Chapter 111: Visitors from the Capital

Night.
Mount Hua.
A visitor arrives.
The visitor is a eunuch!
A genuine eunuch!

“Master Yang, your place here rivals even the imperial palace. Finding you is no easy feat,” a shadow slipped silently through the door, speaking with a sinister tone of anger.

By now, Mount Hua had undergone a major transformation under Yang Xin, becoming remarkably modernized. The most obvious change was the lighting. The traditional candles used by the Mount Hua Sect were replaced by high-efficiency, transparent, bright lights that illuminated the entire mountain like daylight.

The abundance of light greatly increased the difficulty of infiltration. The visitor had originally planned to sneak in silently under cover of darkness, but with the sect bathed in bright light, night was as clear as day, making a covert approach impossible.

What had seemed an easy infiltration suddenly turned perilous, nearly resulting in death before the mission began. How could the visitor not be furious? Fortunately, the visitor was not alone. Employing a diversion tactic, they deliberately caused a disturbance to lure the sect members out, clearing the way for a stealthy entry.

“A sack of rice to carry up several floors,” Yang Xin muttered, eyeing the clearly hostile eunuch, his eyes narrowing as he activated the mirror space.

The eunuch, pulled into the mirror space, remained unaware. Holding an embroidered needle in hand, he leapt forward like a ghost, swift as a great bird, attacking Yang Xin. Yet to his horror, the distance between them did not decrease but grew wider.

Even more terrifying was the inversion of yin and yang, heaven and earth turned upside down—the top became the bottom, left became right, and right became left. The directions constantly shifted. No matter how the intruder used his lightness skills, he could not stabilize his body, forced to move passively along with the shifting world. Otherwise, he would be smashed to a pulp. Bound by this power, even his strongest palm strike made no sound.

The visitor was shocked and instantly realized the legends about Yang Xin in the martial world were not exaggerated—they were understated.

“Master Yang, I am Wang Zhen, the Keeper of the Imperial Seal of the Directorate of Ceremonial, sent by His Majesty to pay respects. Please accept my abilities!” the eunuch shouted loudly within the mirror space.

“Wang Zhen, Keeper of the Imperial Seal of the Directorate of Ceremonial?” Yang Xin’s mind stirred. He instinctively recalled the Tumu Fortress Incident, a turning point marking the Ming Dynasty’s decline.

“What year is this night?” Yang Xin waved his hand, dispelling the mirror space and asked in a low voice.

“It is the tenth year of the Xuande era,” Wang Zhen answered obediently as his feet touched solid ground.

“The tenth year of Xuande corresponds to 1435 AD, while the Tumu Fortress Incident occurred in the fourteenth year of Zhengtong, 1449 AD, so it’s still early...” Yang Xin understood. He looked at Wang Zhen and asked, “Master Wang, what brings you to the Immortal Mountain Sect?”

---

“Master is too honorable for the title of master. I come by imperial decree to visit you and request you accompany me to the capital,” Wang Zhen replied hastily.

“Is the reigning emperor Zhu Qizhen?” Yang Xin inquired again.

Wang Zhen’s face instantly turned pale. No one dared to speak the emperor’s name so openly, yet this man not only said it but seemed indifferent. Though angry, Wang Zhen suppressed it and replied weakly, “Yes.”

“Master Wang, is your visit only a formal notification to proceed to the capital?” Yang Xin asked with a faint smile.

“Just call me ‘little Zhen.’ I am here not only on official business, but also for a personal matter. May I ask, are the rumors in the martial world true?” Wang Zhen asked cautiously.

“You mean the Female Elixir Spring? Of course, it’s true,” Yang Xin said calmly.

“And the exchange of the 72 Shaolin supreme techniques with you—is that true as well?” Wang Zhen’s eyes widened, shining with hope.

“True!”

“May I exchange a vial of Female Elixir Spring for them?” Wang Zhen produced four martial arts manuals from his bosom.

Yang Xin took them and saw the titles: “Formless Robbery Finger,” “Plucking Flower Finger,” “Great Mercy Thousand Leaf Hand,” and “Dragon Claw Seizing Hand.”

“Agreed.” Yang Xin waved his hand, placing the four manuals into a four-dimensional space bag. Suddenly, a bottle of Female Elixir Spring appeared on the table.

Wang Zhen’s pupils contracted. Beyond the suspected “universe in a sleeve” trick, the bottle itself was worth a fortune.

Yang Xin had stored the precious elixir in a transparent glass bottle. Although the Ming Dynasty had glazed glassware, such pure, transparent glass still amazed Wang Zhen.

Excited, Wang Zhen took the elixir and drank it in one gulp, then discreetly tucked the bottle into his bosom and bowed deeply. “Please honor me with a cup of hot tea, Master.”

Yang Xin glanced at Wang Zhen and snapped his fingers.

The door creaked open, and Yue Buqun, who had been waiting silently outside, entered quietly.

“Master Yue?” Wang Zhen gasped. He had not noticed Yue Buqun standing outside. This Mount Hua Sect—no, this Immortal Mountain Sect—was truly a concealed powerhouse, not to be underestimated.

“The troublemakers who caused the commotion earlier are probably your eunuch colleagues,” Yue Buqun waved his hand. Led by Liang Fa, four Mount Hua disciples were brought in, bound and struggling.

---

Wang Zhen recognized them as his own carefully selected elite guards from the imperial palace. These four were top-tier martial artists in the jianghu world. Yet, in such a short time, they had been captured—by second-generation disciples no less. How could Wang Zhen not be shocked?

“Since the misunderstanding is cleared, there is no need for hostility. Guests from afar are welcome. Serve the tea!” Yue Buqun said calmly.

The hot tea was served. Wang Zhen drank quickly, and moments later his face showed disbelief. He repeatedly bowed deeply to Yang Xin, tears of joy streaming down. “Thank you, Master!”

Yang Xin waved his hand, signaling Wang Zhen and his men to leave. As for how Wang Zhen, a man, would mingle in the inner palace later, that was none of Yang Xin’s concern.

“Master, about the trip to the capital...?” Wang Zhen asked cautiously.

“I will accompany you to the capital early tomorrow.”

“I take my leave.” Wang Zhen quickly withdrew with his four subordinates.

“Master, you’re going to the capital tomorrow?” Yue Buqun asked.

“I thought Zuo Lengchan’s instigation would draw out Dongfang Bubai, but unexpectedly, it summoned the imperial eunuch. Since the emperor requests it, a trip won’t hurt. I’ll return in half a day or a day or two. After I leave, you will be in charge of Mount Hua,” Yang Xin said indifferently.

“Master, I fear I cannot remain on Mount Hua,” Yue Buqun’s eyes flashed with a keen light.

“Why?”

“The Peach Valley Six Immortals have appeared in Huayin County at the foot of Mount Hua...” Yue Buqun smiled.

“Oh? The Peach Valley Six Immortals have come. The stage is set; the grand drama is about to begin. It’s time for our destined son, Linghu Chong, to step onto history’s stage. Are the actors ready?”

“All are in place! I have already discussed with junior brother Zuo. Feng Buping, Cheng Buyou, Cong Buqi, and other members of the Sword Sect have not been told the truth; they will perform naturally. Only a natural performance can deceive Linghu Chong. It’s a pity Master won’t be here to watch this grand play,” Yue Buqun said with a smile.

All this was the result of discussions between Yang Xin and Yue Buqun. Keeping Linghu Chong confined at Mount Hua all day was no solution. It was better to let him out and accompany him in playing this grand drama to advance the plot...

“With me here, this play won’t be easy to perform. Wang Zhen’s arrival is perfectly timed; I can slip away quietly,” Yang Xin smiled.