Beyond the Divine States

Chapter 11 Her Highness Jumped into the Well While the Immortal Came in a Sedan

"Go along the street and you will see the Jiazi Hall, which is the secret storehouse of the imperial city. The historical records and the top-secret files of the state of Zhao, as well as some antiques, are placed there but the hall is so strictly guarded that even a bird can hardly access," Zhao Shisong pointed at an area of seemingly plain houses and introduced slowly.

Ning Changjiu looked in the direction he pointed at and saw the deep gate of the huge mansion with the stone lions and lamps. The guards came and went in order, who didn't seem to be affected by the recent turmoil in the imperial city.

Next to him, Ning Xiaoling was rubbing her eyes, who was still a little sleepy. Just now, after she was awakened by her senior fellow disciple, she was dragged out in a daze before asking what had happened.

Ning Changjiu turned his gaze away. "What a great sword intent and a killing intent!"

Zhao Shisong clenched his fists in his sleeves and then said laughingly, "It has been more than one hundred years since the state of Zhao was established. Of course, there have been a lot of weapons in the Jiazi Hall."

Ning Changjiu glanced at the girl next to him and said, "Xiaoling, can you feel anything?"

Ning Xiaoling glanced at the mansion and shook her head with a frown.

Zhao Shisong looked at the petite and lovely girl, saying, "I heard that this young girl was also assaulted last night?"

Ning Changjiu nodded and said, "It was her arrangement too."

Ning Xiaoling recalled the scene last night and then said with lingering fear, "Fortunately, Changjiu arrived in time and helped me out."

Zhao Shisong sighed, "Actually, I don't understand why a capable man like you would choose to follow Ning Qinshui. What on earth do you want?"

Ning Changjiu didn't want to answer this question. He just smiled and said, "Even if I arrived a bit later last night, Xiaoling wouldn't die. She is quite good."

Ning Xiaoling was stunned for a moment. She lowered her head slightly. At that moment, she was extremely indifferent. Fierceness seemed to flash across her eyes and then vanished soon.

She raised her head and said with a smile, "Changjiu, cut it out."

Ning Changjiu rubbed her head and smiled faintly.

Looking at Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling, Zhao Shisong felt even more confused.

The three of them walked further away from the Jiazi Hall.

Zhao Shisong held an exalted position. On the way, others would always pay respects to him and greet him proactively.

Ning Changjiu stopped then and looked at the awakening ancient city quietly.

After exiting the archway under the palace wall, they walked for a short distance and then saw a huge lake. The center of the lake was enshrouded by the misty fog while the lakeside was piled up by red leaves. Some palace maids were throwing fish feed into the lake, causing the lake to ripple.

Zhao Shisong smiled and said, "This is Lake Qifeng, not man-made. The state of Zhao was established among lofty mountains and hills, which was not an easy thing."

Ning Changjiu looked back and saw that the majestic and magnificent imperial palace. It was built along the mountain. Yet, the layout of the imperial city was much flatter. Outside of the continuous palaces, the commercial areas were connected with the residential areas. Further away, the villages and the fortresses were properly distributed.

Zhao Shisong recalled something and heaved a long sigh. "In the past, the state of Zhao also occupied a lot of fertile land in the south, but more than ten years ago, quite some land was ceded to the state of Rong in exchange for temporary peace... Unfortunately, it was also ruined due to what Her Highness Xiang'er did."

Ning Changjiu pointed to the south of the lake and asked, "When we go forward along this road, we will arrive at the imperial preceptor's mansion, right?"

Zhao Shisong nodded and replied, "Yeah, the imperial preceptor was still black-haired and spirited two years ago. Now the state's fortune is on the decline. The imperial preceptor is undertaking the state's fortune, which makes him appear old and shaky."

Ning Changjiu asked, "The imperial preceptor is undertaking the state's fortune. What does the wizard patriarch shoulder?"

Zhao Shisong said, "The mission of the bloodline of the wizard patriarch is mainly to annotate ancient mysterious classics, inherit the Taoist method and defend the city. The wizard patriarch's power over the imperial city is only second to the emperor's. Hence, if the imperial city is destroyed, he will be backlashed. When Blood Feather assaulted the imperial city back then, it was the wizard patriarch who oppressed the assault."

Ning Changjiu was a little puzzled. "The imperial preceptor undertakes a state's fortune while the wizard patriarch undertakes a city's fortune?"

Zhao Shisong said, "Exactly."

Ning Xiaoling was listening aside. Now she whispered, "It sounds like the imperial preceptor is much more competent."

Zhao Shisong smiled bitterly and didn't respond.

Ning Changjiu knew that he was still hiding something, but the matter involved the state of Zhao's top secret so he didn't ask further.

The three of them walked along the lake. Ning Changjiu looked at the fallen red leaves all over the ground, asking in confusion, "It has been recorded that Blood Feather is an evil bird at the realm of Half Step Purple Court. It holds quite a high position. Why did it appear in the imperial city of the state of Zhao?"

Zhao Shisong said, "In order to establish the cities of the state of Zhao, a lot of original wastelands have been exploited. Maybe they were originally Blood Feather's territory. Since its territory was occupied, of course, it got angry."

Ning Changjiu asked, "Was Blood Feather killed?"

Zhao Shisong said, "It has been expelled only. The wizard patriarch was also seriously injured for this."

As they asked and answered, they walked quite a long way. The lake was veiled by the thin mist and the sunlight shed in from behind. The beams of light, just like sharp swords, cleared away the cold mist slowly. On the other side of the lakeshore, the armored guards went and came. Behind them was a heap of ruins.

"Qianyu Palace?" Ning Changjiu asked.

Ning Xiaoling stood on tiptoes and looked over only to see vaguely the corner of the collapsed palace across the long corridor among the high walls. Even though it had been a long time, the debris along the way still carried the moist killing intent.

Zhao Shisong clenched a fist in front of his body and placed the other hand behind his back, with his eyes full of depression. Eventually, no phoenix came out of the palace, which had been enshrined as a holy place, after the big fire.

"It's a pity that I have never met the goddess so I can only see a bit of her from Her Highness Xiang'er."

Ning Changjiu clasped his fists and said, "Thank you for dispelling my doubts all the way."

Zhao Shisong waved his hand. "It can't be compared to the life-saving grace you did to me."

Ning Changjiu said, "I want to walk around here with Xiaoling. Will it be okay?"

Zhao Shisong said, "Of course yes. However, you mustn't enter the secret storehouse I mentioned just now."

Ning Changjiu said, "I have a sense of propriety. I will surely avoid that place."

Zhao Shisong looked a little embarrassed. "Then my mansion...and Tang Yu, I..."

Ning Changjiu said. "Just follow the agreement. Don't intervene anymore. Zhao Xiang'er shouldn't have the time to deal with you."

After saying goodbye to Zhao Shisong, Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling sauntered leisurely by the lake. In the distance was the ancient palace; nearby was the damp fallen leaves. The sunlight shone through the clouds. As a result, the mist on the lake gradually faded away and the lake was sparkling.

Ning Xiaoling tramped on the fallen leaves with a rustle. She folded her arms before her chest and gripped her thin Taoist robe tightly. Her childish face turned slightly red with cold. She took a glance at the Qianyu Palace. With a frown, she seemed lost in thought.

"Changjiu..." She moved her gaze along the high walls of the imperial city and then said seriously, "What realm have you reached by now?"

Ning Changjiu glanced at her suspiciously and then shook his head with a smile. "Realm is nothing but a figment of your imagination. Take a glass of water for example. When the glass is empty, it is just an empty glass; when you pour some water in it, it is filled with water then; when the water overflows, it is full... When you are pouring water into the glass, for the sake of recording, you leave a lot of marks on the glass as the milestones. I don't think it makes any sense."

"Why?" Ning Xiaoling was unconvinced.

Ning Changjiu said, "Because the water is still in the glass. Only when the water gets out of the glass and starts to find a bigger container will that point become the node of a new realm in the true sense..."

Ning Xiaoling sighed and said with a bitter smile, "But Changjiu, have you ever considered that most cultivators in the world can never see the edge of the glass in their lifetime?"

Ning Changjiu stopped, thought for a while and said, "Well, for most people, even cultivation is just a castle in the air, but you are different from them. Since you can foster an innate spirit, you've already surpassed ten thousand people."

After saying that, Ning Changjiu thought of his current body and felt somewhat dejected. He was wondering to what extent he could cultivate himself this life.

Ning Xiaoling also thought of her tailless fox as big as a mouse. She puffed out her cheeks with no confidence and raised her head to glimpse Ning Changjiu, asking curiously, "Do you have an innate spirit?"

Ning Changjiu hesitated for a while before slowly uttering a word, "Yes."

Ning Xiaoling shivered and almost blurted out, "What is it?"

Ning Changjiu looked at her calmly. "My innate spirit is gone."

Ning Xiaoling was a little stupefied for the moment.

Once the innate spirit appeared, it would be connected with the sea of Qi. If the innate spirit was forcibly removed, the sea of Qi would also be destroyed and the owner would become a total wreck.

What on earth did he experience that night? Who was the man standing in front of her now?

Ning Xiaoling shuddered with fear for a while. The fear in her heart had been suppressed for a long time, which chilled her physically and mentally as if she were pricked by needles.

She asked in a seemingly casual way, "Why is your innate spirit gone? Do you mistake it?"

Ning Changjiu shook his head lightly without answering her.

The last scene of the distant and almost fake memory he had was that he was stabbed into his heart by an extremely glittering sword. Beyond the extreme light of the sword was an extremely indifferent and beautiful face.

He didn't know her name, but he was certain that she was his master.

In his blurry memory, he vaguely saw his innate spirit pulled out by her and cut off with a sword.

She seemed to have said something to him. It seemed quite important, but he just couldn't think of it.

That was the end of his memory of that life and then he came back to life in this body. He only vaguely remembered that he was trapped in a place as desolate as a cemetery.

He stopped thinking about it. Then he looked afar at the gate tower of the state of Zhao. Against the light of the rising sun, the ancient city looked like a trapped old beast.

"Do you like this city?" Ning Changjiu asked suddenly.

Ning Xiaoling sat down by the lakeshore. Her petite and beautiful shadow was mirrored in the water. She said with a casual air, "I've only been here for a few days. I don't feel anything special about it."

Ning Changjiu said, "It has been a tough time for the state of Zhao over the past century."

Ning Xiaoling nodded and said, "It has been coveted by the state of Rong and the state of Jin all the time. Even though it has ceded a lot of land, how can they be easily satisfied?"

Ning Changjiu said with a smile, "Then you know why the state of Zhao could still be established between them a hundred years ago?"

Ning Xiaoling said, "I was not born at that time yet. How did I know?"

Ning Changjiu smiled and said, "It was thanks to the immortal's help."

Ning Xiaoling also chuckled. "You also believe the legends?"

Ning Changjiu said, "I have read some ancient books about the mortal dynasties. Back then, I thought those were legends only. As I've lived in the imperial palace these days, I've vaguely felt that those legends may be true."

Ning Xiaoling gently shook her legs and said, "What are you talking about? What legends?"

Ning Changjiu also sat down next to her. "That is the true foundation of the state of Zhao. You are so young that you may find it somewhat exaggerated now."

Ning Xiaoling blinked her eyes. "It's okay. Changjiu, tell me about it now."

...

...

Many strange birds gathered above the imperial preceptor's mansion, some of which rested on the ridge and some of which were hovering above the mansion. Surprisingly, they were quiet, seeming afraid of disturbing the young girl in the mansion.

The legend about the sparrow ghost caused a huge panic in the imperial palace. The attack on Zhao Shisong last night was also spread on a small scale, but Zhao Shisong's explanation was perfunctory. He only stated that he was haunted by a fierce ghost and then saved by a young Taoist priest in his mansion in time. Due to the appearance and utterances of the wizard patriarch, people tended to believe the sparrow ghost could be Blood Feather, the evil bird that attacked the imperial city many years ago.

Many old people who had experienced the Blood Feather's rebellion were still afraid, hoping that the wizard patriarch could take action again and kill the evil bird completely.

Those who knew more inside information didn't believe that it was Blood Feather. What they feared most was still the young girl who stayed in the imperial preceptor's mansion temporarily.

Now she was still in charge of the formation of the imperial preceptor's mansion and it was about the imperial preceptor's life, so they couldn't act recklessly.

However, Zhao Xiang'er would leave the mansion one day, so many people had secretly contacted the state of Jin to make preparations. The moment they laid a beige to the goddess, they could never go back. All they could do was to kill both the goddess and Her Highness.

The girl was still in the mansion while the assassins were already on the way.

However, the girl in the imperial preceptor's mansion didn't care about it at all.

Early in the morning, Zhao Xiang'er took a shower and changed clothes after waking up. She put on a jet-black silk dress, and her long black hair was scattered around her shoulders damply, just like dark clouds.

The winding corridors were entwined with ancient vines. On one side of the corridor, there was an old well with withered yellow moss.

"This well is connected to the underground spring of Lake Qifeng. The spring water is very sweet. If you would like some tea, let me make a pot of it for you."

At the entrance of the corridor, the imperial preceptor stood on a crutch. He became even wearier and talked even more slowly.

Zhao Xiang'er looked at the well and said, "The water in the well does not interfere with the water in the lake. You don't need to cover it. I know it all."

With his stooping body shuddering, the old man couldn't help gripping the crutch more tightly. Although his spiritual power was concealed, the bricks under the end of the crutch were still cracked.

Zhao Xiang'er grinned. "There are three more wells like this, one in the Qianyu Palace, one in the Immortal Forest, and one in the imperial palace. When I was little, I heard ghosts screaming in the well so I went down to have a look."

The old man stared at her. "So you've known everything."

Zhao Xiang'er said, "Now the Qianyu Palace has been destroyed, and the well leading to the depth of the underground palace has also been sealed off. I can't go to the imperial palace or the Immortal Forest now, so here I am in the imperial preceptor's mansion."

The old man laughed mockingly. "I thought you kind of thought highly of me though I am old and useless. Now I've realized that I've overestimated myself."

Zhao Xiang'er shook her head. "You don't have to be so self-effacing."

The old man sighed and figured that his guess must be true. He said in a deep tone, "Do you know what kind of monster is in the underground palace?"

Zhao Xiang'er replied, "I have seen it across the fence of the furnace. It was a very strong old monster. All the killers I have seen in my life added up together are not half as strong as it."

The old man lamented, "Don't you understand that it is what the state of Zhao exists for? If it escapes from the underground palace, then the entire state of Zhao will no longer exist!"

Looking at him calmly, Zhao Xiang'er slowly talked about the history of that period of time, "My mother once told me that five hundred years ago, dozens of powerful monsters sprung up like mushrooms out of nowhere. Apart from the twelve masters of the state of Yin, very few beings could truly kill them. However, restricted by the laws of the universe, the masters of the state of Yin couldn't directly intervene with secular affairs. Hence, they sent the envoys to the mortal world to suppress the monsters with the fortune of the secular states. Nevertheless, there were no states on the barbarian land to suppress them, so the envoys helped people exploit the land and establish states. That's what the legend of immortals establishing states is about."

"Five hundred years ago, many states rose one after another. And they were established simply for the purpose of suppressing these baleful monsters."

"And a hundred years ago, a monster succeeded in escaping. An immortal traveled a long way, chasing after it. Eventually, the immortal smashed the monster's body into pieces and buried the pieces under Xiantai Mountain. Afterward, the immortal established an imperial city in Xiantai Mountain and guarded the state with four treasures. Thereafter the state of Zhao came to being."

As Zhao Xiang'er was talking, she walked towards the well. Her dark black dress's hemline was fluttering in the autumn wind, constituting a scene of the dark night.

The old man's emotional face gradually turned dejected. He said in a bitter voice, "Despite that, you still insist on going into the well? Do you know how powerful it is? Killing you is merely a piece of cake for it."

Zhao Xiang'er said, "Then you must know what it is feeding on. Where do the numerous natural calamities and man-made misfortunes come from, including earthquake, flood and plague? Since you are in charge of the state's fortune, you must be aware of the answers, right?"

The old man replied bleakly, "So what? No matter how tough it is to get through these disasters, the foundation of the state of Zhao won't be shaken. Since this is why the state of Zhao was established, it is also the fate that the state of Zhao should undertake!"

Fallen leaves were piled up at the edge of the ancient well, just like red and yellow ink, or rusty swords.

After the autumn rain, the water in the well rose a lot. Her pretty face was reflected in the water, beautified by the emerald-like well water.

Looking at herself reflected in the water, she said, "I want to try to kill it."

The old man looked at her and requested in a nearly begging voice, "Xiang'er... Please stop it. It is still not too late to stop it. I will protect you from those killers. You just need to..."

Zhao Xiang'er interrupted his words, "I will restore the state of Zhao to peace."

After that, she lifted the front of the skirt, held the ancient umbrella and jumped into the well.

The splattering sound came like thunder to the old man. He suddenly held his breath and didn't grip the crutch well. With a thud, he just fell. Pressing his chest, he slumped on the ground in a depression.

After a while, a guard suddenly rushed here from the pavilion. He lay prostrate on the ground and stuttered in an extremely flustered voice, "Lord... Lord Imperial Preceptor, something is wrong. The seal of the state...is gone!"

The old man was stunned for a long time. He picked up the crutch staggeringly and threw it towards the ancient well, wailing with his hands covering his face, "Crazy... crazy, all crazy..."

...

The water of Lake Qifeng was glittering. When the bell in the imperial city rang from the distance, Ning Changjiu finished telling the legend about the state of Zhao.

Ning Xiaoling stared at him earnestly and slightly came to her senses, asking in confusion, "Is there really a monster suppressed under the ground we are standing on?"

Ning Changjiu said, "Maybe. Or, it can be a story only."

Laden with anxiety, Ning Xiaoling said, "Then what if it escapes from underground one day?"

Ning Changjiu looked up at the sky. "Then I'll have to run away with you."

Ning Xiaoling gazed at him with watery eyes. "Then you must not leave me behind at that time."

On the official road not far away, two rows of officials were kneeling on the road. At this moment, the gate of the city was wide open. The light shone across the high brick wall.

On the distant arch bridge, Ning Changjiu saw Song Ce again.

Behind him, a small blue-and-white sedan was going forward at a constant speed, floating without being lifted by anyone as if the air all around were lake water gently supporting a boat.

Now it was bright all around. The curtain of the blue-and-white sedan was rolled down. Looking in the direction where the sunlight shone, people could see a vague figure in the sedan, who looked like an immortal from outside the secular world across the mist.

Ning Changjiu was not swayed.

Ning Xiaoling stared blankly ahead and forgot to utter any word.