Chapter Eighty-Nine: The Conspiracy

Because Chu Youcai discovered that the new trial within the Tuo Dragon Mountain and River Pearl displayed only a single name: the locust demon.

Moreover, there was a restriction: to attempt this trial, one must possess Daoist arts, demon arts, and literary aura.

Chu Youcai was immediately stunned. He lacked even the slightest Daoist ability—how could he take on the challenge?

He recalled the impending battle on the Life-and-Death Execution Platform three months hence and the competition for the Chu Prefecture Prince’s quota in half a month. A sense of urgency welled up within him.

He knew the second son of the Prince’s mansion, Chu Yu Wang, was a brute by nature—violent and quick to fight, infamous throughout the prince's household. Except for Chu Yu Wei, his cultivation was the highest among all the prince’s sons, with perhaps four or five years of Daoist training. Not only was he savage in temperament, he was unscrupulous; once, for the sake of a courtesan, he broke another young lord’s legs and had the man’s family slaughtered by Yanzhou’s underworld, inciting both heaven’s wrath and human outrage. Yet, by virtue of the mansion’s status, the matter faded without consequence.

For Chu Youcai to claim first place in the prince’s mansion, he had to surpass Chu Yu Wang, thereby earning the qualification to participate in the Sacred Trial of the Nine Provinces of Yanyun.

Another matter weighed heavily on Chu Youcai’s mind: the Fish Scale Blade was a cursed bronze treasure. If seen by others, it would surely attract covetous eyes. Thus, he needed to keep it hidden.

He exited the inner world of the Tuo Dragon Mountain and River Pearl and began to practice his palm techniques in the courtyard.

After the recent battle, his spirit had undergone further transformation. His palm technique became ever more refined, wielded as a blade—sharp and fierce.

But its power was still far inferior to the Fish Scale Blade.

Chu Youcai frowned deeply.

Just then, Yun Cui Xian and the others returned, announcing their good fortune: a nearby house was up for sale, right next to Shangguan Wanru’s courtyard. Yun Cui Xian had already completed the purchase, and the house contained eight rooms.

Hearing this, Hong Yu was overjoyed and prepared to move at once.

At that moment, sounds came from inside the room—Shangguan Wanru was waking. The group turned back and entered.

They saw Shangguan Wanru’s face still pale, but her lips had gained a touch of color and her spirit was much improved. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing them, Shangguan Wanru’s expression relaxed. She asked what had happened after she fell unconscious.

Yun Cui Xian explained everything.

After hearing it all, Shangguan Wanru’s face showed a sense of relief. But when she heard Chu Youcai had sworn a blood oath to face a life-and-death battle, and must first pass the prince’s mansion’s qualification contest, she suddenly cast a clear and fleeting glance at Chu Youcai.

In that glance, Chu Youcai sensed something strange—an unmistakable resolve.

But it vanished as swiftly as it appeared.

Shangguan Wanru said she needed to rest, and began meditating. The others suspected nothing and left together; Ju Xue and Hong Yu went to arrange the new rooms.

Yun Cui Xian walked into the courtyard, sword in hand, and began focused practice.

Her gaze was determined; she trained tirelessly, her sword technique displaying the aura of someone beyond the mundane.

Chu Youcai was startled—he hadn’t expected Yun Cui Xian’s sword skills to advance so rapidly. He noticed her right hand gripping the hilt bore traces of bruising, with medicinal powder applied.

Such progress could only come from relentless practice—even with an injured hand, she used the medicine he had given her and pressed on, achieving such improvement.

At that moment, Chu Youcai was deeply moved.

He, too, resumed his diligent palm practice.

All afternoon, each immersed themselves in cultivation, never meeting each other’s gaze, yet mutual understanding flowed between them. As the sun set, the light grew gentle and harmonious.

When night fell, Ju Xue had prepared dinner in the new house, but when she called everyone, they discovered Shangguan Wanru’s room was empty.

Where had Shangguan Wanru gone?

Recalling the hint of resolve on her face earlier, Chu Youcai’s heart was suddenly seized by alarm—where had she gone?

He couldn’t help but worry.

********************

In the vast courtyard of the Chu Prefecture Prince’s mansion, Chu Yu Wang wore a cruel smile.

On his desk lay a black sword shadow piercing a scroll, which bore the words: “Chu Youcai will compete for the mansion’s trial in half a month. Chu Yu Wei.”

Chu Yu Wang’s expression turned icy as he muttered, “Brother, oh brother, at last you have returned! For ten years, you’ve kept me beneath you—I lived in agony. Every time the mansion was mentioned, your name was invoked, all admired and feared you. Only I hated you! You stole everything that should have been mine!”

“And now, you have returned, ordering me to be your shield! I don’t know what grudge exists between you and Chu Youcai, but I know this is the first time you’ve shown weakness before me—because you care about him!”

“My spies have long known Chu Youcai is connected to Lei Yin Yang of the Lei household, and may have participated in his killing. The Fish Scale Blade is likely already in his possession!”

“Perhaps you covet the Fish Scale Blade!”

“So I will thoroughly defeat him, capture him, and seize his blade. I will make you see how worthless the one you cherish is before me!”

“I will exhaust every method to cripple his cultivation, make him wish for death, besmirch his reputation, and even have his deceased mother’s tombstone removed from the mansion’s Hall of Purity, so that she remains labeled a discarded woman even in death!”

“As long as I hold Chu Youcai in my grasp, let’s see what tricks you have left!”

Having said this, Chu Yu Wang’s eyes flashed as he rang the bell in his study.

A man in black, silent and unseen, appeared at the doorway and knelt.

Chu Yu Wang ordered, “Have the leader of the Dark Butchers pay a visit. Arrange for Lei Yin Yang’s belongings to be planted in Chu Youcai’s home, then conduct a search. Accuse Chu Youcai of conspiring with Lei Yin Yang and harming those four or five hundred innocent girls. Also, help me submit a memorial to the Lady of the mansion, requesting the removal of Chu Youcai’s mother’s tombstone from the Hall of Purity!”

The man in black replied, “As you command, master.”

He soon vanished.

Long after the man left, Chu Yu Wang’s eyes gleamed coldly. “Yan Yunfei has been summoned back to Yanmen, and the Lady of the mansion hates Chu Youcai—she will surely approve this plan! Chu Youcai will fall entirely into my hands! Ha!”

As he laughed madly, suddenly a frigid light flashed across the heavens. A spectral ape stretched out its arms—countless icy breaths howled, threatening to topple mountains and destroy the entire courtyard.

That chilling light struck directly at Chu Yu Wang’s heart!