Wayfarer

Chapter 592: Capturing the Traitor

Within the Heavenly Palace, the officials of court deferred to the Heavenly Emperor, Yu Fuli.

Yu Fuli thought for a moment before he declared, "Yin Shenhua is attempting to kill a Martial Aspect of the Imperial Court and has tarnished the Imperial Court's reputation. This is treason."

Yu Fuli's words finalized Yin Shenhua's crimes and confirmed the thoughts of many officials of Dayin.

The Imperial Court responded to all forms of traitorous behavior, though the response largely depended on Yu Fuli's mood.

"Ao Canghai!" Yu Fuli called out.

"Present, Your Majesty!" Ao Canghai stepped forward.

"How does the Eastern Quadrant deal with Immortal Emperors who have turned traitor?" Yu Fuli demanded.

Ao Canghai's eyes twitched. He could see that Xiao Nanfeng was taking advantage of Yu Fuli's strength to deal with Yin Shenhua. It was clear that the Heavenly Emperor intended to support Xiao Nanfeng, despite the fact that Ao Canghai himself was counting on Yin Shenhua to finish Xiao Nanfeng off. What was he to do now?

"Such traitors are to be caught that very day and beheaded the next for their crimes in order to bring justice to the world," Ao Canghai said in exasperation.

"In that case, I hereby mobilize the eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant to capture this traitor," Yu Fuli said.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ao Canghai replied.

"Yongding is Xiao Nanfeng's home, isn't it?" Yu Fuli continued.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"No Martial Aspects are to have their homes destroyed in the name of pursuing justice. Martial Aspects, your secondary duty is to protect Yongding from further damage," Yu Fuli continued.

Ao Canghai's eyes twitched again, but he had no choice but to bow down in response. "Understood, Your Majesty!"

"Understood, Your Majesty!" the other Martial Aspects said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Nanfeng replied gratefully.

"Princess Lingjun," Yu Fuli continued.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhang Lingjun stepped forward and bowed.

"You shall oversee the eighteen Martial Aspects of the Eastern Quadrant as they attempt to capture Yin Shenhua. Record what actions they undertake in their efforts to pursue justice."

"Understood, Your Majesty!"

Although Ao Canghai didn't let any of his emotions show, he fuming internally. With Zhang Lingjun there to oversee them, it would be difficult for any of them to try to move against Xiao Nanfeng.

"Are there any other matters of concern?" Yu Fuli turned to the officials of court.

Although many of the officials had their own affairs to deal with, there was nothing major worth bringing up during these rare sessions of court. Doing so might even cause the Heavenly Emperor to think them useless. As a result, no one else dared speak.

"In that case, let us hereby end this session of court." Yu Fuli arose from his draconic throne as a rainbow appeared underfoot. He stepped up onto the rainbow and flew out of the Heavenly Palace, vanishing from sight.

"We send off the Heavenly Emperor!" all the officials chorused, bowing.

Only when Yu Fuli had completely vanished did the officials relax, huddling together in groups as they discussed what had happened as they walked out of the Heavenly Palace.

Of course, many of them were staring at Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun, but neither wanted such attention. They flew out of the Heavenly Palace quickly.

Outside the palace, they found tens of thousands of soldiers waiting for them, the purple fur having vanished from their skin. They too had been restored to their former glory.

"We greet the princess!" The soldiers' eyes began to well with tears once again.

Zhang Lingjun was teary-eyed herself. "Generals, soldiers, my mother's reputation has been restored! We'll pay our respects to her immediately!"

"Understood!" The combined shout of tens of thousands of soldiers caused Mt. Kunlun itself to quake.

They flew toward the Palace of the Moon, as did Xiao Nanfeng.

All that had belonged to the Princess of the Moon had now been inherited by Zhang Lingjun. The guards outside the Palace of the Moon had already been dispatched. Although there were still countless formations within the palace, the generals and the princess herself easily took control over them all.

They inspected the entire island on which the palace was located, then modified the formations to prevent entry to any other cultivator.

The large, purple barrier that shielded the outskirts of the castle had been dispelled completely, revealing the greenery and natural scenery that lay within, along with countless halls.

Zhang Lingjun and all her soldiers arrived at the Princess of the Moon's residence and paid their respects.

Before long, Zhang Feifan had learned of the news and rushed over himself.

"Father! Mother's name has been cleared. No one will be able to tarnish her reputation any longer!" Zhang Lingjun leapt into her father's arms.

Zhang Feifan patted Zhang Lingjun on the back, his own eyes wet. "Yue'er's reputation has finally been restored. She's the kindest woman in the world, and no one will be able to ruin her name any longer."

"But we'll never be able to see her again..." Zhang Lingjun murmured.

Zhang Feifan shook her head. "Perhaps not in the past, but there may yet be a chance."

Zhang Lingjun's head jerked up. "What did you say, Father?"

Zhang Feifan frowned. He shook his head. "Nothing. I was too agitated and misspoke."

"No, Father, you—" Zhang Lingjun said, refusing to back down.

"Princess, why don't you pay your respects to the Princess of the Moon right now? We can talk later if need be," Xiao Nanfeng interrupted.

Zhang Lingjun turned to Xiao Nanfeng, a complicated expression flashing over her face. She belatedly realized that they were in an insecure location, that it wasn't the right place to have such a sensitive discussion.

She nodded, then paid respects to the Princess of the Moon's memorial tablet alongside her soldiers before retiring to a small cottage with Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Feifan.

She set up a few formations in the vicinity before asking Zhang Feifan again, "Father, what did you mean?"

Xiao Nanfeng immediately said, "I'll head outside and guard this conversation against intruders."

Zhang Feifan shook his head. "There's no need. I trust you won't harm Lingjun."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded in thanks and stayed behind.

"What's going on, Father?" Zhang Lingjun pressed.

Zhang Feifan gathered his thoughts for a moment before he got started. "Your mother and I met by chance. She headed down to the mortal world to have fun, only to be hurt by a spirit while off-guard. I found her unconscious by a stream and saved her. She was very badly injured then and didn't dare to reveal her identity. I was attracted to her at first sight and slowly developed bonds of affection with her as I nursed her back to health. We decided to get married thereafter."

Zhang Lingjun and Xiao Nanfeng had questions of their own, but they didn't interrupt. They continued listening to Zhang Feifan's account of his affairs.

"Just as we had concluded our marriage ceremony, a large number of imperial soldiers appeared and surrounded us. It was only then that I learned that your mother was a princess of the Imperial Court," Zhang Feifan said.

"What was your cultivation then?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Ha! I was but a mortal, whereas Yue'er was beloved of the Heavenly Emperor. She had countless suitors in the Imperial Court and plenty of Golden Immortal guards and supporters. I might as well have been the lowest of the low. There were countless cultivators who wanted to kill me upon knowing that Yue'er and I loved each other."

"And then what?" Zhang Lingjun asked.

"I was naturally imprisoned for deceiving a princess of the Imperial Court and toying with her feelings."

"Oh?"

"Yue'er did her best to protect me. In the end, the Heavenly Emperor himself learned of the affair. I might well have been the pariah of the entire Sieve of Heaven. The various Immortal Emperors of the world wisely kept their mouths shut, but were secretly waiting to laugh at Yue'er and the Heavenly Emperor for what I had done with Yue'er."

"And didn't the Heavenly Emperor blame you?" Zhang Lingjun asked curiously.

Zhang Feifan shook his head. "The Heavenly Emperor is no ordinary person. He cared little for my looks or for my cultivation. Instead, thinking that Yue'er would be happy beside me, he chose not to separate us. Instead, he even hosted an incredible wedding for us."

"His Majesty really does adore the Princess of the Moon," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.

Zhang Feifan nodded. "And so it came to be that I joined the Imperial Court myself as a minor official. Though many stared at me with envy and ridicule, I was happy enough to be beside Yue'er."

Xiao Nanfeng and Zhang Lingjun continued to listen.

"The day Yue'er perished, I was by her side," Zhang Feifan said.

"You were, Father?" Zhang Lingjun exclaimed.

"The Heavenly Emperor seemed to be dealing with some invisible existence. He had me hide within the red moon illusory realm, and your mother's truesoul perished in my lap there."

Xiao Nanfeng's eyes widened. "The red moon illusory realm? In that case..."

Zhang Feifan nodded. "Precisely!"

Zhang Lingjun, however, remained perturbed. "What do you mean?"

"The red moon illusory realm is particularly special. Any who die within will transform into a red-furred lifeform that populates the realm," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"What? You mean that my mother is a red-furred lifeform, now?" Zhang Lingjun exclaimed.

Zhang Feifan nodded.

Zhang Lingjun trembled with unbridled excitement. "In that case, it's possible for me to find the red-furred lifeform into which my mother has transformed?"

"No one has yet succeeded, but as the successor of the Taiqing Grandmaster, as the wielder of his praying mat, you might have a chance to succeed," Zhang Feifan said.

"I can't believe it!" Zhang Lingjun cried out, her eyes red.

"Of course, it's only a chance. I don't know how exactly you'd be able to do it. Lingjun, please do your best to attune yourself to his praying mat," Zhang Feifan said expectantly.

"Don't worry, Father. I'll do my best and work hard to cultivate so I can bring Mother back and reunite our family," Zhang Lingjun promised.

"Very well, very well!" Zhang Feifan nodded, sniffing. He turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Division Leader Xiao, please allow me to entrust you with Lingjun's affairs."

Xiao Nanfeng glanced at Zhang Lingjun. "The princess' affairs are my own. Please relax, Senior Uncle."

"I shall, I shall. Very good!" Zhang Feifan smiled, then turned to Zhang Lingjun. "Keep chatting. I'd like to head into your mother's room and accompany her in peace. Don't bother me, please."

Zhang Lingjun nodded.

Zhang Feifan departed, giving Zhang Lingjun and Xiao Nanfeng some time alone as well.

The two cultivators looked at each other, unable to help recalling the last time they had been alone together in the Buddha of Dual Cultivation's Phoenix Hall. Though the curse of affection between them had been broken, their feelings remained largely unchanged.

"In Phoenix Hall..." Zhang Lingjun bit her lips, her face bright red.

"I've forgotten it all," Xiao Nanfeng replied, giving her a faint smile.

Zhang Lingjun hesitated, her face burning. Those memories from that day had been deeply imprinted in her head. How could Xiao Nanfeng have forgotten them? He had to be saying this so she wouldn't be embarrassed.

"I'm afraid my avatar is in trouble. Allow me to meditate," Xiao Nanfeng said, leaving her behind.

As she watched him leave, Zhang Lingjun's eyes crinkled with warmth. She bit her lip shyly, then firmed up her resolve. "So what if I have to fight over him with Yu'er and Yaoguang? I'll do whatever it takes!"