Gate of God

Shan Yu’s face was flushed.

Her mind was blank. She didn’t know if she should be excited or furious. She had been waiting for this moment for far too long.

He was back...

After more than a year, he had returned to the Southern Region to reclaim the sword he lost.

But...

Why didn’t he come to see me?

What happened here a year ago? Shouldn’t he come and tell me the truth? Why didn’t he come and find me? Is he afraid? Or does he not want to?

"Your Highness, I have already sent people to lock down the exits to the Great Xia. Should we inform the Great Xia..." Icy Monkey advised.

"No need!" Shan Yu replied without hesitation as her eyes glowed. "Uncle Monkey, do you trust me?"

"Your Highness... of course I trust you!" Icy Monkey replied.

"Then please give the order for all our soldiers at the border to stand down." Shan Yu’s eyes were filled with determination.

"Stand down? Why? Your Highness, don’t you want to know the truth about Shan Ling’s death?" Icy Monkey didn’t understand.

"I do." Shan Yu replied.

"Then why... I know that you trust Fang Zhengzhi. Even if he didn’t do it, it must have been linked to him somehow! He still owes the Southern Region an explanation. We cannot let the Crown Prince..."

"Uncle Monkey!"

"Okay, your highness, what are your thoughts?"

"Please have someone plant a similar sword on Feng Su cliff!" Shan Yu replied after some thought.

"Plant a similar sword?" Icy Monkey was shocked.

"Yes!"

"Your Highness, are you planning to cover this up for him? But since he chose to retrieve his sword, he probably plans on announcing it soon!" Icy Monkey didn’t understand.

"I don’t know if he wants to hide it, but I don’t want news of this to get out before I reach the Great Xia!" Shan Yu replied.

"Your Highness, you’re going to Yan Capital?"

"Mm... do you think that we can capture him if we set up an ambush at the entrance?" Shan Yu queried.

"Erm..." Icy Monkey’s lips twitched but he didn’t answer.

"It’s been more than a year since I took the throne. It is about time I made a trip there." Shan Yu continued.

"Okay then, since your mind is made up, I will make the necessary arrangements. How would you like to travel?" Icy Monkey nodded.

"The grander the better!"

"Okay then, I will have someone send a message to the Great Xia announcing your visit!" Icy Monkey bowed.

"Thank you for your help."

...

At the foot of the Sagely Mountain City...

A figure in blue stood at the foot of the mountain. He looked up at the clouds and the fog that surrounded the Sagely Mountain City.

"Master, are you going to the Sagely Mountain City? If you are, I will make the necessary arrangements right away!" A voice rang out behind this man.

"No need for that." The figure in blue shook his head.

"Actually, the leader told me to pass a message. I was to pass this message to you if you ever stepped foot in the Southern Region.

"Go ahead."

"When you were set up to take the rap for killing the Crown Prince a year ago... the leader believes that the Queen doesn’t believe the story the Great Xia provided!"

"Mm, continue."

"Furthermore, the leader had the eight hangers-on who participated in that assassination followed. However, they disappeared the moment they returned to the capital. The leader believes that the Crown Prince had them silenced, so..."

"So the only person who can testify is Su Qing."

"Yes, but Su Qing was one of the conspirators. Furthermore, he is favored by the Crown Prince. It would be impossible to have him testify against Lin Tianrong."

"Mm."

"The leader feels that if you can find someone in the Southern Region to testify for you... even if the testimony was false..."

"I know."

"So will you make a trip to the Sagely Mountain City?" The voice was filled with anticipation.

"No, I won’t."

"Okay... okay then. Where will you be going, master?"

"The Northern Mountain Village."

"The Northern Mountain Village?! Erm... erm, that is just not possible! The Crown Prince has had people spying on it for the past year. You will be spotted the moment you enter. And then..." The voice was filled with fear.

"What about it?"

"The leader told me repeatedly that you can go anywhere but two places!"

"The Northern Mountain Village and the Capital, am I right?"

"Why do you insist on going to the Northern Mountain Village then?"

"Because I want to. Is that reason enough?"

"Yes, it is!"

"Will you send her a message in secret?" The figure in blue asked.

"I... I wouldn’t dare!"

"Oh, why not?"

"Even though I belong to the Shadow Sect, I only managed to get where I am today because of you. As such, I will never betray you..."

"So you will betray Wu Yuer, am I right?"

"Erm..."

"You say you are loyal to me in front of me and you pledge loyalty to Wu Yuer in front of her. That’s a good thing too. I will pass your message to her without changing a word."

"..." The person was speechless.

"Is there a problem?" The figure in blue smiled as she looked at the figure behind him.

"No problem at all. Master, please tell the leader what I said, word for word!" The voice was about to break.

"Since you have pleaded with me so sincerely, I will fulfill your request. Go on, use Wu Yuer’s name to have the nine people wait for me in Huai An County."

"Master, you want me to forge the orders of the leader?" The voice was trembling.

"Is there a problem?"

"Nope, no problem at all. The leader is used to it."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

"Yes, sir!"

...

Five days later...

In a quiet residence inside the Great Xia, Wu Yuer sat in the middle of her garden, visibly affected by the letter she had in front of her.

"Damn!" Wu Yuer raised her hand and shredded the letter in her hand. Her eyebrows were raised...

"Oh? Who are you mad at, Yuer?" An old man appeared next to Wu Yuer, his white robe free from any traces of dirt.

"Who else could it be?"

"Fang Zhengzhi?"

"Master, do you think that he is going overboard with this? He is just a member of the Shadow Sect. How can he summon our Shadow Sect... to Huai An County... isn’t he afraid..." Wu Yuer’s rage was clear.

"Yes, how did he manage to get all the members of the Shadow Sect to gather at Huai An County?" The old man asked.

"He didn’t! He lied to them and fooled them all into going there! He must have used my name to get them to go!" Wu Yuer asserted.

"Mm, you are correct. However, I do not understand one thing. Why do they all trust him so much? They didn’t even double check with you, aish..." The old man replied.

"Master, what do you mean?" Wu Yuer’s eyelids twitched when she saw the old man’s expression. She sensed something.

"After a year, the Shadow Sect is no longer the same. Did you not realize that?" The old man hinted.

"Master!" Wu Yuer didn’t like being talked to this way. She looked at the shredded letter.

"Go to hell!"

Wu Yuer bit her lip and stood up from her chair. She walked towards the garden.

The old man didn’t say anything as he watched Wu Yuer disappear into the garden. He smirked, almost as if he was thinking of something.

...

The River of Trust Province, Huai An County...

Everyone was in a festive mood. They were all celebrating spring with music and poetry.

It was relaxed and fun.

Of course, such enjoyment was for the poorer students.

They didn’t have enough silvers in their pockets but still wanted to enjoy themselves. As such, they simply hung around a lake and played music whilst composing poetry.

Speaking of enjoyment...

They didn’t go to the Southern Mountains. Ferocious beasts roamed the mountains and anyone who hadn’t accessed Dao would never set foot in them.

As such, the River of Trust was the best spot.

It was nearby and quiet enough. Most importantly, many ships passed through it.

Where there were yachts, there were ladies.

Where there were ladies, there were talents.

Especially...

Show-offs!

There was one such talent on the River of Trust. He wore a gold robe and had a jade green sword sheathed at his waist.

He was the number one bully in Huai An County.

Meng Yushu of the Meng Family.

It was unfortunate that he met Fang Zhengzhi in the Dao Examinations. In the end, he was accused of cheating in the Theory Examination and schooled in the Combat Examinations.

He seemed to have hit rock-bottom.

It was a good thing Meng Yushu was a determined individual.

He wasn’t going to let failure get to him!

As long as he climbed back up, he was still the master of his own fate.

In the recent Dao Examinations, he topped the Huai An County combat examinations. It was one of the best times of his life.

As such...

He decided to relax a little and show-off his skills at the River of Trust.

He was on a small but exquisitely designed boat. Golden threads adorned the boat’s body. There was a huge ’Meng’ on the flag of the boat. This was how others could identify him.

With this small boat, Meng Yushu was confident that he could definitely board any of the passing yachts.

Of course, he was someone of influence.

No ordinary yacht could catch his eye.

Furthermore, with his reputation now, his name would stun anyone in Huai An County.

"This is the one!" Meng Yushu gripped the hilt of his sword as he looked up at the golden yacht steaming towards him.

He leapt into the sky.

Then, the small boat began to move forward with the wind. It was a gorgeous sight, and it attracted the attention of the ladies and other talents on the shore.

If the other yachts on the River of Trust were fish.

Then this yacht was a dragon! A dragon making its way through a school of fish. Intricate carvings covered its entire body and its flags were multi-colored.

Its flags danced in the wind.

Countless talents watched the yacht steam towards that small boat. They were all waiting for Meng Yushu to board it.

It was getting close...

As the yacht approached, Meng Yushu bowed and squinted his eyes. His eyes were filled with confidence.

"Huai An County, eldest son of the Meng Family, Meng Yushu! I request to come aboard your craft!" Meng Yushu had earned the right to be this confident.

After all, there was no one in Huai An County who was more influential than him right now.

Furthermore...

The people on a yacht would not be a powerful cultivator waiting to strike.

Generally, they would be ladies or rich men.

Either was good!

Meng Yushu was confident.

He was confident that they would know him since they were here in Huai An County. They would stop for him!

Haha!

Meng Yushu smirked as he thought to himself.

However, he quickly realized that something was wrong. His smile froze...

"Hey, stop, stop... stop!"

"Bong!"

With a crowd as witness, the large yacht crashed into Meng Yushu’s boat. Then, Meng Yushu fell into the river with a splash.