The True and False Wutong
Seeing Feng Jiuyou and his entourage depart, Xu Shulou also clasped her hands and bowed decisively to the Qingcheng Sect Leader: "We’ve overstayed our welcome today. We’ll take our leave now."
The Sect Leader glanced at her, feeling particularly exasperated: "As you wish, Miss Xu."
"You recognize me?"
The Sect Leader replied indifferently: "We’ve met before."
Indeed, they had. Back then, she had accompanied the Dustless Island delegation to Qingcheng to congratulate the newly appointed Sect Leader. But who would have thought that a single glimpse of her in the crowd would leave such an impression on him?
Chu Fu looked left and right, clearly finding no reason to exchange pleasantries with the Sect Leader, so she too bowed and led the group away.
Before they left, the Qingcheng Sect Leader cast another glance at the students behind him and admonished: "Once you return, focus on your studies."
The students hung their heads sheepishly, not daring to utter a word, afraid that any careless remark might provoke the Sect Leader’s vindictive nature—prompting him to change the quarterly exams into weekly ones.
Only after passing through Qingcheng’s gates and leaving his line of sight did the students regain their liveliness, chattering excitedly around Chu Fu and Xu Shulou: "Next stop, the Phoenix Clan’s territory, right? Let’s go!"
"Go? Go where? Haven’t you caused enough trouble already?" Other instructors who had attended the banquet were waiting for them outside the mountain gates. "The minor secret realm trial is over. Classes resume tomorrow!"
"But it’s not tomorrow yet!" one student immediately turned to Xu Shulou and Chu Fu. "Can we finish this today?"
Chu Fu’s lips twitched: "Not necessarily..."
"Then let’s hurry!" the students urged. "Who knows the way to the Phoenix Clan’s territory? Lead the way!"
"...Fine, let’s go. Maybe seeing it will finally make you give up." After exchanging glances, the instructors reluctantly followed the boisterous crowd.
Upon arriving at the Phoenix Clan’s territory, the students realized how ingeniously the place was constructed. Protected by a spiritual barrier, if Feng Jiuyou chose to stay behind closed doors, their entire group wouldn’t be able to breach it.
After some discussion, they decided to have the Xuanji Sect Members keep watch here for a while, pretending to disperse in defeat. Once Feng Jiuyou and his companion let their guard down, they would strike back unexpectedly. Meanwhile, the students were dragged back by their instructors to resume their normal academic lives.
Xu Shulou, however, remained nearby to keep watch, with Song Ping and Bai Roushuang insisting on staying by her side.
Feng Jiuyou lasted less than half a month before his restlessness got the better of him. One day, Xu Shulou noticed the Phoenix Clan’s barrier briefly open—someone entered, and after the time it took to burn an incense stick, a man dressed as an immortal attendant slipped out under the cover of night. Exchanging glances with her junior siblings, Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang stayed put while Song Ping stealthily followed.
The attendant headed straight for the mortal realm. Unaware of the shadow trailing him, he entered the courtyard of a wealthy household with practiced ease, drugging the servants and guards before making his way to an inner chamber and snatching an infant.
The household was oddly guarded—why would so many defenders be stationed outside a newborn’s room, as if expecting a theft?
The infant, likely also drugged, didn’t make a sound as the attendant carried him away, flying back toward the Phoenix Clan’s territory on his sword.
What was the purpose of this? Stealing a mortal infant—what unspeakable act were Feng Jiuyou and Qi Wutong planning? Frowning, Song Ping memorized the household’s location before tailing the attendant back.
Seizing the moment when the barrier briefly opened to admit the attendant, Xu Shulou and her two companions slipped inside undetected.
They watched as the attendant handed the infant to a young, strikingly beautiful woman, who rewarded him with spirit stones. Song Ping quickly whispered his findings to his senior and junior sisters, their expressions darkening.
The woman, cradling the child, headed for the main hall. Devoid of spiritual power, she was easily intercepted by Xu Shulou’s group.
Upon seeing their faces, the woman showed no trace of panic. Holding the child, she curtsied gracefully: "Greetings, noble warriors."
"..."
Her movements were poised and natural: "You must have questions."
"What’s the meaning of that child?" Song Ping cut straight to the point.
"Since you’ve followed us here, you must have witnessed the theft?" Her voice was melodious, as if meticulously trained—neither too loud nor too soft, each word enunciated clearly.
"Correct. Explain honestly—what schemes are Feng Jiuyou and Qi Wutong plotting?"
The woman gazed at the sleeping infant: "Six hundred years ago, before the Divine Maiden Wutong took human form, a mortal once relieved himself beneath her sacred tree. Immortal Venerable Jiuyou decreed that, as punishment, the firstborn of every generation from that mortal’s bloodline would be taken."
"..." The trio exchanged stunned glances. Such a trivial offense, avenged for six centuries? Even now, there seemed no intention to stop. What manner of madness drove these two?
Regaining his composure, Song Ping pressed: "Where is this child being taken?"
"To be presented to Divine Maiden Wutong. If he pleases her, he’ll be raised as an attendant. If not, he’ll be left with a mortal family in the countryside." Her smile turned sardonic. "The Divine Maiden is merciful—she’d never take their lives."
"How many children... have you stolen?" Bai Roushuang couldn’t help asking.
The woman shook her head: "Six hundred years, one per generation. Do the math."
"..."
Xu Shulou murmured: "It seems Feng Jiuyou and his consort must die."
The woman smiled: "Then I wish you success."
Song Ping and Bai Roushuang stared at her in surprise.
Observing her demeanor, Xu Shulou suddenly understood: "You... are the noble mortal woman rumored to have been lured into servitude by Feng Jiuyou’s promises—Qi Wutong’s personal attendant."
"Correct," the woman confirmed. "As for those promises—Immortal Venerable Jiuyou swore to help my family cultivate immortality. But I never trusted him. Still, with our lives in his hands, defiance wasn’t an option."
Song Ping’s throat tightened as he took in her maid’s attire: "You serve against your will..."
"Of course," she arched a delicate brow. "I was the cherished daughter of my household. Why would I choose servitude?"
Bai Roushuang studied her—every gesture refined, every smile warm as spring breeze. This was unmistakably a noblewoman raised in a mortal scholarly family, the very archetype Feng Jiuyou would seek for his beloved.
"My Wutong is peerless—not just anyone is worthy to serve my little goddess." The line, immortalized in romantic tales, had once moved countless young girls. Now, it only churned Bai Roushuang’s stomach.
"How long have you been here?" Bai Roushuang asked.
"Ten years—from fifteen to twenty-five," the young woman sighed softly. "Miss Li, who was 'invited' here with me back then, is long gone, while I've somehow become Qi Wutong's trusted confidante."
"How... did she pass?"
"Because she discovered Qi Wutong's secret," the woman whispered. "Her true form doesn’t quite resemble a phoenix tree, does it?"
"..."
"We discovered it together. Miss Li essentially traded her life to protect mine," the woman handed the infant in her arms to Xu Shulou, then winked at her. "I saw your swordplay at the wedding banquet. Today, I’ve held nothing back—spoken all I know. I pray for your success in slaying Feng Jiuyou and Qi Wutong. This humble woman eagerly awaits your triumph."
She bowed slightly, as if preparing to take her leave.
Xu Shulou called out to her, "Since you’re Qi Wutong’s confidante, do you know the passphrase to open the gates of her domain?"
"Naturally." The woman smiled.
Song Ping followed her out to relay the news to the Xuanji Sect members. Bai Roushuang turned to Xu Shulou. "Senior Sister..."
She didn’t finish her sentence, but Xu Shulou nodded. "I understand."
———
Feng Jiuyou, rudely awakened, strode out of his chambers with his robes in disarray. He was about to berate his attendants when he came face-to-face with the detestable visage of Xu Shulou.
His first instinct was to glance back at the grand hall. Seeing his bedchamber intact, he turned to Chu Fu and the others with a sneer. "I’ve always prided myself on treating my subordinates well. Which of you wretched traitors let these greedy intruders in?"
"We’ve heard that Qi Wutong isn’t actually a phoenix tree in origin. Does the Immortal Venerable know what she really is?" The Xuanji Sect members, having received Song Ping’s message, now taunted him relentlessly.
Feng Jiuyou scoffed. "Have you fallen so low that you resort to such clumsy attempts at sowing discord? Qi Wutong and I have shared centuries of love—do you think I wouldn’t recognize her true form? Do you take me for a fool?"
"Aren’t you?" Xu Shulou countered with genuine puzzlement, voicing the thoughts of everyone present.
"You think I’ve never seen her true form? When I first met Wutong, she already possessed sentience, could communicate with me, and even extended her branches to shelter me—a fledgling phoenix—from wind and rain. Before I left, I deliberately left behind my phoenix blood to aid her human transformation. Do you think I wouldn’t recognize the scent of my own blood on her? Your lies are laughably inept," Feng Jiuyou seized the chance to wax poetic about their love. "Insult Wutong again, and I won’t hold back!"
"Oh? And how exactly will you 'not hold back'?"
Feng Jiuyou’s expression darkened. "Do you truly believe that just because you once bested me in a single move, you can now act with impunity in my presence?"
"Why not?"
"Enough of your insolent tongue," Feng Jiuyou snorted. "This place is swarming with attendants. Do you really think you’ll leave here unscathed today?"
Having dealt with him before, the Xuanji Sect members ignored his bluster, knowing that provoking him about Qi Wutong was the quickest way to enrage him. They spun wild tales about her origins, fabricating one outrageous backstory after another until Feng Jiuyou was seething. Finally, he raised a hand and hurled a burst of phoenix flames toward the chamber behind him. "Phoenix fire cannot burn a phoenix tree! I’ll prove it to you!"
From within the room, Qi Wutong’s agonized screams soon pierced the air. "Jiuyou! Save me!"
"..."
As the wails grew increasingly desperate, Xu Shulou turned to Feng Jiuyou, whose face seemed to crack with disbelief. Hesitantly, she asked, "Immortal Venerable Jiuyou... are you really not going in to save her?"
