Seeing that Xu Ziqing was not angry, Dongli Zhao spoke with a trace of childishness. “Sir, please don’t be upset with me.”
Xu Ziqing laughed. “Why would I be upset with you?”
Dongli Zhao was delighted, but when he remembered that Xu Ziqing intended to leave, he lowered his eyes again, deeply reluctant. “Can’t you stay a few more days, sir? Do you truly have to leave right now?”
Xu Ziqing sighed. “I was just about to find you and discuss this. When your imperial brother is free, I also have something to tell him.”
Dongli Zhao had grown up in the depths of the palace. How could he fail to understand what Xu Ziqing meant? He immediately asked in a rush, “Sir, do you mean you aren’t leaving?”
Xu Ziqing’s expression turned serious. “Brother Yun told me something important, and it concerns your Kingdom of Chenghuang. I would like to leave, but I’m afraid I can’t.”
Dongli Zhao was startled. “Sir, wait here. I’ll go find Big Brother!”
Seeing him about to rush out, Xu Ziqing caught him and handed him a talisman. “Be careful. This talisman will keep others from seeing you, but you must not make a sound. Remember that.”
Dongli Zhao answered, “Yes,” and hurried away.
Only then did Xu Ziqing sink his consciousness into his storage ring and ask, “Brother Yun, do you wish to meet Dongli Xi?”
Yun Lie’s cold voice came from within. “No need.”
Xu Ziqing smiled faintly and did not disturb him further.
Before long, Dongli Zhao hurried back. Dongli Xi was being watched too closely. With the talisman concealing him, Dongli Zhao had waited outside for quite a while before seeing Dongli Xi drive the eunuchs out. Yet the wretched servants had immediately called several others over to stand guard close by, leaving Dongli Zhao no chance to enter.
Xu Ziqing thought briefly, then said, “It doesn’t matter. Just come with me.” He used the Concealment Art and brought Dongli Zhao with him into Dongli Xi’s sleeping chamber.
The two of them appeared without warning. Dongli Xi was startled, but reacted extremely quickly and did not cry out.
Xu Ziqing immediately laid down a restriction so those outside could not hear anything from within. At the same time, he secretly had Chonghua perch silently atop a tree in the courtyard outside to keep watch for them.
Only then did Xu Ziqing say, “We can speak now. We should not attract anyone’s attention.”
Dongli Xi relaxed. Seeing Dongli Zhao’s expression, he had already guessed something and smiled. “Mr. Xu, have you come to instruct us about something?”
Xu Ziqing nodded. “I’m afraid I will have to involve myself in the affairs of your Kingdom of Chenghuang.”
Dongli Xi paused. “Mr. Xu has changed his mind. Has something gone wrong in our kingdom?” He considered himself fairly good at judging people. This cultivator surnamed Xu had clear eyes and an upright heart. He was plainly someone devoted wholeheartedly to cultivation. Unless it were necessary, he would never have such an intention.
Xu Ziqing smiled in approval. “You’re right.” He sighed. “Someone of the wicked demonic path intends to overturn the Kingdom of Chenghuang. Since those of us who cultivate the immortal path now know of it, we cannot stand by.”
Dongli Xi’s heart tightened. “Mr. Xu means…”
Xu Ziqing lightly flicked his sleeve. “You two brothers, go to the window. I will open your eyes so that you can observe the imperial city’s fortune.”
Dongli Zhao had already experienced such an art and was not alarmed. This was Dongli Xi’s first time hearing of it, and together with what he had just learned, he had to forcibly restrain himself before finally calming down.
After looking for a moment, he too clearly saw the dragon and jiao entwined above the imperial city. Dongli Xi was exquisitely perceptive and understood what it implied. Before he could even feel embarrassed, however, he noticed the red glow in the black jiao’s eyes. It felt intensely evil, enough to send a chill through anyone who saw it.
Dongli Xi was several years older than Dongli Zhao and was also the heir apparent, so he naturally understood the severity of the situation even better. He immediately said, “Mr. Xu, there is something very wrong with that black jiao.”
Xu Ziqing said, “When the black jiao does that with the golden dragon, it is siphoning the golden dragon’s dragon qi and transferring the Crown Prince’s fortune into itself so the black jiao can transform into a dragon. It has already grown one horn. Two of its claws have four toes, while the other two already have five. Its transformation into a dragon is clearly not far off.”
Dongli Xi’s face went pale, and a flash of hatred crossed his eyes. “Rest assured, sir. Now that Xi knows, I will not let him succeed again.”
Xu Ziqing continued, “But the black jiao carries demonic qi, and the black jiao is the manifestation of Jiao Tu’s fortune. Therefore, unless Jiao Tu himself is a cultivator of the wicked demonic path, there is only one other possibility.”
Dongli Zhao asked urgently, “Sir, what is it?”
Xu Ziqing said, “Possession.”
Dongli Xi exclaimed, “…Possession?”
Possession was a method used when one’s physical body had been severely injured and the primordial spirit was constrained. The cultivator would send out the primordial spirit and attach it to another person’s body so that it could move about freely. During that time, demonic methods would be used to nourish and restore the original body. Once it had been nurtured sufficiently, the primordial spirit could return, leaving the body even somewhat stronger than it had been before the injury.
However, this method greatly harmed the person being possessed, and the methods used to nourish the original body were also invariably wicked. It was therefore deeply despised.
Xu Ziqing had not originally known what possession was. Yun Lie had explained it to him by voice transmission. Once he understood it, however, he too felt uneasy.
After Xu Ziqing explained this to the brothers, Dongli Zhao cried out, “Sir, you said that people of the Lower Nine Continents cannot cultivate, so, so…”
Xu Ziqing nodded. “That cultivator of the wicked demonic path could only do this by possessing Jiao Tu.”
Dongli Zhao’s expression turned ugly. “If that’s so, is Jiao Tu dead?”
Before Xu Ziqing could answer, Dongli Xi suddenly said, “I have seen Jiao Tu many times. Judging from his behavior and manner, he is no different from before.”
Xu Ziqing paused. There seemed to be something left unsaid in those words.
Emotions churned in Dongli Xi’s eyes. “I met Jiao Tu ten years ago. Although he was the Phoenix Consort’s elder brother, we were very close. After I was named Crown Prince, he became one of my covert operatives.”
Jiao Tu and the Phoenix Consort were half-siblings through different mothers and had never shared much affection. By contrast, he and Dongli Xi had been friends for many years. Their apparent distancing in public had merely been meant to guard against the late emperor’s suspicions. Later, Jiao Tu abruptly turned against him, slaughtered his way through the court, and confined Dongli Xi in the Eastern Palace. For a time, Dongli Xi believed he had judged the man wrongly and been deceived by appearances. Yet afterward Jiao Tu killed both the Phoenix Consort and Dongli Zhang as well. If he truly meant to rebel, he still made no move to take the throne, leaving Dongli Xi with countless doubts. That was why Dongli Xi had dealt with him outwardly while secretly trying to rebuild his strength and reclaim the throne.
Jiao Tu knew how much strength Dongli Xi still held, just as Dongli Xi knew exactly how much power Jiao Tu commanded. Dongli Xi had believed it would simply be a matter of patience and gradual effort. As long as Jiao Tu did not kill him too, he would always be able to scheme in secret and wait for another opportunity.
But now, after hearing this cultivator’s explanation, he realized the truth was far more complicated than he had imagined and even involved strange powers from beyond the mortal world. Dongli Xi’s thoughts grew tangled.
Because Dongli Zhao had been too young and Dongli Xi had feared he might let something slip, Dongli Xi had never explained any of this to him. Later… there had been even less reason to tell him.
Hearing it now, Dongli Zhao was so shocked he nearly jumped. “Big Brother, Jiao Tu was one of your people?”
Dongli Xi nodded, his eyes complicated. “He was, back then.”
But he did not know when Jiao Tu had been possessed, or whether the person before him now was still truly Jiao Tu. If he were not, then after so many years of knowing him, Dongli Xi should not have failed to notice. Yet the wicked demonic path was clearly involved, and he had no idea what methods the other party possessed or whether he himself had been deceived by them.
Seeing this, Xu Ziqing said, “Fortune is connected to both the soul and the physical body. The wicked demonic cultivator comes from the Upper Nine Continents. If he had merely seized Jiao Tu’s body and erased Jiao Tu’s soul, the black jiao formed from Jiao Tu’s fortune could not manifest. Therefore, Jiao Tu should still be alive.”
But Jiao Tu being alive was extremely disadvantageous when it came to confronting the wicked demonic cultivator.
Once Xu Ziqing finished speaking, Dongli Xi’s gaze flickered, though no one knew what he was thinking.
Xu Ziqing guessed that since Dongli Xi and Jiao Tu had once been the closest of friends and had shared many secrets, they must once have trusted each other with their lives. After everything that followed, Dongli Xi surely came to hate Jiao Tu bitterly. Yet now that he knew Jiao Tu was actually being controlled by someone else, he could hardly avoid worrying about him as well.
None of that had much to do with Xu Ziqing, however. All he was thinking now was that if they wished to deal with Jiao Tu, they first had to know his true objective. The black jiao and golden dragon’s □□ was meant to transform the jiao into a dragon, but what benefit would the black jiao’s transformation bring the wicked demonic cultivator? No matter how Xu Ziqing turned it over in his mind, he could not arrive at an answer. Yet if he failed to understand the matter clearly, he feared he might handle it poorly and incur the Heavenly Dao’s displeasure.
Elio’s Notes: The current JJWXC source contains a literal □□ censorship gap here. FD preserves the gap rather than guessing or restoring wording from another version.
Thinking of this, Xu Ziqing explained his concern to Dongli Xi.
Dongli Xi considered it, then said, “These days, Jiao Tu comes to my sleeping chamber every night. When he comes tonight, I’ll look for an opportunity to probe him.”
When it came to intrigue, drawing information out of someone, and struggles for power, a man from beyond the mortal world like Xu Ziqing was naturally no match for imperial descendants such as these. Leaving the matter to Dongli Xi was much more appropriate than fumbling for answers himself.
With the decision made, Xu Ziqing did not take Dongli Zhao away. Since he had to resolve this matter, he would need to discuss things with Dongli Xi frequently, so it was better to remain nearby.
Not long after evening fell, Jiao Tu came again as expected.
Worried that the wicked demonic cultivator might notice them, Xu Ziqing had already enclosed Dongli Zhao within a restriction. He himself used the Wood-Escape Art and concealed his entire presence within a pot of cymbidium orchids.
The moment Jiao Tu entered, he reached out and pulled Dongli Xi into his arms, kissed his face repeatedly, then caught his lips in a rough kiss until he had his fill before laughing. “You’re rather obedient today.”
Dongli Xi looked at his smiling face without speaking, his own expression cold.
Seeing this, Jiao Tu released him awkwardly. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Then he shamelessly leaned in to embrace him again and tried to kiss him. “A fine night is short. Don’t waste the spring night here.”
Dongli Xi’s lips curved. “You come looking for me only for this. You must think I’m nothing but a toy for you to defile.”
Jiao Tu’s expression changed several times. When Dongli Xi remained unmoved, he scratched his head and said, “Don’t you know how I feel about you? How could I treat you like some toy?”
Dongli Xi gave a cold snort. “Your words sound nice. Your actions show another face entirely.”
Jiao Tu grew agitated. “What’s wrong with you today? Why are you saying this to me?”
Dongli Xi merely sneered. “I don’t want to do that with you again. What will you do about it?”
Jiao Tu paced around the room several times, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. “It’s not as though you get no pleasure from it. Why are you suddenly acting so coy?”
Dongli Xi confronted him head-on, his smile full of mockery. “You certainly enjoy yourself. Why don’t you let me pin you down for once? I am the dignified Crown Prince, yet I am forced beneath you. Do you expect me to thank you for it?”
His attitude was so fierce that Jiao Tu grew even more restless. “You, you…”
Dongli Xi used his words to draw Jiao Tu out while carefully watching his expression.
Before, Dongli Xi had been utterly convinced that Jiao Tu had betrayed him. His hatred had been too intense to leave room for thoughts like these. Now that he was watching with a different purpose, however, he caught a trace of worry in Jiao Tu’s eyes. It made him believe Xu Ziqing’s explanation even more firmly, and he also began to sense that Jiao Tu seemed to have difficulties of his own.
Jiao Tu did not know what Dongli Xi was thinking and was consumed only by worry. He could not bear to force Dongli Xi again, but how could he explain something that concerned life and death?
Seeing this, Dongli Xi softened his tone slightly. “You and I have known each other for many years. We were brothers who could live and die together. I hate that you have humiliated me like this, yet all this time I forgot to ask one thing. Why are you treating me this way?”
Jiao Tu paused at those words. First he let out a heavy sigh, then looked at Dongli Xi with an unreadable expression. “Since you never asked before, why ask today…”
Dongli Xi stared steadily at him. “Whatever the reason is, you owe me a clear answer.”
Jiao Tu gave a bitter smile. “What reason is there? I simply love you. If you become emperor and I am only your subject, then even if our brotherhood remains, I could never endure seeing you surrounded by an imperial harem. If I wanted to be with you then, it would only become harder and harder.”
A storm seemed to erupt in Dongli Xi’s heart.
Whether or not that was the whole truth, Dongli Xi knew Jiao Tu well enough to recognize that these words were sincere. In the past, when Jiao Tu forced intimacy upon him, Dongli Xi had assumed lust had clouded Jiao Tu’s reason, that he wanted to subjugate the Crown Prince to satisfy his sense of conquest. Now, however, it seemed that even if the black jiao and golden dragon’s □□ truly existed only to transform the jiao into a dragon, much of what Jiao Tu did to Dongli Xi was something he genuinely desired for himself.
Jiao Tu truly harbored that kind of obsessive longing for Dongli Xi…
Dongli Xi’s gaze darkened, but he rebuked him. “Because of that, you think you can ruin my realm and imprison me in my sleeping chamber? This love of yours is far too shameless!”
Jiao Tu finally could not bear it. Pain filled his eyes. He closed them, his face twitching for a moment. When he opened them again, his expression had turned vicious. “The victor becomes king and the loser a bandit. What’s the point of all this nonsense? Get into bed with me obediently, or… hmph, I’ll break your bones!”
Dongli Xi’s heart tightened. Just now, because his mind was so sharp, he had noticed a wisp of black mist flash through Jiao Tu’s eyes. Now, seeing this change in manner, he could tell there was a difference.
If this were truly Jiao Tu, he might tease him in bed, but he would never humiliate him with words like these, much less threaten him.
Thinking back over all their past interactions, Dongli Xi began to understand.
It truly was possession.
At the same time, Xu Ziqing, hidden among the plants, arrived at the same conclusion.
Unlike Dongli Xi, who noticed only because of his keen mind and deep familiarity with Jiao Tu, Xu Ziqing immediately sensed the change in Jiao Tu’s aura. Right after Dongli Xi rebuked him, it suddenly became strange and filled with wicked qi.
Dongli Xi had been thoroughly uncooperative tonight. When Jiao Tu could not bring himself to use force, the wicked demonic cultivator suppressed him and took control personally. Xu Ziqing could also faintly sense that Jiao Tu had some means of communicating with the wicked demonic cultivator and was not entirely unaware of what was happening.
This made Xu Ziqing hesitate. If the wicked demonic cultivator acted against Dongli Xi, he had no idea how much harm it might cause him. They had originally wanted only to investigate the situation first, but if Dongli Xi were sacrificed in the process, it would be far too costly.
At that moment, the wicked demonic cultivator, attached to Jiao Tu’s body, reached out with one large hand to drag Dongli Xi away.
Xu Ziqing’s heart tightened. He decided to intervene.
But in the next instant, Dongli Xi gave a cold laugh and drove a dagger into his own chest!
The wicked demonic cultivator shouted at once, “What are you doing?”
He immediately saw Dongli Xi’s face go pale. Blood welled rapidly from where the dagger had entered his flesh, and in an instant he was seriously wounded.
The wicked demonic cultivator flew into a rage. “Someone! Call the imperial physician!”
Dongli Xi collapsed to the floor, his eyes cold.
Xu Ziqing sucked in a sharp breath. This Crown Prince was truly decisive. He actually dared to be so ruthless toward himself! One mistake could have cost him his life.
The wicked demonic cultivator breathed heavily, his face flushed with anger. Then his expression changed again and again. He raised a hand to cover his forehead, swept his sleeve, and strode quickly out the door.
Several eunuchs soon rushed in, followed by an old man with white hair and beard carrying a medicine case. They hurriedly helped Dongli Xi onto the bed, and chaos followed. Xu Ziqing sighed soundlessly, while Dongli Zhao restrained himself again and again from rushing forward.
At last, after the imperial physician finished examining him, he gave his diagnosis and said Dongli Xi would need to rest quietly for some time and could not endure any further strain. A eunuch went to explain the situation to the wicked demonic cultivator. They heard only an angry sound from him before he strode away.
Dongli Xi’s face was pale. Although he had not lost consciousness, fine sweat covered his forehead.
The imperial physician did not dare perform any overly forceful treatment. He could only have Dongli Xi hold a slice of ginseng in his mouth to sustain his life while he pulled out the dagger. Afterward, he busied himself settling Dongli Xi back into bed before hurrying off to prepare medicine.
When the imperial physician left, Dongli Xi snapped, “All of you, get out.”
The chief eunuch naturally refused and insisted on keeping watch beside the bed. Dongli Xi deliberately began breathing heavily again, as though anger were making him faint, until the man had no choice but to leave with the others.
Once the room was finally quiet, Xu Ziqing laid down a restriction and appeared beside the bed with Dongli Zhao.
Dongli Zhao’s eyes were red as he said in a trembling voice, “Big Brother, how could you be so ruthless with yourself? Are you trying to break my heart? If Mother Empress knew from beyond the grave, even she would be furious with you!”
Dongli Xi smiled weakly. There was some apology in his eyes, but no regret at all. “Zhao’er, if I had allowed him to succeed again today, let the black jiao of fortune transform into a dragon, and caused the Kingdom of Chenghuang to change hands, then I would truly have been a sinner condemned through the ages. What does a small injury like this matter?”
He was only a mortal. How could he know what other methods the wicked demonic cultivator possessed? Only by injuring himself could he temporarily escape this calamity.
Dongli Zhao also knew how grave the matter was, but this was the elder brother with whom he had depended on each other for survival. Even if he understood the reasoning, how could he truly persuade himself to accept it?
Seeing that his younger brother still looked painfully guilty, Dongli Xi turned toward the young cultivator and said, “I imagine Mr. Xu agrees with Xi as well.” But when he looked over, Xu Ziqing seemed distracted, so he quickly called softly, “Sir? Sir?”
Xu Ziqing had sunk his consciousness into his storage ring and was speaking with Yun Lie. Coming back to himself, he walked over and took Dongli Xi’s wrist. “Never mind anything else for now. I will give you a thread of spiritual qi to draw out the vitality within your body and keep your life force from failing. Then I will prepare a medicinal decoction. Once you drink it, you should be all right.”
Dongli Zhao knew how wondrous Xu Ziqing’s arts were and had already seen that miraculous medicine before. He immediately said joyfully, “Many thanks, sir!”
Dongli Xi had dared to do this only because a cultivator was nearby, together with his own extraordinary courage. Hearing this now, he relaxed considerably and smiled as well. “Many thanks, sir.”
At this point, Xu Ziqing remembered what he and Yun Lie had just discussed and called into the ring again. “Brother Yun, Brother Yun. You saw that wicked demonic cultivator too. Did you discover anything? What exactly is he planning?”