Chapter Seventy-Nine: A Fierce Battle

After delivering the antidote to Liu Changwen, Mo Qing then visited several other officials of varying ranks. It was clear that the Thousand Poisons Sect had been plotting meticulously over the years, their schemes insidious and ruthless beyond imagination.

Inside the Duke Chun’s manor, Zhan Yan had cast off the gloom of the past few days and was in excellent spirits. Her master, her senior brother, and even the divine physician Meng had all come to see her—those who had cared for her across the years were now gathered by her side. In this moment, happiness overflowed within her.

Zhongli Yu gazed at his wife’s gently upturned lips and her flower-like, jade-like beauty, made even more enchanting by the flickering candlelight. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, burying his face in the crook of her shoulder and murmured softly, “Is Yan’er very happy?”

Zhan Yan nodded, smiling, “Yes, I’m so happy. So many people care for me, don’t they?”

“They do. Many people care about you, Yan’er. I want you to be happy every single day.”

“Husband, it’s wonderful to have you.” Zhan Yan turned in his embrace, nestling herself deeply into his arms, her small hands hugging his waist tightly. At this moment, she felt especially content and at peace.

Being held like this, Zhongli Yu felt his entire body heat up, the darkness in his eyes growing deeper. His voice husky, he said, “Yan’er, we should hurry and have a baby. Then, our family will be even more complete.”

Zhan Yan sensed his change, and her face blushed as red as the evening clouds. Zhongli Yu chuckled lowly—despite all their time together, his little wife still blushed so easily. He adored this about her, her enchanting eyes, her captivating beauty, her allure that stirred his very soul. She was destined to be both his fate and his beautiful calamity for this lifetime.

“Yan’er, you are truly beautiful,” he sighed. Only a few months prior, he hadn’t realized the woman he loved so deeply was so stunning—breathtaking enough to topple kingdoms. He was already deeply bewitched by her, and the sight of her flawless face never failed to dazzle him.

Zhan Yan smiled. She had always known she was beautiful, but hearing it from his lips still sounded especially sweet, filling her with a warmth impossible to describe. She gently traced his handsome features, her soft, feather-light touch falling tenderly on his face, bringing him great pleasure. Seeing his satisfied expression, she couldn’t help but rise on tiptoe and lightly kiss his lips. He was stunned, never realizing how wonderful it felt to be kissed by her initiative—so exhilarating and overwhelming. Quickly recovering, he placed a large hand at the back of her head, turning passive into active, and kissed her deeply until their breaths grew unsteady and he finally let her go.

Just a single kiss was enough to make them feel as if they were about to ignite, their passion barely restrained. He swept her into his arms and carried her toward the bed. With a gentle flick of his sleeve, the candlelight went out, and the silvery moonlight softly spilled through the window, casting a beautiful sheen over the room. As the bed curtains fell, their efforts to create new life began in earnest. Even the moon, abashed, slipped shyly behind the clouds.

After their mutual fulfillment, neither was in a hurry to sleep. She rested her head on his arm, gazing out the window at the tranquil and beautiful night. The earth was coated in a gentle silver light, so soft and lovely that even a whisper seemed to disturb the night’s perfection.

He didn’t bother with the moon outside but watched her quietly, his large hand caressing her delicate face, the skin beneath his touch as smooth as silk—he couldn’t get enough of her.

Some people, however, always seemed intent on ruining the mood. Just then, the sound of clashing swords came from the outer grounds—clearly, more desperate souls were attempting to break into the Duke Chun’s manor. Both had keen hearing, and by listening intently, they could tell how many invaders there were. This time, it was no minor skirmish—over a thousand had come.

Zhongli Yu’s brows furrowed in displeasure, his heart full of hatred for those disturbing their peace. Rising, he snatched his clothes from the bedside and dressed quickly. Turning back, he cast a doting glance at his wife, his voice gentle enough to drip with warmth, “I’ll go take a look.” No matter the circumstances, he always offered her boundless gentleness and indulgence.

Zhan Yan rose as well, dressing swiftly. “I’ll come with you,” she said softly.

He nodded, patiently waiting for her. Once both were dressed, they proceeded to the outer courtyard. Upon arrival, they found the grounds swarming with more than a thousand masked figures in black, all wielding lethal moves without fear of death. Clearly, these men had not expected to leave alive.

All the manor’s guards had mobilized, several already lying motionless on the ground, fates unknown.

Zhongli Yu surveyed the scene coldly. Any clear-eyed observer could tell he was furious. Their tranquil night had been shattered, and his well-trained men had fallen—these intruders clearly needed to be taught a lesson.

Zhan Yan, too, was enraged. She had always adhered to the principle of never provoking others unless provoked, but these attackers—and the mastermind behind them—had brazenly challenged her authority. She could no longer sit idly by.

As if sharing a single thought, the couple struck simultaneously, their attacks sharp and unrestrained, anger fueling their every move. Wherever they went, enemies fell in droves. The black-clad men were shocked by the couple’s prowess, growing more desperate with every failed attempt to escape, only to be intercepted each time.

The clamor soon roused the others in the manor. Gu Yan, Gu Qinghan, Gu Qingyang, and Divine Physician Meng all arrived, as did the old prince. Upon witnessing the couple locked in fierce battle, Gu Yan—well aware of his granddaughter’s martial prowess—remained unperturbed. The others, however, had never seen Zhan Yan in action and were startled by the unparalleled power of her Blossom Fall technique. No wonder martial artists coveted it so greatly. Zhongli Yu’s own skills proved equally unfathomable, no less formidable than Zhan Yan’s. Even Gu Yan, the peerless master of forty years prior, was shaken—he hadn’t known there existed a martial art to rival Blossom Fall.

The new arrivals were so transfixed by the spectacle that they momentarily forgot to join the fray. By the time they moved to assist, Zhan Yan and Zhongli Yu had already dispatched most of the assailants.

At that moment, Zhong Yilan arrived with several thousand imperial guards. Seeing the overwhelming reinforcements, the black-clad men despaired. Against the couple alone, their odds of survival were slim; with so many experts and imperial guards joining, their fate was sealed.

With the imperial guards’ arrival, the battle ended swiftly. Zhong Yilan was deeply impressed by the couple’s might. Of the thousand attackers, most were either dead or wounded, with almost no chance of escape. Perhaps one or two of the more capable had fled when the couple first appeared, but those who remained faced grim ends—either executed or, if alive, hauled off by Zhong Yilan to the imperial prison. Before departing, Zhong Yilan agreed without hesitation to leave two captives behind at Zhongli Yu’s request for interrogation.

Zhongli Yu and his companions carefully examined the bodies but found nothing unusual—these were ordinary martial artists. Who, then, could have organized such a large assault on the Duke Chun’s manor? The Martial Alliance Leader, Du Qunying, had kept his followers well in check over the years and showed no ambition for domination. According to Zhongli Yu’s understanding, Du was not a man of grand designs and had always kept his distance from the court. So, what did it mean for so many martial artists to appear here? Who was orchestrating these hidden machinations?

Zhong Yilan departed for the palace with his prisoners and guards. Zhongli Yu ordered that the two remaining captives be kept under heavy guard, then told everyone to rest and leave the matter for the next day.

Although awakened in the middle of the night, no one could sleep, but the matter could not be solved immediately. Each returned to their chambers to rest.

When Zhongli Yu and Zhan Yan returned to their room, neither felt sleepy. They sat in silence, each deep in thought, until suddenly their eyes lit up at the same moment, as if struck by the same realization. Meeting each other’s gaze, they saw clarity mirrored within.

“What have you thought of, husband?” Zhan Yan asked first.

“You tell me, Yan’er,” Zhongli Yu replied gently, his eyes full of affection.

“Do you remember the last time I infiltrated the Thousand Poisons Sect and you saved me?” He nodded, waiting for her to continue.

“Mo Qing may be the sect leader, but he seems to have someone behind him—the true master of the sect. That was the masked man who fought you when you saved me, and later attempted to assassinate you near Mount Xianyun.”

“You suspect the Thousand Poisons Sect is behind this attack?”

“Yes. There must be some plot. Otherwise, why would someone appoint Mo Qing as the sect leader and hide in the shadows?”

“My thoughts are the same. Do you recall when Yang Rui fought Yang Qi? Didn’t you notice that Yang Qi’s martial arts were very similar to that masked man’s?”

Zhan Yan thought carefully and realized it was true. “I never imagined that Yang Qi, who seems unremarkable, could have infiltrated Dongling so deeply.”

“Sixteen years ago, the King of Xiyuan began scheming, sending someone to impersonate your father in the Southern Prince’s manor. It’s no surprise his son acts so boldly.”

“You’re right.”

“This is no simple matter. The Thousand Poisons Sect is a martial world organization. The court and the martial world have always kept to their own domains, yet now it seems Yang Qi is trying to throw the world into chaos, dragging martial artists into court affairs,” Zhongli Yu said lowly.

Zhan Yan’s expression grew grave. Such a venomous man—if he disrupted today’s peace, what would become of the world?

“It looks like we’ll have to assign more men to keep a close watch on the Thousand Poisons Sect,” Zhongli Yu concluded.

Zhan Yan shook her head. “I doubt we’ll discover much right away, but we must keep them under surveillance. Tomorrow, let’s interrogate those two prisoners and see what we can learn. By the way, have you assigned someone to watch them? We mustn’t let them commit suicide.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve made arrangements—they won’t die so easily.”

Night deepened as they discussed these matters. Eventually, drowsiness overcame them. Zhongli Yu pulled Zhan Yan into his arms and whispered, “Let’s sleep. Anything else can wait until tomorrow.”

She murmured assent and nestled into his embrace, quickly drifting off. When he heard her gentle, even breathing, he closed his own eyes and fell into a peaceful sleep.

The next day, news of the previous night’s events at the Duke Chun’s manor spread far and wide, shaking the land. People were more convinced than ever that the fabled Blossom Fall manual was hidden there. Even those who had doubted the rumors began to believe, growing ever more covetous of the legendary martial art.

In the capital’s taverns, tea houses, and even on the streets, talk of the manor’s martial secrets was everywhere.

“Hey, have you heard? They say the Princess of Chun possesses an incredible martial manual. Master it, and you’ll be invincible!” In the main hall of the Fragrant Pavilion, a man dressed in green—clearly a martial artist—spoke to a man in gray at the next table. The green-clad man was about thirty, with unremarkable but decent features. The gray-clad man, a shrewd and cunning merchant, looked every inch the part.

Seeing his neighbor initiate conversation, the gray-clad man responded, “Indeed, I’ve heard. My nephew joined the army in Wangcheng and said he saw the Princess of Chun fight with his own eyes. Her skill was astonishing—she felled crowds of men in a single move.” The merchant’s face was full of admiration.

The green-clad man’s excitement grew. “So, the rumors are true—the Princess of Chun does possess a martial treasure.”

“Brother, you’re not thinking of sneaking into the Duke Chun’s manor to steal her manual, are you?” A blue-robed man nearby couldn’t help but interject. “I’d advise you to drop that idea. Do you know how formidable the Prince and Princess of Chun are? You can’t even imagine. If you go, you’ll never return.”

“How formidable?” The patrons in the hall grew curious, all eyes turning to the blue-robed man.

Seeing so many people listening, the blue-robed man was pleased and raised his voice. “Last night, over a thousand martial artists stormed the Duke Chun’s manor. The guards fought for ages and still couldn’t drive them off. But as soon as the Prince and Princess arrived, they defeated the entire force in less than a cup of tea. Those thousand men were all struck down, killed or wounded. Now, isn’t that incredible?” He conveniently omitted that the imperial guards arrived later, attributing the swift victory entirely to the couple.

The onlookers were astonished. “So there really are such powerful martial arts in the world!”

The blue-robed man boasted, “Of course! Jealous, aren’t you?” as if he himself possessed such unmatched skills.

The green-clad man fell silent for a long moment before blurting out, “I’ve decided—I’m still going to the Duke Chun’s manor!”

“You? You think you’ll get in? You’ll be tossed out before you even reach the gate!” someone quipped, prompting raucous laughter.

Face reddening, the green-clad man stammered, “I… I won’t force my way in. I just want to ask the Princess of Chun if she’ll take me as her disciple.”

The crowd roared with laughter. “Do you know how old the Princess of Chun is?” someone teased.

“H-how old?” The green-clad man, seeing everyone laugh at him, blushed even deeper.

“She’s only fifteen! You’re old enough to be her father, and you want to be her disciple? That’s ridiculous!” The laughter in the tavern grew even louder.

“What does age matter? Why can’t an older man seek a master? I’m going anyway!” The green-clad man, stung by their mockery, grew indignant.

“Go if you must, but don’t say we didn’t warn you when you’re thrown out!” The crowd eyed him as if he were a fool.

The green-clad man said no more, eating his meal in silence. With the laughter over, the crowd drifted away.

Meanwhile, in the golden hall of the imperial palace, the most heated debate in history was underway. Several ministers urged the emperor to dismiss Zhongli Yu, citing his excessive power and the dire consequences should he remain. Among them was Liu Changwen.

“Your Majesty, Duke Chun commands the imperial elite forces, and his own strength is formidable. He is both brilliant and ambitious, and his wife is the greatest martial master in the land. This is a dangerous situation, Your Majesty—you must be on guard,” Liu Changwen urged, all sincerity and loyalty.

The Duke of Fuguo disagreed and stepped forward. “Your Majesty, Duke Chun is a hero of Dongling. He has just rendered great service. To dismiss him now would chill the hearts of all.”

“Your Majesty, Duke Chun has earned the people’s love. If one day he rebels, the consequences will be catastrophic,” countered Wang Anhe, Minister of Works, siding with Liu Changwen.

The Deputy Minister of War protested loudly, “Your Majesty, Duke Chun has benefited Dongling greatly. He was even willing to risk his life for the people of Wangcheng. Surely everyone remembers—he cared nothing for his own safety! How could a man so loyal ever rebel?”