The Path Toward Heaven

“Do you know what you are doing?” Bai Zao stared at the Qin Emperor, as if she was looking at a stranger.

The Qin Emperor said, “If I didn’t kill him, who would obey me in the future?”

“Now that you have killed him, the people of the world will hate you,” retorted Bai Zao.

The Qin Emperor said, “I’ll continue killing them then, until nobody dares oppose me.”

Bai Zao paused for a moment and said, “It was until the last moment that Xi Yiyun still thought you wouldn’t bury those scholars alive; you should understand his intention.”

Xi Yiyun had performed extremely well in this Dao Competition. He had improved his Cultivation state in addition to gaining experiences in the Illusionary Realm. He would be a popular candidate for the next house master of the One-Cottage.

The Center Sect and the One-Cottage House had been allies. This alliance was in a sense the foundation for a stable Chaotian.

If Xi Yiyun had a change of heart, the One-Cottage House would seek a closer relationship with the Green Mountain Sect; what would happen then?

The Qin Emperor didn’t care so much about it, and said, “I have told you, I want to forget certain things, and I have already forgotten many of them.”

After a moment of silence, Bai Zao said, “I think you can stop the carnage right now.”

“As I remember, you are the beloved daughter of the Sect Master; but I also remember that the Immortal said clearly that the Fairy Book must stay on the Cloud-Dream Mountain. As for who will obtain it, it’s up to the abilities of the Center Sect disciples.”

The Qin Emperor looked at her and continued calmly, “If you disagree with my way, you can have it done your own way. I won’t stop you.”

Bai Zao fell silent once again, then said, “Too many things have happened today. I’ll wait until you calm down and talk to you again tomorrow.”

…

…

In order to obtain the Fairy Book of Longevity, Bai Qianjun was even willing to forget a past that was so important to him. As such, it would be meaningless to talk to him further more.

Bai Zao was fully aware of this. On the same night, a surprising palace insurgence occurred in the Royal Palace of Xianyang.

The Empress, who had been a cowardice her whole life had led a dozen palace servant girls attempting to assassinate the Qin Emperor.

After the precious incenses of Heaven and Earth Fragrance had burned to ashes, the Emperor and those palace servant girls hurled themselves to the Qin Emperor sleeping soundly on the bed.

Some of the servant girls wanted to avenge their peers who were abused to death by the Emperor; some did it because of despair; but it was unclear why the Empress did it.

They had used the strongest rope to bind the Qin Emperor, and then thrust the dagger that had soaked in the strong poison into his chest.

Unexpectedly, the Qin Emperor wore the protective vest even when he was sleeping. The dagger didn’t kill him, instead waking him up.

He stared at the Empress and the servant girls icily, and then employed the zhenyuan to force out the incense poison and broke off the binding rope; then he whacked the servant girl closest to him to death with his palm.

The assassination attempt ended prematurely; but it was the closest call for the Qin Emperor. Even Zhuo Rusui and Xi Yiyun hadn’t come this close to killing him.

The furious Qin Emperor started the bloody purge and sought revenge right away.

In Xianyang City, the cavalrymen charged back and forth. The distinguished fire was started again in the Institute of Xianyang; it was burned to the ground this time.

As the turmoil settled down, the Qin Emperor collected his wits. He led the cavalrymen charging into the Shu Palace in an attempt to catch and question the source of all the happenings.

Yet, the Shu Palace was empty; its owner had already left. The autumn lotus flowers were swaying incessantly in the pond, as if laughing at him.

The Qin Emperor fell silent for a long time, and said, “If the Princess is found, nobody will be allowed to touch her. This emperor wants to kill her personally.”

…

…

Cangzhou had been the important pass in the north of Chu State, governed by King Jing. It was because the Chu Emperor killed the son of King Jing that King Jing joined Qin State in anger.

As a result, it became the Cangzhou County of Qin State.

King Jing was coronated as the South King and lived in the capital of Chu State currently. Yet, for the sake of his own and his subordinates’ safety, he left a large quantity of army in Cangzhou.

As a result, Cangzhou had secretly stored a good deal of foods and weapons, as well as many hidden tunnels. Once they rebelled, they would be able to resist for many years even when the city was besieged by the Qin army.

In the former study room of the King Jing Manor, Bai Zao held a brush pen in her right hand. She was writing down something on the paper while checking on the materials by the side, planning what to do next.

Everything in Cangzhou, including the army, foods, tunnels, and military officers and advisors, was left behind by Tong Yan for her.

Tong Yan had become cautious of that person since many years ago.

The current Qin Emperor was the young warrior of the Beihai County at the time.

The footsteps suddenly broke out in the King Jing Manor.

The study room’s door was pushed open, and the Qin Emperor walked in.

Though he had not left Xianyang City lately, he somehow managed to come to Cangzhou that was several hundred miles away from the capital.

King Jing who was supposed to be in the south capital was standing behind the Qin Emperor.

Coming with the Qin Emperor and King Jing were many highly achieved swordsmen of the Qin army, and…the former subordinates of Tong Yan.

Bai Zao put down the pen and gazed at those subordinates.

The subordinates lowered their heads, not daring to gaze back at her eyes.

The Qin Emperor paced in the study room with his hands behind his back, and looked at the books on the bookshelf with a fascinating expression.

“Did the son of King Jing write letters to me in this room?”

He asked King Jing.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” King Jing confirmed.

The Qin Emperor nodded. Then he looked at Bai Zao standing behind the desk, his expression turning cold.

King Jing and the others retreated out of the room.

The Qin Emperor stared at Bai Zao, and said, “He was here back then to have laid the foundation for our bright future in this land…but instead you want to destroy all this from here.”

Looking at him quietly, Bai Zao said, “All this was his to begin with.”

“He thought that he could arrange everything for you before his death; but he didn’t anticipate that one dies like a light going out and that he won’t be able to affect anybody afterwards, let alone influence the vicious minds of some people. It’s similar to what the Grand Scholar Zhang of Chu State had done for Jing Jiu; he had arranged everything before his death, but it was useless.”

The Qin Emperor looked at her and said genuinely, “You are a woman; it’s impossible for those subordinates of Tong Yan’s to trust you.”

Bai Zao looked at him and said with a seeming smile, “It looks like you have indeed forgotten many things; otherwise, you wouldn’t make such a remark.”

The green bird was right outside the window.

There was a snowy mountain on the top of the Cloud-Dream Mountain.

The most formidable person at the Center Sect was the Immortal Bai.

The Immortal Bai was a woman.

The Qin Emperor’s countenance changed slightly, as he said, “Though Tong Yan had prepared for you for such a long time, but you have failed so easily. Don’t you feel it’s kind of unreal?”

“You used the world ‘unreal’ when you conversed with Xi Yiyun.”

Bai Zao continued, “One would keep on mentioning something when they are afraid of that thing the most. Are you afraid that you will end up with nothing after you have tried all of your spiteful schemes?”

The Qin Emperor replied phlegmatically, “This emperor doesn’t want to argue with you; but who is right will be proven when I obtain the Fairy Book of Longevity.”

“It’s hard for you to obtain the Fairy Book,” Bai Zao said, “because somebody else is still here.”

The Qin Emperor said, “The Eunuch He? As you have said yourself, he can’t make much a difference all by himself.”

“I’m talking about Jing Jiu. You will probably forget many things, like this name; but I hope you will remember what I have told you today: He is always here.”

This was the last words Bai Zao said in the Illusionary Realm of the Green Sky Mirror.

Then, she took out an old and yellowish book and opened it to read. She didn’t take another look at the Qin Emperor.

The words in that book were quite strange; they were self-created peculiar words.

Yet, she could guess the content of the first line in the book, though she couldn’t understand these words herself; the words should be: I am Tong Yan.

It was tiring to read a book; and it was even more tiring to read a book full of hard to understand symbols.

She closed her eyes to take a rest. As she opened her eyes, she found that she was not in that study room anymore, not even in that world.

The sunlight streamed down from the top of the cave, shining on the slow moving Green Sky Mirror. The scene was basically the same as when she had left.

Several decades had passed in the Illusionary Realm as she closed and then opened her eyes.

For a mortal, it was a lifetime.

Recalling the years she spent in the Illusionary Realm, she fell silent for a long time.

Her life in the Green Sky Mirror, from Xianyang to Beihai, and then back to Xianyang, had in fact been arranged by herself.

The arrangement was impeccable even when she reviewed it now.

If she wanted to become a Queen, she would encounter a great deal of resistance. That was why she had chosen to escape from the capital and encourage the Beihai County to rebel. According to the original plan, Bai Qianjun, after becoming the emperor, would draw all the hatred and attention; then, she would use her status of the princess of the previous dynasty to win over the supporters at a critical moment. Yet, she and Tong Yan didn’t expect the Eunuch He to encounter an excellent emperor in Zhao State, and the Grand Scholar Zhang to manage to prolong Chu State for twenty years, making the situation more complicated.

As for the choice Bai Qianjun made, she had no complaint.

She suddenly felt a gaze fixed on her. As she turned around, she found Xi Yiyun was looking at her, with a mild smile.

He had come out from the Illusionary Realm merely a few moments earlier than Bai Zao.

He was indeed a scholar of the One-Cottage House. He had already completely calmed down after having experienced so many tragic events in the Illusionary Realm.

Bai Zao thought he was truly admirable. As she thought of the event in the Royal Palace of Xianyang, she said apologetically, “I’m really sorry.”

Xi Yiyun didn’t mind what had happened there. He asked her a question with a smile.

What he worried the most was not how the Qin Emperor would deal with those students of his; it was because he could guess what would happen to them. What he wanted to know was something else.

“The Chu Emperor should be Jing Jiu. He hasn’t come out yet; but where is he?”

Bai Zao followed his line of sight and looked.

There were three people sleeping by the Green Sky Mirror currently.

Bai Qianjun sat in the front. His eyebrows would twitch a little once in a while, showing a painful expression.

He Zhan seemed asleep, his bald head nodding frequently; it looked like he was either too tired, or he was showing agreement to something.

Jing Jiu looked the same as before. His eyes were closed, and his eyelashes were not blinking. He had a serene expression, resembling a fairy immortal in the painting.

The glass bell hovering behind him would ring once in a while.

Bai Zao had no idea where He Zhan was, to say nothing of where Jing Jiu was.

She shook her head toward Xi Yiyun, and got up, heading to the outside of the cave.

Tong Yan had been waiting for her since he returned to the Huiyin Valley.

Though they had separated only a few days, it was many years for her.

She bowed to him sincerely.

Tong Yan was baffled at first and then understood her intention. He didn’t stop her from doing it. As she straightened up, Tong Yan asked, “Did you know where Jing Jiu had gone?”

Bai Zao was bewildered with wide open eyes, thinking that the green bird was the mirror spirit and that was the world of the Green Sky Mirror; so the green bird would know where Jing Jiu was. Why would you ask me?

Seeing her expression, Tong Yan knew what was on her mind. “Jing Jiu is nowhere to be found,” he said gravely.

…

…