Volume 5, Chapter 52 – Tracing Back (2-in-1)

“A marriage?” Bai Xiang turned her face to the side. What was this about?

Third Uncle meant Bai Qingmin.

He was an odd one. Back at the ancestral ground, Bai Xiang had already heard Eldest Uncle Bai Guanshan and Second Uncle Bai Lianzhou talk about him. After returning, still worried about Bai Shengju, she had gone to speak with the old man again, and in the gaps between topics, this Third Uncle of the Bai family had come up as well. The old man’s tone had been full of sighs.

“Qingmin isn’t lustful. Some of the women he keeps outside, he hasn’t even touched physically. The children were conceived purely through implantation and artificial gestation.”

Bai Xiang had been curious then and thought, if that was the case, what was the point of keeping so many women? Was it just some kind of collecting obsession?

And it really was a collecting obsession. But he was not collecting women. He was collecting children.

“How should I put this.”

“It’s basically a kind of illness.”

That was how Bai Shengju had explained it to her.

“He loves his children very much, but before this… probably because he was too badly frightened by those events, he often has nightmares, dreaming that Chenyu has turned into that kind of demon thing as well. Sometimes he’s even afraid of Chenyu.”

Chenyu referred to Bai Qingmin’s second son, Bai Chenyu.

Bai Qingmin also had an eldest son, Bai Senyu, who had previously had his body taken over by a Spirit-Vein Demon and died.

So the outline of the matter was roughly this: at first, Bai Qingmin had wanted to seek help from the family because of Bai Senyu’s death, wanted help from Bai Xiang, but because of his bad attitude, Bai Shengju had rejected him. The accumulated depression led to a psychological disorder, and whenever it flared up, he would go out and frantically produce children.

Under normal circumstances, he showed no other abnormalities. He treated both the children he had brought home and Bai Chenyu warmly and kindly. But Bai Senyu’s death had been too horrific. The sight of the skin and muscles of his face dissolving right in front of him and turning into a demon creature had been so terrifying that every time Bai Qingmin jolted awake from a nightmare, he seemed like a different person. For a time afterward, he would fear all children. No matter which child he saw, he would clutch his head, curl into a ball, hide in a corner, and howl in terror.

That sounded rather unbelievable, but what was even more unbelievable came next.

With qi methods now ascendant, qi-based techniques could directly damage the origin of Demon Pools, so hidden Demon Pool threats in every region had been suppressed by the spread of qi cultivation.

In the previous dynasty, even some shabby little Demon Pool had required professionals to take commissions from the Jobs Directorate and go deal with it. As for those Demon Pools with no real lethality, people simply turned a blind eye and let them exist for long periods of time, even to the point of becoming urban legends or school ghost stories.

But now, any random high school student could injure a Demon Pool.

Weak ones would be wiped out with a single sweep of qi power.

Stronger ones were still easy to kill once the underlying principle of the Demon Pool was unraveled.

Only those extremely dangerous Demon Pools needed people like the Demon-Suppression Directorate or professional mercenaries to handle them.

And it was precisely one of those that Bai Qingmin had killed.

By Bai Shengju’s description, that Demon Pool had been extremely dangerous. Its source was suspected to be a woman who had been toyed with and abandoned. She had been deserted and murdered while pregnant, but because her resentment and obsession were too intense, she had undergone demonization. Even her corpse had reanimated and become the mother body that spread the Demon Pool.

“She would imitate a pregnant woman in the middle of the night,” Bai Shengju had said at the time, his face equally full of fear. “She would imitate a pregnant woman, pretend to have been harmed, and lure passersby into going over to check.”

“If the person was a woman, she would be contaminated and turned into a puppet. Then the thing would cut open its own belly, take out an infant, and stuff it into her body.”

“If it was a man, his vital essence would be drained, and with that essence plus the flesh and blood it had taken from other women, it would give birth to babies. Those babies would later transform into demon infants, and they too would use disguises to contaminate living people and bring them back to the mother body.”

That thing’s destructive power had been astonishing. Though it did not spread as quickly as some information-type Demon Pools, almost anyone who encountered it was doomed. Once contaminated, there was no possibility of rescue.

But Bai Qingmin… he just happened not to be a normal person.

When that thing caught him, he happened to be in the middle of an episode. No one knew exactly what he had done, but somehow he had managed to get the Demon Pool’s mother body to spare his life, and had even turned things around and “restrained” it instead.

It was said that when the Inspectorate found him, he was hiding with the Demon Pool’s mother body inside an abandoned factory building. The mother body was sprawled over him, ceaselessly draining his vital essence, while its stomach swelled larger and larger until it occupied nearly half a warehouse.

And Bai Qingmin, as if suffering from a fit of madness, had dark circles under his eyes and hollow cheeks, yet still only shook his head back and forth and cried out, “Not enough… not enough…”

This matter had counted as a disgrace to the Bai family. Afterward, Bai Shengju had pulled some strings to extract the case file and changed Bai Qingmin’s name to that of a fictional person. Only then had they barely managed to cover it up.

Based on all that information, what Bai Qingmin cared about should only have been having children.

He was not keeping those women in order to marry them, so why would he suddenly come asking her to help with a marriage?

After a brief moment of thought, Bai Xiang immediately guessed the specific situation.

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Most likely it was not Bai Qingmin seeking a marriage for himself, but for Bai Chenyu.

“Which family’s daughter has his son taken a liking to?” Bai Xiang asked.

Bai Zhuqing’s expression was serious. She seemed to think there was some problem with the other party’s family.

“The Tao family of Dongzhou.”

As expected, Bai Zhuqing let out a breath and said resentfully, “That Tao Ran’s family. Tao Sichen, daughter of Tao Xianghao, the Prefectural Inspector of Dongzhou.”

“I’ve seen her name online,” Bai Xiang said with a nod.

Things like “In Dongzhou there is a girl, her name is Sichen,” or “So talented she yields to no man,” along with all kinds of other nonsense praise.

She had been curious at the time and had even searched up photos of the girl. She still remembered that delicate, pitiful face with a hint of foxlike charm.

She looked like a suitable match, yet Bai Zhuqing was being so serious about it.

“You want to get rid of the Tao family,” Bai Xiang said with certainty. “So you’re in a difficult position and decided to come ask me how to proceed.”

“If it were anything else, I absolutely wouldn’t have disturbed you,” Bai Zhuqing said with a nod. “But Third Uncle specifically insisted on consulting you, so I had to state the matter plainly.”

Bai Xiang made no comment. “Tell me what the Tao family did.”

Bai Zhuqing obeyed and explained it to her, focusing especially on the atmosphere of the entire officialdom of Dongzhou while Tao Xianghao had served as Prefectural Inspector there.

“‘Dongzhou Metropolitan News.'”

The moment she heard that phrase, Bai Xiang inexplicably wanted to laugh. She immediately understood why Bai Zhuqing wanted to wipe out the Tao family.

“My original plan,” Bai Zhuqing said, “was to have Tao Xianghao bring his whole family to Xiajing to make his official report, and then use that opportunity to exterminate the Tao clan and make an example out of them.”

“But the Tao family reacted very quickly. They took action on their own, raided the homes of thirteen aristocratic families in Dongzhou, and found a large amount of evidence of treason in those households.”

“And those aristocrats?” Bai Xiang asked.

“Dead,” Bai Zhuqing said coldly.

“They claimed those people resisted arrest and were killed on the spot.”

I see.

Bai Xiang understood.

They had used that method to produce scapegoats, cast themselves as aggrieved victims, then pulled in Bai Chenyu, who could be considered a member of the imperial clan, and created this extra layer of connection.

Bai Qingmin might not know what was going on, but whether he knew or not, he had been used by the Tao family.

This matter involved regional politics, the dignity of the Imperial Court, and internal family affairs. It was genuinely complicated, and naturally had to be decided by her, the true head of the household.

Bai Xiang leaned lazily against Bai Zhuqing and closed her eyes, thinking for a while before asking, “Who exactly is speaking up for the Tao family right now?”

“Officials from the three prefectures east of the river and the three prefectures north of the river. There are some from Luezhou and Xuzhou as well.”

“Luezhou and Xuzhou? But aren’t they…”

“Hantian Sword Dao was merged into Luezhou University. Elder Tao became the principal and is no longer involved in official politics.”

“As for Xuzhou, Jingzhu Sword Dao.”

At that point, Bai Zhuqing’s tone faltered slightly.

“In the fifth year of Zhengyuan, Jingzhu rebelled. The entire clan fled out across the southern line and has already settled down in the Federation.”

“Rebelled…” Bai Xiang savored the word.

“What was the reason?”

“His cultivation had stalled,” Bai Zhuqing said. “Kong Tianbao’s lifespan was nearly exhausted. I used the Shenming Sword to replenish his qi, but that couldn’t cure the root problem. He didn’t want to die, so he accepted the Federation’s terms.”

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“And Kong An?” Bai Xiang asked again. “What was his attitude?”

“No attitude at all.” Bai Zhuqing curled her lip. “He didn’t say anything. He just… went with them.”

That meant Jingzhu Sword Dao had, in practical terms, already been erased from Great Xia.

Bai Xiang fell into memory and recalled the past, when she had first come to know the Kong father and son and spent time with them.

Back then, they had attached themselves to her for immortality. Now, for the sake of immortality, they had abandoned her and gone.

Ha… how interesting.

“Those people you mentioned earlier who are pleading on the Tao family’s behalf… arrest them.”

Silently marking the matter in her mind, Bai Xiang gave her handling plan.

Just arrest them?

Bai Zhuqing froze for a moment. It did not seem to fit Bai Xiang’s style.

“Arrest them first, then wait.”

“See who continues pleading for those who were arrested, and arrest them too.”

“Keep repeating that cycle until no one dares to speak anymore.”

“Then dispose of everyone you’ve arrested. End of matter.”

“Don’t touch the Tao family. Let it fend for itself.”

Like that?

Bai Zhuqing’s breathing caught slightly.

She already had considerable experience. She instantly realized that Bai Xiang was using the most iron-blooded method possible to tell the officials and subjects of the realm not to fantasize about using petty cleverness or factional alliances to oppose imperial orders.

Explain?

There would be no explanation.

Not only no explanation, she would not even listen to yours.

If you dared to stick your head out, you died.

Just in time, too. They had recently taken in a huge wave of refugees from Northern Yu, adding up to several tens of millions. Once those people were integrated, the base cities would certainly have to expand further.

There was no shortage of achievements to be won in the country, and no shortage of people.

If you vacated your position, that merely made it easier for capable people to move up.

And Bai Zhuqing could already foresee that if this were carried out, the officials would very quickly descend into panic and insecurity.

Anyone with sense would immediately understand the purpose behind leaving the Tao family in place. They would in turn become knives in the hands of the Imperial Court and take the initiative to deal with the Tao family themselves.

That would both make an example of them and cleanse the political climate, while also forcing certain people, through this incident, to present the Imperial Court with a pledge of loyalty.

Once those people bore a stain known only to themselves and the Imperial Court, they would truly fall under imperial control and serve the court with genuine desperation.

In that case, the downfall of the Tao family would have nothing to do with the Imperial Court and nothing to do with Bai Xiang. Even if Bai Qingmin and Bai Chenyu went to Grandfather to complain, it would be useless.

If they had the ability, they could go hunt down those anonymous assassins themselves.

Impressive…

Bai Zhuqing could not help turning to look more closely at Bai Xiang’s profile.

To implement an order like that, it had to be someone like Bai Xiang, a founding emperor.

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Only when the whole realm had been won by your hand, when the people’s peace and the officials’ wealth and status had all been brought by you, only then could you draw the knife, kill people, and have no one dare oppose your authority.

Bai Zhuqing herself could not do it.

It was not that she could not think of the method. It was that even if she did think of it, she would not be able to use it.

Time passed, and half a day soon went by.

Bai Zhuqing had damaged her foundation drawing the sword, and that was not something dual cultivation could repair. It could only be slowly recovered through rest. So the two of them merely stayed close and discussed state affairs for a while before parting. Bai Zhuqing remained behind to handle memorials from all directions and sort through government business, while Bai Xiang went out to meet people.

Or rather, people came to meet her.

The first was her younger male cousin, Bai Maoxu. A tall young man, over one hundred and eighty centimeters in height, with a straight build and thick-rimmed glasses, strode in and immediately tried to kneel the moment he saw Bai Xiang.

Bai Xiang quickly used qi to hold him up, her expression sour.

“Are you trying to let Grandfather see this so he can scold me?”

“No!” The young man quickly scrambled upright, looking awkward. “I was just joking with you, Sister… I wanted to see whether you’d changed.”

“And have I?”

“No!” Bai Maoxu at once switched to the tone of someone reciting a text from memory, shaking his head as he spoke. “Back then I already said that Sister surpassed Ancestor Yu in martial prowess and eclipsed the saints in virtue, and that you’d definitely be able to sit firmly in that position! Looking at it now, that really was true! That makes me the very first person who supported Sister!”

There was a meaning behind those words. Bai Maoxu was referring to that day after Bai Qingmin had come to make a scene, when he had declared in front of the whole extended family that Bai Xiang could be empress.

“You’ve changed instead,” Bai Xiang said, narrowing her eyes. “Smooth-tongued now.”

“Hehe.” Bai Maoxu showed a sincere smile, then suddenly sniffed and said softly, “If I didn’t act like this, I might start crying and make a fool of myself.”

“Because you were gone for too long, Sister.”

“A lot of people thought…”

“Even though we all believed you were still alive, and that you would definitely come back, still…”

Still, that kind of torment was not easy to bear.

Bai Xiang paused slightly and examined his eyes more closely. Sure enough, they were faintly red and threaded with fine blood vessels.

There had been no chance to be alone during the ancestral rites.

Now that they were seeing each other properly, Bai Xiang discovered that Bai Maoxu also had genuine familial affection for her.

The bespectacled boy who used to wear sneakers, keep his head down, and play on his phone all day had grown this much in the blink of an eye.

“This is my gift for you, Sister.”

Bai Maoxu nervously took out an object.

“The shell’s been reinforced. It can withstand the impact of a three-star Qi-Fire Explosive Flame Array. It can also connect to some very awkward signals.”

“I also specially adjusted a few functions inside it. I hope they’ll be useful.”

It was a smartphone.

It had no packaging, not even a phone case, and he held it carefully in both hands.

Bai Xiang did not use remote manipulation. Instead, she raised her hand and took it herself.

“Thank you,” she said, looking at her younger cousin.

“I like it very much.”

“Then that’s that.” Bai Maoxu raised a thumbs-up. “As for me… I’m working at Starwater Company’s headquarters now. They gave me some kind of title like chief engineer or something. Anyway, I’m still pretty confident when it comes to electronics.”

“If Sister runs into trouble in that area in the future, you can come find me. I’ll definitely come the moment you call.”

After saying that, he turned as if ready to make a quick getaway.

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“Don’t rush off.”

Bai Xiang stopped him.

“If even you, as the younger one, know to give me a gift, how could I not give you something in return?”

“Here.”

“This is for you.”

Bai Maoxu turned back and saw Bai Xiang touch the jade token at her waist. A strand of golden thread appeared in her hand.

What was that?

Looking closely, there were actually several hundred strands in that single wisp of golden thread, each one as fine as spider silk, so light that they seemed weightless.

“Is this the golden thread drawn from a Golden-Thread Demon Lizard?”

Bai Maoxu suddenly looked shocked and stared wide-eyed at Bai Xiang.

“That’s right.” Bai Xiang nodded.

“I killed quite a few demons on this journey and occasionally collected some unusual materials.”

“If I remember correctly, this golden thread should be quite helpful when it comes to energy conduction.”

“But it’s rare and hard to obtain.”

“You can take it and play around with it.”

Hard to obtain did not begin to cover it.

Only demon lizards with at least five hundred years of Dao-age could grow golden thread, and they had to be killed by surprise. Otherwise the golden thread would self-ignite, and with a sudden burst of their power, the creatures would burn it away in an instant. One would have to wait a while before it grew back.

This was a top-tier conductive material. Bai Maoxu held it like a priceless treasure.

Muttering a pile of technical terms Bai Xiang could not understand, he staggered out in a daze.

After that, she met a few more of the Bai family’s younger generation, but they were all unfamiliar faces, and Bai Xiang had no real interest in them.

At last, Xu Shu and Chen Jing entered one after the other in combat uniforms.

They had just started to kneel when they felt a current of qi blocking them from the front, like wind blowing against their bodies. No matter what they did, they could not go down.

This… why?

Xu Shu was stunned.

The doors to this hall stood open. All those people had gathered outside, and just now Xu Shu had even seen the elders of some of the children waiting at the doorway, their faces full of excitement whenever one of those children was given something… hadn’t those children all knelt to the Dao Lord too?

“Junior Sister lost one arm. Junior Brother lost both legs and one hand.”

“Even if prosthetics can be fitted, their meridians are gone. Their paths of cultivation have already been cut off.”

“Xu Kainian.”

“Do you really think you’re qualified to bow to me in the identity of senior brother of the inner sect?”

As the words from the person seated above fell, Xu Shu felt as though he had dropped into an ice pit.

“All right, stop thinking so much.”

At a movement of Bai Xiang’s will, the hall doors swung shut on their own, closing inward and sealing the three of them inside.

“Tell me first.”

“What have you all gone through these years?”