The Journey of Flower - chapter 42

The next day, Hua Qian Gu and Shuo Feng visited Yun Yin at Mount Mao. Yun Yin reported that everything was fine. He promised to lead a group to Mount Tai Bai to help her.

Going down the mountain, Hua Qian Gu wanted to drop by Yi Xiu Ge to thank Yi Xiu Jun because he helped her find Taoist priest Qing Xu, which eventually led to her becoming Bai Zi Hua’s disciple.

The gatekeeper at Yi Xiu Ge was surprised to see that Hua Qian Gu had not grown older, still looking like a child from years ago. The gatekeeper refused to let her go in because she was not there to ask questions. Hua Qian Gu was not aware that someone in a black robe stood in the highest tower of Yi Xiu Ge and watched her walking away.

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Hua Qian Gu and Shuo Feng reunited with Luo Shi Yi’s group. At night, Hua Qian Gu sat before a fire and examined her necklaces: Tian Shui Di, the hook jade, and the bone whistle from Sha Qian Mo. The string of the hook jade was worn so she kept the hook jade in her sleeve. She would need to buy a new string before she could wear it again.

Ni Man Tian sat down next to Hua Qian Gu and said Hua Qian Gu should not have returned because she attracted demons and evil spirits. At first, Ni Man Tian did not realize this. When Hua Qian Gu left, demons and evil spirits also disappeared so Ni Man Tian made the connection. Hua Qian Gu laughed and said this could not be true because she already returned, but demons and evil spirits were nowhere in sight. Ni Man Tian doubted herself while Hua Qian Gu was thankful for Xiao Hong and Xiao Bai.

The next day, Luo Shi Yi’s group arrived at a city. The Emperor was visiting the city so imperial guards stood at the gates to confiscate all weapons as a precaution. Lie Xing Yun, the leader of the imperial guards, insisted that the disciples hand over their weapons or they would not be allowed to go inside. The disciples refused. The situation deteriorated rapidly with both sides arguing with each other and preparing to use force. 

Ni Man Tian was angry that ordinary humans dared to tell Chang Liu’s disciples what to do. She mumbled a spell and a fire broke out nearby. Lie Xing Yun became suspicious and wanted to arrest Luo Shi Yi’s group.

Luo Shi Yi conjured up rain to put out the fire then handed his sword to Lie Xing Yun. Ni Man Tian was angry that humans dared to treat her teacher with disrespect so she attacked Lie Xing Yun. Imperial guards immediately surrounded Luo Shi Yi’s group so the disciples withdrew their weapons to defend themselves. They could not use their power or fly off on their swords. Doing so would cause the situation to become more chaotic.

Hua Qian Gu decided to turn into a shadow and furtively slipped through layers of imperial guards until she stood behind Lie Xing Yun. She did not use the Emotionless sword for fear of causing serious injuries. Instead, she used her hand to squeeze his throat and demanded the imperial guards to fall back. She signaled with her eyes for Luo Shi Yi’s group to leave. Surprisingly, Lie Xing Yun did not care about his safety and shouted at the imperial guards to continue their arrest.

Lie Xing Yun withdrew his sword and attacked Hua Qian Gu. She stepped back just in time, but his sword cut into her sleeve. Suddenly, Lie Xing Yun and the imperial guards knelt down and shouted respects to the Emperor.

The disciples were confused because they looked around but did not see anyone who could be the Emperor. Lie Xing Yun carefully picked up the hook jade that Hua Qian Gu dropped and handed it back to her, saying the hook jade represented the Emperor. He apologized and let Luo Shi Yi’s group go.

The disciples bought supplies and left the city as soon as possible to avoid further trouble. Luo Shi Yi asked Hua Qian Gu about the origin of the hook jade. Hua Qian Gu explained her sworn brother Xuan Yuan Lang was Deputy Head of the Invincible Tai Bai Sect and gave her the hook jade. Luo Shi Yi had never heard of the sect, but he wondered about the last name Xuan Yuan.

Along the way, the disciples heard people discussing among themselves. Apparently, the Emperor was visiting the city because of the drought, hence the imperial guards and tight security. The Emperor was 20 years old but did not have concubines. Furthermore, he would behead any officials who suggested to him the importance of marriage and heirs. The rumor was he liked men.

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Meanwhile, Lie Xing Yun relayed everything that happened at the city’s gates to the Emperor. Lie Xing Yun said the owner of the hook jade was a girl, who looked about 12 or 13 years old. The Emperor was confused because he gave the hook jade to a boy, who should be about 17 years old now. He wanted to see this girl who had the hook jade.

Lie Xing Yun said the little girl left in the direction of Mount Tai Bai. The Emperor realized this must be related to the holy instruments. Recently, the monster and demon realms escalated their fighting with the immortal realm over the holy instruments. The Emperor decided he needed to go to Mount Tai Bai because what happened with the monster, demon and immortal realms could affect the human realm.