206 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 206: Breaking Free While passing by the waterside pavilion of the Du Mansion, a servant noticed Xiang Shi Yan sitting there alone, lost in thought as she gazed at the sky. Initially, she did not intend to interfere; after all, the master had only instructed that no guest should leave the mansion. Beyond that, all other arrangements were to follow the guest's own preferences, treating her as if she were the host herself. But given the fact that Xiang Shi Yan was currently almost like a mortal, the heavy and cold dew of the Blackscale Region could very well chill her, the servant tentatively approached and called out, "My lady, the night is deep and the weather is cool. Do you not intend to rest?" The woman in white sat quietly with her knees together, her hands resting on her thighs. She had not groomed herself today, her jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, occasionally stirred by the evening breeze. Even without makeup, her delicate features momentarily mesmerized the Blackscale girl, who was gracious in her concerns. She nervously stuck out her thin tongue, "Shall I fetch a cloak for you, lest you catch a cold?" "Mortals aren't so fragile," the guest replied. Her voice was melodious, like a water droplet falling into a deep pool, clear and calm. A new arrival, yet she had heard the mansion's servants gossiping behind her back. This guest, whose true form wasn't visible at first, had been mistaken for a human intruder. But some had seen her fox ears and tail; she often visited the master as a guest. Something earth-shattering had happened, unbeknownst to them, turning the honored guest into a caged bird, with shackles on her wrists for all to see. Rumors, colorful and scandalous, spread widely, and if overheard by the master, he would certainly silence those gossiping tongues. However, the time this white fox spent confined in the mansion coincided with the emperor's campaign in the northern territories, sparking wild speculations. Perhaps she was indeed a side branch of the Jade Fox, embroiled with the rebel leader. Or, as some speculated, the master feigned righteousness to imprison his beloved beside him? Yet, from her demeanor, you would not see a prisoner at all. Without the magical shackles, it was as if she was merely visiting. Though said to be a fox spirit, she exuded no seductive aura when she calmly brewed tea and listened to the rain, appearing more like a righteous cultivator. Her charming, almond-shaped eyes glanced at the stunned servant lingering there, leaving the girl frozen to the spot, as if ready to say something. But in the next moment, she simply slumped to the ground. A man leaped from above the pavilion with a frown. "Waited all night, why aren't you gone yet?" Sixty years had passed since Li Kai last saw Xiang Shi Yan, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. "Junior sister, you're really hard to find!" Indeed, she was hard to find. Despite Xiang Shi Yan’s efforts to conceal her whereabouts, Li Kai had doggedly tracked her all the way to the demon realm. His search was truly arduous. "All these years, you've been locked up here? Did they harm you?" Li Kai anxiously shook her shoulders, his eyes reddening at the sight of the jingling chains. "Scoundrels… You've suffered greatly all this time. It's my fault for coming late. Watch as I—" Xiang Shi Yan raised a hand to halt his lament. "These chains are imbued with the demon king's power. You can't break them; you'll only alarm them. The girl will change shifts in a quarter hour. We must leave before they come looking." Li Kai, half-distraught, nodded hastily, his eyes still red. Strangely, although he sensed several nascent soul-level guards within the Du Mansion, and was prepared for a fierce battle, Xiang Shi Yan persistently urged him to leave quickly, disregarding them. As Li Kai glanced back, he locked eyes with a female guard in the tree canopy, who promptly looked away as though she’d seen nothing, allowing him to take Xiang Shi Yan over the high walls of Du Mansion. It was bewildering… Earlier, from Xiang Shi Yan’s secret message, written as if each character bled sorrow, he assumed she was brutally tormented. Yet upon arriving for the rescue, he found servants tending to her every need. The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the woman he’d glimpsed was not a demon at all. The Blackscale army, directly under the demon king, had been dispatched north during the Jade Fox rebellion half a year ago and remained to deter Su Bo Yuan’s forces. With the city’s defenses now lax, Li Kai somehow acquired a map of the city's defenses, effortlessly leading the powerless Xiang Shi Yan over the city walls, bypassing flight restrictions, and slipping out of the city. He didn’t dare stop until they were far out of sight of Mo Jia City. "Junior sister, you’ve had such a hard time. Those demon women are intolerable bullies!" As soon as they landed, Li Kai wanted to question Xiang Shi Yan about her disappearance and the many bizarre details along the way. But seeing his junior sister's dazed expression, sorrow welled up within him again. "Outrageous! Once we safely return to Jade Green Mountain, they must give us an explanation!" "No need for explanations, nor will we return to Jade Green Mountain." Xiang Shi Yan glanced up to the sky, mumbling, "...What time is it now?" Li Kai's lips quivered slightly. The woman before him, though unchanged in appearance from the past, seemed burdened with thoughts, as if suffering unthinkable torments, making her look entirely different from the composed person she used to be. "…About the crowing time, why?" he asked, his voice suddenly tender. The woman hesitated, having sent out two secret messages: one to Li Kai, who tracked her to the demon lands. She instructed him to follow her directives, ensuring he arrived at the virtually unguarded Du Mansion tonight, no earlier than the crowing time. Li Kai was like a brother to her, and she used the secret code they had created as children, which he could easily recognize and trust. The other letter went to Long Rui Qing, requesting its delivery to the Zhu family head. Along with the message, she sent a token—a jade inscribed with a crane. Originally given to Gong Ning to command the people of Pine Crane Hall, it resurfaced in Zhu Yun’s possession when she found her mother’s belongings after Gong Ning’s death. This object forged a bond between them as master and student. Xiang Shi Yan promised the sisters three favors in return: first, to help them leave the Zhu family; second, to accept them as disciples; third, to not obstruct their return to Huaihai City if they chose to go back. When leaving Huaihai City to search for Qin Miao, Zhu Yun returned the now-honorific-less token to Xiang Shi Yan without any contract. She simply stated, "This item represents us, the sisters, and we wish always to remain by Shizun's side." Thus, it became the only item Xiang Shi Yan took with her when she fled Jade Green Mountain. Upon leaving, she entrusted the safety of Huai Ye to He He, betting on his past affections to save her. She left the well-maintained Mo Bamboo Peak and her accumulated resources, including the protective jade pendant she once loaned to her disciple, to He He, confident that worldly possessions held no real attachment for her. Only the crane motif jade, symbolizing the twins, did she keep. She couldn’t trust their fate to He He’s vengeful nature, fearing the black dragon might exploit the innocent sisters. The deadline she set with Zhu Yun and Zhu Yu was before midnight. If they couldn’t arrive by then, there’d be no need to come; this made room for warnings to the elder brothers if the sisters needed to retract their efforts. Those children had grown up, and Xiang Shi Yan trusted they were capable of making their own choices. That was their decision. She gently rubbed her neck, feeling the worm under her skin becoming increasingly noticeable—she even had to conceal it from the keen-eyed Du Ruo. The vexing feeling vanished suddenly like a pricking pain but Xiang Shi Yan visibly regained her usual composure. "It’s nothing." "That's good. Do you need to eat something? After such an arduous journey back home, you should eat something to tide you over." "……" Seeing Xiang Shi Yan fall silent, Li Kai suddenly felt an ominous premonition. Indeed, his troublesome junior sister spoke up, "We’re not returning to Jade Green Mountain. Brother, could you send me to the North?" The North… Li Kai was stunned. The northernmost human territories were managed by the Taiyu Sect and Huaihai City. Clearly, Xiang Shi Yan wasn’t referring to that area, but further north—to the demon’s northern frontier that witnessed a rebellion just half a year ago. The vast northern snowfields divided into sections—where the demon emperor’s forces were stationed—to integrate the rebels and finally judge the now-fallen Jade Fox family. The tiger clan, dispatched to suppress the rebellion, resented their victory being seized and lingered stubbornly, sparring with the demon emperor’s troops. Temporarily, the once-peaceful northern region had become the most tumultuous in the entire demon realm. And now Xiang Shi Yan wanted to go there? "Junior sister, why did you… Why did you disappear without reason? How did you get here? And why… are you so unfazed?" "How many years has it been since you stepped down as sect leader?" Xiang Shi Yan countered suddenly. Li Kai was caught off guard. "It's been many years, currently, Shizun is assisting that young Huai Ye." Before Xiang Shi Yan could respond, Li Kai's expression suddenly changed. "Could it be that Shizun, knowing she can't achieve immortality, set her sights on Huai Ye instead? First, she schemed against you, then feigned a retreat to secretly elevate Huai Ye, guiding me—the last one in the know—to resign and wander, taking advantage of the opportunity to seize a rare celestial body! Shizun is after all a cultivator at the Transformation stage—rather formidable for us to contend with." Strangely, even though it was an unfounded accusation against her teacher Lian Long, Xiang Shi Yan felt a bizarre sense of agreement, even thinking for a moment that such an outcome was plausible without He He’s involvement. Having traveled extensively with Shizun over the years, she was the disciple who spent the most time with her, yet her bad impression of Lian Long never dwindled, confirming her as indeed a relentless character. "..." Xiang Shi Yan was ready for a lengthy explanation but found her words stuck in her throat. "… More or less, though there are a few details that need correction." "Do you know what was discussed at yesterday's assembly of the thirteen sects?" she asked. Li Kai, having roamed for so long, wasn't well-informed about the latest happenings. He sometimes missed the confidential communications from the sect. While he heard of the recent troubles and knew representatives were urgently convened at Jade Green Mountain yesterday, he was clueless about the drama Shizun and her disciple were enacting, perplexed as to how Xiang Shi Yan, supposedly confined, seemed to understand the proceedings so clearly. "Despite all its troubles, the Taiyu Sect has been the foremost in attracting hostilities over the years," Xiang Shi Yan continued. "Jade Green Mountain, having been established by our forebears only five generations ago, gained strength purely by lucky strokes, like securing the Rift of Resentment. We've become a target now. Without Taiyu Sect as a buffer, do you think it's favorable for Jade Green Mountain with its shaky foundations?" Li Kai dismissed it. "You make it sound as if toppling the Taiyu Sect is easy. It's survived for thousands of years and won’t vanish anytime soon. Better to focus on securing our resources than worry about them being gone." Xiang Shi Yan's expression grew serious. "What if I told you that Shizun and Huai Ye were being manipulated? They are unwittingly setting the stage not for a suppression, but for the destruction of Taiyu Sect?" Li Kai ignited a fire from their provisions for warmth, and as the flames crackled over an hour, he listened intently to her. Despite usually being quite verbose, he was silent, eyes narrowed, as Xiang Shi Yan concluded. "So, you mean your disappearance was deliberate, part of a grander plan?" Xiang Shi Yan noticed his fist, poised to swing, freeze in the air before he set it down, tension in his features as he said, "You’re restrained in your abilities. I was afraid one punch could pop your brains out." Though skeptical about her incredible story, Li Kai struggled with disbelief. He He, whom he had practically watched grow up, couldn't possibly be some black dragon… Unaware, Xiang Shi Yan had omitted details about their complex entanglement and her true mixed heritage; the full story would sound even more far-fetched. "In any case, you're heading north, right? Wasting a few more days on you isn't much compared to these years," Li Kai glared at her sharply. "If you disappear without warning again, I’ll definitely teach you a lesson." Teach her? Her old brother still didn't know her cultivation had surged since awakening her bloodline, now matching his level at the mid-Divine Transformation stage, and potentially surpassing him soon. His domineering childhood antics were hopelessly outdated now. But He He wouldn’t grant her time, so Xiang Shi Yan had to strengthen herself immediately. "Lost her?" Li Chi yawned, casting a glance at his displeased second disciple. Du Ruo had anticipated Xiang Shi Yan wouldn't sit quietly in a cell; with recent events, she felt somewhat relieved. The confidants she groomed had long been infiltrated by Xiang Shi Yan's influence, making it impossible to distinguish trustworthy ones. Some people can't be confined—just like the birds passing by, they don't belong to anyone. Du Ruo regretted her restraint; had she known, she would have taken advantage of the time when Xiang Shi Yan lost her powers to really teach her a lesson, even if it invited future retaliation, it would have been worth it. Why must she adhere to her gentlemanly code? Regret as she might, she assumed responsibility before her Shizun, apologizing, "Disciple neglected her post, somehow allowing her to escape…" "'Neglected', 'somehow'…" Li Chi repeated slowly, driving Du Ruo to bow even lower before she suddenly lashed out at her foolish disciple's head. "Really stupid. How did I end up teaching such a clown, can't even seize opportunity when thrust upon you." "Ah?" "Still dare 'ah' me?" Li Chi chased her around the grand hall. "I kept her because she was useful yet you selfishly let her slip? ‘Neglected’? Why not go with her then? You calculated this window and whisked away the guards, huh? Let's see you dare—dare—" ... With two disciples: one useless, the other excessively competent, eldest disciple Xiao Luan truly caused trouble. He audaciously announced marriage to Su Bo Yuan at this time. Does he even see who he's matching against? Overreaching foolishness paying no heed to his old age. "...Thinks he's something else, marrying everyone he wishes. Self-indulgent, unaware of his limits, with hair nearly all grey, isn't he ashamed?—" As Shizun began her tirade, Du Ruo hastily excused herself from the room. Li Chi felt utterly vexed; she had accepted Xiao Luan as a disciple to stabilize the Feathered Alliance. But when the fledging first entered her chambers, she realized he was a thorough political animal—cold-hearted, unyielding, willing to use any means. Unfortunately, that realization dawned far too late… Returning to her quarters, Li Chi crouched by the pool, extending her hand as a plain black carp swam over to nibble at her fingers. In this spring, which brimmed with pure water essence, resided an unremarkable mortal carp—the favorite pet of the demon emperor herself. Quite the oddity indeed. Author's Note: Thanks to all the angels who cast dominance votes or nourishing fluids between 2035-02-08 07:03:47 ~ 2035-02-08 35:53:00~ Special thanks to the angel for nourishing fluid: Si Lian Bian Cheng Hai 1 bottle; Deep gratitude for your continual support, I'll keep striving hard! No pop-up ads, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)