Chapter Ninety: A Last-Minute Change of Players

She had come in such haste that Yu Youwei had not taken in the splendor of this realm of flowing fire. Now, as she walked along the way, all that met her eyes was a riot of vivid crimson. Burning flames traced the edges of the sky, volcanoes rose in layers, and fountains of lava surged one after another, forming a spectacle of singular beauty and force that left one breathless. So much so that she did not even notice Ning Baixia until he was close at hand.

“Younger sister-in-law!”

Ning Baixia’s voice, deeper than usual, rang out. Yu Youwei turned her head to look at him, and in just a few days he seemed much thinner, his eye sockets sunken and shot through with bloodshot veins.

“Third Brother.”

She called out, wanting to speak calmly about going to take part in the Ten Prefectures Phantom Demon Realm Tournament, but the words seemed blocked in her throat and would not come.

Looking straight at her, Ning Baixia said softly, “A few days ago, I was afraid Mofei would cry himself ill, so I told him that the tournament needed you to lead the team.”

“Old Ancestor Shui already told me. Father had also said before that I should take part.”

“Then I’ll send someone to take you to find Second Brother and have him escort you to the imperial capital.”

“I can go by myself.”

“The roster for the Ten Prefectures Phantom Demon Realm Tournament has already been fixed. If we are to change anyone, Grandfather must issue the family head’s decree.”

Not knowing what else to say, he held himself as calmly as he could, yet Yu Youwei could clearly see his hanging hands clenched tight. She could feel the aura about him, cold and carrying a trace of sorrow. Her silence was the respect she owed him.

The two of them said no more and left the Realm of Flowing Fire, one after the other. At the entrance of the Hall of Flowing Fire, Ning Baixia casually caught a gold-robed disciple and assigned him a task. Though it was his private matter, the gold-robed disciple named Yang Rui did not show the least displeasure.

Yang Rui took Yu Youwei aboard a flying vessel and sent her to the barracks of the Cloud Wasteland Army in the secular world of the Qing Dynasty. Old Master Ning, vigorous despite his age, was drilling the troops. Military discipline was severe; when the flying vessel descended from the sky, none of the soldiers training with fervor dared slack off.

After giving instructions to his subordinates, Old Master Ning came to the side of the vessel. Seeing Yu Youwei step down, he laughed with delight and said, “Girl, you’ve worked hard! That little dolt is still lingering up there—does he not fear Grandpa spanking him?”

After paying her respects to the old master, Yu Youwei got straight to the point. “Mofei is still at the Celestial Star Sect. Third Brother has asked me to take part in the Ten Prefectures Phantom Demon Realm Tournament, and Father had also instructed me before.”

The old master’s eyes lit up. Stroking his beard, he said with a smile, “Good idea. This generation of Ning children doesn’t have any especially outstanding disciples. I had already been thinking that as long as our results in this tournament were neither too poor nor too brilliant, it would suffice. With you taking part, perhaps we can strive for first place again.”

“Don’t place too much hope in me. If the pressure gets too great, I’ll run away.”

“Then I’ll have that sly little Zhongwu escort you to the imperial capital.”

“Old man, you and Third Brother truly think alike. He also said to have Second Brother send me to the capital. Is it because you’re afraid that even if I hold the family head’s decree, the Ning disciples still won’t accept it?”

“Girl, don’t be too clever.”

The old master smiled as he personally issued a family head’s decree on the spot, then sent his personal guards to fetch Ning Zhongwu and order an immediate departure.

Along the way, Ning Zhongwu explained in detail the circumstances of the Ten Prefectures Phantom Demon Realm Tournament and the relative strength rankings of the ten prefectures. In the previous tournament, the rankings from top to bottom were: Ning of Jiangning Prefecture, Xiang of Upper Capital Prefecture, Wen of Southern Yan Prefecture, Lu of Eastern Chang Prefecture, Yu Wen of Northern Mu Prefecture, Zheng of Western Garden Prefecture, Xi of Haining Prefecture, Yan of Central River Prefecture, Nangong of Sword Gate Prefecture, and Yu of Eastern Ridge Prefecture.

Finally, Ning Zhongwu said, “The old master has already sent word to Second Uncle Grandfather. In this tournament, the Ning family and the Yu family are allied. Younger sister-in-law, rest assured.”

Because the Ten Prefectures Phantom Demon Realm Tournament was about to begin, the imperial capital had entered full lockdown. The great defensive formation around the city had been raised to its highest level, allowing entry but no exit. The flying vessel stopped outside the eastern gate, and Ning Zhongwu led Yu Youwei on foot to the gate. Only after presenting a special pass issued by the Ministry of War were they allowed through.

The streets and lanes were almost empty; the entire imperial capital’s population had gathered in Tianqian Square outside the imperial palace. In the center of the square, atop a white jade stone platform, a teleportation array had already been activated, radiating pale light.

Before the array, the Qing Emperor was delivering his prebattle exhortation. Though his words were the same old clichés, he spoke with great fervor and force. Below him, the young members of the ten prefectures stood in orderly rows. At a glance, Yu Youwei spotted Yu Shiyu standing in the front rank, worry etched between his brows.

With a grand sweep of his hand, the Qing Emperor announced in a powerful voice, “The joint trial begins now!”

In public, the Ten Prefectures Phantom Demon Realm Tournament was referred to as a joint trial. In truth, the teleportation array here was merely a decoy. It could only send people to the northwest imperial residence built by the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and from there they would enter the Phantom Demon Realm through another teleportation array within the residence. As for the Xiang family of Upper Capital Prefecture, it referred to the imperial Xiang clan. Before Ning Baixia took part, they had always held first place in Upper Capital Prefecture.

“Your Majesty, the Ning family requests a substitution!”

Ning Zhongwu stepped out from the crowd and knelt at the edge of the square. All eyes turned toward him, and when Yu Shiyu saw Yu Youwei standing not far behind him, the worry in his brows vanished at once.

Casting a detached glance at Yu Shiyu, Yu Youwei shifted her gaze to the Qing Emperor.

Unlike the emperors of her past life, who wore yellow dragon robes, the Qing Emperor was clad in a black robe embroidered with golden dragons and edged in vermilion. His sleeves were exceedingly wide. As the wind passed, the golden dragons upon his robe seemed to surge and fly, lending his presence even greater majesty. His expression was terribly displeased, as though he had been interrupted at the most exquisite moment and was ready to kill to vent his fury.

“Granted!”

The two syllables burst from between the Qing Emperor’s teeth, hard enough to kill someone if thrown. If the Ning family wanted to replace a person, and he tried to stop them, that would mean water had gotten into his brain. The Ning family had produced a Ning Baixia; so long as they were not trying to seize the Qing Dynasty itself, he could endure it.

Ning Zhongwu led Yu Youwei to the front of the Ning family line and produced the family head’s decree. “By order of the family head, this trial will be led by Yu Youwei. The last two in line, come with me to Cloud Wasteland Mountain.”

Going to Cloud Wasteland Mountain meant entering the Cloud Wasteland Army. After their coming-of-age ceremony, all Ning disciples were required to serve in the army for three years, barring special exceptions. In nearly a hundred years, only one special exception had ever appeared: that fool Ning Mofei. Even Ning Baixia had not been exempt; that boy had simply run off to the Cloud Wasteland Army at twelve and only held his coming-of-age ceremony after leaving.

The Ning family was at the height of its power. In a sudden change of personnel, even if others were dissatisfied, they would not speak up. Now that they saw Ning Zhongwu following the rules and using two slots to let the Ning family’s daughter-in-law participate, they had even less to say, and some even felt relieved.

Inside the Ning family, however, different voices arose. “Wasting two slots just to let this little girl take part—what kind of joke is that?”

Ning Zhongwu had spent years in the military camp and spoke with the roughness of a soldier. “Ning Jinwen, one more word and you go down in their place. Come with me to Cloud Wasteland Mountain and I’ll wear you out myself!”

Even Ning Jinchun and the others who had wanted to object fell silent, afraid that Ning Zhongwu might replace them and drag them off to the Cloud Wasteland Army for some brutal punishment.

Standing at the rear of the line, Second Old Master Jiang coughed a few times and said, “Since the family head has issued his order, the Ning disciples must obey unconditionally. Those who do not will be dealt with by family law. Yu Youwei, do you have the confidence to lead the team?”

This old fox clearly did not approve of Yu Youwei’s participation either, yet he deliberately embarrassed her in public, hoping she would withdraw on her own. Ning Zhongwu’s expression changed, but he did not flare up. After all, this was the old master’s brother, and some face had to be given. Besides, he did not believe Yu Youwei would be unable to handle it.