to pace, muttering, “If you ask me, we shouldn’t have surrendered so easily. Yuan Shang, if you just say the word, I, the Old Jiao, will smash through these accursed bars, drag that dog of a king from his bed, and give him a good beating! Why should we suffer this injustice here?”

Qin Ying scolded him, “Jiao Mu Jiao, hold your tongue. Yuan Jun has a plan—he wants to uncover the true mastermind behind all this. Stop making such a racket.”

The Old Jiao fell silent for a moment, shook his head, and resumed his pacing.

Zhuo Hua, eyes tightly shut, suddenly spoke, “Old Jiao, what do you think of the princess?”

The Old Jiao froze for a second, staring at Zhuo Hua. After a long pause, he replied, “Yuan Shang, are you teasing me at a time like this?”

Soft laughter sounded from the next cell. “Palace Master Lin, you might as well admit you’re fond of her,” came Su Xin’s voice.

Lin Bai was about to retort when Zhuo Hua interrupted him. “How much does the princess trust your words?”

Lin Bai scratched his chin and shook his head. “Yuan Jun, if you have something to say, just say it. You know I can’t stand guessing games. If you want me to charge into battle, I’d never flinch, but riddles…” The Old Jiao shook his head even more vigorously.

Qin Ying sneered, “Lin Bai, you may look the part of a scholar, but deep down, you’re just a brute. The first time I saw you, I actually thought you were an immortal sage.”

Abruptly, Zhuo Hua opened his eyes and fixed Lin Bai with a gaze. “Old Jiao, go to the princess’s chambers now, persuade her to reveal the hiding place of the young beast, and have her craft a model of the creature using fur and bone, fashioned in the beast’s likeness. Place this Cangyue Pearl inside the model’s belly—under moonlight, it will look real enough. Then the ceremony can proceed as planned.”

At first, the Old Jiao was overjoyed at the chance to leave. But upon hearing he had to go to the princess’s bedchamber, he shook his head like a drum. “I’m afraid the moment I see her, I won’t be able to resist giving her a piece of my mind. Her wretched father has repaid our kindness with betrayal.”

The cell door creaked open. Qin Ying stood outside, grinning, and called out, “Young Master Lin, Hero Lin. You can’t bear to harm your beloved beauty, can you? Come along, the door is open for you. Dawdling isn’t your style, Jiao Mu Jiao!” At her words, the three women outside covered their mouths and giggled.

The Old Jiao glanced at them and remarked, “Who would have thought that the mighty Palace Master of Vermilion Bird would be so skilled at lock-picking?” Bowing to Zhuo Hua, he turned and left.

Zhuo Hua beckoned for the others to enter. He turned to Su Xin and Zhuo Yun, saying, “I have a most important task for the two of you. Will you accept it?” They exchanged a look and answered at once, “At your command, Yuan Jun.”

Zhuo Hua nodded and stood. “Once Old Jiao brings the young beast, you must escort it to the border and return it to its mother. This is the talisman to summon my mount.” He took the jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Su Xin.

Su Xin hesitated but accepted the jade. “What about you, Yuan Jun?” she asked in confusion.

Qin Ying stepped to Zhuo Hua’s side, smiling, and said, “I may not know what comes next, but I’m sure it will be dangerous. You two just get the young beast to the border as quickly as possible.”

Zhuo Hua looked at Qin Ying. She no longer bore the innocence and inexperience she had when she first arrived at the Cloud Palace. Now, every frown was like a gathering storm, every smile graceful as drifting snow. Fiery as wine, sweet as spring water; as bitter as winter, as gentle as spring.

With solemnity, Zhuo Hua said, “Palace Master Qin is right. Wait for Palace Master Lin’s message outside the palace gates. I will handle matters here.”

On the night of the full moon, the Old Jiao arrived as promised, passing the young beast to Su Xin and Zhuo Yun outside the palace gates.

Su Xin teased, “Well now! Old Jiao, how did you manage to win over Princess Guangping?”

Feigning nonchalance, the Old Jiao replied, “Once I snuck into her chambers and let myself be seen, she was naturally captivated by my heroic presence! She obediently did as I instructed. Of course, I promised her that—well, Yuan Jun would cure her illness afterward. Simple as that!” He turned away, chin held high, looking utterly otherworldly.

Su Xin loved to poke fun at him, exclaiming, “Oh my! Young Master Lin! Why do you have faint red marks on your face? Did you bump into something on the princess’s bed?” The Old Jiao hurriedly covered his left cheek and muttered, “That feisty woman has a heavy hand!” Then, waving his hand, he called out, “Little Fish, let’s get going! Quit laughing and be quick!”

Zhuo Yun pinched the Cloud-and-Mist Jade between her right thumb and forefinger, drew a talisman from her treasure pouch with her left, and chanted, “Essence of heaven and earth, spirit manifest, let the cloud and mist emerge.” With a flick of her left hand, the talisman burst into flame. She tossed the jade through the fire, and in a flash of radiance, the Water-Cleaving Cloud Steed raised its head with a piercing neigh, pawing the ground as it waited for its master.

Su Xin and Zhuo Yun, both curious and excited, walked around the Cloud Steed, marveling at the beast that resembled a smoky-gray horse, each hoof resting on a small cloud. Zhuo Yun patted its back, admiring, “Our Yuan Jun’s mount is truly beautiful… and so is Yuan Jun.” She blushed as she spoke.

Su Xin rapped her on the head, saying, “Enough daydreaming. Let’s get this little one back to its mother. Maybe we’ll make it back before dawn and help in the fight.” Zhuo Yun nodded and climbed onto the steed behind Su Xin. The two waved farewell to Old Jiao, then soared into the sky with the young beast, disappearing into the moonlight.

Old Jiao slipped quietly back into the palace city, rejoining Zhuo Hua and Qin Ying. They hid in a corner of the drill grounds. Qin Ying extended her spiritual senses but detected no powerful cultivators nearby. Zhuo Hua, sensing something amiss, reminded them to stay alert for any changes.

Soon after, the ceremony began as scheduled. The princess, led by the court shaman, entered the center of the grounds, surrounded by Imperial Guards whose torches illuminated the field. From their perch atop a palace roof at the edge, they had a clear view of everything.

The ritual commenced. The shaman circled a great bonfire three times, then produced the young beast, raising it overhead while chanting incantations. An assistant handed him a dagger, which he plunged into the young beast’s throat. Blood gushed into a prepared bowl. When the shaman finished, he presented the bowl to the princess and withdrew.

Just as the princess raised the bowl to drink, Zhuo Hua leapt into a shadowed corner at the southwest edge of the grounds, yanking a black-clad figure from the darkness. The man drew a dagger and lunged, but with a flick of Zhuo Hua’s finger, the blade flew a dozen feet away. Though masked, fear was evident in the man’s eyes. He leapt into the air to escape but slammed into an invisible ceiling and crashed heavily to the ground.

Qin Ying descended gently from above, a slight smile on her lips. “Where are you off to in such a hurry, friend?”

Realizing escape was impossible, the man glanced back at Zhuo Hua. “If I can’t seize the Xuanhuang Blood of Nirvana, then I’ll destroy her.” With that, he drew a disc-shaped weapon from his robe and hurled it at the princess. There was a sharp clang of metal—Qin Ying had intercepted the weapon with her sword. Seeing his attack foiled, the man glared at the bowl of Xuanhuang Blood and spat, “You’ve ruined my plans again!” With a click, his body went limp and he moved no more.