Witch God Abyss (Lily) - Chapter 18

Midnight. Outside Yudong city, a military camp. Torches lit the sky.

Bujian Tian squatted on a carriage outside the camp’s perimeter.

Wen Li slowly emerged from the camp, his expression forlorn, eyes filled with exhaustion.

“What did His Majesty say?”

Bujian Tian handed Wen Li a booklet.

“His Majesty’s handwritten order: if General An Jingzhi defects, kill him. If he returns, considering past ties, His Majesty will spare his life but strip his rank and demote him to a commoner.”

Wen Li tucked the booklet into his robe without looking.

Bujian Tian asked, “Did he really leave?”

“Who could’ve guessed General An’s father was Annan Kingdom’s royalty, the legitimate third prince? To escape his elder brother’s pursuit, he fled Annan with a minister’s help, entering Yudong as a refugee. Back then, Prince Seven was expanding his army, and he joined with his son, An Jingzhi. Now, An Jingzhi is General of the East, but Annan’s royal family has been decimated by internal strife. An old minister sent a secret envoy to Yudong to find An Jingzhi to inherit Annan’s throne…”

Bujian Tian said, “Seeing your dejected look, it’s obvious. Compared to being General of the East, of course An Jingzhi would rather be Annan’s king.”

Wen Li shook his head, gazing southeast.

“He’s not one to crave power. The envoy brought a letter from An Jingzhi’s mother. He said he wanted to escort his father’s coffin back to Annan’s royal mausoleum, see his mother, and return.”

Bujian Tian said, “You really believe that? It’s been over two months with no word. He’s not coming back. Otherwise, why would His Majesty issue the military seal to mobilize Yudong’s three hundred thousand troops toward Annan?”

Wen Li asked, “Your people found nothing?”

Bujian Tian shook his head.

“I followed the Holy Lord from Wubei to Zhongdu, then fought from Zhongdu to Nanjian. Later, I followed His Majesty from Zhongdu to Yudong. Never once did my falcons fail to return. Annan… it’s sinister.”

Wen Li said, “If falcons won’t do… send eagles.”

A peregrine falcon soared silently in the sky.

Bujian Tian’s gray eyes rolled, coldly refusing.

“No. Little General was your beloved too—you even gave him his nickname. What, now for An Jingzhi, you’d sacrifice even him?”

Wen Li had heard of Annan’s “sinister” nature but never visited.

He’d known Bujian Tian for nearly a century.

Whether in open battle, covert assassinations, or infiltrating enemy cities for intelligence, Bujian Tian and his falcons never hesitated.

But just now, Bujian Tian’s refusal, even bringing up Little General and their past ties, was telling.

Wen Li thought, “It must be dangerous. An Jingzhi’s likely in grave peril…”

Wen Li said, “Then you go yourself.”

“Hey! You friend-forsaking, lust-driven Taoist! No way. An Jingzhi’s fate means nothing to me! I’ve got to report back to Zhongdu. Unless His Majesty orders me to Annan to assassinate him. Also, I’ll remind you, the seal to mobilize Yudong’s army is issued. Guess who got it?”

“Who?”

“Zhang Fang. She’s officially taken her father’s seal as General of the South.”

“Zhang Fang? Big Beard Zhang’s daughter?” Wen Li asked. “When Princess Demao pacified the south, Big Beard Zhang was just a sixth-rank officer. Later, his repeated merits earned him third-rank General of the South.”

Bujian Tian said, “Right. Big Beard Zhang is Duan Zeyu’s brother-in-law, so Zhang Fang is Zhao Beijin’s cousin, in her prime. The southern army’s power remains in Duan Zeyu’s line—Zhao Beijin’s strongest backing. And this time, Zhao Beijin’s father and brothers will join the campaign. Plainly, they’re after military merits for promotions.”

Wen Li said, “Fine. Pity An Jingzhi’s become their stepping stone…”

“Tch!” Bujian Tian’s eyes rolled, showing no gray pupils. “Your head’s full of your precious General An. I’m begging you, are you helping Zhou Yizhi vie for the throne or not?!”

Wen Li thought. “Zhou Yizhi’s temperament is soft, unfit for the throne. I favor Zhao Beijin—her courage, wisdom, and archery rival Princess Demao’s in her day, though I haven’t seen her command troops…”

“Tch. Fine, forget them. I’ve got something else to discuss—your precious disciple.”

“She went to Wujian Village, didn’t she? Couldn’t handle it?”

Bujian Tian said, “Wujian Village’s issue is resolved. There was no ‘Divine Sect’ or ‘Immortal Divine Sect’ there. Local officials just used it to frame you.”

Wen Li nodded.

Bujian Tian continued, “I’m not talking about Wujian Village. Shen Yuan’s heading to Jingzhou. Should we stop her?”

Wen Li said, “Why stop her?”

“Hey!”

Bujian Tian shouted impatiently.

“That’s… you let her… what if she meets the Lin family descendants in Jingzhou, learns her origins? All your efforts would be wasted!”

Bujian Tian hadn’t expected Wen Li’s indifference and struggled for words.

Wen Li sighed deeply.

“I know what you’re worried about. I thought I could keep her in Wubei forever, then in the Imperial Observatory… but fate’s twists even I can’t predict. In Wubei, everyone called her wild girl, unsure of her origins or why her techniques differed from her sect brothers. They were wary, thinking I favored her with secret teachings.”

Wen Li shook his head.

“How don’t they believe me? I, a Taoist of quietude and inaction, only know mind and body cultivation, helping demons take form, boosting power, summoning clouds and rain, or divining. Divine Sect disciples only aid mortals’ cultivation or purify demons’ cores for ascension. Shen Yuan’s skills—exorcising evil, subduing demons, sealing and unsealing—I truly don’t know.”

Bujian Tian said urgently, “Exactly why she can’t go! If she meets the Lin family in Jingzhou, learns her origins, even recovers her memories, what then?”

“She followed her family’s evils before, with no choice, surviving a sea of bl00d and corpses. I found her barely alive—a second chance from heaven. I sealed her memories, hoping she’d choose good. If she learns her origins now, even recovers her memories… whether she stays or leaves, chooses good or evil, I want her to decide!”

Bujian Tian gritted his teeth. “When that moment comes, could you kill her?”

“You know I can’t. That’s why I kept her in Wubei, by your side.”

“Wen Li, Wen Li, you’re good at dodging responsibility!”

Bujian Tian vanished, leaving, “Whoever found her, deals with her!”