Chapter Fifty-Nine Bai Yan

As Yanfei waited anxiously, the door to Bai Yifei’s secret chamber, where Li Yu was held, slowly opened. Two figures emerged from within—Li Yu, and a strikingly beautiful woman. Her complexion was pale, her face sharp and handsome, her gaze piercing and aloof, with blood-red eyes that carried a hint of wicked allure, just like Bai Yifei’s. She wore a sheer crimson gown, her three thousand strands of hair cascading straight down, her figure tall and statuesque, the heels she wore nearly matching Li Yu’s height. She exuded the aura of a formidable lady. Yet, the hand she held in Li Yu’s slightly undermined her icy elegance.

“Husband, how are you?” Yanfei went straight to the heart of her concern.

“No harm done. This is Sister Bai Yan—she’s now my wife,” Li Yu introduced her to Yanfei, then turned to Bai Yan: “Yan’er, this is my wife, Yanfei of the Yin-Yang House in the Eastern Prefecture.”

Finally, he glanced at Bai Yifei, sprawled on the ground like a beaten dog, and grinned broadly. “Son, thank you for weaving the thread of fate that brought Yan’er and me together.”

Bai Yan cast a glance at Bai Yifei’s miserable state. “Fortunately, it was my husband who entered the tomb today and suppressed the cold poison inside me. Otherwise, you would bear the blame. Hurry up and greet your father.”

Bai Yifei felt utterly defeated—what madness was this? His supposed mother now acknowledged Li Yu as father? Had she taken leave of her senses? Yet, the suppression of his bloodline forced Bai Yifei to bow his head, and with a low voice, he paid his respects. “Father.”

“Hmm. I don’t have any meeting gift for you, but next time, perhaps,” Li Yu refrained from teasing Bai Yifei further, fearing he might break under the strain.

“Husband, what’s going on?” Yanfei’s mind was in turmoil, eager for an explanation.

“Let me explain. Due to my cultivation method, I suffered backlash and was healing beneath this castle. Thankfully, Yu arrived—his Nine Suns constitution was just what I needed to suppress my injuries.” As she spoke, she gently squeezed Li Yu’s hand, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes.

Yanfei thought of something and pulled Li Yu aside. In a whisper, she asked, “What was that white light just now? Do you have a new avatar?”

“Yes. This time it happened in a strange way—I was in a trance the whole time, and when I awoke, I found myself in my avatar form. Conveniently, I need to visit the Zhao kingdom.” Li Yu’s calm acceptance left Yanfei speechless.

“So you’ll be together in the future?” Yanfei asked, still uneasy.

“It wasn’t smooth the first time, but I’ll be careful next time, should be fine.” Li Yu held her slender hand and spoke gently.

“Yan’er, will you come with me now or stay here?” Li Yu turned to Bai Yan.

“I have some matters to attend to. When I’m done, I’ll come find you,” Bai Yan replied.

“Lanxiu Manor, Yan’er—I’ll wait for you there,” Li Yu said.

…

On the way back, Yanfei’s curiosity about Bai Yan lingered. “Husband, Bai Yifei called Bai Yan his mother just now. Are they mother and son?”

Li Yu smiled. “You could say so. Their clan’s inheritance relies on vampirism. Bai Yifei’s abilities were acquired through Bai Yan. For this successor, Bai Yan killed quite a few people—not everyone can receive such a legacy.”

Yanfei asked, “How is the inheritance passed on?”

Li Yu gazed at her swan-like neck and smiled. “A bite to the throat—if you survive, you inherit it.” He absentmindedly touched his neck, where two rows of bite marks remained.

…

Lanxiu Manor

As Li Yu entered the great hall, the scent of roses wafted through the air.

“Yu, you’re finally back.” Yan Lingji, the little fairy, leaned affectionately against his side.

Li Yu glanced at Tianze not far away and casually tossed something. “Here’s the antidote. The little fairy is free now.”

“Whom she chooses to be with is her own decision.” Tianze took the bottle, didn’t rush to use it, tucked it away, gave Yan Lingji a glance, and said to Li Yu, “Treat her well in the future.”

With that, he walked out.

“I will,” Li Yu replied softly to Tianze’s departing figure.

…

On the streets of Xinzheng, the usual bustle was gone, replaced by desolation. Merchants shunned trade, and ordinary folk were lost in dreams of illusory wealth. After a year of toil, their earnings couldn’t match a month’s interest from the Universal Bank. Who would bother with real work?

Today, Zilan Pavilion was staging a public performance. Soon, crowds of idle citizens gathered. Tickets for Zilan Pavilion’s shows had always been hard to come by. Though virtual wealth had increased, tickets still weren’t something money could buy.

The performance was held in an open square, with a broad view and a temporary stage nearby.

“White-Haired Girl? What a strange name,” literate spectators wondered, puzzling over the title.

The crowd surged, some climbing trees to better see, others bringing tables from home to stand on for a clear view.

A sweet, innocent girl appeared center stage, and the drama began.

When the girl was driven to despair by the landlord and fled to the mountains, she sang:

“You want to drive me to death, but you’re blind!
Water that can’t be scooped dry, fire that can’t be quenched!
I won’t die—I’ll live!
I’ll take revenge—I’ll live!”

The scene shifted to her life in the mountains, marking days on a stone. She sang:

“No end to my thousandfold grievances, my ten thousand hates,
Ten thousand hates, thousand grudges, thousand grudges, ten thousand hates,
Carve them into my bones—remember them in my heart!”

The finale showed countless oppressed people raising their kitchen knives and overthrowing the landlord class represented by Huang Shiren. Only then did people realize—the mighty landlords were not so terrifying after all.

“Good!” Soon, voices responded from below.

In that rigidly hierarchical feudal era, such a work was like opening a door to enlightenment.

Li Yu had no idea what consequences might follow.

Zi Nv, perceptive as she was, quickly recognized the power of this drama, gripping Li Yu’s hand tightly.

“It’s alright—someone has to do it,” Li Yu smiled, stroking Zi Nv’s hand.

“Perform for two days, then withdraw Zilan Pavilion from Xinzheng,” Li Yu said solemnly.

“Alright.” Zi Nv didn’t question, trusting Li Yu unconditionally.

Three days of performances were a success. Since the nobility refused to mingle with commoners, they remained ignorant of the show’s content.

Early May

A group of grain merchants quietly bought up stocks in Xinzheng and even the Han kingdom. Grain prices rose, but most found it tolerable, with interest income alone rivaling previous annual earnings.

May 14

After months of trial runs, people now rushed to exchange their savings for glass trinkets, resembling a bull market frenzy.

May 15

A new store opened quietly in Xinzheng, no fanfare, just business as usual.

The sign read: Glass Craft Manufacturing.

Passersby were curious about the shop.

The first customer entered, looked around, and was dumbfounded. He stumbled out, astonished.

Others followed in curiosity.

Inside, the store was filled with all kinds of glassware—including the Universal Bank’s iconic emerald fire dragon, with over a dozen arranged in a row, each clearly priced at two hundred blade coins. On the floor, little glass beads were piled in baskets, marked at one coin each. Staff carried stacks of glassware from the back.

People weren’t fools. Soon, someone dashed to the Universal Bank.

The swelling crowd alarmed the city guard.

Han Fei arrived.

“What’s going on?” Han Fei grabbed a soldier.

“Ninth Young Master, several glass stores opened today with ridiculously low prices. People are rushing to exchange their money,” the soldier explained, then squeezed inside himself, eager to trade.

As the doors opened, people swarmed in.

They found the place empty—no manager, no glass, the whole room spotless.

Han Fei knew trouble had struck.

He stormed into Zilan Pavilion, kicked the door open.

As he expected, Zilan Pavilion was deserted, save for lingering fragrance proving it had once been filled with beauties.

“Fang Yu!” Han Fei’s composure shattered as he growled.

News spread through Xinzheng.

Many thought it a joke—most couldn’t believe it was true, having exchanged their savings for display pieces to show status.

Ji Wuye dispatched troops to surround the Universal Bank, then rushed to the back courtyard, searching for those millions in cash.

He found only a single gold coin.

In the well, soldiers found an underground passage—but hadn’t checked where it led.

“Go surround Lanxiu Manor. Send Jade Tiger to me,” Ji Wuye ordered.

He ran toward the Han Royal Palace.

As for Li Yu, he was at the former Sima Liu Yi’s estate, lying on Hu Ningyue’s lap, enjoying candied fruit fed by Hu Shuangxue, thoroughly relaxed.

“Mother-in-law, Xinzheng will soon be unsafe. You and Shuangxue should leave; Nong Yu has already gone ahead. She’s worried about you—let me persuade you,” Li Yu said, delighted by Ningyue’s shy demeanor. Of all the women by his side, Hu Ningyue always felt uniquely special.

“Yes, Sister. Yu risked his safety to persuade you—it shows how much you mean to him. Unlike me—no one cares if I live or die,” Shuangxue wiped the corner of her eye pitifully.

Li Yu pulled the little fox into his arms. “How could I let go of such a beauty? You’ll leave with Mother-in-law—we’ll soar together, live like immortals.”

The little fox looked up with pleading eyes: “Yu, you won’t deceive me, will you?”

Li Yu replied, “I might deceive the world, but never my own women.” With that, he kissed her deeply, and pulled Hu Ningyue onto the couch as well.

“Yu, no, stop…” Hu Ningyue protested shyly.

“Mother-in-law, it’s not the first time—still so bashful, adorable,” Li Yu gazed dreamily at the sisters, succumbing to their gentle charm.

“Sister, you always pretend to resist, making Yu so excited. Are you doing it on purpose?” The fox teased her sister, seeing Li Yu’s eyes turn crimson with desire.

Hu Ningyue turned away. “That’s nonsense.”

“Then why are you always so assertive in the second half, like a different person?” The fox continued to spice up their bedroom banter.

“Stop it, I can’t take it—Yu, love me…”

A dragon with two phoenixes—life’s greatest pleasure.

…

“Your Majesty, Fang Yu is a problem. I request nationwide pursuit of this criminal,” Ji Wuye stated bluntly.

“Father, the priority is finding the missing money—millions in gold aren’t a small matter. It must still be somewhere in Han,” Han Fei reasoned.

“I recall Fang Yu came with Ninth Young Master to Xinzheng—it was your recommendation, wasn’t it, Ninth Young Master? Have anything to say?” Ji Wuye taunted Han Fei.

Han Fei shook his head. “Nothing to say. The urgent task is to prevent a revolt.”

King Han An, beside himself, stood up and shouted, “Han Fei, this is the friend you brought?”

Fourth Prince Han Yu spoke up: “Father, Ninth Brother was deceived too—he’s inexperienced, doesn’t understand the treachery of the world.”

King Han An ignored him, waving his sleeve.

Zhang Kaidi spoke up: “This man plots carefully—what is his aim? Surely it’s more than money. And who is he really?”

King Han An, now furious, retorted, “You ask me? Isn’t it your job as Prime Minister to know people?”

“I am at fault,” Zhang Kaidi stammered, retreating.

The meeting deadlocked.

Until evening—

A bloodied general staggered into the hall, knelt before King Han An. “Your Majesty, disaster! A group of masked men stormed Liu Yi’s estate, killed everyone in sight, then set it ablaze. I barely escaped alive.”

King Han An’s eyes grew wild. “Where’s Beauty Hu?”

The young officer hung his head. “She’s likely not survived.”

King Han An erupted in rage. “Fool! Why come back?” He hurled a bamboo slip at the officer.

“Go save them!” Fourth Prince Han Yu ordered the young officer.

“Yes!” The officer scrambled up and ran out.

King Han An spat blood and collapsed, leaving the entire hall in panic.

Fourth Prince Han Yu exchanged a silent glance with Ji Wuye.

…

A tea house

“Have you heard? The Universal Bank ran off nationwide,” said an ordinary citizen.

“What about our money?” someone asked anxiously.

“My whole fortune’s gone,” another muttered.

“Wasn’t the Universal Bank backed by the government?” someone raised a key point.

“I suspect the court wants to keep the money and blame the bank,” another opined.

“Seems so. Now grain costs three times as much as before, and there’s no grain in the market. They’re forcing us to the brink!”

The tea house grew lively, everyone discussing the crisis.

“Doesn’t it remind you of the Zilan Pavilion play? Huang Shiren?” someone drew the connection.

“Landlord Huang Shiren? Are they forcing us to sell our children?”

“Has the government lost its mind?”

“Do you think Huang Shiren cared about Yang Bailao’s fate?”

“Well, true enough.”

“So what do we do?”

Someone slammed the table. “Revolt! Whoever doesn’t let us live, we’ll rise against them! If we don’t, we’ll die anyway.”

Another stood up. “We’re so many—why be afraid? Revolt! If we don’t, we’ll starve; if we do, maybe there’s a way out.”

The people’s mood was easily stirred.

“Right! Revolt! Kill one for justice—I’ve long hated these officials. Why should they feast while we suffer?”

“Let’s smash the county office—who’s coming?”

“I am!”

“I am!”

“I am!”

…

All across Han, people fanned the flames.

A spark can ignite a prairie fire—it’s not just words.

Extreme greed, terror, rage—the people’s mood swung like a rollercoaster, out of control.

Wild swings made them easy to provoke.

…

Douluo Continent

On an official road in the Heaven Capital Empire

After several days together, Dugu Yan was clearly more fond of Li Yu than when they first met. This witty, humorous younger brother always warmed her heart in the smallest ways. Compared to Yu Tianheng’s macho attitude, Li Yu’s gentle warmth was far more appealing, especially his otherworldly aura—a charm unseen anywhere else in Douluo, drawing her in.

“External soul bone—I know where one is. On the outskirts of Star Dou Forest, there’s a Human-Faced Demon Spider about two thousand years old, southwest of Heaven Capital Empire toward the forest’s depths. You could try your luck there,” Li Yu, recalling Tang San’s opportunity, shared this with Dugu Bo.

Such intelligent soul beasts usually have their own territory, rarely roaming—especially spiders, which are ambush artists.

“How do you know all this?” Dugu Yan asked curiously.

“I, the old master, know five hundred years ahead and a thousand behind. Small matters like this—I can divine with a flick of a finger,” Li Yu stroked his smooth chin, feigning the airs of a scholar.

“Go on, you clown,” Dugu Yan laughed, giving his shoulder a playful tap.

Li Yu seized her soft hand. “Yan Yan, after these days together, surely you know my feelings—be my girlfriend!”

“Don’t—grandfather’s right here.” Dugu Yan panicked, gently pulling her hand, but Li Yu clung stubbornly, so she gave up.

“Grandfather’s happy to see it—otherwise he’d have slapped me dead already,” Li Yu chuckled, glancing at Dugu Bo.

“You call him grandfather so smoothly,” Dugu Bo laughed.

“It’s bound to happen. Grandfather, you have a medicinal garden with precious flowers—you’d better guard it; those plants are valuable, don’t let anyone trick you out of them,” Li Yu teased.

“Hmm? How do you know?” Dugu Bo grew serious.

“I even know your garden’s spring—half hot, half cold. Quite magical,” Li Yu continued his mystical act.

“Only Yan Yan and I know that. Yan Yan, did you tell him?” Dugu Bo queried his granddaughter.

Dugu Yan looked at Li Yu, equally curious. “How do you know?”

Li Yu smiled. “I told you, I know five hundred years ahead—you just won’t believe me. I even know you’ll be my wife, my beloved.” He pulled Dugu Yan into his arms.

Li Yu had long wanted to hold Dugu Yan—the slender waist, the undulating curves, those smooth, alluring long legs. These days, he’d been craving her.

For Li Yu, blessed with the Nine Suns constitution, it was torment.

In the soft embrace, Li Yu whispered tenderly in her ear, “Yan Yan, I wish I could hold you like this forever.”

Dugu Yan had never heard such sweet talk—she melted completely.

“Don’t, grandfather’s right there…”

“Just a little while,” Li Yu buried his head in her purple hair, inhaling the fragrance.