Volume XIII: Dream Return Across a Millennium - Chapter 4: The Nine-Turn Heaven-Reversing Array

"Big Head, are you ready?" Yaoguang looked at the little creature sitting on her shoulder.

"Mm-hmm. I'm a bit upset about having to go back," Big Head replied, hugging Yaoguang's neck tightly.

Yaoguang took a deep breath. She produced a slender box containing a scroll. Unrolling it, she revealed a completely blank surface. Spreading it flat on the ground, she began to chant an incantation. The scroll lifted into the air, suspended mid-flight, and as her chant continued, it began to emit a shimmering radiance. Slowly, a glowing door materialized before them. Through the threshold, ancient streets and historic architecture came into view, resembling the prosperous capital of Chang'an from historical dramas.

Scene after scene flashed past, finally settling upon the outskirts of a dense forest.

Yaoguang glanced back at the others, then with a wave of her hand, her modern clothes transformed into the garb of that bygone era. Cradling Big Head, she stepped directly through the glowing gateway, and both of their figures vanished into the unfolding painting.

"Big Sister, isn't this where the two of you first met?" Big Head asked curiously.

"Yes. We can only begin from this exact moment; otherwise, there would be no way to extract your lingering soul from his body. If we failed, he would die, and you would perish as well. We have no choice but to start over from the very beginning," Yaoguang said, shaking her head with a silent sigh. Sheng Chuhan, a millennium has passed, yet who would have thought we must continue our destiny anew.

"Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!" Just as Yaoguang was lost in thought, the rhythmic pounding of distant hooves broke the stillness.

"The Sheng family's carriage is coming," Yaoguang murmured, a bitter smile touching her lips.

In the distance, a carriage raced toward them at breakneck speed, escorted by three horsemen, while a mob of dozens of black-clad assassins pursued them on horseback.

Halfway across the path, the carriage violently struck a boulder and tipped sideways. The driver was sent flying through the air, and the three guards panicked completely. The pursuers were already upon them, brandishing razor-sharp sabers with murderous intent.

"Let's go, Big Head." With a graceful leap, Yaoguang darted forward. First, she caught the flying driver, and then she flicked her wrist, sending a surge of spiritual energy to stabilize the wobbling carriage.

Seeing the carriage come to a secure halt, Yaoguang landed lightly between the vehicle and the assassins, her gaze cold and detached.

"What wretched little girl are you? If you don't want to die, get out of the way!" the leader of the assassins barked.

Ignoring him, Yaoguang turned her head slightly and asked, "Is the Lord Duke of the Sheng City inside that carriage?"

"I am Sheng Chuhan. My father and mother are within," Sheng Chuhan replied, dismounting to bow respectfully to Yaoguang.

"Very well. Protect your family, and leave these wretches to me," Yaoguang said, turning back to face the killers. "Attack."

"You're courting death!" Shouting fiercely, the assassins charged on horseback with raised sabers. As the lead horse bore down upon her, Yaoguang leaped gracefully into the air. The Orchid Sword materialized in her hand. With a single upward sweep of her blade, a wave of blue light surged outward. In the next instant, the members of the Sheng family watched in stunned disbelief as the sword beam transformed into a torrential flood, kicking up blinding clouds of dust. When the dust settled, all dozens of assassins had been unhorsed, lying motionless on the ground, stripped of their lives.

Yaoguang sheathed her sword and descended gently back to earth.

At that moment, Sheng Jinyuan stepped down from the carriage. "Thank you for your heroic rescue, brave maiden."

"You are too kind, My Lord Duke," Yaoguang replied with a polite bow.

"How did you know my identity?" Sheng Jinyuan asked, puzzled.

"Didn't the flag bearing the Sheng family crest on the carriage tell me?" Yaoguang smiled.

Sheng Jinyuan looked up at the roof of the carriage and couldn't help smiling himself. "Many thanks, maiden. May I ask where your honorable home is, so that my old self may pay a formal visit to express my gratitude?"

"My Lord Duke, to be frank, I intended to seek refuge in Sheng City under your banner. Though I am but a woman, I am skilled in both literature and martial arts. I wish to serve beneath Your Lordship—not for any grand ambition, but merely to find a place of shelter. After all, as a lone woman, surviving in these turbulent times is exceedingly difficult." Yaoguang feigned a trace of bashfulness.

"Father, is this not the will of the heavens? The maiden saved us right here, making her our lifesaver. Since she is a woman alone in these troubled times, why not invite her to travel with us so we may repay this debt of gratitude?" Sheng Chuhan chimed in.

A complex emotion flickered in the depths of Yaoguang's eyes as she looked at Sheng Chuhan, though it vanished so quickly that no one noticed.

"Chuhan's words align precisely with my own thoughts. From this day forward, Lady Phoenix, you shall be an honored guest of the Sheng family," Sheng Jinyuan laughed heartily.

"Many thanks, Lady Phoenix. Please, board the carriage," Madam Sheng said, stepping down from the vehicle.

"I am indebted to you, Madam, but I dare not presume. Since My Lord Duke has graciously accepted me, I shall express my boundless gratitude by acting as your driver and escorting you safely back to Sheng City," Yaoguang said, cupping her fists.

"That will never do. Please, get inside the carriage. You are the savior of the Sheng family; how could we possibly allow you to drive?" Sheng Jinyuan hastily objected. Unable to refuse their persistent urging, Yaoguang finally relented and boarded the carriage. The vehicle then rolled onward toward Sheng City.

"The Lord Duke has returned!" As the Sheng family carriage passed through the city gates, the entire city erupted in jubilation.

Watching from beyond the magical barrier, the spectators could not hide their astonishment. "Is this Sheng Jinyuan really that popular?"

"Sheng Jinyuan governed his subordinates with wisdom and virtue. This period marked the twilight of the Jiangli Kingdom. The Emperor of Jiangli, Li Tian, was a notorious tyrant, and the realm was fractured by rival warlords contending for supremacy. Yet amidst the chaos, Sheng City alone remained a sanctuary of peace," Chu Tian佑 interjected.

"It was even more chaotic than the old Tianque era," Nalan Yu shook his head.

Along the streets of Sheng City, Sheng Jinyuan's carriage proceeded directly toward the Duke's estate. As the vehicle came to a halt and everyone dismounted, the grand gates swung wide open, and Yaoguang, holding Big Head, followed them inside.

"Someone come here! Arrange for Lady Phoenix to reside in the Peony Pavilion. Her food, clothing, housing, and transportation shall be provided according to the standards of a young lady of our own household. Let there be no neglect! Inform everyone in the estate that Lady Phoenix is henceforth the master of the Peony Pavilion," Sheng Jinyuan instructed the elderly steward.

"Understood. This old servant will attend to it immediately," the steward replied, hurrying off to make the preparations.

"Phoenix, from now on you shall live in the Peony Pavilion. This place is your home," Sheng Jinyuan laughed warmly.

"Phoenix offers her deepest gratitude to My Lord Duke," she said, preparing to kneel.

Before her knees could touch the ground, Sheng Jinyuan caught her arm and pulled her up. "Phoenix, within this estate, you need never kneel to anyone—not even to myself."

"Phoenix thanks Your Lordship," she bowed gracefully.

"Phoenix, go and rest for now. We shall prepare a grand banquet for you tonight—first, to thank you for saving our lives; second, to welcome you to our home; and third, to give you a surprise this evening," Sheng Jinyuan said with a mysterious smile.

"Phoenix thanks Your Lordship, and takes her leave." With that, she followed a maidservant toward the Peony Pavilion.

After Yaoguang departed, Madam Sheng smiled and said, "My Lord, it seems you intend to adopt Lady Phoenix as your righteous daughter."

"What does my lady think of the idea?" Sheng Jinyuan asked, turning to his wife.

"It aligns perfectly with my own wishes. We have no daughter of our own; with Lady Phoenix joining the household, our family circle will finally be complete," Madam Sheng beamed, unable to hide her joy.

"Hahaha! Splendid. Steward, send out the invitations! Tonight, I shall host a great banquet to celebrate the fact that I, Sheng Jinyuan, finally have a daughter." With a sweep of his sleeve, Sheng Jinyuan strode away, laughing heartily.

The observers outside the barrier were bewildered once more. "Sheng Jinyuan's adopted daughter? Could Phoenix actually be that legendary, mysterious Princess Guardian of the State of the Sheng-Tian Dynasty?"

"I believe you are correct," Chu Tianyou said, turning to Xuanchen. "According to legend, by Sheng Chuhan's side, there was once a peerless woman in white who was Sheng Jinyuan's daughter. After Sheng Jinyuan ascended to power, he bestowed upon her the title of Princess Guardian of the State. Yet after Sheng Chuhan ascended the throne, this princess mysteriously vanished without a trace. Neither the annals of the imperial court nor official histories contain a single word about her. She seemed to have vanished into thin air."

"Phoenix's appearance in the Sheng-Tian Dynasty was merely a karmic trial of love before her ascension. Having left in a fit of anger back then, she ultimately saw through the illusions of mortal romance and ascended to become an immortal. Consequently, no trace of her remained in the mortal realm. This explains why that Princess Guardian of the State vanished overnight," Xuanchen nodded.