Chapter Sixty-One: Undercurrents Surge

In the Jade Pool Dance Hall, my aunt saw that the Unbound High God recognized me and chimed in, “High God, do you know this new dancer?”

“She? Haha! Of course I know her!” The tone of the Unbound High God suggested he was about to reveal my identity, so I fixed my gaze on him and thought, “Shh! Unbound High God, can you fight? If not, don’t expose me, or those three spies will escape and it’ll be on you! Be clever and help me inform my master, work together from inside and out!”

“She’s a little treasure I’m looking after for a friend, playful and mischievous, and rather fiery,” the Unbound High God continued.

Relief flooded my heart. “Heavens, that scared me! The Unbound High God is pretty shrewd! Though, where did he get the notion that I have a fiery temper…”

“Really! So she’s a friend’s fairy, and such a rascal, sneaking to the Jade Pool to play,” Tiande stepped forward to help me up.

Seeing him approach, I scrambled to my feet in a flash, nearly ruining my act of feigned injury.

Tiande, unable to assist me, looked a bit awkward and addressed the dancers, “Recently, flower thieves have infiltrated the Heavenly Palace. You dancers must stay vigilant. No matter their background, I will ensure your safety and rid you of them!”

“Thank you, Crown Prince!” I echoed with the group, mouthing the words for show.

“And you especially,” Tiande said to me, “Your status is noble, and it’s not safe here. I know a fun place—let me take you there.”

With the three Underworld women present, I dared not let him know I couldn’t speak, lest they expose me and cause more trouble. I smiled shyly at Tiande and hid behind the Unbound High God.

“All right, all right, the flower thief was just a false alarm. The fairies are rehearsing, and shouldn’t be delayed. Aren’t you due at a meeting? Off you go,” the Unbound High God said, dragging the reluctant Tiande away.

My aunt and the dancers now looked at me differently… My aunt became exceedingly attentive, “Oh my! So you’re the little fairy from the Unbound High God’s friend’s family! And so close to the Crown Prince! Why didn’t you say so earlier! You’ll lead the dance!”

The dancers showered me with praise, while Coco kept silent and ignored me.

I quickly waved my hands, cursing inwardly, “Who’s close to Tiande! Not being able to speak is truly miserable!”

My aunt, with a forced smile, said, “It’s fine! Falling is good! Even ten or eight times is no issue, I’ll design moves for you! A sword wound, simple! Or we could stage a heart pierced by a thousand swords!”

“Ugh! That fall was deliberate! Can’t we portray something more dignified?” I thought.

The dancers looked unwilling but dared not object.

Coco snorted, scoffing at me, and twisted her way to the table to eat fruit. She picked up the half pear I’d left and tossed it aside.

Even the fake injury was disrupted by Tiande. Never mind! Perhaps leading the dance from a higher position will make it easier to watch those three Underworld women. Besides, with a mask, no one but the Unbound High God will know it’s Lord Yufei dancing.

I casually danced a few steps and my aunt soon called me to rest at the table. She continued rehearsing with the others. Coco glanced at me and then gathered all the fruit into her arms, refusing to share.

I tugged at Coco, but she jerked her sleeve away. “So you’re a noble child of the heavens. Go play with the Crown Prince,” she said angrily.

I hurriedly waved my hands, dipped water on the table, and wrote, “I dislike him.”

Coco glanced at it, half convinced, “Really?”

“Yes,” I wrote.

Coco snorted, quietly muttering, “I don’t like the Crown Prince. If you’re close to him, I won’t play with you.”

“He’s disgusting!” I wrote.

Coco laughed…

I sighed. I thought this would be an easy victory, but the approaching Peach Banquet has left me tense, forced to rehearse the grand dance. And after Tiande’s interruption, those three Underworld women are watching my every move!

I wondered if the Unbound High God could convey my silent message to my master. With surveillance so tight, I couldn’t sneak out to find him. I’d already given my single feather to my master, and the Flowing Light Crane feather was useless in the Heavenly Palace. Ordinary feathers were unreliable and easily altered. So I sat in the courtyard, pretending to chat idly with Coco, while pondering a solution…

A little white rabbit hopped out from the grass nearby.

My heart soared with delight. I crouched and played with the rabbit’s paws.

Coco, equally enchanted, snatched the rabbit and hugged it. “Whose little rabbit are you? So cute! Where’s your master?”

The rabbit trembled in Coco’s arms.

“Why are you so afraid of me? Oh no! Fei’er! It’s got a nosebleed!” Coco panicked and quickly let go.

The rabbit dashed away. I sighed inwardly.

After more play with Coco, the Underworld woman watching me from the shadows quietly left.

I couldn’t act rashly; I’d have to wait until morning for another opportunity. Lying in bed, with Coco determined to snuggle beside me, I wondered what my master was busy with these days. Is he well? Is there a lovely little fairy by his side... This time, I really got lost with my mask and wandered off. Has he forgotten me?

Along the corridors of the Heavenly Palace, my eleventh senior brother, wiping his nosebleed, grumbled as he walked, “Eating rich food every day here, I haven’t had cabbage or turnips in ages, it’s making me overheated. It’s so late—where has little junior gone? It’s worrying!”

The Unbound High God appeared, fanning himself with a mottled bamboo fan. “Dingmao, tell your master his treasured disciple is having a wonderful time in my palace and won’t attend tomorrow’s Peach Banquet. He can fetch her from me directly, no need to fret.”

“This junior really makes master anxious! Thank you, High God, for your care!” Eleventh senior brother bowed to the Unbound High God.

Returning to the council hall, the master stood, hands resting on his staff, deep in thought before a vast map. The Heavenly Emperor looked troubled at his side. Dongfang Mo, along with the hosts of the Heavenly Palace and the lower realms, discussed matters from their seats. Eleventh senior brother approached and whispered to master, “Little junior is at the Palace of Myriad Phenomena and won’t attend tomorrow’s meeting.”

Master responded with a quiet “Mm.”

A general bowed to master, “High God! The Underworld army is unstoppable, and has attacked the third city in Western Bing Province! Our soldiers resist fiercely and must be reinforced quickly!”

“Mobilize ninety thousand hidden celestial soldiers and fifty thousand from the Nine Provinces, send them to Luolong Mountain in Southwest Tao Province!” master commanded.

The generals exchanged glances.

“High God, this cannot be! Last night, Mingzhong slaughtered another city; now two cities in Western Bing Province have fallen and are gravely threatened. Why dispatch troops to Southwest Tao instead of supporting Bing Province?” a formidable celestial general advised.

“High God, please reconsider!” urged another.

Master did not respond to these two.

Dongfang Mo explained, “Mingzhong deliberately attacks Western Bing Province, massacring cities, but secretly gathers forces in the southwest, aiming to mislead. The true target is the strategic Luolong, known as the Heavenly Ladder. If Luolong falls, so does Southwest Tao Province, and the gates of Heaven are wide open. Luolong must be heavily defended! The Underworld must not take a single step inside!”

“High God is wise! I request to lead the mission!” The previously skeptical general now bowed.

“I request to lead as well!” Second Prince Tiansheng bowed.

“Tiansheng, this concerns the lower realms and the Heavenly Palace’s safety. You are no match for Mingzhong, don’t be reckless,” the Great Emperor said.

“Yes! The six strongest heavenly generals all fell to Mingzhong. Your skills are far inferior. There are still the Nine Province Emperors, each more capable than you. And there’s the High God Yunxiao. If you go, it’s like an egg against a stone,” Tiande said.

“Nine Province Emperors must guard their own territories and cannot leave. The High God must command and cannot easily enter battle. The Heavenly Palace should send a royal to inspire the troops. I, your subject, request the mission!” Tiansheng replied.

“Second brother, aren’t Uncle’s Tian Gang and Tian Yi also royals? The two of them are enough to represent the Heavenly Palace in battle. Why trouble yourself… Alas, I was wounded in battle with the High God years ago and left with a chronic injury, otherwise I would be the first to charge!” Tiande glanced at master.

“As sons of the Heavenly Emperor, we cannot shrink from danger. I must share my brother’s burdens! High God, please give the command—Tiansheng will not disgrace the mission!” Tiansheng declared.

“Dongfang Mo! Return swiftly to Jade Purity Realm and, with Zichen, Luohui, Chufang, Tian Yi, Liangyu, Tian Gang, Kunpeng, Shijun, and Bai Ze leading ninety thousand hidden celestial soldiers, establish the Jade Kunlun Array at Luolong!” master ordered.

“As you command!” Dongfang Mo bowed.

“Tiansheng! Stand by for orders!” master said.

“As you command!” Tiansheng accepted.

“High God, if so, must tomorrow’s banquet be cancelled?” The Heavenly Emperor asked, displeased.

“Does the Heavenly Emperor have other important matters tomorrow?” master’s tone was stern.

“Oh… Well… Not particularly,” the Heavenly Emperor hesitated.

“The Peach Banquet is meant to settle the hearts of heaven, display our strength, and celebrate prosperity. It cannot be cancelled!” Tiande insisted.

Master glanced at Tiande. “The banquet will proceed.”

“It can serve as cover, masking our actions,” Dongfang Mo added.

Eleventh senior brother, sulking nearby, muttered, “They won’t let me go again!”

“Dingmao, you and Guibin, Yufei, use the dragon seal to seal Kunlun Mountain, release the ten immortal beasts from the Hundred Beast Garden to guard Jade Purity Realm, and stand by for orders. The task is arduous. If you grow complacent again, I will deal with you by military law!” master said sternly.

“As you command!” Eleventh senior brother accepted.

Once the arrangements were complete, master and Eleventh senior brother returned to their chambers. Zizhen was sitting in the courtyard, lost in thought, and quickly greeted master.

“Speak inside,” master said to Zizhen.

The three entered the hall, and Eleventh senior brother poured tea.

“Eleventh, you may go. Sleep well,” master said softly after sipping tea.

“Yes… Master…” Eleventh senior brother pouted and returned to his room.

Master cast a hidden boundary, enclosing himself and Zizhen.

“Is there something you wish to say?” master’s tone was gentle.

Zizhen lowered her head, “Is it really possible to settle the marriage at tomorrow’s Peach Banquet?”

“Why not?” master asked.

“I… I fear I might tarnish your reputation and that of Jade Purity Realm…” Zizhen said sorrowfully.

Master smiled faintly, “If I don’t give you a proper name, how much longer will you endure?”

“But… I’m afraid the Heavenly Palace won’t approve,” Zizhen said.

“In such a setting, they won’t refuse me,” master replied.

Zizhen gazed at master, eyes brimming with tears.

“Remember what I instructed you. Tell no one, including Lord Yufei, understood?” master said.

“Yes! Even if my soul is scattered, I won’t reveal it!” Zizhen vowed.

“All right, change the way you address me,” master said.

Zizhen blushed…