Chapter 10: Leading the Snake into the Tiger’s Den
“Not even three full days have passed, and you dare to leave?”
Qiu Rui sat down on the ground. The aroma of roasted meat lingered nearby, yet he resembled a hawk of prey, his eyes still bearing the faint glow of orange pupils that had yet to fade completely.
“Uncle, what do you mean by ‘not three days yet’?” Ling Xuan feigned ignorance.
Tearing off the roasted hawk’s wing, Qiu Rui handed it over. “That old drunkard, the Bearded Guest, only knows that the Greater Shikigami affects the star patterns, but he doesn’t realize that the initial star pattern moves with its host.”
Could this be why Grandfather forbade me from leaving the back mountain within three days? Did he already know I would awaken the Spirit Snake Entwined Moon? Could the appearance of the Great White Snake on the back mountain also be connected to Grandfather?
Ling Xuan was momentarily stunned. The hawk roasting over the fire was the very one that had flown away from the Demon-Hunting Camp, but why would Qiu Rui help them?
Especially since the hawk Qiu Rui carried circled the three of them incessantly, showing no sign of fatigue.
Despite urgency, Ling Xuan had no choice but to sit and continue the unresolved questions from the Bearded Guest. “Uncle, what’s the difference between a Greater Shikigami and a Shikigami?”
“A fully refined Shikigami won’t backfire, but a Greater Shikigami still retains demonic traits. What do you think?” Qiu Rui said with interest. “There are seven stars of Shikigami: three stars or below are mortal, four to six stars are spiritual, and seven stars are divine. The more star rays it has, the stronger the backlash.”
“Purple Phoenix doesn’t backfire, so why is it bound by the Profane Ice Curse?” Ling Xuan asked hastily.
“Go into the Imperial Medical Bureau and find out yourself,” Qiu Rui evaded the question with a chuckle. “But I’ll tell you, to break the Purple Phoenix’s seven-star chain, finding all nine needles isn’t enough. You’ll need your Spirit Snake Entwined Moon to advance.”
“What does that mean?”
Ling Xuan was confused, and Ye Ziyan looked startled.
“The soul imprint is interlinked; the star rays of the Spirit Snake Entwined Moon correspond to the Purple Phoenix,” Qiu Rui sighed softly. “Only by addressing both can you break the Profane Ice Curse.”
“How do I advance the Spirit Snake Entwined Moon?”
Ling Xuan asked eagerly.
“Haven’t you felt it?”
Qiu Rui twirled his long beard and sighed, “The Great White Snake activates the Spirit Snake Entwined Moon, but the Little White Snake manifests backlash. Once both eyes turn fully orange and the Spirit Snake Entwined Moon shows a second star ray, without the orange needles to suppress it, you’re doomed!”
Is there such a connection between the Spirit Snake Entwined Moon and the Benevolent Nine Needles?
Ling Xuan was secretly shocked. Suddenly, he jumped up like a startled rabbit. “Uncle, if you know all this, why did you trigger the Little White Snake? Wouldn’t you want me to succumb to demonic transformation sooner?”
“If not, how would you be motivated to find all nine needles?”
Qiu Rui countered. “If you develop three snake patterns on your arm and don’t find orange needles to suppress them within seven days, the patterns will spread across half your body. You’ll be half human, half demon. Should I just let that happen?”
“You…”
Ling Xuan wanted to curse, but Qiu Rui interrupted, “The demonic energy hasn’t dissipated yet. Even if you go to Luoyang now, you’ll surely die.”
Ling Xuan was momentarily stunned. The demonic aura within him was too strong; it needed to be dispersed. Otherwise, before even reaching Luoyang, the Demon-Hunting Camp’s squad would already be on his trail.
The hawk Qiu Rui brought was the Sea Eastern Blue, the god of all hawks, with shimmering blue feathers, steel-like talons, and clear, bright eyes without a trace of impurity.
The Sea Eastern Blue was a natural enemy to the Little White Snake, circling the three of them and using the principle of mutual opposition to dissipate the demonic energy brought by the Little White Snake.
By harnessing the aura of the Sea Eastern Blue, Qiu Rui had triggered the Little White Snake’s power to save them from danger.
The Little White Snake had devoured the dog-nosed man and the captain of the Yu Wen family squad because they possessed snake demon souls. After devouring them, it transferred their energy into itself, resonating with the Spirit Snake Entwined Moon’s imprint.
This resonance effect was the key to Ling Xuan’s power enhancement and the mark of the Spirit Snake Entwined Moon’s star ray advancement.
Ling Xuan’s scalp tingled, mixed with a hint of secret delight. His way of gaining strength was unique, yet he grew increasingly puzzled. “Uncle, why help me?”
“For your mother. She’s my sister,” Qiu Rui waved dismissively and sighed, “And your grandfather asked me to assist you in entering the Imperial Medical Bureau.”
“Uncle?” Ling Xuan almost froze. So his mother’s surname really was Qiu.
Qiu Rui didn’t confirm but instead showed a flicker of regret in his eyes. “To find the orange needles, you must have the proper identity. My wife died early, I never remarried, and I have no heirs.”
“Are you asking me to go to Luoyang posing as your son?” Ling Xuan asked knowingly. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll hold a grudge and cause chaos at the Changping Prince’s Mansion?”
“Nephews always resemble their uncles, don’t they?” Qiu Rui smiled slyly. “Your grandfather firmly believes the Tai Chi Needle technique can balance Shikigami power. The Spirit Snake is only at one star of red radiance. If you can’t balance it, it’s better to transform into a demon sooner.”
Is the method of balance hidden in the Imperial Medical Bureau? Could this be why Grandfather wanted him to enter it?
Grandfather told them to wait in the back mountain for three days, actually waiting for Qiu Rui to arrive. Could the orange needles be connected to Qiu Rui?
Realizing the implication, Ling Xuan stood up immediately but was stopped by Qiu Rui’s wave. “Find the orange needles yourself. The Spirit Snake Entwined Moon will guide you. No one else can help. Study the needle techniques carefully. I have a few tricks to teach Ziyan.”
Ye Ziyan quickly bowed, gracefully cupping her hands. “Thank you, Uncle.”
Qiu Rui stood, bowed deeply. “Princess, don’t flatter me. The Purple Phoenix Bow is not to be used lightly. To conceal your identities and facilitate your actions, this old man had no choice but to act as I did.”
Ye Ziyan trembled slightly as Qiu Rui pressed her palm. “The past formation is broken; now I am simply Ling Xuan’s wife. I thank the prince for his kindness in passing on these skills.”
Ling Xuan was inwardly puzzled. “The legend says Prince Qiu Rui of Changping was both wise and brave, but now he feels a bit cunning and crafty. I wonder how his story finally ended.”
The night breeze stirred, the sky dotted with stars but no moonlight. Yet a crescent moon’s reflection shimmered in the water pool. The Little White Snake made new movements, its leg’s acupoints lightly trembling.
The sensation was completely different from daytime, and two extra points appeared, making a total of exactly one hundred.
The gentle power emanating from the Spirit Snake Entwined Moon imprint on Ling Xuan’s chest brought a message softly into his mind, causing his breath to quicken and his heart to flutter like a startled fawn.
The daytime insight was the Serpent Shadow Escape; at night, it became the Mist Veiled Cold Moon, suitable for day and night respectively.
Combined, the Yin and Yang snakes oppose each other, creating two illusions—the ultimate skill of the Spirit Snake Entwined Moon—called Shape Shifting Shadows.
Shape Shifting Shadows allows the true body to switch freely between two illusions, achieving instantaneous transfer.
The only drawback was the enormous energy consumption—each illusion required a Tai Chi Pearl, and instantaneous transfer consumed another pearl.
Tai Chi Pearls were condensed from the Yin and Yang energies forming the two snakes. At any stage, a maximum of nine pearls could exist simultaneously.
From red to purple in color, as the hue deepened, the illusions formed faster and lasted longer.
Currently, Ling Xuan was only at the red phase, so illusions lasted only a single breath.
Even so, Ling Xuan was almost bursting with joy, nearly hugging the Little White Snake and giving it a few hearty kisses. Such a life-saving technique was invaluable to him now.
If he encountered Uncle Gou or the magistrate of the Great Zhou again, even if he couldn’t fight them, he could escape the entanglement with Shape Shifting Shadows.
“What’s there to be so happy about?”
Ye Ziyan glanced over with disdain. “A grown man twisting around like that—what’s wrong with you?”
Qiu Rui laughed heartily. “Xuan’er, this set of techniques perfectly harnesses the Tai Chi Nine Needles. Doctors don’t rely on brute strength but on agility and cunning. The Spirit Snake Entwined Moon is best for close combat, emphasizing skill. Remember: use a little force to move a thousand pounds.”
“So, you’re saying I can easily swindle others?” Ling Xuan’s mouth curved at a forty-five-degree angle, a mischievous grin spreading.
Qiu Rui stroked his beard and laughed. “Mist Veiled Cold Moon works best under good moonlight; otherwise, its power is greatly reduced.”
“Don’t ruin my mood. Let me enjoy this a bit longer,” Ling Xuan teased, flicking a blade of grass.
“Enjoy? You want me to let you enjoy?”
Ye Ziyan’s twin purple phoenix blades flashed as she suddenly attacked.
“Attempted murder of your husband…”
Ling Xuan lightly tapped his toes and dodged, employing the newly grasped Mist Veiled Cold Moon technique.
Ye Ziyan’s blades flew with deadly precision, each strike aimed at vital spots.
Ling Xuan was drenched in sweat but moved fluidly like flowing clouds and water. As his afterimages faded, he seemed to dissolve into a wisp of smoke.
Qiu Rui nodded repeatedly. “Youth is truly a blessing…”
“Keer!”
The Sea Eastern Blue hawk cried out sharply and dived, dropping a small bamboo tube from its talons.
Qiu Rui reached out, opened it, and his expression changed instantly. “Xuan’er, Ziyan, come quickly.”
“What’s the good news?” Ling Xuan leapt forward, a triumphant smile on his face.
“The Spirit Snake Entwined Moon has triggered changes in the star patterns. The Floodwaters of the Demon Quelling Abyss are rising. The Divine Emperor has summoned us,” Qiu Rui stood. “We must depart immediately for Luoyang and take up residence at the prince’s mansion.”
“Could it be that I really have accelerated the world’s fate?”
Ling Xuan felt dazed. In his memory, in the seventh year of the Daye era, floods devastated the land, displacing many villagers. Along with years of harsh taxation, people were burdened, and uprisings were frequent.
Now, the three days had passed, coinciding with that year. It hadn’t even been two days, yet the floodwaters came surprisingly fast, though he recalled the great flood happened in autumn.
If the floodwaters of the Demon Quelling Abyss were truly rising now, matching the flood disaster in his memories, then according to the Bearded Guest, there was more than one Greater Shikigami. Where were the others?
Ling Xuan spat out the blade of grass, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Could it be that, like me, they’re all just small players?”
“Don’t even think about it,” Ye Ziyan shot him a sidelong glare. “If it weren’t for your Third Uncle and Uncle’s help, you wouldn’t even know how you’d die.”
Qiu Rui nodded slightly. “Without sufficient strength, you can’t evade the Demon-Hunting Camp’s pursuit. Without understanding the Greater Shikigami, you can’t escape the Imperial Historian’s observation.”
He quickly drew back his tongue, and Ling Xuan grumbled, “So we’re heading to Luoyang to face the Yu Wen family head-on? Isn’t that like sending a snake into a tiger’s den?”
Meanwhile, in the Yu Wen mansion in Luoyang, a man in black received the escaping black aura. Fixing his demon-detecting array, bloodshot lines outlined a blurred image of Ling Xuan’s bald head. “Spirit Snake Entwined Moon has finally revealed its true form. Find him. This lord wants to live to see the end of this…”