Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 260: Chapter 97 The Belated Epilogue

Li Yan and Cha Xiaodao exchanged glances, feeling somewhat uneasy.

…

“Ah, only once in several months do I encounter a free wish, and whenever I do, it’s always such a hassle!”

In the cluttered and dim room, a girl’s face in front of the fluorescent screen lamented.

Cartoon stickers, celebrity posters, lace underwear, bags of chips, plastic toys with bumpy textures, boxes and boxes of CD-ROMs and cassettes.

The old desktop computer emitted an overburdened noise, yet it represented the rights that countless Yan Fu sought after, clambering over each other to obtain.

Dressed in disheveled clothes and sporting dark circles under her eyes, the girl sprawled in an office chair, tossing one leg on the computer desk and stuffed a handful of chip crumbs into her mouth.

“I have no right to refuse, yet if I agree, the old man will protest, and Cao Yuanchao’s gang won’t let go. In the end, it’s us who get squeezed between them. What was I thinking when I became the Proxy Traveler for the heavenly beings?!”

“Cough~ Cough~”

She typed wildly on her keyboard.

…

On Mage Island, Li Yan and Cha Xiaodao heard the rustling sound of the wind around them, stirring their hearts.

Li Yan had heard this sound before, it was from a high-ranking Proxy Traveler initiating a conversation about a Yan Fu event.

When Taishuai was surrounded and attacked, a Proxy Traveler who was part of the pursuit had once initiated a conversation, asking him to renounce the Yan Fu event.

At that time, the disturbance from Taishuai turned the tables in favor of Li Yan.

“You have been granted a conversation.”

Both heard this at the same time.

“Cough~ Cough~ Um… hello, I’m Xue Li. A Seven Palaces level Yan Fu Proxy Traveler, my legacy: Light of Kui. I’m responsible for handling this free wish. I have a few questions to confirm with you both.”

Their interlocutor was unseen, and the woman’s voice was muffled, as if she were chewing on something.

“Firstly, once a Proxy Traveler manifests in another fruit, the ‘Convergence Phenomenon’ is irreversible. Therefore, after the Proxy Traveler’s return, the original person within the fruit will also disappear.”

“Can you explain what the ‘Convergence Phenomenon’ is?”

Li Yan’s mind stirred, his relationship with Tianbao was undoubtedly what was meant by the “Convergence Phenomenon.”

“I don’t have time.”

“…”

Li Yan raised an eyebrow: “Fine, please continue.”

“To avoid unnecessary trouble, Yan Fu often sends out Earth Endurance to act as a substitute, to maintain the daily activities of the ‘Proxy Traveler’ identity within the fruit, mainly to prepare for the next descent of the Proxy Traveler. For instance, Mr. Li Yan, you hold a military rank as the Governor in the Great Ming Scale·Dingyin 24 (Taishuai) fruit, and upon your return, Yan Fu will send an Earth Endurance to take your form and spend time in the barracks.”

“Of course, to avoid complications, Earth Endurance will try to avoid involving itself in the Proxy Traveler’s personal relationships within the fruit and will only appear as part of the background. To continue with Mr. Li Yan’s example, in the Earth·Jiazi 259 (Judy) fruit, you have a female partner with whom you are extremely intimate, but Earth Endurance only has a human appearance and lacks the ability to satisfy your partner.”

“Pfft~”

Cha Xiaodao couldn’t help but laugh.

“Therefore, the Earth Endurance of this fruit chose to leave Hong Kong after your return. To avoid getting exposed.”

Li Yan forced a smile: “You guys are really considerate.”

“However, if you wish to have access to this fruit at any time, Yan Fu cannot provide such a service for you. You will need to shuttle between the two worlds yourself to maintain your power and relationships.”

“That’s even better.”

Li Yan thought this was the best possible outcome.

There was silence on the other end for a while. The woman muttered softly, “Geez… Now that I think about it, that Earth Endurance freed from fulfilling the duty as a substitute, we’ll have to arrange another job for him. Such a hassle.”

“Have you two made up your minds? Don’t you want to think it over?”

Li Yan glanced at Cha Xiaodao, who nodded enthusiastically.

“The Spirit of Mazu, a superior legacy from the Five Immortals Category. Heavenly Consort’s Eyebrow Pencil, a secret treasure imbued with the power of Mazu. With such benefits, it will take a long time to make up for your losses in this fruit’s management, won’t it?”

Li Yan really hesitated for a moment. To speak the truth, the Lord of the Xiang River he sought was not as highly graded as Mazu, and it was uncertain whether he could truly obtain it.

“Bah, let’s just go ahead with it, goodbye.”

Light ended the conversation abruptly and not too pleasantly.

…

The girl scratched her head: “Overtime! Overtime!” She swept the trash off the table, turned off the Thunder video player, and began typing fiercely on the computer, grinding her teeth.

…

“I’m a little heartbroken.”

“You get what you pay for.”

Li Yan gave Cha Xiaodao a thump on the chest.

“That Xue Li we just talked to, I think I’ve heard of her before.”

“Oh?”

“She was the talk of the town a while back, a Yan Fu Proxy Traveler auctioning herself at a personal auction. That was her.”

“…”

Li Yan had no words in response.

“When will you be going back?”

Cha Xiaodao asked.

Li Yan gestured with his mouth towards the docks, “The hundred thousand taels of silver for the sacrificial offerings that Cai Qian compensated for, I’ve brought them this time. The altar, incense, and rituals are all arranged as well; I’ll be heading back tonight.”

“To Lantau Island?”

“I’m prepared for that. As for the additional two hundred thousand taels of silver, you and I will each take a hundred thousand, which comes to ten thousand points at the top rate.”

Cha Xiaodao’s heart was ablaze; no matter what, the spoils from this time were something he had never experienced since he entered Yan Fu.

“What about Zhao Xiaoyi?”

Li Yan suddenly remembered. With this big concern out of the way, he relaxed completely.

“He’s been looking for you since before the feast, saw you drinking, and has been waiting outside.”

“Got it.”

…

At the gateway flanked by two stone lions, Zhao Xiaoyi stood upright, breathing evenly, not moving an inch, as if he were made of mud and wood.

“Eh.”

Li Yan whistled from behind the lacquered gate, holding a jar of ‘daughter’s red’ wine with its clay seal broken.

“Come in if you have something to say.”

Zhao Xiaoyi pursed his lips and stepped forward. Halfway through, he lowered his head to kneel, but Li Yan, quick to react, grabbed his shoulder tightly.

“You’ve also been a mentor to me, so just speak your mind,” Li Yan said briskly.

Zhao Xiaoyi still insisted on kneeling, while Li Yan’s grip was firm; the two were at a standoff for a short while. Li Yan refused to let go.

“The Dragon Head of Tianbao thinks highly of me, but with you doing this, I can’t speak freely…”

Zhao Xiaoyi’s cheeks bulged from biting them.

“If you kneel, I don’t even have a tael of silver to give you, so just speak up first, whether you agree to my terms or not.”

Zhao Xiaoyi gritted his teeth: “I want the Dragon Head of Tianbao to lend me five thousand men, thirty large ships, and twenty cannons.”

“What for?”

“To reassemble the Black Flag Gang, to personally slay Anqian and behead the Demon Thief, to avenge Big Brother Guo.”

“What’s in it for me?”

Zhao Xiaoyi gave a bitter smile, “I’m penniless and without a thing to my name, why should the Dragon Head of Tianbao care if he gets my life?”

“One condition,” Li Yan had a well-thought-out plan.

“You stay by Xiu’er’s side for five years, and after that, I will lend you the men. I’ll help you fight Anqian, and as for the Demon Thief, you’ll have to figure that part out on your own.”

Zhao Xiaoyi hesitated. It wasn’t that he wanted to bargain, but if he took action now, he could still gather some hands from the Black Flag. With instability in Anqian’s camp, it was an opportune time for regaining control, and waiting another five years would mean losing this chance.

“Anqian, just a mongrel selling himself to the highest bidder, but what about the Demon Thief Zhang He? What will you use to deal with him?”

Li Yan challenged Zhao Xiaoyi with a question.

Seeing the uncertainty on Zhao Xiaoyi’s face, he added, “You’re highly skilled in martial arts. If you could get your hands on the methods of refining the physical body used by Gaoli ghosts and Quanlang types to become a Quanlang Sea Ghost, even two Ao Xings wouldn’t be a match for you. Since Madam Shi passed away, the Red Flag has no one to teach the methods of creating Gaoli ghosts, but Xiu’er is learning them. For the Lin Family side, I can find a way to help you. Think about it yourself.”

Li Yan turned to leave when Zhao Xiaoyi called out to him.

“A promise then, Dragon Head of Tianbao.”

Li Yan looked at Zhao Xiaoyi, smiling satisfactorily.

…

The government offices were still the same, but the news of the ‘Red Hair’ encroachments and Lin Yuanfu’s death in the chaos of battle shook the Capital City.

The Grand Secretary, Zhao Yun of the Han Zhong Hall, stationed in the Capital City, summoned Zhang Dong, a student who had followed Lin Yuanfu, overnight to inquire about the situation. That night, Zhang Dong appeared before the Emperor, and the name “Tianbao” entered the eyes of the Emperor and the ministers for the first time.

The government was sharpening its knives, on the one hand, using Fulin’s offer to attract and divide the pirates with high official posts and rich rewards. On the other, they accepted apologies and reparations from the East India Company and bought cannons and warships from Hesting at extremely low prices to form a new army…

Yishi Zhufen surrendered to the government and was given a general’s commission.

Lin Ajin was ennobled; his deceased wife was posthumously honored with official recognition, bringing glory to his family.

Even the Demon Thief was courted by the government.

Only the Red Flag’s friction with the government increased steadily…

“The Red Flag miscreants blaze with felonious fire; they must be eradicated as a great scourge upon the land!”

Zhao Yun, a close friend of Lin Yuanfu and a chief minister, stated emphatically.

The situation in the South Seas became unpredictable again. Amidst the eerie and tumultuous state of affairs, an insignificant event occurred.

One month into mourning his teacher, Lin Yuanfu’s student Zhang Dong discreetly married a concubine, with a maiden name Cai, reported to be from a wealthy family in Guangdong…