Volume One: The Most Heartless Phoenix Tree Flower Chapter Twenty-Three: Pavilion at the Heart of the Lake

As Zhuo Hua stepped outside, everyone watched him with various expressions, quietly snickering at his reddened eyes. Zhuo Hua paid them no mind, merely saying to the Old Jiao, "Follow me," before leaving the main hall and the others behind.

Old Jiao accompanied Zhuo Hua to the lakeside. The water was a deep blue, rippling gently, though the encroaching autumn lent it a note of desolation. A few pairs of mandarin ducks glided past, content and carefree.

Pointing to the pavilion in the middle of the lake, Zhuo Hua said to Old Jiao, "Old Jiao, let’s hold our discussion at the lakeside pavilion."

With that, he activated the Qi-stabilizing Pearl to convert his true energy. The force lifted Zhuo Hua more than a yard off the ground. With his left hand extended and his right hand releasing stored energy in a burst, he instantly arrived at the lakeside pavilion, over thirty yards from the shore.

Old Jiao shook his head with a smile, muttering, "What a flashy display." He transformed into a dragon, dove into the water, and with a few swishes of his tail arrived at the pavilion. Leaping up, he shifted back into human form, landing lightly on the railing and entering the pavilion a step ahead of Zhuo Hua.

Zhuo Hua laughed heartily, teasing, "So, you river rogue, turns out you’re quite the opportunist yourself."

Old Jiao used his qi to dry his clothes; his plunge into the lake had left him soaked. Watching the steam rise from Old Jiao, Zhuo Hua couldn’t help but chuckle.

From the shore, some palace maids called to them in melodious voices. Zhuo Hua said to Old Jiao, who was tidying his attire, "With your mist-shrouded, remarkable figure, they surely take you for the Lord of the Cloud Palace."

Old Jiao shrugged dismissively, replying, "Your flight tricks look impressive but are less practical than my transformation."

Zhuo Hua’s smile faded, and he spoke solemnly, "Old Jiao, do you know who ambushed us?"

Old Jiao, still fussing with his robes, answered, "Who else? The Shadow Fury Clan. Weren’t we told that night?"

"It was Lanling," Zhuo Hua said.

"Lanling?" Old Jiao looked up abruptly, surprised. "Did you mean the Immortal Lanling?"

"Exactly," Zhuo Hua replied, his expression leaving no room for doubt.

"But that’s impossible! The assailant clearly used the Shadow Fury Clan’s weapons and skills!" Old Jiao protested.

"You were outside the hall at that time, and the attacker was able to wield the Cloud Suppressing Umbrella. That mystical treasure was bestowed upon the Blue Clan’s chief by Lanling, to honor the clan sharing her surname, and establish them as the foremost immortal descendants, leader of the seven clans. The Blue and Tian families have intermarried for generations, and in this generation, Tian Chong became the chief of both clans, thus the umbrella came into his possession."

Zhuo Hua motioned Old Jiao to sit and continued, "I crafted the Cloud Suppressing Umbrella for Lanling during my cultivation in the Golden Martial Void. Only Lanling and I knew its secret mechanisms. Later, when the umbrella was passed to the Blue Clan chief, the secret was handed down through generations. When Tian Chong’s body was possessed by a divine soul, he was in a muddled state, and the secret couldn’t be known to the possessor. So, the only one able to use the umbrella must have been Lanling."

Old Jiao poured tea for Zhuo Hua, puzzled. "But, Your Excellency, there’s no reason for this! If the Immortal had returned, why wouldn’t she come directly to the Celestial Palace?"

Hot water poured into the tea bowl, releasing the fragrance of the emerald leaves. Zhuo Hua took a sip and said, "She herself didn’t return; only her divine soul came back, and only with part of her power. Otherwise, Qin Ying wouldn’t have survived."

Old Jiao’s hand trembled as he poured the tea. "Your Excellency, with only part of her power, she managed to strip Qin Ying—one of the Cloud Palace’s stars—of all her cultivation, and shatter the Qi-stabilizing Pearl. Truly a feat of the divine! But, Your Excellency, it makes no sense! Why would the Immortal attack people of our Cloud Palace? It’s utterly unreasonable!"

"According to Tian Chong’s recollections, Lanling clearly came for two things. First, to distract the mountain beast to attack the city and retrieve the treasured relic of the Sun Worship Sect. Unfortunately, we left the Green Lark Mirror at Honglu Pass, unintentionally ruining her plan. Second, she pretended to cure the princess, entered the palace, possessed the king, and tried to steal the Cloud Suppressing Umbrella—which I destroyed."

Old Jiao breathed a sigh of relief. "So, it seems we came out victorious!"

Zhuo Hua smiled wryly. "Though I don’t know what she truly seeks, from what I know of Lanling, whatever her goal, she’ll stop at nothing to achieve it." He set down his tea bowl and looked Old Jiao in the eye. "So, Palace Master Lin, I order you to return to the Celestial Palace at dawn, strengthen the Cloud Palace’s defenses, notify Kui the Wolf of White Tiger Palace to halt the Solar Eclipse Array and recall all stars to fortify the Cloud Palace. Also, inform Doumu Xie of Black Tortoise Palace to send a team to covertly investigate all news concerning the Sun Worship Sect across the world’s continents and oceans, and if necessary, use ten percent of the Yellow-Black Mirror’s computational power. Lastly, since Qin Ying is seriously wounded and needs recuperation, Ghost Gold Ram will temporarily lead Vermilion Bird Palace."

Lin Bai recognized the gravity of the situation, immediately stood up, and replied solemnly, "I shall not fail in my mission."

Zhuo Hua took a small ochre scroll from his Infinite Bag and handed it to Lin Bai. "Matters of Cloud Palace’s star deployment, defense, and appointments are of utmost importance. By palace rule, they cannot be conveyed by word alone. Everything I just said is recorded in this scroll; simply place it on the Yellow-Black Mirror’s cloud platform, and once my key is unlocked, all affairs will be distributed accordingly."

Lin Bai knelt on one knee, raising the scroll above his head. "I am well versed in the formal procedures of palace documents, Your Excellency. You need not worry."

Zhuo Hua nodded and said, "Rest early tonight. Set out at dawn. Go now."

Yet Lin Bai did not move.

Zhuo Hua watched him with interest, sipping his tea. After about half a bowl’s time, Lin Bai stammered, "Your Excellency, I’ve noticed Princess Guangping has excellent aptitude, perfect for cultivation. May I take her as my disciple and teach her the Cloud Palace’s immortal arts?"

"Oh? So Palace Master Lin has already lost his heart to her!"

Lin Bai sprang to his feet, his face red to the neck, turning away in embarrassment. "You, the dignified Lord of the Cloud Palace, how can you tease me so?"

"You shouldn’t say that. If you don’t fancy Princess Guangping, you can simply deny it! But I know you, Lin Bai—you’re not one to eat and run." Zhuo Hua joked.

Lin Bai paced back and forth, grumbling, "That troublesome girl! I said she should speak for herself, but she insisted I do it. I’m mortified!"

Zhuo Hua laughed, soothing him, "Old Jiao, hey, Old Jiao, stop pacing—you’re making me dizzy. I agree, all right?"

Old Jiao’s face lit up with delight. "Are you serious?"

"Why would I lie? Guangping is a direct descendant of the immortal clan, her bloodline is pure, her talent and bone structure exceptional. Since the Immortal Lanling departed without farewell, neither the Blue nor Tian families have had any young members chosen for the Cloud Palace, let alone appointed as stars or inscribed on the Cloud Sky Tablet. This time, I’ll select some outstanding youths from both clans to join the Cloud Palace, so people won’t accuse me of favoritism."

Old Jiao clapped his hands in delight. "Wonderful, wonderful! I’ll bring Guangping to the Cloud Palace tomorrow. Thank you, Your Excellency." He bowed deeply.

Zhuo Hua waved him off. "Go on! Stop hovering around me."

Old Jiao called out in agreement, then soared away, flying from the pavilion back toward the shore.