Chapter 105: The Content

Su Yuanbai was unaware of how the man and woman in the outer courtyard were speculating about him. At this moment, all he wanted to know was what changes would come over the dark-skinned man who bore even a trace of the ghostly Golden Ram’s divine nature.

Had he known that the combatant was exuding nothing but pure demonic aura, Su Yuanbai would never have gone over to watch the scuffle.

Still, it served to give Su Yuanbai a clearer understanding of his own strength. It seemed that from now on, he could no longer fight as effortlessly as he had when beneath the sea of Canghai, where a mere flick of the hand was enough.

Returning to the inner courtyard, he was surprised to find the dark-skinned man standing at its center, holding a letter reverently and waiting for him.

The fires in the inner chamber had all been extinguished, leaving only charred wood and ashes behind.

“Thank you for reminding me of my duty,” Xie Xiushi said, handing over the letter that even the Southern Ming’s departing flames could not burn, bowing respectfully to Su Yuanbai.

More memories flooded into his mind, as though in a previous life he had been the ghostly Golden Ram of the Southern Second Constellation, one of the twenty-eight celestial mansions, a celestial officer of the Ghost Mansion.

The two curved, thick ram’s horns sprouting from his forehead were proof enough.

Su Yuanbai regarded the dark-skinned man calmly. Though the man tried hard to conceal his expression, Su Yuanbai caught a glimpse of pride flickering in his eyes.

How intriguing.

Su Yuanbai said nothing more, quietly taking the letter, which felt icy cold to the touch. In its lower right corner was a charming, delicate red dragon seal.

Ao Ning?

He quickly recalled the little princess of the Dragon Palace of Canghai, the one he had met beneath the sea, with her translucent dragon horns—a cute little being who had volunteered her name without being asked.

The letter’s outer cover was a pale blue, made of some indiscernible material. For it to resist the Southern Ming’s departing flames, it must be no ordinary substance.

The seal on the letter was unbroken; the dark-skinned man had not taken it upon himself to open it.

Not bad.

Su Yuanbai glanced up at the dark-skinned man who was sneakily watching him.

Noticing his gaze was caught, Xie Xiushi cleared his throat softly, trying to ease the awkwardness. He glanced left and right, found the handsome man still watching him, and had no choice but to turn away.

Lowering his head, Su Yuanbai tore open the seal and withdrew the letter inside.

“Brother Yuanbai, by the time you see this letter, you must have awakened from the crystal coffin. No doubt your mind is filled with questions.

You are currently in a fishing village in Nanxi County, Southern Wilderness Province. As for why you appeared here, it is because of the Canghai Dragon…”

Su Yuanbai’s eyes fell upon a smudge on the letter, clearly smeared by someone. When he read further, he could guess who was responsible.

“… It was arranged by my father-in-law to send you here. There must be something you need in the Southern Wilderness Province; otherwise, my father-in-law would not have gone to such lengths as to tear off a dragon scale and borrow passage through the South Sea to bring you here.

Please search carefully.

My wife and I, following my father-in-law’s instructions, cannot stay long in the Southern Wilderness. Therefore, we have arranged for a seemingly simple-minded fisherman to look after you.

Even if he harbors other intentions, the dragon aura sealing the crystal coffin will not be broken unless it endures three hundred and sixty-five days of wild animal qi—thus, it cannot open the coffin to disturb you.

I have one personal request: the Southern Wilderness may still hold bloodlines from my mother’s clan. Should you encounter them one day, please lend them your aid. I would be deeply grateful.

Now, my wife wishes to speak to you.”

Su Yuanbai frowned slightly at the chaotic scratches at the letter’s end. He could not make out what Ao Ning was trying to write.

Yet the last crooked words were clear enough:

“Come visit the Dragon Palace of Canghai to play with me and my husband someday.”

After finishing the letter, a few drops of icy water fell from its lower edge onto the pale blue cover, revealing eight brief characters:

“The Divine Emperor’s Way perishes; the Heavenly Sovereign vanishes.”

The envelope, which even the Southern Ming’s departing flames could not destroy, suddenly burst into an unnamed fire, quickly consuming the letter and envelope completely—leaving not a wisp of ash behind.

“No wonder the celestial officers now dare descend to the mortal world at will. It seems the dragons are leaderless.”

Su Yuanbai murmured thoughtfully, looking up at the chaotic and disorderly stars scattered across the night sky.

The desolate, pale heavens were nowhere near as vibrant or colorful as the ever-changing mortal world. Since the Divine Emperor ascended to the heavens, spirit energy had poured down over the twelve provinces, and little difference remained between heaven and earth.

“The young master of the Xu family has arrived.”

Wu Yang entered the inner courtyard, holding a silver-patterned crescent blade in one hand and a white ape mother-and-child staff in the other. He looked at Su Yuanbai, who was gazing up at the stars, and spoke quietly.

“Who is he?”

Su Yuanbai lowered his head and glanced sideways at Wu Yang, questioning.

“He is the young master of the Xu Mansion in Dream Floating City, the most beloved son of Lord Xu,” Wu Yang said, hesitating as Su Yuanbai’s expression remained unreadable. “Lord Xu’s uncle once served as a retainer in the Southern Wilderness King’s mansion for some time. Even the governor of Nanxi County extends some favor to the Xu family.”

“Someone from the Xu family once served as a retainer in the Southern Wilderness King’s mansion?!” Xie Xiushi turned, astonished as he looked at Wu Yang.

“Are you… the lord or a demon?” Wu Yang asked in alarm, noticing Xie Xiushi first seemed relieved, but then, seeing the pair of thick, curved ram’s horns on his forehead, brandished his blade and staff defensively.

“I am an immortal!” Xie Xiushi declared, nostrils flaring as he crossed his arms over his chest, a hint of pride flashing across his dark face.

“…”

Wu Yang fell silent, lowering his weapons. It seemed that the master who had taken him on as a guard was indeed his own lord. Yet why he grew such strange, thick, curved horns on his forehead was another matter entirely.

“Is that all?” Su Yuanbai raised a brow, looking at Wu Yang, who had come specifically to deliver this single sentence.

He had expected some interesting news, but instead, this was dull and uninspiring. Just as Su Yuanbai was about to leave, he suddenly recalled the words in the letter.

Well, no matter; with nothing pressing, he would stay here a while longer.

His brow relaxed as he lifted his gaze to the handsome young master storming into the inner courtyard with a scowl. Behind this elegant young man trailed a group of armed attendants.

Among them was a striking Taoist monk, dressed in a gray robe tied with silk cords at the waist, wearing hemp sandals.

Xu Zhentong strode quickly into the courtyard, his eyes cold and sharp as he fixed his gaze on Xie Xiushi with the curved, thick ram’s horns on his forehead—barely sparing Su Yuanbai a glance.

Though Xie Xiushi bore this strange pair of horns, the elegant young master paid no heed to the oddity.

“Who gave you the audacity to kill my men?!”