The Universal Song of Renewal and Benevolence

Silence.

A long, lingering silence.

After a while, Chu Liang finally spoke weakly. “When he still had a head, he was called the Marquis of Ding Mountain.”

“The surname Ding? That’s a pretty odd one...” Princess Feng murmured.

“Is it possible... that this is a title?” Chu Liang sighed.

The moment he heard by the riverside that the young marquis intended to kill him, he had at once crushed the jade talisman for summoned travel and called his master to descend. After all, the young marquis was no fool; if he had laid a trap to kill him, then the force sent against him had to be enough to do the job. The instant he realized the enemy’s setup was unclear, Chu Liang sent out a distress call as quickly as he could.

It was only that this was not a teleportation talisman. Even after receiving the message, Princess Feng still needed some time to arrive. He had originally meant to buy that time, but unfortunately the young marquis gave him no such chance and directly ordered Master Lu to attack.

Thanks to the Red Name Slaying Sword being powerful enough, Master Lu escaped Princess Feng’s punch. From that angle, he might even have owed Chu Liang a word of thanks.

After that, events changed too quickly: the young marquis fled... Chu Liang pursued... and then the Marquis of Ding Mountain joined the hunt. It was a long story, but in truth all of it took place in the blink of an eye. So when Princess Feng arrived, she came just as the Marquis of Ding Mountain was about to strike the killing blow.

The reason Chu Liang had so decisively discarded his sword earlier was precisely because he had seen his master arrive; otherwise, he would have found every means to delay a little longer. In this regard, Lin Bei’s appearance had also played a crucial role, or else he might not even have managed to hold out until his master’s descent.

Every second Chu Liang spent talking with the Marquis of Ding Mountain was, in truth, another reduction in the value of his life; only at the time had the marquis been utterly unaware of it.

Looking at that body still standing there without falling, Chu Liang could not help but feel a little wistful.

I was waiting for my master to arrive. What were you waiting for?

But since he was at least a royal, a hereditary marquis, and a cultivator of the sixth realm, the fact that Princess Feng had punched him to death without even asking a question was truly beyond everyone present’s expectations.

“Oh, a marquis, then.” Princess Feng waved a hand, still all easy indifference.

Even after learning his identity, she still showed no concern? Could she sound a little less nonchalant? And why did those two words sound in her mouth as if they were no more than a fly?

Countless people could not help inwardly complaining.

She seemed to have no awareness of standing at the center of attention, and paid no mind to the surrounding gazes as she walked straight toward Chu Liang. The marquis estate guards nearby all instinctively stepped aside; none dared to move... or rather, they did not dare move at all, and could only stand there dumbly.

Over there, Lin Bei, who had just been crushed by the Marquis of Ding Mountain until he wished he were dead, was now bouncing about again. With a leap he landed on the platform, first shaking his head at the body and saying, “See? That’s what happens when you don’t give me any face.”

Then he turned at once and hurried after Princess Feng, flashing a sycophantic smile. “Auntie Princess Feng, you were absolutely incredible. My admiration for you is like a mighty river, endless and unbroken...”

Princess Feng was checking Chu Liang’s injuries when she caught sight of him coming over and asked, “You’re from Mount Shu too? Which peak are you from?”

“I...” Lin Bei began, then abruptly stopped himself and gave an awkward laugh. “Which peak I’m from isn’t important. What matters is that I’m the Silver Sword Peak’s best friend, and I’ve always believed Auntie Princess Feng is the strongest among the thirty-six peak masters!”

“Fine. Remember to help spread the word when you get back.” Princess Feng chuckled.

“Gladly!” Lin Bei puffed out his chest, then said with a somewhat worried expression, “But he was at least a marquis. Auntie, you didn’t even ask what happened before beating him to death. Was that really all right?”

“The moment I arrived, I saw him trying to kill my disciple. What else was there to ask?” Princess Feng said with perfect righteousness.

...

Hearing his master say that, Chu Liang could not help feeling moved as well. Such a purely protective instinct—if you were the one being protected, it was hard not to be touched.

After thinking it over, he said, “Don’t worry. This Marquis of Ding Mountain trafficked in people, treated lives like grass, and committed every evil imaginable. Master, killing him was absolutely meritorious, with no fault at all. Even if this reached the imperial court, we would still be in the right.”

“I thought so...” the master said with a proud smile. “I, Princess Feng, have always been upright and righteous. How could I go around killing people indiscriminately?”

Lin Bei bared his teeth but did not dare speak.

“What I think we need to worry about now is another problem,” Chu Liang said again in a weak voice.

“What is it?” They both looked at him.

Chu Liang said, “My injuries still will not heal. If this goes on, I’m afraid I won’t make it.”

For a cultivator, with abundant inner energy and vigorous essence, any external wound that was not immediately fatal could normally heal rapidly afterward. If one circulated true qi to heal, the speed might even be faster.

During this time, Chu Liang had also been trying to heal himself with true qi, but the results were not encouraging.

That ordinary-looking slash from Master Lu carried a force that corroded soul and bone alike, leaving his wound unable to close and the bleeding unable to fully stop. At this rate, even a cultivator would struggle to hold on.

“I don’t know healing arts...” Princess Feng murmured. “But don’t worry. If you really don’t make it, I am quite skilled at cremation.”

That was how cultivators were: no matter how high your cultivation, without the proper divine abilities or techniques, there were still certain situations in which you were helpless.

“...” Chu Liang fixed his master with tearful eyes.

Seeing how pitiful he looked, Princess Feng said, “I’d better hurry and take you back to Mount Shu for treatment.”

“Auntie, with your flying speed, by the time you reach Mount Shu he’ll probably already be dead,” Lin Bei advised softly from the side. He had personally suffered through the hellish experience of being carried by Princess Feng through the air. “I suggest finding a nearby cultivator skilled in healing first.”

As they were speaking, a gentle voice came from behind them. “Um... I can try helping Young Hero Chu Liang heal.”

Turning around, they saw a delicate and lovely young woman standing gracefully on the platform, holding a zither case. It was Xue Lingxue.

Princess Feng looked at her and her eyes lit up. “What a pretty little girl, hey. What’s your surname, what’s your name, and where do you live...”

“Auntie, I know all that. Let me tell you...” Lin Bei hurriedly tugged at her. “Let Miss Xue treat Chu Liang first.”

Well now, so she was a hidden lecher after all.

Xue Lingxue had also been having rather bad luck today. This was originally meant to be the first performance of her career, and she had chosen this city for the opening stop, feeling quite determined to seize the moment and do her very best.

Who would have thought that before she even got on stage, something like this would happen?

A Mount Shu disciple enslaves a young marquis; a woman in red violently kills the Marquis of Ding Mountain...

After such a splendid spectacle, the audience below had nearly forgotten why they had come today in the first place. All the attention had been stolen away completely.

Seeing Chu Liang in such a state, she finally found a chance to step onto the stage. Though disciples of the South Sound Hall were not professional physicians, most of them truly did have some healing arts.

Xue Lingxue laid out her qin and began to play softly.

A clear note rang out.

The melody was melodious and flowing.

“This piece is called Return of Spring, Song of Universal Benevolence...” a musician behind her explained to the two from Mount Shu. “It is our South Sound Hall’s sacred healing composition, and also Senior Sister Xue’s signature piece. You may rest assured.”

“Rest assured, I’m very reassured.” Princess Feng looked at Xue Lingxue and praised her repeatedly. “You know, girls who study the arts really do have a special kind of grace.”

“Indeed...” Lin Bei nodded deeply in agreement. “Miss Xue’s figure, looks, inner charm, and temperament... she truly has no weaknesses.”

“...So tempting...”

“...Losing ten years of life would be worth it...”

Listening from behind as the two of them made their halting remarks, the musician’s face gradually froze. One black question mark after another seemed to rise from his forehead.

Good heavens.

Does Mount Shu have any decent people at all?