081. Clever Reversal

"You wretched woman, you do have a sharp tongue. You've saved people I wanted dead more than once," Yuan Feng spat. "Yet you dare to provoke me again this time. Who is your master?"

Yin Susu lifted her hand to smooth her hair, a light laugh escaping her lips. "I, the Ghost Doctor, never serve anyone. I only serve silver."

Yuan Feng frowned. The emperor had instructed that if the Ghost Doctor could be persuaded to yield, she was not to be killed—after all, another person working for the court would be an asset, and the emperor himself sought longevity.

"That’s good, then. My master wishes to see you! No amount of money is too much!"

Yin Susu raised an eyebrow. "Really? But you and I cannot coexist—I despise you."

With those words, she struck without warning.

She lunged forward, startling Yuan Feng, who was no master of martial arts. Fortunately, he had brought along Windshadow Guards, who immediately moved to capture Yin Susu.

But just then, something fell from the sky, exploding on the ground with a flash of dazzling light that left everyone momentarily blind.

Cries broke out. Someone grabbed Yuan Feng by the collar and yanked him away.

Le Qianxue, seeing this, let out a sigh of relief. It seemed her makeshift flash bomb had worked, keeping the Windshadow Guards occupied.

Master Huijue, witnessing the burst of light below, was equally astonished. "What was that? Remarkable indeed."

"It was just something I cobbled together," Le Qianxue replied, tossing her bow aside.

Yin Susu had Yuan Tianci waiting to receive her. Le Qianxue couldn’t leave now without exposing herself. She could only hope Yin Susu would fare well; there was nothing more she could do.

"Miss Le, you are truly skilled," Master Huijue said. "No wonder, no wonder..."

He sighed deeply, though his tone hinted at something more.

Le Qianxue sensed as much, but Master Huijue continued, "Master Wenzhi has been gone for half a month now. Who knows what has detained him so long?"

Le Qianxue found this odd. "Did something happen to require his departure? Could he be in danger?"

Master Wenzhi had said he would be back in a month; if not, it would likely mean calamity.

Thinking of this, Le Qianxue frowned. Master Wenzhi was somehow linked to Zhan Lianjing, but in what way, she could not say—it was a puzzle.

Master Huijue pressed his palms together in prayer. "If Master Wenzhi does not return, please come to the Thousand Buddha Pagoda again on your seventeenth birthday, Miss Le."

Le Qianxue was puzzled. "Why on my birthday?"

"Ah, because Master Wenzhi prepared a gift for you long ago; should he not return, we will deliver it to you then."

So that was it. Le Qianxue felt a warmth toward Master Wenzhi for having prepared a birthday gift for her, though it would be months before she received it.

Before long, three Windshadow Guards burst into the pagoda. "Search!"

Le Qianxue's heart leapt—she must have been suspected as the archer. If caught, she would never escape.

She quickly gathered her things, but the Windshadow Guards were already leaping up the stairs.

Each floor of the pagoda was open to view. If she didn’t move, she would be found for sure.

Looking down, she saw Redcoat Guards below as well.

Damn! If she went down, she’d be caught too.

Master Huijue saw the Windshadow Guards approaching and called, "This way, Miss Le!"

He triggered a hidden mechanism on the wall, and a Buddha statue slid aside, revealing a cavity.

She dove in, and Master Huijue replaced the statue.

Moments later, the three guards arrived at the fifth floor, found no one, and continued upward.

Le Qianxue exhaled in relief. A sliver of light slipped through a gap, so it wasn't pitch dark inside.

But the space was cramped, and her hand brushed against the uneven wall. Curious, she felt along it and realized, closing her eyes, that characters had been carved into the stone—a single line.

She waited patiently for the Windshadow Guards to leave. After a while, they departed, frustrated at their fruitless search. The capital would be restless tonight—who knew how Yin Susu was faring?

Master Huijue moved the Buddha aside, and Le Qianxue emerged, dust clinging to her clothes.

She stopped him and took a candle to inspect the cavity.

There, indeed, was a line of words. Le Qianxue read aloud: "With the Four Beasts as guardians, the world may be claimed."

Master Huijue was astonished. "What does that mean?"

Le Qianxue shook her head. "Even you don't know, Master? How should I? It’s just one line. Who knows if there are more in other such places in the pagoda?"

Master Huijue replied, "Each floor has a refuge like this."

The masters conferred, amazed that this had never been discovered, and agreed to search the other nine floors.

In the end, they found inscriptions in only four cavities.

Le Qianxue arranged them in order:

The Wang clan’s courage outpaces the tempest.

With the Four Beasts as guardians, the world may be claimed.

The boundless way of Buddha ferries all souls.

The immortals rejoice; peace for all the people.

Le Qianxue was at a loss—she had hoped for a treasure map, but these seemed to be nothing more than cryptic sayings.

Yet the assembled masters were delighted.

"The Wang clan—those were the ancestors of the prior dynasty, famed for their valor."

"Indeed..."

"The Wang dynasty flourished for centuries—what a pity..."

They fell silent, each lost in sorrow.

Le Qianxue realized the Thousand Buddha Pagoda was a relic of the previous dynasty; naturally, these masters were loyal to the old order.

While things were calm on her side, Yin Susu faced greater danger.

Yuan Tianci had just spirited Yuan Feng away, stuffing him into a barrel.

Yin Susu quickly shed her outer robe, and together with Yuan Tianci disguised themselves as night soil collectors, pushing a cart through the streets.

With Yuan Feng’s disappearance, the city was in chaos. Windshadow Guards searched separately, while Redcoat Guards came out from the palace to assist.

Everyone on the streets was subject to strict scrutiny.

Yin Susu and Yuan Tianci dared not return Yuan Feng to the general’s residence; it was too far.

Redcoat Guards blocked the way ahead, Windshadow Guards behind.

Yin Susu cursed inwardly—there was still a street to cross before they reached their hideout.

Yuan Tianci grew anxious. "What do we do? They're bound to stop us."

Yin Susu frowned. "I arranged a diversion, but I’ve heard nothing from them."

"Hey! You two night soil collectors! Stop!" The Redcoat Guards spotted them and moved to intercept.

Yin Susu and Yuan Tianci pretended not to hear, continuing forward.

The guards rushed over, swords drawn. "Didn’t you hear us? Stop right there!"

Both wore white cloths over their faces, as was the habit of night soil collectors.

Yuan Tianci quickly said, "Sirs, we can't hear well. Is there a problem?"

The guards glared, then opened the barrel.

A foul stench wafted out, driving the guards back several steps. Clearly, these two were genuine.

They peered in—it was truly night soil, nothing else, certainly no one hidden inside.

"Move along! Get home at once!" the guard barked.

"Yes, sir!" Yuan Tianci replied, pushing the cart away as quickly as possible.

Once they had crossed the street, the two of them breathed sighs of relief.

"Good thing we followed Xue’er’s advice," Yin Susu said. "Otherwise, we’d have been exposed for sure."

Yuan Tianci was still shaken—if things had gone awry, they’d have been caught.

Circling around, they returned to a secluded alley and swapped out the barrel—this one contained Yuan Feng.

Since the Redcoat Guards had already searched them, they wouldn’t be stopped again. Thus, they safely wheeled the cart to the slums in the east of the city, where Yuan Feng was handed over to their contact.

Yin Susu and Yuan Tianci spent the night outside, not returning to the general’s residence until dawn.

The city was in chaos that night. The Redcoat Guards searched everywhere but, just as with Zhan Lianjing before, found nothing.

Upon their return, Yin Susu did not find Le Qianxue and began to worry something had happened to her.

She prepared to go out in search of her, but at that moment, Le Qianxue was already on the street.

Because of the night’s search, few people were about.

Le Qianxue now found herself with Yu Zhiyang’s sword at her throat. Her face showed no fear—she had expected this day would come when she took this path.

Yu Zhiyang was the only one who knew her true identity as the Ghost Doctor.

With Yuan Feng captured, Yu Zhiyang would certainly suspect her.

She kept her composure. "Third Prince, if you mean to arrest me, do it quickly and spare me the pretense. If not, let me go—I need to get back to the general’s residence for my meal."

Yu Zhiyang’s face was a mix of pain and helplessness, but also anger.

"Why is it that every time I give you a chance, you throw it away?" he said softly.

Passersby stared in surprise, but with tension in the city, none dared linger.