Chapter Sixty: The Matter Settled (Double-Length)

Inside the imperial palace, Zhu Yu’s long wait finally bore fruit.

“Your Majesty, I am pleased to report success. From this day forth, the Palace of Transferring Flowers shall exist no more,” Cao Zhengchun announced, bowing deeply.

Hearing Cao Zhengchun’s report, Zhu Yu, seated high upon the throne, showed no surprise. Three hours earlier, he had already received news from the system.

“Elimination of the Palace of Transferring Flowers. Reward: 500 Luck Points.”

Upon receiving this message, Zhu Yu knew the outcome was certain. In truth, he had grown impatient during the wait; three hours—six whole hours—spent idly in anticipation.

“What about Inviting Moon, Pitying Star, and Yan Nantian?” Zhu Yu asked, voicing his concern.

“Replying to Your Majesty, by the time we arrived, all three were gravely injured. Yan Nantian and Inviting Moon had lost consciousness, and Pitying Star was so badly hurt that she was easily captured. All three are now held in the Eastern Depot’s secret prison, guarded under strictest orders. No one is permitted near them save for your humble servant and Your Majesty.”

Zhu Yu nodded at this and instructed Cao Zhengchun to keep the matter quiet before dismissing him.

Now, Zhu Yu had to consider how to explain these events to Little Fish and Flowerless. The destruction of the Palace of Transferring Flowers was straightforward enough—what had happened was irreversible, and Zhu Yu had no intention of yielding. The more delicate issue was what to tell Little Fish about Yan Nantian.

After all, it was a master’s lifelong cultivation of inner energy contained within Yan Nantian.

Yet, after a day’s deliberation, Zhu Yu resolved to let go of Yan Nantian—Little Fish was no longer the helpless boy he once was.

...

The next day, Little Fish and Flowerless returned to the palace with Iron Hearted Orchid, accompanied, too, by the child she carried within her.

Before they even reached the palace gates, they had learned of the Eastern Depot’s annihilation of the Palace of Transferring Flowers. Though Zhu Yu had instructed Cao Zhengchun to keep the affair secret, the Palace of Transferring Flowers was no minor organization but a renowned sect in the martial world—news could not be contained.

Upon their return, Little Fish and Flowerless first settled Iron Hearted Orchid. During this time, Su Ying informed them that Yan Nantian had regained his memory and then disappeared.

But all was not without trace—after all, upon regaining his memory, Yan Nantian had raised a great clamor, vowing revenge upon the Palace of Transferring Flowers.

Thus, the two men barely took time to settle Iron Hearted Orchid, entrusting her to Su Ying before seeking an audience with the Emperor together.

What must come would come. Zhu Yu did not make things difficult for them; the three met without hindrance.

“Your Majesty, why did you destroy the Palace of Transferring Flowers?” Flowerless demanded without preamble, the hatred he had shown days earlier over Inviting Moon killing Iron Hearted Orchid now set aside.

“How many lives has the Palace of Transferring Flowers taken these past years? You know this well enough. Is it not the court’s duty to eradicate demonic cults?” Zhu Yu’s words carried the weight of righteousness, leaving Flowerless with little ground for retort. Yet still, he forced out, “Those killed by the Palace of Transferring Flowers were all guilty men.”

“Guilty? Guilt alone does not entitle the Palace of Transferring Flowers to slaughter at will. And tell me, why are you speaking in their defense? Only days ago, you could barely contain your rage at Inviting Moon for killing Iron Hearted Orchid. Besides, remember—you now serve the court.”

At this, Flowerless fell silent, though the heaving of his chest betrayed his unrest.

“By the way, I recently heard a most interesting story—shall I tell it to you both?”

Seeing neither man respond, Zhu Yu began his tale.

“More than twenty years ago, a martial man named Jiang Feng was pursued by enemies and collapsed, gravely wounded, at the gates of the Palace of Transferring Flowers. He was saved by Inviting Moon and Pitying Star.

During his recovery, both sisters fell for Jiang Feng, but when he awoke, his affections were for the maid who had nursed him...

In the end, Yan Nantian, himself poisoned and wounded, managed to carry one of the infants to the Valley of Villains, but upon entering, he was set upon by the five great villains. The assault caused his internal injuries and poison to flare, leaving him comatose.

The infant survived, raised by the villains in concert.

Now, what do you think of Inviting Moon’s scheme to have brothers turn upon one another?”

At first, Flowerless and Little Fish were lost in their own thoughts, but as Zhu Yu’s story unfolded, they realized the tale was far from simple.

By the story’s end, they understood—the two infants in Zhu Yu’s story were themselves.

Flowerless and Little Fish stared at each other, shocked and silent, uncertain whether they could accept the truth.

It was understandable—a master who raised you revealed as your father’s murderer, foster parents of many years suddenly implicated in your uncle’s decades-long coma.

...

“I don’t believe it,” Flowerless finally spoke.

Zhu Yu saw the searching look in his eyes and knew he was seeking confirmation, not denial.

With a casual shrug, Zhu Yu replied, “Blood recognition may not be scientific, but you can try it.”

He tossed the cup beside him to Flowerless.

Flowerless caught it instinctively and, without hesitation, bit his finger to draw blood. Little Fish, seeing this, did the same.

They watched as their blood intermingled, exchanging glances loaded with unspoken meaning.

“Your Majesty, what of Uncle Yan? Su Ying said he awoke and went after the Palace of Transferring Flowers—have you any word of him?”

With the matter settled, Flowerless fell silent, but Little Fish’s heart was still with his uncle.

Weighing the matter, Zhu Yu chose not to hide the truth. “Yan Nantian is in the Eastern Depot’s secret prison.”

“Why is Uncle Yan in the Eastern Depot?” Little Fish asked anxiously.

“The Eastern Depot received orders to wipe out the Palace of Transferring Flowers. When they arrived, Yan Nantian had already fought his way in and battled Inviting Moon and Pitying Star. The Depot found two dead, one gravely injured. Not knowing who he was, they simply took him.”

“I beg Your Majesty, please release Uncle Yan.”

Without hesitation, Little Fish knelt in plea. After a moment’s pause, Flowerless knelt beside him.

“I never said I’d harm him. Here’s a token—go to the Eastern Depot and claim him yourself.”

Zhu Yu handed over a token he had prepared in advance. Little Fish accepted it, saluted, and was about to leave when Flowerless stopped him.

Flowerless looked up at Zhu Yu, asking, “Your Majesty, I have one more question. The servant who betrayed my father that year—where is he now? Who is he?”

The question struck at the heart of the matter. Little Fish realized that while Inviting Moon and Pitying Star had become enemies, their deaths were done; only the traitorous servant remained unaccounted for—and vengeance now rested on finding him.

A strange smile flickered at the corner of Zhu Yu’s mouth. “I do not know. All I can say is the servant changed his name after Jiang Feng’s death and is still alive.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. We take our leave.”

Little Fish seized Flowerless’ hand, saluted, and left the hall.

Once outside, Flowerless shook off his hand and demanded, “Why leave? Even if the Emperor doesn’t know who the servant is, he must know something else. Why not press him further?”

“And you suppose that just by asking, the Emperor will tell you everything?” Little Fish retorted, leaving Flowerless speechless.

Both had noticed Zhu Yu’s peculiar smile moments earlier.

After a long silence, Flowerless asked, “So what now?”

Little Fish gazed into the distance. “Don’t forget our positions—we serve the court. So either we investigate ourselves, or we distinguish ourselves in service. With enough merit, we’ll have reason to ask the Emperor for anything.

Even if something is beyond the Emperor’s knowledge, the Eastern Depot, Western Depot, Six Doors, and Dragon Guard Manor—any one of those agencies is more capable than the two of us.”

Flowerless, having just arrived in the capital, was unaware of these intricacies. Hearing this, he fell into thought.

But Little Fish interrupted, “Leave that to me. As for the investigation, it’s best we don’t put all our eggs in one basket. You take charge of that.”

“How? We’re new to the court. Will the Emperor let us act freely?”

“Exactly—he won’t let you idle. If the capital is peaceful, your tasks will take you outside, and that’s your opportunity. Do well, and you’ll earn credit. Outside the city, you might find clues as well.”

Little Fish’s reasoning set Flowerless’ anxious heart at ease.

“I understand. Let’s go fetch Uncle Yan, brother,” Flowerless replied, trying to sound casual, though his stiff features betrayed his nervousness.

Little Fish smiled, clapping him on the shoulder. “Come, let’s go.”

As the two departed, Zhu Yu emerged from the hall, watching their receding figures. He thought to himself that the outcome was satisfactory—better, in any case, than the original ending.

...

The next day, Flowerless and Little Fish brought back the gravely wounded, unconscious Yan Nantian, whom Su Ying began to treat.

Flowerless remained by Iron Hearted Orchid’s side, caring for her and making arrangements for her confinement while awaiting the Emperor’s summons.

Little Fish secluded himself in the laboratory Zhu Yu had prepared for him in the Ministry of Works and did not emerge.

Meanwhile, Zhu Yu, accompanied by Jade Swallow Jiang, made his way to the Eastern Depot’s secret prison.

With the Palace of Transferring Flowers eradicated, Zhu Yu’s Luck Points were ample—enough to upgrade a martial art once more. Yet he was undecided: should he enhance the Nine Yin Manual or another technique? His Rama Divine Skill was still at the beginner’s stage.

Even so, he was not confident that upgrading the Nine Yin Manual again would elevate him to grandmaster level.

Caught in indecision, he thought of Jade Swallow Jiang. Given her absolute loyalty, Zhu Yu decided it was time to return her fortune to her.

Thus, the two found themselves at the Eastern Depot’s secret prison.

“The skill you learned from Transferring Flowers... No—never mind, it’d only disappoint you. The inner energy of these two is now yours. Absorb it, and afterwards, go to the Imperial Archive and find a man named Huang Shang to recommend some other martial arts. If you can’t find him, choose for yourself.”

Without waiting for her response, Zhu Yu turned and left.

He could already imagine Jade Swallow Jiang’s meteoric rise—from a third-rate martial artist to grandmaster, fueled by the inner energy of two seasoned masters—it was not impossible.

He could not remain; even though she was his own, the thought was too much. It was not envy. Absolutely not.

...

A few hours later, as Zhu Yu was tending to affairs in the royal study, Jade Swallow Jiang entered.

She did not bother to conceal the surging energy within her—her presence was that of a top-tier martial artist.

“Your inner strength? No, that’s not right—it’s true qi? Top-tier expert? How did you convert your inner strength so quickly?”

Privately, Zhu Yu griped: comparing oneself to others leads only to despair. She converted her inner strength to true qi in a matter of hours, while he had needed five days.

Jade Swallow Jiang was puzzled. “Convert? Convert what? I didn’t convert anything. Perhaps the energy I absorbed was already true qi, so there was no need.”

Her words made the veins on Zhu Yu’s forehead throb. He had no desire to respond.

Behind Zhu Yu, Eunuch Wu, having overheard their exchange, scrutinized Jade Swallow Jiang for a moment, then nodded almost imperceptibly before closing his eyes, lost in thought.