Chapter 174 - ‘Return Quickly’
writer:一十四洲      update:2022-07-11 14:59
  Co-TL: Elanor; Edited by: Zaki and Animeart

  This Bonus Chapter (1 of 3) is for “[EUNE]One Autumn Song”. Congratulations for being one of the winners of the 10K discord members CG-Event contest. 🙂 Hope you enjoy it :)~~Zaki, Elanor & Animeart

  ——

  They stayed quiet for a long time. Ling Fengxiao looked at the distance, his thoughts were unknown.

  Lin Shu said, “Is your heart okay?”

  Ling fengxiao: “Actually, there is a hindrance.”

  Lin Shu: “What is it?”

  “When I’m in crowded places, the resentment is very heavy and makes my heart very uncomfortable,” Ling Fengxiao said lightly. “This is also the reason why I easily lost my temper at the camp today. I’m afraid I’ll have to stay by your side more in the future.”

  It doesn’t hurt for him to stay close by his side.

  Lin Shu said, “Then stay by my side.”

  Ling Fengxiao hugged him: “Why do I feel that after the trip to Northern Xia, you have become much nicer to me.”

  Lin Shu tilted his head, he did not feel anything himself.

  Speaking of Northern Xia, it was inevitable that the Great Wizard was mentioned. And when the Great Wizard was mentioned, it was inevitable to mention the eight peerless secret manuals.

  Lin Shu said, “Qingming Demon Lord asked me to burn them. And on that day, Young Master Chen of the Immortal World also said not to collect the eight peerless manuals, lest it falls in the hand of malicious people. But the Great Wizard, before his death, asked me not to burn them but keep them safe, and said……it would be useful in the future.”

  He took out the three secret manuals given to him by the Great Wizard.

  On the slightly tattered ancient books, one could feel the flow of Qi, and the faint power of heaven and earth.

  “Each of the eight peerless manuals reveals a part of the mysteries of the Heavenly Dao. Together, they would reveal the entire Heavenly Dao. If they were really gathered together, perhaps it could indeed overturn heaven and earth.” Ling Fengxiao said, “If that’s the case, it will be a disaster after all. Why don’t you listen to your master and burn them all? This way there will be no future disaster.”

  Lin Shu said, “En.”

  In fact, there was actually another reason why he kept the three secret manuals without burning them.

  Initially, when the Great Wizard asked him to collect the eight peerless manuals, it was for Ling Fengxiao. It was because Ling Fengxiao had the Phoenix Blood in his body. The Phoenix was a divine beast and needed nourishment of the Heavenly Qi to sustain itself. But now, the Qi vein was cut off and the mortal world was separated from the Heavens. If the Phoenix Blood was not nourished by the Heavenly Qi, it would gradually decline. Collecting the eight peerless manuals could save Ling Fengxiao’s life.

  The matter of the Phoenix Blood was true. The Empress also confirmed this. If Ling Fengxiao became the Emperor, then he could avoid the decline and death.

  At this time, he didn’t choose to burn the secret manuals, but waited. Because if the war between Southern Xia and Northern Xia will break out, and if Southern Xia was defeated, then Ling Fengxiao would not be enthroned as the Mortal Emperor. In such a scenario, Lin Shu could use the eight peerless manuals to save his life.

  But now that the Great Wizard was dead and the great power behind Northern Xia was gone, these eight peerless manuals might not be used again.

  ——As for the words of the Great Wizard, that it would be useful one day, one couldn’t really trust it.

  He thought for a while, and finally came to a unanimous decision with Ling Fengxiao — burn them.

  The three peerless manuals were laid out in front of them and Lin Shu lit his spiritual fire.

  The spiritual fire was a white flame and looked nothing extraordinary. But in fact, the temperature was very high. Even the cold marrow that was at the bottom of the ice lake for ten thousand years could be turned into ashes in an instant it was touched.

  But the three peerless manuals licked by the flames were not affected at all. There was not even a sign of a burn mark on them.

  Ling Fengxiao let out a sound of surprise, he then took the manuals and burned it with his Phoenix heavenly fire.

  The heavenly fire of the Phoenix family was hot and fierce. It was much more powerful than Lin Shu’s spiritual fire. However, no matter what type of fire was used, the three peerless manuals remained unaffected, as if they were only gently blown by the breeze.

  Ling Fengxiao frowned slightly, thought for a while and said, “Could it be Qi Luck?”

  Lin Shu: “Huh?”

  Ling Fengxiao said, “The peerless manuals have extraordinary Qi on them, which comes down directly from the Heavenly Dao. Although you and I have high cultivation, in terms of Qi, we still can’t compare with the Qi Luck of the Heavenly Dao. Thus, we are unable to destroy the manuals.”

  Lin Shu thought he had a point.

  What were they going to do then?

  He then said, “In that case, there is no method in the world that can destroy the peerless manuals.”

  “No, there is one other method.” Ling Fengxiao said, “There is a Heavenly fire under the blade forging platform in the mountain behind the Phoenix Mountain Villa. When I was a child, I heard the elders of the Mountain Villa talking about the ancient legends. They said that the wilderness around Liang Prefecture was called “Fertile Land”. The mountain where the Phoenix Mountain Villa is now located was the place where the Phoenixes have lived in ancient times. And the Heavenly fire under the forging platform was the fire used by the new Phoenix for Nirvana.”

  Phoenixes were innately Divine beasts that were closely related to the Heavenly Dao. Then the fire for Nirvana used by new Phoenixes may be indeed different.

  Ling Fengxiao continued, “Although it is only a legend, the bloodline of Phoenix Mountain Villa is indeed different from the normal people, and that cluster of flame is indeed special. I think, perhaps it may have an effect.”

  Lin Shu nodded: “Then shall we go to the Phoenix Mountain Villa some day?”

  “En.” Ling Fengxiao said, “The forging platform is one of the three forbidden areas of the Mountain Villa. Only the Phoenix Villa Masters of previous dynasties can enter. I will send a letter to my mother first.”

  \r \r \r

  Lin Shu: “En.”

  Ling Fengxiao was not the type of person to delay anything. He immediately took out a paper and writing brush, spread it on the bricks of the city wall, and began to write a letter — He didn’t say that he wanted to burn the peerless manuals, but said there was an evil object in his hand and it looks like only the Heavenly fire of the forging platform could subdue it. And he sincerely looked forward for mother’s permission.

  A spirit pigeon was summoned after he finished writing the letter. The spirit pigeon flapped its wings and flew southwards. And in a short time, it had flown out of sight.

  Ling Fengxiao said, “Although the forbidden area cannot be easily entered, my mother understands righteousness and has a great sense of justice, she will definitely allow it.”

  Lin Shu gave an “En”.

  Phoenix Mountain Villa had a great reputation in the Jianghu because of their righteous act of taking in orphans from all over the world. Although the Master of Phoenix Mountain Villa was strict and unsmiling, everyone knew that she was a benevolent person.

  After this matter was settled, Lin Shu’s heart was more relaxed.

  Lin Shu watched as Ling Fengxiao played with his breasts again.

  ——Fortunately, the man also wanted some face and put a barrier enchantment around to isolate him from others’ sight.

  Then he got a half-man sized bronze mirror from his brocade bag and began to fabricate his own body in front of the mirror.

  The blood mist appeared and disappeared and the Big Miss’s chest also became larger and smaller, sometimes changing by a wide margin, sometimes finely tuned.

  Ling Fengxiao looked at himself in the mirror and muttered his thoughts, “It is indeed more pleasing to the eye than when it is fully flat.”

  Then he frowned again: “But it feels strange.”

  Lin Shu looked at the sky with a straight face.

  He did not look at anything that was not consistent with propriety. He was an honorable man.

  Then he heard Ling Fengxiao say, “I wonder if it will hinder my speed when using the blade.”

  Lin Shu said, “You can put your chest away when you draw your blade.”

  “That’s right.” Ling Fengxiao said.

  Then the man began to ponder the problem about the size.

  The Big Miss stood in front of Lin Shu: “Look, does it look good like this, or ……”

  The blood mist changed and Big Miss continued, “Or does it look good like this?”

  Lin Shu: “?”

  Were his eyes a microscope?

  Was there any change?

  He said honestly, “I can’t tell.”

  Ling Fengxiao was greatly dissatisfied: “All women in the world are more or less uneven. The degree of unevenness was high and low. Naturally, when there is a difference in appearance, the charm is also different. Haven’t you noticed this in the past?”

  “No.” Lin Shu said, “I wouldn’t look at a girl’s chest for nothing.”

  “Then are you mocking me for looking at a girl’s chest?” Ling Fengxiao defended himself: “I’m a gentleman. I’ve never seen it in the past……”

  Halfway through his speech, his anger died down: “It’s just that in the Phoenix Mountain Villa, I was always surrounded by the girls. I have been influenced by them and heard some things.”

  After that, he dropped his eyes and his chest remained unchanged. He turned it back to its original flat shape, then looked in the mirror and changed back to Xiao Shao. He tentatively walked to him and took his hand: “I only like to look at yours.”

  Lin Shu just quietly watched him act.

  As if in modern times, it seemed as if a TV set was hidden in this Master’s head that played exaggerated love dramas all day.

  They looked at each other for a long time and finally Xiao Shao couldn’t hold himself and laughed first.

  Lin Shu tilted his head.

  He asked, “Why is Xiao Shao’s temper better than Big Miss’s?”

  Xiao Shao hugged him from behind and asked in return, “Can’t you guess?”

  Lin Shu shook his head.

  “Did Big Miss ever lose her temper with you when she was in front of you?”

  “Yes.” Lin Shu did not think twice.

  Xiao Shao was silent.

  Lin Shu quickly changed his mind: “I remembered wrong, No.”

  Xiao Shao seemed to see through everything and maliciously strangled his waist, then said, “If Xiao Shao appeared in front of outsiders, his temper would not be about as good.”

  Lin Shu thought about it.

  Xiao Shao never appeared in front of outsiders. He only used this appearance when he was alone with Lin Shu and also made sure that no one else would see him.

  When he was alone with Lin Shu, whether it was Big Miss or Xiao Shao, both of the personalities were indeed calm and peaceful.

  Lin Shu knew the reason for this change in temperament. The salted fish could be contagious. No matter how profound his cultivation is, the puffer fish would eventually be infected and regain its peace of mind.

  However, Xiao Shao changed the direction of the conversation: “But, Ling Fengxiao is a boy, but he had to dress up as a girl from childhood. Naturally, she is a little uncomfortable and over time, she developed a bad temper.”

  Lin Shu: “That’s right, too.”

  Xiao Shao suddenly stopped talking.

  Lin Shu was a little confused and turned back.

  Saw Xiao Shao was looking a little stunned.

  Lin Shu: “What’s wrong?”

  “I……” Xiao Shao frowned, hesitated slightly and repeated the words he had just said: “Ling Fengxiao …… is actually a man, but from childhood was dressed as a girl……”

  Now, even Lin Shu realized what the problem was.

  Unexpectedly, Xiao Shao could now speak out regarding this matter.

  Wasn’t the matter regarding him dressing as a woman was sealed by the Mantra and couldn’t be spoken out loud forever?

  Xiao Shao cut open the clothing at his left abdomen with his fingers. The clothes were not really a solid entity, and the blood mist at the section where clothes were cut was faint.

  Under the tear, surprisingly, there was nothing on the exposed skin!

  Lin Shu clearly remembered that this was the place where the Mantra was branded.

  When did it disappear?

  Xiao Shao: “When my body was remoulded by resentment. Did I get rid of the curse?”

  A moment later, he again said, “But the Mantra was engraved on the divine soul, it should not be so.”

  In any case, the seal was now gone.

  And the disappearance of the Mantra seal meant that the secrets that could never be told before, could be told now.

  “How did it …… come about?” Lin Shu asked.

  “It was carved by the Empress mother.” Xiao Shao said faintly, “It’s a long story.”

  Although it was a long story, he obviously made it short.

  “In the past …… When I was eight or nine years old, I thought that the Empress Mother favored Xiao Lingyang and did not want me to inherit the throne. But as I grew older, I knew that the Empress Mother was dignified and virtuous, and her feelings for me were no different from her feelings for Xiao Lingyang. Therefore, there was only one explanation I could think of.”

  “The Phoenix Mountain Villa was very powerful. However, standing between the court and the Jianghu was like walking on thin ice and the current generation of Phoenix lineage had nothing to offer. Therefore, I guess, in order to make the Phoenix Mountain Villa continue to flourish, I had to act as a daughter.”

  He paused and said, “As a young child, perhaps I could not guard such a big secret. My Empress mother engraved the Mantra on me, and then handed me over to my mother for education. From then on, only my Empress mother, my mother and myself know the true gender of my body.”

  Lin Shu didn’t speak.

  Xiao Shao also frowned slightly. It was not known what he was thinking.

  Lin Shu knew why Xiao Shao wore women’s clothes.

  But sometimes, it was better not to know, than to know about things in this world.

  Both of them had their own preoccupations. For a moment, they were both silent. In the silence, they suddenly heard the trampling sounds of horse hooves coming from the city gate.

  Xiao Shao changed into Ling Fengxiao again, withdrew the barrier enchantment and looked south.

  He saw a band of soldiers galloping very fast on horses, coming towards the camp, wearing white linen clothes under their armor.

  The leader came forward and knelt in front of the camp and requested to see Her Royal Highness Fengyang.

  Ling Fengxiao went down from the city tower, came out of the camp and went to him.

  Lin Shu felt at this time, when Ling Fengxiao was holding his hand, it was very cold, slightly more forceful, as if …… he was a little uneasy.

  Then they saw the armoured officer holding a plain thin silk brocade letter with a Phoenix pattern and presented it to Ling Fengxiao.

  Ling Fengxiao unfurled the letter

  There were only two short lines on the brocade letter.

  The handwriting was elegant and dignified, yet it carried a harsh and stern atmosphere.

  Written in black and white, the plain thin white silk was not a festive thing, and the content on it was even more ominous.

  His Majesty is critically ill.

  Return quickly!

  ————–

  The author has something to say:

  The reason why Xiao Shao was wearing women’s clothing is in chapter 146.

  ————-

  I also would like to thank “Jas” for the wonderful and cute drawing of Fruit.~~Zaki