Chapter 47 p1
It might sound like robbery, but it was the others who had started the trouble. They were the innocent ones, merely collecting a little compensation for emotional distress.
This thought crossed Ming Jian Su’s mind, and she nodded firmly, endorsing Feng Chiyue’s words. “You’re right, Junior Sister!”
Feng Chiyue beamed, hearing Ming Jian Su’s approval. “Are the Star Monarchs in the Realm Beyond Heaven really so well-behaved?” she asked, a hint of regret in her voice. Didn’t that guy try to intimidate them upon their arrival? Why were they all so quiet now, like quail? What a pity.
A cold glint flashed in Ming Jian Su’s eyes. Many of the Star Monarchs in the Realm Beyond Heaven were already on her list. However, with the Heavenly Emperor still in power, there was no justification for attacking them. It would only bring trouble. She would have her revenge eventually. Suppressing her killing intent, she smiled. “Perhaps they’re scared.”
The Star Monarchs in the Realm Beyond Heaven were indeed terrified by the sword scar that had split the sky. Even the usually arrogant Ming He Star Monarch hadn’t made any further moves. The East Abode Master could kill Yuan Yao, and she could kill them too. Besides, she was the “Heavenly Emperor’s Emissary” and wasn’t registered in the Realm Beyond Heaven. There was no reason for them to get involved. A few feathered Star Monarchs harbored resentment, but Yuan Yao’s collusion with the demons had been poorly executed, and they didn’t want to be tainted by that scandal. Thus, no one tried to stop Ming Jian Su and Feng Chiyue as they left Yuan Yao’s abode.
“Let’s go,” Ming Jian Su whispered. She channeled her vast magic power, creating a gate between the Immortal Realm and the Realm Beyond Heaven. Their figures gradually vanished amidst the five-colored light, leaving only the towering Jianmu tree to serve as a bridge between the realms.
***
Ming Jian Su had been ordered by the Heavenly Emperor to stop the demons at the battlefield. Now that peace had been restored, she had to report to him. However, the Emperor didn’t appear personally. A young attendant simply accepted her message. Ming Jian Su didn’t care about his attitude. She scoffed and turned to leave.
Only after she was gone did the Heavenly Emperor appear, his face dark. The incident at the battlefield had been resolved. The Vermilion Bird and Swan Goose lineages, without Chang Li to guide them, were always making foolish mistakes. After several setbacks, the Phoenix hadn’t revived, but Danxue Mountain’s power had been effectively crippled. While things hadn’t gone in the worst possible direction, he felt a knot of frustration in his chest, a pressure he couldn’t release. He could only suppress it forcefully.
***
Leaving the Purple Empyrean Palace, Ming Jian Su went straight to Dong’e Mountain.
Feng Chiyue was already waiting on the swing, while Zhu Wan, sorting through the Qiankun bags, chattered incessantly about recent events. Although she knew that Ming Jian Su and Feng Chiyue had a deep connection to the battlefield, she still recounted everything with gusto, gleefully denouncing those from Danxue Mountain, her face alight with schadenfreude.
Feng Chiyue was in a good mood. She swung back and forth gently, her toes brushing the ground. When Zhu Wan finally finished her long speech, she asked casually, “The Heavenly Emperor has cut off the Celestial Feather Ministry’s funding? They can no longer obtain Cinnabar Jade, scriptures, or artifacts from the Heavenly Prosperity Department?”
“Yes,” Zhu Wan confirmed, but her expression quickly turned gloomy. “Fellow Daoist Que has mentioned several times that the Ministry is running low on funds.”
Feng Chiyue made a noncommittal sound and didn’t ask any further questions. What did the Celestial Feather Ministry’s lack of resources have to do with her? Did they expect Dong’e Mountain to provide for them? No way!
“The Heavenly Emperor is trying to force them back in line,” Ming Jian Su said, arriving just in time to overhear their conversation. She chuckled coldly, understanding his intentions all too well.
The Heavenly Emperor, having sat on his throne for so long, had never faced any major setbacks besides the war between gods and demons a thousand years ago. He still believed that everything would go his way. It was true that the Celestial Feather Ministry’s treasury wasn’t overflowing, but the Vermilion Bird and their allies in Danxue Mountain were wealthy. Now that the Celestial Feather Ministry’s personnel were no longer controlled by the Heavenly Mechanism Department and they were completely separated from the Heavenly Prosperity Department, achieving complete independence would be much easier.
The Heavenly Emperor had made a foolish move. The feathered lineages had their own cultivation techniques and didn’t need the Wenqu Palace of the Heavenly Prosperity Department. They only lacked elixirs and artifacts, but that was easily remedied. Were all the alchemists and artisans in the Immortal Realm concentrated in the Heavenly Prosperity Department?
“The Celestial Pivot Department is going to hold a public trial for the Vermilion Bird Elder and the others,” Zhu Wan said, excitement bubbling in her voice. She was eager to watch the spectacle. “The evidence is undeniable. I wonder if they’ll be imprisoned in the Senluo Prison or executed on the Soul Severing Platform?”
The Senluo Prison held criminals from the Heavenly Court, but even “permanent imprisonment” didn’t mean there was no chance of release. However, execution on the Soul Severing Platform meant true death, the complete annihilation of body and soul. Ming Jian Su naturally hoped for the latter. She walked towards Feng Chiyue and helped her off the swing, shooing away the birds that had gathered around them. “Do you want to go watch, Junior Sister?” she asked.
“Isn’t it being broadcast on the Chaos Mirror?” Feng Chiyue said lazily.
Ming Jian Su blinked. “I’m afraid the Celestial Pivot Department might go easy on them under the Heavenly Emperor’s orders. Permanent imprisonment and execution make no difference to most immortals. They won’t care.” But to her, enemies were best dealt with permanently. A half-dead enemy was still a potential threat.
Feng Chiyue hummed. “We’ll see.” With Ming Jian Su’s return, she had lost interest in the Vermilion Bird Elder’s fate. She leaned against Ming Jian Su, her body boneless, and yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. Seeing that she was no longer interested in thinking, Ming Jian Su scooped her up and carried her towards the Dharma Hall.
Zhu Wan, who had been ignored: “…” She sighed at the birds on the ground, then took out the Chaos Mirror and sent a message to Que Chenyi. “My Master and her junior sister are back, but the matters of the Celestial Feather Ministry are still up to you.” After a moment, a name seal lit up. Zhu Wan assumed it was Que Chenyi, but upon closer inspection, she realized it was Chang Huai from the Heavenly Prosperity Department.
— Does the Celestial Feather Ministry need a resident artisan? The salary is higher than the Dragon Cauldron Palace, and you only need to work four hours a day.
Although the major changes in the Heavenly Prosperity Department and the Celestial Feather Ministry didn’t directly affect those who worked behind the scenes, Chang Huai was still restless after hearing the news. She was just an insignificant artisan in the Dragon Cauldron Palace, at the beck and call of others. Without any backing, even with her exceptional skills, she had no chance of advancement. Moreover, “a tall tree catches the wind.” After word got out that she had crafted puppet servants for the Celestial Feather Ministry, she had been ostracized by several Heavenly Immortal officials! They had even tried to turn her roommates against her! Life after ascension was truly miserable. Thankfully, none of her juniors had ascended yet. Otherwise, she would have been utterly humiliated. But what if? What if one of her juniors ascended and asked, “Why are you so poor and unknown, Grandmaster?” What would she say?
She had had enough of this miserable life. She would rather choose a side early on and enjoy some benefits.
It was true that, after the separation, the Celestial Feather Ministry needed its own artisans and alchemists, but what did that have to do with her? She was an immortal from Dong’e Mountain, not a servant of the Celestial Feather Ministry.
“Go talk to Que Chenyi,” Zhu Wan replied.
“She deleted my name seal,” Chang Huai said.
Zhu Wan: “?”
“Just thinking about it makes me angry. There was a minor malfunction with the puppet servants due to overuse, and she actually questioned my skills, accusing me of trying to cheat her out of Cinnabar Jade!”
Zhu Wan put away the Chaos Mirror without changing her expression.
She couldn’t imagine how chaotic the Celestial Feather Ministry would become if Chang Huai joined them.
***
Although she had claimed to be uninterested in the Celestial Pivot Department’s trial of the Vermilion Bird Elder, when the day arrived, Feng Chiyue still got out of bed, her eyes still heavy with sleep.
Seeing her slumped on the bed, Ming Jian Su couldn’t bear to wake her fully and coaxed her to go back to sleep. Feng Chiyue mumbled a refusal. Before Ming Jian Su could help her get dressed, she transformed into a small white ball of fluff and clung to her, determined to go with her. Ming Jian Su’s gaze softened. She stroked the soft fur and was gently pecked by Feng Chiyue. She chuckled and, adjusting her Daoist crown, stepped out.
Zhu Wan, who was already waiting outside, was surprised not to see Feng Chiyue. But then she realized that, with her Master handling things, it was perfectly reasonable for Feng Chiyue to stay in bed. She remained silent for a moment, then brought up Chang Huai’s request to join the Celestial Feather Ministry. When Ming Jian Su nodded, she added, “We also need an alchemist. Are you planning to do it yourself, Immortal Monarch?”
Ming Jian Su’s brow furrowed. “Are they worthy?” she asked, her voice sharp. Have her junior sister concoct elixirs for them? What a ridiculous thought! They wouldn’t die without elixirs. And if they were truly on the verge of death, no amount of elixirs would save them.
A chill ran down Zhu Wan’s spine. She shrank back, not daring to speak.
Her Master, with her usual immortal grace and composure, probably only existed in her imagination.
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