Chapter Eleven: Going Out

This historical record also notes that in the southern lands, practitioners of sorcery and witchcraft cause calamities among the people. The imperial court often sends officials to suppress them, yet sinister cults frequently hold rites to worship false gods and absorb faith, deceiving commoners and collecting blood sacrifices. Demons, too, prey upon humans to advance their cultivation, and throughout the ages, the court regularly dispatches soldiers to quell these threats, conferring titles upon righteous deities to guard each region.

Shangguan Chuan Yun continued to read for a while longer; noon was approaching.

"As promised to my father, he would guide me each day, but the time has already come and gone, yet Shangguan Jin has not appeared. He usually returns after court, around dawn at the latest, but now it's nearly midday and he still hasn't come. This is odd—my father is not one to break his word; something must have delayed him," Shangguan Chuan Yun mused inwardly.

He put away the book, returned it to its place, pushed open the door, and left the study, heading out to seek the person who had attacked him with the paper doll technique the previous night.

This person had struck at him three times, using paper dolls, wooden figures, and clay effigies. Regardless of their motives, Shangguan Chuan Yun could not let such an affront go unpunished, especially without knowing the attacker’s true cultivation. By now, the Daoist must have realized his failure and grown wary, but he had left behind his belongings; unless he possessed extraordinary concealment skills, he could not escape Shangguan Chuan Yun's pursuit.

As Shangguan Chuan Yun walked through the marquis’s residence, he noticed everyone wore anxious faces, hurried and fearful. He found it strange, yet not entirely unexpected; perhaps it had something to do with him, though he sensed no danger, so he thought little of it.

Steeling himself to leave, he suddenly felt as though something was watching him. Casually glancing ahead, his spiritual senses picked up a sneaky child hiding behind a tree, peeking at him. When the child saw Shangguan Chuan Yun glance over, he quickly ducked behind the tree.

Shangguan Chuan Yun could not help but smile inwardly, recognizing his younger brother, Shangguan Qing Yun. He wondered whether their mother had let him out or if he’d sneaked away—likely the latter, given her strict nature. If permitted outside, she would have sent a whole entourage to follow.

The boy thought that hiding would fool him, but Shangguan Chuan Yun had already mastered the flying sword, making him especially sensitive to external energies, particularly those directed at himself. Though his sword was newly forged and not yet capable of responding to its name within the Three Realms as legends say, within a hundred paces, nothing escaped his awareness.

Pretending not to notice, Shangguan Chuan Yun walked past, but Shangguan Qing Yun suddenly sprang from behind the tree, arms spread to block his way.

Shangguan Chuan Yun tried to step around him, but Qing Yun intercepted each time. Finally, Chuan Yun asked, “Little brother, don’t block my way; I have something to do.” He then took two candies from his pocket, offering them to Qing Yun. “Here, two candies for you. Go play by yourself, and when I return, I’ll bring you something tasty.”

“Hmph.”

Qing Yun looked at the candies in his brother’s hand, feeling insulted, his face darkened with frustration. He demanded angrily, “Brother, you’re still using this trick to coax me—are you doing this on purpose?”

“On purpose?” Chuan Yun replied, watching his brother’s odd expression and thinking, “He’s always been delighted when I give him candy these past two years—why is he so upset now? Did I somehow offend him?”

“You won’t admit it?” Qing Yun grew angrier at his brother’s feigned innocence. He once thought his brother dull and slow, always moved by his gifts of candy. But now he realized Chuan Yun had just been treating him like a child. If not for yesterday’s revelation that his brother knew martial arts, he would still be in the dark. The thought made him feel wronged, and tears pooled in his eyes.

Seeing his brother so aggrieved and on the verge of tears, Chuan Yun felt puzzled. He examined the candies in his hand—they were homemade and tastier than anything else in this world. Was there something wrong with them? He unwrapped one and tasted it.

“Mm, very sweet, delicious, with a hint of nuts. Nothing wrong here.”

Qing Yun watched as Chuan Yun ate the candy, feeling even more wronged. Tears spilled from his eyes as he recalled being treated like a toy by their mother. His brother was his only solace, and he had always resolved to care for him. Yet Chuan Yun had been feigning ignorance, treating him like a child. If not for his brother’s display of prowess yesterday, Qing Yun would still be deceived. The more he thought, the more aggrieved he felt, tears streaming down his face.

“Waa…” he finally burst into tears. Chuan Yun, bewildered, wondered what he had done to provoke him—he hadn’t hurt him, he’d even given him candy. Why was he crying? He asked, “What’s wrong? Who upset you?”

Page 1/3

“Wuu… you… wuu… you’re a liar… wuu…” Qing Yun sobbed.

“How did I deceive you?” Chuan Yun was utterly perplexed.

“You lied to me. You know martial arts but never told me, and you always go out alone and never take me along. You treat me like a child, always coaxing me.” He cried harder.

Chuan Yun thought for a moment and understood. Every time Qing Yun came to play, he’d give him treats, and Qing Yun always seemed happy. He never wanted to disappoint him; though his reputation was notorious, his little brother never mentioned it, always showing joy in his presence.

But he had never concealed his martial training; even his sword, the Three-foot Azure Blade, had been procured by Qing Yun after much effort. He hadn’t hidden his sword cultivation from him.

Chuan Yun felt both moved and amused. “I never hid my training from you. Didn’t you see it?”

“You just stood there motionless, who’d know you were training? You did the same thing every day—just stood there. You call that not hiding it?” Qing Yun glared at him, clearly unconvinced.

“You never asked, though.” Chuan Yun felt wrongly accused—he hadn’t concealed anything; had Qing Yun asked, he would have told him.

Qing Yun realized he hadn’t asked, but still felt deceived, his lips quivering, ready to cry again.

Chuan Yun grew anxious; he had matters to attend to, and if Qing Yun kept crying, he wouldn’t know what to do. He quickly said, “Alright, alright, you win. What do you want me to do?”

Qing Yun thought for a while, seeing his brother with a bundle, ready to go out. He said, “Unless you take me out to play, I won’t forgive you.”

“No.” Chuan Yun immediately refused. He was going to confront trouble, not to sightsee—bringing Qing Yun would only be a hindrance. “I have things to do this time; I’ll bring you next time.”

Qing Yun felt even more wronged—he was no longer angry, yet his brother still wouldn’t take him out. Tears welled up again, ready to burst.

Chuan Yun saw he was determined to oppose him today. He considered that now he had mastered the flying sword, and the attacker from last night was only his equal before the sword was forged. Now, his speed was unmatched. If danger arose, he could always escape with his brother. Seeing Qing Yun about to cry, he quickly said, “Fine, I’ll take you out.”

Qing Yun’s tears halted instantly, his wide eyes fixed on Chuan Yun, waiting for instructions. Chuan Yun added, “But you mustn’t run off—you have to listen to me. Otherwise, I won’t take you out again.”

“Alright, I promise to behave.” Instantly, the tears vanished, and he spoke solemnly, as if he’d never cried.

Chuan Yun watched his brother retract his tears so quickly, feeling he’d been tricked. He muttered inwardly, “It’s not so simple—he’s learned all his acting from mother, deceiving even me.”

“Brother, what are you saying?” Qing Yun asked, seeing him mutter.

“Nothing. Let’s go, and don’t wander without my permission.”

He then led Qing Yun out of the Marquis of Wu'an’s residence.

Page 2/3

“Okay,” Qing Yun replied obediently. “Brother, where are we going? When mother took me out, I always stayed in the carriage—I never really saw anything.”

He looked excited.

Chuan Yun thought, “He’s been too strictly managed; after all, he’s still a child, curious about the outside world.” He said, “Today, we’re going to find someone.”

“Who? Will we play with him?”

“No, we’re going to cause trouble.”

“Who’s the trouble?”

Chuan Yun did not answer. He took out an arrowhead—found on the clay effigy that attacked him last night. He had wrapped it in red cloth and tucked it into his pocket this morning. It belonged to his assailant and carried their energy. As long as the energy remained, Chuan Yun could track their location.

Holding the arrowhead, he silently focused.

He chanted:

“Seven Lords of the Northern Dipper, all stars guard.
Source of all energy, evolving the Great Cycle.
Guided by the North Dipper, stars clear the path,
By decree of the Supreme Elder, let it be so!”

The arrowhead flashed twice, indicating a direction. Chuan Yun sensed it—five li away, east of the city, near the moat close to the city’s edge.

He remembered the area, close to the city’s exterior. The moat runs partly inside the city, and there’s a camp of imperial guards there—the Divine Wind Battalion.

There was also a detachment of the navy, heavily fortified and strictly guarded. The river connects directly to the Wei, Huai, Jing, Yellow, and Black Rivers—the five greatest waterways of the Liang Dynasty. The canal had been half-dug in the previous dynasty, resumed decades ago, taking a hundred years to complete, only recently brought into use. It oversaw local regions and monitored water deities across the realm, making it a first-class military stronghold.

From there, one could reach anywhere in the country with waterways. It was a vital artery of the nation. But Chuan Yun knew that this fortress was under the command of his father, the Marquis of Wu'an.

He felt a surge of doubt, thinking, “Last night’s attack was certainly not at my father’s behest—most likely orchestrated by the Lady of the House. Could it be that Lady Liu, or General Liu Xian, has already extended their influence into the Divine Wind Battalion?”

As he pondered, Qing Yun noticed his brother chanting over the arrowhead, which glowed and pointed. He asked, “Brother, what is that? Why didn’t you show it before?”

“It’s a tool for finding people. Through their energy, I can locate their whereabouts,” Chuan Yun replied, his thoughts interrupted.

Page 3/3