Wayfarer

Chapter 919: The Void Saint

Back in Dachi's capital, the devastated imperial palace was rapidly being repaired. Its primary halls had already been restored.

After returning with Zeng Tianqi's bronze compass, Su Tianxin retreated deep within the imperial palace to cultivate in seclusion.

In another part of the palace, one of Su Tianxin's avatars was conversing with two subordinates.

"Did you manage to kill Ling Tianyu?" Su Tianxin asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty. The crown princess led us in eliminating Ling Tianyu and retrieving his bronze compass. She is now in possession of it," one subordinate replied.

"And where is Qingchan? Why didn't she return with you?" Su Tianxin frowned.

"We were on our way back when she suddenly said that the Void Saint had summoned her. She took Tang with her and instructed us to return and report to you."

Su Tianxin's frown deepened. "Are you certain it was the Void Saint?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"I see. Dismissed."

Su Tianxin's two subordinates bowed respectfully as they left the imperial study.

Alone, Su Tianxin murmured to himself, "The Void Saint, summoning Qingchan now...? It's a good thing, but I hope she won't forget my instructions."

Outside a large hall, Su Qingchan and Tang were standing respectfully. From within came the sound of bodies rubbing against each other that made Tang blush furiously. Meanwhile, Su Qingchan remained patient and composed.

After a while, a man's voice called out from within, "Enough. You may all leave."

"Yes, my lord!" a group of women replied.

The hall opened up as six stunning women with disheveled clothing and flushed faces emerged. They hastily left the hall.

"I greet the Void Saint," Su Qingchan said, bowing respectfully.

"I greet the Void Saint!" Tang mimicked her gesture.

Moments later, a handsome man stepped out of the hall, clad only in a loose robe that resembled a nightgown. His expression was arrogant and his gaze sharp as he appraised his two visitors.

"Qingchan, it's been a while since you last visited me. You only seem to do so to ask for things on your father's behalf. What's the matter this time?" the Void Saint asked slyly.

Su Qingchan immediately replied, "Saint, you instructed me to report on our battle against Xiao Nanfeng. We were relatively equally matched, and both secured our own objectives. I also acquired a bronze compass in the process. In addition, this is Tang, whom I've mentioned before. He's soul-mended."

"Oh?" The Void Saint turned to Tang. @@novelbin@@

Tang's face turned pale as he knelt. Ever the flatterer, he began, "Your humble servant, Tang, greets the Void Saint. It is an immense honor to be in your divine presence thanks to Her Highness' grace. May your saintly blessings endure, and your life be as boundless as the heavens."

The Void Saint chuckled, pleased by Tang's flattery. "You're not bad."

"Thank you for your kind words, Your Eminence," Tang replied.

"I hear all soul-mended have an unattuned cursed effigy hidden within them. Do you have one such?"

"I am unaware of any such cursed effigy, Your Eminence, but I would be more than happy to submit to an inspection. I gladly pledge my efforts to your divine will."

The Void Saint laughed. "Good. I like your attitude."

"Thank you, Your Eminence," Tang said eagerly.

"Show him his rooms," the Void Saint called out.

Very quickly, the Void Saint's servants emerged and led Tang away. Tang didn't resist; he followed them obediently.

After Tang departed, the Void Saint turned his gaze to Su Qingchan, a sly smile on his lips. "We'll set aside your father's request for now. Qingchan, it's been quite a long time since you last accompanied me. Since you're here today, why not stay a while longer?"

Su Qingchan's brows furrowed briefly, but she ultimately stepped forward, her head bowed. "As you wish."

The Void Saint laughed heartily, wrapping an arm around Su Qingchan and leading her back into the hall.

The doors to the hall slammed shut behind them.

Several days later, Su Qingchan returned to Dachi's capital. She met with her father in his imperial study.

"Didn't Tang return with you?" Su Tianxin asked.

"The Void Saint wants to study him to determine if he truly does harbor an unrefined cursed effigy. He refused to release him," Su Qingchan replied.

Su Tianxin frowned. "How did he end up taking an interest in Tang?"

"It's impossible to hide his nature, after all."

"Well, it's fine. Tang can stay there," Su Tianxin said after a moment of thought.

"Father, I've convinced the Void Saint to assist us," Su Qingchan continued.

"Oh? Did he agree to help us take down Xiao Nanfeng?" Su Tianxin's eyes lit up.

"He didn't make an explicit promise, but he said he would come and assess the situation before making a decision."

"Well done, well done! Qingchan, you're always reliable. You've managed to persuade him to help each time."

"I..." Su Qingchan hesitated, her expression conflicted.

Su Tianxin, however, waved it off with a laugh. "There's always a price to pay for benefits. Besides, the Void Saint is a saint. Being associated with him is no small honor for you."

Su Qingchan's eyelids twitched, but she refrained from pursuing the subject. Instead, she changed the topic. "The Void Saint also examined the bronze compass."

"Oh?" Su Tianxin's expression turned serious.

"He helped me attune to the compass and then allowed me to use it. He said that the bronze compass would be mine."

Su Tianxin frowned. "Why did he want to give it to you?"

"I told him that it belonged to you, but he said that there would be a price to granting your request. He intended to take the compass for himself. It was only after extended pleading on my part that he reluctantly allowed me to keep it and attune to it. I was worried that outright refusal might provoke him to seize it for himself."

Su Tianxin grimaced as he stared at the bronze compass in her hand. After a moment, he sighed. "So be it. As long as the compass remains in our possession, it's not a big deal."

"I'll keep persuading the Void Saint if the opportunity arises, Father."

"No need. Focus on learning how to use the compass yourself. By the way, did you retrieve Ling Tianyu's pure yang pillar?" Su Tianxin asked.

"Here it is." Su Qingchan handed over the pillar.

Su Tianxin inspected it and frowned. "To think he depleted its pure yang energy to this extent—it's a pity, but certainly better than nothing."

Half a month later, within the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm, Yang Chuan, Xia Xingchen, and three of Yuqing's Mountain Lords had gathered to watch Blue Lantern set up a massive formation. At the heart of the formation was a jade coffin containing Yang Chuan's mother.

Yu'er stood to the side, holding onto Xiao Nanfeng's arm. She remarked, "Blue Lantern is spending far more time attuning to this piece of the bronze compass than the last one."

"I suspect that the first one had already been partially attuned by Blue Lantern's father, making it easier to work with."

Yu'er nodded in agreement.

Just then, Blue Lantern performed an incantation. Two phantom images of bronze compasses appeared in the void.

"Wind!" Blue Lantern invoked.

With a hum, one of the phantom compasses transformed into the character for wind, 风. It hovered in the air, pulsing with blue energy.

"Water!" Blue Lantern invoked.

Another hum followed as the second phantom compass transformed into the character for water, 水. It too pulsed with blue energy.

"Wind and water, break the curse!" Blue Lantern shouted.

With a sudden surge, the two massive characters shot toward the jade coffin.

A brilliant green light burst forth from the coffin. Two massive blue characters emerged from within: mountain (山) and earth (地).

The mountain and earth characters clashed violently against the wind and water ones, sending shockwaves rippling in all directions.

Yang Chuan's face was filled with anxiety. He worried for his mother's safety, but refrained from interfering.

The four characters smashed into one another for over an hour on end. Cracks began to spread across their surface.

"Break!" Blue Lantern roared.

With a thunderous explosion, the four symbols shattered into countless fragments.

The jade coffin shattered as well, releasing a torrent of green bubbles that eveloped Yang Chuan's mother. The bubbles burst one by one, transforming into swirling green energy that wrapped around her. After a long while, the turbulent green energy finally calmed down.

With a deep breath, Blue Lantern ceased his incantations.

"Blue Lantern, how is my mother?" Yang Chuan asked anxiously.

Blue Lantern exhaled. "I've successfully broken the curse. You may step forward and check on her. However, I suspect her memory has been frozen at the time the curse was initially laid on her. Be careful."

Yang Chuan rushed forward, brushing aside the lingering blue mist with a sweep of his arm. His mother's face appeared in sight. The white fox head that she had borne for so long had finally reverted to the refined, human visage of a dignified woman.

"Mother!" Yang Chuan cried out, overwhelmed with emotion.

He gently cradled the woman's head. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked around at the gathered crowd. Her expression was dazed, as if she were struggling to comprehend what had happened.

After a moment, her expression shifted. A flash of anger crossed her face. "Insolence!"

With a single palm strike, she sent Yang Chuan stumbling backward. Even so, Yang Chuan wasn't angry. He was overjoyed.

"Senior Sister, do you remember me?" Xia Xingchen stepped forward eagerly.

The woman stirred. She stood up and scanned the crowd with a puzzled expression. "Xia Xingchen? Where are we? Shouldn't you be preparing for the upcoming Yuqing convention? What am I doing here?"

"Senior Sister!" the other three Mountain Lords all cried out, their eyes moist with tears.

"What's wrong with all of you?" she asked, visibly perplexed.

Finally, her gaze fell on Yang Chuan. A flicker of familiarity crossed her face as she asked, "And who's this?"

"Mother, it's me! I'm Yang Chuan!" Yang chuan exclaimed, tears streaming down his face.

"What? That's impossible," she said coldly.

"Senior Sister, don't act rashly! He really is Yang Chuan—he's all grown up now!" Xia Xingchen stepped forward and blocked her way.