This Lady Is Trying to Kill Me

Chapter 412: Roping in the Pacifying Heaven Cult (1)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The bright moon hung high in the sky, and the frosty moonlight shone on the mountains and plains for thousands of kilometers. A large river passed under precipices thousands of feet high.

Two travel-worn figures reported their identities outside the mountains. Then, under the lead of white-robed cult members, they stepped onto the rugged mountain path leading to the South Firmament Mountains.

The person walking in front was Tang Yudan of Yan Mountain’s Cutting Cloud Palace, Lu Jieyun’s direct disciple. This was the first time he had set foot in the territory of the Pacifying Heaven Cult. Although his master was also one of the Eight Chiefs, the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master ranked first, while his master ranked last. There was no comparison at all. For this reason, his eyes were solemn, and he looked straight ahead while walking.

Behind him was Cao Aning, who had become a vagabond in Jianghu after losing his job in the palace.

In order to regain his influence and status, Cao Aning had traveled all over the north and south dynasties over the past ten years. It wasn’t his first time coming to the South Firmament Mountains. As he walked, he introduced to Tang Yudan, “If you pass through the South Firmament Mountains, leave the pass, and follow the river path downstream, when you reach the estuary, you can see the Baichi Cliff outside Guan City. Feng Guancheng built a hut there to live in seclusion. Martial artists who can climb the Baichi Cliff to challenge Feng Guancheng, no matter if they win or lose, will be considered overlords in Jianghu.

“The Pacifying Heaven Cult Master ranks first among the Eight Chiefs. He challenged Feng Guancheng at the Baichi Cliff and was personally evaluated by Feng Guancheng as invincible under the mountain…”

When Tang Yudan heard this, he looked up at the afterglow of the lights on the mountain peaks and sighed. “Although he’s not the number one in the world, being invincible under the mountain is also an honor that martial artists dream of. Furthermore, the number one beauty in Jianghu, the Moon Goddess, is his companion. This is what a true man should be like.”

Cao Aning said with a smile, “We mere mortals can’t be envious of the most carefree and unfettered existence in the world. Not to mention you and me, even though King Ye of Hell might not be inferior to the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master in terms of looks and potential, his wife definitely can’t compare to the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master’s.”

Tang Yudan pondered for a moment and shook his head. “Ye Jingtang lives in the capital, and it’s said that he’s extraordinarily handsome. If the empress likes him, his wife can still compare…”

“Alas.” Cao Aning waved his hand. “A wife’s status can be high, but it can’t be too high. The Pacifying Heaven Cult Master and the Moon Goddess are a match made in heaven. If the empress takes a fancy to King Ye of Heli, can he marry the empress home? Even if he succeeds Feng Guancheng, it will be the empress who accepts the number one hero of Jianghu as her consort. From then on, he will enter the deep palace and won’t see spring every year. How can a matrilocal husband compare to the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master?

Tang Yudan thought about it and felt that it made sense, so he nodded. The envy he felt for the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master increased.

The two of them continued forward and arrived at a mountainside of the South Firmament Mountains. There were many passes along the way, and there were countless sentries patrolling.

High on the South Firmament Mountains was the living area of the upper echelons of the Pacifying Heaven Cult. Outsiders were prohibited from entering. For this reason, before the two of them arrived, they were led around by the cult members and arrived at a tunnel on the mountainside.

The tunnel was dug by the Great Wei army when they attacked the South Firmament Mountains back then. Now, it had been transformed into the headquarters of the Pacifying Heaven Cult, and the inside was quite large.

After walking inside the tunnel for a while, Cao Aning and Tang Yudan arrived at an underground hall.

On both sides of the hall were 18 stone lampstands lit with tung oil. In the middle was a long path paved with stone slabs that led to the steps at the back of the hall.

Above the steps was a stone-carved seat with a large eight trigrams emblem engraved on the back. On the left and right sides were two flags.

Cao Aning entered the stone hall and looked up. He found that there was someone sitting on the stone-carved seat.

The tall figure was wearing a white robe and had a jade crown on her head. Although the angle of the light made it impossible to see her face, her astonishing aura was like a powerful dragon entrenched on a mountain peak, looking down at the two ants that had suddenly visited her.

Tang Yudan raised his head and broke out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly took a step forward and bowed. “Junior Tang Yudan pays my respects to the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master.”

On the high platform, the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master didn’t reveal her face. She only said in a voice that was difficult to distinguish between male and female, “Lu Jieyun has a favor to ask of me. Why didn’t he come personally?” Tang Yudan knew that he wasn’t worthy of the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master personally receiving him. He took out a token from his sleeve and said respectfully, “I was sent by the Prince of Yan. My master has another important duty and can’t come personally. Please forgive me, Cult Master.”

The Pacifying Heaven Cult Master looked at the token and said unhappily, “The Prince of Yan asked you to recruit the Pacifying Heaven Cult?”

“No.” Tang Yudan sensed the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master’s dissatisfaction and hurriedly explained, “Everyone in the world knows how loyal the Marquis of the South Mountains’ lineage is to the Great Yan. The Imperial Court has promised you the title of a marquis of ten thousand households and the position of governor of Chong Province, but you regarded all of this as worn-out shoes. Cult Master, how can you be recruited?

“The Prince of Yan is planning something big recently. As long as it succeeds, the imperial lineage of Great Wei will fall into the hands of the Prince of Yan. Cult Master, as long as you are willing to help, the territory in the south of Chong Province can be allocated to you, and you can become a king…”

When Pacifying Heaven Cult Master heard this, she said coldly, “Establish myself as a king? Do you think vying for supremacy in the world is like three-year-old children playing house? The empress governs the country with benevolence and virtue. She didn’t go to war for ten years after ascending the throne, and she opened up trade between the north and the south. No matter how 1 look at it, she is a benevolent monarch who doesn’t like war. But what the empress offered me was nothing more than to be a marquis. The prerequisite is that I have to bring my family to the capital to work for her. If the Pacifying Heaven Cult dares to rebel, the empress won’t add a single cent. She will only mobilize troops to attack the South Firmament Mountains and let the world understand what it means that imperial power can’t be disobeyed.

“The Prince of Yan is good at war, brave, and resourceful. But it’s because his ambitions are too great that he might destroy the country through militarism. That’s why Great Wei’s founding emperor didn’t give him the throne. The Prince of Yan can’t even tolerate Northern Liang.. And you’re saying that he promises to let me establish myself as a king in the south?”