Chapter 74
Inside war
Before the arrival of Lou He, the Ximeng Continent league of spies lived in relative peace until she disrupted the quiet and cold underworld of Jianghu spies. Three groups of spies belonged to the Wei Empire: the Eyes of God, led by Mohist masters Yuwen Gao, Yuwen Hao, and Yuwen Yue; the Jile Pavilion spies, led by Yuwen Xi; and the Blackguard, commanded by Princess Zama of the Batuha family.
Two groups belonged to the Liang Empire: the Skyshadow spies, led by high-ranking officials Xiao Yu and Zhan Ziyu; and the Afterlife Camp spies, an order of assassins for hire, created by Daoist masters.
The remaining spies served the Qinghai Empire: the Secret Invisible spies, led by Second Prince Ra Zheng, and the Queen Gorge spies, known for their savage nature and ability to devour humans, both alive and dead.
Lou He's underworld spies and Jianghu spies of rivers and lakes, were independent agents who ruled over the five realms. They were the guardians of the Underworld and the most powerful and influential spies in all of Ximeng continent.
Deceived by the Queen of Qinghai, Lou He, the Queen of the Moon Kingdom, was sent to gather the Jianghu spies to watch over Yanbei. When she returned to her homeland, she was met with devastation. She found countless underworld spies dead, and everything in ruin except for the gate to the Underworld, a portal only the leader of the Wind and Cloud Decree had the power to control.
The survivors of the massacre retreated to the Thousand Caves, led by General Wu Dao Ya, healer Zao Baocung, Sand Drizzle Master Dong Fangyi, and Zhong Yu. They escaped death during the Celestial warfare led by Yuwen Hao.
When Lou He returned to the Moon Kingdom, she wept bitterly and tore her clothes upon finding the body of King Chu Teng Gao, murdered in the palace alongside the royal family in a gruesome bloodbath. Among the survivors were her only child, little Chu Qiao, and two others, Little Viper and Trailkoya.
After the war, Lou He abdicated her royal position as Queen of the Moon Kingdom. However, she vowed to return to her former life and resumed her role as the leader of the Wind and Cloud Decree. She did not settle in any one place for long.
From Woolong Mountains to Longji Mountains, Lou He left no trace of her movements and never returned to the Moon Kingdom. She remained a fierce opponent of the Wei Empire and continued to be the archenemy of the Eyes of God. She also influenced the rulers of Yanbei, King Yan Schicheng and Queen Bai Schicheng, who were Wei's closest kin in the cold North.
In secret, Lou He and Wu Dao Ya provided the Yan rulers with protection and critical intelligence, helping them grow into powerful leaders of Yanbei.
The Wei Emperor eventually awarded Yan Schicheng the prestigious title of Duke of Yanbei, a tributary state in the North tasked with defending the border against the Gurus people. This title was significant because a tributary state was not meant to wield royal authority but to remain loyal to the Wei Emperor.
Historically, Yan Schicheng and the Wei Emperor, Shen Jin Gong, shared a strong bond. Both men descended from nomadic ancestors and had a close childhood, cementing their connection when Yan Schicheng saved the life of the Wei Yuan Crown Prince, who later became the current Wei Emperor.
However, the Shen Jin Emperor struggled to balance the favoritism shown to the Yan family. Other protectorates and vassal states, like the Batuha family, grew resentful of Yanbei's elevated status, leading to political and social tensions.
To quell this unrest, the Wei Emperor issued a decree demanding that all tributary states voluntarily submit their crown princes as a symbol of loyalty. Yan Schicheng was the first to comply, offering his son, Crown Prince Yan Xun, as a show of allegiance. Other states followed suit.
While this decree provided temporary stability, it failed to eliminate the underlying resentment. Ultimately, Shen Jin Gong ordered the execution of the entire Yan household, ending their dynasty in bloodshed.
All of this unfolded because the Wei Emperor harbored misconceptions and grew resentful of Yan Schicheng's rising hero image as the Duke of Yanbei. Yan Schicheng's growing popularity and his kingship over Yanbei stirred jealousy, which was further exacerbated by the Batuha family, who exploited the situation. They fueled the Emperor's doubts, ultimately leading to the downfall of Yanbei and preventing them from becoming strong rulers of the North.
Lou He remembered those days vividly, as if they had just happened. She fought one of the fiercest battles of her life against the hostile Mongol gulf, the Gurus people. As the Gurus grew in power and sought to expand their territory, they attempted to invade the land of Ximeng under the guise of their "monkish" war. This war was waged by fake monks who infiltrated Ximeng continent, intending to convert the land and its people to their beliefs and reshape their way of life. The nomadic tribes, led by Yan Schicheng and his Yan armies, along with Military General Dong Fangyi and the spymaster Lou He, fiercely opposed the Gurus, brutally eliminating the monasteries that were rapidly spreading in the upper plains of the snow-capped mountains of Yanbei.
Amid the beauty of spring waters and the scent of cherry blossom trees across the mountains, a spectacular monastery stood tall, hidden by thick vines and magical plants. Its secret stairs, enveloped by the lush forest, made it nearly impossible to breach.
Lou He's horse suddenly became uneasy. She tapped its ears gently to calm it, sensing something was off about the ground beneath them.
"Master, this place is tranquil and nearly impossible to climb to reach the top of the monastery. Are you sure you don't want me to call for help?" Lan Shuyi asked.
"If I needed help, I would have asked you to do so," Lou He replied, her long white hood covering her head. She dismounted gracefully, looking like a white fairy as she gently tapped her horse's ears again. The horse stepped back, obedient to its master's secret code, standing by her side.
Lan Shuyi, about to say more, stopped in surprise as Lou He closed her eyes and placed her palms downward on the thorny plants in front of them. As her hands touched the plants, their leaves began to shrink rapidly. She observed this strange reaction closely as the plant replicated this behavior with its nearby counterparts before finally stopping.
Lou He studied the plants, wondering if they would return to their original state if left undisturbed. They didn't. The plants remained shriveled, not blooming again. Fascinated by these magical Mimosa leaves, Lan Shuyi dismounted, tempted to touch one of the plants. But Lou He immediately warned, "Don't touch anything unless I tell you."
"What do you think of this plant, Master?" Lan Shuyi asked, seemingly ignoring her master's warning. As she bent down to smell the soft pink flower, the scarf on her face fell.
Lou He, with her sharp hearing, detected a faint rushing sound. The Mimosa leaves recoiled once more, responding to the accidental movement of Lan Shuyi. Like a chain reaction, the entire field of Mimosa plants shrank, revealing a dangerous path of thorn-like stairs on the mountainside.
A rocky climb would have been easier than navigating these thorny stairs, which, despite their soft pink flowers, were treacherous. The stairs seemed to invite one to step on them, but they were nature's deadly trap.
Neither Lou He nor her servant knew if the thorns were poisonous, but they knew they could not risk it. Calm despite the danger, Lou He understood that the plants might have triggered an alarm in the monastery. She mounted her horse again, and Lan Shuyi followed suit. Lou He realized now why Dong Fangyi had used a secret hum to signal his location, coordinates she was tracking.
Her instincts were right. The Gurus had noticed the disturbance below and felt the chain reaction in the Mimosa field revealing the path to their monastery.
A chanting monk began to hum, causing the lush Mimosa plants to bloom once more. Lou He quickly grasped that the plant's shrinking and blooming behavior concealed the deadly staircase beneath them. Though the field now looked serene and undisturbed, she sensed a lurking danger.
The Mimosa plants reminded her of silent killers, deceptively fragile, yet deadly. Even in their shy, recoiling state, they were the perfect cover for the dangers that lay hidden.
Closing her eyes, Lou He sharpened her senses. She felt the presence of dark magic hovering over the field. "Lan Shuyi, go and call for Xia Chong's help," she ordered.
"What about you, Master?" Lan Shuyi asked anxiously, but Lou He remained silent. Without another word, Lan Shuyi rode off, leaving Lou He behind.
"Are you sure this time the leader of the Wind and Cloud Decree will be captured?" Princess Zama asked Dong Fangyi, her voice dripping with doubt.
"I don't deserve such doubt," Dong Fangyi replied sharply.
Meanwhile, Lou He channeled her powers, bypassing the thorny staircase and deceiving greenfield. She transformed into a simple white ninja, her face covered, and took secret paths up the mountain. As she approached the top, she saw the monastery.
Though it resembled ancient Chinese temples, the inscriptions seemed unfamiliar and out of place for a true Chinese Buddhist temple. Lou He proceeded with great caution and whispered, "Sand Drizzle Master, I am here."
She felt a soft wind blow over her face, more of a warning than a threat, but her curiosity pushed her forward. The monastery was eerily empty, save for a single floating candle in the center of the room. Lou He couldn't shake the strange feeling as she moved closer to the candle.
Suddenly, she stepped on an ordinary stone, and a loud bang echoed through the temple.
It was a trap!
There were no Gurus, and no Dong Fangyi to save her.
Lou He was swallowed by the underground tunnel, unable to react to the swift chain of events before she reached the bottom. The air in the tunnel was unexpectedly fragrant, but her senses quickly shut down, and she fell into a deep sleep.
Princess Zama received a snow paper message and said, "Gather the Blackguard spies and hand her over to the Eyes of God. A catch like this is grand, but we don't know if her powers will help her escape the torture chambers of the garrison."
Dong Fangyi approached Princess Zama and said, "Now that the deal is done, can I claim my reward?"
Princess Zama replied, "Here you go. The secret of the Black Seal remains hidden, but you now possess the information on how the Blackguard spies operate and how to neutralize the Eyes of God. Isn't that what you wanted?"
Dong Fangyi couldn't hide a slight smile at the corner of his lips but maintained a poker face, saying, "You are a secret traitor to your kingdom."
Princess Zama responded, "With a prize like this, do I look like a traitor or more like a hero? It seems you're speaking more about yourself than me. Handing over your underworld leader is an irreversible act."
Dong Fangyi retorted, "Oops, I didn't hand her over. She came to the monastery and was trapped."
Princess Zama replied, "Whatever the story, it doesn't change the fact that you betrayed your own leader. So, who's the real traitor here?"
Dong Fangyi laughed and said, "Why pass judgment today and focus on the crimes of this act? Do we want to kill each other now?"
Princess Zama answered, "You're right and wrong. Right, because we're just exchanging goods for results. Wrong, because I'll reserve the time to kill you, but not today."
Dong Fangyi smirked and said, "You can't kill an underworld spy."
Princess Zama looked at him and said, "Why not? They're still human, after all."
Dong Fangyi, with a sarcastic grin, replied, "You truly don't understand. A human is all flesh, but an underworld spy... well, they're more than just human, though they can still die."
Princess Zama, dismissing the conversation, said, "In this world, once a human dies, it all ends. That's a fact."
Dong Fangyi countered, "But in our world, even if an underworld spy dies, it's only the beginning of the end of something greater."
Just then, Shi Da interrupted and said, "Master, we have captured the leader of the Wind and Cloud Decree. What shall we do before she wakes?"
Princess Zama, glancing at Lou He's covered face, instructed, "Bring the Black Seal shackles and bind her head to foot. Deliver her to the Eyes of God, and they will turn her over to the Emperor's torture chambers."
Shi Da nodded and immediately carried out the orders.
Meanwhile, Zhan Ziyu's Afterlife Camp spies trailed the Blackguard and followed them to Wei. The Eyes of God confirmed Lou He's identity and sent a report to the Wei Emperor, awaiting the final verdict on her execution.
Lou He was soon turned over to the Wei Imperial Garrison courtyard, where shadows lurked, secretly following her to the torture chambers.
Not long after, Lou He awoke to find herself suspended in midair, her body bound in Black Seal shackles enchanted with dark spells. She was inside a foul-smelling prison cell, reeking of oil and grease. She tried to summon her powers but couldn't. Her pulse was bleeding, leading to blood loss, which weakened her and disrupted her Chi flow.
One of the unspoken rules of the underworld spies was that it was forbidden to spill their own blood.
By morning, the Emperor passed a decree declaring that Lou He would be executed. She was branded a rebel to the throne and a traitor to the people of Wei. The bounty on her head was immeasurable, prompting the tightening of prison security to prevent any chance of escape.
The Jing family received news of the execution and informed Chu Qiao. Living with her uncle, Chu Qiao decided to rescue her mother using her Gongfu skills. She planned a secret nighttime assault on the Wei garrison courtyard, swiftly breaking the necks of the Imperial guards.
However, when Chu Qiao reached the torture chamber, she called out, "Mother?" Dressed in black, her face concealed by a mask, she found not her mother but a decoy, Xia Chong.
Xia Chong, dressed in white and suspended by chains at the corners of the prison walls, spat a deadly needle at Chu Qiao and shouted, "Go find her in hell!" Acting as if possessed, Xia Chong drove Chu Qiao away. Unhurried, Chu Qiao left the garrison yard.
Suddenly, a woman in a black hood emerged from the garrison yard. She killed many Imperial guards before finally encountering a faceless enemy, dressed in all black, accompanied by a squad of unnamed spies prepared to attack.
Chu Qiao is bold, took a simple sword and fought her way through, killing everyone in her path before confronting the hooded leader.
As the leader raised his hand, Chu Qiao noticed a jade ring on his thumb. He manipulated the elements around him, using his inner Qi to counter her attacks, while his squad watched as he prepared to end her life.
The leader, recognizing her, said, "You are the daughter of Lou He."
Panting but determined, Chu Qiao demanded, "What did you do to my mother?"
With a cold smile, the leader replied, "Do you want to see her? Pity. She's in hell now."
Filled with rage, Chu Qiao shouted, "You killed her!"
The leader continued to mock her. "Such incredible Gongfu and skill she had, but she foolishly believed she could free the slaves and stop the war. That was nothing more than a daydream. If I said she was killed by you, do you think people would believe it?"
Chu Qiao, furious, screamed, "Then I'll kill you today!"
The leader smirked and said, "You won't be able to escape today!"
Under the bright moonlight and mist-covered ground, the leader soared as high as he could. Above, Chu Qiao closed her eyes, gathered her inner strength, and summoned the winds around her, forming her kungfu of ice powers.
The ground released its moisture, transforming into morning dew, and even the bloody droplets turned into bloody dew. The air grew cold and still, and from the compass of her hands, she created sharp needles of ice.
Confused, the enemy couldn't tell where the ice needles were coming from. They flew from all directions, targeting his body from every angle.
This was the "rain of ice needles," and the leader, too late to evade, felt the sting of frost pierce his toes and legs. The other assassins were wounded, and the leader, now in a bloody state, stood in shock at the power of her ice kungfu.
Suddenly, many Wei Imperial guards rallied outside the garrison to attack, but another mysterious woman, standing nearby, stepped in to help Chu Qiao.
On the battlefield, Chu Qiao stood like a madwoman, struggling to control her powers. Just then, Viper lashed her whip around Chu Qiao's waist, pulling her away from the fight. The faceless leader, retreating with the help of his assassins, shouted, "Capture Chu Qiao!"
If not for Viper's timely intervention, Chu Qiao might have unleashed her dark powers, killing everyone on the battlefield. The timing was perfect, but despite surviving the battle, Chu Qiao didn't find her mother alive.
Believing Lou He to be dead, Chu Qiao was left as the heir to the Wind and Cloud Decree. This was Viper and Chu Qiao's first encounter since their separation in the Chu Jing Kingdom when they were children. From that day on, Viper became Chu Qiao's secret protector and spy.
Lou He's body was never found, leaving her fate a mystery.
It can be concluded that the leader who attacked Chu Qiao that night was none other than the Daoist Grand Master of the Afterlife Camp spies, Zhan Ziyu. This was revealed when the faceless enemy exposed an inch of his skin, showing his thumb adorned with a jade ring. In the secret circle of the 12 Hanshan Spy Network, Zhan Ziyu was identified by such a ring.
That day, Chu Qiao swore to find him and avenge her mother's death. Yet, no one could confirm whether it was truly Zhan Ziyu who assassinated Lou He or if the culprit was Sand Drizzle Master Dong Fangyi.
After Lou He's disappearance, the underworld spies dispersed and became stray agents.
However, Viper and Trailkoya soon reunited to prevent Chu Qiao from losing control of her powers in future ambushes. From then on, they worked together, gathering the non-governmental spies who had gone into hiding, living humble lives under the guise of ordinary humans.
Some spies retreated into a simple life: Zao Baocung, a renowned healer from Chu Jing Kingdom and lover of hamsters, became a merchant of ancient relics.
Lan Shuyi returned to the Yuwen household and faced great difficulties. She became the Emperor's consort, only to escape the Wei palace and later join Ra Zheng's secret spy alliance, becoming a true spy.
Zhong Yu adopted the face of Yanbei's General and occasionally used her Chuyi Jian Martial Arts, wielding the powers of wind and feather.
Meanwhile, Wu Dao Yao changed his tactics, transitioning from a military leader to a trade mastermind. He now operated as the CEO of what became known as the Datong Way.
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