Chapter 31: The Whispers of the Demon Empress and a Glimpse of the Future

“Gentlemen, we couldn’t help but overhear your fascinating conversation. Might you be willing to elaborate further for us?”

The men seated at the wine table looked up, their gazes falling upon a petite young woman, dressed as a merchant’s daughter, standing by their table with a ledger-carrying maidservant. It was the young woman, her face partially obscured by a round fan, who had spoken.

“Please forgive our intrusion, good sirs.”

The maidservant stepped forward, retrieving some silver shards from her purse and offering them. “We are new to Cloud Capital, and my mistress has always been fond of street gossip. We happened to hear you mention the ‘Demon Empress’ just now. Would it be convenient for you to tell us more?”

The men exchanged glances, their faces etched with hesitation. After a moment, one of them reached out, pocketed the silver, and leaned in, lowering his voice.

“Since you two are new, it’s understandable you wouldn’t know. The one we were just speaking of is precisely that calamitous Demon Empress who has brought ruin upon our nation and its people. In Cloud Capital today, who doesn’t know of her, who hasn’t heard of her!”

Qu Linglong’s heart stirred. ‘The matter of the demonic cultivators is so easily uncovered? It’s spread so widely, known to all?’

“May I ask… why is she called the ‘Demon Empress’? And what terrible deeds has she committed?” Lin Qianqian interjected, seizing the opportune moment to press for details.

“Hmph! Who doesn’t know that our sagacious and valiant Emperor, with his grand vision, made but one mistake in his life: marrying that Baizhi as his Empress! As for why she’s called the Demon Empress?”

The man scoffed, his voice dropping even lower, yet each word was chillingly clear.

“Because she is nothing but a white fox demon! This is a fact known to everyone in Cloud Capital!”

“As for what she’s done—His Majesty has kept to his palace for years, even the morning court sessions have grown increasingly rare. Is this not all due to that woman’s bewitchment!

Not to mention, people have gone missing from the palace every now and then over the years, men and women, young and old alike. Were they not all seized by that Demon Empress to cultivate her vile demonic arts!”

He grew more agitated with each word, completely ignoring his companion’s warning glances. Finally, he practically spat through gritted teeth, “That Baizhi is a monstrous fiend, a bane to our nation!”

***

“If that is the case, why do none of you report these rumors of the Demon Empress to the various orthodox sects, to invite them to come and crusade against her?”

Inside the Primal Chaos Hall, after listening to Hall Master Li relay the common folk’s rumors, Yun Xueshang’s brows furrowed slightly as she inquired.

“Daoist Bai, you may not know,” Hall Master Li shook his head with a chuckle,

“the men and women supposedly ‘missing’ in those rumors are mostly palace staff who entered to serve the newly conscripted imperial concubines.

It’s simply that Empress Bai… is said to have a rather strict temperament, and concubines are often cast into the Cold Palace at the slightest provocation.

Their accompanying palace staff naturally suffer the same fate, confined to the deep palace and unable to leave. This is what makes outsiders believe they’ve ‘vanished into thin air’.”

“As for why His Majesty has kept to his palace in recent years, it is merely to seclude himself for cultivation. General political decrees and policies are still issued from time to time.”

“Have you verified this matter?” Hua Yan pressed further.

“It has, of course, been verified,” Hall Master Li stated with certainty.

“His Majesty personally explained this to several influential cultivators—I was among them.

No matter how much His Majesty dotes on Empress Bai, he would never permit her to commit murder or practice demonic arts within the palace. Those words are merely baseless rumors spread by common folk.”

He waved a dismissive hand, clearly unwilling to discuss the matter further. “Enough, these are merely idle street gossip, not worth deep investigation.

More importantly, the Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner. Cloud Capital holds a grand celebration every year for Mid-Autumn, and the city becomes quite lively then.

Since you two Daoists are new to Cloud Capital, why not take a good rest and then, on Mid-Autumn Day, take your beloved daughter to enjoy the festivities? How does that sound?”

Hua Yan and Yun Xueshang exchanged a glance, then nodded in unison. “Very well, we thank the Hall Master for his kind offer.”

***

“Mother, it’s your turn.”

“Mm.”

Inside the inn that night, two figures, one large and one small, sat opposite each other at a table, clad in their sleeping robes.

Black and white chess pieces were laid out on the table; the cool-haired, white-haired girl held the black pieces, while the adorable, pink-haired girl held the white, the battle in full swing.

On the other side, a vivacious, red-haired girl, also in a sleeping robe, lay lazily on the couch, speaking into a sound transmission jade slip.

“So, you also heard rumors of that Demon Empress Baizhi at the mortal inn in the Western Market today?”

“Indeed. However, the information we gathered here is far less detailed than what you Daoist Hua uncovered,” Qu Linglong’s voice drifted from the jade slip, tinged with a slight sigh.

“If what Hall Master Li said is true, then this is likely a baseless rumor, and the clue to the demonic cultivators remains elusive.”

“No matter, it’s only the first day,” Hua Yan replied, unconcerned. “In my opinion, both that Empress surnamed Bai and the Emperor are highly suspicious. Who knows which one truly has a problem.”

“Haha, I won!”

Hua Xiangrong suddenly clapped her hands in delight, clearly having won a round in their game.

‘Truly… Yun Xueshang is such a terrible chess player. To have the first move and still lose to a child.’

Hua Yan cast a glance their way, then continued, “So, shall we start by investigating the imperial palace tomorrow for information?”

“Hmm, I can try to think of something through the Heavenly Secret Pavilion’s channels. As for you, Daoist Hua…”

“No need for trouble, there’s actually another way.”

A warm breath suddenly brushed Hua Yan’s ear, and an ethereal voice softly spoke, startling her to her core.

“?!”

“You, you, you, you!!!”

“Yun Xueshang! Why did you suddenly get so close?!” Hua Yan clutched her ears and sprang to her feet, a flush of crimson rapidly spreading from her tiny earlobes, dyeing her entire face in the blink of an eye.

“Rongrong and I made a bet; the loser has to do one thing for the winner.” Yun Xueshang’s eyes held an apologetic glint. “Just now, Rongrong told me to lean close to your ear and whisper that sentence.”

“?!”

“Hua Xiangrong! What mischief are you up to now?!” Hua Yan immediately turned, glaring fiercely at the little girl by the table.

“Because I had something important to tell Mother! Important things, of course, have to be whispered up close!” Hua Xiangrong blinked her bright pink eyes, her face full of innocence.

“We already set up a soundproofing array! Do we need to whisper? Besides, couldn’t you have just had her transmit the sound?”

“Oh, is that so? Oh…” The pink-haired girl nodded, appearing somewhat confused.

“Hello, hello, Daoist Hua? Did I just hear you and Daoist Yun doing something intimate? Although it’s late at night and you’ve been reunited after a long time… the child is still here, you know.”

From the sound transmission jade slip resting on the couch, Qu Linglong’s teasing voice wafted out leisurely.

“We did not!” Hua Yan was both angry and embarrassed, yet it was hard to argue seriously with a child, so she could only grit her teeth and suppress her mortification. “Then tell me, what method do you have?” She turned to Hua Xiangrong.

“I saw it! I can directly lead you, Mother, to find the mastermind!” Hua Xiangrong said, her expression utterly matter-of-fact. “You won’t have to waste time looking for clues anymore, Mother!”

“?!”

‘This Dao Body is so effective? She’s already glimpsed the future again?’

Hua Yan was momentarily stunned, then quickly pressed, “Who exactly is this mastermind?”

“The mastermind, well, it’s…”

…

“Alright, the discussion is mostly done. It’s time to get some rest; we have important matters tomorrow.”

After listening to Hua Xiangrong recount the future she had seen, and after the group had discussed the specific actions for eliminating the evil, Hua Yan yawned, got off the couch, and picked up the girl who was still engrossed in a picture book on the chair.

“Little one, it’s time for bed.”

“Mm, okay.”

Hugging the soft girl, who obediently put down her picture book, Hua Yan couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion. ‘Fortunately, the little one is here. This path of evil extermination will save us a lot of trouble.’

Suddenly, her gaze caught the incomplete chess game on the table in her peripheral vision.

“I say, little one, how did you two play this game? It makes no sense whatsoever.” Hua Yan frowned in confusion.

She prided herself on being proficient in various chess games, but looking at this board, she found it utterly chaotic and incomprehensible.

“Oh, Mother and I weren’t playing Go; we were playing Gomoku,” Hua Xiangrong replied brightly.

“Gomoku?”

“It’s a game where whoever connects five of their pieces in a line first, wins.”

“?”

Hearing of this novel game, Hua Yan immediately felt a thrill of curiosity, eager to try it.

“There’s such a game? Little one, quickly teach me.”

“Okay, okay, Mother, I’ll play a game with you…”

“It’s time for bed.”

Both turned at the sound, seeing Yun Xueshang already sitting on the edge of the bed, fully clothed, gazing calmly yet undeniably at the pair, one large and one small.

“Rongrong is still young and shouldn’t stay up late. It’s time for bed. If you want to play chess, do it another day.”

“Oh…” x2