Chapter 258 – Shedding One’s Shell, Moving Into The Third Gate - Part 3

When the two finally returned home, Li Yuan obediently moved his bedding to another room, earning an exasperated look from Cui Huayin. Still, she made no effort to stop him. After settling in, he slipped out again, heading for the Ginger Tavern.

Fortunately, Duan Yangsheng—still disguised as Manager Wu—was still there. A quick discussion confirmed Li Yuan’s suspicions.

“Someone forced open the gate to the ancient ghost street by sheer force of their blood energy,” Duang Yangsheng said, his voice trembling with residual fear. “He wreaked havoc inside and killed hundreds of undying husks before withdrawing. The infiltration of not just the Holy Tree Temple, but of all Silkfloss Province, has suffered a huge blow.”

All this time, the undying husks had assumed that as long as they took precautions against the ghosts prowling inside the ancient ghost street, no martial artist could threaten them in that domain.

Yet this single high ranking martial artist had charged in violently, neutralizing their ghost items before they could even activate them.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

Late that night, Li Yuan found himself unable to sleep. Yao Jue slipped out of her room wearing a thin shawl and approached him quietly.

“Master,” she said gently, “shall I make you a bowl of hang-over soup?”

He shook his head with a slight smile. “No, you go rest.”

“Very well. You should turn in soon too, Master.” Yao Jue withdrew, leaving Li Yuan’s mind a touch calmer from the brief, gentle interruption.

Raising his eyes, Li Yuan gazed at the night sky where heavy clouds drifted across the waning moon. He recalled all the things he’d witnessed and noticed over the course of the day.

First was the capture of the Liu Clan matriarch, now bound and dragged away. Second was the massacre of Silkfloss Province’s ancient ghost street. Third was the insects that could detect undying husks. Fourth was the cozy residence the Jing Clan had pointed out to him. Fifth was the inexplicable warmth shown by both the Jing Clan patriarch and their clan head. Sixth and last was the sudden unity of the six remaining clans.

“What does it all mean?” Li Yuan wondered. “What are they building up to?”

Piece by piece, these incidents tangled together until a clearer picture began to form in his mind. Rising to his feet, he walked to his daughter’s door. After pacing back and forth for some time, he knocked softly.

A crow inside fluttered over and lifted the latch, revealing Sheng'er awake in the darkness.

“Papa!” she cried.

Li Yuan sat on the edge of her bed, gently stroking her hair. “Something urgent has come up. I have to send you out of the city right away.”

Her voice grew cheerful despite the late hour. “Really? Alright!”

Li Yuan’s face remained solemn. “I’m taking you to Cloudpeak Province. You’ll stay with your Tang Nian first. Later, when the time is right, Papa will come find you again.” He forced a smile. “I’ll have the big dog go with you too.”

Sheng'er blinked her large eyes, which seemed to sparkle in the dimness, as though dozens of tiny eyes were winking in the dark. “Papa, aren’t you coming with me?”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“What about mommy? I still miss her...” Sheng'er asked. Suddenly, she threw her arms around him and clinged onto him silently.

Li Yuan ran a hand over her hair. “In time, your mother will join you in Cloudpeak Province, and we’ll all live there together.”

“Where’s Cloudpeak Province?”

“It’s a place with lots of mountains,” Li Yuan said, “and it snows often.”

“I love the snow.” The little girl’s smile revealed neat rows of baby teeth.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

The next morning.

Li Yuan took Sheng'er to Culinary Delights, their usual spot for breakfast. Halfway through the meal, he led her to the back kitchen, supposedly just to look around. The back door stood open, and a waiting carriage was parked there.

When no one was looking, Li Yuan carefully helped Sheng'er into the carriage, while from inside emerged another Sheng'er—actually Duan Yangsheng in disguise.

As for Culinary Delights, it had long been taken over by the Black Cloaks, whose caravans went in and out of the city stronghold daily. This very morning, the consortium’s leader and several experts would personally escort their

little princess

outside.

Beyond the city walls, more allies were waiting. They would deliver the real Sheng'er to Xue Ning, then head together for Cloudpeak Province.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

Several days later

Deep within the city stronghold of the Holy Tree Temple, heavy wooden doors swung open. A man in azure robes emerged, his expression calm. Qing Hancheng had ended his seclusion. Familiar with every corner of the inner halls, he headed straight to the interrogation chamber.

Inside, Cui Wuji was already waiting. He bowed as Qing Hancheng entered.

“Welcome back, Temple Master.”

“How goes the interrogation of Liu Luzi?” Qing Hancheng asked.

Cui Wuji answered respectfully, “She talked without us even having to press her. Liu Luzi knows full well how hard cultivation is, so she was hoping that turning traitor against her allies might buy her some chance at survival, for her clan as well.”

“And why did she betray us in the first place?” Qing Hancheng asked evenly.

“She says she was frightened by the combined power of the emperor, undying husks, and the Lotus Cult,” Cui Wuji replied. “She became convinced that our Five Elements Alliance was doomed. Also, she admitted that her Liu Clan was once a splinter cell of the Black Lotus Cult, planted among us over a century ago. But she regrets it now and claims she doesn’t want to go back. She’s ready to spill all the secrets she knows.

“Additionally...” Cui Wuji hesitated for a moment before continuing. “She mentioned something else.”

“Speak,” Qing Hancheng said.

Cui Wuji took a breath. “Liu Luzi claims the undying husks once contacted Li Yuan, and that he supposedly promised to join them. That said, it might be a ruse. Perhaps he’s stalling for time.”

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

“That’s fine,” Qing Hancheng replied, unperturbed. “I plan to have Li Yuan move into the third gate now that I’ve emerged from seclusion. Whether it’s true or not hardly matters. In any case, we’ll keep a closer watch on him once he’s here.

“Oh, by the way, Wuji...” He paused before adding, “I intend to have someone from the Jing Clan marry Li Yuan as well. He’ll be a linking thread that brings both your clans together again. You have no objections, I trust?”

“Certainly not, Temple Master. This is excellent news.”

“Then see to it. Summon him at once. If Liu Luzi’s testimony gives us a convenient excuse, all the better. We won’t need to waste words. Just be sure to remain vigilant.”

“Yes, Temple Master!”

That evening, Li Yuan—along with Cui Huayin, Yao Jue, and Sheng'er—took a carriage into the heart of the city stronghold. It was a direct order from the Temple Master. Refusal was not an option.

Deeper in the third gate, Jing Banfeng himself stood by the roadside, smiling. “Master Li, why don’t you spend the night at our estate?”

Feigning confusion, Li Yuan replied, “Clan Head Jing, might I ask what’s going on?”

“Nothing much,” Jing Banfeng answered mildly. “Liu Luzi, the traitor, gave us some information that happens to involve you. Surely you can guess?”

Pretending to be alarmed, Li Yuan sputtered, “This must be a misunderstanding! I was only pretending to keep them placated. The Black Lotus Cult is evil; I would never join them. My son has been training in the Holy Tree Temple all this time; why would I do something so stupid?”

Jing Banfeng sighed. “But isn’t your father-in-law currently siding with those Black Lotus scum?” He quickly waved a hand as if to ward off Li Yuan’s protest. “I believe you, of course. It’s just that the testimony from Liu Luzi, plus your...unfortunate family connection, makes the whole thing a mess. You see, it’s no longer so simple to explain away. Perhaps you’d best go with the flow.”

They spoke in low voices as they walked. Suddenly, the stillness of the night was punctured by a droning buzz. A crimson cloud of tiny insects swarmed in overhead, swirling through the air. Jing Banfeng’s face darkened, while Cui Huayin instantly tensed.

“More undying husks!”

“Which one is it?” Li Yuan demanded, eyes darting around in feigned confusion.

Silence fell. The swarm of blood-red insects descended like a scorching mist, then veered toward

Sheng'er

. Before anyone could react, the little girl’s flesh sizzled like burning paper, ringed by black-and-red holes.

She screamed in agony, her skin peeling away as her body distorted, transforming into the shape of an unfamiliar man.

Moments later, the insects devoured him completely, leaving nothing but scraps of bone that crumbled to dust.

Everything happened so fast that nobody quite knew how to respond. Li Yuan came to himself too late, letting out a heart-wrenching cry.

“No! NOOOOO—!” He dropped to his knees, wild-eyed, as though searching for answers in the darkness. Inwardly, he murmured to himself,

Manager Wu, we’ve known each other for so many years. Consider this my revenge for you...

“No! No...no!” He appeared consumed by grief, tears streaming down his face, strong body shaking, fists clenched tight enough to show every vein. Even a proud man might weep, if his pain cut deep enough.

Cui Huayin rushed to her husband’s side, soft-voiced as she tried to comfort him. The truth looked plain. Somehow, the undying husks had even replaced Li Yuan’s own daughter. This meant there could be no truce now between Li Yuan and the undying husks, only hatred and vengeance.

Jing Banfeng also hurried over, joining in the condolences.

Far in the distance, upon a lofty, floating tower above the drifting clouds, a tall figure in azure robes looked on. His embroidered white plum blossoms stirred in the breeze. Qing Hancheng quietly took in the entire scene, then let out a sigh. Under his breath, he remarked, “This is...a good development.”