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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 3: [Qiu Prefecture Lantern Festival]
Chapter 10 (154): [Farewell]
(10th of Volume 3)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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The Fire Crow Cavalry had charged in with murderous intent, but less than a hundred riders managed to escape.
The water turned crimson.
Corpses drifted away with the river current.
The fire on the ship had been extinguished, but the hull was in tatters, barely afloat.
Jiang Ning appeared, standing like a celestial maiden on the third-tier deckhouse.
Her voice, clear and melodious, echoed through the air: "Everyone, once the Night City Barbarian Raiders retreat, they will undoubtedly return with a large army and powerful experts to seek revenge. I estimate they will be back within two hours. By then, everything will be reduced to ashes."
The joy that had filled the ship after their victory was instantly extinguished, replaced by renewed panic.
Jiang Ning's public appearance meant she no longer intended to conceal her identity.
"Clerk Chen, Commander Wu, shall we discuss this together? And what about the secret agents from the Attendant Hall?"
Her gaze fell on Li Ling and Li Weiyi.
Li Ling looked to Li Weiyi, deferring to his judgment.
Li Weiyi had intended to recall the Seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors, but the seven little creatures had instead flown directly to the third-tier deckhouse and landed on Jiang Ning, nuzzling her affectionately.
'Rebellious whelps!'
'Seven rebellious whelps!'
The group soon gathered in the main hall of the third-tier deckhouse.
Jiang Ning's captivating immortal form and jade-like beauty were shrouded in a hazy, ethereal glow of Spiritual Qi.
"Continue forward," she said, her voice soft and melodic, "and you'll reach Huju City, the territory under imperial control, in just three hundred miles. But the Water Lion Beasts pulling our ship have been slain. Sailing against the current, we won't make much headway. The Night City Barbarian Raiders will soon catch up."
Yin Shi San chuckled: "We'll follow the Envoy's plan."
Wu Zhaonan, upon learning Jiang Ning's true identity as the Phoenix (Luan )Terrace Envoy, became exceedingly respectful, immediately chiming in with flattery.
Jiang Ning turned to Li Weiyi, who still wore his ghost mask: "When the formation broke earlier, the Secret Agent Sima didn't flee. He stayed to fight alongside us, clearly intending to save lives. In this dire situation, we have two choices: stay and die together, or evacuate a select few with decent Martial-Mystic Path cultivation. All or a few - which do you choose?"
Envy flickered in Wu Zhaonan's eyes. He saw that the Secret Agent Sima had caught the Phoenix Terrace Envoy's attention, guaranteeing a bright future.
He couldn't help but envy him. Even just the title of Insect Tamer alone could propel him to great heights.
"It doesn't have to be an either/or choice!" Li Weiyi said, "If we leave, we can all go together, but we must cooperate."
Everyone present froze, suspecting he was speaking out of momentary bravado, forgetting that reality often demands compromise.
Jiang Ning said, "Tell us your plan."
Li Weiyi replied, "Everyone here is an official of the court and should possess a Spiritual jade boat, right? How many do we have in total?"
"I have one Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifact jade boat that can travel 1,800 miles a day and squeeze in ten people. But reaching Huju City within two hours would be a stretch," Yin Shi San said, producing a delicate four-inch-long miniature boat.
Wu Zhaonan added, "My Spiritual jade boat is similar to Clerk Chen's."
Zhuang Yue said, "Mine is a High-Grade Spiritual Artifact and can barely carry twenty people."
"I have a Hundred-Word Scripture Spiritual Artifact jade boat that can carry sixty or seventy people at its limit," Jiang Ning said.
"But Secret Agent Sima, that's still far from enough to evacuate everyone, and the time is too tight. If the Night City Barbarian Raiders catch up, wouldn't all our efforts be in vain?"
Li Weiyi spoke rapidly: "We'll proceed in three steps. First, all those with cultivation above Six Springs will disembark and travel on foot. Their speed should get them to Huju City in no time. Moreover, they're not the Night City Barbarian Raiders' primary targets, making it easier for them to slip away under cover of darkness."
"Second, two of us have already used Beast Scriptures to control about fifty Fire Ravens. They can easily carry two hundred people."
"Third, I'll arrange for two Fire Ravens to pull this abandoned ship down the Sui River, creating the illusion that we're escaping downstream. This should buy us at least half an hour."
"If you want to save them, act now! But as a noble envoy, your life is precious. Would you really risk it for a group of people who aren't worth the danger?"
Zhuang Yue retorted, "Don't underestimate her! Do you think my lady hasn't thought of a plan? She was just testing you!"
With his hands clasped behind his back, Jiang Ning led the way out of the main hall, gazing at the vast, misty river.
"What's worth it or not? If the world were governed solely by profit and loss, what a wretched place it would be! Let's move!"
The three-story ship, ablaze with lights, sped downstream, pulled by two Fire Ravens.
In reality, the ship was already deserted.
Four Spiritual jade boats, like white arrows of varying sizes against the night sky, cut through the waves, heading toward Huju City, three hundred miles away.
Nearly fifty Fire Ravens, controlled by Li Weiyi and Li Ling's Spiritual Power, carried people across the river's surface.
Li Weiyi sat atop one of the Fire Ravens, and he couldn't help but wonder if it was "worth it."
Perhaps, as Jiang Ning said, profit and loss shouldn't be the only guiding principle in life.
Right and wrong were clear before him; how could he turn a blind eye?
"Want to come down and talk?"
Jiang Ning's voice, carried by a wisp of Spiritual Qi, entered Li Weiyi's ear.
Li Weiyi looked down at the massive Spiritual jade boat below. The vessel was enveloped in hundreds of complex and profound scriptures, carrying numerous women, children, and infants.
Spiritual Artifacts are classified as Low-Grade, Mid-Grade, and High-Grade.
Beyond that, they are categorized as: Hundred-Scriptures Spiritual Artifacts, Thousand-Scriptures Spiritual Artifacts, and Ten-Thousand-Scriptures Spiritual Artifacts.
The more scriptures inscribed within, the more powerful the Spiritual Artifact becomes.
However, for Martial-Mystic Cultivators at lower realms, a more powerful Spiritual Artifact isn't necessarily better. Activating the scriptures consumes a vast amount of Spiritual Qi, potentially draining their entire Qi Sea in a single strike.
High-Grade spiritual Artifacts already contain scriptures, but the number is insufficient to reach a hundred.
Each Hundred-Scriptures Spiritual Artifact is priceless, and even Dao Seed Realm Martial-Mystic Cultivators don't all possess one.
Take Jiang Ning's Spiritual jade boat, for example - it can travel four thousand miles a day and even fly. Yet, even with her cultivation, controlling the Spiritual jade boat's flight would rapidly deplete her Spiritual Qi.
This was her last resort, a life-or-death escape treasure.
Li Weiyi leaped from the Fire Raven and gracefully landed on the Hundred-Scripture Spiritual Artifact jade boat.
Space on the ship was limited.
Beside Jiang Ning at the bow, there was only a three-foot patch of standing room. Li Weiyi sat down beside her with casual grace, his legs dangling over the side.
Jiang Ning sat cross-legged, part of her long skirt pinned beneath Li Weiyi.
She ignored it and asked, "What's your name?"
Li Weiyi saw no reason to hide it: "Li Weiyi."
"That's a better name than Sima Qin," Jiang Ning said, "But impersonating a secret agent of the Attendant Hall is a serious crime. As a Phoenix Terrace Envoy, it would be perfectly legal for me to kill you. Chen Chuan wouldn't escape either - at the very least, he'd be thrown in prison and exiled to military service."
So close, the fragrance of her black hair wafted over, transporting him to a celestial realm where he forgot the passage of time.
But Li Weiyi remained calm: "With your cultivation as an Envoy, if you truly intended to do that, we wouldn't stand a chance."
"Do you think Jiang Ning is that kind of person?" Jiang Ning asked.
Li Weiyi smiled: "Not really. But it's hard to say for sure. After all, if you killed me, those seven little ones would be all yours!"
"Compared to them, I value you more."
Jiang Ning turned her head slightly.
Her veiled immortal beauty, from her delicate eyebrows and bright eyes to her lustrous skin and hair, possessed a fatal allure capable of pulling anyone into the depths of emotional despair.
This was the charm of one of the Three Immortals of the world. Her beauty alone was enough to make her renowned throughout the land.
Few men could sit so close to her, perhaps only Li Weiyi.
To meet her soul-stirring gaze at such close range was a test of inner composure.
Li Weiyi secretly practiced the Jade Void Breathing Technique, his mind clear and serene: "The Envoy overestimates me! The world is filled with outstanding talents, and countless individuals of my age surpass me in both intellect and Martial-Mystic Path cultivation. Just the titles 'Phoenix Terrace Envoy' and 'Feather Immortal' alone would draw countless suitors to your door. You could choose from the top young cultivators of the Fifth-Tier Five Seas Realm."
Jiang Ning didn't deny her influence.
Confidence radiated from within as she said, "I've been keeping track of your progress. There's no need for false modesty. What truly caught my eye wasn't just your strength, but the indomitable spirit that drives you to risk your life for your sense of duty and principles. The current court desperately needs someone like you."
"Why do you think I'm that kind of person? Just because of today's battle?" Li Weiyi felt Jiang Ning was being overly idealistic.
Jiang Ning replied, "Burial Immortal Town, the Five Seas Realm Boundary."
"What do you mean?" Li Weiyi asked.
She explained, "I was there! You risked your life for those young Martial-Mystic Cultivators of the Jiu Li Tribe, fighting to secure them a chance at survival. That's a quality I can't match, which is why I admire you. I had planned to save you at your most vulnerable moment, hoping to recruit you then. But my scheming backfired, and I missed the perfect opportunity."
"That's quite honest," Li Weiyi said.
Jiang Ning continued, "The Jiu Li Tribe's stage is too small! Why not join the court and fight for the well-being of all living beings in this world?"
Li Weiyi chuckled: "I think you've misunderstood! I'm not that noble. You only saw me fighting bloody battles at the Five Seas Realm Boundary, but you didn't see me making a fortune in Burial Immortal Town."
"Misunderstood? Then what about today?" Jiang Ning asked.
Li Weiyi replied, "Today's harvest was average, and I was in too much of a hurry to loot the corpses. But even these fifty Fire Ravens, if driven to Huju City, should fetch a decent price, right?"
Li Weiyi's evasive answer left Jiang Ning speechless.
She smiled faintly, a rare sight, and gazed into the distance: "Those Fire Ravens won't even reach Huju City. They'll be confiscated and incorporated into the imperial army. Your dreams of wealth are destined to fail."
Li Weiyi was stunned: "How can they do that? Won't you help me?"
"I won't help you because I won't even enter Huju City. In Zhi Prefecture, revealing my presence openly would be extremely dangerous." Jiang Ning pressed her case again, "Are you sure you won't reconsider?"
"My cultivation is too low. I'm not in a position to worry about the affairs of the world."
Li Weiyi forcibly took the Seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors and bid farewell, returning to his Fire Raven.
The journey was uneventful.
Any rebel scouts they encountered were killed before they could raise the alarm.
Thirty miles from Huju City, six patrol soldiers from the imperial army, riding flying beasts, burst through the city's protective array and charged toward them at high speed.
The four Jade Boats immediately docked.
Jiang Ning stowed her Jade Boat and spoke to Yin Shi San: "I have a rough idea of your identity, but it doesn't matter. These are extraordinary times. As long as you have ability, there's a place for you in the imperial court. Protecting the concubines of those useless, self-serving officials is a waste of your talent!"
"Right now, I'm being hunted by a powerful enemy. Come with me. Escort me into Qiu Prefecture, and I'll give you a higher position."
Yin Shi San glanced at Li Weiyi and Li Ling, a hesitant look in his eyes.
Jiang Ning said, "Don't worry about them. My enemy is incredibly powerful. Their cultivation is still lacking. It would be too dangerous for them to travel with us. Go say your goodbyes. I'll wait for you ahead for a quarter of an hour."
Jiang Ning and Zhuang Yue transformed into two afterimages and quickly vanished into the darkness.
Li Weiyi heard Yin Shi San's footsteps behind him and said, "I heard everything! Jiang Ning seems decent. If Senior Brother Shi San latches onto her, he'll surely rise to great heights in the future and bring even greater benefits to the Hidden Sect."
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END OF CHAPTER
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