Chapter 13: Delivering Oneself from a Thousand Miles Away
Seeing the state of the two, the Moon Goddess remarked in confusion, “The net of heaven and earth covers the world, infiltrating every corner—its reputation is well deserved! Even the snowy lands of the north have not escaped your reach!”
“It seems we must re-evaluate this net that knows no boundaries,” the Eastern Sovereign replied, playing along, though she herself was unsure whether this was truly the work of the net.
Surprised, Jingni was about to explain when Lin Shu reached out and gently stroked her hair. He, knowing the plot, understood perfectly the truth behind it.
“Don’t mind those two gossips, my dear,” he said, his cloak wrapped tightly around him, a veil obscuring his face. Lin Shu couldn’t tell who they were, but such attire surely did not belong to decent folk, though their voices were pleasing.
Gossips, were they? Jingni chuckled softly and nodded, “Yes, my husband!”
Lin Shu’s unwavering trust warmed Jingni’s heart, and she could not help but lean closer to her man.
Gossips? The Moon Goddess nearly exploded with rage!
The Eastern Sovereign was equally cold, never before had anyone dared to be so rude and audacious in her presence!
The Moon Goddess quickly composed herself and interrupted their intimate exchange. “Might I ask if you are Lin Beiwang in person? The Moon Goddess of the Yin-Yang Sect has come to pay her respects.”
“Eastern Sovereign of Yin-Yang Sect,” Yanfei spoke softly as well.
Jingni was unfamiliar with the pair, but Lin Shu knew well their backgrounds.
“Heh, your Yin-Yang Sect certainly pokes its nose everywhere, venturing all the way up north,” he said.
This man seemed ordinary at first glance—no, he looked utterly arrogant and conceited! His attitude only stoked the Eastern Sovereign’s ire. “I presume you are Lin Beiwang. To leave a lady shivering in these cold winds—is that how the North King receives guests?”
“Not all who come are guests! Sisters, let me advise you to return at once; the north is not like the Seven Kingdoms, and Lin Beiwang is not someone the Yin-Yang Sect can meddle with,” Jingni said, unwilling to provoke the mysterious sect.
Though neither the Moon Goddess nor the Eastern Sovereign were women Lin Shu had admired in the past, he was nonetheless curious to see their legendary beauty.
“To meet kin across a thousand miles is a blessing. If you ladies do not mind the humble accommodations, please step inside the carriage,” Lin Shu said, drawing Jingni back toward the vehicle.
After a moment’s observation, the Eastern Sovereign and the Moon Goddess entered the carriage cautiously.
The moment they stepped inside, warmth enveloped them, and even the air felt like a cool spring.
Lin Shu and Jingni sat directly on the bed, while the Moon Goddess and Eastern Sovereign nodded in greeting and took seats on the small sofa opposite.
“Ah! You—!” Upon noticing the sleeping baby in the corner of the bed, the Eastern Sovereign’s anger dissipated by half.
Even the Moon Goddess’s murderous intent softened somewhat.
“We reveal ourselves to you, so perhaps you two should remove those black veiled hats,” Lin Shu said expectantly.
Jingni’s gaze grew distant—ah, men are always like this!
Heh—the Eastern Sovereign lowered her head with a smile; this little fatty was indeed a man of impatience.
“No need to rush, North King. We sisters shall show our faces,” said the Moon Goddess, casually removing her hat. A light veil still covered her eyes, but she did not mind him seeing.
Upon seeing their faces, Lin Shu nodded inwardly: indeed, both were of calamitous beauty, but their hearts were not the kind he favored.
“By the way, Moon Goddess, has your next Junior Fatekeeper taken office yet?” Mentioning the Yin-Yang Sect brought to mind the Junior Fatekeeper—at this time, she must still be a young girl.
The Junior’s cultivation in the Wood Division was the most perilous; the higher the level, the more soul force was depleted—a suicidal path.
Damn! How could she practice such evil arts? The Elder’s position wasn’t worth it!
Now that he had Jingni, Lin Shu no longer yearned for his former dream love, yet he couldn’t bear to see the Junior Fatekeeper’s life cut short.
Thinking of Eastern Emperor Taiyi’s arrogant, ruthless, selfish, and domineering manner, Lin Shu wished he could eliminate him at once! Unfortunately, a secondary carriage might not be sufficient for such a feat.
Moon Goddess’s expression grew increasingly grave—this North King seemed intimately familiar with the inner workings of their sect. The next Junior Fatekeeper had already been chosen; only the right moment was needed for her succession.
“North King, these are internal matters of the Yin-Yang Sect. Knowing too much may not be wise,” she replied.
Hmph! Jingni’s eyes flashed with anger, her fingers moving toward her sword.
Lin Shu laughed softly and sighed. “Your Yin-Yang Sect loves to act so domineering and self-important, as if the world must pass through your approval. Still, you truly have come to deliver yourselves!”
An inexplicable pressure bound them. The Eastern Sovereign’s face turned pale as she summoned her spiritual power, but the carriage promptly absorbed it.
“What’s happening? North King, what are you doing?” Moon Goddess panicked, finding her spiritual energy halved and her body immobilized.
Jingni smiled in satisfaction. “I warned you not to seek trouble!”
“North King, release us. The disciples of the Yin-Yang Sect will not step into the north again!” Eastern Sovereign hadn’t expected to fall so easily; she no longer wished to probe the mysteries of the north.
With Jingni present, Lin Shu refrained from overtly teasing the beauties.
“Eastern Sovereign, Moon Goddess, considering how you’ve grown, I won’t harm you. However, your sect abducted my cousin Xiao Yi, so now I’ll use you to exchange with that Eastern Emperor.”
The Eastern Sovereign knew the next Junior Fatekeeper had been taken from the Celestial Sect, and at this moment, she seemed to understand something.
“This must be arranged by Northern Mingzi. But whether we can be exchanged is not for us to decide!” Would the Eastern Emperor agree, or would he come to kill them? Yanfei didn’t know and didn’t wish to ponder it!
The Eastern Emperor was terrifying, but not as frightening as the carriage that could devour spiritual force in an instant.
“North King, let us go. If you anger the Yin-Yang Sect and the Eastern Emperor, you will gain nothing! Besides, the new Junior Fatekeeper will soon become Elder of the Wood Division—a great event!” The Moon Goddess was unwilling; she regretted not foreseeing her own safety before coming. She thought their abilities would at least ensure a safe retreat.
Mention of Eastern Emperor Taiyi irritated Lin Shu, though he couldn’t gauge the extent of the emperor’s strength.
“Jingni, bind them to the carriage frame.”
The Eastern Sovereign could barely speak, her spiritual power rapidly draining.
Lin Shu instructed Xin Ying to leave them half their spiritual force, so their cultivation foundations would not suffer. He still owed some respect to beautiful women.
Two thick iron chains appeared, and Jingni smiled as she bound the two sisters, using her internal power to block their spiritual energy.
Outside, the cold wind howled; inside, the carriage was filled with gentle laughter. Once more, the sisters experienced the feeling of utter loneliness.
“Husband, who is this Xiao Yi, the Junior Fatekeeper you want to trade for? Is she very beautiful?” Women are ever sensitive; Jingni sensed this matter was not simple.
Lin Shu could not tell the truth, so he bluffly replied, “Rest assured, my dear, I have no ulterior motives. I share some history with Xiao Xi. The Wood Division’s cultivation will only kill her, so I intend to take her away from your sect. When I destroy the Yin-Yang Sect in the future, she’ll be free to go wherever she wishes.”
Right, she also had a brother, Xiao Ling—Lin Shu wondered if he was still alive. With that in mind, he began to plot.
Satisfied with the answer, Jingni relaxed. She knew she herself was not entirely innocent. She didn’t insist on monopolizing this man, but hoped he would belong to her alone for a time, so her first true affection would not be in vain.
The atmosphere gradually changed. Though aware of the two outside the carriage, passion could not be contained.
Soon, the carriage began to sway gently, strange sounds emanating from within.
“Ah! Damn you, Lin Beiwang!” Shamed and furious, the Moon Goddess wished she could faint on the spot.
Indeed, the Eastern Sovereign immediately forced her spiritual energy to her mind and fainted, and the Moon Goddess followed suit, collapsing softly on the carriage floor.