C22 He Said That He Did Not Want to Die

“Greetings, Immortal Master.”

Le Yang glanced in the direction of the voice and noticed Feng Buping's face etched with reluctance.

Le Yang understood the awkwardness; he knew he'd feel the same if he suddenly discovered that the person he'd been enjoying a conversation with was the very luminary he'd longed to meet.

“Feng Buping, I have a lucrative opportunity for you. Are you interested or not?”

Le Yang said with a smile, knowing that in terms of martial arts, Feng Buping was his equal, able to block his golden blade with a flying sword.

“What is this? Charity? Sorry, I’m not interested.”

Le Yang was surprised to hear Feng Buping's refusal; he didn't strike him as someone who would pass up the chance to make money.

After watching Feng Buping more closely, Le Yang noticed his glances towards the Third Princess and began to understand.

“Hong Luan, I’ve heard you’re fond of swordplay. My friend here is also skilled with the sword. Perhaps you could let him show you a move or two?”

“Him? He’d probably lose his life to my sword.”

The Third Princess, known as Hong Luan, sized up Feng Buping and found nothing in the young man to pique her interest. She couldn’t imagine any sword technique surpassing the one in the book she clutched to her chest.

“Feng Buping, it seems your swordsmanship is being underestimated.”

Le Yang’s gentle tease caused Feng Buping’s face to flush.

But Feng Buping was not Le Yang; his sword had been confiscated by the guards before entering the palace, leaving him to only glare at Le Yang as if challenging him to provide a sword.

“Third Princess, you shouldn’t underestimate him. His swordsmanship has aided me in vanquishing demons and evil spirits.”

Le Yang, seeing Feng Buping’s expression, knew his assumption was correct.

“Really?”

Hong Luan took Le Yang’s word for it but still didn’t give Feng Buping much regard.

With a treasure before her, why bother with the beauty of mere pebbles?

Le Yang stepped closer to Feng Buping and whispered, “If you’re not after the money, that’s fine. But as for the Third Princess, if you have feelings for her, join me in defeating that demon.”

Feng Buping questioned, “With such formidable magic at your disposal, Immortal Master, why involve a mere mortal like me? Why not incinerate that demon yourself and be done with it?”

Hong Luan, noticing her master whispering with the scruffy young man, couldn't help but inquire, “Master, what are you two discussing?”

“I’m imparting a few secret demon-slaying techniques to him,” Yueyang whispered to Feng Buping. “The decision is yours. If you assist me and we succeed, you’ll be rewarded with ten thousand gold taels, and the credit for vanquishing the demon will be yours. If you fancy this young lady, you could marry her afterward.”

“Who would fancy this tomboy?” Feng Buping shot a glance at Hong Luan, clad in her swordsman attire, then retorted, “Exorcising demons is my calling; spare me the lecture.”

“Fine, you can forgo the gold then. As for the third princess, I’ve yet to find a dao companion myself.”

“How dare you!”

“Hard-headed,” they muttered, locked in a glaring contest.

“Master, what is this secret technique? Will you teach me as well?” Hong Luan approached, her large, doe-like eyes brimming with curiosity, her long lashes quivering as she tried to keep them wide open.

“Absolutely not, you mustn't teach her,” Feng Buping blurted out upon seeing Hong Luan’s endearing expression.

“Who are you to order me around? Get out!” Hong Luan fumed, unable to understand why this infuriating vagabond had any say in her learning immortal techniques from her own master.

Le Yang watched the two youngsters bicker, sensing an inexplicable compatibility between them.

“Who am I? Le Yang is my brother. By seniority, you should address me as Uncle-Master.”

“Pfft, a destitute knight dares to claim brotherhood with my master. Do you even realize who I am? You should be kneeling and showing respect at the sight of a princess. Watch your tongue, or I’ll have the Green Feather Guards obliterate your entire lineage.”

“My swordsmanship is second to none; your Green Feather Guards wouldn't last a single blow against me.”

"Stop bragging. You think you're some kind of Sword Saint, capable of killing someone from a thousand miles away without leaving a trace?"

"I may not be one now, but I will be, eventually."

"You cocky kid, you claim your swordsmanship is unbeatable. Prove it!"

"No can do. You're too weak; I wouldn't want to injure you."

"Are you asking for trouble, you little pest?"

Yue Yang saw that the argument was escalating towards a sword fight and quickly intervened.

"Enough, Third Princess. It's getting late. You should return to your quarters and rest. Brother Feng and I have some important matters to discuss."

Before she departed, Yue Yang handed the Third Princess a porcelain bottle containing a Qi Recovery Pill. Although intended for cultivators to restore their powers, it could also enhance the flow of Qi and blood and stabilize the meridians in mortals.

With the immortal pill in hand, the Third Princess managed to set aside her grudge against Feng Buping for the moment and, accompanied by her lady-in-waiting, returned to her chambers.

Once the Third Princess had left, Yue Yang broached the serious issues at hand with Feng Buping.

"What? You're telling me there are two demons?"

Feng Buping stood up, ready to bolt. He had come to make money, not to throw his life away.

"What about your sense of chivalry?"

Yue Yang was taken aback by Feng Buping's timidity. He had initially thought Feng Buping was a valiant hero, ready to stand up for justice.

"Look, brother, or rather, great immortal master, one must be alive to act with chivalry. If I'm dead, how can I be heroic? I'm destined to be a Sword Saint; I can't afford to die at the hands of some demon."

Feng Buping was nothing if not honest.

"You could be killed before you ever become a Sword Saint. What difference does it make whether it's by a demon or at the end of someone's blade?"

Yue Yang's words were blunt and piercing.

"What do you mean 'killed before becoming a Sword Saint'? I'll have you know my swordsmanship is..."

"What is it?"

Yue Yang looked at Feng Buping with a knowing smile. Feng Buping's sword skills were certainly on par with his own knife skills. There was no way he was just an average adventurer; despite his honesty, the young man was definitely hiding something.

"I won't say a word, not even if you threaten to kill me."

Feng Buping realized that if he kept talking, he might let something slip, so he began to devour the food on the table with gusto. The royal cuisine, meticulously prepared, was something Le Yang couldn't quite stomach, but Feng Buping relished every bite.

"If only we had some wine."

"If it's wine you're after, follow me."

Le Yang gestured with a sweep of his robe for the attendant to lead the way.

"Always so secretive."

Feng Buping checked to see if the Emerald Feather Guards were watching him, then, with a flick of his sleeve and a smile on his face, he followed.

The path grew increasingly dim, and even the lantern the attendant carried failed to fully illuminate the trio in the enveloping darkness.

"Where exactly are we headed?"

Feng Buping gripped his silver sword, which had been returned by the guard, and involuntarily hunched his shoulders, feeling the chill deepen.

"To the snow mountain within the forbidden palace."

Around the corner, following Le Yang's words, a towering white snow mountain emerged before them.

"A year ago, the Emperor transported ice and snow from the heavens to construct this snow mountain, all to win favor with the Snow Lady."

Le Yang spoke as he plunged his hand into the snow, feeling the out-of-season chill.

"What are we doing here? Is the creature here?"

Feng Buping's teeth chattered with cold. He suspected Le Yang had brought him here just to torment him. Everyone knew this was the snow mountain, yet no one had thought to provide him with a warm coat.

"The creature isn't here, but as it's a spirit associated with the Snow Lady, its connection to snow is undoubtedly special. It's bound to return here."

Le Yang's tone was grave.

"What? You're leaving me here alone?"

Feng Buping paled with alarm. Was Le Yang intent on letting him freeze?

"Rest assured, you won't be alone. A hundred Emerald Feather Guards will be stationed here as well. I don't expect you to capture it on your own; just hold it off until I can get here."

"In the meantime, anyone who tries to enter the snow mountain, even if it's me, you have my permission to stop them at all costs. I suspect the creature has become adept at shape-shifting, able to assume human form without needing to possess a body."

Yue Yang had left something unsaid. The demon might have already advanced to the Qi Refining stage, or possibly even the Foundation Building stage. Devouring human hearts and livers was the demon's rapid path to increasing his power.

"Little Taoist, I need that item for protection."

Yue Yang was ready to depart after giving his instructions, but Feng Buping stopped him. Yue Yang shook his head; he had already expended over ten drops of his blood essence to combat the demon. If he continued, he wouldn't need the demon to finish him off—he'd become a ghost on his own.

"A guy who puts romance before friendship."

Yue Yang heard Feng Buping's grumbling behind him, but he had more pressing matters at hand.

The flickering candlelight cast shadows on the window, but Yue Yang's frown deepened. The more he read about the demon, whether it was about its attacks or sightings, the more his thoughts tangled.

The demon had escalated from consuming one person's heart and liver each day to two, targeting important court officials.

"Imperial Advisor, Minister, Assistant Minister..."

Yue Yang was overwhelmed. He plotted the times and locations of their deaths on a map and stumbled upon an odd pattern. He quickly summoned his aide.

"What is this place?"

Linking all the death sites together formed a circle, with the center pointing to a massive structure on the map.

"Immortal Master, that is the Myriad Bird Garden, built by His Majesty for the Empress."

"Take me there, at once."

The words 'Myriad Bird Garden' sparked a realization in Yue Yang. If the malevolent spirit was inhabiting a bird or was a bird itself, then everything made sense.

The Green Feather Guard departed from the imperial palace under the cover of night.

"The Myriad Bird Garden was initially planned for the imperial palace, but it required a vast space. The palace already housed a mountain of snow, leaving no room. Besides, birds are still beasts, and it would be unfortunate if they harmed any nobles within the palace."

"Therefore, His Majesty erected the Myriad Bird Garden close to the palace. On its completion, birds from all over flocked to it as if drawn to their sovereign."

Upon hearing the officer's explanation, Le Yang had no doubt left in his mind. It appeared that the sinister creature was indeed a bird-like entity. The so-called "King of Myriad Birds" was simply using its cultivated power to dominate the nearby birds.

The party quickly made their way to the Myriad Bird Garden on horseback. With the officer leading, the guards stationed at the entrance did not dare to obstruct their passage.

"Immortal Master, why have we come here?"

The Myriad Bird Garden was pitch-black at night. This wasn't a matter of the emperor being frugal and refusing to create a never-sleeping city for the birds; rather, the birds were accustomed to the darkness and couldn't sleep where there was light.

For this reason, as Le Yang and his companions carried lanterns through the Myriad Bird Garden, they inadvertently roused hundreds of birds from their slumber.

The birds, startled, flapped their wings and circled overhead, their cries piercing the night. More and more birds joined in the cacophony, their shrill calls almost seeming to scold the humans for disturbing their rest.