Volume One: The Most Heartless Phoenix Tree Blossom Chapter Fourteen: The Chaotic Battle

In the forest beyond Honglu Pass, Zhuo Yun gently set the little Mountain-Opening Beast on the ground. The small creature, at first unaware of what was happening, spun in circles, sniffing here and there. Suddenly, a plaintive cry sounded from the nearby woods. The little beast jerked its head up, paused in confusion, then dashed toward the source of the sound with all four hooves. Before long, the forest echoed with the calls of the mother beast, more melodious and joyful than ever before—the reunion of mother and child vividly apparent.

As the rumble of the beasts’ footsteps faded into the distance, Su Xin patted Zhuo Yun’s shoulder. “Let’s go, girl! Don’t just stand there, we still need to hurry back and help Yuan Shang and the others!”

Zhuo Yun sniffled twice, her voice muffled. “Sister Su, I miss my mother. Even though… even though I can’t remember her face anymore…” Su Xin sighed deeply. “Who isn’t born of father and mother? Train well, and one day when you succeed, that will be the best repayment to your parents. Come on! Let’s first report to the general that the beast threat is gone, and fetch Yuan Shang’s Green Oriole Mirror. We need to hurry—Sister Qin, Yuan Shang, the Old Jiao—they’re all waiting for us!”

With that, Zhuo Yun summoned the Mist-Steed. The two mounted and sped toward Honglu Pass.

At the gates, they announced themselves and told the city guards that the Mountain-Opening Beast had left. Moments earlier, the sentries had indeed seen the giant beast depart but hadn’t dared believe it. Now, the news was confirmed and a wave of jubilation swept through the garrison. The gate officer hurriedly ordered the drawbridge lowered. A handful of stout men, flustered but eager, began lowering the heavy bridge.

Grinning from ear to ear, the gate officer came out to greet them, with soldiers hastily lining up in welcome. “Ladies, you are the saviors of our border towns! Please wait a moment—I’ve already sent word to the general, and the city’s people are preparing a grand feast to celebrate your victory!”

Su Xin and Qin Ying exchanged glances, unsettled by the sudden, enthusiastic welcome. Su Xin, more worldly, stepped forward and bowed. “Please, Captain, inform the general that we were sent by our master to handle the beast threat at the border. Our master said: having answered the imperial call, the fate of the people is our duty. Now that the threat is gone, please return the Green Oriole Mirror so we may report back. Our family law is strict—we cannot tarry. We trust the general and captain will understand. Farewell.”

At that moment, a flurry of hoofbeats echoed from the gate tunnel, and soon the commander of Honglu Pass, Wang Shuang, dismounted before them. Beaming, he presented the Green Oriole Mirror to Su Xin. “Since you cannot stay, I will not insist. Your master risked much and lent us this treasure—now the beast threat is gone, the people are deeply grateful. Alas, the ordeal left our borderlands desolate, homes empty, so the people made an Umbrella of Ten Thousand for your master. Please, do not refuse.”

Wang Shuang stepped aside, allowing a white-haired elder to approach, trembling as he lifted a pale yellow oiled paper umbrella above his head, about to kneel. Su Xin quickly supported him. “Elder, my master is not one for ceremony. I will accept the umbrella on my master’s behalf, but let’s dispense with the formalities.”

She signaled Zhuo Yun, who took out the Mist-Jade from her waist and recited an incantation. “Essence of treasure, spirit manifest, mist and cloud emerge!” Mounted, Su Xin called out, “Farewell, everyone! Take care!” And, to the astonishment of all, the two rode their water-avoiding mist steeds and vanished into the dawn.

Xunyang City, within the imperial palace.

The atmosphere was heavy. On the golden dais, the monarch stood with hands behind his back, eyes wide with anger. Below, Lin Bai, Qin Ying, and Zhuo Hua were surrounded by the Imperial Guards. The monarch’s voice was harsh. “You villains, with sinister intentions, took advantage of the beast crisis at our borders to sneak into the palace and disrupt the princess’s treatment. Such crimes deserve death!”

The Old Jiao played idly with his sword hilt, half-smiling. “Old man, you’re useless at telling friend from foe. If I’d known, I would have let the Mountain-Opening Beast flatten your whole capital!” The monarch, instead of anger, smiled coldly. “So, I was right—you do have ties to the beast.” Qin Ying scoffed, “It’s said that old age clouds the senses. Who knew it clouds the heart as well?”

The monarch wasted no more words, giving a wave of his right hand. The commander barked, “Imperial Guards, slay them all!”

Zhuo Hua told Qin Ying and Lin Bai, “Stun them, but don’t take lives.” Lin Bai curled his lip. “What fun is a fight like that?” As he spoke, he leaped into the air, wielding his sword hilt in a blur so dense it seemed impenetrable. Though the blade remained sheathed, the pressure of his sword intent was palpable.

Darting and weaving, the Old Jiao kept the soldiers at bay. Qin Ying fiddled with her jade pendant, glancing sidelong at Zhuo Hua, who stood motionless, eyes fixed on the monarch. “Zhuo Hua, what do you see in his face?”

Zhuo Hua said nothing, expression calm, but inwardly a storm raged. I have known your aura for millennia; however much you suppress it, even a trace reveals you.

As the soldiers, driven on by their commander’s shouts, finally surged forward, they hoped to overpower the Old Jiao. Suddenly, the Old Jiao’s form shifted, and a torrent of force crashed down like a waterfall from the heavens, knocking the soldiers and their commander unconscious in a heartbeat.

This sudden turn left the monarch’s guards on edge. A shrill eunuch cried, “Protect His Majesty! Guards, to me!” The rest of the court charged at Zhuo Hua’s group. Qin Ying declared, “No more entanglements. I’ll seize the monarch first!” She leaped clear of the soldiers, heading straight for the monarch. The Yan soldiers panicked, fumbling for bows, but she was upon him before they could nock an arrow.

As Qin Ying hung in midair, the monarch suddenly struck, leaping up to deliver a palm strike. Caught off guard, Qin Ying had no choice but to receive the blow head-on. The force sent her tumbling back, only regaining her footing after several steps. The Old Jiao put away his blade and caught her. “You alright, sister?” Qin Ying’s eyes blazed, but she could only shake her head as blood and energy surged within her, rendering her speechless.

The monarch spun in midair, chanting, as several blue rays emanated from his body, seeking to envelop the three. “Such a crude, shadowy trap—how dare you flaunt it before me?” Zhuo Hua raised her left hand, pressed a mechanism, and three golden beams shot from her sleeve toward the monarch. He sidestepped, evading them, then drew a weapon shaped like an umbrella and hurled it at Zhuo Hua. “Zhuo Hua, all you do is play with clever gadgets. Your skills are no match for your two followers.”

Zhuo Hua ignored his taunts. One look and her heart leaped—wasn’t this the Xuanhuang artifact, the Cloud-Stilling Umbrella? It vanished with Lanling—how could it be here? But her aura is here, so the umbrella’s presence is no surprise.

She flipped back, evading the first assault, and called to Qin Ying and Lin Bai, “Qin Ying, Old Jiao, guard my flanks. I’ll handle the artifact.” She drew the Sky-Gang Fan from her Infinite Pouch and, channeling her true energy, set it spinning. Fierce winds rose, keeping the Cloud-Stilling Umbrella at bay.

In the tempest, Qin Ying edged closer and asked, “Yuan Shang, I read about this umbrella—it’s a Xuanhuang clan treasure. When open, it unleashes searing light, burning everything beneath; the untrained cannot withstand the heat and will perish.” Zhuo Hua, reciting her incantation, replied, “It is indeed our clan’s treasure, and the burning light is real, but today the wielder is weak and cannot control it fully. Pity.” “Pity what?” Old Jiao kicked aside a soldier and asked. “If only we had the Green Oriole Mirror; we wouldn’t be so passive.”

At that moment, a commotion erupted outside. A clear voice rang out, “Yuan Shang, the Green Oriole Mirror is here!” Qin Ying looked back to see Zhuo Yun and Su Xin fighting their way through the encirclement. Zhuo Yun waved the mirror high above her head.

Qin Ying shouted, “Little Fish, toss me the mirror!” Zhuo Yun gathered her strength and flung it toward them. Qin Ying caught the chance, sent several soldiers flying with a palm thrust, and leaped to intercept the mirror.

Zhuo Hua called out, “Qin Ying, I’ll send the incantation by transmission. Quick, use the mirror against the Cloud-Stilling Umbrella.” Qin Ying held the mirror in her right hand, formed an incantation with her left, and chanted.

In an instant, the Green Oriole Mirror shone brilliantly, a beam lancing toward the umbrella. Smoke rose from its surface, thickening, then bursting into flame. The burning umbrella spun twice in the air, then began to plummet. Fearing for her clan’s treasure, Zhuo Hua summoned her strength to conjure a gale and douse the fire.

Just then, the monarch appeared behind her, both palms striking at her back. Zhuo Hua was focused on extinguishing the flames, and in that split second, she hesitated. The monarch’s blow landed, but with a cry, Qin Ying threw herself between them, taking the blow on her own back. Blood gushed from her mouth.

Furious, Zhuo Hua spun, gathering her energy into a punch, and sent the Sky-Gang Fan’s winds howling at the monarch. The full-force strike sent him sprawling. Zhuo Hua caught Qin Ying as she collapsed, cradling her in her arms.

All this transpired in mere moments. When the winds died, Qin Ying lay limp, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, breath barely audible. Her lips moved. Zhuo Hua bent down and heard her faint whisper, “Zhuo Hua, in this life, I cannot be your wife. I regret it so much.” With that, she moved no more.

Zhuo Hua’s body trembled, a storm raging in her heart as she fell silent. The Old Jiao, having dispatched the last soldiers, rushed over, glancing anxiously between Zhuo Hua and Qin Ying. “Yuan Shang, is Qin Ying alright?” Zhuo Hua felt her pulse. “Her blood surges wildly. She is in grave danger.”

“I’ll kill you!” Old Jiao drew his blade and lunged at the monarch. Zhuo Hua stopped him. “It wasn’t him.” Old Jiao froze, confusion on his face as he glanced from Zhuo Hua to the monarch, who lay sprawled on the palace steps, teeth broken, blood flowing, gasping for breath.

“The monarch is innocent. It wasn’t him,” Zhuo Hua repeated. Old Jiao pointed at the monarch, then at Zhuo Hua and Qin Ying. “But he clearly…”

Zhuo Hua ignored him, looking at the monarch. “Aren’t you leaving? If you linger, the monarch will die.”

As she spoke, a violet light slowly drifted from the monarch’s body, and a cold woman’s voice sounded, “Zhuo Hua, after all these years, you haven’t changed at all. You thwarted me today, but I’ll make you pay double in the future.” The violet light faded, yet the chill of that voice lingered in everyone’s ears, echoing long after it vanished.