Chapter 389: Yang of Hongnong

Chapter 389: The Yang of Hongnong

According to Xuanwu’s records and the blind man’s explanations, this was a private token of the Night Emperor, akin to a personal seal.

It contained no special energy or legacy, nor could it issue commands to the forces; it was merely used by the ancient Xuanwu for sword forging. With this token, the other Four Symbols would cooperate with Xuanwu’s actions, and once melted, the token itself could serve as sword-forging material.

Perhaps in the eyes of the ancient Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and others, this token held little significance—beyond matters related to sword forging, it could not command them to act, nor could it speak for the Night Emperor.

But for the believers of this era, ignorant of the inside story, its meaning might even outweigh that of an “official seal.”

A private token! Could this be interpreted as “Seeing this is like facing the Emperor himself”?

Fortunately, the Vermilion Bird did not recognize whether it was a private or official seal, nor did she know what it represented.

But the intense aura of the Night Emperor, along with the carved patterns and star charts of the Four Symbols that matched the heirlooms passed down by the Four Symbols Sect, told the Vermilion Bird at a glance that this must be something of the Night Emperor’s, impossible to counterfeit. Such an object, shaped like a token—what else could it be? No matter how one imagined it, it was a solemn proof of identity:

The Night Emperor’s legacy! The arrival of the Saint!

If it were any other time, the Vermilion Bird might have knelt, but happening with Zhao Changhe, she had developed some resistance. After all, she had suspected him before, and later San Niang said it wasn’t so. Though Guigui wasn’t always reliable, the Vermilion Bird still trusted her judgment in matters of knowledge.

She cautiously stepped back two paces and asked again: “Is this the Night Emperor’s command?”

Zhao Changhe said, “Yes, but I don’t have his legacy. I’m not a saint. I’m not fooling you.”

The Vermilion Bird’s eyes darted, and she deliberately said sternly, “Then you dare to pull it out like this? Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you and take it?”

Zhao Changhe replied calmly, “For a sect with faith, what you should do is get to the bottom of this. Killing me won’t help; it might even block your path to truth and closeness to the divine.”

This young man spoke more and more reasonably, with courage and bearing… Unfortunately, that courage and bearing were directed at the villain, and that villain was me—boohoo.

The Vermilion Bird didn’t know whether to be pleased or angry. Expressionless, she said, “Couldn’t I just capture you and study you slowly?”

Tang Wanzhuang’s voice finally came coldly: “Vermilion Bird, do you really think that with a breakthrough, you can flaunt your power before me?”

The Vermilion Bird clenched her fists and stared back coldly.

Tang Wanzhuang dismounted and stood in front of Zhao Changhe.

Both suddenly recalled the past… In the flames of the Luo Family Village, it seemed Tang Wanzhuang had coldly watched Zhao Changhe then, while the Vermilion Bird had stood before him.

Both their expressions turned somewhat strange.

Wait… I’m after you, not Zhao Changhe. Why are you standing in front of him, playing the protector?

Zhao Changhe sighed and said, “Alright, Venerable One. For the sake of Chichi, Huangfu, and San Niang, I don’t need you to capture me. When I have time, I’ll naturally explain this matter to the Four Symbols Sect. Just stop blocking the way and causing trouble, okay?”

The Vermilion Bird’s brows beneath her mask nearly shot up: “What does San Niang have to do with this?”

Zhao Changhe: “?”

Is this the key point you’re focusing on? Are you really the Vermilion Bird?

Then an even more sinister voice came from behind: “What’s going on between you and Huangfu Qing? How can you be with her!”

Zhao Changhe: “…”

The Vermilion Bird’s gaze fiercely fixed on Tang Wanzhuang’s face, and she suddenly smiled: “Well, I don’t know what Huangfu Qing has to do with this, but why can’t he be with her? … Anyway, what Young Master Zhao says makes sense. Coercion is meaningless here. I’ll go back and have Huangfu Qing come to take over this situation and clarify the matter of the Night Emperor’s token. As for whether he can be with her, let Head Tang enlighten me. Farewell.”

With a “whoosh,” the fierce Vermilion Bird vanished.

She had given a reason for Huangfu Qing to appear in Hongnong. How wonderful.

The Vermilion Bird’s identity made her his enemy, and that wary, guarded look was driving her mad. Let her switch roles and see how she could infuriate that pretentious, repressed fool!

The Vermilion Bird’s mood suddenly became very good.

With a change of identity, the sky was the limit. Even the matter of him having the Night Emperor’s token turned into something good—a man outside the sect having the Night Emperor’s token versus my man having it—were those the same feeling?

The Vermilion Bird almost didn’t want to be the Vermilion Bird anymore. It was useless except for showing off, and even that was thwarted by the dead man pulling out a token. Huangfu Qing was so much better—she could ask him anything, get answers, kiss him, and even infuriate Tang Wanzhuang.

On her way back, the Vermilion Bird had already planned how to annoy Tang Wanzhuang later… You’re so aloof, unwilling to marry into the royal family, huh? Hehe.

Over there, Tang Wanzhuang glared fiercely at Zhao Changhe and repeated, “What’s going on between you and Huangfu Qing?”

Zhao Changhe hung his head, unable to answer. I repelled the Vermilion Bird with a token, and you have no reaction, but you react this much to that?

Tang Wanzhuang grabbed his collar angrily: “Huangfu Qing is an imperial consort!”

Zhao Changhe said helplessly, “If she weren’t an imperial consort, would you agree?”

“If she weren’t, I wouldn’t care who you find… No!” Tang Wanzhuang fumed, “You can’t find anyone, especially not Huangfu Qing!”

“Sob…” Baoqin, cradled in her arms, slowly woke up. Seeing she was in Tang Wanzhuang’s embrace, she breathed a huge sigh of relief and then burst into tears: “Miss, the Vermilion Bird was so fierce! She stole my horse! Avenge me, boohoo…”

“There, there, Baoqin.” Tang Wanzhuang quickly comforted her. “Evil cults will come to no good end. When the court destroys the Four Symbols Sect, I’ll capture the Vermilion Bird and bring her before you. You can beat her as much as you like, okay?”

Zhao Changhe didn’t want to comment on the likelihood of that dream coming true. He only silently thanked Baoqin in his heart.

Good thing you changed the subject, or I’d be dead now…

…

Along the way, Tang Wanzhuang held Baoqin and rode together on one horse. Until they reached Hongnong, she didn’t say a single word to Zhao Changhe. Even when they stopped for meals or lodging on the road, she kept a stern face.

Zhao Changhe didn’t dare provoke her further with any cheesy lines.

Just how badly had you and Huangfu Qing clashed in the past? It felt like you had some respect for the court’s enemy, the demon cult leader Vermilion Bird, but you were so furious at Huangfu Qing, caring ten times more about her than about the Vermilion Bird.

Actually, that thinking was a bit off…

In Tang Wanzhuang’s eyes, the Vermilion Bird had nothing to do with him; he was on her side against the enemy, so what did it matter?

But you and Huangfu Qing—what kind of relationship was that? How dare you have a relationship with her!

Amid these tangled thoughts, they finally reached Hongnong.

After all, from Xiangyang to Hongnong was only about eight hundred li, with flat terrain all the way, so it didn’t take long.

In fact, the day the Vermilion Bird stopped them, they had already reached the outskirts of the Yang family’s domain. Such was the absurd reach of a cross-prefecture, cross-commandery aristocratic family. When the two arrived in Hongnong, they were greeted with the highest honors. Yang Jingxiu himself stood ten li outside the city to welcome them, cupping his hands in salute: “Head Tang and Young Master Zhao have traveled a thousand li to come. Yang is deeply honored.”

Though he placed “Head Tang” before “Young Master Zhao,” Yang Jingxiu’s gaze lingered more on Zhao Changhe, his meaning clear.

This was a prince. Yang Jingxiu had come ten li out of the city to welcome him because of that.

Otherwise, Tang Wanzhuang might not have received such treatment, despite her high official rank…

Tang Wanzhuang, however, was not jealous. She felt it was only right. Seeing that Yang Jingxiu was willing to acknowledge this prince, she was actually quite pleased. As Yang Jingxiu bowed, she even stepped slightly aside to show she did not accept the salute—this courtesy should go to the royal family.

A loyal minister who had truly devoted body and soul to this country, the best crown princess and virtuous helper… Yang Jingxiu thought this evaluation in his mind and was about to say something when a servant rushed over from afar: “Patriarch! Patriarch!”

Yang Jingxiu frowned: “Panicking like this, what a disgrace!”

“No, the Imperial Consort has arrived, saying she is here on His Majesty’s behalf to congratulate the Patriarch on his birthday… She’s already near the north of the city…”

Yang Jingxiu’s pupils shrank slightly. The Yang family’s welcoming procession for Tang Wanzhuang and Zhao Changhe began to waver.

Whether this prince was real or fake, he hadn’t been officially announced.

But the Imperial Consort over there was genuine. Never before had an imperial consort traveled a thousand li to a subject’s home to offer birthday congratulations—what did this mean!

Yang Jingxiu apologetically cupped his hands to Zhao Changhe: “Young Master Zhao, my apologies. The Imperial Consort has arrived, and I must go to welcome her…”

Zhao Changhe twitched the corner of his mouth: “Go ahead, it’s only right.”

Watching the Yang family rush off toward the north of the city, Tang Wanzhuang clenched her small fists. Though her face remained silent, her heaving chest held a fire that could burn Kunlun, ready to erupt.