Chapter 118: You Jiu's Principles
Days later, within a small cottage in a city in the humans' domain, Xiao Nanfeng sat on a chair enjoying the dawn breeze as he sipped on cold tea and studied his Taoist scriptures. He seemed to be particularly content.
Just then, You Jiu walked up. "Sir!"
Xiao Nanfeng put down the jade tablet and looked toward You Jiu. "Is there news?"
"My subordinates have found that the king of Qi has caught a few Taiqing disciples, but their exact whereabouts remain unknown," You Jiu reported.
"Oh?"
"The divisions of the Hall of Specters are assigned to different tasks and shoulder different responsibilities. You Yi has always been the one in charge of overseeing the royal family of Qi. If he's willing to cooperate, we'll surely get much more detailed information," You Jiu explained.
"You Yi? The strongest member of the Hall of Specters, an Ascension-realm cultivator?" Xiao Nanfeng confirmed. [1]
"Yes, You Yi's very strong. He's undefeated among cultivators at Spiritsong and lower," You Jiu replied.
"Keep talking."
"Sir, we've been traveling stealthily, but since I've begun reaching out to the spectral guards, some among the Hall of Specters have anticipated our arrival. They found me and asked to meet with you, especially You Yi. He claims that he wants to greet and pay obeisance to you in accordance with the clan tenets."
"Let them come, then. I'll await them here," Xiao Nanfeng replied, having a sip of tea.
"They may be coming with ill intent," You Jiu warned.
Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "You're my bodyguard now, aren't you? I'm confident you'll be able to protect me."
You Jiu hesitated, complex emotions flitting across his face, before he nodded firmly. "I'll do my best, Sir. I'll have them come by in two days."
Xiao Nanfeng nodded and returned to his scriptures.
After You Jiu left, Xiao Nanfeng looked appraisingly in the direction in which he had left, deep in thought.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye. As Xiao Nanfeng was reading in the courtyard, a group of black-robed cultivators slowly walked in.
"They're here, Sir," You Jiu announced.
Only then did Xiao Nanfeng put down his jade tablet to look at the seven cultivators before him. In addition to You Jiu and You Ba, there were five other men of varying appearances.
"You Yi greets the successor of Emperor Wei," a hulking man began.
"You San greets the successor of Emperor Wei!"
The five unknown division leaders were all respectful, but they seemed to be staring at Xiao Nanfeng with some ulterior motive in mind.
"You wanted to see me? For what reason?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.
"After the sect leader headed to the divine domain, I was left responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Hall of Specters. When I learned that you had received the acknowledgement of Emperor Wei and became his successor, I wanted to confirm it for myself," You Yi said, smiling.
The other four cultivators nodded.
"And after that?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.
"If you truly are Emperor Wei's successor, Sir, we will naturally serve you as our leader. While the sect leader is gone, you may command us as you deem fit," You Yi replied.
The other four men were in agreement.
Xiao Nanfeng manifested the Seal of Great Wei. Imbuing it with his genetic energy, it began to glow with golden light. The five men's eyes lit up as well.
"This is the Seal of Great Wei as passed down to me from a millennium ago. Do you recognize it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, smiling.
"Sir, may I have a closer look?" You Yi's breathing grew flustered.
Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. There were quite a number of red flags about these five men.
"That's not necessary. If you don't recognize the Seal of Great Wei, it's pointless." Xiao Nanfeng dematerialized the seal with a flip of his palm.
"Sir, I simply haven't confirmed the authenticity of the seal. I just need a closer look!" You Yi cried out.
"I think not. You Jiu, send the guests out," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.
"Everyone, you promised me not to make a fuss. You can leave now," You Jiu said.
You Yi's face suddenly turned cold. "Leave? We're going to make our move!"
Four of the black-robed men surrounded Xiao Nanfeng in an instant, each with a red orb in their hands. The red orbs suddenly manifested in the form of four flaming dragons that shot straight toward Xiao Nanfeng.
With a great explosion, Xiao Nanfeng was surrounded by flames.
"Sir!" You Jiu unsheathed his sword and made to rush toward Xiao Nanfeng, only to be halted by You Yi's sword.
"You Jiu, now's not the time for you to act. Your recommendation has done us a great service, haha!" You Yi laughed. His sword slashes, which came at You Jiu in droves, forced him to stumble back.
You Ba slashed at You Yi, intending to save You Jiu, but You Yi was so strong he could take them both two-on-one.
"You Wu, You Qi, didn't you promise that you'd protect the successor of Emperor Wei with us? Aren't you going to stop what you're doing?!"
Two of the black-robed men commanding their flaming dragons smirked, ignoring You Jiu. They had clearly decided to switch sides at this critical moment.
"You Jiu, you might be a genius at fighting, but your cultivation is inferior to mine. Neither of you are a match for me!" You Yi sneered.
You Yi was strong enough to hold back both You Jiu and You Ba.
"You Ba, don't worry about me. Save Sir Xiao, quickly!" You Jiu howled. He charged forward rashly and knocked You Yi aside so that You Ba could free herself.
"Got it!" You Ba rushed off toward Xiao Nanfeng.
"It's too late. These four fire dragons' strength are such that even a Spiritsong-realm cultivator won't be able to escape. He's trapped—and this is just the beginning." You Yi continued to pressure You Jiu as he spoke.
As the four flaming dragons surrounded Xiao Nanfeng, a gigantic blood-red bell fell from the skies, enclosing the four fire dragons and Xiao Nanfeng within.
"The divine artifact of Great Yan, the Red Dragon's Immortal Bell? How could it be with you—you're working with Great Yan?!"
Three of the black-robed cultivators were infusing their spiritual power into the bell, and the fourth blocked You Ba's way. As they clashed, You Ba was forced back again and again.
Within the bell, however, Xiao Nanfeng remained at ease. The Red Dragon's Immortal Bell was an astonishing artifact, but strong though it was, it could hardly stand against the Seal of Great Wei.
The Seal of Great Wei had easily suppressed even the serpent, and it was trivial for it to destroy the Red Dragon's Immortal Bell. However, Xiao Nanfeng wasn't in a hurry to do so. Rather, he activated Sky of Ten Suns at full strength, furiously absorbing the fiery dragons' flames from the vicinity. Simultaneously, he was attempting to overhear the conversations occurring outside.
"You Jiu, you're no match for me. Give up. You're a talented individual whom I admire, so as long as you're willing to be loyal to me, I can give you all that you want." You Yi fended off You Jiu with his sword.
"You Yi, you're worried about your subordinates, aren't you? Before you came, I had you surrender all your subordinates as hostages to my men. If you dare do anything to Sir Xiao, your subordinates will all die. Is that the outcome you want?!" You Jiu shouted.
"I don't mind. If they die, I can always train a new batch—and I have more subordinates than just those, anyway," You Yi replied, sneering.
"What?!"
"Aren't you curious how I managed to borrow the Red Dragon's Immortal Bell in the first place?" You Yi's sword technique was rapid and penetrating, and he was fully suppressing You Jiu.
"The Red Dragon's Immortal Bell is the divine artifact of Great Yan, and there's no way they'd loan it to an outsider—unless, unless you're part of Great Yan's royal family!" You Jiu's pupils suddenly contracted.
"That's right. My other identity is the eldest son of the king of Great Yan," You Yi replied.
"What? You—" You Jiu cried out in shock.
"The Hall of Specters was responsible for destroying the inheritance of all the major clans. Do you really think it was able to do so without anyone's knowledge? Five hundred years ago, the royal family of Great Yan discovered that the Hall of Specters had yet to be destroyed entirely, and it hatched a plan to put a spy into the Hall. I was the product of centuries of hard work, and had almost become the sect leader—but the old sect leader must have sensed something. He remained on guard against me, or I would have taken over before his departure to the divine domain," You Yi spat out, seemingly still aggrieved about what had happened.
You Jiu blanched. "The crown prince of Great Yan? No wonder you had access to the artifact."
"Not just that. The strongest cultivators of Great Yan are making their move outside, and your subordinates won't be able to help you. Give up now!" You Yi exhorted.
"The crown prince of Great Yan? Is that why you volunteered to spy on the royal family of Qi? You're intending to take advantage of the Hall of Specters to assassinate them and take down both factions?!" You Jiu suddenly cried out.
"You have good eyes, don't you? Once the Hall of Specters and the royal family of Great Qi perish together, I'll use the Seal of Great Wei to conquer the entire realm in the name of Great Yan. I'll unify the humans' domain—and all thanks to you, You Jiu, for reclaiming the Seal of Great Wei for me!" You Yi sent a sword slash at You Jiu.
"You won't succeed!" You Jiu rushed over, his sword moving faster and faster—only to be suppressed by You Yi's brute strength.
"I am foremost among all cultivators at Spiritsong and below, and you? You might be second. Submit to me, and I'll give you everything you want. I know who you are. Your father was once an important official of Qi, who offended the royal family by pleading for mercy for the common people. His whole clan was slaughtered, leaving naught but you. The sect leader took you in; you want nothing but to take revenge on the royal family of Qi. I'll give you that opportunity. What say you?" You Yi attempted to persuade You Jiu even as he fought.
"You know that much?" You Jiu cried out.
"Isn't that why you volunteered to guard the emperor's tomb? You wanted to get the Seal of Great Wei and use it to command the destruction of Qi. I know your motives and your objectives—and I do appreciate your talent. If you're willing to submit to me, I'll help you accomplish your heart's desire. And as for this man, Nanfeng, you must be helping him for some reason or another. He's about to be burned to ash by the Red Dragon's Immortal Bell, but that relic has the special ability of being able to collect souls. I can even give you his spiritual body. What do you think?"
You Ba, fighting some distance away, couldn't help but stagger at the offer. Her fighting gradually slowed.
Xiao Nanfeng listened to the conversation from within the bell, his eyes frosting over.
"You truly are frightening!" You Jiu cried out, spitting out blood as he was struck by You Yi's attack.
"You Jiu, by now, Nanfeng's dead. If you're willing to lend me your assistance now, all this could be yours," You Yi cajoled.
"It's a tempting offer, I have to admit, but my father was willing to die rather than give up on his principles. If I betray Sir Xiao, how will I ever face my father in death? The sect leader took me in as an orphan, and the first lesson he taught me was to keep my promises. I have promised to be Sir Xiao's bodyguard, and I intend to keep that promise. I won't use his trust in me to betray him, even if I have to fight to the death with you!" You Jiu cried out, charging forward and putting his life on the line.
His sudden blow tore a huge wound in You Yi's body.
"You Ba, what are you waiting for? We have to keep fighting! He saved your life—don't betray that trust!" You Jiu cried out.
You Ba flushed with guilt and embarrassment, then struck at another black-robed cultivator.
"Stubborn fool! Perish, then!" You Yi thundered.
"Even if I die, I'll do my best to take you down with me. Your subordinates won't live, either—and who's to say you'll be able to kill me?" You Jiu retorted.
The two men began to fight even more viciously than before.
1. 一 (yi) means one, with the natural connotation of top or first in this context. ?
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