CHAPTER 41: 41. YOU WILL REVERE HIM AS DIVINE

Late winter.

The Lone Bamboo Gang was completely annihilated, and the Ghostly Cyan Robe Tower unified the area around Celestial Cloud City.

The "Tower Master" Hua Linglong’s prestige reached an unprecedented height, becoming the Crowned Queen.

Even the King of Shu specially sent an envoy with congratulatory gifts, and the surrounding Jianghu forces came to offer their congratulations.

Firecrackers exploded, splendid fireworks blossomed in the snowy night sky, and guests crowded Celestial Cloud City. The fluffy snow was compacted into hard, cold ice by the countless carriages going to and fro.

After midnight, Hua Linglong returned to the Ghostly Cyan Robe Tower.

This tower had nine layers, with the Ninth Layer being the residence of the Tower Master, also the highest point in Celestial Cloud City.

The Eighth Layer, however, was a heavily mechanized restricted area with mechanisms that were endlessly variable and extremely dangerous. It was said that no one in Jianghu could pass through alive.

Unless a cultivator descended from the heavens, no one could directly attack and assassinate while the Tower Master held the Ninth Layer.

Yet at this moment on the Eighth Layer, by the side of the corridor, there sat a man in a profound robe on the windowsill, his legs dangling as he gazed distantly at the human world’s fireworks, watching the lanterns reflect off the white snow and gradually fade to darkness as the world sank into silence.

The man’s profile was cold, his eyes deep in thought, though no one knew what he was pondering.

When Hua Linglong walked to this spot, no one accompanied her, yet she wasn’t surprised to see the man here.

Everyone in Celestial Cloud City knew that the "sibling name" between Hua Linglong and "Divine Dragon" Hua Rong was false; the "lovers’ name" was true.

Therefore, "Divine Dragon" Hua Rong also knew all the mechanisms of the Eighth Layer and would not trigger them as he walked through.

"Finally unified... like a dream," Hua Linglong stood behind the man, "But the world knows we’re not siblings, tonight..."

Song Yan said, "If I’m not mistaken, the drug’s effects have long worn off."

"Of course it has."

"Oh?"

"I know you’re not an ordinary person, you approached me because you need me, you have your motives.

So you need to strengthen our connection, only then will you trust me more.

And I too need to strengthen our connection, otherwise... even if you’re in front of me, you’ll remain elusive and might suddenly disappear anytime.

We both need to go a step further.

Certain things have to be done.

For the sake of mutual benefit."

A rustling sound came.

Song Yan turned his head, the red light from the unsnuffed lantern outside cast upon a full, vigorous body, a pure yet commanding face.

The robes of the "Ghostly Cyan Robe Tower Master," more unapproachable than hard ice, slipped to the ground, spreading around like dark leaves, and the elegant, slender legs stood like flower stems.

Flowers should be plucked while they bloom...

At midnight, the lanterns on the street finally went out.

Even Ghostly Cyan Robe Tower was plunged into darkness.

Song Yan turned, embracing the absolute protagonist of today’s events, the "Crowned Queen" who had received "congratulations from thousands of dynasties" in Celestial Cloud City, and stepped forward, avoiding all the mechanisms on the Eighth Layer.

The queen’s toes hooked the fallen robe, and feeling the man’s intense heat, she quickly rushed into the pavilion of the Ninth Layer.

The door swung open with a "snap", and with a "thud," the soft couch sank.

Night...

grew deeper.

Or perhaps it was just beginning.

...

...

A month later.

The cold winter had yet to pass.

Several fast horses came from afar, arriving at this border city of Shu Land.

The envoy of the King of Shu confidently reached the Ghostly Cyan Robe Tower, bringing along a proudly smiling envoy to visit the local Jianghu leader.

Hua Linglong sat with composure and elegance in an ancient root-carved chair, a quiet swordsman standing beside her, with four keen-eyed, veiled female warriors behind the swordsman.

Everyone in Celestial Cloud City believed that as long as these five were present, no one could assassinate Hua Linglong.

Because these five were the "One Dragon" and "Four Sparrows."

The "Four Sparrows" were four highly skilled female martial artists selected from the Three Cities and Twenty-Six Counties of Celestial Cloud. They replaced the original "One Dragon, One Lion, Three Wolves," and their role was not only as Hua Linglong’s guardians but they also secretly controlled the most powerful information system under the Ghostly Cyan Robe Tower.

It was said that these "Four Sparrows" had also received guidance from "Divine Dragon" Hua Rong, achieving rapid progress in martial arts.

As for the "Divine Dragon," he was known by everyone far and wide in these parts.

The envoy of the King of Shu respectfully saluted Hua Linglong, then saluted Song Yan beside her, and proceeded to speak with a smile, "Tower Master Hua, allow me to introduce you to someone; this gentleman is from a loose cultivator family and he is here hoping you could provide some assistance."

Upon hearing "loose cultivator family," Hua Linglong immediately replied, "No need to be so formal. What assistance might you need?"

The envoy of the King of Shu stepped aside slightly, allowing another man to step forward. He offered a casual bow and said, "I am a member of a loose cultivator family, named Zhao Sisan.

Upon hearing that Tower Master Hua is the local leader of Jianghu, and Master Hua Rong is a man of extraordinary martial prowess, we hope that you two could help investigate if any strange people have appeared in the past year."

"Strange people?"

"Indeed, appearing in the recent year.

They might possess considerable brute strength, with a physique not likely to be weak.

And their behavior could be unsavory.

However, they might have arrived suddenly, but they’ve been extremely low-key, neither doing business nor mingling with Jianghu, yet they lack nothing in gold and silver and seem to just idly spend their days, waiting for something."

The man described meticulously, suddenly clapped his hands, and asked, "Have there been any disappearance cases? Especially... young, beautiful women or handsome young men vanishing."

Hua Linglong clapped her hands, and one of the "Four Sparrows" stepped forward.

Hua Linglong leaned down and whispered a few words to her, and the woman immediately took Zhao Sisan to the government office to check files and then to the tower to search through their records.

The envoy of the King of Shu did not dare to slack off and accompanied him all the way.

Song Yan squinted at Zhao Sisan, who was leaving in the distance.

As expected...

The so-called ceasefire agreement is bullshit.

What Loose Cultivator family, this is the envoy of the Nanwu Sword Sect, waiting for a year to kill the exiled disciples of the Demon Sect.

...

...

A few days later...

"Injustice, injustice." A man shouted loudly.

But soon, a basement was found in his home, and a girl who had been abused beyond recognition was brought out.

The evidence was clear, and the governmental officers stepped forward to handcuff him, but the man suddenly erupted with strange strength, and with a fierce rush, he knocked one officer flying.

The other officer stood frozen, and the man no longer cared, turning to rush out of the house, but as soon as he reached the door, he saw a sword coming straight at him.

The man hurriedly gathered his strength, a stream of Profound Qi shot out from his fingers, but only managed to slightly deflect the flying sword.

Swoosh!

The flying sword pierced into the man’s left shoulder, causing him to step back several paces and pinning him against the wall of the house.

The man looked at the flying sword and then at the Sword Control cultivator approaching, gritting his teeth, he said: "Nanwu Sword Sect! You treacherous scoundrels!"

The Sword Control cultivator frowned and said: "I am Zhao Sisan of the Loose Cultivator family, not of the Nanwu Sword Sect. Your Puppet Sect has done too much evil, and everyone gets to punish you. Pay with your life!"

Saying this, he formed a Sword Technique with his fingers, and with two swipes, the man’s head was severed from his body.

In the distance...from the sedan chair, Hua Linglong watched this display of cultivator techniques, somewhat secretly alarmed.

Song Yan was as well.

But Song Yan’s shock was not because of the man’s flying sword, but because...there was actually someone from the same sect hiding here.

...

...

More than ten days later.

A total of two Demon Sect seedlings were uncovered around the Three Cities and Twenty-Six Counties of Celestial Cloud City.

Both were very low-key, one was caught because a missing girl was found in the basement; the other because "living alone, doing nothing, yet having money, and when checked, got scared and fled at night, but was ambushed and exposed immediately."

...

...

After Zhao Sisan killed the two Demon Sect seedlings, he came with the envoy of the Shu Kingdom to bid farewell at the Ghostly Cyan Robe Tower.

"Thank you Master Hua of Flower Tower for your cooperation," Zhao Sisan said, taking out a wooden box from his sleeve and handing it over, "Inside is a token of our Loose Cultivator family. If you encounter any problems in the future, you can have someone bring this token to us. If we can help, our family will do so once."

One of the "Four Sparrows" took the wooden box and was about to open it, but Zhao Sisan smiled and said: "This matter is confidential, please let Master Hua open it herself."

The Four Sparrow hurriedly handed it to Hua Linglong.

Hua Linglong slightly lifted the lid and saw a Muddy Jade token inside, inscribed with "Nanwu Sword Sect" on the top and "Ghostly Cyan Robe Tower Hua Linglong" on the bottom.

She was momentarily stunned, but then quickly understood, closing the lid swiftly, saying: "Thank you, Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Sisan smiled and said: "It’s just mutual assistance."

After speaking, he bowed again and said: "Then, Zhao will take his leave now."

"Take care, Mr. Zhao," Hua Linglong rose to see him off.

By the time they reached the door, a carriage was already waiting with an old man who appeared to be dozing, with his head lowered at the reins. He was Zhao Sisan’s own man.

Zhao Sisan walked over to the carriage but suddenly paused, taking a sharp breath, and turned his head abruptly, looking with a faint smile at the swordsman beside Hua Linglong, and said: "Although I cultivated Profound, I have seen many experts in the Jianghu, but these days I keep hearing the name of the undefeated Flower Divine Dragon in the Jianghu, I’m really quite curious..."

Hua Linglong was slightly taken aback, then quickly turned cold and said: "Mr. Zhao, my sworn brother is not of the Demon Sect."

Zhao Sisan lowered his gaze and thought for a moment, saying: "Just one move."

After speaking, he looked at the old man in the driver’s seat and said: "Go ahead."

The old man suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing, his body moving gracefully like a falcon, as he stepped down from the carriage with a knife, addressing Song Yan in the distance with a voice that could not be refused: "This old man, Wang Siwu, requests to learn one move."

Just as Hua Linglong was about to say something, Song Yan had already stepped up.

One old and one young, approaching each other, each gripping a sword, each drawing a sword, and then...slashes.

...

...

...

Half an hour later.

The carriage left Celestial Cloud City.

Zhao Sisan leaned against the carriage compartment, asking: "Old Wang, you are a leading figure in the Jianghu of Southern Wu, was that man’s martial arts truly superior to yours? Was it really not magic?"

In his words, there was still a hint of disbelief.

In the realm of martial arts, to defeat the leader of Jiangnan in Southern Wu with a single strike, such a thing...is really hard to believe.

The old man said: "Mr. Su San, please do not doubt him anymore."

"Oh?"

"You don’t understand martial arts, but if you did..."

"How so?"

"You...would revere him like a god."

Zhao Sisan, or Mr. Su San, was momentarily stunned, then burst into hearty laughter, and said: "Such an extraordinary talent, it’s truly a pity."