Chapter 121: The Dark Night

Lao Lao-er’s thoughts were, in the end, rather complicated. Compared to him, Xiao Jinghao appeared significantly more composed at this moment. Perhaps it was because he was no longer an ordinary man; whether as a high-and-mighty prince or a madman about to orchestrate the earth-shattering upheaval of a dynasty, he was never destined for the simple, tranquil life of a commoner. He had clearly prepared himself for what was to come.

The night was deep, and traversing the mountain forest without the aid of moonlight proved somewhat difficult. Yet, Xiao Jinghao moved with great speed, a hint of urgency in his expression. In the pitch-black night, the surroundings were obscured, leaving only blurred, residual images. Perhaps it was the branches and leaves swaying in the gentle breeze, their silhouettes shifting incessantly, never appearing the same twice. The man’s long hair streamed backward, and with his deep black attire, he would have been quite conspicuous under normal circumstances. In this shroud of darkness, however, one might not even notice his presence on the mountain path unless they were paying close attention.

This was precisely the result he desired. After all, it was better to be cautious. The dense forest stretched for a considerable distance, and even at his rapid pace, it took nearly half an hour to cross. When he finally caught sight of a flicker of light ahead, a slight smile touched his lips—his destination was near. A towering blue-stone monolith, dozens of meters high, stood before him. Its shape was bizarre, yet its edges were soft and rounded, clearly smoothed by years of wind and sand.

Xiao Jinghao, however, cared little for such things. A man of his station had seen every wonder imaginable; with a mere wave of his hand, someone would deliver treasures from the ends of the earth to the Prince of Qi’s residence. Yet, he cared for none of it. Even though he had to play the part of a hedonist in public, deep down, he felt a certain disdain for such things. He slowed his pace, for the person he sought had already arrived and was waiting atop the monolith. It was a slender silhouette, difficult to discern in the dark, but this did not hinder his judgment. While still several meters away from the stone, he pushed off the ground with a powerful leap, his body soaring into the air.

No one could ascend dozens of meters without a foothold, not even a talent like Zhuola Weiyang, and Xiao Jinghao was no exception. As he rose a dozen feet, he kicked off against the air, twisting his body to propel himself higher. The process looked almost like a series of jumps; though the movements were complex, he reached the summit of the monolith without much delay.

Standing at such a height offered a different perspective. The view was far broader, and under the pale moonlight, the trees that had previously obscured the path now seemed to lie trampled beneath his feet. His vision cleared, and his heart felt as if it had expanded. As he stood steady, a soft voice drifted from behind him: "Hao'er, you have finally come!"

Xiao Jinghao did not need to turn to know who it was. If there were people in this world he was reluctant to face, this person would rank among them. Yet, while his reluctance toward others stemmed from dislike, his feelings toward this person were tinged with a measure of fear. Debts of gold were easy to repay, but debts of gratitude were a burden one might never shed in a lifetime.

Despite his reluctance, he could not hide forever now that he had arrived. Xiao Jinghao hesitated for a moment, then adjusted his posture and turned around. In such an environment and at a certain distance, faces were hard to make out, especially when the person was veiled in a black shroud that hid her features completely. Whether this was intentional or not, it was a relief to Xiao Jinghao; not having to meet her gaze made him feel slightly more at ease. Nevertheless, his tone remained stiff: "You know I am not the real Xiao Jinghao. There is no need to call me Hao'er!"

"Indeed, my Hao'er died long ago. He died long ago!" The response seemed to wound her deeply, the sting of it making her voice sound suddenly weary and aged. Xiao Jinghao remained silent. Firstly, he did not know how to respond to such a scene; secondly, her words stirred an uncomfortable feeling within him. Soon, however, she composed herself. Perhaps twenty years of time had dulled the sharpness of that sorrow, and it was no longer as unbearable as it once was. "But you have shouldered this name. Whether you are him or not, your destiny is set. I can only do my utmost to help you fulfill it. Perhaps that is the greatest tribute I can pay to that man."

Xiao Jinghao did not wish to argue this point. Perhaps, according to the original trajectory, he should have been a wandering swordsman, or at most, someone like Han Tanyi. But fate was a cruel jester; through a twist of circumstance, he had become the sole heir to the Prince of Qi’s estate, leading him to where he stood today. Perhaps this was the "unchangeable destiny" she spoke of. Thinking this, the man suddenly felt a sense of calm. Facing this woman, he could be more composed. Since this was fated, what was there to feel guilty about? Was embracing it not the best way to respond?

"On the fifteenth of next month, the 'Five Stars Aligning with the Pearl,' which has not occurred in twenty years, will arrive. That is the day the Heavenly Secret Copper Lock in the Blue Lotus Forbidden Land will open," she said, her tone shifting abruptly from melancholy to grave and profound. This was clearly her true nature. Xiao Jinghao listened, his mind tracing her words. When she finished, he replied, "I have already arranged for Dongfang Mingyue to prepare the Heavenly Secret Key. He is a prudent man and will not let anything go wrong. With you embedded within the Blue Lotus Sect, and Shui Lianhua believing she has successfully swapped identities and calculating everything so delicately, there will be no trouble. How could she know that the person she trusts most will strike her down at the most critical moment?"

"That may be true, but there are still unresolved issues. Although Dao Tianfeng has secured his position as the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, the old ghost Shen is no pushover. I fear it will not be easy to incite the entire martial arts world to turn against Chang'an. Furthermore, the location of the Blue Lotus Forbidden Land and the diagrams for the key and lock remain with Shui Linglong. She guards them with extreme secrecy; even I have been unable to glean any information. With the time drawing near, what should be done?"

Xiao Jinghao’s confidence did not mean he was blind to the risks. The woman fell silent, perhaps pondering his final words or calculating the remaining flaws in their plan. When she spoke, Xiao Jinghao showed no sign of being troubled. He was not a man who went into battle unprepared; at this very moment, everything was arranged without a single oversight. "You can rest assured on that point. If this were before, it might have been a source of worry. But now, even the heavens are assisting me. I have always wondered why Dao did not kill Han Tanyi—it seems that, too, was pre-ordained. People say experience brings wisdom, but that is empty talk. If she is Shui Lianhua, there is a Shao Donghua; if she is Shui Linglong, there is a Han Tanyi. A woman who is too devoted, while not necessarily a bad thing, is ultimately easy to manipulate. Do not worry. I will use them to eliminate Shen Wansan first, and then I will make her reveal every secret willingly."

As he spoke, a triumphant smile played on Xiao Jinghao’s lips. Every step of this intricate scheme had been calculated with precision in his mind—an achievement worthy of pride. As for the expression on the woman’s face at that moment, perhaps only she truly knew. Her thoughts lingered on his words: *A woman who is too devoted... is ultimately easy to manipulate.* Though he spoke of Shui Linglong, it felt as if he were speaking of her. That man had been dead for so many years, yet she seemed to be manipulated by his desires still. Being used was not the terrifying part; what was truly frightening was knowing one was being used and yet remaining willing, even to the point of dragging her own daughter into such strife. Was this love, or was it simply foolishness? After all these years, she still had not found the answer.