Black‑Stockings Sword Immortal – Chapter 17.2 – Taking Charge (Part 2)

That old rascal.

Bai Xiang shook her head, reached out, and pointed at Yu He, sending a strand of qi force straight into the center of his brow.

Yu He frowned and froze in place as if struck by a paralysis spell. Only after quite a while did he open his eyes again and bow respectfully toward the jade throne.

“This old subject Yu He thanks Your Majesty for the grace of transmitting the Dharma.”

What Bai Xiang gave him was qi-method insight for advancing from Golden Core to the Origin Realm.

Ten years had passed, and Yu He had long since switched to the Path of Qi. But he was advanced in years, and changing paths midway made it difficult for him to achieve much. He had been stuck awkwardly at False Core, unable to move forward or back.

Yet the insight Bai Xiang gave him was far more detailed and far more complete than the Golden Core insight Bai Zhuqing had previously infused into him through the Shenming Sword.

With this insight in hand, he did not dare say he could certainly reach the Origin Realm, but reaching Golden Core was now absolutely guaranteed and well within easy reach.

This was no less than extending his lifespan. With such grace bestowed upon him, what was wrong with paying a great formal bow?

Worth it!

Absolutely worth it!

Next came Huang Qian.

Compared with when they had parted ten years ago, this dark, rugged man carried an even fiercer presence. He had long since switched to the Path of Qi, and with the help of infused insight had broken through to Golden Core. Every move he made carried the killing aura of a soldier, and his personality had become even more straightforward.

“This subject pays respects to Your Majesty.” He knelt at once without needing Bai Zhuqing to prompt him, then looked up at Bai Xiang. “The realm is now in chaos, with northern dynasties standing side by side. Does Your Majesty have any thoughts on this?”

Good grief.

Bai Zhuqing stared so hard her eyes nearly popped out.

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I have not even said a word yet, and you are already trying to push Elder Sister into killing people?

Huang Qian, however, felt entirely justified. We all rendered merit in backing the dragon. Back then, I even taught the High Emperor the key points of martial skill in Chilong Circuit!

So what is wrong with a soldier-cultivator offering an opinion?

Soldier-cultivators want to build merit and accomplish great deeds. Is that not a good thing?

He did not think there was any need to hide it.

“We will discuss that later.”

Bai Xiang said nothing more. As she had with Yu He, she gave him a strand of insight-laden qi force and sent him back to continue guarding his military post.

After meeting another batch of people, she saw Monk Zhuye, Zhu Canghai, and He Xian enter the hall together and bow respectfully to Bai Xiang.

“This slave-subject pays homage to the Sacred Lord.”

The title they used was not quite the same as everyone else’s.

That was because their relationship with Bai Xiang truly was closer. They had directly offered up their true spirits to her, so compared with the court officials, they were in truth servants.

Bai Xiang had already heard from Bai Zhuqing how the three of them had conducted themselves over the past ten years. Because of their status, it was inconvenient to place them in positions of major importance, but they had always remained active in Eastern Xia as palace attendants, essentially functioning as the inner palace’s top enforcers.

All three were at late Golden Core. Killing independent Venerables was as easy for them as slaughtering chickens, and they had done no small amount of dirty work and hard work for Bai Zhuqing.

Bai Xiang did not treat them poorly. She gave them qi-force insight for stepping toward the Origin Realm, and also promised that she would set aside time to preach the Dharma to the three of them and ensure that they could break through.

Once the three of them departed in joy, there were not many people left.

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Only then did Bai Zhuqing have the guards bring Tao Ran and the others, who had been waiting in the front hall, back into the main hall.

In front of Bai Xiang, she was docile and affectionate.

But when faced with these hounds, who had once followed Zhang Yu’s lead in trying to force her hand, Bai Zhuqing was not willing to give them a single pleasant look. She pointed at their noses and delivered a fierce scolding, berating Tao Ran until he was drenched head to toe.

Then she turned to look at Bai Xiang. Her meaning was obvious. It had to be Bai Xiang who decided these people’s fate.

“Among you are many qi-method subjects.”

Bai Xiang leaned back in her chair at ease.

“For the time being, you will remain confined and reflect on your actions. The details will be investigated and discussed further.”

The moment those words were spoken, many of the court officials instantly let out sighs of relief.

Though they had been in the front hall, they had seen the comings and goings of those soldier-cultivator ministers with their own eyes. Naturally, they understood that the person before them had already, in practical terms, taken control of all of Xiajing through those people. No matter what, they had no chance of stirring up any trouble.

These people had not participated deeply in Zhang Yu’s plan. For them, a few days of seclusion would be enough to wash away their offense.

But a few individuals wore very different expressions. The moment they heard Bai Xiang say that the matter would still be further discussed and investigated, their faces turned deathly pale and their bodies shook like sieves.

They looked at one another, minds churning. Each had already made up his mind to rush to accuse the others first, so as to redeem his own crimes through meritorious reporting.

“Get out.”

Only after getting Bai Xiang’s approval did Bai Zhuqing wave them away, adding as she pointed at the two corpses on the floor, “Clean up the filth yourselves.”

At that point, the long day finally came to an end, and only the two sisters remained in the hall.

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Bai Zhuqing also let herself sag at last. Only then did she notice the exhaustion in her body, and how nearly hoarse her voice had become.

She too was now at late Golden Core, so in principle it ought not have come to this. But qi methods followed the heart. When the heart lost control, the form scattered. If one did not actively govern the state of one’s own body, then subconsciously the body would simply operate according to its natural settings.

That made it easy for things to go wrong, easy for the chain to slip.

“So, Elder Sister…”

Bai Zhuqing turned, intending to ask whether, now that the matters outside had been dealt with, they should inform Grandfather, Senior Master, and the others together, so that the Bai family far away in Zhennan could also share in the good news.

But she had only just turned around when she suddenly felt her footing lift and vanish. She had been swept up sideways into someone’s arms.

“…Elder Sister!”

The Regent of the Imperial Court, dressed in her crimson phoenix robe, had gone crimson in the face. Soft and powerless, she gave a weak little thump against Bai Xiang’s shoulder.

“How can you behave in such an improper way…!”

“Hm?” Bai Xiang raised a brow. “While I was away, who was it who amused herself whenever she liked with the Qingwu Sword?”

Ah!

Bai Zhuqing froze, then flushed even more deeply.

This was a disaster!

How did Elder Sister even know about that?

“Little Huang told me.”

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Bai Xiang lowered her head. Her pure white lashes stirred faintly, and those golden eyes drew closer and closer to her younger sister’s face.

“You have governed the realm well. How should I reward you?”

“W-wait!”

Bai Zhuqing instinctively covered her chest.

Strangely enough, in her fantasies she had imagined all sorts of excessive scenes. Yet now that she had truly fallen into this embrace, she instead began to fear gain and loss.

“There are still urgent matters in the west…”

“I know the western situation better than you do.” Bai Xiang cut off her hesitation. “I came from there. For the moment, there is no need to worry too much.”

“But…”

“But…”

Bai Zhuqing tried to make one last struggle.

“There is no but…” Bai Xiang leaned in, her warm breath brushing across Bai Zhuqing’s face.

“I want you to feel it properly.”

“Whether it is really me…”

“…touching you.”