Gateway of Immortality

Chapter 27: Returning

It was still deep into the night, but sleep was no longer possible.

Elder Yue said, "Lady, the minions of the fake emperor are relentlessly pursuing us. This place is not safe to stay for long. Why not travel through the night and reach Yingshui Commandery as soon as possible? There, we can rendezvous with the reinforcements."

Dongyang Lady bowed her head in thought for a moment before suddenly asking Qin Sang, "Mr. Qin, based on your knowledge, how many assassins has the Jiangshan Tower gathered in the City of Three Witches?"

Qin Sang shook his head cautiously. "I’m not certain, but I fear there may be at least several dozen."

Dongyang Lady nodded. "You've already slain two of them, yet only ten appeared this time. This indicates that our whereabouts have not been entirely exposed. Either the Jiangshan Tower assassins have split their forces, or Granny Li and the others managed to eliminate most of them. Elder Yue, what do you think about us returning to the City of Three Witches tonight?"

Elder Yue was startled and pale at her words. "Lady, you must not! The City of Three Witches is a place filled with danger. The Zhenshui King is highly likely to have sided with the fake emperor. All the other guards have been assassinated, leaving only a few of us. If we encounter an ambush, it would be difficult to ensure your safety even at the cost of our lives, and we would have no way to answer to the king!"

The Dongyang Lady smiled faintly. "If you wish to accomplish great things, how can you avoid taking risks? If even you, Elder Yue, dare not let me return to the City of Three Witches, then the fake emperor’s lackeys certainly won’t expect it. As for the Zhenshui King, I believe he may not have allied with the fake emperor. Otherwise, the fake emperor wouldn’t need to resort to such underhanded tactics."

Before Elder Yue could respond, the Lady shook her head. "There’s no need to persuade me further, Elder Yue. My decision is made. Commander Bai, you and Zhou Ning share a horse and take the injured arm back to the City of Three Witches. There is an imperial physician in the Zhenshui King’s manor; perhaps he can reattach the limb."

Bai Jianglan quickly replied, "Yes!"

The horses were still there. Despite being a woman, the Lady showed no signs of frailty as she mounted her horse. They rode through the night without stopping and arrived at the north gate of the City of Three Witches by dawn.

As expected, they did not encounter any assassins from the Jiangshan Tower along the way.

The north gate, like the south gate, had a side gate open. Familiar with the area, Qin Sang helped the Lady and the others blend into a merchant caravan. However, Water Monkey’s injuries were too conspicuous, so Qin Sang found a secluded courtyard outside the city to stay and care for him, while the Lady, Elder Yue, and Bai Jianglan went to meet the Zhenshui King.

Exhausted and heavily wounded, Water Monkey soon fell into a deep sleep.

Qin Sang sat in the courtyard, waiting for news from the Lady, all the while remaining vigilant of the surroundings, ready to flee at any moment.

From the few words exchanged between the Lady and Elder Yue, Qin Sang could piece together some of the situation. The fake emperor they spoke of was likely the current emperor of Great Sui, and it seemed that Jiangshan Tower was originally under the emperor’s control. No wonder they dared to openly assassinate the governor.

It was said that the Dongyang King and the current emperor were born of the same mother, with the Dongyang King being the elder brother. After the late emperor passed away, it was the younger brother who ascended the throne, while the elder brother was relegated to the status of a commandery king, which was against the natural order.

There must have been much conflict within, but outsiders could only guess at the details.

Now, with Great Sui beset by disasters, rebellions had broken out across the four northern counties, and chaos reigned everywhere.

Great Sui was on the brink of collapse, its foundations shaken, and the people were spreading rumors that the new emperor was unworthy. It was likely that the Dongyang King saw an opportunity and could no longer remain idle. The Dongyang Lady, Granny Li, and Elder Yue’s references to the Jiangshan Tower as the "lackeys of the fake emperor" was clear proof of this.

If the Dongyang King raised the banner to depose the fake emperor, his first move would be to win over the Zhenshui King.

Zhenshui Commandery and Dongyang Commandery were as closely connected as lips and teeth, standing on opposite sides of Great Sui in the south. If the Dongyang King couldn’t bring the Zhenshui King to his side, his rear would be unsteady, making it impossible to launch a campaign against the rebels.

The Lady was risking her life by coming to the City of Three Witches alone, likely to persuade the Zhenshui King. But word of her plans must have leaked, and the Jiangshan Tower was ordered to eliminate her.

The current Great Sui was full of hidden forces.

Qin Sang hadn’t known the details at first and had inadvertently boarded the Dongyang King’s ship. He had chances to leave, but he chose to stay.

His goal had never changed: he wasn’t concerned about who ruled the Great Sui, whether it was the Dongyang King or the current emperor. What mattered to him was finding a shortcut to reach an immortal master.

It was said that in times of chaos, heroes would rise. Following the Dongyang King’s rebellion might just be a golden opportunity.

Now, it was up to the Lady to convince the Zhenshui King.

If she failed, she would face certain death, and Qin Sang had no intention of dying with her. He would kill his way out and escape to another kingdom if necessary. ?

Around noon, Qin Sang suddenly heard footsteps approaching the courtyard, and he stood up alert, listening carefully.

There were voices, but they didn’t seem hostile.

Qin Sang set King Yan aside and waited for a moment before the courtyard gate was pushed open from the inside. Leading the way was Bai Jianglan, accompanied by an elderly man carrying a medical kit. The Lady entered alongside a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious attire, speaking with him warmly and showing no signs of distress.

Only then did Qin Sang breathe a sigh of relief. He called King Yan back and stepped forward to greet them.

The person the Lady was conversing with was none other than Zhenshui King himself, while the elderly man beside Bai Jianglan was the imperial physician from the Zhenshui King’s manor. After examining Water Monkey's wound, the imperial physician stroked his long beard, scrutinized the severed arm for a while, and then shook his head, saying, "Your Majesty, Dongyang Lady, the damage to this arm is severe. The limb has lost all vitality, and too much time has passed. I’m afraid it cannot be reattached."

Bai Jianglan's expression darkened instantly.

The Lady said, "In that case, I’ll trouble the imperial physician to stop the bleeding and properly treat the wound to ensure his life is not at risk."

"As you command!"

The imperial physician opened his medical kit and began treating the wound.

Zhenshui King, standing to the side, reassured, "Rest assured, Anning. Physician Wang’s skills are unparalleled; he will surely save this brave man's life. I’ve already prepared a banquet with fine wine. Why not join me at the manor for a meal and some rest?"

"Thank you, Uncle," the Lady responded with a polite bow, though her voice betrayed a trace of fatigue. "I originally came secretly to visit Uncle, so there’s no need for too much fanfare. Now that my concerns have been addressed, I must trouble Uncle to arrange for someone to escort me back to Dongyang Commandery. Otherwise, if my father worries about my safety and becomes anxious, it would be unfilial of me."

Zhenshui King replied angrily, "To think that a mere organization of assassins would dare stir up trouble in Zhenshui Commandery and attempt to assassinate the royal daughter! I’ve already ordered a thorough search of the entire commandery; I will leave none of them alive as an explanation to my elder brother and to you, Anning! Since you insist on returning... someone, prepare a large boat, set up a banquet on board, and summon General Zhao Xiang. Have him dispatch his most elite soldiers to escort Dongyang Lady back to Dongyang Commandery. If even a single hair on her head is harmed along the way, I’ll hold him accountable!"

"Yes!"

…

Qin Sang, Bai Jianglan, and Water Monkey shared a carriage, escorted by elite soldiers. As they passed Cuiming Mountain, Qin Sang lifted the curtain and glanced outside.

Uncertain about his own future, he refrained from disturbing them.

They boarded a boat and traveled downstream. Three days later, they arrived at Chun City, the commandery seat of Dongyang Commandery.

Qin Sang accompanied the Lady, who was escorted back to the royal manor under tight security by the royal guards. As they traveled, Qin Sang noticed that the customs and atmosphere of Chun City differed significantly from those of the City of Three Witches.