Gongsun Xiangyang nodded silently, turned his head, and instructed the maid under the eaves:
“Notify the kitchen to prepare medicinal food for the young mistress. The more nourishing, the better.”
Father and daughter entered the study. Gongsun Xiangyang opened a hidden compartment behind the bookcase and took out a wooden box, opening it in front of Gongsun Xiu.
Inside the box, lined with yellow silk, lay a shabby and wrinkled purple ginseng. It was only as long as a middle finger, but its roots were dense and tangled, like intertwined threads.
Such a specimen was extremely rare among ginsengs.
“This Purple Jade Ginseng King is one of dad’s most treasured possessions. It took sixty years to grow as big as a radish, and another sixty years…”
Gongsun Xiangyang pointed at the box and said, “It turned into this, compressing its essence. It’s a top-grade nourishing medicine. When dad gets old in the future, he’ll have to rely on it.”
Gongsun Xiu glanced at it and shook her head. “Since you saved this to prolong your life in old age, I won’t take it. Your daughter doesn’t have to eat these sorts of things.”
Gongsun Xiangyang shamelessly chuckled twice,
“How could this stuff prolong life? This is what I’ll need when I’m older and want to give you brothers and sisters, so it’s a real medicine. Even an eighty-year-old man could be revitalised by it.”
”…”
Gongsun Xiu said sharply, “No matter how many sons you have, none will be a better fighter than me. The position of family head is sure to be mine.”
Gongsun Xiangyang grinned and said, “Still, I must have more children. If one of them turns out to be a prodigy, it would put some pressure on you. At the very least, they’ll be a few extra hands for you.”
Rolling her eyes, Gongsun Xiu accepted several tufts of ginseng root that her father had torn off, chewed, and swallowed them.
Family head Gongsun Xiangyang had been an interesting person in his youth: skilled in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling. Had his talent not been so great, the position of family head would never have fallen to him.
Despite his years as family head, his personality remained the same. Though one could say he was not always so carefree and jolly, but there was barely a trace of the so-called dignity of those in high places.
When father and daughter discussed the succession, they felt even more at ease and open with each other.
Seeing a flush on his daughter’s cheeks and her colour much improved, Gongsun Xiangyang quietly relaxed and said,
“Try to refine the medicine’s power, do not waste it… Did you encounter danger in the tomb?”
Gongsun Xiu sat down in a large chair, refining the burning heat in her abdomen as she said,
“My judgement was correct. The people who died in the tomb were not killed by the formation but by a powerful yin creature. Last night, we successfully lured it out and only managed to kill it after a hard fight. Had we met it underground, many would have died before it could be killed.”
She then recounted the events of besieging the yin creature to her father.
“Well done.”
Gongsun Xiangyang nodded slightly after listening.
“After that, we organised eighteen experts to enter the tomb. There had once been a massive collapse inside, ruining most of it; we could not dig up anything valuable until we reached the main tomb…”
Here, a flash of fear and lingering dread appeared in Gongsun Xiu’s eyes.
Gongsun Xiangyang’s heart tightened and he pressed on, “What was in the main tomb?”
Gongsun Xiu took a breath, “There was an ancient corpse in the underground tomb. Its era is unclear. We encountered it when we entered. It was extremely strong, sucking up the air in a vortex with just one breath…”
She especially described the terror of the ancient corpse, rendering all eighteen present unable to resist.
Gongsun Xiangyang suddenly jumped up, supporting himself on the desk with both hands, eyes wide,
“There’s such a terrifying monster in Yongzhou? That should not be, that should not be! If that’s the case, it’s impossible it remained silent for so many years. Judging from what you say, it craves blood essense greatly.”
The head of the Gongsun family was both shocked and afraid. Yongzhou was the Gongsun Clan’s base of operations; if such a terrible thing really existed underground, it would be a great disaster for Yongzhou.
Gongsun Xiangyang’s first reaction was to notify the authorities and have the Yongzhou Administrator submit a memorial to the court, which would then send experts to deal with it.
That ancient corpse would definitely be above fourth rank, eerie and frightening, perhaps even third rank. The court has no martial artists at third rank, but the arcanists of the Sitianjian can take care of it. In short, reporting it up the chain is the right thing to do…
That’s how a dynasty could rule the central plains, no matter how much the national strength has declined, it’s still far beyond the capabilities of Jianghu factions.
Wait!
His thoughts raced, suddenly, Gongsun Xiangyang realised something. He stared at his daughter,
“How- how did you come back?”
If the ancient corpse was truly as terrifying as she described, the person standing before him should be his daughter’s ghost, no, perhaps not even a ghost would remain.
“Because we met a master.”
“A master?”
Gongsun Xiu nodded. “It started yesterday at noon. I was entertaining a few heroes at Yangbai Lake. I happened to see, on the Wang family fish restaurant’s houseboat, a child accidentally fall into the lake… Daoist Qinggu said that was a technique of the dark gu tribe.
“So, I wanted to invite him to explore the tomb with us. Someone with such strange techniques would be more useful than martial artists inside the tomb. He did not agree, but before leaving, he gave us two pieces of advice.”
Gongsun Xiangyang could not help but narrow his eyes, seemingly shocked but restraining himself to let his daughter continue.
“One was, if faced with danger in the tomb, to say: ‘Have you forgotten your promise to that person?’ The other was: ‘There will be heavy rain tonight, remember to bring rain gear.’”
Gongsun Xiangyang immediately looked out the window. The drizzle outside was evidence that the master could predict the weather.
“What did the first line mean?” His face was serious, but could not hide the curiosity within him.
Gongsun Xiu did not answer directly and went on,
“Last night, after entering the tomb, we encountered the ancient corpse in the main chamber. It seemed certain we would die. I thought there would be no harm in trying that phrase, so I spoke it aloud. The result…”
“What happened?” Gongsun Xiangyang leaned forward slightly.
“The ancient corpse really did stop, and didn’t kill us.”
”…”
Gongsun Xiangyang’s pupils contracted almost imperceptibly as he analysed,
“That master had interacted with the ancient corpse? A promise… Perhaps it was because of that master that the ancient corpse remained in the tomb and did not come out to cause trouble.”
Gongsun Xiu nodded, giving an affirmative reply,
“The ancient corpse was sealed by that master, and the collapse within the tomb was caused by their battle. All of this happened less than a year ago. After that, the master appeared in the tomb and seemed to have a deep conversation with the ancient corpse. I could sense that the ancient corpse was very wary of him.”
Very wary of him, an evil and terrifying ancient corpse was actually very wary of him… Gongsun Xiangyang stared into his daughter’s eyes and asked,
“What happened afterwards? Did that master appear again? Do you know anything about his background?”
A look of reverence appeared on Gongsun Xiu’s face as she said, “I tested his identity, but he did not answer directly, instead he left a poem behind.”
“What poem?”
Gongsun Xiangyang’s voice suddenly rose.
“I received the Dao eight hundred springs ago, my flying sword never letting blood flow; No royal summon from the Jade Emperor high, so blade by side in the Jianghu I roam.”
I received the Dao eight hundred springs ago… Gongsun Xiangyang clenched his fists, trembling slightly:
“Xiu’er, you met a hidden master, in fact, a master who treats life as a game. This is a great opportunity, a truly great opportunity.
“Third-rank masters are as rare as phoenix feathers in this world, but those who reach this realm enjoy long lifespans. Over thousands of years, some will inevitably accumulate. These masters either remain in seclusion or wander the world, and even if you meet one, you won’t recognise them.
“To be acquainted with such a master, what a tremendous stroke of fortune! I always knew you were a blessed child, choosing you as family head was the best decision of all.”
His face was full of excitement and delight.
“Dad, before leaving, that master instructed us not to enter the great tomb again, and told us to guard it well and not allow anyone inside, especially independent wanderers from the jianghu.”
Gongsun Xiangyang calmed himself and nodded, “That is as it should be. Should the ancient corpse escape, Yongzhou would know no peace, and nor would we.”
Jianghu factions had a strong sense of territory. While enjoying their good fortune, they did their utmost to maintain local stability, for it was in their own interest to do so.
The court tolerated jianghu gangs; neither Wang Zhenwen nor Wei Yuan had ever deliberately suppressed them, and this was precisely the reason.
For a rule-abiding jianghu faction played a positive role in maintaining public order. What was the real source of instability? Those itinerant wanderers.
Those people killed a man every ten paces, brushed their sleeves when the job was done, and hid their accomplishments and fame away.
“To break the law with martial prowess” referred mainly to such people.
“But the Gongsun family alone cannot bear the burden. I shall pay a visit to Longshen Castle and inform Lord Lei of the tomb’s situation. Whatever happens, I must pull them underwater too.”
After Gongsun Xiangyang spoke, he considered for several seconds, then said,
“Send someone to ask at ‘Wang’s fish restaurant’ if anyone remembers that master, and then quietly make enquiries in the city. If we find him, I shall call on him personally. If not, we shall let the matter rest.”
…
Mist swirled, immortal mountains appeared and vanished, white cranes cried, and apes climbed the cliffs.
Bingyi Yuanjun1 stood atop a red-crested immortal’s crane, her robes fluttering, beneath her the immortal peaks mingled with drifting clouds. The crane beat its wings and carried her swiftly towards the main peak.
Before long, a majestic celestial palace came into view, partially hidden amidst evergreen forests, standing proudly atop the summit.
A flash of red light flickered in Bingyi Yuanjun’s crystalline gaze, and a scarlet ribbon came flying from afar, entwined around a middle-aged Daoist with a celestial bearing.
“Senior Brother Xuancheng.”
Bingyi Yuanjun’s red lips parted slightly, her voice as clear and cold as clashing ice.
“Junior Sister Bingyi.”
Daoist Xuancheng nodded, his expression equally frosty and aloof.
No further words were exchanged as they guided their mounts, magical artefacts, towards the celestial palace, eventually descending onto the vast square outside.
The palace was grand, eighteen pillars supported the high dome, and a red carpet led to the far end of the hall.
At the end of the red carpet, atop a platform twenty feet high, sat an elderly man in dark Daoist robes, white beard and hair, a lotus crown upon his head, seated cross-legged on a pure white lotus.
Behind his head spun a halo of four colours, symbolising earth, wind, water and fire.
On either side of the red carpet stood seven Daoists, both kun crowns and qian crowns, each with glassy eyes, their expressions cold and unfeeling.2
Equally cold and merciless, Bingyi Yuanjun and Daoist Xuancheng entered the grand hall, greeted with chilly formality, and spoke in the same frigid tone,
“Heavenly Venerable!”
Seated on the lotus dais, the elder in black robes kept his head bowed and eyes closed, seemingly oblivious.
Yet his voice echoed through the hall,
“Some disciples have sent word, Li Miaozhen has joined the world for two years, and has made a name for herself as Lady Flying Swallow, famed across the Central Plains.”
Bingyi Yuanjun said calmly, “To enter the world and then transcend it, very good.”
Li Miaozhen was her personal disciple.
The Heavenly Venerable still bowed his head and closed his eyes, as though asleep; his ethereal voice echoed on,
“At first, she championed justice, robbing the rich to aid the poor, and won herself a name throughout the Central Plains. Later, in Yunzhou, she organised an army to root out bandits, earning praise from both the Great Feng court and the common folk. Not long ago, the emperor of the Great Feng was slain, and she was present at the time.
“Bingyi, have you taught her to be a chivalrous hero, or a disciple of the Heaven Sect?
“Disciples of our sect who enter the world to cultivate must know their limits, they must not become lost in the mundane. Li Miaozhen has already strayed from the path. She is the Holy Maiden of our sect, the example for all of our disciples.”
Bingyi Yuanjun replied coldly, “Heavenly Venerable, what would you have me do?”
“Apprehend Li Miaozhen and bring her back to the sect, to study the Heaven Sect’s sacred canon anew.”
“As you command!”
Daoist Xuancheng looked to the Heaven Sect’s Heavenly Venerable, and said icily, “For what matter did you summon your disciple?”
“The Holy Son went missing a year ago.”
Daoist Xuancheng glanced at Bingyi Yuanjun, saying, “This disciple will descend the mountain at once to search for him.”
“Apprehend the Holy Son and bring him back to the sect, to study the sacred canon anew.”
A trace of confusion appeared on Daoist Xuancheng’s icy face. “What is the intention of this?”
“Since entering the jianghu, within one year, he has formed romantic ties with more than a hundred women.”
Daoist Xuancheng’s frigid expression twitched ever so slightly.
A female Daoist said coldly, “Heavenly Venerable, why not strip the Holy Son and Holy Maiden of their titles and select new candidates? Such disgraceful disciples should be expelled from the Heaven Sect.”
The Heavenly Venerable remained silent, head bowed and eyes closed, as if fast asleep.
Comments for this chapter. You will need a GitHub account. Please follow all terms and conditions of GitHub issues and maintain etiquette in the comments. Cookies are required for this functionality.
If you want to talk with other readers about Nightwatchers (or other cultivation type books) you can join our cultivation groupreading discord server!
I also have a Kofi, which for legal reasons is definitely for supporting my digital art only (promise!): ko-fi.com/yanxin ... plus I guess server space isn't free, and I don't want to put ads/trackers... ever, so thank you if you do!